Never in his life did Akashi Seijuurou thought that he would move out of his grand house where his father and a battalion of people whom he can order around with just a wave of his hand are. Neither did he think that he would attend a university in Japan. He always thought that studying economic course abroad would broaden his knowledge in that area. He is expected to succeed his father's automotive business, but he thought that he would like to make his own business without the help of his father and had took a step to follow his idea. His father, surprisingly, didn't argue. He even encouraged him to pursue his plan and extends his blessing.
So now, he was living in a not-so-small apartment just four blocks away from his university with his friend. Yes, Akashi Seijuurou has friend, whom he also never thought would stay. Furihata Kouki, also widely known as The Emperor's Right Hand, was now reviewing his notes for an upcoming test in his Micro Economics subject.
Furihata Kouki stayed within Seijuurou's radar for almost four years now, steadily becoming one of the most trusted people in his life. From the moment that he replaced Tetsuya for a tour, to the pivotal day of Furihata wearing dresses as his punishment, Furihata has stayed. At first, he was a little scared and reluctant to oppose Seijuurou's demands, but along the way, he became immune to it and would just muttered how Seijuurou is such a spoiled brat and will just go with it if it was not too extreme. Seijuurou feels comfortable around the other and could like to keep him close. That's why he persuades Furihata to take business course when he saw that the boy has a knock on playing with numbers like they're just his toys.
Right now, Furihata was writing equations after equations and analyses after analyses to see if he could answer all word problems correctly without the help of his book. He was slouched on their low table, scribbling non-stop and muttering under his heavy breath. Seijuurou was beside him, silently playing with his phone before he got bored of the dull atmosphere. He glanced at the clock and decides that they should eat dinner soon.
"Kouki, are you hungry?" He questioned the boy beside him. The other didn't even stop to think.
"No." Furihata replied.
"…What do you want for dinner?" Seijuurou asked as he got up and make his way towards the kitchen. It was his turn to cook since it was Sunday. When he didn't get a reply, he turned around and called the other.
"Kouki?"
"Pork." The other quickly answered without glancing up.
Since he knew how stressful major exams can be, he let the other continue his work. While he was cooking, he took note on how Furihata seems to have difficulty in studying this time. The boy usually study for about two hours, with ten-minute vacant after an hour and idle chat with Seijuurou. For a week now, however, his study habits got intense. He was studying for almost three hours without much talking and would only stop to stretch and drink or go to the loo. He was worried that it might affect the other's bodily functions if he keeps on doing that.
After cooking, he quickly laid the dish on the table and got rice for each of them. When the table was ready, he called the other to eat. The other slowly walk to the room and ate silently. His movements are slow and unsteady and didn't even finish the food. Seijuurou wondered if he overcooked the garlic or put too much salt again, but the taste is fine for him, so Furihata might just be distracted.
After eating, he washed the plates and cleaned the table and went to the living room where the other boy is still studying. After having a good look at the other, it was then that he noticed his red and sweaty face and how his heavy breath isn't normal.
"Hey," he called the other.
"Hn?"
"Aren't you done yet?"
"Just half a page left." The other said and rubbed his stinging eyes. It was then that Seijuurou thought it was enough. The cupped Furihata's face and pressed his forehead close to the other and felt the abnormal warmth of the other. While the other was weakly pushing him off, he made a conclusion.
Furihata Kouki has a fever.
"You have a fever," he said after pulling back and staring the other on the eye. "Enough studying, you need to rest if you want to take the exam tomorrow."
"Give me ten more minutes. Then I'll sleep." Furihata stubbornly said. Seijuurou sighed and sit beside him. Furihata is persistent and won't back down if he wants to do something so he let him be.
After some time, Seijuurou glanced on his watch. One minute more.
"I'm done," Furihata said before the minute run out. He rubbed his temple and leaned his face on the cool surface of the table.
"You can't rest here. Come on," Seijuurou said and gently ushered the other to stand. Furihata wobbled a bit so he was there to steady him. While walking, Seijuurou let the other lean on him to stabilize his steps. He can feel the heat radiating from the other and thinks that he might not be able to take the exam tomorrow. If his fever doesn't go down by the morning, Seijuurou decided that he will take a day off too to take care of his friend.
Oh, the things he does for friendship.
