Hana's Heads-Up: Yoohoo! Hana's back with another one-shot! And while I was out of town, I wrote this. Perfect opportunity. XD

Okay! So, for this theme I didn't want to be all cliché. As always. I mean, just looking at the word makes you think of Ichigo's craziness for sweets. I hope this here will be alright. :3

Theme 6: Obsession

For a reason unknown, the St. Marie Japanese campus was being attacked with the chickenpox virus.

Kashino had no idea why such a rare disease to catch nowadays was quickly infecting the entire school. Somehow the outbreak had started earlier last week with several people. Now the majority of the students and faculty was affected. Even classmates he knew who had been vaccinated before were down with the illness.

That fact scared him.

He was not going to catch this, he vowed. His grades and attendance needed to be in tip-top shape. He had to be healthy for the Cake Grand Prix semi-finals which were taking place in two weeks, delayed due to the outbreak.

He'd never had chickenpox before, but it looked like a miserable experience. Just thinking about being covered in itchy, red blisters sent eerie chills down his spine. At least he had been vaccinated when he was younger.

But no way was he getting sick now.

He was going to ensure that was the case no matter what. In order to do so, he began wearing surgical masks that protected his nose and mouth. He avoided contact with other people as much as possible. He took care to get a good amount of sleep each night, drink enough fluids, and wash his hands frequently.

The next few days were terrifying. His health didn't falter, thankfully. But so much more people were falling ill and being confined to the infirmary. By now the number of infected patients in the clinic had increased so much that more doctors had been summoned to be caretakers.

And yet, classes were still held. It was strange. Everyday Kashino saw fewer classmates in the classrooms. Fear lingered throughout the campus. Even Hanabusa and Andou had both come down with the horrid virus.

He was beginning to become paranoid about the whole issue. So who could blame him for his reaction when Amano Ichigo showed up the next day with several red bumps on her skin?

She arrived at the cooking station looking as cheerful as always, wearing that energetic smile. As she drew nearer, Kashino grew horrified upon noticing her face.

There were a few bumps near her mouth and some on her forehead.

Kashino knew what chickenpox blisters looked like. Days before he'd escorted a rash-stricken Hanabusa to the nurse immediately after seeing his condition. Due to this traumatic experience, Kashino completely went berserk at the sight of Ichigo.

He couldn't help it. Every friend of his was now infected except for him. And that also meant he was bound to catch it soon himself.

"Amano! Those dots on your face! When did they...?" Kashino pointed frantically at her face and wore an expression of sheer terror.

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

Clueless. As always.

"Aren't they chicken pox?"

"What are?"

"The bumps you have on your face! You should go to the infirmary right this minute. Please go. Please."

It was like she couldn't comprehend his words. Confused, she stepped closer and closer to the demanding blond in concern for his strange behavior.

"Don't come any closer! Go! You're really contagious! Stay away from me!"

"What do you mean? Kashino! I'm not sick!"

"Yes, you are! Those bumps—"

"They're pimples!"

Kashino blinked in disbelief. "Wait. Really?"

"Yes! I can prove it to you. We can go to the infirmary right now and ask Sensei."

Kashino took a long, hard look at the girl. He felt stupid. She didn't seem to be lying and looked perfectly healthy. Even peering closer at the bumps made him more convinced that it was simply acne and nothing more. "No, we don't have to. Sorry for overreacting."

Ichigo laughed. "Mou, Kashino. You don't have to be so crazy over staying healthy. There's nothing wrong with getting sick every now and then."

He blushed, averting his gaze. "Well, that's just me."

~x~

Less than two weeks later, Kashino found himself stuck in the infirmary with a bad case of chickenpox.

As soon as the headache and uncomfortable hot feeling had developed, he knew he was doomed. The blond was automatically labeled as a victim of the illness.

He'd failed.

Now he was an achy, feverish mess covered in inflamed blisters that he badly yearned to scratch. It was embarrassing that he had to wear socks over his hands to prevent himself from worsening the rash with his fingernails.

At least the oatmeal baths helped soothe the itchiness. But afterwards it was pure skin torture once more.

He hated to suffer like this. He hated it.

"Kashino-san, you have a visitor." Sensei pulled the curtain back and smiled at her patient. The male sat up to see Ichigo walking toward his bedside with her purse in hand.

"Amano? What are you here for?" Surprise shone in his eyes as he struggled to sit upright.

"To see how you're doing, of course. Feeling any better?"

"No. This disease is cruel." He sighed and waved at her with sock-covered hands.

She flashed him a sympathetic grin. "I know. At least you didn't miss any school or Grand Prix competitions. They finally cancelled because of all the absences."

"True."

Ichigo dug into her purse and fetched out a bottle of calamine lotion. "Here, I bought this for you. It should reduce the itch a bit."

He took it from her with awe. "Wow, thanks."

"You want me to put some on your back for you?"

He reddened profusely at the offer. "S-sure." Hesitant, he slowly unbuttoned his top and removed it.

Ichigo frowned upon the sight. His whole back was decorated with bumps and drenched in perspiration. When he turned his head and gave a nervous nod, she noticed the unhealthy looking sheen on his face. "Are you okay? Your fever seems pretty high."

"I'm fine," he replied softly. "It's nothing really."

"Ah." She unscrewed the cap and squeezed out a huge blob of cream before smoothing it out gently on his skin. "Does this hurt?"

Instant cool relief from the cream and her soft hands hit him. It was a wondrous sensation. "No, it feels great. Keep going."

Ichigo smiled as she continued to apply ointment to the rash. Silence followed until she finished with a screwing of the cap minutes later.

"Thanks, Amano. For coming here. I was getting kind of lonely," Kashino mumbled.

"It's nothing." She giggled. "If you want, I can keep you company everyday from now on."

He looked down at the pajama top in his hands with embarrassment. "I'd... like that."

She sat on the bed at his feet, pigtails bouncing as she nodded slightly. "Okay, I'll be sure to make you a treat tomorrow. Or pick something up from Salon de Marie."

He slid into the sleeves of his top and began to button it on. She leaned forward and helped him with the rest. Without question. The feel of her hands being so close to his chest plagued his mind. His temperature definitely spiked at that point.

"A-Amano... Are you fine with being so close to me? I don't want to get you sick. You've been healthy through the whole outbreak, too."

"Oh, that? I'm immune. I've already had chickenpox as a kid."

She said it so plainly. So straight-forward.

"You... have?"

"Yep."

Kashino hung his head. "You're just full of surprises, aren't you?"

"That's right." Ichigo abruptly wrapped him into a gentle embrace and fingered through his sweaty hair. "I am."

He was caught off-guard once again, but still deepened the hug himself. "Man. Quit being so unfair." Was it possible to die of blushing? He was close. Possibly he even set a world record.

"So you want me to let go? You can't stand even a hug from a friend, huh?"

"No, that's not it! I..."

Through all of this, Sensei watched the two from a small crack in between the curtains. She was smiling at the scene. They are always so lively at this age.

"...Amano, you baka."

Well. I've never had chickenpox before, thankfully. Has anyone out there? :O

If I got off-track with the theme, I'm sorry. I just love vulnerable Kashino a bit too much. So that's where some of the obsession part comes in. LOL.

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