Konnichi wa!

-giggles- Heh – sorry I haven't updated lately, people! I've just been packing (because we're moving you know) and it's been busy.

We're moving half-way across the country! DRIVING! OMG!

So… sorry about not updating! Kakashis-First-Kiss – PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!

Chapter 36, everyone!

Treacherous Heart

Chapter Thirty-Six – Fever

He willed himself to stay still as a mouth slowly latched onto his skin, and a tongue passed shyly over the bite marks, lapping away the infected blood.

The mouth was talented – Sasuke obviously had to do this type of thing sometime previously – and Kakashi forced himself to breathe easier, to keep his breathing unchanged. He knew Sasuke was searching for any hitch or pause his breathing – anything to give him an excuse to stop – something that Kakashi REALLY didn't want him to do.

Even though Sasuke knew what he was doing, he was still shy – jumpy – and read to bolt in a moment if he noticed any hints of change on Kakashi's person.

The jounin was sure that if Sasuke DID pull away prematurely, Kakashi would grip him hard and kiss him bare and senseless – fuck the fact that he was dying.

Then he would have hell to pay from Sasuke's over-protective wolf buddy Zenyah…

And Kakashi didn't think killing off a good friend (it seemed like) of Sasuke's would put him on the Uchiha's good side…

Teeth were nipping expertly at the wounds, drawing out more blood while a tongue lapped up the crimson red copper as the mouth suckled out the poison.

Kakashi didn't know how long they sat there, listening to the wind as his heart fought against his will, aching to pound fiercely in his ears and clog up his throat.

He swallowed.

But finally, the lips and teeth and tongue became less active, and the wet warmth finally pulled away.

He felt hands take his wrist more firmly as bandages wrapped around his wrist.

He could still feel Sasuke's tongue on his fingers. He could feel his heartbeat everywhere.

A sigh was heard.

"You can uncover your eyes, now, Kakashi." Sasuke's voice was tired and – slightly pained?

Using the arm that wasn't bandages, Kakashi raised his headband to uncover his right eye.

Sasuke's eyes were closed, his mouth open. Hell if Kakashi could resist.

"Sasuke…" he breathed before gripping the boy's collar bone and pulling the smaller body to him, absentmindedly pulling down his mask.

The Uchiha was strangely subdued, allowing Kakashi to do as he wished and not lifting a finger to push him away for a moment. The jounin's tongue was everywhere in his mouth, and he looked upwards – eyes dull and hazy – at Kakashi's headband.

After a moment, however, one of his eyes winced shut in discomfort. He attempted to pull himself away.

"Mmph… Kakashi…" he managed to make out from underneath the other's lips. "Get off."

Kakashi felt the boy's face heating up – but not from blushing. He pulled away and replaced his mask as he surveyed the teenager in front of him.

Sasuke's head was bowed, his fists clenching and relaxing at his side, breathing hard.

Kakashi quickly glanced around by Sasuke's form.

There wasn't a small pool of infected blood anywhere. His eyes instantly shot back to Sasuke.

"You swallowed it?" He hissed. Sasuke swallowed, but didn't meet Kakashi's eyes.

"I… had to…" his voice was faint. "If wolf poison… hits the outside air… it can become very contagious… and not many people… are immune to it…"

"Are YOU immune to it?" Kakashi asked. He didn't care about anyone else – Sasuke was the only one HE was worried about –

"Yes," Sasuke managed to gasp out. "I won't die."

"But you'll still get sick." Kakashi knew that for a fact. "Symptoms?"

"If the poison is injected…" Sasuke began. "Then it'll go… up to the heart… causing sever internal bleeding… in the arteries… around the muscle."

"But YOU swallowed it," Kakashi said.

A grimace of pain flashed across Sasuke's face, but he managed to remain upright. His breath was labored and ragged.

"Right," he replied. "So that means… internal bleeding in the large intestines. But I'm immune… so it should be slight. It should… clear up in a… couple of days."

A couple of days – that's not good! Kakashi thought.

"Anything else?" He asked, arms out in case Sasuke collapsed.

Sasuke barely managed to nod.

"Yes – fever. The poison spikes the fever… itself – the body… doesn't do it. The poison… makes a fever up to… 122 degrees Fahrenheit. (50 degrees Celsius)"

Kakashi's visible eye bulged.

"122 degrees? How? 108 degrees (between 42 and 43 degrees Celsius) is death!"

Sasuke coughed raggedly.

"You're right… but the poison allows the brain… to withstand heat… up to 123 degrees Fahrenheit."

Kakashi blinked.

"123 degrees? So…"

Sasuke smirked grimly.

"Right – slowly but surely… if the internal bleeding doesn't kill you… the fever will."

"How long does the fever last?"

Another shot of pain crossed Sasuke's face, and he finally tilted backwards. Kakashi leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Sasuke's chest before Zenyah could react, cradling the Uchiha in his arms.

Sasuke was breathing even harder now, sweating profusely with his eyes half-closed and dull.

"Two…" he huffed out. "Weeks…"

"Two weeks?" Kakashi repeated numbly.

Oh hell – that's DEFINITELY not good –

"We need to go see Tsunade – she'll be able to help –"

"No – she won't." Kakashi blinked down at Sasuke. "Wolf magic… is unique. Chakra… doesn't affect any aspect of the wolves… including their poison. Tsunade… won't be able… to help… and medicines… don't work. I have to ride it out."

Kakashi, holding Sasuke up with one hand, felt the teenager's forehead – the boy was wearing no headband.

"Oh God – you're burning up!" He breathed. He slid his hands underneath Sasuke's body, seeking to lift him up.

"Zenyah."

Sasuke weakly lifted up a hand to the wolf, calling to her.

She was at his side immediately, sliding her head into his palm.

Sasuke looked at her wearily, sweat sliding into his eyes.

"Go back to your pack, love. Tell no one of this. They need you."

Zenyah looked up at him.

"Are you sure, Uchiha-san?"

Sasuke slowly nodded.

"Yes. I'm sure. I'm in good hands."

Kakashi had to smile gently.

"Now go. Safe hunting, love."

There was a moment of silence, but after one last nuzzle in Sasuke's palm, the wolf disappeared into the trees.

End Chapter Thirty-six – Fever

So there's that!

I hope you liked it!

Ja ne!

DDB