By the time Dan had gotten out of the shower, he could smell his mom's cooking wafting through the house. He got dressed and went downstairs where everyone was sitting at the table. His mother was setting still steaming plates of food down in front of everyone. Dan went and sat between Baron and Mira and said "This looks delicious Mom, thanks."

"You're welcome dear." she smiled and sat across from him, a mug of tea in her hands.

Dan started digging into his food and to his left Baron started eating with as much gusto as he was. He tried to enjoy his food, but at the same time he couldn't ignore the empty space on his shoulder, the queasiness in his stomach, and the way his skin felt hot and cold at the same time. He set his fork down and stared at the table. "It's not working." he said in a strangled voice.

Feeling everyone stare at him, he got up from the table and dragged himself upstairs to him room, shutting the door behind him. He sat down on his bed and put his face in his hands. "I'm sorry Drago." he whispered.

After awhile he heard someone quietly stop outside his store and listen for a minute, then leave. Dan knew he should get up, go out and train with Baron, something, but it was hard to make himself do it. He let his hands fall into his lap, then fisted them and stood up. He went out of his room and went downstairs here Baron was sitting on the couch talking with Nemus. Mira, Julie, and Runo were in the kitchen doing the dishes, and his mom was putting some clothes in the washer.

"Baron, come one. It's time to go." Dan said.

"Wh-what? Right now? Are you sure?" Baron asked, surprised.

"No time like the present." Dan headed out the door, Baron moving along behind him.

I'll get you back Drago! Dan thought, his skin weirdly hot. Come hell or high water I'll get you back buddy. I promise.

-x-

After Dan and Baron left, Mira, Runo, and Julie helped Mrs. Kuso around the house: doing the dishes, changing sheets, and folding laundry, trying to take some of the stress off Mrs' Kuso, but also doing something to distract themselves. Between the four of them though, pretty soon there was nothing left to do.

"Why don't you girls go and relax? I can handle this last load of clothes by myself." Dan's mom said. So the three of them went into the living room and deliberated on what to do.

"Why don't we watch a movie?" Julie suggested. "They have Netflix here."

"A movie doesn't sound bad." Runo admitted.

"What kind?" Julie asked, scrolling through the genre's available. "Sci-Fi, horror, romance..."

"How about a Rom-Com?" Mira asked.

Julie obligingly clicked on the Rom-Com section and scrolled through various titles before settling on one called Carolina. They settled in to watch it, but just as the opening credits came on Julie spoke "Hey, Runo, what's going on between you and Dan? You've barely spoken to each other. Are you two having a fight or-?"

"We broke up." Runo said shortly.

"No way!" Julie gasped. "Why did you break up with him? Or did he break up with you?"

"He broke up with me." she replied sourly.

"Why?!"

"I don't know. He was just being a jerk." Runo said bitterly.

"No he wasn't!" Mira snapped, sharper than she meant to. Runo and Julie were staring at her. Her face burned. "I-I mean, he must've had a reason for doing it right?" she stammered out.

"Yeah, whatever. Let's just watch this stupid movie." Runo said and twisted back around so she could see the screen. Julie watched Mira for a moment and giggled nervously before turning back to the movie as well. Mira's heart wasn't really into it anymore though. Why had she gotten so defensive over Dan like that? It wasn't normally like her. She tried to pay attention to the movie as best she could.

They had gotten a third of the way through the movie, which was pretty good, when they heard dragging noises and grunts of effort outside the front door.

That must be Dan and Baron thought Mira. She turned when the door opened and felt her heart stop in her chest. Baron was standing there, panting, Dan unconscious, pale, and covered in a thin layer of sweat, even though they hadn't been gone long enough to really do much. That's when she noticed that Dan was flushed with fever. Mrs. Kuso came, saw the two of them at the door, and rushed over to help Baron. They carried him up the stairs. Mira, feeling a sense of deja vu, followed. They got Dan to his room, where Baron was rattling off what happened. "Pushing himself too hard...Looked uneasy for days...Just passed out...Still tried to get back up..."

Mrs. Kuso told him to grab a damp washcloth and the thermometer from the bathroom. He got it for her and she thanked him, and told him to go wait outside, and shut the door.

They all waited outside nervously and Mira said "He really needs to take it easy. He'll never get Drago back if he keeps pushing himself like this."

"What do you mean Mira?" Baron asked.

"I mean, what if he pushes himself too hard? What if he thinks he's ready to fight Spectra too early and loses? He'll never come back from it."

They all absorbed this in silence, listening to the faint sounds on the other side of the door as Mrs. Kuso moved around, trying to get Dan settled. It was several minutes before she came out. "He's asleep now. You should all just give him some space right now."

"Is he going to be okay?" Julie asked.

"He just has a high fever is all. It'll burn out eventually. You all go back downstairs now."

Everyone went back downstairs except for Mira, who asked "Is it okay if I sit with him? Just for a little while?"

"That's okay dear. Just don't wake him up."

Mira nodded. She quietly opened Dan's bedroom door and closed it behind her. All the lights were off in the room, the only source of illumination coming from the half-closed blinds. Mira pulled the desk chair next to Dan's bed and sat down and looked at him. His face was damp from sweat and the washcloth draped across his forehead. He was completely tucked into the blankets, and Mira remembered her father doing that for her when she was sick, saying it would break the fever faster. Dan's breathing came out in ragged, uneven gasps, like each breath pained him. Mira felt a sudden and uncontrollable urge to touch. Hesitantly, in case he woke up, she reached in and laid her hand on his cheek. It was so hot, like it had been light on fire. She trailed her fingertips down his cheek to his lips, which were slightly chapped, and felt his breath hitting her hand. She moved her hand again, to his hair, and stroked it away from his face. He made a noise then, and Mira pulled her hand away, fearful he might wake up. When nothing happened, she sighed. He looked so defenseless in his sleep, so young. Mira felt something stir inside of her.

Slowly, hesitantly, almost fearfully, she leaned forward and laid her head on Dan's chest, right over his heart. She heart his heart beat in her ear, steady and calming. For once, Mira felt comfortable, like everything was okay, like everything was right. She closed her eyes...

In the dream, Mira was in the park on Vestal. But instead of Keith, Dan was there. He was holding her hand and laughing with her about something. He reached out and stroked her hair, then kissed her cheek, smiled at her like she was the only thing that mattered to him. And then she saw it: the mist. Spectra came walking out of it, an evil smirk twisting his face. Behind him, a pair of red eyes glowed with malice and a loud roar shook the ground. Dan stepped in front of Mira, to protect her. Mira tugged on his arm while Spectra laughed and the beast behind hims blasted out a stream of flames at Dan. Mira screamed.

Mira woke up with a strangled gasp, he head still on Dan chest, where he was still unconscious, and she knew, Mira knew.

She was in love with Dan Kuso.

Whew, sorry about the delay. Everytime I would sit down to type, something always came up. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.