sunshineverse | It happened too quickly to stop.

Entry tags:

It happened too quickly to stop.

Who: Adela Milani (

abileunaspada), Neji Hyuuga (

heavenly_earth), & OPEN (Post-event only)
Where: Several kilometers outside of Konoha, near the western border of Fire Country / Konoha Hospital
When: September 5th (late night), 6-10th
Notes: Acting on the rumors of a powerful doujutsu, an enterprising missing ninja has decided to give himself greater power to make himself more appealing to a new village. This, unfortunately, doesn't end well.
Warnings for gore, violence, and language.

It hurt so much.

Adela was panting heavily, her good eye wincing and tearing up as she watched the blood drip down to the dark and dead leaves beneath. Her hands and the kunai she found were stained with her assailant's blood; the scuffle had ended his life, but she felt so sick and dizzy - not to mention her eye stung and she didn't want to open it. And she may have gotten stabbed a couple of times as well, though the fact that she only saw blood and no other fluids was probably a good thing. Still...

Where was she?

Knocked out, taken to the middle of no where, and she had fought an angry missing nin with the intent of taking her eye based on that stupid fucking rumor. Wonderful. With a grunt she got to her feet, dizzy with blood-loss as she tried to find her way. The moon was still giving enough glow to see through the trees, but she was barely armed and had no strength left... She was going to die out here.

Damn it, she couldn't die like this! In her own frustration she slammed her fist into a nearby tree, though it didn't take her too long to cling to said tree for support. Her world was starting to become more black as well, driving her to feel even more angered and frustrated. She hadn't even gotten to catch up to him... She hadn't even gotten the chance to become Hokage... This wasn't fair! No, she had to survive, she had to... Even if it was looking more and more hopeless.

That was when she heard the rustle of branches above, and immediately Adela took the bloodied kunai in an unstable grip - one wrong move and it'd slip right out of her hand. Who was coming now, someone who was with that ninja...?

--------------------

The smell of hospitals always got to her. She sighed, feeling heavy in her bed when she finally regained full consciousness. There was an IV drip in her arm and a heavy gauze taped over her injured eye. No one had talked to her yet, save for a nurse telling her that she could have visitors. How would her eye recover, though? She didn't know, she just knew that she still felt kind of dizzy and tired.

Still, she turned towards the curtain seperating her from the rest of the room. At least she was near the window and it was sunny out, if a bit cooler than it was before. She had to wonder just who would come to visit, if anyone at all. It all happened so fast... Would anyone have even heard about what happened? She remembered someone coming for her last night, but save for possibly the Hokage...

It was probably going to be a lonely recovery, depending on how long she was in there. Damn everything. Why did someone have to act on that stupid rumor...?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Neji had barely heard any details before he'd turned on heel and headed straight out the door, Byakugan flaring to life. He took the rooftops out of the village and into the trees, following the direction the witness saw Adela being carried. By all rights, this was an ANBU assignment, but there was no time to double back to HQ and change then still have a reasonable hope of catching up.

Facts ticked off in his head as he sped through the branches. The assailant was in quite the hurry, because Neji found a solid lead within the first twenty minutes. He was rewarded with a blue glow on the edges of his vision and immediately adjusted his course. But a closer examination made him stop, dread and sick pitting his stomach as he watched something out of his own nightmares unfold.

This wasn't about Adela's Kekkei Genkai.

Rage flooded his system, chakra surging to his feet as he flew through the canopy with a burst of speed that could rival his mentor's. He could see Adela fighting now, half-blinded and throwing out desperate attacks, and he only just remembered to keep a grasp on his own surroundings before he missed a branch separating him from her.

The missing-nin was dead, and Adela was critically injured. The fresh scent of blood caught up to him just as he closed the distance. Neji landed heavily on a sturdy branch above the scene, breathing hard because unlike Gai, he couldn't keep that speed up for long. She whirled to face him, and he dropped down to the ground, holding his hands up in a peaceful gesture. Veins faded as he performed a final sweep of the area to assure the enemy shinobi had been acting alone, and everything looked so much worse in full detail.

