There was a sense of comfort and happiness emanating from Izumo's naked body as it pressed against Kotetsu's in the wee hours of the morning. He looped an arm around the younger chūnin in his sleep and nuzzled into him more, making quiet little noises in his throat as he smiled. This felt perfect, having the other nin in his arms as he slept. Despite all odds, they had managed to become closer, and it made his stomach glow with ecstasy.

Izumo was awake, smiling at the way Kotetsu's hair tickled against his pecs and gazing at his ring. It was every definition of the word glorious: slender, vibrant. It seemed to radiate its own light even though the soft rays of the morning sun filtered onto the two of them through the tiniest gap. It was rather discreet as well, though it felt like it could jump out off of his finger and brag of its own accord. Maybe it was because he had agreed to commit to wearing it, but it seemed much more larger than it actually was. It did give him a sense of purpose though; purpose to protect his partner through thick and thin, and to strengthen his fidelity.

His heart beat a little faster as he watched the sleeping chūnin, and the way that his eyes darted back and forth behind his eyelids in whatever dream he was having. He assumed it was a good one by the way he was smiling so serenely sub-consciously. If he could, he would have liked time to stop still; just for this moment to continue for eternity. It was serene here, looped in the arms of his lover and listening to the soft breathing of him. Quietly, he dipped his head and placed a kiss on the top of Kotetsu's head, watching him stir in his sleep and smile wider; as if he knew who it was. Everything seemed to be looking up for once, and he smiled softly at the thought.

A dry throat called his attention which was impossible to ignore. With an exasperated sigh, Izumo quietly slipped out of the sheets and the strong arms binding him to alleviate his thirst. Plucking his discarded boxers from the lamp of all places, he swiftly flew the satin up his legs and padded into the kitchen for a glass of water, reliving the previous hours in his head. What a surprise that had been, and in no way predictable. He had to admit that Kotetsu was full of surprises, though they were good ones most of the time. As he thought over the 'proposal', his finger felt heavier than the rest; almost like it knew he was thinking about it.

"It'll just take some getting used to." He thought, shrugging off the feeling of impending criticism it was sure to receive. With a yawn, he reached for the pitcher of water in his refrigerator, the condensation on it making his hand moist as he tipped it into a small cup. The water was refreshing as it slid down the back of his throat, leaving a trail of satisfaction as it dropped into the pit of his stomach. A small 'ah' and his thirst had been quenched successfully, placing the cup down softly on the bench and marvelling at the way that his ring glowed in any source of light. He leant on the bench and twisted his finger in and out of the shade, watching it with a smile; the bright blue band cutting the centre of the gold in a brilliant electric blue.

'Izumo Kamizuki?'

A young voice broke him out of his reverie, and his eyes flicked upwards towards the source. A boy, with hair a deep brown was crouched by the window; his pale skin almost blinding in the morning sun. His expression was blank and he held a small scroll in his hands expectantly.

'Yeah, that's me.'

The boy held out the scroll for Izumo to take, his expression still blank; like a canvas before an artist had begun to paint. In fact, by the sheer lack of pigmentation of his skin, one could call him a walking canvas. Quite a fitting name for the artist Sai.

'Lord Hokage has a mission for you.' Said the young shinobi, pricking his mouth up into a smile, which puzzled Izumo considerably. It's not something to smile about, unless he was just happy he'd found the right person. Sure, that was it.

'Thankyou.' Izumo replied, taking the scroll from the gloved hand. Most ninja on delivery tasks left as soon as their job was complete, but Sai sat there, still smiling his forced smile.

'...you've done your job...you can go now.' Izumo said, trying to say it without being rude.
'Sorry, I didn't catch your name.'

'My name is Sai.' The boy smiled, still hovering by the window with the smile on his face. It was getting to be rather creepy and distracting as Izumo tried to read over the mission requirements.

'Okay Sai. Thanks for the delivery-'

'Naruto has also told me to deliver more information.' Still smiling.

'...okay. What is it?'

'He said for you to tell Kotetsu-San that he's not to join you. He has border duties to catch up on.'

'He's not going to like that.' Izumo sighed, flicking the scroll shut expertly.

'Thankyou Sai. Please tell Hokage-sama that I will be on my way soon.'

Sai nodded, still smiling and stayed put.

'...yes?'

'Why is there a naked man in your bed?'

'Just go and tell Naruto!'

-x

'How come I can't go along on this?' Kotetsu said, whining in the manliest way possible.

'Because' Izumo started, checking over his list of equipment one final time.
'Naruto has you catching up on all of those shifts you bailed on. I kept telling you to show up.'

