tampered | [Ongoing] Kyou Sohma and Tohru Honda-No Naps Needed

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[Ongoing] Kyou Sohma and Tohru Honda-No Naps Needed

When; Today
Rating; PG
Characters; Kyou Sohma

aibyoukaonigiri
Summary; Barely having left the comfort of his bed since contracting the flu days earlier, one Kyou Sohma can't say he minds too much considering his 'nurse' is just too adorable.
Log;
"You checked my temperature an hour ago, I don't think the fever has gone down any since then," Kyou mumbled as he removed the instrument from his mouth. Taking a cursory glance at the temperature before cutting off the succession of rapid beeps that indicated it was finished, Kyou tossed it onto the tray sitting on the side table next to him. "See...what did I tell you? Still running a fever."

Dropping his head back down onto the pillow, Kyou stared up at his companion, still surprised at how closely she'd stayed to his side for the last couple of days. Tohru had done her best to keep him company while taking care of him. "What are you going to try to make me eat now?"

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"I-I had hoped it had gone down..."

Looking a little disappointed, she was unhappy that the fever hadn't broken yet. Though she'd worked her hardest the past couple of days, he seemed to still be running the same temperature. Off and on he'd feel better and than worse, going through different stages. One thing Tohru had never enjoyed was when someone close to her came down ill. Unwilling to leave his side...she was determined to give him the attention he needed. The flu...was never something to take lightly. With a shake of her head, she tilted it to the side in thought.

What foods...? For the past couple of days she'd experimented with different food recipes she'd collected from people around the city and books she'd consulted that were supposed to help when sick with a bug. Generally she stuck to ones that she thought might suit his taste buds. Kyou was a bit more picky than the rest of their housemates, but she thought there were a few he had liked more and others less.

"Well...the soup is a bit generic! This time it's simply chicken noodle soup...but..I got a new tea recipe!" Raising a hand into the air enthusiastically, she looked much more hopeful about this one. "This time...it's apparently Chinese! It's called Ginger-Scallion Root Tea. I read that this is generally used for someone who's running a fever...so..." This time...it had to work! Making a determined fist she hoped it was true.

Taking a seat onto the bed next to him, she readied the tray she had brought in with her. A new cloth for his forehead...which she wasn't sure if he was always using. A large glass of fresh water, the tea, some more crackers, the soup of course, as well as more cough syrup. Several other items already littered his bedside table. Attentive, she didn't want to miss a beat.

"If your fever hasn't gone down yet...hopefully this brew will add fuel to the medication you've already been taking."

Edited 2008-11-08 05:10 (UTC)

"Scallions?" Sitting up a little, Kyou looked doubtfully at the concoction Tohru had brewed for him. She was more than well aware of his tastes in foods, but she'd gotten desperate over the last couple of days and had even attempted to hide leeks in his soup the night before. He'd been almost more amused at the fact that she'd tried to trick him into eating leeks that he'd actually taken the time to eat the meal before informing her that he'd realized her subterfuge. The way her cheeks lit with horror when she'd realized had made forcing down the meal entirely worth it.

Obviously she'd not completely learned her lesson quite in the way he'd thought she had.

"What? Are you trying to kill me with all of my least favorite foods?" His nose scrunched up at the overpowering scent of spring onions seeped within the tea. At least this time she wasn't trying to hide the fact that she wanted him to consume the food he'd loathed in whatever form she'd decided to make it. If it wasn't for miso soup actually being the ONLY way he'd actually EAT miso, she would have had a bigger fight on her hands. "This smells disgusting, Tohru. You seriously expect me to drink this?"

Looking up from the steaming liquid in the cup, Kyou gave her a grin, knowing he'd drink it just because that's what she wanted from him. Still, provoking her a little beforehand never hurt...since more and more likely she was to actually stand up to him from the last time she had been here in the city.

"Scallions?" The incredulous sound of his voice was enough to make Tohru's back straighten, her eyes immediately darting away from within the direction of Kyou. Operation 'say it casually and maybe it will work' had failed. The night before she'd felt pure embarrassment and guilt after he'd informed her that he'd been more than aware of the various ingredients she'd included into his soup. I...I am such an underhanded person! She thought in despair. She just wanted the fever to disappear and the flu to fade. That was why she’d resorted to such tricks…it was like mixing medicine with a spoonful of sugar. Apparently to a cat’s senses however…it didn’t work.

"What? Are you trying to kill me with all of my least favorite foods?"

“No!” She protested, looking culpable. “I just…um…I thought…”

"This smells disgusting, Tohru. You seriously expect me to drink this?"

