Title: Rin

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Warning: Unbeta and horrible grammar. Language.

Chapter 21

Fugaku remained silent as he sipped his tea for how many times already; I had lost my count anyway. I still held my cup in my hands which rested on my lap and stared at the content in it. Mikoto slowly sat down beside his husband and placed Sasuke on her lap. The baby was giggling happily when his mother playfully pinched his cheek. I smiled and relaxed as my eyes rested on mother and son affection. The atmosphere in the room wasn't as tension as previously since Mikoto was around but I still could feel the heavy air surround us and I didn't see Itachi at all. I shrugged. Somehow this was likely a parents meeting for…I quickly shook my head. Stop thinking that way Rin! I shouted in my mind.

Fugaku faked a cough making I focused at him. Even Mikoto also looked at his husband.

"My wife told me that you're agreeing to help us."

"Yes, Uchiha-san."

"Call me Fugaku. Both Mikoto and Itachi are very fond of you and I feel the same too. Now I understand why."

I stared at the pair with confused expression. What were they seeing in me anyway? I was just a normal person who didn't have any special ability and amazing thing to show of. Weird, I mused in my mind.

Mikoto chuckled softly making I stared at her solely. The young mother smiled at me. "Don't make that face, Rin-chan."

I shrugged. "I'm just confused. Why…"

"You're a good kid."

"Fugaku-san?" I raised my eyebrows as questioning gesture.

"I can feel a positive vibe coming from you and it's a calming sensation."

I frowned. "Positive vibe? Calming sensation?" That was funny. So, everyone was easy with me since they had felt calmness when I was around?

"Anyway, back to our main issue, we really need your help Rin-chan." Mikoto spoke, stopping me from frowning some more.

I nodded. "Ah, yes, right. What kind of help do you need?"

The door was sliding opened suddenly and Itachi showed up. It was more likely he leaned heavily at the door frame and looked at us with unfocused gaze. I could see his usually healthy coloured skin was in pale colour with hint of red on his cheeks. I frowned as my gaze focused at him. Itachi was sick?

"Itachi?" I spoke his name softly, more to questioning actually.

"Father, mother, I'll do fine by myself. Please don't bother Rin…She is busy…" He trailed softly and was slowly sliding down from the frame and sat on the floor.

I narrowed my gaze at the busy word came from his mouth. I knew that I had never came for a visits since our last meeting but actually I wasn't that busy, I just made myself like that since I would like to make a breather to him. I shrugged.

Mikoto quickly passed Sasuke to her husband and walked to her older son. She checked on Itachi and looked at us. "He's out. I'm putting him in his bed," She said and carried her son into her arms before leaving the room.

I looked at Fugaku and saw a trace of concern in his hard gaze. I placed down my cup and looked at the man.

"Fugaku-san?"

The man of two sons sighed and was patting Sasuke's hair. "As you had seen, Itachi is having fever and it was pretty worse than we thought. He was rarely sick before and I guess that's one of the causes."

I shrugged as Inoichi-sensei's words about immune system and training. I looked at Fugaku and spoke out my thought. "Itachi also did his training in this kind of weather?" I looked at the windows and noted the rain was getting heavier.

Fugaku stared at my face, amused with my questioning statement. "It seemed that you have an experience?"

I chuckled softly, remembering Inoichi-sensei who was groaning sickly under his futon with his wife shaking her head who sat beside him. "Kind of but it wasn't me who sick."

Fugaku snorted lightly with a small smile but he frowned and stared at the floor. Sasuke was playing with his father clothes. I didn't really understand what so interested about it and shrugged it as it might be a baby thing. I wondered if Naruto played like Sasuke with his caretaker.

Mikoto entered the room and closed the door. She quickly sat down and let Sasuke played with his husband's clothes. The woman looked at me with a small smile.

"We want you to take care of Itachi for a day."

