Archive of Our Own

How long had he been awake?
Judging by what song was currently playing, how long the requested playlist was and the fact that he watched the pitch black of his room slowly illuminate with the rise of the sun Kaoru guessed somewhere in the realm of three hours. Three hours, give or take, of misery. Too tired to get up, too uncomfortable to sleep, fighting blankets as he peeled off layers one at a time until he was left in just boxers sprawled on top of his sheets. Why was it so damn hot?

"That's a stupid question..." He chided himself, raising an arm he coughed against a bent, sweaty crook of his elbow.
He heard the chime of Carla's alarm break into the playlist he'd requested hours ago, pink light of the bracelet on his wrist glowing to life as the usual morning routine began. Golden eyes squeezed shut with a groan against the suddenly bright magenta glow so close to his face.

"Good morning, Master." The soothing voice of his AI began, to which Kaoru only groaned again in reply. However, unlike usual he did not ask for an extension on his alarm. "It's 0800, December 31st. Current temperature is 16 degrees Celsius, windy with a high expected today of 20. Would you like to hear your itinerary?" He shook his head and sniffled, giving clearing his dry throat a try before he croaked out a reply.

"No. Thank you, Carla. I don't think I'll be doing any of that today. Give me a reading on my temperature, please?" He asked stuffily, wrinkling his nose at the sound of his own voice. What he could hear of it anyhow. His whole head felt like he'd been hit with a skateboard, again! and then stuffed with cotton.

"Certainly." It replied, the glow of the bracelet growing brighter then fading in a rhythmic pattern. Matching his breathing as it gathered information. When it was finished there was another chime. The sound that he was usually so fond of and found soothing felt like an ice pick chip, chip, chipping away behind his eyes.

"Report?"
 
"Yes Master. Body temperature, elevated.."

"How 'elevated'?" He asked, stopping the report as he scrubbed at his nose with the side of his wrist.

"38.9 degrees. Resting heart rate.."

"Alright. Yes. Thank you Carla." Kaoru snipped, a slight strain to his voice as he leaned up on to his elbows bent behind himself. He'd heard all he needed to. Annoyed that what he already knew to be true was confirmed. He was sick.
He felt it coming on a few days before but he was positive he was keeping it at bay. That was a miscalculation. He'd been noticeably sluggish at work, when he wasn't with a client or giving lessons, that is.  Anytime he had to be his best for a client or customer he managed to take a few aspirin and put on a smile. Be his most charming self but he had the sinking suspicion that wasn't going to work today. He was sick and it was New Years Eve. Taking an entirely selfish moment he dwelled on that, but almost immediately his thoughts then turned to another. To Kojiro. They had been seeing one another in a casual form since the beginning of fall, and as of Christmas even more seriously. They'd set aside most of the day for friends, but the evening was supposed to be theirs. He hadn't been in a relationship worth celebrating, or in time for the festivities, in years! And now here he was.. He was sick, it was New Years Eve and he had an entire day planned! ..which he would no doubt have to cancel. He grumbled as he finally pushed himself into a sitting position in bed and letting long pink locks fall over his bare shoulders rubbed his eyes with one hand. "..Fuck.. Kojiro."

"Calling Kojiro.." Carla chimed, having only clearly caught the familiar name as Kaoru muttered. His eyes snapped open wide beneath his hand.

"No! No. Do not do that." He cancelled the action and while getting up strongly considered turning off Carla's voice command for the entire day. No. He didn't mean that. Even though he was short tempered at the moment, it felt rude. Not only did she run his day, his home, his phone and basically his life, she'd done nothing wrong and it felt like taking away her voice even though she wasn't human. He would just have to be more careful. He made his way to the bathroom and turning on the light was met with what he considered to be a ghastly sight! His own reflection, or what he only assumed was his reflection since this sad, pathetic, tired looking creature he was looking at was in his house! He leaned in closer over the sink, squinting at his reflection since he'd left his glasses beside the bed and made a face. The dark circles around his eyes that made him look as if he hadn't slept in weeks, his already pale complexion turned ashen and washed out, except for his nose which was turning bright pink the more he itched and rubbed at it. He frowned as he came to the conclusion that he wouldn't go anywhere near someone who looked like he did right now, a plague carrier! And he didn't expect Kojiro would want to either.

That was a lie.

