Sakura stepped out into the inky darkness, her figure casting eerie shadows upon the small shack. The moon barely hung above the sea of clouds, hardly peeking over to shine even a little bit of light. Heavy rain that left the air thick and humid surrounded her, beating down over the tops of trees, and pattering like subtle footsteps of nature against the weakened roof. To her own surprise, she left the doormat and stepped into the rainy abyss, letting her clothes and hair grow damp. It was the only relaxation she got out here, being able to wash off the sweat and stress of the day, and it gave her comfort to see the blood and grime slide off as if it had never been there in the first place.

Amidst the darkness, someone's fingers rapped gently against the screen door, slamming it shut in silence before joining her out in the slick grasses.

"Sai." She mummers quietly, before he'd even had a chance to speak or make himself known.

"What brings you out here so late?" He said in a contemplative tone, his voice smooth and serpentine. Sai was always so quiet, so nearly had to strain to hear him, especially on the rain.

"Just thinking." She ran a hand through her hair, wringing out the fresh stream of moisture, cool and wet against her calloused hands.

"Ah. I don't mean to interfere, but what's on your mind? Would it be something you are willing to share?" He always had a way of coming of as insensitive or nosy, but he was really just a mystery to her, and she had a feeling he was truthfully awkward and just didn't know how to talk to her.

A deep sigh escaped her, before she lowered herself down in the dirt and grass, collapsing underneath the fine line of moonlight. "Things I shouldn't have to think about. Life, death, y'know?"

"I understand." He sunk down beside her, although far more hesitant and begrudgingly. It almost brought a smile to her tired face. "It isn't a shock, you don't grow up knowing your life is on the line. Situations like these aren't supposed to happen, and thus we don't think about life and death that often."

Much to her surprise, his words made sense, even if they were a contrast to his silky and calm voice. She'd never really thought about the weight of life before, because she'd been a spoiled Japanese girl in an high class district, only having to rely on her parents for her wants and needs. She'd always thought she'd die of old age, and she never contemplated taking someone else's life before their time was up. "You're right. I just... don't like this at all."

"No one does." He answered, hands folded neatly in his lap. "Things that make us uncomfortable or scared aren't easy to talk about. Especially here, when you could be talking to someone who could take your life in an instant." How could he say that so serenely?

She had to think about her next words, before offering him a weighty glance. "Sai. What would you do if you had to kill someone to save yourself? Would that make you a bad person? Or as sane as anyone else would be?"

The answer did not come easy to him, as he paused for a few seconds that felt like hours, while the insects of the night chirped and clicked in cadence with the storm. "People are naturally selfish. We may care about others, but we want to protect ourselves as well. It's a human reaction. I wouldn't judge you, because none of us have a choice. We simply obey."

It unsettled her, left a shiver running down her spine, but she didn't voice that opinion. Some of her inner worry was relieved, to know someone else shared her morbid opinions. "Thank you."

"I'm simply being truthful." Slowly, he stood and brushed the muck and grime off himself, before placing a bony hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort. "Don't stress yourself. You have to live, Sakura. Only place your convictions in yourself. Please, try to get some rest." With his lofty words, he was gone, sauntering back inside the clinic as silently as he had came. What a weirdo. Still, he was in tune with her moral alignment, and their talk had made her feel a little bit better.

Yet, why did she still feel so conflicted with herself?

She was exhausted and utterly spent from the day, and decided to head back inside to change and dry herself off. Once she'd entered the small kitchen space, she draped a curtain over the window and let her sopping skirt drop to the floor. Slowly, her hands fumbled with the buttons, when suddenly a large clap of thunder struck across the sky, sending her mind reeling. To try to calm her racing heart, she tried to work faster, so she could head to bed and leave all her fears behind her. She finished undressing and getting into her nightclothes without too much hassle, until she began to walk down the pitch black hallway, turning her head every few seconds as if something would jump out at her in the blink of an eye.

She was on complete edge as her hands grazed the walls, searching for a door handle. The noises of nature seemed to crawl to a halt, nothing could be heard save for the frantic tempo of her heart and her footsteps creaking against the floor. All at once, that silence vanished, as a violent rattle and thump filled the air, and she whirled around in utter terror.

