Chapter 11 - The Fever

Ratings:

Sex: mild-moderate
Nudity: moderate

PLEASE NOTE:

This is not my usual type of story, I know that. What I’ve tried to do is take an innocent gesture of love and keep I that way. I think I might have failed and this became completely perverted sounding ^^’ . At any rate, please understand that wasn’t my intention at any point. (also note that, strangely enough, this content is real to some degree. Got a fever? The perfect excuse to get that special guy/girl to cozy up to you!) Anyway, please enjoy, comment, and take the story in context.

-NG

--

Tsunade shook her head.

“He’s fought his last battle, physically. His fever’s too high; there’s nothing I can do for him now.”

The room fell silent. A disease? THAT had been the end of Ryouko? Everyone felt this was tragic- the young man was too young to die, especially like this.

“My lady…did you think of…” Sakura paused. This was SO embarrassing to bring up! No, no, he’s saved you! You owe him this! At least try! You’re always saying that you aren’t going to stand by and let others do the work anymore!

“Think of WHAT, Sakura? If you have an idea, you’d better say it, quick. He doesn’t have long…”

--

Ryouko wasn’t aware that he was dying. He wasn’t aware he was alive. He was just…there. In a hospital bed, monitors beeping, machines clicking. It was so familiar he didn’t pay any attention to it. His unconscious mind had told him to relax, so he did. This was nothing new. Hospitals and such…nothing new.

--

Sakura took a deep breath to steady herself.

“Have you thought of attacking the fever directly by…(gulp) absorption?”

Tsunade’s eyes glimmered. Quickly, she pushed everyone out of the room, closing and locking the door.

“Sakura, that might be his only chance! Shizune, get an ice bath ready, and get Ryouko in! Sakura…take whatever mental preparation you need. I know this can’t be easy for you, but you might be his best chance.”

“Y-yes, m’lady.”

Tsunade smiled at her apprentice. “Doing something like this…you’ve really become a great healer, Sakura. Willing to do anything to save the patient…I’m proud of you.”

-

To attack a cold directly through absorption, that means skin contact. Once part of the fever has been absorbed by the second party, the immune systems of both parties kick in. After that, it’s a simple matter of sweating the cold out. But the first part…

I’ve got to do this!

Sakura unzipped her top, blushing. But she shook her head. No! He’s as innocent as they come, and unconscious! He won’t remember this! Just do it!

Sakura dropped her top over a chair, lifting the covers over Ryouko. The boy never stirred. That simple fact raised Sakura’s determination. Nodding to herself, she laid her bare upper body against Ryouko’s bare chest. His body had already heated back up after the ice bath- a bad sign.

Sakura settled her head onto his shoulder, wishing that she didn’t have to do this. At the same time, she didn’t feel TOTALLY uncomfortable. The topless thing, yeah, as Sakura was never inclined to take her clothes off. But Ryouko didn’t seem like a threat. Even if he DID wake up and remember this, he’d be too noble to tell anyone, and would most likely look away and blush.

Seeing me like this might sweat his fever right out of him. I’d rather it didn’t come to that…?!
His fever peaked! It’s already dropped one degree! Five more degrees and he’ll be out of the woods!

--

“All I could think was that I was going to die without ever experiencing all life has to offer. Y’know…female companionship. Now I’ve got time to try again!”

Naruto looked at Sakura, who was already blushing. He started to talk, but found himself getting hit by Sakura.

“That’s right! Make the most of life!” Sakura encouraged. If he remembers that…

“Hmm? Sakura, do you have a fever?” Ryouko put a hand on her head. To his surprise, she really did!

“I do? Oh, that’s not good…” Sakura slumped over, falling into Ryouko’s arms. Ryouko was no medic, but he knew that this wasn’t good. He picked Sakura up.

“Naruto, you go ahead and tell the Fifth to be expecting me! I’ll be along as soon as I can!”

--

“I’ll do anything, Lady Tsunade.”

“There’s nothing to be done now, Ryouko…she’ll live or she won’t…”

“I CAN’T ACCEPT THAT! I’LL DO ANYTHING! DO YOU UNDERSTAND? ANYTHING! I LOVE HER!” Ryouko pounded the desk, nearly snarling with anger and grief.

