A/N: Written for the 50_digifics challenge on livejournal, for the pairing: Taiki/Akari and prompt #007 – vaccine.

Pre-Tetanus Shots

'Oi, oi, if you're going to insist on your bad habit you can at least make sure you don't get sick because of it.'

Akari sighed when she turned around and found she had left behind again. Extracting herself was an easy job, and she waited by the wall, scanning the faces as they went by.

'If he's gone home, I swear I'll…'

She let the threat hang. She doubted it anyway; Taiki just wasn't that sort of person. He might have, if she hadn't been accompanying him – in fact, it was the whole reason she was. To make sure he actually got his vaccines this time round…and to hopefully get it into his impossibly thick head that picking up splinters without a tetanus shot was just asking for trouble.

She managed to pick out that head from the crowd, complete with the rounded goggles he always wore.

'Taiki!' she yelled, waving and ignoring the odd looks she received. Without giving him a chance to yell back – though his cheeks were a little pink from his end of the attention – she threaded herself over to him. 'You weren't trying to get away from your appointment, were you?'

'No – I – I was just –' He went a little redder.

Akari put her hands on her lips and frowned at him, feet taking little fox steps to keep pace. 'You're not scared of a few measly little shots, are you?'

'No!' Taiki burst, hurrying a little. 'I've just got –'

'I know, I know, a whole bunch of other stuff to do and people you just can't turn your back on.' Akari sighed again. 'Just how many people do you think you can help if all those splinters get infected?'

She realised that wasn't the most tactful thing to say when silence greeted her in answer.

'Oh, you know what I mean,' she said. 'I just don't want you getting sick – or hurt – or – or – ' She stopped, realising she was starting to stutter.

Taiki laughed. 'I get it. I'm going.'

'You'd better be,' Akari huffed, steamrolling over the slight embarrassment. 'And don't forget you owe me ramen after this.'

'I remember, I remember…'

The crowd gently nudged them along.

'Where did you disappear to anyway?' Akari asked curiously as the surgery loomed into view.

'Ah, I saw a little boy who skinned his –'

'Taiki.' She raised a hand to her head. 'Honestly, I need to keep a tighter leash on you.'

'Akari!'

'What? Don't tell me you couldn't turn your back on –'

'People are listening to us.'

Akari looked around, finding people were indeed listening…and getting the wrong idea.

'Aargh, let's just go already.' She grabbed the brunet's wrist and yanked him on.

'Akari,' Taiki yelped, stumbling a little despite himself. 'We're almost there anyway!'