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Neji had few possessions outside of what was necessary- his clothing, shinobi tools, and basic furniture. But he had kept some of his father’s possessions, and was unable to part with them even now, years after his passing. One of them was one of his father's shirts that hung in the back of Neji’s own closet, untouched for several years. Neji had often pulled it out of its place when he had been small, clinging to it in his sleep, but as he had grown older, he had disturbed it less and less. He hoped, one day, it would fit him properly.
Recently, Lee and Tenten had both gotten ill- nothing serious, but enough that Guy-sensei had escorted them to his apartment from training, which they had both, idiotically in Neji's opinion, shown up to despite being sick. Guy-sensei had spent the rest of the day taking care of them. Neji had gone home and trained with Hinata.
Unfortunately, it seemed that Guy-sensei had not sent the two sick Genin home quickly enough, or had brought their germs back with him, because a few days later, Neji woke up with a pounding headache, sore throat, and a general feeling of unwellness. He should skip training, he knew.
However, because Neji lived at the Hyuga compound, he did not have the convenience of being a short distance away from his teammates, who could deliver the message to Guy-sensei for him. The last thing Neji wanted was for Guy-sensei to send Lee or Tenten to come fetch him, or even worse, come himself.
With trembling legs that he forced himself to steady, Neji peeled himself out of bed, shuffling to his closet to change into clean, presentable clothing. He finished his look with his headband, tied tight around his pounding forehead, and took a deep steadying breath that caught in his throat and forced him into a coughing fit.
When he finally managed to get himself back under control, Neji felt significantly more fatigued and irritated than he was before. He left his home, and began the trek to their regular training grounds. With any luck, he would encounter Lee, Tenten, or Guy-sensei before walking all the way there, and be able to return home all the quicker, but luck was not on his side today.
By the time Neji had made it to the training field, Lee and Tenten were deep in a spar, with Guy-sensei supervising. He turned to face Neji as he approached, though his bright smile rapidly melted into a look of horror and concern. Neji did not think he looked that bad, but perhaps the walk had taken a visible toll on him.
“Guy-sensei,” Neji started, but he realized as the words came out strained, that he was out of breath. “I- I cannot come to training today, I am unwell.” He explained, having come to training, looking like he was on the brink of death from the perspective of his sensei.
“Neji, you should have stayed home to rest! You didn’t need to come all this way to tell me in person.” Guy-sensei told him, and shook his head in an exaggerated motion that made Neji’s own head spin.
“I- didn’t want anyone coming to the…” Neji trailed off, putting a hand against his chest. He was out of breath still, and his body had started trembling again. He heard Guy-sensei speak, but it sounded like it was underwater.
“That’s it,” He heard, and between one blink and another, he was sitting on the ground, accompanied by his sensei, of course. “Do not worry, Neji! Your sensei will keep you company while you take a youthful rest, afterall-”
Neji slumped against the body next to him, which stopped its incessant chattering. His head was full of cotton, every thought was getting tangled in the web of strings until they shriveled up and ceased to exist. He was very tired.
Neji blinked again, and he had been moved yet again. Was being moved, he corrected himself, squinting one eye open, and shutting it again as the blinding light of the sun pierced his vision, sending the throbbing pain through his head yet again. Someone was holding him against their chest, an arm against his back and another hooked under his legs, and they were moving very fast. Was he being kidnapped?
Neji risked another peek into the light, catching the familiar green jumpsuit of his sensei, and relaxed. Kidnapped, yes, but by a–to an extent–trustworthy adult. Neji had no strength to protest, whatever bug had infected him had drained all his energy. He closed his eyes again, turning his face towards his sensei to hide from the wind pushing past them, drifting as he was carried to some location.
When Neji woke up, he felt less tired, but physically worse. He groaned softly, sitting up, only to freeze. He was on a couch, a blanket tucked around him that now pooled around his waist, in an unfamiliar apartment. Or- no, it was familiar, but Neji could not recall how he arrived.
“Guy-sensei?” Neji croaked, looking around for the apartment’s owner, but he appeared to be by himself.
“Neji!” Nevermind… Neji turned to face Lee as he sprung towards him, from deeper in the apartment. “I am so glad you are awake!” Lee exclaimed, practically vibrating. Neji grimaced slightly at his loud tone, and Lee appeared to be at least somewhat aware, and quieted his next words.
“Guy-sensei went to buy some medicine for you. He entrusted me with your care until he gets back!” Lee held up a thumbs up, grinning brightly.
“I need to go home, Lee.” Neji said hoarsely, looking outside to the already dimming street. He must have slept almost the entire day, which meant he would need to work extra hard in training once he recovered to make up for all the lost time. “Please tell Guy-sensei thank you for me.”
“Sorry Neji!” Lee shook his head and placed a firm hand on Neji’s shoulder to stop him from getting up. “But Guy-sensei was very clear! You cannot leave until he returns.” Lee said seriously, furrowing his brow. Neji’s physical strength was not a match for Lee’s even when he was not ill, so he had no choice but to resign, at least for now.