“…We could attack the fever directly. BUT- that means you’ll have to do something that I guarantee you’ve never done before.”

“What is it?” Ryouko demanded.

“Sakura might kill you for it…”

“WHAT IS IT?!” Ryouko shouted, this time making himself one hundred percent clear.

Tsunade sighed. “You’ll have to press your body against hers. No shirt.”

“Fine!”

“For EITHER of you…” Tsunade finished. She saw the color rise on Ryouko’s face. She also watched his face stiffen.

“I’ll do it. Even if she hates me for it, I can’t let her die. Just promise me that you won’t tell her.”

--

Ryouko dropped his vest on the chair next to Sakura’s bed. She was so red from fever… That stiffened Ryouko’s will. He pulled off his shirt. Then he realized he had to get hers off.

“Oh…”

Tsunade put a hand on Ryouko’s shoulder. “You can’t half-@$$ this. Either do it, or don’t. If you’re worried about touching her chest…”

“I feel like a pervert…(gulp) But if you say it has to be done…”

Ryouko unzipped Sakura’s vest. He closed his eyes, but the temptation to look; to stare shamelessly- that was nearly unbearable. After a moment, Ryouko was over Sakura in a push-up position. Slowly, he lowered himself down onto her body.

So warm…so soft…
Please hang in there, Sakura. Just live…if you do, I’ll tell you everything. Even how I feel…all of it…

Ryouko, without thinking, actually hugged Sakura. He let go immediately, but not before feeling it:

Her fever is falling…oh thank God.

When she stirred, Ryouko collected his things and bolted from the room. All the same, he was sure that he could never again be in the same room with her. Not without remembering how her chest felt against his.

I wish I could experience it more than once, but that is out of the question.

Ryouko had no idea that he’d already felt Sakura’s touch once before. For him, saving her was enough.

--

The next morning proved to be akward. Sakura and Ryouko met on a deserted road- both were on their way to the Hokage mansion to check on the other. Upon seeing each other, they both blushed and bowed.

“Good morning! I hope you’re well!” they said as one, their faces looking at the ground.

I can’t let him/her know what I did. He/She would freak out!

Ryouko’s promise suddenly kicked in.

“Sakura, I need to be honest. The other day…I, um…listen, you’re gonna hit me, and I’m gonna deserve it, there’s no getting around that. But when your fever hit, Tsunade ran out of options. I asked her…well, no, I screamed at her…I made her tell me what I could do for you. And I…”

“…attacked the fever directly…” Sakura said, her mouth dropping in shock. So that’s why I recovered! Oh no! He saw my…!

“…Yes. I promise you, I didn’t look. I didn’t want to take advantage of you, so please don’t think that I don’t think you’re worth looking at. You really are! But, anyway…I did it, and while I was laying there, I felt you burning up. I swore that I’d be honest with you if you’d just stay alive…” Ryouko’s eyes met Sakura’s. But they weren’t shy, blushing eyes. They were the eyes of a man who spoke of his word, then followed what it said to the letter.

“I swore that I’d tell you how I felt. And no getting around it now- I’m attracted to you. But I could never tell. I guess it’s a fair trade- your life for my honesty. I’m just glad I lived long enough to be honest with you, as I should have been when this attraction first began.”

“…You’re attracted to me because you saw me half-naked…right?” Sakura asked quietly, almost threateningly. The wind blew, sending a shower of cherry blossoms falling behind her. (Right about now, Ryouko’s heart leapt up into his throat)

“…No. I was attracted to you before that. Two full years before that. It wasn’t just your body- it was your mind, and your attitude. You’ve always treated me like I…like I belonged here. Like I was one of you. I know I’m not…”

Sakura had a unique ability- she could judge when someone was speaking from the heart. Ryouko had just done so.

The way he just said that… ‘I know I’m not’…he really feels that way. And now he’s opened up to me and said everything…

Ryouko closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Thank you for everything, not least of all saving my life. I’ll just be on my way now. Please don’t let what I said bother you. I just had to be honest.”

Ryouko turned to walk away, but found himself staying in one place. Is my conscience stopping me? No, wait…OW!

Sakura had grabbed Ryouko’s hair to stop him. He hadn’t noticed and kept walking. Sakura finally gave a sharp tug that jolted Ryouko back to reality.

