Heh! Here, at long last, is my latest update! Sorry it took so long to do. No amount of excuse would suffice…but I've updated now. Please bear with me for my slowness, though. I promise to finish this story, so hang on…ok?

Thank you for all the reviews! I truly appreciate your feedbacks and comments. As for the problem on the previous chap…yes, there was bit of a mistake in the answer to the prob…that was a huge typo, but I had immediately corrected it when it was pointed out to me. So I must apologize and thank the first readers of that chap for informing me of that anomaly. If the prob sounds wrong, you could always blame the creator of that problem…take a guess who, Yeah. Got that right! I used to be addicted to math…guess I'm a bit rusty. (laughing nervously) Please don't kill me.

Oh, and to those wondering why I was hammering on laboratory stuff…it was our Science week during that time, and I was feeling a bit loopy. Hehe. Ah… I love lab work best!

Hmm, anyways, I think I may be guilty again of OOCness on some chars here…I hope you don't mind. Of course, if there are errors, please inform me so that I may correct them! I hope I don't bore you.

So, on to the reading! Have fun!

On Illness and Weirdness

There was no one. Biting her lower lip with a gulp, the slim teacher strained her ears for a noise, any noise…

There was none.

Stealthily, she craned her neck…first to the left then to the right, as though she were crossing a lightless and dangerous road. The corridor was seemed truly deserted, but one can't be too sure. Kumiko took a deep breath before shuffling forward as quickly and quietly as she could; not an easy task when bearing a man-sized burden, literally.

I've got to hurry! Someone might see us. Peering over her shoulder, she added internally. He doesn't look too good…

Something akin to fear stabbed her calm demeanor. What was wrong with him? Why was he sick? Did she…did she do this to him? Kumiko quickly shoved the last thought from her head, labeling herself as both foolish and insane. How could she possibly do this to him? No one gets a fever after a—a smooch! She blushed at the thought. So he must've developed it overnight...after….after….

…after a night of more "smooching".

Aw, hell! She cursed inwardly. I don't have venom, do I? Or is this up commance for my unprofessional relationship with him? The thought made her cringe; she forced it to go away. She couldn't deny that there was nothing between them now, not after this craziness. But she didn't want to accept them either.

They had just reached the first floor. Intent on speed, Kumiko rashly turned a corner, somewhat confident on the absence of people on the floor. Unfortunately, she was quite mistaken.

Kumiko bounced back and fell heavily on the unconscious Shin with a grunt. Her surprise turned into quick anger as she screamed in anguish and worry, "Shin—OI, YAH IDIOT! WHAT'RE YAH DOIN'—"

Her mouth stopped its yammer in a wide "O" as she looked up at the equally surprised expression of his student's face. It was Kuma. "Yankumi? We thought you'd gone."

We? He said we! Of course, thought Kumiko with an internal smack, he wasn't alone. How could he be? As she was berating herself for her carelessness, Uchi's shrill voice broke the brief silence. "AHH! Look what Yankumi did to Shin!"

"EHH? Where—GAH! Shin-chan!" In a moment, all four boys were crowding over their fallen leader; Kumiko rolled out of their way and watched dubiously.

Uchi poked him on the sides while Minami lightly slapped his cheek in efforts of waking the redhead.

"He's knocked out cold—"

"Gah! Are you that heavy, Yankumi?"

Whack. "No I'm not!" she shrieked at Noda who earnestly rubbed his walloped head.

"Shin-chaaan!" wailed Uchi. "Yankumi, how could you!"

"I didn't do anything!" she fumed. That was partly true; who started the kissing anyway?

"Is he—is he—" gulped Kuma.

There was another resounding whack, this time aimed on another head. "Fool! Of course not!"

"What really happened, Yankumi?" asked Noda in a hushed voice.

Huh. What happened? Her infuriated mind seemed to suddenly slow and turn blank.

Tough question.

With that, the teacher blubbered incoherently an invented version of the rooftop scene, intimate details severely excluded. "—and then, while I was in the middle of recounting the uhm—the scene in—the uh—a fight scene in The Wife of the Yakuza, he suddenly paled and fainted on me!"

