Oh my god I can't believe I finally got this up! Fun fact, I am quite possibly the most technologically challenged person you will ever meet xD. My document manager hasn't letting my upload documents straight from my computer for months but vanessaforeverflower was my savior and helped me figure out how to upload documents from Google Docs and now here we are! I know this is a shorter chapter but with everything that happened last chapter and all that's to come next chapter this will be a nice filler haha. Now that I can upload again, I'm gonna be updating more regularly! Thank you for all the continued support!
The warehouse was dark and musty, but Umeko hardly noticed. In front of her kneeled Hamasaki Nobu.
"Oh Kobayashi-chan, come to watch me die?"
She couldn't help the shudder that wrecked through her.
"Shut up," Yata hissed, picking up his bat threateningly.
Now that she looked, Nobu's face was contorted with bruises and swelling, and his one arm was hanging funny. She imagined the damage was much more extensive underneath the rest of his clothes.
Mikoto's sudden heavy presence entering the room made her look back at the door where he and Izumo were just entering. The smirk fell from Nobu's face, and Umeko looked at him warily out of the corner of her eye.
She felt Mikoto's eyes burning into her head, so she picked herself up a little more and forced herself to look him in the eye when he stopped next to her.
"I'm not leaving."
He starred back blankly, but she didn't crack.
"Hn."
She let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding as he brushed by her. The room filled with a bright glow and a searing heat as Mikoto's hand erupted into flames.
"You know, I can see why your old man beat you like a dog, you really are your mother you stupid whor-"
He never finished that sentence, his scream piercing the air.
"Do you remember your mother?"
Umeko's eyes fluttered open, blinking back into focus. She lifted her head from Mikoto's chest, starring at him contemplatively for a moment. It wasn't as if they never talked about these kinds of things, but there was an unspoken agreement between them that they would never push the other. If it happened it happened was their mentality.
But he was hardly pushing, merely inquiring, though it was still out of character for him. Maybe it was the post-sex haze that was still fogging her mind, or the feeling of his fingers slowly dragging up and down her bare back, tracing over the ridges of her spine methodically, that made her mouth start moving.
"Only a little. I think she used to smile a lot, and she smelled good."
Umeko searched her mind for something more substantial, but came up blank. She huffed, burying her face back into Mikoto's side groggily.
She felt his silent rumble of amusement and smiled.
Hamasaki Nobu was dead, and though there would be a part of her that would always mourn for Chise, she felt lighter knowing the one who took her away was no longer breathing.
"What's wrong with him?"
Umeko walked slowly towards where Yata was slumped over a bucket, the occasional groan the only indication he was even conscious.
"Stomach bug it looks like, I wouldn't get too close to him if I were you, he's probably still contagious."
Umeko jumped back, panicked eyes turning to the bartender calmly wiping a glass behind the bar.
"Why didn't you tell me that first?"
Izumo shrugged, and Umeko winced as Yata gave another groan behind her.
"Aw, poor kid, so sad," Chitose sang sarcastically from his spot on the couch, and Umeko glared at him from across the room.
"He's sick, don't be a jerk."
Chitose rolled his eyes, and Umeko huffed before walking over and sitting next to him.
"If it makes you feel any better, he's always been a piece of shit like that."
"Oi, Dewa fuck off!"
Umeko blinked as the partners starred each other down for a second before laughing nervously and patting Chitose's arm lightly, "Come on, don't fight you two."
Her statement was immediately followed by the sound of retching, and they all winced slightly.
"You know, if you don't start being nice to Yata, you're gonna end up with his bug too."
"Oh please, I will not."
Umeko met Dewa's eye, and the dark-haired male rolled his eyes.
The three continued to argue, and Izumo watched on in mild amusement until the sound of his phone ringing stole his attention.
He clicked the answer button, putting the PDA to his ear, "Hello?"
"Ah, Kusanagi-san, Anna-chan and I both have the stomach flu, so we're gonna stay out of the bar for the next few days."
"Tatara," Izumo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "not you two too."
"Oh, is someone else sick?"
"Ai, Yata's puking his guts out in the corner."
"Eh? It must be going around then. You should probably send him home, to make sure no one else catches it."
"I think it's too late for that," Izumo sighed as he watched Umeko take pity on the sick boy and help him up to the bathroom.
"Come on Yata-kun, let's get you up."
"Just leave me," he moaned, slumping into Umeko. She stumbled, leaning all her weight into him to keep the two of them upright.
"Come on, let's go," she tugged him along and only had to get him halfway there before she felt him stiffen, then tug free to bolt to the bathroom. Umeko blinked as the sound of Yata getting sick again echoed out of the bathroom, and she winced.
"Ah, poor guy."
Izumo smiled as Umeko walked back into the main room, coming and sitting at the bar.
"You know, you're going to get sick now."
She shrugged, leaning forward on her forearms, "Too late now. Can I have a glass of water please?"
Izumo rolled his eyes but did as he was asked, and Umeko slid off the barstool and headed back to the bathroom.
