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The cat hesitated. He just realized he would've to tell Liao beforehand anyway, so he decided to wait. “I'll ask Liao when we get back about it. But I'm sure he'll love the idea. Then he can finally hold me in his arms every night!” The tiger rolled his eyes. “Of course he will. I'm sure it won't be the other way around really.” But the Leopard Cat wouldn't even listen and started prancing away. “Wait, didn't we come here so I could find a present for Liao? Even if he agrees that's still mostly your present to him. What about me?”
Leopard Cat looked at him, pouting. “You're a god, you know? You're telling me there's nothing a Guardian Tiger could possibly present his worshiper with, that doesn't involve spending the worshiper's money?” That threw the tiger off. “Well, what else is there I could give him I didn't already have? I've spend my whole existence protecting him, what can I...?” But the cat didn't seem to listen. “To Liao you look like a wet dream come true. Try posing a bit for him without your clothes. Or do a little 'show' with Kulau together, I bet he'd love that!”
Now Lin Hu looked completely flustered. “Wow. Just how shameless can you possibly be? You're his boyfriend and that's your idea of a present? Having another man do a striptease for him?” The cat laughed out loud, still holding his phone to his ears so the other people wouldn't suspect him for a lunatic. “Heh, not really. I mean, you're not really a 'man', right? You keep telling Liao that. Also, it's something Liao and I could enjoy together, so no harm here.” The tiger gave up trying at this point. “You really are a demon, you know that?” The cat stuck out his tongue. “Heh, not really.”
He got ready to leave, but then he stopped. “Wait a second, I think Liao told me the other day you were ogling at a cooktop?” Lin Hu didn't seem to get the context. “What?” “As a present. I mean they might be a bit expensive, but I can pay the remaining amount you cannot afford yourself.” That left the tiger speechless. “Wait... You... Are you serious?” The cat nodded. “Sure, I mean it would be nice to have some hot food at home, so it benefits me as well. You can tell Liao it was a special offer, so you could actually afford it.” Before the tiger could say anything the Leopard Cat grabbed a cooktop that was small enough to fit on their table at home. “What do you say? Shall we take this one?” Lin Hu nodded. “That's, uhm... Wow, I really don't know what to say. Yan Shu-Chi, thank you very much.” That made the cat laugh out loud, not caring who might hear him. “What's that? The old geezer actually knows my name?”
A few days later. Liao's birthday would be tomorrow. They had agreed that Leopard Cat would pay for that second bed, but Liao would repay half of the price as soon as he got the money. Now it was time for Liao to get ready for school. He shot a glance at his Senpai, who was still laying in their bed. “I'll be off now, Senpai. I'm really sorry you got sick.” The Leopard Cat looked like he was about to cry. “Not fair! Tomorrow's Liao's birthday! I don't wanna be sick during that!” he snuffled. Lin Hu looked indifferent. “That's kinda your own fault, you know? Liao kept telling you to wear something more than just that skimpy sweater day after day. Even though you're a half-god, your host-body is still human without any actual fur. Sooner or later that was bound to happen.” The cat shot the tiger a menacing glance. “You put a curse on me old man, didn't you? Don't lie to me!”
But the tiger remained calm. “No, Yan Shu-Chi. You've got only yourself to blame for this.” Liao tried to hold him back, but the cat was already crying. “I thought you're Liao's guardian! Why didn't you protect me as well? I'm his boyfriend, you meanie!” “SENPAI!”
He flinched, hearing Liao getting loud was quite an unusual sight. “Senpai, you being sick right now is nobody's fault, stop trying to put the blame on anyone. I want you to spend my birthday with us too, so you need to get better til then. Please relax and rest, I want you in good health by tomorrow!” The cat whimpered. “Liao...” The human turned to the Clouded Leopard. “Is it okay for you to keep an eye on him for today?” The leopard just nodded. “Look at it this way, you have the bed all for yourself today.” Lin Hu added.
