VIII

Good News. Probably

Refreshed. That was the first thing that Syndra felt as she opened her eyes, her forehead was covered with a cloth that was used as her compress. She have wondered what time was now, she was about to get the clock on her desk but she felt something on top of her hand.

It was a hand, of course she knew who it was. After all, she was taken care by her rival until she was better, her eyes were slit up open to take a peek, Irelia was resting her head on the sheets while she held Syndra's hand, never knew that the first thing she saw upon her awakening was a sleeping captain who monitors her all the time.

Slowly, she removed her hand, what she have done was to grasp the head of the captain, patting it lightly, it counts as her thanks for taking care of her.

"This captain. She didn't have a chance to leave me like this." She thought. She noticed that the cloth made a small drip of water towards her face. "It seems that the cloth was newly drenched.."

Suddenly, Irelia squirmed a little and was about to wake up. Syndra immediately let go of her hand and pretends to sleep, she felt some minor movements on the side of the bed, deducing that Irelia finally wakes up.

"What is she doing..?" Syndra mumbled inside her mind.

She heard clanking sounds on her desk, and felt a cold, metal object sticked in her underarm, beeping sounds can also be heard until it stops.

"..She really is keen of checking me and wanting me to get well soon.." Her face lightly blushed on the fact.

However, as she felt Irelia removed the device, she heard something that counts as scribbling, Irelia was taking notes, but what for?

Few minutes, she can't feel Irelia's presence anymore, completely unnoticed that Irelia left the room without making the door conduct any noise, with an exception of light creak sounds from the rust of the fulcrum of the door.

Syndra jumps up from bed, the cloth that covers her forehead fell off and splats on the floor, she immediately went to look for the note that Irelia created.

On the desk was a note, with one medicine at the side and a glass of water, she quickly snatched the note and reads.

Syndra, thank goodness you came back. 35.24 degrees was not bad, in fact it was counted as normal temperature, but I advise you to rest, don't think of it that you are really healthy, fever could return if you are reckless, what is left is you to take the cold medicine.

Syndra pats her neck to check her heat, it was not that hot like before. " I am fine? That's was fast.. But I have this cold left."

She went back reading and made sure that she understood every statement that Irelia portrayed.

I am sorry, I have to go. I have allotted my time for you and it made me skip work. The Council might reduce my salary or worse; penalty, if I stayed further. Please get well soon. I can't wait to see your power regains again.

I will call you later.

-Irelia

Syndra's mind went turmoil after she reads the note, she was so amazed rather than perplexed. Never knew that Irelia really spent her time taking care of her health rather than working.

"Impossible.. The Captain allotted her time for..me?!" Syndra gasps.

She kept glancing at the note and reads it again, those words that Irelia wrote were all meaningful, like how she wanted to see her power went back again, and her health.

A smile went across her lips although it was mixed with emotions she had never attained. How lovely she thinks of their session of health care that is completely new to her.

"Hmph.." She grunted before she made a sinister laugh. Somehow, she never been this happy before.

"Goodness. She really is not my rival after all." She stood up and went to the window, gazing beyond the glass that were about to dim before dusk will came. "She monitored me all day. Seriously.."

"I wonder what is she doing? Is she working this late?"

"But.. I might knock that Mutt's feelings if ever I TELL her what happened between us." She snickered as she thinks of Ahri's face of defeat. Her stomach grumbles every time she make thoughts, grimacing that she have never eaten lunch besides of that porridge this morning.

"She might've left some of her 'Congy's' at the kitchen. Wait.. Am I right? Oh well, just simply porridge she says." Finally, she called her power to hover around, practicing a little, happy and excited to see her power once flourished again.

"I must thank her. But how?" She mumbled. "Maybe.. I ask..her AGAIN." She have thoughts about asking help from Ahri.

She now strolled downstairs and went to the kitchen, what brings her mouth agape was a note again that was folded neatly on top of the pot, she immediately reads it and it made her blush a little.

Hello, Syndra. Please re-heat this if ever you are hungry. I made alot.. Don't hesitate to eat more. It will help your body to regain its natural flow. And yes, don't skip meals. I know that you often calling food delivery but I want you to refrain that.

Oh, I recommend putting hardboiled egg on the porridge, I made some for you, check the small pot near the pot for the porridge. You can eat the porridge until tomorrow morning or else it will expire. Just heat it and you're good to go.

