Just a few notes on this chapter;
miasma (according to the merriam-webster dictionary) 1: a vapor from a swamp formerly believed to cause disease 2: a harmful influence or atmosphere
"Eeny, meeny, miny, moe" can be spelled in various ways.
Thank you for your support. I'll keep updating regularly, but it is summer and crazy busy at work.
Enjoy and let me know what you think of it.
Chapter 5 Back from the death.
As Sakura walked into the cabin again, Itachi called out to her, half-joking, half-serious, "Should I tie you to the main mast?"
She glared at him, frustration clearly written on her face. "You wouldn't," she replied. Wearily, she pulled a chair out and sat down, exhaustion evident in her expression. The journey to the mainland had been smooth sailing so far, although it took longer than flying. The captain said they would arrive early the next morning if the weather stayed good. Right now, everything was perfect—the wind blew gently, the night sky sparkled with stars, and a tiny slice of the moon slowly rose in the dark sky.
Usually, Sakura would have found peace and beauty in such a calm setting. But she couldn't find any comfort. She desperately wished for the journey to go faster, for time to hurry up. Every moment felt like an eternity.
As Sakura got up from her chair again, unable to sit still, Itachi called after her with a gentle yet persistent voice, "Sakura, the mainmast?"
Feeling frustrated, Sakura scowled and slumped back into her seat, weighed down by worry. It had been almost a day since Kakashi was captured by the demons, and exhaustion gnawed at her, but her mind refused to give her any rest from her fears. A part of her longed to sleep, to find a moment of peace, but every time she closed her eyes, all she could see was Kakashi standing in that field. His eyes filled with pain as he recognized her. She had never seen him look so hurt before.
Sakura rested her arms on the table and laid her head on them. Her eyes stung with tears, but she refused to let them fall. Later, when Kakashi was safe, she could allow herself to cry, but not now.
Sakura had already disembarked from the ship while Itachi made arrangements for their journey back. The port town was small, but it buzzed with activity. Behind the harbor, a lively market offered provisions for their upcoming trip. Sakura went there to gather supplies.
"He'll wait for us for 3 days if the weather stays calm. They can't afford more time, as the season is about to change. The captain warned that sailing will be dangerous once the winds shift," Itachi explained when he caught up with Sakura at the market. He reached over her shoulder to take the food from the vendor while Sakura paid him.
"Three days should be enough," Sakura replied, stowing her wallet away and then dividing the food between her backpack and Itachi's.
"It will be, but we can't be wasting much time," Itachi added, securing the remaining food in his bag and slinging it over his shoulder. "Let's go."
Once they had left the village, Sakura and Itachi picked up their pace, moving into a fast run. Earlier that morning, they had planned their route using a map Itachi had brought along. Their strategy was to head to the battlefield where she had fought the demons and search for any traces that could lead them to Kakashi. Sakura's worry for Kakashi weighed heavily on her mind.
Thankfully, the weather was cooperating, with the sun not yet shining too strongly, and the ground relatively dry despite yesterday's heavy rain, allowing them to maintain their speed.
As they ran, conversation between Sakura and Itachi was minimal, leaving her thoughts free to wander. The past 24 hours had been a whirlwind of events, and she hadn't had a chance to process it all. Her primary concern was, of course, Kakashi's safety, but amidst the urgency, other worries weighed on her mind.
One of Sakura's biggest concerns was how Kakashi would react when he saw them. The memory of the pain in his eyes when he recognized her haunted her thoughts. She swallowed hard, trying to push the tears away, but they threatened to spill at any moment.
For the past five years, Sakura had carried a heavy burden of guilt, sadness, and pain. The thought of Kakashi and how he must have dealt with her supposed death weighed heavily on her heart. She had tried her best not to dwell on it, to suppress those emotions and memories, fearing the pain they would bring.
"We're almost there," she called out to Itachi. She recognized the three trees clustered together in the distance. The hillock wasn't far from it.
