It All Started With A Smell

Chapter 13 - Shika-maruuu

He was wet. That was the first thing to register in his mind. There was cold water above him. With effort, he opened his eyes, only to feel the panic grip him. He was under the ocean! Crystal blue water was all his eyes could see. He gasped, only to realise that that would be a stupid idea whilst submerged. He couldn't breathe! He started coughing, his body lifting from its lying position each time. The ocean seemed to move back, the blue darkening.

Something gripped his shoulder, pulling him up into a sitting position. The sun was in his eyes as something that felt like a hand patted his back before rubbing circles through his shirt... except it wasn't his shirt. It felt flannel, though thinner than his shirt at home. As his coughing subsided his mind started to clear. The sun was actually strands of hair, extremely yellow, spiky hair. It brushed against his nose and cheek, allowing him to feel how soft it was. The skin of someone's neck was next to his other cheek and was cool against his flamed skin. He pushed himself closer, his chin resting on the person's shoulder, letting loose a relieved moan. His nose was blocked, his face hot, his head clogged. His throat felt raw and bloody, his body cold, his chest heavy, the breaths he took sounded horrific to his ears. Instead he tried to focus on the person holding him, still rubbing his back soothingly.

Their hands were clumsy and small; their frame was small but solid and warm. Their warmth seeped into his body, reminding him of lying on the grass in the shade during summer. He moved more into the form, feeling it tense. They pushed him back into a lying position, his head spinning enough to make him close his eyes. The wetness was back, but this time he realised it was a wet, cool cloth. Slowly, he opened his eyes to see the same crystal blue, unnatural blue. It wasn't the ocean! It was a pair of eyes, staring down at him from a tan face set with worry lines. Naruto pulled the blankets up to Shikamaru's chest before lightly pressing the back of her palm to Shikamaru's cheek.

Her skin was soft. It reminded him of the silk kimono his mother had in her closet. As a child he had loved running his fingers over the material, even giving his mother extra hugs when she wore it just to feel the soft texture. He moved towards Naruto's hand, peppering lazy kisses over the surface.

"You're really warm!" Naruto stated, frowning down at him. She shifted her hip pressing against his side. He turned towards her form, wanting the warmth to seep back into his body. The wet cloth on his forehead slipped off, onto his pillow. Naruto picked it up, dabbing at Shikamaru's face. "Don't worry. I went and talked to Old-Lady Tsunade; she told me how to help and gave me some stuff too. I should take your temperature."

"A'm colda," He sniffled, wrapping his arms around Naruto's waist.

"Right!" Naruto detached herself from Shikamaru and walked off, only to come back with another blanket which she put around the boy, tucking in the sides. "The old lady said that can happen even if you're hot."

He giggled, closing his eyes. "Hehe, goo ding A'm ho'd!"

Something bumped into his mouth. "I know you're hot. You're also red. Open your mouth, I have to take your temperature. Keep this under your tongue. Okay, Shikamaru?"

He opened his mouth for the thermometer, making sure to put his tongue over to the top. He giggled again as he rolled onto his back. "Goo say my name weirda. Mos' people say my name in dwo pards. Day drag id oud doo. Shika-maruuuu. Shika-maruuu. Goo don'd! Goo say id as one worda."

"I didn't realise I was pronouncing it wrong." Naruto dipped the cloth in a bowl on the night stand, ringing it out. She started dabbing at his flush face again as she returned to her position on the bed beside him.

"Goo're nod. I like how goo say id. Everyone says id da oder way. Shika-maruuu, Shika-maruuu. Naru-doe! Naru-doe! Hehe, yoor name has doe in id!

Naruto frowned. "I think you mean toe."