They say when people get sick; they recover quickly by means of pure happiness.
SerIzumo
-oOo-
Afternoon seems to be an odd and busy day for other people, but due to heavy rainfall, people are forced to open up their umbrellas and have their actions go limited.
Darkness filled the area, as clouds went to cover the shining sun. Yata and Eric could only watch at the window pane; watching the raindrops pour like lakes at the glass, making it moist. Yata frowned at the sight; roads and sidewalks totally wet from the rain, sky being covered by rain-packed clouds. Too bad he wouldn't be skateboarding today.
Seeing the moist from the window, Eric began to draw something that made Yata flinch and watch him as he drew; a circle then 2 triangular shapes above the head, frowning face and angered eyes, as Eric went to write Chihuahua in print above the dog-like head. Eric turned to Yata and smirked annoyingly to him, making Yata frown and shout at him.
"You think I don't read that thing, you stray dog!?"
"Shut your mouth you little Chihuahua…you're so noisy…" he said in pure English. This had made him burst to full anger. Calling him my such name, was already an insult. Yata fumed up and stood up from the couch.
"Don't you think I don't understand English you bastard!" he said, nearly crying in anger. He knows he's little; it doesn't have to be emphasized like that.
"Alright…alright…that's enough…" said Tatara as he came approaching the two young men and calmed Yata down. "Calm down Yata-chan…and Eric…please be nice to Yata-chan…ok?" then he smiled sheepishly to them, still seeing them in angered expression with their fists tightly balled, ready to punch.
While watching the 3 men settle it, Mikoto was at the bar counter; had his elbows and back rested at the edge of the counter with his legs spread out to relax. His eyes furrowed because of boredom; he too was bored because of the weather. He could hear the raindrops hitting the roof and he could also feel the cold atmosphere around; making him sleepy again.
He sighed at the slight ruckus the 3 men are making.
"You always say I'm little like I'm a little child!"
"Well aren't you one?"
"Fuck off!"
"Uh guys? Calm down…!" Tatara went sweatdropped; realizing that it's nearly impossible to stop these two from fighting. The two boys are nearly going to punch and hit each other any moment now.
As the two boys kept on fighting, a rough cough went to interrupt them all and glared behind the bar counter. Mikoto glared above his shoulders and saw Izumo coughing heavily; covering his mouth with his arm while holding the wine glass he was cleaning. His face was nearly red and his forehead was sweating; too odd to happen at such cold weather.
He kept on coughing making everybody at the bar glance to him. Anna blinked many times, watching Izumo clear his throat and turned around to glance at them.
Izumo looked at their faces. He waved his hand to them.
"Oi oi, I'm alright, don't worry…" he smiled weakly to them, then suddenly releasing another round of coughs. The 2 me only stared at him. Tatara and Mikoto knew if Izumo is lying to them; from all the 8 years they've been through, it's impossible that Izumo will be hiding anything from them.
"Yo…Izumo…" Mikoto called out lazily.
"I told you guys…I'm al—." he got cut off when he went to another round to cough again, this time bending down making him rest his hands for support at the bar counter. Tatara immediately ran to Izumo and patted his back, in hopes that it might lessen his coughing from roughness.
"Hey, hey, Kusanagi-san…" Tatara called him. "…take it easy will you?"
With few more coughs, Izumo went to glance at Tatara. "It's just…a cough…" then he smiled, trying to convince him that he's alright, but Tatara only frowned to him and decided to put his one hand over his forehead.
"Oh my, you have a high fever…" then he glared to him. "Why didn't you tell us?!"
"Hn…it's just a fever Totsuka-san…" he chuckled, like he doesn't feel any weakness from inside; his knees trembling slightly, and his body shivering.
"Kusanagi-san, if you feel sick, you should have stayed in bed." Yata reminded him.
Mikoto only looked at him and observed; he was shuddering slightly, wobbling while walking, he is indeed sick. "Why are you lying to us like this?"
Izumo went to glance back to Mikoto; he was frowning again and looked unpleased. Izumo knew that he couldn't hide anything from them, but at least convince them that he will be alright.
Mikoto, however, wasn't convinced at such lie.
"Oi…Mikoto…" he called in a calm voice, smiling to him. "…don't you underestimate me. I'm still young and strong and—."
"—and sick as well."
Izumo sighed in defeat from Mikoto. "Oh alright, you got me…"
Mikoto hummed a tone from his nose and stood up. He looked at Tatara then to Izumo.
"We'll get you home…"
"No…my bar…needs—."
"Kusanagi-san!"
