Ema's POV

As soon as she woke up, she was coughing. Her head was throbbing as her lungs tried to drag in air that was being forced out too quickly. Ema didn't want to worry any of her brothers, so she tried her best to cough into her pillow until the fit was over.

She laid there and let her body relax after. She felt lightheaded, and her eyes couldn't focus. Ema knew she had a blazing fever to go with it, but there was no way she could miss school today. It was early January, and in just 2 short months, she'll be taking her college entrance exam.

Her body ached as she stood and got dressed. Her face burned and her lungs screamed with every breath. When did it get this bad? Yesterday she had a slight cough but it was so small she had no trouble hiding it. It was almost as if she'd fallen ill over night.

She decided she'd at least tough it out until lunch. That way she would have attended all of her Math and English classes, the ones she struggled with the most. If it was still bad then, she'd call Masaomi for advice. Until then though, she had to do her best to hide it.

Normally, she would help Ukyo cook breakfast, but feeling sick like she did, she didn't think it wise to touch everyone's food. So instead, when she entered the kitchen she laid out the dishes. Ukyo gave her a questionable look, and she smiled to shrug off his suspicions.

Her eyes blurred and she felt the cough coming. She did her best to hold it in and just give a relief cough into her arm. Her lungs weren't getting air as they tried to force out more. Ema was fighting a losing battle.

Most of the brothers had come down by now, and were seated at the table with her. She had greeted them each cheerfully, and did her best to serve them. Now, seated between Iori and Wataru, she felt drained of all the energy she had.

Don't cough loudly, don't cough loudly. The mantra in her head thumped along to the throbbing headache she had. Every part of her body hurt. Ukyo watched her from across the table, frowning.

"Ema, you've barely touched your breakfast." He pointed to her plate.

Stop looking at me, she thought. "I guess I'm really just not that hungry this morning." Lies to hide her illness came easy, but she felt a song of guilt for it. She was used to taking care of herself, and she knew her brothers would be more than willing to care for her while sick. But she couldn't place that burden on them.

Another coughing fit started to bubble up. One cough into her arm, and she was holding back the rest. Black spots danced in her vision, her lungs laboring to even breathe for her at this point. When she felt herself begin to tilt sideways she threw her hand out and caught it on the table.

The table rattled loudly, and everyone's plates bounced slightly. All eyes were on her.

Don't ask, leave me be. Ema needed to go to class today, she would fight it as hard as possible. Unfortunately, Ema knew her resolve wouldn't last much longer with the aches she felt. Keeping her eyes on the plate in front of her, she avoided looking at the boys. If she couldn't see them, they wouldn't notice her right?

"Ema, you don't look too good," Iori reached out a hand toward her.

"I'm okay, really," she was breathing a little quickly, as if she had just run a marathon. "I'm leaving for school now." Her first mistake was standing too quickly. Her second was not holding back the coughs. The black spots returned so suddenly, and a fit of coughs ripped their way up her throat. Unable to draw in enough breath to continue standing, she collapsed to her knees.

Iori was there in an instant, one hand on her forehead and the other rubbing her back in circles. "She's burning up, we should get Masaomi."

The last thing Ema wanted was to burden Masaomi. He had been working nights recently, and would have only been home for 2 hours. Shaking her head, she put up a hand.

"I'm okay- really," she was panting. Her voice came out barely louder than a whisper, and raspy. Ema gratefully accepted the cup of cold water that Iori offered her. After a few sips, she felt much better.

Summoning as much strength as she could, Ema attempted to stand. If it weren't for Iori holding her arm and taking most her weight, she wouldn't have made it on her own. He was now standing behind her, while she leaned back against him.

Suddenly she felt much worse. Breathing was hard, her face burned, all her muscles ached, and her vision couldn't focus. Her head rolled back onto his shoulder.

"I'm- sorry" she gasped out. A cold hand brushed her face. Masaomi was there taking her temperature, and asking questions.

Answering was hard, Ema had felt fine yesterday, she doesn't know why she woke up so miserable today. Iori guided her to the couch. She was given more water, answered more questions. Masaomi decided she needed to go in to the hospital and get checked out.

"Her fever is really high, and I'm concerned by the sound of her cough." Masaomi explained to the others. "I'll drive her."

Immediately, Iori offered to go with them. "I don't have much to do today at school."

Ema felt so guilty for him missing class, and for interrupting Masaomi's sleep. But at the same time she was happy she had family to rely on.

"I'm so- sorry. I didn't- mean- to ruin- your day." She struggled just to say that much. A coughing fit took over for more than a minute.

Iori helped her to the car, very carefully getting her in the seat. He slid in beside her, and Ema wondered why he didn't bother to keep his distance. Iori guided her to lay her head in his lap.

"I'll make- you sick-" Ema tried to protest.

"I'll be fine. You look like you're going to fall over," he laid her down on his thigh. So softly she almost thought she was dreaming, she felt his fingers move in her hair.

Iori and Masaomi talked while they drove, Iori updating him on her condition. He would brush fingers over her cheek, tuck hair behind her ear, and never took his eyes off her face. He was paying so much attention to her, Ema felt her heart start to race.

She'd always liked Iori, and she was glad that he had chosen to come with her. But never did she imagine for her head to be in his lap. The blush only made her fever seem worse.

