MIRROR 3
Two nights passed and Iruka was finally discharged. He was running around his little hospital room, making sure that he had all his belongings in the little sling bag on the bed. The two days he's been kept in passed by in a blur for he was sleeping most of the time. The antibiotics they fed and injected him knocked his thinking and appetite out of the way, so half the time when people came to visit him, he was either asleep or on the verge of falling asleep. He was thankful that he was going home. Iruka couldn't stand another day without taking a shower. He could have sworn he smelled horrible because - despite denying Genma's mention of him having a lot of alcohol in his system - his hair and skin smelled like sake itself. He was given strict orders by his doctor and nurses that he shouldn't for any reason take in anything cold or take cold showers and that he should dress up warmly because autumn was bringing in cold winds.
Iruka zipped the bag close and exited the room, glad to be out of it. The nurses escorted him to the hospital entrance and exit to bid him a good afternoon. It was a quarter past six in the afternoon and everyone was either returning from work or leaving for work. Children were being called home by their parents while the night establishments were getting ready to open. Iruka couldn't help but smile at seeing the outside world once again. Being anything but coherent for the past few days was not something Iruka was very proud off. Taking a turn to his street, he spotted his tall apartment complex, a smile gracing his slightly chapped lips. Excited, he jogged towards his home, and once inside, he dropped himself on the couch, getting all lazy.
"I'm home." He whispered and closed his eyes for a while before standing to get a bath.
XXX
The next day, the office staffs were so glad to have Iruka back that he was showered by well wishers, hugs, kisses on the cheeks by close comrades and free lunches for the next few days. Iruka blushed shyly and remained polite like he always did. He did his best to catch up on work and for a whole week or two, he stayed up late just to get the load off his back. Sighing, Iruka sat up from his slouching position and got ready to finish the reports. He reached the last folder and noticed the neat print handwriting, and couldn't help but smile. He caught himself, not realizing why he was smiling and frowned.
Shaking his head, he opened the report and read Genma's handwriting, stamped it and closed it slowly, just as his vision faded and changed to that of his classroom. He was standing by the window, leaning against the wall as he watched the sun set. The classroom door slid open and Genma stepped in, a box of pastries in one hand that he set down on the teacher's desk, just as Iruka turned to greet him with a smile. It was a genuinely happy smile, the type that showed that he was very content with his life. What seemed to shock Iruka even more was that Genma approached him and wrapped arms around his waist, touching his forehead to Iruka's, smiling and speaking little words of affection.
"How were the kids?" Genma asked, not smirking but giving Iruka that soft look that was so rare.
"A handful, but they're a good bunch." Iruka replied, hands coming to rest on Genma's shoulders.
"Hmm. Come home. You've had enough work for the day." Genma whispered.
"Reports -"
"Izumo is at it already." Genma whispered, lips hovering too close to Iruka's. "I got those cream pastries you like so much." Iruka smiled and leaned his head on Genma's shoulder. "Let's go."
The vision melted away, leaving Iruka staring wide eyed at the report in front of him. "What the hell was that?" He gaped and stood up, left everything the way it was and rushed home, not once looking back.
It came to Iruka's knowledge the next day that Raido, Genma and Aoba left for a week long mission. It gave Iruka the time to ponder on the vision that came to him the other night. He couldn't focus, he couldn't think. Every time he thought of Genma, his stomach would start flipping and there would be an increase in his pulse rate. He didn't know what triggered it and he blamed the vision. He never got such a vision that had romantic displays involving him since Mizuki and it tore him because he yearned for such affection. He wanted to know how it felt like to be held, to be kissed and to be told of sweet nothings and everything once again. Iruka was getting nothing out of angsting and wishing.
"Mizuki." He whispered, staring at the darkening clouds in the night sky through the office's window. Reports lay scattered on his table, demanding his attention. He still dreamed of Mizuki and his parting words and the fear he used to feel was now reduced to what seemed like a numb throb in his heart, like an aching reminder. "I wish -" A hand came up to his lips, as the other clenched the side of the table. His eyes started to water, tears trickling down his cheeks at his helplessness and inner frustration. "I wish you were here." He whispered, closing his eyes.
