Note: I'm not entirely proud of this piece. I originally wrote it for Tumblr's eyes only because I was going through an emotional slump, a la the spiral that nearly made me kill Tomoko in the dropped Danganronpa crossover. Still, Lang's been a positive presence, so I decided to post this here.

Consider this a "What-If" scene for the future of The Sea and Stars, during the prologue leading up to October Tenth and the original source material of the Commencement Arc from Catch Your Breath. Enjoy.

Sparkle 38: One Bet

It was a simple question. One bet. The only bet I ever made in my life. Everyone was conversing on what to do in preparation for what would happen October Tenth.

We could've called it the "Fated Day" from how it was in Canon. It was the day that started everything, after all. In the old world, the brainwashed Obito would have succeeded in extracting Kurama from Kushina-nee and go on to ravage Konoha. And just when Minato-san would've won, Obito would target the baby Naruto on Madara's — no, Black Zetsu's — orders and both Minato-san and Kushina-nee would lose their lives to protect their son. The Third would take back power, and then dominos would fall one after another.

It couldn't happen here. Things were different now. Kakashi wasn't alone. Obito was still loyal to Konoha — he was still the Obi I grew to love as a best friend. Rin-chan was here too. And Kei. She was the jinchuriki to Isobu now, and she was the one to bring us all here, in the Hokage's office, to plan.

We weren't alone this time in trying to change things.

It felt like it was the right time to ask.

I had done enough, but Black Zetsu was still a problem. No matter what we were going to do, he was going to target me. My chakra was a threat.

To him, I was a threat. I was going to die by his hands, no matter what. That was how Canon would've written it. So, if I was going to go anyways…

"What if… what if you all used me as bait to lure Black Zetsu out?"

WHA—

I bet on saying it. To see if I could actually make a change that was worthwhile this time.

Every single ninja, friend and acquaintance alike, turned to look at me with wide eyes. I took a breath, shut my eyes, steeled myself in spite of Hisako's impeding yell session, and continued. "B-Because no matter what we do that day, we're going to be targeted. I-I know, with my chakra being the way it is, with how it just touches everyone without me even wanting to, I'll just be killed by him, so if — if I was just used instead —"

Maybe if I died first, no one else will have to on the Tenth.

Honey. Hisako was quiet. You underestimate the Power of Love.

Eh?

"No." Kei said first.

"Absolutely not." Kakashi added.

"NO WAY IN HELL!" Obito yelled.

"Just, no!" Rin finished with an unhappy voice.

My heart leapt out of my chest as my eyes flew open, and Kei's fists were clenched at her sides as she gave me a hard stare. "Also, 'hell no,' 'fuck no,' and 'fucking hell no.'"

"But.. but…" I took a breath and a step back. They were all staring. Why were they protesting? Why were they so determined at saying "no"? "Th-That was a lot of cursing, but for Black Zetsu, what else is there we can do? He's more slippery than Orochimaru, and Orochimaru isn't exactly dead now… He… he lived way longer than any of us, and—"

Your defenses are weakening, Tomoko-chan. Hisako's voice was softer now.

"And Rin died four months ago, except she didn't." Kei finished for me, and she nodded her head just as Ricchan took a step closer to me. "Look, I think we should plan for something happening when Naruto's born, but that's different from deliberately throwing you into the deep end against someone whose powers don't seem defined."

My lip quivered. It was probably about time to give in, but the word left my lips before I could think on it further. "Really…?"

I don't have to be the sacrificial lamb like every single girl is in Kishimoto's stories?

"You're not worthy of anything."

I shook my head. Yeah. Ty was right. I wasn't worthy. To hear this.

Then something proceeded to barrel into me hard, and I looked over the newest shoulder to find a familiar medic clinging to me. "Yes, really," Ricchan said vehemently in my ear, and the hold on my ribs tightened significantly as she shook her head against my shoulder. "Isn't it okay to be scared sometimes?"

"Eh?"

Someone else was coming in too, and I found a wince leaving my mouth once it became obvious Obito was hugging us both now. "Tomo-chan, it's okay to be scared," he said, almost uncharacteristically gentle while bonking my head with his chin. "Sure, Bakashi complains about the shinobi rulebook and how we're not supposed to cry, but it's okay." A hand was patting my hair that wasn't being occupied by Obito's chin, but who was it? "It's okay to be terrified and unsure sometimes. I am all that, right now!" Obito laughed heartily, and I blinked as the group hug closed in on me. Why was this happening? "We're human, Tomo-chan. Don't cut yourself out like a martyr when you're important to us too."

…

Sniffle.

"O-Obi…!" left me in a hasty moment, and Hisako sighed as the first tears started bubbling in my eyes.

You're horrible at bets, Tomoko-chan.

"Oi, there's no need to cry now," said Kakashi, and the hand that was on my hair started stroking it — so it was him. "The future isn't decided yet." His voice turned hard. "You're not going to die. I swear it."

"None of us are going to let you die, Tomo-chan," Ricchan added angrily, her nose poking into my shoulder as she huffed. "We love you too much for that. So ignore what Kakashi said and cry as much as you want."

"Hey," Kakashi protested, but the hand on my hair still kept stroking.

"We made it through Kannabi, Tomo-chan," Obito added, still quiet while rubbing my head with his chin. "What says we won't make it through Kushina-san's pregnancy?"

"B-But Black Zetsu erased ninshu to begin with…" I squirmed, trying to shrink only to find myself feeling even more trapped. "H-He could already know about us, about this, about trying to stop—"

One more person finally joined the group hug and I didn't have to look up to see Kei's messy cowlicks to know it was her. "That's still no reason to go looking for trouble," she whispered vehemently, and my ribs creaked from the pain with everyone crowding in, yet for some reason, I couldn't find an ounce of myself caring. "Even so, he can't know everything. And I doubt he has feelers where we're going."

"Wh-Where—" sniffle, "are we going?" You know what to do?

Kei gently bonked the side of my head with her cheek. "You'll find out when we get there. Now just accept that we love you and hug back, you goof."

My vision blurred. In the other world, this would've been impossible. But, right now…

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!"

I dunno, Ty, I thought, hugging them all back as hard as I could while holding back a sob. You tell me what's wrong with you because I feel just right here.

Hisako, for all the things she could've said, didn't really add on with much. All she did say was accentuated by a small sigh and a shake of her head. Really, honey, she mused quietly, you're horrible at gambling. Don't try betting your life away when there's more than just me who will tell you not to.

It was something.