-Irelia

"..Hmph." She smiled, speechles and amazed. Heating the stove was easy for her since she was using it for her tea. The flames finally heating pot underneath, making fumes from the burner until it warms the whole surface.

The contents began to boil as it creates sounds from the inside, she smells the scent of the chicken broth seeping out the lid; still with the cold, the smell lingered in seconds before it subsided, her stomach asks her again with a loud grumble which indicates hunger, her mouth watered a little as she opened the lid and watched the soft rice dance as it boils.

She snatched a spoon and proceeds to scoop a substantial amount, filling a bowl just by halfs, she opened the small pot that Irelia said that she placed hardboiled eggs before she left, she began to crack and peel the shells off the egg and placed it on the porridge. Satisfied with the preparation, she went to the dining area, ready to eat.

"Never fails to satisfy me." She was delighted on how the porridge tasted good with the egg.

Finishing a bowl of porridge can take time because of its serving, but Syndra finished it by just minutes, in fact she want more, her hunger was not yet sated to fill her famished stomach.

"More." She went back to the kitchen and scooped another of Irelia's porridge before she returned her seat and eats with delight.

"Captain. We are waiting for you in the meeting but why didn't you came?"

"I had business that I must attend."

"This is the first time you missed a meeting, Captain. How come a break time lasts at couple of hours?"

"It was based on my personal reasons. Apologies."

"Ms. Lito. We have no choice but to reduce your salary this time as a penalty. The law speaks."

"I understand."

"Also, we demand reasons what have you done between those time intervals from your break time."

Irelia sighed a little, she felt being preached by these Elders based on her tardiness, of course she can't say that she took care of the most wanted person of Ionia to begin with, she has to make excuse to cover up her penalty.

"I have this friend of mine that was indeed sick." She opened, though her words are related and meaningful. "She was all alone, so I helped her a little."

"Does that reason valid?" An Elder pressed, not amused on Irelia's reason. "What else do you ponder?"

"Yes, she lives meters away from The Placidium. I recieved the warning of her health through the phone as I take breaks from work inside my home." She added logically.

"Hm. What kind of sickness does your friend has?" The Elder pressed again.

"A common cold and a mild fever, potentially have the risk of flu." She finished flatly, glaring at the Elder's dull eyes.

"Why yes, Spring season of Ionia can be cruel at times." An Elder cuts in, he was standing at the side of the room, listening to Irelia's claims. "It was also contagious, I wonder how your friend was doing right now.."

Irelia was relieved that this elder was more open-minded than the one she speaks, she gestured a smile before she made her words.

"She was doing fine. Her temperature receded after she took medications and rested. Only her cold was left." She answered directly.

"I guess that was all." The Elder ranted as he stood up on the podium and made a last glance to Irelia. "We accept the reason but your actions not. We have to penalize you. Is that fine?"

"Elder." Irelia called. "I missed a lot this day, would you let me take overtime? I will finish some of my paperworks before I leave." She proposed with a bow to convince them, some of the Elders wondered and some are fine with her, it was like they are hesitating.

"Remember Captain, we have a lot of reports today, we need those immediately, but since you wanted overtime, we will accept your proposal."

"I understand."

"Captain Irelia?"

"Yes?"

"Do not exert yourself. We don't want to lose you. Maybe we will cancel your penalty because of your passionate decision."

"Yes."

The hall became empty, leaving her on the center alone, sighed in relief from the noise of the elders' voices. Irelia made herself back to her office. Suddenly, a familiar face sprang up her sight that was sitting on a chair in front of her desk.

It was the most influenced person of Ionia. None other than the Duchess Karma.

"Welcome back." Karma greeted Irelia, giving her a smile that would cheer up the captain a little.

"Duchess? Is there anything that you wanted to discuss with me?" Irelia went ahead the Duchess and went to her desk.

"No formalities, Irelia."

"Sorry."

"So? What happened?"

"They see me like an acolyte at some point. Preaching and..preaching, I guess."

"Typical. Is that it? I know you can handle them somehow."

"Probably. Just don't make me lose my patience."

Karma laughed and went beside Irelia, she gave Irelia a light pat on her shoulder just to make her feel better.

"Tell me. I think that reason of yours can be something."

"Hm?"

