Ranma's Flu
4
But in the Tendo dojo everyone had slept well all night, not having to listen to the young Mr. Saotome sneezing and coughing. It was about 9 AM when they started waking up, one by one
Akane had just dressed up and got on her way to the kitchen. She found her big sister Kasumi from there.
"Good morning!" greeted Kasumi, cooking some porridge by the stove. Akane raised her hand as a greeting and sat down on a chair.
"What do you think, will Ranma get out of the hospital today?" Kasumi wondered, stirring the porridge.
"We will find out", said Genma, who just walked in, with his phone in his hand. He sat down next to Akane and put the phone against his ear. Soon...
"Hello. This is Genma Saotome, Ranma Saotome's father. My son is there, in your ward, and... and, yes, I want to know how he is... and will he get home today... Oh. I see. Well... well then, I'll be there. Thank you. Bye." And he turned off the phone, putting it down on the kitchen table, with a sigh.
"Was that a no?" Akane wondered, looking sad.
"No. They just don't know yet. The doctor hasn't checked on him yet. I'll be going there right after some breakfast. I wonder what bus is the right one..."
"Don't you worry about the buses", said Soun, who just walked in. "I'll take you there."
"A-and I'm coming with you!" Akane nodded. Genma smiled a bit for a few seconds.
Back at the hospital, Ranma had taken off his pajamas' shirt, and a nurse was rinsing him gently with a cool, wet cloth.
"You will be getting some visitors soon, Ranma", she said, putting a cloth on his forehead. "Your daddy called. He will be here in no time." Ranma coughed a few times."Excited?"
"Hmm..." he nodded once, slowly.
"Please bring Ranma-chan back with you!" shouted Kasumi, while she and Nabiki were standing at the Tendo dojo's door, watching Genma, Soun and Akane leave.
"I really wonder how he is doing..." Akane mumbled in the back seats.
"I'm sure he's getting back with us today! He IS my son, he is strong!" Genma said, headstrong.
They arrived at the hospital's main door. Genma and Akane got out.
"Are you going straight to the ward?" Soun asked.
"Hmm... No", Genma mumbled. The Tendos looked confused.
"Where, then?" Soun wondered.
"Just take the car in the parking carage. We'll get to the café first."
"...Okay...?", Soun nodded, turned around and left. Akane watched him go.
"Why the café?" she asked.
"To get something to cheer him up", Genma said and got on his way, Akane right after him.
"You can also have something. I can pay for now", the man said. He grabbed a paper cup with Pepsi logo on it and poured in some cola and ice cubes. Then he stopped at the candy shelf. "Licorice..." he mumbled and grabbed a bag of it.
Akane was not really in the mood of anything, but still took a bottle of Fanta.
"There we go... Let's wait for your father here", Genma said after paying. They found a table for them and sat down. Akane opened her soda bottle and started drinking slowly with a straw. She seemed miserable.
"Hm?" the man raised his eyebrow.
"I just don't know what to expect... Is he better... or not..."
"He'll be fine", Genma said, calm. Akane nodded.
"Hiya!" they heard Soun cheer, walking to them. "Okay now, shall we?" Both Genma and Akane got up and so they walked out of the café.
"Worried?" Soun asked his friend.
"Hmm. Maybe a bit."
They took the lift, and in just a few minutes they were at the children's infection ward. Room four... Genma was just about to knock it's door, but quickly a nurse rushed to them and shushed.
"Shh! He's asleep. He had a rough night, so you should let him sleep. If you still want to see him, you can go, but be quiet."
And so Genma grabbed the room's door's handle and opened it inch by inch. He peeked in...
The window blinds and lamps were shut. There Ranma laid, on his back, a wet towel on his forehead... Genma gave his friend Soun and Akane a look. They both nodded, and so they sat around Ranma's bed, all quiet. Akane laid her hand on his ankle and squeezed it gently.
