A/n: It's official…I have a terrible cold. And when I'm sick, I tend to write about sickness pretty well. I mean, if I have to suffer, surely Fayt has to suffer with me, right? XD But anyway…I got so thrilled about this idea…that originally it was supposed to be a one-shot and it got so big that I'm cutting it into chapters. XD buutt…good news! I got the whole story done all in one typing session…so the story will just be released whenever I feel like I have enough reviews. No more waiting for me to finish. Yippee! Well...unless I feel like I have to change the author's note for a certain chapter to remind people of something…but anyway, enough about me. XD

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Albel…or Fayt. Although, I would be really cool to actually own and control them so I could screw with their heads.

Albel scowled at Fayt and sheathed his katana. "No more sparring for today."

"But I'm fine," Fayt protested. "I can keep going."

"You're sick, fool," Albel growled. "Just look at you. You're face is flushed and your nose is running. Pitiful. I bet you're going to hold up our progress for a few days while you lie in bed trying to recover."

"I'm okay," Fayt insisted. "I can still spar. I don't need to stay in bed."

Albel frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. 'You just don't know when to give up, do you?"

"You wouldn't stop fighting for a cold either," Fayt pointed out.

Albel sniffed disdainfully. "The difference between us is that I can handle a little cold and you can't."

"I can handle it," Fayt protested. "I don't need to rest. I'll just keep some tissues with me for my nose and then we can keep traveling and sparring whenever you want."

Albel shook his head and walked up to Fayt. He stopped and glared at Fayt stubbornly. "You can't handle it," he growled, poking Fayt's chest with a finger.

Fayt swayed uncertainly and put out a hand to catch himself on a fencepost nearby.

Albel snorted. "What did I tell you? You're too weak to stand."

"You pushed me," Fayt said indignantly. "You made me lose my balance."

"I barely touched you," Albel scoffed. "Stop making excuses."

Fayt sneezed with a force that jerked his whole body. Albel stepped backwards with a look of disgust. "Now, don't try to get me sick too, fool."

Fayt smiled weakly. "You're afraid of being sick? I thought you could handle a little cold."

"I can handle a cold perfectly fine," Albel said frostily. "It's your idiot germs I'm afraid of catching. I don't want to be a fool like you."

'Right, right," Fayt sighed tiredly.

Albel put his hands on his hips. "Now, seriously, you pathetic worm. Go see that stupid healer girl and get fixed up."

"Sophia?"

"I don't care what her name is. But if you aren't well enough to travel, we won't go anywhere, and I'm sick of this place. Now, move it, maggot."

Fayt sighed and began walking back towards town when he stopped suddenly with an odd look on his face.

"Now what?" Albel growled.

"I-I don't feel very good," Fayt whispered.

"You don't look very good either," Albel said gruffly. 'I've been trying to tell you that you're sick this whole time and you don't realize it until now. You're slow, fool."

Fayt took in a sharp intake of breath and his face turned pale. He started falling over backwards.

Albel grabbed Fayt's wrist and yanked him to his feet. Fayt slumped weakly against Albel's chest, his eyes glazed and half-closed.

"What did I tell you?" Albel said triumphantly. "You have a fever. Now, you're going to go see that slimy girlfriend of yours if I have to drag you the whole way."

By the time Albel had gotten Fayt into the care of Sophia, Maria, and Cliff, Fayt was unconscious. He hung limply from Albel's arms as the warrior half-dragged, half-carried the sick boy into the hotel room.

Sophia screamed. "Oh no! Poor Fayt. How could you let him get like this? Did you beat him up? Is he dead?

Albel rolled his eyes. "Oh shut up, you worthless worm. Your beloved maggot is still alive. He's just sick."

"You don't take a sick person out in the rain," Sophia snapped.

"Oh, is it raining?" Albel asked carelessly. "I was too busy dragging this worthless sack of bones back here."

Sophia lunged at him but Cliff held her back. Albel stared her down with a superior look. She glared daggers back at him.

Somehow, Maria managed to diffuse the situation. After all, the real problem was how to treat Fayt, and once the attention was back on their ill friend, they were too busy to fight.