Hi! ^^

Well, I actually wanted to update earlier (in fact already yesterday), but numberous things kept getting in my way or more precisely one big, aka my family... ~.~ But here finally comes my next chapter. Hope you anjoy it! =D

Chapter 5

Up in Sienna's room again, Shun decided to first take care of his own homework and for this purpose, installed himself on the green-haired girl's desk. When he finished the last exercise, the clock announced quarter to seven already and Shun went over to the bed, where Sienna was lain and gently stroked her soft, hot cheek with the back of his cold hand. She really must have been tired before, it still shocked him how good she had disguisedher condition before and that she had managed to keep herself upright, nevertheless that was only one clear sign of her incredible strength and amazing willpower. However, now, she was deep asleep and had stayed silent the whole time. Shun really started to get worried, but since there wasn't anything he could do, he decided to focus on his training.

He was already half turned around, when he suddenly heard a low moan, like she wanted to protest, because he had removed his hand again. He, immediately, turned back to see her face and bended slightly forwards, without really noticing, as her eyes started to open slowly. Her eyelids fluttered a couple of times, before she turned her head in his direction and asked with a rough voice: "Shun?".

-Sienna's POV-

For a short time, I could feel something pleasingly cold on my cheek and I mourned in protest, when it was removed again. I tried to open my eyes to see what was happening, but the light was to bright and forced me to blink. As my eyes slowly adapted to it, I could make out Shun's figure, standing right beside my bed… in my room… I tried to say his name and ask what happened after I passed out, but my throat hurt and I could only caw a confused and hoarse: 'Shun?'.

As I mumbled his name, I could see him relaxing again in relief, as his beautiful amber eyes softened into a comforting, caring expression. With that he asked: "Do you want a glass of water?". I gave him a short nod, so he headed over to my desk on which were placed quite a number of bottles and glasses that I couldn't remember having ever seen, then he reached me one of them. Another thing I noticed was that we were all alone and that it was to silent for Dan and Runo to be around, so I asked plainly, after I took a sip of the cold and refreshing water: "Where are the others?" "They had to leave about an hour ago, but they ordered me to make sure you stay in bed and rest." Shun explained with a little grin and as he talked about time, I looked over to my alarm clock: "Already seven? I have been unconscious for two hours?" I shouted falling into a coughing attack again.

"Hey, take it easy. Anyway, Marucho left this medicine for you." He replied and picked up two bottles with his one hand and with the other one indicated the packs that still stood on my desk. He handed them over to me, while explaining: "Here's one against the fever and this is against stomach-ache." I swallowed a little white pill with the rest of my water and as Shun reached me a spoon of syrup, I couldn't choke down a disgusted grimace as I imagined how terrible the brown liquid would taste like. To my big surprise, it had a sweet flavour and was the best syrup I ever had. Shun at that couldn't help an amused chuckle as he saw my face. He was probably aware that the syrup wasn't that bad and had already anticipated my confused reaction.

"Well, now that that's finished, how are you feeling?" "Well, you know, I feel a bit better than before, but I would be lying if I tried to convince you again that I was already feeling alright. You wouldn't believe me anyway." I told the truth. It just felt terribly wrong to still pretend that it wasn't that bad, after all they had done for me today. However, I noticed that Shun seemed to be satisfied with my answer and for whatever reason, I felt kind of happy and relieved that I hadn't disappointed him.

"Shun, how come that you didn't go home too?" I asked hesitantly. He looked at me as if the answer to this question should be clear, but still he said: "Because you're ill and we can't just let you all by yourself now, can we?" "No, what I mean is, won't your parents get worried if you stay out too long?" I explained a bit shy. "Ah, no, it's alright. My grandfather won't say anything. Even if he would, I would just have to explain that you're ill. He'll understand." He explained, smiling slightly. "Wait, your grandfather?" his answer kind of confused me. "Yeah, you know I live together with my grandfather, since already two years now. I never got to know my father and my mother's in the hospital. I visit her as often as I can, but since her illness is pretty bad, we still don't know when or even if she will be able to come home again." Shun said. His eyes took a sinister, sad and hurt shade as he lowered his gaze. On my turn, I just couldn't get a single tone out of my mouth. I was totally taken aback, I would never have imagined that Shun also had familiar problems and what was even more embarrassing: after all the weeks I knew him, I hadn't even cared to ask. Also Shun's situation remembered me a lot of my own.

After a couple of minutes filled with awful silence, I finally managed to speak again: "I'm sorry. I really hope that she'll be alright." With that I bended forward and placed my hand on Shun's shoulder to underline my words. It seemed to work, since Shun then breathed out and lifted his gaze again. "Thanks." And the dark shade of his eyes seemed to disappear again, but then he went on: "I have a question too. What's with your mom? She didn't just go away, did she?" I was shocked, his question ran through my body like lightning.

I wasn't sure if Shun noticed how much pain that question set free inside of me, since the question also raised some kind of a mental wall along with it, that had grown bigger and more solid over the years. It appeared every time I was confronted with my mother and her death. It was like a self-protection to keep myself from letting that subject get to near to my heart and to inhibit others of seeing my true feelings.

I had also never been a person that could easily talk about her problems and my horrible memories added, I had preferred to keep myself shielded. I didn't want others to be confronted to it, it was none of their business after all and I didn't want them to be my friends, only because they pitied me. I didn't need additional pain and besides, I never had real friends to who I wanted to be that close either. So, I kind of 'created' this wall to allow me to hide my true feelings behind it and until now, it had worked perfectly fine. And so far, I was glad it did...