XXX
Iruka was sitting under a tree in a secluded yet open part of the many forests Konoha had. A box of cream pastries lay beside him, a half eaten piece in one of his hand. Iruka glanced down at the head resting on his lap, smiling at the Jounin who stared up at him with a small smile on his face.
"These are lovely." Iruka said, taking a bite off the pastry again, a bit of the cream smearing on the corner of his lips.
"Watch your teeth. Don't want them to rot." Genma said, as if chiding a child, in a teasing manner. "You can be such a kid sometimes." Genma lifted a napkin and wiped the smear of cream away.
"Ah well." Iruka shrugged, a blush on his cheeks as he took another bite of the pastry. "Want some?"
Genma shook his head and continued looking up at him. "Nah. You eat them. I'll watch."
"Tease." Iruka lightly punched Genma on the chest, surprising the Jounin.
Genma took hold of Iruka's hand held it, while he watched Iruka eat his pastries.
-
Iruka lifted his eyes open slowly, the ceiling of his bedroom coming to view. He took notice that for once, his dreams weren't that of Mizuki and his parting words. Iruka stared at the ceiling for a while, before sitting up and bringing a hand to the corner of his lips, staring at the crumpled blanket on his lap. There was a feeling of relief and strange warmth spreading in his stomach. Excitement? Iruka didn't know yet, but waking up feeling the way he was at the current moment, was way better than falling off the bed and ending up all sweaty early in the morning. The hand dropped back to his lap, while he swallowed the large lump in his throat. Suddenly he was trembling. Iruka wrapped his arms around himself slowly, huddling as tight as he could shutting his eyes. The dream was too good to be true.
"What's happening?" Iruka breathed out. He spared the dream a brief thought. He knew that his visions and dreams were just a probable outcome of what might happen if he chooses any of the paths lying before him for any sort of decision. He thought of all the visions he had encountered since being invited to the Red Glass by Aoba. There had been too much of Genma being involved, like the bar stool incident. Iruka got out of the bed and padded to the bathroom to take his morning shower. Once under the warm spray, Iruka returned to his previous line of thought.
What options did he have back then when Genma had been pouring him some sake? He counted off more than one option in his mind, one of them catching Genma and supporting him while the stool crumbled under his weight. Genma may have looked lean, but he was heavier than he actually looked because of all the muscle gained through years of shinobi work and training. It was the stool's fault and perhaps the bar's as well for having such a broken piece of sitting furniture around. What else could Iruka have done? He could have simply told Genma that the stool was unstable and the Jounin himself could have prepared for the sudden turn of balance. He could have told Genma to stand up quickly while he was pouring the sake or he could have ignored the entire vision and let Genma fall. Yet, he chose the option of grabbing him before the stool crumbled because it was the first thing that popped in to his mind once the vision melted away. If he did any of the others, he would get different results.
Iruka washed the shampoo suds off his hair as he thought more of the visions involving Genma. Had he not warned him to go visit the hospital, the wound Genma sported on his shoulder could have caused a great infection and might even drag in the idea of death. Had he not given Genma lighter missions, the man would not be able to carry out any form of shinobi duty until he was fully recovered. Iruka breathed out a light curse at the tangle of confusion in his mind and turned the shower knob off, reaching out for the towel and drying off. Iruka understood now that each action he chose to do lead to a different form of future and it would never be perfect, no matter what kind of path he took. He understood after Mizuki's death that the future was based on choices and that the gift - or curse - of foresight that he possessed was a mere mirror to what might happen. So what kind of meaning were the current visions giving him? Iruka wrapped the towel around his waist and grabbed his toothbrush. He scrubbed at his teeth, brows furrowed together. Did his visions show what it was really showing? As far as Iruka could tell, his image in the visions looked happy. Content even; something that he hasn't felt for quite a long time since Mizuki left. Iruka spat the toothpaste out viciously in to the sink, and turned the tap on, rinsing his mouth.
