sorry for taking so long e_o I wish I had a good excuse, but not really OTL but if anyone thought I didn't like this story and/or gave up, don't fret. I don't know if the next chapter will be soon or not, but right now I have 4 (maybe 5) chapters at least in mind, and even then I don't plan to finish it until I have a good place to do so. if anyone has any specific things they'd like to see appear (or even as an entire chapter) let me know!


It was the beginning of winter and although it still wasn't all that cold everybody could tell it was all the same, mainly because of the distinct lack of people. Being that the majority of the time it was very sunny and at least warm if not hot, when it became cold most people became ill, if only for a few weeks total, as they got used to the cold; unfortunately though, this year it was a little different as the usually perfectly healthy 'never had a cold' Death the Kid, was sick for the first two weeks and so far showed no signs of getting better. "Did you want us to visit again today?" Maka asked Liz and Patty sitting there along with Soul, Black Star, Crona and Tsubaki "You can if you want," Liz mumbled finishing her lunch "But I think it was too much to have you all over so how about only a few today and other people later in the week?"
"If that's the case then I'll go first! I'll make sure he knows he just needs to get over it by showing him how well I am!" Black Star declared "In that case I'll go along as well." Tsubaki added "Okay that's fine but try not to be as loud as last time, I swear you made him worse shouting that much." Patty added causing the group to laugh, apart from a displeased Black Star who instead went off arguing with those who were criticising him. As lunch came to a close they all packed up Crona being the last, as ze was staring into space "Crona, hey!" Maka said waving a hand in front of hir face making hir get confused "You were completely out of it."
"Oh, sorry about that."
"It's okay, but make sure you hurry up it's almost time for class and we don't want to be late. I'll walk slowly so you can catch up 'kay?" To which ze nodded and promptly started to pack away before quickly trying to catch up with Maka.

School had finished and Liz and Patty along with Black Star and Tsubaki were at Kid's place much to the annoyance of Kid once Black Star opened his mouth, as much as Tsubaki tried to keep him under control; but while all that went on Maka, Crona and Soul were just reaching the flat themselves. Soul went straight to the TV turning it on before sitting down to check what was on, Maka looked through the cupboards seeing what they could all have for dinner, as well if they needed to go and shop for anything. Crona, who would usually join Soul and watch cartoons if he said nothing was on that he wanted to watch, instead went straight to hir room. Ze entered, sat on the bed and grabbed a pillow cuddling it tightly; in fact – ze noticed – tighter than usual, as if missing something. As if missing someone. But before ze could conclude who or what, Maka had the door ajar and was knocking lightly "Can I come in?" She asked quite quietly so as to not disturb hir too much "You look deep in thought." She pointed out, walking into the room, smiling "Yeah, I guess I am kind of... I just feel like something's missing lately..."
"Maybe it's Kid," she suggested "After all I think most of us don't like it when one of the group's ill, or gone for too long in general."
"I guess..." ze admitted "But I've felt weirder, like it's almost painful... maybe I'm just being stupid..."
"I doubt it's that," she commented moving up the bed a little to give hir a small hug "How about we visit tomorrow, hmm?" Crona thought about it for a moment "And you're sure-"
"Yes, I'm sure he won't mind a visit from us."
"...okay, if you're sure... then we could go tomorrow."
"Great, I hope you don't mind if Soul can't make it; he's got plans with Black Star tomorrow."
"That's fine," ze said showing Maka a small smile "And I do feel a little better but... I'd still like to sit here a while, if that's okay..."
"Of course it is." She said standing up getting ready to leave "If you want anything let me know, okay?" To which Crona simply nodded. Upon her leaving Ragnarok emerged, and although he had been trained a little by this point meaning he would lay a finger on Crona close to never, he still had no problem expressing his opinion "You know it's obvious that you-"
"Don't say anything like that, they might hear you!" Ze shout-whispered in reply "You can talk... but not about him, or at least not like that, okay?..."
"What's in it for me?"
"I can ask if Maka would make you something sweet?"
"Hmm... I guess that'll do. But still why are you secretive about it? It's freaking obvious!"
"Well it's mainly because I'm not sure how he'll take it... plus I know Maka's kind and all... but there's no guarantee that she'll look at me the same way afterwards..." Ze confessed, burying hir face deeper into the pillow than before "Well as far as I'm concerned you're just a wuss." Ragnarok told hir to which, after no reply, he then retreated back into Crona. Ze sat there a while longer, simply thinking to hirself, before deciding to go and watch TV as ze usually would, much to the pleasure of Soul who asked "Where've you been? You missed all the good stuff, you know."

