A/N: Hi folks! Thanks to all of you who let me know that they enjoyed the previous chapter. I'm glad ;) I would have updated sooner but my laptop has been giving me headache for weeks now, and naturally, I lost the mood to do anything productive. I hope Yash (my laptop) won't be giving me problems again, especially with all the school papers I have to do...Anyway, hope you enjoy this one!

Chapter 13. Medicine

"What do you think you're eating?" She exclaimed as quietly as she could as soon as she stepped inside his apartment and saw him lying at the couch with a lollipop in his mouth. She didn't want to make too much noise for fear that it would worsen his condition, even if she wanted to scream at him for being an idiot. She immediately took away the lollipop from his mouth.

"Nice to see you, too, Misa-chan," he said weakly, a faint smile in his lips.

"Stupid Takumi. Do you think you should be eating this when you're sick like that? You should eat healthier food," she said as she placed the lollipop in a tissue then touched his forehead, checking his temperature. Her brows furrowed when she felt how warm he felt. "I should bring you to the hospital."

He pouted childishly.

"But I know you dislike going there so I won't," she continued. "But if your fever got higher, I would take you there even if I have to drag you," she warned.

He chuckled as he grasped her hand and pressed it to his burning cheek.

"Have you eaten anything?" She asked looking at the table and found it bare save for some lollipops. When he looked pointedly at the said lollipops, she sighed. "I mean other food aside from candies, idiot Takumi. Why are you eating lollipop at this time, anyway? Doesn't it hurt your throat?"

"Because I missed Misa-chan."

She glared at him, her cheeks pinking. She pulled her hand away and then looked for her bag and the other things that she had dropped at his door as soon as she came and saw him lying on his couch.

He watched her curiously as she took some things from her bag then opened a box full of food.

"You should eat something. I bet you hadn't had anything yet except that stupid lollipop," she muttered as she placed the food at the table and then helped him in sitting position. "Sorry I didn't make this. You know I can't cook," she apologized without looking at him.

"I want Misa-chan to feed me," he said quietly, not wanting to tease the worried person at his side. He knew that she was trying hard not to show how worried she was, and teasing her would spurt denials and probably violent reactions from her. He didn't want that. It was rare to see her caring for him without hesitation.

Heeding his request, she fed him quietly. From time to time, he would smile gently at her, and she would blush. Nevertheless, she continued to feed him until there was nothing left.

"How about you, Misa-chan?" He asked, looking around for more food.

"I'll eat later."

"You should eat now."

When she was about to argue, he continued, "Please..."

Looking at his gentle eyes, she conceded and picked another box from her bag. Quietly, she ate while he watched her.

"Stop watching me, alien," she muttered, her face reddening again. He was watching her with an intense look that made her squirm in her seat.

"Why not?" She asked, her brow twitching with annoyance. She was trying hard not to scream at him. If he wasn't weakened, she would have bashed him to the next town.

"Don't want to," he said, pouting childishly. He was lying on the couch with his head resting on her lap because he refused to lie down if she wouldn't let him used her as his pillow.

"Takumi..."

His expression softened at her calling him softly albeit with a hint of exasperation. He knew that he was trying her rare patience for him. Still, he continued to test her limits. He reached out at the table and plucked another lollipop.

"What do you think you're doing?"

He unwrapped the lollipop then brought it to her mouth. She shouldn't be surprised, but she still was. She opened her lips and let him placed the lollipop in her mouth.

"You're trying to change the topic," she said after a minute. "Why don't you use your bed? It's more comfortable there."

"Because it's Misa-chan's," he answered with a shrug of his shoulders.

"What do you mean by that? It's yours, idiot Takumi!"

"I bought it for Misa-chan. I don't want to sleep there unless Misa-chan sleeps there, too," he said childishly, pouting at her once again.

"You're impossible," she said after heaving a deep sigh.

They were quiet for awhile as he enjoyed the softness of her lap and the fingers gently running at his hair.

"I want it back now," he said, looking up at her with his lips open.

"Wha...oh," she pulled the lollipop out of her mouth and placed it in his waiting mouth, a blush forming in her cheeks. "Are you sure you should be eating that?"

"I can't kiss Misa-chan because she might get sick so I'd settle for this," he explained, his eyes looking at her playfully.

"Pervert..."

Later on, she was helping him towards his bedroom. She had finally managed to convince him, in exchange of something that she'd rather not think too much.

'Stupid alien.'

"You're going to stay, right?" He asked as soon as he was on the bed with her in his arms. He refused to let go of her even when it took them longer to settle at the bed because of that.

She looked at his face and nodded. She rarely saw the vulnerable look in his face, and every time she did, she was torn between feeling happy that he showed that side of him to her alone, and sad at the same time because she didn't want that look to stay in his face for long. She was used to him either being playful or expressionless, though she dislike the latter most of the time. She wasn't use to see him vulnerable.

