Fall seven times, stand up eight."-Japanese Proverb

"How much farther?"

"Naruto be quiet, you're going to attract attention and we'll get in trouble." Emiko hissed, her fingers tightening into a clutching grip on his jacket as she maneuvered the stairs, one of his arms slung over her shoulders while Sakura trudged ahead.

"Emiko," she glanced back, her eyes locking with the brunette's as she motioned silently for the girl to join at her side. 'What now?' Emiko almost groaned as she stumbled forward, tripping over her feet as her muscles prickled with indignant fury. "Who are they?" Sakura murmured, pointing down the stairs. Emiko followed the gesture, squinting as she slouched under the pack of exhaustion. Three figures were silhouetted clearly in the light, their backs welcoming them as they seemed to be watching the door.

'Staring at a door? Intelligent.' Emiko thought sarcastically to herself, her muscles too tired to turn up in a small smile.

"What should we do?" Sakura questioned quietly, syllables shaking as she spoke. Emiko glanced over her shoulder to see Naruto leaning sitting on the steps, smiling profusely under her gaze. 'I don't know,' Emiko admitted silently, studying the wounds decorating the blonde's body.

'That one kid brought a gun and a knife,' she remembered the assailant, shuddering as the memory doused her thoughts in ice. 'If they're all this serious…' the thought drifted through her mind as she scrutinized each member. One seems to be wearing a heavy coat but she guessed by the build it was a male. The girl of the group wore a tan camouflage sweatshirt, her long black hair pulled back in a small ponytail. The last member was male as well with spiky black hair and a dark camouflaged jacket.

Just as Emiko stepped forward the group disbanded, stepping away from the door and turning. By the fierce grumbles coming from the group it seemed they were angry, their heads tilting occasionally towards the door as they ambled away.

"Alright screw this!" The dark haired boy yelled before he swiveled forcefully on his heel and ran at the door. Tremors passed through the ground, the air shifting with faint whistles as the boy kicked repeatedly at the door each time causing the door to shudder under the pressure.

'What the hell!' Emiko stared at them before turning to Sakura who seemed stunned into paralysis.

"Oh Sasuke-kun!" The boy sneered, the door rattling dangerously in place as he delivered a whistling kick to its middle. 'They're after Sasuke?' Emiko's eyes widened, her hand clenching to the railing as her legs wobbled beneath her, suddenly weighing down as though her bones were comprised of lead.

A crack snapped through the air, brushing aside thoughts and clearing the atmosphere into a sense of morbid tranquility. The door creaked open, the darkness peaking out at them like a mischievous child.

"We have to stop them!" Sakura blurted out, her voice screeching as she stumbled forward. Naruto followed quickly, taking a position by Sakura's side as the group of three turned towards them. Emiko froze her mind humming painfully as she gripped the railing. The trio looked, to simply put it, dangerous.

The boy wearing the heavy furred coat had a tattoo covering most of his fact, bringing to memory the person they'd fought with Kakashi. As her friends stood before the trio she noticed the female's dark eyes harden, training on Sakura with venom of disdain towards her.

"What are you doing! What do you want with Sasuke-kun!" Sakura demanded, her hands shaking at her sides. The boy wearing the camouflage offered a glare as a response. 'Damn it Emiko move! You can't just desert them!' Emiko ordered herself, hearing soft thuds as she faltered down the stairs.

"We're going to kill him." The female retorted hotly, still glowering at Sakura who seemed unnerved by the constant stare.

"Damn it all it's just a competition!" Emiko retorted angrily, almost to the point of pulling on her hair as she tried to knock reason into their head. The boy's eyes met hers, a torrent of pride and fury swirling in the dark depths. 'God, do they go searching through rabbit holes to find these people!' Emiko thought before her gaze switched to the heavily coated boy.

"Zaku, I will go in and complete the assignment." He ordered, his eyes flickering over the Emiko and the others.

"But Dosu-"

"No. They're wounded and tired. They won't put up a fight." The female smirked, Sakura shaking faintly as she felt the eager malice edging through the air. Naruto jumped forward, swaying for a moment as he tripped over his own foot before he pointed at the group, his eyes narrowed in anger.

