Sasuke Pov.
I was early in the academy and already sitting in my seat when Shizuka came in. I already noticed yesterday that she looked pretty pale. Today, she topped everything. In addition to her increasing paleness, she also had shadows under her eyes. She looked exhausted. Without paying anyone any attention she went to her seat and sat down. Actually, she swayed more than she went. If she was not feeling well, why didn't she just stay home? She had no problems with the material of the academy and the practical exercises, so why was she torturing herself here?
Iruka entered the room. I took a last look at the young Uchiha, who now looked out of the window, her head resting on her hands. I tried to follow the lesson, but Iruka just repeated everything as the exam would take place soon. I switched off, looked outside and thought about ravenette. Every now and then we talked to each other. It was not much, but it was progress for her. Nevertheless, she remained aloof from me. I thought that if she stayed here longer, she might thaw out. At least to me.
I thought about our childhood and how things used to be back then. How she always beamed when Shisui took her to the meetings of our brothers. The enthusiastic look in her eyes when she saw them training. How she mixed with enthusiasm between the two fighters and wanted to train. Back then she was already strong and fast. Her reflexes were good. Even my father always said that she was very gifted for her age. Then her training began and I didn't see her anymore. Shisui always said she was too exhausted and wanted to rest. I was saddened then, but accepted it. When her training ended, I glimpsed her from time to time with her brother. I already noticed the changes, but I didn't really understand it.
After Shisui's death she got that cold look in her eyes. She greeted no one anymore and often left the neighborhood. Since she had to pass our house for that, it was inevitable that I saw her. My mother always seemed to be worried about her and always had a sad look in her eyes when she saw Shizuka.
The schoolbell rang. I followed the others out and saw the Uchiha sit on the tree where she always sits. I sat in the shadows and stared into the cloudless sky. Alone the appearance of the dark haired girl had changed something in me. For the first time since the massacre I was happy again and didn't feel so lonely anymore. It was as if a piece of the past had come back. A good piece of the past.
"Sasuke-kun!"I looked forward. The girls were on their way to me. I sighed. Couldn't they leave me alone? Before they reached me, I disappeared. I had no desire for this nag.
I jumped on the roof of the academy, where I spent the rest of the break. When it rang, I waited for everyone in the building to disappear and not noticed that Shizuka was missing. I went to the tree and jumped on the branch on which she sat. She had apparently fallen asleep. "Shizuka?" I asked softly. No reaction. I looked at her briefly. Her features seemed completely relaxed. She looked really peaceful. I left her there and went to Iruka-sensei, who was still in the teacher's room.
The brown-haired male seemed surprised. "Sasuke? What can I do for you?" "Shizuka doesn't seem to be feeling well and I wanted you to allow me to bring Shizuka home," I said. "She is been looking pale for a few days," he said, seeming to think. "Alright, bring her home and see if she needs any further help. I don't need to worry about your grades, you both get along well, so it does not matter if you miss something," he said. I nodded and walked back to where the girl slept.
After I loaded her on my back, I jumped off the tree and made my way to her house. Once there, I put the key, which I found in her pocket, in the lock of the front door, and entered. She had to be pretty tired, otherwise she would've already woken up. I went upstairs and found her room after two tries. Carefully, I put her down on the bed before covering her with a blanket and walked downstairs again.
I looked around. Although I have been in the garden before, I haven't seen the interior of the house before. In the hallway hung a few pictures of her in her younger years and her family. Many of them showed a smiling Shizuka with her brother. My eyes broke away from the radiant ravenette and I went into the living room, which led into the garden. I sat on the porch and decided to wait until the Uchiha woke up again.
Shizuka Pov.
I felt that I was lying on something soft. When I opened my eyes, I looked at a blanket down to me. I sat up. How did I get home? Why was I here at all? I was just sitting on a tree at the academy. I guess I fall asleep. I felt better. But who brought me home? I got up and went downstairs.
When I stepped into the living room, I saw Sasuke sitting with his back to me on the porch. I stepped outside. "Ne, Sleeping Beauty, awake again?" he asked with a teasing undertone. "What are you doing here?" I asked and didn't respond to the new nickname. "You fell asleep during the break, so I asked Iruka if I could bring you home," he retorted. "Why did you do it?" I asked and was a little surprised. He was different to me than the others, but I didn't think he came up with such ideas. "You looked like you could use sleep," he said with a shrug.
A glance at the clock behind me on the wall told me that the afternoon had begun. I sighed and went to the kitchen. If he'd brought me home and sat here all the time, I figured he probably hadn't eaten. So I started to do make some food.
"What are you doing there?" he asked as I was making some Onigiri. "Food, what does it look like? I can't throw you out after you've been waiting here all the time for me to wake up," I replied, handing him an already finished plate. His look was surprised. I did not know if it was because he had his favorite food in front of him or because I really did cook something for him.