Chapter Eleven: A Bittersweet Consequence

Rei rolled over and felt a stabbing pain in her chest. Her eyes flew open and she shot up straight from the bed – only to feel even worse. She immediately puked right at the bedside but her stomach only retched and she ended up dry heaving. Seconds later, she groaned, hands smacking around the table for tissue paper and wiping her mouth with it. She closed her eyes, feeling more fatigue than ever and sick to the core. She didn't even realize that her sensei was there, looking down sadly at his student until he spoke up.

"I'm sorry, Rei," he said quietly, coming to her. He sat on her bed and placed a hand on his shoulder. He truly felt remorse for doing this however he knew that he had to. "But I'm asking you to withdraw from the exam." Her eyes went wide with frantic.

"What? Why? I'm a part of the team too and I –" She started to panic. It wasn't fair, the one thing that she thought she could do like everyone else was being taken away from her. Kakashi's grip on her shoulder tightened and he looked at her seriously.

"The second test is a Survival one, Rei, and if you were to get sick in the course, not only would it be bad for you but you would be considered decapitated and it would eliminate the rest of the team from the competition."

Oh.

She understood now.

"So you're…sacrificing me for their sake?" she concluded quietly and she felt something burst with disappointment. She felt as if something had just...left her. Her chest deflated, her eyes blurring over. But in the same time, she completely understood his reasoning. Kakashi seemed surprised to hear the raw truth but that wasn't the main reason. Her hands tightened in a fist and he moved closer towards her.

"Your condition is worsening, and I won't be able to keep an eye on you," he insisted, changing his explanation to something equally true but her mind was stuck around the first reason: for the sake of her teammate. Her drive dying and thoroughly tired, she slumped back into the bed. "They will be able to go on even if I quit now?" she asked.

"Yes."

It was obvious what she had to do.

"Then I withdraw." Her voice was quiet. Kakashi stared.

"Rei?" he said cautiously but her eyes merely slid to him before she groaned loudly, punching the bed and whipping the covers over her.

"I just want to sleep!" she called out beneath the blankets and he sighed. Sometimes, I forget that she's only twelve.

"Well, all right."

0-0

Sasuke's head was running in circles. Should he visit Rei, or not? Sure he was the one that hurried her to the infirmary…but she was unconscious and they didn't have to talk then. He felt awkward around her, almost disappointed after seeing her look so weak next to Gaara. It angered him that she wasn't as strong as she was in the Land of Waves, or as confident. Was it only a burst of strength in that one moment – and she turned out to be completely average? He didn't want her to be normal, useless kunoichi like Sakura.

Still, his worry beat his pride so he ended up knocking on the hospital room door. It was the silver haired jonin that opened it, smiling normally at the Uchiha. "Well you're awake early, Sasuke," Kakashi greeted pleasantly.

"Yeah," he simply muttered dismissively, "sure, whatever." But Kakashi stepped in front of him, blocking the entrance. Sasuke glared at him. He tried to get around him impatiently. "What are you doing, Kakashi?"

"You shouldn't go in there," he warned and after a moment's pause, he added, "Rei won't be taking part in the second exam."

Shock broke through the boy's guarded expression. He stared at his sensei, wide-eyed. "What?"

"Her body is too ill, and she agreed to withdraw for the rest of the squad's sake. Respect her decision," Kakashi explained. Sasuke grind his teeth, clenched his fist and brushed the older ninja aside, walking in anyway. So now, defenceless against Gaara – and backing out of the chunin exams too? But as soon as he walked in, his anger faded when he saw Rei - staring out the window, her eyes sad and oddly still. She stirred when Sasuke stepped into the room, but didn't do much but give him a small smile. "Hey there."

"Is it true? What Kakashi said?" Sasuke demanded, glaring at her, skipping past unnecessary pleasantries. "How can you just give –"

She rolled her eyes and sat up straight. "Do you really want me to be dead weight and –"

"Sure!" he cut her off. "Why not fight?" His eyes were completely serious and she stared at him, shaking her head. Her words - dead weight replayed in his head as he matched her words to her appearance right now...and she looked horrible. Her eyes were blood shot and ringed red as if she had been throwing up, and her skin that was usually pale looked practically translucent - the bluish tones of veins visible underneath the sweating skin.

"I can't do that to you guys. All of you have a real chance of becoming chunin and I…well, I have a real chance of getting sick and ruining it all for you," she said in a matter of fact tone and then she softened. "I don't want to be the reason you fail, okay?" There was a plea for understanding in her voice and she sounded frightened of being the reason why her team will be brought down. And Sasuke was angry. Angry because she was acting like a frail girl when she was a strong kunoichi and –

And then he realized something/ He had ignored Rei for days after his eyes caught the comparison between her and the sand ninja. But why should that matter – Rei was his comrade, the only ninja he didn't feel the need to beat.

"I want to, trust me, but it wouldn't benefit anyone," she continued in a quiet voice. And because of her willingness to do really anything for her squad, it was the day Sasuke saw Rei as the ninja that she really was. He didn't even think. His previous anger melted into frustration and he leaned, in and taking her face not softly in his hand, his lips just barely touched her forehead.

But that alone was more than enough.

What are they...twelve? Ah well, let them make out or whatever. Still got to play up that romance side of this story, after all! :)

Hope you enjoyed this shorter chapter and leave a review! :)

On a complete off-note, I just finished watching Kuroshitsuji - DEFINITELY RECOMMEND IT.