I went to move out of the bed as softly as possible. Rima was sleeping in the bed on the other side of the room and Ikuto was curled up like a cat in mine. I had to watch Ikuto though. My bladder might need to empty the systems at two in the morning but any movement I make in the bed, usually wakes Ikuto up. Something seems weird about him right now. Sadly enough, my bladder is not allowing me to think at the moment. I was able to get out of the bed without waking Ikuto up. Now I knew something was wrong but nature was making a call. I swiftly made it to the bathroom without waking anyone up. Something was diffidently off. Once my bladder was done emptying itself, my mind seemed to clear. Stupid Kukai and Utau for challenging me to a drinking contest, not alcohol but to see who could drink the most in ten minutes, now I've been using the bathroom all night, it seems. Wait a second… Ikuto never curls up. He sleeps like a relaxed cat not one desperate for warmth. Is Ikuto sick or something?

Once I was finished, I went back to the bed, not as careful this time. Rima was a heavy sleeper so I didn't have to worry about her. When I got to the bed, Ikuto still didn't wake up. Something was really wrong. His breaths seemed more labored than usual. He didn't seem at peace. My chest was getting very heavy as I frowned. I went back to the bathroom and grabbed the thermometer that I had in the drawer. Wait. How do you make a sleeping person use a thermometer? Darn it. I put the thermometer back as went back to the bed. I tilted my head as I looked at Ikuto. He was sweating but it was almost as if he was shivering. I placed my hand in his forehead. I couldn't tell. I did have abnormal high body heat. Ikuto's was cold, which was why I didn't mind having him sleep in the bed. How was I suppose to tell if he's got a fever?

"Mom, what are you doing?" I asked. Ami was laying in her bed, seeing as though she was redder than usual. I was just glad Mom was home. I didn't know what to do.

"I'm seeing if Ami has a fever." She said gently. I tilted my head at her.

"How are you going to do that? You don't have a thermometer." I asked. Mom giggled a bit.

"By kissing her forehead." She told. I tilted my head a bit more. Mom's smile just spread. "The lips are sensitive to the heat. If the forehead feels warm on the lips, they usually have a fever." Mom explained.

My head was becoming light. Kis-kiss-kissing I-Iku-Ikuto? I shook my head. I couldn't get nervous now. Ikuto might be sick. This was one of my 'desires'. I wanted be able to take care of others. How could I do that if kissing someone's forehead to see if they were sick made me so nervous? I swallowed the lump in my throat. I got back in the bed so I was closer to Ikuto. When he didn't even twitch, I knew I was in the clear. I gently placed my lips on his forehead. It was hot. I wonder why I couldn't notice that kind of heat with my hand? Not the issue here. Ikuto is sick. I frowned at the conclusion. Ikuto was sick. This is not good. Why is this feeling in my stomach? I don't like this feeling…

Mama and Papa have to work today and I'm not going to leave Ikuto here by himself. What if his sickness gets worse? The feeling in my gut got worse. I shook my head to help ignore the feeling. I'll have to make some chicken noodle soup today. I will not bath him though. I'll wake him up so he can do that on his own. This is going to be a long day. Ikuto started shivering before moving closer to me. My frown just deepen. I'll have to find that stupid blanket with the heater in it… If I hadn't already thrown it out. Ikuto wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer to him. My face was up close and personal with his chest. I could feel him hide his face within my hair. If his fever doesn't go down anytime soon, I'll have to call his… His parents haven't even call to see if he was ok within the months I've known Ikuto… His parents are horrible if they can't even check up on their own kid. Though, that means I have to beg my parents to pay for his hospital visit if it comes to that…

"Get better soon… Ikuto."

"You're talking in your sleep again, Amu." I nearly jumped in shock. I could hear Rima walking up to the bed.

"I talk in my sleep?" I asked.

"Sometimes… So you're awake?" She asked. I would've turned around to talk to her but Ikuto had a tight grip of my waist.

"Yeah. What are you doing up this early?" I heard her snort.

"It's six o'clock. I always wake up at this time. The question is, what are YOU doing up?" She interrogated. I smiled softly even though she couldn't see me.