A woman stood out on the porch, black hair drenched in mud and rain. Her uniform was tattered and covered in pine needles and remnants of crunched leaves, leaving her looking utterly pitiful and terrifying at the same time. Sakura could only scream, scrambling around for her Uzi.

"Please, don't hurt me! It's me, Shizune!"

By now, everyone in the house had stirred, Naruto and Sai scrambling to the hall in response to her screams. Sakura bristled slightly, before locking the safety on her gun and lowering it.

"Shizune..." By now, she felt guilty, and ushered the ratty looking girl inside. The other two stood back, not sure how to react to the sudden appearance of an almost stranger into their safe haven. Sakura knew her, only because they were both going into medicine, and Shizune had been dreaming of becoming a nursing assistant ever since first year. She was a kind and gentle woman, who had helped Sakura many times in her health classes. Sakura had never even heard her say a harsh word to anyone.

"Naruto, Sai, don't hurt her. She's a friend of mine, and completely harmless." She begged, her eyes scanning both of them for a hint of mercy.

"Here. I'll show you my weapon." Shizune pleaded, retrieving a cheap comb from her pocket, dropping to her knees on the boarded floor. She truly was afraid of them, but who wouldn't be?

"If she's not carrying anything lethal, I don't see why she can't stay for the night." Sai spoke up, folding his arms over his chest.

Naruto rolled his eyes at him, but nodded anyway. "I don't mind if she stays, if she's Sakura's friend." Shizune bowed politely, offering both of them a feeble smile.

"As a matter of fact, why don't you two head off to bed, and I'll make sure she has something to eat before she lays down for the night." Sai added, maneuvering around them and into the kitchen, where he lit a candle and began to drag out various pots and pans. He worked so fast, no one had time to protest, except Naruto who mumbled something under his breath before going off to check on Sasuke. Sakura decided to stay behind, taking a seat at the kitchen table to interrogate Shizune on why she'd been out at this time of night. Shizune was all wobbly and fueled by nerves, but she nervously joined the two, and accepted the cup of water Sai provided her.

"How'd you end up here?" Sakura asked, when the other girl had calmed down slightly, and her jerking and trembling had ceased.

"Someone shot at me! An arrow, or something like that. That was a couple hours ago, but I've been running ever since." She replied in exasperation, while her petite hands could barely hold the cup before her. "I was so afraid, I didn't know where I was going."

"It's alright now. You're safe here." Sakura always had the gentlest touch, or at least others told here that she had a healing hand, and she put that to use by rubbing small circles into the other girl's back to soothe here and offering an endearing smile. Sure, no one could really get peace out here, but she might as well try. Meanwhile, Sai was rushing around at the stove, an assortment of spices lining the counter, and a pan of cheap rice boiling at the eye.

"Thank you, Sakura. I'm sorry to frighten you like that." Shizune was finally loosening up, the tightness in her shoulders and stance dissipating. At least one of them could breathe easy.

"Don't get too upset over it. I've seen more horrors today than I've ever wanted to, you didn't scare me that bad." She smiled in a jest, although it couldn't have been farther from the truth. She was lying through her teeth.

"It's horrible out there. I seen so many die, killed like nothing more than wild animals instead of people. Be careful of Tayuya, she's the most terrifying of all of them, killing people without any remorse. You can see it in her eyes." Shizune struggled to tell describe it, her eyes widening in absolute fear. "Of course, there are delinquents in our school, but I didn't think people would be so quick to do things so inhumane. Has everyone really lost their sanity?" She probably wouldn't said more, if Sai had not gently tapped her shoulder and set a steaming bowl of fresh rice before her.

"Sorry to interrupt you two. It may not taste the best, but I hope you like it anyway." He smiled respectfully, then returned to the stove to dish out two more bowls. "Sakura, would you mind taking these to Naruto and Sasuke? It is late, but I worry about them, especially Sasuke since he's been injured so horribly."

Sakura thought nothing of it, and nodded in agreement. She balanced the two bowls on her arm, and departed down the hallway to where the two boys were sleeping. Naruto and Sasuke were obviously in a hushed conversation when she began to knock at the door, yet they completely ceased when hearing her draw near.

"Come in." Sasuke spoke up at last. Sakura went in, even if it did feel strange to interrupt them.