Iruka decided to wait it out and see what his other visions would be like while he got ready for work that Saturday morning. The idea of being with Genma was stirring something in him. Iruka didn't dislike Genma nor did he have anything against the Jounin. Shiranui Genma, thirty-one, Jounin and ex-ANBU, was an admired man, with a good reputation, someone that one wouldn't want to mess with if possible. He was honorable, had a good record and seemed very laid back. Iruka tried to remember the other little details he overheard from his colleagues in the Academy. Genma sometimes came to assist in the Academy when there was a shortage of staff and talks about him were based on his short stays. According to Iruka's female colleagues, Genma was single, liked his privacy and prided his ability as a shinobi. Why wouldn't he? He'd been an ANBU captain for four years and was known to have done very well during the war when he was but a Chuunin. According to Iruka's male colleagues, Genma was a lady-killer, talked smooth and was one hell of a flirt when he was in the mood, which, surprisingly, was quite rare. Iruka recalled a memory when Anko made the idea that Genma could actually sing public after a night of karaoke a few years ago. Judging from Genma's reaction to that escapade, he acted humble and didn't say much when he was bombarded by questions and teasing jokes. Iruka shrugged his flak jacket and nin-sandals on before locking his door and walking towards the office. He was glad that he didn't have to teach and only had report filing to do till five in the afternoon.
Iruka took a detour to the canteen and grabbed a sweet bun. While walking towards the office, he munched on his breakfast. He was reminded of the times when Mizuki would frown at him whenever he chose to have a sweet bun for breakfast rather than a healthy sandwich.
"That's very un-Iruka of you." Mizuki said, frowning as he set a cup of tea down beside Iruka, who was sitting on his table, holding a brown paper bag filled with sweet buns while he ate them.
"Hmm?" Iruka paused mid-chew and turned to look Mizuki.
"You shouldn't eat too many of those! You said that having sweet things for breakfast was unhealthy. What are you doing now?" Mizuki said in a worried mother-hen sort of voice. "What if you get diabetic? What if you get fat? Then what?"
Iruka swallowed and pulled Mizuki for a kiss before reaching out for another bun. "Then you'll just have to help me with more rounds of love making."
Mizuki couldn'tstop laughing at that comment.
A sad smile crossed Iruka's lips briefly as he finished the rest of his sweet bun and entered the office. He found lots reports to tackle and sighed. Iruka dragged his feet towards his chair and diligently began to go through every one. He noted that majority of the ones he was going through were the A-ranked ones that left a few weeks ago. Some were late due to injuries while some were on time. There were a few B-ranked ones and several D-ranked ones completed by the newly graduated genins along with the old ones. Iruka was glad that financial state and Konoha's image was now at a proper level. Everyone's effort had finally paid off.
A good six hours later, past lunch time, Iruka set his pen down and began to get rid of the large pile of completed reports in front of him before starting on the rest. Iruka was very proud of himself because in six hours he managed to finish three boxes of reports. The price he paid was a pounding headache, but an aspirin or two would make it go away.
"There we go." Iruka sighed with a smile as he set the box in the corner before heading back to his desk and resuming his work.
C-rank, A-rank, D-rank, B-rank, D-rank, D-rank, D-rank, B-rank, C-rank, D-rank, A-rank -
Iruka raised an eyebrow at the report. It was Raido's handwriting, he could tell by the extra long curls in the hiragana letters. Just to confirm it, he checked the team member status written in the last page of the report and stared at it for several long minutes. "Raido, minor injuries, stable. Aoba, critical injury, hospitalized, stable. Genma, concussion, critical injuries, hospitalized, unstable." Iruka paled as he stared at Genma's status. Shaking fingers turned to the front page to check the mission status and the date of their return. "Mission status, failed. Date of return, November eleven, approximately three-forty AM." Iruka set the report down shakily, and leaned back against his chair. November eleven was three days ago. Raido must have been in a very tired state or his injury must have hindered him to an extent that he had to submit a late report since Aoba and Genma were out of the question. Iruka continued his work in a daze, the lunch appetite that has been slowly building up completely gone. He finished all the reports he had that day, cleared the desk up and just sat there, staring at the setting sun blindly, worry growing bigger and bigger in his chest.