Slowing her pace to a jog, Sakura looked around with a mixture of surprise and confusion evident in her voice. "This is not what I expected. Where are all the demons? Are we in the right place?" Her gaze swept over the tranquil scene before her. The tall grass swayed gently in the breeze, while colorful flowers attracted bees and butterflies. It seemed like a peaceful spot, more suitable for a picnic than a recent battleground. There was no sign of the chaos and devastation that had unfolded here just yesterday morning. Sakura couldn't help but question their location. Perhaps they had made a mistake. One hillock looked much like another, after all.
"No, we are in the right place," Itachi replied firmly. He squatted down and picked up something from the ground. As Sakura approached, she saw that he held a piece of white porcelain. The fragment was dirty, with ragged edges, but it still bore a golden swirl and a hint of pink blossoms. "Someone has cleaned this place thoroughly, but I can still sense some residual energy."
Sakura took the piece of her broken mask from Itachi's hand and turned it over in her own. It undeniably belonged to her. She carefully tucked it into her pouch. Her focus sharpened as she scrutinized the surroundings more intently. Even if the place had been cleaned, she knew there had to be traces left behind.
As Sakura walked down the hillock, following what she believed to be the path the demons had taken with Kakashi, she couldn't help but wonder aloud about the mysterious cleaning of the area. "What do you think could have cleaned the place?" she asked Itachi, her voice tinged with curiosity. Crouching down in the tall grass, she inspected a patch of dirt but found no significant clues.
"Perhaps an exorcist or a priest," Itachi speculated, walking a bit southward while Sakura headed east. "There is a temple somewhere nearby, according to the map, but I'm not sure if it's currently inhabited." He continued to scan their surroundings, his eyes searching for any signs that might offer a clue to Kakashi's whereabouts. "There's also a village close by, but I've heard rumors from the local yokai in the port that it's deserted and considered haunted."
"Really?" Sakura replied absentmindedly, her attention momentarily distracted. She had noticed something glimmering in the grass a few steps ahead and stooped to pick it up. As she held the strip of blue fabric with a metal plate, she realized it was Kakashi's hitai-ate. Her heart skipped a beat, a mixture of relief and worry flooding over her. "And where is that village?" she asked, holding the hitai-ate up for Itachi to see.
It took them half a day of running to reach the outskirts of the village. As Itachi had said, the place was completely deserted. The old, weathered wooden houses leaned crookedly, some with collapsed roofs, and nature had reclaimed much of the space. Strangely, there was an eerie stillness, and even the usual sounds of insects were absent. The sun hovered high in the sky, casting dappled rays through the trees, but the village felt unnaturally cold.
Sakura wrapped her arms around herself, trying to ward off the chill that seemed to seep into her bones. She considered retrieving her jacket from her bag, but the sense of being watched prevented her from doing so. Itachi's tense posture indicated that he sensed it too. They proceeded cautiously, venturing deeper into the village, their eyes scanning for any sign of Kakashi's presence.
"It feels too easy," Itachi whispered, echoing Sakura's thoughts. After the demons' relentless ambush two nights ago, it seemed strange that they could walk into this abandoned village without resistance.
As Sakura and Itachi approached the village's final building, a decrepit mansion stood to their left. Once grand, it now stood as a crumbling ruin, its walls threatening to collapse at any moment. The very sight of it screamed of imminent danger. They cautiously drew nearer, their senses heightened by the growing sensation of being watched.
"If Kakashi is inside, we can't waste any time," Itachi remarked, his gaze fixed on the billowing green miasma emanating from the building. With each step closer, the fog thickened, enveloping the surroundings. The toxic haze had already claimed the lives of all the plants around the building, and even the few trees with remaining leaves were swiftly succumbing to its deadly grasp.
