Chapter 20: Vs Bee
Not long after everyone left Hibiki found herself pacing.
It's going to be ok, calm down. They can do this. I warned them and they know how difficult this guy will be…. But what if…
Hibiki's head had begun to ache, she was getting them more and more recently. She was using her precognition too much and she wasn't resting enough. Last night she had slept very well, she couldn't remember the last time she slept so soundly. But she would need at least a week maybe two, of rest to be healthy enough to use her precognition regularly again.
She couldn't get rid of this nagging feeling she had, one that told her to go after them. Her hands clasped together, tightly held to her body, she sat on her knees and took several deep breaths.
12 minutes, they have been fighting for 12 minutes. How bad could it be?
She reasoned with herself. She closed her eyes and furrowed her brow, looking in on the battle, she was a good two minutes ahead of the real events but that was fine.
Her stomach fell. Just as she feared, Sasuke didn't listen to her warning. He had underestimated the Eight-Tails. She watched Sasuke electrocute Suigetsu along with the Eight-Tails, knocking Suigetsu out and harming the Eight-Tails. This was bad, most of the futures were death occurred started like this, they were already on a path that lead to death, unless she interfered that is.
Her own choices changed the future but seeing how it affects the future is the hard part. In some ways she herself was a blind spot, she couldn't see the outcomes if she actively chose to act against fate. Thus, what happens when she personally interferes is left up to cruel fate. Sitting there watching her friends die would be very hard. She could do it, and part of her, the rational part, begged her to stay put. That interfering would cause damage to the current path of life. But a small part of her replayed memories, Suigetsu's soothing touch, Karin's brilliant red hair, Juugo's cautious curiosity, and Sasuke. Over and over they played, and her body ached in pain, ached from the thought of losing them. She stood up.
When she opened her eyes, she was using her front vision.
She ran as fast as she could and took large jumps from boulder to boulder, making her way down to the battle. Slipping sometimes and skinning her knees and elbows. But she wasn't moving fast enough, and tears formed in her eyes as the fear of loss overflowed.
As she reached the battleground, she was faced with horror. One of her visions unfolded in reality before her. She was helpless as Suigetsu took a direct hit from a powerful chakra ball, allowing the others to get a distance away.
"Suigetsu!" Hibiki screamed as the blast went off. Blinding light filled the area.
Hibiki closes her eyes again, she pushed past the ringing in her ears, and the head splitting headache, past the blood pouring from her nose. She couldn't get a full picture, but an instinctual feeling appeared, she opened her eyes and followed it. She wasn't very good at chakra control; she actually knew very little about how chakra worked or how chakra and her visions were connected. She knew enough to walk across still water like the water that surrounded the battle. She was desperate, she ran across the surface of the lake, half sinking with every other step. The tears flowed down her face as she fell to her knees in front of an unconscious and jelly-like Suigetsu. She picked him up easily as he was half his normal weight.
Nearby the battle with Eight-Tails continued. Hibiki stood as the creature burst into black fire. The Amerteretsu. Knowing the possible outcomes, Hibiki carried Suigetsu, running as fast as she could to the team's side. Karin spotted Hibiki first and a mix of fear and joy filled her. Hibiki barley made it to them as the creature fell into the water in an attempt to put itself out. Hibiki was bloody and scuffed up. An unconscious Suigetsu in her arms, and tear marks running down her dirty face.
"Watch out!" Hibiki yelled as a tentacle fell towards them.
Karin acted fast and threw the three out of the way of the falling appendage, as it comes down on her Sasuke uses his lightning blade to cut the damn thing in half. Hibiki watched the amputated piece sink with anxious eyes. Something about it felt odd.
However just as Karin was saved, she was hit by another flailing tentacle, the Amaterasu spreading to her. She screamed as she burned. Hibiki turned to Sasuke and watched as he quickly thought of his next move. Realization hit him much to Hibiki's relief. His own eyes straining and his right eye poured blood. Hibiki's ears felt wet as they began to bleed, filling her ears.
As he got the fire out Sasuke yelled at Juugo. Hibiki couldn't hear what he said, or anything for that matter.
Was she deaf now too?
Hibiki's vision blurred but she fought to stay awake for a little longer. She wasn't sure what exactly happened but Juugo and Sasuke calmed down. They spoke and Sasuke walked over to a fuzzy shape floating in the water. Juugo held Karin over his shoulder and used his other to take Hibiki's arm. Together they stood and began to walk onto dry land. Once on land Hibiki fell onto her knees exhausted, returning to her dark world.
