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It was just more terrible, awful luck for Yuma. When has it ever been good? He was minding his business investigating the situation in Kanai Ward like he usually did to track their ultimate secret down, but suddenly when he was doing something that upset the wandering Peacekeepers, they had begun chasing him. Thankfully Yuma was able to evade them, however it came at a price. A sudden gust of wind had blown across the trainee as he ran in the neon city of rain…and his rainhat had flown off. Yuma wanted to try to go back to get it, but the peacekeepers were still after him. He had to keep running, he had no choice. If he was captured, it would be all over.
He eventually lost them by running into a corner of the city. He decided that he needed to go back to the agency, thinking maybe this was enough for today. Yakou always said that if things like this happen, it was best to lay low until things calmed down. So, Yuma waited a little bit for the peacekeepers to get further from him so he could rush back to the sub safely. But as he ran, the rain kept pouring. He had no hat to cover him anymore. By the time he got back to the nocturnal detective agency’s submarine base, his hair and face were soaking wet.
“Master, you look like a sopping wet cat! Kyahaha~!” his spirit partner Shinigami cackled as she viewed how wet her master was. “Practically…dripping…wet…” The death god’s dirty mind decided to jab at the short detective.
Rain water was dripping down every strand of his lilac hair. To say he was sopping would be an understatement, He was practically drenched with the rain from the city by the time he came back from the chase. He began realizing how much that hat was protecting him as he tried to shake his head in a poor attempt to try to dry off.
“Stop it. There was nothing I could do. The Peacekeepers would’ve caught me if I went back to get my hat…” Yuma responded, starting to sound a little bit slurred in his speech.
Shinigami just continued laughing at him and making fun of him further.
He sighed trying to ignore her as he opened the cover of the sub.
“Hey Chief, I’m back…” he announced climbing down the steps to the entrance chamber.
“Hey Yuma, how’d things go out there?” Yakou’s voice could be heard from the office of the sub. “You find anything new out?”
Yuma slowly walks into the office room sniffing a bit and wiping his nose with his sleeve. “No…” he quietly responded.
Yakou was not paying attention to the boy, as he was reading the paper at his desk with a cigarette in his mouth like usual. “Well, don’t sweat it, can’t do everything all at once.”
Yuma shivered as he took his rain attire off. “I-I was cha- aehh..” He stopped as he felt something tickle his nose.
“You were what?” Yakou asked still not paying attention to him.
Yuma couldn’t finish his sentence as he felt a sneeze building up something fierce.
“Eeeahh… Ahhh…” his eyes were squinted as he tilted his head backwards.
“AAAH-CHSHUU!!!”
The loud wet sneeze finally came out of the small detective in training like a volcano erupting. His head shot downward as the sneeze came out, he tried to cover his mouth with his sleeve.
Let’s just say…he failed. And to make matters worse, Shinigami really couldn't contain her laughter now.
This however, finally got the chief’s attention. Yakou heard that sound and then moved his gaze to meet the shivery trainee detective at the corner of the right side of the room. His nose was red and now leaking profusely after that sudden onslaught.
He was dripping wet in a different way now.
“Whoa, gesundheit! Are you alright?!” Yakou exclaimed, putting the paper down looking a bit shocked.
“Y-Yeah…” Yuma replied weakly as his nose continued dripping.
The NDA leader immediately stood up from his desk and grabbed a box of tissues that were in the desk drawer and walked over to the trainee.
He held the box in front of him allowing him to take one of the tissues out. “Here you go.”
Yuma still had his eyes shut from the intensity of that sneeze, his eyes stinging a tiny bit as tears formed, but he shakily grabbed a tissue.
“T-Tank you…” he responded sheepishly. The congestion in his speech is now making its way to him.
“Sheesh. You’re a mess… You catch a cold out there in that rain?” the chief asked as he leans down to be more at the trainee’s level.
Yuma sniffled hard. “Ugh…I guess so…”
Yakou sighed as he placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Well, that much can be said from the way you look and the way you sound-”
“ACHSHUU!”
