Into The Dreaming
Hinata woke from blackness to the sound of rustling leaves. A slight wind caressed her face. The scent of lavender tinged the air.
She opened her eyes, and found herself in a large field, filled with lavenders all around; making it look like a massive carpet was laid across the land.
A low carpet of fog covered the whole field. The moon, shining high in a starless night sky, gave the field a whitish glow.
She looked down on herself, and saw that she was covered by an off-white cloth, making it look like the very mists themselves covered her.
She stood up, and felt the sway of the lavenders against her shins. Her feet brushed against them, and their gentle sway served to calm her.
The wind continued to caress her skin and face. As she walked, she saw that a hill, probably the highest point in the field, she noted.
At the top of the hill, there was a tall tree, its long boughs covered with shining white leaves.
Pieces of the moon, she mused.
And beside it, there was a figure, wearing a shroud that blended in seamlessly with the mist.
Hinata looked closer.
And for a moment, she saw a glint of gold.
Like the figure had a gold face.
Kenshin…
With that, Hinata started to run.
She ran toward the figure, for she knew who it was.
She reached the base of the hill, and then stopped.
The figure turned, and finally saw her.
"Hinata…"
He walked down to her, and when reached, he pressed his lips against hers. Her lips were warm.
He stopped, and looked at Hinata.
She was stunning in the white dress, blending in well with the mist, her black hair standing out from the grey mist, her eyes reflecting the moonlight.
He wrapped her in his arms and embraced her. Hinata returned the embrace.
He whispered into her ear…
"Hinata, I told you that even when I'm not there, in spirit I'll be there." He reassured.
He took off his mask, and once again she saw that handsome face, and those shining blue eyes…
She looked deep into those eyes, and felt once again that happiness fill her to the uttermost fibers of her being.
Kenshin felt overwhelming relief. He knew that somewhere in the cave, Hinata was still alive. He smiled.
Hinata smiled back. It was a smile of purest joy.
And then, they kissed again…
Sakura woke to the sound of splashing waves. A salty sea breeze softly passed her. Seagulls cawed somewhere above her.
She sat up. She was on a white sand beach, azure waves rolling in, crashing onto the shore. White surf lapped her feet.
The sun shone high in the sky. Sakura held up an arm to shield her eyes from the glare.
"If you're wondering where your prince is, he's not here." said a voice.
Sakura looked around, but there was no one with her.
"Look up, darlin'."
Sakura did as she was told, and saw a man, hovering about six feet in the air. He was in a reclining position, with a disinterested look in his gold eyes.
The man wore a long black cloak, it had a hood, but it was pulled back. His long blue-black hair was styled upward in a swoop, and his face had a rugged look of a veteran, even though he looked only about thirty-three.
This man, in short, was the weirdest man she had ever seen.
The man stood from his recline, and planted both feet on the ground. He brushed a hand through his hair, and looked at her with those piercing gold eyes.
"Let's keep this short, 'kay? Alright, Kenshin Arashi sent me to tell you something. Name's Aurelm by the way, darlin'." The man said, his words giving away a slight southern drawl.
"Okay, what is it?" she replied.
"He told me ta' tell you that him' and Naruto is comin' for the both of ya'…hear?"
"Both of who?"
"Kenshin Arashi and Naruto Uzumaki are trying to rescue you. You and his girlfriend, Hirako or Hirata or somethin'…" pondered Aurelm, his hand stroking an imaginary beard.
Sakura got it immediately.
"Hinata?!? You mean to say that Hinata is that Kenshin guy's girlfriend now?"
"That's what I done did say, darlin'…" he replied.
"QUIT CALLING ME THAT!!!" roared Sakura, smoke blasting out of her ears.
"Okay! Sheesh!" said Aurelm, raising his palms up in defeat.
"women…" he muttered under his breath.
"What was that?!?"
"Nothing!"
Sakura was silent for a while, arms folded. Aurelm simply pulled out his revolvers and started twirling them.
"What was that bit, about my prince not being here?" she said all of a sudden, without turning to face him.
"Wha'? Ohh, that bit, I was talking about that black-haired kid with the sword, the guy that calls out snakes and crap, pretty cool. Though I've always wondered if he could pull a dinosaur out of there…" he said, a distracted look in his eyes.
"Who?" asked Sakura
Broken out of his reverie, he faced Sakura.
"That guy…uhh…Sakuse! Or was it Sakake…"
Sakura was getting fed up, but she felt that she already knew who it was…
"Why, why isn't he here?" she asked.
"It's simple, if two hearts love each other, they share an inner world. If you and Sakure were two such hearts, then he'd be here…"
Sakura was just silent.
"Weeelll… message delivered! Gotta' go now…bye." Aurelm smiled as he suddenly vanished, leaving only his wide grin.
Sakura stood there, on her beach, and watched the sun set. She had never been so sad in her life.
And then, she wept.
She wept into the sea, knowing that one more salty drop, would be insignificant…
In the cave, Zetsu felt guilty, Black Zetsu in particular.
But he also felt a twinge of anger building up to a crescendo.
White Zetsu was just pissed off at him
"Why did you put them to sleep?!?" he asked.
"it felt like the right thing to do…" he replied, his fist clenching.
"Sleep slows down the poison, since blood doesn't circulate that quickly when you're in dreamland, idiot!"
"You don't have the right to tell me what to do! I gave you this power, and you start thinking it's yours?" replied BZ angrily.
"I MADE YOU THIS, YOU ARROGANT IDIOT! YOU WERE WEAK WHEN I FOUND YOU! ABSOLUTE SHIT FROM THE NINJA ACADEMY!" continued BZ, as WZ was simply speechless.
"Now quit bossing me around or I will leave you right here and now, and take my power with me!!!"
And with that, White Zetzu shut up.