Hibiki was still conscious, that's good. Juugo thought. But the fact that Hibiki was still conscious could be very bad. Her nose continued to bleed, the blood making a line and dripping off her chin, one ear began to drip blood. Juugo helped Hibiki stand as Sasuke returned.
"Her hearing is gone for now. I think it should come back." He reported. Sasuke nodded.
"We need to deliver him to Madara right away," Sasuke said. Juugo nodded and carefully pulled Hibiki along with them as they walked to the rendezvous point.
They walked, staggered and took breaks for 12 hours. Finally, Hibiki and Juugo stopped walking and waited.
He's delivering the Eight-Tails. She thought.
They didn't wait long, soon they were moving again. Hibiki still couldn't hear but she called out to the two.
"There's one of Orochimaru's half-finished hideout nearby. There is a tank for Suigetsu and beds for us," she loudly proclaimed. Sasuke patted her head to assure her they heard and understood.
Hibiki took care of them even when she was dead on her feet.
The exhaustion everyone felt and the injuries they had made their progress slow. Hibiki told Sasuke where the hideout was, or the general area, and this helped spark his memory of the place. Their slow pace prolonged the journey, reaching the base after what Hibiki later learned was 2 days of walking.
Hibiki couldn't allow herself to pass out though, even though pain shot through her entire body she refused to fall down. She couldn't put more burden on the two others left conscious.
Once inside Sasuke filled the large tank with water, then guided Hibiki up to the top. She didn't seem to be aware, moving mostly on autopilot at this point. He opened the tank's hatch and helped Hibiki find it. Feeling the water, she let her tight grip on Suigetsu go. He sank from her. Once she did this her body gave in and she fell over. Her body still as a rock.
Sasuke carried Hibiki to the room Karin was laid in. He put her on the bed to rest. Sasuke left and walked to a separate room and collapsed onto a bed himself. It was dusty and made him cough. His body refused to move once it was rested. Not only was he testing the limits of his sharingan and body, Hibiki had about reached her end. She shouldn't be using her visions, and she should rest in bed.
Some guilt gripped Sasuke. They all came close to death, too close. The team, he didn't listen to Hibiki. She warned them, she told them that most possibilities ended in at least one death. Yet again he ignored Hibiki's advice. What the hell was wrong with him?
At least one good thing came from this mess. He thought with a sly smile as he fell asleep.
Hibiki woke up after 48 hours. Her body aching. She dragged herself to a shower and washed her nasty body. She cleaned her ears and nose of dried blood and washed her scratches and scrapes.
Her head still hurt; her ears rung. She was killing herself. Hibiki pushed those thoughts aside and changed into some clothes Karin had left out for her. After her shower she stumbled down the hall to the large common area. If her memory was correct Suigetsu's tank would be in there and the door to the kitchen would be on the far back wall. She stumbled forward using her feet to check the space in front of her as she followed the wall, not long after she found the kitchen door. She walked in and stubbed her toe on the chair before taking a seat.
A hand touched her shoulder and Hibiki fell over in surprise. A large hand helped her back up, it had to be Juugo. She pointed to her ears to indicate her hearing was still gone. Juugo tapped her head to indicate he understood. He guided Hibiki out of the kitchen, which had only one chair and a lot of knifes, to a crate he used as a table and sat her down by it. He disappeared for a few minutes before he delivered food and showed her where it was. She ate slowly as to not make herself sick. Behind her Suigetsu's jelly body began to solidify, but he was still unconscious.
Karin had woken up earlier, Treated Sasuke and Juugo as best she could, and tended to her own injuries. The Amaterasu fire had burned her but didn't leave any scaring. She couldn't imagine the pain Hibiki must have suffered through to get Sasuke from the burning building. Hibiki was passed out still, she found some old clothes that must have been prison clothes and laid them in a spot for Hibiki to change. Her clothes were covered in grime and blood. She also worked on Suigetsu's tank, adjusting the settings a little before she ate and returned to bed.
Sasuke came and went from his room, keeping to himself, and Juugo was taking long naps.
Karin slept for another day before the lingering burning feeling began to subside. When Juugo told her Hibiki couldn't hear, she was insistent that the girl stay in bed. She brought food and water to Hibiki periodically, she had to wake her up sometimes, making sure she ate, her body needed the nutrients. She only allowed Hibiki was only to leave bed to use the bathroom, and even then, Karin walked her to and from.
Karin also took responsibility for Suigetsu's recovery and adjusted the controls on Suigetsu's tank, he needed different temperatures at different times of his healing process. Karin hated to admit it, but he saved all their asses. She was going to do what she could for him while he was healing, as a thank you. Once he was healed, she wouldn't owe him anymore.
