Disclaimer: These aren't my characters…however the story is mine…
Tamao awoke as bright sunlight spilled through the window and into her eyes. She tried to get up, but couldn't; she felt terribly weak and hoarse. She struggled to just sit up and get out of bed, buts he found herself on the floor, feeling really light headed and hot.
"Ah!" Tamao yelled as she got tangled up with the blankets and fell head first down the bed.
Horo Horo was lying on his bed, dreaming sweet thoughts of his beloved Tamao. He got awoken by a soft yell and a thud afterwards. He quickly rushed into Tamao's room to see if she was in any danger. He let out a soft chuckle.
"Wow, what a fall." He said and stood there, laughing at her.
"Good morning to you too! Hey, stop laughing, Horo Horo! It's not funny!" Tamao said weakly and she was surprised on how weird her voice sounds. He went over to her and picked her up with ease and then placed her back into her bed.
"Wow, you're really burning up." Horo Horo said, seriously and full of concern. Pirika rushed to Tamao's room.
"Tamao-chan! Are you alright?" She said as she rushed to her friend. Apparently, she too had heard the yell and thump. Pirika touched her forehead, checking the temperature after seeing Tamao's face that flushed.
"Wow, you've got yourself a really high fever!" Pirika said as she backed away to the door, ready to go make some medicine.
"Guess we can't go to master Yoh's house today." Horo Horo said as he sat on Tamao's bed, holding her up. Tamao looked up at her new boyfriend.
"Sorry…" Tamao said softly.
"Silly, it's not your fault." Pirika said cheerfully as she went to the kitchen. She heard the door knock so she went there first, knowing all too well that Tamao and Onii-chan were busy. She opened the door and smiled cheerfully for whoever it was. But the smile soon disappeared as she saw the visitor. She nearly dropped to her knees, but she didn't. She kept her eyes down at the ground and refused to be cheerful for him. She was after all, "a kid".
"O-Oh, R-R-Ren-kun, it's you. What are you doing here?" Pirika tried to say in her normal voice.
"Pirika, who's at the door!" Horo Horo shouted at his sister down the hall. His playful spirit was back.
"Onii-chan, it's Ren-kun." Pirika said in such a calm way that she surprised even herself. 'Maybe I'm really over him.' She thought.
"What are you doing here?" Horo Horo said accusingly, but happily. Ren had a smirk on his face.
"Well, is that how you treat your old friend?" Ren said happily as he gave her Onii-chan a playful punch.
"Well, you still haven't told us what you're doing here?" Pirika said impatiently.
"I'm here to see that you three get to Yoh's house safe and sound." Ren said in a matter-of-factly way.
"That reminds me, I have to go make medicine for Tamao-chan. Bye." Pirika quickly said and retreated into the kitchen. She was losing her strength every time she heard his voice. She breathed a sigh of relief after closing the kitchen door.
Ren stared at the retreating back of Pirika as she went to the kitchen. The 12-year-old he once knew has grown up into a blooming lady. Ren himself hasn't forgotten the bitter words he spoke to her four years ago. Though he shows little regret for it, he couldn't help but feel that way as Pirika had barely spoken to him. Yes, a gentle welcome, but that was all. She used to be as jumpy and giddy as her brother, but she didn't show any signs of it anymore. Ren sighed as he followed her brother into Tamao's room. There he found a very weak Tamao lying in bed. But what surprised him was that Horo Horo proceeded onto her bed and held her up. 'It appears the two has gotten closer, a lot closer.' Ren thought as he placed a wider smirk on his face.
"So, how's my little Tamao doing?" Horo Horo asked all lovey-dovey. Ren rolled his eyes.
"I still feel a little weak." She said, but happily because Horo was back. "Oh, Ren-kun! What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to take you guys back. Yoh-kun was worried about you when you didn't return last night." Ren explained. He took careful notice of Tamao's reaction, but she didn't show anything but shame.
"Whoops, should've text you guys." Horo Horo said sheepishly. Tamao playfully punched him.
"Great, you made them all worried about me!" Tamao said playfully. "I'm sorry I worried you." Tamao said apologetically. Tamao starting getting out of her bed.
"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Horo Horo said as he dragged her back.
"We need to quickly get back to the Asakura residence. They're counting on us to be back, and I'm sure Anna-sama would have tons of chores for me to do." Tamao said but failed as Horo's hands still restrained her.
"Nope, you have a fever young lady. And until you drink Pirika's medicine, you can't go anywhere, is that understood?" Horo Horo said in a manner that sounded like her parent, but she nodded obediently, rewarding her a kiss on the forehead.
"Well, we'll leave you to rest a little bit." Horo Horo said and began to leave, but Tamao's hand restrained him. She blushed at her own bold action.
"I-I want you to stay with me." Tamao said shyly. Horo Horo had his cocky smile on and pulled up a chair near her bedside and sat down.
"Go on ahead Ren. Do whatever you want. I'm staying here with Tamao." Horo said to his friend. Ren nodded ad left the room. 'Now what?' Ren thought. He went to the living room and sat down on the sofa. Silence.