A/N: Okay. Can we all say "it's been awhile"? o.O; I never meant to be off FFN for this long. But it has happened and I do apologize for that. It's been an interesting few months, but I renew my pledge that I will not leave my stories unfinished. I've just been having a lot of trouble coming up with anything, much less writing it down into something enjoyable. Writing should be fun, not a hassle. I apologize again, but I hope any of my old readers will understand. You know I love you all. (hugs)
Chapter 7: First Cold (In Heaven)
The entire thing started with a simple sneeze. Nothing unusual there-until it happened a second and third time; to which Konzen quietly reasoned with himself that his little 'pet' had finally developed an allergy to the precious flowers he spent so many hours choosing, picking, and arranging. It left a bittersweet taste in his mouth to think the brat might not be able to decorate his office with the stemmed bits of color anymore. But then Konzen figured that even a fatal allergy to the damn plants wouldn't be enough to stop Goku from picking them for his 'sun'-no matter what the consequences may be.
After watching in mild revulsion as the boy wiped his nose with the back of his hand, the blond deity quickly grabbed a box of tissues and threw it towards the sniffling boy. Never being as quick on his feet around his guardian as during other times, the box sailed through the air until itsmacked against the Goku's head with a soft thud.
"Ow! Hey, Konzen, what was that for?"
The blond rolled his eyes. "They're called tissues. Use them to wipe your nose and not your hand."
The boy looked down to the box and blinked. "Why?"
Konzen looked upwords, as if silently praying to some mystical higher power that resided above heaven itself and sighed.
"Because snot is disgusting-more so when it's on the back of your hand. Use the tissues or die, got it?"
"Got it."
"Good."
The subject was deemed closed and Konzen returned to his paperwork. After a few minutes of curious silence, he looked up to see what could have engrossed the energetic boy to hold his tongue for such a period of time.
The sight his eyes met would have been called amusing by an outside observer; and judging by the lopsided grin that Tenpou wore as he stood silently at Konzen's door, that thought had definitely wound its way into the brunet's head.
Goku, for all his innocence and curiosity, had decided to indulge Konzen in his words of wisdom and use the offered box of tissues. Obviously, his nose had started to leak; to which thechild had decided that the best way to stop said leak, would be to plug it up. Thus, half a box of tissue was now firmly folded and squeezed up each of his nostrils, flowing out and down his lips like a bad mustache. He was now breathing through his mouth, adding to the amusement of the situation by causing the flowing bits of tissue to flutter up with each exhale of air, and idly folding a few pieces of tissue into different shapes.
Konzen wondered if it was snot or brains the monkey was trying to keep in his head.
Tenpou wondered if Konzen knew he was smiling at the scene before him.
But, such moments of childish hilarity had to be broken, and a low growl from Konzen was all it took. Goku looked up quickly, causing the tissue to flutter sharply, giving off an odd little popping sound as they rushed to catch up with his head. Startled, and amazed by the noise, Goku tried to look at the paper up his nose, going cross-eyed in the process.
Konzen barely managed to feign annoyance and put his head in his hand to disguise the laughter that wanted so desperately to spill out.
Tenpou, however, managed to step around the earth-child quickly enough to see the boy's face and promptly began to giggle.
"Don't encourage him."
The Field Marshall laughed again and turned towards his friend. "You obviously gave him the box of tissues, and you tell me not to encourage him?"
Konzen opened his mouth to speak, but oddly enough, nothing would come out.
"Hey, Tenpii!"
Tenpou looked down, amused all the more by the slightly nasal pitch added to the boy's voice due to the nasal blockage, and smiled.
"I'm soooo booooorrreeddddd!"
Tenpou chuckled. "Perhaps you'd like to go with me while I try to find Kenren? It's not very exciting, but it's something to do."
Not really caring about what they did, so long as he was able to get out of Konzen's stuffy office, Goku quickly nodded his head, resuming his cross-eyed position when that little popping noise choose to make an appearance again.
Tenpou grinned again and turned back to the blonde. "You don't mind, do you Konzen? I'll keep a close eye on him."
