Sakura drifted in and out of consciousness, listening to the tide of voices around her. "She seems to be out of danger for the most part. Now it's in her hands if she comes back to this side of the veil or not." A soft woman's voice said.
"Thank you, Miyona," Grant's stony voice rumbled. "For everything you've done for us."
"Is there anything we can do for her now?" Nabiki's anxious voice cut in.
"Just remind her that she's got something worth living for." Miyona's voice said as the darkness swallowed her.
"Sakura... Ah hell, I don't even know if you can even hear me wherever your mind is at," Ami's soft voice filtered through the shadows. "But I just wanted to say that I'm really sorry this happened to you. We were partners. I was supposed to watch your back, and instead you ended up like this. Miyona tells us that it's your choice to come back to us. I hope you make it soon, cause I'm never gonna let you out of my sight. I fucked up big time and I'm gonna make it up to you, somehow."
A distant corner of Sakura's mind registered the hot tears splashing on her face before the darkness took her again.
"Sherry Cherry," Ranma's childish crooning of her most hated nickname greeted this ascent from darkness. "Come on Cherry Blossom. It's been two days, and you're really starting to scare me."
"You're scaring all of us Sakura." Nabiki whispered. "Tenchi's gone, Ami's berating herself for what happened, and Grant only leaves your side if one us is with you." Sakura was vaguely aware of Nabiki's feather light touch on her brow, like when she was younger and running a bad fever.
"The only reason the kids haven't tried to pound you back to the land of the living is because they haven't figured a way onto your bed." Ranma chuckled, but it sounded strained and soulless.
"Come on Sakura... You were our first child and we raised you up as best as we could." Nabiki implored. "It hurts so bad to see you like this. By Ra, if I get my hands on whoever left you like this..." The older woman's tone had shifted instantly from quiet desperate longing to cold hateful vengeance.
"We all have our judgments to pass love," Ranma said wrapping one hand around Nabiki's and slipping Sakura's limp hand between the two. "But Sakura is family, just like Tenchi. First we help our family and then..." Ranma trailed off grimly.
It seems that the shadows had to work to reclaim their captive this time.
"Auntie 'Kura, are you mad at us?" Rikku's petulant sobs cut deep into the thinning darkness.
"Auntie... come back," Ken pleaded, burying his face in the summoner's chest. "Pretty please."
"Come on, sweetie." Blake whispered, squeezing her hand. "You have to come back to us soon, or you won't be coming back to us ever." Sakura winced inside as Blake ran his thumb over her fingers. "I didn't want to tell you this, but if there's any chance it will bring you back, then I guess I have to do this." Blake ran a knuckle tenderly down Sakura's cheek. "Sakura-chan, I love you and I want- no, I need you to stay here with me."
"Stay Auntie." Rikku sobbed. "Please stay."
"Come on Sakura," Grant rumbled from the doorway. "This's no time for you to be indecisive. I don't pretend to know what's waiting for you in the darkness of your soul, but here you family who loves you. Choose."
I don't want this! Sakura thought straining against the shadows. This is not my destiny! I choose life! I choose love! "Let... me... GO!" She cried, straining against the darkness with all her might.
With a final snap the shadows fell away as Sakura found herself captured in a tangle of arms and sobbing family. "I'm back," She murmured as exhaustion claimed her. "And I'm never leaving again. I promise."
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(Posted Sat, 30 Jul 2005 16:49)
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