"There" Izumo said as he scrawled his signature onto the bottom of the page "done" he smiled and pushed the completed paperwork over to his companion.
" 'Zumo your a life saver!" Kotetsu exclaimed happily as his eyes travelled over the words.
"What would you do without me" Izumo grinned and wrapped an arm around Kotetsu's shoulders, Kotetsu rested his head on Izumo's shoulder and smiled up at him. "oh that reminds me" Izumo suddenly said "I'll be gone for a few days on a mission with Tonbo and Genma, we're escorting some rich guy to the Land of Waves, I'll probably be back by the weekend"
"Okay then" Kotetsu replied.
"See ya 'Tetsu" Izumo said, kissing him on the cheek, Kotetsu kissed him back then waved.
"Have fun" he called as Izumo jogged away and out of sight.
It was the day Izumo was due to return and Kotetsu rushed around their shared apartment, getting it ready for his lovers return. Once he was finished he sat on the couch, glancing eagerly at the door every few minutes...slowly the minutes turned into hours...and the hours into days, Once it had been a week since Izumo's supposed return date, Kotetsu began to really worry. He had already gone to the Hokage with his worries but she just brushed it off, claiming that he was probably just running late.
Today Kotetsu was on gate duty alone. It wasnt the same without Izumo he thought, glancing at his partners empty chair. Suddenly the sound of pounding footsteps alerted him to a squad of ninja coming, he leaned out of the Guard shack and spotted the fammilliar white bandaged head of Tonbo, his heart soared, It was Izumo's team, returning from their mission, then his eyes widened and his heart leapt into his throat, there on a stretcher, carried by Tonbo and Genma- was his beatiful Izumo! His face pale and his hair limp against his cheek, he was rushed past as Tonbo and Genma rushed him towards the hospitol. Abandoning his post, Kotetsu followed, tears streaming down his cheeks. He reached the hospitol just in time to hear Tsunade-
"There's nothing I can do here, he's too far gone" Kotetsu hoped with all his heart that she was talking about someone else but as he entered the room he saw Tsunade standing over Izumo, her hand on his chest, she looked up and spotted him " Kotetsu, I was just about to send for you, he hasnt got long" Kotetsu all but ignored her and made his way over to Izumo's side, gripping his hand tightly.
" Dont leave me 'Zumo" he whispered, Izumo made no visible response but Kotetsu could've sworn Izumo's grip around his hand tighted briefly. There was silence for a while then Tsunade spoke.
"He's gone"
Kotetsu let out a choked sob and buried his face in his hands. Oh Izumo...What am I going to do without you...