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It was not unusual for them to wake up early, they always did- especially during missions. Though what made Hoshirube puzzled was how Koyanagi of all people was up so early at 5 in the morning. Yes he's seen him wake up early but not without being woken up by the others, so naturally he looks back at the man who clearly still looked sleepy "Ah, good morning Koyanagi." in turn the other looked back at him as he yawned "Good morning Hoshirube...you're up early yourself." Hoshirube could only sigh in response "Yea, I haven't been able to sleep last night even though I was exhausted. Why are YOU of all people up so early?" Hoshirube asked eyeing him curiously. The question made Koyanagi tense up a little bit which was, once again, strange, but the appraiser didn't bother to ask too much knowing how he was. Koyanagi- without looking at him- replied "Just some mission I accepted not too long ago, nothing much." Hoshirube couldn't help but notice the sudden shift in the others' behavior, it wasn't strange for Koyanagi to be more closed off but...this was quite concerning.
"So wait, you're going on this alone?" he asked with his eyebrow raised. Koyanagi only hummed in response before he practically drowned himself in the coffee he drank, he then proceeded to place it in the sink before walking past the other "I'll be back soon, this should be a quick mission." before he could ask the wolf any further he already walked out the door, not allowing him to do so. Hoshirube only sighed but immediately he turned to the corner "I know you're there Kagetsu-kun, good morning to you too." the ninja came out of hiding kind of disappointed that his cover was blown which made the appraiser laugh a bit, though it didn't last very long because right after that Kagetsu couldn't help but add more to how Koyanagi's behavior changed. "He's acting weird, don't you think?" Hoshirube could only hum in response, despite his calm and collected exterior...he was worried.
Going alone was a mistake on is part, but...he had no choice. If he didn't...he knew that they would be injured. And he didn't want any blood to be spilt on anyone. Ever. Though, he'd be lying if he said he didn't regret bringing them along, because here he was. Blood dripping down his face as he glared at the enemy that he just took out. It's been a good few hours that he was here, and he felt relieved that finally...FINALLY it was over. He was about to take out his communication device but he felt a sudden wave of dizziness hit him, and in turn accidentally dropped it. He decided for safe measure he would just lean against a tree while sitting down, in case he was about to pass out.
As he did so he reached for the communicator again and turned it on, attempting to reach the others. He waited patiently while trying to keep himself awake, just so he could at least report to them about what happened. After what seemed like an eternity, someone finally came through the communicators...but to his demise it was the same person he didn't want to know about his condition. "Hello? Koyanagi is that you?" Hoshirube asked. Koyanagi sighed and replied "Yea...yea it's me, the mission has...has been cleared..." he was trying to speak normally but the injures he sustained were now starting to catch up to him, it was getting difficult for him to focus. Hoshirube, who sounded genuinely concerned despite how he's usually more composed, asked "Koyanagi? Are you alright? What happened?" Koyanagi who felt himself slowly slip away, answered the best he could. "The...the target was..pretty tough..- ha..I..I don't know if my regeneration will be enough for this.." he said as he felt another wave of dizziness.
Without hesitation, Hoshirube was quick to say "I'm on my way." before he could even say anything further. He was wondering how the hell he was even going to find him in the first place, I mean he never told them where he was. He felt is consciousness slip away even more and as if he was watching somehow, Hoshirube spoke again, this time in a more stern voice "You better stay awake until I get there. Don't you dare slip away, Koyanagi." the wolf only chuckled, it was funny because the two of them were close. They would always know what the other was thinking, so this was not out of the ordinary. That's when he heard footsteps coming towards him, this caused him to keep his guard up a little bit more and made him stand up. He held onto the tree branch as support before he tried to limp away finding a place to hide in case there was sudden danger. Unfortunately, it was in vain. He felt his knees buckle beneath him and he was accepting the fact that he was about to fall onto the ground, but strangely he didn't. Instead, he felt someone holding onto him. He slowly opened his eyes to see the appraiser right in front of him, the sight made him smile slightly "You're here...that was fast.." he said trying to lighten up the mood. But the same couldn't be said about the man holding onto him "Of course. The communicators have a tracker, I couldn't just not follow it. Now you better stay awake or I'll find you wherever you end up and drag you back, you hear me?" Koyanagi weakly nodded as he leaned against him as he was being carried.
