Chapter 8

"Temari, let go!" Gaara's voice is just as menacing as the first time I heard him speak. He's livid.

I finally caught up to Hidan, Temari, and Shikamaru, a few blocks from where everything had gone down, with Ino being shot and Gaara being captured. The redhead's struggle hasn't ceased in the slightest. The Subaku sister seemed to be putting her all into not losing her hold on her little brother's wrists. My controller noticed it too.

"Would you like me to subdue him? My host is powerful."

Dark green eyes flashed in my direction, as dull as can be, "My host is a close relative to this human. He will not harm her."

As the words left her mouth, I knew them to be true. Sure, Gaara's trying to free his wrists from her tight grip, but I know he can lash out much more strongly. He's not doing it because he doesn't want to hurt his sister. Months ago, he wouldn't have hesitated, but ever since the group of us escaped the asylum, the Subaku trio has lightened up and gotten closer.

Our hostage turned his neck swiftly to shoot a dangerous glare my way, but he didn't say a word as he was shoved forward.

"I'm so sorry, Gaara…I wish I could do something to help, but I'm barely staying awake right now," I mentally sent my apologies his way.

Stealing the controls just minutes ago to save Ino's life took everything out of me. This exhaustion is akin to what had me fainting and bedridden for days after healing Sasuke and Hinata in Otogakure.

The remainder of our journey back to the town hall was relatively uneventful. Since the goddamn leech inside me announced that I'll be punished, I've been hypothetically shaking in my boots. Add the terror to my lack of energy, and I can't even fathom asking questions or trying to steal the reins again.

When we arrived at our destination, we went straight upstairs. Temari and Shikamaru both had to hold Gaara's hands as they shoved him through the massive double doors leading to the primary office: The Meishu's headquarters.

When the redhead laid eyes on Matsuri, his fighting and resistance ceased. Even I was taken aback by his heartbroken voice when he said her name, so I know the others in the room must be, too, and just can't outwardly show it. Or so I thought.

Matsuri's in there, fighting like hell. For a split second, I saw her. The dull sheen on her pretty brown eyes melted to reveal gut-wrenching fear, disbelief, and rage. As quickly as the expression arose, it faded into the blank and dull one from before.

"If you don't cease your resistance, I'll kill him right now."

God, if I could cringe, I would. Her voice is even more hoarse than yesterday, but that's not the worst part. The bare skin of her stomach, arms, hands, and face is so deathly pale that she's beginning to look like a walking corpse. I bet she's in agonizing pain right now. If she doesn't have hypothermia yet, I'll be surprised.

Someone needs to do something soon, or she won't make it. She might already have irreversible damage to some of her nerves.

"You've been brought here today because this host's memories of you intrigue me."

To say I was stunned would be putting it lightly. Gaara was just hunted down in the streets like an animal because The Meishu's interested in his relationship with Matsuri.

Since when do these things care about human emotions? The way I was threatened with such horrible torture methods just solidified the notion that they don't give a damn about our feelings, so why's The Meishu different? Why does he want to know more about it?

"What the hell? This has nothing to do with finding your precious plants! Tell them to let Gaara go!" My weak outburst was ignored.

The Subaku boy argued with Matsuri, back and forth, for multiple minutes, and the tension in the room quickly rose. Eventually, The Meishu seemed to have had enough and threatened to kill Matsuri if he didn't obey. Then, Gaara ceased all resistance.

The desperation on his face left me stunned. He's never been so expressive and has definitely never been obedient to anyone other than…

Oh.

Of course.

It's Matsuri.

All those weeks of putting herself in danger's path in an attempt to break through his walls began paying off when she came forward to rescue him at the asylum. Everyone else, me included, was too frightened he would try to murder them, even his siblings. Matsuri somehow managed to tame him, for lack of better words. I didn't know things were this serious, though.

I know they like each other. It's easy to see it when they're together. Gaara looks at Matsuri in a way that he looks at no one else, like the universe is in her eyes. She looks at him with evident acceptance, understanding, and pride.

Despite all that, I still can't wrap my head around how different this Gaara is from the one I met at The Program. Hell, he wasn't even like this in Oto! Not to this degree, at least.