"It's me, Adela," he soothed, despite the anger boiling under the surface. She was a wreck, covered in blood that shone deeper than her hair, a wild ferocity in her one good eye. She was heavily wounded, but the adrenaline was keeping her up for now. That made her all the more unpredictable.

"I'm here to help," he continued, taking slow, measured steps toward her. Suddenly he was grateful not to be in ANBU gear. "We need to get you to the hospital."

Edited 2014-09-01 03:59 (UTC)

"... Neji? That's you, isn't it?" Adela murmured quietly, squinting through the moonlight. She recognized the Byakugan eyes, that voice... Someone from outside of the village wouldn't have known to replicate him specifically, right? Her grip on the Kunai was shaken, torn between loosening and keeping it tight before the decision to drop it was made for her -- it slipped right out of her hand a moment later. A quiet curse and she shook her head, finally kneeling down to put pressure on the stab wound around her torso -- her arm could be ignored for now... But her torso and eye...

It was by then that her adrenaline started to fade, her willingness for the situation to just be over getting in the way of any common sense as she tried to just remain conscious then, "... You're right... Is it far?"

"Yes," he answered softly, and quickly closed the distance when her weapon dropped from her hand and she knelt to the ground to cradle her wounds. Neji crouched in front of her, pulled some hair out of her eyes to acclimate her to his touch before he tried anything else.

"It's not far," he assured. Gently, gently, there would be time for anger later. "I can get you there in under an hour."

His hands moved to his own wrists and ankles, stripping off the weights he'd forgotten about in his pursuit. He'd come back for them later, but for now he'd be carrying extra weight without them, and she needed to get back to the village as fast as he could possibly carry her. He couldn't look at her mangled eye for long, but he prayed she wouldn't lose it despite all evidence pointing to the fact that she probably would. If only he'd gotten there sooner..

Hand on her shoulder, ready to shift and support her back. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah... It really hurts," Again Adela was mumbling, taking a shaking breath before she shifted to try and get a grip on him. By all rights she should have been continuing to put pressure on her wounds instead, but she didn't know how Neji wanted to get her back to the village. Under an hour... It happened so fast, if that was the case. She wasn't knocked out for long before he had...

That missing nin had...

"He tried to take my eye... Sliced it when he found out I didn't have a doujutsu," She couldn't help shaking a little then, glancing away from Neji as she started to feel more furious with herself. How had she let it happen? It happened so fast, she had been in the main city before she was knocked out and the next thing she knew she was waking up to him trying to remove her eye... Damn it, why wasn't she strong enough to stop it!?

"I know, I'm sorry," he said, knowing there was nothing he really could've done, but wishing he'd been there regardless. "You shouldn't have had to go through that, but you're safe now."

What right did anyone have to attack someone and attempt to claim what wasn't theirs? But more than that, to attack someone as a result of a baseless rumor..

But she was grabbing onto him now, blooded hands staining white, and his eyes were drawn to her wounds. He should really try to wrap them up, but in his haste, he'd brought next to nothing except the most basic tools along with him. It was a gamble any way he thought about it, to sacrifice time for precaution. Mind made up, he shifted and got his arms underneath her, pulled her up with him as he stood.

"Stay with me, Adela," he urged, and leapt up into the trees. "We'll be home soon."

She grunted as she was pulled up, unable to help wincing as her body moved and throbbed. Instead of holding onto him she went back to putting pressure on the wound on her side, once more ignoring her arm as she used her other hand to cover her eye, leaning on him. Later she'd apologize for getting so much blood on his clothes, but at the moment she needed the support. It felt like she really was safe, and it wasn't just his words making her feel that.

"I'll try..." It was all she could say, that she'd try to stay. She really didn't want to die, but even she didn't know how much longer she'd be awake. She was feeling more and more sick, and being upright wasn't helping. But they had to get her back to the village, into the hospital so that she could be properly treated... They had to hurry. She at least understood that much, even if she was miserable and in pain then.

