I LOVE YOU ALL! T-T Ehem, I meant hello. I just read the comments moments before I posted this up and I was so touched. You guys just gave me back my mojo and now I'm determined to finish part one of this story in 2 more chapters and then straight away to part two! And of course I owe everyone an explanation. The last chapter was meant to be posted like 3 weeks ago but I had problems which I did not know what and it was resolved secretly without my knowledge some time before I posted the last chapter. So now I'm going to work real hard to catch up to my usual standard of one chapter a week (unless I suddenly lose my mojo again) or at least finish my part one.

So what do I mean by part? The first chapter till the next two chapters are small parts taken from three bigger divisions of my story. So far, part 1 is the most written one. I've written at least one chapter worth of story in each parts but those are coming in way later (except for part 2). I don't know why I'm telling you guys these but it makes me feel reassured, and again I don't know why.

This chapter! Yes, this chapter. I don't know what to say about it but I find it greatly amusing when I re-read it. I'd like your thoughts though. I'm not gonna be pessimistic anymore coz I've gotten great reviews so far (and I'm seriously surprised no one was reprimanding me on my grammar again. maybe I'll get luck-I mean not lucky with this chapter). So till part one is over I will be in high spirits!

Disclaimer: Who the hell are you calling an old hag! Sasuke: You for thinking Naruto would wanna be with someone so old. He's mine.

Warning: MxM/ strictly SasuNaru/ probable yaoi (who knows, I might be nice in part 2).

Naruto was sick. Not as in sick in the gross kind of way but sick as in bedridden sick. And boy did it sucked.

"Need anything else Naruto-kun?" Sai asked. It was afternoon and Naruto was stuck with Sai in the master bedroom. Sasuke? He was out. Where? No one really knows. After Naruto was found unconscious under the tree after a heavy rain, shaking badly the night before, he had been missing since that morning. He didn't tell anyone where he had escaped too. Not that Naruto knew that he was gone. Naruto had just woken up three times and each time he had to vomit, go to the toilet or ask for water. And he wasn't conscious for more than five minutes.

"Water," Naruto whispered. He was feeling weak. That bothered him a lot. He never felt weak but there he was, finally noticing that he was feeling like lead and unable to move. His throat was unbearably dry and he felt hot and cold at the same time. At least he was really aware this time.

Sai helped Naruto sit and let the blond hold the glass cup on his own. He may had been allowed to look after Naruto but he had been strictly ordered, if you call threat an order, not to do anything else besides helping Naruto. And touching was out of order. Well, hugging and stuff like that. With shaky hands, Naruto drank the crystal clear water slowly. Once he was done, he let Sai took the cup and wiped his mouth. Naruto was still a bit fuzzy in the head.

"You gave us quite a scare Naruto-kun," Sai finally spoke after a moment of silence. Naruto turned his head towards the other with a bemused expression on his face.

"What happened?" He asked.

"You don't remember?" Sai asked. Naruto shook his head. "You were out in the storm last night. We thought the wind blew the trees over you. We couldn't find you till morning," Sai said slowly, worry lacing his every word. He had been scared for Naruto just as much as everyone else.

"Storm?" Naruto asked. Sai nodded.

"You were out in the storm the whole night. We thought Sasuke-kun was going to die of pneumonia if we didn't find you," Sai said more. "He left when we got you into bed." Now that was a surprise. Sasuke had been looking for him. In the storm. Where the trees were uprooted and chances to die were high. And he had been looking for him.

Oh fucking shit! Naruto's eyes were unnaturally wide and the sudden shock made his head spin and he groaned. Sai panicked.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Sai fussed. Naruto held onto his head with one hand and tried to lie down. Sai seeing what Naruto was trying to do rushed to help. He sighed. "Please don't do that again," Sai said. Naruto grunted. "What was that?"

"Find the bastard you idiot," Naruto said louder. Sai couldn't help the chuckle escaping his mouth. Naruto cared about Sasuke. Even if Sasuke was a big jerk to him. Then again, jerks don't go braving a storm to look for someone.

"I'm not sure if I'm supposed to leave you Naruto-kun," Sai said apologetically. Now that puzzled Naruto. Why can't Sai leave him? Didn't Sasuke hate him a lot?

"Why can't you leave?" He asked weakly. For some reason, Sai found his question amusing. Naruto frowned.

"Sasuke-san made me promise to stay here with you till he gets back," Sai said. Actually, the real situation was no laughing matter for Sasuke had made it clear that he would really fire them if they left Naruto before they returned but that itself was funny enough. Sasuke never really showed that he cared.

Naruto groaned.

Sasuke was in a pharmacy.

Yes, he really was in a pharmacy. It was funny. He was still clad in the clothed he wore the night before when he went looking out for Naruto but he was already dry. His hair was a bit damp but he had combed his hand through it and it was almost the usual duck-butt style he wore every day. That was already funny enough but to make the situation even more amusing is the fact that he had never been into a pharmacy before and weird enough everyone in the store was of the female population.

