Mega: Here's chapter four, everyone.

Kirino: I'm impressed! You've written four chapters in four days.

Mega: It was only possible because all we've been getting is rain where I live. If I had soccer like I was supposed to, I wouldn't have had the time to write all the chapters.

Kirino: YOU play soccer?

Mega: Yup. That's how I know all the rules.

Shindou: What do you play?

Mega: I mainly play defense, but I do play offense sometimes during the game.

Kirino: Defense? Are you any good?

Mega: I'm okay, I guess. I do have a good shot when I play offense, though.

Kirino and Shindou: Really?

Mega: Yes. Now to the reviews!

Reviews!

2gatita8: I'm so glad that this story has hooked you. I'm thinking of eventually having Kirino "recover" and then go into another arc of the story. After this occurs, I think that I will include your idea. What do you think?

Player021: I'm glad you like the story. I did know the nightmare fact, by the way. I am Italian, and I am also German, Cuban, and Norwegian.

taku-mune: There will be TakuRan/ RanTaku in this fic. Shindou probably will end up getting hurt in the next arc, which will probably start in a chapter or two. I do like Shindou as well, so he will end up getting hurt at some point.

Mega: Thanks for the great reviews, everyone!

Kirino: You're hurting Shindou now?

Mega: You bet!

Shindou: Why me? :'(

Mega: I don't know. Anyways, let's start the chapter!

Chapter 4: Faint

~Tenma's POV~

I opened the door to the infirmary quietly and slipped inside. I glanced over towards my former captain. He was sitting next to his pinked haired best friend, asleep. I moved towards Wonderbot, who was preparing medications for Kirino-senpai.

"How is he?" I asked quietly to him.

"He is doing better," he told me softly.

"Will he be able to play in our next game?" I inquired gently.

"At the rate he is recovering, it is a possibility," he replied simply.

I looked at him worriedly. "Are you sure?"

He nodded, "Yes."

I sighed silently with relief. "Thank you," I mouthed to him as I left the infirmary.

The walk back to the locker room was very quiet until I ran into Tsurugi. I looked at him, very confused. Why would he be here? He was supposed to inform the team of Kirino-senpai's condition. I groaned inwardly. If he was here, Fei would be left to explain the defender's condition to the entire team alone! That would not end well.

"Why are you here, Tsurugi?" I pried, hoping to find the reason for his strange actions.

"I am going to visit my sick teammate, Matsukaze. It is normal to be worried about a friend, correct?" He told me as he continued moving down the hall.

"Where is Fei?" I turned towards him again.

"He is explaining Kirino's condition to the team. Why is that important?" He sighed.

I was getting angry now. Did he really think that it was okay to ditch a teammate so he could follow his own agenda? I knew one thing, and it was that what he did was not under any circumstances okay!

"Why did you leave Fei?" I growled. If he said one more stupid thing, I was going to snap.

"He seemed like he could handle it," he stated nonchalantly.

That was the last straw! "How could you leave him to explain Kirino's condition to the entire team, didn't I asked you to explain it together? Why would you do that, Tsurugi?! Why?" I screamed at him. He looked at me in shock, but I couldn't blame him. I was usually all fun and sunshine, and I had just started screaming at him.

"Matsukaze, what's wrong?" He asked gently.

"What's wrong? Everything's wrong! Kirino-senpai is sick, Shindou-senpai is exhausted from taking care of him, you just ditched your own teammate to do a task I asked you both to do together, and now you're asking me what's wrong! Well, what do you think is wrong, Tsurugi?!" I yelled as tears streamed down my face. I was angry, and he was acting like an idiotic jerk. Of course I was going to snap, but that didn't explain the tears. What was going on with me?

Tsurugi was visibly taken aback by my outburst. "Matsukaze, I'm sorry, but Kirino seemed like more of priority because he's-"

"No! Explaining the situation to the team was your priority, Kirino was Shindou's. I trusted you, Tsurugi, but you decided that you were going to disregard what I said so you could do what you wanted. How do you think I feel?" I growled to him as even more tears fell from my reddening eyes.

"I know I upset you, but please listen to-"

"I won't!" I cut him off sharply. "You can't keep doing this! The team needs you to cooperate, not cause even more trouble!" I shrieked. My voice was high and full of rage. "I can't do this, Tsurugi! I can't keep trying to be a calm and cheerful captain when everything is going wrong! I can't do it! I can't!" I was hyperventilating now, and the tears were flowing even faster. I wasn't sure if the tears were from anger, fear, or sadness, but I didn't have time to think as my legs gave out. I just didn't have the energy or strength to remain upright anymore.

"Hey!" Tsurugi cried in shock as he was forced to move rather quickly to catch my falling form. My breathing had speed up even more at this point.