When we all met up in Konoha at the college, Matsuri was so severely injured that I was tempted to neglect my health and offer to try to heal her. I would've, too, if Sasuke and Ino both hadn't forbidden me from it.

Gaara wasn't the only one to act as a bodyguard for her, though. The other two men that'd been traveling with them, Kiba and Kankuro, also gave off such a protective aura that no one dared ask the one question we all wanted an answer to, and that is this: What the hell happened? It must've been something truly awful to cause such a drastic change in someone like Gaara.

As I thought about it, everyone's changed, me included.

Before all this, Ino was the type not even to consider long-term dating, but by the time we arrived in Oto, she was talking about marriage with Sai. Sure, she might not have been one hundred percent serious, but she'd never even joked about the topic before then.

Then there's Hinata. She was so stoic and unapproachable when we first met her. I wouldn't say she was rude or mean because that wasn't the case, but she didn't roll out the welcome mat for anyone who approached her. Now, she's often made it known that she's ready and willing to fight for us all like we're her family. For someone so shy, she's also quite brave.

And Sasuke, he's changed too.

I now know that his off-putting persona for the entire length of The Program was a facade. He was trying to convince me that he wasn't interested in approaching me to reassure me that I was not in danger of being attacked. Sure, his method was questionable at best, but no one's ever claimed him to be a fantastic actor. Only Sai and maybe Naruto knew his true personality back then, but now he lets almost everyone see it.

Some of his grumpy attitudes are actually accurate, and he has a notoriously short temper, just like me, but he also has a sense of humor. Above all else, he's extremely caring. I thought to myself on our way to the Uchiha compound that he's not sweet or devoted, but I was wrong.

Sasuke tries to hide it because he's rather bashful, another personality trait he attempts to mask, but he's fantastic. He's someone who contradicts himself but in a good way. For example, he often teases me about my appearance, be it my flat chest, pink hair, or something else, but he also showers me with compliments when we're alone. He tells me I'm beautiful and loves every part of me just the way I am.

I hold the same sentiment for him. It's easy to say that when he looks like some kind of sex god, but I mean his personality, too. Sasuke can be annoying, stubborn, and sometimes downright rude, but he wouldn't be Sasuke if he lost those traits.

I love him. I love all of him, and I hope he knows it.

"Please assist me. My host requires intimidation."

My attention snapped back into focus, and I realized I wasn't even in The Meishu's big office anymore. I'd gotten so lost in my thoughts that I zoned out. How long has it been? It feels like I missed at least a couple of hours.

Deidara and Sasori stood before me, eyes dull as though they were not alive, but both agreed.

"Please don't do this! I only fought because my friend was dying!"

My feet took step after step, calmly, as the two turned and began leading me to a part of the building I hadn't seen before.

"I issued multiple warnings. Disobedience is unacceptable, and you must be punished, or you will surely resist me again."

We traveled through a few hallways before entering a room that would've made my stomach churn if it could've. The room had no furniture other than a metal chair with thick shackles on the back of it and a table with many different weapons on top. Unbelievable terror petrified me to the core. What's about to happen… I might not make it out of this alive. I thought I could at least hold on until my friends can get the samples here, but now I'm unsure.

"W-What the fuck? Let me go! You can't do this!"

I could feel him then, Sasuke. The bond was still muffled, but it was unmistakably him. He's still angry, of course, but he's more concerned and frightened than anything else. Then the emotional link faded. My legs moved and took me right over to the chair, where I sat down and allowed Deidara to clasp the thick metal shackles around my wrists behind my body on the back of the chair.

Tears welled up in my eyes despite my not meaning to steal control. My feelings of dread must be so strong that even that creature can't wholly hold them back. Was that the last thing Sasuke and I will ever feel from one another? Is what happened in the streets earlier the last time I'd see any of my friends' faces?

"I will heal the damage, so do not hesitate."

Sasori stood before me, looking at the weapons table as though pondering which one he should use first, but his light brown eyes betrayed no emotion, "Understood."

A loud bang echoed through the room, and blood splattered through the air, namely the side of my face and Sasori, who was standing slightly more than an arm's length away. My ears rang for multiple seconds before a wild pain erupted in my shoulder that I hadn't felt in a long time.

