Be warned… -holds arms in front of chest to ward off evil-

There is a song in this one…

Forgive me if you hate songfics, but I couldn't help it! I just learned the song myself in choir and I love it.

This isn't supposed to be a songfic, it just has a song.

With that over with… FUCK YEAH! I so fucking told someone in a response to a review that I'd have this out within the week and look! Here it is!

I am SO bitchin!

Wow, I probably shouldn't be so happy with myself but you guys must admit that this is infinitely better than the month or two I had been having between updates.

Copyright to… not me. Lol, Kishimoto and the sweet Billy Idol who supplied me with the song I used.

He must be feverish, because this is just weird… Hinata thought vaguely, watching him take off the blanket and snuggle into the sweatshirt. He probably isn't thinking straight and won't even remember what he's been doing…

Sasuke drank the rest of his tea quickly and silently, and then looked at her for more orders. His face was so emotionless, but he was still obliging to her demands.

He was starting to feel it. As if a curtain was drawn to reveal a world of destruction and terror. He began to shake, to feel the cold air and also his hot skin. Exhaustion consumed him, and yet he still couldn't submit to sleep. He had gotten over his stubborn ignorance of what he was doing to him self. Nice.

"Uh… you…" Hinata stammered, trying to wrap her mind around the ever-so-sudden change of tact.

Was it just now, or had she always noticed how handsome he was? Just sitting there, a display of pure human perfection, albeit a pale and rather sickly looking one. Who's Naruto?

"Y-you should probably… lie down."

She quickly made her way to the other side of the island and clutched his shoulders, beginning to steer him out of his seat and to where she knew his room was. Uncharacteristically, he let her, obviously not caring about the ever-present 'man pride' that ran thick through his veins.

To her horror, when she entered she noticed that his bed was perfectly made. It was evidence of its lack of use. "You… you haven't slept either? Oh Sasuke…"

He vaguely noticed the sadness and worry in her voice. It made him feel terribly guilty for being such an ass to her when she first came. He did need help, he knew that now. If anyone could barge in and destroy his carefully built barriers with almost relentless kindness, it was this girl.

"I haven't been able to…" He muttered, closing his eyes for her to lead him to a better place. Or had she done that already?

Hinata made sure to pull back the blanket before lowering him down onto his sheets. She reckoned that he didn't want to sleep for fear of nightmares about whatever happened that day… when it all happened. "Is there anything I can do to help you sleep?"

No stutter… wow.

He was out of his right mind. He was feverish and disorientated. That's why he said it. Well, that's what she couldn't help but think anyway, because she couldn't fathom any other reason.

"Just be here. With me."

For the first time in… ever, adult Uchiha Sasuke was cute. Hiding all bundled up in the down comforter with only his pale face sticking out, his eyes half-closed. He immediately curled up with his knees to his chest, taking up about 2ft by 2ft of space. He was feverish and wouldn't remember any of this, but the fact still remained that he was just too… damn… cute.

So she sat on the bed next to him with her legs hanging off. Her voice came out in a whisper. "Okay."

They stayed like that for a few minutes while Hinata's hand slowly drifted to what was showing of his face. I'm checking his temperature… that's all.

She could feel the heat even from two inches away. Even though she could already feel it, she still touched down on his forehead, her fingertips skimming it lightly. His bangs were sticking to his face and so she started to play with them a little, running her fingers through. It came from a completely innocent 'he's probably uncomfortable with his hair sticking to his skin', but there was a little part of her that scolded her for unnecessary touching.

Keyword little. She continued to play with his hair for a while before noticing that she was totally neglecting her caretaking duties.

"Oh! I f-forgot the washcloth… I'm going to leave for a minute, okay?" She said, pushing his bangs to the side of his face and out of his eyes for good measure.

Sasuke said nothing, only stiffened his body a little. She took that as permission to leave so she quickly got up and hurried out of his room and to the kitchen, almost glad she got out of there for she had suddenly gotten dizzy.

My heart is pumping madly, my head is spinning… She touched the skin on her cheeks lightly. My skin is burning… am I catching his sickness? At the island counter, she pressed all her weight onto it, holding herself up with her hands clutching the edge.

She tried to concentrate on her breathing, to control it. In… Out… I can't believe I forgot how to breathe… I can't even imagine what he must be feeling if this is killing me like this…

Hyuga Hinata really didn't get it. She just didn't. Uchiha Sasuke did, oh how he did. Twas a little thing called Love Sickness.

Oh yeah, washcloth!