The school day had passed and Crona was almost dragging Maka along with how far ahead ze was on the way to Kid's manor, "What's your rush Crona?"
"I'm not rushing... we're just not going to be able to stay as long at this rate..."
"Well I'm sorry for wanting to wear fresh clothes after a long day." She said with sarcasm in her voice "We're nearly there, plus we can stay pretty much as long as you like... within reason of course." She said, and just as she had assured they were indeed close as they arrived within a few minutes "Oh good, you were still coming round; we were about to call and check." Liz laughed opening the door. As they stepped into the foyer, it occurred to Maka that she'd not been here for a while "Wow! I barely remember it looking anything like this." Which truth be told even Crona could agree with, being here not too long ago and still only just noticing things now "Oh, that's just some redecorating we've been doing." Liz mentioned "Anyway, you're here to see the sick guy right? He's over here." She said leading them to his room, Crona simply walking the same way ze remembered from the fateful day ze got hir hair cut. Knocking on the door Liz shouted slightly through to the room "Are you decent in there?" Followed by the sound of material being moved and the reply "Yes of course I am." To which she opened the door. As they entered, the room appeared – at least in as many cases as possible – to still be symmetrical, apart from a few tissues lying around as well as Kid's attire hung up on the side of the room "So why are his clothes over there... and why did you ask if he was 'decent'?" Maka dared to ask "Because he has a fever and feels really hot at the moment, and as much as we've told him he needs to sweat it out, he said if he was going to-"
"Then I wasn't going to ruin perfectly good clothes." Kid finished "However I still have my dignity, I'm not quite bare you'll be happy to know." Which truth be told they were happy to hear "Well good. Anyway sorry we're so late; is there anything I could do to make up for it?"
"Actually I was about to start dinner," Liz mentioned "If you want you can help me, and Patty, cook if you like (if I can find her)? Although obviously I know you came here to see Kid so..."
"I'm sure it''ll be fine," Maka reassured "Crona's here so he won't be lonely. You're fine with this, right Kid?"
"If it means I get to rest, have a meal and have company by all means continue." He said, noticeably less tolerant than usual. Once they had left Kid turned to Crona "I'm sorry, I forgot to ask if you were okay with this."
"It's fine. But you're the one who's ill, so you shouldn't be worrying... would you like me to replace the cloth on your forehead?"
"Oh, sure." He said realising he was worrying too much considering he was in a worse state physically right now. As ze took the cloth off of his head Kid let off a slight shiver, causing hir to become worried, though short lived once Kid told hir "It's okay it just felt a little weird is all." hearing this ze continued and dipped the cloth into the water at the foot of the bed (once again in the middle, so as to make it symmetrical) before ringing it out slightly and gently placing it back on his forehead to which he let out a rather joyous sigh. Eyes closed, it wasn't long before he found himself asleep, seeing this Crona headed to the kitchen to help prepare the dinner in any way ze could.

Around an hour passed before Crona returned hoping that maybe Kid was awake so that they could talk a little, as well as simply let him know the meal was nearly ready. But as ze entered Kid was still fast asleep, in a now slowly getting darker room and so ze turned on the bedside lamps. Crona went and sat down in the seat ze was in before, beside Kid, and got comfortable. A minute or two passed before Kid turned over – making him face away from Crona – messing up his hair fairly visibly; Crona leaned over and somewhat timidly moved some of the hair out of his face before hearing a very faint mumbling coming from Kid "Are you awake?" Crona asked, assuming ze had awoken him "I w... t... me..." at this point Crona figured he must have been slightly awake or simply talking in his sleep but regardless continued to ask what he was trying to say before eventually receiving "I want... you, to hug me again..." Surely ze had heard wrong, the last hug sent him into shock and then running home, he must have meant another person "Who do you want to hug you, Kid?" Ze asked, still not wanting to disappoint if ze could help it. Again taking a few attempts for him to say it coherently Crona waited before hearing "You... I want you to hug me.." He must have been dreaming he was talking to someone else, as far Crona was concerned. However being that ze didn't want to cause Kid to feel worse; ze thought about it a little while, it wasn't like ze didn't want to. In fact as Crona thought about it more ze realised that before a decision had been reached ze was already starting to hug him, to which the still really very much asleep Kid took his bare arm out of the cover to lay atop hir arm. As much as hir heart was pumping and this felt amazing ze knew it would be more than a bit awkward to have Kid wake up like this as well as anybody else walk in on them like this; carefully removing his arm from hirs, Crona sat back down calming hirself. As ze sat there it eventually came to Crona's attention that the arm being above the covers revealed some of his back as well as the full amount of his neck – which upon Kid's awakening was quickly covered up by the covers once more. "Oh hey..." ze said still slightly out of breath "...did you have a good sleep?..."
"Actually," Kid said sitting up, duvet still covering him "I had a couple of dreams... you were in one of them in fact."
"Oh right..." that was all ze had to say in return, still assuming he was referring to a different dream but equally excited by the possibility ze was in the dream ze thought it was. Realising ze was becoming redder by the second Crona left for the door explaining "I'll... I'll let you get dressed... we're having dinner soon..." before closing the door behind hir. Soon enough they began eating around the dining table and found themselves fully enjoying the bountiful meal before them; eventually though that had to leave, even if it was Friday they still wanted to not have to sleep in too much on the weekend.

