Author's Notes: I still don't own them, but if I did, I'd be smothering them with hugs and kisses all day. (The boys anyway.)



Oatmeal & Calamine

Chapter Five

Sasuke's Nightmare



With a sickening clunk, two girl's heads bumped each other once again. This had been the fifth time already and yet, it did not seem to discourage the girls from what they wanted to do, …only anger them.

"Stop it Ino-pig! I'm supposed to be his nurse, meaning I'm the only one who should really be here!"

Shaking her head with pity, feeling bad about the other girl's stupidity, the blonde girl glared at her. "It is a shame that your forehead is so large and yet you don't have the brains to fill it! I was just trying to help Sasuke-kun! You should learn how to be a more gracious host!"

"Gracious host?!? You rudely shoved your way into my house!"

That was true, but it didn't really matter to the her right now. Her precious Sasuke was in danger staying with a girl whose forehead could pull her body down and crush him in his sleep while she was trying to molest him. Okay, okay, so now she was exaggerating. Who cares? All she knew was that she had to protect the dark haired boy.

"Either way I'm your guest now, Sakura!"

"Unfortunately!"

"Agh! Your so frustrating you and your big forehead!"

"At least my forehead is clean and I'm not a dirty pig!"

"Nani?!?"

"You heard me!"

Sasuke groaned slightly as he tried to block out the arguing girl's voices out of his head. When had this house become so crowded anyway? One minute he was adjusting to the fact that Sakura had to care for him, and the next, he had to deal with two girls who seemed to revolve their worlds around him.

It was frustrating. He didn't understand what was so special about him anyway. As far as he was concerned, he was just another guy.

A sick guy right now, but a guy nonetheless.

His head throbbed every time they yelled at each other, and he glared at them silently willing them to shut up with his eyes, ….they wouldn't listen.

Suddenly, he felt his chest tighten and his throat compress, forcefully making him cough. Crap.

He didn't want to cough and had seriously been fighting from doing so. It was his coughing after all that would trigger the countless arguments between the two girls on who would be a better nurse for him. This included each of them trying to take his temperature and give him medicine at the same time. He sighed and hoped they hadn't heard him that time……

…….Fate was against him today because the two girls had already stopped their argument to stare at him as if he would self combust at any moment.

He merely stared back at them, daring them to come charging at him like a two person stampede once more. That along with the fact that he coughed only once, kept them calm and at a distance. "I'm fine." He stated firmly just for good measure.

"Sasuke-kun is so strong." Ino purred leaning over nearly whispering the words in his ear. She was bolder than Sakura in that department, she wasn't afraid of being in close contact with him, where as Sakura was shy and didn't dare to be so forward.

"It's no big deal, people get chicken pox all the time."

"And they don't need people fawning over them all the time while they have it."

"What was that , Shikamaru?!?"

Sighing, the lazy but genius boy looked down at the game of chess he had been playing with . "Nothing." He muttered. Taking the time to reiterate himself was way too troublesome and he was enjoying this one sided game of chess.

"I thought so!"

Sudden laughter made them all realize that Chouji was still there as well. He was currently fully involved in the television and was using Naruto's back as a small table. Two bags of potato chips, as well as a candy wrapper were on him and the rotund boy was currently working on finishing his third bag of potato chips.

Sakura blanched suddenly feeling bad for the blonde boy who was currently being used as a piece of furniture. She had forgotten about him during all her arguments with Ino.

"Baka, baka." She muttered to herself as she went to check on him. She found that he had fallen asleep again. Touching his forehead she was relieved to find that it was cool. Then glaring slightly at Chouji, she cleared his back off all debris.

When she turned, she was surprised and way beyond angered. Nearly cuddly against Sasuke, was Ino. He didn't seem so happy about the idea either. He was glaring at her and his face was red. She didn't think it was because of a fever.

"Stop infecting him even more Ino-pig!"

"Nani?!?"

"You heard me!"

Shikamaru sighed. All this shouting and commotion was not allowing him to continue playing. He often liked to play chess by himself so that he could challenge himself. Now, it was near to impossible to do so, he needed another player.

Eyeing Sasuke who seemed desperate for any excuse to escape the two girls, though he was trying to seem cool about it, he made his way over to him board and pieces in his hand.

"Let's play." He informed him bluntly placing the board between himself and Sasuke.

Sasuke eyed him at first, surprised at how he had come out of nowhere with this, but he was thankful. Usually he would have relied on Naruto's loudness to serve as a distraction and get the girls away from him, but that boy was still dead to the world trying to regain his lost energy.

"You do know how to play right?" Shikamaru questioned suddenly.

"Hai."

"Good, it would have been too troublesome to explain it anyway."

"Che."

With that small introduction the two boys began to play and became fully involved in the game, finally able to ignore the others around them.

