Asuka woke up in the hospital with an IV in her arm. She also saw some flowers on her bedside table. She felt someone holding her other hand so she turned her head to see Neji sitting by her side with his head down and his hand holding hers.

"What am I doing here?" Asuka asked.

Neji lifted his head. Asuka could see great relief in his eyes.

"You collapsed while we were training so I brought you here." Neji explained.

"And it was a good thing too." Sakura said.

Asuka turned and saw Sakura standing in the doorway.

"What happened to me?"

"You collapsed from heat stroke and dehydration." Sakura explained.

"That's never happened before."

"Kakashi Sensei said that since your jutsu uses water that is already in the air, if there is little to no water in the air then your jutsu takes the water it needs from your body instead. You combine that with the higher than normal temperature we had that day and you landed in the hospital." Sakura said.

"How long have I been here?" Asuka asked.

"Almost a full week." Neji said.

Asuka's eye's widened.

"When I brought you here they said your dehydration was equal to that of two and half days without water." Neji added.

"If Neji hadn't responded as quickly as he did you could have died." Sakura said.

"I guess I really have to be careful about using my ice jutsu when it's hot then." Asuka said finally.

"That and make sure you always drink lots of water after using it." Sakura advised.

Asuka turned to Neji. "Would you mind getting me a glass of water?"

"Of coarse," Neji answered standing up, "I'll be right back." he finished as he walked out the door.

Sakura then came and sat where Neji had been sitting.

"How are you feeling?" Sakura asked.

"Aside from thirsty I think I feel pretty good." Asuka answered.

"Well they still want to keep you here for a few more days to make sure there wont be any late side effects and so you have time to get your strength back."

"Sounds like a good idea to me." Asuka agreed.

"Well I gotta go update your chart then I got to head out. I'll stop in to check on you later." Sakura said.

"Okay, see you later." Asuka said as Sakura left.

Almost immediately after Sakura left, Neji returned with a plastic glass of water. He sat back down in his chair and handed the glass to her. Unfortunately, her muscles were weaker then she expected and she dropped the glass.

"Sorry, I thought I had it." Asuka apologized.

"You don't need to apologize, it's to be expected after what you went through." Neji said and then promptly rose and got another cup of water.

This time when he returned he held the glass so she could drink. Once she had finished, Neji set the glass on her bedside table that was beside him.

"Have you been here the whole time?" Asuka asked.

"As much as I could be. Lady Tsunade was kind enough not to send me on missions while you have been here."

"You should go home and get some rest."

"I can't do that." Neji said firmly.

"Why not?"

"Because it was my fault you ended up here in the first place. I need to make sure your alright."

Asuka thought she saw tears in his eyes for the first time since they met.

"I'm fine now. You heard what Sakura said, I'm just in here a few more days for observation then I'm clear to go."

"But..."

"No buts, Neji. I'm alright, really. Please don't blame yourself, it could have happened with me simply walking home." Asuka said kindly.

Asuka could see that Neji was beginning to relax. "And as long as I listen to Sakura and stay hydrated, then we have nothing to worry about." she added.

"Alright, but insist on staying till you can drink from a cup by yourself again."

Asuka smiled, "Sounds good to me."

The next day Naruto popped by to see Asuka.

"Hey Asuka, I heard you woke up so I figured I would stop by and see how you were doing." Naruto said.

"I feel much better today, I'm finally starting to get some of my strength back."

"Well once your out of here want to train? I'll treat you to Ichiraku ramen after."

"Sounds like fun."

"Not a chance." Neji objected.

Asuka and Naruto both looked at Neji.

"Hey, last I checked you weren't the Hokage so you can't just boss Asuka around like that."

"Just because she'll be out of the hospital doesn't mean she can go full force into training like that. We don't all have your quick recuperative abilities."

"Neji, its okay. I know my limits now and I know that I need rest." Asuka turned to Naruto, "How about we wait for a couple of days after I'm out of the hospital before I try training again."

"Okay whatever you say Asuka. I'm gonna head out now." Naruto stopped and turned back around, "oh before I forget I brought you this," Naruto held up a copy of Make Out Tactics, "I didn't know if you liked to read or if girls even like this stuff but I figured I would let you decide." Naruto gave the book to Asuka. "Well I'll see ya later."

