Okay, this is my first Inu Yasha fic out for review. Please feel free to contact me and give me any insight. Any reviews would be appreciated and confidential. If it goes over well, I'll put up the rest of the series. There are four parts and counting- if all goes well the others will show up later. I am also looking for an over all title (think of Sick Days as the first part). My email is [1]KildareAngel@aol.com. I appreciate any commentary but flamers beware, I barbeque. Now, on with the show!

P.S. Inu Yasha and co. do not belong to me- never have, never will.

Sick Days

I hadn't been feeling well and decided to stay home. I figured, I'd take a break, feel better and then jump back through the well. Being home would also allow me the time I needed to study and review for school- even though I was back in my time, I couldn't go to school because I doubted I'd make it through class. The flu symptoms had made me officially homebound as a precaution.

Mom had allowed me to take over the living room during the day. My textbooks were staked on the side of the couch, the TV off, and the stereo played soft music that mom had picked up from somewhere. A TV tray was by my schoolbooks, a bowl of soup cooling on it. I was curled up under a heavy blanket, alternately sweating and shivering. Ah yes, having the flu was always fun. I reached for my water glass, realized it was empty and called out weakly for mom to come fill it. It was then that I remembered that she had gone out for the afternoon with grandpa. How I could forget the amount of reassuring it took to placate her guilt, I did not know. I had sent the two off with a smile and another heartfelt, "I'll be fine! You two have fun!" As far as I know, Sota would join up with them later after school. I had the house to myself for the day and most of the evening.

I crawled out from under my nice warm blanket and, after a moment of dizziness, shuffled slowly into the kitchen (wouldn't do to fall over and crack my head open or something). I got my water and shuffled back to the nest of covers. The minimal effort had exhausted me. Though I tried to concentrate, I kept falling asleep while reading my bio book. After the third time, I gave up trying to study. After all, an hour's nap wouldn't hurt.

I wasn't sure what time it was when I awoke. When you are sick, your sense of time becomes weird. I kept my eyes closed, half asleep, trying to figure out why I was awake. I had the vague feeling that something had bothered me. I lay on my stomach and sniffled; my nose was stuffed up. Breathing through my mouth was no fun either- I tried it and coughed until my chest ached. I let myself lie there, uncomfortable, and cursed the flu virus silently. In frustration, I kicked at my covers, kicking them off the couch in the process. I'd have to pull them back up in a little bit; even though my fever kept me warm now, it didn't mean it would in a few minutes. I let out a small groan at that thought, voicing my misery and irritation.

I coughed again, not as violently as last time, and reached for my water without looking. I didn't have the energy to look up, staying face down in my pillow, cautiously feeling for the glass. Tray, rim of the soup bowl, spoon. I felt along the table and couldn't find the freaking glass. I let my hand fall in defeat. Damn, now I had to get up and expend what little energy I had. Even when I'm home, I can't study. I thought darkly. I stayed as I was, procrastinating, dreading the coming chore. I caught myself napping and tried to blink the sleep away.

I heard soft footsteps on the rug and felt the couch give under new weight. Mom must've come home early. I was annoyed and pleased at the same time. I had told her not to worry and she had, coming home to look after me at the right moment. A cool hand touched my cheek, smoothed my hair away. I gave into that gentle touch, pressing my hot skin against it with a sigh. I heard a rustle and felt the blankets cover my feet. When I had been a little girl and sick, I had loved the way my mom's touch had made me feel; safe, loved, and comforted. Even years later at age 17, her touch still made me feel that way. The comforts of being cared for, of someone making the misery go away. I was glad she was here, making my feel better. `Mama.' I whispered, turning my head toward her so I could breathe. The comforting stroke continued, and mom passed me my water glass. I took it and drank the liquid without opening my eyes, feeling it clear my throat. Mom laid the blankets over me, making me
too hot. I made noises of protest and pushed at them; she took the hint and folded them down.

Sleepy and comfortable at last, I reached out and grabbed the hand that stroked my cheek. I gave it a squeeze to show my appreciation, and was poked by a nail. Wait a minute, I forced open an eye. (It was harder than it should have been.) I held the hand up in front of me and explored it with my hand and eye. The palm was callused; the nails long like claws. The hand I held tried to pull away but I held it firmly. I knew this hand. Mom hadn't come home to look after me; Inu Yasha had. The fact was staring me in the face but my foggy mind found it hard to wrap itself around the concept. It was Inu Yasha, not mom, who was here caring for me.

My eyelids were like lead weights. I tried to keep them open, but it was no use. I squeezed his hand again and let it go. I rolled onto my back, panting from the effort, trying to find the rest of the dog demon. I didn't find him immediately and for a horrible moment though I had imagined - or hallucinated- him being there. "Inu..." I coughed. I couldn't find him visually anywhere, and didn't want to touch him with the hands I had just coughed into. I couldn't hear anything to indicate he was still there, or had been at all. As a last resort, I said the magic word; "Sit!" I waited to hear the tell tale thump and curse. Nothing. The house was silent except for the hall clock ticking the day away.

I covered my eyes with my hands, feeling an acute sense of disappointment and stupidity. Of course Inu Yasha wouldn't be here; he was back in the Warring States period with Shippo, Sango and Miroku. There was no reason he would be here. "Meds must be kicking in." I sighed and sat up a little. I picked up my bio book off the floor and began to try and study again. In five minutes time, the words blurred and my eyes closed. I felt the book fall from my hand; I was fast asleep before it hit the floor.

References

1. mailto:KildareAngel@aol.com