"You all should leave now before I beat your sorry asses!" He yelled hoarsely, waving his finger through the air as he proceeded to point at each person, only seeming to aggravate them even more as he prodded his finger in their faces. 'Shit.' The word resounded in Emiko's mind.

"Naruto! Stop that!" Sakura ordered, the blonde's attention turning to her with indignation. That distraction was all they needed as Zaku recoiled his fist and slammed it into Naruto's stomach, his other fist striking seconds later to the blonde's face. Emiko's eyes widened as Naruto sailed back through the air and slammed into the railing with an acidic crash. His head fell forward, blonde tresses obscuring his face as he slumped over, apparently unconscious.

Emiko gulped, struggling to breathe as she turned to Sakura who seemed terrified where she stood, her eyes darting over the scene in terror.

"My turn." The female chimed as her dark eyes danced upon Sakura's frame. They became a pair as the final boy disappeared into the room, creaking the door shut behind him with a furtive click.

"Emiko is Naruto okay?" Sakura whispered emerald eyes frozen on the girl's every move.

"I'd have to go check." The words struggled from her mouth as she waited anxiously, every cell of her body tingling under her senses, testing every particle with anxiety.

"Go." Sakura squeaked and Emiko nodded, not daring to match eyes with anyone as she ducked their gazes and sprinted to Naruto's side, skidding to a stop beside him as she lifted his face into view. Blood leaked from his mouth as his head leaned against her hand, his hair falling in a messy tumble, the locks dirtied and tainted by blood spatter.

"He's-" She lifted her head to tell Sakura and froze, her mouth hanging open as she tried to grasp reality. Sakura sat on the ground, her head leaning forward as fingers twisted painfully in her rose colored hair. Following the arm up Emiko watched as the girl stared down at her friend with cruel satisfaction, occasionally jerking the locks painfully to pry a strangled cry from Sakura.

'Why that little-' Emiko burst from the ground and raced at her, intent on smashing the look from the girl's face. Feet away a shadow jumped into her path, fist recoiled back, but it was too late as Emiko tried to dodge only to feel the fist slam painfully into her stomach causing her to double over, leaning slightly on the hand for support as she coughed up a concoction of spit and blood.

Instantly the hand vanished and she stumbled forward. Pain racked her body as his foot collided with her side knocking her from her feet and sending her skidding into a wall with an agonizing crack.

"Emiko!" Sakura cried out, small sobs suffocating her voice and Emiko opened her eyes. Groaning Emiko pushed her top half up, using her arms as props as she tried to move her legs. 'OW!' She winced, gritting her teeth against the sharp spasms of pain skipping through her body. Her legs moved under her and she stood slowly, clutching her fists as she tried to build a barrier against the blitz of pain.

"Your hair is so soft and clean." The girl's voice rang through the atmosphere, shifting it with discontent and contempt. Sakura gasped, tears falling as she squeezed her eyes shut to the world while the girl continued to wretch her fingers through the pink tresses.

"Sakura." Emiko breathed, her pain dripping into a deep cavern as she felt it lessen, now ignored. The girl looked up to Emiko before turning to Zaku who seemed arrogantly pleased she had stood, the look on his face reading how he thought the sounds of his knuckles cracking would be her coffin nails.

Tripping over her feet still Emiko raced at him, gathering her bearings as she rushed him. His fist struck out but she dodged, immediately fastening her hand around his arm and twisting it. Pulling back she kicked at him to feel an iron grip tightening around her ankle, her ankle protesting the sudden pressure.

A frown creased her face before she fastened her grip and kicked up with her other leg, using him to stay up. A satisfying crunch met her ears as she unanimously released her grip with his and dropped to the ground. Another groan passed as she fell on her side, her muscles now fiercely protesting to the extremes. Her side was sore, her ankle pounded like a drum, her legs screamed for rest, her stomach ached and she could taste blood washing through her mouth.

'This is the most un-academic test ever.' Emiko thought to herself as she pushed herself to her hands and knees and gradually stood up, scrutinizing Zaku with a sense of victory as blood cascaded from his most likely broken nose.