Konzen snorted. "By all means, off with you both. Maybe I can actually get some work done today."
The Field Marshall chuckled and picked up the half-used box of tissues before sliding them into one of his over-large coat pockets. He smiled at Konzen's upraised eyebrow.
"Back-up." He answered simply. "Come on Goku."
The two left, Tenpou desperately suppressing his laughter as Goku continue to question him about various things in his new nasal voice. Konzen sighed and leaned back in his chair, enjoying the peace engulfing his office at his charge's departure.
It was sometime close to dinner when Goku was returned to him, supported by a worried Tenpou and a slightly miffed Kenren. Neither God spoke when they entered, simply carried Goku past Konzen and into his room. Kenren re-entered the study a few seconds later, leaving the Field Marshal to finish taking care of Goku. Konzen raised an eyebrow in silent questioning at their behavior and the General sat down in a nearby chair before he finally answered.
"Your monkey's sick."
"Don't be ridiculous." Konzen snorted. "It's probably just an allergy or something."
Kenren shook his head. "Trust me on this one. The boy's sick. We thought the same thing since he was just sneezing and all. But a few minutes ago we noticed he was really quiet and –"
"He has a high fever." Tenpou finished quietly, shutting the door as he entered the office. "Nothing life-threatening, but still high."
Konzen sighed. Great. A sick monkey. Just what he needed.
"He fell asleep almost the instant he laid down." The brunet continued. "I imagine he's managed to catch a cold somehow. Though I can't imagine from whom since I've hardly ever seen someone with a cold in heaven before…."
"Fine." Konzen said with a growl. "How do we fix this?"
"Hmm. We probably have some cold medicine buried in the first aid shed somewhere. I'll search around and see what I can find. In the meantime, keep a close watch on him. Try a cold compress to help bring his fever down and make sure he drinks plenty of fluids."
The blond nodded wearily, already dreading the coming headaches a sick Goku would be sure to bring his way. "Anything else?"
Tenpou silently contemplated for a few moments. "You may want to go easy on foods until he feels better. Soups and such."
Kenren smirked. "Yeah, wouldn't want the monkey up-chucking on your fine floors…"
Konzen shot the General a nasty look, to which both men recognized a clear sign to leave. Once both Gods had been disposed of, Tenpou promising to return soon with the medicine, Konzen sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He could only hope this cold would be as quick to leave. Giving in to his fate, he quickly filled a bowl with cool water, grabbed a rag, and silently entered Goku's room.
Tenpou had left a light burning, much to Konzen relief, and he sat down beside the now wheezing boy quietly. He pressed a hand to Goku's forehead, damning silently that yes-the boy did have a fever, and proceeded to ready the washcloth.
After a few minutes of dabbing the cool cloth across the boy's face, Konzen finally realized how incredibly quiet the room was. Goku was deep in sleep, punctuating the silence only with his intake of breath, which caused a short wheeze from his chest to escape. A few minutes more, and Konzen discovered that he was actually relaxed; the rhythmic endeavor of cooling the boy down having slowly leaked the apprehension from his over-worked body. A loud cough suddenly echoed through the room and Konzen started backwards when Goku suddenly sat up, awakened by his own noise. The earth-child's golden eyes were clouded with haze and he continued to cough, ignorant to Konzen's presence as his body desperately tried to be rid of the offense buried in his lungs. The blond deity's reaction was instinctual, his hand reaching forward to calmly smooth up and down the boy's back in an effort to calm the fit.
After a few moments the coughing subsided and Goku relaxed, leaning forward a bit as Konzen's hand continued to stroke his back. A small knock at the door caused Konzen to pull his hand back.
"Come in." he said softly.
Tenpou pulled the door back and held a small bottle up for inspection. "Found it."
Konzen nodded and watched as the Field Marshal carefully dispensed the necessary amount into the cup provided before setting the bottle down and squatting down next to Goku.
"Goku?"
The boy looked up wearily, his eyes unfocused as he turned towards the familiar voice next to him.