“Don’t think you’re gonna ‘Kenshin’ your way out of this!” Sakura admonished Ryouko. (Note- Reference to Rurouni Kenshin. Kenshin’s simple-minded act [The ‘I’m a wanderer, that I am!’ and the ‘Oro’, or the ‘This one’ thing] is what Sakura’s referring to.) “You spout a confession straight from the heart, then try to just walk away?! Ugh, you ARE clueless about women! AND you’ve felt my chest twice!”

“Huh? Twice? When was the second time? Oh, when I was dying! You absorbed my fever then? I knew you saved me, but I didn’t know that much…”

Sakura looked as if she regretted saying anything. She quickly covered up with a big sigh and a “You really don’t get girls at all! Not only have you felt my chest, you’re also trying to run for it after you tell me you love me. How am I supposed to take that?”

“Like I confessed my feelings to you, and then I tried to escape because you’re going to hit me?” Ryouko said hopefully, already wincing. Instead of moving again, Ryouko closed both eyes and clasped his hands behind his back. He made his back military straight, and stood firm, jaw set.
“…Hit me.”

“W-what?” Sakura wasn’t sure she’d heard him right.

“Hit me. If you feel it’s necessary. I knew the risks full well when I did what I did. I can’t regret it, because it worked. But I DO regret violating your trust. For that, I deserve to be punished. Please hit me as many times as you need to so that you can feel at peace. I won’t fight back, I deserve this.”

Sakura just stared at Ryouko. He’s serious! He’s actually serious! He wants me to hit him! It’ll ease his conscience somehow. If that’s the case, should I hit him so he’ll feel better?
…
No. The poor guy is so simple when it comes to this stuff that I just can’t bring myself to hit him! Look at that, he’s just standing there like a loyal puppy, waiting for me to give him what he deserves! Well, I can do that, I guess, if it’ll make him feel better.

Sakura strode forward purposely. “Are you ready? I’m going to give it to you. No complaining afterwards, right?”

“Right. I promise.”

Sakura wound up and…

BONK!

She hit him on top of the head lightly. “Don’t be such a fool, I’m not going to hit you! In fact, I thought about what you said- you didn’t even look at me when you did your typical hero stunt. I trust you entirely, Ryouko. If any other guy had done this, I would have been sure that he molested me or something. But you…you’re just so pure and innocent! It makes me laugh to think that you’re feeling this guilty over saving me! Listen, whether you saw my chest or you didn’t, I know how you are. You would have rather fought Orochimaru without chakra than see me like that without my permission. It took you a lot of bravery. And now it’s so clear to me…you’ve always done anything and everything to protect me.”

Ryouko bowed his head. “It’s not that you NEEDED to be saved…it’s just that I couldn’t bear to see you hurt.”

Ryouko’s face flushed yet again, a crimson hue over his normally pale cheeks. Sakura put a hand on one of the cheeks.

“You mean a lot to me, too. I’ve always admired your strength as a person. Having so many obstacles to be come strong, and all the people who wanted you to fail. …But I never knew how far your feelings extended.”

“My feelings are what they are. I can’t ask you to accept them. Not when you could do so much better than me. It was selfish of me to say anything at all, really. I’ve put you in a terrible position.”

Sakura blushed, looking away. “Terrible? There’s no girl alive who wouldn’t enjoy being told she was loved…Is it the same way with guys? I’m sure you’ve had tons of girls confess to you…”

Ryouko gave a hollow laugh. “Hardly. You were the first one to really speak with me. But, to answer your question…I can’t speak for all guys, but this one enjoys hearing it…at least, he thinks he does.”

Sakura gave him another sharp tug on his hair. “I keep saying it, but boys are stupid! Look, does the fact that I’m still here talking to you tell you anything?”

Ryouko just stared, not following her. Sakura sighed and told Ryouko to ‘come here’. When he did, she told him to close his eyes, because he was going to get what was coming to him.

Ryouko braced himself for impact.

Smak.

A kiss on the cheek. Ryouko put his hand to his cheek. “That didn’t hurt…” He seemed surprised by that fact.

Sakura just shook her head. “You’ve got a lot to learn, don’t you? Kisses don’t hurt…but I’ll bet it’ll take a few practice kisses for you to understand that…”

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