Chapter 11: The Gamble
A/N: Hey guys thanks for the reviews. An author is always grateful when her work is appreciated. Please continue to R n R. I never get tired of reading your comments it makes me smile every time I read it. Thanks. Now on to the next chappie…
Rattled by Sakura's sudden confrontation, Shizuka had nothing to say. It was as if her own words were smothered back into her mouth. She was trembling in agitation, she wanted to say something but she couldn't think of any smart reply so she did the only smart thing she knew… she walked away from her and from the group.
The group of tired foreign ninjas except for the sand ninjas was all surprised and amazed by what they saw. Sakura a girl known for her poise and patience just snapped in front of them. No one had ever heard her raise her voice to that tone. A tone that no one not even Shizuka dared to challenge. Sasuke sneered at Shizuka and highly admired his former team mate for standing up to that conceited kunoichi. Ino was cheering loudly, "Alright Sakura!" she was so proud that her best friend was finally able to release her emotions when it was truly needed. Shikamaru was trying to avoid Ino's constant hits on his back while she cheered on. Hinata just formed a slight curve with her lips while Naruto was plain dumb-struck, "Uh, what just happened?" he said while scratching his head. Kankuro and Temari looked at each other as if conversing with their stares with a worried look on their faces on the other hand Gaara gazed at Sakura as she walks to the near houses to ask if anyone was wounded with a gentle look in his eyes that almost shows how precious she is to him.
As Sakura walked away, a sense of victory seemed to fill her and it even got better when she heard Ino's cheer. She would have smiled if not for the terrible pain that was enveloping her entire body. Being a medical ninja, she could have healed herself right away but she knew that the people need her more. "Sakura-neechan!" Kira shouted as he walked slowly aiding the limping Mai. "Kira, Mai what's wrong?" she asked as she removed the hood-like clothing that his her bounded hair. "We were running to the shelter but Mai tripped and…" Mai tried to suppress her cries but she broke down when Sakura asked her how she was faring. "Don't cry Mai, all will be better just like what I did with Kira the last time remember?" Mai resolved to only sobs and nodded her head as she showed Sakura her wounded knee. Sakura laid her hand just centimeters above the wound and started to heal it. The wound begun to mend quickly as Sakura's chakra merged with the kid's tissue. "Sakura-neechan, thank you for healing me and helping to save our village." Mai said as she bowed her head and Kira thanked her as well. "All better, already hmm. Well…" Sakura rose from her kneeling position feeling an intense pain in her side but she ignored it. "It's not only me you should thank…" She tried to continue but "Sakura-neechan, you already healed all the wounded why don't you heal yourself?" Kira asked worriedly. Sakura covered her neck wound from before and tried to resolve, "No, this is just a scratch. Besides, I don't think I have enough chakra left." She lifted her bruised and shaking hands. "Yeah, but that one's big." Kira pointed towards Sakura's side. Sakura followed the direction of Kira's pointing fingers to see that she had quite a wound on her left side. With all the dried and fresh blood on her mixed with dirt and grime also add the total pain of her entire body, the others and even she failed to notice. As she remembered…
Flashback…
Sakura and the others tried to stop the Blood Countess' army from breaching the walls but their numbers were larger compared to theirs so it was inevitable. The villagers also fought back but they were not yet informed about the weakness of the creatures so they had difficulty killing it. Battle cries and death songs were heard all over the village. It was as if the whole village was a big stage.
Sakura was near the house of the prophetess because something told her that she should be there. Her instincts were right, somehow the creatures seem to congregate there as if it was their target. She had limited weapons at hand so when only a single enemy approach, she would use her medical needles to puncture the decaying chest of the creature and pierce the very location of the black pearl, shattering it with the intensity of the blow. She needed help. As if on cue, Hyakku and Brick arrived while hammering and slicing through the multitudes of enemies. "Boss, we got your back." Brick assured. "Who told you I needed help?" she inquired as she evaded the fatal attacks of the enemy. "The girl with blank grey eyes," Hyakku answered raggedly as he plunged his sword into one of the attackers skull. "Hinata?" she was surprised at the same time happy. She still cared even though… "She wanted to help too but her hands were full at the moment," Brick continued as he bashed two of figures to the wall.
She was holding up good despite the good amount of blood she was loosing through her open neck wound. At her peripheral vision, she saw another ninja was having difficulty managing her opponents. As Sakura took care of her attackers, she sprinted towards her endangered ally. It turned out to be Shizuka who was in need of help but Sakura was neither hesitant nor proud she jumped right in front of Shizuka's third attacker and blocked its attack. But a fourth came from nowhere and swung its scythe madly at them. Sakura could evade it but if she did Shizuka who in the mean time had her eyes closed would take a fatal attack. So Sakura stood there blocking an attack and received an almost deadly reap from the scythe but luck was with her since the fourth creature attack randomly his scythe only caught a few inches of Sakura's side taking some flesh and tissue with it too. Sakura could only bite her lips till it bled so that she would not scream the pain it caused. Good thing the creature that attacked her was slightly wounded that it had a hard time making its second attack. And in that time Sakura had already knock some sense into her frightened ally.
