Chapter Text
Sumi felt the ground rise up to meet her. The movement is gentle, but her wounds send white hot bolts of pain through her body in response.
She felt so heavy.
She ached and groaned in a pool of crimson, staining the roots of the Jukai beneath her.
Sumi gagged at the smell of blood.
Hers, theirs.
Through blurred vision, she saw Sonoko lying beside her. Unconscious, with pain written on her face, taking laboured breaths. Sumi felt her heart break.
Gin was standing there. She must've brought them to safety. Her words of reassurance are barely audible through the torrent of pain that coursed through Sumi's being.
"I'll take care of the others. You guys stay here and rest. See you!"
"No, don't go alone! It's too dangerous to fight alone!" Sumi wanted to plead.
But Gin was already gone, scarlet petals fluttering in her wake.
Weakly, Sumi dragged herself over to Sonoko and gingerly pulled the other girl close to her own body, hissing as her wounds protested.
As if I can protect you in this state.
The metallic scent threatened to make her vomit as the tug of unconsciousness overwhelmed her, pulling her unwilling eyes shut.
[Darkness]