#nobumito

     Fear.     It had been a long time since Noboru Kobayashi experienced true fear. Whenever he was on missions, it was never fear that plagued him. But worry, anxiety, doubt. Never fear. He was taught from an early age, during his first years at the Academy, to never fear your enemy or your mission because that will only drag you down. That knowledge had served him well over his many years as a shinobi. Lives were saved, decisions quickly made that ended up saving instead of sacrificing.      But this...this is what true fear felt like. And he didn't ever want to experience this again.Mito sat on the patient's bed, a sob wrenching from her body. Tears flowed down her face, but Noboru could only stare at the doctor without a single expression gracing his features.      This wasn't happening. This wasn't happening. This wasn't happening.      This can't be happening. This can't be happening. This can't be happening.      Everything was numb. He could'nt breathe. He couldn't see straight. Thoughts were rampaging through his head and they were so loud. Noboru's hand found itself on Mito's, grasping it for dear life.      Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.      But the nightmare continued on like a black parade, never ending with nowhere but six feet under to go. The doctor left them alone to grieve, and Noboru wrapped his arms around Mito, cradling her, slightly rocking her as she sobbed.     This is happening. This is happening. This is happening.      And finally, Noboru cracked. The news finally registering in his brain, the tears flowing like a river, his own hands shaking. He wanted to be strong. He needed to be strong. But he couldn't. Not here. Not now. He needed to cry, to be with his wife, now more than ever.      Kobayashi Mito died three weeks later in her sleep. Her daughter, Fuyumi, had found her. 

     He could hear her voice, but he couldn’t see her face. That’s all he wanted, really. To see her face for one final time, to have her and her alone imprinted on him in his final moments like they were the only two people in the world.     Noboru could hear the strain in her voice, how hoarse it was from screaming his name moments earlier when the kunai slipped through his upper abdomen, slicing a decent wound through his heart. There was so much blood, he could feel the warmness wrap around him as he began to lose his own warmth, the blood spilling from his body onto the ground below.      This was the end. He knew it. Noboru didn’t want to die, not like this. He didn’t want to have Mito see this. If he had it his way, she would get the customary knock on the door from an anbu, their masked face telling her the tragic fate of her beloved. Instead of his bloody body quickly losing life as a permanent memory, she would have a patterned mask to blame.      If only she was that lucky.     He tried to speak, but he choked on his own blood. Instead, he searched for her hand in the darkness. Once he found her warmth, he squeezed her hand with all his might, although it was gentle in nature with his last remaining strength dwindling. I love you, he wanted to say, but hoped the squeeze would convey. But there was only so much a small gesture like that could say.      I love you so much. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I couldn’t live long enough for us to grow old together, to watch our children grow up, and to hold our grandchildren for the first time. I’m sorry you have to do all of that without me. I’m sorry I have to go. I’m sorry. I’m sorry… I’m sorry…but thank you.     Noboru Kobayashi took his last breaths in his wife’s arms and he was sure he had died in heaven. 

     Together they walked down the dirt path of the village to the pediatric center, hands perfectly wrapped around the other's in excitement. Today was the day. They were going to be finding out if they were going to be parents to a beautiful baby girl or a handsome baby boy. Noboru looked over to his fiancé with a smile.  "You ready for this?" 

Brings up having kids: Noboru -- He's always wanted to have kids with Mito. 

               Noboru couldn't help but to laugh at his fiancé's statement.                 "Mito Uzumaki is not, and shall never be, synonymous with ugly."                Her mood immediately changed shocker there when he had spoken                of baby names.                 "So, tomorrow we find out if we have a boy or girl, right? So, we need                 to come up with two names tonight. You ready for this, Mama Kobayashi?"

Mito is now single ship with nxboru! She is currently engaged and expecting their first child.

'Noboru... please be safe...'