Yuma let out another wet sneeze interrupting him mid-sentence, making sure to do it into the tissue he held. Yakou flinched, turning his head away. “Yikes…that sounds bad.”
Yuma sniffled again finally opening his watery eyes to look Yakou’s way “I’b…reawy sowwy…” he muttered in his nasaled tone looking embarrassed and ashamed.
Yakou sighed, smiling at him a bit as he stood back up. “You poor kid. I’ll go get a towel to dry you off. Then I’ll get you something warm to drink, how’s that sound?”
Yuma held the the tissue to his nose wiping it a bit.
“Uh-huh…dat souds good…” he responded before he blew into the tissue.
Yakou felt sorry for the boy but couldn’t help but be a little amused by his nasaled speech. He walked over to the shower room to grab a towel he could use to dry his wet hair. He walked back to see Yuma sitting and leaning on the purple sofa still holding the tissue to his face.
Yakou gently placed the towel on Yuma’s head and began drying it moving his hands in a circular motion. Yuma tried remaining as still as possible while the older man dried his wet hair off.
He put the towel around the boy’s neck after he finished drying him off best as he could.
“There we go.” He said with a grin. “Thats about as dry as I can make you. You can hop in the shower later.”
“Tank you…” Yuma responded before his nose tickled him again. “Ahh-choo!” he sneezed into the already used tissue he held.
“Gesundheit!” Yakou responded surprised as he placed the tissue box that he was holding onto the trainee's lap. "There ya go."
Then he walked over to grab the trash can by his desk and put it below the purple sofa where the very stuffy detective was sitting.
“Here, the trash can is officially reserved just for you today.” he responded kindly.
Yuma sighed as he threw the tissue away. His nose leaking again not long after, but he didn’t notice as he felt a little dazed.
The older detective sighed. “Hey, your nose is still running…” Yakou grabbed one of the tissues and placed it to his face wiping it away himself as Yuma scrunches his face up, then he threw it away. Yuma blushed in minor embarrassment.
“Are you feeling alright, Yuma?” Yakou asked looking at him with some concern. “Aside from…well this.”
Yuma sniffled in response before answering.
“S-Sowwy… by head jus feews kida fuzzy…” he responded putting a hand to his head, the congestion in his voice getting worse.
Yakou slid his hand under Yuma’s bangs and onto his forehead after the sniffly boy uttered those words.
“Mmm yeah, you’re feeling a teensy bit warm. Rain sure did a number on you, huh? What the heck happened to your hat?”
Yuma looked down. “I…was chased…by some peacekeepers…”
“What!?” Yakou exclaimed in shock looking nervous. “Th-They didn’t follow you did they!?”
“Don’ wowwy…I lost dem…” Yuma said sniffling again. “But…I lost my hat while I was running…and couldn’t go baaaa…aaah…” he felt another sneeze coming. He quickly grabbed another tissue sneezing into it. “…back to go get it...” he finished throwing it away afterwards sighing.
Yakou sighed and calmed down hearing that they weren’t in any trouble looking at the boy with pity in his expression.
“Okay I gotcha. Sorry about that kiddo.” he said putting a hand to his shoulder to try to comfort him. “Looks like you caught a pretty nasty cold though. So no more going out today, got it?”
Yuma nodded without hesitation or further argument. Without his hat, going out in the rain again would only prove more harmful. And he was starting to feel a little bit dizzy, so he didn’t really want to get up again anyway.
“I’ll write to the WDO to send you a replacement hat later, but for now I’m gonna go make you some tea. Drinking something warm should help you feel a little better." He got up walking toward the room where the kitchen was.
"You want ginger or chamomile?” he peeked in through the door facing Yuma.
Yuma wanted to respond but then his voice got a little hoarse in his attempted response causing him to cover his mouth in embarrassment.
Yakou raised an eyebrow as he closed his eyes smiling. “I’ll do chamomile then, sounds like your throat might be sore.” he leaves back into the room leaving Yuma alone.
Yuma laid back. His head was starting to hurt a little as well as his throat. He cleared it as he grabbed another tissue in his hand feeling his nose start leaking again. It just wouldn’t stop.
