N/A: I should be studying for my Chemistry long test but what the heck.

Someone is sick in this chapter! Poor baby. Anywhooo. Despite the apparent sickness of this character, I would like to retain proper dialogue. In other words, I won't be changing the dialogue to make it seem that this character has a stuffy nose and whatnot. I'll just prompt it using narrative. I'd like to ask that you all just imagine how a person speaks when he or she has a cold. :3 I'd like to make the story somewhat formal and mostly because I find it rather hard to spell words to make it sounds all sick-like. :p

This chapter is for you OpenPervert-Chan. Hope you like it. :)

To Gaarafangirl, kyri, unknown reviewer, and DawnthePurpleBunny: Thank you so much for the support! It truthfully means a lot to me. Didn't think people would still read this since I was pretty inactive for a while. Anyways, I'll try not to disappoint with the coming chapters. :D

SPOILER ALERT (kind of): I just don't know how to feel about Sasuke anymore. He just ... he breaks my heart so much. TT_TT I just feel so bad for Naruto. My poor baby. Ugh. So much feels.

Song on repeat while I was writing this: Mess We've Made by AJ Rafael feat. Tori Kelly (Ugh. This song makes me so sad)

*DISCLAIMER APPLIES*

BEFORE THE WORST

Sunshine's Nurse

Ever heard of the expression 'I feel like a ray of sunshine'?

It's one of those expressions that don't really need much explaining. One doesn't really need to understand it. It's more of a matter of feeling it.

For example, a person just wakes up on the right side of the bed after a very restful sleep. Then the smell of freshly cooked bacon hits their nostrils. They hop out of bed, get in a few good stretches, and they're ready to start the day. Once at the dining area, they're mouths water at the sight of not just the glistening goodness of bacon but a whole array of breakfast awesomeness: sunny side up, French toast, pancakes, fresh fruits, whatever the heart desires. After a nourishing breakfast, they head on out and they're set to take on the world. As they walk along the street, each of the neighbours greet them a grand morning. That person steps into their school or work place, whichever floats their boat, and they just know that the day would be just amazing.

'I feel like a ray of sunshine.'

It doesn't get any more straightforward than that.

Now that the establishment of the saying is complete, it shouldn't be too hard to understand that everyone's favourite little blonde, by all means, did NOT feel like a ray of sunshine.

At all.

"Achoo!"

"Cover your mouth, knucklehead."

Sasuke winced in disgust at the snot dripping down Naruto's nose. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to visit Naruto today. She just looked so ... contagious.

"Blegh. I feel so gross." The ten-year-old blonde dabs a tissue against her nose. Poor girl had been running a high fever (amongst other things) for the past few of days now. Sasuke, being the bestest best friend ever, visited her every day after school. Despite her feeling like crap, she couldn't be any happier that the Uchiha boy wasn't grossed out with her. After deeming her nose mucous-free, she chucked the used tissue to the general area of the trash bin. In Sasuke's opinion, the bin looked more of biohazard than anything. It was packed with used tissues no doubt teeming with germs.

"You look gross."

"Gee. Thanks, Sasuke." Blue eyes couldn't help but roll in slight aggravation. Guess she was wrong. Sasuke was grossed out with her after all.

A knock on the door signalled the arrival of a man with esteemed literary expertise. "Hey kiddo! You feeling any better?" Jiraiya came in with a tray of food with the most incredible aroma. Sasuke hungrily eyed the bowl of goodness Jiraiya had prepared for both children. Too bad Naruto couldn't smell it.

"Not really, Uncle J. I'm having a real hard time breathing." Naruto scrunched her nose at the fact that she couldn't properly speak; particularly a few missing Ns in her sentences or sometimes having an abundance of Ds and Bs instead of Ts and Ps.

Contrary to what most believed, Naruto actually got sick on a fairly regular basis. Being a child, it was to be expected. Just the mere fact that she went to school with a whole population of children made her susceptible to ailments such as the common cold and the like. Another big surprise was the fact that Sasuke was actually the one who did not get sick as much. Throughout the years Naruto and Sasuke had known each other, the blonde had only seen Sasuke sick twice. It was uncanny. This phenomenon would probably explain why the Uchiha child was helping Jiraiya keep watch of her.

"That's good. Sickness helps build character, kiddo." It was faulty logic; even the often inept blonde thought so. Jiraiya placed the food onto the available table and started to set up the bed tray for the blonde's use. "If this doesn't make you feel better, kiddo, I don't know what will." The man proudly declared because he knew his ward would simply love him for what he was about to serve.

The little girl cocked her head to side in mild wonder. "Wait. Is that..?"

"It's ramen." The revelation came from Sasuke whose mouth was twitching with mild displeasure. It's not that he didn't like ramen. It was actually pretty good; but spending almost every waking hour with Naruto made him quite weary of the stuff. Suddenly, the mouth-watering aroma didn't seem as enticing now.

"Awesome! You're the best, Pops!" Her pretty blues twinkled despite their tired appearance. Jiraiya grinned at his goddaughter and placed one of the two steaming bowls on the fully made up bed tray. Not long after that, Naruto began to happily slurp up her meal.

"Sasuke, here's you bowl." The older gentlemen gestured to the bowl placed upon the available table. After saying his thanks, Sasuke began to eat his own bowl of ramen. He couldn't let it go to waste now could he? Plus, his Uncle Jiraiya went through the trouble of making him food. It would be very improper of him to refuse.

While the two kids went through their meal, Jiraiya's phone blared to life. He excused himself from the room and answered the phone.

"Man! Old man Jiraiya really knows how to make his ramen!" Naruto gleefully admitted. Sasuke couldn't help but nod in agreement. The stuff was definitely good and that was saying something considering his lack of appetite for that particular food choice.

