"A flower field lies in front of us,
Blooming with our own.
When the time is right, you shall see
A sight that shall fill you with glee."
When she was young, her mother used to tell her about 'tenshins' or in other words angels. She would tell her stories of lost souls, parched of love whom the tenshin would rescue. But some tenshin she'd learn later on, were the ones who needed rescuing. After all, like the say there's more to the person than meets the eye.
Certainly. There was more to this Tenshin than met the eye. Literally.
For starters, he had one heck of a right hook.
"Shall we go? I just knocked the other two out for some time, but they'll be up soon. We need to move fast." He spoke as he stepped onto his glasses and crushed them.
That voice. It…it suited him. Deep and calm. Just like his eyes. She could get lost in them. And did he just knock those guys out on his own? Skilled and Calm, was he an angel? She should talk to him later. Maybe even ask him out or something.
Snap out of it. You're almost dying and you're thinking about your saviour's eyes?"
Wincing in pain she dragged herself up to the man and replied "Yeah. Thanks for listening by the way. That way to the mixed dorms." She pointed in the direction of the dorm building. He nodded.
She looked up to see his face. Close-by she could notice the fine details of his flawless face, drenched in water but ever so handsome. Over the duration of the assault the drizzle had increased in size to a massive downpour. Clouds thundering overhead.
For the first time that night, he met her eyes, and her world spun. Those eyes were different up close. They were still deep and calm but somehow…lifeless. His expression was stoic -lips pursed into a thin line. He held her gaze for a few seconds and then scanned her from top to bottom. Despite the current situation, she felt heat rushing to her face. Great again. Now she was cold and warm at the same time.
What have I ever done to be looked at by this tenshin?
As if on cue, his eyes widened and his kissable lips(seriously!) parted ever so slightly. She raised an eyebrow at him Just how bad did she look? Sure, she was bruised all over, with busted lips, bleeding shins, a broken arm and had some cuts here and there. Sure, she was wincing in pain with every step and was barely able to stand. But was it enough to scare a guy like him?
"I take it that your left arm is broken too. I'd love to talk What have they done to you…. Ino?" He spoke the last line with some anger and guilt. Why should he be guilty? Moreover, how could he make her name sound so…...angelic?
Wait. How did he know her name? She took a step away from him and looked him in the eyes. Her eyes widened in shock. She knew him.
"Sai." The name escaped her lips as a loud whisper. Loud enough for him to hear.
Was he really the same guy with glasses-too-big-for-his-pretty-face that she'd met on the first day of freshman year? The same wonderful artist who was also an exceptional soccer player? (She'd always noticed his skills with the ball from afar. She'd dare say that he was one of the best on the squad.) She'd met him a couple of times after that – after all he was Sakura and Naruto's roommate – but she'd never really noticed him over these three years. He always kept himself secluded from the rest of them. Maybe he really wanted to be left alone.
I was such a freaking fool. Correction- I am still such a freaking fool.
"Yeah. No time for that now. We've got to hurry up. You can run, can't you? Or do I have to carry you?" God! Since when was his voice so, pleasing.
"I can manage. I can't guarantee my pace though. Carrying me would be hard." She replied. A tiny smile crept onto her busted lips despite the situation
He nodded. "It won't be that hard.", she heard him mutter to himself.
Maybe they could try that later. But now really wasn't the time. He would carry her though. Sure of it.
She straightened her back and ran along with Sai towards the building. The pain she felt all over her body was killing. But she had to go on. All this while Sai's hand was locked around her right hand's wrist, protectively mind you, not the same way those people had held her. Whenever she seemed to slow down, he would clutch her wrist tighter; somehow urging her to keep her pace up.
The dorm building was now in sight. It was so close. But so were the people following them. Both of them had been aware that they were being followed the minute they'd started running.
Lightning crackled overhead and for a second revealed the position of the two other men. They'd slowly caught up to them. Much to her disappointment they were quite close by. Right at her side actually.
"Shit." She whispered to herself. Sensing a punch coming her way from the left, she ducked in time and so did Sai. First time sensing a punch without seeing it- check. Without waiting for another surprise, they quickly began to run again. The door to the dorms was only 70 metres away now.
"Why don't they leave us alone? Isn't their boss knocked out?" Sai enquired, running alongside a half-dead Ino.
