Soubi would have liked to see Ritsuka as he slept, snoring lightly, calling out for him in a soft voice, but what he got was not as enjoyable. Only an hour after Ritsuka fell back into sleep, his fever took over. The small, pale body shook with each ragged breath and he was sweating profusely. This kept Soubi rather busy, even if it was very late in the evening. He hardly ever left Ritsuka's side, changing the cold compress on his forehead and fanning him lightly. While he was worried, however, the zero pair were morbidly fascinated, leaning over the boy and listening to his pain.
"Wow, this is interesting…"
"So interesting."
"Soubi, isn't this interesting?" Soubi grumbled.
"No it isn't. This is serious."
"Is it? Why?"
Pausing just a moment to think about how to explain it, Soubi looked up at them.
"Don't you remember what happened when we fought? How your bodies started to fail you in the cold?" Both of them looked at each other and almost shuddered.
"I remember."
"Well, that's what's happening to Ritsuka, only with heat."
"So… if he's too hot, we should cool him down, right?" Soubi nodded. Natsuo looked around a moment before getting up. He returned a moment later with another cold compress.
"Soubi, hold his head up." Without questioning, he did as asked, carefully lifting the boy's head. Natsuo then placed the cold compress down right under the boy's neck. It was smart, and Soubi smiled as he set the boy back down onto it. Ritsuka shivered for a minute, but eventually settled down.
"Thank you. It's helping."
"No problem. Nagisa-sensei was sick once."
"Hard to believe."
"Yeah."
The two of them had a sort of understanding, then, and they all watched Ritsuka sleep for a while longer. None of them expected Soubi's phone to ring, though. Before he could reach over to answer it, Youji had the receiver lifted to his ear.
"Moshi, moshi! Soubi's phone!"
"Youji…"
"Hello? Ritsuka? Who is this?"
"Eh? Who are YOU?"
"Ritsuka… where is Ritsuka? Tell me where Ritsuka is!" Wincing, Youji pulled the phone away from his ear.
"Who is it, Youji?" Natsuo asked, only half interested.
"Some noisy woman! She's asking about Ritsuka!" At this, Soubi whipped his head towards him, eyes opening wide. In a dash, he tried to reach over to take the phone from the boy, but Youji grinned and stepped out of his reach. The woman was still yelling over the other end.
"Youji, give the phone to me! That's Ritsuka's mother!"
"Ohhh… that makes sense!" He brought the phone back to his ear.
"Ritsuka? You're his mom, right?"
"That's right. Where is he? It's so late and he hasn't come home!"
"Yeah, yeah. He's here, that's why."
"What? Put him on the phone! I want him home now!"
"Sorry, he can't come home just yet."
"Why not? Who the hell are you?"
"We're…classmates! Yeah, we have an important school assignment to work on, so Ritsuka decided to stay over to help us finish it."
"I don't approve! Put him on the phone!"
"Sorry. He's busy. Can I take a message?"
She hung up. Setting the phone back on the receiver, Youji was laughing. But Soubi was not so entertained. He hung his head and clenched his fists in his lap.
"Ha ha! What a crazy woman!"
"It's about time somebody told her off! Good job!"
"Thanks! Hey, Soubi, Ritsuka should thank us after this!"
"No… he wont thank you. You may have just made his life harder."
Neither of them could have understood that, but Soubi knew all too well the trouble that one phone call would cause for Ritsuka. He only hoped he could help
Ritsuka get well quickly, in order to prepare him for the return home to his abusive mother.