Chapter 22

The trees swayed lightly with the cool breeze, a stark contrast from the warm sunrays dancing through every little leaf. Lush green hues filled with life. You know they will wither and fall – eventually – leaving room for a rebirth.

She always found it refreshing, after a long summer season, watching the change happen right in front of her window – back home. Counting the days until the day she would drag out her long sleeves and thicker socks.

It was the truth of time. The only moment she would realise how far she had come from her younger years. – "Can I be honest with you?" – she wondered.

- "…" –

The storm in her mind had taken a turn for the better, no longer afflicting her strained body. – "Did you ever… want to die?" – her words trailing off. Trying to explain the jungle of thoughts dancing in her mind.

- "…" –

Not much of a talker.

Shaking her shoulders before laying down on the bed of grass, she wouldn't mind the silence. At this point – she welcomed it. – "I am not giving up. Not at all." – she paused for a moment, scrunching up her nose in thought. – "I don't mind it. I know it will happen. It's the only thing we know that is 100% a fact." – she chuckled. – "Now I sound like the Nara." –

- "…" –

- "Are you upset about it?" – she thought, maybe her words not good enough to understand. her intentions weren't to upset anyone. – "You can tell me, or I'll continue to ramble until you're tired of me." – she turned to them, noting their pristine white robes and flawless skin. Their expression as emotionless as always, as if they had not a single care in the world. Turning to her uniform, a much-needed scrub, and her well-worn sandals. Her weapon pouch had seen better days and her gloves would start to tear if she were to punch another foe. Her hair had become dull from the lack of care – or conditioner. Even her skin would cry for some moisture. – "I am just jealous of you. Being dead – with no worry." –

Their gaze turned, finally connecting with her stare. – "Wake up." –

She gasped.

Another dream.

The chirping of birds in the distance pushed her awake. Her body stretching until she felt the glorious pop of her joints. The room was quiet, not too large. Old traditional walls staring back at her. The futon was comfortable enough, but she could tell this wasn't meant to be a leisurely room. When those redheads escorted – yes, she was escorted like some lost child – they made sure to keep an eye on her as if she knew where to go if she wanted to escape.

Escape what exactly?

Right, this giant labyrinth in the Soul Society. She could tell the men were disappointed with her lack of information. Not that she had much to go by.

" You need rest " they said. " We will talk tomorrow " they promised.

But it felt off.

She wanted to know them – no, she felt like she did. But not in a "we used to be friends" sort of way. Her soul sang when they approached her before her eyes could. Words couldn't express enough how frustrated she felt. They didn't talk much after she answered a few questions.

Her words souring the room and ruining the blonds enthusiasm.

Gilt gripped at her throat.

It's not like she can just spill everything she knew – or thought she knew. Her friends were still out there, that was a fact.

Alive, somewhere.

For a second, she wondered if they would look for her. That thought was brushed away quickly. Danger was not near – not for her at least. They were on a mission where she was not invited, finding someone she doubts would trust her.

Even if she could rush and broke down these walls, just to find her. Would she call her a monster? Would she run away?

- "Monster?" – she whispered to herself. – "Where have I heard that before?" – her mind was a turmoil of emotions. Memories rushed to her mind like a blur. Too quick to catch on.

"Wow! You are so strong!"

"Monstruous strength!"

"Another! Break another giant rock! Come on! Sakura!"

She flinched – her head now pounding in protest. She rubbed her forehead, then her cheeks and neck. Seeking relief.

A few moments later, she couldn't stand the enclosure anymore. Lifting the covers, she noticed her robes had changed. One of them… Gaara? He brought her some clothing. Searching in the room, she found the black garments similar to theirs. It was sturdy, soft, and comfortable. She dressed the best she could, struggling a little until she heard a knock on the door. – "Yes?" – she spoke after a few silent seconds.

The door slid open and those clear jade eyes stared at her. Then zeroed at her lame attempt at the Shinigami robes. He didn't hesitate and closed their distance. – "Captain will make you run a thousand laps if he saw you still in bed." – he deadpanned.

Captain?

No – she thought to herself. – "I don't want to know who that is" – she worried. By this time, she knew for a fact. Ichigo Kurosaki would have caused quite a bit of anger – aside from her little "misunderstandings" with the few swordsmen that met her fists.

He hummed lightly and helped her, ignoring her attempts to do it herself. – "You can take a wooden sword." – his chine pointed to the side panel of the room, a small storage area. – "You will stick out like a sore thumb." – he turned and exited the room.

Those words had vibrated with her.

"Sakura, with that hair… you stick out like a sore thumb!"

Ignoring the slight pain, she turned – took a sword – and ran to follow behind.

The pinket tried not to stare like a creep as she fixed herself every time, she notices the way the other Shinigami behaved or carried themselves. Some staired a little. She did stick out like a sore thumb.

- "You think their dating?" –

- "Shut up, he'll rip your face off." –

Some whispered. At this point, they only staired because of her – friend? – this man who quite literally took pity on her. Either these people are used to seeing new faces every day or had their head smashed enough times to even bother asking too many questions.

Gladly, she let them think she was anything but one of the intruders.

