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Sick Day
"Mmmmmph"
"Shh...don't talk yet."
"Mmpum?"
"Shh.." Kasumi put a finger to her lips. "Wait until the time is up."
Akane settled back in bed and tried to be patient. After a few moments, Kasumi reached down and took the thermometer out of her little sister's mouth.
"A hundred and one. You've got a fever, imotochan."
Akane struggled to sit up, but Kasumi gently pushed her back down. "No, dear, you need to stay in bed. Hmm..." her brow furrowed in thought. "And just imagine. Everyone's going to be gone today. How often do we all leave? I wish Nabiki was still here, but she's already left and I'm not sure I can track her down."
"I don't need anyone to watch me."
"You're sick, Akane. I suppose I'm the only one to stay, but I really need to buy groceries. Hmm..."
"Hi." Ranma poked his head into the room. Kasumi gave him a kind smile.
"Good morning, Ranma. There's breakfast on the table downstairs."
"Okay." He glanced toward Akane then. "Hey, is she sick?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. And I need to...to...hmm..." Kasumi tapped her chin thoughtfully. She looked up again. "Ranma, would you do me a favor?"
He shrugged. "Sure. What?"
Akane's eyes widened. Surely not- "Would you mind looking after Akane today? Everyone else is going out, and I need to buy groceries. Please, Ranma?"
Ranma looked at Akane, who slapped her forehead in disgust and fell back onto her pillow. He look back to her sister. "Sure, Kasumi. You go ahead."
"Oh, good!" Kasumi smiled. "Domo arigato, Ranma."
*No, no, no..* Akane chanted mentally. But she didn't have time to argue, because her fiancee and her sister both vanished from sight within seconds. Akane groaned. "Oooh, great. Now I've got Ranma for a babysitter."
"Alright, do you need anything before I go?" Kasumi asked her little sister. Akane nodded.
"Yes. Don't leave me alone here with Ranma! I'm not really sick, just a little chilled, that's all." She replied fitfully. Kasumi smiled but shook her head.
"I can't, Akane. You're sick, and I just wouldn't feel right about leaving you alone."
"Well, then let RANMA buy the food."
"Oh, it's just easier this way. Ranma doesn't know anything about shopping."
"Kasumi.."
"Not another word. I know Ranma will take good care of you. Now: is there anything you need?"
Akane sighed deeply. "Well...could you find me something to eat? I'm hungry."
"Are you sure that's a good idea? You know what they say, 'feed a cold, starve a fever.'"
"I thought it was 'starve a cold, feed a fever.'"
"No, I'm pretty sure it's the other way around."
"Well, I don't care," Akane griped. "I'm hungry."
"Well...alright, dear, if you say so..."
Akane pushed her bowl aside. She very much wished Kasumi hadn't left her. And that rice....it wasn't as if there was anything wrong with Kasumi's cooking, it was just that-
She threw back the covers and jumped out of bed. In the hallway, she nearly plowed right into her fiancee, who was headed the other way.
"Akane? What are you doing out of-"
"OUT OF THE WAY, RANMA, I'M GOING TO BE SICK!"
Ranma didn't need to be told twice. He got out of her way in a hurry. Akane went on, firmly clutching a hand to her mouth, telling herself that she was not, WAS NOT going to be sick in the hall.
She made it, but just barely. When she could breathe again, she went to the sink and washed her face, gasping from the cold water. Suddenly though, she felt faint and her knees seemed to buckle. Akane clutched at the sink as her legs seemed to go numb and she slide to her knees on the floor, a horrible light-headed feeling creeping over her. Frightened, Akane let out a faint cry as she struggled to steady herself.
There was a slight tap on the bathroom door. "Hey, are you okay in there?"
"Ran...Ranma..."
"Akane?" Ranma opened the door then to find the girl melting onto the floor. "Akane! What happened?" Without waiting for an answer, he scooped her into his arms and carried her back to her bedroom. After tucking her in again, Ranma leaned over her.
"Do you feel alright?"
Akane looked up at him with glazed eyes, not saying anything for a moment, then her lips moved in a whisper. Ranma frowned. "What?" He leaned closer. "What did you say?"
Akane took a deep breath. "I SAID, do I LOOK like I feel alright?!" she hissed. "You saw me nearly pass out back there, idiot!" She let out her breath in a long sigh. "Ranma no baka.." she murmured. Ranma just stared at her for a moment, then, to her surprise, he smiled down at her.
"You'll be just fine," he pronounced, patting her head. "And you're welcome, by the way," he added over his shoulder as he turned to leave her room. Akane stuck her tongue out at his back. Then, suddenly feeling exhausted, she closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, the sun had moved slightly, and Ranma stood with his back to her, shaking something in his right hand.
"What are you doing?" She murmured. Ranma glanced at her.
"Oh, you woke up. I'm going to take your temperature."