“B-But--!” Flustered, she looked guilt-ridden but anxious. She definitely wanted him to drink the tea. She’d tried to dilute the scallions with other flavors, mixing in elements that would detract from the taste. She’d even used fewer scallions than the recipe called for. “The fever hasn’t went down yet…a-and, well, that is…I-I know it might not taste very good, but…aaahhhh, I mean….” Biting her bottom lip she thought hard. “M-maybe if you hold your breath…or your nose as you swallow…?” Selfish! She was being incredibly selfish, but….she wanted him to drink it. It wasn’t as though his taste buds were easy to please in a situation like this either…

Grabbing a few of the crackers she'd left on the tray for him, Kyou gave Tohru a look of doubt at her attempt to make him drink the hot liquid. "That's not convincing enough. It's not like it's medicine that I can drink quick or something. This isn't something that can chugged cause it tastes bad. It's hot! I'd burn myself or something."

Lifting the small cup, Kyou took a small drink of the hot tea, his nose scrunching in distaste as his taste buds instantly reacted to the scallions. "Ugh, you owe me..." he groaned, quickly following the tea with a cracker to drown out the taste of the tea. "Really, I don't think having milk will kill me either. Seriously, if this continues much longer I'm going to grow to hate your cooking..."

Looking down-trodden, Tohru wilted at Kyou's last statement. It wasn't as though she enjoyed forcing him to eat things she knew he didn't enjoy. On the contrary, she loved cooking foods that she knew everyone would like. If she was useful and everyone was happy, then she was happy. Seeing him miserable and obviously very unhappy with what she gave him bothered her a little.

"I'm sorry...you're right, I don't really know what I was thinking when I said that," She said with a weak smile. Of course he would have burned himself if he'd tried to swallow it all quickly. It had been a stupid comment to begin with. She wondered if she was making lots of those today. Ever since everyone had begun falling ill, she'd been incredibly uneasy. Especially with those closest to her. The last thing she wanted...was for any of them to become worse. "I know you would prefer milk...but dairy isn't really good for a person when they are sick. Mom taught me that when I was younger, so..."

"Thank you for attempting to drink the tea..." She said apologetically. She wondered if he might gag on it, he'd looked thoroughly disgusted taking the one sip, and it hadn't been a large one. "If it's really that bad, it's okay. You don't have to finish it. I can make some regular green tea in it's place...and um...w-when Kyou-kun's better...make a better meal if you still trust it."

A pained expression crossed Tohru's normally cheery face, which instantly made Kyou feel like a heel. For all his good intentions, he always stupidly crushed her when his mouth got away from him. He hadn't meant to insult her cooking, but the last few days had been miserable. He'd spent several hours the previous day as a cat because his body had been so weak and exhausted. Because of this, Tohru had panicked and started trying to figure out how to cure him as quickly as possible.

Closing his eyes as she started to close herself to him, he didn't want to see the pain he'd caused from being a complete jerk to the one person he not onlywanted around but was willing to put up with him.

“Listen, ignore the stupid crap I say,” he mumbled before taking a giant gulp from the tea. He willed himself not to cringe as the onion taste hit his tongue, but a small shudder still slid past him. “I've been a complete jerk these last few days, I'm sorry. Really. I want you around. I was just teasing when I said I would grow to hate your cooking. Seriously, that could never happen. I'm just...just tired of being sick and it's turned me into an ass. If you start avoiding me or think I'm mad, it's going to just make me crankier...so...stop it.”

As he took the tea, as though in protest to her words, Tohru opened her mouth in shock as he brought the cup up to his lips, taking a large swallow.

"Ehh--!"

He...such a large sip! Although his face looked stiff, she hadn't missed the shudder that had wracked his body. She watched surprised as he set it aside, before looking back at her again.

“I've been a complete jerk these last few days, I'm sorry. Really. I want you around. I was just teasing when I said I would grow to hate your cooking. Seriously, that could never happen. I'm just...just tired of being sick and it's turned me into an ass. If you start avoiding me or think I'm mad, it's going to just make me crankier...so...stop it.”

A faint blush crossing her cheeks, she felt strangely flustered. Abruptly a small giggle escaped her lips and she smiled, feeling content. He always made her...feel so happy. He had a special way of cheering her up. Reaching forward, she gently touched his head, feeling the fever for herself.

"Okay," She said gently in reassurance. In all honesty...even if he WAS somehow grouchy, Tohru didn't think she could leave him. In regards to the tea...instead of force him to finish, she thought she'd still make something a little nicer for him after she left. For now the soup and the water would hopefully be enough.

"You know...though you still have a fever...I think you are doing a little better today, Kyou-kun." He was still human...the fact that he'd transformed so much the day before had frightened her. "Since it's still lingering though....ano...I heard they have flu vaccinations within town now. I wonder if they might...have something else that will help Kyou-kun as well? I like it best...when Kyou-kun is active and full of energy! So don't worry...we'll fight this flu together!"