When they entered Furihata's room, he gently laid him down on the bed and exited to fetch a basin with lukewarm water and a towel. He wiped Furihata's face and arms and when he is done, gets the thermometer to measure how high the fever is.
Thirty nine degrees Celsius, bordering forty.
He gently stroked the hair of the now sleeping boy beside him and sighed. His effort to review for the exam tomorrow might go to waste. He needs to call the professor to excuse Furihata and reschedule his test for another day. And also his professors, since he'll be absent to take care of his friend.
Furihata Kouki feels hot, sweaty and heavy. His eyes are hurting, his throat was dry, his arms are weak and his head feels like something is pounding it. He tried to get up, but a cool hand lightly pushed him down.
"You need to rest," Kouki heard Akashi said. He groaned and tried to sit up again, but his body felt too weak to support him. He can feel a cool towel being rubbed on his face and sighed.
The days have been stressful since all his professors think that it's funny to give major examinations in one week. He had been studying non-stop. He was short on sleep, food and rest. It was not surprising that he got sick. He knows that he can reschedule his test for Micro Economics but his graded recitation on Advance Calculus can't be excused. Thinking about all of this makes his head hurt more.
When he felt the towel rest on his forehead, he quickly remembered Akashi.
"Hey, aren't you going to school?"
"No, I'll be with you until you got better." Akashi just said. Kouki grumbled, it is one thing to skip a day full of exams, but being Akashi's burden is too much. He knew that the other also have exams and lectures to attend. He can't let the other suffer because of him.
"Sei, you don't need to take care of me. Just go," he feebly protested.
"I insist. If it were me, you'll take a day off too," Akashi just retorted. Kouki loathed that he'll surely do that when time comes.
"Fine. Just… give me some medicine," he just said.
"You need to eat first. I've cooked some soup for you, so eat it." Akashi exited the room, probably to get the food and medicine and Kouki wondered if his poor taste buds can handle the soup that Akashi cooked for the first time.
Akashi got back with a tray with a bowl, a glass of water and two pills on it. He put the tray down to guide Kouki in a sitting position to eat. He placed the tray on his lap and offered to spoon feed him, but Kouki quickly refuse and said that he can eat on his own. After making sure, Akashi placed the tray on Kouki's lap and he felt horrified.
Kouki was sure that soup should not be that brown.
He took the spoon and slowly ate the soup. Even with his poor sense of taste due to the fever, he can still taste the saltiness and a touch of garlic. He silently thanked his fever but realized that Akashi won't even cook this if he doesn't have a fever, so he dismissed the thought.
"How was it?" Akashi asked. He had a passive look on his face, but Kouki knew him enough to know that he actually cared on what the other thinks.
"I can't really tell because I can't taste normally, but I think it has too much salt and the garlic is overcooked again," he truthfully said and even thought Akashi's shoulders sagged a little, he can see the gratefulness in Akashi's eyes.
"Damn garlic," he silently muttered and went back to reading the magazine he was reading before offering his soup. Kouki just smiled and continued eating the food.
He didn't finish the soup, but was enough to fill up his stomach and took the medicine. After a while, he got drowsy and went back to sleep.
When noon comes, Furihata's fever goes up again and Seijuurou idly wondered if it was because of his heinous cooking (he tried to eat it, but it was too much. He also wondered how Furihata can eat his food when all its flavour was salt and garlic), but quickly dismissed the thought. Since he doesn't know how to lessen the fever except for drinking medicine and keeping the body warm, he called the one person he knew was studying medicine. Midorima Shintarou.
The phone rang two times before Midorima picked it up.
"Shintarou." He acknowledges the other.
[Akashi. What can I do for you?] The other replied.
"Kouki has fever. After eating breakfast, his fever goes up again. What should I do?" he asked.
[Kouki? Oh. Your friend. I see. Fever? You should- wha!]
"Shintarou?"
He heard some struggle on the other side of the line. When someone talked again, it wasn't Midorima.
[Akashi~] the other person said. He can tell from the voice that it was Takao, the meddlesome boy that always clings to his former team mate. He sighed exasperatedly.
"Please give Shintarou the phone, Takao. I need to speak to him urgently." He politely said. Over the years, he became used to the persistent attitude of the boy, but did not really like it.
[But from what I've heard, your boyfriend has a fever? Shin-chan might be studying medicine, but he's studying cardiology and that has nothing to do with fever. I do practice nursing, so I knew more about that stuff! Right, Shin-chan?]