Kojiro would drop everything and come running if he called, and Kaoru knew it, but he was not willing to make that call. His pride, mostly at this point, would not allow it.  He turned the water on and splashed some over his face, trying to think of something to explain his absence from the days activities without admitting he wasn't feeling well and making the big, sweet, idiotic gorilla worry. Although the thought of his large, strong, dumb arms around him while he laid on that ridiculously puffed up chest was a nice one. The thought of not being alone.. No! He had to stop this whole line of thinking or he wouldn't be able to resist! Even with both of their businesses closed through the next couple of days for the New Year, he didn't want to spread whatever this bug was. He brushed his teeth, turned the water off and coughing like he was trying to bring up a lung returned to his room for his phone and glasses. It was still far too early for anyone to expect to hear from him, as he usually slept in, so Kaoru took the time to get cleaned up properly and drag his tired bones down to the clinic. With any luck he would receive a prescription and after a little bit of rest he could at least fake normal for a few hours.

The sun was shining, the day was finally warming up and Kojiro looked with an impatient sigh at his suspiciously blank text log as he leaned back on the bench at the skate park. He pushed up the sleeve of his sky blue hoodie over a long, well muscled arm and let it rest across the back of his perch, practically willing his phone one last time to give him something! Some sign of life.

Yeah, he decided he'd waited long enough.

If Kaoru was still sleeping at half past noon, then it was high time someone risked the wrath and woke him up! Old four-eyes was going to miss the entire day at this point and the festival in town started hours ago. With an annoyed sigh he opened his texts and started to type.

                                                                  - Hey! Sleeping beauty! Got your lazy butt up yet? Where are you?

He sent the text and palmed his phone, watching as Reki and Langa skated circles around one another with big silly grins. Hands held, testing how far back they could lean, boards pressed together at their feet as they whipped around in a circle. They were also waiting. The plan was for the four of them, the two couples of the group of friends, would get together at the park and meet Miya and Hiromi for mochi but only three out of four arrived at their agreed upon meeting time. It wasn't like Kaoru to be late.. at least not THIS late and although the two younger men were seemingly oblivious to this fact Kojiro knew better and was starting to worry.

- Tired. Had a long night working on a flaw in a new program.  

- Don't wait for me.

- Go have fun with the others. I'm going to get some sleep and catch up later.

Kojiro read the text and couldn't stop the frown that pulled at his features. He felt effectively blown off but mostly he was missing his best friend. The two newly minted lovers hadn't been spending much time together as of late. December was a busy month for the both of them. Tourists, the holidays.. The restaurant was fully booked every night for the last two weeks, and he was short staffed as he'd heard some nightmare flu was spreading around so it also meant staying after hours for clean up and earlier mornings for deliveries. Kaoru was experiencing the same kind of uptick as more people flocked for the perfect gift and a Sakurayashiki original or scheduled lessons were always a great idea.
 
"Joe?"  

Although they'd carved out some time together on Christmas Eve, he really hadn't seen him for much longer than dinner a few nights ago. He was looking forward to today.

"Joooeeeee...?"

He was brought back from his thoughts at the sound of Reki snapping his fingers close to his face as he continued to stare at his phone. "Hey! Joe. What's going on? Heard from Cherry yet?" The redhead asked as he picked his skateboard up off of the ground at his feet and tucked it under his arm. The only response he got was a single finger held up, asking for a moment silently as his other hand was busy writing a reply back.

                                                                                                                           - That doesn't sound good. You ok? Need anything?

- What I NEED is sleep.

- I'm fine.
                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                                   - You sure?

- Nothing to worry about, you over protective ape! I said I'm fine.

- Go. 

"Uh.. yeah." Kojiro started, making a dismissive 'click' sound as he sucked his teeth. "That was just him. Guess he's not coming." Placing his phone down on the leg of his jeans he ran a hand through his hair and shrugged.

"What's that?" Reki gave a disappointed groan as the voice spoke up behind him. Even in his favorite oversized yellow hoodie it was apparent his shoulders slumped. He leaned his head back and let it rest on Langa's shoulder as he stepped off his skateboard.

"Joe says Cherry's not coming." He turned his head as he spoke, amber eyes meeting blue.

"Oh. Everything okay?" As hard as it was, Langa tore his eyes from the absolutely adorable over dramatics occurring on his shoulder to meet Kojiro's. "S'He sick?"