Shinigami floated down to ridicule her master further after Yakou had left.
“Sheesh! You humans sure are pathetic! Can’t believe you got this roughed up from JUST the rain, gosh you’re so lame master!!” Shinigami said floating by her master’s side laughing to herself a bit. “And you look super gross!! You're all leaky everywhere! Kyahahaha~!” she cackled.
Yuma rolled his eyes as he blew his nose into the tissue again throwing it away.
“Just leave me alone…I’m REALLY not in the mood for your antics right now.” Yuma responded in perfect speech to the cackling spirit in his head in an annoyed tone.
“Ooh, you’re so snappy!! Are your face holes being full’a gunk making you a bit cranky!?” she retaliated teasing him again.
As Shinigami kept yapping away, Yuma just turned away from her as he curled up trying to ignore her and how bad his sinuses felt right now. He could hardly breathe through his nose, so he had to do so through his mouth. His head was starting to hurt again, and his throat felt a little sore now.
He definitely caught a cold. It was going to be a long day.
After a short while Yakou returned with a mug of tea as he saw Yuma curled up facing away from him. Yakou sat down. “Hey, Yuma? You awake?”
Yuma slowly got himself up before he let out another harsh sneeze.
“Aahaa…” Yuma whined trembling a little from the shock as he didn’t have a tissue on him, so his nose was leaking again, and his teary eyes were clenched shut.
Yakou put the tea down grabbing another tissue placing it to Yuma’s face. “Alright, let it out.” He responded. Yuma did so as he blew into the tissue harshly.
“I think we may need to get some nasal spray for you kid.” Yakou said throwing the tissue away. “Didn’t think you had this much mucus in your tiny body.”
Yuma sniffled while groaning miserably.
“Ughh…Adythig…to make dis stop…” he muttered quietly in an annoyed tone.
“Alright kid, sit up. Let’s get a warm beverage in you for now.” Yakou said as he grabbed the handle of the mug of warm tea again.
Yuma sat up as Yakou handed him the tea. Yuma tried smelling it, but there wasn’t much luck in that. He was still way too stuffy to smell anything.
“Made it extra warm. Hopefully it’ll settle that tickle in your throat down.” Yakou said.
Yuma sighed as he drank a bit of the tea. It was sweet and warm. It felt nice going down his mildly sore throat. It uplifted him a little bit.
“Tanks Chief…” Yuma said weakly smiling.
“No problem.” Yakou replied smiling at the tired boy. “I’ll go get you a blanket. You’re officially taking a sick day off, alright? I’ll see if I can tell the other master detectives to get you some things to help. Like, maybe some nice warm soup, nose spray, cold medicine, and some more tissues and herbal tea bags.”
Yuma nodded. “Dat souds dice…tank you…” he took another sip of the tea then handed the mug back to Yakou.
Yakou smiled taking it then putting the mug on the table. Then he stood up to walk to the other room to get a dark blue spare blanket that he had stored away. He brings it back and places it over Yuma’s head and shoulders wrapping him up into a cocoon.
Yuma smiled as he sunk his chin into the blanket taking on its softness.
“So soft…” he said sighing in content.
“Good. Now then, just lay down and rest. I’m gonna head out to tell everyone else what happened then later we’ll all come back with more things to help you feel better, alright?”
Yuma nodded. “Tank you. Ad…I’b sowwy for da twouble…”
“Don't worry about it, you’ve got a cold. And I'm not about to give a sick person a hard time. What kinda scummy leader would that make me?”
Yakou chucked. “And hey, it beats being caught by peacekeepers. At least here you’re safe and warm instead of being stranded in the rain or in some run-down cell at Amaterasu.”
Yuma nodded before he laid down sniffling curling up sinking and nuzzling his face into the warm blanket. He groaned a little bit.
“…by head huwts…” he complained quietly.
“Hang in there, kid. Medicine is on the way. Just try to relax alright?"
Yuma shortly fell asleep soon after Yakou responded to him.