The veins came back to his eyes without thought, and the world inverted. Neji drove them forward, moving with as much speed as he could muster without compromising their safety. He kept up a fragmented conversation as he ran, hoping to hold her attention and focus for as long as possible, but she was fading.

Warm blood seeped into clothing and wet his skin, and his hold on her tightened, replaying over everything in his mind's eye. Another brief wave of nausea as he recalled Adela's eye being sliced open and he shook his head, focused.

Adela succumbed to unconsciousness roughly halfway home, and Neji set his jaw, willing the village walls closer. He could see them in his ever-distant vision, but that didn't make them any nearer. An eternity later they were through, and Neji veered for the closest chakra signal- two of them in fact, in one of Konoha's farthest-reaching training fields. He didn't know what he'd do with them, but he'd figure that out when he got there.

He landed in the field with a hard breath. Uchiha Shisui and a Genin he didn't know came into focus. Perfect.

"She needs to get to the hospital," he said without preamble, staring straight at Shisui. "Now."

He'd sensed them from a distance. That they should land right here, however, was something he hadn't been expecting. This wasn't necessarily the shortest distance to the hospital, if the waning chakra signal was any indication that he was sensing a shinobi in trouble. Something more than what he'd supposed must be up.

The late night taijutsu training with Ami came to an abrupt halt the moment Neji landed in the field, and Shisui was already staring back at him, Sharingan spinning into focus. Within moments, he had already assessed the situation: Adela was injured - critically.

He didn't wait for an explanation, nor did he demand one. Instead, he flickered over to them, and immediately began to wrest her out of Neji's grasp, mindful of the wounds, careful that he was not compromising any of her vitals by carrying her in a manner that would put her at risk. Meeting the Hyuuga's gaze, Shisui dipped his head just slightly in a solemn bow. "I'll take it from here."

...He was gone in a flash, dust kicking up only moments after he'd physically left the field, he wind swirling in eddies, confused.

--And almost as soon as they'd left, they were at the hospital, and Shisui was calling out for any medic available.

Hours later, he would be sat outside her room, having never slept a wink, keeping vigil until he was allowed inside.

The sun was shining in her eyes when she started to wake up again, her fingers twitching as she tried to cover her eyes. Oh man, it hurt so much... Not as much as it had, now that she was thinking about it. Why couldn't she open her eye though?

It was then that she'd been informed that she could have guests, and that the man who had brought her there the previous night would be coming in. So should she have been expecting Neji? It'd be good to see him, even if she was tired and could hardly move... Apparently, Adela didn't even know how lucky she was that she even regained consciousness at all, let alone so quickly. Apparently she had gotten there literally in the nick of time, but that wasn't there and then. Then, she'd have to await her guest.

She finally knew. They had managed to save her -- her body would take time to fully recover from the blood loss, but she'd at least be out of the hospital in a few days. Even so... Even so...

Adela's fist was gripped tight in the sheets as she sat up, glaring down at them with her good eye. She could feel it moving, but it didn't feel the same anymore. The eye that was injured... What they said wasn't right, was it? That she'd actually been blinded? That they couldn't do anything about it? That bastard had won in blinding her?

It was impossible not to feel angry, furious with the man who had kidnapped her. Even though she had killed him out of self defense (and would have to protect the village), that he had done that based off of a rumor with absolutely no backing... She couldn't help it. A couple of tears fell before she wiped at her good eye, sighing as she tried to lay back and look at the ceiling. There was no point in getting upset over it, even if it was really hard not to. She did what she could, Neji and Shisui had done what they could -- for that, she was grateful. Even so, it just made her feel even more useless to the village than ever...

Alas, it would not be Neji--

But Shisui was out of his chair the moment the medic let him know that Adela was stable and conscious. She hadn't even said anything about being allowed visitors, but he'd already been in the process of setting one foot through the door. The confirmation that he could visit came later, and for a split second he was relieved he didn't accidentally mess something up in his haste.