"Two o'clock… I've been up since two o'clock." I said loud enough for her to hear. "That's when I found out Ikuto is sick." Rima was silent now. I didn't hear what she was thinking but I was still had that horrible feeling in my gut. I really don't like this feeling.

"What do you mean Ikuto is sick?" She asked.

"He had a fever."

"Oh…" She paused. I didn't like this conversation either. "I didn't think he would be the one to get sick." She stated. I had to agree with her. He might be lazy but the was just as healthy as Kukai. Yaya probably would've been the one to get sick first since all she eats is candy. This is weird. "Guess that means you're going to stay here?" She asked.

"Yeah.." I replied.

"You do realize that everyone else is going to assume that you two are having sex, right?" She wasn't teasing me like she usually would. She was seriously asking.

"I don't care." I told. I honestly didn't. For the first time I had friends. I wasn't going to let one of them suffer alone, even if was something like a fever. I heard Rima move around the room a bit. It wasn't long when I heard her leave the room. I looked up to Ikuto. Now that the lights were on, He was paler too, but his cheeks were red. I could hear my parents talking down stairs. They suddenly got quiet down there. Rima much be telling them what was going on. It wasn't long till I heard foot steps, I made to put some space between us and made sure I was turned around. Ikuto just snuggled up to my back. My parents just came on into my room. They looked somewhat shocked. Mama pushed through it though and came right to us. She squeezed her hand between my back and his forehead.

"His forehead is really hot." She told Papa. I pouted when I realized that they didn't believe what I told Rima. Papa came over his shock.

"If he's got a fever, that would explain why he's cuddling up to Amu like that." Papa stated. I looked at them in worry.

"What if he gets worse?" I asked them. They looked at me with surprise. I was confused on why they looked at me like that but I ignored it for now.

"I guess we would have to call his parents." Mama suggested.

"His parent's hasn't even checked on him once since I've meet him." I told them. There was a weird expression on their faces.

"We won't be able to take him to the hospital. We don't have insurance on him." Papa stated. The weight in my chest got heavier. I couldn't bare to look at my parents now. If we can't take him to the hospital, what were we to do? I'd eventually be able to pay the bills but… That would be a lot of painting I'd have to paint and sell for that to happen…

"He's changed you." I heard Mama mumble. I looked up to her again.

"In what way?" I asked.

"Good… In a good way." She had this weird smile on her face while her expression was as soft as her tone. This is awkward.

"We got to head to work now. Take good are of him." Papa told. I nodded my head once.

"Take care. Stay safe. Have fun." I said like I said every morning. They smiled at me before leaving the room.

"You're staying?"

I jumped in shock. Ikuto was talking into my back and it felt weird.

"Yeah… I have to make sure you get better." I told him. Ikuto just went silent. I wonder if he fell back asleep. I guess I could get started on the chicken noodle soup. As I was going to get up, Ikuto tighten his grip on me.

"Why…" He asked. Why was he asking these questions?

"Because… I care." I admitted. Ikuto didn't move for a while. "Ikuto… I need to go make you something to eat." I told him. He held me tighter now.

"I'm not hungry." He whispered.

"You won't get better if your body doesn't get the nutrients it needs to fight… whatever it is you have." I told him.

"Fix food later." He sounded like he was coming close to whining. I sighed before turning around while still in his grip.

"You're not going to let go, are you?" I asked. He shook his head, which was not pressed against my stomach. I brushing my fingers through his hair

"You are acting like a girl friend." He commented. I rolled my eyes at him. What ever makes him happy.

I was tearing apart the cooked chicken for the chicken noodle soup. Ikuto was upstairs, sleeping. Well, he better be. I have no idea what he was doing since I was down stairs and he is upstairs.

"We're home!"

The front door was open and I knew that shout anywhere.

"Don't yell you idiot! You're going to wake up Ikuto!"

Ikuto isn't going to be the only one with a headache today. The gang filled up in the kitchen and took their seats at the kitchen table. Rima pulled both, Utau's and Kukai's ears.

