Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or situations involved in this fanfic, and am not making any profit whatsoever off of it.
Story Title: Teacher's Woes
Chapter Title: Quenching The Flames
Characters: Satou Kouji
Story Word Count: 300 words
Chapter Word Count: 300 words
LJ Challenge: This was written for the drabbleday challenge, using the prompt of 'fire'. I have not yet claimed this yet, but will once my other claim has been accepted and posted. But since I already wrote these...
Timeline: This ficlet is set pre-season three.
Notes: Satou really needs more exposure as a character. The dub did not do him justice. He disliked Juudai because Juudai lazed through most of his classes and skipped the ones he didn't and because of that, the other students started to do the same thing. He felt that since Juudai was the star of the school, he should have been a better student. What is really so wrong about that? And no, he didn't natter on about the Pharaoh, Thief King Bakura, and Priest Seto. He was said to be a bit old-fashioned by Asuka, that's all.
Summary: Satou's life was never an easy one, even before he met Yuuki Juudai.

Every time he coughed, Satou Kouji was convinced that his throat was on fire. Racking pain shot through him and he pressed one hand to his chest in a vain hope that would ease it. He coughed again, harder, and winced as small agonizing daggers lodged themselves into his lungs.

He needed his medicine. It would do little good in the end, but at least it would soothe his tortured throat and chest for a short while. The bottle was on the nightstand, but standing to get it would take more energy than he had at the moment.

So close and yet so far. A bare five steps away, and reaching it was as unlikely as reaching the moon. He coughed harder and winced to see a few drops of blood fly out.

He'd seriously been working too hard. He shouldn't have accepted that offer to duel Kabayama. Yes, he had won, but it had cost him too much. Teaching didn't normally do this to him. He drew in a harsh breath, and slowly, carefully picked up the glass of water he kept near his work station. It wasn't quite as good as the medicine, but it helped some. At least for now. If he kept this up, then nothing would help, and it would not help a lot sooner than it would otherwise.

Satou leaned back in his chair and drew in another deep breath, or tried to. The coughing wanted to start again. He needed that soothing syrup. He had to stop this before anyone else found out what was going on.

He had closed his eyes without realizing it, but when he opened them again, he stared in disbelief. Beside him was the bottle of medicine, and face up next to it was…

Scab Scar Knight's card.

To Be Continued