File Seven: You Can't Do This Alone
Buzz! Buzz!
Hiruma sleepily slapped at his alarm clock. It couldn't be morning yet!
Buzz! Buzz!
The alarm seemed to be screaming louder now. Hiruma winced as he opened his eyes and glanced at the clock.
9:32 AM
Tch… First period class is almost done!
He tried to sit up, but his body felt strange and wouldn't allow him to sit up. He tried to take a deep breath… but his lungs felt heavy.
Kuso! I must be sick... Hiruma managed to prop himself onto his elbow. Gotta call Musashi and tell 'im I'll be late for practice...
Hiruma coughed hard into his shoulder. He could taste the blood he had coughed up in his mouth and feel it trickle down the side of his lip. He weakly wiped the blood off his shirt and reached out for his cellphone lying beside the alarm clock. As he dialed the number, he cursed inwardly.
Ring. Ring.
"Hello?"
Hiruma coughed into his shoulder again then replied with a rather rough, scratchy sounding voice, "Hey, old man..."
"Hiruma! You sound awful!"
Hiruma growled, "Look, old man, I'm gonna be late for practice. I overslept... a little. Just make sure those stupid chibis practice everything like we have been."
There was a short pause before Musashi replied, "Are you sure you'll be okay? You sound horrible."
"I'm fine! I can take care of myself. Just tell the brats I'm gonna be late, 'kay?" Hiruma snapped.
"All right," was Musashi's non-convinced reply.
Click.
Hiruma slammed his phone shut and feebly pushed his covers off only to feel cold air press against his bare arms.
Kuso... didn't turn the air off last night... need to start wearing pants and a long sleeved shirt to bed instead of shorts and shirt.
Hiruma wiped the blood off his mouth when he realized it was trickling down his chin. Kuso… this is gonna be one crappy day.
Monta and Komusubi tried to hold back their chuckles as Hiruma entered the clubhouse. They had never seen Hiruma bundled up like that before. He was wearing a dark blue hooded jacket. On the back of the jacket was a rather cute chibified version of the Deimon Devil Bat mascot. It was very rare to see Hiruma in a jacket and not to mention see him wearing the hood as well. Around his neck, he had on a black muffler. Overall, the outfit was not something you would typically find Hiruma wearing.
"Shouldn't you brats be out practicing?" Hiruma asked in a raspy voice.
Monta bit back a laugh. Hiruma-san must have a cold or something. There was no way Hiruma-san would make his voice sound like that on purpose.
"Mamori-san is bringing us some hot chocolate while we rest since it's getting' cold outside," Monta explained.
"Ngh ngh!" Komusubi grunted.
"Get back to practice you stupid chibis! You don't need rest!" Hiruma pulled out a pistol from his pocket and sent a downpour of bullets onto Monta and Komusubi.
"Practice-max!" Monta yelled as he and Komusubi fled from the clubhouse.
Hiruma panted heavily as he set what felt like a weighted bag down onto the bench beside the lockers. Maybe he should sit down for a bit before changing into his uniform. Hiruma leaned against for the lockers for support as he sat down on the bench. He would only rest for a little bit. He did not want his teammates to see him like this. They would probably tell him to go home or try to doctor him or other things like that. He coughed and covered his mouth with his hand.
Great… more blood.
"Monta-kun? Komusubi-kun? I have your hot chocolate!" Mamori called out.
That manajerk! Better not let her see me like this. She babies chibi no way is she gonna do that to me...
Hiruma wiped his mouth quickly and glanced around for something to clean his hands on.
"Monta-kun? Komusubi-kun? Where are you? In the lockers?"
Kuso…
Hiruma coughed again.
Kuso! He mentally cursed once more.
"Hiruma-kun!" Mamori gasped, dropping the tray that was holding two cups of hot cocoa.
Mamori hurried over to inspect Hiruma. "What has happened to you?!"
Hiruma scooted away from Mamori and hid his hands under his legs. "Go back to the brats. I'm fine. Just a little cold..."
Hiruma bit back a cough as Mamori leaned closer to him. "Stupid manager! I told you, I'm fine!"
"Your voice says otherwise. Not to mention your face."
Hiruma blinked slowly. He was starting to feel weak again. "J-just go back to those kids... I'll be out there in a few minutes..."
Mamori frowned. "You're sick, and you are staying here!"
"You can't make me, manajer..." Hiruma stood up then stumbled forward a little.
What the-? Why's everything... spinning?
"Hiruma-kun!"
Now what is she goin' on about? I'm fine... just dizzy...
Hiruma stumbled again as he stuck his hands into his pockets before Mamori could see them.
"Hiruma-kun!"
Why won't she shut up? If she would quit shoutin' my name... I wouldn't have such a headache now...
Hiruma blinked again. Things were getting blurry now, and Mamori's voice was fading away.
Finally... 'bout time she shut up.
Hiruma leaned over to get support from the lockers, but the lockers weren't there? He could feel himself falling. Everything was feeling like a dream. Maybe all this had been a dream and he wasn't really sick. Once he hit the ground, he would know for sure. But before he could hit the ground, everything went black.
"Ngh..." Hiruma groaned as he opened his eyes.
Pain stabbed his lungs as he panted heavily.
Great… it wasn't a dream.
"Hiruma? You awake?"
"What does it look like, stupid?" Hiruma croaked.
"Don't call me that!"
Hiruma grunted and turned his head to get a better view of the room he was in.
"Your apartment was a mess, so I cleaned it up while you were asleep."
