Thoughts began seeping into her memory, gently pulling her out of Morpheus' arms; Safe…soft…home at last…bed…teddybear…

Thoughts began seeping into her memory, gently pulling her out of Morpheus' arms; Safe…soft…home at last…bed…teddy bear…

Teddy bear? Miyuki frowned. She couldn't remember her teddy bear being more than 24 centimeters long, nor the stuffed animal being so…well shaped, because she was definitely using someone's bosom as a pillow.

Not wanting to disturb this moment of peace, Miyuki carefully opened her eyes to be greeted by long blonde curls gently brushing her face. Since when is my teddy blonde?

"Seems like mine is blonde now." Already closing her eyes again, Miyuki pulled teddy a bit closer. "Mine…"

"Yours, Miyuki?"

Miyuki's eyes snapped open and she lifted her head, looking up to a wide grinning goddess with beautiful green eyes. She groaned, knowing these words would haunt her for eternity and beyond if she would let Shizuma have her way.

"My teddy, I thought you were my teddy." Blushing at the confession of still sleeping with a stuffed animal, Miyuki had to remember herself not to kill her friend with the lamp on the night table as Shizuma burried her head into her pillow, laughing hysterically.

"Alright Shizuma, stop it before I smuther you with that pillow of yours!" Miyuki released her soon-to-be-killed-with-a-blunt-object-friend and moved to the other side of the bed.

"How did we end up in the same bed anyway?"

Trying to regain her breath, Shizuma sat up and hugged her pillow tightly, doing a huge effort not to burst into laughter, again.

"Well, I found a certain patient very unwilling to let go of her beautiful doctor, so the doctor decided to be a sacrifice for the benefit of the patient and stayed at her side. Not that it was such a big problem, the doctor even found it quite comfortable…once the patient stopped squeezing all the air out of her lungs."

Miyuki's cheeks reddened again in embarassement. Not knowing what to say, she simply dipped her head and mumbled an apology. She fumbled with the cords on the nightgown's sleeves, avoiding Shizuma's gaze.

Nightgown? I could've sworn I was wearing a purple robe before I fainted.

"Ah yes, I took the liberty of changing your clothes; that robe was soaked and I couldn't risk you getting even more sick. The flu is hard enough as it is, your body can't use pneumonia right now."

Placing her hand on Miyuki's forehead to check her temperature, she noticed her friends cheeks were now deep red and giving off enough heat to roast marshmallows. She decided her friend had gone through enough emotions for the time being and choose to remain silent about the pictures. That could wait untill Miyuki had recovered from her illness.

"It looks like the antibiotics are doing their job. Does your head still hurt? Much? No? Good! Your fever isn't fully gone, but I think the worst part is over."

Shizuma smiled at these words, trying to lighten Miyuki's mood. "Why don't you rest a bit more while I go and see if I can find something to make breakfast. Not too much though, I don't know if your stomach is ready for eggs and bacon just yet."

Miyuki snorted and sunk back into the pillows, deciding she could get back to Shizuma later…one way or another.

Relieved her patient agreed with her without the usual grumbling and protesting, Shizuma left Miyuki's room, planning on taking a little side trip to the front door before heading to the kitchen.

She opened the door, surprising the postman when he was just about to shove some letters and the newspaper through the letter box. In a few words Shizuma explained her unability to leave the house and asked him for a favor. She would tip him generously if he would agree on delivering a package for her.

The friendly man accepted and was handed a little, cheap camera with Shizuma's name and address written on it.

"Please bring this to the photographer in town, ask him to develop them and to give me a call when they're ready. I'm sure electricity will be up and running by the end of the afternoon. Don't worry about the payment, my name will speak for me if you tell him he will be rewarded for his work."

The postman nodded, handed Shizuma her letters and newspaper, promised to deliver the package as soon as possible and left. Hoping she was doing the right thing, Shizuma closed the door and made her way to the kitchen to prepare some breakfast. Normally she had servants to take care of these matters when she was at home, but ever since she was at university she'd insisted on living by herself. No servants, no parents. She had bought an apartment near her school and spent most of her days there, studying or relaxing. However, she liked spending her holidays in her house in the forests, so she had taken the opportunity to include the villa in her terms of leading a servants-free life. Knowing her parents, she had depended on the busy lives they lead, not having the time or interest to argue with their daughter.

Living on her own, Shizuma had learned how to cook and take care of the bills. For the cleaning, she had contacted a firm, well known for their good and reliable work, and hired two maids to do the cleaning.

Shizuma shivered while taking milk, toast and butter; she hated cleaning. Oh, she could've easily asked her parents for some maids, but then she would never feel entirely free. She wanted to be independent; another reason why she had chosen to go to university instead of marrying some guy her parents sought out.

No, she was perfectly content with her life, well…almost. She still felt there was something missing, but she couldn't pinpoint what it was. She always had an empty feeling in her chest, an open space, waiting to be filled up…if only she knew with what!

Strange, ever since Miyuki has come to visit me, I haven't thought about the emptiness anymore.

Shaking her head, Shizuma loaded everything on a plate and walked up the stairs.

Pushing the door open with her foot, Shizuma walked in the room smiling at Miyuki who was impatiently waiting for her.

"Finally!! What took you so long? I almost thought you had to milk a cow to get to the milk!"

"Impatient as always I see, perhaps you're not as ill as I thought you were."

"Impatient? Me? Never!"

Interrupted by the growling of her stomach Miyuki glared at her friend who placed the tray on the night table.

"Well, perhaps you aren't impatient, but that hungry beast you have there certainly is!" Shizuma chuckled as Miyuki's stomach continued to grumble.

Shizuma spread some butter over a piece of toast but pulled it back when Miyuki stretched her hand to take it.

"Shizuma! Come on, Shizuma, I'm hungry!!"

When Shizuma didn't hand over the object of her desire, Miyuki let out a frustrated cry and slumped back into her pillow, crossing her arms.

"Now now Miyuki, don't stress yourself. It's not good if a patient wants to do everything by themselves, you must let people take care of you so; hands off."

Not trying to hide the gleam in her eyes, Shizuma carefully brought the toast to Miyuki's mouth, seeing Miyuki look at her with curious eyes. Then, hesitating, Miyuki opened her mouth and took a careful bite, not once removing her gaze from Shizuma's face.

The blonde nodded and smiled, encouraging Miyuki to take another bite.

"See, it's not so bad now is it?"

Miyuki shook her head and chewed slowly. Shizuma took the glass of milk and brought it to Miyuki's lips. Thirsty from her fever, Miyuki opened them and drank, never noticing Shizuma's other hand supporting the back of her head, softly stroking her hair.

When she had enough she turned her head and looked back at Shizuma. Her friend smiled and set away the glass.

"My, my Miyuki, looks like you've grown a moustache."

The blonde reached out and wiped Miyuki's lips with her finger, removing traces of milk with a soft, featherlike touch.

Miyuki felt her cheeks redden and her heart started pounding a little faster.

What is going on? Why do I feel like…everything is falling?

Shizuma removed her finger from Miyuki's lips, grinned and licked off the milk, sending a shock through Miyuki's body like she was struck by lightning.

What am I doing?

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Heh, I'll leave you there. Sorry, it took a bit longer then I expected, but it's here

I hope you enjoyed it. Please let me know what you thought of it.

Disclaimer: Shizuma and Miyuki came to my room, on their own free will, and asked me to write this. If you've got any complaints, go and tell them!!