8. Ear Aches


Tomoe licked the sugar off his fingers and sighed as he ate the left over Sasamochi. It was the weekend and he nothing better to do but clean the living room ( Which he did in record time ) And eat.

He took another bite and stared at the TV, Last Night was awkward but he wouldn't think about it. Mostly because he got mad at his father for teasing him for no reason what so ever. Nanami was still asleep and Tomoe wondered if she was even breathing.

He rolled his eyes and turned the channel. There was nothing on and he was bored out of his wits.

He was tired and there was somthing off about the house. It was cold and no matter how much Tomoe turned the heat up it didn't help.

Of course there was a reason for this. Mikage was sick because of one of his jobs. The idiot liked standing in the rain and Tomoe had to give him his medicine soon.

Mikage was asleep so Tomoe didn't care at all at the time. He actually needed to get the medicine..

Great.

He slipped on his shoes and started for the door when Nanami ran down the stairs and glomped him from behind. He blinked and then rolled his eyes.

"Nanami.."

"Where ya going?" She asking quikly, Her hair was disheveled and she was smiled like a four year old.

He smirked and patted her head. In a mocking tone he said, "Now, Now Nanami. You musn't come with me. Its dangerous for little girls out there."

Nanami glared at him and punched him in the arm. Tomoe chuckled and then let his shoulders sag.

"Go get ready, I have to go get medicine." He said blankly.

Nanami smiled and placed her hands on her shaply hips, " I am already, ready!"

Tomoe chuckled lightly and sighed out a quick , 'Fine' Then they left out the door and down the street.

They walked a little ways when Nanami skipped out and then stopped rather quickly. She looked at Tomoe with wide eyes and he shrunk away from her just in case she made a dive for his ears. She smirked but then looked around the street.

"Tomoe." She whispered and he looked at her.

"Hum?"

She twidled her hair and looked at him; her lips formed a pout and he sighed heavily. Here they go, What was she planning this time?

"Why?" She mouthed out and Tomoe furrowed his brow, They walked into the pharamacy and picked up Mikage's medcine and then started back before Tomoe looked at her with a question in his eyes.

"Why what?" He looked at her and she pouted.

"Why is it that My dad likes liquior?" she titled her head to the side as they walked and Tomoe paused. How was he supossed to answer that? He didn't know. Maybe it was an addition. He wasn't sure but right now...

When he looked at Nanami,

She was on the verge of crying.

Tomoe sucked in his breath and looked at her, His ears twitching in the wind as they stood still. He glanced at Nanami and quickly pulled her into a hug.

"I can't explain that to you." He muttered slightly.

To be truthful he couldn't; He had been through so much just because of alcohol and its horrid tendencies. He couldn't help her with this.. Not now. Because he wasn't put together in the inside either. It would make him a hipocrite if he tried to help her.

All he could do was hug her, Like when they were younger. He wrapped his arms around her and he was surprised at the warmth that flooded into his body.

It sent a chill down his spine and he almost pushed Nanami away because of it. He was shocked... This feeling was different.

It was comforting.. She cried lightly but it wasn't heart wrenching sobs. It was just quiet tears that slid down her cheeks and stained Tomoe's shirt. She shuddered against him and pulled away.

A lite smile pulled at her lips and she sighed slightly.

"Lets get home.." She muttered quietly. Tomoe nodded.

"Yeah, Because its dangerus for little girls."

Nanami glared at him and raised her voice, " JERK!"

He laughed lightly and then sighed, he gripped the medicine in his hand as they walked home and barged into the door. Mikage was on the couch surrounded by tissuses and sniffing.

Tomoe rolled his eyes and dropped the pills in his fathers lap. Mikage looked up at Tomoe and smiled. Then he looked at Tomoe and then Nanami, Then back again. He furrowed his brow and then he smiled lightly.

Tomoe felt a freaky chill go up his back as Nanami walked into the kitchen to get water for Mikage.

The father smiled and looked at his son mischievously, " Someone is homornal lately."

Tomoe suddenly choked on his own spit, " WHAT!? SHUT UP YOU OLD MAN!" He snarled, his fur bristling in all places.

