Rating: K

Words: 1,670

I wanted to try writing in the present-tense again, so here it is! It was a lot more fun the first time. Guess you have to have the kind of story that works really well in the present-tense for it to work out best.

Iku hates getting sick.

It's been weeks since she and Atsushi have gone on a date or spent quality time together outside of work, and the one day they had set aside to remedy that, Iku woke up with a runny nose and upset stomach. He told her that it's fine, they'll just take a rain check, and sternly ordered her to stay in bed, but the bitter disappointment weighs heavily in Iku's mind anyway. Now, she lays in bed, slipping in and out of a fitful sleep and stewing in her own remorse.

It wasn't a day off for team Dojo; Iku and Atsushi had planned to go out in the evening after work. Naturally, they could make do without her, but it often required some adjustments to shifts to accommodate an unexpected absence. She feels briefly guilty all over again for causing Atsushi extra work, on top of a cancelled evening, which is quickly replaced with a wave of nausea. She groans and turns to her side, facing the clock and her phone on the nightstand. After a few moments, the roiling in her stomach settles and she's just breathing a sigh of relief when her phone buzzes loudly and unbalances her again.

"Uuuuughhggh…." Iku throws her arm onto her nightstand like it's dead weight, locating the still vibrating phone and dragging it off the table. She swallows uncomfortably and squints at the readout, then scrambles to hit "answer" just before it goes to voicemail.

"Hello?" Her voice is a frog's croak, and embarrassment momentarily distracts her from nausea.

"How are you feeling?" Atsushi's voice doesn't sound particularly concerned, but by now Iku can expertly pick up on the undercurrents in his tone, even through the distortion of the line. She glances at the clock and sees that he's calling her during his lunch break. Iku considers insisting that she's fine, doing much better, and will be fully healed in time to un-cancel their date, but knows that would go over horribly, no matter how much she wants it to be true.

"...Not very well," she replies honestly, feeling a small smile grow on her face despite her discomfort. She reflects that it's a little silly, getting so happy just from hearing Atsushi's voice over the phone, but she can't help it. "How's work? I'm sorry for having to abandon so suddenly-"

"Iku," he cuts her off, anticipating her protestations. "It's not your fault. It's not that much of a hassle to rearrange a few things here and there when somebody gets sick. If it were, can you imagine how disorganized we'd be?" His voice is calm and commanding, like normal, which succeeds in putting Iku at ease. She's glad to hear that she hasn't caused any undue trouble, but still feels a lingering disappointment.

"You're right. I'll be better by tomorrow, okay?" she tries to assure him, not sounding very convincing with her hoarse voice and periodic sniffling.

"Don't rush yourself to get better; and stay in bed, alright?" Atsushi sounds amused now, and Iku dimly thinks she should be irritated that he's laughing at her earnest efforts but doesn't have the energy to feel annoyed. Instead, she groans noncommittally and turns onto her back, trying to get to a cool spot on the pillow. "I just wanted to check in and make sure you're okay. I'll call again after work, before I come back." Iku nods, then remembers he can't see her nodding and mumbles a noise of affirmation. "Get some rest." Then he hangs up, leaving Iku alone again in the silence and stiff air of their room. She drops the phone back onto the nightstand beside her, back to feeling sorry for herself and rolling around in the empty sheets for a comfortable position.

Eventually, she falls asleep.

Hours later, the soft buzzing of her phone coaxes Iku from unconsciousness, and by the time she realizes she's awake it almost stops. Again, she fumbles for the phone and hits "answer" just in time, still groggy from sleep.

"Huh-hello?" she garbles out as she tries to get her bearings. Atsushi's voice drifts through the receiver again, a smile in his tone.

"Did I wake you?" Smiling and not at all apologetic. Iku rubs her eyes and huffs sarcastically into the receiver by way of response. "Anyway, are you feeling any better?"