Still from the other side of the line, he heard Midorima agree.
[Right.]
"Kouki's not my boyfriend." He said. He might acknowledge that Takao could be a better person to ask about the remedies of fever, but that word isn't appropriate to be used in the same sentence as Kouki.
[Weeeeell, he is a boy and your friend, therefore, he is your boyfriend. Unless, you're talking about other things?] The boy teased. Seijuurou was getting annoyed.
"If you don't shut up I'll do it for you." He threatened, and the boy laughed nervously. He was glad that the other still felt a bit uncomfortable with him.
[Fine, fine. I'll give you the easiest way to cure fever! You might want to write these down.]
"Sure. Wait for a moment," he said. He took a pen and a notepad and turned it on a vacant page. When he was seated, he signalled that the other can go on.
[First, you might want to ask him if he was hot under his covers. If he feels hot, let him took off the blanket. Don't force the sweat out. Then, be sure to give him a cold, though not ice-cold, sponge bath. Don't put any alcohol in it, okay? Also, give him cold water to stay hydrated or lemonade; it replaces the fluids lost from sweating. Feed him only when he feels hungry. Give him proper medicine like ibuprofen. Also, you should undress him.]
Seijuurou suddenly stopped writing.
"Pardon?" he asked, not believing what he had heard.
[Undress him. The more that his sweat glands are uncovered, the more it'll be able to release moisture and would make him more comfortable. Leave him in his boxers; if he feels cold, just cover him with a blanket.]
Since the information seems legit and not just him making fun of him, he let it go.
"Anymore I need to remember?" he asked.
[Nope. That's all! Well, good luck!] Takao said and he heard Midorima protest a bit before the line got cut. Seijuurou sighed and readied himself for the tasks ahead of him.
He went inside Furihata's bedroom and looked at the boy. He looked uncomfortable, with a slighted frown on his red face. He is also sweating under the covers. Seijuurou softly shook the boy's shoulders, waking him up from his uncomfortable sleep.
"Hey. Do you feel to warm?" he asked. Furihata groaned and weakly nods. "Help me sit you up. I need to give you a sponge bath. It'll help." He said. With small difficulty, Furihata sits up and leaned on the wall beside him. Seijuurou excused himself to fetch a basic with cold water and a towel. When he got back, he helped Furihata undress.
Furihata's body isn't what it used to be. He now got more muscles on his arms and chest and his shoulders broaden. He also has a four-pack abs now, a product of their basketball trainings every weekend.
He saw Furihata without a shirt for countless times. Like when he just got off the bath every weekdays, with just a towel set low on his waist and hair slightly weighted down by the water, but sticking out on different angles or when they are changing after a good one-on-one basketball game. Or when they visit the hot springs for that one winter, when the cold is too much to handle. He had seen him naked then and also on that day when walked on him changing clothes in the bathroom. He had seen Furihata's body for countless times, so he didn't know why this time feels so intimate. Still, he shook the feeling away.
After pulling the shirt completely off Furihata's torso, he reached for the wet towel and begun to rub it on the boy's neck. He saw the boy visibly relax when the cold clothe touches his warm neck. After gently rubbing Furihata's face with it, he brought it back to the water and twisted it to remove the excess liquid, and then he started rubbing it on the boy's shoulders, then on his chest and then on his flat stomach. Furihata moaned softly, enjoying the coldness and softness of the towel. Seijuurou felt a bit warm, but he told himself that he should not get sick while helping the other and moved to rubbed the boy's arms. After he deemed that the upper body have been cleaned enough, he decided to move lower. It was then that he gulped.
"Kouki, we need to take off your pants too," he said. The other looked at him curiously with knitted eyebrows and questioning eyes.
"What for?" he asked softly.
"We need to scrub your legs too. And Takao said that it's best to undress you, that way, the sweat with be released faster." Seijuurou told the other. After a bit of waddling, Furihata was now on his back and only in his boxers. When Seijuurou began on scrubbing his ankle, Furihata broke the silence.
"I'm sorry." He said. Seijuurou glanced at him for a bit, and then continued his task.
"It's fine. Just recover quickly if you don't want to be a burden." he replied. When Furihata didn't talk after a bit, Seijuurou glanced up again, this time, seeing the other with eyes closed. He probably went back to sleep. When he finished cleaning the other, went out to change the water of the basin and got back to place a fresh towel on the other's forehead. Then, he pulled out a thin blanket from the boy's drawer and draped it over the sleeping body on the bed.
