Disclaimer:

I do not own either Naruto or Shingeki no Kyojin. I do, however, own this fanfiction. The plot and any original characters I might add are all mine. This is co-written with Sakura and both she and the story are on Quotev.

ALSTROEMERIA

alstroemeria : withstanding the trials of everyday life

| CHAPTER TWO : UNFAMILIAR |

Like the rushing waves pounding the shore at sea, the dull clouds invaded the radiant shade of blue that was the sky. Sealing everyone in its gloomy atmosphere, the sun pierced through the grey canopy. Nevertheless, its depressing look still infected every ounce of hope into something miserable.

When I first opened my tired eyes, I didn't expect to be falling through the air and shooting towards the ground.

I blindly grabbed the air above me with panic painted on my face as clear as day. The wind whooshed passed my ears, my hair flying above me and obscuring my view of the sky and the clouds above. My soft—pink lips parted in a gasp.

I winced, feeling my sore body ache as I thrashed around in terror. Half—lidded eyes glanced down at my ribcage, the source of most of the pain, and they widened in horror seeing the large gaping hole through my clothes and skin, blood soaking them. My skin was red, irritated and painful, even as the wound began to slowly heal. I shifted my head to look at my shoulder, and flinched seeing my burnt shoulder blade.

I curled into myself, trying to cover my wound as if it would help lessen the pain. Using whatever chakra I could muster, I slowly stitched up the largest injury, trying to recall the Shōsen Jutsu Sakura—san showed me long ago. Normally, this technique was relatively easy to perform — all you needed was exceptional chakra control and focus — but it was harder when you were plummeting to the ground, panicking and anything but focused. Almost immediately, I felt the pain diminishing and I sighed in relief. The feeling was temporary, though, when I realised I was still soaring through the air.

I didn't want to see the ground becoming closer. I didn't want to drop down to my inevitable death. My eyes screwed shut. I didn't want to feel the impact of the fall!

There was a sickening crunch as my back collided with a tree, and I let out a silent, breathless scream. The smell of iron and copper hit my nose and pain erupted throughout my body. Warm, thick blood gushed out, coating me and covering me with the horrible liquid. Blood pooled in my mouth, and soon I could do nothing to stop it from slipping passed my lips.

As my head slammed onto the tree, my vision became hazy and disorientated. I didn't know how I was conscious — or even alive at this point.

A crimson and nauseating fluid reddened my hands, which were pressed weakly against the reopened wound below my chest. I was slipping in and out of consciousness, head spinning and nose bleeding. I struggled to breathe; each breath felt as though it would be my last.

I coughed, blood spraying the front of my Jōnin vest. The world was dimming — fast. Black claimed my vision and all my senses dulled.

The light was fading, creating new shadows and dark patches around the laying figure. Eyes glimmered from tree hollows. The wind wailed between distorted trunks, carrying the sickly stink of wood rot.

The figure's head tilted, letting the light and shadow dance across her skin. Bees hummed in and out of the pennyroyal, and the trees stood utterly still, statues in a living museum where no leaf dared to fall.

The deep—blue haired teen lifted her heavy, exhausted eyes open, blinking slowly and shifting her neck slightly to look around. A pain shot up her spine and she flinched, biting her lip to cloak the sound of her cry. Using the tree to support her, she pushed herself up, leaning her uninjured shoulder on it while rapidly blinking away any tears.

Once balanced, she furrowed her eyebrows, confusion plastered on her face.

Where am I? Is this . . . Is this the afterlife?

Her lilac eyes swept over her surroundings. Noting that she was in some kind of forest — obviously not Konoha's as the trees were much too big — Hinata scanned the woodland area for enemies, closing her eyes and expanding the chakra she had to feel for any other chakra signatures. She was tempted to use her Byakugan, but thought better of it when her wounds started to throb, and she realised that she should really check the injuries more thoroughly.

With the little chakra she had, there was no way she was going to waste it on her Byakugan — admittedly, that meant that the scan wasn't as accurate but it worked nonetheless. Healing injuries usually came after securing the area of enemies, but this was an exception. Even if there was someone out there, what could do she do as she was now? Weakly throw a twig and hope for the best?

There was no—one nearby, so Hinata relaxed her tense muscles and let out a shaky sigh of relief.

"This has been the best luck I've had this week." She muttered under her breath with a little bit of trouble, half sarcastic and half genuine. She tiredly smiled in amusement, though only moments later, as soon as the smile came, her lips twitched down. Her eyes hardened and a thoughtful look plastered on her face.

Where am I? Konoha's ruled out — and I can't be near the Hi no Kuni's borders either as these aren't same type same trees grown there. I need to heal myself first . . . I don't think I have enough chakra to do that though.

Taking in a deep breath, Hinata tried her best to relax and calm the panic brewing inside her. Attempting to ignore the burning pain of the injuries on her body, the girl slowly shifted, so that her lower back was resting on the tree.