But before getting that, she stumbled to the closet where she had found the sweater she gave him and opened one of the doors. After strained searching, she managed to find another hoodie, this time one from soccer. It was black with red stitching that said 'Konoha Soccer' on the front in bold letters and with his last name printed on one arm and CAPTAIN stitched into the other arm.

Her clothes were now more-or-less dry so she slipped the hoodie over her head, pausing for a minute before it was properly on to revel in it's softness and distinct smell.

Now where does he keep his washcloths?

When Hinata returned to his room, she warily stepped in, both hands clutching the damp rag. At first glance, it looked as if Sasuke were asleep until she walked around the bed and saw his eyes. They were half-open and completely fixated on one spot.

As she came closer, his dark eyes flicked up to her face for a moment before flitting back to where he had been staring. She daintily placed the folded rag on his forehead, rearranging it so it was dead center.

"S-still can't sleep?"

He didn't respond, but just simply buried his head further in the blankets. It was so cute she just had to smile at his antics. "You're just like a little kid."

Sasuke stopped fidgeting as she said that. A little kid?

"Hn," He grunted, coming a little more out of his cavern. It was adorably reminiscent of a turtle.

If he was indeed a little kid… then some options were now open to him. What was that thing that was always done to kids when they couldn't sleep? Oh yeah…

"A little bird told me you sing." He gurgled, his eyes not meeting her bewildered ones.

She blushed, slightly angry at the 'little bird', also known as the traitor Kiba. "W-why does it matter?"

Sasuke could actually hear the almighty Light Bulb of Understanding go off in her mind. "You w-want me t-to sing to you? Sasuke, I…"

Stubbornness and illness must go hand in hand. "I won't sleep until you sing to me."

Perhaps he was just a little kid in a grown up's body.

"I… I don't know any lullabies…"

"Liar."

Hinata was taken aback by both his bluntness and the fact that he was right. Who doesn't know at least one lullaby?

"Uh… well…" She stuttered, sitting on the side of the bed with her legs hanging off like she was doing before retrieving the sweater and washcloth.

Sasuke actually looked up at her, his tired black eyes performing a sort of inverse puppy-dog (A/N: does that make sense?), one that was more like he was appraising her. "Sing the prettiest one you know… please?" He added the please as an afterthought.

One immediately popped into mind, but she was still hesitant. It was a ballad exchanged between lovers, to be frank. Were they anything close to that? She cared about him deeply and was pretty sure he felt the same… he wouldn't take it as any type of confession, would he? But who was to say it wasn't a confession? But why on earth would she be confessing in the first place? This is so confusing!

Hinata was fighting with her own mind. She knew that he wouldn't even remember, so what was the problem? He seemed to be telling the truth, as she knew him to be pretty stubborn. It was true that he probably wouldn't sleep until she… Here goes nothing.

"Goodnight, my angel

Time to close your eyes

And save these questions for another day

I think I know what you've been asking me

I think you know what I've been trying to say.

I promised I would never leave you

And you should always know

Wherever you may go

No matter where you are

I never will be far away."

Her voice was a little different than what he had expected. He thought that it would be higher, definitely soprano, which it was. What baffled him was the strength and clarity behind it. He found it unnecessary to look at her, so he just closed his eyes and exposed his ears.

Hinata had long stopped blushing. She seemed to draw an odd strength from singing, and soon forgot her discomforts.

"Goodnight, my angel

Now it's time to sleep

And still so many things I want to say

Remember all the songs you sang for me

When we went sailing on an emerald bay.

And like a boat out on the ocean

I'm rocking you to sleep

The water's dark and deep

Inside this ancient heart

You'll always be a part of me."

Sasuke felt himself calming a little. Her singing just seemed to weigh down on him, making him start to slowly believe that everything would be okay. While far from putting him to sleep, Hinata's lullaby had more-or-less achieved its original goal.

"Goodnight, my angel

Now it's time to dream

And dream how wonderful your life will be

Someday your child may cry

And if you sing this lullaby

Then in your heart

There will always be a part of me.

Someday we'll all be gone

But lullabies go on and on...

They never die

That's how you

And I

Will be."

Hinata faded out, suddenly becoming self-conscious. Why on earth did I do that?

I think that woke me up more… Sasuke thought, debating whether or not to venture out of his warmth bubble.

She started fidgeting with a corner of the comforter that Sasuke was hiding in, a blush making short work of her face. Under the covers, he just lie there curled up in his little ball.

Naruto, you fucking dumbass. He thought bitterly, trying to wonder what the hell has been running through that blonde baka's head for the last, oh who knows how many years? How can he not be head-over-heels for her when she dotes on him so much?

Aha, but remember what she said? She doesn't like him anymore…Inner Sasuke decided to make his grand entrance after abandoning his host body for the last three days.