Yakou nodded as he grabbed his raincoat and put it on. He turned one of the lights off in the office to see if dimming the lighting a bit would help the trainee sleep better. Then he left, quietly closing the door behind him.
After about 2 hours, Yakou along with the rest of the Master Detectives all came back with multiple shopping bags. The bags all containing many different necessities for the cold-stricken trainee waiting back at the office.
Since everyone was split it took a while for Yakou to round them all up. But the minute they heard that Yuma wasn't doing well, they all banned together wanting to help.
The Master Detectives also all wore facial masks. It was probably already too late for Yakou now being a carrier, as he spent quite a while with Yuma along with touching him, but him getting ill wouldn’t be a big deal. But he could not risk any of the other detectives getting sick, or they wouldn’t be able to do any work. One sick agency member was more than enough.
They all entered the room to find Yuma awake sitting up on the side of the purple checkered sofa wrapped in the blanket trying to get comfortable looking very out of it. Shinigami decided to be quiet as Yuma continued to ignore her, so she eventually gave in and just stayed quiet floating beside him.
Yuma’s hair was a mess, as was his face, his nose was running, and his eyes were as watery as before. The tea left on the table was empty and there were tissues everywhere. Even on the sofa and table, and the trash can was full of them as was the floor. Only one person littered the sub in trash today. One sick little trainee detective.
“Hey Yuma, we’re back!” Yakou said grinning at him.
Yuma looked his way, not changing his expression nor speaking. Just lightly nodding.
“How you feeling my man? Heard the rain gave ya a pretty bad case of the sniffles!” Desuhiko chimed in also grinning behind his mask.
“We got some basic necessities for you.” Halara said muffled as well as they lifted the bag they were holding. “Hoping to help you feel more comfortable.”
“Yuma, you look like a caterpillar in a little cocoon right now!” Fubuki stated observing the state of the trainee as he tried to get warm. “How very cute!”
“Honestly Princess, have some compassion! Can’t you see he’s clearly suffering right now?!” Desuhiko exclaimed a bit annoyed.
“Looks comfy…wish I could…do that too…” Vivia lastly responds.
Yuma sighs as he lets out another sneeze before groaning and sniffling his nasal leakage up harshly. Then he wraps himself in the blanket again, hugging himself shivering a little bit.
This pitiful sight and clearly very miserable gesture from him made everyone else get a worried look in their eyes.
Yakou signals the other detectives to keep their distance as he removes his raincoat putting it to the hanger and walks over to the wrapped-up trainee sitting down next to him moving his face closer to observe him carefully.
Upon looking at him more closely, his skin looked a little paler and shinier and there was a slight red flush on his cheeks, but not nearly as red as his runny nose.
Yakou placed the back of his hand to the boy’s cheek gently. He frowned a little.
Yuma felt even warmer. No wonder he wasn’t speaking.
“Hang tight kid, medicine’s here.” Yakou said as he rummaged through his bag to grab some liquid cold medicine and some aspirin for his headache and fever.
“Mhm…” was all Yuma could utter.
Yakou then clapped his hands twice as he began instructing everyone else.
“Halara, go start making the soup, Desuhiko, grab some spare clothes from your disguise bag that he can change into later after he showers, Fubuki go get me a spoon from the kitchen and a glass of water, and Vivia go get me the thermometer in the shower room along with an ice pack.”
All the Master Detectives did as they were told. Halara grabbed the can that was in their bag and went into the kitchen to get to work as Fubuki followed them to finish her own task. Desuhiko unzipped his bag going into it to search for any spare clothing in Yuma’s size. And Vivia walks slowly to the shower room. Leaving the two to have a small moment alone.
When the coast is clear, Yuma weakly leans into Yakou’s shoulder still trying to get himself comfortable.
Yakou sighs as he places a hand over Yuma’s body scooting a little closer to him until the small blanket cocooned boy was in his arms. He smiles down at him sympathetically as a parent would for their sick child.
“Not feeling very good are you, kiddo?” he asked, looking down at him, placing a hand on his head stroking it softly.
