The Other Takino

Not-as-Thrilling-as-Advertised
11. Down With the Sickness

Rated: M - English - Humor/Drama - Reviews: 77 - Updated: 11-02-10 - Published: 05-09-08 - id:4246838

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Aside from the police showing up at the Takinos' door to ask Torako a bunch of confusing questions about dead rodents, the next month passed fairly uneventfully. The weather got hotter, school got more boring, and Torako and Asagi's relationship stayed just as confusing. No more envelopes appeared in Torako's locker, no new faces appeared at their table during lunch, and though Ohzawa had returned to school a week ago she hadn't made any shows of hostility. Torako had gotten so used to the mind-numbing routine of school life that she'd barely even realized it was June until she glanced at a calender. Lately every day seemed to blur into the next, making it hard to guage the passing of time.

Torako was wishing she was at home in bed when Asagi sat down on her desk and poked the top of her head with a finger. "Wake up, lazy."

"Mrmf," Torako said into the palm of her hand.

Asagi leaned down to look at her face. "Hey, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Torako said. "Just feel a little queasy."

"Really, because you look about ready to pass out."

"That's because I'm tired," she groused.

"You want me to take you to the nurse's office?" Asagi asked.

"I'm fine," Torako insisted, though she had to admit that the nagging hint of nausea she'd felt when she crawled out of bed that morning was getting progressively less easy to ignore.

"Hey, Yuko-chan!" Asagi waved Oikawa over when she arrived in the classroom. "Come here."

"Good morning," Oikawa said with a wave. "What's up?"

"Don't you think Torako looks sick?" Asagi asked, leaning back so Oikawa could look at her face.

Torako looked at both of them. "What, am I turning plaid or something?"

"No," Oikawa said, "but you do look pretty pale. Are you feeling okay, Torako?"

"She said she felt queasy," Asagi answered for her. "I think she should be sent home."

Oikawa shrugged and turned to Asagi. "Could be food poisoning?"

"What am I, a medical study aid?" Torako asked.

"Maybe she's got worms," Asagi suggested.

"Hey."

"Morning sickness?" Oikawa said.

Torako just looked flabbergasted.

"No, no," Asagi waved her hand. "Couldn't be, Tora-chan's a virgin."

"How do you know?" Torako asked.

"Well you are, aren't you?"

She shrugged. "Well yeah, but-"

"So you can't be pregnant," Asagi interrupted her. She was quiet a moment, then eyed her appraisingly. "Could be a brain tumor, I heard those cause nausea."

"Hey, come on," Torako said.

Oikawa shook her head. "I'm thinking it's probably just a stomach flu." She turned to Torako. "You're not feeling all weak and dizzy, are you?"

Torako shrugged. She hadn't really thought about it. There were a few times that morning that she'd felt about ready to keel over, but she'd assumed it was just because she'd gotten almost no sleep last night. She held out a hand, and it trembled slightly. "Does that count?"

"How would she get a flu though?" Asagi asked. "It's so hot outside."

"A lot of stomach flus are spread through food and stuff, they're not seasonal."

Asagi nodded and looked down at Torako as the bell rang. As everyone went to their seats she motioned for Oikawa to stay where she was while she waited for their homeroom teacher to arrive.

"Okabe-sensei!" Asagi called and waved.

Okabe tossed his bag at the podium from the doorway. It smacked into the side and fell to the floor. "Ayase-san!" he called back. "And your not in your seat. Clearly a compelling reason."

Asagi put a hand on Torako's head. "Torako's not feeling well, can Yuko-chan and I take her to the nurse's office?"

"Takino-san feelin' punk, eh?" he asked, then waved a hand. "Sure, go ahead."

"I'm telling you I'm fine," Torako said as she stood up. Asagi started to say something in response, but she didn't catch it. Before she could take a step the room began spinning. She leaned forward and grabbed the edge of her desk for support, but her legs turned to jelly all the same. Torako heard Asagi calling her name from very far away as the classroom blurred and went black.

Torako woke up in bed, though given the surroundings she rather doubted it was hers. She put a hand to her forehead and groaned. "Ahh, what happened?"

"You passed out." Torako turned her head to see Asagi standing next to the bed. "Okabe carried you here himself, you should have seen it." She giggled. "Half the girls in class are probably jealous of you now."

"Lucky me," Torako muttered sarcastically.

