Chapter 6

(Kaoru)

I woke slowly, the sun's bright rays shining into my eyes. I blinked, and then sat up. I was sleeping on my own futon, which I had brought over last night and placed on the other side of the room from Shinta's. I looked over to him, and saw that he was still sleeping. I glanced at the clock, and raised my eyebrows. 10:00, I had slept later than usual. Thank goodness it was the weekend.

I rose and walked into the bathroom, washing the night's sleep from my eyes and waking myself up a bit more. When I walked back out I decided to make some breakfast. I wasn't the best cook, but I could make omelets. I was fairly adept at that, meaning I could make them without mutilating them entirely.

As I cooked I hummed a song to myself quietly. After a little bit I decided to wake Shinta, as his omelet was nearly ready. I walked out into the main room where he was still sleeping. I went to shake his shoulder, but I stopped. His cheeks were flushed, and his breathing was a little faster than normal. I put the back of my hand to his cheek, frowning at the heat coming from his skin. "He's got a fever…." I murmured.

I went back into the kitchen and shut off the stove, and then went back into the main room with a thermometer. I shook his shoulder gently. "Shinta. Shinta, wake up."

He groaned and his eyes slid open slowly. He focused on me after a moment, blinking slightly. "Kaoru…" he whispered. His voice was hoarse and rough, and he coughed after he said my name.

I helped him sit up, and he leaned against me tiredly. "I don't feel good…."

I smiled at his childish tone, and I knew that Shinta's little boy side was coming out. "I'll take care of you Shinta. Sit still now; let me take your temperature."

He sat quietly as I placed the thermometer in his ear, pushing the button and waiting for the beep. When it did I looked at the screen and frowned again. "101.3," I murmured, setting it down beside the futon and pressing Shinta back down onto his pillow. I carefully had him swallow some Tylenol, and covered him up with the blanket again as he shivered.

"It's cold…." he whispered, whimpering slightly.

I shushed him gently, smoothing his bangs away from his hot forehead. "Rest now, I'll look after you. Sleep, and get well."

He closed his eyes, still shivering periodically. After his breathing slowed and he had gone back to sleep I stood again with a sigh, going into the kitchen and eating the omelet I had made for Shinta, not wanting it to go to waste. Then I put some soup on the stove, knowing that Shinta would probably be hungry when he woke next time. After that I filled a bowl with cold water and grabbed a few cloths, going into the main room to sit next to Shinta. His sleep was anything but peaceful; he was tossing around beneath the blanket.

I shushed him and soaked one of the cloths, placing it on his forehead in a hope to help calm the fire of his fever. He quieted at the touch of the cloth, lying still for a moment. Then he moaned and moved again, his face scrunching up. I frowned and placed another cold cloth over his eyes.

I heard a knock at the door after about 10 minutes and went to answer it to see Megumi standing there. She smiled when I opened it. "Ohayou Kaoru." She looked around me and gasped when she saw Shinta lying on his futon with the cloths on his forehead and eyes. "What's wrong with him?"

I let her in and closed the door behind her. "He's running a fever of 101.3. He had it when he woke up."

Megumi frowned as well. "What did you give him?"

"Just some Tylenol cold for right now. I wasn't sure what else I could give him." I

told her, sitting back down beside Shinta, petting his hair as he groaned again.

She sighed. "Well, I suppose that will do for now. You come tell me if he gets any worse. I just wanted to come check on you both. I'm on my way to work right now."

I smiled at her relief. "Arigatou Megumi. I'll see you after work."

She nodded and left the apartment. I stood and went to the kitchen, taking the soup off the stove and pouring some into a cup for Shinta. I walked back into the main room and settled back down beside Shinta's sleeping form. I shook his shoulder slightly. "Shinta. You should eat something, wake up now."

He opened glazed amethyst eyes, focusing on me. "Kaoru…" he coughed, thin body shaking with the effort.

I helped him sit up, setting a cough drop on his tongue. "Suck on this Shinta, it will help."

After a few moments his coughing ceased and he sighed in relief. I put the cup to his lips, coaxing him to swallow it. He drank slowly, and when he had finished about half the cup he shook his head. "No more…"

I smiled. "Did that help your throat?"

He nodded. "It doesn't hurt anymore."

I brushed his bangs from his face, smiling when he leaned into my touch. He lay back down, closing his eyes and slowly sinking back into sleep. I started to move away from him when two words came from his lips that startled me. "Love you….."

I gasped, watching him with wide eyes. He was sleeping now, and could give me no response. 'Love you?' I thought. 'Why would he say that?' I sighed, settling back down beside him. 'I suppose I'll have to find out later.'

(4 hours later)

I was startled from my doze when I heard the sound of Shinta's tortured moans. I shot straight up in the chair I was in, looking around the apartment with wide eyes. As Shinta moaned again I rose and walked to him, feeling his forehead with worry. He still had a high fever, and it wasn't getting any better.

I replaced the cloth on his forehead with a fresh one, and tried to quiet him. He continued to toss and turn beneath the blanket, moaning slightly.

I sat there, not knowing what to do when his eyes suddenly snapped open and he sat up sharply, causing me to jump back slightly. "Shinta!"

He looked at me, and I could almost see the battle in his amethyst eyes. "Go Kaoru!" he said suddenly, pushing at my hands as I went to touch him. "Go away, He's getting loose! You have to go; Sano's not here this time to protect you!"

I shook my head forcefully. "Iie Shinta, I don't need that Rooster head to protect me. I'm going to make amends with Him now, if I can. I'll be fine, you calm down."

Shinta tried to push me away again when his form convulsed and he fell onto the futon, his eyes rolling back into his head. I gulped when his eyes cleared to show two fiercely glowing golden orbs.

I met his gaze fearfully, afraid now that I was actually looking at Him uncontrolled by Sano. I was alone in the apartment with a killer, and I didn't know what he was going to do. I only hoped I knew what I was doing.