Plans

Hayate's heart stopped as he stared at the mask of the ANBU standing in his doorway. The white porcelain mask was painted to resemble the rat. He knew the one who wore it, had fought beside her since they were kids. And, he knew that if they'd sent her, then it was bad. She was expected to break 'it', whatever 'it' may be, to him. To stand there and tell him whatever it was that she had to tell him. ANBU were the most capable of dealing with any possible reaction, an ANBU who was a friend was even better.

"Gekkou-san, you need to come with me." The words cut through him, and he stood staring at the masked shinobi.

Hayate didn't move, couldn't, because... because Genma wasn't back. He couldn't leave or Gen-chan wouldn't know where he was, and he was due back tonight. "No..." he shook his head and took a step back. "I can't, he's not back yet."

"Hayate-kun, listen to me. They're bringing Gen-chan's team in. Somebody didn't make it; we don't know who yet. You /need/ to come with me." She touched his arm gently, reassuring. Still, he tried to pull away. "We'll wait for him at the hospital." He could hear the worry in her voice. "Together."

She had said they didn't know who; she wouldn't lie to him. Whoever didn't make it, Hayate decided, it wasn't Genma. Finally, he relaxed and nodded. She made a quick handsign, and they disappeared in a puff of smoke.

----------

The antiseptic smell of the waiting room made him feel nauseous, and he closed his eyes to calm himself. Bile scratched at the back of his throat, despite the attempt, and he swallowed hard to keep from retching. It was a response engraved into his brain from the years he'd spent here. The smell reminded him of being sick, of hacking up his lungs, of throwing up the countless medicines, and so the smell itself now made him sick.

"Here, drink this." A styrofoam cup was pressed into his hands, and he looked up into the teal eyes of the woman offering it. "Mint tea with lemon. I know you hate it, but it always works." Her mask was gone, and he wondered briefly when she changed out of her uniform.

"Thank you, Yu-chan." Looking back at the steaming liquid, Hayate made a face. "I think I'd almost rather throw up."

"You always say that, until you do, and then you complain about that. I'm starting to think you just want something to complain about."

Hayate could see the distraction for what it was but pretended he didn't. "What can I say, I've been in here often enough. I have to make up ways to entertain myself, otherwise I'd have died of boredom by now." He took a sip and felt the nausea recede.

The brunette pretended to look at the magazines on the coffee table as he stole another glance at the doors. They'd been here for over an hour and still hadn't heard anything.

"They'll let us know as soon as they're back. Senpai's with the other team, and Tenzou is covering their retreat." She laid a hand on his shoulder and pushed him down into a chair. He relaxed when he realized it was one in line of sight of the doors. "They'll be fine."

Another hour ticked by, feeling far longer, and leaving behind only more fear. A nurse came in, and several of the room's other occupants looked up. Hayate, however, merely closed his eyes and braced himself for the worst. The young girl stopped just inside the room before taking hesitant steps again, her heels clicking against the tile floor.

"Gekkou-san?" She said softly, stopping in front of him.

"Hai." The word whispered across his own lips, shaking and betraying his true feelings.

"Would you come with me?" The nurse didn't wait for his answer; she turned and began her clicking steps back towards the door.

Hayate felt himself being pulled up out of the chair and shoved the overwhelming sense of fear aside as he allowed Yugao to lead him across the room. He hesitated at the door, afraid what he'd find when he stepped through them.

She paused, holding him back a moment. "Hayate-kun..."

The teal eyes were nearly black, and the calmness he found in them helped sooth his nerves. They always had that effect on him, and it amazed him how she could always remain calm. The only person who matched her steel was Kakashi-senpai and he wondered sometimes if she hadn't learned the tactic from the infamous copy-nin.

"It'll be okay. I promise."

Her words interrupted his line of thought and he blinked, dazed as she dragged him through the door.

-------

They were led into the ICU and passed several rows of beds, most of which had the curtains drawn. Monitors beeped in an unearthly rhythm that was laced with uncertainty. He could hear the unsteady breaths of the patients and quiet sobs their loved ones. Hayate loathed the sounds, he always had, but now... now he feared them as much as he hated them.

Several beds were empty, stripped clean of the sheets and blankets. The monitors were turned off and IV stands stood empty. They seemed to be taunting him with their presence, like a threat held just far enough away it could claim innocence. He forced the fear away as he continued to follow the nurse, who finally stopped beside a bed.

Hayate tried to swallow the lump forming in his throat as the curtain was drawn back to allow them access, without stealing too much of the occupants already limited privacy. It was with slow, fear filled steps that the brunette walked towards the opening. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, that lodged next to the lump of fear, he stepped around the curtain.

Opening them, he fell to his knees, sobbing as relief wracked his heart. He wrapped his arms around Genma, who sat in a chair beside the bed. The blond-haired man turned vacant brown eyes to him for a moment before returning them to the occupant in the bed.

"Rai..." The name slipped from his lover's lips like a closely held prayer.