The first day she didn't let it bother her. The second day she missed him terribly, especially when lunch came with the bullies. The third day she started to worry, was it normal to be out three days? The fourth day she worried, a lot. So it was on the fifth day of his absence that she could no longer continue on her current course of searching for him frantically as if he would pop out of nowhere in some long drawn out joke, she actively searched him out. She had started by asking some of the nicer, meaning they didn't actually make fun of her, kids in her class where he might live. She had gotten little to no response and none of it was in anyway useful.
So being the logical girl that she was she then asked Iruka-sensai. Directions were given in return for a thousand watt smile before she happily skipped away while he shook his head slightly. After school that day she pranced along happy at the prospect of seeing her best friend again with a bowl of chicken flavored ramen tucked securely under her arm. Taking a left Sakura found herself face to face with a grubby apartment building that reminded Sakura of exactly where her mother told her to never go. Somewhat timidly she continued towards it keeping as much distance between herself and the other passerby's as humanly possible hugging her bowl of ramen tightly.
Ascending the creaky, dirty stairs to where Naruto's apartment hopefully was she comforted herself that she was a ninja in training and therefore could handle any crazy-physco-serial killer that might pop out and try to kill her, she wasn't sure how much she believed that but it warded off the darker thoughts.
After what seemed an eternity to the scared little girl she knocked on the dingy door with faded letters reading 'A16.' At first nothing happened then, faintly, she could hear uncertain steps painstakingly slowly making their way to the door. Steeling herself and squeezing her eyes shut she waited only peeking one open when she heard the squeal of the door opening.
"Sakura-chan?" He was kept from saying anything further by the hacking cough that erupted from his throat. Holding the soup in one hand she patted his back slowly moving into his house. He allowed her to guide him in with no problem.
In a way Sakura wasn't surprised by the state of his apartment, after all the rest of the building wasn't exactly gorgeous. Wall paper peeled on the wall, the carpet looked like it had been around longer than her mother, and various items littered the cramped space. She could see a corner of his bed from where she stood, setting the soup down on a beaten table she ushered him to his bed not unlike what her mother did with her when she was ill.
"Well at least I know you didn't up and die." She attempted to lighten the mood with a little humor. It brought a small smile to his face before a cough tore its way up his throat. Fussingly she tucked him in before going in search of a suitable clothe to dampen and put on his head. Returning with the ramen and clothe at the ready she scrutinized him. Slightly feverish, a cough that didn't sound good in anyway, and she wouldn't have been surprised if he had tossed his cookies in his five day absence. Feeling lost in the scope of his sickness she did what any six year old would do, she called her mom.
"Mom, Naruto's sick. What do I do?" After listing off his symptoms and what was at hand Sakura felt significantly better. Armed with a mother's knowledge she nudged Naruto in a sitting position and gave him the ramen that by now was more lukewarm than anything.
"Thank you Sakura-chan." He ate with his head bent down staring fixedly into his ramen.
"You're welcome Naruto-kun." Sakura chirped glad that her efforts were appreciated. "Just don't ever do that to me again, I was worried sick!" It was almost scary how fast she went from the sweet Sakura to the scary Sakura that practically had fire in her eyes.
"H-hai." All in all though Naruto wouldn't have it any other way. He had a friend, one who cared enough to bring him ramen, tuck him in, and even be so worried about him that she was scary. Eyes drooping slightly he snuggled into the blankets with his last conscious thought that he had a new favorite food, ramen.
Well I have discovered something, if I want to write all I have to do is get sick and suddenly I have enough inspiration to write three fics. I'll just have to get sick more often. Reviews are appreciated and the reviewers are loved and praises of them are sung! –Cloey Marie-