A/N: I guess you were waiting for this, huh? Original title: I Wanna See the World When I Stop Breathing
Trigger warning: near the middle, this chapter deals with character death. If you're uncomfortable/squeamish with death, then feel free to skip to the end.
It was midnight when scouts on the perimeter of the rebel camp alerted the group to new arrivals.
The entire company was awoken from an uneasy slumber when the calls rang out: "Akiyama's group has returned! Prepare to meet them!"
In a scramble, people burst from their tents in varying states of disarray, hair askew, yet they stood before their leaders, silent and alert.
The darkness of the forest was only broken by pinpricks of light, growing as the procession neared.
At the front was Daitan, her face obscured by her hair, holding a lantern as she trudged on. Her shoulders were tense, supported by Aika's gentle hand.
The others looked no better; all were weary and downtrodden, messy hair and clothing, dark bags under their eyes. Had Tsunade known no better, she'd have mistaken it for a funeral procession.
She opened her arms as they approached. Aika squeezed Daitan's shoulder, and when she looked up, she forced a trembling smile onto her face.
"Welcome, Mimei," Tsunade announced loud enough for the company to hear. She smiled when she saw a familiar face bringing up the rear, his unruly silver hair hard to miss in a crowd. "We're so glad you've made it home."
One by one, the people began to smile tiredly, some clapping, as Daitan pushed her lantern into Aoi's hands and collapsed into Tsunade's arms, hiding her face in the woman's shoulder.
She rested a hand on the teenager's head as Shizune took her bag from her, smiling in relief at her aunt.
"Your accommodations have already been prepared, so set up your tents wherever there's room," Rin added, gesturing to the camp. "Go ahead and wash up in the river if you want, and have as good of a sleep as you can manage tonight."
"You're alright, you're alright," Tsunade said in a low voice as Daitan sniffled quietly and pulled away from her hug. "Was the trip manageable?"
"It went smoothly," she murmured, her voice flat and defeated. "We lost some on the way, but… I don't think we could have saved them."
Her honey eyes grew sad then, as the younger woman's eyes shifted to the ground. "And… is he…?"
Daitan clenched her eyes shut and shook her head. "Where do you want me to set up the tent?"
The blonde sighed quietly, but nodded and led her forward with her arm. "You can set it up next to Shizune's. I'll assume she's going to share it with someone, so do you mind sharing it with someone else?"
"I've been sharing with Tanaka-san as of late, as Shizune has been looking after Karin. I'm sure she won't mind sharing a little longer."
"Good, that's good." Tsunade's eyes softened and she patted her back. "Will you be alright for the night?"
"I can handle this," the teenager replied, squaring her shoulders. Her long, messy braid fell over her shoulder, and her unkempt bangs fell into her face again. "Thank you for your hospitality, Ayame-sama."
Tsunade sighed heavily as she watched her leave.
She turned to Ino, who was standing nearby, with Jiraiya hovering behind. "I've heard we have new recruits tonight. Do your best to welcome them and don't hesitate to help them out where necessary."
"Of course, Ayame-sama," she replied with a nod.
With one last tight smile, the older woman turned and trudged off as Jiraiya slipped in and rested a hand on her weary shoulders, her tent already illuminated with lamplight. Two others were moving about inside, likely Shizune and Rin, and she could see Karin dozing on a bedroll near her half-constructed tent with a cloth over her forehead.
Ino frowned. The fever must have been worse than they thought, if she wasn't getting back up.
"Excuse me," a man's voice greeted her, and she turned to see a pale, dark-haired young man standing before her with a smile. "Could you tell me where the bathing area is? I'm afraid I got separated from my partner."
"Oh, sure, it's straight and then you hook a right near the tree with the bandana on its branch." She pointed him in the right direction with a pearly smile. "I'm Yamanaka Ino, who are you?"
"Sai," he answered simply, returning her expression with one that was so obviously false she fought the urge to cringe. "It's good to meet you, Miss Beautiful."
Ino startled at the compliment, eyes wide and cheeks flushed. "B- beautiful? Who? Uh, me?"
Sai nodded, still smiling. "I'm not speaking to anyone else, right?"
"O- oh, well then," she fanned herself with a giggle. "I, uh, it's nice to meet you too!"
"Oi, Sai!" Someone else shouted from far away, causing the two to turn in their direction. "Hurry up, I'm tired!"
"That must be Murasashi," he commented. "I need to go. I'll see you around."
"Y- yeah, see you!" Ino waved as he walked away, patting her chest and forcing down the fun, light feeling rising. "Whoa, he was smooth. I hope he's not just buttering me up… he was kinda cute, I guess."
"Ino, could you help me for a minute?" Rin called for her. "I need some help with some new recruits."
"Yes! I'll be right there!" She shook her head, patted her cheeks firmly, then turned and rushed off.
