Plans

He could hear him screaming in the other room and twisted, trying to free himself, but they'd wrapped his hands before shoving him into the straight jacket. He focused the little chakra he had left to his neck before yanking backwards on the chain. A small amount of rubble fell away from the point where the chain was fastened to the wall, giving Genma hope.

It was pointless to think he could get out of there, but... if he could just get free. He had to get to Rai, as hopeless as it seemed. His voice was hoarse from screaming, hoping his teammate could hear his assurances that he was coming.

He lunged backwards again, putting everything he had into it. There was a brief moment of surprise when the chain snapped, and then he was falling backwards, unable to catch himself as the metal slapped against his chest. A sharp crack sounded as his head landed against the door, and then darkness washed over him.

"I'm sorry..." The words breathed out for the second time as the brunette slid to the floor.

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Everything that could go wrong, had. Well, almost everything. Isamu-san* had escaped with the scroll, so their mission was a success. But, Kiku-chan*... Kiku had been the price for their success. Genma had only caught a glimpse of her as she fell beneath her own rock slide, dragged down by an enemy nin. He hoped the man had survived the crushing wieght of the mountain side. The man deserved to suffocate and feel his life slipping through the cracks in the rubble. They hadn't been able to go after her, it would have been hopeless, even if they hadn't been overwhelmed by reinforcements from the north.

Raidou had given Isamu-san the scroll and ordered him to run. Isamu Kimura was the fastest and stood the best chance of escape. Genma knew the real reason Rai had sent him, though; Kimura-san's wife was due any day now. Besides, Rai knew better than to try to order him to go, and as team captain wouldn't abandon his own team. So, with the grim knowledge that they needed to buy the other man time, they had turned to face the oncoming enemy nin.

"Whoever takes out the least buys drinks when we get home," Raidou said as they stood back to back, encircled by the overwhelming numbers.

"I hope you've saved up, cuz I'm getting completely trashed when this is over," he laughed. The senbon in his mouth twitched a moment before he spit it at the nearest man, who fell to the ground with a look of surprise. "That's one!"

And then, they were rushed, metal flashing in the weak light of a night stretched beyond it's time. The enemy's numbers worked to the leaf nins' advantage as the rock nin had to struggle to keep from hitting each other, or catching their friends in poorly timed jutsus.

Genma fell into the easy rhythm he and and his friend had found over the years of being on a team together. He could tell by the slightest movement what his best friend wanted him to do. Few words were needed as they fended off attack after attack.

Eventually, though, the numbers became too much. The cuts adding up, their exhaustion becoming more apparent as the hours ticked by, and most importantly, their chakra slowly being eaten up.

He saw, more than felt, the blade slide between his ribs, the toxin lacing it quickly draining the strength from his body. He saw the look of terror on his friend's face as Rai spun to catch him.

"I'm sorry, Rai..." he gasped, the sounds of battle died in that instant, silence loud in his ears as the words slipped away and faded. As they slid to the ground, Genma thought the blue sky seemed out of place as a background for the terror on his teammates face.

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A loud crash pulled Genma back to the world of the conscious, and he groaned. He could no longer hear Raidou's screams and wondered if it was because of the noise or for a far darker reason. The sounds of battle grew louder, and he knew they were getting closer. It was a distant thought, though, and the pain in his head was making it hard to focus.

"Usagi, take out that wall! Oushi, keep those guards off Tora; he needs the space to work!"

The voice sounded vaguely familiar to Genma; it was a moment more before he realized it's significance and began shouting. "Inu-san! Inu-san!" He coughed, spitting blood, and began shouting again as he struggled to get to his feet and stepping to the side so he wouldn't be hit by the door.

"Ondori, you're with me!" There was more shouting and fighting before the two ANBU burst into the room.

Genma threw himself passed them. "Rai!" He screamed the name as he ran in the direction he thought the other man was in. "Rai, I'm coming!"

The ground of the tunnel was broken and slick with water, and his feet slid out from under him. A hand caught him before he could hit the ground, and he struggled to right himself. The glint of a blade caught his eyes, and he paused long enough to allow the other man to slice through the fabric binding his arms. But, the moment he was free, Genma bolted down the hall yelling for his partner.

He threw open several doors, found nothing, and moved on; his cries never ceasing despite the way his voice cracked. Then, as he spun around a corner, he saw him sprawled in the doorway covered in blood and lying far to still. Genma was at Raidou's side before the next breath could leave his lungs, rolling him over, pleading with him, and telling him how sorry he was.

The ANBU in the dog mask was beside him a moment later, trying to force the tokubetsu away. Genma wouldn't let go, and started yelling curses at the man, when a second ANBU pulled him away.

"He's alive. Let's get them out of here." The ANBU captain scooped the unconscious nin up, flashing a handsign and teleporting away. Genma only had a moment to process the words before two fingers pressed against his neck, and he fell back into the unwelcome darkness.

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*Kiku Fukui - Kiku means chrysanthamum while Fukui means fortunate. I thought of it along the lines of with chrystanthamum being a funeral flower and her dying a quick death it being a fortunate death because of what happened to Rai. Mind you I have no clue if that's correct but I liked the combination.

*Isamu Kimura - Isamu means courageous warrior Kimura means tree village I went for something bland here since he's unimportant really...