Sick Days
By DrummondType2
Note: Going from the information in the audio dramas, the events of the HiME Festival were in late October, and the school year in Japan ends in March. This is set in December, between the defeat of the Obsidian Prince and the Graduation ceremony.
Christmas day was a time for lovers, Shizuru reflected. Well, perhaps "reflected" wasn't the right word. Laying in the bed of her dorm room, her head racked with a monster headache, her throat sore, and her limbs aching at the slightest movement, or even at the idea of sitting still, "reflected" was the wrong word. It would be more apt to say that Shizuru Fujino was thinking of December 25th as a day for lovers with the Mother of all pouts plastered firmly on her usually serene face.
The shades were drawn over her windows to keep the room quiet and dark.
Tomorrow would be the beginning of the winter holiday, a week free from having to do anything of any importance, and so she could linger in her quarters and cope with this miserable bout of the flu.
"I wanted to spend the day with you, Natsuki," Shizuru sighed, knowing that Natsuki couldn't hear her. Natsuki was two floors down, sharing quarters with Mai Tokiha and Mikoto Minagi. So close, and yet, so far away.
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in," Shizuru called out of habit, before remembering that she was sick and potentially contagious. Oh well, too late now.
"See what your lackadaisical lifestyle does for your health?" she heard an all too familiar, all too smug voice. Haruka Suzushiro was standing at the entrance to Shizuru's dorm room, her arms folded across her ample chest, a triumphant smile firmly in place on her face.
"Ara, but if Haruka needs me to sign anything, she may leave it on the table," Shizuru coughed for emphasis, "While Mother always taught me to share, I certainly doubt that this malady was what she had in mind."
"Unlike you," Haruka smirked, "I didn't neglect to get my flu shot. I have nothing to worry about."
"Yeah," another familiar, and much more welcome voice came from the doorway, "Haven't you heard that idiots can't catch colds, Shizuru?"
"I should send you to the Chapel, Kuga," Haruka groused.
Natsuki smiled, arching an eyebrow, leaning against the doorframe, "Oh, you mean the chapel where the head priest turned out to be a spy, the former nun got pregnant from an affair with our art teacher while modeling for a nude painting, and the current nuns are a military grade android with built in firearms and a girl who used to do compensated dating? Please, Suzushiro, send me there. I'm sure I can't get into any sort of trouble hanging out in a place like that."
Shizuru would have laughed if her head wasn't pounding. She did manage the faintest of smiles.
Haruka sighed, "You're incorrigible. What are you doing here, anyway?"
"I heard Shizuru was sick," Natsuki said, "She's my friend. I thought I'd look in on her."
"She's got the flu, Kuga. She's inflection."
"I think you mean 'infectious'," Natsuki sighed, wondering where Kikukawa was to handle translating Suzushiroisms.
"It's fine," Nao said walking past in the hall, "The Pup's had all her shots."
"See if I ever do anything nice for you again!" Natsuki called after the redhead, "But she's right. I had to help look after Nao last week when she was down with the flu, and I didn't catch it from her. My flu shot is holding."
"Fine. You can look after her," Haruka shrugged, "I just came by to let her know that I turned in all of her paperwork to Kazahana. So, you get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids, Fujino, 'cause when winter break is over, I don't want you to have any excuses when I take the top spot from you."
"Your concern is noted, Haruka," Shizuru sighed, "Thank you."
Haruka left, closing the door behind her. Natsuki was still in the room, however.
"So," Natsuki sat on the edge of the bed, "Shizuru Fujino can get sick like the rest of us."
"As Natsuki said a moment ago," Shizuru managed to find her wit, "Idiots can't catch colds. As I am frequently at the top of the class, it's a small wonder that I'm not infirmed more regularly."
Natsuki gave a chuckle, "I guess that means that I can't call you 'Idiot' anymore, huh?"
Shizuru began crying.
"Shizuru!" Natsuki sounded alarmed.
"I'm alright, Natsuki. This…ailment…has me feeling a bit…brittle. I just thought of you not there anymore, not calling me an 'idiot' whenever I tease, and it bothered me."
"Hey," Natsuki ran her fingers gently over Shizuru's bangs, brushing them out of her eyes, "I'm not going anywhere, and I'll call you whatever you want me to, So don't go getting all weepy on me, alright? Idiot."
They exchanged a smile.
There was a knock at the door, and Mai Tokiha entered carrying a steaming bowl, "I made okayu for you, Kaichou."
Shizuru made a show of pouting, "Okayu for Christmas. Mou. And here I was hoping to sample Natsuki's home cooking."
"Maybe," Mai gave her a grin, "but we actually want you to get better, so I cooked instead."
Natsuki's face was sour, "You're helping Shizuru, so I'm going to overlook that."
"Yes, yes," Mai ignored her, "I'll set this here for you, Kaichou. Feel better."
"Ookini," Shizuru smiled.