Making a fist, she looked more than determined.

Edited 2008-11-10 02:00 (UTC)

Kyou gave a quiet chuckle at her adamant display of determination to get him back to 100% again. Lifting the cup back up to his mouth, he mulled over her words about the vaccinations. The deities had offered vaccines for the current flu spreading through 'The City'. For him, it was too late. Once infected there wasn't a point to get vaccinated for an illness you'd just garnered an immunity for. Tohru on the other hand might need to decide if she'd wanted to get it or not.

"I don't think you should get one," he blurted out, looking up from his cup the moment the thought ran through his head. To be honest, it might already be pointless for her as well. "I mean...you've been locked up in here with me for the last few days. If you're gonna get sick, it's already in your system and getting vaccinated for it would probably just make it worse."

"I am--I am feeling better now," he said, crimson eyes shifting away from her face as his cheeks colored. Dropping his gaze down to his lap, he gently bit his lower lip as he stared at the blanket that covered his bed. "You always take good care of everyone, so...thanks. I just don't like being crammed up in one spot for so long. I get bored and restless. We should think of something to entertain ourselves for a bit."

It was obvious to Tohru that Kyou was tired of being stuck in doors for the past couple of days. Normally one to be out and about she was sure he had to have cabin fever, and yet still felt too ill to do anything about it. Exercise or anything similar to that was out of the picture until he was better, which meant he’d spent most of his day sleeping and being bored in general. Being sick was never fun.

“Let’s play a game, then!” That would be fun! Mind racing she tried to think over all the things they could do together in the room. He didn’t really care for television but that wasn’t really all that exciting anyway. He generally liked things that were competitive, so she thought first over things they could compete on that wouldn’t exert a lot of energy. “When I was sick and little normally I just read or colored, but I think it would be nicer if we could do something together.”

“H-Have you ever played charades, Kyou-kun!?” That would be LOTS of fun! Though he was sick…it would probably be hard for him to fully compete since she wasn’t about to let him get out of bed for something like that. “We could play the 20 questions game too-! Or even something simple like truth-or-dare. Kyou-kun couldn’t do dares right now though either…hmm..”

Thinking thoughtfully over this, she moved to brush her hair out of her face and noticed as the movement cast a shadow on the wall. Giggling, she brought her other hand up and placed it over the other one. The shape on the wall changed to what looked like could have been a bunny rabbit. She moved her hand to make it look like the mouth was opening and closing a couple of times. “Or we could do shadow puppets.” There were lots of things to do…it was a matter of finding one that she thought might appeal to Kyou though as well. “If any of those things are too hard for Kyou-kun to do right now though, we could always play cards. I’m happy as long as you are, and if you’re feeling better.” She laughed a little. “Though I have to admit…any of those games and it might not be too fair. After all…those all happen to be games that Tohru Honda is an expert in!”

Her excitement over such simple games wasn't much of a surprise. Each of the games didn't require any extra expense and Kyou assumed they were all games she'd been able to play with her mother growing up. Still...an expert might be an overstatement. She hadn't been the only one required to entertain themselves as a child...at least she'd been able to go outside. Not that he could get out and do anything being as ill as he currently was.

Still, referring to herself as an expert in something like shadow puppets was just...silly...and a very Tohru-ish thing to do. "Let's just make up a game or something...like...I dunno."

Sighing, he looked around his room for something remotely resembling a board game, but came up empty. Shishou had often sat and played board games with him to kill time when he'd been sick as a kid, but he hadn't seen any around the apartment here in the city. "We can make a board game or something..." Searching for something they could use to make it, there was a pad of paper sitting on his desk. "Grab a pen and bring me that paper, we can make a board game ourselves or something. Like...using Truth or Dare or 20 questions as the base. If you don't answer, you face the punishment of moving back however many spaces you bid before the question was asked."

“Make a board game…”

Eyes lightening up in excitement, Tohru had never even thought of that. “Kyou-kun, that’s a great idea!” Her mom and she had never done something like that, and she couldn’t figure out why. It sounded exciting. “Hai!” Getting up she fetched the paper he had indicated, as well as a pen she found on his desk. Picking up a book she thought they could work on that. They needed game pieces, though. Eyes casting about, Kyou didn’t keep very many trinkets in the room that could be easily used. Mostly he had a couple of books and needed essentials, and that was it. Finding a blue and a green eraser she snatched those up, and brought them over as well.