Hoshirube wasted no time in running back to the headquarters, knowing how he was now racing against the clock to make sure his...friend- didn't die in his arms. His thoughts raced through his mind, he didn't even care to ask about the enemy he just wanted to make sure Koyanagi was alright. Though, as he ran he felt the others' hand slip from his own abdomen and it dangled limply. His eyes widened when the realization hit him, he halted his running for a bit to place his head against the others' chest. He heard a heartbeat but it was faint. He was losing time.
He kept on running...and running...and running..until finally the headquarters were finally in sight and he immediately burst in yelling out to Kagetsu and Inami. "What the hell do you want you-" Kagetsu paused in the middle of his sentence when he saw the state of Koyanagi. Hoshirube didn't remember what happened next, all he recalled was Inami and Kagetsu taking Koyanagi away from him and...calling someone. The octopus felt his head blur, he didn't know what was happening anymore...he only sat down in the couch. When was the last time did he feel this much emotion? Why was he so...panicked? What were all these feelings swimming through him like his mind was a swimming pool. He looked at his hands that were stained with blood...Koyanagi's blood. Everything else just felt like it was just...on pause. On mute. All he could think of were questions...like what happened? Why did he go alone?
It's been a few hours since the incident, Hoshirube was now sitting next to Koyanagi's bed. All he could do was stare at him, the questions still swam through his mind. Kagetsu and Inami left him alone, they knew that whatever happened made the octopus not want to really speak to anyone. He didn't banter, he didn't reply with snarky remarks. His attention was just on the man that was unconscious, that was all that mattered to him. He hesitantly took the others' hand not knowing what else to do, he only squeezed it. He thought...maybe...just maybe he'd get some sort of reaction from that. But, there was nothing. He sighed as he sat there, still staring at him. He didn't understand why, or when, or how, he grew to be THIS attached to him. He doesn't remember the last time he DID feel like this. He ended up falling asleep there as he waited for the other to wake up, his head rested on the side of the bed. He didn't even hear nor realize the other two coming in and out.
The next day rolled around and he slowly opened his eyes, the sunlight hitting his face. He felt his head pounding, which, made sense...he then felt like his hand was a little heavier to move. Looking over that's when he saw Hoshirube sleeping with his head laying on the side of the bed, one hand holding onto his. He couldn't help but smile, that same moment however, his smile dropped. If Hoshirube was acting this way, that meant he was dangerously close to death. He couldn't even comprehend that he was even worried in the first place until now. The sudden shift from Koyanagi made the other immediately wake up, that's when he looked at him. His eyes widened once he laid his eyes on Koyanagi who was now awake. "..You're awake" Koyanagi only hummed in response, still too exhausted to do anything. Hoshirube couldn't help but squeeze his hand tighter, he was...afraid. Afraid that this was a dream.
Koyanagi took notice of this and lifted his other hand, placing it on his head patting it. Hoshirube couldn't help but just allow it to happen, not really caring about how he's viewed at the moment. The white wolf slowly sat up but immediately regretted it when he felt a surge of pain from moving too soon. This made the other worry but he was reassured by Koyanagi that he was fine which made him relieved, for a second at least.
"Why did you go alone, Koyanagi?" ah, there it was. He knew this would happen eventually, as unfortunate as it is. "I knew this would be more dangerous than our others missions, I thought I could do this on my own without help but...I guess I miscalculated." Hoshirube upon listening to this, eyed him suspiciously "This isn't the only reason is it?" and that's when the other tensed up. Bingo. The white wolf didn't want to admit it but sometimes he loves and hates how Hoshirube knew him a little too well, he felt like he couldn't even hide anything from him. Eventually he did tell him the other reason "..I didn't want you all to be injured again. Last mission when I almost lost all of you- I didn't want to see that again. I especially don't want to see blood from you."
It was silent for a moment, none of them spoke for a good few minutes until Hoshirube broke the silence. "Koyanagi. Look at me, will you?" like a defeated puppy, he did. Meeting Hoshirube's gaze. "I don't know what goes through your mind, I don't know if I can ever change your mind. But, I want you to- even if you don't go to the other two- confide in me. Tell me if anything like this is on your mind, tell me if you have any other dangerous mission. We're a team. And at least...promise me not to get yourself in this kind of situation again, at least....not alone." Koyanagi couldn't help but chuckle "You really sound stupid like this, you know?" but before Hoshirube could even reply to that, Koyanagi continued on
"I promise."