The door opened and at the sound, Iruka realized that he's been in a trance for nearly two hours because the clock now read seven-thirty PM. He turned to find Aoba limping towards Izumo's table to drop off a health report. "Yo, Iruka-sensei." Aoba said in a whispered tone. His voice seemed to have left him for there was a bandage wrapped around his neck.
"Aoba-san." Iruka stood up quickly to offer assistance but Aoba just shook his hand, and sat on Izumo's table. "I read your latest mission report." Aoba gave him a tired and sad look. "How bad are your injuries?" Iruka's voice was soft and laced with great concern.
Aoba cleared his throat. "Got my throat nearly split in to two. Good thing Hokage-sama was on duty the night we came back. She says my voice box got scratched or something. I got a broken ankle, two broken fingers and a stab wound on my side."
Iruka winced then frowned. "Aoba-san, you shouldn't be limping around. What if your wound re-opens?"
Aoba gave him a smile, touched by the Chuunin's concern. "I'm fine now. Shizune-san took care of the stab wound and most of my broken bones. That's why I got discharged this morning."
Iruka was almost afraid to ask, but he gathered his courage. "A-And your teammates? Are they okay?"
"Raido is fine. He's got a few scratches and an area or two with internal bleeding but nothing Shizune couldn't handle in a few hours." A painful look crossed Aoba's face. "G - Genma was - well, he's not that lucky."
Iruka suddenly couldn't feel his legs. He grabbed the edge of his table to control his balance. "He's ?"
Aoba got off the table and limped towards the door. "I just got back from the hospital. His condition hasn't improved for the best. Shizune and Hokage-sama have been working on him when I left."
"Is he ?"
"I don't know what's going to happen. H-Hokage-sama says that there's a chance he won't m-make it." Aoba said it with such sadness that Iruka had to turn his head away. "I better go. Good night Iruka-sensei."
Iruka nodded. "Good night." Frantic thoughts ran through his mind that made his feet carry him to the hospital. It was quiet and empty, save for the on-duty nurses at the desk and a few medics going from room to room to check on the patients. "Shiranui Genma, please."
The nurse gave him a small smile before checking on the log on the list before her. "Intensive care ward, room one-four-two. That's on the second floor."
Iruka managed to smile politely and not run towards the ward. "Thank you." He walked slowly towards the ward, climbing the steps in a sedate pace until he reached the ward. He confirmed the room with the desk by the ward's entrance and dazedly made his way to Genma's room. He stared at the door for a while, his heart beating wildly in his chest. Swallowing, Iruka knocked twice before entering. He didn't see the point of the action, but there had been something inside him hoping that he could hear the Jounin's reply to the knock. Iruka got none of course so he pushed the door open and approached the bed. Iruka found himself standing rooted on his spot two feet away from the bed, staring at Genma's figure with a feeling of dread filling his chest. Genma didn't even have the ability to breathe for himself because he was attached to a respirator. Pale lips remained parted as his chest moved up and down in slow motions. The screen beside his bed that had wires attached to his wrist and chest monitored his breathing and heart rates. There was a bag of blood and IV fluid attached to his wrist. His chest was heavily bandaged along with shoulder, neck and one side of his temple. Iruka stared at his face and noted how his hair was parted in the middle due to the bandages. For a brief moment, he saw Mizuki lying on the bed instead of Genma. Iruka let out a short gasp and turned around, running out of the room and closing the door quickly. He didn't notice Raido returning to Genma's room with a cup of warm tea in his hands. He slowed his pace once he reached his street. He leaned against the wall of his building before dragging himself up the stairs. Once he was inside his own home, Iruka crumbled on the carpet by the couch and brought his hands to his face, crying.
He didn't see Genma getting hurt. No visions of anything that may have implied such results came to him and he couldn't forgive himself. "Why?" He hissed, face buried on his now folded arms on the couch as he cried and cried, blaming himself. "Why didn't I see? Why didn't I see?" He demanded and could only sob more when he couldn't find an answer.
