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It was rare for Fushi to show up at the house in the morning after a late night and not have breakfast waiting for him. He was so used to seeing Kahaku rushing around in his apron, putting the finishing touches on the food and wishing Fushi a good morning. But this morning, there was no food and no Kahaku. He looked around the kitchen, but there wasn’t evidence he had even been in there at all. Fushi normally wouldn’t care that much - it’s not like he had asked Kahaku to become the designated cook of the household, after all. Kahaku had taken it upon himself because there wasn’t much else he could do in town, but if he didn’t feel like it he was free to do as he pleased.
Something about it bothered Fushi though. It seemed so unlike Kahaku to just skip cooking a meal without warning. He was so diligent and took his duties seriously even if it was just something small like making sure Fushi had a good meal to eat before heading out again. Kahaku took pride in it.
‘I’m sure I’m just overthinking things, something probably just came up. But it couldn’t hurt to see what he’s up to…’ Fushi thought. He would just check in with Kahaku to make sure he was okay.
Fushi headed to Kahaku’s room and cracked the door open to peek inside. That solved the mystery… Kahaku was still in bed fast asleep. Fushi was about to quietly shut the door so as not to wake him, but he paused. Kahaku didn’t look right. His face was flushed, and beads of sweat collected on his forehead and rolled down his face. Fushi opened the door a little wider to get a better look - unfortunately the door squeaked, causing Kahaku to stir and open his eyes.
“Fushi?” He sounded surprised and glanced out the window to his room, squinting at the light. “What time is it? I guess I must have slept in a little too late. I’m sorry, you must be wondering where breakfast is. I’ll make us some if you give me just a moment.”
Fushi frowned as he watched Kahaku slowly sit up and then climb out of bed. He could sense pain radiating from him. What had happened to him?? He was beginning to get worried about him, in spite of himself. “Stop that, lay back down. I didn’t come check on you to ask where breakfast was. You don’t have to get out of bed, I can make it myself.” He demonstrated by producing a fruit and biting into it.
Kahaku gave him a sad smile. “I know you’re more than capable of making yourself food of course, but I enjoy doing it for you.” He didn’t lay back down, instead heading towards the door to his room. “I’m okay, I’m just a little sleepy still. I didn’t sleep well last night, but I can still make something quick.”
“What’s wrong with you?” Fushi asked bluntly, following Kahaku out of his room. “I can tell you’re in pain, you know. You didn’t just have a hard time sleeping - are you injured?”
“Are you worried about me?” Kahaku looked at Fushi, his eyes practically sparkling. “You don’t have to be, you already have so many other things to worry about. Maybe I just slept in the wrong position. My body is aching a little, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”
Fushi didn’t believe him for a second. He followed him to the kitchen to keep an eye on him. “Go lay down if you’re in pain. None of this is necessary!”
Kahaku wasn’t listening to him, instead tying his apron and then taking stock of the kitchen. “Oh, I didn’t shop yesterday. Now we’re out of a lot of ingredients…I guess I’ll have to make something simple.” He fretted, as if he didn’t have a being who could create whatever he needed standing right in front of him. Fushi huffed his annoyance.
“I’m not eating anything you make me right now. So.. you might as well give up and go lay down!” Fushi snapped at him in frustration, wondering why he had to be so stubborn. Kahaku had already started chopping some fruit. Fushi sat down at the table to watch him, irritated that he was being ignored.
Kahaku was bustling around the kitchen like normal, but Fushi felt a sudden spike of his pain. It happened so suddenly. Kahaku was going to get a bowl from one of the cabinets when suddenly his legs buckled under him and he collapsed. Fushi jumped to his feet and hurried over him. “Kahaku?!”
“Oof...Okay, maybe I’m in worse shape than I thought.” Kahaku admitted sheepishly. “Sorry, I just didn’t want you to worry.”
