The room was silent after the phone call ended. None of that was expected. Was I really immune to poisons? That'd be a great unexpected gift. Shamal opened his bag and took out a syringe and twisted a needle on it. He looked at me.

"Let me see your arm."

"Are you going to test my blood?"

"I am. One of my colleagues specializes in extensive blood work."

"Okay but I have a request."

"What is it?"

"Ask them to look into everything. My blood is different, weirder than others and apparently, it's a genetic thing."

"What weird thing are you talking about?"

"We saw papers written on me when we went to investigate the remains of the Tokyo incident. My blood shows I'm dying and there's something wrong with me. And as cliché as it is, grandpa said we had the blood of warriors because of our lineage."

"I'll do that." He gently and without much struggle, extracted a small vial of blood. "There. I'll get this to him as soon as possible. How are you feeling, Xanxus?"

"I'm hungry."

"That's to be expected. Other than hunger, do you feel anything else?"

"I feel stiff."

"A good massage will do the trick." The three of us just glared at Shamal. He held his hands up in defense. "I'm telling the truth! I'm truly sorry for even insinuating anything the other day. Nono already gave me a lecture." We didn't let up on our glare. "I'm going to give you a small assessment before I leave." Xanxus was still running a fever and his blood pressure was high. It was to be expected and thankfully there was medicine he could take.

Once he left, Squalo went to make something for Xanxus to eat. He let out a sigh and was slightly twitching. I went behind him and started to massage his shoulders. "What are you doing?"

"Helping."

"Squalo can do that."

"He isn't here right now." I kept going. Everywhere I touched was tense, as if everything was knotted.

"It hurts."

"I'll be gentler. Your whole back is full of knots." I started to rub his back instead, gently kneading the knots with the palm of my hand. I then started on his neck. He hung his head low, enjoying the massage.

"You can stop when you get tired." He muttered under his breath.

"I'll be fine. Just worry about yourself." He hummed in response. I went from his neck to his left arm. It was just as bad as his back. I bet his whole body was like this. I rubbed from the shoulder to the tips of his fingers. I made sure to go slow so it wouldn't hurt. Squalo came in with some soup.

"What are you doing?" Squalo asked me.

"Helping."

"Here. You feed him. I'll do that."

"O-okay." I wasn't too sure Squalo could massage Xanxus with the same kind of gentleness. Nonetheless, we switched places. The second Squalo touched Xanxus' arm, he let out a yell.

"Trash! Watch yourself!"

"VOI! I hardly touched you!"

"It still hurt!" I stood up and pointed at my spot.

"Sit."

Squalo and I traded spots again. However, Squalo couldn't feed Xanxus right. Thankfully, he kept quiet and put up with the cards he was given. When Squalo left, Xanxus was still in a sour mood. I was still working on his right arm. "You better be the next one to feed me. I won't stand to be fed by him."

"I understand. I'm proud of you for holding it in for the time Squalo fed you."

"I had to take the lesser of two evils." I couldn't help but giggle. After his right arm, I rubbed my hands down his chest. "You can stop."

"Huh?"

"I'm tired." He clarified.

"I'll let you sleep. Do you still want me here?" He grunted as I helped him lay down. "Is that a yes?"

"Yes."

"Okay." I covered him up and he gave me a dirty look. His facial muscles were the only ones working. I pulled the covers back and took my place beside him, snuggling into his side. "Why do you want me to lay down with you?"

"The closer you are, the better I can feel your flame. It's the only thing keeping me sane." I smiled and basically attached myself to him like a koala would a tree. I used his shoulder as a pillow, wrapping my arm around his chest and my leg around his. I could feel his thumb struggle to move.

"Better?"

"Much."

Sometimes I forget my flame has the same effect as his does on me. Soon, he was sleeping. I decided to keep rubbing his chest and abdomen since I couldn't get to it earlier. It was soothing to me. The motion was putting me to sleep. I stopped, not wanting to sleep just yet. I tried to get up, but he'd grunt. Either he was still awake or just unconsciously did it. I snuggled back into him. He was trying his hardest to move. It'll be over soon. This will be a distant, annoying memory for him. A couple hours passed. Squalo came in with food.

"How's the boss?" He asked. I turned to face him.

"He hasn't gotten any worse."

"That's good. Make sure to eat."

"I will."

"Do you need anything else while I'm here?"

"Can you write some things down for me? There should be a piece of paper on the desk." Squalo walked over and brought it over with a pen. "Can you write down when he had the tea, the time he ate and what he ate?"

"I can do that. Any symptoms?"

"He'll shake a little bit but I think it's his body trying to move while sleeping." He wrote everything down.

"Is that it?"

"Can you get my phone from the desk? I'm stuck here."

"If he's asleep, why don't you get it yourself? Are you that tired?"

"Watch." I lifted myself and heard Xanxus grunt. "See?"