My head turned, and I saw Deidara had shot a hole right through my shoulder. I'm sure he could see from where he's crouched to the other side. It's excruciating, but it's still not the worst pain I've ever felt, so I mentally grit my teeth and endure. Like hell I'm going to give in and beg these monsters for mercy after just one bullet.

"This body has a high pain tolerance. Do not hold back."

After picking up a dagger, Sasori seemed to hesitate briefly. A tiny gleam of resistance met his eye before he lost it again and knelt in front of me, studying my face for a moment before stabbing the blade deep into my thigh. A small cry of pain managed to shake from my mouth, but he didn't even pause.

Red began to coat my vision as I got angry. "I'm going to kill every last one of you!"

Some kind of movement came into my peripheral vision, but my eyes were locked onto the knife in my thigh, and I couldn't move them. Moments passed when nothing happened, but I sensed both Deidara and Sasori moving nearby. Suddenly my hair was pulled out of my face with so much force that my head was yanked back. I looked up to see it was Deidara, but I couldn't focus on him for long because Sasori held my face with one hand and brought a knife closer and closer with the other.

"N-No! Stop!" I managed to squeak out as I tried to control the rest of my body, but it was futile.

The blade ran slowly, at a pace nearly as agonizing as the pain it was causing, down the left side of my face. It began at my forehead, continued down to my jaw, and then down my neck to stop just above my collarbone. Somehow, they managed not to cut my eyelid or eye. Heavy breaths panted from me as I tried and failed not to react to the torture.

When my hair was released, my head fell forward, tears and blood rolling heavily down my face as I sobbed. All was silent momentarily before Sasori asked, "Do we continue?"

Inwardly, I screamed, yelled, and hollered, "No!" but my lips didn't match it, "She is fighting me currently."

Suddenly, a severe pain shot through my side. When my eyes opened to see the damage, it took every part of me not to give up right then and there. Deidara's holding a thin sword, a rapier, I think, and it slid into my body just under my ribcage. My spine straightened on instinct as though trying to move my organs around so the blade wouldn't hit them.

"Stop! Stop it! I don't think I can heal a wound like that!"

The blonde man didn't hear my plea and likely would've ignored it if he had anyway. He shoved the blade further into my body until the tip cut through the skin near my left hip, but he still didn't stop. No, he kept going until the hilt was close to touching my skin. Then he let go and took a step back to view his work.

This… This is it. Nothing has ever felt like this: not getting the living hell beaten out of me, not desperately healing myself after getting shot and pulling myself from the brink of death, and not even being tortured once a day for two months straight at the asylum. I'll happily do all those things again, multiple times at that, if it means I can make this agony go away and never return.

A scream so shrill and chilling flooded my chest, and I don't even know how I managed to do it in my deliria. My ability to comprehend what was happening slipped in and out. I stopped screaming only when my breath ran out, but inhuman sounds of anguish dusted the air.

Immediately, a familiar burning sensation came about at every point of contact the weapon had with my body: entry, exit, and internal. The creature's making me try to keep myself alive so it can keep using my body when this is all said and done.

Deidara and Sasori stared at me in silence for a moment, watching me writhe in agony before the former spoke, "Would you like us to-" The door opening cut him off to reveal Kisame and Hidan, who motioned for the two men to come closer so they could speak.

Left with nothing, no pride, no escape plan, I desperately begged through the unstoppable cries of pain, "P-Please, Hidan! Help me!"

I thought I was okay with dying here. I felt that as long as I could somehow help my friends, it'd all be worth it, and I could part with no regrets, but I was utterly wrong. I'm not ready to go. There's so much I want to do, so much left to experience.

Violet eyes widened slightly, and he turned to meet my gaze. The three nearby gave him a more expansive space, obviously fearing the creature inside him had lost control.

"Saku…ra…I-" Hidan's forced voice cut off, and the awareness left his features as he lost his grip.

The two new arrivals relayed some sort of message to Deidara and Sasori, and then the four of them left after informing me that they'll return in just a few moments.