I stared at the closed door and shrugged. Mikoto and Sasuke had left to the hospital for the baby appointment and Fugaku wasn't at home when I was arrived. Apparently he was really busy for today since he had several meeting with the hokage and Konoha military police force. Shishui wasn't around doing mission and that was how I dragged into this situation. Not that I was really complained anything but since our team also didn't have any training and mission, I agreed with Mikoto and Fugaku's request. It was more on regret feeling came so suddenly yesterday.

I walked into the living room and sat down on the cushion before pulling out several blank papers from my weapon pouch so I could practice my seal writing. I looked at the clock on the wall and shrugged. It was just only nine in the morning. Mikoto had prepared everything, so the thing left was giving Itachi his medicine and food for lunch time later. I also had to check on him from time to time in order for making sure he stayed in his bed. He had become a difficult person when he was sick, Mikoto said to me and I really wondered how hard a kid could be during their sickness. I shrugged and picked up my brush.

It was after five seals later, I listened to repeated loud cough came from certain room in the big house. Quickly putting down my brush in its proper container, I walked as fast as I could and opened the door enough for my head to peek the room. It was a neat room for a boy. Everything in the room was properly arranged and there wasn't any mess on the floor. I had seen Iruka's room and that was incomparable with this! Even I also wasn't this tidy. I shrugged as my mind remembered about a few dust bunnies I had found few days ago. I didn't even having any initiative to clean it until today! I cursed silently about my laziness.

"Itachi?" I asked his name softly and focused at a lump under thick blanket in the middle of the room. I raised my eyebrows, fascinated with the discovery. I never thought Itachi was kind of traditional person after all. He was sleeping on a thick futon covered with a stripe pattern of blanket. I could only see his hair. I shrugged as I received no reply. "Maybe he is sleep…" I muttered softly under my breath. Slowly I closed the door but paused instantly as my eyes caught a movement under the blanket. Without any delay, I pushed the door and entered the room before pulling the thick cloth covering the boy. I stared at curling Itachi who was holding his cough. His body trembled as he fought his sick throat from making any noise. I pinched my nose bridge, now this was a real problem. "Hey," I said as my body slowly crouched beside the boy.

"I'm…*gasp*…I'm…*cough*…fi…*another cough*…f-fine."

I stared flatly at pale Itachi and pulled him up. I could feel the warm came from his body. "Let's drink some water," I said.

A weak push was applied on my arms and I stared at the futile attempt. I sighed and stopping Itachi's movements. "Stops with it will you?"

"I'm f-fine."

"Itachi…"

"I'm fine…please…"

"Itachi," I called his name firmly. "Listen to me."

"No…please…"

"Don't be a stubborn head here!" I shouted suddenly and was surprised with myself. Why I was irritated with this?

"…Rin?"

Rolling my eyes, I sighed. "You're sick and yeah you think that you don't need my help. Why? Are you embarrassed with my help? Thought that I'm seeing you as a weak guy? There is no way I'm going to do that!" I groaned and released my hands. Standing up, I looked at the boy. "I'm leaving, I don't mind what's your mother is going to say. You're just too much, Itachi! Spoiled brat!"

Turning around from the futon, I walked away but it went only one step as I felt a weak grasp on my trouser. I eyed the sick boy.

"Don't go…Rin," Itachi said softly. "I'm sorry…I just…don't want you see me *cough* like this. I'm sorry *cough*."

My heart clenched as I listened to his soft voice. Gritting my teeth, I quickly pulled him into my arms. His body was very hot! I let he rested his head on my shoulder and I patted his hair. "Don't keep anything by yourself. It's okay to depending on others. It's okay to be sick. I'm not going to look down at you; you're just making everyone more worried. Just rest and heal, we're here and I'm sorry too for yelling at you. Sorry for calling you that. Sorry for not visiting you these times."

"It's okay, I deserve it. I like when you shout it loud like that. It shows that you care. I'm glad." Felt a small nod on my shoulder, I released Itachi from my hold. "I understand when you're not showing yourself around more but…" He stared at his lap.

I shrugged and looked away. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be…"

Checking his flushed face, I frowned. "You're hot." Itachi nodded slowly. I looked at the clock in his room. "Oh, it's near lunch time. Just wait here, I'm going to take your food and medicine okay?"

