A/N: Here it is chapter 2...well 3, I guess. Also, check the end notes for the special sneak peak of the new highly recommended book Humility: Rise of the New Ethereals. Anyhoo, enjoy this chapter!


Shigure had been sleeping peacefully when something stirred him from sleep. IT took him a while to realize it was the sound of retching. But that didn't make any sense. Shigure was the only person in the house and he was right her so who could be—

"Oh crap, Yuki!" Shigure flung the covers off himself and raced to the bathroom. He didn't bother knocking and practically ripped the door off its hinges.

Hunched over the toilet with his arms wrapped around his stomach was the quiet rat himself. Sweat glistened on his face and drenched the t-shirt that hung off his slight frame. His cheeks were bright red and his body shook with the hacking coughs that brought up more of the wretched liquid.

"Oh, Yuki," Shigure cooed. They boy truly was a pitiful sight. The older Sohma wetted a rag and went to the boy. He placed a calming hand on his back and rubbed small circles. Yuki was too exhausted to jerk away from the touch and somehow that only made Shigure more worried.

After what seemed like an eternity, the heaving stopped, leaving Yuki to crumple to the bathroom floor, completely spent. His coughing had subsided somewhat, but not entirely.

Shigure knelt next to the shivering Sohma and slipped his hands under his silver bangs. He was burning up.

"Yuki, I'll be right back. I just need to check the time and get you a cup." Scrambling off the floor, Shigure ran down the stairs, glancing at the clock as he went. 8:40am. Thank the Lord for little miracles. Hatori would be over soon. He swiped a random cup of the counter—he really hoped it was clean—and went back to his young charge.

Yuki was exactly where he had left him, shivering on the floor. Turning on the faucet, Shigure filled the cup and took his place back on the floor.

"Hey, Yuki. Yuki," Shigure softly called until he had his attention. The grey eyes that me his were glazed over with fever and brimmed with miserable tears. "Here," Shigure said extending the glass. "You need to drink something or at the very least rinse your mouth. I can't imagine it tastes very good."

At first, Yuki only looked at the glass with sad, distant eyes. It was as if he didn't hear what Shigure had said.

"It's okay, Yuki. It will make you feel better, I promise," the dog assured.

Slowly he blinked then grabbed the cup and brought it up to his lips with unsteady hands. He took small hesitant sips, but at least he was drinking it.

Little miracles, Shigure thought as he mopped at the boy's face and neck with the cloth. They sat like that until Yuki pulled the cup away, shaking his head. His voice hoarse and pitiful as ever he said, "I…can't finish it. NO more."

Shigure reached over and placed it on the counter's edge. "That's okay. You drank most of it. To be honest I'm surprised you could manage that much." He chuckled trying to lighten the mood. "Do you think you can make it back to your room? I'm sure it's more comfortable than the bathroom floor." Yuki shook his head, afraid he'd make himself sick again "Is it okay if I carry you?" There was no response for several moments, but finally there was a tiny, nearly imperceptible nod.

Carefully, Shigure slipped his arms under his cousin's legs and behind his back. Just as he suspected, Yuki was incredibly easy to lift, too easy. He noticed just how anxious and uncomfortable Yuki looked, as if he'd never been held before.

They made it back to Yuki's room without incident and Shigure placed him on the bed. Now that he wasn't curled on the bathroom floor, Shigure noticed that some sick had managed to get on the front of Yuki's shirt. He easily found a clean shirt folded n his duffle bag and brought it over to the boy.

"Do you think you can get your shirt off by yourself, Yuki? You need a clean one," Shigure asked.

With a sniffle, Yuki shook his head, eyes welling with tears.

Unsure of what to do, Shigure just reached for the soiled garment. Yuki didn't react so he assumed it was okay to continue. He managed to pull the sick soaked shirt off without getting any on his cousin's face, and replaced it.

Now that that was taken care of, Shigure was completely lost. Yuki was starting to curl in on himself, his hands pressing onto his eyes.

Crap, crap, crap what do I do? Oh, how I wish Hatori were here! There was a knock on the door and Shigure could hear it slide open.

Thank every deity there ever was and has been for little miracles! "We're up here Hatori!" Shigure called from the doorway.

Yuki's head jerked up so quickly he immediately regretted it. He swallowed the rising bile ad forced himself to ask, "Hatori? Does that mean…I'm going back?"

Shigure cocked his head in confusion, "No, of course not. I just called him to check up on you is all." Does he really think I'd throw him out that quickly?