“Mm-mm…” Yuma pitifully responded in a whiny tone shaking his head as he sinks his warm cheek into the older one’s chest.
“You’ll be fine, don’t worry. We’ll take care of you.” Yakou said petting his head more to soothe him.
Yuma nodded smiling before he felt another sneeze building up.
Like clockwork, Yakou quickly grabs the last tissue from the box he had and places it to his face catching the sneeze just in time.
“Gesundheit.” He says with a gentle smile.
“…Tank you…” Yuma whispered quietly with his eyes closed.
Yakou wipes the trainee’s nose then he tosses the last tissue on top of the ones already overfilling the trash can.
“Hey, look what I bought.” Yakou said rummaging through another one of the bags. He pulled out a small bottle of nasal spray, handing it to him. “There ya go, instant relief for all that pesky nose stuff you have built up.” He gave him a reassuring grin.
Yuma smiled sighing in relief as he held the bottle and nodded in silence.
Soon Fubuki and Vivia had returned. They both hand Yakou the spoon and thermometer almost in synced unison.
“Here you go Chief! And here’s the water too!” Fubuki says a bit muffled by her face mask as she puts the water down on the table.
“Thank you Fubuki.” Yakou said smiling. Fubuki then turns her eyes to Yuma.
Yuma turns and shyly hides his face away. He’s a little embarrassed to be seen like this in front of his coworkers.
Fubuki giggles behind her mask at this reaction. Yuma was so cute like this!
Vivia places the ice pack down on the table next to the water.
“Thank you, Vivia, you’re excused to go back to your corner now.” Yakou said.
As if Vivia was waiting for those words he walks back to the fireplace and lays down and begins to read his book again.
Yakou uses his hands to shoo Fubuki away telling her to give the two of them some space. Telling her to go assist Halara in the kitchen. Fubuki nods and heads over to the kitchen where Halara was.
Desuhiko had found a suitable pair of pajamas for Yuma in his bag but decides to stay in it to give Yuma and Yakou some space. He quietly watches them from a small space from the open zipper.
Yakou surveyed the area making sure it was quiet before he placed his hand to the small trainee tapping his shoulder.
“Coast is clear Yuma. Nobody’s here anymore. Except Vivia but he’s just in the fireplace like usual. He won’t bother us.” Yakou said telling Yuma he can stop hiding now.
Yuma turns his head to look around and then looks up at Yakou who was holding a device in his hands. Yuma raises an eyebrow in confusion.
“Just gonna take your temp real quick alright? Can you open your mouth for me?”
Yuma nodded, opening his mouth as Yakou places the thermometer inside. The feverish trainee instinctively moved it under his tongue and closed his mouth.
After a few seconds the device beeps and Yakou takes it out. It read about 37.7 c (100. f)
“Yep. Definitely a fever, but it’s nothing serious.” Yakou replied looking at the device then putting it down on the table. “Good thing we caught it early. We got some medicine for it, so it should break in a few hours after some rest.”
Yuma nodded as he leaned back into Yakou. He was feeling very tired.
“Whoa, before you go back to your nap, let’s get this medicine in you first so you can wake up later hopefully feeling better.” Yakou said noticing how sleepy he looked. “C’mon, sit up for me.”
Yuma slowly gets himself back up again facing Yakou. His complexion and appearance status were the same, runny eyes and cherry red nose, pale yet flushed cheeks, but his tired and dazed face made him look like a nervous yet curious little kid. Yakou couldn’t help himself when he spoke again.
“Attaboy. Alright let’s see what we got here...” Yakou said as he picked up the cold medicine. He reads the instructions over and takes the spoon Fubuki gave him uncapping the bottle and pours the orange liquid into it. “Open wide.”
Yuma opens his mouth as Yakou places the spoon of medicine into it.
It didn’t taste very good as Yuma’s face was a little scrunched up and his tongue slightly sticking out. But he still swallowed it down with no vocal complaints.
“Okay good, now let’s try this one, it should help your headache.” Yakou grabbed the aspirin tablet and placed one in his hand and gave it to Yuma. “Pop that in and we’ll swallow it with some of this water.”