A dry cough awoke her from her uneasy dozing. "Dai...chan…"
"Hidekun?" She whispered, getting up and leaning over his bedside. She tried to ignore the throbbing of her neck as she clasped her hands over his.
He tried his best to smile up at her, his eyes half-lidded and dull. "Can I have a drink? I'm… really thirsty."
"O- of course! Please, rest your throat," she answered as she quickly turned to grab at her canteen in the darkness. It fell over on its side, causing her to mutter a harsh swear as she picked it up, popping the lid off and simultaneously trying to sit him up.
Hideki winced at the change in elevation, grasping at the bandages tied tightly around his neck.
"Stop that," she scolded gently, taking his hand away from the wrappings and tilting the canteen. "Open, please."
He opened his mouth and gulped down the water as fast as he could without choking, closing his eyes and squeezing her hand with all of the strength he could muster.
She squeezed back, and when he hummed, she took the canteen away as he lightly coughed.
"No, stop," she said, patting his back. "Are you okay? Are you choking?"
He shook his head. "No, no, I'm fine… just not used to drinking that much," he rasped.
She chortled, though she didn't feel amused as she lay him back down, settling his head on the pillow and brushing his bangs away from his sweaty face. He'd taken on a sickly pallor in the days since, and while everyone was worried he wouldn't make it, Daitan was desperately clinging to hope - he would make it. He had to. He just had to.
"Dai-chan," he whispered, opening his eyes again and blinking blearily as she turned up the lantern's dim glow. "Can… can I tell you something?"
"You can tell me anything," she replied, glancing over as she fiddled with the dials. "What is it?"
Hideki didn't answer right away.
The pervading silence that greeted her is what made her turn for good, and when she saw his eyes half-lidded and his mouth partially open, her heart leapt into her throat.
"Hidekun?" She questioned, cupping his cheek. "Hey, hey."
He blinked slowly and shut his mouth, swallowing before refocusing on her face. "I… I don't think I'm gonna make it," he admitted.
"What are you talking about? Of course you are," she tried to laugh, though the heavy dread that had long since settled in her heart reared its ugly head again.
"No…" he sluggishly shook his head. "This feels… different. 'S strange. I don't like it…"
"You're going to be fine," she insisted, running her thumb across his cheekbone. "Do you feel feverish again? Do you need a fresh towel?"
"No towel… no fever…" he mumbled, closing his eyes for several long seconds.
She watched him with bated breath, eyes darting across his face as he took several breaths before opening his eyes again.
"I think I'm dying," he said more flatly this time, his brows creasing into a frown. "Can you call someone…? I don't wanna…"
She squeezed his cheek softly, her lips parted and her heart began to pick up its pace. "No. No, please don't."
"Y- you want someone? Okay, I can get someone," she rapidly agreed, nodding as she got up, yelling, "Sh- Shizune! Shizune!"
She heard shuffling a few tents down, and not a minute later, the woman appeared at the entrance, hair askew and still in her nightclothes, wide-eyed. "What? What's wrong?" She demanded.
"I'm dying," Hideki muttered again, blinking slowly as he stared at the ceiling.
"What?" Her voice rose a little in volume, brushing her bangs back as she knelt before his bed. "What do you feel? Heartrate? Breathing?"
"I dunno, I just…" he took a breath through his nose and barely shrugged his shoulders. "... feels different, I dunno."
"Okay, okay, we can work with this," she sighed as she readied her healing chakra. "Any specific place that feels different?"
"My… my chest is fuzzy," he admitted. "Feels like it's tired."
"Fuzzy," she distantly echoed as she hovered her hands around his chest. She searched for several seconds, brow knit in worry, before her eyes widened and she looked up. "He's dying."
"Can't we do something?" Daitan demanded, wringing her hands together. "Can't we stop it?"
"I don't know what's happening, but… but it's like his body's given up," she explained as she concentrated her chakra. "I'm trying to energize his heart, but it's just not responding."
"Dai-chan," Hideki whispered.
"What?" Her voice was watery as she knelt before him.
"Can… can you take me outside?" He asked. "I wanna… I wanna see the stars before I go back to sleep."
She looked helplessly to Shizune, who paused in her efforts before grimly nodding.
"Yeah, we can," she gently replied. "Do you have a specific spot you want to go to?"
"I just want to see the sky," he replied softly.
"Alright," Shizune answered. The green of her chakra dissipated as she moved to tuck her hands underneath him, its glow fading and returning the tent to its semidarkness. "Let's carry him. Are you strong enough?"
"I've got it," Daitan answered shakily, hooking her hands underneath his knees and back.
Shizune helped her lift, mindful of Hideki's neck, and when the boy was supported in his girlfriend's arms, she looped his around Daitan's neck and lead them out.
As soon as the cool air hit their faces, Hideki smiled serenely and looked up at the dark skies. The glittering stars and the moon, not quite full, filled his eyes with light as he gripped Daitan tighter with a trembling strength.
