I stand in the rain, letting the cold droplets soak me completely. The downpour mirrors the emptiness inside, as if the sky itself shares my sorrow.
Heavy. So heavy, my heart feels as if it's being crushed under the weight of a thousand regrets.
The sadness is suffocating. I can barely catch my breath as it tightens around my chest, squeezing the air from my lungs.
I know this scene all too well.
Kurenai's funeral.
I struggle to breathe through the relentless tears that streak my face. My body shakes with the effort of staying upright.
Where is someone to help me? I need someone.
I look in front of me, my gaze fixed on the casket.
Kurenai.
I want to reach out, to hold her again, to feel the warmth of her touch, but it's too late.
My chest burns with the intensity of the grief, and I clutch my throat as if I can force the air back in.
I scream her name, desperate for her to hear me, to come back to me.
Please... don't leave me.
But as they begin to lower her casket into the ground, something impossible happens.
The lid opens.
Kurenai's eyes lock with mine. She reaches for me, her hand pleading for help.
I can't move. My legs betray me, frozen in place, unable to reach her as she begins to disappear into the earth.
A pair of strong arms suddenly wraps around me, pulling me back, crushing me against them.
The grip is painful. I claw at the arms holding me, trying to break free, but it's useless.
I cry out, the desperation in my voice raw.
No... No... No!
The arms tighten, shaking me roughly.
I look down at my sister, her eyes filled with a final, silent plea, and my heart shatters as she is swallowed by the ground.
I gasp, jolting awake in a cold sweat, my body still trembling.
The same arms, strong and unyielding, grip me tightly.
"No... no! Kurenai!" I panic, my breath ragged as I try to break free from the nightmare.
"Ami, Ami, stop, it's me. It's Kakashi. You're okay. It's just a dream."
I freeze, realizing that the nightmare is over, that I'm no longer in that awful place.
I reach out instinctively, pulling myself closer to him, my chest still heaving with the remnants of the dream.
I sob into Kakashi's chest, the tears flowing freely as his arms wrap around me, holding me tightly.
His warmth is a comfort I didn't know I needed.
His strong arms cradle me, holding me together as my body trembles uncontrollably. He presses his cheek gently to my head, whispering soft shushes, soothing my broken sobs.
I bury my face deeper into his chest, slowly feeling my breathing return to normal, the tears beginning to subside.
I'm aware of how tightly I'm gripping his arm, my nails almost digging into his skin, and I force myself to loosen my hold.
I realize that he's shirtless, his bare skin against mine, radiating warmth.
His hand gently caresses my hair, running his fingers through the strands in a slow, comforting motion.
"Ami, are you okay?" His voice is so soft, almost a whisper, as if afraid I'll shatter under the slightest pressure.
I nod silently, unable to form words just yet.
He doesn't push me to speak but gently wipes the tears from my face, his touch tender.
"Kurenai..." I whisper, my voice cracking as I say her name.
"I couldn't protect her. She... she was reaching for me. I couldn't get to her, Kakashi. I couldn't..."
The sobs return, louder now, tearing through me.
Kakashi pulls me closer, his arms enveloping me in an even tighter embrace. One arm around my waist, the other protectively around my head.
"Shh, it's okay. I'm here. I'm here, love." His words are like a balm on my tortured soul.
He kisses the top of my head softly, and I feel a sense of calm wash over me, though my heart still aches with loss.
"Do you want to lie back down?" he asks, his voice a soothing murmur.
I nod, too exhausted to speak.
He shifts, gently guiding me off his lap and helping me settle down. But just as he begins to rise, I reach out, grabbing his arm with a desperate plea.
"Please... stay. I don't want to be alone."
Without hesitation, he slides back into the bed beside me, wrapping me up in his warmth, pulling me against his chest.
"I'm right here, Ami. Get some sleep," he whispers, his words a promise.
I let the weight of his arms and his words ease my tension. Slowly, sleep creeps in, and my eyelids, swollen from crying, become heavy.
Wrapped in Kakashi's arms, I surrender to the darkness, comforted by the steady beat of his heart, and fade into a peaceful sleep.