The miasma hung thick inside the building as well, and Sakura had the feeling of being suffocated. The toxic fog seemed to seep into her very lungs, making every breath a struggle. She forcefully pushed the grim thoughts away. Now was not the time to dwell on worst-case scenarios. She had to remain focused and trust that they were arriving in time to save him. A harsh cough from Itachi broke her train of thought. Sakura turned to see him struggling to breathe as well. How could any human endure such a toxic environment?
Carefully navigating the dilapidated building, Sakura tiptoed over the fallen rubble and avoided the treacherous holes in the floor. The search seemed fruitless, with no apparent place for someone to hide, especially a full-grown adult like Kakashi. As she surveyed the former living room, her eyes landed on the fireplace, an idea sparking in her mind.
"Do you think there could be a hidden passage somewhere?" Sakura asked, her gaze fixed on the fireplace. She could feel Itachi's presence behind her as he moved around the room.
"It's possible, but I highly doubt it would be in the fireplace," Itachi replied. Sakura shrugged and left the fireplace to scan the room. There wasn't much left—a few broken chairs, a dilapidated table, an old closet, and a corner stacked with piles of planks and other discarded items. The windows, if they ever had glass, were long gone, allowing a small breeze to carry the miasma into the room. Sakura coughed, her lungs struggling against the toxic air.
"Are they going to let the miasma consume us?" Sakura asked between coughs, her concern evident. She ran her hand over the wall, searching for any signs of a hidden door, but found nothing. Doubt began to creep into her mind. What if Kakashi wasn't even here? Maybe they were led into a trap, lured here to be ambushed or killed by the toxic miasma. The thought of Kakashi's fate weighed heavily on her, but she refused to succumb to despair.
"Well, I'll be damned," Itachi muttered. Sakura turned her attention to him and found him standing before the closet, the only intact piece of furniture in the room. "Found your passageway," he said, his voice strained from coughing. The closet turned out to be a large door, which opened smoothly, revealing a staircase behind it.
Sakura hurried over and peered down the dark staircase. She could only make out the first few steps, and the air below was thick with toxic miasma. Taking a deep breath, she prepared herself for what lay ahead. She needed to descend and confirm whether Kakashi was there or not before leaving the building. A small voice in her head warned her that things had gone too smoothly so far. With her hand pressed against the cool, smooth wood of the closet, she glanced back and surveyed their surroundings. There was nothing out of the ordinary. The wind that had blown moments ago had now subsided, leaving the miasma to drift lazily in the air.
Sakura looked at Itachi and voiced her thoughts, "Too easy."
He nodded in agreement, his expression wary. "Too easy."
"But he's down there," Sakura declared with conviction. Itachi had pulled a torch from his backpack and flicked it on. The light pierced through the miasma, giving it a dirty green hue. The stairs ran quite steep and deep. Slowly, Sakura stepped on the first step, testing it and finding it solid. With each cautious step, she and Itachi descended further into the unknown. He kept the torch steady, illuminating their path through the noxious fog.
Finally, they reached the end of the stairs. Sakura's heart pounded in her throat, and fear gripped her tightly. Was Kakashi here? Was he alive? With every step she had taken, she had prayed for his presence and safety. The stairs led them to a small, narrow passage. Sakura stepped aside to let Itachi light up the way, revealing three doors. One of the doors was slightly ajar. She approached it cautiously, bracing herself for any sudden surprises. As she pushed the door open, nothing jumped out at her. The room lay empty before her.
"Eeny, meeny, miny, moe?" Sakura contemplated, her gaze shifting from one door to the next. The air felt heavy with the acrid smell of the miasma, mingled with the musty scent of stale water and mold that permeated the passage. Itachi's voice, rough and strained, resonated behind her.
"Just try the closest one," he suggested, his own discomfort evident. Sakura's throat burned, and her eyes watered from the toxic atmosphere. The only sounds that reached her ears were the echoes of their footsteps and the constant drip of water.
Taking a deep breath, Sakura approached the closest door and slowly pushed it open, bracing herself for what lay beyond.
