WORSHIP

Tohru cooked breakfast for everyone, and then Kyou and Yuki went outside to help the driver get Akito's car out of the mud. Luckily the rain had stopped, and sun had already begun drying out all the muck.

Shigure once again offered to help with clean up, but Tohru once again refused. She told Shigure that he should be more concerned about finishing his manuscript for his editor. This only seemed to make him sad. "Oh, you spoil all of my fun."

They both laughed, but Akito just sat there sipping his coffee.

Tohru went into the kitchen and began doing the dishes. Shigure smirked. "So, Akito, do you want to hear the story for my new book?"

"Not especially, but I have a feeling you are going to tell me anyway."

"It's about a powerful man, who falls in love with an ordinary girl." Shigure started. Akito nearly choked on his already searing coffee. "Of course he didn't love her to begin with, she was just a friend of a friend. She treated him always with kindness, and listened to him, WHENEVER he wanted to talk. Even at like… lets say five in the morning." At this point Akito had to spit out his coffee, he couldn't hold it back anymore. He was seriously choking. He coughed a bit, and then cast a death glare at Shigure.

Tohru came running out immediately. "Oh my! I'm sorry; did I make it too hot? Too strong?"

She was instantly wiping up the spilled coffee with the end of her apron. "I was just telling Akito about my new book. Apparently he seemed to like it. Now if you'll both excuse me, I'll go work on it now." With that, Shigure made a hasty retreat to his study.

"I'm so sorry about this!" Tohru said, trying to wipe up all the coffee, before it stained. She was leaning over Akito to get the rest of it, when he pulled her down into his lap.

"Don't apologize," and then he kissed her yet again. Tohru only let herself enjoy it for a moment, then she pushed him off of her.

"Um… What if the others see? I mean, wouldn't they think you…" Oh! She was doing it again!

Akito smiled. "You need to stop worrying so much about me, but if it'll make you feel better…" He let her go, and leaned on his elbows. It was at that moment, Tohru noticed Akito was looking a little pale. His eyes were a bit glassy, and his breathing was slightly ragged.

Tohru leaned down and felt his forehead. "Oh no! You have a fever. You need to lay down."

"I'm fine. Don't worry," Akito pushed her hand away.

"No!" Tohru was stern. She grabbed his hand and told him to get on his feet. Shocked, he obeyed. Tohru led him to her room, and cracked the window open. She pulled back the covers. "Now get into bed."

"Well, well, I didn't think you wanted me that bad." Akito took a step towards her, but then started coughing.

"Don't be smart with me, you're sick!" Tohru helped him get into bed, and pulled the heavy quilt up to his chin. "As soon as the phone's are back up I'm going to call Hatori. Now, I'm going to bring you some herbal tea. I know you don't like it, but you are going to drink it." With that Tohru was gone.

---- Later that day ----

"So now we got that car unstuck for nothing?" Kyou growled, as Hatori made his way down from Tohru's room, with Tohru at his heels.

"I'm afraid so. He is much to sick to be moved right now." Hatori gave a small bag of Akito's clothes to Tohru ((he made Akito change into his robes)). "Wash these really well."

"Yes, sir!"

"So, he's staying here until he's better?" Shigure asked.

"Yes, now have a good day. I'm very busy at the hospital today." Hatori was gone before anyone could say anything.

"Well, yeah, I'm out of here." Kyou said, leaving as well.

Tohru sighed and went to start dinner.