Hospitals always seem to smell like bleach… Bleach and pure sickness. It burns your lungs and your eyes… Maybe it's just the tears that burn your eyes though. You're never really sure. This particular ebony haired male can't tell either as he sits beside a bed. The hollow sound of a shallow heartbeat fills the room. The young man crouches over the bed and silently whispers sweet nothings, his eyes closed tight. His hands hold another's as he feels hot liquid rolling down his burning red cheeks. Eventually his lips whisper his lover's name, his voice cracked and hopeless.

"Hinata…"

A small, almost silent response is heard, the other's voice so quiet that it's barely evident. He rasps to his taller fiance, thumb running over his engagement ring.

"Yes Kageyama?"

The blue eyed volleyball player looked up at the usually fiery ginger, the shorter of the two holding a sad smile. His face is colorless, eyes dull and almost lost looking. He had slightly red eyes and shallow breaths. Kageyama cried out, his fingers clenching the bedsheets.

"Please. Stay with me. Please… I can't get through this without you!"

He leaned forward, trying to grasp whatever was left of his future husband. His eyes closed and he gently rested his face on the smaller male's chest, crying into the cold, stiff hospital gown. His body shook as he whimpered.

"I love you so much, Hinata. Please stay with me."

The small ginger laughed quietly. He looked down at the other male and ran his frail fingers through the soft, raven black hair on his fiance's head.

"Kageyama… You know I'll always be with you."

Kageyama shook his head, clenching up his lover's hospital gowns and crying out. He couldn't help it. He couldn't lose everyone like this.

"No… No I need you so much… Just a little more time."

The ginger nodded, pulling the dark haired male up to face him. Kageyama was pulled into a kiss, slow and passionate. There was no heat, the feelings still there but the connection was cold with sadness and fear. They both knew what was happening but in that moment, Hinata knew better.

Kageyama pulled away a moment later and felt his heart stop. Hinata's eyes were closed, his lips no longer gently puffing breath. The black haired man shook him once before tears rushed out of his eyes, pouring over his cheeks and onto those sick smelling hospital sheets. He shook his head, hugging the cold, lifeless body of his former lover to his chest. The warmth was gone and so was the feeling of his precious Hinata's love. It was a hollow shell. The sound of nurses rushing them hit deaf ears as they suddenly pulled Kageyama away, holding him back from the corpse of his lover.

Kageyama had learned that day just why Hinata wanted to win so bad. Ever since he was young he'd known. He had a rare condition that ate away at him from the inside out. Kageyama hadn't known until barely months ago, when he couldn't do anything for his fiery little crow. He now understood Hinata's favorite saying. He understood why he followed it so well. His eyes closed as he remembered the small boy clenching his fists and staring Kageyama down, determination on his face and a proud glint in his eyes.

"Do you need a reason not to want to lose?"