The next few days were fraught with anxiety for Fuu. She kept a fire burning constantly in the stove, but no matter how hot the room got or how many blankets she piled on him, Mugen shook with cold, drifting in and out of consciousness. The chills finally stopped, only to be replaced with fever, and he thrashed around, raving in delirium and struggling against her when she bathed him in cold water in an attempt to bring his temperature down.

She was completely exhausted by the evening of the second day when Mugen's fever broke, the sweat pouring from him as he moaned with relief. Fuu woke from her light doze on the floor next to the futon and sat up, rubbing her eyes, then leaned over him. "Mugen?"

He gazed up at her, taking in her pallor and the shadows under her eyes and whispering, "You don't look so good, girl."

"Thank you very much," she said unsteadily. "That's the first thing you've said in days that sounds like you."

Mugen looked startled. "Days?"

Fuu nodded. "Do you remember coming to the restaurant?" He nodded. "You got sick."

"Yeah, I remember feeling cold…." He licked his lips. "I could use some water." She got a cup and helped him drink and he lay back, closing his eyes.

Fuu felt Mugen's face. His skin was damp and cool and she sighed, then said softly, "You had me pretty worried." There was no response-he had drifted off to a peaceful sleep and Fuu took the opportunity to clean up and prepare some food.

It was several hours before the Ryukyuan woke, but when he did he seemed more like his old self, sitting up and asking crankily, "What's a guy got to do to get fed around here?"

"You could try asking like a civilized person." Fuu didn't try to keep the annoyance out of her voice-she was too busy trying to remember everything the doctor had told her before he left. If your friend survives this attack (he had paused at the stricken look on her face, then repeated resolutely) If your friend survives this attack, he has to rest and build up his strength. Let him sleep as much as he wants, and try to get him to eat. I'm going to leave you with some herbs to strengthen his system and help his appetite-he won't like the taste of them but it's important that he takes them. She brought a bowl of rice with slivers of fish and a brew of the herbs the doctor had left and Mugen fell on the food, then pushed it away after a few bites.

"What's the matter?" asked Fuu. He should be starving-it had been days since he had eaten.

"Doesn't taste right."

The girl picked up the rice and tasted it. "It's just fine, Mugen. Since when do you care about what something tastes like?" He shrugged and she looked at him in concern. His coppery skin had a grayish tinge and his eyes were still a little glassy. "The doctor said you need to eat. And he left some tea for you-here."

He took the cup and tasted it, then spat it out. "Tastes worse than your food."

"Mugen!" Fuu glared at him. "You drink that right now-all of it!"

He glared back but she didn't relent and he sighed and gulped the liquid down, grimacing. "That better be it, girl. I don't see why I should drink this stuff-I'm not sick anymore." Fuu's eyes filled with tears and he snarled, "Don't start whining. I still don't feel so hot-I don't need to hear you sniveling."

"Mugen."

There was something in her voice that stilled him and he said curtly, "Fine, what is it?"