Chapter 46

"Genma!" shouted Sandaime, "Go back immediately! You shouldn't be here." 

He shook his head and kept running. They were almost there. Up ahead, they could see the damage from the battle up ahead. Deep holes were gouged into the floor and trees were cracked or fallen over. They could smell the faint scent of blood. 

They stopped. Genma closed his eyes and tried to sense her chakra. He was a sensor. He couldn't feel her chakra. Where was Rin? "There!" Guy pointed. 

Genma followed his finger and saw a figure lying on the floor. She was curled up in a fetal position. He ran and knelt beside her. The warm blood soaked into his pants. Her chakra was faint, too faint. "Rin?" his voice cracked, "Rin…" He shook her gently. She was cold… too cold. "No, no, no, no… please…" 

He heard the others, standing around him. He held back his tears. Shinobi didn't cry. Sandaime stood next to him and he felt a hand on his shoulder, "It's alright." 

"Genma…" he heard a weak voice and looked down. Rin was alive! She was awake. 

"Don't go," he said, burying his face in clothes. Her clothes… they were soaked. He looked and froze. "On no…" the blood came from a wound right under her chest. Right beneath the apex of her heart. He ripped a piece of his shirt and pressed it against her wound, trying to stop the bleeding. She winced in pain. 

A healer knelt beside them and started healing. Rin coughed. "Rin-sama!" said the healer in alarm, "Please try to stay conscious," he turned to Genma, "Please prop her head up." 

He nodded and held up her head. "Please…Rin…" he whispered. 

He could hear her ragged breathing. She had lost so much blood. He knew that Orochimaru was strong. He was a trained shinobi and he knew when someone was going to die. "I love you," he said, "Don't die," he whispered, "Please…." 

The healer stepped back, "We need to get her to the hospital. The wound… it won't close." 

"Please… Rin… won't you marry me…?" he asked desperately. 

"Sure…" she whispered. Then her eyes closed. Her breathing stopped and the chakra left her body. "No, no, no, no, no!" 

Genma felt the rush of chakra in his body. He had one destination in mind… the hospital. Then, they disappeared. 

…

Kakashi was checking on Sasuke. He had been banned from going but he was still worried about rin. He had been in the hospital when Genma appeared. Who was that in his arms? He watched as the healers took Rin on a stretcher and ran. He saw her face as they ran past, how pale it was. 

Genma stood up and stumbled. Kakashi caught him and hooked Genma's arm around his shoulder. He led him to the row of waiting room chairs and sat down. "What… happened?" 

"Rin…" said Genma, "She wasn't breathing. Orochimaru… he… damn iit, I'm going to get some air." He ran out, leaving Kakashi to process what he had said. 

First he had failed to save Obito, then Rin had gotten kidnapped and he had almost killed her. Then Minato-sensei had gone and Kushina-nee was in a coma. And now… Rin was… dead? He couldn't think of the possibility… had he failed her again? 

… 

It was getting dark. The sky was cloudy and gloomy, just like his mood. Genma sat on the edge of the roof, looking over all of Konoha. Rin had worked so hard to protect Konoha from Orochimaru… from that traitor… and now she was dying. Maybe she was already dead. 

He heard footsteps behind him and turned. "Sandaime," he said, standing. 

"Sit down," said Sandaime tiredly, "What you did back there… that was Flying Raijin." 

Genma shrugged, "I doesn't matter." 

 "No…" he replied, "I suppose not."

THey sat in silence until Sandaime spoke again. "Do you know who the king of the village is? The most prized possession of Konoha?" 

"THe children," replied Genma. He had heard it so many times already. 

"Yes… Rin fought to protect them. It is alright to be sad." 

"Is he dead?" he asked. 

"Orochimaru is dead," said Sandaime, "Or at least the body is. It will take quite a while for him to become whole again." 

"What do you mean?" asked Genma, "Isn't he dead… dead?" 

Sandaime shook his head, "Orochimaru can never die as long as one carries his cursed seals. He lives on in all of them and can take their body at anytime… of course one must be strong enough or the body will die immediately. And without an actually body, as he is technically dead right now… it will take him much longer." 

"So it was all for nothing," said Genma bitterly. 

"No," said Sandaime. "She saved us. At least for a few years. Come on," he stood up, "Lets go back inside." 

Genma followed behind, numbly. They sat outside the operating room where Rin was. Genma sat back in the chair and sighed. That Flying Raijin had taken everything out of him. He never felt so tired in his life. He doubted he'd be able to do it again. It was that kind of 'in the moment,' accident. He yawned and fell asleep. 

…

Genma woke up and found Raido and Iwash staring at him. "What," he muttered, "How long have I been asleep?" 

"Not that long," answered Iwashi, "Only twelve hours. Good morning." 

"How are you feeling?" asked Raido. 

"I'm fine," he shrugged, then looked towards the room. It was vacant. 

"She's fine," said Raido, "Well… I don't know if she is fine. But… the healers took her out about five hours ago. I'm pretty sure she's alive. I don't know if they're letting anyone in though. She looks pretty like shes in a bad state right now." 

Iwashi kicked Raido who yelped but stopped talking. "Could you… take me to her room?" asked GEnma. 

The other two nodded and started walking. Genma stood up. His legs were stiff after sleeping in a chair all night. The hallways were brightly lit and filled with people in the mornings. Raido and Iwashi led him to the room. 

He recognized this area. It was where they kept patients in the worst condition. Just how badly wounded was she? 

"Excuse me," said a nurse, "Only immediate family and such may enter that room. Could I ask your relationship with the patient?" 

"Is this Rins room?" he asked. 

"Rin Nohara," she confirmed, "What is your relationship?" 

"I-" he stepped back, "I can come back later." 

"No you won't," said Raido. He turned to the nurse, "He's going in now. They're engaged." 

She nodded and opened the door. "Go ahead," she said. Was that pity in her eyes? "Maybe… you two should go with him…" 

Genma took a deep breath and stepped in. There she was. She looked deathly still. An oxygen mask covered her face, helping her breath. Under the blanket, he could see bumps from the bandages. "Sir!" someone said behind him, "Are you…." 

Genma turned around and saw the Dean of Konoha Hospital. He was followed by Sandaime, Shikaku, and two ANBU Black Ops. "Hello Genma. Raido, Iwashi, you may leave."

The two of them bowed and left. "Report?" Sandaime asked the Dean. 

"Um…" he looked down at his clipboard, "Her body is weakening. Its deteriorated a lot more since the last time we checked. We believe it could be a side effect of the Strength of Hundreds Seal.There was a poison in her system but it seems that her body is able to filter it out on its own. I think it might take a while but the poison will leave eventually. As for the wounds… she had a few minor scratches but it isn't that bad. The sword wound was made by a Kusanagi sword. We don't know the effects. It shouldn't be a problem but…" 

"But…" asked Sandaime. 

"I don't really understand it but that fight… whatever happened… it'll take her a really long time to recover." 

"How long," asked Genma. 

"I don't know when she'll wake up but after that… it could take years."