Mikage started to laugh as Nanami walked in and gave them weird looks. She shrugged her shoulders and handed Mikage his glass. Then she bent over and started to pull one of her socks up..

Again.

Tomoe choked and watched her for a second, His eyes watching her slide the slik up slowly. He flushed red and looked away, trying to advert his mind for a few seconds.

He had to think straight... He didn't know what his father meant by hormonal but Tomoe couldn't deny it. He did kiss Nanami after all..

And he didn't exactly know why. It was Just.. A moment. Besides, Its not like he stuck his tongue down her throat or anything.

Tomoe blinked, his eyes growing wide. What was wrong with his thoughts lately? He breathed a bit and then looked at Mikage who was smiling like an idiot. Tomoe glared and then looked at Nanami who had finished fixing her stubborn clothes.

He huffed out a breath and walked into the other room. He was tired.. But he had learned that Nanami had questions too..

Questions that needed to be answered.


At School


"NANAMI-CHAN!" Mizuki squealed like a girl and targeted the bruised girl. She laughed when he hugged her tightly making Tomoe roll his eyes at the stupid snake yokai.

Tomoe didn't see wy she put up with such noise, it was irritating but he couldn't say anything. He wouldn't; not now.

Nanami giggled and hugged the innocent ( Yeah Right! ) boy back. He laughed and then looked at Tomoe. Kurama walked up and gave Nanami a box of candy.

"This is for your troubles.. Get well soon." He smiled and Nanami nodded.

Tomoe rolled his eyes, " Suck up.."

Kurama glared at him while Mizuki started to laugh hard. Nanami sighed and looked up as the bell rang. It was her class she turned and gave a little bow, " Gotta go! See you at Lunch Tomoe!" She smiled and took off leaving Kurama and Mizuki to smirk.

Tomoe rolled his eyes at them and Then Kurama pointed at his ears, " Who fondled them today?"

The fox froze, his form stiffening, " NO ONE!" He snarled and Mizuki started to giggle, Although he still didn't understand the situation.

Kurama sighed but then smirked, " We should get to class." The tall tengu smiled and ran a hand through his red hair, " Or we can tease Tomoe about not having his first kiss."

The tengu looked at Tomoe with a smirk and Mizuki started to laugh, He was expecting the fox to get angry but instead, To his utter most shock, Tomoe looked at the tile on the floor as if it was interesting.

His face seemed to color but Mizuki didn't seem to catch it. Kurama on the other hand blinked as his mouth fell open.

"WHO?" He inquired.

Tomoe glared at him and shifted his school bag. He sighed quietly and then looked down the hallway, " No one... Now lets go." He muttered quietly and Kurama blinked. There was something up. He knew it; but what exactly?

The fox pushed past them and he made his way towards the class room, He was quiet but his face showed no emotion at all. It was annoying but it wasn't like the Snake or Tengu could force Tomoe to actually tell them what was going on.

They knew their limits when it came to teasing the fox. He had this look that warned them to shut up or die at his hands.

When Tomoe got to his class room he finally felt himself calm down. He didn't want to deal with any of that.. and he didn't want to be constantly reminded that he kissed Nanami. It was an innocent kiss; nothing wrong. Except for the biting part..

The fox looked at the teacher and sighed. He was tired but he didn't care, he had to get this done. Sadly his mind was drifting off in different places.

His head began to ache and he almost plopped his head down on the desk in front of him. He breathed out and looked at the teacher camly. Sadly a sharp pain erupted through his ear and he almost yelped in front of the whole class..

He scratched it and winced. The throbbing didn't go away. He winced and waited for the bell to ring. After hours of classes Tomoe finally got to go home.

Right now he was sweating form the pain and his breath was hardly coming to him. He knew this pain all the well..

Nanami kept looked at him as they walked home; Her eyes traveling over his facial features. He looked at her and winced..

She knew that look.

"Tomoe?"

"Hum?" He asked.

The girl reached for his ears and let her fingers graze them. Tomoe on the other hand shivered and jerked his head away in embarrassment. Before he could scold her she sighed and clucked her tongue.

"Do you have Another Infection?'