Chapter 2
Diagnosis
Gaara POV
By the end of the week, I felt worse than ever. The dizziness was so bad that I couldn't even stand without falling over. I also kept getting intense migraines. Painkillers didn't even seem to work anymore and I was almost crying from the agony of it all. I stayed in bed all day, not moving. Shukaku was laughing away madly in my mind and making me feel even more pain. What the hell had he given me? I had never felt so bad in my life. Why now? My phone rang. I weakly took it of the bedside table and put it to my ear. "Hello?"
"Gaara-kun, is that you?" Came Lee's voice.
"Mhmm..." I grunted in reply.
"What is wrong? You do not sound too well."
"I'm sick. I've been in bed all week."
"I have tried to phone you, but your father told me that you could not get to the phone. Is this the reason why you have not been at school?"
"Yeah... I feel like shit..."
"Would you like me to come over? I can keep you company."
"I don't want you to catch it."
"Oh, I do not mind! I love you and I am worried."
"Thanks. Seriously, you don't have to."
"Is anybody taking care of you?"
"Not really, my dad is home, but he's leaving for work soon."
"I can look after you whilst he is away."
"You don't have to if you don't want to."
"Gaara, I am not leaving you on your own when you are not well. What if you faint and are unable to get back up? You could hurt yourself!"
It looked like he was coming over no matter what. "Alright then, see you in a minute."
"I will be over soon."
"Bye." I ended the call. Lee was so sweet. It would be awful if he caught my illness though... he was so nice to me. Nobody had ever treated me so good in my life. I lay back on my pillow and weakly hugged it closer to me. It felt comforting. When Lee wasn't with me, I felt lonely and missed him terribly. He meant the world to me and I loved him so much-
"Gaara?"
My thoughts were interrupted once father had come into my room. He sat on my bed. It annoyed me.
"You feeling better?"
"Not really. I've gotten worse to be honest."
"Maybe I should stay and look after you."
"No, it's fine. Lee phoned and he's coming over. He said he wants to take care of me because he's worried."
He looked a little shocked. "That's really nice of him, Gaara. I'll leave for work once he arrives."
"Okay."
Minutes later, there was a knock at my door. Father got up and went downstairs to answer it. I heard him and Lee talking for a while before my boyfriend came upstairs. He knocked on my door. "Gaara-kun? Can I come in?"
"Yeah." I answered. He rushed to my side, an extremely worried look plastered on his face. "Are you alright? Is there anything I can fetch you?"
"I'm fine at the moment, Lee. Thanks for coming over."
"What is the matter with you? Is it the flu?"
"I-I'm not sure. Shukaku gave it to me."
"Shukaku? Your Bijuu?"
I nodded. "I don't feel the common symptoms of a cold. My head just hurts and I'm really dizzy."
He sat on my bed and pulled me against his chest, then cuddling me.
"Lee, you're so nice."
"That is because I love you. I shall try to find out what's wrong with you, eh?"
"Sure."
"Have you had a fever?"
"Not so far."
"Vomiting?"
"A little. Not much though."
"Hmm... I am worried. Maybe you should see a doctor."
"It's my father's job to do that since I can barely move."
He kissed me tenderly on the lips. "I will get you some painkillers. Your father wanted me to give you some." And with that, left.
As soon as he got up from my side, the room seemed to drop a few degrees. Not even my duvet kept me warm. I shivered and curled up a little, trying to regain warmth. Everything seemed cold when he wasn't there. After what felt like an eternity, Lee came back and handed me the pills. I swallowed them dry.
"Gaara-kun... are you cold?"
"I-I'll be fine..."
He raised an eyebrow. "I will not bite."
"I know. You don't have to do all this for me..."
"Need a hug?"
I nodded slowly, blushing a little.
He wrapped his arm round my slender shoulders and pulled me to his body.
"Th-Thank-you, Lee." I snuggled into his warmth and soon fell asleep.
When I awoke, Lee was still holding me in his arms. I felt happy to have him so close.
"Gaara-kun, are you awake?" He asked gently.
"Mm... yeah..."
"Your father will be home any minute now. He has just phoned me."
"Don't go." I tugged on his arm weakly.
He kissed me tenderly on the lips. "I will be back tomorrow. Do not worry."
I heard the front door open. Father came upstairs moments later. He smiled a little on seeing Lee and I cuddling.
"How has he been?" He asked my boyfriend.
"He has been asleep, so I just let him rest."
"No problems? Has he passed out or anything?"
"No, no."
"Good. You can stay the night I guess. It is rather late."
"That would be great, Kazekage-sama. Thank you."
"There's a spare bed over there. You can use that."
Father turned to me. "Can I check your temperature?" He asked.
I nodded. He touched my forehead, then moved his hand to my cheek. "You're not burning up."
"Are you saying I'm faking this?"
"No, Gaara. I can tell you're sick, but it's strange that you've not had a fever."
I said nothing.
"I'll phone the doctor in the morning."
"Thanks."
"Can you get out of bed at all?"
I was far too weak. "No."
"Does it hurt when you try to do so?"
"No, I just... can't. It's way too strenuous."
"So it tires you out?"
"Yeah."
"Alright. If you need anything, shout me, okay?"
"Yeah."
"Bye." He said, walking out the room and going downstairs. Lee sat down on the spare bed in my room and tilted his head to the side slightly. "Gaara-kun?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you still cold?"