"Sai made us some dinner." At the mere mention of Sai, Sasuke scowled in distaste and took his eyes from the food. "C'mon." Sakura chided, upon seeing his reaction. "He isn't that bad, and he's just thinking about you two. Can't you be more respectful?"

"Fine, fine." Naruto gave in with an obvious expression of distrust and anger, but a mere second before Sakura began to set the bowl in his lap, a bloodcurdling scream pierced their ears, resonating throughout the entire house.

Disaster had struck again.

Metal clanged against a harder steel, screeching with the hiss of combat. Tayuya's blade was slowly moving down, the trident slipping from Kin's weak grip as he pushed harder against her. Dosu and Zaku had both went after their weapons, and by now they both had something in hand to strike with. Tayuya had to think, and she had to think fast. Without loosening her hold on the blade, her eyes darted around the house, seeking anything that would bring her help or even the slightest idea of how to best three people at once. Dosu and Zaku were closing in on her, with victorious smirks despite them not landing a single blow on her. Kin was trying to knock the blade from her grasp, shoving the tip of her trident in further.

"Oh my God, someone's coming!" Tayuya cried out, her lips twisting into a straight o and her pupils growing big. The other three turned their heads for a split second to the window, but that split second was enough.

"Fuckin' liar!" Dosu spat, but by then, it was too late. Tayuya grabbed Kin by the back of her hair, twisting and jerking the clumps of brunette in between her fingers. The other girl tried desperately to wiggle free, twisting her arms in frantic motions and attempting to claw at Tayuya's stronger arms. With a single throw, Tayuya threw her at the other two with the ease that a pitcher would, slinging the smaller girl headfirst. Using the oldest trick in the book, she'd managed to distract all three of them at once, with minimal effort at that.

"You all are nothing but brutes. No intelligence at all! Where did you learn to fight?" She cackled, sliding her bag over her arm and running towards the doorway. By now, the three were groaning and starting to stand, all trying to regain their senses and reach for their weapons, giving her enough time to think of how to save her ass. She barely had a few seconds to scan the room for things to help fuel a scheme, yet, Tayuya had a plan. It wasn't the most well thought out, but it was her only option if she wanted to take down all three of them at once.

"Coward! You're not getting away, bitch!" Kin screeched, scrambling to her feet and grasping for the trident that had clattered to the floor during her fall. Tayuya was faster though, leaping over a couch towards the small cabinet she'd seen next to the door during her arrival earlier that evening. Kin was sprinting across the room, but Tayuya quickly swung the door open and retrieved a plastic container, tossing it at the other with as much care as it it was a grenade. However, it was slick and strong smelling oil, coating Kin's face with a thin sheen of transparent and grey goo. She flailed wildly, trying to rub and swipe at her eyes. Tayuya smirked. Only a fool would rub more salt into the wound.

"Oil? What kinda cheap trick is that? You think you can kill us with a little tin of oil?" Dosu went into hysterics, doubling over with laughter. "God, how dumb are you?" His gleeful and snide laughter didn't last for long, though.

Tayuya reached into her travel bag and pulled out one of the essentials for trips; an emergency case of matches. She removed her jacket, before rubbing the small red tip to the fabric. It quickly grew ablaze, flickers of red and orange eating at it with a frantic pace. Once the two boys had realized what she was up to, their eyes widened, but it was already too late. Tayuya had stepped outside, but not before tossing her flaming jacket onto the squealing and panicked Kin. Within seconds, the small house was ensconced in giant coils of smoke, filling the night sky with an even darker shade. Flames shattered every window, splitting the glass into small pieces like miniature diamonds.

A single woman stepped from the flames, soot coating her rosy cheeks and her long rosette tresses flying in the wind. She didn't bear a single scar, but she was the sole survivor. A throaty laugh escaped her, making her double over in the grass. Her ribs ached the longer it went on, but she couldn't stop. The longer the flames danced in the sky with the mirage of stars. The harder she laughed, because she couldn't get over it. They'd called her dumb, but she'd outsmarted them in the game of life.

Tayuya went to sleep that night with a wide grin on her face, the air around her smelling of heavy smoke.

23 students remaining

Author's note: Managed to crank out a tiny update! I'm not dead, but I might as well be because school is loading me down, don't have much time to write anymore.