Kei: I had to re-upload this chapter... I was re-reading my story to edit it and I saw a really big mistake -laughs- It's not much of an edit, only one word, but it makes all the difference.

Kurogane: Wow, you're an idiot. Good thing you're not publishing this as a book.

Kei: ...Shut up.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the insane ideas that come out of my head.

Chapter Four: Illness and Remedy

"Ahh... ahhh... kbpth!!"

Kurogane stopped his sneeze for about the thousandth time that morning. Fai was instantly at his side. "Kuro-myu, are you feeling sicky?"

"No, I'm not feeling 'sicky'. It's just a sneeze. And what the hell have I said about my name?! It's Kuroga-... ahhhh... CHOO!" Kurogane doubled over as he failed to stop the sneeze this time.

Fai began to giggle. "Okay, Kurogahchoo! If that's what you want me to call you, then I will."

Kurogane glared at the magician, sniffling. "You know that's not what I meant, bastard. It's Kurogane. Ku- ro- ga- ne!" he said, an accent on each syllable.

Fai grinned at the tall man. "That's all good and well, but Kurogahchoo should be getting his rest if he's ill. Does he want me to make some tea?"

Kurogane agreed, against his better judgment. "Whatever," he sighed, "I'll be in my room, then."

Kurogane watched as the mage pranced off towards the kitchens, and then headed down the hall to his room. He sighed in relief as he slid open the door and was greeted with the familiar dim lighting of his room. Black curtains let only a small amount of light into the rather large room, the black carpeting and furniture blending into the shadows. He sat down on one of the cushions in front of the low table in the center of his room, resting his head on the table top. Dear kami, he was so tired. Ever since Fai had entered his life, he had become exhausted easily just dealing with the man. And his reputation as someone to be feared was crumbling, Tomoyo-hime was telling everyone how he was just a softie underneath. It didn't really help that he was usually seen with the mage dangling off his elbow nowadays, either.

The ninja stifled another sneeze and glanced at the door. How long did it take to make tea, anyway? Fai had probably managed to flood the kitchen with it somehow. Sighing, he buried his head in his arms again. There was a knock on the door, to which the muffled reply came. "Mmmph."

Fai entered, carrying a tray with a teapot and teacups. "Tea's ready, Kuro-nemo! Sorry it took so long, I had to get help making it." He placed the tray down on the table and poured the tea. Beaming with delight, he handed Kurogane a cup. "Drink up, Kuro-tan."

It isn't actually half bad, Kurogane thought as he took a sip. Mint tea wasn't his favorite, but it tasted different from when Sakura made it for him. Whatever Fai had done to make it taste like this was a good choice.

He took another sip and set it down lightly on the table. Fai was watching him, curious as to what he thought. "How is it, Kuro-sama?" he asked, relieved that Kurogane hadn't spewed it all over the table in distaste, as he found the man usually did when faced with any food or drink that had an odd flavor.

Kurogane nodded. "It's good... thanks.." Fai practically lit the room with his smile.

Both sat silently in the semi-darkness, occasionally lifting their cups to their lips to take another drink. Kurogane was amazed that the blonde could stay silent for this long, usually he would be chatting away with anything that moved. But the man had a strange look on his face, one Kurogane had never usually seen him with. The look in his eye seemed distant and sad, as though remembering something long gone. Kurogane recognized it as the same one he had worn after his parent's death. His thoughts were interrupted by a quiet voice, alien to his ears. It sent chills up his spine, and his left arm tensed again.

"I used to make this tea for my brother before he died... I'm glad to have found somebody who will drink it with me again." Fai's voice had changed considerably, as though it was one of another person. It held pain, suffering, and Kurogane wanted nothing more to soothe the pain away. To hold him and tell him that it was alright. But what could he do, when he had turned against his own emotions long ago?

"Mage..."

Before he could even think about what to say to the man, Fai had stood. Taking one last sip of tea, he set his cup down on the table and began to walk out the door. He smiled painfully back at Kurogane, who had a look of similar pain and concern on his face. "Get well, Kuro-sama."

And he was out the door, leaving Kurogane alone with his own troubled thoughts.

R&R Please! I love the reviews of happy readers DIE FLAMERS! -waves around machine gun-