XXX
The next day passed by Iruka in a blur. There were times when he was just so out of it that people had to shake him to get his attention. Worry was gripping him to the extent that he banged his head on the table to shake himself up before resuming his work in a zombie-like state. He couldn't help it. "I could have prevented it. I could have stopped Kotetsu from handing them that A-rank mission." Iruka said guiltily to himself. "I could have saved them. Him!" At that very moment, he suddenly remembered Sandaime and what he told him about his foresight after Mizuki's ashes were buried.
"You can't save all of them. There are just some who are not meant to be saved by your foresight. There's a hero in everyone, but we can't always be heroes."
Sandaime had smiled and given him a look of understanding back then.
Iruka pushed himself up from his chair. Aoba mentioned that there's a chance that Genma wouldn't make it. But that also meant that there's a chance that he would. Iruka hurriedly gathered his things and jogged to the hospital, hope growing with every few steps. He politely greeted the nurses by the desk and slowly climbed the stairwell towards the intensive care ward. As he neared Genma's door, a feeling of dread washed over him like before, making him stop in the middle of the hallway. Iruka told himself that he was being stupid, that Genma wasn't the type to give up that easily and he should believe in Genma's strength. He kept telling himself in an even more frantic mantra that Genma was going to make it and that his reputation in strength and ability was there to support that line of thought. Sucking in a shaky breath, Iruka headed for Genma's door, knocked twice and slowly pushed the door open. Nothing seemed to have changed over night save for the fact that there was a new packet of blood and IV fluid attached to the back of Genma's wrist.
"Genma-san?" Iruka whispered, daringly standing close to the bed. Genma remained motionless save for the rise and fall of his chest from the respirator helping him breathe. "G-Genma-san, I'm s-sorry." Iruka said, the guilt he felt the other night hitting him full force. "I wasn't there when you were handed that mission. I didn't see this coming. If I did, I would have - I could have -" Iruka's eyes started to blur. He didn't know why he was sharing something that only Mizuki and Sandaime knew, but for some reason, he felt like he should. "This wouldn't have happened." Iruka gently took Genma's bandaged hand in to his. "Please wake up." Iruka whispered, voice trembling as his tears ran free, his thumb rubbing gentle circles over Genma's knuckles unconsciously. "Please don't die." Iruka shut his eyes then and quickly wiped away the tears with the back of his hand. He kept his eyes closed, trying to gather some control of his emotions while wiping away stray tears for a few minutes.
When Iruka opened his eyes, he found Genma looking at him, eyes open by a very small fraction, probably enough to see a very vague image of the surrounding. Iruka was too overwhelmed by shock and a sense of relief that he had to close his eyes and count one to five to calm his racing mind. When he looked again, Genma was asleep like he always had been. Iruka shook his head and watched Genma, wishing for him to open his eyes and trying to figure out whether what he's seen was either real or a mere trick of his desperate mind. He was staring at Genma for so long that he didn't hear Raido come in.
"Iruka-sensei?" Raido asked, blinking as he gently closed the door, balancing a hot cup of tea in one hand.
Iruka gently and slowly let go of his soft hold on Genma's bandaged hand. "Raido-san." Iruka quickly plastered a smile on his face. "How have you been?"
Raido approached the side table and set the cup of tea down. He had a bandaged forehead and cheek, along with one hand and a forearm. "I'm okay. I've seen better days." Raido gave a small chuckle and rubbed his hip, a small painful look crossing his features. "Damn tree root." He mumbled.
Iruka quickly grabbed a chair. "Here. Sit down." Raido gave him a thankful look and motioned for him to take the other chair to sit, but Iruka shook his head, opting to stand.
Raido sat down tiredly, rubbing gentle circles on his hip. "Hokage-sama gave us the day off." He said and gestured towards Genma.
Iruka nodded slowly, swallowing the lump in his throat. "What happened?"
"Mission got nasty. Let's just say that battle was unavoidable." Raido turned to look at Genma. "One of the cloud nins was doing a wind jutsu, aimed it towards me but I didn't notice because I was backing up Aoba. Genma jumped between the jutsu and me and Aoba. He got full blast of it and Aoba a portion of it." Raido glared at Genma's sleeping form. "Foolish of him!"
