Infected

Chapter 13 Gaara's Fever

   "Infected?" The trees were spinning around him. "H-how?"

   Mizu caught him again as he tilted to the side. "Well, generally it only affects children and the elderly because their bodies are weaker. It's not impossible for an adult to catch it. Plus... you've been around when I released some of Shikkan... You could have gotten it from that."

   Mizu's face fell, Gaara didn't like the look she was giving him. He wanted her to stop, but he didn't know what to say to not make her worry. Gaara stood up, but felt his knees give out underneath him; Mizu supported him under her weight.

   "We need to go back." Gaara's body trembled, it was cold.

   "I don't think we'll make it back with how far it's progressed. You shouldn't move." Mizu easily pulled him to the ground.

   "Need too..." His head was pounding.

   "Yoki, return to the village and retrieve my bag and let them know what's happening." Mizu turned Gaara around and forced him to lay his head in her lap. His face was on fire for another reason now; to bad his head was throbbing so badly he couldn't enjoy it. Her cool finger tips pressed against his temple and rubbed slowly in a circular motion. Oh, that helps.

   "Mizu..." The lion hesitated. "He won't... You know there's only one way..."

   Gaara watched her look determinedly at the lion. "I know. Get going."

   The lion bowed his head and raced off. Gaara's mouth was dry. The sky over head seemed to be moving at a faster rate. Every breath pained him. Something didn't make sense to him; his symptoms were progressing too quickly.

   "I'm sorry." Mizu's brow furrowed. "It seems you got it from me. It could have only progressed this quickly from coming from Shikkan..."

   "Stop." It hurt to speak, but it hurt more to see her like this.

   She took a deep breath and smiled gloomily. "If I had my stuff I could fix this right away, but I was out of ingredients too... You're not going to last before Yoki even makes it to the village."

   Gaara's heart was speeding up, not from fear; it hurt so much to breathe. Mizu took a deep breath again, her cheeks where turning pink. "This would be much easier if you'd pass out."

   "I... can't... Shukaku..." Gaara gasped for air.

   Mizu's whole face was pink. "Can I have permission to save you?"

   "You need permission for that!" Gaara coughed and blood came out. Mizu nodded and laid his head down. Before he could say anything she straddled him and pulled his shirt up and off. "What..."

   He froze as she stripped her shirt exposing her soft pink skin; her ears turned red from embarrassment. She wrapped her arms around his chest and buried her face in his neck. Gaara's eyes were bulging out of his head, completely confused. Was she coming on to him or treating him? He didn't move too stiff from the shock.

   She whispered in his ear, "This is going to hurt like hell, brace yourself."

   He didn't have time to contemplate what she said before where their skin was touching started to burn. Pain shot out through his body and mind, his ears rang so loudly he wasn't sure if he was screaming or not. His limbs seized uncontrollably and it took every shred of will power he had not to pass out. Green goo oozed from her skin into his and pulled at something deep inside him. Whatever it was fought desperately against her. Sweat broke out onto Mizu's back. Gaara's vision was narrowing going dark around the edges. Finally after what seemed like endless eternity Mizu pulled away and whatever fought against her gave up. The green goop oozed out of his skin and into hers and slowly formed with her until it became her skin again. She quickly got off him and put her shirt back on.