That's when the very last bit of my hope fell away, and my heart sank in my chest. It's so cold in here, but my entire body's sweating. Salty tears mixed with the massive amount of blood leaking from all the wounds except the one caused by the sword they left inside me. It seems my abilities are still too limited, and the creature can only focus on one at a time, so they chose the fatal one. It weighed down my left eye, and I couldn't open it any longer as a result.

Just as I was about to give up and try fighting to stop the healing so I could simply die and escape this torment, I felt him: Sasuke. He's frantic wherever he is. Despite the muffled sensation, his worry is damn near overwhelming. Can he sense me, too, right now? Please tell me he can't feel this helplessness. Tell me he isn't picking up on my desire to end it all because it'll break his heart. He'll hate me for the rest of his life.

Suddenly, his bitter expression after I froze up while fighting at the Gosei factory in Iwa came to mind. He was beyond pissed that day because I nearly let myself get hurt. Guilt boiled in my stomach, coiling around the thin blade there. If he saw me now, cowering and being brought to the point of begging for mercy… I'd never be able to face him again.

Inspiration keeps slipping through my fingers, though. My mental strength was already weak when we returned to the town hall, and I couldn't even move my body. There's nothing I can do anymore. It's a bitter kind of funny how weak I feel right now when I might physically be one of the strongest in the world. This powerless feeling is something I've never experienced before, even in that alleyway years ago when I was jumped.

"Answer honestly. Will you continue to resist me?" It sounded like I was trying to be condescending but didn't have the energy to make it stick.

The thought of Sasuke witnessing my show of weakness, I bit back, "You'll kill me before I give up!"

"I did not want to resort to the alternative method of punishment, but it appears I have no other choice."

"We'll both die before they can do anything, so go ahead." My strong defiance is a laughable facade.

The thing responded, I think, but I couldn't focus on it.

Every breath was more ragged than the last, and I could feel how hard my body was working to heal itself around the sword enough that blood won't start filling my lungs or leak too much and cause me to bleed to death. My skill's focus was on that wound, so the others were bleeding freely.

Even through a muffled ringing, I could hear a massive "boom!" nearby. Hell, the ground even shook as a result of it. The noise came from the direction of the entrance to the building.

As I gasped for air and pleaded with myself not to start begging this monster inside me for relief, I suspected it was an explosion. If I try to ask about it, I might lose focus and fall into screams again, so I kept my teeth grit tightly. Not even a minute later, the unmistakable sound of fighting began to fill the air from the same direction the explosion had come.

Before I could grasp even a glimmer of hope that maybe my friends were trying to rescue us all, my mouth was moving with words that weren't my own, "We are in danger."

I struggled to respond, "Huh?"

"I am losing the ability to continue healing and cannot break the cuffs."

Has it even been trying to bust us out? I can't recall. All I've been able to process correctly is this white-hot burn spreading through my body. The thing's right, though. I can feel it, too, my energy fading fast. Those two were supposed to come back to make sure I don't die, and whatever's going on out there is obviously preventing them from doing so.

Something clicked in me then, forcing my terror and suffering to take a backseat. "Give me control. I'll break free."

"We are using the same body. It will not make a difference."

"Yes, it will! I'm stronger than you, and we both know it!"

To my surprise, my lips stopped moving, and I was given free rein of my entire body. While that means gut-wrenching screams and cries were ripping out of my chest like demons, I can prove that my mental strength isn't the only impressive thing about me.

At first, I tried to free both wrists, but I quickly realized it was impossible and changed my tactic to just one, my dominant side. In my battered and broken state, it was impossible to use both abilities simultaneously, so all my wounds, including the impalement, were bleeding fast and freely.

The coppery taste of my blood rose in my throat as I fought against the metal cuff. Finally, it snapped open, and I refused to falter.

Tears poured down my face as I dug my nails into the back of my neck and forcefully ripped the damn disgusting leech from beneath my skin. The icy pain amplified to the point that I saw stars, but I kept going until it was parted entirely from me. It took the last bit of my energy, and my arm fell lifelessly to my side, the creature hitting the linoleum with a sickening "plop!".

As I looked down at my pulverized body, I choked on the blood pooling in my throat, but I couldn't stop the bittersweet victorious feeling from taking the edge off my dread. I said I was going to kill the thing, and I did. This is my last day alive. That much is clear, but I fucking did it.