"He saved you. B-Be thankful." Iruka said, understanding the rage Raido was feeling. Genma was his best friend, so seeing his friend in such a state because Genma tried to save him must be really painful. Iruka could understand the guilt.
"I am!" Raido snapped and brought his hands to his face. "I don't want him to die." Raido looked at Genma with the most desperate, afraid and worried look Iruka has ever seen the Jounin express. "I don't want him to die." Raid repeated, this time, his voice cracked.
Iruka opened his mouth to say something but quickly decided against it. Instead, he chose to look at his feet. "Tell me something." Iruka looked up at Raido, who was boring him with his dark gaze. "Do you feel that he'll make it?"
Iruka briefly wondered if it was a trick question, but answered the best he could. He looked at Genma's sleeping form, holding back the tears with sheer willpower. "I - I -" He turned to look at Raido and slowly smiled. "I want to believe that he will."
Raido nodded slowly. "I see." He turned to look at Genma. "I didn't know you two were close."
Iruka blinked. "Close?"
"Why else would you cry for him?"
"I was not!" Iruka quickly denied, blushing and looking away.
Raido didn't even turn to look at him, but there was something in his eyes that showed that he wasn't being cruel. "Oh?"
"I wasn't." Iruka lied, berating himself viciously for the lie.
"Tsk, sheesh." Raido leaned back against his chair and took a sip from his tea. "If Genma wakes up, I'll have to beat the crap out of him." Iruka looked positively scandalized because Raido looked serious. "He didn't tell me he was interested in someone. The sly fox." Iruka blushed so red that Raido couldn't help but smile. "And here I thought I was his friend."
"He doesn't!" Iruka said quickly without thinking. "I - I heard what happened from Aoba and I read your report. I - I just wanted to come by and visit."
"Uh-huh." Raido said boredly, taking another sip from his tea. "Of course, of course."
"I'm serious." Iruka said, and this time he looked, as in really looked at Genma. "I don't want him to die too." Raido turned his head to give Iruka a curious look. "I - I don't think I -" Iruka slowly reached out and lifted the covers a bit higher, hand brushing against Genma's bare chest. His vision blurred so fast that he shut his eyes tight, a small cry of surprise and pain at the sudden brightness escaping his lips. Raido was immediately on his feet and helping Iruka.
Flashes.
Flashes of Genma practicing katas, polishing his weapons, writing missions, entering the village gates, doing hand seals, sparring with Raido, jogging around the village, teaching at the Academy, drinking coffee, sleeping on his side, eating peaches, laughing, giving Raido a head-nogging grip, slurping on ramen, grinning, smiling, walking away. Walking farther and farther away, then slowly he turned and looked right at Iruka, a smile spreading on his lips as he held his hand out, waiting for Iruka to take it.
Iruka reached out and took the hand, then the whole setting changed to that of a darkened room. Iruka found Genma lying on the bed, a sheen of sweat covering his hard and lean body, lips parted as he breathed out a name. Hands came to lie on Genma's chest as Iruka realized that it was himself in the vision, lying on top of Genma, and kissing him passionately, while Genma's hands ran up and down his back, tangling in his hair as cries of pleasure filled the room, Genma's voice ringing loudly in his ears.
"Iruka..."
Iruka's vision cleared and he was left with a headache so strong that everything around him was swaying back and forth and getting blurry. It was like being kicked in the head violently and being banged on the wall repeatedly. It was too much to handle. "Iruka-sensei! Iruka-sensei, are you all right?" Raido asked, face looming over him. Only then did Iruka notice that he was sitting on the floor, his back supported by Raido. "You scared me! What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Iruka felt very weak all of a sudden and found Raido's face vanishing in to blackness. "Iruka-sensei! Oi! Iruka sensei!"
Iruka could only think of Genma as he closed his eyes and slacked in to Raido's supporting arms.
XXX
Mizuki was standing with his back turned to him, hands shoved deep in to his pockets while the wind blew against him, the sky and bright and blue above him. He was humming a soft tune, the one that he always hummed whenever he was waiting for something or whenever he was in a good mood. Iruka watched him with content, long moments flying past. Mizuki stopped humming and turned to look in his direction a smile spreading on his lips, before he chuckled and then grinned.