"Friend? Who is she?"

Irelia sighed.

"Syndra."

Then, Karma gasps.

"Wait. Syndra?"

"Well I only said friend because I have to, I have no intentions to say her name in front of the people she had been hating."

"That's reasonable. But.." Karma wanted to press more questions in terms of Irelia's situation. "Since when you and Syndra.. are friends?"

Irelia immediately got snapped, it was a long story to begin with, in fact they have been contacting because of the phone thing that Syndra and Ahri wanted to know about.

"Phone."

"What?"

"Phone. Just that."

"You.. You two are exchanging calls?!"

"What? NO!"

"I can't believe it."

"Wait! No!"

"Hm. Never knew."

"Ahri and her asked me how to use the phone so we have contacted because of that!"

"Hm.." Karma wondered. She stared deeply at Irelia's green eyes to express her that she was serious.

"The reason why you skipped work is because of..Syndra?"

"Well.. Yes, actually."

"What did you two do?" Karma pressed.

"What kind of question is that?"

"Answer me."

"Karma, why are you so.. keen about this..?"

Karma paused at the moment before she speaks, she made a glare at the captain while she puts some pressure on her.

"I want to know. As your friend." Karma stated.

"She was sick.." Irelia replied sheepishly.

"Sick? Her?"

"Well.. she is a human, so it's normal."

"Hm.. so." Karma glared. "Tell me, you have taken care of her, am I right?"

"W-Why.. Yes." Irelia bashfully replied. "Is there anything wrong?"

"Nothing." Karma replied. Unamused. "Listen, we had been friends, Irelia. Don't make me hear that you are having hard times with her, or else." Karma gave a piercing leer at the captain before she backs away, facing the door and was about to leave.

"I will check on you later. Good day."

Irelia was perplexed at the people around her, she haven't seen Karma acted like this way to her before, she rubs her head and wondered what is happening to her day, she gave it a sigh and let it pass by, focusing her final batch of paperworks that needs to get analyzed.

Going back at the city, a woman that was filled with curiosity towards her new environment, she cloaked herself with a garb to hide her tails and ears, her only destination was a place she hasn't visited yet; the office where Irelia works.

She slithered inside with her mobility to avoid getting caught, she has plans if ever she was; charming those guards or anyone who caught her. Of course except for the people she knew.

As soon she reached upstairs, she felt a powerful mana mixed with the one she has to hunt, wondering what could it be, she went across the hall, she caught Karma walking pass by on a room that she went before. Curious, she went towards that said room.

Opening the door with silence can be easy, but with someone who has huge clairvoyance to her perception, it can be difficult. She saw Irelia resting her head, the papers were all left behind unattended, she felt pity for Irelia because she works hard for something with..papers.

"Irelia." She pouted, running her fingers on that dark blue strands of the captain. "Working hard, aren't we? You should take a rest.."

"Hm.. I wonder, I wanted to surprise her, it may help her to wake up." She planned something ridiculous, she wanted to surprise Irelia playfully as possible.

She hid under Irelia's desk in stealth, not waking Irelia up with her tails, she adjusted it to provide more space inside and not touching Irelia at all, she holds her knees on her chest and waited, giving Irelia a huge shock after if ever she wakes up.

Now, Irelia felt something that wakes her up, she yawned that her rest really paid off, but what she wondered is that her below was cramped, it was like her desk just gotten tight unknowingly.

Then, she saw her. Ahri smirked to see Irelia finally looked below, she saw how amusing Irelia's expression has been, gasping to see Ahri under her desk.

"Surprise~" Ahri quickly tackled Irelia's stomach and hugged her.

"AHRI!! WHAT ARE YOU-?!"

"Hm? I am here to visit you!"

"Stop! It..!"

"What? Does my tails hurt you?"

"N-No.. It.." Irelia was flustered as she felt Ahri's chin rubbed her abdomen. "Tickles.."

Ahri got the thing on how Irelia tickled by that, she deviously smirked and teases Irelia again.

"STOP!"

"No!"

"What are you-!"

"Ticklish?"

"Just stop!"

However, Irelia's pleads can be heard outside the door, one face heard it with her pointed ears, she was about to visit her friend that she have helped before, her staff was intact on her hold, she wondered what was going on to the captain's office. She opened the door and saw Irelia's reddening face.