Fuck all of this.

There's no way I'm going out with something like that inside me. I'm dying soon, probably in the next few minutes, and I will do it without another being marring my last moments of life.

I tried my best not to move a single muscle as I stared down at the sword's hilt and attempted to remain calm so my blood won't pump even more quickly. It's kind of hard not to panic when you're looking at something so awful, though. On top of that, the white floor under the chair I'm shackled to starkly contrasts the deep, dark color of my blood dripping down to pool around me.

Like a limb falling asleep, an odd sensation began to plague the tips of my fingers and toes, creeping ever so slowly into my feet and hands. To save every ounce of consciousness I could, I finally gave up trying to heal and allowed my body to release all tension.

Just a few more minutes now, and this will all be over. All the pain and suffering will end, and nothing will matter anymore: not humanity's struggle, not my existence, and not my heart shattering into a million little pieces in my chest.

My head fell slightly to the side, and I closed my usable eye to focus on taking slow, steady breaths. It's useless, all of it. As I let the blood in my mouth fall from my lips, I cried in silence. None of these thoughts are bringing me any solace. It won't change that I didn't get to say goodbye to anyone. It won't make it so that I won't die alone.

…I'm scared…

The door suddenly slammed open loudly, and a voice that sounded like heaven met my ears even though I couldn't understand a word, successfully disturbing my slow descent. Sasuke and Kiba rushed toward me. My eye widened in disbelief, and they both mirrored the wordless sentiment.

The Uchiha man knelt in front of me with his hands reaching out as though he wanted to help, but they stayed hovered inches away as he took in the sorry state of my body. "Sakura…"

My tears and struggle to breathe through my blood picked up. Sasuke shouldn't have to see me like this, not at all but especially not while I'm still alive. There's nothing they can do to save me now. I, of all people, know that's a fact. He will live traumatized for the rest of his life, and it's all my fault.

"She took it out!"

Kiba seemed to be pointing out the dead being on the ground, but I couldn't look away from Sasuke's beautiful, heartbroken face. The Inuzuka man's realization seemed to snap him out of his trance, though, and he pulled my free hand into both of his, "Are you with us?"

My eye lazily turned to our hands, only to be distracted by the picture of the knife. Sasuke's gaze followed, and a low, anguished sound rumbled from his chest before he squeezed my hand almost too firmly, "Tell me what to do, Sakura, and I'll do it. Just hurry up and tell me."

Kiba's voice came behind me as he tried to free my other wrist. I can tell he's crying by the unsteady timbre of it, "If you take them out, she's gonna bleed out."

Sasuke barked back, "She's already bleeding out! What else can we do?"

The shackle finally loosened, and my left arm fell lifelessly to my side. Kiba came around to gently lift my face in his hands, minding the gushing slash on the left side of my face. I was right. He's crying so hard. I'm surprised he hasn't given in and just broken into sobs yet.

Before anyone could say or do anything else, his eyes widened, and he turned to look at the door, voice low and unsure, "Ino and Sai are coming."

A ragged gasp passed my lips, and I coughed, pulling my head from Kiba's grasp so I wouldn't splatter blood all over him. The air stuck in the thick liquid coating my throat, and my chest heaved as I tried to tell him no.

"Don't let Ino see this. It'll be bad," Thank God Sasuke knows how to read me, even in this situation.

Kiba looked down at me again, and his brow furrowed as he wiped his tears fervently. I tried with all my might to emote my need for him to intercept my best friend. She'll never recover if she sees me like this. The image will burn right into the backs of her eyelids and haunt her for life.

Surprisingly, Kiba kissed my head before rushing back out of the room. I watched until the door closed behind him when Sasuke suddenly spoke firmly, "I'm starting. Get ready."

The blade in my knee was removed in an instant. My eyes squeezed closed tightly, but at this point, I could not offer a further reaction. When the mind-numbing sting mellowed just enough to open my good eye again, I looked at Sasuke and refused to look away. This is the last time I will have the honor of being in his presence. After this, we'll be apart forever, so I want to grasp every second I can and commit it to memory.