The door to Naruto's room opened and Jiraiya peeked his head through the little opening. "Kiddo, I'm gonna have to leave you for a bit. That manly auntie of yours needs me down by Hokage. Sasuke, can you look after that little sick headache of mine while I'm away?"

Sasuke obediently nods his head. "Sure thing, Uncle Jiraiya." The man smiled at the little boy. The Uchiha brat was a good kid. Jiraiya was glad Naruto had someone like Sasuke in her life. "Thanks, champ. I owe you one." And with a thumbs up and a wink, Jiraiya left their company.

"So if you're supposed to look after me then I can boss you around!" Naruto said with a mouth full of ramen as she pumped a fist into the air. Not a second after that, she was hit with that annoying bout of coughing one usually had when sick. "Hn. That's what you get for even thinking you can boss me around, blockhead." Sasuke smirked in smug fashion all the while approaching his best friend. The boy patted the other child on the back in an attempt to stop the coughing spell she was suffering from. It took the girl a handful of seconds before she could stop hacking. Sasuke looked to his friend with much concern. He was pretty sure Naruto shouldn't be wheezing that way.

"Hold on, Elle. Let me go get you a glass of water." The ten-year-old Uchiha stood up and exited the room with purpose.

"Thanks, buddy." The sound of Naruto's voice made Sasuke cringe. His best friend sounded really sick. "No problem. Just lie down or whatever. Don't tire yourself out." And with those words of concern, Sasuke briefly left the room.

Naruto stared at her still somewhat full bowl of ramen and sighed. She didn't really feel like eating anymore. Being careful not to spill on the bed, the girl gently lifted the bowl from her tray and placed it on her side table. She folded her bed tray properly before placing it on the ground by her bedside. Now that her area was clear, she could finally start resting up as Sasuke had suggested because, truthfully, a nap sounded fantastic that moment.

The door opened and in came Sasuke with a glass of water. "Here." He gingerly handed Naruto the beverage. The lass took a few gulps before setting the glass down by her forgotten bowl of ramen. She then proceeded to snuggle in her warm sheets and burrow her head against her fluffy pillow. Once Sasuke was sure she was comfortable, he stood up to yet again exit the room.

"Where are you going?" Naruto slightly lifted her torso using her elbows.

"You need to sleep. I don't want to bother you. Plus, knowing you, you probably won't even be resting if I stay in the room." The young Uchiha continued to tread towards the door.

"Stay." The girl requested.

"No, Naruto. You need to-"

"You won't be a bother and I promise I'll rest. Just stay."

"Naruto..."

"Please stay."

With those two words, Naruto managed to get the young Uchiha to situate himself by her side. The girl had tiredly smiled at the boy and started to yawn. "Sasuke's such a good nurse." Naruto mumbled as the promise of sleep started to consume her.

The raven-haired boy grimaced at the analogy. As a punishment, Sasuke gently flicked Naruto on her forehead. "Be quiet and sleep, dummy." This caused Naruto to cutely giggle at her best friend. She offered the boy the best smile a sick girl could muster. "Mkay, S'uke."

Sasuke was taken aback by the expression. Even after all these years, Naruto's smiles could still make his brain turn into a pile of goo in the same intensity as the day he had met her. It was in these moments that Sasuke thought and believed Naruto to be the physical embodiment of a ray of sunshine. As the boy watched the girl lie down and close her eyes, he found himself thinking that maybe he didn't mind keeping an eye on Naruto the whole time she slept.

"S'uke, be a good nurse and sing me to sleep." Naruto, only managing to slightly open one eye, tauntingly peeked through her lashes.

And there were times Sasuke just wanted to smother Naruto to death. The boy hastily grabbed the nearest throw pillow and smacked Naruto on the head with it.

"Sleep." The tone of the order held a silent threat with it.

"Okay! Okay! Geez." The little chuckles erupting from the girl had slowly died down and at long last Naruto finally welcomed sleep.

When Sasuke was one hundred percent sure that the blonde was in a deep slumber, he rested his elbows onto the mattress and let his head slack against his palm. It was in that calm silence that the little hums of a song completed the sweet ambiance of the room.

You are my sunshine

My only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are grey

You'll never know, dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

And although Sasuke didn't chant the lyrics, he knew that the words of the song couldn't be any truer to him and he needn't sing it out loud to make the world know that it was so.

llllllllllllllllllll

"I feel like a ray of sunshine!" Naruto screamed out as she hopped out of her bed and danced around like the loon she was.

"Achoo!" Unfortunately, someone wasn't feeling like 'a ray of sunshine' that particular morning. "That's wonderful, Sunshine. Now could you please keep it down? You're giving me a headache." Sasuke drawled in a nasal voice.

"Poor Sasuke. Good thing it's a Saturday huh? I can nurse you back to health the whole day!" She gave the boy a bone-crushing hug.

"Not with you being so loud, blockhead!" Sasuke grunted at the embrace. "Can you let go please! I can't breathe!" Naruto snickered at Sasuke's muffled voice. The boy didn't just have a duckbutt hairstyle, he actually sounded like a duck now too!

Now although Naruto contracted sicknesses on a fairly regular basis, it was actually pretty true that Naruto healed very quickly. What would usually take a week or two for normal people to recover would only take a couple of days with the lass. Sasuke, on the other hand, although not very susceptible to illnesses, took forever to recover once he did manage to catch a bug.

Sasuke loudly groaned in exasperation. "This is what I get for being so concerned about you. Ugh. It's gonna be a long few weeks."

"Not when you have me taking care of you, buddy!"

And a louder, more pronounced groan from the boy made itself known.