Thanks for all of the reviews, I was pleasantly shocked! Thanks for informing me about the paragraph thing, I would have never even thought about it. I've tried spacing it out a little more, so just tell me if it's alright or not. This chapter is a little shorter, but I think I've finally have a good direction to take the story in. Enjoy!

Chapter 2:

"Fujino-san! You don't have to hold me up!" "But what if Kuga-sensei falls?" Natsuki growled at the response as she and Shizuru walked down the halls. "I'm okay! The pain pills are starting to take effect so just back off!" Natsuki said, speeding up a bit. Shizuru had insisted on escorting her to the nurse's office and had tried to actually support her while they walked.

"Why are you so stubborn!?" "If Kuga-sensei would only let me help I wouldn't be irritating her so much." Shizuru replied before reaching out, grabbing Natsuki's arm and putting her other hand on the lower part of Natsuki's back. "Just let me--" Before Shizuru could finish Natsuki jumped as Shizuru's hand brushed against her lower back, letting out a little shriek. The young teacher quickly jumped out of Shizuru's grip as the third year remained stunned by her teacher's actions.

"D-don't touch me there!" Natsuki yelled, her face as red as Shizuru's tie. "Are, is Kuga-sensei really this sensitive?" Shizuru asked, smirking as Natsuki's face almost turned purple. "Shut up!" Natsuki exclaimed as she walked ahead, groaning as she heard Shizuru giggle. "My apologies Kuga-sensei, I promise it isn't my intention to aggravate you." Natsuki was beginning to wonder what this girl's intentions really were. "I'm merely concerned for Kuga-sensei's well being."

Natsuki didn't know how to respond to this. Why on earth was this girl so worried about her? Was that a normal thing for student? She knew she didn't give a crap about her teachers when she attended school. They could have taken a flying leap for all she cared.

"Come on, let's get this over with." Natsuki responded, opening the door into the nurse's office. As soon as she and Shizuru stepped into the room a woman appeared from the back carrying a clipboard. Natsuki suddenly wondered why all doctors had to be carrying clipboards. Did it make them feel important? The nurse, suddenly noticing the two standing there, looked over at them; first at Natsuki, then at Shizuru.

"Fujino-san, what seems to be the problem?" The woman asked, tucking her clipboard under her arm. "I wish I knew, Sagisawa-senei." Shizuru replied, looking up at Natsuki with one eyebrow raised. Natsuki grimaced as both the woman and Shizuru stared at her. "You must be Kuga-san. I'm Sagisawa Yohko, the school's primary care physician." "Kuga Natsuki." Natsuki replied. "Is there a faculty meeting today? Or are you not feeling well?" Yohko asked. Shizuru was still staring at Natsuki, waiting for her to say something about her collapsing.

"Well, uh…" Natsuki began, but was cut off by the nurse. "Oh! Do you want to change your bandages?" Yohko said as she made her way over to her desk, opening a cabinet on the wall. "What?" Natsuki asked, her eyes wide from surprise. "How the hell do you know about that?" Natsuki asked, ignoring the fact that Shizuru was there paying attention with interest.

"The hospital called and informed me of your accident and asked me to keep fresh bandages ready for you. Didn't you know?" "No, I didn't." Natsuki said, now officially irritated. How could that stupid doctor go around telling people about her private files? As if reading her mind Yohko spoke up as she pulled out Natsuki's wrappings. "Your doctor figured you'd try and come in today so he decided it was in your best interest to inform me, and I'd have to agree with him Kuga-san. It would be best for you to stay home for a few weeks; even a few days would help."

Before Natsuki could reply the door to the nurse's office burst open, revealing the loud mouth blonde from Shizuru's class. "Fujino!" "Ara ara, it seems Suzushiro-san has found me." Shizuru said with her usual smile.

"Where the heck have you been?! Did you totally forget about the meeting we have today?! The student council can't start without the president!" The blonde continued to shout, waving a finger at Shizuru. Natsuki began to rub her temples with her fingers. This girl needed a volume control button or something.

"I merely figured Haruka-san would be able to handle whatever cases may come up today. But if you really need my assistance than I suppose I have no choice." Shizuru sighed, crossing her arms very lady-like around her waist.