She said that she doesn't think she likes him anymore… that's a different story.

No it's not and you know it.

Oh, fuck off; you're not even real!

Baka, I'm just as real as you. Psh, you just admitted to being crazy, you know that right?

"Uh… Sasuke?"

He jerked slightly out of his cove upon hearing her, abolishing any doubts of hers that he had fallen asleep.

She just wants to get out of here… she wants me to sleep so she can ditch… He thought, bringing to life the nagging idea that she just wanted him to be better for her own conscious, so she wouldn't be the one who killed him.

"I… I… you should know that I'm going to stay here until you get better. E-even if you want me to leave before that."

Or not.

Sasuke spoke, his voice cracking slightly. "Think you can take that much time away?"

He just heard her, having had his eyes closed since she had started to sing. Her speaking voice was a lullaby on its own to him. "Well, I'll tell otousama I'm sleeping at Sakura's, tell her I'm on a chaste sleepover w-with Kiba. We've done it before actually…"

Good plan… it was as if she had been sitting on it for a while.

"That's what I though about when I was riding the elevator, g-granted you accepted my hospitality…"

Sasuke chuckled out loud, for his theory had been completely true.

"What?" She asked, mockingly offended.

"Oh, nothing. You're just cute."

A great shiver rose from the small of her back as he said this. From what she did not know, but afterward she couldn't help but shake from an abominable cold that she started to feel. I have to tell otousama… then call Sakura and tell her about the lie so she doesn't mess it up…

"I have to leave for a moment, alright?" Her voice took on a very motherly air, as if she was talking to a puppy.

"Hn,"

I can't talk to otousama, we're still on sticky terms with each other… Oh, Hanabi-chan!

"Hey Hinata-nee…" Hanabi's voice was a little wary over the phone. Tensions were still a little bad and Hanabi didn't want to be the one who accidentally broke it all.

"Hanabi-chan… how's it going?" Hinata asked, taking a seat in one of the high-legged chairs by the counter. She was still shivering, so she hugged her arms to her, holding the phone with her shoulder.

"Uh, well nothing much has happened in the four hours since I've seen you last…"

Hinata laughed nervously, raising one hand out of her tight hold and feeling her forehead with it. Yeah, definitely a little warm… "R-right. Could you do me a favor maybe?"

"Sure, what do you need?"

"Could you, ah… tell otousama that I'm staying at Sakura's tonight? I would but…"

Hanabi laughed softly on the other line. "No you wouldn't actually. But yeah, I've got you covered. Seriously though… what are you really doing?"

Hinata went pale. How can she tell I'm lying over the phone? "Well, I, uh, wanted to go to Kiba's tonight…"

"That's also a lie, isn't it?"

"What makes you say that?"

"Come on nee-chan, I'm your dearest, loving sister. I'm not going to rat you out…"

She realized that there was no harm in telling her. Hanabi was mad at their father as well, and she wouldn't exactly gain anything from tattling.

"Are you with that total fox, Sasuke again? Yes, I know, Neji told me."

"Eh? Ano… well… yes actually I am."

"That's hot." She said it so nonchalantly that Hinata smiled.

"He's sick and I… kinda broke into his house and forced my company on him until he accepted it?" She ended it in a question, just to lighten the mood a little.

"Right… are you sick now too?" Hanabi asked in the same slightly amused voice from before.

"Yes, actually…"

"Dirty little girl…"

"Wha—oh! No Hanabi, we didn't kiss!" As she said that, she realized how that seemed to be the case. He was sick and now she was too… ooh la laa.

"Hm, maybe you didn't. Oh, I got it!"

"What…?"

"Give him a kiss from me, okay? But you can say it's from you I suppose, I have no problem with that…"

Hinata heard low coughing from inside Sasuke's room, leaving only one culprit. Shit! What if he's coughing up blood?! I have to be there! "Ah! Fine, I'll do that… he's coughing and I… oh my. Okay okay okay, can you call Sakura for me?" Hanabi could distinctly hear the coughing even over the phone. "Tell her to initiate Operation: Doghouse, alright? Oh, but don't tell her that I'm at Sasuke's though. I'll call you tomorrow. Love you Hana."

"Yeah, yeah. Tell me how my kiss went okay?"

As the call disconnected, Hanabi smirked, knowing that Hinata heard what she said last. Looks like someone moved on from a certain blonde… She thought while locating Sakura in her contact list. Hanabi and Sakura both took kickboxing, so they had exchanged numbers.

The phone dialed twice before Sakura picked up, sounding a little hassled. "Hanabi-chan, what is it?"

"Sakura-neechan, I bear a message from Hinata."

