In Sickness and in Health: Part Two
Author: foxmagic07
Warnings: I'm working my way up. Get off my back, will ya? (geez). lol
Rating: PG-13
Italics: thoughts
Disclaimer: I don't own SDK, never did, never will.
HEY! If you are reading this, that means I managed to add another chapter without breaking anything! lol. I updated sooner than planned. Hmm, yeah…does that mean I have no life? HA, maybe. But I still have NO IDEA where this thing is going. Just bear with me, alright?
And I am so ecstatic about getting reviews. I thought I would get none. So I have to give a shout out just because I love these guys for reviewing!
Rin Amaru - You know, I love Kyo/Yuya fics too. So I will be adding more and more in the future just for you!
LadyWater – This update is in your honor. Thanks so much for reviewing!
The Narrator – I am really glad you like it! I recently got into your new fic, "Statistically Speaking" and I am absolutely loving it. I wish I could do humor like that, but I am better with angst and the like. I applaud your skills!
Okay, now without any further ado, here's the next chapter.
-- In Sickness an in Health: Part Two --
It's so warm in here…and…and cold too…
That's odd…
Did someone leave the window open?
Pulling the sheets further over her head, the young bounty huntress stifled a cough. She had snuck a spare bed roll out and then bunked in a nearby empty room. Sure enough, if the innkeeper found her, there would be trouble. But that was the LAST thing on her mind right now. Hot and cold spells were taking turns on her sweaty body. This was also accompanied by a severe headache and sore throat. What the heck was wrong with her? At first it seemed like a simple fever…but then her sight began to get hazy and mind cloudy. It felt sort of like a hangover, yet much worse. And though she had told every body about going out to drink, it wasn't true.
"Ugh…"
Yuya wanted nothing more than to die then and there. But since that wasn't happening…she decided to try and get some sleep.
--
Morning broke later that day, a sure sign of winter to come. Okuni got up at first light and, despite not really wanting to, felt it would be a good idea to go check on Yuya. And if she really wassick…she could gloat.
I told her to have Kyo-san take a look…since he has Kyoshiro-sama's body as well as spirit, maybe he would have been able to help. But she's too stubborn. That girl would never want to show herself weak before anyone…especially Kyo-san. She thought.
Once down the hall a ways, Okuni heard coughing coming from a nearby room. She rolled her eyes knowing full well who it was. Her hand reached to open the closest door to the left. Sure enough, she hit the jackpot.
"O..Okuni-san!"
Yuya was lying on the floor, shivering like a sick puppy. It was quite pathetic.
"Yuya-san…" Okuni began. "I told you it would get worse if you didn't get yourself properly looked at. What will Kyo-san say now that you're too ill to even stand?"
"SHUT UP!" Her words were punctuated by a loud sneeze. "I can stand…I'm not that sick!"
"Well then…you'd better hurry up and dress. We're leaving for the road in about an hour."
She closed the door on her way out, leaving Yuya to seethe alone. How would she be able to pull off looking healthy in front of them? It was more than evident that a fever still lay heavily on her. It would be a wonder if she could stand. Well, there was only one way to find out.
--
"Damn, where is that stupid woman? If she doesn't come out soon, we're leaving her." Growled Kyo.
He and the rest of the group had been patiently (well, almost…) waiting outside for 30 minutes now. Yuya still hadn't shown.
"Aw c'mon, Kyo! Maybe she has a really bad hangover!" Yukimura said. He was still drinking, himself…
"I can go in and get her!" Added Tora.
"NO!" Came a chorus of voices.
He pouted.
Just then, the blonde-haired girl of sixteen came walking towards them. She was carrying her bags with much difficulty, and moving exceedingly slow.
"Hey…I'm ready." She sighed.
They all stared.
"…what?"
More silence.
"……..WHAT?!" a shout erupted from her sore lungs.
"…uhh…you drunk or something, Yuya-han? You're walking kinda funny." Benitora bravely took a stand against her wrath. Bad idea.