Iku pauses to think about this. She checks the time and sees that the managed to sleep through the afternoon, and Atsushi was probably getting off work now, which she takes as a good sign. No getting up throughout the day to heave into the toilet or cry about how miserable she felt. In fact, she feels a good deal better now, if not somewhat grimy from laying around in her own sick all day. Her head still feels a bit buoyant and her nose is still clogged, but her stomach seems to have settled and is working up an appetite. "Well," she clears her throat, "I actually feel a lot better now, thanks. Are you heading home?"

"Yes. I grabbed some stuff to make dinner. I'm glad you're feeling better, because I bought enough for your usual meal portions. It'd be a shame to have that many leftovers," he muses.

"Hey, was that- I don't eat that much! Stop talking like I'm some kind of pig!" Iku snaps, chagrined. Atsushi laughs softly on the other end of the line.

"It's good to hear you back to normal."

"...What?" Iku asks warily, thinking he might still be making fun of her.

"Nothing. You were just all mopey and apologetic for being sick earlier." He sounds so genuinely relieved, Iku can feel her face get warm. She knows she can't stop him from worrying about her, but his concern still feels like special attention when it's directed at her. While she doesn't enjoy making him anxious for her, she can't get enough of his loving attention. The conflicting feelings make her feel a little shameless, but pleased all the same. "It's weirdly out-of-character," he adds, taking another jab. Iku makes a face at the empty room.

"It's not weird to be sorry for causing problems…" she grumbles.

"I told you, there weren't any problems," he says by way of brushing off her complaint. "I'll be home soon, so you can get some more rest if you want. I'll get you up when dinner's ready." After waiting to hear Iku's noise of confirmation, Atsushi hangs up, again with no farewell to punctuate his phone call. It's so like him, Iku has to laugh to herself. At least focusing on the familiarity of her husband's habits can keep her mind off of feeling sick. She has every intention of staying awake until he gets home to make dinner, but ends up nodding off anyway.

The sound of dishes being put onto a table wakes Iku next, and it takes her a disoriented moment to even realize she fell asleep. She struggles up to a sitting position to address the noise and sees Atsushi at the foot of the bed, putting dishes on the table he's set up. Their small kitchen table with their two chairs fit nicely in the space between their bed and dresser, and he had moved their television from their living room onto the dresser a few feet away from the table. The few DVDs they own are stacked by the television- mostly action movies, as per Iku's tastes, but also a few documentaries and a crime-thriller from Atsushi. Iku gawked at the home-theater arrangement in front of her.

"Did… did you do all of this for me?" She asks before she can think about it. Atsushi looks up and sees her awake, then surveys his setup.

"Well, it wasn't really supposed to be a surprise, but you were asleep." He coughs into his fist to cover up his embarrassment. "I know you were disappointed that we couldn't go out today, so…" He trails off, turning in the direction of the kitchen where the smell of dinner is coming from. "I'd better get the food."

Iku pushes the covers off and walks over to the table while Atsushi leaves, still full of awe at his generosity. It's not as though Atsushi has never done something nice for her before, but she never would have expected him to go to all this trouble when all she had was some disappointment over a cancelled date and a common cold. A flower of warmth blooms in her chest, spreading happiness through her sick-weary body. Ever since they had first gotten together, Atsushi was always surprising her with love and affection- seemingly mundane, especially for a married couple, but sometimes Iku still can't believe where her life has lead up to this point. Not long ago, she would have never thought a man would return her feelings; for so many years, it seemed as though Shibasaki had dominated that department. Now, facing the setup in front of her as just a little bit of the physical evidence of her requited feelings, she feels no doubt whatsoever. If she still has a headache or nausea, she doesn't notice it at all. Iku considers the stack of DVDs by the television, not sure if she's up to loud explosions with her sensitive head but unwilling to give in to the education of documentaries, so she reaches an impasse. Before she can decide, Atsushi comes back in with dinner.

Iku has to make a conscious effort not to laugh at the poorly-drawn smiley face in the ketchup on her omurice, but ends up letting out a snort anyway. Atsushi shoots her a look, and she feels a little sheepish for laughing at his effort. The smiley face feels a little silly and childish, especially coming from Atsushi, but that's what makes it so sweet, and Iku thanks him heartily. She's surprised by how hungry she is after feeling nauseated all day. She passively blames it on the pleasure of her company.