Morning had dawned and Maka was first up as usual, and upon hearing a door open greeted them "Morning Cro- Oh!" She said surprised when met by Soul "It's unlike you to be up earlier than Crona." She teased, "What's the occasion?"
"Nothing special, this is when I normally get up." Soul explained pointing towards the clock on the wall, which justified his words. "Huh..." she wondered over to Crona's door before knocking "Crona? You awake?... You alright?" A little time passed before ze appeared at the door; paler than ever, with such a temperature that ze was radiating with heat "I'm not sure," ze stopped, needing to take another breath "That I feel all that well." Crona managed to get out, and just in time as shortly afterwards hir legs gave way slightly. Soul carried hir back to bed before going to wash to make sure he didn't get sick himself. Maka came in a few minutes later with some soup on a tray "I know soup's not your favourite thing, but it's good for you. I'll pick something up from the shops when I'm out okay?" Crona nodded "So how do you feel exactly?"
"Well apart from feeling hot... I'm also quite out of breath... I'm not used to being ill... But apart from that... I think it's just a normal cold..." Maka stood up after hearing hir out "I see. Well, if you get any worse be sure to call me or Soul. We'll try and make sure we're not out too long anyway, but we did agree to meet with the others... though there's still enough time to cancel if-" Crona attempted to cut her off but was instead stopped hirself as ze went into a fit of coughs "No, you made a promise so keep it; I'd go too still if my legs would let me."
"Yeah, but there's no way we'd let you leave looking that ill anyway," Soul said standing in the doorway dressed ready to leave "Just try and rest up while we're out."
"I will." Crona assured before watching them leave. Ze looked at the soup and ate as much as ze could but ended up leaving about a quarter of it, Crona took the tray and put it on the floor beside hir and decided that ze'd try and get some sleep, as per recommendation from Soul.

The weekend passed and Kid was back to standard health and so ventured back into school only to be met by some slightly sombre faces "Hey, what's with everyone's expressions? Did I miss something?" Kid questioned, worried something might had happened "Crona's been ill over the weekend, and is ill today too..." Tsubaki explained to which the rest of the group nodded in agreement. "It's nothing too serious is it?" Kid worried, only just finding out "Well..." Maka started "It isn't really, but it's more how badly it's affecting hir."
"How so?" He asked continuing to want to understand the severity of the situation. " Well you know how you were ill and you could kinda put put up with it?" Soul put it to him "Imagine feeling about the same but also with a weaker body and... well, a much weaker mind..." Hearing this made Kid want to argue and defend Crona... but what he said was true, and in actuality was not so much mean as simply hard to accept, "I think I understand what you mean. Would it be possible to see hir? After all ze did come to see me when I was in a similar situation." 'Though thinking about it did ze maybe catch it from me?' He thought to himself realising he now needed to go if only to apologise "I'm not sure it's a great idea for you to go, Kid." Liz mentioned "After all you've just gotten over being ill yourself."
"Oh please," he contested "I'm ill once in however many years, and you start to treat me as if I'm prone to getting ill; I'll be fine. But all the same, I won't come if you think I'd be a bother." He said directing the last sentence towards Maka and Soul "I wouldn't have thought so, in fact it might make things easier because we were given a job to do again tonight and we were afraid we'd have to turn it down. But if you're there ze will have someone around, so sure." Hearing Maka say this gave him some comfort and he promptly thanked her before asking what time he should turn up. They began talking for a little, while making the plans, before school properly started and then headed to class.

