| [Jan. 21st, 2010|09:35 pm] |
If Kakashi had had the energy or focus to spare, he would have cast a genjutsu the second Genma's voice cut wire-thin like that. Blanked Genma's mind with pretty images until the hard part was over, so that neither one of them had to feel it. But even if he had had the energy and focus, messing with Genma's uncleaned chakra would likely trigger another damn seizure, and then they'd both be screwed.
He nudged the tiny sieves past Genma's collarbones, over his shoulders, and into his triceps. It was getting harder to guide them, now, as the delicate process ate through chakra reserves already worn from running and fighting. An ugly headache pounded in Kakashi's temples. Sweat soaked long black V's into the chest and back of his ANBU shirt.
And Genma had spent half the process in agony, so it evened out.
Kakashi's teeth found his lower lip again as he moved the jutsu to Genma's elbows. Forearms. Wrists. Genma's heart picked up a jackhammer beat, dragging Kakashi's along with it. Somewhere along the way their breathing had fallen into sync, rough and ragged. Genma was dead white, hollow-eyed.
He didn't move when Kakashi's hands spread over his, long straight fingers over crooked-scarred ones -- he stopped breathing. Kakashi felt his own chest tighten and strangle. Poison threads knotted through Genma's palms like a tree root tapestry.
"Dammit, Shiranui," he groaned, trying to focus on eighteen different things at once while his attention split between two limbs. "Talk to me, you idiot. Tell me about--something. Anything. Pick a topic!"
Breathe, goddammit. |
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