Three

I'd been playing a video game. One on ninjas. Itachi and mum had gone shopping. Dad was at work. Just me and Naruto in the house. I'd gone downstairs after losing against the boss and resetting the game for the fourth time, to get some orange juice.

I thought Naruto might like some.

It was his favourite after all.

I poured him a glass, sticking it on a tray with mine and a couple of jammie dodgers, and climbed the stairs to his room. He'd not left it all day. I presumed he was gaming. I opened the door. It hits against a squishy object as I push it open. A pillow. I kick it out the way.

"Naruto." I look up. He was in bed. I sigh and roll my eyes. "I brought some orange juice." I throw in a smile for good luck.

No reply.

"Naruto?"

No reaction.

"Oi, dobe, juice."

Nothing.

I place the tray on his sideboard and go to poke the figure in the bed. A shock of blond hair is all that peeks out the covers.

"Naruto...?" the figure in the bed rolled over. "Naruto? You ok?" Roll the other way"Naruto!" Annoyed I shook his shoulder and flicked him on the nose as he muttered;

"Stoop'it" And an arm tired to push me away. I caught a glimpse of his face, sweaty and pale, with a horrible red blush across his cheeks and nose. Was he sick?

"Naruto? Naruto, hey." I roll him over despite him protests and failing limbs and press my hand to his forehead. It's hot and sticky. Naruto flaps around and shoves me off. You're making this difficult dobe. I grit my teeth. "You've got a fever, you're ill, idiot. Why didn't you tell one of us, dobe? Hey... Naruto..." Naruto rolled over and bashed him in the chin with a wobby fist, burring his face into the mattress. Where was his pillow? "Hey, look at me... Naruto!" I flicked him on the nose, and I was rewarded with a pair of hazy blue eyes peeling open and a murmured;

"Wha? S'kay?"

"Yes, dobe, who else? What were you thinking...?" I roll my eyes. The idiot, what was he thinking? Not telling us he was feeling ill. Stupid dobe...

"N't think'in. Head 'urt" I let out a short bark of laughter at that.

"Not thinking? That much is evident, idiot. Is there even a brain in there?" I fetch his flannel from the bathroom, the orange one, and run it under the cold tap, then place it on his brow. I fold his covers back, and draw the curtains. His pillows lying by the door for some unbeknown reason or other and I slip my hand under his neck to lift it to push his pillow under. The hairs that card between my fingers are soft and fine and I find my fingers lingering there almost automatically. The skin beneath them in hot and sticky.

"S'kay..." Naruto picks that exact moment to open his eyes to reveal stunning blue. My heart stutters in my chest and I pull my fingers out from under his head to press them to his forehead. So hot. I should get him some medicine. Naruto flicks his head to one side and my hand slips off. I replace the flannel and he sighs softly, his breath puffing over my hand as I move it.

Stupid dobe.

"You're really ill dobe." Bleary blue eyes focus on me. "I'll get some medicine. Ok...?" no reply "Ok dobe?" Naruto groans into the pillow. "Dobe? Dobe? Hey..."

"Yer.. f'ne..." Naruto waves weakly at me. "plze?"

"Yeah, sure..." I get up to fetch him some, trying to put a smile on my face for him. I collect a packet of paracetamol and a glass of water and make my way upstairs.

When he's taken his medicine, he falls asleep.

I sit by his side and stroke his hair. Soft and blond and perfectly...

Naruto.

...

...

A.N: Short again, but hey, two updates in one night is nice, eh?

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