When the next round of coughing took over, and her vision started to blur, Ema closed her eyes. She was going to pass out, and she knew it. She wanted to enjoy what little bit she could of being this close to Iori.

~~~~~~~~~

Iori's POV

When her eyes closed, panic clamped on his chest. He traced his fingers down her cheek to see if she had passed out or if she just had her eyes closed. When she didn't react, he told Masaomi to speed up.

When they reached the hospital, Iori didn't think twice about picking Ema up and carrying her inside. Masaomi directed him to an empty gurney, where he laid her out flat. A team of doctors swarmed her, and Iori started to panic when they started to lead her away.

Masaomi grabbed his arm and pulled him to the side. His heart was racing, trying to beat out of his chest with worry for her. After they began to move Ema, they followed behind her.

There was so much movement, people calling out what they were doing, Iori wondered how anyone could focus through all this. But Masaomi was a trained profession and he kept Iori updated as they went.

After a few hours, everything had quieted down. Iori was sitting by her bed, holding her hand and humming. When he was sick, Miwa and Masaomi would sing to him. So he hummed to her, hoping she'd hear it and feel better.

It was difficult for him to sit there and be calm. He wanted to worry, and to scream. He cared for her deeply, and seeing her there in pain, and struggling to breathe, really bothered him.

The doctors said she had severe pneumonia. A combination of the weather and a weak immune system is what made her susceptible. Iori knew she had been worrying about entrance exams coming up, but he never imagined her getting sick because of it.

Her fingers fluttered in his hand, and Iori stumbled on his beat. He was relieved to see her staring at him, even if her eyes were only half open.

"What song- was that?" Her voice cracked in the middle of the sentence and he mentally winced at it. It was raspy, like someone had taken her voice and ran it over a scratched record.

"Mom and Masaomi would sing it to me when I was sick. It always made me feel better," he gave her a half smile. It was all he could do.

"Can you- sing it for me? The words- I mean," she coughed between her words. If she continued to talk, she'd only get worse.

"I'm not a singer, so please don't judge me," he joked and her laugh was drowned out by a cough. He began to sing her the words. He watched her eyes close, her face relax, an unconscious smile at her lips.

Masaomi came in and he quit singing.

"The medications are working great. They said she can go home the next time she's awake, as long as she feels better. Her fever is completely gone now."

The news made Iori almost cry. He held a little tighter to her hand. It was so small compared to his. As delicate as a flower.

Flowers. He should get her a flower. He wished he could grab one from his garden at home. To him, flowers held a special meaning, and he had a perfect one he wanted to give her.

Masaomi sat across from him on Ema's other side. They talked about things at school, and Iori's job as a waiter. Talking to Masaomi was effortless, he was a genuinely kind man, a great older brother.

When Ema woke up, she was able to have a conversation without coughing the entire time. The doctors were satisfied in letting her go home, as long as she was watched closely. Iori helped her into the car, and let her lay her head in his lap again.

He rather enjoyed her being so close. He'd never let anyone near him since the accident all those years ago. Convincing himself he was better alone, he had accepted the fact of loving Ema from afar.

They set Ema up on the living room couch. They brought her blankets and pillows and made her as comfortable as possible. She still coughed a lot, and even after fell asleep she coughed through the night. Iori watched over her all night, sitting at the far end of the couch. He was worried for her health, and wanted to ease his own anxiety.

Early the next morning, she was still sound asleep when he decided to slip out into his garden. He was going to pick her some flowers for when she woke up. He wasn't outside for long when an unexpected voice was behind him.

"Iori?"

He turned quickly when he heard her raspy voice calling to him. She was standing in her pajamas, barefooted, just a few feet from him.

"Jesus, Ema, you're sick. You shouldn't be out here. Where are your shoes?" He quickly got up and went to her side, carefully grabbing her arms. When her gaze met his, it sent shivers down him spine. "I couldn't live with myself if you got sicker." He whispered to her.

"But it's so pretty out here, I love your flowers." Her eyes roamed around his garden. The best of his heart skipped knowing that she was noticing his work.

"It's cold out, you're not even wearing a jacket," he took his off and covered her with it. Now he was the one without the jacket. Not that Iori cared, he'd rather fall ill over and over if it meant she was healthy.

Ema's teeth began to chatter, but she made no move to go back inside. Although he found her stubborn nature attractive, today wasn't the day for it. Her health meant everything to him.

Pulling her in close, he wrapped his arms around her for a hug. He squeezed hard, then very lowly whispered on her ear.

"I won't say this twice, Ema. Your health means everything to me. I care more for you than I do any of my brothers. Please go back inside before you get worse." His voice was rough with passion and he turned a stern gaze on her face. Her eyes were wide and Iori struggled to identify the emotion in them.

His confusion didn't last long though, because suddenly Ema was up on her toes, gripping his collar for support while she kissed him. Surprise fell through to passion and he kissed her back, deepening the kiss. All thoughts faded except the girl in front of him until-

Ema lost balance and crashed into him, both of them falling to the ground. Iori had fallen backwards so he made sure to keep Ema on top of him to cushion the fall. Her breathing was ragged, and Iori remembered why it was that he wanted her inside. After a string of curses in his head, he carefully disentangled himself.

"Inside Ema. Now." It came out stronger than he wanted it to. But he didn't have time to take it back now.

The words he chose and his tone affected her, he saw it on her face immediately. Her eyes started to water and she turned her face away quickly. Iori knew Ema always tried to hide when she was hurt.

The clenching in his chest returned. Kneeling down, he gently cupped her cheek in his hand, tilting her face up. He gave her a smile to let her know he wasn't mad. "I love you Ema, but you're sick and need to be inside resting." He bent and gave her a small kiss on the lips, careful to not go over board this time.

She went inside, and Iori followed soon after with his flowers. When he put them in a vase on the table, a smile brighter than the sun lit her face. He sat beside her on the couch, and guided her head to his lap. Just the way he liked it. They watched movies the rest of the day, Iori running his hand over her hair, cheeks, and back. The smile never left Ema's face, and that was the best gift he could have ever received.