Chapter 17
Ryuus pov.

It had been not even two hours before I woke up to Cherry screaming. Everything was so out of focus that by the time I realized what was going on, someone already had me in a headlock. "Sakura! What's going on?!" I managed to yell out towards the pinkette being held by her hair.

"H-help." Was all she replied with.

Triplets, I need you guys right now. Come out if you can alright? Within a matter of seconds the second eldest emerged from hiding. His brothers were busy helping healing the rest of the pack. "What are you doing to Ryuu Sama and her teammates, sound pests?" He growled out from the side.

"Why does it look like stupid mutt?!" I don't know which but one of the males retorted back. My legs kicked, my body flinging up and over the body above me then landing onto his side. I twisted his arm hard.

My summoning changed swiftly into his dragon form, immediately spraying scales at the enemy nin while I rushed to Cherrys aid (I kept thinking cherryade. You know. Like lemonade. But like. Cherryade. Okay I'll shut up now.)

Before I could reach her, she suddenly whipped out a kunai and cut her hair off. Now one would usually see this as an act of bravery, believe me I do think that she was smart and all but really man. Really. She could've easy gotten her legs underneath the lady and slip out from behind. And why didn't she cut the lady's hand instead of her hair? What about her hair? Does she know how badly she cut it? One sides longer than the other dude. I pursed my lips in distaste for a second then sprang into action yet again.

Two struck his tail down like a whip against the dirt, spraying leaves and debris everywhere. Blinding eyes and smothering their breaths. Only our vision completely fine.

(OKAY I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO HERE. I DIDNT EXACTLY PLAN OUT THIS PART. ONLY THE BEGINNING AND END. SO. HELP.)

I roared loudly as Two disappeared into my seal. Sakura was injured badly, naruto and sasuke still unconscious. Backup had arrived but not much happened. Lee is knocked out. The Ino-shika-cho team was battered up. As I was about to deliver another throw towards the sound nin, a sudden groan disrupted my process. I managed to only get the man in a choke hold, instead of snapping his neck like I intended to.

"What happened? Who did this to you Sakura, Ryuu?" He growled. The aura he gave off immediately triggered Kansen Rei, I could feel the biles piling up in the back of my throat. This was worse than the land of waves. The hatred rolled off of him in tsunamis. That type of hatred could top ten years in an average human. In other words, my life might've just been cut in half.

Of course that still means I must have two or three years left but that means nothing else can go wrong.

The man yanked free from my grasp as an inhuman noise came from my throat. I doubled over in a coughing fit as sasuke grabbed him by the throat. He almost immediately surrendered and ran back into the woods with his tail tucked between his legs. Sasuke had marks all over his body. One glance and I was bent over a tree again, hacking up goo.

A hand was placed on my back as another removed the hair sticking to my face, tucking it behind my ear. "Troublesome woman. Are you okay?" Shikamaru. When I finally stopped hurling, I fell back against his chest, heaving in breaths.

"I'll be-" heave "alright" heave "you?"

His eyes narrowed as his lips pressed into a thin line as if saying, "yeah right. As if you're okay." But instead only said "I'm fine."

"Hey shikamaru?"

"Yeah?"

"Call for help please." Ironic no? I could feel a warm substance enter my lungs in drips, either blood or it. One is definitely more fatal than the other, and I was not about to find out which.

Those were the last words I said before everything faded out. Each breath began to feel like a battle, as though I was breathing under water. Is this how I'll die?

~

"Will she be alright?" A muffled voice came from my side. I'm alive.

"Yes. We have her stabilized and hooked up to an IV. A nurse will be by her side 24/7  monitoring her progress."

"Can you tell us what happened?" Another voice emerged. It sounded more mature than the other.

"During her battle, we assume the opponent kicked in her rib, puncturing her lungs in the process. An unknown substance was found leaking in but we retrieved it out immediately. If that boy had gotten her here any slower, the liquid might have drowned her."

That means the first voice should've been shikamaru.

I groaned slightly as a sudden pounding began in my heart. Not in the "oh my god I think I'm in love" kind of way.

The beeping machine sped up. No longer in a steady beat, instead frantically jumping around.

Sirens blared as red lights blinded my already horrid eyesight.

I tried communicating with my dragons but no avail.

"HEY, ALL MEDICS IN ROOM 247 STAT! SHES GOING INTO CARDIAC ARREST!"

"Wait what's going on?!"

"Is she gonna be okay?!"

"Excuse me sirs, but please back away out of the room."

"What's going on?!"

The red lights started dawning away, Oh great, here we go again (hello) darkness my old friend. I suppose they didn't check my heart valves did they.

•

Shitty. I know. But this isn't the chapter I'm excited about so that's okay. UGHHH I NEED TO GET TO THE SNAKE MANS PAAARTTTT.

Anyway. I wanna thank you guys so much for all the words of support. Honestly I feel like I have my own little family on here and it makes me so happy. Like you have no idea how thankful I am. I just want you guys to know, if you ever need anyone to talk to I'm here. Okay that's all. Until next time, cya!