"He's even worse in his sleep." Squalo gave me my phone.

"Thank you."

"Are you fine with this?"

"I am."

"Why?"

"My flame is keeping him sane. The closer I am the better he feels."

"Makes sense. Don't be afraid to leave."

"I'll be fine. Xanxus has already done a lot for me. I can put up with laying by him for a couple of days."

"I'll leave you be then. Message me if you need help."

Xanxus woke up two hours later. He tried to move but yelled in pain. I sprung up with panic and pushed him down gently. He tensed then relaxed when he realized it was me. A loud sigh came from his mouth. "I hate this."

"I know. Look on the bright side, it's really quiet. Everyone wants you to rest peacefully."

"Are you telling me those idiots make all that noise on purpose?"

"They're just making sure to not wake you."

"I'd kill them."

"Unfortunately, you can't, but I can. They're probably more scared of me."

"Any sensible person would be scared to anger you."

"You don't seem that sensible then." I pointed out.

"I've angered you?"

"A couple of times."

"You could have fooled me. You've only been annoyed at me."

"That's how I show my anger towards you. I get more of a reaction that way." I admitted. I knew being full blown angry at him would do nothing. However, he was more receptive when I'm annoyed and pouting.

"I'm hungry." He grumbled.

"Squalo brought food a while ago."

"Did you eat?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Every time I tried to move you grunted angrily. It wasn't a big deal."

"Can you help me sit up?" I piled up pillows on my side and lifted Xanxus into a sitting position.

"Is this good?" He nodded. I fed him some food. Right after eating, he started to pale. I took the pail from the side of the bed and lifted it just in time for him to puke. This was going to be a long two weeks.

"Better?"

"Can you make more tea?"

"You can only have one cup a day I'm afraid." His brows furrowed. He was in pain and the best I could do was be here for him.

"I feel like shit."

"You're poisoned and bedridden. Of course, you feel like shit."

"How many more days?"

"Thirteen."

"Fuck." It hurt seeing him like this. He felt hopeless.

"I know I can't help with much, but I'll try to make everything else as pleasant as possible."

"Just you being here is good enough." Squalo walked in.

"You're finally awake. How are you feeling?" He asked quietly.

"He can't keep anything down." I replied for Xanxus.

"I need a bath." Xanxus said. Was he talking to me?

"Hell no. I'm not letting Shiori give you a bath." Squalo answered my silent question.

"Why?"

"Do you really want her to wash you?"

"There's no harm in it. She said she'd help me." My eye twitched. I slowly turned and looked at him. He tensed.

"No."

"Why? You've chopped different men up yet can't even give me a bath. It's nothing you haven't seen. You're pathetic." Squalo's mouth dropped. Xanxus insulted Shiori. There wasn't a hint of playfulness. He meant it. She looked away and picked up the paper where she wrote everything down. She put it down and stood up.

"I'll let it slide for now. I understand your medicine is making you act different. However, Xanxus, let me tell you one thing. I'm only well versed in chopping the body up. I have no idea how to wash them."

Shiori left the room. Squalo and Xanxus just looked at each other in disbelief. She wasn't insinuating she'd chop it off, right? "Do you…"

"I think so, boss."

"And it's only the first day."

"Your medicine is making you hostile. Even Shiori has her limits." Squalo said, equally as shocked and on edge. Xanxus groaned.

"I should have kept my mouth shut."

"She just needs to eat and then she'll be back to normal. I'll be back." Squalo left and came back with a bucket of hot water, washcloths, and soap.

"That's probably the angriest I've seen her." Xanxus mused.

"You should have seen her at the party when Levi told us Lucia had you."

"Really? How was she then?"

"She had the creepiest smile on her face. She was going to kill Lucia even if it meant going to war. As long as she got you back, she was willing to do anything."

"Really?"

"I'm telling the truth. It didn't even compare to when she had her episodes. The fact she was fully in control and still held that sinister aura about her was the worst part." Xanxus kept quiet as Squalo bathed him. "She turns into a literal demon when you're hurt. God knows what she'll do if you died. Hell, I know you'd destroy the world if she died."

"I wouldn't."

"You would have burnt the whole place down if it wasn't for those restraints. You can't lie to me. You better be lucky Shiori is here. There's no way in hell would any of us do what she's doing for you."

"I'm glad she's here too."

After an exhausting call with my grandma, I was able to make some food using the left-over herbs. I instructed the same butler to get a two-weeks supply of herbs. It was a simple stir-fry with rice. Since the rice was made using the tea from this morning, it'd help his stomach. I brought the tray upstairs. I knocked on the door.

"Are you done?" I asked outside of the door.

"We're done." I walked in.

"I can't eat." Xanxus said as he saw the food.

"Grandma gave me some more tips. Hopefully, you'll be able to keep this down." I set the tray down and fed Xanxus. He took a single bite of the herbs and rice.