"Irelia?" She called.

"Soraka?!"

"What's wrong? I heard you screamed, so I went here to check."

"Nothing! N-Nothing.." Irelia kept squirming to prevent Ahri teasing her.

"Hm? What's that?" Soraka pointed at the white fluff that flutters under the portion of her desk.

Soraka's curiosity went herself in a discovery that she misunderstood.

"Oh..My." Soraka gasps. "Ahri?"

"Yes?" She still embraced Irelia's stomach.

"Are you giving..Irelia.." Soraka blushed.

"What..?" Irelia got shocked.

"You know.. Using." Soraka pointed her lips.

Irelia's face went red, she immediately got the idea, of course..it was suggestive.

"NO! S-SHE IS NOT!!" Irelia blushed, standing from her seat.

"Hm.." Ahri stood too, she bashfully presented herself in front the Starchild. "Well.."

"SHE IS NOT! SHE IS NOT! THERE IS NO..WAY!!" Irelia screamed.

"I think I have interrupted.. Good day!" Soraka scampered away, blushing.

"Now WHAT?! She thinks that you are giving me!" Irelia facepalmed while she felt a chill of embarrassment.

"Giving you what? Mouth?" Ahri snickered, with her sultry leer.

"AHRI!"

"What? Am I right?"

"Your perversion is UNDENIABLE!"

"How did you understand my perversion? Hm~?"

"I.. I."

"Caught you." Ahri pressed her fingertip on Irelia's nose, teasingly and playfully. "This is what I like in you, Irelia. Your mind was so open. Like a book."

Irelia just stood there, speechless. Ahri was right, she was so vague sometimes in terms of critical thinking, she was too serious at terms of logic, Ahri sees Irelia really interesting.

"Let's forget that. Okay? I am here to see you so.."

"You are leaving?"

"What? Don't want me to leave yet? Cute.."

"Well.. You could spare some tea a little.."

"I would love to. I am waiting."

The fox accepted the captain's offer and waited, sitting in front of the desk with a chair, she started to feel at home at this point that Irelia offered her something. Filled with excitement that it literally made herself wagging her tails swiftly as she locked her eyes to the captain.

Two steaming cups of tea were now placed on the desk, with its sweet aroma that delighted the fox's senses. Irelia sat on her chair and took a cup, giving it a sip and relaxes followed by Ahri who watches Irelia's every movement.

"Wow. This tea, it was not tasted like your face before." Ahri joked.

"Hmph. I made a better change." Irelia replied as she took a sip. "So, how was the tea?"

"It was sweet." Ahri complimented before she leered at the captain with a playful smile. "Just like you."

Irelia choked herself while she drinks, she coughed and took a cloth to cover her mouth. Since when Ahri started making jokes like this? Of course, it's obvious because she was a vixen but why of all places, she would tease her like this?

"W..What happened to the bitter one?" Irelia can't think straight after the things that happened earlier.

"Bitter? I don't know. Probably she changed her mind and turned to be sweet." Ahri snickered, she sipped her tea and rested her chin, making an eye-doe look at the captain. "I hope she stays like that.."

That look that Ahri gave her made her embarrassed, that smile and that teasing leer of the fox was more questionable than before.

"Ahri." Irelia called, avoiding eye contact as she was about to drink her tea.

"Yes?" Ahri answered the call, her tails wagged gently, most likely a type of wag that tailed-animals do when they were delighted.

"Stop.. looking at me like that."

"Why not?"

"It's just.. I can't focus."

"On drinking?"

"Well.. not just that."

"Hm. I will think about it. After all, I am in the mood of doing these kind of things."

Irelia glared a little before she sipped, she fixes her composure to prepare a another reply for the fox.

"Maybe this could be the reason why you visited?" Irelia asked.

"Perhaps. I am bored." Ahri replied sheepishly before she drinks her tea. "Sometimes, I get tired of watching humans everyday. Well.. except you." Then, she made a wink.

Again, Irelia choked and coughed, she was about to vomit the liquid but her reflexes saved her by covering her mouth immediately.

"W..Why don't you go to..Syndra's? You two are often working something through technology."

"Sondra? Psh. Why would I?" Ahri disdained a little.

"S..Sondra?"

"Oops. I mean Syndra."

"Why?"

