Chapter 3

I'm sorry this took so long to post. I had technical difficulties. I hope you guys aren't too upset about the wait. Thanks for all of your comments and, please, let me know what you think.

"Yusei, you up?" Jack called as he entered.

"It's one in the afternoon. He's probably out somewhere." Carly mumbled as she followed him.

"I doubt it. Aki's still here. He won't leave her alone while she's sick." Jack replied as he headed upstairs.

Jack stealthily poked his head into Yusei's room. He gasped at the scene before him, Aki had her head on Yusei's chest and his head was on hers. "Carly, they're still asleep, let's go."

"What? Let me see." Carly peeked inside. "Aww, how adorable. I've gotta get a picture."

The blond duelist stood aside as she came back with a camera. Carly snapped two quick pictures and let Jack close the door. "Let's go before we wake them."

Yusei sighed and slowly opened his eyes. He looked at Aki and smiled, the girl was still asleep. She's so cute like that.

The young man laid there for another hour before Aki stirred. She yawned and slowly looked up at him. "Mm mm, good morning."

"Good afternoon. It's two thirty. How'd you sleep?"

"Great. You make a wonderful pillow." Aki replied with a sleepy smile.

Yusei put his hand on Aki's forehead again. "You're still a really warm."

The girl sighed. "I feel better. Maybe I should go home."

"We can call and see if anyone's home."

"I'm really fine. I can take care of myself now."

"You were throwing up this morning. To me, that says that you're still sick."

Aki stared at him and sighed. "So what are we going to do today?"

"You're going to rest. I'm going to go out for just a little bit."

As Yusei walked outside, he took out his phone. "Martha, is Doctor Smith around?"

"Yusei, yes, he's here. Are you hurt? Why do you need a doctor?"

"I'm fine. Aki's sick and I'm starting to worry. Can you see if he can come over to my garage?"

"Of course. You just sit tight. We'll be right there." Before Yusei could reply, Martha hung up.

Aki was asleep again when Yusei entered. The young man stared at his patient and couldn't help smiling. Yusei put a gentle hand against her forehead and ground his teeth nervously. It feels like her temperature went up … . With concern for Aki distracting him, the azure eyed signer barely heard the knock on his door.

"So where is she?" Martha demanded when Yusei opened the door.

"In bed. She's sleeping right now. It seems like her fever has gotten worse. I don't know what to do to fix it."

"That's why I'm here." Doctor Smith said as he entered.

"You're a mess." Martha declared as her eyes adjusted. "Go get something to eat and rest for a bit. I'll get you when he's done."

The young man hesitated before heeding the advice. Yusei sighed as he played with the food he'd fixed. After eating a few bites, he stepped outside and watched the sky slowly drift to sunset.

Finally, Martha opened the door. "She'll be all right. It's the flu. Just let her rest and give her the medicine on the counter." The matronly woman patted his arm gently.

Aki stared at Yusei as he entered. "Some luck, eh?"

"Yeah. So what'd they tell you?"

"To stay in bed and try to eat when I feel okay. That's going to be really boring, you know."

The young man eyed her with a wide grin. "I'm sure I can find some way to convince you to stay in bed."

The girl's amber eyes filled with intrigue as she watched him suspiciously. "I'm not sure that's a good idea. What if you get sick?"

"I wouldn't mind." Yusei replied as he approached the bed.

"Well, I would. For all we know, I'm still contagious."

"Okay, how about if we just watch a movie. Would that be okay with you?"

"All right. What movie should we watch?"

"How about one of my favorites?" Yusei smiled and held up Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

A few minutes later and Aki was snuggled against the azure eyed, young man as the classic story unfolded. Yusei watched her and smiled at how captivated she seemed to be. "Don't like this story, do you?'

"Hmm? What'd you say?" The girl asked as she shook her head.

"Heh heh, nothing. It's not important, let's just finish the movie."

Aki smiled and turned her attention back to the screen. As the credits played, she wiped her eyes and sighed. "That was a good movie."

Yusei nodded in agreement. "Do you feel up to eating?"

"I'll try. I am a little hungry."

Aki sighed as Yusei went to fix her something. How'd I ever get so lucky? I don't deserve him.

"Aki, what's wrong?" Yusei stared at her as he set the miso soup on the bedside table. "You look kind of sad."

"I'm not sad. I'm just, uhh, tired." The young woman replied quickly.

"Tell me what's wrong. Please, Aki?" The young man requested and took her hand.

"For starters, you're cheating again. And I was just thinking how you're too good for me. I mean you always help people and give so much for your friends and I've never been like tha-!" Yusei pressed his lips to hers to stop her.

"I told you before, I love you and that's all that should matter. Love doesn't need a reason. Now eat some soup and try to relax."

As the young woman obeyed, Yusei went to fix her some Sprite. When he return, he discovered that she'd fallen asleep again. The young man set the glass and bowl aside and covered Aki up before starting to clean up the mess.

It was around then that Jack called. "How's Aki doing?"

"She'll be fine. It's the flu. So Carly's really worried, eh?"

"She wouldn't stop blabbing until I agreed to call and check on you guys. And just so you know, she got quite a picture of you two this morning. It's on a blog she did about you."

Yusei blushed and sighed. "She couldn't ask before doing that?"

"Well, we tried to call, but it just seemed like you two wanted to sleep all day. What did you do last night to sleep so late?" His friend laughed.

"Not what you're thinking." Yusei sighed and shook his head.

"I'm not judging. But, man, you are nineteen. It wouldn't be that surprising."

"I'm not going to discuss this with you."

"Why the hell not? We are friends." Jack snapped.

"Because, your girlfriend's a reporter. Anything I said would, most likely, wind up in some report."

"You act like I tell her everything."

"She's got you wrapped around her finger and we both know it."

Yusei grinned as his short tempered friend hung up. Well, that was awkward.

The sound of Aki stumbling into the bathroom caught his attention before he could laugh. Yusei rushed to her side as she threw up the soup she'd eaten. When she finished, the young man carried her back to bed and gave her a drink. Then, he placed a bucket by the bed and gave her the medicine Doctor Smith had left for her.

"If you feel ill, just use that bucket. Try to sleep now and don't strain yourself."

"But I threw up in the floor before I could reach the bathroom. I'm sorry, Yusei."

"It's okay. I'll clean it up. Go back to sleep." The young duelist replied.

"I should clean it up. It is my fault." Aki protested.

"You're sick. You can't help it. Besides, I'm supposed to be nursing you, remember? So, it's part of my job."

What do you think? I'm kinda jealous of Aki, myself.