Yuma placed the tablet in his mouth and Yakou gave him the water glass to drink and swallow it down with. The boy takes the glass and took a small drink from it swallowing the pill and sighing once he was finished.
“There we go. Medicine is all done. You’ll be just fine now.” Yakou said smiling at him.
Yuma smiled in return before he sneezed twice into his arm quickly turning away from Yakou as he did so. His nose was running once again. He instinctively reached for the tissue box on the table, but it was empty.
Yakou laughed. “Don’t worry, we got more tissues.” he said looking at the empty box on the table as he took out some new ones, he bought at the store placing the box in Yuma’s lap.
Yuma nodded as he grabbed a couple of tissues wiping his nose and blowing into it.
“Sowwy…” Yuma said quietly feeling a little guilty for using up the entire tissue box.
“You’re fine. You have a cold; it can’t be helped.” Yakou responded taking the tissues and throwing them away for him.
“You wanna use the spray?” Yakou asked. “Maybe it’ll help.”
Yuma nodded quietly pulling the blanket up shyly.
Yakou took the nasal spray from Yuma’s lap and opened and uncapped it. Then he plugged it up the boy’s nose.
“Brace yourself.” Yakou said a bit playfully. As he quickly spritzed the formula into both the boy’s nostrils then quickly took it out. He put the cap back on it and placed it onto the table.
Yuma flinched slightly as he received the spray, but then as it was removed, he exhaled trying to breathe through his nose again. It was a little better, but not quite.
Yakou then lays the blanket wrapped trainee back down. “Alrighty. Now you can sleep. When you wake up later you should feel better and then you can have some nice warm soup, take a nice hot shower and change into fresh and warm clothes.”
Yakou grabbed the wrapped ice pack Vivia brought and placed it under the boy’s neck where the pillow was. “And that should cool you off while you rest.”
Yuma smiled as he laid his head to the pillow and cool ice turning his head curling up to get in a more comfortable position for his nap.
“…Tanks fo all dis chief…” he said quietly as he closed his eyes.
“You’re welcome, Yuma.” Yakou said smiling, putting his hand to the trainee’s back patting him softly.
“Get well soon, okay?”
After about 3 hours, Yuma woke up from his nap. He didn’t feel warm anymore and felt a little better. His nose was still stuffy, but his overall weakened state had improved quite a bit. Seems the medicine was working.
“Hey Yuma.” Yakou asked sitting by him. “How are you feeling?”
“Chief…” Yuma said quietly wiping his eyes. “I feew…a wittle bettew…”
Yakou placed his hand to his forehead. "Looks like your fever's down."
Yuma turned looking up to face Yakou. "Dat's good..."
“You hungry? The soup’s been ready for a while that we had to put it in the fridge, but we can heat it up for you.”
“Yeah…I tink cad eat…” Yuma said.
“Alrighty. Halara, he’s ready for it!” Yakou called out clapping his hands standing up.
“On it.” Halara said as they got up from their seat and walked to the kitchen.
“Should be ready in a few minutes. Just hang tight.” Yakou says before he walks back to his desk.
Yuma nodded as he slowly sat himself up.
Desuhiko stopped strumming his instrument and walked over to Yuma, still masked up. “Sup, my man! Glad you’re kinda feeling better!” he said enthusiastically.
“Tanks Desuhiko…” Yuma said smiling at him.
“Here, you can have these pjs I found in my bag. They’re super warm and a good color, I think they suit you!” He said handing Yuma some dark blue wool pajamas with white stripes.
“Wow…tank you. Dey’re zo dice Desuhiko…” Yuma said smiling while looking at them.
Desuhiko snickered a bit. “My man, I think you should use more of that nose spray. Sorry but… it’s so hard to keep myself from laughing…” he said still covering his masked mouth.
Yuma pouted. “Hey, I’b dot feewing well! Go easy on be…” he responded annoyed. “Aaah…Ahh-Ah-choo!” He covered his face with the blanket as the sudden sneeze assaulted his frame. “Sowwy…” he regrettably said, hoping he didn’t accidentally sneeze on Desuhiko.