With Liao and Lin Hu gone the Leopard Cat didn't know what to do. He had a fever and felt very tired, but on the other hand he had a headache so bad, no way he would be able to sleep. Also he was alone with Likulau, which made him extra nervous. Was the leopard still mad at him? It was hard to tell with him never changing his facial expression. “So, uhm... Hey, Kulau! Sorry you have to stay here because of me. I bet you wanted to go dancing today.” But the leopard shook his head. “Is okay.” was all he said. That didn't really do much to calm the cat down. That was going to be a long day for sure! Suddenly Likulau sat down right next to him. “You sick. Still no escaping?” “Wha...?” The cat had a hard time following his broken mandarin with his head pounding like this. “Your body. No leaving?” Oh, that's what he meant. “I promised Liao I wouldn't! Even if I get the plague I won't leave Yan Shu-Chi's body. I mean, it's only gonna be like, what? 60 or 70 years from now on? I can do that. A simple flu won't break me.” Even the cat himself had a hard time believing his words, since he still had some tears in his eyes.
“You hurt? Or sad?” asked the Clouded Leopard. “Sad! And angry!” the cat almost screamed. “Tomorrow's Liao's birthday, and I'll probably have to stay at home, because of this stupid flu!” Suddenly he felt the leopard's paw on his forehead. “Relax.” he said in an almost demanding demeanor. That irritated the cat. “Whu, what?” “You sick. You relax. You get better.” The cat could feel his body slowly heating up more and more. Damn, he needed something to cool down. “Hey Kulau, I need to get up. Please move.” But the leopard didn't move one bit. “You thirst? Or bathroom?” “What? No, I...”
“Then stay!”said the Clouded Leopard, now with more emphasis on the words. “Bu-but...?” It was no use, Likulau wouldn't budge. “I stay, too. Relax.” The Leopard Cat was about to protest, his body felt like it was melting at this point. But he was too weak to talk back. The only thing he could do was trying to get some sleep, hoping he would be better soon.
At school Senpai's fan club went nuts over the news of him being sick. “What? But Senpai never get's sick!” “What did you do to him to make him ill, Liao?” “Did you break his heart, is that why he's sick?” The questions just wouldn't stop, no matter how often Liao explained the situation. “For the last time, he just got a simple influenza. I know usually doesn't get sick, but there's a first time for everything I suppose. I'm sure he'll be better soon.” Liao had never been happier in his entire life about class finally starting. The rest of the day went by without anything spectacular to happen. Liao would just try to follow the lessons as usual, with his invisible Guardian Tiger standing right beside him. But after school was over a girl came by, running. “Liao, I heard Yan Shu-Chi-Senpai is sick!” Not again! Liao thought. “Yes, but it's just a simple flu, nothing too serious.” But the girl didn't even seem to listen. “That's no good! Your boyfriend's sick at home and here you are, just acting like nothing happened?” With that she slipped a note into Liao's hand. “Here, I wrote down a recipe for Senpai. You better be a good boyfriend and cook that for him! It'll help him get better for sure!”
Without even waiting for a response the girl simply turned on her heel and walked away. Lin Hu laughed. “Another one of the kitten's fangirls?” “I guess so.” answered Liao while he looked at the note. “Oh, it's a recipe for congee.” Lin Hu looked over his shoulders. “Ah, I remember that. Your mother used to cook that back home whenever one of you guys were sick.” After a few seconds Liao's face frowned. “Yes, but this one is different. Congee is basically just overcooked, soft-boiled rice with some stuff to give it actual taste. It's the most common meal for people who are sick, because it's easily digestible. But this recipe, oh lord. That calls for some fresh ingredients. And I'm pretty short on money already for this month. I was hoping to rely on instant ramen til then.”
