"How is he?"

"The fever's gone down, but he's still very weak," the doctor said. 
"You're very lucky you came here when you did. Had you waited any longer, 
he might have died."

"Yes, I'm aware of that," Nakago said, rather stiffly. "May I see him, 
please?"

"I'm not sure that's wise. The fever spreads very quickly," the doctor 
cautioned.

"My immune system's strong," Nakago insisted. "Let me see him."

"Young man, I strongly advise you to-"

"Let me see him! I'm damn well aware of the risks and I don't care! Let me 
in!" Nakago demanded, his aura glowing a bright blue. The doctor trembled 
visibly.

"H-hai," he said, quickly opening the door to the sickbay. "He's sleeping 
now, but he'll probably appreciate the company when he wakes up." Nakago 
nodded curtly and walked inside.

Tomo lay still on his bed in the sickbay, a damp rag over his forehead. 
His face was pale, nearly as white as the makeup he wore every day; the 
only color to his face being the shadows under his eyes. His breathing was 
so shallow it was almost as if he wasn't breathing at all.

Nakago slowly walked over to the bed, emotionless gaze painted on his 
face, masking his worries. He didn't want Tomo to see him worrying.

His mask almost cracked as he laid eyes on the man lying in the bed.

"Tomo..."

The sight was almost unbearable: ghostlike complexion, stringy hair, 
bloodshot eyes... 'This can't be him!' Nakago knelt next to the bed, 
emotion welling within him as he reached out to stroke the black strands.

"I'm so sorry, Tomo," he whispered, closing his eyes tightly. He couldn't 
stand the sight any longer, the sight of a man as beautiful as Tomo 
looking so fragile. "I'm so sorry..." Forcing back tears that threatened 
to spill over, he forced his eyes open. He had to be strong for Tomo, he 
reminded himself, gently smoothing the other man's hair away from his 
face.

'What is this...this feeling that's come over me?' Nakago wondered. Sure, 
he felt guilty for not noticing Tomo was sick early on, but...was there 
more to it than guilt?

'This is no time to obsess about that,' he scolded himself immediately. 
'Right now you have to take care of him, like you would any of your fellow 
seishi if they were ill.' That settled, Nakago removed the cloth laying 
across Tomo's forehead, noticing it had begun to dry out. He dipped it 
into the bucket of water, wrung it out slightly, and gently replaced it.

"Tomo," he sighed. Casting one last glance at his ailing companion, he 
closed his eyes, then placed his hand atop Tomo's. He soon fell asleep, 
strangely comforted.


Night had fallen by the time Tomo woke up. Groaning slightly, he blinked 
his eyes open. He could barely see anything. His head throbbed, and he 
felt cold and sore all over.

"Where am I?" he barely managed to croak. At that moment, Nakago opened 
his own eyes, and was relieved to see that Tomo had regained consciousness.

"Good, you're awake," he said. "You had me worried." Tomo blinked.

"Nakago-sama?" He tried to sit up, only to fall back, clutching his head. 
"Why's the room spinning?" he mumbled.

"Don't try to get up," Nakago said, placing an arm around Tomo's shoulders 
to steady him.

"What happened? Last thing I remember is walking to the city with you and 
Amiboshi and the others...and my head started throbbing..." He trailed off 
as his vision cleared slightly. He glanced at his surroundings. "The 
sickbay?" He looked at Nakago.

"You collapsed on the way into the city, Tomo. I...I brought you here just 
in time," Nakago said. "Your illness is very serious. According to the 
doctor you're lucky it hasn't killed you yet." Tomo stared at the blond, 
mystified. Not that he thought Nakago was incapable of caring, of course, 
but to him...'Nakago-sama is usually so indifferent to me...'

"I see..." he mumbled. "Where are the others?"

"I told them we'd catch up to them when you were well," Nakago said.

"We?"

"Yes...I couldn't just leave you here alone." Tomo thought for a moment.

"Was...that your hand I felt when I woke up?" he asked. Nakago nodded. 
"You stayed with me all that time..." Tomo felt a slight warmth, one NOT 
related to the fever. Nakago had been at his side for hours, holding his 
hand...caring for him...

"Thank you," he said quietly. Nakago nodded slightly.

"It's nothing. I'd have done this for any of my fellow seishi," he said. 
He had to force himself to believe that. "How are you feeling now?"

"Cold." Tomo wrapped his arms tightly around himself. His voice was 
scratchy and barely audible. "I wish my head would stop throbbing so 
much," he said, coughing. Nakago grabbed a spare blanket and wrapped it 
around Tomo's shoulders.

"Here. You should stay as warm as possible," he said. As an afterthought, 
he felt Tomo's forehead, then frowned. "Your fever's still dangerously 
high. I'll go get you some medicine." He stood up quickly, then cast Tomo 
a reassuring glance. "I'll be right back.

"Hai," Tomo said quietly, still shivering.

True to his word, Nakago returned almost immediately with the medicine.