That said, the man before me barely even looks like Sasuke anymore. He's usually so sure of himself, so composed, but that person isn't here now. Typically solid and focused eyes are now darting anxiously, packed to the brim with utter helplessness. Confident hands are now trembling and coated almost entirely with my blood.

His brow furrowed when he grasped the sword's hilt, and I tried to straighten my spine to aid him but could barely manage it. The rapier was pulled so swiftly from my midsection that I didn't even have time to blink. A scream so awful that I'm surprised I had the energy left to emit such a thing ripped out of me, tearing through the blood and the tears like a saw-blade.

The metal object clattered loudly to the floor as I fell forward, but Sasuke grabbed my wrists tightly and shoved my hands against my bloody skin. My forehead hit his shoulder, and I sobbed weakly. I could feel the blood from my face and mouth dripping onto him, making my stomach churn.

"Heal yourself."

His tone was so firm it almost sounded angry, but I knew better. In reality, his composure is seconds away from crumbling. He's only trying to come off that way, so I'll feel more inclined to obey.

Loud sounds were floating around us, but the thick fog lifting into my head blocked most of it out. I focused on healing with my hands to my torso, but I knew it would not be enough. It's too late.

My breathing picked up when I realized the fog was a sign that I would soon pass out. I have to say goodbye now while I still have the chance. The raw and choked voice that struggled from my lips was more akin to that of a zombie from a horror film than my own, "I'm…s-so sorry…."

A strangled sound heaved within his chest as he undoubtedly tried to keep it together and growled out, "Don't you fucking dare. I'll never forgive you, I swear it."

He told me the exact same thing once, when I got shot in Oto and couldn't stay awake long enough to heal myself. Sasuke had picked me up despite having an injured arm and carried me for hours and hours until we were out of harm's way, but before that, he threatened me as he did just now. He means it, too, I'm sure.

It hurt like hell, but I kept trying to heal, which prevented me from responding lest I lose consciousness. The pressure around my wrists tightened immensely, and I was shoved hard enough that my body was pushed against the chair. My head fell back lifelessly before rolling to the side, the motion bringing sickening dizziness with it.

I managed to open my eye just long enough to see Sasuke's awful, heartbroken look before it became too heavy and fell closed again, "Don't do this. You promised!"

Oh, God. I did. When we first connected while asleep the other night, I told him I wasn't leaving him. I told him he didn't need to worry.

Please, grant me one more glimpse before I go. It'll take the edge off of the bitterness. I know it.

The fingers around my wrists loosened to the point that I could feel them trembling, and then I fell forward. Sasuke caught me, and I sensed him maneuvering me so he could cup my face in his hand, "Sakura…Baby, please don't…."

The slightest bit of the fogginess gave way, so I could comprehend that he was crying. His voice sounded so distant, so far away, but the waver and shake in it was undeniable. Lord, I'll give anything to embrace him right now, to tell him something, anything, to try and make it better. I simply can't do it, though. I could only listen to him try to choke back his sobs as he pressed his forehead to mine and held me close.

This sound is the worst thing I've experienced in my life. It's torture far more effective than what got me into this sorry state. I'll take a thousand swords to my flesh with a smile before willingly causing him to hurt like this, to sound so completely broken.

My ability to hear, smell, and feel faded while a faint burning warmed the pit of my stomach. At the last moment of my consciousness, I felt my body being released, and then that was it.

How long will it take for something to happen now that I'm dead?

Is anything going to happen at all?

What if I'm stuck here in a hot vat of emptiness and pain for the rest of eternity?

Somehow, I'll have to be okay with it because there's no other choice. It's not like I can do something to change my fate now. I'm dead, never coming back.

At least my friends made it to the town hall. I have to believe they brought the samples with them, so there's still a possibility things will end semi-peacefully. Plus, Sasuke's face was the last one I got to see. At least I didn't die alone in that awful room.

…

Who in the actual fuck do I think I'm kidding?

I'm not okay with this, not at all. I don't want to be dead. I've never been more terrified in my life. I want to go home, and I want to go right now. I want…

It wasn't what I expected when I tried to picture my biggest desire, the thing I long to see one last time above anything else. I thought it'd be my home in Suna, my parents outside with their arms open and welcoming, but no. Instead, it's a warm memory of Sasuke's sleeping face.