"Don't", Soun whispered and grabbed his daughter's wrist, pulling it away.
About half an hour went by. The three visitors had just sat still, all quiet, when suddenly Ranma started to writhe a bit and bite his lip.
"Ranma!" the trio cheered, smiling. Ranma opened his eyes, coughed a few times and gave a look at everyone.
"Uhh... daddy..."
Daddy? Daddy? Why? He must still feel sick, he wasn't acting like 'the real Ranma'. Not at all.
"Has the doctor been here yet?" Genma asked. Ranma rolled his head.
"Unless if he was here... while I slept", Ranma mumbled.
"He will be here any minute", said a nurse, who just came in with a trayful of lunch. But it wasn't only a balanced meal with milk – also a Nutridrink, chocolate flavour. She put it down on Ranma's night stand and turned it so that it was going above his lap.
"I heard from my nurse friend you had liked this earlier today..." the nurse said while opening the bottle. Ranma lift up his bed's head and got ready for eating.
"Bon appetit", the nurse winked and walked away. Ranma grabbed the chopsticks and started poking at the rice on the plate. His guests followed this quietly. But then he put the chopsticks down and leaned against the bed's head.
"Why don't you eat?" Akane asked. "Heh, believe me, I'm sure this is better than my cooking!" The fathers chuckled, but Ranma didn't.
"...Well, what about this, what is it..." Genma grabbed the Nutridrink and gave a look upon it.. "Okay, a supplement. You should drink this", he handed over the bottle. Ranma took it and slowly sucked it with a straw.
Ranma hadn't even finished with the drink when suddenly they heard a knock in the door. It opened, and the doctor walked in. Everyone turned at him.
"Hello. Sorry I'm a bit late. I am doctor Abei", he greeted and shook the fathers' hands. "So. I heard from the nurses at night shift than the night was very tough. He had pains, major sweating and couldn't sleep. His fever isn't really dropping and he is weak and lethargic. He hasn't been vomiting but not eating either. Good thing is that he drinks these", he said and pointed at the bottle in Ranma's hands. "If he didn't eat at all, we would need to put him on a feeding tube."
The three guests seemed horrified. Ranma was concentrated in his drink, eyes half closed.
"So, young man, how do you feel? Any pains? Throat? Head?"
Ranma kept nodding slowly.
"We shall keep giving you pain killers, Tylenol. We must get the fever under control."
"It must be an idiotic question", Genma raised his hand. "but will he be getting home today?"
"No way", Nabei shook his head. "He is closer to the ICU than home."
The guests flinched.
"Okay, that was a bit exaggerated", the doctor shook his hands. "Don't worry, we will take good care of him in here. Now he needs rest, fluid and nourishment. And as for medication, we go by Tamiflu. I will check on him later today. How long are you going to stay?"
"Hmm..." Soun mumbled, looking at Genma.
"All day!" Genma shouted out, pounding the table.
"I see..." the doctor nodded and stepped closer at the bed. There was a blood pressure monitor in the night stand's drawer. He took it and measured the boy's blood pressure and pulse.
"Nothing wrong with the blood pressure. Pulse is very high though. Then, his fever..." He dug his doctor's gown's pocket and took out an ear thermometer. He put it in the boy's ear.
Beep!
"Hm. 104. As said, we must get his fever under control", the doctor talked, calm. "He is getting a maximum dose of medicine for it, we can't give him any more. Maybe a cool shower would be good. I'll call a nurse to-"
"No. I'll do it", Genma enrolled, raising his hand. "I bet he'll feel easier that way."
"Alright. As you wish. Take the shower when you are up to it, Ranma", the doctor nodded and pet the boy's head.
As expected, Ranma didn't eat his lunch. Not a bite. But his father had something for him.
"We went to the café before coming to you..." he said as he took the soda mug from the night stand's lower shelf. "...so here you go. I put some ice cubes in it. I hope it's still cold." He handed over the mug, and Ranma took it slowly. First he took just a few, slow sips, but started drinking faster and faster. His guests smiled. This was a good sign.
