Disclaimer: Phew, made it somewhat in time. All credit goes to Shingo Nanami and フクロウ。Here's the final chapter to this story. Enjoy!

熱

Fever

Kasane x Nobunaga

Part Two

"Nobunaga..…-sa!?"

Sado just happened to meet them in the middle of the corridor. He then gaped open his mouth as if he were seeing an unbelievable spectacle.

"Out of the way."

Nobunaga harshly ordered Sado and ignored the man as he continued advancing forward.

Sado remained speechless.

Before they reached her room, they were seen by other maids and vassals who all had the same reaction as Sado before they curiously glanced behind them.

Kasane felt awfully self conscious by this and nervously pleaded to Nobunaga.

"Um, I..I… can w-walk fine…"

"If you can't even speak properly, just how are you going to do that?"

Even her single protest was sliced to pieces, so she finally decided not to press any further.

Finally reaching her room, Nobunaga easily slid open her door with his foot.

He then entered the room and after laying her onto the tatami floor, spread out a futon.

Placing her over the cushion, he then covered the blanket up to her head.

"T-thanks…"

"What am I supposed to do here."

"H...uh…?

Unable to comprehend his question, Kasane roughly breathed as she owlishly looked at him.

"What am I supposed to do, other than to call a doctor? Bring water? Medicine?"

"..."

"What should I do? Do you need something?"

And Nobunaga rattled on; questions like what did she need, what should he did he have to do.

His restless form made her utterly bewildered as she blankly stared at him.

"...What."

"...Are… you worried about me…?"

She blurted out her opinion without a second thought.

Once the words passed through her lips, she immediately regretted it.

"...Who is! Don't think much of it."

Nobunaga raised his voice and roughly ruffled her hair.

Kasne went "Ow, ow." in a soft cry.

She had a feeling that Nobunaga's cheeks were slightly red, so she felt the fever burn even more.

"So slow…"

The doctor still has not arrived, so he wondered what was taking Gorouza and the others so long. Nobunaga stood up and began to exit her room.

She then involuntarily grasped onto his clothes.

"...Pl-please don't go…"

Nobunaga looked surprised as he glanced down at the embarrassed girl. With a 'hmph', he then sat himself down; her hand still clasping onto his clothes.

So happy that he remained at her side, she gave him a loose smile.

"Hurry up and sleep."

As if shoveling her deeper into the futon, Nobunaga patted her head.

"...Yes… ….Tono-sama…?"

"What."

"..."

"...What?"

As if she was trying to speak, Kasane's mouth opened and closed repeatedly, but no voice came out. It seems she was hesitant whether or not she should say something embarrassing.

Nobunaga became impatient by her unfathomable words.

"Clearly say what you want to tell me."

"No… well….um… U-until I sleep...um… Can… we hold hands…?"

Even for Nobunaga, this was a demand that he didn't expect from Kasane, so his eyes unusually widened at her.

"Never mind! Please forget about it!"

Feeling absolutely embarrassed by her own demand, she buried her face into the covers.

Whenever humans are weakened by the cold, they would always feel helpless. That even included to her, a person who rarely caught colds.

In this warring world, her brothers were no longer at her side.

Children who catch colds would always be surrounded by their parents.

It's not like she thought of Nobunaga as her parent, but for Kasane, he was the only one in this world whom she could rely on.

Though blunt and strict and selfish and arrogant, he was still kind at times and cared deeply for his comrades. In other words, he was someone who calmed her down.

"..."

Gazing down at her face, his brow relaxed and he released a faint exhale from his lips.

"...You're acting quite spoiled, aren't you?"

"..."

To think that she made such an impression on him, Kasane felt utterly ashamed.

If there was a hole, she wished to dig herself into it. If there was a type of feeling for that, it was what she was exactly feeling right now.

"Oi, give me your hand."

"Heh? ….Eh!?"

"You said you wanted to do this."

Nobunaga then pulled up her hand and grasped it tightly.

With hands unlike her own, Kasane looked up as she felt his big and rough palm.

"...You're sick after all."

He intentionally coughed; the gesture made him look like a young man. It was somewhat cute.

"Hehe…"

Happy to hear those words, she smiled innocently.

Soon he heard her harsh breathing turn into the peaceful regular sleep cycle; He glanced at her.

Gently caressing her sweaty forehead, he hands followed down to her cheeks, defenselessly red from the fever.

"You're too trusting of me."

She really didn't know what she was getting into with this huge amount of unconditional trust she placed on him.

Giving out an excuse 'because you have a cold' to a request he wouldn't normally fulfill, just how soft did he become?

He mocked at himself, laughing as he did so, however after seeing her smile, he could care less of anything.

(-Sometimes, this isn't bad...)

Strangely he didn't have any qualms if this woman came up to him to be spoiled.

It was true that he felt somewhat happy when she came up to him like this.

(...However, I'll have her repay this for me later.)

That faint hot, ragged breath; that sweat the permeated from her skin to her hair; her red cheeks; the way her inviting lips thinly parted away; the heat from skin when he touched her.

Stuck in a situation as if he couldn't eat a scrumptious meal that was set before him, Nobunaga felt awfully bitter. When Kasane recovers, he'll have her repay everything, he secretly smiled and tightly held her small hand.

Afterward

"I finally got over my cold! I'm sorry for making you all worried!"

"Woman, for one week, you'll have to listen to my every order."

"...Huh?"

"It's payment for the time I didn't eat the meal before me. I won't accept any objections."

"M-meal? W-what are you talking about…?"

"If you wish to curse something, then curse your own defenses."

"...?"

Poor Kasane. At least Toukichirou wasn't here though, but then again the three idiots wouldn't leave her all alone with him anyway (lol). But well how was it? Seeing both a sick Kasane and Nobunaga? Which one did you like better? Or did you guys enjoy both stories? Eh... let's see the next story will be...oh...hmm...

I predict a lot of people will be blushing at the end of the next story. Or maybe a bit shocked? Hm... maybe both?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Well, I hoped everyone enjoyed all the stories I posted this week. Since there was the thanksgiving break, I had a lot more time on my hands than usual. I'm not sure I'll be able to upload anything tomorrow though. We'll have to see. So until next time, I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable day!