He went to the kitchen to make something that Furihata would eat after he woke up and for the second time that day, he called up a friend to help him. Like before, the person picked up his phone after the second ring and talked to him.
"Tetsuya."
[Akashi-kun. Where's Furihata-kun?] The other boy immediately asked.
Kuroko Tetsuya and Furihata have been classmates since high school, and now that they are in the university, Kuroko spend two subjects together with Furihata since the other was a math major. They shared Advance Calculus class today, so that might be when Kuroko noticed that Furihata isn't present. Seijuurou must have somehow accidentally forgotten to tell Kuroko about it.
"He was here, resting. He got a fever and won't be back until he got better." He told the other.
[I see. Why did you call?]
"How should I cook rice soup?" he asked. Out of all his friends, Kuroko is the one who cooks eatable food. Maybe because he got used to cooking for Kagami, but Seijuurou isn't entirely sure. The boy still refused to tell if the two of them are actually living together.
[Oh. Did you accidentally feed him something that finally made him sick?] The boy frankly said. If it were any other day, he would retort with a good come back, but today isn't a good day.
"Tetsuya, please." He just said. The line went silent after that.
[I'm sorry. I just was trying to lighten up the day. So, soup?] Kuroko said. Beyond the monotone voice, Seijuurou can hear the sincerity on his words. He immediately forgave him.
"Yes." he said. After that, Kuroko gave instructions and pointers how to do it. Like don't take your eyes off the garlic so it won't get overcooked and just a tiny pinch of salt will do. He asked stupid things like should I put sugar on it? Kouki likes sugar, where Kuroko said please don't.
Soon, he said goodbye because the class is about the start.
[Tell Furihata-kun to get well soon. I'll copy the notes for him, and will tell the professor his condition, so he shouldn't worry about the things here.]
"Will do. Goodbye." And the line went dead.
From there he tried his best to make a good soup and the product isn't as bad as the one he cooked earlier. It wasn't perfect, he can imagine Furihata can cook better than this, but it was fine enough.
After covering the soup and making lemonade and taking out the ibuprofen for later, he realised that he doesn't have anything to do but to wait for the other to wake up. So he picked up a magazine, went to Furihata's bedroom and settled on the edge of his bed, patiently waiting for the other to wake up.
The setting afternoon sun was shining through the curtain when Kouki woke up. There's a distant ache on his head, but it was much better than his condition earlier. He felt totally weak and helpless earlier, as Akashi scrubs his body for him and takes care of him. Not that he wanted Akashi to stop. The feeling of cold towel and occasional warm skin felt good. Probably too good for Kouki, but he dismissed the thought as a product of his sick mind's imagination. He shouldn't think of Akashi like that.
Akashi is just a friend.
Speaking of the devil, he finally settled his unfocused eyes on the person nodding off on the edge of his bed. If he stay like that, he'll get a stiff neck. So Kouki poke Akashi in the arm with his cold toes. That slight touch had managed to wake up the other and he smiled at him as he tried to sit up on his own. Akashi quickly tends to him, but his arms are stronger now and don't need the help. He is getting better.
Akashi left to get the food for him, and Kouki's stomach grumbled. Maybe it's because of hunger or maybe because of the incoming doom that it'll suffer. Kouki tried to think that it's because of the latter.
When the soup comes into his view, he was surprised that it wasn't brown. It looks like a normal soup, something that you'll get for free from a cafeteria. It looks plain, for a moment, he wished it was as brown as before.
When Akashi scooped a spoonful of it and brought it in front of Kouki's mouth, he just sighed and eat it. He let the soup rest on his tongue for some seconds and swallows it with small difficulty.
"How's it? I asked Tetsuya how to cook it." He said after offering a second spoonful.
"It was bland. I can't taste anything at all. Somehow, your version is taste better. For me, anyway." Kouki said truthfully. Akashi seemed a bit surprised, but settled for a smile. Somehow, he can trace some pride in it, as if he had beaten Kuroko on something.