I bet you can imagine how eerie the store was.

And funny enough, Sasuke was getting a tad bit unnerved by the silence. Oh, did I mention everyone had those big, shiny eyes? Yeah, all the girls were like that.

Kami Sama has got to be kidding with me!

Yet he was still an Uchiha so stares don't really make them lose their confidence. Guess Naruto was really affecting him. Sasuke was used to awed looks but silence following the stares was not something that always happened to him. Silence filled with respect he didn't mind but the kind of silence he was in was real heavy. As if the women were ready to jump him in any second.

Huh, guess I'm really that attractive, he thought a bit smug. Then he frowned when he remembered that Naruto never seem to look at him like the women were. A second after that he dispelled that thought. That idiot's brain is not functioning, he thought with annoyance. And thus the scowl was back on and the ladies backed away.

Sasuke had an idea of what he should buy so he went to look for said ointment. Being the genius he was he instantly understood how the store was arranged like. Not five minutes later he found what he wanted and he reached for it. His hand went to grab for the box and:

"Acho,"

"Kakashi, get me out of this damn store," the voice coming from Kakashi's phone sounded a bit wheezy. Kakashi smiled. It seemed as if Sasuke-san has caught the cold as well, Kakashi mused silently.

"Alright. Give me a few minutes Sasuke-san," Kakashi said in an over enthusiastic manner. And sure it didn't escape Sasuke at all. He was dead sure that Kakashi would laugh when he get into the car. He had always hated how his one-eyed and always had his face covered tutor could find humor in all of his actions. And damn how he hated his wheezy voice.

"Just hurry," he said cursing his voice and he terminated the contact. No need to humor Kakashi further. At least his mission was complete. Guess he really should have at least showered before he left at 2 am that day. He had been looking around for stores that sold medicine and none opened till he saw the pharmacy he was in. It had been 3 hours since he looked for stores and that particular store said it'd be open two hours from the time he got there. That was the earliest store that would open so he opted to just stay outside. He had been alone since he sent Kakashi away so he waited.

What had him hindered for another two hours were the workers. Guess they thought no one wanted meds so early in the morning so they came around 9 am and the preparation to open the store took one more damn hour. Sasuke was dry by then, and overly cold. So around 11 am he was ready to leave after the sudden sneeze. He had been cold and shaking ever since.

Yup, Kami Sama suddenly had the interest to mess with the Uchiha then.

"Yo Sasuke-san. You look terrible," Kakashi spoke cheerfully the moment he got out of the car. Sasuke just glared. Too bad Kakashi was immune to it since even before he was born. From his one eye Sasuke could guess that Kakashi was laughing inside at his current predicament.

"Shut up. Just take me back to Naruto," Sasuke said as he walked slowly to the car. He had to walk slowly if he didn't want to stumble. He hated feeling weak and showing that he was weak. He was an Uchiha!

Kakashi was in surprise. Now that was new. What happened to dobe? He thought. He never thought of a person like this, he added. Kakashi was surprised. And too caught up in his thinking Sasuke had to clear his throat (the sound was real funny) and Kakashi rushed to take him back to the mansion.

"Bastard," Naruto said.

"Says the idiot who slept in the rain," says Sasuke.

"Wasn't me alone now was it?" Naruto said.

"If you didn't run off we won't be in this situation," says Sasuke.

"I didn't ask you to look for me you fucking prick!" And it was your fucking fault! Not that he said that out loud.

"Then you shouldn't have stayed out dobe," Sasuke didn't bother raising his voice. Kakashi's laugh was enough to make him talk on a level tone. No need to humor the pervert anymore, Sasuke paused at that thought and sighed. Naruto was rubbing off him. Usually, he wouldn't even spare a thought on his former tutor.

"You should have just left me then," Naruto grumbled and that had Sasuke very angry.

"What? And leave you out there too die?" Sasuke asked in a sharp tone. Naruto flinched, not that Sasuke saw since he had his eyes closed to dim the headache he was having. As much as arguing with Naruto was adding to said ailment he still felt as ease doing so. But the way it's turning out is not at all to his liking.

"Yeah," Naruto said silently and Sasuke heard an even more silent sob follow. He opened his eyes and turned his head to face Naruto only to have the blonds' back presented to him.

"Did you hit your head or something last night dobe?" Sasuke asked. Naruto was silent. Sasuke decided not to wait for an answer after two minutes. "Then tell me why I should leave you out there to die?" Naruto snorted.

"A little drizzle wouldn't kill me," Naruto said. Sasuke was instantly enraged. Naruto had been out cold and he was the one wide awake when he looked for the idiot. And the rain the night before wasn't just a 'drizzle'.

"You know what, with this level of stupidity I really should have left you out there last night," he said coldly and with that he got up shakily and left their room in favor of the couch. Naruto said nothing nor did anything. He just let Sasuke leave.