"Yeah, no. He says everything's fine. Kaoru doesn't get sick." At the teens obvious look of doubt he stood from his seat and smoothed out his light blue hoodie, taking a minute to push the other sleeve up a bit higher on his forearm also. "No. Really. He's like, freakishly healthy. It's disgusting, and I'm jealous. Sounds like he just had a late night and he's tired, is all. So, he told us to go on without him. Said he'll catch up with us later, and you know what happens when we don't follow instructions.." He laughed, watching his younger friends as their expressions looked for a moment like their souls left their bodies! The two forming almost comically the same mental picture. Their rather intimidating, withering stare possessing friend snapping his fan at them in judgement just before the pointed, but honest dressing down began. This only made Kojiro laugh harder. "Exactly! And I'll be the one most to blame for not delivering the message correctly. So be good kids, save a guy a headache and lets go?"

Kaoru was sure he was dying.

Despite what that quack doctor said, this was not just some common flu. He couldn't remember the last time he was so sick! After the trip to get checked out, then the pharmacy for just about every over the counter medication and remedy known to man, he barely made it to his couch before falling on to it face first exhausted. He managed to take his shoes and mask off at the door but left them scattered and in the way instead of neatly tucked to the side like usual and the bag of medicine at the side of the couch, undisturbed. He closed his eyes, letting out a groan of indifference as his glasses fell off when he flopped unceremoniously down, but he left them on the floor where they landed. When he woke up only a few hours ago he was sweating through everything he put on, but now he was freezing and as the shiver ran through his body he knew he was going to have to get up and do something about it.

Nothing in him wanted to move.

Letting his arm fall off of the couch to the floor, knuckles hitting the wood below with a soft tap, he fumbled with his eyes closed for where he thought his glasses might have landed. It took unfortunately more effort than even he imagined such a task would, and that worried him. This was going to be a long few days. Once his glasses were back on and he could see again, he suddenly wished he couldn't as the room spun and his stomach performed an unfortunate flip. Now he had to get up. Urgently!

He prayed to many deities on his knees on the floor of the bathroom, finally getting a break between gasping gags long enough to tie his hair back. Thankfully, he hadn't managed to make a mess of his soft pink locks so far and he intended to keep it that way. Feeling his phone buzz in his pocket, he pulled it out and answered his texts manually from an already worried sounding boyfriend. Still on the floor and with trembling fingers, he replied and he lied.  He felt like he could cry! Everything hurt. His muscles were tense and sore, the feeling of clothes on his skin was like sandpaper, even the small bit of tension in the elastic holding his hair back made his hair hurt! His stomach was in a cramping knot and leaving his glasses off gave him a headache but putting them on meant he could see just how dizzy he was with perfect clarity. He remained on the floor until he was positive he could stand and even then he took it slow, pulling himself up with the aid of the bathroom counter and took to the tasks the lay ahead. He gathered the most comfortable and warmest things he could find in his closet, which were almost all pilfered items from the 'steroid laden gorilla', took a very hot shower, brushed his teeth yet again and dragging his pillow and blankets behind himself brought it all back to the Livingroom to set up camp on the couch. He would convalesce there for a few days. In front of the television that he rarely ever turned on because the mere sound of other human voices did a lot for his state of mind sometimes and gave him something to focus on. It would have been better to have an actual person there, but that was something Kaoru wasn't going to get. Before climbing into the nest he'd built for himself he remembered to gather liquids and tissues and unpacked his pharmacy bag finally. He started by questioning Carla about possible adverse reactions between a few items, setting alarms for others that needed to be taken on schedule, and throwing some caution to the wind took at least three kinds of medicine from the pile. At least one of them was a night time and would probably knock him out cold but that was the idea at the moment. He was much better at being sick if he wasn't conscious for most of it! Finally he could lie down again and he nearly jumped into the pile he was so eager. Still shivering Kaoru pulled the elastic from his hair, Kojiro's grey zip up hoodie tighter around his slim frame, the large hood up over his head and let it flop down over his eyes. He'd stolen it weeks ago when he was having a hard day and now it was his favorite comfort item. He would have much rather had the real thing, his lover and best friend holding him and stroking his large, gentle hands over his hair... This would do for now.

