Mei woke up the next morning then she stopped to look around her. She noticed Chojuro wasn't in the bed with her then she lowered her head.
'Am I weak?'
She looked up to see Chojuro's face inches from hers and she jumped back. She didn't even hear him come into the room.
"Chojuro, you scared me."
"Sorry, I just went to get medicine."
Mei just looked at at him. They stayed like that for a while then Mei looked at him in question.
"Are you waiting for something?"
"Yes, I'm waiting for you to take your top off so I can get the meds on you."
Mei lowered her head. She wasn't sure about this, true he was helping her but she still felt uneasy about him seeing her without clothes on. What's there for him to see, after all it's just her back. Mei was about to but then looked to see that he was still looking at her. She looked at him then Chojuro turned around.
"Sorry."
Mei pulled her top down to her waist then laid on her stomach. Chojuro sat on the bed then began to make the medicine.
"Alright this will sting a little."
Mei smirked but then her face became a look of horror when she felt it on her back. She winced a little here and there but after that she sat up with her back still facing him.
"Lady Mizukage, let's get the bandages around you."
'Wait bandages? He might feel my...'
Chojuro began to bandage her. It wrapped from her hips but when he got to her rib cage Mei grabbed his hand.
"Chojuro, I can do it."
Chojuro can see why so then he let her do the rest. Mei looked at him and saw that he had teasers with a cotton ball.
"Lady Mizukage you have the bruise on your face."
Mei knew she wouldn't hold still for that so she gently laid on her back. Chojuro came closer to her and gently dabbed the cotton ball that had been a little damp from the medicine. Mei winced as Chojuro did this.
"It stings, what's in it?"
"It's a medicine my sister used. It works with everything."
Mei looked at him.
"I didn't know you had a sister. Who is it?"
"Ameyuri. As a kid, I was out on my own but then I fell and Ameyuri found me. She told me not to move but I told her I got bit by a snake so of course I wasn't going to move. She used this stuff and soon taught me how to make it."
"How cute."
Chojuro stood up but then left the room. Mei smiled but her smiled turned to a frown when she remembered something. When they first met Chojuro never said much to her but then she remembered something then looked up at him.
"Chojuro by any chance, was there another time you were by my side when something was wrong with me?"
"Yes there were a few other times. One of them was really shocking."
"What happened?"
"We were at the Icy mountains but then I was looking for you and..."
He closed his eyes but continued.
"You fell into the frozen river. I had to rush you out but when I got to you, you were passed out."
Mei just looked at him then Chojuro came to her and wrapped his arms around her. Mei blinked then Chojuro brought her face to his and kissed her. Mei looked at him with wide eyes then she laid back with him on top.
He began to kiss her neck and Mei shuddered as she closed her eyes.
She soon felt him stop then she looked at him.
"No, I shouldn't be doing this. Your body is still healing."
Mei stared up at him she understood why he stopped then she brought his head down to her and kissed him. Chojuro stood up and headed for the doorway.
"I want you to try something."
"Um sure."
He came back with a blender, a banana, plain soda and vanilla flavoring. He peeled the fruit then stuck it into the blender. He took some vanilla and a cup of ice then blended all of them. After making a cream out of it he added the soda and then handed it to her. Mei accepted the cup and drank it. After that first sip she was surprised to how good it was then she looked at him.
"Mmm this is so good."
Chojuro chuckled then she continued to drink it. After she was done drinking it she looked at Chojuro but for some reason she noticed that he seemed to thinking about something.
"Chojuro?" He looked at her and Mei looked away from him to the floor.
"When did you first look after me, like you did last night?"
He just sat there and slowly blinked.
"When you first got sick and when I was simply a messenger boy."
"That was the first time?"
"Yes it was and when I heard you got sick that day I felt guilty so then I went to you even though I knew I would get in trouble for it but I felt bad if I didn't."
FLASHBACK
Chojuro was walking alone though the halls of the Mizukage tower. He was coming back from turning in paperwork then he looked to see Ao coming his way.
"Chojuro you should just go home."
"Is something wrong?"
"Lady Mizukage won't be in the office today, she's not feeling well. The doctor informed us that what she has is very contagious."
"Yes sir."
Chojuro left to go home but when he got outside he stopped to see the Mizukage estate and he did feel bad if he didn't at least check on her. He made sure no one was around to then he ran to her home he soon got to it. He wasn't sure if it was the right one so then he saw an open window and snuck through it. He found himself in a room but ran to Mei's room but being very careful not to be seen by anyone. After a while he found her room and walked right in.
He approached her bed and saw that she was sleeping. He just stood then but then Mei's eyes flashed opened and she was breathing heavy. Chojuro came to her and grabbed her hand and she looked at him.
"Cho...please don't...go."
Her voice was gone but he could guess what she was saying so then he looked at her. He saw that she had a cold sweat so then he left to get a wet cloth and returned. He folded the cloth and began to to dab her face to cool her down. He folded it again and gently rubbed her face with it.
As he did so Mei closed her eyes and Chojuro just looked at her. He was wondering if what she had was that serious but then he got an idea. He ran to look outside in a garden r something and soon found one. He saw some onions and got one then he went to Mei and cut it open. He took a piece of it and pressed it to the side of her head.
Mei didn't wake up to the smell so either she knew how to take it or she was a heavy sleeper. Chojuro sat on the side of the bed and soon looked at Mei again.
'Lady Mizukage, from this day on I'll be more than your messenger boy, I'll be your bodyguard.'
He placed his free hand at her cheek and began to caress it. He soon stopped and laid next to her but above the covers. As he laid there he was woken up by something laying on his chest and saw that it was Mei's head. He looked at her and turned to see what time it was. He saw that it was morning but that didn't bother him.
Mei opened her eyes and gently closed them again.
'What a dream, Chojuro came to me and took care of me while I was sick. Man, this is one nice pillow. Wait, pillows don't have heartbeats.'
Mei sat up and looked to see Chojuro looking at her. Mei never seen Chojuro this close to her before without anyone else around.
"So it wasn't a dream."
"What was a dream?"
"You really came and took care of me while I was sick."
"Of course, I would bad if I didn't."
"Thank you."
Chojuro smiled and Mei laid her head back down on his chest.
Flashback end
Mei smiled at him then Chojuro took the blender out of the room.
"Chojuro is something wrong?"
"I have to hide the blender before Ameyuri gets back."
"Why?"
"Let's just say that if she ever gets the blender someone outside of the seven swordsmen mansion will not be having hands later."
Mei just stared at him but he looked at her.
"Don't worry this one is new I just had it hidden from her."
Mei nodded then Chojuro left.
Mei laid back down on the bed and went back to sleep smiling at how gently Chojuro was treating her.