There was silence and questioning glances. Did they believe her?

Noda placed a hand on Shin's neck and cursed. "Damn, he's hot!"

"Yeah, I know," she muttered with a relieved sigh before smacking herself again for the double-meaning. This really wasn't the best time for silliness! "He's obviously sick. I only wanted to bring him home when I bumped into you guys."

"We'll help you!" said Kuma decidedly.

No! She initially planned to bring him to the Kuroda's family doctor. She can't have them trailing with her! "But—"

"Yeah," nodded Minami. "We have to be here for Shin-chan."

"We can't let you go alone—you can barely carry him. I mean—you're so small," added Noda.

A small vein twitched on her neck at the implication. "I thought you said I was heavy."

"Then you are?" he asked innocently. She had to glare. Smartass.

"Please, Yankumi! Let us go with you!"

She sat up carefully and looked around at their serious faces, her irritation replaced with admiration. This was real camaraderie! Tears instantly welled around her eyes and she sniffed. "You guys—are so—sweet!"

"Aw, Yankumi's crying again," muttered Uchi, freaked. The others looked peeved as well.

Reenergized with sheer inspiration, Kumiko stamped to her feet and bared her fists, fire burning through her whole being. "Alright! Let's go to Sawada's place! C'mon!"

And, with as much discretion that could be accomplished with four bumbling idiots and a petite female, they maneuvered Shin out of Shirokin and onto the almost deserted streets.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

Having the boys around, Kumiko realized, was an advantage. She need not be discreet; a geeky-looking teacher chaperoning a group of boys was less suspicious than a female teacher carrying her male student on her back. They reached Shin's place in less than fifteen minutes. They sat him gently beside the wall as Kumiko fumbled for the keys in Shin's pockets and found his wallet instead. But there was no key.

"Shin, wake up—we need to enter your place. We need a key—Shin!" she said, shaking him with urgency. He remained infuriatingly unconscious.

"Uh, I think he's really out cold," whispered Uchi nervously.

"Damn," she gritted. Without a key, breaking down the door was her next option but she daren't do it in the presence of her other students. "Where does Sawada have his keys?"

They shrugged. "We don't know. Kuma?"

"Dunno. Shin never tells. He has the key somewhere around his body, I think."

"How sure are you?"

"Well," he answered slowly. "I remember that Shin'd fumble his shirt for something before opening the door—"

Without another word, Kumiko grabbed his fronts of his uniform and unbuttoned it quickly.

"GAH! Y-Yankumi!"

"Nooo! Don't rape Shin!"

"SHUT UP! I'm just checking for the key in his body—he'd have it somewhere…" she trailed off, feeling for his body when his uniform was off. The other boys watched interestedly. Her hands smoothed through his sweat-soaked undershirt even as she forced her thoughts to remain neutral. Finally, her palms felt something below his ribs. She pulled the hem of his shirt up to reveal a secret pocket by the inner stitches. A grateful sigh escaped her lips at the sight of the apartment key.

"Here—go open the door," she ordered urgently as she handed the key to Kuma. Once it was open, they proceeded to ushering Shin inside. The apartment, Kumiko was surprised to see, was cleaner and more organized than she had expected so it was easier to find things that they would need: blankets, towels, basins… the boys fell to work as they moved unquestioningly under her direction.

Fortunately, Shin had a well-equipped medicine kit stashed in one of the cupboards. Knowing he wouldn't be able to swallow well, she grounded two aspirins and mixed it with tonic. All done, she made Shin sit upright.

"Shin, hey… drink this up—come on," she coaxed, leading a spoon to his mouth. Getting no response, she tried to pry his jaws open, to no avail. "Tch. He's really passed out,"

Kumiko nodded her thanks when Kuma placed the basin of water she asked for. It's been two hours at least since he collapsed, she thought worriedly as the damp towel touched his feverish skin—we could really do with a doctor…

"I gotta go," she said, standing abruptly.

"Ehh? You gonna leave us alone?" protested Kuma.