"Anyway," Asagi continued, "the nurse called your mom, she's coming to pick you up." Asagi took a half-step back as Torako sat up. "You had me pretty worried there, you know."

Torako put a hand over her stomach and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. "That makes two of us."

"How do you feel?"

"A lot worse than when I got up this morning."

"Well don't you worry about a thing, Yuko-chan and I will get all your assignments for you while you're gone." Asagi must have seen Torako glancing around, because then she said: "She'd be here too but Okabe would only let one of us stay."

Torako nodded.

"Yo Tora-chan, did you puke yet?"

They both turned to see Nao Takino barging into the nurses office. She'd apparently come from work; she was still wearing her nametag and apron.

"No, I didn't puke."

"Then there's still time to get pictures," her mother said to herself.

". . . What?" Asagi asked.

"Anyway, let's get you home, diseasebag," Nao said. "Think you can make it to the car?"

Torako nodded and got to her feet. "Car?" she asked.

Nao nodded. "One of the other cashiers let me borrow hers to get here."

Torako made an annoyed face as Asagi took her arm to help her, but she didn't shrug her off.

"Your dad and I will split your share of the chores," Nao said as they headed down the hall. "You just worry about feeling better, okay?" She put a hand on Torako's shoulder and smiled maternally.

Torako nodded.

"Any movies you want me to rent tonight?"

She shrugged. "Right now I'm more interested in not passing out or throwing up."

"I thought you said you were fine," Asagi teased.

"That was before I fainted in front of the whole class."

"Oh, that can't be more embarassing than Tomo's blowdryer stunt," Nao said.

"Mom, please change the subject."

"Oh, I have got to hear about this," Asagi said.

"Ask Tomo," Nao told her.

"Or don't," Torako said as they reached the doors.

Asagi waved from the school steps as Torako was led to a car she didn't recognize. "Feel better, Tora-chan! We'll come see you after school, okay?"

Torako waved back as the car started down the street, then leaned back and sighed.

"So were ya fakin' it?" Nao asked.

"Wrong twin," Torako said. "It's like I'm feeling worse and worse every minute."

"Probably a flu," Nao said. "I'll pick up some antibiotics this evening."

"What if it's a virus?" Torako asked.

"Huh?"

"Antibiotics only work on bacteria," Torako said, then paused to fight a wave of nausea. "They don't work on viruses."

Nao divided her attention between watching the road and glaring at her daughter.

"What?"

"Why can't you be dumber like your sister," Nao said finally.

"Tomo's not dumb," Torako said quietly as she turned her attention to the gray sky outside.

Tomo's wail filled the house as the front door was thrown open. "Tora-chan! Tora-chan!"

"What," Torako called from her bed, then winced. Somehow even yelling upset her stomach when she was sick.

Footsteps pounded up the stairs and Tomo threw open her bedroom door, looking terrified. "Tora-chaaaan!"

"What," Torako said again, getting annoyed now.

Tomo knelt by the bed with tears in her eyes. "I ran into Asagi outside and she said you were dying!"

She lifted herself up on one elbow. "Wha . . . what?" She looked up at a smiling Asagi as she came into the room, followed by Oikawa. "I'm not dying," she said.

Asagi laughed. "Sorry Tomo-chan, I couldn't resist."

"We brought your stuff," Oikawa said, holding up her schoolbag.

"Ah, thanks," Torako said as she sat up.

"So what's really wrong with you?" Tomo asked.

"Flu."

"Didja puke yet?"

"A couple times," Torako nodded.

"Plus she passed out in front of the whole class," Asagi said. "Our homeroom teacher had to carry her to the nurse's office."

Tomo laughed. "Haha, awesome!"

"You like classical music, Torako?" Oikawa asked, listening to the biwa music coming from the CD player on her nightstand.

"Sometimes," Torako said. "It helps me relax."

"I'm pretty sure I've heard this before."

"Have you seen Blade Runner?" Torako asked and took a sip of her juice.

Oikawa nodded.

"It was in there a few times."

"Tora-chan's a dork," Tomo said as she got to her feet and headed over to her room to change.

"She is not," Asagi said in her defense. "She just has particular tastes."

"Uh, thanks," Torako said uncertainly. She didn't think liking Blade Runner was all that strange, though.

"I mean, we went to see Machete, and she hated it."

"I didn't hate it."

"Well you said it was stupid."

