Dying to Love You (Kiribaku Hanahaki)

Allies

AN: I used the Tet/Vietnamese New Year for this because I don't know the Japanese New Year or if it's the same day (January 25 2020)

Going back to life after you've just been told you're going to die in somewhere between 60-120 days is almost funny. Because suddenly it doesn't really matter what you wear or how you dress or act because you're not going to live long enough to see the consequences. So instead of bleaching and dying the black roots that have started to show, I let them grow out. Instead of spiking up my hair every morning, I spend the extra hour sleeping or eating a decent breakfast. Instead of worrying about looking manly or flashy, I just live. It's pretty peaceful.

I'd enjoy it if it weren't for the pricking feelings in my chest, or the blood soaked champagne petals that climb out of my throat every time I think of Bakugou.

The first day back at school, because my moms wanted to spend a few more days with me, is more of a "let the teachers know you're dying" kind of day instead of a learning day. Ma called and explained everything to Nedzu but her and Mom both agreed that I should be the one to tell my teachers and whatever classmates I want.

Kami and Mina immediately tackle me as soon as I walk into class.

"KIRIBABYYYYY I MISSED YOU!!! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!"

I chuckle a little at Mina's screaming and hug her and Kami back.

"I'll tell you later but I've gotta talk to Sensei first."

Kami pouts before grabbing my face and obnoxiously kissing my forehead. "Fine but you have some explaining to do later Kiri."

I smile, thinking about how lucky I am to have them and the rest of Class 2-A. I force myself not to think to far into it. About how I won't have any of them before the end of the school year. It's November now. Christmas is next month. New Years is in the end of January. I'll be lucky if I make it that far.

I make my way over to Aizawa-sensei's desk, ignoring the itch in the back of my throat and the burn in my lungs when I catch a poof of champagne hair making conversation with Uraraka. "Sensei? Can I talk to you in private?"

Aizawa looks up from the papers on his desk to stare at me with his dark eyes. His hair is rattier than normal because he's still making our written exam. He narrows his eyes at my change in hairstyle. He's an observant Pro Hero so it wouldn't surprise me if he noticed the way my lips are stained redder than usual from the blood I've been hacking up for the past 5 days.

"Fine but you better have a good excuse as to why you've missed a week of school."

I nod and follow him out into the hall. I glance around to check that no ones here. My nerves finally catch up to me. This is the first person other than my parents who I've told and I didn't even really tell them. They just found out. Should I ease into it or just-

"Just rip the bandaid off, Kirishima. I haven't got all day."

Right ok.

"I have Hanahaki and I'll be dead by February."

His eyes widen as he looks me up and down, now noticing how I've gotten a bit thinner since the last time he saw me. I can't keep a lot of food down now.

"I see. Young Bakugou?"

I fight back a fresh spout of blood and petals that threaten to burst out at his name. "Th-that obvious huh?"

"Not especially, but I figured it would be someone you're in class with and you two spend a lot of time together. My next guess would've been Kaminari."

Geez even my teacher knows I'm gay as shit.

"Well... yeah it's him. Principal Nedzu knows and I've already stated that I refuse to move classes. Dr. Nagisa said I need to tell my teachers because I'll be limited on what I can do as far as hero training goes."

"Nagisa, huh?" Aizawa asks, somewhat impressed. "Your parents must be trying their best."

"You've met my Ma."

"True. I've met Villians less intimidating that her."

I laugh, before cutting myself off coughing. Bakugou is who I think off when I think of someone more intimidating than a villain.

I start hacking, feeling the petals creep into my throat. The sharp thorns of the flower start to slice the skin of my trachea and suddenly blood is pouring in with the flower. At some point, I collapse to the floor, heaving on all fours, trying to work the flower out. I finally feel the petals and blood on my tongue, and hack the mixture into my hands. Some of the blood splatters on the floor and I cringe. Tears slide out of the corners of my eyes as Aizawa crouches down to rub my back and picks up a blood soaked petal.

"Champagne camellias? That's unique. Mine were carnations. Bright yellow. Just as load and annoying as him."

I stare up at Aizawa as my body finally starts calming down. The last shudders leave my body as I stare up at him in shock. "You had Hanahaki?"

He nods, still rubbing circles into my back. He helps stand me up and runs his fingers through his hair to get some of the knots out. "Yeah. Back when the last wave hit Japan about 15 years ago. It was hell, but I was given a longer time than you. I had 7 months to go."

"So what happened? Did..." I swallow around the words in my mouth. "Did you get the surgery?"

"Almost. I was one of the lucky ones. I was in the hospital at month 6, about to sign the papers that would give them permission to remove the flower, and Hizashi basically kicked down the door. Turns out Nemuri couldn't stand the thought of me going through with the surgery so the little bitch told him that he was the one I was in love with. Stupid bastard kissed me before I could even ask what the hell he was doing. We've been married for almost 11 years now."

Listening to his story calms me down until I'm more sore and sticky with sweat than in pain. My hands are still caked with blood and damp flower petals but I'm ok. "I'm not getting the surgery. I know it's pointless because it's Bakugou. He's straight. Even if he wasn't, I doubt he'd want to date a friend."

"If it's pointless than why not?"

I could hear in his voice that he was playing Devil's Advocate now but decided to answer anyway.

"Because loving is part of life. If I go through with the surgery, there's an 80% chance that I'd have no more feeling of love, romantically or platonically. I'd be empty. A robot. There's no point in being alive if you're not living. Even if that weren't my view, Bakugou is worth it to me. His eyes, his smirk, his laugh, his rare smile, and, shockingly, his personality. He makes me happy. Everything he says or does gives me butterflies and loving him has become a part of who I am. I'm not Kirishima Eijirou if I'm not madly in love with Bakugou Katsuki."

Aizawa gives me look of pure pride before pulling me into a hug. I'm too shocked to move at the fact that my typically gruff and emotionless teacher is hugging me but I slowly sink into it because god damn it I don't know how many hugs I have left. "You're a good man Kirishima Eijirou. You would've made an even better hero."

Finally I let myself cry. I grip his shirt in between my fingers and sob into his chest. Someone knows what I've been through. Someone knows what I'm going through.

Aizawa rubs my back as I break in his arms. I flinch when I feel two more sets of arms join the hugs but quickly relax when I realize it's just a crying Kami and Mina.

"So I know it was pretty shitty of us to eavesdrove but fucking damn it Kiri," Kami sobs.

"Language," Aizawa says but I can tell there's no actual venom in his voice.

Eventually Aizawa leaves the group hug, telling me that he won't pull me from the class but I'll be staying in his and Hizashi's house on campus with them instead of my dorm next to Bakugou. "I'm not going to force you two apart but you need the space if you want to live as long as you can."

I nod as Kami and Mina hug me tighter. I almost fall asleep right there but I know I've got to go to class. I've got to see Bakugou and take notes and train. Because I'm dying but I still need to live while I can. I've got allies now. I can make it for another 3 or 4 months as long as I have them.