"Is this what you wanted to see?" She asked, gazing into his face with watering eyes.
He took a second to look from the stars, and when he looked into her eyes, he shakily raised a hand to cup her cheek.
"Yeah," he breathed. "Yeah, this is… beautiful…"
"Hideki," Shizune murmured, her hands cupping his chest. "We're gonna lay you down, and I'm gonna try to pump up your heart, okay?"
Without another word, Daitan sank to the ground. Gingerly, she lay him down his his head in her lap, and Shizune's hands glowed once more with medical chakra as she began to do chest compressions.
A couple of others had wandered from their tents, groggy and curious about the noise, but once they caught sight of the three, their eyes went wide and they rushed off, no doubt to alert someone else.
Daitan ran her fingers through his soft hair, the other holding his hand. Her eyes were teary, but she refused to cry as long as his eyes were still on her.
Hideki smiled, his breathing uneven due to the compressions. He squeezed her hand, raising it to his cheek.
"I… I want you to live," he said, his voice jumping rhythmically. "I love you, Dai-chan. Always."
"Don't say that, you're going to live!" She begged, her vision blurring.
His brow creased for a moment, before his eyes unfocused and he reached for the sky.
"Da... ad…?" He murmured. "Dad, is that you? I thought you…"
His voice died down to an unintelligible murmur.
"Hideki?" She questioned frantically. "Hey, c'mon, that's not funny."
"C'mon, Sato," Shizune grunted, pressing down harder. "C'mon, Sato…!"
"Dad… where's Mom…?" His voice was faint, his eyes shining with tears. One trickled slowly down his cheek, and Daitan wiped it away with her thumb. "I… I'm coming home…"
"C'mon, Sato…! Don't you die on me, don't you fucking die on me!" Shizune yelled, her voice cracking.
His body jumped with every push down onto his chest, his eyes dull and shiny.
"Hideki!" Daitan yelled, clapping her hand onto his cheek.
"Dai-chan…" He came back into awareness with a breathless smile. "Hey… you need to meet my dad…"
"Don't do this, please!" "Sato!" They both exclaimed in unison.
With an odd cough, Hideki's brow furrowed and he clasped at his throat again. Blood began to seep from the bandages at the same time that Shizune screamed for help.
Suddenly, people were running from their tents. Daitan's heart was hammering in her chest as someone grasped her arms and tried to pull her away.
She fought them, yelling to let go. "Please! I need to help!"
"Hey hey hey hey, c'mon kid, stay awake!" Boruda said, patting his cheek. "Stay awake!"
"Hideki!" Daitan screamed.
"I… I love…" he gurgled, coughing. Blood splattered from his lips across the front of his robe and on Daitan's cheek.
"Kid! KID!" Boruda shouted.
"SATO!" Shizune echoed, pushing so hard she could hear his ribs groaning under the weight.
The moon hung low at the four-o'clock mark in the sky at the exact moment he drew his last wheezing breath.
Daitan awoke with a start, breath caught in her throat so suddenly she began to cough and choke. Tears dampened her cheeks as she tried to catch her breath.
She turned through her blurred vision to see her tentmate still asleep, her body gently rising and falling with even breaths.
She envied her. She envied her so badly she could scream.
Instead she tried to wipe away her tears with her forearm, sniffling and stumbling to her feet in the dark.
She burst out of the tent with a moaning sob, and she clapped a hand over her mouth when it came out louder than expected.
She walked on trembling legs, her uneven gait making her trip and nearly fall to the grass, but she kept walking until she got to the river, its soft rushing water soothing some of her frayed nerves.
A louder sob escaped her, and another, as she slumped over her knees and curled into a ball.
She was so distracted by her own emotions that she didn't realize someone was nearby until she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.
She jumped, whirling around red-faced and sniffling, as Hinata knelt beside her with a soft, sympathetic expression and Shizune stood behind, with dark bags underneath her eyes and wet hair.
"O- oh, Hinata, Shizune," she hiccupped, trying to put on a smile as she wiped her tears. "What can I- can I do for you?"
Hinata studied her for several agonizing seconds, pale pearl eyes looking her up and down before finally settling on her face.
Then she breathed a quiet sigh, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and pulling her in.
"Let it out if you need to," she murmured into her ear. "You don't have to go through this alone."
Daitan blinked once, twice, before looking up at Shizune.
The dark-haired woman smiled tiredly, nodding.
The young lady's lips trembled, and she had to close her eyes as moisture began to rise in them again. She gripped onto the back of Hinata's robe and let loose a sobbing cry.
Shizune's arms around her back settled upon her next, a comforting, warm weight against her shuddering form. She wept bitter tears as she clung to the older girl like a lifeline.
"I'm sorry," Shizune whispered brokenly, resting her forehead on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Daitan. I'm sorry."