Of course, Juugo was still in a childlike state, his clothes too big for him. He rolled up the pants and sleeves and had to use a rope as a belt to keep his pants up. His other injuries were less intense, some cuts and scrapes, plenty of bruises, but otherwise fine.
Thankfully Hibiki regained her hearing after Karin made her stay in bed. Hibiki sat up and was startled by arguing from the tank room. Hibiki frowned, at least she had full hearing back. She stood and stormed out. Hibiki walked into the main room only to hear loud bickering from two familiar voices.
"Why'd you leave behind my executioner's blade?" Suigetsu yelled.
"Shut up Suigetsu, just be thankful we didn't leave you behind too!" Karin yelled back.
"How dare you! You passed out too Karin!" Suigetsu growled.
"I ended up that way protecting you all!" Karin barked.
"Would you both stop fighting! You were all idiots!" Hibiki cursed as she entered the room.
"Yeah but," Suigetsu began.
"Don't you start mermaid boy!" Hibiki snapped.
Karin burst into laughter.
"Shut it stalker! This is all because you guys didn't listen to my warning, now I have to reorient myself with the whole damn future." she barked, Hibiki wasn't having any of their shit today. She went and sat in a chair by the crate. Slamming her head onto the crate with an aggravated sigh.
"Anyway, are we really getting the Biju's power Sasuke?" Suigetsu grumbled.
"Heh, who knows, but we actually no longer need to depend on such things," Sasuke smirked.
"Why not?" Suigetsu asked.
"I've obtained new powers... Strong enough to destroy Konoha." Sasuke smugly smiled as he reached for his glass. He missed knocking the glass over.
"What's the matter Sasuke?" Karin asked.
"Nothing," he said. Karin starts to say something but stops, turning to the door.
"What is it, Karin?" Juugo asked.
"I sense a chakra outside, it seems we've been tailed," Karin warned. Sasuke and Juugo share a look, stand and leave. Karin sighs and goes to her room, she was grateful for Suigetu's help, but the annoying bastard wouldn't shut his mouth, she needed her space from him, otherwise she might just kill him. With the room empty Hibiki walks over and sits in front of Suigetsu's tank.
"Mermaid boy?" he asks.
"Sorry, I'm just pissed," Hibiki frowned and leaned her head against the cold tank. "You and Karin would have died if I didn't show up," she whispers.
Suigetsu mirrors her and smiles.
"Sorry, Hibiki," he says. They sit there, their foreheads parted by thick glass. Hibiki giggles a little.
"This is just like when we first meet huh?"
"Yeah," he smiles.
"Hey kid, come let me out!" Suigetsu called.
Hibiki giggles harder.
"Come let me out girly!" he smiled tapping on the glass.
"Orochimaru will be mad if I do!" she responds.
"That's the point, I want to get out of here." he continued.
"In due time Suigetsu," Hibiki finished their play.
After a minute Suigetsu asked,
"Seriously how much longer am I in here for?"
"Karin said you can come out soon," she tells him
"Aggg, that's as vague as 'in due time'." he groaned.
That Night Hibiki woke up, still sore and aching. She stretched and walked back into the main room. She wandered over to the crate taking a seat. She rested her head on her arms, on the crate.
"How are your eyes?" she asks. Sasuke sighs, of course, she knew he was here.
"I'm worried my vision will deteriorate to blindness. Madara warned me it would happen with them …"
"There is a solution isn't there?" Hibiki asked already knowing the answer.
"I'm not taking Itachi's eyes." he snapped.
"You don't have much of a choice Sasuke. Besides, we both know Itachi would want you to have them rather than you go blind." Hibiki reasoned.
"I know." he somberly agrees.
Juugo entered from the door, coming in and locking it behind him.
"Did you find it Juugo?" Hibiki asked, sitting up.
"Yes, it was exactly where you said it was." he confirmed leaning Suigetsu's sword against the wall.
"You used you vision Hibiki?" Sasuke asked, frowning.
"Yeah, otherwise we'd spend the next few days hunting it down. I just saved us time." she sighed.
The next day as Suigetsu gets out of the tank and gets dressed, he sees Hibiki holding his blade.
"Did you get it?"
"I found it, Juugo got it. I didn't leave the Hideout."
"Wow keeping your promise so far." he laughed taking it from her. "Thanks."
"Your welcome mermaid boy." she smiled back.
"That's going to stick isn't it?" he frowned.
"I'll try to stop." she smiled.
With everyone back to (or as close as they could get to) normal they left the hideout. Karin got Hibiki on her back and the group took off to Konoha