Fushi sighed. “You made me worry more! You should have listened to me. You’re always telling me to rest, what about yourself?”
“You never listen when I tell you to rest though.” Kahaku pointed out.
“Well…that’s beside the point! I’m immortal. You’re not.” Fushi retorted stubbornly. He reached down to help Kahaku sit up - his body was burning up. He put his hand on Kahaku’s forehead to confirm. “You have a fever.”
“It’s just a common illness. I’ll be fine in a day or so.” Kahaku murmured. His eyes were half lidded and he looked exhausted. Fushi was sensing the pain coming off him in short, staccato bursts.
“Then you shouldn’t be up until a day or so from now. Come on.” He didn’t want to hear any more arguments, so he took on Sandel’s form and scooped Kahaku up into his arms like he weighed nothing.
Kahaku actually squeaked in surprise as he found himself suddenly being carried princess style. Fushi felt amused and a little satisfied. This was his revenge for being ignored earlier! “W-what are you doing??” Kahaku demanded. “I get it! I can walk, there’s no need for you to carry me!”
Fushi didn’t respond and started carrying Kahaku towards his room. He frowned when he looked down at him though - his face had gotten even redder and Fushi worried the fever was getting worse. Kahaku seemed to have noticed he was examining him and quickly hid his face in his hands. ‘I already know you’re sick…’ Fushi thought incredulously to himself.
The walk to the bedroom was short but by the time Fushi got there, Kahaku relaxed in his arms and had turned to bury his face against Fushi’s body. He had also wrapped his arms around him to hold on tightly, though he wasn’t in any danger of Fushi dropping him. Somehow the pain he had sensed earlier had faded significantly. Instead he was ‘seeing’ more of the fluffy feeling he didn’t have a name for. Quite a lot of it, actually, and it was all coming from Kahaku. Fushi was just relieved that he wasn’t hurting so much anymore.
Fushi gently lowered Kahaku into the bed. “There you go.”
Kahaku was staring up at him in awe, like Fushi had hung the moon and stars before him. “Thank you. I’m sorry to have troubled you.”
“You can make it up to me by resting.” Fushi said, shifting back into the white-haired boy. He made some fruits and bread, setting them on a plate next to Kahaku’s beside in case he was hungry. He also got him a glass of water. “Eat and then go back to sleep.”
With that Fushi turned to leave, but before he could get further than two steps, he felt Kahaku grab his arm. He glanced back at him. “What?”
“Will you stay with me?” Kahaku asked him, his voice bordering on pleading. “I feel better with you here. Plus, we could both rest together. I know it’s selfish of me to ask, but--”
“No.” Fushi cut him off. Kahaku pulled his hand back like he had been burned, already apologizing. Fushi realized how harsh that sounded and softened his tone. “Sorry, I can’t. Bon asked me to meet up with him to discuss some important matters. I can’t miss it.”
“Oh, okay. I understand.” Kahaku replied with a smile. “I knew you were busy, I shouldn’t have asked.”
Fushi sighed - something that felt an awful lot like guilt was nagging at him. “Here. I’ll give you something so you’re not lonely.” He made the red-haired doll that he had been so taken with. It was adorable and it still made him smile every time he saw it. A doll that cute could cheer even Kahaku up. He placed it in Kahaku’s arms.
“T-thank you. I’ll treasure it.” Kahaku said, holding the doll up to stare at it. The expression on his face was incomprehensible to Fushi, but he felt a fluffy feeling coming from Kahaku and knew he had made a good choice.
“Now will you get some sleep?” Fushi asked him and Kahaku nodded. “Feel better soon.” Satisfied, Fushi left the room. When he turned around to close he door, he saw that Kahaku had hugged the doll to himself and closed his eyes.
