Author's Note: Heya all... I'm hungry... -grabs a burger- ... ok, so, where were we? Oh yeah, here's the next chap! ... enjoy, ne!
--- Thanks to those who have been faithful in supporting! I care for constructive criticism, so don't worry much about my feelings... -sniff-sniff-
Chapter Six: A Bad Sign
"What!?" Mitsuri practically yelled. Sasuke's weird expression was starting to freak her out. She stood there, wide-eyed, heart beating faster as she waited for him to tell her whatever he wanted to tell her. But before Sasuke could say anything, his knees buckled and he held the side of the dor for support. What was going on?
"Mitsuri... I think... I think I'm sick." Then he fell in a heap to the ground. Quick as lightning, Mitsuri dragged his unconscious body to the living room and put him on the couch. She felt his forehead. It was burning hot.
"What an idiot this guy is," she grumbled. He'd nearly scared her to death. "I hope it's just fever, I don't want to bring him all the way to the hospital." She blushed, realizing what she had just said. Fusubi and Sasuke had been so kind as to carry her to medical assistance and here she was, complaining about having to help Sasuke.
Hmm... I wonder why he's suddenly sick now? Wasn't he OK earlier? Oh well, he must have kept whatever odd feeling he got. Most guys are like that. She took a wet towel and mopped Sasuke's pale face with it. His breathing was deep and slow, its rhythm made Mitsuri want to curl up beside him. It was a silly thought, although there was enough space on the couch for the two of them.
For someone who acted so cool and tough, Sasuke sure didn't know how to take care of himself. It was understandable, Mitsuri decided. The boy didn't have anyone to look after him after his entire clan was wiped out. As for herself, she had the Sandaime. And Kakashi. Then there was also Junko. Where was she now anyway? She had been the medically inclined one in their team.
The rest of the night, Mitsuri stayed up, waiting for a reaction from Sasuke. He's sleeping, and I'm not. He better be well enough to handle the kids by tomorrow.
---
3:00 A.M.
"Sasuke-kun..." whispered Sakura to no one in particular. She was back in her own home, sitting worriedly by the window. When she found out that nobody was in the Uchiha house, she had given up, walking to her side of the village. All kinds of scary thoughts entered her head, Orochimaru's face in every one of them. Then suddenly, Inner Sakura woke up. I bet she's with that Mitsuri girl! They've been spending quite a lot of time together and will continue to do so. Unless... unless if I do something about it!
She slept peacefully, an idea forming inside her head.
---
6:00 A.M.
"Oi! Mitsuri-sensei! Hurry up!" Konohamaru pounded on the his sensei's door. When he got no answer, he turned the knob and saw that it wasn't locked. With an evil grin, he motioned for his teammates to follow. "Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee..."
"Matte kudasai, Kono-chan!" Moegi grabbed his wrist. "Shouldn't we just wait here? I don't think we should go inside! I mean, Mitsuri-sensei might get mad!"
"She's right, Konohamaru-kun," Udon spoke up. He glanced around uneasily. "Let's just wait here."
Konohamaru sighed dramatically. "All right. If you guys are willing to stand here for three hours, then let's not go in."
At that, his two friends sweatdropped. Udon scratched his head. "Ne, Konohamaru-kun, maybe we should go in after all." The late Sandaime's grandson smiled hugely and slowly opened the door.
Inside, they were shocked at what they saw. "Kono-chan!" Moegi reddened as she looked at their sensei. She was lying on the couch, next to... Sasuke-sensei!
"I didn't know they lived in the same house," Udon said stupidly. He wiped his nose with the back of his hand and continued staring at the sprawled bodies. "Gaah!" he screamed when Mitsuri suddenly sat up.
She looked around groggily, and her eyes fell on the body next to hers. Pinching her cheek to make sure she wasn't dreaming, she jumped up, recalling Sasuke's unexpected visit the night before. Catching sight of her students, Mitsuri raised an eyebrow. "Eh...? What are you guys doing here!?"
"EEEEKKK!!! Mitsuri-sensei! You're disgusting!!!" Konohamaru shouted, pointing at her.
Just as Mitsuri was about to kill him with her bare hands, Moegi quickly stepped between them. "Mitsuri-sensei! Ne! Listen first...! We decided to come here and fetch you. I mean..." she looked down at her toes. "You've been late so far, you know."
The green-haired Keiko girl sent a murderous glare at Konohamaru, who stuck his tongue out at her. You're lucky Moegi's here, her expression told him.
"Sensei, are you mad?" Udon asked from behind Konohamaru. He glanced at the still sleeping Sasuke. "We can leave."
