Wednesday Evening
"You really should take it easy and not work so hard Neechan. You're gonna make yourself sick." Ryuko stood in front of Satsuki's desk.
"What was that? Sorry I'm a bit busy at the moment, oh is that for me?" Satsuki looked up and pointed to the tea cup in Ryuko's hand.
"Yeah, and dinner should be ready soon." Ryuko placed the hot tea in front of her sister.
"Thank-" Satsuki paused; eye's watering and mouth slightly agape. "-Achoo-"
Ryuko crossed her arms, smirked and leant against the desk "What did I just say?"
"It's just dust. I don't get sick. Now go, shoo. I have documents I need to go over before tomorrow." Satsuki dismissed the younger girl with a wave of her hand.
"Uh huh." Ryuko walked out of the office, pausing at the door to glance back at the older girl, her attention back to the papers that covered her desk, tea in hand.
Ryuko was walking down the hall when she heard a second and third sneeze followed by a muffled "Crap!" and shuffling of papers. She simply shook her head and entered the kitchen to continue making dinner.
"Ryuko, do we have any aspirin?" Satsuki shouted as she rummaged through the draws under the bathroom sink.
"Yeah, top shelf." Ryuko replied as she walked through the bathroom door carrying her pyjamas. She opened the mirror cabinet, reached up and grabbed the bottle then handed it to Satsuki. "Now scoot, I'm having a bath." She then proceeded to shoo Satsuki out of the shared bathroom.
Thursday
"Are you okay Satsuki? You've not eaten much and you look like shit." Satsuki was sitting in her office, Nonon was sat on the other side of the desk, and both had salads in front of them.
"It's nothing to worry about. I'm just distracted, is all. What with the new clothing line coming out next week. I've been having some late nights. Anyway, how's the youth orchestra going?"
Nonon gave her a scrutinizing look before answering Satsuki's question.
"C'mon Ryuko-chan we're almost there." Shouted Mako from the top of a hill.
"I'm -cough- coming. Fuck -cough- I can't be that out of shape?" Ryuko muttered to herself as she got to Mako, out of breath from the short uphill jog.
"Are you alright Ryuko-chan? You look a bit pale." Mako asked looking intently at Ryuko's face.
"I'm fine, guess I just gotta hit the gym a bit more." Ryuko waved her off before continuing walking to their destination. "Oi, are we still doing lunch tomorrow?"
Satsuki went straight to bed after dinner, unable to keep her eyes open much longer. She changed and crawled under the covers, five minutes later she was dead to the world.
Friday Morning
Normally when Ryuko would finally stumble out of bed, Satsuki would be long gone to work. But when Ryuko rolled over to check the time she ended up face planting into the older girls' ample chest.
"Mffghh?" Ryuko lifted her head from the soft cushioning and looked first at Satsuki then to the clock behind her. "Satsuki? What are you still doing here? Oi, wake up sleepy butt, it's like half 10." Satsuki gave no response other than to pull the blankets around her and mutter something inaudible.
Ryuko sat up and prodded her sister in the side, hoping for a response. This wasn't like Satsuki at all; she was always up and about at what Ryuko called the 'Ass crack of dawn' every week day. Ryuko raised a finger and poked her in the face. "Oi."
She then rested her hand on Satsuki's forehead, "Jeez you're burning up! Now, I hate to say I told you so… Actually I don't, I told you to take it easy you idiot. 'I don't get sick' my ass." Ryuko grumbled and got out of the bed only to stumble and fall to the floor, her vision starting to spin. "Whoa, ughh fuck I'm gonna puke!" Ryuko managed to make it to the toilet in time. "This is all your fault Satsuki. You gave me the goddamn flu! I hope you're happy -blughhh."
Ryuko managed to make it back to the bed. She fumbled for her phone on the night stand, flipped it open and pressed 2 on speed dial.
"Ryuko-chan?"
"Ughh, Mako. I don't think I can make it to lunch."
"You don't sound too good Ryuko-chan."
"Yeah. I think Satsuki gave me the flu."
"Satsuki's sick too?"
"Yeah. Burning up. And I just re-painted the toilet in a lovely shade of puke."
"I'll be over soon then."
"No! Mako no. I appreciate the offer but I don't want you getting sick too. We'll be fine, just need some sleep."