All the built up rage that should have been geared towards Kyo now was unleashed upon the poor Red Tiger.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SUPPOSE TO MEAN?! Of all the stupid, inconsiderate, ungrateful…"
The rest of them turned their heads away from the scene. It was far too violent to watch.
--
The trek away from town was one of the hardest Yuya could remember. It wasn't the terrain, or even the weather, it was all that damn coughing! Besides her lagging behind, Yukimura and Sasuke had disappeared. But no one gave that much thought. They had their own agenda.
The four of them had been traveling for well over three hours now. It affected Kyo none. Benitora was constantly in happy-mode, thus, he could care less. Okuni probably hadn't even noticed the weather, for she was busy flirting with Kyo. And Yuya…she was ready to murder some one.
"GAH!!!! Can't we (sneeze) rest?!"
"No."
"But…"
"No."
"Why not?!"
Kyo made no attempt to answer.
Yuya bit her lip and held back another series of coughs. She was very tired and everything seemed to be getting more and more blurry. A quick feel of her forehead made her assume that the fever had come back. Hopefully she wouldn't pass out this time.
"Kyo…can't we please…can't we stop?" Her legs felt weak and arms unusually heavy.
"I said no."
"Kyo…"
Okay, that was the last straw for him. He normally wouldn't give any thought to her persistence, but she had gone too far this time.
Kyo slowed his pace. Five times…she has asked FIVE TIMES! Am I not clear when I say NO?! He spun around to face the annoying brat that couldn't take a hint. "Little girl, when I say no I mean exactly tha…"
If his heart tore a little at the sight before him, he wouldn't let it show. For some reason, he couldn't remember what he was going to say.
Yuya let her pack slide to the ground. She was unable to see. Only blurs distinguished people from the backdrop of the mountains. Words tried to surface from deep within her throat, but to no avail. Her life was going to hell in a hand basket.
Benitora noticed that Kyo had stopped, so he did the same. Okuni likewise.
Yuya's trembling figure slumped against a tree. What…what's going on? I can't see! KYO! What the hell are you doing, you moron! HELP ME! I can't…I…
Tora's eyes grew wide. Okuni cast her gaze downwards.
"K…Kyo…" The young huntress managed to mumble before collapsing.
She didn't even touch the ground. Kyo had caught her in a flash.
"What the hell is your problem?" He stared down at her red, sweat covered face. It was no use, she was out cold.
He lifted a hand to touch her forehead. The heat her face was giving off, despite being out in the freezing weather, was immense. There was no mistaking it…the idiot had gotten herself sick.
"Kyo-han!" Shouted Benitora, as he came running over. "What happened to her?!"
He remained silent, choosing to stare up at Okuni instead.
She cocked her head. "What? You look at me as though I should be the one to answer."
"Okuni!" He growled at the apparent lie, thus prompting her to spill.
"Oh fine! So she got sick and I knew. It wasn't my decision to keep it from you. She made me promise not to tell. What else could I have done?" Her smile was coy.
"I suppose with her superior strength, she twisted your arm in order to make you keep quiet."
"Well…I…"
"Maybe we should stop and make camp, huh, Kyo-han?" Tora suggested. His focus was now on the young girl laying before him.
He nodded."…yeah, not much we can do with an unconscious deadweight. We can sleep here tonight and leave first thing in the morning."
--
Night came quickly as the three travelers and one knocked out girl made camp (except, Yuya couldn't really help cause she was…well…unconscious).
While Okuni and Benitora didn't seem to really mind the change of plans, Kyo did. And he was damn well pissed off. The ditzy moron was always getting in the way of everything. If even for once, things would appear to be going according to plan, she would find some way to screw it all up. That was the one and only thing you count on her for.
"Stupid little…" He muttered various curses as he unrolled her bed and placed her on it, his grip unknowingly becoming more gentle.
Okuni watched in silent annoyance as the object of her affection tended to some one else. It was only then that she realized he was talking.