"Okay."

I kept everything in the tray and waited for the raven haired boy took his medicine. While he was still stubborn by doing everything by his own, but from time to time he asked my assistance. I smiled at the small changes and gladly helped him. Placing the empty glass on the tray, I was preparing myself to keep everything inside the kitchen. A hand grabbed mine and I looked at Itachi who was staring at his lap while was holding my hand.

"Stay here, please?"

"Um…I need to…"

"Stay until I'm sleep?"

"…"

"Please?"

I guessed he also became clingy when he was sick. I shrugged and nodded slowly. "Okay, I'll wait until you sleep," I replied and sat down beside the futon. My hand was still in his grasp. Slowly, he rested himself and closing his eyes. I stared at the peaceful and innocent face.

"You're going to be very attractive when you're growing up," I said so suddenly and looked away as I saw Itachi opened his eye. Man, what did I say?

"Really?" He asked softly.

I nodded and glanced at him before looking away. "Really."

"Thank you," He said and closed his eyes. A small smile curved on his calm face.

"You're welcome."

"You're also going to be the same."

"Mm?"

"You're pretty."

That was surprising. Since my arrival here and even at my real world there wasn't anyone had called me pretty. I never considered myself as pretty. I was decent looking and simple. No one was looking twice at me and asked me this kind of thing. Itachi was the first one and… I didn't know anymore. I stared at our hands and bite my lip before spoke softly. "Uh…Thanks?"

The rain was getting heavier and louder outside.

It was warm, I noted first. There was something was covering myself. Yawning, I slowly opened my eyes and noted the dark surrounding.

"Huh?" I blinked. "What time is it?" I mumbled and moved myself from the blanket…wait blanket? Quickly pushing the material away, I noted that something was hindering my left hand movement. Turning at my left side, my eyes widened. Itachi was sleeping beside me with his hand holding mine! Wait, we were sleeping together as in the same futon? I scanned the material and paled, since when I joined Itachi and slept together for how long? Trying to seek the time, my eyes focused at the clock in the room. I read nine and startled.

"Gyaah! It is nine o'clock already?"

"Huh?" Itachi opened his eyes and sat up slowly.

Footsteps were heard and the door was opened. I looked at the door and noted Mikoto there. I paled and flabbergasted.

"Mi-Mikoto-san…it…it…we weren't doing anything! I swear!"

The woman chuckled softly and walked to us after switched on the light. She patted my shoulder and her son.

"I know Rin-chan, don't worry about it," Mikoto said and focused at her son. She placed her hand on Itachi's face and patted it. "It seemed that your fever has break. Feel better Itachi?"

The boy nodded while I sat dumbly on the futon. What was happening? I looked at Mikoto who was still checking on her son. "Um, Mikoto-san? What happened here?" I asked softly.

Mikoto smiled and laughed lightly. "When we were back, the house was dark. I checked the house and found both of you were sleeping."

"Uh…"

"You're sleeping on the floor Rin-chan and you look cold, so I tucked you together since…" She trailed and eyed our still entwined hands. We followed her gaze and I felt my cheeks warmed.

"Um, Itachi…can you?" I asked softly and he released my hand. Phew, now I got my hand back! I looked at Mikoto. "I guess I can go back now?" I looked at the window and noted there wasn't any rain.

Placing down my things on the small desk in living room, I went into the kitchen and opened my fridge. Picking up the jug containing plain water, I let the door closed itself and grabbed a cup before sat down at my living room. I stared at the jug and poured the cold water into the cup. I sighed before took a drink.

"That was really uncalled for…why I let my guard down? Why I was sleeping? Why?" I said softly as remembering the late dinner time at Itachi's home. Mikoto insisted for me to eat before going back. Even the dinner was occupied only Itachi and me since Mikoto and Fugaku already had theirs. Sasuke was asleep and the house was quiet without his baby babbling. It was awkward. Fugaku had looked at me with approving gaze and I tried to avoid any eye contact with him. Even Mikoto had joined him and she also smiled with the content gaze. It felt that I had received their unspoken blessing for my relationship with their son but we were just friend!

