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Ch. 4

Part One: In and out of a Dream

Ten-Chan felt warm water dripping from a damp cloth on his forehead, down his face and down to his neck.

Aren't these things supposed to be ice cold, to, y'know, cool down my temperature?

Memories of having a fever, walking through the rain and getting soaked, and Koboshi carrying him to the nurse, came pouring back.

My forehead probably heated up the water in it… Ten-Chan felt too weak to lift off the uncomfortable cloth from his forehead. He couldn't even open his eyes.

Knock knock

Ten-Chan heard someone coming in. His throat was dry, so he couldn't call out. He felt the person lift off the warm damp cloth from his forehead.

"I wonder what happened… Ten-Chan, I hope you feel all better tomorrow, but I can't stay today. I've already told Kotarou and Dai-Chan to come and help get you home… Oh, what the hell am I doing? He hasn't woken up yet, so he can't even hear me…"

Koboshi…?

"Yeah! Y-you better wake up soon! Learn how to take better care of yourself, jeez…"

That's the Koboshi I know…

After a moment of awkward silence, Ten-Chan felt Koboshi move around the room. She wiped his wet face and neck with a dry cloth, and then she kissed his forehead, before replacing it with a new cool damp cloth. He could hear her hurriedly pack her things and leave.

Then Ten-Chan floated back to unconsciousness. A smile on his face.

Part Two: Awake

This time, Ten-Chan awoke to the sound of voices talking. Opening his eyes, he could see Kotarou and Dai-Chan.

"So, you're awake now! Had a pleasant dream, peasant? While we were hard at work learning you wer-" Dai-Chan began.

"Do you feel better Ten-Chan?" Interrupted Kotarou.

"Yea, and I would feel even better if you could quiet him down." Ten-Chan's head throbbed but his forehead felt a lot cooler.

"Hey, I heard that!" Pouted Dai-Chan.

Kotarou quietly pulled Dai-Chan out of the room. When he came back in, he saw Ten-Chan trying to sit up.

"Hey, let me help you. Koboshi specifically told us, well now me, to get you home safely. We don't want you collapsing on the way alone."

"Thanks, man." Ten-Chan leaned on Kotarou for support as they made their way out of the nurse's room.

"By the way, what happened yesterday Ten-Chan? It isn't like you to get sick."

"I forgot my umbrella." Lied Ten-Chan. He had it, but he didn't use it.

"No wonder. It was raining really hard yesterday. Didn't you see the storm clouds in the morning?" Kotarou thought he heard something in Ten-Chan's voice. "There's something more, isn't there?"

Ten-Chan pushed Kotarou away and leaned against the wall. "Yea… Kotarou, where did you say Shia went?"

"Huh?" Kotarou was surprised. He thought Ten-Chan might've forgotten about Shia by now. "She, uh… went back to where she came from. Why are you asking about her all of the sudden?" Kotarou had been able to avoid the topic for the last five years.

"I think she came back, because I saw her yesterday. Did she call and tell you she's coming back and visiting us again?" Ten-Chan asked hopefully.

"No, she didn't, and I'm pretty she wouldn't be visiting anytime soon. Are you sure it was her?"

"Well, she looked younger. Actually, she looked exactly the same as I remembered her…" Confused, Ten-Chan stopped talking.

Kotarou stood where he was, shaking from happiness and fear at the same time. He was confused, too. 'Did Shia come back? But that would mean she came back from the dead, and Misha told me that's impossible…'

"There was also this blond kid with her." Ten-Chan laughed harshly. "I guess she found a boyfriend."

Kotarou could hear the pain in Ten-Chan's voice, but he was more alarmed to hear Nyaa was back.

"Where did you see them?"

Ten-Chan hesitated. He didn't want to share Shia and his special location. But he understood; they needed to find out if that was really Shia.

"I'll take you there. It's on the way to my house."

Thanks for the reviews! I'm glad you guys like this fanfic. More to come, since I have the whole summer to write/type.