Chapter XI: Fever

The teacher entered the room as Sakuno tensed more. Why? Pretty simple, the seat next to her, where Ryoma sits is currently empty. "Please, be safe Ryoma-kun." She prayed to Kami-sama.

"Class, Echizen is absent today because of fever." The teacher announced. Sakuno sighed. "Mou… it's all my fault."

She remembered. The day before, being a klutz, she left her umbrella. And Ryoma having an umbrella, gave it to her.

"Mou… I forgot." Sakuno said looking at her wrist watch. She was standing watching every drop of the worsening rain.

Ryoma came, as he happen to see her stiffened figure. He walked to her then placed his umbrella on her trembling hands. "E-eh? D-demo…" before she could utter any word, the lad had left off to the heavy rain.

~O~

"Ryuzaki-san." Horio came calling her.

"Horio-kun…" she said in a low tone. Recently, he has been revealing his feelings for her. No confessions yet, although he has been offering to walk her home, tutor her in tennis and academics. You can say that he's trying to show off. But he has failed because of a certain cat-eyed lad's presence.

"Can I walk you home today? Since Echizen's absent." He offered.

"Gomen demo I have plans."

"I… see…"

"Gomen Horio-kun."

~O~

Sakuno was in front of the Echizen residence. She has been pacing there back and forth for quite a long time. She breathed heavily then finally had the courage to knock. "Anou… k-konichiwa."

She knocked louder, but still there's no response. She decided to leave. "The umbrella can wait."

As she spun to walk away, she heard a noise coming from the other side of the door. Like someone was knocking from inside. After a few more knocks, the door slightly opened revealing a white cat.

"Meow." It said walking away. Sakuno stood there a bit shocked. Did the cat open the door for her? And is it signaling her to follow? What a smart cat the Echizen's have!

~O~

"Konichiwa." She called once more, still no one replied. She placed the umbrella on a nearby table as her eyes roamed around the house. She was currently at the dining room.

"Sakuno…" a familiar voice called. It was definitely a male's. It was a bit soft, but she heard it clearly. She looked back and saw that it was Ryoma who called her. Not just called her. It was Ryoma who called her by her first name!

He was in his blue pajamas and slippers. The first button was undone and his green hair was all messed up. His eyes looked drowsy and to top all that, his face was all flushed.

"Ryo-ryoma-kun?" she blushed.

"What are you doing h-here?" he asked slowly coming closer.

Sakuno averted her eyes from his, looking at random things at the background. "W-well I-I was just g-going to return th-this and y-your cat op—" she stopped as Ryoma leaned on her shoulder.

She stiffened. She can feel his warm breathe on her neck. He was supporting his weight on her. His temperature was high. "Ryoma-kun, you're burning up!" there was no time for stuttering.

Ryoma continued to bury his face on her shoulder, then hugged her. "No."

"Wh-what do you mean no? Please… you need some rest."

"No… Horio… he'll take … take you away from me…" he said like a child losing his candy.

"E-eh? Y-you just have a high fever… th-that's why you say th-that. I'll help you to y-your room." She can't believe that it's the prince who's actually telling her something like this.

"No."

The longer they stayed like that, the stronger did Ryoma hug her, and also to mention, the darker her blush grew.

"Meow." It seems Karupin saw her discomfort. With all the strength she had, she brought Ryoma to his room. He settled Ryoma on his bed but he was still hugging her. "R-ryoma-kun!" she was panicking a bit now. She could faint any time.

"Ryoma-kun… your temperature's really high. Please l-let me go."after that, Ryoma seems to slowly release her as she sigh in relief. Then, she felt something warm on her lips. Her eyes were wide open. Ryoma's kissing her!

After that, Ryoma lost his consciousness then lied on the bed. Sakuno was frozen solid with a blush on her face. Darker than her previous ones.

~O~

Ryoma's golden eyes slowly opened as he felt four things. One, there's something cold on his forehead. Two, his body seems to be lighter than before. Three, something furry on his left hand. And four, something warm and soft on his right arm.

He slowly got up then looked at his right side only to be welcomed by a twin-braided girl's sleeping figure. "…Ryuzaki?"

Looks like he was clueless with all that.


A/N: lol… is this still short? Oh well… I got the Horio liking Sakuno idea from the bear episode. You do know that Horio was hugging Sakuno that time ne? hehe. I wish it was Ryoma who did that.

I know Ryoma was OOC, but he has a fever. Who knows what he can say? I got this from Special A. The episode when Hikari had a fever. She was like looking for Kei all the time. Then she even confessed to him. She was OOC on that episode hehe

Please review~!

Gratitude:

Sapphireraccoongal, a can of ponta, crosstime-097051., midnight blue08, natsu-chan022, SaKuRa-cHan41, -8-faces of the moon-8-, KiNoMoTo18, oxXxoNIKKIoxXxo, poems2songs, AquaJet, and Otakugal