Izumo lost balance on his feet, his vision becoming blurry and was about to fall to the floor. The last thing he knew was that he fell on a warm object, and it wasn't as hard as the wooden floor. He looked up, and saw Mikoto had caught him from falling to the floor. Tatara, who was about to reach for him from falling, sighed in relief seeing Mikoto had caught Izumo safely, from hitting the floor.
"Baka…" Izumo lifted his head up from his chest, seeing Mikoto frown at him, really unpleased. "…you'll die early if you keep doing that…"
"Kusanagi-san…" Tatara went to bend down and put his hand over his forehead; he was extremely at high temperature. He looked at his breathing; it was heavy and he was sweating. Tatara knew that he shouldn't be sweating like that in the middle of the cold rainy day.
"Come on…we'll take you home."
…
From the bar to his apartment, Tatara and Mikoto took Izumo to a cab. While on the road, Tatara had Izumo's head rested on his shoulder, watching him slightly shuddering and sweat went pouring down to his neck. They both assisted him—as he clings to their shoulders—to his room. Izumo's cough was terrible, and it made Tatara worry more to his friend.
"You know Kusanagi-san, you should learn how to take care of yourself more." chuckled Tatara as he helped him to his bed. With a final cough, Izumo glared to him while frowning.
"How could I if all of you are making my bar a total mess?"
"Ah…so Kusanagi-san is blaming Homura haa?"
"Shut up idiot…"
They stayed there a few moments, with Mikoto slightly devastated of the situation because firstly: Izumo is having a terrible cough and high fever, and lastly, he couldn't smoke due to Izumo's condition. He sighed and took a glimpse at them as he stood there beside the window. Rain was pouring heavily, and they couldn't stay for long at Izumo's apartment. Somebody has to look out for the bar too.
"Kusanagi-san—."
"I-I know…" Izumo went to smile weakly to them. "…you need to go back."
"But is it alright?" asked Tatara, as he glanced to Mikoto then to Izumo. "Nobody will take care of you here. You can't even stand up for yourself."
Izumo sighed. "No, it's alright. I can take it from here."
"You sure? I doubt that."
"I told you don't underestimate me, Mikoto…I'll be fine."
"Hmpf…"
They left Izumo at his room. Tatara closed the door slowly to make sure Izumo won't be disturbed. Mikoto noticed Tatara's saddened face as he kept on staring at the door knob he was holding.
"Tatara…"
"Haa…I feel guilty of leaving Kusanagi-san alone in his room…" Tatara went to force a smile to Mikoto, making him blink in confusion, as to know Tatara would have something in his mind. "I have a plan, King!"
Just what he had thought, he HAS a plan. Mikoto frowned as he lit a cigar by snapping his fingers before taking a glimpse of his annoying smile.
"I bet it's a dumb one…"
"Hehehe…" Tatara went to walk before him from the door. "We can't just leave Kusanagi-san alone and sick in his room all day. But also, we can't leave the bar without our care."
Mikoto actually don't care that much to the bar. "So…your point?"
"SO my point is…we need SOMEONE to take care of him instead…like a babysitter!"
Mikoto almost coughed his cigar, making Tatara glance at him in surprise.
"A babysitter!?" he said while covering his mouth as he spit the ashes that caught his tongue.
"Uh-huh!"
"Tatara…Izumo is 26."
Tatara stopped smiling and started to stare at him in confusion.
"I know that King…are you…thinking that I really actually meant a babysitter for him?"
"Tch…" he frowned and looked away. He walks past him. "So who will be his 'babysitter'?"
"Hmm…well, we can't send Kamamoto to take care of him, he takes care of Anna."
"Well what about you?"
"What about you King?"
"I don't wanna…"
"Me too…"
They both stopped walking, realizing how rude and terrible they are to their friend.
Leaving Izumo sick and alone in his apartment would be the worst thing they will do to him as a friend than messing up the bar.
Tatara and Mikoto were just standing at the alley, letting the heavy sound of rain fill the silence of the area, thinking deeply for their sick friend. Mikoto is annoyed by how he came up with thinking for Izumo's condition, as if he was a baby although he is older than them both. Tatara smudged his chin with furrowed eyebrows to formulate a possible plan. Suddenly he snapped and raised his forefinger.
"Aha! I got it King!"
"Shut up, you're too noisy…"
"But King this is a good pla—No! This is a GREAT and AWESOME plan!"
"Just spit it already, you're disturbing the neighbors with your shouting…"
Tatara smiled that he got the King's attention to listen for his plan. He ran in front of him making him halt in the process. Mikoto raised his eyebrows in the process, staring at him from above.
