He looked at his clock. 4:59. He stared down the minute hand. Five, four, three, two, one. Finally!

He jumped up from his desk and grabbed his coat and briefcase. He jerked open the door and almost collided with Tsuzuki and Hisoka.

"So sorry boys." He straightened himself, and began readjusting his tie as a diversion. Hisoka nodded in greeting.

"No problem, Tatsumi-san. Why all the rush? In a hurry?" Tsuzuki winked.

"As a matter of fact, yes. I have an prior engagement I need to get to. If you'll excuse me."

He began to maneuver around the couple when Tsuzuki caught his arm. "Hey Tatsumi? Do you know where Watari is? I haven't seen him today."

"Actually, yes. He's at home sick. He has the flu. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?" He narrowed his eyes. Hisoka turned his head to hide the small smirk playing on his lips. Tsuzuki's eyes widened. He dropped his hand and began to back up the way he and Hisoka had just come.

"Er, n-no sir."

"Really? That's not what I heard."

Hisoka coughed. His emerald eyes were dancing with amusement. Tsuzuki glared at him.

"Well, anyway. I'll see you gentlemen later." Tatsumi departed, waving backwards. He heard Tsuzuki whining behind him.

"'Soka-chan, why didn't you help me?"

"For what? You did it to yourself."

"You didn't help me this morning either!"

"As I recall, it was your clumsy ass who tripped over air, slid into me and skidded into the water cooler. I didn't make you fall." Tatsumi could almost hear Tsuzuki pouting.

"I would've helped you up."

"Liar. You would've laughed at me and never let me live it down."

"Uh-uh. I wouldn't have laughed."

"You suck at lying."

"Fine. I would've laughed after I helped you up."

"You probably would laugh while you're helping me."

"Well, anyway, when can I sleep in the bed again?"

"When you learn to wear socks to bed and can manage sleep without snoring."

"But I can't help the snoring, Soka-chan! Its a gift from the gods."

"They can have it back."

By then Tatsumi was out of earshot. He shook his head at the two's antics. I wonder will Yutaka and I be like that one day? He smiled.

Finally arriving at Watari's apartment door, Tatsumi placed his packages on the hallway floor and retrieved the spare key from under the welcome mat. Unlocking the door, he placed the key back under the mat.

"Hey Watari! I thought I'd come by and check on you. I would've been here sooner, but there was a line at the store," he called into the vast apartment.

He listened for a sound. Nothing. "Watari?" He began to move toward said shinigami's bedroom.

"Yutaka?" He peeked his head into his door. He saw Watari's half naked form draped halfway off of the bed. The unconscious man was still reaching towards his nightstand with telephone in his hand. Tatsumi felt his lips arch upwards into a smile. Apparently he passed out after he got off the phone with me. He walked over to the bed and began to gently shake the scientist.

"Watari?"

Said person mumbled something and tried to turn over. Tatsumi shook him a little harder. "Watari?"

Tatsumi watched as his eyelids opened and golden eyes began to stare back at him.

"Tatsumi?" Tatsumi watched as Watari's lips parted into a breathtaking smile. Gods, pretty doesn't even begin to describe him. He felt his own lips quirk in turn.

"Hi. I just thought I'd stop by and check on you."

Watari's smile grew. "Thank you."

Tatsumi leaned down and kissed his forehead. "My pleasure, and I got you some things." He said while going back out the door. He retraced his steps to the couch. He grabbed the bags and returned to the bedroom. He reached inside and pulled out a box of TheraFlu decongestant powder, a can of disinfectant spray, a bottle of chloraseptic throat spray, and a bottle of Crown Royal whiskey.

Watari leaned over and grabbed the glass bottle. "Whiskey? Really?"

"Yes. I'm giving you a choice. You can either drink a cup of TheraFlu, bundle up and sleep it off or take two shots of whiskey, bundle up and sweat it out."

A wicked grin decorated the scientist's face. "Hmm. Which one should I choose? Decisions, decisions."

"You're getting the TheraFlu."

Watari's face fell. "I thought I got a choice."

"I lied. If the TheraFlu doesn't work, then you'll get the whiskey."

A pout decorated Watari's mouth. "Meanie."

The secretary smirked and handed the scientist the throat antibiotic. "Spray."

"Fine." He snatched the bottle from the other man and opened his mouth wide. He pressed the nozzle three times and grimaced. "Damn! That was the worst thing I think I've ever had in my mouth!"

The secretary's eyebrows almost met his hairline. "Is it, now?"

The glare the blonde sent his way was positively murderous. "Oh, shut up."

A soft chuckle floated past Watari. "Sorry, love. Although in my defense, you said it. Anyway, that was the only flavour I could find, so you'll just have to grin and bear it."

"Sadist."

Tatsumi couldn't help the smirk that stretched across his face. He picked up the TheraFlu box and tore it open. "I'll be right back."

"Mm-hmm." The blonde was busy rubbing a sheet of tissue across his tongue. Tatsumi just shook his head and headed to his companion's kitchen.