“Lee, could I have some water?” Neji asked, perfectly agreeable, and as he predicted would happen, Lee began to weep tears of joy before running to the kitchen. Neji swung his legs off the couch, breathing through the nausea the movement caused. He stood, but only for a few seconds, before his legs quit on him, and sent him back down onto the couch. Well, there went that plan. Neji cursed himself for being so weak, how had he allowed himself to get sick, and for it to get this bad?
“Here you go, Neji.” Lee grinned, holding out a glass of water that Neji took–using both hands, because he was not about to drop the cup and risk it breaking. He took a few sips, his throat protesting the liquid all the way down, but it did calm his stomach somewhat. Lee hovered over him, shuffling awkwardly until Neji offered him the cup back. He was tired again, somehow.
Neji laid back down on the couch, ignoring Lee’s constant presence as he stared up at the ceiling. He almost wanted to face Guy-sensei, if only to break the very thick tension that had filled the room. Neji closed his eyes for a moment, thinking, only to reopen them to a lack of Lee, and a darker view out the window.
His head hurt so much, a thunderous ache spreading from his temples across his forehead and down into his eyes. Neji made an involuntary sound of pain, pressing one hand to an aching eye while looking around for-
Not his father, his father was dead- but Neji really wanted him- another sound, forcing its way out of his throat, and it has Neji pressing the palms of both his hands into his eyes, digging in until the urge to cry goes away. Shinobi don’t cry.
“Neji?” His sensei’s voice cut through the nonsense going on in his head. Neji quickly straightened up, squinting at the hesitant smile on Guy-sensei’s face.
“Guy-sensei,” Neji started, intending to add more, but his voice was hoarse and nearly inaudible.
“I got you some medicine, but you were asleep when I returned. Lee and Tenten claimed that this elixir was singlehandedly what returned them to their regular selves.” Guy-sensei assured, and without waiting for a response, disappeared and reappeared in the blink of an eye, holding out a cup of a cherry-scented liquid. Neji’s stomach churned, and he quickly turned his face away, gagging.
“Sorry Neji, but this is non-negotiable.” Guy-sensei cooed, kneeling in front of the couch, his face full of sympathy. Neji shook his head- he knew he was being unreasonable, refusing medical treatment, but that foul smelling medicine was not going anywhere near his mouth, or he would not be held accountable for what happened next.
“Neji…” As the tone turned slightly scolding, Neji stopped, looking up at his sensei with wide eyes. Guy-sensei was always so gentle, so nice, towards the whole team. Rarely had Neji seen him step in to scold any of them, only others in defense of them.
(Later, Neji would defend his actions in this moment as the result of too much sleep, general confusion, and the effects of fever on the brain.)
Hearing such a tone directed at him, Neji’s face crumbled in dismay, as tears filled his eyes and clung to his lashes. Guy-sensei froze, clearly unsure how to proceed, as Neji sniffled sadly.
“I want to go home.” Neji whined, looking at Guy-sensei with all the sadness of an abused puppy, who was just begging Guy to come and rescue him. “Please Guy-sensei.”
“I will take you home, if you take this medicine first.” His sensei replied, but his voice was wavering. Neji sniffled again, and Guy-sensei set the medicine aside.
“I just want my dad…”’s shirt, Neji thought, looking up at Guy-sensei’s suddenly tear-ridden face. When did that happen?
Neji would not admit to the following series of events, while his sensei would boast about them at any given moment with little to no provocation, but he had to ask Guy-sensei to carry him, because his legs refused to work. Guy-sensei, however, was a very fast, and when he needed to be, sneaky shinobi. Neji was in his bedroom in a nearly unreasonably short timeframe, leaning on Guy-sensei for some support as he ruffled through his closet, fingers finally closing on the old, worn fabric he was after. Neji clung to the shirt, though he didn’t dare bring it anywhere near his gross, wet face.
His fingers traced familiar stitches, as he gave Guy-sensei the all clear. He expected, at this point, for his sensei to leave him in bed, leave him be until Neji showed back up at training. This was not the case. Instead, Guy-sensei carried Neji all the way back to his own apartment, while Neji carefully bundled the fabric in his arms close against his chest.
The short excursion had worn him out so much, Neji didn’t say anything in protest, allowing Guy-sensei to force that awful medicine down his throat, fussing over him- unnecessary as it was- until Neji fell asleep from pure exhaustion.
Neji woke to whisper shouting nearby, and though he was annoyed to be woken up in such a manner, he was relieved to find no symptoms of the previous day's ailment had remained. He pricked up his ears, straining to listen to the whisper shouting going on in the next room. Neji quickly leapt off the couch and to the source of it when he heard the topic. Guy-sensei was in tears- a not unusual sight- but Lee and Tenten were both smirking, which was unusual.
Neji skidded to a stop in the doorway, shouting denials of everything Guy-sensei was saying, which only had the effect of making Tenten start laughing at him. Maybe Neji’s protests would have fallen on slightly less deaf ears, if he wasn’t still holding his dad’s shirt.