"It's good."

"Isn't it? Grandma used to make me this all the time when I was sick."

"Are you sure you were sick and not poisoned?" Squalo asked me.

"At this point, I don't know. I should just question everything about my time with them." We waited a couple of minutes and he didn't puke. His stomach growled loudly. "Don't force yourself to eat it all, okay?"

"I won't." Xanxus ended up eating the entire thing anyway. He fully relaxed against the pillows.

"Better?"

"I'll have to thank your grandma."

"Don't. She has a big ego already and is taunting my grandpa about it. 'Shiori needs me more than you now' is what she's saying. It's best to just leave it be. I'm just glad you can keep food down."

The next couple of days passed. It's been a cycle of tea and herb stir-fry. It wasn't like I minded. Though, Xanxus was clearly looking more depressed. He was down about something that wasn't related to him being bed bound. We were settling in for bed when I decided to confront him. "Are you alright?" I asked.

"I'm fine." He answered too quickly.

"You look depressed. Why?"

"It's none of your concern." I sat up and pouted.

"It is. You keep looking through me. Did I do something?"

"You've done nothing wrong. It's me."

"I'm not following." Nothing came to my mind. There was nothing Xanxus did around me that truly bothered me or seemed something he'd be bothered about.

"I…insulted you."

"That's what you've been worrying about?"

"It is. I shouldn't have called you pathetic. You're the one that's helping me and I'm treating you like shit."

"Do you really think so?"

"I do."

"Then, I accept your apology."

"Why?"

"It's my apology to accept. I don't need a reason."

"You always have one." I rolled my eyes.

"Fine. I know your medicine is messing with your mind. It isn't your fault. I know you'd never really mean any of it."

"How are you sure?"

"I'm sure because I know you."

"Do you really?" I hummed and lightly laid my head on his chest.

"It's true I haven't known you as long as others, but your flame tells me things no one else would ever know. My flame does the same thing to you."

"Why?"

"I don't know and I don't really care to find the answer."

"Why?"

"I feel safe when I'm with you and that's all I have to feel to be alright."

"Safe…" He muttered. I made a noise with agreement. "I feel the same. You're the only one that can comfort me."

"I honestly can't imagine anyone but Levi willing to do this for you." That got a soft laugh from Xanxus.

"It's a comforting feeling."

"I used to feel this way with Kanade, but it was never this intense."

"How so?"

"With her, I was able to function as a person. My anxiety would drop considerably by her side. With you, I feel like nothing can hurt me. I'm at peace when I'm around you. Not even my past haunts me."

"That's good."

"What about you?" I asked curiously. He never delved much into his past.

"My scars don't hurt like usual. When I was frozen, all I could do was think about everything over and over. I was scared. I…get nightmares about it once in a while."

"I didn't know that…"

"I don't get them when I'm with you."

"Is that why you always sleep with me?"

"That's part of it." I started to get sleepy. My whole body relaxed on top of his. "Hey, can you put me on my side?"

"Okay." I got up and gently positioned his body. "Is this better?"

"Lay down." I knew what he wanted. I got in bed and faced him. "Closer."

"How close?"

"I want you as close as possible." I moved his arm up to get under it.

"Will you be fine with me laying on your arm?"

"It's fine. I don't care about the consequences right now. It's not like I can use it."

"Don't complain tomorrow if it hurts." I got comfortable before attaching myself to him. My head was snuggled right in his shoulder. It was the closest we've ever been. "Closer?" I asked.

"This is almost perfect."

"Almost?"

"I can't move."

"You'll be able to move soon enough." I understood his frustration all too well. Though, I loved this feeling. This was a suffocating feeling in his embrace but it was intoxicating. From the way he smelt to the way his body felt against mine made everything in the background melt.

"How long did it take for you to recover?" He suddenly asked, bringing me back to reality.

"From what?"

"The Tokyo incident."

"My body was hardly hanging on. I went through so many surgeries left and right to try and fix me. Nikita even had a plastic surgeon help with the process. It was a miracle I even survived all of those. It felt like all of my bones were broken. I couldn't even walk for a whole year. It took me four months to be able to move my arms. Even then, I could only do light things. Yuko helped by teaching me how to take care of small handguns while we waited for my legs to recover."

"That long?"

"It wasn't the worst part. It took me years to even interact with other people that weren't my family. The first one I could talk to was Kanade."

"I have no right to complain."

"You have every right, Xanxus. You're a man that doesn't like to be bound by anything. I was just a kid. I was fine with not moving. I didn't want to."

"How long did it take to recover after the fall?" He was really talkative tonight. Though, I didn't mind. He would only open up like this at night when there was no way anyone else would hear.

"It didn't take as long but it was an emptier feeling."

"Do you regret it?"

"No. At the time, I really wanted to fall. Even while falling, I didn't regret anything."

