Hayate hurt. He hurt inside and out. His insides felt like they were boiling, and it was worse whenever he started coughing. He looked worse for wear, and like a druggie despite how he had sworn off of any type of drug. What was worse, his health was failing him and everyone knew it. Everyday, everyone would take precautions with him, worried that we would die as he walked down the street. He was practically dead, everyone though.
The only thing that had kept him alive this long was Genma. He loved Genma, and would do anything for him. He would travel to the end of the world and back just for the honey-blonde man. Anything. Just as long as Genma would hold him at night. Or even just smile at him. Every time the man smiled, Hayate felt warm and fuzzy inside, and every time they made contact his insides would settle down and flip with romantic visions.
But of course, Hayate's health was failing. It was evident when he could barely make it up a flight of stairs without panting, and even more so when we would practically collapse if he walked up more than three. It made him sick, how weak he was. It didn't want to be sick. He wanted to be strong for Genma. So he would push himself harder.
Once, a pair of Chuunin had wandered into the training area deeper in the forest outside of Konoha walls and they had run into Hayate, collapsed against a tree with a kunai held loosely in his hand. He had been rushed to the Hospital.
Hayate hurt. He hurt everywhere now. Especially in the heart. He had been out training, trying to be stronger for Genma – he didn't want the man to have to worry about him anymore – but had failed himself and had simply collapsed where he had been found. He hated himself. How could he be so weak? He hated his weakness.
He hated when Genma stepped into the room and saw him like this, and almost bit himself when the man took his hand and sat on a chair beside the hospital bed. He coughed softly and Genma smiled, petting his hair gently. Hayate's insides flipped awkwardly and the sickly man looked away. Genma bent forwards and kissed his cheek and the other blushed softly. The older man whispered something but Hayate couldn't hear what.
A ringing had started in his left ear, and had crossed into his right and his chest started burning. Pain flashed in white pinpricks across his vision and he gripped Genma's hand tightly. He barely felt the man beside him pull him into a hug and lay a kiss on his forehead before he tasted coppery blood in his mouth and felt a trail of the red ooze run from his nose down to the corner of mouth. Hayate convulsed and his eyes dimmed and a strangled gasp for breath gurgled from his wide-open mouth. He gasped more and as Genma kissed him again over his left eye, everything suddenly went numb and he couldn't feel anything but that warmth and the butterflies in his gut.
--
Genma bit his lip and resisted the tears that swelled behind his eyes, not giving himself the pleasure of letting it all out. Hayate's head slumped over his forearm and Genma buried his nose into the others chest, sniffling slightly before resting Hayate back against the pillow. Wide, black outlined eyes were brushed closed and a soft kiss was placed on both lids before Genma stood, straightened Hayate, and then sat back in the chair, just holding his lovers hand tightly.