It's not like she asked to be here – that was another question in her mind.

Who brought her?

Or – what brought her?

They left what seemed to be their training and dormitory areas until a more laxed and leisure part of a town could be seen. Men and woman walked, marched, chat and snacked like this was a safe place. As if the recent events of yesterday didn't happen here. All well dressed to attack if a threat would show itself, and yet so calm.

A small little heaven compared to the training grounds they just passed by. Grumpy grunts and shouting insults of pent-up anger lashed out in sweaty activities.

Her redhead companion seemed to be comfortable here, she could tell how well he belonged. A few nods of respect and waves from other confirmed that. Another strange thought came to her – does she really belong with these people?

Those with the same song in their souls?

She wanted to ask them questions, trying her best to catalogue from the most important to the lest important.

Turmoil grew in her soul. Her mother would scold her for this. However, she was not back home. This place was safe, at least safe enough if she keeps her thoughts to herself and her chin down.

- "Almost there" – he provided. Waking her up from her thoughts.

- "Wait." – her hand reached for his sleeve. Stopping him on his tracks. As if he could read her thoughts, he pointed at an empty alleyway. Giving her a few moments to collect herself, he nodded for her to start. – "I just." – her hands fidgeted with the long sleeves. Turning away and unable to keep the eye contact. – "I don't understand…" – she trailed off.

Finally, turning back at him, she noted the slight concern on his face turning into an understanding smirk.

Her heart skipped.

This expression of his felt so rare – out of his character – whoever she had met before. Years upon years had separated their memories into a thin vail that casted a stormy could on them.

Gloomy and melancholic.

- "You won't remember everything." – he spoke, trying to keep their conversation between them. A low rumble compared to her nervous burst from earlier. – "I saw recognition, albeit for a moment before you began to panic." – he smirked.

She gasped at the knowledge. He was having fun when she was captured. – "hey!" – she wanted to protest. He stretched his hand, reminding her to keep it quiet. – "Sorry" – she grumbled.

His humour lasted a few seconds. – "Never the quiet one, Sakura." – he joked before returning to the subject. – "Give it some time. You'll go mad forcing yourself." – and with that, he guided her out of the alleyway. – "This is one of the main roads that connect other Gotei from one another. Don't get in trouble." – he mocked her.

How dare he!

Finally, he stopped in front of a large set of wooden doors. A giant gate leading into a courtyard of sort. A couple of girls walked out with baskets filled with herbs. A young-looking man bumped into her holding another basket. – "Sorry!" – he shouted before rushing away.

- "What are we doing here?" – she wondered. It was a nice place. Tall perimeter walls protecting a lush garden surrounding what looked like a greenhouse at the centre.

He continued until he stopped in front of the doors, glass planes decorated with wood and lined with vines of colours. Green overpowered the view with specks of blues, reds, yellows, and other colours blurred. She wished to see the inside. – "We are here to meet your friend." – he mentioned, before pushing the door open.

Confusion married her face. What friend? She couldn't see anyone inside she knew. Only a few men pushing around some heavy pots and a woman working on a table. Her long blond hair trailing down her shoulders.

Her feet moved on their own. There was something in that room she had to reach. A feeling of sorrow that reminded her about loss and tragedy. She hated how much it hurt – to not be able to do anything.

Nothing she could do would have avoided one of the worst memories in her life.

That lifetime of hers.

Her hand reached for the shoulder. – "What do you want this time-" – the voice stopped, turning to her in response. Those eyes she knew by memory widened with recognition.

- "Ino!" –

There's a moment in time we all forget who we used to be, the times you read through your old notes and diaries, looking back at old photos and recordings of ourselves. Only to feel like strangers in the eyes of our former selves.

What would or younger versions of ourselves tell us if they saw us?

Would they ask if we became the magical version of adulthood a child imagines?

Turning into a twisted reality that alters our mind and soul until we are tied by the strength of our growth. A thin threat of home holding us together. You can cut it – or try. But those dreams came from our perception of the world.

You can never change that.

That is what made her who she was. Ino Yamanaka was a hopeful child from the start. Knowing the dark reality she lived in. Her father couldn't shield her from it - Not forever.

But she understood.

She accepted it.

And that pushed her. Every time she entered someone's mind, pushing against the webs of life that held their mind together. The memories that threatened their sanity and the walls they built. There was always a small child crying for attention – begging to be loved.

Her friends would think of her as just another girl who knew what she wanted, and no one could touch her. Her emotions were controlled as to build those walls to shield her vulnerability. She was seen as weak, useful for her people to play with people's minds and body to her will.

Controlling them.

At the end of they day, she still had a will to fight.

At first, she wanted to follow her father's footsteps and become whoever she was supposed to be to help her village. She had a position waiting for her. It gave her power, respect, and a future to look forward to.

Until…

She realised something she was missing.

When she met a little pinket who had the exact same thing as she did - on the opposite spectrum. Someone who gave it all up to become a person to be proud of their own accomplishments. Breaking the mold she was placed in even before she was born.

Because – in the world they were born in – you find two settings. You are either born to die as a soldier or die as a worker.

