(This is how I picture Kazane btw)

It's dark... I can't see... Did~ did I die?... No, I'm breathing... then what~? Why can't I move? Silence rang in my ears... my motionless body numb from lack of movement. My chest stung, making breathing painful. I swallowed but the dryness of my mouth made it hard, a chased groan leaving my throat. I shifted my aching body, feeling warmth come from my left side, and light pressure on my hand. I pushed my body to obey me, forcing myself to sit up, feeling my wounds pang in discontent. I opened my eyes but saw nothing... a still blackness filled my sight.

I lifted my right hand to my face, softly placing it over my eyes, my fingers connecting with light wrappings.

'Bandages...' I concluded, running my hand along with the fabric wrapped around my head.

'Where am I?' I slowly twist my head to look around, even though I couldn't see.

I lowered my hand onto my stomach and felt more bandages going from my chest to my waist, a few pieces wrapped around my shoulder.

'My wounds have been treated... did Kazane manage to get me to Maru?'

I then heard a groan come from my left and I turned my head to the noise. It went silent after that though, no other noise being made. I lightly clenched my left hand, making out that another hand was in mine. Lifting my right hand I pulled the bandaging off my eyes and blinked a few times, readjusting them to the light. My vision was blurry, and for a second my chest clenched tightly. Maybe I was going to stay blind, maybe there was nothing Maru could do to save my sight. I sighed but took a deep breath to calm my nerves, stretching my right hand out slowly and lowering it till I feel it meet something soft. That was when a sliver of light broke through the blackness in my eyes. I blinked again, watching my vision slowly clear, a hospital-looking room filling my sight.

I smiled to myself, shifting my eyes, seeing my hand resting not on material like I thought, but on the top of Kazane's head, feeling her soft purple hair in between my fingers.

'Thank you...' I softened my gaze on her sleeping form, squeezing her hand a little tighter in mine.

"I haven't seen a smile like that on your face for quite some time..." I lifted my gaze to the lab entrance, seeing Maru standing there with a tray of food in his hand.

"It has been a while..." I nod, agreeing with him.

"How long have we been here?"

"4 and a half days," Maru answered, placing the tray down to the side and checking the IV that stood next to me.

"Thank you... I owe you my life once again," I bow my head slightly to the older male.

"Not at all... I could never turn you away when you are in need my child," Maru smiled, patting my shoulder before walking away.

I smiled again, watching his figure disappear before turning my attention to the sleeping Kunoichi beside me.

"Kazane..." I called softly, petting her head.

"Mmmm," She groaned, shifting in her seat.

'That must not be comfortable...' I think seeing the way she was sleeping.

She was seated in a chair next to the table I was on with her head on her crossed arms next to my body.

"Kazane," I called louder, moving my right hand to her shoulder, shaking her.

She took a deep breath through her nose, lifting her head with the eyes lidded tiredly.

'...' I blinked, casting my eyes down before back up to her face.

"Hey," I smiled smugly at her, shifting to sit with my legs dangling over the table edge now that she no longer occupied the space.

"Ukai?" She furrowed her brows before her eyes shot wide and she stood at lightning speeds.

"You're awake! Oh my gosh! How are you feeling!? Are you ok!? Your eye are open, can you see!? Clearly I mean!" She bombarded me with questions, not noticing her hand tightening around mine.

"Kazane~! Kazane... I'm fine," I place my right hand on her cheek to stop her from moving so frantically and to calm her down.

"You sure? How many fingers am I holding up?" She asked showing me two fingers.

I grinned at her child-like antics.

"25," I answer, pulling my hand from her face and placing it in my lap.

"No, it's~!" Kazane exclaimed but paused, a confused look on her face as she stared at her two fingers.

"Wait... I don't even have 25 fingers..." She narrowed her eyes.

I chuckled, turning my head away and bringing my hand up in front of my mouth.

"Ukai that wasn't funny," She hissed, glaring.

"I apologize," I chuckle, turning back to face her.

But my smile dropped when I saw the solemn look on her face.

"I was really worried about you, you know..." She said in a weak voice, casting her eyes down to her balled fists.

"You were laying there motionless for 4 whole days~ I was afraid you weren't going to wake up..." She closed her eyes, gritting her teeth.

"And all because you chose to fight that gang member on your own... HALF BLIND!"

"Why would you do that? That's the second time you've thrown yourself into harm's way like that just to protect me!?" She added, tears forming through her eyelashes.

I stayed silent as I listened to her rant, her small body shaking with unreleased sobs.

"Your eyes had even given out on you and you still refused to back down," She lifted her head, her eyes piercing mine.

"What if you had died!? What was I supposed to do then huh!? What was I going to tell your mother? Your sister!?" She exclaimed.

"I would have never been able to forgive myself if you had! I like you ok! And I wish you'd learn to trust me to fight beside you instead of needing your protection!"

Kazane's bright purple eyes shimmered with tears, her face contorted in sadness.

~"You are going to need to trust me~"

"Trust breed expectations, expectations breed disappointment! Life is easier without TRUST..."

"You can not live the rest of your life alone~"

"Alone is what I have, alone protects me! I don't need anyone else!"~

I clenched my jaw, looking down at my lap to avoid her gaze.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"But I can't trust," I added.

"..."

"I mean how am I supposed to trust others... when I barely trust myself..." I say clenching my fists.

"You are trustworthy I know that..."

"It's not you, I don't trust~ it's myself around you, I~... I'm afraid... of what will happen to the people who are around me... I'm afraid of myself..." I explain.

"I have been alone... for so long I forgot how to let people in... And even if I could I can't give all of myself if there's only half of who I am left..." I tell Kazane, shutting my eyes.

"And you... you deserve more than that... More than what I can give you..." I finish, reopening my eyes.

The next thing I felt was Kazane's arms wrap around my neck, her chest pressed up against mine as she bent over to hug me. I blinked... stunned.

"You, as you are right now... is enough for me..." She whispered.

"I don't care about anything else... all I want is for you to be happy... Half or whole I will be by your side till you can no longer stand me..." She continued, hugging me tighter.

~"That I was going to stand and fight beside my father no matter what, and if he didn't want me there, if you wanted to get rid of me you'd have to kill me,"~

I choked on a breath, wrapping my arms around the kunoichi's waist and spreading my legs to pull her closer. She buried her face in my neck and sniffed her tears away while I buried mine in her shoulder, refusing to let her go...