Mega: I'M NOT DEAD!

Kirino: We know. You just posted a new story days ago.

Mega: I just wanted to make sure. Sorry for the wait, guys! I was busy because I have the hardest Jazz Band piece EVER!

Shindou: How bad can it be?

Mega: According to my piano teacher, a HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR had to play a song as hard as the one I have to play!

Kirino: Meh. Kick its butt and update this story. It's that simple.

Mega: Kirino, shut up. To the reviews, my not-so-trusty morons! (Kirino and Shindou are the morons, not you, my lovely reader!)

Reviews!

2gatita8: The new arc is HERE! I'm glad you're so dedicated to the story! I really try hard to write good chapters, so I'm glad you're enjoying them. Have fun with Elsword! I will continue to be sadistic(ish in this chapter for plot reasons)!

OTP's are all you need: Someone is proud of me! *cries tears of joy while Kirino glares* I'm soooo happy that you like the pairings! I'm ecstatic that you like the POV changes. Someone said it made my stories clunky and disorganized, but I don't care. I love trying to write from my favorite characters' POVs (Tsurugi and Shindou are really fun since I'm not exactly like them personality wise). I'm going to have a ball with Tsurugi being captain! I will continue to update every other year! Just kidding! ;P

YuukoYuukoYun: NEVER! I'm glad you love it! T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U! :D

BelleOfTheFics: I'm glad! Here's your update as promise (just really late)!

Mega: What a good batch of reviews!

Shindou: Yup. Shouldn't you start the story now, Mega?

Kirino: Yeah! Get on with it!

Mega: Fine. :P Here's the next chapter!

Chapter 7: Regrouping

~Tsurugi's POV~

I groaned irritably. It had been an hour since Tenma had agreed to make me the captain of our time traveling soccer team. We had explained the situation to the team, and overall, they had taken the news relatively well. We had just finished a short practice meant to show the team how we would have to function until Tenma's return.

The practice was, well, madness. What did you expect? We were missing our true captain and midfielder, and Kirino was still weakened from his illness. Most of practice was spent trying to figure out positioning and tactics. Even Kariya was trying to help, which can give you an inkling of how bad it was.

I was glad it was over. If this was what it was like to be a captain, I can see why Tenma had broken down. It was so stressful! How did captains handle all that madness and responsibility? I didn't know. How was I going to be Tenma's replacement if I could barely deal with a short, simple practice about positioning and tactics?

I began to walk towards my room when Fei, Shindou, and Kirino, leaning heavily on Shindou due to exhaustion, caught up with me. A silence, heavy as could be, hung in the air. It was troubling to me. We entered my room a minute later.

Shindou made a beeline to my bed and sat Kirino on it gently. He joined Kirino on my bed as soon as he completed his earlier task. Fei claimed my chair, so I was left to lean on the wall of MY room. Weren't my friends the greatest?

Shindou gently laid Kirino's head on his lap, and the pinkette was out like a light. I looked at him worriedly. The illness really had done a number on his stamina. Shindou shared my concern. How bad had his illness really been?

Fei broke the suffocating silence. "What do we do know?"

"I don't know," Shindou shook his head, looking defeated. "What do you think, Tsurugi?"

I sighed tiredly, "I think we need work on our teamwork, but I think I'm the main problem for the team."

"Don't say that! You're not the problem at all!" Fei nearly screamed, "If anything, we're the problem, not you."

"He's right, you know," Shindou chimed in.

I scoffed, unconvinced. "Yeah, sure he is. How can I not be the problem? I'm the captain, the one responsible for the entire team!"

"Don't blame yourself, Tsurugi. I was part of the chaos today too," a soft, sleepy voice interrupted.

The three of us blinked and looked towards the source of the voice. It was Kirino. His tired azure eyes were focused on me. Shindou gently pulled up and leaned him against himself.

I quickly regrouped myself, "You can't be blamed, Kirino. You've been very sick, so it's only natural that you would be tired and not as focused."

"I know that, but I could've at least helped with organizing the team!" He growled, angry not with me, but with himself. "I hate being so useless! I can't help the team at all!"

"Relax, Kirino. You're not useless. You just need rest," Shindou soothed the irritated defender calmly.

"I am and you know it! Don't lie to me, Shindou!" Kirino sobbed angrily. Shindou immediately pulled the rosy-haired boy into a hug and began to comfort him.

Shindou nodded to me before he pulled the rosy-haired boy into his arms and walked out of my room. I moved over to my bed and flopped onto it, frustrated with the team's problems. Fei moved his chair closer to me and locked eyes with me, his mint green eyes swimming with frustration, worry, and exhaustion.

"Go get some rest, Fei. I'll figure something out tomorrow," I told him calmly.

He nodded and swiftly left my room. When he left, I walked through the door and into the hallway. My destination was close; I arrived a minute later. I opened the door to the room silently. I entered softly and walked to the chair I had left earlier.

Tenma was still asleep, although his expression did not appear to be too peaceful. His breathing was somewhat ragged, and he was sweating heavily. I pushed a few strands of hair away from his sweaty forehead. I pressed a hand to his forehead softly, only to find he had a fever. It wasn't a very high fever, but he was sick. I stood up and left the room again to retrieve medicine from Wonderbot, who was in the infirmary yet again. Why did everything happen to Tenma? Why was every misfortune befalling him? I didn't know. I could only hope that things got better.

~Tenma's POV~

Everything was dark. That was the first thing I realized when I awoke. I was also hot, I realized. I tried to move, but I had absolutely no energy whatsoever. I wanted to cry, to scream, to do something, but I couldn't.

I lay there in agony for what seemed like an eternity until I finally found the strength to let out a weak cry of pain. Someone seemed to have heard my cry of despair and was beside me in an instant. A cloth, cold as ice, was placed on my clammy forehead. Something was placed at my mouth. I didn't want to open my mouth to the object, but the figure pinched my nose shut, sealing my airway, and forced me to swallow the liquid the object held. It was then that I realized that I was not hot now, but cold.

A warm, comfy blanket was placed on my body gently. I snuggled into the fluffy source of warmth happily. A chaste kiss was placed on my forehead as a stuffed bear was pressed into my arms. I hugged it tightly as I began to doze off. I allowed sleep to claim me as I happily snuggled with my bear under the thick blanket.

~Tsurugi's POV~

I had only been gone for a minute, but it was enough for Tenma to wake up. I swiftly cooled his forehead and gave him medicine. After I had finished those tasks, I covered him with the thick blanket I had acquired from Wonderbot. He seemed to enjoy the blanket. I thought for a moment before I gave him a stuffed bear, not from Wonderbot, but from the boy's scattered belongings. He was peaceful after that. He was calm for the first time today. I smiled gently as I sat down on the chair yet again and returned to my vigil. He was going to be fine. That I knew.

~Chapter 7 fin.~

Mega: Sorry that it's shorter than normal. I've been busy with my birthday coming up and all.

Kirino: I was in this one. That's a surprise…

Mega: Oh be quiet! If you feel the urge to make me a birthday fanfic (please do!) then PM me for my ideas/requests.

Shindou: Thanks for reading this very short chapter. Stay tuned for the rest of the story.

Kirino: Whenever Mega ACTUALLY writes them!

Mega: Kirino… Finish up now, or face my fanfiction writing wrath!

Kirino: NO!

Mega: Now, Kirino.

Shindou and Kirino: Sayonara, everyone!

Mega: Ciao, minna!