| Meant to Live [Kakashi & Ginta] | [Jan. 22nd, 2010|02:36 am] |
Takes place April 6, the day after All My Regrets Are Nothing New and The Little Things Give You Away.
Kakashi woke at 6AM when a nurse put her hand on his shoulder. He didn't attack her, or flinch, or do anything much beyond crack his jaw in a yawn and bury his face deeper in the pillow. He'd been in Konoha's hospital enough times--and long enough this time--for the smell to crawl inside his skull and program his reflexes accordingly.
"Sorry, Hatake-san," the nurse whispered. "I just need to check your vitals and get some blood."
"Mmm," Kakashi agreed. He shrugged one arm free of the sheet and laid it out for her, eye still closed. He was still wearing Ryouma's hoodie; something he realized only when she had to push the sleeve up past his elbow to get the needle in.
Maybe that explained why he'd dreamed of Ryouma.
"There, all done," she said softly. Kakashi grunted, then twitched his head away when fingers brushed his hair back and touched his forehead. "You're looking much better this morning, Hatake-san. There's some colour in your skin."
"Wonderful."
The nurse made a noise deep in her throat, almost like laughter. "A medic's due to visit you pretty soon, after we're done with breakfast. I think he wants to look at your chakra coils."
"Okay."
"And you're booked in to see a nutritionist, too. Akimichi Masuru. He's lovely."
If he kept agreeing, maybe she'd leave him to sleep. "Okay."
Blinds rattled quietly as she opened them; artificial light spilled in from the hallway. Kakashi winced and sought deeper solace in his pillow. The door latch clicked.
But didn't close.
"Oh," said the nurse, "I almost forgot. Ryouma-kun left a message for you last night. He's going on a mission. He didn't say when he'd be back."
In the echo-splash of silence that followed, every single muscle down the length of Kakashi's spine went tense. He pushed himself slowly up on one elbow.
"Say that again."
"Um," said the nurse. "Your friend? Ryouma-kun? He took a mission -- or he was going to take a mission, I'm not quite sure. Kaori-san told me this morning." She glanced around the room and added uncertainly, "Though he seems to have left all his stuff behind."
"Yes," said Kakashi, so quiet the words barely touched his throat. "He did."
The nurse hesitated a moment, then seemed to remember she had other patients waiting. "Hatake-san," she said with a quick nod, and ducked out. The door closed behind her.
In the neon-blue light of the very early morning, Kakashi rolled stiffly onto his back and stared at the ceiling. He didn't feel tired anymore. |
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