Women born from powerful bloodlines that place them into a position of respect and desired by others from the same position to breed and crate the next generation of strong and accomplished fighters.

Or.

Women born to work hard and create the very foundation of a home that welcomes the next generation of hard workers and prospects.

Women born to bring a future.

Too bad she met her end before even leaving anything behind.

Sakura Haruno was the factor that pushed her to become better. It made perfect sense to a clan's child to train, eat well and protect people like her. The weaker population that tied the world together. The workers who woke up early every day to farm the food on their plate. The doctors and nurses who worked and studied tirelessly to heal her wounded comrades. The women and children who walked their streets with laughter and happiness every day she ventured out of her home.

The people who visited her mother's flower shop and made her mother smile with glee with stories and gossip while her father was given a colder response with strained smiles and nervous bows. He never complained, always telling her these where the people who make their world. He would die to protect them.

Ino would be born in her clan and only be allowed to marry someone who wouldn't push her away from her birthright.

Sakura was meant to be free and live a life of safety. Mary whoever she wanted and make her future as she pleased.

That is why she felt jealous and a little frustrated at her from the beginning. Even though some children would come from humble households and a lack of knowledge, they still had a small flow of civilian children training to become – or wish to become – like her.

Unfortunately, that would irritate clan members. Imagine having a funeral almost every week to a few times a month to tend to – all members of many clans who were killed in battle, some never found again. Only to see the civilian population moving along like that didn't matter.

She wished they would at least pay some respect, give them a welcoming smile. Some would, but not all.

But Sakura wouldn't hurt her bullies. The smaller child with a weaker body was the met with the anger of generational frustration. Children are more honest, but a clan members child had to be different. Stay quiet and hold back tears.

It became a game for them, to see her cry and react the way they all wanted to.

Surprisingly, she had the brightest smile when her parents picked her up, holding up her small wounds like a medal for surviving another day at training. Gushing over the teachers being strong and smarter than anyone she had ever met.

And every morning, she would come in like yesterday was a good day and today she would learn something that would make her stronger – smarter.

That's why the little blond decided to approach her, find out what pushed her. How was she so happy?

And to this day, she never regrated pushing those buttons on her friend. Making her an ally even as their friendship was pushed and shoved from those dreams and hopes they shared. Ideas that clashed over a hopeful idea of their future.

What a stupid thing.

But those were the better days. Having the chance to meet her friend hand to hand and build their connection stronger like no other. Make their time wasted into a learning curve. She found it annoying and yet endearing how much she still believed in her team – even as it was falling apart and crushing the pinket.

Ino was there - for every cut, bruise, broken bone, and every tear. She was her shoulder to cry on, her laughing companion and the only person who would bring out the girly and needy aspect that brought them back to their childlike selves. Being together was like being children again.

It was the best thing about getting back home from a long trip, a heavy workday, or another boring day between her clan walls. She would drag her best friend and become free to say or do anything they wanted knowing they would never truly hurt or abandon each other.

And the day she pushed Sakura to go on with her work and let her stay at the medical bay – to trust that everything would be fine – was the day it all end.

For both of them.

Ino would never forgive herself. At least she could say her death was fast, easy and painless. The shockwave pushed her hard and she didn't even realise she was dead and wondering about on the debris of the tents, beds, and medical equipment – aside from the fallen bodies of her comrades – until she heard the blood curling scream of none other than her best friend. A few yards away from where she once stood healing another injured man. Ino found herself staring at her body, cold and lifeless, being held by a crying Sakura.

The explosion had caused a smoke screen that blurred her vision and covered the land on a thick layer of death and destruction.

Her eyes wondered until she noted she was fine. Dressed in white and pristine robes and no shoes. But her feet didn't hurt. Her hair was clean and silky. Her skin unscratched and her lungs clear.

The body wasn't.

Her mind felt as if the world had fallen into a madness she wouldn't be able to wake up from. Until the pinket lifted her head and staired right at her.

Both pairs of eyes connected by surprise.

And now she found herself staring at those green emeralds once more – just like that day. She was just like she remembered her. Albeit her hair was longer, she dressed those dark robes tied to her body and holding a sword – that looked a little fake in her opinion – and a mouth agape. This was her Sakura.

Her haze washed by every single emotion – remembering who she was and what they lived through and even after.

She hugged her, tightly. – "Please be real." – she whispered to her friend, wishing away the dark thoughts of the past. Hoping this was a good thing. – "Sakura?" – holding her gaze, she kept her standing still in front of her, her hands gripping at her friends shoulders. – "How did you get here?" – but her answer was behind the pinket. A knowing smile marking the soft features of one of the bloodiest men she had ever met. A man who caused fear to entire villages from a very young age. Gaara of The Sand held a promise he could finally complete.

When they both wondered aimlessly in the death of war, wearing the white robes that the living couldn't see. Anger had washed over their gazes on that day. The hate they embraced as a hopeful soul sacrificed themselves to set them all free. He told her "We will bring her back, I promise" - He swore, as they saw the pinket give her life to that Godforsaken tree that threatened to eat their souls.

To create a forbidden fruit that would give unimaginable power.

The day the world ended.

I decided to add more to the chapter, hope you enjoy!