"Will you do it again?" I giggled.

"I will if you order me to."

"Will you?"

"Probably not but I don't think you'd ever tell me that."

"If I do, I'm ordering you to shoot me."

"Got it."

A comfortable silence filled the room. I snuggled into Xanxus harder. He didn't seem to hate it. He rubbed his cheek against the top of my head. This was all he could do to move. "Are you okay with this?" He asked.

"I am."

"Honestly?"

"Honestly. Being like this comforts me."

"Move in here then."

"Huh?" That genuinely surprised me.

"Just stay in my room."

"Isn't that…inappropriate?" He grunted.

"We're cuddling as close as possible and you're worried if staying in the same room is inappropriate? You've already stayed here for the past week and no one said a word. Even if they did, I'll put them in their place." They'd still tease the hell out of us. Nothing will stop them from teasing us. "You can keep your room. I know you need your space and time alone."

"So, I can just use your room as my own?"

"Yes."

"How is that fair for you?"

"I get to keep you like this. That's enough for me." I could feel my face heat up. "Is that a good enough answer for you?" He asked.

"It is."

"Good." He tried to move but couldn't. He sighed with frustration.

"Do you need my help?"

"I want you closer."

"How can I be any closer?"

"I want to hold you." I remember giving him medicine before bed and they should have kicked in by now. That had to be why he was acting like this. There was no way he'd say this without the medication in his system.

"Just deal with it for now, okay? You can hold me all you want when you can move."

"I better be able to move tomorrow."

By tomorrow, Xanxus was still stuck in bed and obviously not happy about it. He was the only one surprised. I guess it wasn't his medicine talking for him last night. He meant every word about wanting to hold me. Squalo and Levi came up with breakfast.

"Good morning." Levi said quietly with a salute.

"Oh, I'll go make your tea so you can eat. I'll be back." I walked out the room and went downstairs. Lussuria was in the kitchen.

"Good morning, Shiori. Did you sleep well?"

"I did."

"How's the boss doing?"

"He's getting better each day. He's still complaining about not being able to move."

"That sounds just like him." I made the tea and was waiting for the herbs to steep. "Anything happen between you two yet?"

"Huh? Nothing has happened. We just talk a lot."

"About?"

"The past."

"It seems like you two are getting really acquainted."

"It's just we've never had time to talk one on one like this before." I poured the tea into a mug.

"And you two have a few more days left. You better cherish it before everything goes back to normal."

"I can't wait for this place to be noisy again." I said sarcastically. He laughed quietly.

"Go give boss his tea. I'm sure he's waiting for you."

Inside Xanxus' room, he was puking. "Did you eat before drinking?"

"And if I did?"

"You're the one paying the price. Take a drink. This'll settle your stomach." I put the mug up to his lips so he could drink. He let out a sigh of relief and started panting. It was obvious to everyone he was suffering.

"Shamal will be over later today to check up on you. Nono also wanted to visit. So, he'll be over."

"I don't want to see him."

"I don't think he'd take 'no' for an answer, boss." Levi warned.

"I don't care."

"At least let him see you're still alive. I'll deal with him if you get too tired." I said calmly. He looked at me before nodding. "That settles that."

"By the way, Shiori, I need to talk to you." Squalo spoke seriously.

"About?"

"In private."

"Oh." I stood up from the bed and followed Squalo.

"Don't be long." Xanxus said.

"I won't. Just deal with Levi feeding you. I'll know if something happens." We left the room and went to the conference room. It felt good for my legs. "So? What did you want to talk about?" I asked.

"The boss doesn't look depressed anymore. What happened?"

"We had a long conversation last night. We straightened that situation out."

"Did anything else happen?"

"Like?"

"Anything." I could feel the heat coming off my ears. "What the hell happened that's so embarrassing?"

"H-he wants me to move into his room." I admitted.

"What?" I nodded. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to do it."

"Is he forcing you?"

"No. He only suggested it and said I'd still get my room for when I need space."

"What does he get out of it?"

"He gets to keep me in bed." I noticed how bad that sounded and gasped.

"I know what you meant. None of us will care. If anything, it'll make the boss less of an ass to us. Just do what feels right to you. If you want to move in his room, do it. We'll just be careful entering."

"You just barge in?!"

"I will but that depends on what's going on. He almost shot me and Dino because we were going to wake you up."

"He did that?"

"He did. With you in bed with him, he won't have to get up until you do."

"That…"

"Did you not think of that?"

"That ass."

"Are you changing your mind then?"

"No. I like sleeping with him. He keeps me warm."

"I guess I have nothing to worry about then."

"Huh?"

"You two looked distant. I was worried something happened." My eye twitched. He started laughing and slapped my back. "Let go back to boss. He's probably trying to kill Levi."

"It wouldn't be Xanxus if he didn't."