It had been a busy day for Fushi and he didn’t get back to the house until late. It wasn’t that uncommon for him not to come home at all sometimes, but today he wanted to check up on Kahaku and make sure he was all right. Kahaku was alone in the house now, with everyone off busy doing their own tasks. Not even Eko was there anymore - Fushi had sent her to stay with one of his friends, since Kahaku couldn’t watch her at the moment and also he worried that she would catch his illness.
Unfortunately things didn’t appear to be going well for Kahaku. Fushi could sense his pain even before he opened his bedroom door like he had in the morning. Fushi opened the door carefully so it wouldn’t squeak like it had earlier and slipped inside.
Kahaku was laying in bed on his back, clutching the doll as a lifeline. His breath was coming out in shallow gasps and wheezes like he was struggling to get enough air. Fushi quietly walked over to the bed and felt his forehead. His fever was burning hot and sweat was pouring off of him, but he was also shivering.
Fushi wasn’t a doctor, but it looked like Kahaku had gotten worse since the morning and he was alarmed. He had never cared for someone who was ill before. Memories of the white haired boy’s final days popped into his mind - he had looked similar to Kahaku. He tried to shake it off. Kahaku wasn’t going to die, right? He said it himself - it was just a common illness that he’d be over soon.
‘I shouldn’t have left him alone. I could have brought a doctor, but instead I just left him in bed by himself all day.’ Fushi felt angry with himself. Humans were so fragile, he knew that. They could be fine one minute and gone the next. Kahaku was strong, but he was no exception. There were times when he wasn’t exactly Fushi’s favorite person in the world, but for the most part he was a good person and he didn’t deserve to suffer and die alone.
Fushi saw that the food beside Kahaku’s bed hadn’t been touched, which meant that he hadn’t had anything to eat all day. That wasn’t good. If he was going to get his strength back, he needed to eat. He was going to have to wake him up.
“Hey…” Fushi sat down on the bedside and shook him lightly. “Wake up.” Kahaku groaned and curled in on himself. Fushi shook him a little harder. “Wake up Kahaku.”
Kahaku reluctantly opened his eyes and stared at him, dazed.
“How are you feeling?” Fushi asked him, even though the answer was obvious.
Kahaku blinked, like his mind was coming out of a fog. “...I’ve been better.” He answered eventually. His voice was hoarse. “Is something wrong? Why did you wake me up?”
“You didn’t touch your food. If you don’t eat you’ll just get sicker, so you need to at least try and have some.” Fushi explained. “Can you sit up?”
“I can.” Kahaku set the doll to the side and slowly sat up. Fushi fluffed and propped the pillow up behind him so he could lean against it comfortably.
Next, Fushi picked up one of the strawberries he had left for Kahaku earlier and held it up to Kahaku. Kahaku leaned forward slightly and opened his mouth - Fushi stared at him and pulled the fruit back. “...What are you doing?”
“Oh, uh…” Kahaku stared at him, his eyes wide like a startled deer. “I thought you were going to um…feed me the strawberry. Is…is that not what you were doing?”
“I was just going to hand it to you…” Fushi usually couldn’t sense much besides pain or the fluffy sensation, but at the moment the awkwardness between them was palpable. “Are your hands hurting? I mean I guess I could put it in your mouth if it helps you feel better. I haven’t seen people eating from other people’s hands, so I was surprised.”
“R-really?! I mean yes, my hands are hurting pretty badly!” Kahaku’s voice was shaky with disbelief and Fushi could have sworn he saw tears forming in the corner of his eyes. He began murmuring frantically to himself. “...Am I dead? Have I already ascended to heaven? I didn’t think a common illness like this could be my end, but surely this must be heaven.” He poked and prodded at his own skin, as if testing he was actually there.
Fushi got the feeling that he wasn’t meant to hear that, but Kahaku wasn’t exactly being quiet. Was he delirious from being sick? “Listen, I don’t know what’s going on or what you’re talking about, but I’m going to feed you now.” He held the strawberry up, closer to Kahaku’s face this time. Kahaku looked hesitant, his gaze flicking between Fushi’s eyes and then the strawberry, but then leaned forward again and bit into the fruit.
