Some sad stuff… some funny stuff. Anko drunk. Yeah.
Dinner turned into dessert and dessert turned into drinks when they ran into Anko on the way out of the restaurant.
The bar was clean and relatively un-crowded. Junko nursed a beer while Anko pounded shots and Kurenai sipped sake politely.
"Heeeey," Anko slurred. "Why you so down, Junko-chan?"
"Anko," Kurenai warned. "Be nice."
"Eh?" she blinked. "Come on! It's a great time to be alive!" she shouted and tossed back another shot.
"Anko!"
"She's right. It's a wonderful time to be alive…" Junko finished off her beer and beckoned the bartended to bring her another one. "And I am still alive."
The other two women exchanged looks, but listened to Junko's story.
*
She knocked on his door. There was no answer. She pounded on it. "Hayate!" she called, her voice tinged not with panic but with desperation. "Let me in! I know you're in there!"
Finally, the lock turned and the door opened. He invited her in, knowing she wouldn't go away if he asked her to. He couldn't look her in the eye.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked, getting straight to the point.
"Doing what?" *cough, cough* Hayate turned and flopped back down into an overstuffed chair. He was still in his pajamas and it was at least two in the afternoon.
"You're not going out for the Jounin exam?" she asked, incredulously. "When I registered they told me you backed out. Why?"
"You know as well as I do that I'll *cough, cough* never make it."
She folded her arms and looked down on him. "So you're just going to give up?"
"Yes," he answered and turned on the television.
"Hayate?"
"Are you done? Springer's on."
Junko grabbed the remote from him and turned off the set. She crouched down and looked him in the eyes. "So you're just going to quit?"
"I CAN'T make it, Junko," he shouted back, causing a coughing fit. Her brows came together, but she pressed on.
"You can try. If you give up… if you stop trying… then you might as well…"
"Die now?" he finished. "Say it, Junko. I'm going to die."
"Some day, yes. We all will…"
"*cough, cough* I'm dying NOW!" he barked.
She stood up. "You…" tears came to her eyes. "You're trying to push me away, aren't you?"
"Ju… Junko…" he stuttered and hung his head. "I don't want to hurt you. You don't have a future with me. It's best if you just leave me now."
"BAKA!" she shouted. "I will do no such thing!" Hayate stared up at her. Her fists were clenched and the tears ran down her face. "I love you. I want to be with you. I want to make you happy, and being with you will make me happy. I know that I don't have much time with you. Call me selfish, but I want as much of that time as I can get. But, if you don't love me… then I'll go. If I can't make you happy…"
He pushed himself out of his chair and took her into his arms. "Junko. I love you more than anything in this whole world…" He repressed a cough and squeezed her. "I just…"
"I know," she whispered. "I'm willing to stand by you. I'll take the good days and the bad ones. I'll be by your side till my time with you is up."
As she collected herself and nuzzled her face into his shoulder, it was his turn to cry.
*
"We were together for almost seven years. He finally did become Jounin, just a special tactics, but he still made it. After the exam he went in the hospital again for a week…" Junko trailed off. "I'm sorry, how long have I been babbling?" she asked and blushed a little at the line of empties in front of her.
"No no!" Anko waved. "That's a great story!"
"Anko…" Kurenai sighed. "So he's been gone for three years now, hasn't he?"
"Yes," Junko sighed as well and finished off her fifth beer.
"Wow. That's a long ass time to go without." Anko squinted at her.
"Without… what?" Junko asked.
"Anko!" Kurenai swatted her friend on the back of the head. "What she means is… well… have you gotten back out there yet?"
"Out where?" Junko squinted back.
"Oy god," Anko slurred. "The game, woman! You need to play the field again!"
Junko blushed furiously, finally catching on to what they were getting after. "I… I just… I've never thought of it…"
Kurenai put her hand over Junko's. "Perhaps it's time."
"Kyaaa if I went three years without any I'd 'splode!"
"ANKO!" This time, Kurenai didn't have to use violence. Anko fell off her stool and whacked her head on the bar on the way down. She lay on the floor, motionless. "It's about time," Kurenai grumbled. "Don't worry about her. Junko-chan, I think it's time."
"Time?"
"Like Anko said, well, not exactly. You should date again."
"I couldn't! I…"
Kurenai waved her hands. "Junko-chan, you're obviously lonely. I know this Chuunin I can set you up with if you don't want to go looking yourself. He's a really nice guy."
Junko stared at Anko who was blowing a snot bubble as she dozed on the floor. She muttered something foul and laughed in drunken slumber.
"Um… What? Like a blind date?"
"Yeah, why not? If you don't like him, you don't like him. You should give it a shot." Kurenai's friendly smile and the half a dozen beers were fairly convincing. Junko agreed.
Soon to conclude… he's coming… wait for it….