"He had a minigun on a motorcycle."

"And that was awesome," Asagi insisted.

"Where'd he keep the ammo? There wasn't even a belt feeding in!"

"That doesn't matter!" Asagi insisted. "Minigun! On a motorcycle!"

Torako made a whatever face and set her juice back on the nightstand. "You got my homework assignments?" she asked.

Oikawa came forward with her bag. "Yeah, I put 'em in your bag for you."

Torako watched her set it on her desk. "Thanks," she said.

"So, are you feeling any better?" Asagi asked as she pulled her chair over from the desk and sat down.

Torako shook her head. "Worse, if anything. I can't keep anything down but saltines."

"Yeah, you look pretty awful," Asagi said, peering at her face.

"I didn't know you were into western bands," Oikawa said from where she was inspecting Torako's CD collection.

"I like a few," Torako said and picked up a cracker.

"Yuko-chan, you should show a little concern for your sick friend," Asagi said.

"But I've never been over here before," Oikawa said and looked back at them. "You can tell a lot about someone from their bedroom."

Asagi stabbed a finger at the area next to the bed. "You get over here and pay attention to my uke," she ordered.

Torako hoped that either Asagi would outgrow this sort of behavior, or that she would get used to it.

After Oikawa and then Asagi had left, Torako took another nap. When she awoke, she saw a felt tip of a pen hovering above her face. "What are you doing?"

"Drawing on your face," Tomo said matter-of-factly.

"Well don't." Torako swatted the pen away.

"But I'm bored," Tomo said. "And besides, I'm not finished yet."

Torako sat up. "You already started?"

"Yeah, check it out!" Tomo grabbed a mirror and held it up for her to see.

Torako saw her reflection and fought the urge to shout. Tomo had evidently been adding the finishing touches on her comically large eyelashes to complement her moustache and beard.

"You like it?"

"No I don't like it, get me a towel!"

Tomo took a step back. "What if I don't want to?"

"Then I'll get one myself." Torako threw aside her covers, put her feet on the floor, and tottered out to the hallway.

"I love it when you get sick," Tomo said as she followed her down the stairs. "You're too weak to hit me when I do stuff to you."

"Hey hey hey, hold up you two." They both stopped on their way through the living room to see their father on the couch. "I'm seeing at least three things wrong with this picture." He pointed at Torako. "Yo Sketchpad-face, back in bed." He pointed at Tomo. "Yo Gekkō, quit drawing on your sister's face and then making her get up to wash it off herself."

Torako turned back to the steps, paused, and then turned back to the bathroom.

"Which end?" Tomo asked.

Torako glared at her as she opened the bathroom door. ". . . Both."

"Hold on, I'll grab you a bucket," Sato said as he got up.

Torako awoke the next morning to see rain streaking her window. At least she didn't have to waste a beautiful day in bed. She looked at her alarm clock; everyone would have left for school or work already. She rolled onto her side and put a hand on her temperamental stomach. Is it really all right to leave me here alone? Ten minutes later she was bored. She started to get up to go watch TV downstairs, but quickly thought better of it and lay back down. At least drink something. She drank the last of her juice and threw the empty plastic bottle at her door.

"I'd kill for a smoke," she muttered to the empty room. That'd probably make me throw up though, she thought. Everything seemed to make her throw up when she got the flu. Man, being sick was a real pain in the ass. She rolled onto her back again and listened to the rain pattering on the window. At least with her appetite demolished there wasn't much left in her to throw up. Yeah, starve yourself, that'll help you get better. Still, she didn't feel like trying to eat just yet. Might as well see if she could sleep.

Her phone was buzzing. What time was it? She didn't bother checking, just reached over and felt on the nightstand. "Mhhello?"

"Torako!" It was Asagi, naturally. "Feeling better?"

"Not really." Torako opened her eyes and looked out the window. It had stopped raining. "Whatime izzit?"

"We're having lunch. Yuko-chan, say hello."

"Mm shewing," Oikawa said.

"Anyway, I just wanted to check up on you. Are they taking good care of you?"

"They left me here alone," Torako said.

"Is that really a good idea? You're sick."

"That's what I thought." Torako put an arm behind her head. "Plus Tomo drew on my face last night."

Asagi laughed. "Did it wash off?"

"It only smeared a little."

"I wanna see!"

"No."

"Oh come on, I'll just see it when I come over after school anyway."

