COMFORT FROM A COW

Hatori came over in the next few hours, worried that Yuki was walking around when he knew he was sick. Sure, the rat did have a habit of getting sick a lot, but Yuki knew better than to go that far. From the sound of it, he had been running away from the house. Hatori, though, kept the questions to himself as he examined his family member. Yuki looked up at him weakly; his face was hot and flushed from being sick and embarrassment. He hadn't wanted Hatori to have to come all the way here. However, he probably shouldn't have run out of the house either. Who would be able to stay, though? If your brother had the nerve to press his lips against yours, well…Yuki sighed softly, glancing up to Hatori as he dug through his bag. "You have the flu," the dragon of the zodiac mumbled, "I'm pretty sure it's just standard. Sleep, drink water…all that."

"I'm sorry, Hatori."

The dragon looked up, watching Yuki's face for a long moment. His body was undergoing a massive amount of stress. It was remarkable that he stayed in his human form. Perhaps it was a sign that the curse's grip was becoming weaker. "You shouldn't have run out like that," Hatori replied, "It's not like you."

Yuki shivered and, with a pop, turned into the small rat. He popped out from under his sheet meekly and coughed. Frowning, he collapsed across the covers and looked up to Hatori. The man smiled careful, running a hand across the rat's back. Perhaps it hadn't been a sign after all; Yuki seemed to have been suppressing it for quite a while, by the looks off his tired eyes. "I'm sorry," Yuki squeaked.

"It's alright, Yuki," Hatori said after a moment of thought, "Just rest, okay? I'll tell Haru to make you some soup."

"There's no need to go through so much trouble."

"It's just a little soup. I'm sure you could use it. Don't worry so much, Yuki. Just get some sleep." Yuki nodded, snuggling close to the pillow as he closed his eyes. Hatori ran his finger across the other's back before he stood and went downstairs to the others. Haru, Shigure and Tohru looked at the doctor attentively. They only relaxed when Hatori smiled weakly at them. "He's fine. Just a little flu. Haru," the dragon said as he glanced to Hatsuharu, "Will you please make Yuki some soup."

Haru nodded. "Of course," he said before he went into the kitchen. Tohru ran after him, wanting to help as well. Together, they made nice, hot soup that would, hopefully, help coax Yuki's sickness out of him. As they were cooking, Ayame came back to the house. He slowly moved to the kitchen, afraid that his younger brother would be there, but he was relieved to find Haru and Tohru. "Ayame…what are you doing here," Haru asked curiously as he spotted Ayame.

The man smiled. "Oh, Haru, just dropping off this," Ayame boasted, holding up a jar of cinnamon peaches. He smiled at the two in the kitchen before he sat the jar down on the counter. "I just wanted to bring them for Yuki, is all…can you give them to him for me?"

"He's upstairs," Tohru said kindly, "If you want to go give them to him."

"Oh, no, no. I'm afraid I must be off. So much work to do and all that at the shop."

"Well, we'll be sure to give them to Yuki for you then," Haru mumbled.

Ayame grinned, spinning on his heel to leave. "Well, thank you, you two. I'll just see myself out now," he said happily as trotted out of the kitchen. Haru and Tohru stared after him, wonder what that had all been about. If Ayame wanted to give something to Yuki so suddenly, they would think he would do it himself.

Haru let out an exhausted sigh before returning to the cooking. "Well, that's Ayame for you," he remarked. The girl nodded in agreement. Tohru put the peaches into a bowl for Yuki; they would give it to him with his soup and tea. Haru took the tray and brought it up to the sleeping young man. He smiled compassionately, watching Yuki breath in deeply. His transformation must have woken him up because the rat of the zodiac was haphazardly dressed. At first, the cow wasn't sure if he should wake the other up or not, but he finally decided that the food would get cold if he waited; he didn't want it to be a waste. So, Haru set the tray off food aside and bent down next to Yuki before he gently shook the rat. "Yuki," he cooed softly, "Tohru and I made you some food. Hey, c'mon, wake up. It'll get cold."

Shifting, Yuki slowly opened his eyes to look up to Haru. He was still a little dazed, but Yuki sat up regardless as the cow got the tray from the dresser and sat it down in front of him. "Thank you for going through the trouble. I'll have to thank Tohru as well."

"I'll tell her for you," Haru replied.

"My brother was here, right?" Yuki stared at the peaches in the bowl, watching them as though they might suddenly move. He took the spoon with a sigh before he started to eat the meal that his friends had prepared for him. It was nice and warm, making him feel strangely better.

"Yeah. He brought you the peaches, but I'm assuming you knew that already."

"I did."

"We asked him if he wanted to give them to you, but he was very reluctant to even see you. What's going on, Yuki? It's not like you to be out like that when you're so sick."

Yuki frowned, putting a spoonful of the hot soup into his mouth. He knew it would eventually come to this. It had probably been killing Haru to see him like this. He looked to the peaches once more. "Haru," the rat mumbled softly, still reluctant to answer. How would Haru take it? How would anyone? "I woke up to my brother in my bed. I yelled at him, naturally…but…than he kissed me. So, I just ran."

"I see," Haru mumbled, "Why did you run, though?"

"I was scared. Why wouldn't I run?"

Haru looked to the rat knowingly. "Scared Ayame liked you too," he asked softly.

"Haru, that's…tha-that's," Yuki stuttered awkwardly. He dropped his head into his hands, shaking his head as though he was trying to get the evil out of him. It wasn't right to love your brother so much; not in that way, anyway. It just wasn't natural. "I'm sick, aren't I, Haru?"

The rat jumped when he felt an arm around him. "No. Love isn't sick, Yuki. Besides, Ayame seems to like you." Yuki looked up to Haru, staring blankly until he smiled just barely. He buried his head into Haru's chest, crying here and there as the other comforted him. After a long while, Yuki finally finished his meal, which had cooled a little, and fell asleep once more.