Sakura's heart nearly leaped out of her chest as the door revealed the room behind it. It was not empty, but it wasn't an ambush waiting for them either. It was something entirely unexpected. Itachi gasped audibly behind her as the light from his torch illuminated the sole occupant of the room. Once a human, now reduced to a mummified form. The small figure wore a tattered dress, its color faded and marred by the effects of the miasma. Faint patterns of flowers adorned the fabric.
Sakura's chest tightened, her heartbeat pounding in her ears. She averted her gaze from the remains, closing her eyes briefly as she fought back the intrusive image of Kakashi in that lifeless form. There was only one door left.
"Should have gone with the last one first. It's always the last one," Sakura muttered under her breath as she hurried towards the final door. Unlike the previous ones, this door was locked, a clear indication that something was being kept hidden. She hoped fervently that behind it lay a living and breathing Kakashi, rather than something menacing ready to attack them. With determination, she grabbed the handle, twisting it forcefully until the lock broke and the door swung open.
As the light flooded the room, Sakura's heart sank, fearing the worst. But when her eyes fell upon the motionless figure before her, a glimmer of hope ignited within her. Without a moment's hesitation, she rushed inside and dropped to her knees beside the familiar form. She would recognize him anywhere, even in the dim light.
Her hand trembled slightly as it reached for his neck, her fingers searching for a pulse. And then, there it was—a weak and unsteady pulse beneath her fingertips. Relief washed over her.
"He's alive," she breathed, a mix of relief and joy washing over her. Her hands moved swiftly, examining Kakashi's body for any injuries. There were a few wounds from the battle and a nasty bump on his head, but nothing that required immediate attention.
"We need to get him out of here," Sakura said, urgency evident in her voice. A loud crack from above sent dust and debris cascading down. She instinctively shielded Kakashi, bending forward to protect him from any falling objects. Thumping sounds followed the initial crack, and more debris rained down upon them. Itachi directed the light towards the ceiling, revealing trembling wooden beams under the weight and force of whatever was moving above them.
"Knew it was too easy," Itachi muttered, his tone laced with apprehension.
Sakura whispered back, her voice filled with concern, "What now?"
"We need to get out of here. If we stay any longer, we'll end up like him," Itachi replied, gesturing toward Kakashi with a nod of his head. "And he needs fresh air to clear the miasma from his system. Let's hope it hasn't caused too much damage."
Carefully lifting Kakashi from the floor, Sakura and Itachi supported him between them as they moved as fast as possible. The cracks grew louder, and debris fell around them, causing Sakura's heart to race with fear. She knew this couldn't be just from breaking the lock with the little strength she used. Something else was causing the building to collapse.
"What is causing this?" Sakura whispered urgently to Itachi.
"I don't know, but it's heavy," he replied, his voice strained. The staircase was surrounded by sturdy, thick beams, offering some protection from the collapsing passage behind them. Despite that, large chunks of the ceiling kept falling, mixing with the toxic miasma and creating a choking cloud of dust. Sakura had to hold her breath to avoid coughing, and she noticed Itachi struggling with the same.
Another loud crash drew her attention to the door above them. A massive shadow passed the opening, too far for her to see clearly, but she could tell it was big and ominous.
"Something's up there," Sakura warned Itachi.
"We don't have time to find out now," Itachi replied tersely, urging her to keep moving. They couldn't afford to linger in the crumbling building any longer. They emerged from the staircase and were greeted by an almost collapsed room. The walls were damaged, with a large crack that provided a narrow passage just wide enough for them to pass through.
Outside, the air was slightly clearer, but the miasma still lingered. As the building continued to crumble behind them, Sakura couldn't help but steal a glance over her shoulder. Her blood ran cold as she caught sight of a massive shadow moving on the other side of the half-collapsed structure. A towering head loomed above the broken roof, and a deep, ominous growling echoed amidst the noise of destruction.
"Sakura," Itachi urged, "Keep moving."