"Don't need to...Kasumi already took it."
"Well, I'm taking it again. Open your mouth."
"No."
Ranma shrugged and slipped the thermometer between her lips anyway. Akane glared at him, but didn't bother to spit it out. She felt very ill at the moment. Ranma waited casually, arms crossed, tapping his foot until the allotted time was up. Then he took out the thermometer to read it. When he did, he frowned. "Hmm." Stepping back to Akane, he brushed back her hair and placed a hand on her forehead. Akane shuddered.
"Cut it out....your hands are cold..."
"They are not. It's your head. You're burning up. This thing says you have a temperature of a hundred and three."
"What?" Akane gasped. "This morning...Kasumi took it...only one o' one!"
"Well, it's higher now," Ranma replied impatiently. "I'll be right back." He left the room and came back a few moments later with a cold washcloth. Holding it carefully, so as not to get himself wet, Ranma came back to Akane's bed and placed the cloth on her forehead. She stared up at him.
"What...why..."
"Hey, wouldn't want you to spontaneously combust or somethin'," Ranma grinned. Then he seemed to suddenly think of something. "Ya know, Akane...If I get sick because of you, you're gonna be in big trouble."
"Oh yeah? What are you going to be able to do about it?" Akane whispered, her flushed face becoming all the more so.
"Don't know. But I'll think of something." Ranma patted her arm. "Anyway, you should probably get some sleep. Sick people are always supposed to get lots of rest."
"You make it sound...like I'm gonna die or something."
"We're all gonna die, Akane," Ranma said seriously. Then he flashed her a brief grin. "But you're not gonna give up the ghost with this fever, if I can help it. Our families would never forgive me."
"Neither would I."
Ranma smiled again. "You're tough."
Akane blinked. For a moment, she realized that he was almost calling her a tomboy again. But in another moment, she realized that she didn't mind being called 'tough'. Hmm. Intriguing. But she felt tired, so she didn't bother to think about it very hard.
When she woke up again, it was dark un her room. It must have been evening already. Akane sat up slightly, wrapping herself in her blankets for warmth. She felt hot and cold at the same time, obviously the effects of her fever. But she also felt..lonely. She wished Kasumi were here to comfort her, but the stillness of the house told her that her family was still gone. She didn't hear a sound, which made her suspect that Ranma wasn't even in the house, probably in the dojo. But...
"Ranma," she called softly. "Ranma!"
Nothing. Just like a man, Akane thought, laying back down, to leave her here all alone when she was so sick.
"You say somethin'?"
Akane opened her eyes. Ranma stood leaning against her doorframe. "Wha...I thought you left. I thought you were in the dojo."
"Nah, I decided to stick around. Whaddya need?"
Akane swallowed thickly. "...My sisters..." Her eyes filled with tears, which filled Ranma with alarm. Akane quickly swiped at her eyes. "Oh, just ignore me..it's because I'm sick..." Ranma sat down on the foot of her bed.
"Oh."
Silence.
"Ranma?"
"Yeah?"
Akane bit her lip. "Could...could I have a hug? I'm freezing cold."
"Uh....o..k...." Awkwardly, Ranma crawled up to Akane as she sat up and took her into a shy hug. After a few uncomfortable moments, Akane laid her head on his shoulder with an exhausted sigh.
"I hate this," she said finally. Instantly, Ranma had released her and was moving away.
"Sorry..."
"Iie! Ranma no baka!" Akane pulled him back again. "That's not what I meant," she explained when she was settled again. "I meant being so sick like this. I feel awful."
"Oh," Ranma nodded, feeling slightly relieved.
Akane relaxed in his embrace. She felt tired again, but she almost didn't want to go to sleep. She tilted her head up slightly towards her fiancee. "Ranma?"
She could feel his cheek against her forehead as he bent his head to look at her.
"Yeah?"
She yawned. "Thank you."
"...You're welcome."
So they both just sat there, with no sounds but their own breathing.
Kasumi set a bag of groceries on the table and ran a hand through her hair. Now, should she put the food away or go check on Akane? Deciding on the latter Kasumi headed for the stairs.
"Akane?" No response. Maybe she was sleeping. "Ranma?" Oh, she hoped he hadn't gone off to the dojo or something. Maybe she should have checked. "Akane, are you-" Kasumi reached her sister's bedroom door-and stopped cold. For there, sitting on the bed, were Ranma and Akane, both fast asleep. Akane had her head nestled comfortably on Ranma's shoulder while Ranma's cheek rested against the top of her head. He was leaned against the headboard, which served as a support to keep them both upright. Kasumi stood there for a moment, with her mouth open, forming a large 'O'. Then, a slow smile crept across her face. Decided that she could always defend Ranma if Akane tried to kill him later, she quietly pulled the door shut and went back downstairs to put the groceries away.
~Finis~