"Here," she squatted, and Yata looked up at her pathetically.
"I can't drink that."
"Yes you can, you need to keep hydrated, now come on."
He groaned but took the glass, getting barely two sips in before all the color drained from his face and he was hunching over the toilet again.
Umeko winced, deciding that maybe it was still a little too soon for liquids, and patted Yata on the back before leaving the bathroom again.
"How's he doing?" Izumo asked as she slid back into her seat.
"Not his best," she laughed slightly, setting the water glass on the counter.
Just then the bar door burst open, and Shouhei came bounding in with a loud exclamation of 'we're back', Bandou following behind him.
"Ah, how'd it go?" Izumo asked, setting down the glass he was polishing to give the pair his attention.
"No problems," Bandou declared with a smirk, puffing his chest out proudly.
"Except for when San-chan got hit in the face," Shouhei added, and the other boy turned on the him so fast Umeko jumped a little.
"I told you not to mention that!"
Chitose laughed from his spot back on the couch, and just like that Bandou was launching himself at the brunette, and the two were on the ground throwing punches.
Umeko gave a sound of concern, and Shouhei laughed, "Ne, Ko-chan, don't worry about those two they're always fighting."
Umeko pursed her lips, turning around to give the boy her usually overly-worried speech when she froze. Shouhei, oh the poor, sweet boy, was bringing Yata's water glass to his lips, and before Umeko could do anything he was swallowing, and she knew it was too late for him.
"Oh no."
"Eh?"
"You just made a big mistake," Izumo winced, and Shouhei's eyes widened as the sound of Yata vomiting again reached the main room, and it only took a few seconds before she saw the realization go off in his eyes. Instantly he paled, and she winced as he dropped the glass back onto the counter, water sloshing over the sides and onto the bar top.
"Oh god," his voice was quiet, shocked, and Umeko felt pity for him.
"I'm so sorry Shouhei-kun."
It was only a few minutes after 6 am that Umeko woke up, overly aware of the way her stomach was rolling and positive she had maybe ten seconds before she threw up everything in her stomach.
She bolted up, throwing Mikoto's arm and the blankets off her as she stumbled up, running to the bathroom.
She just managed to push the lid up and drop to her knees before she was puking, hands gripping the bowl tightly.
She had a few seconds to catch her breath before she felt the next wave of nausea wash over her, and she leaned back over the toilet.
Beyond the burning in her throat and the stinging in her eyes she felt large hands brush her hair back out of her face, gathering it at the nape of her neck.
Watery cinnamon eyes looked up blearily, blinking at the drowsy golden orbs starring back at her.
"You shouldn't have helped Yata today."
Umeko winced, swallowing down the taste of bile in her mouth, "I couldn't just let him sit in the corner all miserable."
Mikoto sighed, giving her hair a soft yank before putting his other hand on the base of Umeko's spine to balance her as she starting throwing up again.
"Foolish girl," he sighed, rubbing his hand up and down her back as her body shook, and the two sat like that for another 15 minutes before Umeko finally rocked back and sat down, panting lightly.
"Better?"
She nodded, and Mikoto stood to get a cup of water, the sound of the toilet flushing followed a second later.
Umeko rested her forehead against the cool rim of the bowl, trying to catch her breath. She felt a cup pressed into her hands, and she opened her eyes to smile gratefully at the redhead squatting in front of her.
"Thank you," she whispered, bringing the cup to her lips and swallowing gratefully.
Mikoto listened to her sigh as she slumped forward, her forehead resting on his chest, "Why the hell was I nice?"
She felt his rumble of laughter against her temple, a smile coming to her lips.
"Thank you," she said quietly, nuzzling into his broad chest as she felt drowsiness settle over her again.
Mikoto watched as she started to drift off leaning on his chest, and he picked up her cup, reaching back and putting it on the counter before slipping his arm under her knees, his other under her shoulders.
Umeko groaned as she felt Mikoto lift her up, and he snorted at the pathetic sounding noise.
Umeko curled further into his chest, pressing her cheek against his shoulder and curling her fingers into the fabric of his shirt.
She only let go when she felt her feet brush against the soft material of their sheets, letting herself slowly slide down onto the bed.
Mikoto walked around to the other side of the bed, and Umeko let out a noise of protest as he settling back under the sheets with her.
"Aren't you going to get sick?" she asked, large eyes blinking at him, worry swimming in them.
Mikoto grunted, pulling her into his chest despite her squeak and weak push again his chest, "I don't get sick."
Umeko stopped wiggling around, looking up at him, "Really?"
He hummed, starting to run his fingers up and down her spine in the way he knew sent her to sleep in minutes, "My body temperature is too high. I just burn it out of my system."
Umeko fought against the pull of sleep already starting to creep into her mind, blinking rapidly to keep her eyes open, "You lucky ass."
Mikoto smiled as Umeko's eyes finally closed, leaning down and pressing his lips against the smooth skin of her forehead, "I know."
A lil fluff to end the day on a high note. Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster next chapter. Hope everyone liked it! Reviews please!