Fever

Ah-Uh had stood watch over Rin as she monitored Kohaku's health. She had managed to drag Kohaku further away from the burning village. They had both become covered in soot. His condition had slightly improved. Thankfully, his breathing had evened out, but he remained unconsciousness. Rin knew they had waited long enough and he needed to be moved to a safer place. She felt certain that no other snakes would be joining them, but she would rather not bet on it. After calling for Kirara, she appeared from the forest, much to Rin's relief. The large cat sat down next to Kohaku and nudged him with her nose.

"I know Kirara. He's very sick." Rin placed on cool hand against his forehead. "We need to move him. Can you help me?"

Kirara grabbed onto the back of his armor with her teeth and lifted him up into the air and placed him on the back of Ah-Un. Rin sat behind him and pulled him up against her front. His head lulled to the side. She held the reins under his arms. This position was awkward, seeing as he was so much larger than she was. She just didn't have an effective way to transport him.

"Uh...Ah-Un, Kirara, could you guys find us a safe place to camp? I can't see past him." Kirara growled in what Rin assumed was an affirmative answer.

After an hour of flying, they finally set down in a forest next to a flowing creek.

Her arms ached from holding Kohaku up. Her fingers were numb from holding the reins so tight.

"Kirara, help me! I can't hold him up any longer."

The big cat grabbed the back of his armor and gently slid him off the dragon to lay on the ground. Rin slid off Ah-Uh and sprawled out on the ground next to Kohaku, shaking out the numbness of her arms. She willed her body to get moving again, she couldn't afford to rest.

It only took her an hour to get camp set up with a fire blazing. She peeled her blood soaked kimono and hakama off, leaving her juban on, so she could wash it later. Rin sat herself against the flank of Ah-Un and laid Kohaku's head in her lap. She carefully undid his bloody bandages and began stitching the gashes on his shoulder closed. His shoulder was a mess and it was almost dawn before she finished. She positioned him down on his back on a make shift pallet. He still had not woken up, and it worried her. She knew that he would be sick, but for him to stay unconscious this long, worried her. Her eyes were heavy, burning, and tired.

Rin was thankful that she could rely on Kirara and Ah-Un to keep watch. Her eyes drooped a few times, before she succumbed to sleep.

"Stop! No! Don't!"

Rin's eyes flew open, and she drew her sword defensively. Kohaku was rolling around on his pallet. His eyes were open, but unseeing. Her heart was racing and she felt foolish having drawn her sword.
"Make it stop!" He cried out. His hands clawed at his chest. His back bowed against the blankets.
Rin rushed to his side and grabbed a hold of him to keep him still.

"Kohaku! It's okay. It's me, Rin. Calm down. You don't want to open your stitches."

She pulled her hands away from his body shocked. He was burning up!
Rin grabbed a few rags and went to the creek and dipped them in the frigid water. She placed one on his forehead and one under each arm. Kohaku stilled in his sleep, his body flushed with fever.

Rin took her clothes to the creek and did her best to rinse them of dried blood, before hanging them on a branch to dry.

She sat back down next to Kohaku to watch him. She wiped his face and neck down with a cool rag, doing her best to bring his fever down. His eyebrows furrowed, and his jaw clenched as she touched him. Was this the fever or nightmares?

Eventually, he settled down, and he didn't feel nearly as hot as he did before. She pulled out another blanket to cover him, when she noticed he was shivering. Perhaps his fever had broken and he was cold? She wasn't sure. Rin lay down beside him, curling into his side, offering her body heat. She pulled the blanket over them. He mumbled, and tossed his head left and right.

Rin placed a hand on his chest. "Shhhh, be still. You're alright."

"Onee-chan?" He asked weakly.

Rin took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He thought she was his sister. Was it a dream or his fever?

"No, it's Rin."

His teeth clenched. "I'm sorry."

Was he saying that to her or his sister?

"It's alright, Kohaku-kun. Rest easy now."

He stilled, and his breathing evened out. Rin closed her eyes and prayed that he would be alive when she woke.

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Author's Note: I know there has been a lot of RinxKohaku lately, but bear with me. All of this has a purpose. My goal is to double update for the next few days, so enjoy!