Mai made to leave the room, but Natsuki stopped her, whispering to her. Shizuru thought she heard Natsuki say something like, "Did you get it?"
"Yeah," Mai replied, "She'll be very surprised."
And with that, Mai was gone.
"What did you ask Tokiha-han to bring?" Shizuru asked absently.
"Well," Natsuki grinned, producing a very large negi, "We thought we might try an old folk remedy to make you better…"
"N-Natsuki? That's…that's not necessary…"
"Oh? But you thought it was necessary when you did it to me," Natsuki tilted her head mock quizzically, "I think we should try it. Don't worry. If I apply a bit of mayo, it might go down more smoothly. Well, in this case, up is probably more accurate…"
"Natsuki, really, I…"
She found herself being flipped over.
"Get ready, Shizuru. Here it comes!"
"NATSUKI!" Shizuru sat up in bed. She looked around, and saw Natsuki, sitting on the edge of the bed, reading a book, which she dropped to the floor in alarm at Shizuru's cry.
"Shizuru? Are you alright?"
"A dream?" Shizuru muttered.
"Fever dreams?" Natsuki looked at her, "Yeah, Nao had those, too. It's alright, Shizuru. I'm here."
"You had a negi, and…"
"Negi? What the hell would I want with one of those damned…OH! I get it. You dreamed I was getting some payback for my summer cold, huh? Come on, Shizuru, is getting revenge on people for past slights really my thing?"
Shizuru giggled at that, "Heavens, where would I EVER get an idea like that?"
"Yeah, okay, I get it Miss-Smarty-Pants. Here, sit over here a moment. And lift your pajama top."
Shizuru blushed, "So bold."
"I…Idiot! I'm just going to wipe the sweat off."
Natsuki took a warm washcloth and did just that. Somehow, her delicate touch made Shizuru's aching limbs feel better. Natsuki, however, was blushing furiously and looking away the whole time.
"Ara, but does seeing me like this embarrass you?" Shizuru asked weakly.
"Of course it does!" Natsuki said. Shizuru looked down, her face darkening.
"I see. It must be an un…unfortunate…reminder of that time," Shizuru felt herself tearing up again.
Until she felt a pair of lips on her forehead, "Idiot. That's not it."
Shizuru raised her eyes, "Ara?"
"It's just…I mean, I know we're both girls, and it's nothing I haven't seen before, it's just…well, you're kinda…beautiful, Shizuru. And seeing this much of you is kinda embarrassin', 'cause, well, I think about it. About how pretty you are, and stuff."
Shizuru laid down in bed, her eyelids feeling too heavy, "But Natsuki is the beautiful one… She has such kind eyes…and…~yawn~ she looks after me so well."
Natsuki smiled a bit, "Maybe if I read to you, it'll help with those nightmares. Sorry about the literary choice, but I have to read this for class, anyway, so…' IN the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and proceeded to Netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the army. …'"
In no time at all, Shizuru was asleep. She did not have any more unpleasant dreams. She woke once, to find Natsuki curled up around her, keeping her warm.
"You were shivering," Natsuki said simply, "And I couldn't find any extra blankets."
"I see," Was all Shizuru said.
Natsuki watched over her for the next few days, leaving only to procure food and medicines from time to time.
Then it was the day before New Years Eve.
"Say Shizuru…"
"Yes?"
"Awhile back…I told you…that I didn't feel the same way you did. But…I think…that might have changed."
"Natsu--ki?"
"'Cause when I said that, I didn't think you or I had a future. I thought we were both going to die."
"I remember. At the time, I believed I deserved to die for my crimes."
"Well, it didn't work out that way. And I think…we have a future ahead of us. I've got a future ahead of me. And, well, after spending this time with you, looking after you, it reminded me of all the times you looked out for me. And I think, if I'm going to have a future ahead of me…I'd like it if you were a part of it."
Shizuru looked confused. Was this real? Or just another bout of delirium brought on by fever? Were her fondest wishes coming true, or was she merely hoping in her fevered mind for things she could never have.
"Shizuru?"
"Is this real, Natsuki?" Shizuru asked, "Is this actually…"
Natsuki held her in her arms, embracing her, "I'm real, Shizuru. I'm not a fever dream. I'm not wishful thinking. I really do love you, Shizuru. And….I think I love you the way that you love me. I guess I sound a bit sappy, but…"
Shizuru knew then that it was real. The Natsuki in her dreams never stumbled over words or worried about her sentiments being overly saccharine. But the Natsuki who was real was always all the more endearing for it.
Shizuru started crying.
"Shizuru?"
"It's alright, Natsuki. These are tears of joy. And a sign that I'm still a bit overwrought from the illness."
"I'm sorry, Shizuru, I should have..."
Natsuki was interrupted by a soft kiss, and then a fingertip to her lips.
"Dearest Natsuki, let us welcome the New Year together."
"I'd like that, Shizuru."
The two curled up together that night, keeping each other warm and in good company.