"Mizuki..." Iruka called out reaching out to touch him but he couldn't stretch further from the standing position he was in. Mizuki shook his head and smiled, slowly turning around and began to walk away, humming that tune he liked so much. "Mizuki, wait!" Iruka cried out desperately, but the only response he got was Mizuki lifting his hand, like in some form of goodbye. Iruka stared at him, tears running down his cheeks. "Mizuki!"
Iruka sat up from the bed with a start, throat feeling raw and dry, when he realized that he was falling. The hard thump and painful jolt he received upon hitting the floor snapped him wide awake. He groaned and slowly pushed himself off the sterile floor, noting that the hospital bed had been quite high. He stood up and shakily sat on the bed. The dream frightened him though there wasn't even anything remotely scary about it. Iruka wrapped his arms around himself, staring at the night sky outside. He figured that he must've lost consciousness when the vision of Genma hit him. At the sheer memory of it, Iruka blushed scarlet and grew confused. What was that vision implying? Genma was going to make it? Genma was going to survive his critical state?
A vision hit him then and there. He saw Genma waking up in a different room, one pretty much like his own, and found Raido sitting beside the bed on a chair, eating a sandwich. The room had several get well cards and small presents.
"Slept well?" Raido asked.
"Yeah. Hey, those are new. What's in it?" Genma asked, staring at the bag curiously.
"Peaches." Raido answered, setting his sandwich down and standing up to get a plate and knife. He took out two ripe peaches and started to slice them. "Iruka brought them for you this morning before going to teach the kids."
"How did he know that I like them?" Genma asked, a frown crossing his face.
"Lucky guess." Raido mumbled and handed the plate to Genma. "There. Eat up."
Genma took a bite and chewed. "These are good. Remind me to thank him."
The vision dissolved and Iruka was left stumped. Shaking his head, he decided to go find Genma's new room. A few questions at the desk later, Iruka found himself standing in front one of the doors in the recovery ward. His heart was racing as he knocked and turned the knob. Peering inside slowly, he found Genma lying on his back, head turned to one side, no longer breathing with a respirator. He still had an IV tube attached to his wrist, but the blood packet was gone and there seemed to be less bandages around him. Iruka was impressed at the medics' healing job. Iruka felt a smile spreading on his lips, as the heavy weight of concern was finally lifted off his chest. Just as Iruka was about to leave the room, Raido entered.
"Oh! Iruka-sensei, you're finally awake!" Raido grinned. "Welcome to the world of the living. You were out cold for two days."
Iruka could feel his eyes wanting to fall out. "T-Two days?"
Raido nodded. "Hokage-sama said that there was nothing wrong with you. Your mind just couldn't handle the stress so it kinda' hit the restart button or something like that." Iruka couldn't stop the relieved sigh from escaping his lips, afraid that an expert like Tsunade might have found out about his ability.
"I see." Iruka turned to look at Genma. "He's looking better."
"He's actually already awake, but is knocked out because of the morphine." Raido answered. "He should be up and about tomorrow morning."
"I'll drop by." Iruka gave Raido a wide smile, one expressing his happiness. "You're looking better, Raido-san."
"I feel better." Raido rubbed the back of his head, blushing a bit.
"That's good. That's very good." Iruka dipped his head in a small bow. "I should get going. I have classes to teach tomorrow."
"I'll tell Genma you dropped by when he's up." The blush on Raido's cheeks deepened a bit.
"Thank you. Good night, Raido-san." Iruka waved and headed for home, a short skip in his steps as he hummed a tune that Mizuki liked so much. And it didn't bother him one bit. In fact it seemed to come out so naturally. He glanced up at the night sky for a brief moment and found himself smiling as the stars twinkled.
TBC
I'm sorry that this chapter is shorter than the previous two. Also, I apologize for any spelling mistakes I might've dodged.
Ummm … I think that those last few sentences practically says what's going to happen – or hint at it. I'm off to type more!
Tell me what you think? Ideas and suggestions are always more than welcome.