I sighed again and decided to let those event aside. I was just being nice as a good friend, nothing more than that. Groaning softly, I placed down the cup and checked on my seals. I better occupied my head with something more productive.

Knocking sounds came from my door and I looked at it.

"Rin, I know you're back! Can I come in?"

"Iruka? Sure!" I stood up and walked to the door, unlocking it and opened it. I stared at the brunet with amused look. Iruka looked tired and he was limping. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"I need your help," Iruka said with a groan and I let him inside.

The brunet took a seat on one cushion and sighed in relief. I followed him and sat down myself.

"So, what I can help you with?" I asked casually. I hoped it wasn't like Itachi's thing again.

"Mizuki…"

That was perking my interest. It was rare these days for us talking about our classmates since the graduation. Haru was an exceptional since we always met her after our training. "What about him?" I asked and eyed Iruka who was massaging his legs.

"I think he's trying to kill me."

"Huh?" I raised my eyebrows and stared at Iruka with disbelieve. "What do you mean by that?"

"You know he came here these few days?"

I nodded and put away my seal so I could focus on Iruka. "And then you went somewhere with him…"

Iruka shrugged and looked away. "Yeah…He said that he want to train his skill…actually it wasn't shinobi skills but...it was something else."

"Then?"

"He makes me do…do…this thing…"

I rubbed my forehead and stared at now blushing Iruka. "Just say it out loud Iruka, it's getting late here and I want my sleep," I said as my eyes wandered to the clock.

"He…He made me using henge and act as Tsubaki so he could practice confessing his feeling to that girl!" Iruka panted heavily at the end and glared at the wooden floor. "It was embarrassing and we did this almost every time we met!"

I blinked and blinked again. "Tsubaki? The soft spoken girl in our class?" Remembering the girl, I smiled. Never thought Mizuki was interested to her.

"Y-Yeah…now I don't think I can see her face to face now," Iruka said and face palmed.

"Then your injury? Where it came from?"

"I was tripped over some obstacles during my escape moment. That Mizuki was a jerk!"

I smirked. "He is…I told ya already but you didn't believe me."

Iruka sighed.

"So what kind of help you need?"

"Do you know any healing jutsu? My leg is killing me."

I stared flatly at Iruka. "That's your request? I thought you want my help in stopping Mizuki. I don't mind scarring his mentality…he deserves it. I still remembered the day he mocked Tsubaki about her taijutsu moves."

The brunet shrugged. "I still can handle him, but really you don't know any of it?"

"Healing jutsu? Nope, I don't have capability in order to use it." I replied and shrugged. "I'm not really talented in that field. Tried and failed." I looked at him with a curious gaze. Remembering Iruka's good grasp on every basic techniques we had learned, I decided a sudden conclusion. "What about you? I think you managed passing the basic test at the academy."

Iruka looked at me with a small smile. "I did but I don't learn it further. Now, I'm kind of regretting it."

I looked at the window and listened to the pouring sound of rain outside. "Well, we can try something tomorrow. You got talent, Iruka." A visit to hospital was added in my tomorrow schedule. I hoped that Shiro wasn't busy then.

The brunet nodded. "Okay but what about now?"

"Just put some ointments. It's better than nothing, right?"

"Yeah."

"Sorry for unable to do anything Iruka. It's just not my thing…" I trailed at the end and shrugged. It wasn't because I didn't want imitating Nohara Rin since I knew the importance of those jutsu after did some missions but somehow I really didn't have the ability to do it. Now I knew why those medic nin was very important. Not everyone could be a medic while being a ninja too.

"It's okay, you did more just for listening and I don't mind if you want to scar Mizuki's mind." Iruka grinned.

We laughed with carefree as the rain getting heavier outside.

Thanks for reading, following, favorite and review this story. I feel a little bit hollow and missing something with this chapter since it's just fillers for Rin's life during raining days and I really think that Itachi need some love and care. He didn't get enough in the series and I feel bad for him. Anyway, thanks again and do tell me if anything is wrong with this story (grammar and character personality and so on).