"She broke our deal many times. She can't even let me borrow her phone! She sees me as a mutt of all times." Ahri pouted, she counted this as her complain.

"What deal?" Irelia pressed.

"It's just simple. She will let me borrow her phone at specific dates and times. Since she was the owner, she was the one who will set a schedule." Ahri explained. "But she still is stubborn. She won't let me unless I could reach her fortress. I am not a bird to begin with so, that's unfair."

"I see. Tell me, what will you do to the phone anyway?"

"Simple!" Ahri's eyes glimmered with a spark of excitement. "I will call you!"

"What? Me?" Irelia gasps.

"Yes! Why not?"

"What could we talk about then?"

"Anything. Why? You want me to tease you alot?" Ahri chuckled.

"I'll pass." Irelia finished, she went back to finish her cup of tea.

"No fun.." Ahri pouted. "Anyway.."

Ahri leaned forward, her face was so close to Irelia's, she wagged her tails as a sign of excitement again. On the other hand, Irelia was fazed on the sudden action, the moment Ahri leans towards her face was enough to let her blush grow.

"My senses tell me that something happened recently." Ahri stated. "Tell me?"

"It's nothing special." Irelia answered. "It's just the elders was about to penalize me."

"Penalize you? Why?" Ahri gasps, a shrill from her tails tells her that she was shocked. "Did you do something.. Exciting?"

"I don't think exciting was the right word for specifying on treating Syndra's sickness." Irelia crosses her arms as she replied.

The fox's mouth gasps on the information, she covered her mouth to hide her shock.

"Syndra's sick?" Ahri pressed.

"Yes."

"So you took care of her?"

"Yes, but she was not fully healthy, she still has a cold."

"Interesting.." Ahri wondered. This information was accordingly to her investigation on Human Activities. She thought that treating someone's sickness can be a clue for her assignment. But, she suddenly felt that, what does it feels like when someone is treating you?

"How come Syndra felt Irelia sweetness? A stubborn, child like her doesn't deserves it." Ahri thought deeply, suffering a mild jealousy.

"Irelia.." Ahri was serious this time.

"Yes..?" Irelia wondered why Ahri's expression changed.

"If I will have a chance of having a sickness, will you..take care of me?" Ahri stated, her expression softened as she gazed upon those green eyes of the captain.

Irelia is just perplexed on what's happening, it all makes sense to her that Ahri wanted to feel of being treated, it must be a rivalry of the two for something, of course it was not for Technology they seek but something..

"Why do you have to say that? Of course I will." Irelia finally replied, she smiled to make Ahri feel better.

"Yes.. I am not mistaken, you are so.. so.." Ahri grasps Irelia's cheeks and squeezed it lightly. "..sweet. This is probably a reason why most Summoners have fallen head-over-heels to you. Ironically, Noxians.."

"W-What..? They do?" Irelia was flustered.

"Hm.. But, I am not going to let them touch you. Remember that.." Ahri smiled.

She pulls away and winked, turning her back away from the captain.

"Thanks for the tea. I love it. I must leave for you to focus your work. I am not going to let Irelia lose her work, am I?"

The fox slithered out her office, leaving her alone with two empty cups on the desk. What a conversation, she doesn't know where this sudden motivation came from, by just now, it came from someone that pesters her the most. She thanked the fox silently before she fixed up everything to continue her work, in fact, she doesn't mind Ahri teasing her like that but somehow it made her flustered.

She reached those set of papers for her to analyze, but one thing that piques her, it was different among those bondpapers, and this one is really a letter; a letter with a without a recipient.

Without hesitating, she opened the letter. And it happened, her face got red and her hand shaked, dropping the letter on air, landing on the top of the bondpapers piled up, she had never had this kind of letter before, in fact this one is the most, shocking, nerve-wrecking letter for her. She immediately hid the letter to her bag and let her focus do the thing for her to finish her work.

NOTE:Hm. Looks like the fun has started, it seems that Karma is probably having a minor jealousy now, I can't wait to write scenes with Karma and how Syndra would act on this.

Oh yes! How about that time where Soraka spot them; a misunderstanding and thought Ahri is giving Irelia a.. you know.. oral? something? *chuckles

And now, Ahri is literally flirting here; she is the usual Ahri that we all know! Or how about that letter? What do you think its content? We'll find out in the next chapter!