"He told them to get rid of me." She replied out of breath. Her body was growing stiffer with every passing second. Her wet hair stuck to her face and eyelids drooping in exhaustion.
Almost there. Hang in there, girl.
And then, as if on cue Jirobo and the other guy appeared at their sides again. Jirobo on her left and the other guy on Sai's right.
"We would appreciate if you would stop running. We've been told to get rid of you. It will much easier if you would just let us do our jobs. Girls like you are a disgrace to our country." She stopped in her tracks and Sai did too. No point in running now, they were surrounded.
Jirobo and his subordinate stepped out in front of them. Their faces were bruised and swollen-they'd been hit unexpectedly, that was clear-Sai sure was good at launching surprise attacks. Not that it'd help right now.
The clouds roared above them as the rain got heavier. All of Ino's numerous cuts and bruises were now throbbing in pain with every cold droplet that made contact with them. She looked up to the sky- feeling the droplets prick her bruised face. She brought her gaze down to the two men in front of her, and sent them a glare.
Only one option -fight. Get rid of them- for some time at least- and run into the dorms.
But before that, "A disgrace you say. Why? Cause we actually stand up to people like you? Cause we ain't afraid to kick your ass even if we get beat up? If there's anybody who ought to be a disgrace it's you and your pathetic boss over there. You are truly, Sir, a pathetic excuse for a human being." Those words came out even more spitefully than she had planned them to be, but good nonetheless. Jirobo's eyes widened at the statement and it looked like he was about to explode. He sent her a fierce glare, but she didn't faze.
Nicely done, gal.
She didn't miss the tiny smirk Sai gave her either. After this shit was sorted out, she might get to know him a little better.
"You talk a lot, bitch. You might be a tough cookie, but you talk way too much." The bigger guy spat those words out at her, and then sent a kick flying towards her.
She easily dodged the kick and sent a punch in the brunette's direction. It hit its mark on his jawbone. But it hit her too. The trajectory of the punch had been a little off mark and as a result, a lot of the shock from it had gone to her broken hand- now burning uncontrollably.
Jirobo had already engaged Sai, and was trying to keep him away from her. Sai turned towards her and she gave him a tiny thumbs up. She was not going down that easily.
Stepping back-slightly fazed by what had happened- he found his footing and decided to counter her rather surprising right hook with his own. Little did he know, that the 'girl 'was quick on her feet despite being injured.
The blow meant for her jaw, whizzed past in a blur of knuckles. And from the corner of his eyes he saw his opponent's fists begin an upward trajectory. As if aiming at the same spot was going to help. He quickly dodged the punch and as her arm went swooping by, caught a hold of her wrist. He swung her towards himself- her back facing him and wrapped his hands tightly around her already bruised waist.
She winced in pain. Her broken hand had been caught within his tight hold. And she though an hour ago that her biceps were bad enough. He enjoyed the sight. A humourless chuckle escaping him.
"Got you now, Miss flashy moves." Was it just her or did that big lump of muscle just say something?
Seemingly unbothered by the sudden contact she shifted around in his hold; trying to adjust herself. He smirked darkly. After all, all you can do now is adjust yourself., shift into a comfortable position before being crushed like a toothpick. "Is that all you've…"
The sentence was left unfinished, as she bit down on his hand. He yelped in pain and almost immediately let go of her. She pushed herself away from him and taking advantage of his open stance, shifted her weight onto her left leg and with all the force she could muster, aimed a kick towards his ribs. She missed. Of all the times, now.
Instead of delivering a stinging jolt to the ribs, the kick just lightly grazed his hips. Shit, he had managed to avoid it in time. Avoiding the kick, he took a step towards her and sent a flying uppercut in her direction. The clack of knuckles against her jaw seemed to echo through the dark and stormy night. For a second the world seemed to function in slow motion before reverting back into its fast-paced brutal reality.
She heard Sai calling her name, then nothing. Her world went blank.
The stinging pain began to spread all over her. She had nothing left in her reserves now. She was running on empty. The world seemed to be telling to het to forget about them, to fall asleep. Just let it be. She finally gave in.
"Darling! It's your first day, you don't want to be late now, do you my cosmos?"
"Yeah. I 'm coming."
"Good luck now. I've packed your favourite for lunch today. Don't tell your mother though. She hates it when I do that."