“Bless you!” Desuhiko said taking a tissue and handing it to him. “But seriously dude, use the spray, you sound the same as you did a few hours ago.”
“Fide…” Yuma said as he blew his nose quickly throwing it away then took the nose spray that was on the table, uncapped it and quickly sprayed it up both his nostrils clenching his eyes shut from the feeling then he placed the bottle back to the table.
“Ugh… I hate dis…” he groaned slightly.
“Yeaaah, colds are a real buzzkill. But hey, we all get ‘em sometimes and gotta do this same routine ourselves too. So, don’t let it getcha down my man!” Desuhiko responded, handing him another tissue, noticing his nose was running again not long after the spray was applied.
“Yeah…” Yuma responded taking the tissues and quickly wiping his nose with it then throwing it away.
Halara walked back into the office with the now warmed up soup along with another mug of warm tea on a tray.
"Oop, looks like your room service is here! Alright I'll get outta your hair for now!" Desuhiko said as he walked to his chair making room for Halara to come closer.
They set the tray down in Yuma’s lap. “There you go. Eat it slowly.” Halara said.
“Tanks Hawawa…” Yuma said sniffling. “It wooks good…”
“Feel better.” Halara said before they walked over back to their seat. Their job as a caretaker was now over.
Fubuki walked over to Yuma. “Can I feed this soup to you Yuma?” she asked politely.
“You’d do dat fo me Fubuki?” Yuma asked smiling. “Dats zo nice… Tank you…”
Fubuki smiled as she sat down beside Yuma and took the spoon and put it into the bowl.
“Here it comes Yuma! Say ‘aaahhh’!” Fubuki said energetically moving the spoon closer.
Yuma opened his mouth as he swallowed the warm veggie soup.
“It’s good…” he said smiling with his eyes closed. Then he opened his eyes again to face Fubuki.
“Tanks Fubuki…ad Ib sowwy I hid fwom you befowe…” Yuma said apologizing for when he was all feverish, delirious, and shy.
“It’s okay! I thought you were very cute!!” she responded smiling, feeding him again.
Yuma blushed and didn’t respond as he ate the next spoonful.
Soon he was fed until the bowl was empty.
Fubuki handed Yuma the warm tea and he drank it. Feeling a lot more relaxed.
“Tanks for the meal you guys…” he said sighing contently.
Everyone smiles at Yuma as he said this. Even behind their face masks it was easy to tell they were happy.
The tray was taken back to the kitchen by Fubuki, to finish her part of the job as a caretaker.
It was getting close to 8pm so Yakou decided to run the shower in the shower room for Yuma so he could clean himself up and change his clothes.
Yuma, now having the energy to help him stand and walk after eating, went in and took the shower contently. He started doing even more better. The steam of the hot water cleared his nose up a little bit more. He could finally breathe a little. And it felt good to feel nice warm and clean.
When he got out, he dried himself off and got himself changed. He was now in the blue striped pjs Desuhiko had given to him. They were a perfect fit, just his size. Super cozy too, and it even came with some warm socks.
He walked out of the shower room and Desuhiko was sitting on the yellow chair across the room to see him wear his newly gifted apparel.
“Ayy! Lookin’ fresh there my man! How are they? Warm n’ cozy I hope?” he asked, watching him walk into the room in the garments he gave to him.
Yuma nodded. “Yes…they’re very comfortable Desuhiko…” his voice was a lot clearer. “Thank you.”
The superstar detective went wide eyed “Hey, your voice is back to normal too!”
“Yeah…” Yuma said sniffling. “My nose is still pretty stuffy…but I think the shower’s steam and the nose spray helped clear it up a bit…” he puts his hand to the back of his head in embarrassment blushing a little bit.
Yakou turned to face him from reading his paper. He smiled but raised an eyebrow.
“You do sound better, but I can tell you still have a cold. So, go and lay down. I know its early, but I think it’s time you get ready to turn in for the night now.”