"No offence, why didn't she just call me?"

Hanabi chuckled, falling backward over the arm of the couch and flicking on the widescreen TV. A new episode of a show she liked was starting soon.

"She forgot her phone here. Uh, where are you?"

Hyuga were known across the world for their quick wit.

"Ichiraku's with Naruto and Kiba… oh, well Kiba's leaving now so just Naruto and I."

As perverted as ever, Hanabi couldn't help but take a crack at that one. "And after the date? Better wear protection Sakura…"

"Shut up little freshman." Sakura joked, laughing as she said it. It was all in good fun. "What's Hinata's message?"

"She says to, and I quote: 'Initiate Operation: Doghouse."

"Ah, sleepover at Kiba's… All right, I'll keep the secret in case Hiashi-san calls! Thanks Hanabi. I'll talk to you later, in class okay?"

"See you Sakura-nee…" Hanabi muttered, canceling the call. She then lightly tossed the phone at the plush carpet and began to watch her show; all the while the storm that seemed to have passed was pushed aside by a louder and stronger one from the north.

Hinata walked back into Sasuke's room with a mug of water. It was kind of small, but it was the only liquid holder she could find quickly. Although his coughing had stopped, she felt he could still use something to sooth his throat.

But nature had thought otherwise.

Just as she kneeled onto his bed, a roll of thunder sounded, causing her to squeak and flinch so badly that she tossed the water out of the cup and onto the hardwood floor. She didn't even react to that though.

Spill be damned, she hugged herself to try to get away from her fear that had just came back full force. It was the moving of the blanket that she was sitting on that made her slowly open her eyes.

Sasuke was trying to pull the blanket out from under her, so naturally she stood up and allowed him to gather it up. She couldn't, for the life of her, figure out why he was now patting the spot that was now open to her.

"Don't be scared." Sasuke's voice was like a croak and he even turned his whole body to the opposite side so he was facing her. "Lie with me."

She seemed to be less afraid of the storm when she was concentrating on me and my health, so maybe... Sasuke thought sluggishly, hoping beyond hope that she would abide by his request.

Another loud bash of thunder caused Hinata to squeak and dive for the spot with her eyes shut tight. A second later she felt a very warm blanket fall on top of her when Sasuke tossed it with the arm that he didn't have under his head.

When she opened her eyes again, everything was dark and she could hear her breathing as well as his. Little Hinata then realized that they were very close; she could actually feel the back of his hand on her knuckles.

"Don't be afraid. I'll protect you."

Again the thunder crashed, only louder this time. On impulse to grab onto something, Hinata grabbed his hands, quickly intertwining her fingers in his.

She said absolutely nothing at all, flinching when a smaller thunderclap sounded.

"I'll be here."

"I… I know."

An odd reversal of situations. The caretaker, Hinata, verbally slapped the patient, Sasuke into his senses so he felt his illness only to end up folding and becoming sheltered by him when her courage left her, all in the same hour. Quite the feat. Who was taking care of whom again?

After the storm passed it was soon replaced with exhaustion and eventually sleep for our cute heiress. Hinata's even and quiet breathing worked as a lullaby for our sick orphan, who fell asleep about an hour after she did. During that hour, he just thought. Not about Itachi and his family, but about her, the girl who had just recently became his whole world. He had come to terms with that. Sasuke was outstandingly grateful for her presence curled up with him even in the completely friendly way they were in.

But it went deeper than that. Sasuke could honestly say that there was a chance that perhaps he loved her. Maybe she was the one to bring complete and unadulterated love back into his life. Sure he loved Naruto and Sakura like family, but it was nothing like this.

Before he finally fell off to dreamland for the first time in three days, he decided something. I think I should tell her how I feel.

By the time they were both asleep, it was 2 in the afternoon.

Kinda all over the place. And yes, short, I know.

BUT! I realized that this one wasn't quite over yet, and if I would have continued it would have been like, 20 pages and there was no way I could have done that, ESPECIALLY with Breaking Dawn coming out and T-shirts needing to be made. There, now you know. The next installment is coming up soonish! Yay!

Tee hee. I just realized that that was vaguely reminiscent of chapter something when they fell asleep while playing SSBM. I didn't even plan that. Maybe my pot of ideas is drying up.

Wait never mind, its totally not. I just find it hard to put these ideas into a word document.

The song was Lullabye (Goodnight my Angel) by Billy Joel, btw. Hinata sang it up an octave, obviously.

Scene's from Next Episode?!

She actually let out a little "Aww…" when he stuck out his tongue and wiggled it around to direct the straw where he wanted before inching a little closer to finally claim it with his lips.