When the two quarreling girls finally settled down, they noticed that their object of desire was not sitting on the same spot of the couch and was on the floor playing chess with Shikamaru. Sasuke was free of the oven mitts, Shikamaru had taken them off for him so that he could grip the pieces better and both were intensely concentrating on the game.

"Kawaii!" Both girls squealed unable to control themselves. It wasn't their fault, the two boys had truly looked adorable in their eyes at the moment.

Both Sasuke and Shikamaru blinked questioningly at them. What in the world was their problem now? Geez, girls sure were weird and annoying sometimes.

Time passed and the sky grew darker. It was nearly dinner time and Ino along with her teammates, were still in Sakura's house. Her mother had come home long ago and needless to say, was quite happy to find her house in one piece.

"Ino-pig! it's late! Shouldn't you be going home?"

"It's not that late."

Sighing, the pink haired girl hoped that the girl would be leaving soon, despite the words that had just escaped her mouth.

It was then that her mother had to destroy her dreams.

"Sakura! Why don't you ask Ino and those two dear boys to stay for dinner?"

Her mother could be so annoying sometimes.

"Arigatou!! I'd love to!" Ino immediately shouted back before Sakura could decline for her.

"Okaa-san!" Sakura yelled back immediately afterwards, shamelessly voicing her opinion that she did not wish for Ino to stay for dinner. The boys could, but she couldn't.

"I don't believe you Sakura! Stop being so rude!" Her mother reprimanded from afar appalled by her daughter's lack of manners. She knew that she had raised her daughter better than that.

"Gomen." Sakura sighed in defeat bowing slightly to Ino since her mother was watching.

Smirking and then blowing raspberry at her when her mother was no longer in the room, Ino sat once again lazily by Sasuke who had taken to reading a book on the couch.

"Ne, Sasuke-kun, are you sure you're feeling alright?"

"I told you a hundred times before, yes. Don't be annoying."

"Gomen nasai. I just wanted to make sure you were comfortable…"

"…………"

Ino sighed and then smiled sweetly rising from her spot and moving to sit by Shikamaru who had fallen victim to the small tribe of couch potatoes that was growing in Sakura's living room.

Sakura sat between Chouji and Naruto's comatose body preventing him from using the blonde boy's body as furniture once again.

Soon enough the call that they were all waiting for, came. "Sakura! Wake up Naruto-kun, it's time for dinner!"

"Yatta! Dinner! We're going to eat!" Chouji immediately shouted snapping out of the trance he had been in during the entire visit.

Shikamaru stood as well and made his way calmly over to the kitchen, even though he didn't seem as excited as Chouji, one could tell he was please that he was going to eat.

Watching them all march into the kitchen, Sakura turned to Naruto once more and shook him, already knowing what a tiring time it was to wake him.

"Ohayo, Sakura-chan!" He exclaimed happily after yawning, having woken up almost immediately sounding a lot like his normal self.

Surprised and relieved that he seemed to be feeling so much better, she smiled back and laughed slightly. " It's not morning Naruto, it's time for dinner!"

"Oh, good! I'm starving!" He cheered as he practically leapt out of the couch.

Entering the kitchen a familiar smell tantalized his sensory senses and made his heart stop. He froze in place as his eyes glanced over to the table and saw what he had been craving.

"Yatta!! Ramen!" He cheered suddenly surprising everyone like usual. Sakura's mother beamed, glad that she had made one of them so happy.

"Hai, I made it as a surprise for all of you."

"Arigatou!!" The blonde boy shouted once more, blue eyes shimmering with sincere gratitude as he ran over to hug the older woman.

Not expecting this reaction, she hugged him back and laughed. "You're very welcome."

"I love ramen so….. Oi! That's mine!"

Sakura barely had time to remove his oven mitts before he suddenly dived into his seat at the table and quickly snatched his plate away from Chouji. The larger boy had been reaching for it, since it was conveniently placed next to him.

"Oh." Was all the rotund boy muttered before turning to the large pot sitting in the middle of the table and refilling his bowl for the third time.

Shaking his head slightly, Sasuke bent his head down to continue his eating , when he noticed the new predicament he was in.

Both Ino and Sakura were sitting on either side of him. He had a really bad feeling about this.

"Sasuke-kun, tell that pig over there to please pass me the rolls."

He wordlessly arched an eyebrow at the girl on his other side knowing fully well that she had heard the message meant for her.

She complied and past the small basket of rolls to him. "Here you go Sasuke-kun, hopefully after being in contact with her, the other rolls aren't contaminated."

"………………….." Again he said nothing and handed the rolls to Sakura.

"Arigatou Sasuke-kun."

"Hn."

He attempted to eat once more.

"Sasuke-kun," Ino purred leaning in closely to him unnecessarily to speak. "I need that pitcher of water over there, could you please tell that girl to not crush it with her large and heavy forehead, and pass it to me? "

"………………" Sasuke again made no comment and tried to continue to eat once more knowing again that Sakura had heard the message as well.

