Chapter Thirty Six

A Closer Step

Atobe walked back upstairs and was on his way to his room when he heard banging in the pantry. It's too early for the help to be awake, he thought. He curiously followed the sound, and found his sister on the pantry floor picking up pills that she dropped. "You alright?"

Fay looked up from the floor, and shook her head. Her face was a flush red, and her eyes were dazed. "No," she said in a hoarse voice. "I'm sick, and looking for cold medicine."

"It's in my room," Atobe explained. She probably caught it from me, he thought. "Follow me."

Fay followed him to his room, and sat down on the bed while he looked through his drawer for the medication. He found it, and poured a glass of water for her.

Fay took it, and drank the glass of water. "I'm so cold," she whispered, hugging herself. "and my head is really heavy."

"Why don't you just sleep here, isn't your room normally colder in the winter?" Now where did that come from? Atobe thought, did I just offer?

Fay didn't even say anything. She just moved his bed sheets, and went under it. She closed her eyes, and was passed out in seconds.

Atobe sighed, and stared at her sleeping face. One minute, I'm trying then the next minute I lose it and attack. The question I should be asking myself is if I really like her?

Atobe stifled a yaw. "I'm tired myself," he said, getting into bed as well. He slept on the other side and closed his eyes.

Two hours later, Atobe was being shaken by someone. He finally opened his eyes, and found his sister looking at him. "What?" he asked, half-asleep.

"I'm really unwell…" she said with tears in her eyes. "My head and chest hurts."

Atobe sat up, "lie down then, I'll call the doctor."

Fay bit her lip, and shook her head. "I can't lie down, it hurts." She coughed and coughed and coughed.

Atobe got off the bed, "wait then…" he said, walking out. He looked for his father through the rooms, and lobby and found him seated in the den with aunt Akari. "Father, what's the sensei's number? Fay's really sick."

"Sick?" Mitsuru asked. "How bad?"

"Really bad," he said. "She's hurting."

Mitsuru pulled out his phone, and began dialing. "I'll call him, don't worry."

Akari stood up, "I'll go check on her," she said worriedly, but then smiled. "By the way, she does tend to act like a baby when she's sick." She winked. "I'll tell the maid to bring something for her drink in her room."

"She's in my room," Atobe said.

Akari gave Mitsuru a mini hidden smile, and walked off to Atobe's room. She found Fay half-asleep but sweating heavily and coughing non-stop. "Fay, love?"

Fay coughed and coughed.

Akari sat next to her, and hugged her slightly. "Don't worry. We just called the doctor, he'll be here shortly."

Fay coughed. "I wanted to spend Christmas with you… and cough. Cough. My friends are coming to exchange gifts tomorrow…" she said with tears in her eyes. "It was going to be different this year." I never experienced Christmas with family or friends or… someone special.

Akari patted her head, "don't worry, it's not that bad. You'll still get to see them."

Fay didn't comment, but continued coughing.

Akari stayed by her side until the doctor came by and checked on her. He gave Fay a shot, some medication and ordered strict bed rest for a couple of days.

Mitsuru walked in, "how's she?"

Akari stood up, "she's good, but just needs to rest. I'm sure she can have a good Christmas tomorrow, just no outings for her."

Mitsuru nodded. How unfortunate for her…