Chapter 7: The Hunt
A primitive fear pounded on her heart as she tried to put as much distance as she could between her and Kakashi. She made her way through the tangled forest, the rain and the leaves obstructing her view. It was dark and she could barely see anything. She had no idea where she was going, and she doesn't care, as long as he could not catch her. An outlying branch cut through her leg, causing it to bleed but she did not pay any heed. Pain was the last thing on her mind right now.
She darted deeper into the wild. Thorns and sharp branches scratched through her face and body as she followed the path that steadily went uphill. Her mind had forgotten that she was a kunoichi, that she was a trained shinobi. She was just a woman now, running away from a man who would have his way with her. The tables have turned and fate laughed at her misfortune.
She was his prey.
A piece of uprooted wood caught her feet and she groaned painfully as she stumbled unsteadily unto the ground, scraping her hands and knees. Mud and dirt splattered all over her body as she fell on all fours, panting heavily for breath. Her hair was loosened and in disarray. Wet, soiled clothes clung to her body like a second skin with a freezing hold. Her legs were weak and her arms could barely move due to exhaustion. Her whole body was trembling uncontrollably, demanding her to take rest.
The taste of her own blood on her lips reminded her that this was her own fault, that she should have backed down when he offered her escape before the fight started, that she was foolish to think that she could beat someone like him in a match, that this was the price she had to pay.
"Give up, Sakura. There is no way to escape this." Her inner self conspired with the pleading of her body. Physically and mentally depleted, she was even amazed that she hadn't passed out yet.
Not knowing what else to do, she started to cry. Lips trembled with the admission of her fate. Tears mingled with rain and sobs were drowned down by the storm. She had never cried before, she had never shown weakness until this moment.
He had won the fight, and now, he is ready to take his prize.
"No…Never…" she shook her head and took one deep breath to try and clear her mind, refusing to yield even to fate.
Wiping her tears away, she stood up on feeble knees and steadied herself against a tree. No matter how worn-out she was, her defiant personality would never let her give up to this man. She would crawl away if she had to.
She would rather face death.
She sensed him gaining on her, and she willed her body to move once again even as her muscles protested. The course she was taking ran in a steep climb, into the hillside and she scrambled her way up, holding onto the roots and branches for support.
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Kakashi stalked behind, his heart pounding heavily in his chest. The darkness of the forest lay past behind him as he now faced a rocky hill. He knew he was gaining on her. He could almost see her running through the graveled, uneven ground. Loose pebbles skirted the edge of the hillside, rolling unto the darkness at the side.
He recognized the path well, having scouted it for enemies countless times. He knew where the course would end.
Mismatched eyes suddenly widened with this realization.
"No, she would never..." he muttered under his breath.
"Oh yes, she would!" and Kakashi cursed himself.
He chased after her with all his might, this time not out of lust but because of … … something else. Even he wasn't sure what it was. All he knew was that he had to catch her.
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Panic overtook Sakura's body once again as she gazed ahead in the path she was taking… only to find out that… there was no path. There was no place to run or hide.
There was nothing but a dangerously steep ravine that marked the end of her only hope.
She halted at the edge of the cliff as she watched the crumbling rocks plunge down with a daunting echo, revealing how deadly a fall could be.
She looked around frantically, searching for other options to take. There was nothing but rocks, rain and the foreboding sense that there is no escape.
Glancing back through her shoulder, she saw Kakashi running towards her.
"Don't do it!" Kakashi shouted.
She inched closer to the cliff, her feet knocking a few pebbles over the edge of the crag.
Kakashi halted a few feet away, breathing heavily from the chase, but commanding her with an anxious stare.
"Don't do it." he repeated.
Her thoughts awhile ago echoed in her mind and she made her decision instantly.
She would rather face death.
And she threw her body down into the deadly abyss.
Not knowing why, Kakashi launched himself in the air after her. He caught her waist just as his other hand managed to hold onto a piece of jutted rock on the cliffside.
"Hold still!" Kakashi hissed and for once Sakura did as she was told.
They remained hanging for several seconds before the piece of rock finally gave way and crumbled.
Exposed skin and flesh were scraped harshly by the sharp rocks as they plunged into the unforgiving precipice. Clothes were torn into shreds and Sakura's cries of pain echoed against the trees as ugly gash and bruises developed throughout her battered body.
She tried to get a hold of the rocks but the loose stones fell into pieces against her grip. Their limbs entwined as they surrendered to the ruthless pull of gravity.
Kakashi tried to protect her lithe form as best as he could, using his own body to shield her away from the abrasive elements but he could only do so much. His head banged against a large stone which almost knocked him cold out but he still held onto her firmly as they both rolled downward.
Sakura's tunic got caught in a jagged stone as it tore away leaving her right shoulder uncovered. She groaned in pain as serrated rocks lacerated through her bare skin. This torture was way more than what her already beaten body could handle.
They could feel each other's hearts hammering through their chest as the yielded their fate to the darkness that lay below.
Neither one of them knew how far the drop was, or if they would even survive it. Kakashi held onto her tightly, almost crushing her against his chest, unsure why he even tried to save her in the first place. Later he would think about it. If he lives.
After what seemed like eternity, the perilous drop finally came to a stop at the foot of the hill and he was thankful that he was still conscious or that he was still alive, for that matter.
They remained there unable to move, arms and legs bloody and disheveled. Kakashi lay on top, nesting her delicate head between his arm and shoulder. Suddenly aware that he must be crushing her with his weight, he lifted himself up slowly only to find her expressionless face deathly pale.
An unfamiliar fear crept up on him and pounded on his heart as it throbbed erratically.
"Wake up!" he shouted at her, concern evident in his voice.
She did not move.
"Open your eyes!" He held onto her shoulders and gave her a gentle shake. He gave a look of disgust as he noticed the beating her frail body had endured. Ugly blue bruises blemished her once flawless marble skin. He cursed himself for being the reason of those unsightly marks.
He wanted her, there is no denying that, but not to this extent. He tasted acid in his mouth, a bitter flavor called guilt.
She hated him, and now seeing her in this immobile, disheveled state, he couldn't help but hate himself too.
Dropping down unto one elbow, he ran his fingers into her cherry hair and gently cradled her fragile head in his other palm, bringing her face closer to his.
"Please open your eyes." he whispered softly.
Thick dark lashes fluttered against ashen white cheeks and Kakashi gave a deep sigh of relief.
"At least she's not dead."
Sakura slowly tried to open her eyes but her vision was all blurred. She tried to move but it hurt too much so she just lay there passively, waiting for whatever was to come. She almost welcomed the numbness that the cold air brought as it swept across her body.
Soft lips touched her own, gentle this time, unlike the one before, and this time, she did not object, not only because she can't, but because she did not want to. She was too tired to fight anymore, physically and emotionally. She wanted this to be over with, so she could die in peace.
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Author's note: phew... this was a tough chapter to write, hope you guys still like it. anyways is the plot getting a bit too dark/depressing? am I being too harsh o Sakura? will try to lighten up next time. my mind's really twisted right now Replies greatly appreciated...