"Matsukaze, breathe!" He commanded as he pulled me to my unsteady feet again.

"I can't!" I choked out. My throat felt like it was constricting. What was happening?

"You have to!" He shouted. I felt dizzy now. My head felt light and the world was spinning. Was this supposed to happen after you screamed at someone?

"Breathe, Tenma! You have to breathe!" He cried. What did he call me? Why did he call me Tenma? He always called me Matsukaze. It was very strange.

I felt my throat begin to relax. I drew in small, unsteady breaths. I looked up a Tsurugi's worried face. Tsurugi was worried about me. I didn't see that one coming. He looked into my tired silver eyes with relief.

"Can you hear me?" He inquired softly. His tone was completely different from his former tone. It was nice.

I nodded. A weak, quiet, "Yeah", was all I could manage.

"Do you know what happened?" He murmured softly into my ear.

I shook my head. I had no idea what had happened.

"You had a panic attack," he explained lightly.

I had a panic attack? Was that why it was so hard to breathe? The past events suddenly made a lot more sense.

"Can you walk?" He whispered to me, care was evident in his voice and expression.

I shook my head again. Even if I had any strength, I doubted that my legs would support me enough to allow me to walk.

What he did next surprised me. I had expected him to tell me to get up and walk it off. Instead, he pulled me into his arms and began to carry me bridal style. I looked up at him curiously. He must have understood my silent question.

"I'm taking you to your room. You're in no condition to move, let alone play soccer," he explained as he continued towards our destination.

We arrived at my room minutes later. He set me on a chair as he went to adjust my bed so that I could lay in it comfortably. Once he finished his first task, he grabbed my pajamas from my closet* and went to work dressing me in the comfortable clothing. He handed me the pajama to change into before he went to work on removing my cleats, shin guards, and my soccer socks.

I swiftly removed my jersey and replaced it with the soft top. Tsurugi had finished his task and was sliding soft socks onto my feet. They felt nice, I realized. Why didn't I wear them more often? The final piece of clothing, my pajama pants, was in Tsurugi's hand.

"You can't put these on alone, can you?" He sighed after I shook my head for the umpteenth time. "Come on then, Tenma," he said as he lifted me onto my feet. I blushed heavily as I briskly changed into the pajama bottoms.

He lifted me into bed slowly. "Get some rest, Tenma. I'll go tell the team that you're not going to be practicing today," he moved towards the door, but before he could leave, I grabbed his arm firmly. He looked at me with surprise.

"I should go, and you need to rest," he told me again. I frowned and tightened my grip on his arm in defiance.

"You don't want me to leave?" He looked surprised that I wanted him to stay. I nodded eagerly. If I was stuck here, so was Tsurugi.

"Alright, Tenma, you win. I'll stay if you agree to go to sleep," he murmured as he pushed my back down onto the bed.

I bobbed my head up and down in agreement. I relaxed into my pillow and gave Tsurugi a tired smile. He gave me a small smile in return. He smiled. He didn't sneer, snicker, or taunt. Tsurugi smiled to me of all people. Why me? What made me so special?

I sighed silently before I nestled deep into the pillow. I was tired. It was the first time I had realized it since my panic attack. I turned my head. Tsurugi was still there, I confirmed. A small smile graced my lips as I feel into a deep, exhausted slumber.

~Tsurugi's POV~

I looked at the exhausted brunette lying under the thick covers of the bed. He really did seem exhausted, now that I think about it. He had bags under his eyes earlier, I just hadn't noticed them. Was his panic attack my fault? Did I really hurt someone that I liked, no loved? How could I have done that to him? What kind of friend with a crush on their best friend was I?

I let him down. I knew that. I had failed to see his exhaustion and weakness, and this was the result.

'I have to be more observant of him. If I'm not, this could very well become a common occurrence,' I though solemnly. 'I have to look out for him. There's no way he can deal with all the pressures of being captain by himself.' I realized.

I put my hand on his still, unmoving hand. "I promise that I'll always be there for you, and that I'll protect you no matter what happens," I muttered quietly to myself and Tenma's sleeping form. "I'll always be there to protect you, Tenma. I love you." I whispered as I kissed Tenma gently on the forehead.

I will protect him from whatever dangers we must face in the future. It was a promise, and I never broke my promises. I would never break this one!

~Chapter 4 end~

Mega: That was chapter four, folks.

Kirino: We were barely in this chapter at all!

Mega: I know. I thought you'd enjoy the break. Did you?

Shindou: I did. Thanks for reading everyone.

Kirino: This sure is a quick ending, for once. Don't forget to review, favorite, and follow everyone.

Mega: Goodbye, folks. We'll see you in the next chapter!

Kirino and Shindou: Sayonara!

Mega: Ciao!