I nodded and once again, he embraced me until I fell asleep. The rest was short-lived though, since I awoke with a start minutes later.
There was a strange tingling sensation in my abdomen. It was strange, then, it started to hurt. I groaned pushed Lee away, feeling my stomach churn.
"Gaara, are you alright?"
I said nothing and swallowed repeatedly to stop myself from vomiting, but it was no use at all. I couldn't get up, I couldn't even speak. Luckily, Lee seemed to know what was wrong and rushed me to the bathroom where I threw up harshly into the toilet.
He rubbed my back sympathetically. I dry-heaved for a little while until my stomach finally settled down. My muscles were sore. "Ow..."
"Are you alright? It is a good job I knew what was wrong."
I collapsed against the sink. "I hate this..."
"You'll be better soon. It is probably just a virus."
The tingling sensation came back. It had moved quite far down now. Somehow, I knew the vomiting was over for now. In confusion, I groaned. Lee knelt down so his head was level with mine. There was concern and fear in his eyes. "What is wrong?" He began stroking my face lovingly.
I closed my eyes. "Stomach feels funny."
"Can I touch it?"
"Sure." I lifted up my shirt and his hands felt around my ribs.
"It's not there. Go lower."
He obeyed.
"Lower."
"Here?"
"No." I grabbed his hands and placed them against the area below my navel.
He stiffened noticeably.
"What?"
"It feels different. I have touched you there many a time and it has never felt like that before."
"Like what?" I replaced his hands with my own and pressed down on my stomach. It hurt. "Ow... It's really tender..." I poked at it for a few minutes and realized Lee was right. My stomach did feel a little strange... like something was there...
"Wh-What..." My eyes widened. Was I dying?
"Gaara-kun?"
"Something's not right. Really not right." I whispered.
"I'm sure it's nothing, Gaara-kun."
"Get my father."
"Wh-"
"Lee!"
On noticing my anxiousness and panic, he nodded and got up quickly, then rushing down the stairs; tripping a few times from what I could hear.
"Kazekage-sama!" He yelled.
"Yes?" Came my father's voice.
"Something is wrong with Gaara. You must come quickly!"
I heard two people pounding up the stairs and then seconds later, my father rushed in. "What's wrong?" He asked. I could see my boyfriend standing at the door.
"My stomach... it feels so strange." I said.
"What, you feel like you're gonna throw up?"
"No, I already did that. I meant it feels strange to touch..."
He put his hands on my stomach and pressed down a little.
I winced. "That hurts!"
"You said Shukaku gave you this?"
"Yeah, why? What's the deal?"
He said nothing and his eyes darkened.
"Father?"
No reply. He looked at Lee. "I'm sorry, you need to go."
"K-Kazekage-sama, I-"
"Now!"
Lee stiffened and ran out of my room. I heard the front door slam and then a car engine sounded.
"Father, what are you doing? He's my boyfriend!" I yelled, feeling extremely ticked off. Who did he think he was? Treating Lee like that!
"Don't say a word." He glared harshly before closing my bedroom door.
I kept silent, feeling terribly confused and angry.
All of a sudden, Father seemed to get angrier. "Have you been having sex with that boy?" He hissed.
"N-no!"
"Don't you dare lie to me! He's been fucking you, hasn't he? That little bastard!"
"Father, it's just sex!"
"Just? Just? Do you realize what you've fucking done to yourself?"
I glared. "We've been doing it for weeks now! What's the damn problem?"
He grabbed me by the front of my shirt. It scared me.
"Do you think that'll make me calmer with you? It disgusts me that you are no longer pure! You're fifteen, Gaara! Don't you know anything about Bijuu's?"
"What the hell has Shukaku got to do with this? Don't you blame him for anything!"
"How old were you when you lost your virginity?"
"I lost it three weeks ago! I was fifteen then too! Or didn't you notice?"
"Don't you dare speak you me like that! No word can describe how mad I am at you! Not a single word! I shall have you confined to the house! You are not to see that boy ever again! Have I made myself clear?"
"What?" Tears built up in my eyes and spilled over.
"That's right. No more Lee. He has stole your innocence and now, left you with a permanent reminder! I know damn right what the fuck is wrong with you! But what concerns me the most is what's going on in your sick, twisted little mind! I will not be helping you with anything! Especially after the thing is born!"
"Born?" I felt sick.
"Yes, born!" His yelling was now so loud I was surprised the whole street weren't knocking on my door to complain. "Maybe now, you will wait until you're older before you let people fuck you senseless! I hope this teaches you a fucking lesson, boy, and a damn good one at that!"
"What the hell are you talking about? I don't understand!"
"How very naïve of you! I don't give a fuck, Gaara! Don't you even dare to expect help from anybody! Especially from me or your siblings! You brought this on yourself, kid and you'd better be fucking prepared to pay the price of your silly actions!"
I was now sobbing hard out of deep confusion and fear. "W-What do y-you mean?" So many things were running through my mind. Father seemed completely worked up about it, but not worried. It couldn't be anything serious, but I knew I couldn't relax just yet. I watched as he stood, crossing his arms and sneering down at me with angry, yet satisfied hazel eyes. "Congratulations, Gaara. You're pregnant."
"I'm pregnant?" My heart sank to the floor.