'That's what you get your pill popper.' Emiko insulted him silently, wondering for a moment why pill popper had come to her mind. However, she wasn't allotted time for more than a few seconds as the boy's face contorted in rage, his eyes burning furiously as he bore into her. His lips twisted into a belittling smirk before he reached behind him. Coming back into view she noticed a knife shimmering in his hand.

'God damn it what is it with knives!' Humor returned for a short encore in her thoughts, trying desperately to find another passage that didn't lead to her macabre thoughts. 'He pulled it from his ass.' She chuckled for a moment, stopping as she felt her lungs heave, a metallic taste coating her mouth as she felt a small creek of blood dribble through her lips.

A whimper sounded from the side and Emiko glanced at Sakura who's eyes were shut as her captor's lips continued to move, spewing molten thoughts onto Sakura. 'I have to help her.' Green eyes opened slightly as Sakura caught the mismatched gaze, tears still washing rivers own her face as the girl yanked viciously again.

"No looking away." Emiko's eyes widened and her heart stopped as she heard Zaku's voice drawled inches in front of her. Air hissed as his fist collided into her stomach. Her body crumpled around his hand, blood and spit flying from her mouth as she struggled to breathe.

Cold metal pressed into the back of her neck, strands of plain brown hair falling into her view as she felt the edge press into her flesh. A choker of blood trailed down her neck, her skin prickling as her hairs stood on end, her lungs caught in twine of fear too scared to move as she stared at the floor.

'Oh god…' Droplets of life splashed onto the ground and she stared at the crimson mirror slowly expanding across the floor.

"Stop it!" Screamed Sakura and Emiko blinked, her eyes burning dully as a knot caught in her throat. Tears welled forward, brimming her eyes as the liquid reflection steadily pooling on the ground mixed with her tears.

"Don't hurt her!" Emiko winced as the blade dragged like live fire across her skin, new rivulets of blood searing down her neck to the ground. 'I don't want to die though,' Her body shook despite the bearing fangs of the blade still grazing painfully over her flesh and she swallowed the cough beating around in her throat.

"Shut up you!" The female's voice rang out harshly and Sakura's small squeak could be heard through the silence.

"Kin you should show her some manners." Emiko gritted her teeth as she heard the comment, arrogance and malicious amusement hanging to every syllable. A gasp sounded before Kin responded with a cruel laugh.

'I can't. They can't hurt her!' Emiko thought in terror. 'But I can't do anything…' Water brimmed her eyes as she stared into the ruby imitation of her face painted across the floor. Lines were sketched across her face, either from dirt, blood or exhaustion. Her hair was a mess, curling tendrils around her face and she noticed severed strands now dyed as they laid in the pool of blood.

'I can't lose much more blood,' as she thought it her stomach lurched, a wave of nausea and tire passing through in waves through her body until it crashed in her mind. Her eyelids closed a little, her eyes falling from focus like a camera's as she tried to regain a shred of thought or sanity.

"What are you doing?" Kin's voice seemed oddly far away, stretched over miles of terrain and distorted into a blur amongst Emiko's thoughts.

A soft thud reached out to her thoughts and she dragged her gaze to Sakura, the sights fringing in darkness as she felt a new trail of blood decorating her neck. The pain was gone as her thoughts distorted into simple abstraction.

The only thing showing the scenes were the distinctive colors as she recognized after a few moment's Sakura's hair. In two places? Emiko groaned, her teeth gritting as she felt the blade race down her back, leaving a sufficient scratch in her skin and ripping through her shirt.

Sudden weakness met her as she felt Zaku's fist leave her stomach, the cool talons of the blade leaving as well. Her limbs cried for nothing more than rest as she collapsed to her hands and knees, too far away to realize it was her own blood that coated her hands and arms in a warm embrace.

Air whispered past Emiko's ears and she felt her arms weaken, her fingernails scratching at the surface as she tried to stay on all fours. Her eyes closed as she coughed the mirror rippling as she drained her mouth of liquid.

Opening her eyes she shakingly rose her gaze to see Zaku on the ground, Sakura on top as she shoved his own weapon into his flesh. His fingers clenched into a fist and Emiko blinked away the blurs, dangerously aware of the darkness burning and nipping at her vision. Sakura bent over and Emiko stared, curious as her eyes widened, watching as Zaku struck repeatedly at her head.