"If we can't stay for Kusanagi-san, then somebody will stay for him instead, even just for this night!" Tatara's eyes were shimmering to Mikoto, making him furrow his eyebrows.
"Who?"
Without answering, Tatara took out his phone and began searching his contacts. "AH!" When he had spotted the number, he quickly put the phone in front of Mikoto's face, making him lean his head backwards in the process to take a better view of the number. Mikoto raised one eyebrow as he glimpse with a bored look back to Tatara, who was grinning annoyingly.
"Why do…you have this number?"
Tatara chuckled. "Well, there was a circumstance were we happen to bump on each other…"
"I'm asking you WHY…not HOW, idiot."
"I'm telling the truth King!"
"Whatever…" Mikoto sighed as he walked past him. "…they won't agree."
"Why do you say so?" Tatara said, letting the King walk past his shoulder. "They are somehow…ACQUIANTANCES, right?"
Mikoto stopped walking, without looking at him. "With the blues…huhh?"
"Well, I think they get along well right? Besides, they say when people get sick; they recover quickly by means of pure happiness." He glanced to Mikoto with a smile. "Kusanagi-san will be happy, right?"
Mikoto looked over his shoulder, with an annoyed expression. "She is a heartless woman…"
Tatara chuckled as he went to walk to his King. "You heard that from Kusanagi-san huhh?" He had walked past Mikoto as he mumbled something that Mikoto surely didn't hear.
"Too bad I can't film them…for memories."
…..
2 hours after his friends had left; he can't help but keep on coughing. His temperature rose as time goes by, making him unable to move from bed.
I must have gone overboard to work too much, he thought. Lately, he had so many costumers that he needs to set his attention to bartending. One time, Yata and Chitose made a huge mistake at the kitchen; instead of using the oven to bake the cake, the idiots used their powers to emit heat.
Now the kitchen was a total mess.
That was not all that had him bothered. He has been busy taking care of his business, getting some information from people that he knew, causing him to extreme fatigue due to stress.
Izumo chuckled to himself. "I'm getting old…"
He coughed more, feeling his sweat pour from his forehead down to his neck. He had his clothes changed due to heavy sweating, but it became nonsense since he had been sweating like this over and over again. His back is drenched with sweat and his neck is getting hotter. He shivered forcing himself to curl under the blanket. Tatara had given him 2 blankets already, but he still felt cold from the outside.
"D-Damn…"
Unexpected, his doorbell rang. He forced to open his eyes to take a glimpse at the closed door. Was he just hallucinating that he heard his doorbell? He waited for more. There was none. He just moved his back from the door and curled himself under the blanket.
Everything was quiet, making him fall asleep, slowly…and slowly…
…until he opened his eyes as he heard his doorbell ringing continuously. He groaned as he slowly got up from his bed.
"Uhh…people should treat doorbells a little better…"
He stood up, noticing his legs wobbling slightly. He knew he was gonna loss balance, so he held himself to the furniture around him so he could continue to walk to the door.
The door bell kept on ringing annoyingly, even as he made his way to the door already. He is sick and should be in bed, but just because of the person abusively pressing his door bell, he is forced to take the risk of fainting or loosing balance just to open the door.
He took all his strength to open the door grudgingly. He groaned angrily as he had finally opened the door.
"Agh! Don't you people have some peace of—." His vision went blurry from the light of the alley. He covered his eyes with his hand to take a better view of the person standing before him. Slowly and slowly, his eyesight revealed the woman before him.
"Eh?" he twitched his lips upward awkwardly, his eyes widen in surprise. "S-Seri-chan?"
Seri sighed in despair. "I told you not to call me in an over-familiar way…" she said with an irritated look to him.
Izumo still couldn't believe it; the heartless woman is actually in front of his apartment now.
"Seri-chan? What are you…doing here?" he chuckled as he rested his back at the edge of the doorway, crossing his arms, looking at her with a charismatic smile, pretending like he is not sick at all. "I never thought you will visit this room again…"
Seri only observed him, looking at his eyes in a blank expression. "At least I have a reason to do so, not the ONE that you are thinking of."
"Hahaha! I remember, you meant me as one of those FRIVOLOUS men…" he bent his head down to look at her intently. "But still…you MANAGE to come back here…again."
Seri knew Izumo is just flirting her for his own entertainment. She sighed and furrowed her eyebrows in disgust. "I am not here to FLIRT with you, and I am not here to order a cocktail from you."
"Heh? That one with red bean paste again…huh?" he said while raising his eyebrows under his slacken eyes. Izumo felt his temperature rising, but his coughing stopped for a moment. Must be reflex after seeing such a beautiful lady in the middle of his sickness, he thought.