"Hey, I'm talking to you." Growled Kyo. "I need you to get some water and boil it. And Servant number 2, you need to start a fire before we all freeze."
"YES SIR!" Tora happily skipped away. (Yeah, he skipped…deal with it.)
The busty miko was less than enthused. But she did her bidding nonetheless.
After the tasks were completed, Kyo took a package from their things and emptied the contents into a bowl of hot water. Then he took a rag, dipped it in cooler water, and set it on her forehead.
"Okay little girl, open up."
He lifted her head and quickly deposited the mixture of medicines down her throat. Then setting her back down, he leaned against a nearby tree and fell into a light sleep.
--
I can't breathe…I can't breathe!
Kyo?
What's happening? I can't breathe…I can't see…
It's so hot…where am I?
Tora? Okuni?
Kyo?
Kyo!
"Kyo…Kyo!" Yuya moaned in pain, tossing back and forth.
Kyo's eyes opened when he heard his name called. Everybody else was asleep it seemed. All was quiet save for the women writhing next to him. He cast a befuddled gaze down at her. Was it his imagination or did she just call out to him?
"Kyo…Kyo, help."
He felt her face once again. Shit, her temperature has gone up.
"Hey, snap outta it." He said. "You're stronger than that. You shouldn't let a little fever knock you out."
"Kyo…" Her face contorted. Then suddenly, her eyes opened as well. "What…what?"
"Yo, ugly. It's about time you woke up."
"What…? Kyo…it's hot…I can't breathe…" She shivered.
Cursing yet again, his hands moved swiftly to her kimono, undoing the ties and pulling away the layers of fabric and allowing her skin to breathe. Her body was covered head to toe in sweat. She would need stronger medicine than the stuff he gave her, that much was apparent. But when he began rummaging through the packs, it finally dawned on him. They had no such medicines with which to cure a severe fever like this. If he had Kyoshiro's medicine box, then maybe…but that was long since gone, he was sure. And when he thought about it, none of them had ever really gotten that sick before. All injuries sustained were battle wounds.
It only took a second to conjure up a plan. Walking swiftly over to where Okuni and Tora lay sound asleep, he proceeded to wake them up. A good kick to the head would suffice.
'WHAM'
"OWWW!!!! THAT HURT!!!!"
Kyo decided that just kicking Benitora would be enough to wake up the entire country, so he passed on doing the same to Okuni. A part of him still wishes he did, though.
"KYO-HAAAN!!!" He whined, grabbing hold of the huge welt now taking over his head. "Why did ya do that?!"
By this time, the miko was up as well.
Kyo wasted no time and got straight to the point. "I need herbs for medicine. Okuni, I need fresh plants from the forest, and Servant number 2, you'll have to head back into town to get some at the market…while you're there…you should really get that lump on your head examined. It looks like it hurts."
"YOUR DAMN RIGHT IT HURTS!" ( 0.o…easy there, Benitora.)
A bit reluctantly, the two headed out…again. The only thing that made Tora go so willingly was the fact that Yuya was in a lot of pain. He hated to see her like that. And also…wasn't he Kyo's servant or something? Yeah, that kind of took away all personal rights…such as sleeping.
On the other hand, Okuni was fuming. She most certainly did NOT want to go out in the dead of night to get some stupid shrubs. It wasn't that she really hated Yuya…no, hate was such a harsh word…it was more like deeply loathe. But really, it wasn't the girl's fault that Kyo had taken a liking to her. He was so unpredictable at times. Who knew something like this would happen? He probably would never have guessed it, himself.
Even with it staring him in the face…he never knew.
-- TO BE CONTINUED --
WOO HOO! Ya, so is it getting better? I don't know, myself. I just really wanted to contribute to the SDK portion of because I love this manga so much! I got volume 10 recently and I can't wait till the others come out in English. (Yeah, I take Japanese in school but that doesn't mean I can actually read in Japanese… the farthest I got is the 46 Hiragana… )
Okay, enough of the whining. Please review for me! I promise to love you forever!
Till next time,
-foxmagic07