I had an itch for a particular type of fan fiction. Try as I might to find it, the site didn't seem to have anything that fulfilled the desire. So, I decided to make it myself. Perhaps this will scratch someone else's fan fiction itch. I hope so. 3 Idea came from talking to a friend who had a really bad fever, so badly that she told me she was crying and screaming a lot of the time… Tormenting characters is fun, but not IRL.

Also: One more week until I'm free from college for winter break! 3 For those of you interested in more… aggro, I guess, music, I highly suggest "Nurse Grenade" by Angelspit. Or if you're open to new musics. Or if I am your goddess and you love me that much.

All characters owned by… um. The people who own the Naruto series. Too lazy to go look it up, but saying it's not mine counts, right? I think this would be set somewhere not too early, but not late in the series either; a sort-of friendship has been established by they still don't work together too well. Naruto and Sakura don't know much about Sasuke.

At first, no one had really thought much of it. Kakashi-sensei was late all of the time, Naruto occasionally late. Why wouldn't an Uchiha have the capacity for lateness as well? Sakura had complained about it, wanting to work alongside Sasuke rather than Naruto, but Kakashi would make her work with Naruto. All three needed some teamwork skills. Besides, Sasuke had proven that he could take care of himself. He was primarily out for himself, most days. Primarily being the keyword; sometimes Sasuke would show some inkling of concern for his friends, or, in his phrasing, "comrades".

The task was simple enough to understand: Sakura and Naruto were to take down Kakashi while he read the latest installment of the Icha Icha books: Icha Icha Dusk. He had to remember to have Jiraiya sign this copy as well, at some point. Try as they might, with Sakura's chakra control at her finest point yet, and Naruto launching as many of his substitutions at the elder ninja as fast as possible, Kakashi-sensei deflected their attacks and threw his students to the ground.

Naruto complained after a little while of the beat down. He was simply hungry. Sakura complained of the same problem, if only because it meant she wouldn't be getting thrown around by her teacher while she worried about Sasuke. Since she was focused so much on him, taking on Kakashi in a mere practice spar didn't seem important. Kakashi glanced once to the younger ninjas and decided to call a lunch break. It was then that Kakashi's horrible grip on time came to kick him in the teeth. He glanced once to his book to see just how many pages he had read. Between that and the fact that he had just called a lunch break for the kids… Sasuke was late, indeed.

Kakashi voiced his concern aloud. "Hmm… where is Sasuke? I know he's popular with the girls, but I don't think he would let something as trivial to him as a girl to stop him… not when his goals are so close to him."

"Ten ryo says that Sasuke is getting some kind of sadistic pleasure out of watching us fight each other and worry about him. I say let 'em be late." Naruto was quick to gobble up the rice from his bento.

Sakura was not nearly as nonchalant as Naruto was about this. She quietly took a drink of water, and looked back towards the village. "Sasuke-kun…"

Kakashi sighed gently, the heat trapping in his mask. "We'll head back for the village and go to his place. Even I've never been in Sasuke's apartment."

"At least you know it's an apartment, Kakashi-sensei. I always imagined he lived in some grand home with his parents, or something. Hey, since you know so much… what are Sasuke's parents like?" Sakura's eyes danced with a little curiosity.

Kakashi was careful with choosing his words at this point. Something as impersonal as the type of place where one lived in was one thing. Parents, however, were another matter. His eyes curled as he calmly smiled. "Perhaps that's something for Sasuke to answer rather than I."

As soon as Naruto finished his lunch, Sakura picked up her own pink-wrapped one and carried it back to the village with them, the three of them making some small talk over things like the weather and where they could improve in their sparring sessions.

Sasuke didn't live too far off of the main street of Konohagakure. Only a few minutes after entering the imposing village gate did they arrive at what Kakashi told the students was Sasuke's place. The tall man knocked twice. Waiting for a few moments showed no success at finding Sasuke. "Sasuke!" Kakashi calmly called, and knocked a few more times.

Sakura's fingers tightened around her water, while Naruto only let out a 'tch' and crossed his arms. The difference in their feelings towards finding Sasuke were clear. Kakashi took a kunai knife from his pouch and crouched before the door. He started to attempt to pick the lock open. "This is for a good cause, right?" Two blinks from Naruto. "Whatever makes you sleep better at night, sensei." The makeshift lock pick was successful; they could tell by a soft clicking sound escaping and Kakashi opened the door. Sasuke's apartment was simple: The largest part was one area that blended the kitchen and the living room. A short hallway with two doors, one door open and with a light on. Sasuke's bedroom was the door at the end of the hall. Furnishings were kept to a minimum, and everything was set up so that one could easily find whatever they were looking for. Ever the one for practicality, that kid.

"Ngh…"

"Hm?" Kakashi turned to glance at his students. "What's your problem, Naruto?" Naruto shook his head. "Wasn't me. Sakura-chan?" It wasn't Sakura who had done it, either. Kakashi blinked twice and glanced around the place once more, overlooking the wooden floors; perhaps there was a spot they stepped on that creaked accidentally.

"Kakashi-sensei, look." Sakura gestured to the door with light escaping easily from it. He stepped right over to it and peered in to see if Sasuke was there. "Ah, Sasuke, there you a--. Oh. I see." His eyes curled upwards. "I'll leave you alone for a moment." He stepped back with a quiet shutting of the door and looked at Sakura and Naruto. "Gross."

Naruto's arms crossed and he cocked his head to the side curiously, while Sakura's arms came close to her body and face, green eyes wide. The two spoke in unison: "what?" Naruto was wondering what would be so disgusting as to gross out Kakashi-sensei, while Sakura was more curious as to his general state of health. "Is Sasuke-kun okay?"

There was a wretched sound from the restroom, and the sound of something spilling into the waters of the toilet.

"Sasuke-kun is throwing up." Kakashi-sensei kept his eyes smiling even as he said that.

I finished this chapter less than twenty-four hours after my freedom from college. n___n Do I get a cookie now? (this means I'll be updating twice today. Whoo!)