It was about an hour after school and Kid was ready, he had changed into more casual clothes and was standing outside the apartment door. He checked he had everything once again, most of which was food and such that Maka wanted him to get because they would be busy, and then he knocked on the door. He rapped only twice before the door opened, "Oh good, you're here; you were gonna be late soon, I would've been surprised if the 'mighty' Death the Kid was late." Soul sniggered "Well, you can put most of that down to my errands."
"Sure, sure, whatever you say." Soul continued, purposefully trying to wind him up. "Oh hey! Did you get everything alright? I'm sorry that I made you have to do all this just to visit Crona." Maka said worried slightly that she was asking a lot. "It's fine, you had your reasons after all," He clarified, setting the bag on the table "Is ze asleep or not?"
"I'm not sure, ze was kind of napping, I guess, last that I saw. But anyway we've got to head out, we should be back about seven, latest eight; but if we're later than that we'll let you know. See ya!" Maka parted. Kid closed the door behind them and not two seconds had passed before Crona cried out for Maka, and so he went to hir room. He slowly opened the door before asking mid-way "Is it okay for me to come in?" To which there was a muffled cacophony of Crona flailing around slightly as ze pulled the duvet up and simply inquired "W-why are you here, Kid?"
"Did Maka not say I was coming round?"
"Oh..." ze thought back slightly, "She did mention she was going out... and that someone was coming round I think, but I was half asleep at the time..." Kid smiled a little at the miscommunication and apologised on behalf of Maka "It's fine Kid, you did nothing wrong after all."
"Well it might be my fault you got sick," Kid started, reminding Crona of the hug he gave hir when ze visited, turning hir even hotter and redder "Because after all you spent a good amount of the day looking after me when I was ill. So this is both an apology for making you ill and a thank you for when you cared for me."
"I see..." was all Crona could really reply. "Is there anything you want, by the way? Something to eat, a change of clothes; name it." Ze was taken by surprise a little as Kid became very forward in his want to help, "Well, if you could make me something that's easy going on my throat... I'd appreciate that..." ze suggested with hoarseness in hir voice "Okay then, I'll get started right away." Kid stood up heading out to the kitchen "Also!" Crona struggled to shout, have a bit of a crack is hir voice as ze said it "Make sure not to come in... not until I say you can..." Kid understood that ze was probably going to get changed and replied with "Okay, I'll make sure to knock then." Before returning to head to the kitchen.

Ten to fifteen minutes later and Crona's meal was ready and just as Kid promised he knocked before entering "You can come in." He could hear faintly and so opened the door "Here you go, I assumed there was only this tray; if there's another you prefer I can get it."
"No, that's the one." ze informed him with a slight smile as ze was given hir meal, "Good, well I'll let you get started with it; I'm going to find something to read. Maka won't mind if I fetch something from the living room will she?" Crona shook hir head, sitting up "Good to hear, if you finish before I'm back feel free to rest, okay?" Ze only returned with "I will." And then Kid headed out of the room. After searching through a lot of reading material he finally settled on a book which he'd read before, and headed back into Crona's room. As he entered he noticed that ze was fast asleep and one of hir arms was out of the duvet, "You'll get cold at this rate." Kid said aloud and went to tuck hir arm in but once he was closer he noticed something on the arm. It'd gotten dark and so needed to turn on a light, so when he switched the lamp on he finally saw what is was on hir arm, a sudden palpable weight landed deep within him, as he saw some scars on hir arm. He wasn't sure if they were just accidental, they were caused by hir or even caused by someone else, but regardless he knew it wasn't something he was supposed to see and so covered hir up, unsure of what to do. He thought for a while and decided not to ignore it but simply let it be for now, ze probably didn't want to talk about it to begin with; never mind when ze was ill on top of that. He also decided that he wouldn't tell Maka right now, she was most likely under stress from looking after Crona, he didn't want to cause more worry. But none of these thoughts changed how surprised Kid was that it hurt so much to see hir like that. He felt like something was hurting him from the inside and was trying to burst out like a knife mid penetration. He calmed himself and waited till Soul and Maka got home, Crona slept the rest of his stay and then he said goodbye and headed home. Kid didn't end up getting much sleep that night.