Yuki relaxed a little but not completely at the explanation. It didn't help that Hatori happened to enter at the exact same moment.

The doctor kept a calm exterior but on the inside he was fuming and crying for the boy.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice, Haa-san," Shigure said earnestly. He knew how busy the doctor was especially in winter—especially now that Akito is probably ticked.

"Of course," Hatori acknowledged. He turned his attention to the young Sohma on the bed, "And how are you doing, Yuki?"

He hesitated before responding, "I don't feel well."

Hatori hummed, wasting no time in getting started. He placed a thermometer in Yuki's mouth. As soon as it beeped he read the results. He listened to his breathing, checked his blood pressure, and asked all the standard questions. Without being asked, he bandaged up Yuki's fingers and cracked nails.

"Shigure, may I speak with you in the hall," Hatori said more than asked as he stepped into the hall.

Shigure followed and before the dog could even open his mouth, Hatori spoke, "Yuki has a rather high fever, 39°celcius. I don't know what you did with him last night, but I can't put all the blame on you. I think the sudden illness is also stress related. That being said, I'm leaving you with a fever reducer and an emergency inhaler. Give him the reducer every four hours, only use the inhaler if he seems in distress. Make sure he gets plenty of fluids and rest. And try to get him to eat something and I'm not just saying that to help with the fever."

Shigure didn't need him to explain why. With the prognosis given, the adults reentered the room. Hatori gave Yuki two pills Shigure would later recognize as the fever reducers. He also handed him the emergency inhaler. Despite how out of it he clearly was, Yuki still nodded.

Before he left, Hatori placed a trash bin by the bed and gave his best friend the medicine with a list of written instructions. Then Shigure was all alone again. With Yuki. Crap.

He looked back at Yuki who was sitting on the bed. His arms were again wrapped tightly around his stomach. He moaned as he curled until his head was touching his knees. He was so curled his head was touching his knees.

Alright. Time to be an adult. Shigure took a deep breath and sat down by Yuki.

"I'm sorry Shigure," Yuki said without lifting his head.

He was truly taken aback. Shigure had not expected him to say that. "You-you don't have to be sorry, Yuki. Why would you be sorry?"

"I've been here less than a day and I've already caused you so many problems."

Shigure didn't miss the small suppressed sob. He scooted closer to his little cousin. "No, Yuki, you haven't caused any problems. You can't help getting sick. If anything it's my fault for having us walk home in the cold. So you don't have to apologize, okay?"

Yuki's response was drowned out with a moan. He tried to curl deeper, one of his hands shooting up to clamp over his mouth.

"Do you think you're going to be sick?"

Despite the rolling nausea in the pit of his stomach, Yuki shook his head. He refused to get sick. He heard a sigh before he felt a hand wrap around his shoulder. It startled him so much he nearly lost it then and there.

"Just relax, Yuki."

Shigure whispered kind soothing words, rubbing his back all the while. Once Yuki moved his hand from his mouth, Shigure gently laid him down so his head was on his lap.

As expected, Yuki stiffened at first, completely unfamiliar with the contact. But as Shigure carded his fingers through his hair and rubbed his back, Yuki found himself relaxing despite himself. His eyelids got heavier and his mind foggier.

"You can rest for now, Yuki. Everything's going to be okay."

For once, he truly believed those words were true.


Thank you for reading, I hope that was okay for you. As always comments are always welcomed and appreciated and make my heart smile. Now, here is the sneak peak at the book that my friend wrote.

Chapter 1: "In many worlds they are known by many names: gens, coronas, humans, nomen. Here on Sidus, they are known as aetates, and over 14,000 years ago, our world was ruled by disaster and chaos. Crops wouldn't grow, rain flooded the aetate's homes, and creatures stronger than they ruled the sky and sea. Life was an endless battle and the aetates were losing. Each and every one was so desperate that they sought the help of the mighty Guardias, seven giant vulpes creatures that held unprecedented power. The Guardias were generous and shared their power with the aetates: Hentayt's fire, Maybard's water, Drunid's lightning, Crusian's wind, Lux's sound, Krithage's strength, and Sevaudon's life. Each aetate was given one of the seven magics to command and use as they saw fit as a magus. It didn't take long for the aetates to tame the beasts that massacred them and fight off the destruction that plagued their world. All was well. But then, the aetates wanted more.

There it is! I hope that made you a little bit curious (maybe even enough to buy it when it's released *wink wink* *nudge nudge*). I will be updating this fic next week and I will have more info on the book. In any case, have a good evening and thank you again for reading.