Yuma sighed. “Alright Chief, no need to baby me. I know.” he responds a bit embarrassed.
Yakou smiles chucking softly as he turns back to reading. He certainly didn’t mind being babied by him a few hours ago.
It was almost as if he wanted it.
Yuma slowly walks over to the sofa and sits down and gets under the blanket.
“Well, it is about that time.” Halara says. “We should head back now.”
“Yeah, I’m getting pretty beat myself! Gotta rest ourselves up so we can work hard again tomorrow!” Desuhiko chimed back as he stretched his arms out.
“Gotta make sure none of you get sick too.” Yakou said. “Thanks for the help and the company everyone, I’m sure Yuma appreciates it as well.”
“I do, thank you everyone…” Yuma responded after Yakou finished. “For helping look after me… And sorry again for all the trouble.”
“It’s no trouble at all my man! Hope you wake up feeling better tomorrow!” Desuhiko said smiling brightly at his friend behind his mask as he walked for the door. “Get some good sleep and kick that cold’s butt y’hear!” He waves enthusiastically then leaves the room heading up the steps.
Halara looked down silently smiling behind the mask before leaving the door quietly with a wave also walking up the steps. Yuma waves back at them smiling.
“Feel better soon Yuma!” Fubuki said happily as she walked to the door waving going up not long after Halara.
Vivia slowly crawls out of the fireplace and places a book in front of Yuma. Yuma looks up at him a bit confused.
“It’s for you…reading is a good activity to pass time…when you’re sick.” He responds.
Yuma took the book smiling and sniffling a bit. “Thank you Vivia.”
Vivia smiles before walking to the door. “Rest well…Yuma…” he walked out and up the steps.
Yuma smiles as he watches everyone else leave. It was just him and Yakou now.
“They really are great, aren’t they?” Yakou says walking over to Yuma and sitting next to him.
“…They are…it was nice of them to do this for me.”
Yuma suddenly sneezed into his arm then grabbed another tissue blowing into it. His nose was still a little red.
“Alright you sneezy detective. You better get some sleep. You’ve had a rough day today.” Yakou said laying him down and tucking him in. “Hopefully that cold will be fully gone in a couple days.”
“I will… Tanks.” Yuma said throwing the tissue away sounding a little stuffy again. “I appreciate all the effort you went to for my sake Chief, I really do.”
“Don’t mention it, Yuma, you’re one of my detectives after all, can’t turn my back on any of you. Plus, I worry and care about you kid.”
Yuma nodded. “Tank you. Truly…”
Yakou shrugged grinning.
“At least now I KNOW you’ll stay out of trouble for a while.” he said chuckling.
Yuma sighed awkwardly before he smiled at him quietly in response.
Then he got a small look of worry.
“But…what about you? What if…you get sick after the time you spent looking after me?” he asked, a little concerned. “And you weren’t masked like everyone else...
The older detective smiled.
“Then I guess you’ll just have to take care of me then.” Yakou said grinning and shrugging. “Yeah, I figured it was too late for me, so I tried to protect everyone else. Besides we bought enough tea and medicine to last a while. So, it should be fine.”
Yuma nodded. “Okay, Chief… Sorry again for the trouble…”
Yakou placed a finger to Yuma’s lips.
“Uh-uh, I don’t wanna hear it.” Yakou said in a bit of a playful yet annoyed tone.
He walks over to the door to the outside room about to turn the lights off and heads to his quarters to sleep for the night.
“Goodnight, Yuma. Sleep well.” He said smiling.
“Night, Chief…” he replied turning and curling up. “You too…”
Yakou turned the lights off and closed the door.
When the coast is clear, Shinigami flies down and lays on top of Yuma’s back and gets herself comfortable.
“Hope you get better soon, Master.” she said surprisingly thoughtfully.
Yuma opened one eye looking at Shinigami with a small smile as he speaks in his head.
“Thanks Shinigami…” he then yawns and closes his eyes and slowly fell asleep.
With all this care and well wishes he received today from everyone; he was already starting to feel better.