"I'll be back—and I hardly call five people including a sick man "alone"."

"B-but-what if something happens to Shin?" clamored Uchi, turning pale at the prospect.

"NOTHING'LL HAPPEN TO HIM!" she roared before controlling herself. And nothing'll happen if I lose it. "All right. He'll be ok—Shin is strong. A lil fever won't bring him down. Just continue sponging him. And I really won't be long—promise."

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

Where am I? Hazy green movement met him as he moved around, or rather, floated around. A park…? Suddenly he remembered what he was supposed to be doing…He was chasing something…a bunny.

Wryly, an idle thought told him that he was too old to go chasing bunnies. And with that came the automatic realization that he wasn't that old…after all, he was only 8 years old…

He ran as fast as his short legs could carry him, enjoying the dizzy spray of colors, eagerly following the dull gray movement from far ahead. Oddly enough, he didn't feel tired. But there a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach which he couldn't discern. "Ma?" he asked a figure beside him.

"Yes?" came her sweet voice.

"Where is dad?" He asked innocently.

Why does this scene feel so familiar?

"He…can't come."

Mother…she was so sad…I remember…

"But why?"

There was no answer. He was persistent.

"Ma…why isn't dad here? He promised, didn't he?"

She sighed in answer. Her words were unrecognizable to his ears but they were something that he would never forget, perhaps because he had heard it often enough before that incident, and even much more after that. Or perhaps, because it was, to the young and all-ready too perceptive Sawada Shin, the dawn of realization…

"…next time…he said, he'll be here, then and—"

There was a sudden shift of surrounding, and he suddenly found himself kneeling on the familiar floorboards of the Kuroda household. The scene was equally familiar, too.

The estranged father towered before him, his face shadowed with a mixture of anger, astonishment and derision. Kumiko, her grandfather and Kyou, he knew were standing behind him, their faces mingling with equal surprise and respect. He knew what he would be saying, too, before the words flew automatically from him.

"—But right now…this is what's important to me right now…more than anything. I don't want to leave them! My friends, my tea—" he stopped, directing a sideward glance at the alert expression on her face. He remembered glimpsing an approving and knowing smile from Kuroda…was that his imagination? He stared back at his lap and continued. "My teachers…aren't bad…either so…PLEASE!"

The scene moved away, and Shin was surprised that he was standing apart from his kneeling self. He seemed to lose his footing now and he fell into a deep abyss which seemed to never end…

Healthy grass seemed to part under the weight of his feet as he landed gently. He looked around wildly. The Kuroda's garden, cool wind, moonlight, an old tree…a small pond by the tree…and beside that…his eyes widened with horror in a vision which he had pushed night after night away from his mind.

With half-lowered lashes, Shinohara bent down to cover Kumiko's mouth with his.

Shin shook his head, knowing in his mind of minds that it was all a dream—such nightmares could only happen once in real life. The second-takes happen only in dreams… but it seemed too real.

Suddenly, they seemed to notice him and they moved towards him, smiling happily. "Shin, I'm glad, you're here!" bubbled the pig-tailed woman.

"Y-you are?" he said uncertainly.

"Of course," answered Shinohara, his smile secretive and somewhat triumphant. "We wanted you to be the very first to know…"

Shin's mouth widened in utter disbelief as the lawyer held her hand and held it up in the meager moonlight; there, on her slim ring finger was an expensive-looking diamond band. "We're engaged!"

With his free hand, Shinohara cuffed Shin's shoulder. "I've been meaning to ask…could you be my best man?"

Shin did the first thing he could think off: he shrugged the man's hand and, without another glance back, turned tail.

Kumiko…he cried out voicelessly as he ran into nothingness. Yankumi…no—it can't be! It's just a dream, no…no…

"NOTHING'LL HAPPEN TO HIM!" came an indignant scream. The illusion shattered and true colors focused before Shin's eyes. He breathed deeply. His body felt heavy. What happened? The last memories trickled through his brain as though automatically overwriting the jumbled dream—the rooftop…the kiss…the phone call…Yankumi…

I fainted, he realized along with the heavy jolt that crossed his temple.