Mako hummed before replying "Okay, if you're sure you'll be alright."
"Yeah. Ughh gonna hang up now."
"Bye Ryuko-chan, oh and make sure to drink lots of fluids!"
" 'kay, bye."
Ryuko ended the call and put the phone back on the night stand. She rolled over and looked at Satsuki, fatigue starting to set in.
Ryuko suddenly opened her eyes as Satsuki's phone started ringing. "Mgghh." She crawled over Satsuki and grabbed the mobile. "ughh what? I mean, Satsuki's mobile." Ryuko growled.
"…Matoi?"
"Hōka?"
"What are you doing with Satsuki-samas phone?"
"Talking to you, cause she's currently unconscious." Ryuko closed her eyes and rested her head on the bed. "She's got the flu."
"Ah."
"-cough- Yeah. Okay bye." Ryuko hung up without waiting for a reply.
"Ryuko." Satsuki's hand came out of the blankets and blindly reached for Ryuko still on top of her. "Off." She managed to grab Ryuko's face and pushed her back to other side of the bed. "Time?"
"Almost 11. Your dog just rang. –cough- Told him you have the flu."
Satsuki groaned into the pillow. "Not. Sick."
"Yes. You are. And you got me sick too, you butt." Ryuko weakly punched Satsuki's arm, who only groaned in response and pulled the blanket over her head.
"Oi. Don't hog the blanket."
"mgghhh." Satsuki lifted her arm and blanket, Ryuko shuffled over and into the space. She curled up into the older girl who rested her arm over Ryuko. Both falling back to sleep.
Satsuki awoke some time later. Her head felt cooler than before. She reached up and felt a slightly damp flannel on her forehead. Not knowing how it got there she opened her eyes in alarm. Ryuko, still sleeping next to her also had one. She looked over to the door when it opened and struggled to sit up.
"Mrs Mankanshoku?" her voice gravely.
"Ah Satsuki-chan your awake, now what did I tell you to call me?"
"Sorry, Obasan. I don't mean to be rude but –cough- what are you doing here?"
"Mako told me that both of you were down with the flu, she was going to come herself but Ryuko-chan didn't want her to get sick either so I came over instead. Someone has to make sure you two get better." She replied with a kind smile and a determined nod.
"Oh. Um. Thank you, that's very kind."
"Nonsense, you girls are part of the Mankanshoku family. Now I've got some medicine for you both and some water. If you could wake Ryuko up please, while I go and refresh these flannels." She said taking both wash cloths to the bathroom.
Satsuki watched her leave before turning her attention to Ryuko who was sprawled out over most of the bed. "Ryuko." She shook her shoulder a few times. "Ryuko wake up."
"Sghhghh fhrgghhh?" Ryuko replied her voice hoarse, eyes opening a crack. "What?" was all she got out before having a coughing fit.
"Good you're awake. Now both of you take two tablets each and drink the water. I've got some soup on the stove which should be just about ready. I want you both to eat a bowl of it. You need to keep yourselves hydrated." Sukuyo watched the two girls intently as they downed the medicine and water. "Good. Now get comfy and I'll bring the food in."
The day continued on with Sukuyo Mankanshoku mothering the two sisters, neither of whom had the strength to protest.
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Sukuyo asked from the front door.
"Yes, in fact I'm already feeling much better. Now I'd hate to keep you from your family any longer."
"Oh Satsuki you still don't get it. You and Ryuko are both a part of the Mankanshoku family. I'll be back over tomorrow to check on you." With that she gave each girl a tight hug and left the apartment.
"You know, she'd adopt us if we let her." Ryuko said as she walked over to the couch, wrapped in a blanket, and turned on the TV.
Satsuki joined her after making two cups of tea. "So that's what a mother is supposed to be like." She muttered to herself.
Ryuko hummed in reply "It's nice isn't it, the unconditional love of a mother."
Satsuki leaned against Ryuko's side, and sipped her tea. "Yes. I'm glad Mako's family were kind enough to take you in when you first came to the Academy."
Ryuko finished her tea. "Me too." She then opened her arm to give Satsuki enough room to share the blanket. After a few minutes of silence Ryuko poked Satsuki in ribs "And you're still a butt for getting me sick."