Chapter 43

Disclaimer: I own nothing from the Naruto series, only my own OCs.

A while later, after Haru had gone to sleep, I was about to go to sleep, myself, but suddenly felt something change; it felt wrong. I tried to un-fog my mind and think straight, when it dawned on me. Haru had stopped breathing...

I immediately rolled over to face him and pushed him onto his back. I knew I wasn't going to be able to do much aside from CPR, so I grabbed my cell phone off the bedside table and dialed Sakura. As unhappy as she was with me, I knew she'd be the best to help, if she would. I set the phone down on speaker and quickly checked for a pulse.

When she finally answered she seemed a bit more annoyed than tired. "What's wrong? You do know I have an early shift right?"

"Yes, and I'm really sorry. I would have called someone else, first, but this is and emergency, and I thought you'd be the best." She waited. "Something's really wrong with Haru." I continued, now beginning to do chest compressions. "He's not breathing. I'm trying to give him CPR but if that doesn't work, I'll be no good. I don't even know what's wrong." I finished, nearing hysterics.

"Fine, I'll be over in a minute." Then she hung up. I was glad she'd agreed, but wondered if she'd really do her best. Maybe I should have called Ino first.

I continued my efforts to get Haru to breath again for about two minutes, when he finally regained control of his lungs. Only a few moments later, Sakura arrived and made her way straight to my room. By that point, I was shaking all over and even noticed a few tears on my face.

"I see you finally did something medically helpful." She commented, although I wasn't sure it was her anger with me saying that, or if she was trying to comfort me. "Go get some water and a rag, and bring some sake if you have any."

I nodded, and followed instructions, quickly returning with the things she'd requested. I suppose it's a good thing I'd kept that return gift instead of giving it to Kakashi. I thought to myself about the sake.

"It seems like he's ok, now. I can't really say there's anything wrong with him." she said, taking the sake and putting some in his mouth to try to wake him up, as I put a damp rag on his forhead.

We waited a few more minutes, to see if he'd wake up, and eventually, after a few more pours of sake, and a sharp smack, he did.

"Ouch." He mumbled. "What was that for?"

"You idiot, what's wrong with you?" I said, hugging him.

"What do you mean?" He asked confused.

"I mean you stopped breathing, so what's wrong with you?"

To my surprise, he actually started laughing.
"This is no joke!" I said, angrily. "I had to call and wake up Sakura and everything.

"I'm sorry, Kimi. I guess I forgot to tell you, since, well…" He trailed off after seeing Sakura's disapproving look at us.

"Don't worry, it's not like that." I assured her.

"It better not be, because I will not be helping you explain anything unplanned to Kakashi." she said, beginning to pack her things.

"So what is this you forgot to tell me now?" I questioned Haru, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, it's actually completely normal for me to do that. I've always done it, really. Once my adopted family realized it happened all the time, they just stopped worrying. Sometimes it comes and goes all night."

I stared at him with my mouth open. "That's not something you should brush off so easily. What if you go without breathing for too long?!"

"I never do, besides, it's because I…" He paused when Sakura looked at him questioningly.

"Never mind, I'll tell you some other time. It's kind of a long story, and Sakura-san needs to go back home. Doesn't she have to work early?" He said, trying to cover whatever it was he'd been about to say.

"I'll get it out of him eventually, Sakura, I promise; I'll tell you when I do. Sorry about waking you up."

"Whatever. It's OK I guess; it's not like you knew about this." She said heading to the door.

"Hey Sakura." She paused. "Once I find out what his problem is, if I tell you, will you tell me what yours is with me?"

"I don't have a problem with you Kimiko, I just don't feel like you're the same person you were." She took another step, then paused again. "We can talk though, once you find out." And then she was gone.

I turned back to Haru and smacked him across the back of his head.

"I guess I deserve that." He said, cringing.

Then, once I heard the front door close, I turned the lights back off and crawled back into bed, snuggling as close to Haru as I could, wrapping my arms around him and allowing him to do the same to me.

"You've got some explaining to do tomorrow. I don't want you to ever scare me like that again." I said into his chest. "I don't want to loose you." Then after a moment, "I love you."

His arms tightened around me. "I love you too Kimiko."

AN: Don't forget about the drawing entries! If you would like, I'm starting a competition. Just send me a link in the reviews, or on private messaging of a drawing, sketch, or painting of your favorite characters from my stories. You may include characters that are from the actual universe, but all entries must include at least one of the stories OCs. I'll start the first drawing on March 1, but if you're just reading, don't worry. I plan to continue this for a while