Legs appeared before Emiko and she strained to move her head, finally feeling the shakes as she lifted her head to see Kin standing before her, glowering down at her. Before Emiko could react the girl kicked, her foot making a powerful contact to Emiko's shoulder as the brunette flew sideways, tumbling before she slammed into a wall. Wounds seared as tears leaked from her eyes.

Opening one eyes she blinked, her vision hazy as she glimpsed a blob of pink and black still connected as they had been moments earlier. Her stomach wretched and Emiko let out a strangled sob as she tried to move her arm. Agony coursed with her blood, smearing across her mind as she closed her eyes, grimacing as she tried to move.

"Zaku, Kin." Everything silenced as the voice of the leader sliced through. "We're leaving." Emiko's eyes shot open, widening as the world came into a sudden sharp focus, the everything amplified against her as her head ache kicked up a notch.

'Does that mean? Sasuke…?' Contents of her stomach swirled beneath the surface as she felt the urge to throw up, horror and fear constricting on her organs as she stopped simply functioning. 'No…'

Sakura gasped as she was thrown against the railing beside Naruto and Zaku stood, a wound fresh upon his arm as his coat was steadily stained. Kin joined his side but not after throwing each of the wounded a hateful glare.

"Let's go. I'm sick of being around trash." Zaku retorted. Pain melted away in the heat of the fury and wounded pride now burning in Emiko and she pushed herself back onto her knees. Standing slowly she glared at them, challenging them to try and back it up as she stood defiantly before them, eyes burning with unbridled determination. Zaku scoffed at her and Emiko understood, she must've looked pathetic with the necklaces of blood around her neck and bruises forming beneath the dirt and scratching along her skin.

'I don't care they're not getting away with this.' Emiko thought as she watched Zaku step forward, grinning with full malevolence. His grin flickered and disappeared as a hand appeared at his arm, restraining his next step.

"No, we leave." The heavily coated man stated, apparently taking the position of leader as Zaku stepped back, grudgingly heeding the words.

"Fine." They turned and Emiko stared at their backs as they descended the stairs silently. Minutes passed and it wasn't until she heard the loud sound of a door shutting that she dropped to her knees and fell forward. The floor welcomed with a chilling embrace as she closed her eyes, her lungs smoldering with each shallow breath.

"Emiko." Sakura murmured as she felt a hand resting on her forehead and Emiko closed her eyes, relishing the smooth feeling before she grunted in response. "Emiko there's something wrong with this competition." The brunette dind't respond, her breathing becoming uneven as she coughed out a speck of blood. "They left the building. It's like…they aren't actually supposed to be in this competition," she paused, "or like they came here for only one reason."

"Emiko? Emiko!" Sakura lifted the girl from the ground and turned her over, her eyes widening as fear pumped through her veins like a virus. "Emiko!" The brunette lay still, her unique eyes shielded from the world and her mouth slightly open, the blood on her lips and trailing down her chin dried and scuffs over her face. Hesitantly Sakura turned her gaze to Emiko's chest. Relief washed over, her hands shaking from the sudden release as she saw the uneven breathing.

"Sakura-chan?" Naruto muttered and her eyes turned to the blonde, lighting up as she saw him awake, rubbing his head as he struggled to his feet. 'That's…everyone…' Her eyes flew to the door and the darkness waiting like a predator beyond it. Without a thought back she burst through, the door crashing open as she stared into the shadows.

"Sasuke-kun? Sasuke-kun!" She yelled for him, tears gathering in her eyes as only cruel silence dropped.

"Sakura-chan?" Naruto called out, clearly confused. Gasping she turned back to him, watching the blonde as her hands shook.

"Sasuke-kun's not here."

A/n: Hey! I want to do a Q and A thing with the Naruto characters and Emiko. And me, it would be something fun to do where you can ask whatever questions you want. Why? Because I want to do a really funny piece that involves these characters. Anyway please message me or put ideas in reviews I will use all of them...unless it's something crude. Hell you can even ask me why I'm such a bad writer or how I thought up the Mary-Sue(Enraged Karupin) Please send me something -beggy eyes- Hope you enjoyed this installment. OO and you can ask why I named the story Iris! Although Sailor Luna already knows why...Anyway, PLEASE!

-shyshi