In actual, Naruto had not meant for the conversation to head and end that way. He had meant to apologize for what he did but somehow the memory of dinner had him bitter and he said what he didn't mean to say. And yet he doesn't feel guilty saying what he said just them. Maybe the guilt would come later after his fever leave. Maybe, he really didn't feel guilty. Maybe his subconscious had wanted to be gone and leave Sasuke, for his own good or Sasuke's he wasn't sure. Maybe he had wanted to be as far as possible from the raven and that the thought of death strangely comforted him. Maybe it was really just the fever muddling with his head.

Whichever it was, his eyes wouldn't dry as each thought drove through his mind.

While Naruto cried silently, Sasuke fumed quietly. He immediately found purchase on the nearest couch he could find. He had lain down and covered his eyes with his left arm. He was being very un-Uchiha like. Luckily for him, no one was in the room with him. He was feeling bad. Not just his body but his feelings were a mess too. And his bad feeling could be summed into one word. Guilt.

In all honesty Sasuke had not felt guilt in twelve years. And it was a feeling he was never fond of. He knew Naruto had wronged him by asking for death but he knew he had instilled that thought in Naruto's mind. Without a doubt, he knew that he was a jerk. A real asshole towards Naruto. He had been avoiding the blond and not as much as look him in the eyes.

He had a reason for doing do. It wouldn't be natural for anyone to do anything without a reason. Though even with a reason said reason is not always a sound one. Not that he thinks it isn't a sound reasoning mind you.

The reason would be that he didn't know why. What? It's a reason. Like I said, not all reasoning is sound. In his case, everything he says is right, as well as everything he thinks.

Asshole. I know.

All he cares is that if he avoids Naruto then everything in the world will be restored again. Well, his world that is. He had been feeling emotions that are familiar but in a very alien way. He didn't like that. He didn't like not being in control and having alien emotions were a sign of no control. He couldn't accept that.

Yet there he was lying in the couch feeling guilty. Another emotion he did not enjoy. Not that he could help feeling it.

"Damnit," he said aloud. His thought shortly before that;

I have to apologize to the dobe.

A shocker again. I know. He was feeling guilty and he wanted to apologize. Just plain wow.

"Feeling alright there, Sasuke-san?" A voice easily recognized by Sasuke spoke from the door to the living room.

"Go away Kakashi. I'm not in the mood for anything right now," Sasuke didn't bother getting up since Kakashi and his brother had already walked up to many of his embarrassing and personal moments. Uh, don't take it wrong. I meant like when he's being out of character. Nothing big.

"Aww, I just brought you and Naruto-kun some soup. He's eating his with much difficulty. Sai wants to help but Naruto sent him away. Something must have really made him upset don't you think? He never pushed Sai way before," Kakashi said with not a hint of humor in his tone. Clearly he was not joking and he was really worried about Naruto. Honestly, who wouldn't care about a person such as Naruto? Even Sasuke is tied to the blond.

"What makes you think I have anything to do with the idiot?" Sasuke asked. Kakashi had practically been with Sasuke his whole life so he knew if something was bothering Sasuke. And the strain in the raven's voice did not go unnoticed.

"Maa, maa, I can see hear that you have something to do with it," Kakashi said lightly.

"Shut up. I am not entirely at fault," Sasuke snapped. If he was sitting he would have seen the sharpness of Kakashi's glare directed at him. Kakashi didn't buy any of it.

"I think it was your fault that Naruto was in the storm last night," Kakashi said stonily. Sasuke tried not to flinch at the coldness of his tutor's tone. Yeah, that was also another reason for his guilt. "And weren't you avoiding him for the past seven days?"

He never misses a thing, Sasuke thought. He knew that his former mentor was a sharp man but maybe he had hoped that the man's intuition might have dulled over the years. That's not the case it seemed.

"So what?" Sasuke challenged.

"So shouldn't you do something about it?" Kakashi said.

"I did nothing wrong," ah, such ignorance Uchiha.

"You sure are full of yourself Sasuke," Kakashi said in a very cold tone. The honorifics were off now. Kakashi was in his angry mode.

"So what? You can go and cheer him up. He likes you. No, he likes everyone but me," Sasuke said heatedly. That had Kakashi's anger lowered a bit. Sasuke just sounded…childish. Kakashi had a small smile under his mask. So that was the reason, Kakashi thought.

"I don't think he likes us as much as he likes you Sasuke," Kakashi said. Sasuke's eyes narrowed.

"He has no affection whatsoever for me. So shut up. I need my rest," Sasuke nearly growled everything out. Kakashi rolled his eye but he didn't say a thing to contradict what Sasuke had said.

"Alright then young master," Kakashi said and he left Sasuke alone.

And Sasuke was alone.

It was quiet and he was alone.

No other sound but his breathing, no other activity other than the soft heaving and falling of his chest. No one there but him.

Ugh, I need to talk to someone, he thought. And that was totally against his nature. He groaned again. That idiot is really rubbing of me, and he decide on an easy solution. Sleep.

Alright! Another chapter done! So, what do you think? It's short I know but bare with me. I'll work on it. So,

RnR please!