"A call sent me here."
"A call?"
"Yes."
Izumo went to rest his chin while smirking at her. "I doubt that."
Because of this, she had blasted from temper.
"ARE REALLY THAT CLOSED MINDED THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN—."
Seri was cut off when Izumo unexpectedly coughed and had his fist covered at his mouth. Seri saw how Izumo had his shoulders curled down, as he turned around away from her. His coughing was terrible and she could say that it was getting worse. After few coughs, Izumo cleared his throat as he turned back to Seri with a smile.
Izumo saw her gap her mouth, must in surprise to see him in such a bad condition.
"Sorry about that Seri-chan…" he chuckled. "Rain had me today…"
His sweat was pouring down to his chest, and his eyes were bulgy. His face went red due to pressure from coughing, making Seri frown a little and grunt.
"You're sick, don't deny it."
"It's just a little fever." Izumo said. "Don't tell me you're here…to NURSE me…" he smirked slowly to her, leaning to her face only staring at her eyes.
"I'm here to investigate…" she said as he walked past him to the room, ignoring him approaching her face awhile ago. "…I just need to gather some reports from you."
"Don't lie…" he said still at the doorway. "…you know women are full of chances…especially when they are alone at a house with a man who lives…by himself…no?" then he teasingly closed the door behind him.
Is this jerk really sick? ; She thought. That sly Homra has sent me to a trap!
She shouldn't have believed that man who had called her. Why would she even believe that weak manager? This man in front of him is not even sick at all—well maybe in the head she supposes. Fever had his mind into a full dilemma, making him crazy and now locking her to his lair.
How terrific is that?
Well, she could at least stab him with a saber.
Too bad she doesn't have it now.
All she has is a sling bag.
Right, it's really terrific.
"I-If you move any closer, I'll—!"
"You'll…what?" he kept on approaching her, closer and closer, until they were facing inches apart. "You know you can't do anything without your saber, Seri-chan."
"Of course I can…!" her situation has been growing worse as she felt his warm breath over her head. "Don't even think about—?!"
Izumo pulled her closer to him and unexpectedly hugged her, making her frozen, speechless, and nervous at the same time. Her heartbeat went fast, her body unable to move, feeling his hands wrapped around her. His face was hidden over her shoulders, with his warm breath making her moan a little and her hair fly slightly from its place.
Seri was fighting herself from feeling her face burn up, but she failed. More and more, she could feel him hugging her tighter.
"S-Seri-chan…" he whispered to her ear. "I…I'm falling…over you…"
Too late, her face burned extremely in surprise.
"W-What?! Stop being a maniac and let me go from—."
"N-No…" his breathing began to be heavy as ever. "I-I'm…" Izumo hugged her tighter this time, making her firmly steady.
With flustered face, she slowly dug her face to his shoulder and whispered to his ears.
"W-What is it…?"
"I-I'm falling over you…Seri-chan..." he said again. "I…I can't…stand…any…mo—." His balance gave up, and fell limp to the floor with Seri. With her too losing her own balance due to Izumo's weight, she fell on her hips.
As she was about to complain, she noticed how he was panting heavily. His head rested over her chest, inclined at one side. She had him to her arms with his body rested on the floor. She never expected a man like Izumo would faint like that.
"Oi…" she called, but he didn't answer. "…stop pretending you're sick, you idiot." But still, he remained silent, panting with his sweat pouring continuously down to his neck. Seri became alarmed at what had happened to him now. She poked his cheeks, but he didn't respond. She placed her hand at his forehead.
"You are burning…" she said, then looked at his face; he is getting worse. "Izumo-san…?"
Izumo heard her and slowly opened his eyes, maneuvered them to look above her, then made a weak grin to her.
"I thought you don't like people…calling you in an over-familiar way?" he said in a weak voice. Seri gnashed her teeth, feeling her heart making a fast pace.
"Shut up…" she said in annoyance. "Now keep it down, I have to rest you on your bed."
"N-No…" he said as he sat up quickly, with his arms wobbling as he does. "I-I can do it…"
"Izumo-san…" she once called her again. "…for once listen to what other people have to say…"
Izumo glanced to her, hearing her say that words out of the blue. It's not normal—for him—to hear those from her; the reason why he called her a HEARTLESS woman, because she was the first to be to ignore his flirtatious charms.
He chuckled. "So, Ms. Vice Captain wants to NURSE a FRIVOLOUS man…" he smirked. "That's typical."