“But the recipe sounds like it might actually be helpful. Don't you think you should make that sacrifice? He's your boyfriend after all.” Wow, Liao thought. It was rare to see Lin Hu actually taking Senpai's side. “I, I don't know. I mean I'm worried about him, too. But I should really keep an eye on the money for this month, so maybe it's best if...”
“Liao?” The human could feel the tiger's fur right next to his ear. “Remember, I've known you since the day you were born. I know everything about you.” Liao didn't like the tone in his voice. “Ye-yeah? So?” The tiger grinned. “So I also know all your most ticklish spots. If you don't want the entire campus to see you laying on the floor laughing, you better get those ingredients and cook this meal for your boyfriend!” That sent a shiver down Liao's spine. Yes, he was very ticklish. His brother used to torture him whenever he felt like it, and their parents were nowhere to be found. Would Lin Hu really do that though? But on the other hand he didn't want to risk anything. “Bu-but wait, how am I supposed to cook that? The rice needs to be heated up quite much, how should I...?” But the tiger just gave him a gentle nudge. “Don't worry about that, I got something for that.”
Shortly after that they were standing in Liao's very small kitchen nook at home. Likulau was still sitting right next to the sleeping Leopard Cat, touching his forehead. “That cooktop was really priced down, you say? That's... quite the lucky coincidence.” The tiger just nodded, while Liao was cutting up vegetables, waiting for the rice to finish on their new cooktop. “Say, would you have, uhm... Actually went through with your threat? About tickling me in public, if I didn't go shopping?” Lin Hu grinned. “Of course not! Liao, what are you thinking? I'm your Guardian Tiger, it's my duty to protect you, not to embarrass you in public. But, in case it wouldn't have worked I might have threatened you with telling Yan Shu-Chi about your weakness.” The human moaned. “Seriously now? I think you spend too much time with Senpai.” The tiger chuckled. “Heh, not really.”
A few minutes later the congee was done. “Hey, Likulau. Have you been sitting here this entire time? Every since we left?” The leopard nodded. “I help.” Liao prepared a bowl for Senpai. “You helped? With what?” “I cure. I clean. Sharing qi. Making healthy.”
Liao looked at Senpai. “Wait, so you've been cleaning his, what? His qi? To make him feel better?” The leopard nodded, while the cat slowly opened his eyes. “Senpai, how are you?” At first the cat didn't seem to realize what was going on. “Oh, Liao. It's you.” He gave his body a stretch and yawned loudly. “Hey, I feel actually much better now!” He looked over to Likulau. “Wait, it was you, right? You gave me some of your qi, I can feel it!” The leopard nodded again. “My present. Liao want you. Tomorrow you better.”
But Liao wouldn't let the cat get up just yet. “You still have some temperature, so better keep it down for a little more, okay?” With that he gave him the bowl. “Here, I made you some congee. You must be pretty hungry by now.” The cat looked at the bowl, then to Liao. Then his eyes began to water. “Waaaaaah, Liao made food for me?” With shaking hands he took the bowl and started shoving his face with rice puree. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” “Woah, Senpai!” Liao interrupted him. “Calm down, please try not to make a mess! You still have to sleep in this bed tonight.” Immediately the cat's eating frenzy came to a halt. “Wait, why just me? Aren't you going to share the bed with me tonight, Liao?” The human looked a bit embarrassed. “Yeah, you see, you're still infectious. I might get sick too, if I share too much space with you. I really don't mind sleeping on the floor for once.”
“But, but...” The cat thought desperately about another solution. “What about Lin Hu? He's your Guardian Tiger, right? He's gonna protect you from getting sick! Please, Liao! I don't wanna spend the night all alone!” Liao sighed. Senpai had yet another one of his little tantrums it seemed. “Yan Shu-Chi, listen.” This time it was the tiger speaking. “Of course I'll protect Liao the best I can. But if you two get too close my divine protection might not be enough. Do you really want to risk infecting Liao right on his birthday?” The cat looked very sad. “No, I don't want that, of course not! But, who am I supposed to share the bed with tonight?”