After that, he keeps eating until he finished one bowl. Then, Akashi handed him a glass of lemonade and his medicine. Akashi asked if he wanted something else, he said that he'd like to review for some minutes before he got sleepy. Akashi gave him a look of disapproval, but gave the hand outs to him anyway. While he reviews his notes, Akashi went to the kitchen to eat. When he got back and already showered, he wanted to give Kouki a sponge bath again, but he insisted to do it himself. After cleaning himself, Kouki asked Akashi to help him in his pajamas, and then laid down to rest. Akashi made him take his own temperature and felt relief.
Thirty seven point six degrees Celsius, it read. A few more points and his body temperature would be back to normal. Akashi asked him to get some more rest and settled on a vacant spot on his bed.
"How about you? Aren't you going to sleep?" he asked.
"I'll sleep once you got to sleep. I'll wait so rest now." Akashi replied and continued to read magazine.
Somehow, the knowledge of Akashi watching over him relaxes him and lulls him into a dreamless sleep.
The next day, Kouki wakes up early. Maybe because he got to bed early or he got his everyday quota of sleeping hours. Either way, Kouki was feeling better. No more pounding on his head, no more unusual coldness in his hands and feet, no more soreness in his throat and his high temperature finally gone back to normal.
When he stopped examining himself, it was then that he noticed Akashi, still on his previous spot on Kouki's bed before he fell asleep, sleeping peacefully. The bend on his neck might hurt a lot and just imagining himself suffering from that for the whole day in the university made Kouki winced, so he got up and gently shook the other's shoulders.
"Sei, Seijuurou! Wake up. You shouldn't have slept there; your neck must be hurting now." He said after he saw that the other was slowly stirring. True to his words, Akashi winced as he rubbed a sore patch of muscles on his neck. Kouki sighed and removed his hands to massage it for him.
His thumb was on one side of Akashi's neck, and fingers on the other. Kouki kneads the other boy's neck on both sides, gently squeezing them together. He repeated this motion for several minutes. Until he deemed it okay, he released his hold on the other boy's neck. Then he excused himself, telling the other to don't move. Akashi waited patiently as Kouki rummaged on their refrigerator to get some ice cubes and wrapped it on a towel. When he got back, he placed the towel with ice cubes on it on Akashi's neck and it was then that he noticed that the other is just looking at him with unreadable expression.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Are you alright now?" the other answered. Kouki smiled positively.
"Yup! Thanks to your help, I'm fine now. Thank you, Seijuurou." He said with a grateful tone. Akashi smiled back.
"Really? Let me check." Akashi suddenly cupped Kouki's face, leaned in and pressed his lips on Kouki's forehead. At that second when they connected, sparks travels thru their skin and sent tingles to their chest and were felt by the two. Without thinking, Kouki jumped back, eyes wide and cheeks flushed and rushed outside the room, claiming that he needs to get ready because he'll be late for his lecture.
Seijuurou touched his lips and still felt the warmth of Furihata's skin against it and his only thought echoes the ones on Kouki's mind.
That was dangerous.
Seijuurou hated Takao. Seijuurou hated that he tried to do it. Seijuurou hated that he wanted to do it again. On his phone, he glared at the message that flashed on the screen, probably because he left it on there before falling asleep, thinking if he should do what the other had instructed or not. It lay there, lighting up, as if mocking him.
[hey if u wanna check if his temp is normal again try to kiss him on his 4head. lips are sensitive to warmth, and u'll get me wen u do it. u'll know wen u felt it. don't wory if he'll look flush aftr dat, its normal ahahaha gudluck!]
Kouki felt light, even if the water is pushing his back and cold because the water was on low temperature, but at the same time, Kouki's chest feels warm and heavy, contradicting what his body feels. He wondered if he's still sick, but knew the feeling of being sick, and this isn't something like that. It was like a small seed was planted on his chest and now is growing without him knowing and he just noticed it when it was too late.
Both knew that they are dancing around on a dangerous ground and both felt scared.
Without their knowledge, or maybe, they just don't want to acknowledge it:
Both felt the first sign of falling in love.
END OF CHAPTER FOUR
I feel soooo frustrated after reading the latest chapter, and thought that many of you felt it too, so here's something to make you feel better. Or at least, tries to make you feel better. Hahaha! The rating might bump up for the next chapter, so please take note of that. It'll also start with a huge time skip, hehehe. Sorry about that!
Anyway, I think this was too word-y. It was almost 4,500 words! Yaaaaaay!
I might stick on this style since I'm trying to practice my English. Please bear with me.
I hope you liked this chapter! Thanks for reading :D
