Yay, my second Ja x Ban story Also my second ficcy here. This one is a tad longer than the first although it's no worse than my previous one (rating wise anyway, I can't really judge its quality – I was always bad at self assessments.) It'll still be quite short though. This is just the first chapter; the second one will come as soon as I'm done with it. Then, that's it. End of my little drabble. See, I told you it was short ne?

Also, this fic is dedicated to all the wonderful people (all three of them) who reviewed my first fic 'Third Time's A Charm' (Silver Mirror, littlefiction and especially Mizukotsu) and to my wonderful Monica-chan who was the first to read it.

Disclaimer- In no ways do I own any rights of Inu Yasha, except the rights of as crazed fan to right yaoi fanfictions (even thought there MUST be something between these two in the series, ne?).

Japanese Used-

Arigatou – Thank you

Gomenasai – I'm sorry

Oo-Aniki – Respectful title, older brother.

Warning- Mild shounen-ai.

In Sickness and in Health

Chapter One

It had been quite the fight. Anything in the vicinity was proof enough of that. The once bustling village was now in smoldering ruin and bodies littered the snow-covered ground, slowly staining the pearl white crimson. And, at the center of it all, were the seven responsible. They were situated on the wooden porch of what had been the village headman's house. Each seemed bloodier than the next, although none of them seemed to mind. Five of the seven held glasses filled with the headman's stores of sake, the other two had passed on the offer.

The youngest of them stood from his seated position and held his glass up in the air.

"You all fought hard, drink and enjoy the gifts our wonderful headman was so courteous to supply."

He smirked seeing the reaction on the faces of his comrades. Before sitting down he brought his own glass to his lips and drained it.

The other followed suit, quickly emptying their own glasses. Shortly after a rough coughing filled the leader's ears. It was a pathetic sound, barely even a cough at all, more of a racking wheeze. Bankotsu looked wildly around, the sound distressing him. The idea of one of his men being sick was not something that he enjoyed. It didn't take him long to discern who the sound was coming from.

It was Jakotsu….

Bankotsu felt his stomach drop. Although when the young leader had started the shichinin-tai he had sworn that he never hold Jakotsu above the rest of the members of the group, he had soon found that very hard to accomplish. He couldn't deny that Jakotsu was his best friend, and it was his company he enjoyed the most, his welfare he cared for the most.

He stumbled over to his friend, promptly kneeling beside the man. Bankotsu put a hand on his shoulder and he could feel it shake with every raspy cough from Jakotsu. His coughing fit lasted around a minute and by the time that his breathing had been slightly steadied Bankotsu wasn't the only one standing by his side, in fact, the only one who wasn't was Renkotsu, who simply offered a nasty look towards the little congregation.

Suikotsu, even with his multiple-personality disorder was a still a doctor and he took an immediate reaction to Jakotsu's sudden outbreak. He placed a hand on the man's chest and a thin frown spread across his face. Bankotsu felt his stomach churn again. Then Suikotsu spoke.

"We should get you out of this weather."

The then made a move to help the man up, but Bankotsu was quicker. With one hand around the effeminate man's waist as the other gently pulled Jakotsu's arm over his shoulders. Suikotsu just stood watching as Bankotsu carried him into the house and down the hallway to the first bedroom they could find. The leader motioned to a futon in the corner and Suikotsu quickly rushed to spread it out over the floor. After he was finished Bankotsu gingerly laid the man's body down upon it.

Jakotsu stared up at Bankotsu with a warm look on his face, before breaking into to another fit of coughing.

Suikotsu laid a hand to Jakotsu's forehead, though he withdrew it after only a brief second.

"This is serious Jakotsu, You're not well at all… You have a very high fever. How long have you had this cough?"

Jakotsu looked up at Suikotsu for a moment, then gave a resigned sigh, which sent him into another coughing spell. When it cleared he spoke, his normally melodic, feminine voice broken and raspy.

"A… about two days now."

Two Days? Bankotsu felt his mouth fall open as he gapped at his third-in-command. Two whole days? Why had Jakotsu not told him! Come to think of it, Jakotsu had been speaking less and less and he had even seemed off today during their battle and he hadn't run off to chase any 'cuties' afterwards. Bankotsu slapped a hand to his forehead. How could he not have known! He was Jakotsu's leader and his friend, but what kind was he that hadn't even realized that? Now Jakotsu was sick, and who knew how serious it was?

Suikotsu shot Jakotsu a reproving look, although the best thing for him to do was to go find Mukotsu and start work on some medicine for the feverish assassin. He rose to his feet and walked out of the room, sliding the door shut behind him. His footsteps echoed in the empty hall until they heard the outside door close as well.

It was only once Suikotsu was gone that Bankotsu spoke.

"Two days? Jakotsu, why didn't you tell me?"

He asked in a rather exasperated tone. Though his voice was laced with worry and concern as well.

Jakotsu simply looked upwards at his oo-aniki and offered him weak smile.

"Gomenasai, I didn't want to cause any trouble for you."

Bankotsu was slightly taken aback. He would never have thought that Jakotsu was trouble. He may have gotten a bit out of hand sometimes, but Bankotsu never regretted having him around.

"I… I would never think that Jakotsu. Besides, your stronger even when you're sick than anyone else I've ever met."

Jakotsu's meager smile brightened and broadened across his face as he stared into those almost violently sapphire eyes that stared down at him with such concern. With out breaking eye contact he found one of the hands of the man above him and clasped it softly in his own. His smile widened even more as he saw the effect that this gesture had on Bankotsu.

"Arigatou, Oo-aniki."

There… Finished, or at least chapter one is. How did you like it? Please read and review. I will love you forever