"I didn't say that! I don't need your help with anything. I can take care of the meeting without you." Haruka said defiantly. "Then I'll be counting on your good work." Haruka nodded confidently before stomping out of the office. Natsuki just stared at the door in shock. Did this girl just push off all of her work onto Suzushiro? Oh, she's good.

"Kuga-san. Your dressings." Natsuki turned around and took the bandages from Yohko. "Do you need help getting them on?" "No, I'll do it." Natsuki said before walking towards on of the beds and pulling the curtains around it for privacy.

"You should consider taking tomorrow off." Natsuki heard Yohko say through the curtain as the young teacher pulled off her tank top. "From what your doctor told me you're lucky to have survived that--" "Sagisawa-san!" Natsuki exclaimed before Yohko could say any more. She let out a sigh as she started taking off her old wrappings.

"I appreciate your help, but please keep that to yourself." Yohko paused before responding. "Very well. The only other person who knows about this is the headmistress, so don't worry. But please consider taking a few days off." Natsuki heard foot steps and assumed Yohko had gone back to her desk.

"Fujino-san." Natsuki called, knowing that the student council president was still on the other side of the curtain. "Yes sensei?" "I'd also appreciate it if you kept this to yourself." Shizuru paused before responding. "As Kuga-sensei wishes." Natsuki heard Shizuru begin to walk away but the footsteps paused as Natsuki was putting on the new dressings. "Kuga-sensei, please do not push yourself. It wouldn't be good if sensei suddenly collapsed during class." She heard the third year student say before walking out of the nurse's office.

Natsuki finished bandaging her injuries and re-dressed. As she did so she thought of what Shizuru said. What if the same thing that happened with Shizuru happened in class? She knew that she was probably only making her injuries worse with all of this running around, but she couldn't afford to miss a day. The young teacher stood up from the bed and threw back the curtains. Just as she thought, Yohko had returned to her desk and Shizuru was no where to be found.

"She's a smart girl Kuga-san." Yohko said as Natsuki threw away her old bandages. "What happened?" Natsuki paused before telling the nurse about her pain pills and how she collapsed after her class let out. Yohko just frowned at Natsuki and crossed her arms.

"And Fujino-san was there when the pain came back?" Natsuki nodded, putting her hands into her jean pockets. "You might have those pain pills, but you won't be able to keep this up for long. You need proper rest!" Yohko practically yelled. "That's the only way you'll recover. Your doctor also told me you don't have anyone to take care of you."

"So what? It's not like I'm immobile or anything." Natsuki retorted. She hated the thought of being dependent on anyone. She had never been one to ask for help and preferred to keep her problems to herself. "Yes but, like I said, you need rest to recover. It's not just coming to work that will hurt you, it's doing anything that could put stress on your injuries." Yohko said before turning back to the paper work on her desk. "But I can't stop you. Just please keep what I've said in mind." Natsuki nodded before heading back to her room to work.

It was already five-thirty when Natsuki finally got home that day. Her sides were aching, her back felt like it got ran over by a truck and she still had to write up some lesson plans for tomorrow. Natsuki let out an exasperated sigh as she limped over to her bed and laid down, closing her eyes and groaning as her back throbbed in response. She couldn't believe that girl tricked her into going to the nurse's office. She couldn't believe she had actually made Natsuki blush. She couldn't believe she let a student get the better of her like that. It was simply unprofessional and unacceptable.

Natsuki opened her eyes and stared up at her plain, white ceiling. She turned her head to find boxes of clothing, dishes, and other house supplies that hadn't been unpacked yet. The apartment was practically bare aside from a few pictures on Natsuki's nightstand. One was of her mother, the other a family photo. Natsuki turned her head back up at the ceiling, thinking of what would happen tomorrow. What if Shizuru told the rest of the class about her injuries? Even if the girl hadn't heard what had happened to Natsuki the young teacher was sure the girl was smart enough to figure it out. Natsuki's eyebrows furrowed at this thought. She didn't want to deal with any stupid rumors about her being in some gang fight or owing money to a loan shark. But, then again, Shizuru didn't seem like the type to go spreading gossip. Natsuki let out another sigh before sitting up, hissing in pain as she did so. She'd find out tomorrow.

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Hope you enjoyed it! I'll try to make the future chapters a bit longer. I'm working on some artwork to go along with the story, so I'll tell you guys when I get it up. If you want to check it out it'll just be posted in my profile.

Have a nice day,
-Kruger