"But wait, there's more!" Genma pointed out and handed over the small bag of licorice bites to his son. The man held it in front of the boy's face. He took it, sniffed it with his runny, congested nose, but just put it down on his lap.
"...You can have it..."
"...Well, maybe you'll want it later", Genma put the bag away on the night stand.
What should they do, then? If Ranma had, like, a cast on his leg, they could take him outside with a wheelchair or go to the café, but no. He needed rest. The boy laid in his bed, looking very tired and in pain. He kept sneezing and coughing and was soaked in sweat. Now it was time, Genma figured.
"My boy, what would you think about having the shower right now?"
"Mmmh..." Ranma opened his eyes. He looked around, seeing his father, Akane and Soun, sitting around him, looking serious. Or maybe just sad. "...Okay."
"Soun, get a wheelchair", Genma ordered, and his friend obeyed. Soon he came back with a wheelchair. He parked it beside Ranma's bed. The boy got in it slowly.
"Right, here we go", Genma pushed Ranma out of the room, walking the corridor, heading towards the showering room. Sound and Akane followed them.
"Say, what if me and Akane went for some lunch in the café? So you don't need to hurry", Soun suggested. "And we are getting hungry, aren't we, my dear Akane?"
"Maybe", she nodded.
"Fine", Genma said.
They parted, the Tendos walking out of the ward, Saotomes getting in the showering room. Genma collected some shampoos and shower gels from the closets, while Ranma was slowy taking off his pajamas. He took those few steps needed to get to the showering chair and crashed down on it.
"Last time I said it was years since I washed your hair..." Genma walked behind his son's back, Ranma coughing harsh, covering his mouth with his hand. "...but now it's been just two days. You better not get used to this."
"Believe me, hell no", Ranma mumbled and... "Ah... TSHOO!"
Genma sighed and undid the boy's pigtail and started rinsing his long, strong hair. He was maybe a bit jealous, being all bald himself.
"Is the water too cold?" he asked.
"Nah", Ranma mumbled. Genma rubbed the boy's back with a sponge, gently this time.
Genma let the hair conditioner take effect for a while. The silence in the room was broken only by a few coughs every now and then. Ranma was sitting in the shower chair, all naked, but not minding it a bit.
"Chhoo!" he sneezed.
"Okay now, this will do", Genma said and started rinsing the conditioner off. Ranma felt his father's sturdy hands massage his scalp. And oh how nice it felt! As Ranma knew his father couldn't see it, he closed his eyes with a weak smile.
After he was all clean, his father gave him a towel. But he had another one too. As Ranma started slowly drying himself, Genma started drying his hair.
"Heh..." Ranma looked over his shoulder grinned weakly.
"What?" Genma lift his eyebrow.
"You must be so jealous of my hair."
"..." Genma got maybe a bit offended, but he was happy that his son was starting to sound like his real self. "Heh, you have no idea."
After Ranma was all dry and dressed up in new, clean, blue hospital pajamas, they headed back to his room. The bed had been changed. Smart nurses, Genma thought. He didn't even need to tell them to change the sheets. He put the bed rail down and helped his son sit on it. Ranma rolled on his back, moaned a bit, curling up on his side, towards his father, who had just moved a chair next to him and sat down.
"...What do you think, would it be licorice-time?" he asked. More like wished.
"..." Ranma stared at his father with his tired eyes. "...Hm..."
Genma smiled and grabbed the bag on the night stand, opening. "Here you go", he said and handed it to his son. But Ranma didn't even move, but stayed still, laying still on his side. Genma sighed. But then he had an idea. A bit silly, maybe, but oh well...
He took one small licorice bite from the bag and put it in front of the boy's nose. For a while nothing happened, but finally Ranma opened his mouth, and Genma put the licorice in. Ranma munched on it slowly and swallowed. Genma smiled, took an another piece and put it in front of Ranma's face again. But this time Ranma didn't open his mouth, but closed his eyes, sighed, and went limp.