Once inside, Shisui stood at the foot of her bed, observing in silence for a moment. "I'm glad you're awake. How are you feeling?" He spoke solemnly, though-- perhaps not the best tone to be using if he didn't want to make her anxious.

She blinked up at him, still groggy and unwilling to move a whole lot - mostly because she was sore, but she was also fully aware of the IV drip still in her and ripping that out would be a whole other realm of unpleasant.

"M'sore... But I guess it's better than I could be. Don't remember a whole lot," Her words were soft, hoarse as she hadn't exactly had any water then. Most of her body was still tender, but she could probably at least manage that by herself... If there was water in reach anyway. There wasn't. Damn it...

"Where'd... Wasn't Neji carrying me...?"

He moved closer, bringing a pitcher of water and a sealed cup from a cabinet nearby to the bedside table. He began to pour her a glass as soon as he'd ripped the seal off. The hoarseness in her voice didn't escape him. Plus, the more fluids she was getting, the better.

"Mn. Here." He offered her the glass, not really planning on letting go of it until he was sure she wasn't still something like disoriented or too weak to hold it up herself.

"He was. But he'd ascertained at the time that you needed to be rushed to hospital faster than he could get you there." A slight dip of his head; a halfway bow. "I was charged with that responsibility."

Shisui finally offered her a smile. "Shall I call for him?" Of course, there was no guarantee that the other would be there on the spot, but he could send a message.

Edited 2014-09-01 07:00 (UTC)

"... Don't wanna bug him if he's resting," She murmured, grabbing for the glass - and struggling to hold it up a little, though she didn't drop it and instead took some ginger sips. She didn't know how well her stomach would hold up -- it felt like it was turning even with the little bit she was consuming. But the cool water streaming down her throat brought much needed relief, and she relaxed against the bed as she put the glass down.

"Thanks... M'not sure if I would've made it or not if it wasn't for you guys."

Minato had written her the night of the 6th after hearing about the incident. He knew his wife would want to know, and he was right. Her immediate thought was to go as soon as she got his letter, but she had to leave instructions first. On the morning of the 7th, she left a list of things to do and a note for her new assistant, explaining that there had been an emergency back home and she'd be back when she was originally scheduled to on the 17th. She stuck a note to Karin's apartment door telling her she had left the village a few days early on a personal emergency and she could come along when she wanted, but would she please at least take some kind of escort to the travel seal?

She rooted out one of her ANBU and led them as fast as her legs would go to the travel seal and then through Konoha's gates to the hospital. The ANBU dropped in a chair in the lobby to wait while Kushina sped through the halls to Adela's room. Some of the medics shouted after her, but she paid them no mind. She needed to see Adela and make sure she was okay. After nearly seven years, the girl was like a daughter to her. Worry was still written all over her face when she knocked once on the room's door and slid it open with a loud thud.

"Adela!"

She jumped a little at the statement, blinking hard at Kushina before she relaxed on the incline of the bed. After a beat she smiled, her shoulders slumping as she just tried to show that she was glad to see the other, "Kushina-San. I didn't know you were in town."

Truthfully she had seen Minato a little earlier, though it was brief -- he didn't have a lot of time, only stopping by to say that he'd told Kushina about what happened. Even if she hadn't wanted Kushina to worry... It still felt good to have her there.

"I'll let him know, regardless." Still smiling, he reached to bite the pad of his thumb, kneeling almost immediately so he could summon the fluffiest little bunny ever. (Don't you laugh, Adela.) "Perhaps he's waiting on news as to whether he could visit yet or not." With that, he sent the little creature off, letting it scurry past the door and off to find Hyuuga Neji.

"There is no point thinking about whether you would have made it or not. You're here now. That's what's important. I believe you... may need to rest up some more." He made no mention of her eye, and debated asking her the details of what she remembered. Perhaps now was not the time; not when she was so beat up and still recovering.

He stood again, dusting his hands on his flak jacket.

"... Rabbit?"

