~Anna's POV~

"ACHOO!!" I sneezed loudly.

"Are you okay?!"

"You're sick, un!

" You'll fucking spread the germs!"

" Don't waste money on medicine." Everyone turned to look at Kakuzu with a look that said ' are you mad or something? Of course, medicines cost money!'

" I'm fine guys. Really. Just like fever..ish." I shrugged, my voice hoarse.

" You don't look too good." Konan spoke worriedly.

" Do I ever?"

" I told her not to stay in the rain." I narrowed your eyes at Itachi.

" After blocking my rain, and forcing me to get inside, you still think I 'stayed' as you put it?" I snapped. What happened yesterday certainly made me a little bitchy at him.

" I was just carrying out my duty. Besides, first rain of the season is polluted and even a little exposure can make you like this." Emphasis of this as he pointed to my condition.

" Humph. Then you failed to carry out your duty since I'm sick!!" I flailed my arms back and forth and right after raising my voice, I fell into a fit of coughs. Very bad coughs

A hand rubbed my back to soothe it which helped and soon the coughs subsided.

" Thanks."

"Its my duty."

Duty? Oh shit!!

My face turned completely red when I realized it was Itachi's hand and I could've easily mistaken with a tomato.

" Fucking great. Now she has a fucking fever!"

" Would you stop cussing?! Its hurting my head!!"

" If she can yell this much, then she's not sick." Kisame said and mostly everyone agreed.

" I think I will go and spill some cold water to ease the fever." I spoke and made my way to the girls bathroom.

I sighed heavily when my head was feeling much better due to the blockage of constant noises of my friends.

"Like a rat in a cage." Someone said cockily from behind me and I turned to see who it was only to see a group of snot nosed girls.

" Who me?" I asked in a cracked voice. Curse my voice, portraying me as a weakling.

" Yes dear. You."

" Wow. I'm growing popular."

" Shut up you bitch!" She lunged forward and instantly pinned me to the wall just beside the mirror. I flinched from impact and glared burning daggers at her.

" Can I know why you're ganging up on me?" I asked as innocently as possible. Some girl from her group started laughing like a witch.

" She doesn't know? You're dumber than you look!"

" Well you are one to talk." I rolled my eyes. My retort earned me being pushed deeper in the wall. My already weakened state wasn't helping much.

" Shut up! Do you even realize the situation you're in?! We can do anything!"

" Then why don't you?" I asked with a blank look.

" What?! Argh!" She got pissed. Whoops. My attitude just made nod to one of the girls who handed her a small knife. The leader took it and dangled at in front of my face.

" Okay, now first tell me how I got into this mess?" I asked yet again not really caring much for my situation.

" Just stay away from him!"

" Him? Who?" My mind wandered to any 'him' but I had been with boys all you time so I didn't know who she meant.

"The one with black hair, taller than you, most handsome man I ever laid eyes on! Ring a bell?" I started to think about it but I had been many guys with black hair and taller than me. Not to mention all my brothers except Max are taller than me and have black hair.

" Uh, no." I replied bluntly which earned me a punch in the stomach. " Ow!"

" Uchiha Itachi!! That's who I'm talking about!"

" O-Oh! Well he's my friend and rival, I simply can't just leave my friends-" I coughed as she yet again punched me. She brought down the blade and pointed it to my right arm to where it was just touching it.

Uh oh. Now its getting serious.

" Just stay away from him or you'll get it!"

" Get what?"

Whoops, that pissed her off as she pressed the knife in my arm from top and then slid it to the bottom making a cut on its way. It wasn't deep but blood was pouring out of it. I didn't feel any pain. It was much less to what I've experienced but once she started poking it deeper my eyes widened.

"This! Now you understand?! A newbie like you! A low life like you have no right to be with him!! So just stay away for your own good!!" The wound she made deeper and deeper by continuously poking the knife and I winced ever so slightly.

My weak mental state was helping me and not helping me at the same time. Helping by numbing some pain and not helping because I couldn't do anything but to just stand there and let myself be harmed.

" Now you know what's better for you!" She barked and placed the blade away. Soon she and her possy left and I slid to the ground in shock that I let her do this to me.

Sighing painfully I eventually got up and washed the cut and went to my locker keeping out of everyone's gaze. Class had already begun so nobody was in the halls. I took out some bandages and wrapped them around after using some ointment and then put a sleeve over it which I keep in there for privacy purposes. Next I pulled my blazer on to conceal the bloody shirt.

I never liked showing too much skin and that's majority reason that I kept the sleeve and what do ya know, it came in handy. Now that would hide my bandaged forearm.

I started my walk to the class and upon entering the said place, everyone's eyes turned towards me but I didn't meet anyone's gaze as my eyes were set on the ground. Kakashi-sensei could tell something was wrong so he just let me in without any questions.

Time flew like it was nothing and I found myself sitting with my friends in the cafeteria. I tried my best to hide my wounded arm and it almost worked.

I had been avoiding Itachi the whole day not because of what those bullies told me but simply I didn't want him to get worked up over my wound. If he found out, I'd have to tell him how I got it and things would get complicated. I didn't want that to happen, so I basically kept my problem to myself

~Itachi's POV~

Why was she late in class? She just went to the washrooms right? Then why did she look so pale on her return and why was she late? Is she ok?

I sighed and my eyes fell upon the girl who constantly occupied my mind. Dull eyes, hair out of place, dark rings, pale complexion, everything about her told me right now that she was sick. Sick of not being able to take care of herself. But there was a glint of something else in her eyes I couldn't read.

What......is that?

She was just sitting by herself in the corner not speaking anything or talking to anyone beside her. Her head down and hair concealed her eyes, arms limped by the sides and back hunched. One thing was for sure, she could collapse anytime.

Something caught my attention on her. She was wearing a full arm sleeve in one of her arms, under her blazer. Since when did she wear proper uniform? What happened to her now? What had she done?

I will talk to her later in the day to make sure she's alright. 

~