Seri had a bit problem of assisting him to bed; his weight. He was such a big man; obviously his weight is greater than hers. She even suspects that he is doing it on purpose to 'fall over her' again. Whatever it means, she would simply forget that he is sick, and do what she must as a woman.
As she had him sit on his bed, Izumo asked her. "How did you know I was sick?"
She flinched and tucked her hair behind her ears. "S-Somebody told me…"
"Who?"
"It's none of your business."
Izumo went to pout. "Liar." He said. "And what are you here to investigate?" then he made a grin. "…are you here to know how I change my clothes?"
"One more thing like that, I will totally leave you."
Izumo flinched and at last rested his back at the pillow. "Alright, I'll stop now." She knew it was the only thing in the world that could make him stop his annoying terms.
"Good." She went to take something from her bag; a plastic bag of medicines. "Drink this 3 times a day, every 8 hours, always prepare a glass of water by your table and never forget to take them. You would possibly feel better maybe after 3 days or so, if you take these medicines seriously." She stared to him. "Now do you understand?"
Instead of answering, Izumo widen his eyes in surprise, resulting him to laugh. Seri frowned and finally smack him above his head. Izumo felt that and looked at her while massaging his head.
"Hey! You don't have to do that!"
"I'm talking here seriously, you insolent fool! I bought these medicines for you and all I get is a huge LAUGH!?"
Izumo softened his eyes to her, and smiled. "Ah, sorry about that Seri-chan. I didn't know…it was that important to you…"
Hearing those words, she frustratingly looked away to another direction, to hide her flustered face.
Izumo cackles slightly seeing her reaction. "Wow, I never thought you will be this worried about me, Seri-chan." Then he smiled apologetically to her. "I'm sorry…"
She looked at him at the corner of her slightly frowned eyes. "You should be thankful somebody bought medicines for you. I was thinking that I would also buy you a bread with red bean paste stuff on it but—."
"A-Ah…i-it's ok Seri-chan!" he said while waving his hands. "These medicines are fine; you don't have to be bothered." He sheepishly smiled to her, scratching his head. She is not going to make him eat that bread.
"Oh, is that so?" she sighed and stood up. "Well, I must get going. I still have work to do."
"You're…leaving already?" he said in a gloomy way.
"Yeah, I only sneaked out from work this day."
"Huh? Why?"
Seri just looked away. "Personal…reasons." She cleared her throat and took her sling bag. "I'll be taking my leave now."
As she was about to turn around, he clasped her free hand quickly then pulled her back to his bed. He wrapped his arms around her then pulled her towards him. Everything went fast; all that she knew was she is now resting over his chest.
"Please…don't leave yet."
Seri flinched and her eyes widen in surprise; feeling his warm breath over her head, hearing his heartbeat pacing fast, and his arms wrapped tightly around her. She couldn't move, and she doesn't know why. Even if she wished to move to break free from him, there was something inside of her that is halting her to do that.
"Please, stay here for awhile…I—" Izumo bent his head down, snuggling his nose to her hair. "I don't want to be alone. I want you here with me…for awhile."
She was just there, letting him move her closer to him, resting her head over his chest. Seri soon felt her shoulder relax and close her eyes.
"Alright…" because she doesn't care WHY she has to. "I'll stay here until you sleep." what matters now is what she really WANT.
"Thank you…Seri-chan." He said whispering to her ears.
All night, she stayed by his side, even until he fell asleep. She observed him sleep; his face looked even more peaceful at sleep, his breathing was steady and his temperature is slowly going down to its normal state. He still has her wrapped around him, with his cheek rested above her head. Seri took a moment to just stare at him.
He was deeply in his own dream world. He was sleeping soundly; truly unaware of what was happening. Seri unconsciously smiled amusingly, thinking he looked funny while at sleep. She lazily maneuvered her eyes to his lips; even though for a smoker, they were still puff and slightly pink. For a man like Izumo, it could be one of his greatest assets.
She didn't realize she was leaning closer and closer to his face.
"This is ridiculous…"
She slowly pulled away from his arms, not wanting to wake him up. She carefully tucked him under the blanket, watching him move and curl around the bed. She sat at the edge of his bed, wrote a note and placed it by the table near the bed. She glanced once more to him; he totally has no idea that she is free from his arms now.
"Get well soon, Izumo-san…" She then gave a kiss on his cheek. She stood up, and peeked slightly as she slowly closed the door of his room.
As she walks by the hallway, she couldn't forget that fair face of that crazy idiot while in sleep. She stopped for a moment, and smudged her lips with her thumb.
"Why the heck…" as she felt her heart pace so fast again. "…did I kiss him for?"
-oOo-