“Mmm…” Kahaku practically moaned as he chewed and for some reason Fushi was feeling awkward again. He could feel his own face heating up, but he didn’t think he could get sick. “So good! The fruits you make always taste the best.” He took another bite of the strawberry, finishing it off. “May I have another?”
Fushi nodded and produced another one for him. When Kahaku bit into it that time, some of the juices from the berry dribbled down onto Fushi’s hand and leaked down his wrist. He was relieved that it only got on him and didn’t stain the blanket below.
“Maybe I should hold up a plate.” Fushi suggested, but Kahaku wasn’t listening. His eyes were following the trail of strawberry juice. “Kahaku?”
“Here let me clean that for you.” Before Fushi could respond, Kahaku grabbed his hand which was still holding the strawberry stem and licked the juice. The flat of his tongue slowly lapped against his skin like a kitten licking up milk.
“H-hey!” Fushi yelped in shock, but Kahaku didn’t stop. He pulled his hand back quickly, sputtering. “What do you think you’re doing?!” His face was burning up and his head was swimming.
“I was just trying to clean you off. I didn’t mean to get juice on you.” Kahaku explained, like it was the most rational thing in the world.
“I can clean myself up, thank you very much!” Fushi retorted, pointedly producing several cloth napkins to demonstrate that he could wipe his own hands efficiently without Kahaku’s help. “You’ve been acting strange this entire time! I don’t think people normally lick each other. You’re making me feel weird.” He didn’t like it. It wasn’t something he could describe, but it was making him feel hot and tingly somehow. He didn’t like that Kahaku could affect him that way. Even worse, he didn’t like that some part of him kind of liked it.
To his credit, Kahaku lowered his head and looked suitably chastised. “I’m sorry. I was just trying to repay the favor. I didn’t want you to get all sticky because you are being kind and feeding me while I’m in too much pain to feed myself. I won’t do it again though, I promise.”
Fushi was highly suspicious of the apology and Kahaku’s reasoning, but he was somewhat confident he wouldn’t do it again. “Good. If you try that again, I’m leaving.” He chose a piece of bread next - it was probably the safest bet because it wouldn’t make a mess.
Eventually they made it through all the food Fushi had made for him in the morning and the entire glass of water - Fushi had heard it was important that people who were sick have a lot to drink. It took a long while, both because Kahaku was losing his appetite and they also had to pause every time he had a coughing fit.
“Are you feeling any better?” Fushi asked him - come to think of it, he hadn’t sensed much pain coming from Kahaku throughout the whole time he was with him. He still looked feverish though.
“Maybe a little.” Kahaku smiled. “Thanks for helping me. Uh…” He looked like he had something else on his mind, but he didn’t continue.
“What?” Fushi prompted.
“This morning you couldn’t stay with me because you had to go out. But it’s night now and you came back home, so you probably don’t have anything left to do until tomorrow…” The same Kahaku who had just boldly licked his hand was acting shy all of a sudden. “I was wondering if you would stay with me now. At least until morning and you have to leave again.”
Fushi sighed. He didn’t really want to spend the rest of the night in Kahaku’s room, mainly because the strange tingly-and-hot sensation never completely went away the entire time he was feeding Kahaku, even though he had behaved. But it did seem like his presence was having a helpful effect on him, and he looked so vulnerable and sad while asking.
“Fine. I’ll stay.” He grudgingly agreed.
Kahaku’s eyes widened in surprise. “You…” He opened his mouth and then closed it a few times, as if he hadn’t expected to get the response he wanted and wasn’t sure what to say. “You’re really so kind to me. Thank you, Fushi. I truly appreciate everything you’ve done for me today - especially because I know you have so much weighing on your mind as of late.”
Fushi shook his head reassuringly. “It’s not a problem. I was going to try and actually get some sleep anyway, it doesn’t really matter where I go to sleep.”