"She... I... She died." I mumbled since I figured that Shun wouldn't let go of this question until I told him the truth. Well, it was only a little part of the whole truth, but hopefully Shun wouldn't notice or at least wouldn't ask further details. I turned my head in the opposite direction and pronounced my answer with a finality that made perfectly clear that I didn't want to keep this discussion going. Even if he was a good friend and would probably understand me better than others, I wasn't ready to open my heart to him that much. After all, it was my best hidden secret for half my life...

"You should lie down again and sleep. You need as much rest as you can get." Shun changed the subject. Obviously he had understood my message and accepted my choice. He then sat down in the tailor seat on my chair, closing his eyes. He sat perfectly upright, his arms laid on top of his knees and didn't move anymore. Curious, I observed him to figure out what he was doing, but I didn't get it: "What are you doing?" "I'm meditating. I said that I won't get into trouble with my grandfather, but only if I keep working on my ninja-skills." He simply explained without opening his eyes and I simply nodded in agreement like he was able to see me. Then I laid down again and closed my eyes, trying to sleep.

-Shun's POV-

This time though, it was pretty hard for Shun to clear his mind for his meditation. His head was full of questions he wanted to ask Sienna, but he knew that this was neither the right time nor Sienna wanted to answer them. So, he had to pull himself together. "A ninja strikes when the time is right" that was one of his grandfather's favorite quotes he always repeated and patience also was a virtue a ninja had to have...

After some time, he finally managed to focus on his meditation and after what he had heard, Sienna went back to sleep again as he had told her to. The next time, his meditation got disturbed, was due to the noise of a car, driving by. Shun got up and glanced over at the red alarm clock, almost ten o'clock. Either the time had run by faster than normally or he was already better at meditating than he was aware of, he noticed surprised. As he looked over to Sienna he saw that she was sleeping deeply and all there was left to do was to get out of the house unnoticed, before her father took him for a thief.

Shun put out the lights and went soundlessly over to the window, opening it and climbing onto the sill. He was about to close it again, when he heard a sleepy voice: "Shun, are you leaving?" "Yes, your father just arrived, so you won't be alone anymore. I won't lock the window, then we can get in tomorrow without you having to stand up and come down, okay?" He whispered in a low voice, wondering how she had noticed that he was about to go, since he hadn't made a single sound. For a split second a thought about presence sensing slipped through his mind... Don't be silly, Shun! It was probably the cold air from outside that woke her up. "Okay. Shun, thank you and the others so much for visiting me and for doing so much for me. I really appreciate it!" Sienna mumbled back, still half asleep. "I'll tell the others. Sleep now." Shun said smiling softly, before closing the window and jumping off the sill into a nearby tree.

"However, I wonder what her father's like..." Shun mumbled, observing as a tall figure got out of the car and stepped into the light. He couldn't see much due to the distance and the darkness, but he recognised that Sienna's father had short dark-brown hair and was wearing an expensive-looking costume, indicating that he worked for some kind of big company. As the man entered the house, suddenly a terrible curiosity got hold of Shun. He knew that it was none of his business, but he couldn't move his legs. He had to stay and find out. Or at least try to find out more information about Sienna's family life.

So, he waited patiently, observing the door of Sienna's room. "He didn't stay at home although his only daughter's sick. On the other hand, Sienna's a good actress, so maybe he's not even aware of her real condition. Then again, he phoned Ms Yuko… Anyway, maybe he does something interesting that could explain this, whatever that is. Anything at all." Shun mumbled and concentrated on the door.

He didn't even know himself what he was looking for. Maybe some kind of clue, which would help him to solve this mystery. Well, mystery wasn't really the word he searched for… It was more like a puzzle, he had to find the pieces for first.

A couple of minutes later, without any change, Shun was on the point to give up. He sighed frustrated, already preparing for a high jump unto the roof. It was late and pitch black, so Shun figured it would be safer to move over the roofs than through the streets. It was a lot faster, you got a better view at your surroundings and again it was a good training.

However, he was stopped again, as suddenly the doorknob lowered and opened. A head stuck in, but the door closed again nearly immediately as her father noticed that she was sleeping.

"How strange!" Shun muttered under his breath, but again, he was surprised. The moment, the door was shut, it was pushed open again and this time, a tall silhouette appeared in the doorframe. With a few big steps, her father approached the side of Sienna's bed and stretched out his arm. He lowered his hand to her forehead, but just before touching it, he held in again and observed his daughter's face for a second. She seemed to be deep asleep once again and showed no reaction, when her father finally felt her temperature.

Shun couldn't make out his face, but the man seemed to let out a deep sigh as his shoulder dropped an inch. Then, after a short moment, he removed his hand and left the room as fast as he had entered it.

Shun leaned forward on the branch he was sitting on as much as he possibly could and narrowed his eyes. Maybe he could see the man's face in the light of the hallway and then, just before the door shut closed behind the man, he thought he identified the features of a faint, guilty smile.

However, the more he thought about it afterwards, the more he doubted his observation. "How odd, why would he even feel guilty? For not being there for her when she needs him? Otherwise, he also seemed like he couldn't make up his mind whether to approach her or not… I don't get it, maybe I'm only imagining things." Shun thought, while jumping from the tree on the roof of the house and finally heading home. However, these thoughts kept haunting him the whole night. He just couldn't shake of that strange feeling that was crawling up in his chest.

Well, what do you think? I put a lot of effort into it, revising it three or four times... I really hope you liked it and if you did pleasssse review! It would make me SOOOO happy ^^ even more than happy!