When Shizuka started to fight again, Sakura made her way towards Seiya's house to find that Hyakku and Brick had it all under control but she observed that the creatures that were retreating were carrying with them the weapons of their fallen allies that were stained with fresh blood. Sakura suddenly grew nervous but she didn't know why. Sprinting to the walls, she searched for the only person that could help. Trying to find her red-head "ally" was no joke, it took her almost half a minute to find him. (That's long enough for a ninja) A wave of sand then caught her attention. Found him. As she looked at him and was preparing to call out his name, Gaara looked her way as if she already called for him. She was of course amazed but that emotion should be left for the next time right now, "Gaara, don't let them leave the village with those scythes!" she warned as one appeared behind her. In an instant, the sand beneath the creature rose to form a spike and pierced through its entire chest. Sakura glanced at Gaara and smiled.
The battle was almost over when "I need one alive," Sakura ordered as Fuuma approached him. He nodded with a confused look on his face. Soon the village was silent…
End of Flashback…
As she looked at her wound, the pain intensified. The wound looked blurry now and her knees were turning into putty. She can't stand up any longer… soon she fainted. She fell into the arms of the man behind him, who in turn carried her with his arms. "Sakura-neechan!" Mai and Kira shouted together. "She's going to be alright," he affirmed. "Hey, who are you anyways? Are you sure you're not an enemy?" Mai asked as she and Kira tried to catch up with the man that was carrying their friend. "Uchiha, Sasuke… it that enough for you? Sakura is also a friend of mine so don't worry," Sasuke said almost rudely as he walked towards the group.
Gaara was called by Kagura in her office so he failed to know what happened to Sakura but at the instant Sakura fainted. Gaara immediately left Kagura's office without so much as an excuse only to find Sakura in the arms of his former rival Uchiha, Sasuke. "What happened?" he inquired authoritatively. "She's wounded… I'll take her to the room to tend to her wounds." Sasuke answered with a tone that almost matched Gaara. Gaara glared at Sasuke and Sasuke returned the favor. "No, I think it's proper that we would tend to her wounds," Ino said as she approached together with Hinata. "Just bring her to the room we'll take care of her." She concluded. Contented with this, Gaara stopped glaring at Sasuke and looked gently on the sleeping angel in his arms and Sasuke did not fail to notice. I'm going to win her back. I won't let her get hurt again. He solemnly promised to himself as he sprinted towards their room.
Sasuke gently laid Sakura on her bed as he continually stare the rise and fall of her breast. Almost immediately the pure white linen on her bed before started to turn crimson red as Sakura's wounds continue to bleed. Her breathing is becoming irregular; a common ninja can at least observe that. "Leave her here. The others will take care of her. You assist the villagers in whatever way possible." Gaara said commandingly as he stood there behind him with his arms crossed on his chest. Sasuke turned around and glared at Gaara. The sands rose gradually as if anticipating an attack. I that moment, Ino and Hinata entered the room. "As you command…captain," Sasuke said rudely and even more irritatingly as he said the last word that he was forced to say. As Sasuke left, the sand rested and the two girls approached their wounded friend. "We got it covered here," Ino assured Gaara as if saying Get the hell out already can't you see she needs medical attention badly? Gaara took one last look at Sakura, nodded and then left without as much as a decent reply.
Ino and Hinata worked efficiently, removing Sakura's torn clothing and immediately dressing the deep and still bleeding wound. They are not medical ninjas but they know the principles of first aid at least. But it seems that was not enough, their fresh bandage continue to get soaked in blood. "The blood clotting will take a long time since the wound is deep and it seems that some of her flesh was torn off," Hinata said as the others repeatedly inquired her outside the room. "We need a healer… not that we need an expert one… we just need someone to help her body close her wound quickly. If we don't find one she'll lose blood faster than she can recuperate." She continued.
Without a word, Gaara entered the room. Ino, who was currently almost finished binding yet another fresh bandage on Sakura, was surprised to see him but it did not linger for long since the blood began to seep through the newly applied bandage again. "Damn it! This will not end! She's almost at her limit!" Ino said nervously as she searched for another bandage. She was trying to be busy but it was as if the dam in her eyes is beginning to break down. Gaara then looked at Sakura… her lips almost white, her eyes shut with an expression of agony, her breaths that come in different cycles and her body perspiring continually as if she was on fire. "Leave," he commanded. "What?" Ino was baffled then "You're asking me to leave her? What can you do for her…" All it took was a cold deadly glare from the sand's master to shut her up and leave the room hurriedly.