"...Okay then", Genma sighed, leaning against his chair's back, putting down the licorice bag back on the night stand. Then he gave a look upon it, reached out to it, and took a handful of the licorice. staring at his son.
"A-CHOO! CHOO! Cough! Cough! Hah...CHOO! TSHIH! DSHOO!" If those sounds weren't heard, it would have been all quiet in the room number four. Genma was leaning against the bed's rail, holding a tissue box for his son. Every now and then he blew his nose, but usually just sniffled if back.
Ranma moaned, covering his eyes with his hands.
"What is it?" Genma asked.
"Could you get me medicine? My head..." the boy mumbled unclearly, as his whole face was covered. But Genma figured what he said, so he got up and walked away from the room. Ranma watched his father go, and bit his lip in pain.
You couldn't say 'soon', but after a while Genma stepped in the room, with a nurse behind him. She was carrying not only a plastic cup of medicine, also a Nutridrink.
"Here you go", the nurse smiled gently. "Some Tylenol, and a chocolate Nutridrink."
"Why the drink...?" Ranma mumbled. "I had a one at lunchtime..."
"You need a lot of energy and nutrients. But don't you like it? I was told that you..."
"It's not that. I just... Well, okay, I'm taking it..." Ranma said and first took the small cup with a white pill, swallowed it, and took the bottle from the nurse, drinking it along the medicine.
"That was Tylenol. I hope it helps. So, lets..." the nurse took the digital thermometer that laid on the nightstand, and put it in Ranma's mouth. It beeped.
"Hmm... 102.9. Maybe a little better. "But you seem very lethargic", she stroke his cheek. "No wonder, your night was horrible. But it's good that you have slept at least a bit now at daytime. Sleep is now the best medicine for you." She retreated to the door and waved the guests to her. "So I would advise you to just let him rest", she whispered. They looked at each other.
"Well, then..." Genma sighed and looked over his shoulder, towards his son, curled up in his bed. He walked to him and stopped for a while, just to stare at him. What a sad sight. He stroke his side and pet his shoulder.
"Sleep well, my boy", he said, quiet.
"Bye, daddy..." Ranma whispered with a sniffle, eyes closed.
Genma rubbed his forehead and turned around towards the door. But at the doorway he looked over his shoulder once again. The boy hadn't moved an inch.
"Come, Genma", Sound called from the corridor. Genma closed the door slow and carefully.
"I am sorry for you", Soun said as the trio had gotten to the parking carage.
"Don't feel bad with me", Genma snorted. "Feel for Ranma."
"He didn't look any better from yesterday..." Akane mumbled, down. The car's light flashed as Soun opened it with his car. They got in and got on their way back towards the Tendo dojo.
It was almost 4 PM when they arrived at the dojo. They walked in and took their shoes off. And right away they saw Kasumi walking to them, with a pink apron on. She was cooking.
Nobody said anything, when finally Kasumi sighed, sad.
"So, Ranma-chan didn't get home..." she bemoaned. The trio shook their heads. "But how was he? Better from yesterday?"
"Not really... He hasn't been throwing up or anything but... He's just very tired and dear Lord that sneezing and cough..." Genma sighed. "We were supposed to be there until the visiting hours end, but we were told to go away, let him sleep", he sounded a bit angry.
"But Mr. Saotome, I agree with the nurse", Kasumi said. "He really needs to sleep, have some rest."
In about half an hour Kasumi had finished with her cooking. Everyone had gathered around the living room's table, starting to eat. It was very well-made sushi, something that only Kasumi in this family could make.
But suddenly they heard the doorbell ring.
"Hm? Who could it be..." Soun mumbled, got up and went to open the door.
He opened the door.
"Ehh...!"
For now, I think there will be 2-3 more chapters to come.