Written as a (belated) birthday fic for Flamika. She asked for a sick-fic (which is why I labled this as part of the Arch) where Kureno got sick and Akito was worried in spite of herself. Or something. This is what I came up with. At the moment it's just a ficlet, but if I can think of how to continue (and perhaps with some egging on) it might become longer or turn into a chapter something.

Warnings: OOCness, female!Akito,and the writings of Ciu

Onward...

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"I want Oolong today."

"Yes Akito." Kureno began to prepare Akito's morning tea, occasionally glancing up in a silent question of approval. It wasn't that he did not know how Akito liked her tea prepared, as he had learned that years back, but the nod that told him he was doing it right was...nice. Anyway, he knew that the goddess liked to feel in control of things like this. The feeling that if she wanted it so, this familiar, pleasent, and time-honored tradition of morning tea could be changed whenever she gave a word.

Leaves seeped and the water slowly begining to cool, Kureno handed Akito her cup. She took it, glanced at the contents, then took a sip. One of her hands left the cup as she idly waved Kureno permission to start his own cup of tea.

Silently Kureno poured his own tea. He and Akito spent a few minutes like that; just sitting in the quiet. That's when it first happened.

Kureno was struck by a blinding white pain behind his eyes. He was caught by such surprise at the suden attack that he lurched and dropped his cup. The fragile thing broke as it struck the table, spilling tea as it fell and chrashed.

Akito jerked back so that the tea wouldn't stain the long sleeve of her yukata. Then she glared at Kureno. This had never happened before. And the rooster wasn't even hurrying to kneel and make amends! How dare he!

The goddess drew in breath to begin her verbal assualt and was ready for her rage to burst out when she noticed Kureno wasn't even looking. He had his eyes squeezed shut and both hands clasped over his ears while his face was twisted in an expression of intense pain.

Akito let her scream out in a long breath of air, instead staring curiously at what her rooster was doing. She had not forgotten his disrespect and her anger, but this was unsual behavior for him. She wanted to watch to see what would happen.

Soon though, Kureno was able to blink past the pain and open his eyes. Panting he took in the broken cup, the tea spill on the table, and Akito's half upset, half calculating gaze. As soon as everything registered he hurried to get into his most submissive bow and began appologizing profusely for not reacting quicker. His sentences were broken with ragged pants and gasps however, and the goddess was very displeased to realize that she didn't really care for his apology anymore, nor did she really care about screaming at him. She wanted her rooster to stop looking like he was about to fall over.

Before she could decide on what to do however, a knock sounded on the door to Akito's chambers. It was Hatori, asking permossion to enter and begin Akito's morning ceck-up. Grumpily the goddess turned away from the still bowing Kureno to bark permission to the dragon.

He was just turning the knob and she was turning back to observe Kureno when the rooster toppled over in a faint.

This time Akito really did scream.

TBC-M (To Be Continued...Maybe)

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Short I know, but it might get longer depending. I'm not sure yet. Comments, questions,critique, and encouragement are all welcome. Flaming me will result in me pointing and laughing at your review.

Happy belated birthday Flamika!