~~Dead and Dying~~
-
Seiko finishes sweeping the floor and walks into the bedroom. She sits on the edge of the bed and rubs Tsunade's back gently. "Tsunade? Wake up, it's time to get ready."
(***)
Tsunade's eyes dart about in panic as her opponents attack mercilessly. This is not good, we're getting completely overpowered. Think Tsunade! She leaps to the side, narrowly avoiding the Jounin's powerful punch. The pregnancy was draining her of her energy and she had already lost track of Seiko's position. Suddenly, she feels a searing pain rip at her abdomen. Looking down, Tsunade is horrified to see her slacks dripping wet and a dark puddle of liquid pooling around her sandals. A fire-based jutsu engulfs her and her screams shatter the stillness in the forest, scaring birds out of their nests. Though her vision is blurry, she suddenly spots Seiko curled up on the ground, paralyzed by the pain in her hand. Before she can shout out a warning, a kunai pierces the teen through the top of her skull, injuring her fatally. Tsunade squeezes her eyes shut, she can't bear to look any longer. Excruciating pain spreads through her body like wildfire and she feels her life slipping away. It's all my fault. It's all my fault that my baby is dead. It's all my fault that Seiko is dying. She had such a future too, but thanks to my impulsive words she is stuck in this test with me and now she's dying. Her face is wet with tears from the physical and emotion pain and she hears Seiko faintly calling out to her. "Tsunade! Tsunade!"
(***)
"Tsunade!"
The voice is suddenly loud and clear, almost as if it was coming from right beside her. Seiko? Where are you? What's happening? Forcing her eyes open, Tsunade sees Seiko looking down at her worriedly.
"It's ok babe, I'm here now. Shhh, it's all ok." Seiko pulls Tsunade upright then scoops the distraught woman onto her lap, enveloping her in a secure hug. She reaches for the handy stack of clean towels on the bedside table and tenderly dries the tears that stain the blonde woman's face. Tsunade lets out a shuddering gasp and fresh tears spill out of her eyes again. Her heavy breasts heave repeatedly as sobs rack her body. She suddenly leans forward and retches violently, her partially digested dinner splattering all over the front of Seiko's t-shirt, some of it landing on the bed sheets and floor. Seiko ignores the sudden ripple of pain that shoots through her wrist, and instead, rubs Tsunade's back gently as the Sannin throws up twice more. Despite the sharp smell of bile grating on her senses, the black-haired ninja carries Tsunade bridal style to the washroom to rinse out her mouth and to clean them both off.
Leaving the soiled clothes soaking in the bathtub, Seiko opts instead to wash off in the shower. She leaves Tsunade sitting naked on the toilet as she dashes out to grab a stool to put in the shower. Although Tsunade has collected herself enough by then, Seiko still steps into the shower with her, after having hurriedly thrown on a random pair of short and an old t-shirt used for sleeping in. Seating Tsunade on the stool, she shampoos Tsunade's soft locks, massaging her scalp and tensed shoulders. Squeezing a dollop of shower gel into her palm, Seiko lathers up Tsunade's body, her hands lingering on Tsunade's firm abdomen. Tsunade leans back against her and tilts her head upwards, a wan smile finally appearing on her pale face.
"Hey."
"Hey yourself, how're you feeling babe? You ok?"
"Mhm, sorry."
"Hey, forget it." Seiko's tone is soft, soothing. "It was just some spit-up, no harm done as long as you're feeling better now. Rough nightmare?"
Tsunade nods in reply to Seiko's question, but her brows are still furrowed. "No, not just that. I'm sorry I got you involved in all this trouble."
"Sweetheart, I've already forgiven you for that. Besides, like I said before it's probably the best for the baby." Seiko finishes rinsing Tsunade off and quickly hoses herself down as well. Helping Tsunade to her feet, Seiko hands her a towel to dry off with. As Tsunade gets dressed and brushes out her hair, Seiko changes into her ninja uniform and steps into the kitchen to make another dinner to replace the calories that Tsunade had lost earlier. She makes a thick rice porridge with beef and green beans, it would be easy on the stomach while still providing Tsunade with the energy she would need for the upcoming battle.
Tsunade comes out as dinner is still cooking. Seiko pulls out a chair at the table for her and she sits, still looking melancholy.
"Wanna talk about it? You don't have to if you don't want to, I'm just offering to listen."