"If you both don't shut up, I'm going to kick both of you out of here." She threatened. Utau glared at her.

"You don't live here." Utau sassed.

"Technically she does. That I give her permission too. Ikuto needs to rest." I told firmly. I could partically hear the devil horns pop out of Rima's head.

"What have you and Ikuto been doing while we were at school?" I could already hear the tease coming up.

"Whenever he isn't half asleep, he teases me more so than normal." I pouted.

"Yaya really wants to hear Ikuto talk. Why doesn't Ikuto talk to anyone but Amu-chii?" Yaya was pouting now.

"We have to respect his wishes, Yaya. He'll talk to us when he wants to." Kairi clarified.

"He teases you more so than normal?" Nagi asked this time. "How so?" I swear he was worse than a girl sometimes. Scary match with Rima because they can both becomes demons at will.

"Most of it is how I act a lot like a girl friend. I think he's just a bit loopy from the sickness." I told vaguely. That seemed to satisfy them for now. I just hope Ikuto doesn't remember any of this when he get s healthy. His teasing would increase ten-fold if he does.

"If Ikuto-san's sickness gets any worse, will you all take him to the hospital? Kairi asked.

"We don't have the money to pay for the bills since we don't have insurance on Ikuto. His parents probably don't even care." I told. The air in the room was thick.

"Utau, your online videos practically made you rich. Why don't you just pay for his bill if it comes to that?" Rima asked. I can't put my hopes up in Utau. She had her own life to look out for. She had her own apartment and stuff.

"No." Utau replied. See, can't put my hopes in her. I put the tore up chicken back into the chicken broth along with the noodles. "Ikuto won't get any worse." She proclaimed with confidence. The heaviness in my chest was back. Was this what it was like to feel worry for someone else? If it is, I don't like it.

"I'm home!" Ami yelled, much more silently than Kukai. At least one of them has manners. I looked over at the clock. It's been about forty minutes since I changed Ikuto's rag.

"Nadesko, watch the food. I need to something really quick." I told before heading up stairs. It was almost as if it was hard to walk, with the heaviness of my chest and the numbness of my head. My mind was only this numb after the first Hotori raped me. If I could find the will to fight it then, then I can find the will to stand strong now. I took one more deep breath before walking into my room. Ikuto was laying on the bed, cover up with the blanket heater thingy. He better appreciate that thing. It took me forever to find it. I gathered up all my strength and walked up to Ikuto. It seemed as if he was still asleep. I bit my bottom lip as I pulled the rag off of his head. His eyes popped opened. So much for being asleep… "You should be sleeping." He just hummed before closing his eyes again. I rolled my eyes and put the rag in the old water.

"I don't understand you." He said I looked at him from the corners of my eyes.

"How so?" I asked.

"Do you have feelings for me?" Ikuto asked. It was as if my mind was shattered. He was looking at me in the corners of his eyes while all I could do was stare at him. Did I have feeling for him? "Why would you care for me if you didn't…" He mumbled before closing his eyes.

"Your brain is going to explode if you keep thinking." I teased. My heart beat was racing. I rigged the rag before placing it back on his forehead.

"Why are you smiling? Do you like seeing me like this?" He asked. He was just as curious as a cat.

"No… It's just… Get better Ikuto. It's no fun if your sick." I said before turning to the door.

"Give me a kiss good night." I laughed at this.

"Only in your dreams Ikuto." I teased. He pouted before finally closing his eyes.

"Fine, then I'll dream about it." I rolled my eyes at him as I waited for him to sleep. His chest soon went to a steady rhythum.

"Do you have feelings for me?"

I could hear him repeat in my mind. The feelings I had when I was around him, the worry I feel for him now…

"I do…" I finally turned and left the room before heading back down stairs. Hopefully, Rima hadn't disturbed Nagi too much. I don't want to redo the food all over again.

"Why is Amu-chii smiling?" Yaya asked.

"Hopefully my stupid brother finally kissed her." Utau stated. They continued talking as if I wasn't there as I went back to cooking. I can't believe it.

I have feelings for Ikuto…