“Of course. For what it’s worth, you’re always welcome in my bed.” Kahaku replied with a little grin.
Fushi didn’t really know what to say to that, “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Kahaku laughed - Fushi wondered what was funny - and readjusted his pillow so he could lay back down. Fushi lifted his own side of the blanket so he could crawl under it and get settled in.
“Well then, good night.” Fushi said, closing his eyes.
“Good night. I hope you have pleasant dreams.” Kahaku replied.
Silence fell over them for a long while, but Fushi hadn’t fallen asleep. Eventually he heard raspy, yet steady breathing and he glanced over to see if Kahaku had fallen asleep. At some point, Kahaku had flipped over onto his side so he was facing Fushi. His eyes were closed and he was slightly curled in on himself. He didn’t seem to be having as much difficulty breathing as earlier, though it still didn’t sound great.
Kahaku coughed in his sleep and Fushi reached out to touch his forehead and see if his fever was getting any better. He brushed his bangs out of his eyes. Kahaku let out a soft sigh, curled in closer to Fushi and lightly grasped onto the hem of his shirt. It was a little cute.
Since Kahaku was sleeping, he had the chance to study his face. Fushi didn’t know much about human attraction, but if he had to guess, most people would probably find him quite good looking. He had glossy black hair, a strong build, and a boyish face.
‘If only he didn’t look just like Hayase.’
The resemblance sometimes brought up bad memories for Fushi - like the time when Kahaku had asked him to be his wife out of nowhere. Fushi had snapped at him like he was talking to Hayase and not Kahaku. He was harsh, looking at it in hindsight, but Kahaku was behaving strangely and needed to back off. He didn’t regret what he said, but maybe there had been a better way to say it.
Still, Fushi didn’t think he was bad looking. He was handsome, even Fushi could admit that.
It was actually funny how the whole Hayase bloodline had turned out. Silly, cute girls with warm eyes and an overly friendly attitude. Hayase was such a monster - but he found that seeing her descendants always amused him, especially scaring them off by turning into Tonari, and he somewhat enjoyed their visits.
Kahaku wasn't much different, with his warm eyes that shined with joy whenever Fushi threw a compliment his way. He seemed pretty similar to the rest of Hayase’s little descendants rather than Hayase herself, and Fushi took comfort in that.
He imagined Kahaku awake and smiling at him, and Fushi’s heart beat a little faster.
Fushi quickly shook himself out of his thoughts. ‘Why am I even thinking about any of this? This is a good chance to sleep and I’m wasting it by staring at Kahaku and contemplating whether I think he’s good looking or not! Even Kahaku would be annoyed if he was awake and saw I wasn’t sleeping.’ He wasn’t sure what had come over him. His strange feelings could wait for another time. He resolutely shut his eyes and tried to will himself to sleep.
But before he drifted off, a thought occurred to him - if Kahaku was having trouble or getting worse during the night, he would have no way of knowing if he was sleeping. So he scooted a little closer to him and put an arm around him. ‘There. Now I can feel his breathing, if something happens that should be enough to wake me up.’
Kahaku sensed the warmth and snuggled closer to Fushi, resting his head against Fushi’s chest. “Hey, what are you doing?” Fushi whispered, until he realized that Kahaku was still asleep. That wasn’t ideal, or what Fushi had in mind, but…he didn’t want to wake him, so it would have to do.
It was a little awkward, but at least Fushi wouldn’t have to worry about him now. He shifted to get more comfortable, resting his arm on Kahaku’s back and his chin against the top of Kahaku’s head. He closed his eyes. It actually wasn’t so bad. It was oddly warm and comforting to sleep this close to someone else. Actually… he’d go so far as to say it was nice. Fushi could see why humans liked it. The last thought on his mind as he drifted off was that he’d like to do it again some time.
‘Feel better soon, Kahaku…’