That voice—Kumiko's—continued more calmly, "…All right. He'll be ok—Shin is strong. A lil fever won't bring him down. Just continue sponging him. And I really won't be long—promise."

She can't go, he thought, mind spinning on and on, understanding and not truly understanding the circumstances. She can't…

"Y-yankumi..." he coughed through a terribly bone-dry throat.

"Shin!" the loud clamor of voices distinctly hurt his already pounding head. It's like having a hangover, he thought. An extremely extended hangover. He cracked his eyelids a fraction and the swimming faces of his friends and beloved teacher entered his view.

"Are you ok?" murmured Kumiko. Her face, though wearied by anxiety, seemed prettier than ever.

"Don't go…please…" he pleaded weakly, not caring if his friends were there to hear him. Still, he cursed himself inwardly. Why the hell was he feeling so weak? What the fuck is wrong with him?

She bit her lip hesitantly. "But…"

"Don't worry! I'll go!" volunteered Ucchi. There was a sneaky expression on his face. Though lightheaded, Shin noticed it and looked at the others; no one else seemed to have noticed.

Kumiko, however, seemed surprised. "Eh? But—"

"We insist! Just give me the address—and you can also send me out to buy the other stuff we'll need."

"Wha—we?" Minami doubled over as Ucchi elbowed him quite roughly. Kumiko sweated.

"O-okay—"

"And I'll bring the others with me, too. For help, yah know? Right, guys?" said the freckled teen, giving all the others a wink. Noda and Minami (though still a bit miffed by the pain in his abdomen) grinned slowly and nodded simultaneously in comprehension.

"Yeah! We'll go with Ucchi…you know, he might get lost."

"Uh, whaddya winking for, Ucchi?" said Kuma slowly.

There were three sound whacks. "Shut it!"

"Eh, Yankumi, the address—hurry—" urged Minami.

Kumiko looked doubtful, suspicious and slightly nervous. Finally, her expression cleared and scribbled something on two separate papers. The first one was hastily written and folded with some money; the second was carefully written and folded as well.

"Here," she said, handing the first to Ucchi. "The address is in there…and also the set of medicines and bandages I require and the money you'll need for it. Oh, and buy some healthy food and drinks, too, ok?"

"No problem! Commander Ucchi is in charge!" Shin resisted the urge to roll his eyes and fell back on the pillows instead.

"Now, Kuma, when you reach the doctor, I want you to give this to him—" and with that, she handed the other note to the large boy— "Tell him that 'Miss Yamaguchi seeks his help'. Remember—give him the note!"

"Eh?" asked Minami. "What's in that note?"

"Nothing! And you better not look—coz if you do—" a fiery and sinister look stole across her face.

"Heheh…w-we kinda get what you mean, Yankumi," said Noda, slightly cowed by her tone and look.

"Good. Now, go!"

Once they were all gone, Kumiko sighed. "I hope they manage to find the doc without any trouble."

"You called for your family doctor—the backside doctor you told me about?" asked Shin curiously.

"Yes," she said with a laugh. "I told you 'bout him, eh? Hehe, I worry that it'll take him years to come…I mean, he's just so old."

"Hm. If he is, then we shouldn't bother him. I'm okay, really—"

"'Okay' my ass! Yah frickin' fainted on me! If that's you're definition of 'okay' then yah must be really ticked on the head," she finished, slightly irritated. Kumiko took a glass with purple, vile-looking substance from the end table.

"What's that?" he said, screwing his face.

"Mashed aspirins plus tonic," she answered gruffly, spooning some and pointing to his mouth.

The smell of medicine and energy drink wasn't near to appetizing. "Equals murder! Do you wanna kill me?"

"Heh. Quit being such a baby and drink this up." That shut him up, and after many gags and swallowed vomits, Shin managed to drink half of the glass without spillage. Kumiko found Shin's agony highly entertaining and, in spite of her better judgment, cute.

"That was tiring," he admitted, lying back again and closing his eyes for a moment.

