Eiko hummed to herself as she gathered the used bowls and cups from the low wooden tables in the dining room. Akane was sitting with the last remaining group of lunch customers, some old friends of hers, chatting over tea. Eiko brushed through the half-curtain into the kitchen and dropped off her tray-load of dirty dishes at the sink. Aki was doing the washing-up. He gave her a smile, in his usual shy way.
She glanced over at the red-haired stranger napping in the corner near the stove. Now here was someone interesting. She had taken the opportunity to get a closer look at him an hour ago, when she'd been steeping tea at the stove. He'd been sleeping peacefully, a slight smile lifting the corners of his eyes and softening his sharp features. Kawaii...
He still had a miso bowl in front of him. Eiko went to get it -- it was only half empty, he must not have been very hungry -- and took the opportunity to crouch down and peer into his face. He didn't look quite so peaceful any more. His cheeks were flushed, his breathing a little too fast. Eiko frowned, a vertical crease appearing between her thin black eyebrows. She passed the miso bowl to her other hand and brushed the backs of her fingers lightly against Kenshin's cheek.
"Eiko-chan!"
She snatched back her hand and jumped to her feet, blushing guiltily.
"Don't bother our guest while he's sleeping." Akane was busily unloading a tray of tea mugs onto the dish board.
"Gomen! I didn't wake him up, though."
"You're lucky." She took the miso bowl from Eiko and tsk'ed at its remaining contents, then passed it to Aki at the sink.
"Ano... Akane-san..."
"Hmm?"
"That is... he has a fever."
"What?" Akane raised her eyebrows. "Ohh, I was afraid of something like that..." She crouched down in front of Kenshin and laid the back of her hand on his cheek, then brushed aside his shaggy red bangs to feel his forehead. Kenshin stirred and mumbled something unintelligible.
"He must have caught a chill." Akane sat back on her heels and chewed on a thumbnail for a moment. "Hmm. Well, we can't leave him sleeping here. Eiko-chan, you know where I keep the spare futon? Upstairs, cupboard at the very end of the hall?"
Eiko nodded.
"Could you run up and lay it out in the back room?"
"Hai!" Eiko dashed out.
Akane turned back to the sleeping Kenshin. "Kenshin?" She shook his shoulder gently. "Kenshin, wake up."
He stirred, started sliding sideways down the wall, and jerked awake. He blinked up blearily at Akane for a second, two seconds, then his eyes cleared.
"Akane-dono." He took a deep breath and sat up straight, the blanket sliding down from his shoulders, and rubbed the back of one hand across his eyes. "I fell asleep..."
"That's all right, Kenshin, but you shouldn't sleep here in the kitchen, you'll be underfoot. I'll take you upstairs. You can sleep there."
"Oro?" He looked up at her blankly.
"Upstairs. It's fine, don't worry." She nodded at him encouragingly.
"Arigatou gozaimas'." He climbed to his feet, one hand on the wall for support, while Akane gathered up the blanket, folding it deftly and draping it over her arm. Kenshin reached down for his sword and settled it through the piece of cloth tied around his waist.
"Aki-kun, brew up another pot of tea for me, would you?" Akane continued. "I'll be down for it in a minute. And don't drip soap suds on the floor."
"Ha- hai."
With that, Akane led Kenshin out through the small foyer between the kitchen and the dining room and up the stairs, supporting him with a firm hand on his elbow. She met Eiko at the top of the stairs and sent her down to help Aki with the continuing cleanup.
When Kenshin saw the futon laid out and ready, he backpedaled, starting to protest. "Really, Akane-dono, there's no need... Please don't trouble yourself on my behalf-"
"Not a word of it," she interrupted him. "Now put this on--" she thrust a pale blue yukata into Kenshin's hands, provoking a startled 'oro!'-- "and I'll be back in a minute." She stepped out and slid the door shut.
Smiling to herself at the look of wide-eyed surprise that had been on Kenshin's face, she skipped back down the stairs. She took the teapot from Aki and poured a cup of the pale green liquid, then added two spoons of sugar, half a spoon of salt and a big pinch of bonito flakes and stirred it briskly. Vile, yes, but it worked like a charm on sick people who needed to keep their strength up.
When she returned, Kenshin was sitting cross-legged on the floor next to the futon, already starting to nod off. He'd folded his clothes neatly and stacked them on the other side of the futon, with the sword on top.
"Here Kenshin, drink this," she said softly, laying a hand on his shoulder and handing him the steaming cup. He took a sip and grimaced. "I know it tastes awful, but try to drink it all."
It took him a while, but he did so, then thanked her again. Akane took the empty cup. Kenshin looked up at her with such a mix of conflicting emotions -- uncertainty, gratitude, guilt -- that she had to smile. "Get some sleep," she said. "We'll find you something to do in return later, when you feel better." With that, she left him alone, sliding the door firmly shut behind her.