Gaara carefully approached the panting kunoichi and started remembering what she told her about healing. Closing his eyes to feel the same feeling as he and Sakura healed Mai; the calm flow of his usually unmanageable chakra on his hands and a sense on peace in his soul. Hesitating but still he manage to position his hands above her wound and began to release his chakra. Hearing a cry of pain from Sakura, he halted his attempt to heal her. Damn it! I can't heal! But no one near here can help but me! Damn it! He slammed his closed fist into the nearby table causing the materials on it to slightly jump. Then he bit his lips…This is the only way… he took her bloody hand that held onto her wound before, positioned his hand below hers and intertwined his fingers with hers as he pleaded " I need your help," in that moment. He let his chakra again flow just like before… then the feeling of calmness and peace swept over him… the bleeding was slowing down. Only a moment further…then it stopped. Gaara didn't notice that he closed his eyes while he healed her. Subsequently, Ino and Hinata barged into the room, "Gaara, we can't let Sakura die just like…" Ino's blabbering was interfered by Hinata's hand signal as she gestured towards Sakura's closed wound. The two were speechless.
Syaoran arrived at the room that was occupied by the foreign ninjas to find that they excluding Gaara, Ino and Sakura were outside the room as if waiting for something. "What happened?" he inquired. "Sakura's wounded… what do you want?" a blond shinobi answered him rudely as he again began crossing the corridor back and forth. " Kagura wants a word with your leader. Where is he?" Syaoran proclaimed. "Sorry pal but he's inside the room." The ninja with a weird ponytail answered him rather calmly this time.
He was ordered to fetch Gaara so he must also he was worried about the pink haired kunoichi so he barged into the room only to find the three ninjas staring at Sakura. "What do you want?" Gaara questioned him commandingly. This people don't seem to have a lot of patience, do they? Syaoran thought as he answered his question all the while staring at the sleeping Sakura. "Alright, I'll follow soon," Gaara replied and Syaoran departed. "Take care of her," he commanded the two awestruck girls. "Wait, did you heal her?" Ino asked unbelievably. "No," he responded as he left the room with a short glance on Sakura. Well, it was the truth since I'm not the only one that healed her… she helped too. He rationalized in his mind as he proceeded to Kagura's office.
Meanwhile back in the ruins…
The hooded creatures congregated around a single scythe that was stained with blood. "Bring it to me," a spine-chilling voice commanded from the hole in the ruins. One of them offered the tainted weapon to the white figure with long hair that was sitting on an ancient throne. She was old and wrinkled but when the tips of her fingers touched the tip of the scythe. Her skin slowly absorbed the blood, the Blood Countess closed her eyes and felt the rush of the few fresh drops of virgin blood into her body. In a short moment, she turned into the enchanting beauty known by all then all too soon she returned to her hideous form. A deafening screech enveloped the entire hall of the ruins.
"Don't worry there's more waiting for you…there," a man with a gentle expression on his face said as he pointed towards the deep, pentagram pool. One of the creatures that was holding a screaming girl stepped forward and pushed its victim in front of him. As its victim staggered forwards, the hooded being raised its scythe then with a quick reap the victims body was reaped open, spilling her blood into the pool. One after another the creatures continued to spill the blood of their pleading victims. "No! It's hers I want! This one's unique! Her blood is strong… I want her…" the Blood Countess craved as she licked her fingertips for a taste of the absorbed virgin blood.
In that moment…
Sakura awakened from the immense pain in her neck. Sitting up, she saw Naruto that was struggling in the side of the bed as if dreaming of fighting. Touching her neck wound, the pain doubled its intensity that Sakura let out a whimper. Waking up instantly upon hearing Sakura's cry, Naruto stood up. "Sakura-chan, what's the matter?" Sakura could only compress her wound in reply as blood began to sip through the bandages and trickle down her neck. "Sakura-chan, you're bleeding again," Naruto began to panic but he knew what to do so he dressed her wound again with some help from her.
Shizuka was in the shadows of another building while Kankuro and Temari joined her. "Give it up, Shizuka," Temari teased. "Yeah, Gaara's one though nut to crack but dealing with that pink haired kunoichi is another thing. What is up with you two anyway?" Kankuro continued. "Thanks for the support," Shizuka replied coldly. "A woman can smell competition from a mile away. She's no barrier that'll hinder me from my goal." "Look, don't worry we'll dissolve the bet for you. You won't have to be our slave for a year so stop agitating him, okay?" Temari offered. "No!" "It was me who offered the bet… I will have Gaara one way or another but first the competition must be eliminated." "Shizuka, you can't be serious. Why are you acting that way? Hey, you're not falling for him, are you?" Temari teased. "Maybe… that's why she need to be careful because a woman in love can do "anything"." Shizuka warned. Temari and Kankuro could only look at each other worriedly.
A/N: OMG, I can't believe I did all this in an internet café but the sad thing is it took quite a while. Huh, anyways still open ears for opinions and reactions. Come on guys make me smile…please.