"Yeah, really," she said, a bubble escaping her throat. Finally, she broke down laughing, slapping her thighs in amusement. Much to his pain, Kumiko even tried imitated his voice and expression.

"Haha. You're very funny. Enjoy yourself," muttered Shin, tactfully hiding his amusement with sarcasm.

Kumiko, placed her hand on Shin's forehead, then neck. "Hmm, you're still hot."

"Thank you," he smirked.

She reddened. "Not that 'hot' hot!"

Shin snickered and his vision doubled once more. His hand automatically reached for his forehead.

"Tch. You're exerting yourself too much."

"Hn." His vision was going black again.

"Rest, Shin…"

"Yankumi—don't leave me," he said, grasping her hand urgently, fighting to let her image stay in his eyes.

"I won't—I promise. Now…rest…"

Kumiko sighed as Shin fell back into unconsciousness. She rinsed the sponge and wiped the glistening sweat on his forehead and neck. Idly, she combed his bangs from his face, smoothing the fiery redness gently, ardently. The first thing she planned to ask once he woke was the reason behind his actions. But when he had woken up, she realized the futility—the foolishness—of the question. What would he say? He was probably making fun of her…that's right. Naturally, that would mean nothing to him…but "nothing" is impossible because there was definitely something going on between them! She wasn't imagining it, right? But what if it was just a little misunderstanding?

Of course…that's impossible, too…unless—well, that other explanation is highly ludicrous…

Because, she reasoned as she twirled one thick strand absently with her forefinger, it's just not possible for him to love me…

Stupid. You should not care if he loves you. You should not.

With a burdened sigh at her strange thoughts, she leaned forward, kissed his forehead, and watched him a bit more until his peaceful breathing lulled her to sleep.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

He drifted between reality and unconsciousness, jumbling and messing fantasy and reality. But he caught something quite coherent and he forced himself to stay somewhat awake for a bit longer.

"—assure you, it's just a tough case of flu. It's quite broad these days."

"How long before he gets better?"

"Give or take three days, if he gets the right medication and complete bed rest." There was a discreet sound of scratching and torn paper. "Here are the antibiotics—he should drink it thrice a day. You've given her aspirins?"

"Yes."

"Good. Just continue that medication for every four hours until he gets rid of the fever. Make him drink energy drinks and water for electrolytes and to avoid dehydration."

Shin weakly strained his ears as he heard her familiar sigh before falling back to dark abyss.

He rolled… onto grass again. The clouds crawled idly by forming shadows on the meadow. His arm automatically reached out beside him until he could pull onto her slender waist. Dark eyes met spectacled ones as she snuggled into his arms. Soft rhythmic breathing wafted at his neck and cheek, coming closer into a wet movement at a sensitive area between his neck and shoulder. A vague voice told him that it was only a sponge and not really a mouth, yet the illusion carried him far. When it was pulled back, he groaned her name over and over.

Yankumi…don't go. Yankumi, don't go!

He yearned to call out some more, afraid of more dreams, afraid of being alone to be enveloped by the unknown when something warm and tangibly real surrounded his body. A voice seemed to call him.

I'll never leave…

He zoned out again, mind filming alternately between fantasy and reality again. Reality, he felt, was too far for him to reach in his currently weak physical state, yet he continued his fight, especially fueled by his recent success and the warmth, coupled with the smell of tea leaves, surrounding his body now. He no longer cared if it was a dream or not; all he knew was that it energized him. His friends were worried, he was sure…and of course, there was still his pig-tailed woman to think of…

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

"He-he-he." A wide triumphant grin was a-spread on Ucchi's face, which, though highly characteristic of him, failed to remove the other teens' worry for his sanity.

"Are you sure 'bout this?" whispered Minami urgently, eyes darting from the door to the CD which his friend was holding.

"'Course I am! It'll wake Shin up!"

"What if Yankumi finds out?" asked Noda, sweating at the very idea. No matter how petite the teacher looked, the picture of her swinging a bat at their heads kept swimming into his mind view. The rumors of her studying self-defense were nowhere near reassuring.

"She won't!" justified Ucchi as he determinedly fixed the CD onto the player. "And she'll pro'ly thank us later when she arrives to see Shin awake."