Asuka looked at the book and blushed a little. Does Jiraiya know I'm a fan?

"You can't seriously be thinking about reading that trash." Neji said disgusted.

"Do you have something better for me to do?" Asuka asked.

"Anything but reading that."

"Neji I know you care but you really need to back off a bit. I'm a big girl and I can make my own decisions."

"I'm sorry, I just don't understand the fascination with those kinds of books."

"To be honest for me its just a romance novel with more details, I love reading about how two people fall in love."

"Do you mean to say you've read these types of books before?" Neji asked cringing.

"Yupp, I'm actually a huge fan of the series." Asuka admitted. Might as well get it out now.

Neji put his face in hands and sulked.

"Don't be like that Neji. It's not like you."

Neji lifted his head.

"Tell you what I wont read it in front of you and you will never have to see the book again. Does that make you feel better?"

Neji nodded.

Asuka tucked the book into the drawer in her bedside table out of Neji's sight.

"Hey you two." came Kakashi's voice.

"Kakashi Sensei, I was wondering if you were going to come and see me." Asuka greeted.

"Sakura told me you were awake so I figured I'd pop by."

"Sakura told me yesterday that you were the one who explained what happened to me. Was it because of your sharingan that you were able to tell?" Asuka asked.

"That's exactly right. "

"This really limits where I can use my ice style jutsu."

"Well yes but you now also know its strength. If you were to be by a lake or another large body of water then the strength of your jutsu could be increased." Kakashi explained.

Asuka looked at Neji.

"Neji would you get me a glass of water please."

"Of coarse, I'll be right back."

After Neji left Asuka pulled out Make Out Tactics and quickly read the back then placed it back in the drawer.

"Are you a fan too?" Kakashi asked in somewhat disbelief.

"Yupp, thanks to Naruto I now own all the books."

"Does Neji know?"

"Yeah, he was here when Naruto gave me the book, needless to say he was less than pleased." Asuka giggled.

"Oh well his loss I suppose. I hear he's been by your side since you collapsed."

"Yeah, to be honest I want him to go home and do something just for him."

Just then Neji returned.

"Thank you Neji," Asuka said.

"You're welcome."

"Hey Neji, you and I have never trained together. What would you say to training with me today?" Kakashi asked.

"I should stay and watch over Asuka."

"I'm fine Neji, look." Asuka said as she lifted the glass to her mouth and took a drink without too much trouble. "Please Neji go and do something for yourself. The nurses are here to take care of me."

"Very well since you insist."

With that Kakashi and Neji left Asuka's room and Asuka laid back in bed. After a few minutes of enjoying silence she pulled the book from the drawer and began reading.

After several hours of reading, stopping only to eat, she put down the book and stretched her neck.

"Enjoying the book?" Master Jiraiya asked.

"I love it. I think this your best one yet." Asuka admitted.

"You mean you've read the other ones?" Jiraiya asked raising an eyebrow.

"I know it always seems weird to men that a woman would like them too but truth be told I've been hooked since I found out about them when I was thirteen."

Jiraiya laughed. "If I had known you were a fan I would have given it to you sooner."

Asuka blushed a little, "Would mind signing it for me?"

Jiraiya lit up. "Of coarse I'll sign it! Anything for a fan." Jiraiya pulled out a pen, signed inside the cover and passed it back to Asuka.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

There was a pause as Asuka's thoughts drifted back to Amaya and her promise.

"Master Jiraiya,"

"Hmm?"

"If someone leaves little to no trace behind is it really possible to find them?"

"Well that depends on who is following them and how dedicated the seeker is to finding them. Why do you ask?"

Asuka explained the whole situation.

"Well if Amaya is that determined to find your father then I'm certain she will. Anyone can be found if the person search is looking hard enough."

"I just don't know if I can trust her. How do I know she's not just out there sitting on her ass doing nothing?" Asuka asked.

"You don't, but I try to see the best in everyone. That's is one of the things that has kept me on my search for my friend."

"I see."

Asuka and Jiraiya continued talking for about an hour before Jiraiya had to leave. Once again Asuka enjoyed the peace and before she knew it she passed out.