"Rest, Misa-chan," he murmured softly as he closed his eyes.

She didn't respond. Instead, her fingers played with his shirt as she remembered the events earlier the day. When he hadn't showed up at the morning at class, she was immediately worried. She recalled being worried like this before, and later on found out that he went to his family. She had worried for nothing at that time, but received a key to his apartment for her troubles. Still, she would rather be sure that he was alright rather than assuming that he was, only to find out later that he was not. Her worries became justified when she got a call from him during the break and heard his weak voice and worse, when she found out that he was sick. She almost left the school that time to check on him immediately. As it was, the time dragged on as she waited for school to be over. She immediately left the school as soon as the bell signalled the end of the classes for the day.

'Really idiot Takumi. Making me worry like that.'

He had become a big part of her life. She worried for him and cared for him, even if she would rather not show it to him.

"Where are you going?" He asked when she tried to leave the bed. He tightened his arms around her.

"To change into something more comfortable. You're not going to let me sleep in my uniform, are you?"

He tightened his grip once more, before he let her go, his eyes questioning.

"I called Mom earlier and told her that if your condition isn't very good, I'll stay to look for you. She dropped some change of clothing earlier before I went here," she explained, still bewildered that her mother easily agreed when she had hemmed and hawed while trying to ask for permission. In fact, she had only managed to say that he was sick and then her mother took over the conversation and told her that she should take care of him and so on. The conversation with her mother had left her with a very red face for a long time.

"That's really nice of Ayuzawa-san," he said, a bright smile lighting his tired face. In fact, he looked so happy that she couldn't help but smile in return, her cheeks warm. "I hope she brought you something sexy," he added, chuckling when her face turned red from anger.

"Pervert!"

She stomped away, leaving him chuckling at her embarrassment. With a grin in his face, he waited for her to come back in their bed and in his arms. He admired her look as soon as she came back dressed in comfortable pyjamas, looking fresh and comfortable. He didn't dare comment though, for worry that the glass of water she was carrying would land in his face.

"You should have some medicine," she said as she sat at the edge of the bed, the embarrassment from earlier forgotten.

"Don't wannna," he immediately replied, turning away from her.

She gritted her teeth. There they go again with her trying to help him and him being difficult.

"Why not, idiot alien?"

"You don't like having medicine, too," he accused, still facing away from her.

"That's because they are expensive! Drink this, idiot."

When he didn't move, she sighed and tried to calm herself.

"I bought this for you and you didn't want it?" She asked softly. She watched him stiffen, and then turned slowly to face her.

"That's unfair, Misa-chan," he said with a pout, sitting at the bed.

She inwardly celebrated her triumph as soon as he drank the medicine.

"Do you know that there are safer and more natural medicines aside from that?" He asked as soon as they were both lying together. She was back in his arms, of course. There was no way that they would be laying in the same bed with her not in his arms.

"It better not be anything perverted," she warned, gripping his shirt.

He chuckled, the vibration causing her to vibrate, too.

"Alternative medicine. There are six fields of alternative medicine. (13) I'll settle for the fourth."

"What's that?" She asked, intrigued despite herself.

"Touch and manipulation. I'd rather Misa-chan give me alternative medicine. I wouldn't mind you touching me here and there," he said with a smile, waiting for her to erupt. She didn't disappoint him.

"Pervert! Like I would do that to you!"

He chuckled and pulled her until she was on top of him. She was distracted in scolding him when he winced a little.

"You shouldn't act rashly, idiot," she hissed, though she didn't struggle. She might hurt him if she did. She leaned back when he tried to pull her face closer. "And what perverted things are you planning to do now?"

"I'm going to kiss Misa-chan."

She immediately placed her hand in his mouth even as a blush appeared in her cheeks.

"No way. I don't want to get sick, alien!"

He licked her palm, causing her to pull her hand away.

"That's the plan."

She glared at him.

"And then I can give alternative medicine to Misa-chan. I wouldn't mind touching Misa-chan here and there," he explained playfully, moving his hand to caress her back teasingly. He chuckled when she froze on top of him.

"Shut up and sleep, pervert!"

"You're no fun."

"I'll give you fun by bashing your head, do you want that?" She asked with a dark look.

"Fine. I want a goodnight kiss at least," he said with a pout. His eyes widened a bit when she easily agreed and placed a lingering kiss in his forehead.

"Don't complain," she warned when she pulled back. She then moved to his side and made herself comfortable. "Sleep, idiot Takumi."

"Goodnight, Misa-chan."

"Goodnight."

(13) Microsoft® Encarta® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation.

A/N: There you go! Next time, it will be Nest! ;) though it would probably be a while before I could update. I have lots of school work at nights, as usual (sigh...) Anyway, until next time folks!

-Arvendell-

30 January 2011

4:40 PM