"What?! Why am I at my apartment? And WHY are YOU here?!"
"Musashi-san brought you here… and I came with him."
"Why?!"
"Stop trying to yell. You'll only lose your voice that way."
Hiruma glared at Mamori from under the covers. "You better not have messed with my guns. Don't even think about throwing anything away!"
"Hai, hai. Just get some more rest. I'll check up on you later."
Mamori glanced at Hiruma as she turned off the light. He was still glaring at her with his piercing silver blue eyes. Mamori shivered a little and quickly exited the room and shut the door behind her. Hopefully, he would listen to her advice and get some rest. She really doubted he would listen to her… After all, he always ignored her when it came to her advice.
"Was he awake?"
Mamori jumped a little and looked up at Musashi who was standing in front of her. "Oh, Musashi-san... You startled me..."
"I'm sorry..."
Mamori shook her head. "I was deep in thought, so I didn't notice that you were there."
Musashi nodded and glanced at Hiruma's room. "Is he awake?"
"Yes, he woke up not long after I entered the room. His voice sounds worse though. If he's awake when you check up on him, make sure he doesn't talk. If he keeps trying to talk, he'll lose his voice. Oh!" She gasped, inwardly scolding herself. "I forgot to check his temperature! Do you know if he has a thermometer?"
Musashi was a little surprised as Mamori continued to ask some more questions about what items Hiruma had and where they would be in the apartment. He didn't realize how mature Mamori was. He had always thought Mamori was rather mature for her age, but now he could see her as a wife and a mother one day.
Musashi shook his head. That wasn't exactly a good thought to have while in an apartment alone with a girl… but then he technically wasn't alone.
"I think we will need some towels as well. Do you know where those are located?"
"Um... I think all his medical stuff would be in his bathroom cabinet and the towels are in a closet somewhere. I can get the towels for you."
"Thank you. After I check his temperature, I'm going to clean up this place."
Musashi nodded and hurried away from Mamori in search of the towels. He didn't realize how awkward it would be to be alone in the same room as a girl. He really hoped Hiruma would get better soon so this awkwardness would lower a little.
Hiruma sat up and panted heavily. He was not feeling any better. Being sick was bad enough, but having Mamori at his apartment made things worse! He did not like her cleaning his stuff one bit. The last thing he wanted was some girl organizing his stuff. His stuff was organized! Just… not the way girls organized their things.
Why did the old man bring her here? Hiruma coughed hard. Kuso! Now that manager is gonna come in and check up on me!
But to Hiruma's relief, Musashi entered the room instead of Mamori.
"Old man... what the—," Hiruma coughed again.
"Don't try to talk, Hiruma. Mamori says you'll lose your voice if you keep trying to talk."
Hiruma frowned at Musashi as he pulled up a desk chair to Hiruma's bed and sat down.
"What... is that manajerk doin' now?"
"She's cleaning the kitchen. You really need to stop talking. Your voice is sounding worse the more you try to speak."
"You... both... should... leave."
"Just lie back down. We can handle everything."
"You... call this handling everything? That... stupid manager... is messin' with my stuff... I'll be fine on my own! Just take the manager... and get outta here, old man!"
Musashi sighed deeply as he stood up. "I'm going to go help Mamori. Please take our advice and rest yourself."
Hiruma grunted. "I warned you... old man... leave... or there will be trouble."
Musashi shook his head as he left the room. Sometimes, he just didn't understand Hiruma.
Author's Note: Whew... I managed to get this story mostly edited and add an additional chapter! I hope you guys enjoy this update. :) Also, I didn't realize I never responded to reviews in my notes, so I'm going to be doing so now and for the rest of the updates. 3 Thanks again for all your support!
Author Response to Reviews:
Bar-Ohki: Thanks so much for your review! I remember you helped me alot with figuring out the whole anonymous reviews and other stuff out. I was such a newbie when I first started this story... It's taken sooo long to get this story on its feet, but I really think your advice and comments have helped. I hope if you are still around, that you are still able to enjoy this story. I can really tell how rough I was when I looked over and edited it. XD I think it's alot better now and hope to continue to improve it as I update.
NamiEmi: Aw thanks buddy! Tbh, I was (and still am) surprised you read this. Thanks so much!
: Ah yes... it is a bit "clean" compared to most Hiruma-centered fanfics. I'm just not fond of using strong language tbh. I know Hiruma uses language but I personally don't think it's that strong. ^^;; My Japanese isn't very good, but from what I do know, I think the English translation might be too strong. Just my opinion tho! But I think I improved it by putting the Japanese in instead of what I used to have. I hope that improves the overall feel! Thanks for reviewing. 3 I really loved this story when I first started it and am excited to be back on it.
RebeccaJaneL: Thanks! I try my best.
Dropkicking Bullet Shells: Thanks for the review! I'm glad you liked it despite it being so rough... I'm hoping with these edits, the story has improved. I know Hiruma is being a little OOC... but I'm hoping that the edits I've made have helped that. And well, rewatching the anime and rereading the manga has definitely helped! :) Thanks again!
chibipasta: Haha... that would be funny! I will have to see if that'll work with what I got. I actually farther along on this story than I thought... anyways, I hope you enjoy this update!
Sakurenjidreamer: Yep yep, this is a HirumaMamo fic. :) I really think they're a perfect couple. It's kinda funny that you posted a review recently since I've finally been getting around to updating! Your support has really helped this fanfic get back into action. Thanks so much!