That night in Iwagakure, when we surprised ourselves by discovering we actually love one another, I woke up at some point and was completely enamored by his peaceful expression. I remember so clearly laying there for who knows how long, unable to tear my eyes away. While we were awake, I'd concluded that I'd fallen for him, but as I studied his unguarded face that night, I realized it wasn't some lukewarm affection.

No, my love for him is so overwhelming that it can bring me to tears if I sit and think about it for too long. Maybe my subconscious knew I'd need such a comforting image and forced me to burn it into my mind. I don't know, but I'm glad I saw him like that.

So I'm dead, sad, and I have a million regrets.

At least I got to experience love and passion, and friendship. If this is forever, if this molten hot boiling pit of nothing is all I have left, I'll pass the time remembering my wonderful friends, family, and Sasuke Uchiha.

…Am I actually in hell?

It's so sweltering hot. The pain hadn't dulled in the slightest, but the temperature kept rising higher and higher, enveloping my entire body until it suddenly began to burn. No, I think the heat's coming from inside me, somehow. Waves of boiling, blistering magma flooded through me as though inside my very blood. It seemed like minutes, hours, and maybe even days had passed in the scorching fire before a gunshot sounded loud, and my eyes shot open.

Wait a second. I'm…alive?

Blood dripped from my lips to the cold, sticky linoleum under my cheek as I stared, wide-eyed and dizzy.

Sasuke just took Sasori to the ground before returning to face Deidara, blood all over him and a look of uncontrollable rage about his features. The red in his eyes seemed to glow, and I could tell he was not holding back in the slightest.

Grief is what it is.

He doesn't know what else to do, how to manage the trauma and pain, so he's letting it out on the two inhabited men in here with us. When Sasori tried to get up again, Sasuke shoved Deidara back enough that he could land a hit to the redhead's face, and then it was a one-on-one fight.

The excruciating pain suddenly registered again, and my body curled in on itself, writhing and shaking as I tried to breathe through it. It's so fucking hot in here that I can't tell if it's sweat or blood running down my skin. If it's blood, then my being awake now is a fluke because the pool of my life force under me doesn't seem humanly possible.

I gasped for breath as I forced my eye down to inspect my thigh. Yeah, the stab wound is still there, so what's going on? How am I alive right now? I winced as my fingers danced shakily to move the cloth above it so I could see more clearly, and then I realized what had happened. It's still bleeding, but it's not even a quarter as deep as the last time I saw it.

This heat burning me so harshly must be my body healing itself. Orochimaru never said I'd have the same level of regeneration as Hidan. All he said was that I could heal others, so how? It doesn't matter how. The proof is right before my eyes. Whether by accident or not, I was given the ability to heal awful wounds like these without even being conscious.

A sickening sound, like twigs snapping, met my ears, and I looked back up to see that Sasuke had broken one of Deidara's legs. He wasn't stopping, though. No, he's going in for more, even though the blonde man was barely managing to remain upright.

Horror pulled me back to Earth as I realized he might be so out of it, so lost in his anguish that he could kill one or both of them without realizing it until it was too late. I tried to say his name but choked on the blood, still running my throat ragged. Even after swallowing, I couldn't manage it.

Desperate to stop him from making a mistake he'll regret for the rest of his life, I shakily struggled upright. My hand grasped my bleeding ribs, where the sword had entered, and my arm pressed firmly around my torso as though trying to keep my insides from coming out. The moment I got halfway to my feet, I fell to my hands and knees again but forced my limbs to fight, to keep moving no matter how much it hurt.

I tried to hurry as Sasuke took Deidara to the ground, straddling his waist and hitting him repeatedly.

Finally, I got close enough to reach and fell forward heavily to wrap both arms around his raised one, his fist tight and bloody in the air as he prepared to hit the poor blonde man again. The air was knocked out of me by my own weight pressing into his arm, but I held on for dear life and refused to let go.

"Sakura!"

Sasuke climbed off of Deidara so he could pull me against him. My ability to stay awake failed before I could even look at his face, and this time I let it happen because somehow, I knew I would be okay.

I don't know how, and I don't know why, but I'm alive.