Forcing herself to tear her gaze away from the looming threat, Sakura refocused her attention on Itachi and followed him closely, Kakashi's weight between them. Her heart pounded in her chest, and cold sweat trickled down her brow. The presence of the demon filled her with fear and uncertainty. Could they possibly defeat such a colossal creature with just the two of them, all while protecting an unconscious Kakashi?
"Itachi," Sakura whispered urgently, pointing over her shoulder at the looming demon.
Itachi followed her gaze and his eyes widened in alarm. He muttered a few words under his breath, too soft for Sakura to hear. "It hasn't seen us yet. Let's keep on moving," he instructed, guiding them toward a cluster of trees and bushes. As they distanced themselves from the demon, the miasma began to thin out slightly.
When they finally reached the cover of the trees, the building behind them collapsed with a deafening crash, sending up a massive cloud of dust filled with miasma. Sakura quickly covered her mouth with her arm, turning away to avoid inhaling the hazardous fumes. They couldn't make a sound; the demon might hear them and track their location.
In the shelter of the trees, Sakura and Itachi crouched low, laying Kakashi on the ground and remaining as silent as possible. Their hearts pounded in their chests as they waited, hoping the demon hadn't detected their presence.
The soft wind brought some relief, clearing away some of the dust and miasma. Nature seemed to reject the invading presence, pushing it back with the gentle breeze. Sakura cautiously lowered her arm and took a careful breath of the fresher air. The miasma was still present, but it was much lighter than before. Peering through the bushes, she observed the ruins of the building they had just escaped. A pile of rubble was all that remained, the fireplace standing as a stark reminder of what was once there. Sakura scanned the surroundings, but the massive demon seemed to have vanished.
Itachi silently crouched beside her, his eyes scanning the area. He mouthed, "Can't find it," while gesturing towards the building and the village beyond. "We can't go back the way we came."
Sakura nodded in agreement. The idea of retracing their steps through the village while carrying Kakashi, vulnerable to any potential attack, was far from appealing. "So, around?" she suggested, her eyes wandering towards the trees surrounding the village. The trees offered little cover, but it might be their only chance to move without being noticed. With Kakashi's condition, they couldn't afford to run quickly, so stealth would be their best defense.
Itachi agreed, but instead of getting up, he settled down and reached for his backpack. He pulled out a bottle of water, taking a moment to observe the darkening sky. The setting sun still cast a big, orange hue on the horizon, and the first stars were beginning to twinkle overhead. The moon hadn't risen yet, and Sakura knew it wouldn't provide much light, having been a new moon just two nights ago.
Approaching Kakashi's side, Sakura carefully checked his pulse, finding it still weak, and she was concerned about the color of his face. Gently running her hand through his hair, she used a bit of chakra to sense for any signs of internal bleeding, fearing the worst. Thankfully, she didn't detect any major injuries.
As darkness enveloped them, Sakura mentally prepared for the long journey back to the harbor village. Knowing it would take most of the night, and perhaps part of the morning too, she was determined to get Kakashi to safety on time, barring any unexpected obstacles. Despite a nagging voice at the back of her mind telling her it was all going too smoothly, she dismissed it, focusing solely on Kakashi's well-being.
Itachi handed Sakura something to eat, and she accepted it without sparing a glance, her focus still fixed on Kakashi. The passing years had left their mark on him, yet he retained that familiar essence she cherished. Closing her eyes, Sakura leaned back against the supportive tree trunk. Five years had come and gone, but her feelings for him remained steadfast.
Beside her, Itachi began preparing to move. He closed his backpack and slung it over his shoulders, scanning the village and its surroundings with a watchful eye. The absence of any sign of the menacing demon that had attacked them was eerie. It seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving behind an eerie calm.
Sakura rose silently, standing next to Itachi as they surveyed the area together. Her trust in his decision-making gave her a sense of security, and she patiently waited for him to choose their course of action.
"Let's go," he finally said, his voice steady and resolute.
TBC