Tsunade just stares down at her hands. Just as Seiko is about to change the subject, Tsunade blurts out, "I'm scared." Seiko immediately drops everything she is doing and kneels in front of Tsunade, holding the shaking hands in her own calloused ones.
"Talk to me hun, I'm here for you."
"There was blood everywhere, and it hurt, and the baby was gone, and you were dying." The words tumble out of her mouth and she begins crying in earnest again.
"Hey. Look at me babe. Look at me!" Seiko cringes inwardly at the sharpness of her voice as Tsunade reluctantly raises her watery amber eyes to meet her own pitch black ones. She wants to hold Tsunade in her arms and just let her cry, but right now there was a point to be made. "First off, it was a dream. You were worried and your fears presented themselves in your dreams. Secondly, we can do this! Those five hours of planning weren't for nothing you know? We've got this all planned out and harsh as it sounds, you know that as a ninja you cannot let emotions rule your actions, even if this is not a real battle. Thirdly, I promise you I won't let you get hurt too badly. I'll protect your baby with everything I have, I promise."
"I don't want you to die protecting me." Tsunade sniffs, "You can't die!"
"Well thanks for belittling my capabilities. I've served as captain to all these Jounin with the exception of Kakashi, and you're easily above his level. You think I'm about to let them kill me that easily?" Seiko challenges quietly, without a hint of humour in her voice.
Tsunade gulps, I'm so thankful I'm not the one fighting her. The level of intensity she reaches when she is serious is incomparable to anything I have seen. "I'm just worried that my pain will become a burden to you."
"It's alright sweetheart, don't let that worry you." Seiko lifts Tsunade's perfectly manicured hand and gently brushes her lips to it. "I assure you this battle is no different to me than a mission. I will take every factor into consideration as the situation progresses and will obviously avoid unnecessary sacrifices. Our opponents will be fighting with the intent to kill, but I know that every one of them will be able to stop just short of causing any fatalities as far as it is within their controls."
"Seiko? Could you maybe just get out of mission mode for a while? I get your point, I'm know I'm worrying pointlessly. I just want a big hug now please?"
The bluntness of the request startles Seiko for just a moment, then she lets out a short bark of laughter. "Of course babe, of course."
(***)
"You've got everything you need?" Seiko asks as she winds a bandage firmly, but not too tightly, around a nodding Tsunade's chest. "There, all done. This should keep your breasts from feeling too sore after the battle."
An ANBU member had knocked on their door half an hour ago, leaving immediately after delivering the sealed scroll containing the time and place of the physical test. Now the duo have half an hour to get to training ground 3 and Tsunade feels like a bundle of nerves.
"Hey hun, you don't look too good, are you gonna be fine? You gonna be able to keep your dinner down?"
"Just nervous. Don't worry, I'll be alright. I wish I had more energy though, I'm not sleepy, just a little drained."
"Ok babe, don't push yourself too hard later ok? Holler if you can't handle it, I don't want you to hurt yourself too much."
"What'll I do without your help Seiko? Ughh…" Tsunade buries her face in her arms, suddenly feeling the strain of the day's events. Seiko rubs her back briskly and hands her a glass of juice. Tsunade gulps it down and leans back in her chair tiredly, closing her eyes.
"Tsunade, we have to get going soon, there's no time to sleep right now. I'll give you a soldier pill when we get there if you feel like you need one."
Tsunade cracks her eyes open slightly, "Can you do me a favour? My konoha forehead protector, it should be somewhere in the bottom of my toiletries bag, I wanna wear it for this battle." Seiko disappears into the bedroom and reappears with the forehead protector in the blink of an eye. Tsunade lifts her bangs out of the way and Seiko ties the worn piece of cloth securely around her head.
"There, all ready. On your feet Princess, it's time." Seiko offers a hand to Tsunade and the Sannin grabs it, pulling herself up with a grunt.
"Carry me?" The smaller woman jokes, earning herself rolled eyes and a smirk from the brawny teen. Tsunade shrieks in surprise as Seiko swiftly sweeps her off her feet, crossing the short distance of the room and depositing her right in front of the door. She is enveloped in a monstrous bear hug and encouraging words are whispered into her ear, then Seiko pulls the door open and the pair step out once again as master and attendant.
-
A/N: I'm currently taking a short break from this story and writing a one-shot, so keep your eyes peeled for it!