“Will these work for pieces?” She asked, holding them out as she crawled up onto the bed, sitting on the opposite side of him. Handing over the materials, she looked excited and curious all in one. “Do you think we should just do truths? Since dares wouldn’t really work right now. Or…” Looking thoughtfully as he started work on the board, she leaned forward to watch. “What do you think Kyou-kun? I’ve never made a game before! You’re brilliant!”

Clearing the tray of food that Tohru had brought to the room onto his dresser, Kyou set the small table on his bed as a playing surface for the two of them. When she'd brought the paper over to him, he ripped out two leafs from the notebook and placed them side by side. Taking time to draw a curving path across them as she settled next to him to watch. "I figured the 'dare' would actually be the question..." he said, focusing on making sure the lines dividing the path were evenly spaced. "For instance we can 'bid' on the difficulty of the question asked. Like...one through five or something. One being easy questions and five being hard. If you answer, you get to move forward that many spaces but if you don't you have to move back."

Pleased with his handiwork on the board, Kyou looked up and gave her a smile as he finished the final line on the board. "Does that sound like a good plan?" he asked, leaning over to scrall 'start' and 'finish' on each side of the path. "Obviously the first one to finish wins."

Taking the two eraser markers, Kyou meticulously placed them at the start line next to each other. "We can figure out a prize later," he said, looking back up at his companion with a grin on his face. Suddenly he was feeling much better. "Shishou instilled manners in me, so ladies first."

“Eh? Me first…”

Flustered, Tohru looked a little uncertain as she wondered what kind of questions Kyou might ask her. There were several squares. Kyou had made a decent looking board, especially considering how quickly he’d put it together. Her first reaction was to pick five, obviously, which they both had agreed be the top limit. The moment that thought crossed her mind though, she hesitated. One of her hands rising, she looked deep in thought as her mind suddenly began to spin.

M-Maybe it’s better to start out…a little bit more modest, she tentatively convinced herself. If she started out small…it would make the game last, right? And anyway, questions were harmless things. It was just a board game. In the farthest back of her mind she reminded herself as well that you were allowed to opt out of answering, too. That thought was tucked away into the back of her mind though, not even herself fully realizing how her mind was turning. Choosing the green eraser for herself, she picked it up and held it into the air, as though in explanation.

“Um…my game tactic is like turtle-san! So…I’ll start out with a two,” she said with a smile.

“A two...you really are playing it safe aren't you?” Kyou teased, reaching over for the water sitting on his dresser. Taking a drink of the liquid, he took a few moments to think of a question. He'd created the game on the spur of the moment, really he'd not had a clue of what he wanted to ask.

He thought he held an advantage, more willing to tackle the harder questions than Tohru would be...but...it was supposed to be a game. An opportunity to learn something new about Tohru, that alone was worth answering anything she thought of asking him in return. By this time he knew her nearly backward and forward, he'd run out of obvious questions to ask her. Maybe he wasn't at an advantage after all.

“Hmm, this isn't as easy as I thought it would be,” he admitted, dragging a hand through his fiery shaded hair. Finding an interesting question that was easy enough and that he didn't know already shouldn't be this hard. “Since moving in with us, what's been your favorite memory?”

"I-It's not just...playing it safe..." She said, though without a lot of fight behind the words. It was just a bit easier to start out small before working your way up. Turning toward the board, she listened as Kyou gave her the first question.

"My favorite memory?" That...was hard, Tohru realized. Since living with the Sohma she'd experienced all sorts of memories that she loved and cherished and would never want to forget. Picking out one among them seemed like a difficult task. Mind racing over all the special experiences she had with them, she looked a little lost. Times that were special. She lingered a moment over the time Kyou had first called her by her name. It had been an emotional night, and she'd been scared and terrified that he wouldn't come back with her. Instead though, they'd grown...closer together, she thought. They'd both agreed to stay together. That however, she couldn't really say though.

"That's a hard one! There are so many times that as special to me." If she had to pick something that stood out to her a lot though...

A sudden blush sprinkled across her cheeks. It was a little embarrassing. She wondered what he might think of it.

"It might not really...seem like very much. Maybe a little silly." To them especially it might not have been very much of a memory either. She stared at the board while her cheeks colored.

"That day that...both Kyou-kun and Yuki-kun came and got me from grandfather's. I...um, it made me happy...that both of you, and even Shigure-san...didn't mind that I had lived with all of you. When you both showed up and asked me to go back home, I felt really...full of warmth. So...I-I guess that would be my favorite memory."

Flustered, she fiddled with her fingers before her as she finished. It was honest, that one right now probably stood out the most to her. It was because on that particular instance...it was the first time she'd really felt accepted. There were people that...wanted her around.

It was one of the first times that she'd really wanted.

Edited 2008-11-23 20:50 (UTC)

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[Ongoing] Kyou Sohma and Tohru Honda-No Naps Needed

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