"I know. She'll be back soon anyway. I gotta go now. The bus leaves in like five minutes. See ya!"
"Wait! You forgot to do 'it'."
"Jeez, I'm 15 already, cut it out already."
"No way, young lady. It's Yamanaka tradition. A 'family thing', if put bluntly."
"Ok I'm with you. Go on."
"A flower field lies in front of us,
Blooming with our own.
When the time is right, you shall see
A sight that shall fill you with glee.
But remember, patience is the key.
When the Sun stares hard,
And the rain falls down
Do not look upon the buds with a frown.
For when the time is right, with hurdles crossed,
The bud shall bloom at any cost.
So, give it time now, sweetie. When the time is right, the cosmos shall rise."
Her eyes shot open. What would he say if he saw her like this? Was she going to step down? Was the bud going to die before it even got a chance to bloom? God, this sounded like a cliché movie scene right now. Who cares.
Her eyes opened to see wet mud in front of her. It had stopped raining now. She lay there for a few more seconds before deciding to get up.
Bad move.
A searing pain went down her jaw. She let out a tiny yelp – the pain was getting too much to bear. Her hips were sore too. She let out a strangled sigh
Mustering up, the little will she had in herself, she forced herself to get back on her feet. Turning around she saw the scene in front of her- Sai had knocked out one guy but was struggling with the other.
He's pretty good. She thought to herself. His movements were fluid and consistent. He could handle this on his own. So, she could just go back to sleep now, right?
Idiot! Snap out of it. Now's your chance to run to the dorm and bring help. But, how can I just leave him here? She pinched the bridge of her nose, in an attempt to reduce the banging in her head. She looked up to see Sai again. He ducked a sloppy punch, went straight underneath the guy landed a swift uppercut on his jaw. The guy backed away. But either Sai was out of strength or that guy was made out of steel, because that seemingly strong punch didn't affect him at all.
Yup. He's good.
It was over in a flash. A set of knuckles caught Sai unawares and knocked him flat onto the ground.
"Oh shit! Sai get up." She screamed at the top of her lungs- grabbing the guy's attention. He just stared at her with wide-eyes. She limped over to Sai.
He was broken. Literally broke. At least bruised.
His lip was busted, his eye was bruised and so was his face. A long cut ran across his forearm, as if somebody had pierced his skin with a stick. Maybe. He was bruised and cut all over. He stood up shakily and his gaze met hers. His eyes said everything. Everything she needed to know at least.
She'd been out for too long.
All this while Jirobo just stared at them and laughed his heart out.
"Good. You're okay. Go Ino. I'll handle it." He sighed in relief and let his head turn to meet the brunette's face. His expression stiffened. He moved forward but was stopped by the soft but gentle hand resting on his right shoulder. He turned to face Ino.
"I'll take care of this. I owe you anyway." Her answer came through gritted teeth. Somehow, he knew what she meant. She wasn't going to no for an answer. He turned around and met her gaze instead.
His eyes widened at what he saw.
He stepped back. This ended now. With her. The queen was going to end it. He knew that.
"Oh! Look who's awake! Sleep well beauty? Sorry but I'm going to get rid of you now. I had immense fun with you and your saviour there though." With that he stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.
Ino glared. "Firstly, nobody's allowed to call me that. Secondly, he's not my saviour…."
Sai didn't know why but his chest hurt a bit when she said that. Maybe he'd been hit too hard.
"…...he's way more than that."
What?
He started to laugh. "Last words, should be chosen more carefully."
She moved forward. Her face hidden by the bangs covering the darkened look on her face.
He was so dead. Sai smirked to himself.
She moved forward and punched him square in the face in all his glory. He fell flat on the ground. Out cold.
Things had never been simpler.
She turned around and smiled warily to him. Bright blue eyes reflecting the light of the moon. Another second. 'Thud' The warrior collapsed. She did it, didn't she? Surprisingly, she didn't collapse onto the wet ground but onto warm and comfy…. whatever it was. Too tired to think.
Broken but alive.
The last thing she heard was the voice of an angel. A cold but sweet melody to numb ears.
"You did it beauty. Like I've always watched you do."
She wanted to meet the owner of that voice someday. She felt her feet leave the ground.
She liked the way he called her 'beauty'.
It made her feel….complete.