At first, she felt nothing. No tugging sensation in her stomach, nor the feeling of chakra running through her body. Then, a calm rush not unlike water flowed through her and the stinging pain gradually began to fade away. It wasn't completely gone, though it was significantly less agonising. Like taking a pain suppressant pill, meditation only masked what would be overbearing without it. By no means did it cure or heal the gashes and wounds, so Hinata tried to focus on gathering her chakra rather than relaxing in the soothing feeling of painlessness.

What mess did I land myself into this time?

I winced for the umpteenth time since I woke up.

The majority of my wounds were taken care of (by being 'taken care of' I mean numbing the pain enough so that it didn't hurt as it naturally healed). My spine — which had been snapped during the fall — was my top priority, though healing it on my own took more work that I thought it would. I wish I had more chakra, or at least enough to go over the smaller, though still irritating, cuts.

I didn't dare lean my back against the tree even as my body began to shake and my eyes began to droop. I hung onto the tree branch desperately, refusing to let go for any reason. I worked so hard to stay alive, and though I would readily accept sacrificing myself for Naruto, I still didn't want to die. If I relaxed my grip I could plunge to my death — it's a miracle that I hadn't died when I fell from the sky.

I paused my thoughts, glancing up thoughtfully at the sky as though it would tell me all the answers. In some ways, it could, but not until I had the bigger picture.

The last thing I remembered before falling through the sky was the searing pain after being stuck by the two powerful jutsu. No, there was something after that — a bright, translucent white light, and a soothing, feminine voice telling me something, but I couldn't remember who it was nor what they told me.

As I tried to link the voice to the people I knew, I soon felt my stomach sinking.

Kiba and Shino. How could I forget them? They would be stricken with grief when they heard the news of my 'death'. They were my brothers in all but blood; we did everything together, so for our dynamic to be ripped apart . . .

Kami—sama I don't want to think about it. How could I ignore them? I'd been worrying over myself so much that I completely discarded them from my thoughts. Guilt and disappointment in myself seeped through me, wrapping me in a cold—hearted embrace. They'd expect me to return that day, teasing me about my love for Naruto before treating me to a welcome back dinner.

What about Naruto himself? We hung out together a few years after the war ended, and though Naruto never brought up my confession to him during the attack on Konoha, nor when I almost died for him the second time, the pitying and sorrowful glances were all I needed to see. He still loved Sakura, and though it pained me to admit it, I would never be the person of his affections.

He was in a strange relationship triangle that I would never be a part of. Naruto chased after Sakura who, despite denying it, still chased over Sasuke. And Sasuke, I'm sure he wanted Naruto's respect and acknowledgement at the very least. Though I'd believe he wanted Naruto's friendship any day.

Naruto cared a lot for his friends, and though we weren't as close as I wanted us to be, I know for a fact that he would be upset over my apparent death. It would pain him more knowing that he was the one to injure me, 'killing' me. The idea momentarily brought me a grim satisfaction, that he did care for me, but I soon squashed the small thought guiltily.

I wasn't dead. They didn't know that I was alive and soon able to come home. I shivered, though I doubted it was because of the cold. No one knew that I was alive, but I'm sure that they'd send out a search party that would find me and take me home. I couldn't be too far from the battle site.

Carefully, I shifted my body so that I was still leaning against the tree, though my back was out open. Slowly, cautiously, I started to heal my shoulder which was preventing me from healing the larger injuries. I bit my lip when my chakra depleted dangerously quickly — I had barely healed a single shoulder, yet more than half my chakra was gone.

By the time my chakra was almost completely drained, the only thing that remained on my shoulder was a grotesque scar and a dull ache; the after effects of the jutsu. I wanted to heal the scar but I didn't have the time nor energy. Scars were hard to remove.

For the next few hours I repeated the process: gathering my chakra, resting for a while before using whatever I had regained to slowly close the wound on my chest and back. It was a painstaking and dangerous process, but when I felt the pain diminishing hours later, I decided it was worth it. I bandaged the smaller wounds up with a piece of cloth I found on my person and the wounds I hadn't taken care of. Satisfied that my healing would've been acceptable to Sakura, I lowered myself to the ground and slept.

The next time I awoke was when heard a loud thumping noise vibrate through the forest. I furrowed my eyebrows and opened my eyes. Instantly alert, my eyes darted around for a weapon. Across from me I noticed a tree branch with a sharp point, long enough to resemble a dagger. I reached over and broke it from the tree. My weapon.

The noise continued.

" . . . Hello?" Against my better judgement, I called out. Best case scenario, they were ninja from Konoha or Suna who'd been sent on a mission near wherever Unknown — I'll just call this place Unknown for now — was. Worst case . . . Well that could be anything. Comforting thought.

My voice echoed throughout the forest. I held the branch out in front of me defensively and waited. I was about to call again when I heard a deep growl rumbling . . . beneath me?

I looked down cautiously.

I gasped and stared.

I did attract something, but . . .

The beast pounded at the tree, causing me to shake and hold on tightly.

. . . It was not exactly what I hoped for.

"I don't like the terms 'good' or 'bad' person" - Armin Arlert

I'm not going to tire you with excuses, so let's just leave it at the fact that life caught up with me. Can I quickly add now that the updates aren't going to be as quick as I thought they'd be? So officially this story has SLOW UPDATES.