Hayate Gekkou oneshot for ToraKetsueki.

You leaned over the barrier, relishing the cool spray of water that hit your face. It was the height of summer in Konoha and any cold substance, even if it was the slightly less than clean water of the river, was to be cherished. Another wave crashed against the pillar of the bridge, sending a few more droplets up to splatter your face.

For once, you were glad of the children playing in the river. On any other day they’d annoy you with their screeching and shouting – even now it got on your nerves – but their chakra was the only thing creating waves and that was good.

Very good.

One of the children in the wayer below you looked up and grinned toothily at you. You were just about to smile back when she kicked the surface of the water, sending gallons of the icy liquid up and over the edge of the bridge, drenching your feet completely. She laughed lightly in that carefree manner all of the children seemed to have and scampered back over to her friends, pointing back at you as she moved.
Your good mood suitably dampened, you turned away from the river and the irritatingly cheerful children and headed back along the bridge to the town. If you went back to your apartment you could sit inside with the air conditioning on and not have to worry about blocking out the screaming.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Asked a hoarse voice.

“Hayate!” You gasped, still slightly dejected but quickly becoming more cheerful. All it took at the moment was the littlest thing to swing your mood from elation to depression, but thankfully this time you were ecstatic.

Cough. “Hey, Tora. How are you feeling?”

You shook your head slightly but answered, “Good. I’m…fine. It’s you I’m worried about!”

“Why?” Cough, cough.

“Exactly! It’s the middle of July and you’ve still got that cough!”

Hayate coughed quietly, proving your point, and smiled at you. “It’s not contagious, so you don’t need to worry.”

You disagreed immensely – anything that made your boyfriend’s health any worse was worth worrying about – but didn’t bother arguing. Hayate would win; he always did. There were few people who could beat you in an argument and, rather annoyingly for you, you’d fallen head over heels in love with one of them.

You laced your fingers with Hayate’s and led him away from the river, back in to the town. He squeezed your hand gently in his as you walked through the town in comfortable silence. The shade of the houses cooled your skin, a breeze played with your orange hair and Hayate’s hand held yours – what was there to detract from your exultation?

“What’s wrong with staying by the river, if you don’t mind me asking?” Hayate said. You turned your head and smiled brightly up at him, glad that he’d managed an entire sentence without coughing once.

“Children.” Your smile slipped a little as you shook your head, flicking your hair out around you. “I can’t stand the things.”

Hayate laughed, but the sound quickly descended in to a choked cough. You slowed to a halt, looking up in to his face with a concerned expression etched on to your features and hoping that he’d stop soon.

“Are you alright?” You asked the moment he stopped coughing.

“Fine,” He rasped, coughing once more before he managed a smile. “I was just thinking…” Cough, cough.

“Thinking?” You started walking again, but this time the pair of you were moving significantly more slowly. You knew that a brisk walk wouldn’t leave a jounin such as your boyfriend gasping for breath or on the verge of a coughing fit, but you couldn’t bring yourself to risk it. The thought of the consequences of one too many coughing fits made your heart beat at a hundred miles an hour.

“Thinking,” Hayate echoed.

You rolled your eyes, a small smile on your face, at your boyfriend’s stubbornness. “Thinking about what?” You asked, poking him in the ribs gently.

Cough. “Kids.”

“Hmm?” You slowed your pace almost unconsciously and turned to face Hayate as you walked. “What about them?”

Hayate smiled wistfully. “I was thinking that, even if you hate them-” cough, cough, cough “-I’ve always wanted one or two.”

You blinked owlishly a few times, trying to comprehend Hayate’s words. As soon as realisation dawned you felt a blush rise up your entire body, from the tips of your toes to the roots of your hair.

“That blush…” cough. “…is it embarrassed, or angry?” Hayate asked cautiously, taking a small step away from you without letting go of your hand. He probably didn’t think you’d notice him moving away, but then, he often underestimated your attentiveness.

“I…don’t know,” You ground out eventually.

“That’ll do,” Hayate coughed. He moved closer to you again, content that you wouldn’t get too angry and attack him.

You sighed but nodded in agreement and stepped as near to Hayate as was physically possible, pressing the side of your body against the brunette’s. He all but purred with satisfaction and squeezed your hand tightly, as if he was silently telling you that you were his.

You continued to walk in comfortable silence as the blush that covered your body descended, letting your face return to its normal colour. You felt your face cool as the colour left it, and then as it sunk back down to your toes you felt your entire body become chilly for one long, pleasant second.

“Better?” Hayate asked as he felt the muscles in your hand relax in his grip.

“Yeah…”

Hayate chuckled throatily. “Good. I was worried you were really going to-” cough “-snap at me then.”

“I wouldn’t,” You assured him perfectly seriously.

“Really?” He teased.

“Really.”

To prove your point you pushed the jounin against the wall of the nearest building, ignoring the strange glance the one other person walking along the road shot you, and grinned widely, flashing Hayate a glimpse of your perfect teeth.

“Tora, what-” Hayate began. You cut him off by pressing your lips hard against his, kissing him with as much passion as you could muster. You felt him tense under you and, after a long moment, pulled away.

“Damn,” He choked out, coughing loudly. You stepped back as he doubled over and leaned on his knees, still coughing. Concerned, you let your slender hand rest on the small of his back so that he knew you were there to support him.

“Thanks,” He rasped when, after almost a minute, he managed to straighten up again.

“Alright?” You asked. When he nodded, you visibly sagged with relief, letting the worry drift to the back of your mind.

“But…” Hayate began, coughing gently.”

“What?” You said a little too quickly. If there was anything at all wrong he should have told you immediately after you’d asked, not a few seconds later. Those few seconds might be crucial…

As if he could read your thoughts, Hayate chuckled, “You’re so over-protective sometimes.” He coughed in to the back of his hand and then stretched his arms up above his head, trying to get rid of the tension in his chest that the coughing fit had caused. “Anyway, would you mind if we go home? I want to sit down…”

You nodded and smiled, linking your arm with his and leaning your head on his shoulder as you started to walk again.

“You know what we need?” You asked absent-mindedly as he kissed the top of your head softly.

“What?” He asked against your hair.

“We need a code,” You said decisively.

“Code?” Hayate asked. You could tell that he had no idea what you were talking about, so you explained.

“Well, I don’t want you choking to death when we’re kissing so we need a code.” You paused for a moment but he didn’t respond, prompting you to continue. “You know, you hit my hip if you need to stop and cough.”

Hayate chuckled and punched your arm playfully. “I’m sure we’ll live.”

A melodic laugh escaped you lips. “Right, sure.” I’ll live, but I’m worried about you.

You sighed quietly and walked on, worried about your boyfriend’s health. After a few seconds of silence he stopped, lifted your face with a slim finger and pressed a quick kiss to your lips before walking on, still without saying a word. You smiled slightly and let your head fall back against his shoulder, inhaling his sweet scent and praying with your entire being that he’d recover soon.

A/N;

I love plotless wonders.

^o^

My heart’s not in it any more and I have this horrible feeling that it shows. But what can I do? I can’t force myself to enjoy writing; it’s like a chore at the moment.

:/

Sorry.