Konnichi wa!

WE'RE FINALLY HERE! IN CALIFORNIA! WOOHOO! –dances-

I reposted this because the lines in between the scenes didn't show up. XP

AH! -dies-

I'm SO sorry everyone! I know I haven't updated in FOREVER! was just being a bitch and it wouldn't let me update my stories! WAAAAAAAAAAAAH! -cries-\

-recovers-

And it SNOWED! In Texas, in APRIL, it SNOWED! GOD IS TOTALLY TELLING US SOMETHING! NEVER HAS IT SNOWED IN TEXAS IN APRIL BEFORE – IT'S AMAZING!

But unfortunately, it made my romance muse's – Gaara in the Ninja Centerfold form – sand freeze over and fall to the ground. She was hiding out in the bathroom for six hours until the temperature went back up.

But that was after Jiraiya and Kakashi and Kankuro snapped her. THOSE pictures are probably all over the internet by now.

So now I just have my angst and gore muse – Naruto – working for me, because he is like a portable radiator and Gaara is no longer speaking to me.

Yeah – she's pissed. I'm the one who told those three that her sand freezes over and falls when it snows. -.-;;

I'm sorry I can't reply to any of your reviews or PM's! The wireless connection is priced by the minute – I can't answer reviews because that would be too expensive! I'm sorry! I'll reply to ALL of them when we got ground-lined internet, okay? SORRY!

Wow! This story's come a long way!

Chapter thirty-seven, everyone!

Treacherous Heart

Chapter Thirty-Seven – Unforgiven

Kakashi gently set Sasuke on the bed, pulling up the covers to the gasping boy's neck.

"Tsunade will come looking for you," he breathed to the Uchiha. "But if what you said was true, then she won't be able to do anything anyway."

Sasuke said nothing – the fever had dragged him in too deeply for him to make sense of anything.

Kakashi was tempted to get some ice to cool the Uchiha down, but he couldn't pull himself away from Sasuke's side.

He's going to be fine. He told himself. He isn't going to die – you'll only be gone for two minutes – NOTHING is going to happen he isn't going to just VANISH –

But for some reason that was his fear. He cursed himself.

Your fears have no foundation, you idiot. He mentally scolded himself. Just go into the kitchen, grab some ice and a towel and come back – that's all!

But his heart didn't let him move.

He leaned down and planted a kiss on Sasuke's forehead.

He then had to pull back quickly to keep his lips from getting seared.

Oh God – he's burning up!

"Hey Kakashi, you ran out of dog food – when are you going to get more –?"

Pakkun had walked into the room, belly unusually taut, and he saw Sasuke.

"WHAT? KAKASHI! WHAT IS HE DOING HERE?"

"He's sick," Kakashi replied simply. "He took poison meant for me."

The rage died out of Pakkun's eyes.

"Poison? How?" Kakashi readjusted the blankets around Sasuke's shoulders.

"That's not important right now," he replied.

Pakkun sniffed the air warily.

"Oh God – Kakashi – his heat…" he stared at the teenager. "It ain't human."

"He told me before he passed out that the poison causes fevers over 120 degrees Fahrenheit."

Pakkun's eyes bulged.

"120? But humans die when the temperature reaches 108! How could –?"

"The poison allows the brain to survive higher body temperatures as long as the poison remains inside the body," Kakashi replied. "Go get some ice and wrap it in a rag – we need to cool him down. I don't care if he said he won't die – this fever worries me."

"You know I still haven't forgiven him," Pakkun commented in response, not shifting from his spot on the floor. Kakashi didn't look at the canine, pulling off the blanket from Sasuke's form and peeling off the white shirt from sweat-slicked skin, revealing a pale, powerful, heaving white chest.

"Forgiven him for what, Pakkun? Leaving or coming back?"

Pakkun growled.

"That's not what I'm talking about Kakashi, and you know it!" He exclaimed.

Kakashi blinked and inclined his head.

"Yes. I DO know what you're talking about. The night he left…"

"Sasuke!"

Kakashi gripped the child's arm.

"Why are you leaving? Orochimaru won't give you power – he'll just use you and you know it! Why do you want to leave?"

Why do you want to leave me?

The silent question hung heavily in the air.

There was silence for a moment.

"Why do you care, Kakashi?" Sasuke asked quietly. "Why do you want me to stay here? You know my vow Kakashi – you were there when I took it!"

"You can get more powerful here!" You don't need to go to a snake like Orochimaru!

You don't have to leave me!

Sasuke turned and looked directly into Kakashi's mismatched eyes.

"No, I can't," the boy replied calmly. "You know that."

Kakashi's grip on his hand tightened, but in a soft way.

"Please…" he began. "Stay."

I NEED you.

Sasuke looked at him for a long moment. Then he smirked.

"Since when do you BEG for anything, Kakashi?"

Before the older man could say a word, Sasuke's hands were at his jaw line, pulling down the mask and sealing his lips over his teacher's, pulling himself up so he was even with Kakashi's height.

The embrace was rough and bruising, teeth clashed with teeth, and Kakashi wrapped his arms around Sasuke's waist, crushing the boy against him, never wanting to let him go.

Please GOD let this be a good sign –

But when they pulled away for a breath –

"Don't wait for me."

When Kakashi awoke two days later, he was in a hospital, and Sasuke was gone.

But I had no choice, Sasuke. Kakashi thought as he wiped the sweat from Sasuke's face and chest. I HAD to wait for you. Without the hope that you'd come back again –

TO ME –

– life seemed meaningless. A deep part of me knew you would come back…

Kakashi fought down a smile.

And here you are.

"Go, Pakkun," he repeated.

The dog complied.

He returned dragging a bowl of freezing water by the teeth, with multiple rags draped across his back.

Kakashi stood up and walked over to the dog, kneeling down and taking both the bowl and the rags.

"Thanks Pakkun."

"Hmph!" The dog replied, looking away.

Kakashi, sitting on the bed next to Sasuke, dipped one of the rags into the water, then pulling it out and wringing it free of excess liquid. Then he set the rag on Sasuke's burning forehead. He used the other two rags to dab Sasuke's faces and cool down his chest. Pakkun – who seated himself at the foot of the bed – watched him in thought.

You really love that kid, don't you Kakashi?

End Chapter Thirty-Seven – Unforgiven

I hope you liked it, everyone!

And, because I'm considerate, if you celebrate it, happy REALLY belated Easter holiday!

Me… I really don't care for it that much. Thank God for Jesus and everything, but going to Church is worthless if you always fall asleep in the middle of it.

Church is never interesting for me, what can I say?

Please review!

Ja ne!

DDB