Nope, she had to focus on it. She blinked, watching as it darted off before glancing up at him questioningly. Wait, was that a summon? Huh... She didn't know that rabbits could be summons.

That was actually kind of cute.

But Shisui was right, and she nodded with a sigh, "I figured... It's probably gonna take a few days at least for me to get all my blood back to normal, and..."

... Oh god. That was right. She reached a hand to lightly touch at the gauze covering her eye, and she winced as she tried (and failed) to move it behind the gauze. That still hurt... It probably wouldn't be a good idea to keep trying that. But...

"..."

Shisui nodded. "A hare." Agile, vigilant creatures.

He watched her, then looked away, not really about to tell her that she most likely would have completely lost the use of that eye. He hadn't asked the medic for all the details, but he wasn't an idiot either. With the way it was last night, Shisui pretty much had guessed that there really wasn't any chance.

It hit a little close to home, and his fingers twitched some, itching to want to get to his face as if to make sure his eyes were still on there.

He stole a look at her, lips pursed.

Even if Adela was smiling, she was still worried. She pulled the door shut and grabbed a chair from against the wall to sit in next to her bed.

"Minato wrote me last night. I just got here this morning. I would've been here sooner but... Well..."

After spending two weeks with her in the office, she was sure Adela would likely remember what sorts of things could have held her up.

"How are you doing?"

"... It was that damn rumour. That's part of why this happened."

She wasn't looking at Shisui then, her good eye on the window at her other side as she was recalling the previous night rather vividly. Fighting for her life barely armed, how her eye had been sliced open because of the fury of that missing nin. How she had to kill him both out of self-defense and to keep Konoha safe from further threat... How she had ended up kidnapped in the first place.

Any way she spun it, she couldn't help blaming herself for at least part of what was going on. If she had been more careful, if she had been wary, if she had been more prepared...

"It's blind, isn't it. My eye."

"A lot better than I was. I'm stable and they're letting me eat -- even if the hospital food is nasty, it's better than just water and an IV drip," Watching the other with her good eye, she kept up the smile for appearance's sake. But, if she was asked about exactly what happened -- well, even with her best efforts she wouldn't have been able to keep up that smile for long.

That it had happened at all...

"M'glad he was worried too, kind of. I didn't wanna make either of you worry... Sorry about that."

Shisui ground his teeth when she mentioned it was because of a rumor. He'd read that odious page, too. There had been some nasty comments about Kushina and Minato and he'd seen his own name dragged into it. It reminded him of Ami, telling him about the rumors that were going around about him allegedly taking a fancy to younger girls.

But all this at the cost of what?! Adela's eye. And if not for Neji, her life.

As a dojutsu user himself, the rage that bubbled inside was barely contained. Shisui visibly tensed, a shadow crossing his face as it got darker.

When she spoke, however, Shisui seemed to snap out of the darker thoughts that were shrouding him to look at her. He frowned, averting his gaze once more. And this time it was not because he wanted to hide anything.

"...Yes." Finger nails dug into skin as his hands balled into fists by his sides.

"I'm sorry it had to come to that. I truly am."

"Don't say that. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you and Neji -- otherwise I'd just be lying dead in the middle of the forest. I got here just in time, didn't I?"

Her fingers clutched into the sheets, however, as she tried to ignore the fact that her emotions were starting to well up over the whole mess. Damn it... She didn't think someone would put that much stock into a stupid rumor, at least not so quickly. It was her own blind naivete that made it happen...

"I'll bring you some good food, even if I have to sneak it in or bring it through your window. And you've done nothing you need to apologize for. I'd be worried no matter how badly you were hurt, y'know."

She leaned forward and reached up to brush her hand gently over Adela's hair, tucking a few strands behind her ear with her thumb.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 6

It happened too quickly to stop.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Shishi branch off!

OPEN TO ALL - Hospital Visits

have a zombie Shishi

no subject

fchodnhcoidsl sorry ok last edit omg

no subject

Sept. 7th, ~9am

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject