KUSHINA
TODAY'S THE DAY.
You'd think this would be a good thing for us. Koki getting that barrier out while being able to keep his memories. We'd be complete again. Better than that.
But no.
Today's a day of chance, of possibility. The day anything can happen. I could experience the worst nightmare possible if I fail or if the barrier's grip is too strong.
Please, Jesus, please protect him. Please give me the strength to go through with this and please guide Tsunade's hands with your power. Please, Jesus.
"Kushina," Tsunade opens the door behind me, "it's time. He's in the room already."
Sensei...please forgive me.
"Alright." I say, strengthening my voice. "Let's do this."
I follow her through a pair of double doors. The room instantly becomes colder. The only sound is the heart monitor. Koki's probably happy there's no needles needed. After all, he has to be awake during this. He's on the hospital bed, handcuffed to it in case of seizure. I hurry to him. "Pumpkin pie," I say, "you okay?"
He's not. I can tell in his eyes he's panicking and hating being chained to the bed. Regardless, he nods. "Okaa, if this goes wrong, am I going to die?" His voice is almost a whisper.
"It won't go wrong. Not as long as I'm here. And Tsunade's the best medical ninja we have." I reassure him.
"I'm scared, Okaa." I know it takes a lot for him to admit that. The fear must be serious. With reason.
"You'll be okay." I give him a promissory kiss on the cheek. "Don't be. We're not even cutting into you." I smooth his hair. "No needles, no sharp things. And look, you got to keep your hair!"
I keep my hand on his head. "You're not gonna die, because I said so."
"Wait, but that's not a real-"
"If you try to, you're grounded." I widen my smile, making his flare up. He nods in agreement. I squeeze his hand and turn to the nurses and Tsunade. "Ready?"
"Ready when you are." Tsunade nods.
I nod back and go to Koki's head, standing behind him. I look down at him as the nurses tie my hair back. "Don't worry." He blinks. "Okaa's got you. Now, just close your eyes and count to twenty, mkay? Slowly."
Koki does so immediately. The clock is set. I breath deeply and do a hand sign. "Releasing the barrier." I say, closing my eyes to concentrate. In a moment's time, the muscles in my arm contract. "Release!"
There's a sharp sound piercing through the air, and Koki breaks out a painful scream. His fists ball at the same time a frown forms on his brow. "You're okay." I take a much-needed breath and focus my chakra to my hands, starting from my heart. My hands glow with a hint of red.
"Beginning the extraction of the memory repression barrier." Tsunade says.
I place my hands on his head, locating the section of his brain where memories are held. At the same time, a seizure comes hard. Koki's shaking becomes so heavy and out-of-hand that it lifts him off the bed. The chains on the handcuffs rattle. It gets to the point that some of the nurses have to hold him down. This is by far the worse seizure he's had. The only way to stop this is to get that thing out of him. The heart monitor is screaming at me to stop, but I know I can't.
This should be quick anyway.
I let my extraction jutsu snatch the disintegrated barrier and slowly pull it out. It comes out thick and liquidated, like a goo. It has this ghostly flow to it, too. As I'm reeling, Koki stops shaking and freezes in agony. Like when you get stabbed and you're pulling the knife out. Slowly and engrossed on some random sight until it's safe to breath.
When it's out, his body drops lifelessly. Dead weight. Everyone freezes. The heart monitor is still going crazy and he's sweating. "Koki?" I say. He's staring wide-eyed at the ceiling, as still and grey as a corpse. It halts my breath - I don't think he even got to his twenty. I touch him. "Koki?!"
Relief comes in a bittersweet sway when I see his chest rise and fall slowly with a breath. I try to call him again, but my voice is empty.
Tsunade burns the remnants of the barrier. "His body is just in shock." She smiles. "Kakashi is going to be okay, so long as you are."
"I'm okay." I breathe. "I'm okay." My thumb smoothes over his wrist. They're tender from the handcuffs.
Tsunade comes over to stand by his head and places a hand over his eyes and another on his crown. Her eyes close and the Mystical Palm illuminates the room with green hue. "I'm repairing anything that was damaged by the extraction. This may take a while, so, someone grab Kushina a seat. I assume she doesn't want to leave the room."
She nods in agreement at me. "Thank you, Tsunade. Really." I sound like I'm begging. Again, Koki inhales deeply and lets it out slow before his head tilts to the side in slumber. A relaxed breath, almost. I feel I have done plenty - he must be taking that one for me.
##
Koki's resting now. It's been almost 10 hours. He hasn't looked this well and peaceful in a long time. No frown, no tossing and turning. No painful dreams. Just resting. I put my hand on his head and brush away his bangs.
Tsunade puts her hands on my shoulders and smiles down at him. "Little brat." I chuckle. "I think he'll be able to manage his epilepsy much easier now. I couldn't get rid of it, but I reduced the likelihood of seizures by almost 75%."
"Good." Tears of gratitude fill my eyes again. "I'll put in extra for this. You deserve it, Tsunade."
"Naw. Keep your money." She looks down at me. "A human life can't be bought or paid off. I'll take what I can from the hospital charges."
She hasn't changed.
"Now, he must take daily medication. I put in the prescription to the pharmacy, so pick it up on your way out." She adds, "And since this is Kakashi, whenever he feels or looks like he's getting his aura, tell him to calm himself or do it yourself if he's too panicked."
I nod. That will be easy. Koki's easy to startle and get riled up, but he's also easy to calm - when he's not annoyed or mad. That's when things get tough. I have to call Nani and Papa and Ko and Fu. Everyone! The surgery was a success.
If I hadn't used up my last miracle, maybe today, I did. And I don't regret it.
