'Tryin' to Get to Heaven,' Part 15

[midnightdiddle]

The night passed slowly, painfully for Gai. Iruka slept fitfully on his back, now and again waking just enough to cough wetly next to Gai's ear. Twice Gai had stopped, terrified, sure that Iruka had stopped breathing. The teacher got worse with every step the jounin took, and Gai wanted, more than anything, to stop.

"Iruka-sensei?" he asked, hands clapsed about the chuunin's legs. It was nearly midnight, and they needed to stop again.

"Mmm?" It was a sleepy response, more gone than there, and Gai hated the resigned way Iruka let his head lag to the side.

"We'll be stopping soon." His sentences were breaking, his breathing becoming strained. Gai was tired.

Iruk was quiet, still against Gai's chest, and the jounin had to squash a fear.

"Iruka-sensei?"

The body moved against his back, shivering, and there was a breath next to Gai's ear.

"Is it... Is it four already?"

"Midnight, sensei," Gai corrected.

"Ah..." Iruka's voice sounded shamed and Gai swallowed, stuck somehow. "I keep- keep losing track of things."

"It's alright, sensei."

"Is it?" His voice sounded as if it was laughing, and Gai didn't know what at. The jounin slowed to a halt and set the teacher down. After Iruka was sitting on the ground, propped up by a tree, Gai dug through the pack, pulling out the medical kit.

"We're running out," Iruka remarked softly. Gai stared at the syringes, fingertips touched them gently.

"There'll be enough," he said.

"How many are there?"

"Three." Too few, too few. "There'll be enough, sensei," Gai said cheerfully, pulling one of the syringes out of the kit. "Don't worry."

Iruka stared at him, then began laughing softly, breathily, shoulders quivering. "Not worried," he wheezed, turning his eyes to the ground. "You're so- God, I don't know-" He coughed and wiped his mouth. "You're so damn sure."

Gai pulled the wrapper off the syringe and Iruka held out his arm, wiping his mouth again with his other hand. Gai pressed the syringe into Iruka's skin, through to the muscle, and watched the teacher wipe the blood on his pants. He wanted to scream, wanted to cry. He wasn't sure about anything, about Konoha or the war, or about keeping Iruka alive. He wasn't even sure about himself. He pulled the syringe out, tugging the wrapper back over it. Iruka pulled his shirt sleeve down, unrolling it until it touched his hands.

"It's getting colder," he said, and Gai pulled out the blanket, patches worn until they were thread-bare, and handed it to Iruka. Iruka pulled it around himself, shifting until he was as wrapped in it as he could get, and leaned back against the tree again.




Unfinished, this part is, and I'm not sure where it lies in regard to the previous post. I'm confused, and I'm really not quite sure about how any of this is fitting together, to be finished, yet. It's difficult, without my old computer, because it's all disjointed, and I have no where to stick it all together. Does that make sense? But next time, I think you can look forward to a flashback to Kakashi and Iruka, and the first time they really talk during the war. I think.

And it's so very short! I wouldn't even post it, but I need to save it. Sorry, so sorry!

And off I go, to watch fireworks with friends.

Comments

[luv-wiz.livejournal.com]

O________________________O

... I can't find part 14 in my memories ...

Are you sure this is part 15 ?? lol

And , I think this part was fine ... I mean , in my opinion , it follows what's happening with Gai and Iruka meanwhile ... >___>;

[midnightdiddle.livejournal.com]

Yup, it's part fifteen. Part fourteen is http://www.livejournal.com/users/midnightdiddle/36923.html#cutid1.

Thanks. Hmm...I'm just confused on what I'm writing. But, it'll work?

[telosphilos.livejournal.com]

Man, I feel bad for Gai. It read well so I'm sure it will make a good scene in the story. I'd be more coherent, but I just finished HBP.

[midnightdiddle.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

So, what did you think about HBP? I really want to talk to someone about it. Must...search...for people who read...

[telosphilos.livejournal.com]

It was a good story. If you really want to get into it, IM me. I just don't want to accidentally spoil anything for people who haven't read it yet. I'm glad the book is thinner then four and five because it means the content editing was better. There are a number of elements of classical fairy tales, myths and other stories that you can find throughout the book. One of the big plot points comes from a Russian? fairy tale that I need to try and find again.

[jello-mix.livejournal.com]

I love how you portray Gai. I love how you give him cares and concerns and fears behind his facade of goofiness. So many writers don't.

[midnightdiddle.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you. And Neji? With curly hair? Can't wait!

[aozora23.livejournal.com]

Fits in with Iruka and Gai on their way to Konoha in my opinion. This makes me sad...but in a good way! Not many fics (outside of yours) do that to me. ^___^ Love it!