"Goku, I have some medicine for you to take."
Obviously not completely gone, and remembering Kenren's teasing about how disgusting medicine tasted, the boy shook his head furiously and clamped his mouth shut. A bit of a mistake, he learned, as a small hint of dizziness almost made him lay back down. Tenpou sighed and muttered something about paying Kenren back for this one before trying again.
"It doesn't taste bad Goku and you need to take it to get better."
Gokurefused again, shaking his head a lot slower this time.
Konzen, not one for patience or games, rolled his eyes and snatched the cup from Tenpou's hand before thrusting it under Goku's nose.
"Take it or you eat soup and crackers for the next month."
It took a few minutes, but Goku's fever-ridden brain finally registered the threat and his eyes widened accordingly. Less than a second after realization hit, the boy opened his mouth and allowed the liquid to be poured in. He swallowed, reluctantly, and spent the next few moments smacking his mouth in an effort to be rid of the nasty taste. Tenpou smiled and handed the bottle over to the boy's keeper, explaining about dosage and times before leaving back to his own residence.
Konzen sighed again. How in the hell was he suppose to watch over the boy without staying up all night? He reviewed the options silently, cursing each one until the only plausible reason was found. Goku had managed to fall asleep sitting up in the meantime, so Konzen took extra care in pickinghim up before moving to his own room. He settled Goku down, placing the medicine and a glass of water on the bedside table before changing and slipping into bed.
He silently prayed sleeping next to a sick monkey wouldn't cause more trouble than had already ensued before he fell asleep.
Konzenawoke some time during the night to find the bed missing one monkey. Sighing and cursing to himself,the Godrolled out of bed and went in search of the missing boy. After searching every room, he was about to try going outside when a small cough lead him back into his office. A second cough found Goku curled up under his desk, knees draw up to his chest with his arms wrapped loosely around his legs.
"What are you doing under there, idiot?" he asked quietly.
Goku looked up, startled by the voice, and Konzen could see the fever was still presence in his eyes.
"Konzen," the boy whispered his voice rough from coughing. "I don't feel good."
The blond sighed and opened his arms. "Come on, get out from under there before you freeze to death."
Goku hesitated for a moment before dragging himself out and curling up to his guardian's embrace. Konzen wrapped his arms around the boy tightly, hugging him for a few moments before standing up with Goku in his arms. He felt a head rest gently on his shoulder and two arms wrap loosely around his neck and smiled.
Alright, so sick monkeys could be cute.
The next few days passed in much the same way as the cold slowly retreated from Goku's body. Konzen couldn't say which he preferred-the silent and clingy Goku or the noisy and clingy Goku. But either which way it didn't seem to matter what he preferred; the noisy and clingy Goku was soon returned to him in full force and he was thankful that at least he didn't have to dish out more of the disgusting smelling cold medicine.
At the end of the first day in which Goku had been well enough to venture back outside, Konzen found himself sitting at his desk, grumpily reading and signing documents in an effort to catch up the work he'd missed while attending to the sick monkey. It was close to dinnertime when the boy finally came back, carrying a small bouquet of various flowers in his hand. He was unusually silent as he filled a small vase, placing the flowers inside and arranging them to his liking before setting the new masterpiece on Konzen's desk. Goku then proceeded around the desk, pulling Konzen's chair out with the blond in it.
"What the-"
The boy didn't stop, despite the harsh tone, he merely proceeded to climb into his guardian's lap and wrap his arms around Konzen's neck. The blond sat frozen for a few moments, un-use to such demanding displays of affection from his charge, before he finally wrapped a loose arm around the boy and hugged back. Goku pulled back after a minute or two, a dazzling smile lighting his face and he quickly pecked Konzen on the cheek before embracing the God again.
"Thank you for taking care of me, Konzen." He said quietly.
Not one to stay in one place for long, Goku quickly departed, scampering off to no doubt catch up on the trouble he'd missed during his cold.
Konzen remained fixated on the spot, taking stock of everything that had just happened before he finally leaned back in his chair.
And smiled.
(End.)