"Are they really…you know…together?" the question made Kuma red in eagerness.

"Hell, yeah! I'm sure of it!" grinned Ucchi again. "Commander Ucchi knows everything!"

"Bullshit."

"Yeah. Whatever."

"Come on, guys! Can't yah feel it? The lovey-dovey tension between them? Heh!"

"Hmm, it's really cool a bit, yah know?" Noda gave a toothy grin which matched the freckled teen's excited one. "I mean, they're together!"

"Yep! Means our efforts weren't futile," added Ucchi with a nod. The others glanced at each other questioningly as if to ask, what efforts?!

"Eh, hell, but what if they aren't?" argued Minami.

"Let's just wake Shin up already!" retorted Kuma, glancing worriedly at Shin. "Then, we can ask him later."

"Yeah! Let's!" cried Ucchi.

"Wait! What if that guy's wrong?"

"Minami! How could you even ask? The guy knew everything! He even knew my favorite number!"

"He's a porno dealer—"

"So? Does being a porno dealer hinder with wisdom?"

"Uhh…"

"Exactly!"

"Eh…I think Minami's got a point—"

"Not you too, Noda!" wailed Ucchi.

"See here…can a sleeping guy—er—wake up when we make 'im watch porno?"

"He said so! I believe him. After all, you said so yourself—he is a porno dealer, so he's bound to know that stuff."

"I'm not sure this is okay, man, I mean how could he wake up like that?"

"Remember what he said? 'He is sure to get aroused even in deep sleep'! Man, this is the key! I know it!"

"But—"

"It mightn't work! What if Yankumi comes while—?"

"Damn it, we've talked 'bout that already—"

"Stop it, guys!" said Kuma loudly. They all stopped bickering and stared at the big teen. He continued. "I don't care whatever the plan is—let's just wake Shin-chan! I don't think he'll like it if the first thing he hears are you guys shitting over stuff." He huffed; it was the longest thing he said that day.

They all fell silent and equally penitent. "He's right," muttered Noda. "If it's for Shin, let's do it."

"We'll risk it all for Shin!" said Minami bravely.

Ucchi nodded seriously and smiled theatrically at them before pressing the play button. "Sayonara, troops."

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

The door tingled open as Yankumi tiredly swung the tiny plastic of flu medications over her shoulder and pushed her way out. Dark circles of worry shrouded her spectacled eyes but she shook her head resolutely; the worst was over. Shin was recovering. She slowed her brisk walk into a gentle pace as her mind wandered.

She vaguely recalled waking the night before at his moans. His bedside had been a familiar pillow for her. It was while sponging him again to rid the returning fever that he called out her name, like a nightmare-plagued boy calling for his mother. Bewildered by tiredness and sleep, Kumiko did the first thing which entered her head and lay in bed next to him, wrapping her slim arms over his still body, as though it would protect him from his delirium. It must have worked because he soon stopped shaking and lay still. In tiredness, she too drifted to sleep.

The young woman must've snuggled even closer to him for she woke up that morning in the worst state possible: arms and legs tangled with Shin's limbs. She had evacuated slowly from his bed, hoping to be excused from a very embarrassing interview which thankfully did not take place; he seemed too comfortable to wake.

He must've been very comfortable, indeed. She cursed herself. The gods must surely be having fun at her expense!

Kumiko rubbed the back of her neck and pushed her thoughts back again for later analysis. She rolled her shoulders back and forth—heaven knows she needed an exercise! Taking care of sick people can really take a huge toll on the caregiver.

She finally reached the apartment and sniffed, remembering how Shin's gang practically begged her to leave Shin to them so she could have fresh air. They were such loyal and good friends.

Shin's truly lucky to have them, she thought with her usual sigh.

She opened the door and was suddenly met with a high-pitched, lustful female voice unmistakably saying "Do me….Please…DO ME! Haaaaai….." and the sight of the three adolescents nose-bleeding and crowded at the TV screen. Shin was still thankfully unconscious.