"I should dump it all over you! But since Sasuke-kun could end up getting wet, I won't!"

"Oi, oi! Sasuke-kun, Sasuke-kun!! Is that all you two know how to say? What's so great about that loser anyway? I'm way better! " Naruto finally shouted, sick of being ignored and having the whole conversation at the table revolve around the last Uchiha clan member.

"Don't you dare call him a loser, you dork!!!" Ino immediately yelled back nearly growling, making him shrink back into his seat and effectively end his ranting.

"Kowaii…." he whispered.

"I told you , you should never mess with Ino." Shikamaru whispered back while nodding in agreement to the blonde boy's earlier comment.

Wide innocent blue eyes stared at the spunk y girl who sat farther away from him at the table, and Naruto couldn't help but shiver. She could definitely be very scary.

The meal continued and all seemed like no further mishaps would occur, but they weren't that lucky.

Reachng for his cup of green tea, Sasuke's hand bumped another hand, causing the cup to tip and spill…all over him.

Naturally, he jumped up and quickly tried to dry off the hot liquid from his clothes, but what wasn't natural was the second pair of hands attempting to dry him off as well.

"Baka!! Look what you did Sakura!" Ino hissed while continuing to pat Sasuke dry.

He stepped away from her, only to find Sakura following Ino's example.

This continued for several seconds, before he couldn't take it anymore. "Enough!" He yelled effectively shutting them up, before he left the kitchen all together.

Everyone else, minus Sakura's mother who had left already, sat in shock. ….Well, for a few minutes anyway. Chouji was merely confused as to what was going on, Naruto merely scoffed at the retreating boy, and Shikamaru simply shook his head before they all continued to eat.

Sakura and Ino however stood in their place and did wonderful impressions of fishes out of water. Their eyes and mouths were wide open as their lips flapped and no words came out, at first.

"That was all your fault Ino! You pushed yourself on him too much!"

"Well you were the one who had to be a copy cat, and that was when he had enough!"

"I was trying to help!"

"I was helping him first!"

"I don't care!"

Again another relentless argument had commenced. It lasted for the remainder of the meal. It had even ended and still the arguing continued. Sasuke had sought refuge in the guest room away from them all. Meanwhile every time either of the three remaining boys would try to calm the girls down, they would suffer having their heads being nearly chopped off.

Discreetly looking at his watch, Shikamaru cleared his throat.

"What?!?!" Ino growled, glaring at him for daring to interrupt once more.

"It's getting late, it's almost ten 0'clock and I have to be getting home. You should too, staying any longer would be rude."

He was right. Damn it, she hated it when he was right, he always had that cocky smirk. Taking a quick glance at him, she saw that he indeed did have that very smirk gracing his face right now.

"Well, …fine. I guess we should go. Naruto, tell Sasuke-kun I hope he feels better soon and that I will be sure to come back and visit again!"

"Ino, he's sick too, aren't you going to wish him well too?"

"Oh yea, right, right. Feel better too Naruto."

Fighting the urge to roll his eyes, Naruto nodded. "Arigatou." He said carelessly knowing that her wish had not been completely sincere.

"Well Ino-pig, I can't say that I am not happy to see you leave, be careful getting home now." Sakura suddenly butted in ushering the other girl towards the door quickly, a large grin plastered on her face.

"Why, I!…"

But Ino was cut off as the door was suddenly slammed in her face since her two teammates had already left quietly, Shikamaru dragging an oblivious Chouji,of course.

"Mou, that was mean Sakura-chan." Naruto stated softly.

"I don't care!" She shouted back.

"Kowaii…" Naruto muttered once more to himself.

In the guest room, Sasuke had heard the door slam, and once it did, he let out a breath of relief. Those two girls had been driving him crazy, he wasn't used to that kind of attention for such a long period of time. It had been a total nightmare.

He seriously hoped that he got better before something like that repeated itself.



A/N: Wow, I just mean , wow. That's all I could do, was sit and gape as I repeated that mantra over and over when I saw how many reviews I had gotten. I was never expecting so much!! I was in the clouds after seeing all of your comments, full of happiness.

I hope after having a short bout of writer's block, that this chapter was just as good as the others.

I would make personal shout outs, but I simply can't. There are too many. Just know that all of you who reviewed are greatly appreciated! Your loyalty and time to write comments, means a lot to me!

Big hug for everyone

Now, if you feel the need to ask specific questions, or anything else. (Including, just wanting to say hi) Feel free to email me at XFieryKitsuneXaol.com

Oh, also, about the pairing thing. After reading all of the comments I have decided not to do a pairing in this fic. The people who argued this made perfect sense. (Thank You ) Also after how I have the rest of the story planned out, a pairing would have seemed out of place after all.

I'm very sorry to all of those who did want a pairing though! But who knows, maybe I'll write a Naruto romance fic and you will read it. Huh? wink wink