10.

Hikari stared up into the strange dark purple clouds overhead. They roiled together, as if it was going to storm, but it contrast the air was cool and dry. The blue haired teen was walking down the street with Katorashi and Renshi. The three were silent, but not for lack of something to say.

The war was upon them. The enemy was at their doorstep, and the three friends were walking towards their designated posts around the village. It was very likely they would never see each other again, and yet they still said nothing. Hikari clenched her teeth, closed her eyes, and stopped walking.

Renshi and Katorashi stopped as well and turned around, their eyes bewildered and searching.

"You guys," Hikari said quietly. She was pleased her voice came out strong. "I just want to say… good-bye, if this is it."

"Hikari," Katorashi interrupted warningly, telling Hikari to stop while the mood was still vaguely light hearted.

"No, Kat-chan," Hikari said just as firmly. "It has to be said."

Katorashi stared at her friend for a moment then gave her a short, single nod and shifted so that she was fully facing her.

"You two have been the best friends I could ever ask for," Hikari said. "And… and I would really miss you." She unconsciously wiped at her face to fend off tears.

"Me too," Renshi said after a deep breath. She was rolling up her sleeves.

"You know it," Katorashi said fiercely as she reached up to tie her hair back.

Hikari smiled. "Musical trio forever, right?"

The other two smiled as well. "Forever," they agreed as one.

The three walked toward what ever end they might face, together.

--

Hikari's post was an alley in between two buildings, one of which sheltered them from the north and the other from the south. There was a heavy concrete wall to the east and the west was open. It was not the most defensible position, but Hikari could think of worse.

When she arrived, the other two thirds of her team were already there. There was Lee, who was crouched, looking around the north building at the empty street. The other was a slim genin boy whose name slipped Hikari's mind, a kunai raised in front of him and his chest rising and falling in time to his fear. She frowned. It was very mismatched, but Tsunade had to make due with what ranks she had. Hikari felt sullen as she wondered if the Godaime was regretting sending Haku and the others away.

"Hey," She greeted as she slipped into the dark alley.

"Hello," said Lee, looking at her seriously. The genin just nodded his recognition.

"What's it looking like?" Hikari said, settling beside Lee.

"Koutetsu came by 15 minutes ago. He said to be ready in an hour." Lee answered. "I said he could most definitely count on us."

Hikari nodded and proceeded to take a few senbon out of her pack.

"So much hate…" the genin muttered. "Surely we can't outlast it. It's hopeless."

Hikari and Lee paused and turned to the boy. His eyes were glazed over and the hand that was holding the kunai was shaking.

Lee reached over and clapped him on the shoulder. "Do not despair. There is always hope!" He continued on to his nice guy pose.

Hikari sighed and shook her head. Then she turned and stood watch on the deserted street.

--

Katorashi and Hikari sat in the waiting room of the hospital. They were not in good shape. Katorashi had a huge a huge, long gash running up the side of her leg, covered by a makeshift bandage created from Hikari's sleeve. Her arm was bent at on odd and painful angle, and she had a black eye. As for Hikari, six of her fingers were broken and her cheek was cut clean though in one place. She was dangerously low on chakra. Neither, however, sought attention. There were so many others who needed it much more than them…

The third of their trio was not with them. Renshi was somewhere in the hospital, being treated for chakra and blood loss and extreme fatigue. Her two friends had brought her to the hospital after the battle.

Sound had retreated, but Hikari wasn't sure if the victory was truly theirs.

"All this death…" Katorashi growled. "So many dead. And what for? What's the point? They're all dead and it was wasted."

Hikari turned sharply to her friend, surprised and slightly disturbed by her harsh words. Katorashi's grey blue eyes were cold and deadened. Hikari looked away, unsure of how to respond to her morbid statement. She lifted a hand to run through her hair, but flinched when her broken fingers collided with her scalp.

"Hey, Katorashi-chan! Hikari-chan!" Someone yelled.

The two girls looked up and searched for the source of the voice. There it was: Naruto, sitting up in a gurney, waving frantically and pointing to the person in the one next to him. "Look! Look who I brought back!" He yelled, grinning wildly. Sure enough, lying there looking pale, sickly, and as much of an evil bastard as ever, was Uchiha Sasuke. Katorashi groaned and brought her hands to her face, while Hikari half smiled at Naruto's boyish antics.

"Shut up, Naruto, it's a hospital," scolded Sakura, holding a syringe filled with anesthetic. "Now hold out your arm."

"This isn't gonna hurt, right?" Naruto answered apprehensively, eyeing the needle with suspicion.

"Of course not," The pink haired teen said as she jabbed it into his arm.

"Owwww…" he complained as his voice faded.

Sakura ruffled his yellow hair as his eyes fluttered shut. Then her eyes traveled to the figure occupying the rolling bed next to Naruto. "We really missed you, Sasuke-kun…" She murmured.

"Speak for yourself." Katorashi deadpanned.

Sakura turned and glared at her, but the swordswoman glared right back.

"Oh come on, you guys." Hikari said angrily. "Don't you think we've done enough fighting for today?"

Sakura looked away sadly. "I'll try to get someone to help you," She said in a near whisper. Then she put a hand on both gurneys and effortlessly pushed them away. The others fell silent.

Hikari sighed and watched as Tsunade was carried in on a stretcher, unconscious.

"Tsunade-sama never was good at gambling," Katorashi said.

"Hmmm?" Hikari asked.

"She gambled too much this time. Put too much on the line. She won't make it. She put up a good fight and she'll be remembered, but it's over for her."

Hikari stared again at her friend's eyes. Yes, they were hard and cold, but she saw something else in there. Old Katorashi was still there. She was still there, but she was drowning in hardship and sorrow.

Hikari wondered if they all were.