"Have you heard?"
"What?"
"The Chosen..."
"I heard he's been...."
"...Hasn't left the house for days."
Shihna felt a bizarre, creepy-crawly feeling overcome her as she walked down the streets of Meltokio. The sound of their voices makes me feel uneasy every time I hear them. And what's this about Zelos?...
"He seems to be very sick."
"I heard that he's probably not going to make it..."
What?
She started walking faster towards his house. It's a lie, isn't it? She rang the doorbell. "Isn't it?" she whispered to herself.
"Miss Shihna," Sebastian greeted her as he opened the door. "I expect that you're here to see Master Zelos?"
She nodded. "I-Is he...?" She couldn't find the words to finish the sentence.
"He's been feeling better," Sebastian replied. "I'm sure he'll be happy to see you."
"...Yeah," she mumbled. She slipped off her boots and started walking up the stairs, feeling slightly reluctant at each step. What's wrong with me? It's not like I don't want to see him or anything. It's no big deal. She took a deep breathe as she opened the door. "Zelos?"
She peered into the room cautiously. "Zelos?..." she repeated. Oh. Her face reddened slightly when she realized that he was sleeping. She tiptoed into the room cautiously. He was...paler than usual. She placed her hand on his forehead. He has a fever...
She sat down on the chair that was conveniently set up next to the bed, and took his hand, surprised at how cold it was. She gripped his hand tightly. "Zelos, I'm not sure if you can hear me, but...please get better," Shihna mumbled. Oh, what the hell was she thinking, talking to an unconscious Zelos like this? She felt embarassed, sitting there and asking him to get better as if it would make any difference. "I-I...I won't like you any more if you don't," she mumbled. What kind of nonsense am I spouting off?! Tears started to fill her eyes, even though she couldn't understand why. Okay, she did. She was worried. Worried that Zelos wasn't going to get better. Worried that he wasn't going to wake up...
She was scared.
She was scared that he would...disappear. "Please wake up," she whispered. She rested her head on his chest. "I'll stay with you forever. Just...please, wake up."
"Shihna?" Zelos blinked in surprise. "What's wrong?"
"Y-You idiot. I was worried about you so I..."
"Did you hear some rumor about me dying or something?" he chuckled softly.
"Eh? Well, yeah but..." Shihna's face reddened.
"I just caught a bad cold, that's all," he said. "Though I'm kind of happy that they blew it out of proportion. It made you worried enough to pay me a visit."
"You dummy," she grumbled.
"I should be calling you that for believing those rumors," Zelos teased, messing up Shihna's hair playfully. "The great Zelos can't die that easily."
"You're not great, you're just stupid."
"Insults sound like compliments when they come from your mouth, hunny," he said cheerfully.
"Mmm," she whined. "Why do you always have to tease me like that?" She jabbed him in the cheek with her fist.
"Ooow. Careful, hun. I'm sick, you know."
"You don't deserve my sympathy," she retorted.
"Hey, Shihna. I'm feeling a little cold so if you don' mind, could you...?"
"Could I, what?"
"Get in bed with me?" he mumbled.
"What?" Shihna lifted her head and studied his face. He's not serious is he?
"I don't mean it in a perverted way. I just...It's been a while since I've been able to cuddle with you." His face reddened, and Shihna knew it wasn't from his fever.
"F-Fine."
Shihna nervously slid under the covers next to Zelos. When was the last time she did this? Snuggling next to him like this...It was just so natural. How come she was always so unwilling to be affectionate? He was always so open about love. He was constantly begging for hugs and kisses, but she was so reluctant to give them. Sure, he was always making perverted comments about her, but...
But he loved her.
Shihna rolled over, and hugged him tightly, burrowing her face against his neck. "Zelos?"
"Yes, darling?"
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"For what?"
"You're always so affectionate, but I'm so mean to you..."
"You dummy. That's part of your charm," Zelos snickered. "I like that part of you. It makes the affectionate part of you even sweeter."
Damn him for always being so good with words.
"I don't see how getting trampled on by me is such a pleasant thing for you," Shihna grumbled.
"It's the fact that it's you trampling all over me that makes it pleasant."
"How can you stand it though?..."
"Because I love you enough to be able to," he answered without even pausing to think. "Really, Shihna. I thought you would know the answer to that question."
"Geez, you stupid Chosen," she sniffled. "I didn't think I mattered that much to you."
"Agh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't make you cry on your..." Zelos paused. "Oh, right."
"Hmm?"
"Today's your birthday, and I've been so sick I haven't been able to go out and get you a present," he said. "Oh, hunny...I'm so sorry."
"Don't be sorry. It's not big deal."
"But it's your birthday! It only comes one day of the year," he whined.
"It's fine."
"Well, right now it's more like it's my birthday. I get the rare opportunity to have Shihna in my bed with me."
"Y-You idiot. That's good enough of a present for me too, you know!"
"Oh, what's this? You consider being in bed with me a good present?" he asked.
"Er, well...That's not..."
"Well, I don't mind being in bed with you every day from now on if you want," he said.
"G-Gah, no way! Today's special! I don't want to sleep with you every night!" Shihna exclaimed, pulling away from him.
"Well, you will be eventually," he snickered. "You're planning on marrying me, aren't you?"
"W-Well...until then...." she stammered.
"Fine. Just today then." He pulled her into his arms again. "Happy birthday, Shihna," he whispered.
-0-0-0-0-
"Ah-choo!" Shihna sneezed loudly. "Euugh..."
"I guess you caught that cold from me," Zelos mumbled guiltily.
"I shouldn't have visited you," she growled. She wrapped herself in a cocoon of blankets. "It's all your fault."
"Mm, sorry," he said. "But really Shihna...it's not like I kissed you or anything."
"Shut up."
"Interesting isn't it? A few days ago you were visiting me, and now I'm visiting you," he snickered.
"Leave me alone," she growled.
"Do you want me to use my body heat to get rid of your fever?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"No thanks."
Zelos ignored her, and snuggled up next to her. "You're so adorable."
"Go away." She rolled away from him. "I want to sleep."
"Mm, that's no fair. You slept with me in my bed," Zelos whined.
"Th-that was...Don't make it sound worse than it is!"
"Love you too," he whimpered.
"I-Idiot..."
"Can't I get an 'I love you' to make me feel better?"
He was greeted with silence. "Please?"
"I-I love you," she stammered, and buried her head under the covers. "You stupid Chosen."
"Mm, good enough I suppose. Sleep well, darling."
SakuMeiMei Says: HOLY CRAP. I almost forgot to finish this. XD;;
I'm going to Japan early tomorrow morning so I thought it'd be nice to finally update. (But then I totally forgot...)
So I'm sorry if the ending is somewhat messed up. I shall come back and fix it if I find the time. But for now enjoy this fluffy thing that is Shihna's angsty birthday.