She should've known better than speak too soon.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

The world seemed to spin, which was impossible since his eyes were tightly shut. What happened? He thought disjointedly. No matter how hard he tried to open his eyes he just couldn't find the strength. He no longer felt hot. Despite all these wandering thoughts, a few voices from beyond the blackness gave him the reassurance that he wasn't alone.

"—YAH PERVERTS!" Kumiko's obvious outrage was far from reassuring, though.

"But, Yankumi—"

"We were just trying to wake him up!"

"Yeah! The fortune-teller guy said—"

"I don't fuckin' care what he said! OUT!"

"But, Yankumi! You can't doubt him! He knows this stuff like a pro! He's a porno dealer!"

"WHAT—?!"

"Yeah! And he said that this movie was a panacea—the very answer to our problems!"

There was a moment of silence and the whole situation processed and jammed in Shin's head like an avalanche. What the fuck—

"BULLSHIT! OUUUUT!" A couple of shoves, protests and a distinct bam told him that that the boys were gone and that he was alone with Yankumi. The facts slowly pieced themselves together in his head as he recalled his latest memory.

The bright light of his surroundings crashed with his vision as he opened his eyes. The world seemed to spin faster and he choked on his rising vomit. But he immediately saw what he was looking for; a very familiar figure was sitting next to him, face a-blur to his vision but distinctly knitted in irritation. She didn't seem to notice him regaining consciousness, apparently too engrossed checking a thermometer in her hand. He found his voice, "Y-yankumi—"

"Shin!" she cried both in choked surprise and relief. "You're awake! Then—it worked…?"

Best feign ignorance, he thought; nevertheless, he felt himself flame as red as his hair as he inquired. "What worked?" His mouth felt as dry as his first awakening.

She blushed hotly and waved a hand, buying the ill-acted confusion in his face. "Never mind." Yankumi immediately fetched a glass of lukewarm water and held it to his lips. He downed it in three gulps and breathed deeply; even just drinking water exhausted him. But somehow, his head was no longer as heavy. The pounding in his head was still there, perhaps due to being long unconscious.

"How long was I—"

"The whole day yesterday...and a half today since it's already past noon."

"What—ow," and he clutched his forehead, his surroundings seemingly eager to spin off the axes. A whole day! It felt more like just a couple of hours. But the weariness in his body told him otherwise.He tried to move in an alternate position, causing him to swoon slightly.

"Idiot! Tch," she adjusted his covers and pillows to make him more comfortable.

"I remember hearing someone saying that I just had flu. It wasn't a dream?" he asked suddenly. Shin felt ashamed of himself—what a baby he was, fainting at little illnesses!

She affirmed. "A bad case of flu. Hey, don't gimme that face—I'll have yah know that people die from flu."

"Careless people."

"No matter what typa people they are. It's still a cause of death."

"People die from tripping."

"Old people—well, some young, but—"

"'Still a cause of death.'" he mimicked with a small smile.

Kumiko giggled and mirrored his smile. "So this mean's you're okay now."

Shin nodded and thought for a moment before saying. "Thanks…and sorry. I—must've worried everyone."

"Damn right you have! Kuma, Uchi, Noda, Minami…and the rest of the class, of course! Kyou-san even came here yesterday eve—told your pals that he's your uncle. Heh. Grandpa would've visited but he had business matters to attend to."

"You took care of me?"

The twenty-three year old suddenly seemed surprised by the question. She bit her lower lip and muttered. "Yeah—well, you wouldn't have managed without help—"

"I'm sorry…for worrying you," he murmured honestly, ignoring the rest of her statement.

What she originally intended to say no longer mattered. Meeting his deep gaze, she murmured softly. "I'm glad you're okay now."

Shin didn't answer; instead, he moved his hand over hers and smiled. All the sense and rationality in the world no longer seemed to matter; all else seemed to melt away.

They fell silent for a while.

Did you fall asleep? Should I get you…

Pillows (to suffocate the author with) ?

Sleeping pills (to put the author to eternal sleep with) ?

Or just a good bottle of cyanide (to poison the author with) ?

Please review! Thank you very much!