'Spoil sport.' Kotetsu grumbled, folding his arms and pouting. He didn't want to have to wait around by himself in a stuffy, mind-numbing booth for hours and stamping papers for countless hours on end from wandering visitors to Konoha.

'I shouldn't be too long, Tets.' Izumo said calmly, pulling the drawstring of his knapsack tighter with a final flourish. 'Really, it doesn't seem terribly difficult.'

'What mission is it?'

'Its a C-rank at best. It's just an escort mission for some travelling gypsies. Probably two weeks, tops.'

'That's not the point.' Kotetsu huffed, laying down on the bed with his arms folded still.

'I don't like being away from you.'

'Have a little faith in me, Tets. I am a shinobi after all. I'll be okay.'

'I know you'll be okay. I have a way of knowing these things.'

Izumo cocked an eyebrow in disbelief.

'Now I know you're making things up.'

'No, really. I have a way.'

'Humour me.'

Kotetsu held up his hand, bearing his ring at the brunette.

'The band has a mix of our chakra.' He said, grinning at the look of stupor on Izumo's face.

'I can't stalk you with it, Baka. It's brighter when I know you're safe and you're okay. If your chakra is depleted or being used, it'll grow more and more dull. Just like mine. It works both ways.'

'How the hell did you do this?' Izumo laughed, shaking his head lightly at his partner's wit.

'I have my ways. The point is, when you put it on, you activated it.'

Izumo shuffled over to the bed and clambered over Kotetsu, straddling him lightly and dropping his face to touch noses.

'You're always full of surprises, y'know?' He said softly, gazing into the charcoal irises.

'I do it all for you.'

'I know.'

Softly, Izumo kissed the tender lips before him, stirring a reaction from Kotetsu's heart. Normally it would start to beat faster and the endorphins in his brain sent him reeling of pure enjoyment, but something was different today. The lips lingered against each other longer, and his heart stayed beating at the same tempo. It beat harder, but not faster. When they finally broke apart, there was an essence of finality in the way that they let go, almost like they would be stranded away from them. Izumo tried to pry himself away but Kotetsu's hand shot out, clamping over his shoulder.

'Wait...Iz.'

'Tets, I have to go soon-'

'I know, I know...just...let me take a good look at you so I won't forget.'

Izumo sighed playfully, mussing the spiky hair gently as both eyes looked over each other, drinking in every detail; the way their eyes picked up in the corners when they smiled, the tiny blemishes of skin near-invisible to the naked eye from the sun, but most of all the smiles. They could light a darkened room in a single moment, they stretched so wide it made everything else on their faces light up as well but most importantly, they were infectious. It was impossible to keep the corners of ones mouth turned down when you saw them. They were beautiful; so very, very beautiful. Hauntingly,even, in their brilliance.

One final kiss and then they broke away from each other, Kotetsu let out a soft whimper playfully, who received a gentle noogie.

'I love you, Kotetsu. Don't forget it.'

'I love you too, Iz.' He said softly, sitting up to watch the slender frame disappear in a swift leap out the window. Kotetsu sighed and hugged his knees to his chest. If this was only going to be two weeks, it was going to feel like a lifetime.

-x

'C'mon Iz.' Kotetsu breathed under his breath harshly, urging the little band to brighten from its dimming state. He watched it through worried eyes, slumped over on the bench on his twelfth shift in a row of painstakingly and torturously mind-numbing gate-keeping duty alone. However, his mind was far from the present as it drifted to terrible and horrible assumptions and conclusions befitting his partner.

'I guess he's just taken it off...' He concluded, burying his face in his forearms with a groan. This was beyond stupid. However, he couldn't blame the Hokage for his actions. This was the consequence for his previous decisions, which now he was regretting terribly.

An eternity passed and he was finally relieved of his duties from Raidoū, who was taking the night patrol. Without a second thought, he yelled his thanks and vaulted over the bench, sprinting straight towards home where he would be left in peace to muddle over where Izumo might be.

What he didn't expect, however, was to see the young blonde standing in his home, a sullen and brooding expression written over his face and his Hokage cloak billowed softly in the unnatural breeze around him.

'Lord Hokage.' He said, tilting his head to one side curiously. 'I didn't expect you here.'

'Kotetsu...' Naruto started, slowly dragging his cerulean eyes to look at the charcoal set on the older nin.

Fearing the worst, Kotetsu gulped, his heart beginning to play a solo in his chest and a cold shiver rippled through him threateningly. This wasn't right.

'I have some bad news.' The rokudaime started, his irises riddled with pain.
'I'm afraid-'

'Oh please god no...' Kotetsu whispered, ice gripping his stomach fiercely and painfully. The best Naruto could do was to close his eyes and press forward.

'Izumo Kamizuki has died.'