Torako squeezed her eyes shut. She should have known better than to expect words of sympathy from Asagi, really.

"Are you thinking about it?"

She didn't say anything.

"I'll get you some cigarettes on the way over," she offered.

"Which I couldn't smoke."

"Incentive to get better."

Torako sighed and pointed the phone's camera at her face. She knew when Asagi had recieved the picture she took and sent because she began laughing uncontrollably. "Hey, come on."

"Yu . . . Yuko-chan! Yuko-chan, look at Torako!" Now she heard Oikawa's giggle, though only barely.

"How'd that happen?" Oikawa asked.

"Tomo-chan drew on her face."

"Yeah, okay, laugh it up," Torako said.

"I think you look good with a beard, Tora-chan."

"You owe me a pack of smokes now."

"I won't forget. I've gotta go now, get some rest okay?"

"Not like I have much choice."

"I'll see you later."

"See you."

Almost as soon as Torako closed her phone it buzzed again. The ID said it was Yomi. She frowned. Yomi almost never called her. "Hello?"

"Hey, I heard you're sick."

"Yeah, I've got a flu."

"Tomo says you passed out in the middle of class." It was plain from her voice that Yomi was skeptical. Torako couldn't blame her.

"It was the start of homeroom," Torako clarified.

Yomi barked a laugh before catching herself. "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it."

"Anyway I just wanted to call and say if Tomo pulls anything while you're sick, let me know and I'll smack her for you."

Torako rubbed her eyes. "I just might."

"Hey, lemme talk to her!" Tomo's voice.

"Ah, Tomo wants to say something," Yomi said.

"Tora-chan!" Tomo said loudly, as per usual. "Didja puke yet today?"

Torako sighed. "No. Why do you even care?"

"Because it pisses you off. How about diarrhea?"

"Okay, gimme the phone back," Yomi said.

After she closed the phone and plugged it into the wall charger Torako rolled onto her stomach and rummaged through the CDs stacked precariously by the CD player on her nightstand. Finally she chose some shrine music and closed her eyes.

Poke.

"Hnnggr." Torako waved her hand.

Poke poke.

"Gnaaaah."

JAB.

"What!" She opened her eyes.

"Wake up, sukeban," her mother said.

"Don't call me that." Torako looked at the clock. Two-thirty. "Shouldn't you be at work?"

Nao waved a hand. "Oh, Kaizoku made me come home when I let slip I'd left you here alone." Her voice took on what Torako assumed was a mocking imitation of her manager. "What were you thinking Takino, leaving your sick daughter home alone? Are you crazy, or just stupid?" She shook her head and sighed. "Yeesh, what a tight-ass. Anyway, how ya feelin', still urpy?"

"Of course." Torako said.

"You look thirsty," Nao said. "You want something to drink?"

She nodded and Nao left the room. As she went downstairs Torako felt relieved that she hadn't commented on her facial graffiti.

When Nao returned she wasn't carrying any fluids. "Okay get up" she said, "you need a change of scenery." Torako whined and moaned as she was pulled bodily to her feet and towards the door. "Yeah yeah yeah, whine whine whine," Nao said as her daughter complained all the way downstairs. "You don't wanna be cooped up in your room all day."

As Torako waited for her mom to bring down her pillow and blanket she picked up the TV remote and ran through the channels. As usual, there wasn't much on. When her mother returned she let herself be laid down and covered up. Nao went to the kitchen then and came back with a fresh bottle of juice and held it down for her to take.

"Thanks," Torako said quietly.

Nao bent down and kissed her temple, prompting an annoyed sound. "I'll be in the other room if you need anything, 'kay?"

"Okay." Torako unscrewed the bottle and took a sip before laying her head down and settling on a documentary about comets.

-Author Notes-

The song Torako's listening to is called "Ogi no mato," or "The Folding Fan as a Target," and it's on the album Traditional Vocal and Instrumental Music (Japan) (which for some reason lists as Natsukashi once ripped to my computer) by the Ensemble Nipponia. It's only twelve bucks on Amazon, so get yourself a copy if you haven't already got it. It's pretty good. (That track in particular; you don't often expect to hear someone rocking out in classical music, but they are rockin' that biwa like there's no tomorrow.)

Machete is based on the joke trailer at the beginning of Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror. I really wish it were a real movie, because it looked hilariously awesome.