"Ho hum. I'm very very mad! But don't go. Stay here while I change then I'll explain everything." She went to her room and locked the door thinking why the heck she felt like she should explainto these kids. And why in heaven's name did I lie next to Uchiha?
---
His head ached.
His whole body ached.
He opened his eyes and focused on an unfamiliar ceiling.
"Ooh, look, he's awake!"
He jerked his head to look at the source of the voice, the quick movement causing him to get dizzy. Where am I? he wondered. Is that Konohamaru? Slowly, he sat up and rubbed his shoulder. "What happened?" he asked. His throat felt dry and he licked his cracking lips.
"You collapsed!" Mitsuri appeared, wearing a grin. "You got fever, dude. Don't worry, I don't think It's really serious. But you're still not up to training today, so I'll take these kids here—" she glared at Konohamaru, "and take care of them myself. Just rest here for a while. Breakfast is there on the coffee table and I'll be back to give you lunch."
"I collapsed?"
"Hai! You showed up at my doorstep last night, then you fainted, so I—"
"—so she put you on that couch and slept next to you!" Konohamaru exclaimed standing beside Moegi for safety.
Eyebrow and mouth twitching, Mitsuri forced a smile. "Y-Yeah. And good thing I didn't catch anything from you!" she said, trying to make light of the situation. She blushed, swearing to herself that she would choke the loudmouthed kid whenever she had the chance. She walked over to Sasuke and whispered, "I didn't do anything, ne," to which Sasuke reddened and took to acting like he couldn't care less.
---
Ahh. Silence. Sasuke's face was still warm when the others left. And it wasn't because of the fever. "That baka..." he muttered, referring to Mitsuri. "She didn't have to say anything. I know she wouldn't do anything." He looked at the large bowl of soup on the table. It didn't look appealing but he decided against not eating it, because he wanted to get well as soon as possible. He hated feeling weak.
Lack of sleep must have been the cause of his unhealthy state. He was no longer bitter, but thinking that he was alone kept him up each night. When he found out about Mitsuri's background, he found hope. That he wasn't alone. That there was someone like him. He would have slept peacefully after that but those restless nights had taken its toll on him. And there he was, too weak to even hold a spoon properly.
"Why did I come here?" His question hung in the air. Deep down inside him, the answer could be found. Only he was too dense to see it.
---
Meanwhile, a certain pink-haired girl was sitting in the Hokage's office, her whole body tense with anticipation. "What do you think, Tsunade-sama?" She flipped her hair back and studied the older woman's face eagerly.
"Aren't you currently studying at the medical-nin academy?"
The girl nodded. "But I have decided to put my classes on hold if you'd agree to my request."
"I don't know, Sakura. I'll have to think about it."
---
By the time Sasuke finished his soup, it was almost lunchtime. He felt better. She'd probably be here soon. As if on cue, the door banged open and in walked Mitsuri, carrying bags of food. Seeing Sasuke still gripping his breakfast spoon, she gave him a 'poor you' look and put down the bags on the table.
"Would you like to take a bath?"
Sasuke nodded. A bath would feel good. Mitsuri went to the bathroom and prepared a cold-water bath for him. She had heard others say that using cold water to take a bath was not good for people with fever, but she decided that it wasn't true, because she always used cold water whenever she had fever. "It's ready!" She went back to the living room to help Sasuke up. It was so hard to believe that the young Uchiha survivor was currently needing help in walking.
"Can you undress yourself or should I do it?"
"I can do it," Sasuke muttered crossly. Seeing Mitsuri's hurt expression, he said, "Sorry. I'm sorry for giving you trouble."
"That's OK." She got outside but she didn't close the bathroom door, just in case Sasuke needed something. While she waited she recalled her training with the kids earlier.
'PERVERT!' Konohamaru had screamed, catching the attention of Kakashi's team, who was training nearby. Embarrassing... Mitsuri twitched her nose. And to think that I always call Kakashi-sensei that!
---
As soon as Sasuke got out of the bathroom, he felt well enough to walk. Mitsuri gave him some of Kakashi's old clothes to wear (Kakashi used to watch over Mitsuri when she was younger).
"Where are you going?" Mitsuri asked him.
"I'm going to take a walk."
"Will you be back?"
"Is it OK?"
"Yeah... sure."
Outside, Sasuke felt familiar chakra. This chakra... he glanced around, his pale lips set in a straight line. He stayed like that for a while, then he went back in, forgetting his walk.
Let me know what'cha think by e-mailing me or by submitting a review! :) -Anko-dono-
P.S. next chap will be more on action -looks around for Spellcasterz- enough of the love thing! heheh...