Kenshin sighed and slumped against the wall, pinching the bridge of his nose in an attempt to get the pounding in his head to stop.
With the help of Kagome-dono and that strange bag of hers, he'd managed to get both Kaoru-dono and the dog-boy stripped of their wet clothes and sandwiched between a blanket and a strange sort of futon Kagome-dono had referred to as a "sleeping bag". The young girl had then insisted on feeding each of their ill friends a small round pebble-like tablet, saying that it was medicine that would help fight fever and sickness. Once they'd taken care of their "patients", Kenshin had asked if the young girl carried a change of clothes in her bag, and suggested that she change to be sure she did not suffer the same fate as her companion. Having successfully convinced her to put on dry clothes, he'd told her to rest, stating simply that he'd keep watch and wake her should there be any change in the young boy's condition.
Now as he fought against a headache that rivaled those he'd received during the Bakumatsu, Kenshin sighed and shifted slightly, willing himself not to shiver despite the chill of his still-wet clothes.
Cloth rubbed against cloth as Kagome-dono shifted on the floor next to their friends before she called softly, "Kenshin?"
"Hai, Kagome-dono?"
She paused thoughtfully for a moment, "Shouldn't you change out of your wet clothes as well?"
He shook his head, "Sadly, this unworthy one had not thought to bring a spare set with him, that I did not." Offering her a small grin in response to her frown, he continued, "But you shouldn't worry so much about this one, Kagome-dono. I will be fine, that I will."
Kagome rolled her eyes, "And just how fine will you be once you've frozen to death in those wet clothes, hm?" Rising, she walked over to stand before the red-haired man with her hands on her hips. "You could at least take off your jacket and shirt and sit in front of the fire instead of sulking against the wall, you know."
Kenshin fought back an amused smile, She sounds like Miss Kaoru, that she does. Holding up his hands as a sign of defeat, he stood, brushing off the legs of his hakama. "If you wish, Kagome-dono." Flashing her a grin, he removed first his gi, then his under kimono and carefully laid them next to the ever-growing line of clothes drying on the floor. Shifting his sakabatou, he sat cross-legged in front of the fire, his seemingly innocent eyes smiling up at the girl who'd directed him to his current position. "You should rest now, Kagome-dono. You would not want to get sick, would you?"
She frowned briefly at him for a moment before smiling cheerily. "At least you're not as stubborn as someone I know," she stated, glancing at her prone companion.
Kenshin allowed a small chuckle to escape his lips, smiling softly. "This one finds it hard to be stubborn when your directions make such sense, Kagome-dono."
Kagome rolled her eyes at him as she moved back to her spot next to the unconscious hanyou. "I really wish you'd stop calling me that. It's not like I'm that much older than you are, ya know."
Kenshin blinked at her for a moment and stifled a laugh. "This one… this unworthy one does not think you are older than he is, Kagome-dono," he stated, trying very hard not to let the amusement creep into his voice.
Kagome stared at him; he looked as though he was trying very hard not to let on that she'd said something funny. "Really? Then why don't you just call me-"
"Kagome…."