Kaoru always self isolated when he wasn't feeling well. At first it was at the behest of distant and cold parents, far too consumed with their own comings and goings, careers and projects to have time for a sick child. Even after he was on his own however he kept the practice. It didn't happen often but Kaoru would simply disappear at those times. Like a werewolf waiting out the full moon, he went silent and reappeared again when he was feeling better. It was first and foremost for the best, keeping it contained and not spreading the germs around. Also, it made him a monster! Quick tempered and meaner than usual, all signs of jest in his jabs glaringly lacking. Then there was how it managed to land such a solid blow to his ego, which was quite reason enough on its own! It was humiliating with every involuntary cough and sneeze, the urge to cling and whine and complain about something no one could do anything about while looking an entire sight! It made him cringe just to think about it! So, he bit the lonely bullet every time. It did mean he had experience weathering the storm however, and this one like all the others would soon pass. He turned the television on, leaving it on the first channel he landed on and turned the volume down as low as he could, just barely able to hear it. It was hell! Half of his senses barely worked and the ones that did, were turned to eleven. Everything. Was. So. Loud! Pulling the blankets up he took his glasses off again and with a big yawn tried to sleep.

It didn't last long.

"Master?" His bracelet glowed to life again as he whimpered a sleepy reply. He'd just gotten to sleep! He actually found himself fighting the urge to have a real, actual tantrum! That was new.. A feet kicking, pillow throwing, cushion punching hissy fit! It wouldn't have lasted more than a few seconds but he was already sore, that would only make it worse and ruin the perfect nesting spot he'd created. "You have a new text message from Kojiro."

"Read." Kaoru barely got the word out before the coughing started again.

"Message from Kojiro 'Still on for dinner tonight?' end message." Half asleep again already by the end of the message, he swiped a sleeve covered hand across his face trying to move his hair out of the way. It was tickling his nose, wrinkled and scrunched with a sniffle. "How shall I respond?"

"Don't. No response." He dismissed the message and for good measure took off his bracelet and put it down on the nearby table with his glasses. "Carla? Silence messages. Silence calls. Turn off all alarms. In fact, unless you detect a rise in temperature because the house is on fire, do not wake me up again. Do we understand one another?"

"Understood. Sleep well, Master." Kaoru fell asleep again pretty quickly, even though he knew he was wrong to so blatantly ignore Kojiro. Perhaps a very small part of him thought that he'd come if he got worried enough, without having to actually ask? In all actuality, his goal was to annoy his green haired inamorato into leaving him be. It wasn't a great plan, but he was positive he could come up with some way to make it up to him in a few days.

Kojiro was trying to have fun! Really, he was! But he couldn't stop thinking about Kaoru. Through shopping, picking up a few surprise bags and then tearing through them. All manner of fried garbage food that meant usually everyone would have to listen to Kaoru and Carla's lectures about fat content and heart disease with Miya obnoxiously agreeing, but still sneaking bites behind his back. The many pictures the five took together. All of it reminded him that he missed the dismissive scoffs and playful pushes. No small smiles that Kaoru would try to fight and that Kojiro pretended not to see when the kids or Hiromi did something particularly funny, not wanting to encourage them further. Now it was radio silence. What had gotten into him? Was he mad about something? Did he over cook the beef the other night? It felt like those walls he'd spent so long chipping away at were going back up, there wasn't even an insulting message. No fight. Just silence. His inquiry about dinner went unanswered for hours now although it was checked as 'read'. While he thought entirely too much about it he hadn't noticed his smile had slipped, the furrow of his brow indicating worry. ...And everybody saw it.

"What bug crawled up your butt, old man?" Miya yelled, lowering his phone with a frown of his own. "You're ruining the picture." Kojiro rejoined the group from where he'd been lost in thought with a slow raise of one eyebrow.

"What?" He questioned, not having heard the boy but picked up on the annoyed tone in his voice and the feeling of three other sets of eyes on him curiously.

"I bet he's thinking about Cherry." Langa piped up, leaning back against the railing behind himself and took a long sip from what used to be Reki's drink. He'd stolen it long enough ago that by rights of possession it was now his.

"..You don't beat around the bush, huh kid? Just cut right to the point." He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Speaking of..? Has anyone heard from him today?" Kojiro inquired, not quite sure if he wanted the answer. He was testing the waters. If Kaoru was talking to the others, he'd done something. But if not...?

"Nope. Not even a like on any of my pictures." Reki replied, looking a little concerned himself, scratching the side of his head as he pulled out his phone and also looked at not only his personal messages but the group chat as well. One by one they all checked their phones and the confusion rolled down the line of the group like a wave, noticing everyone was coming up empty.

"That's fuckin' weird.. That's weird, right?" Hiromi muttered before looking around Langa at Kojiro at the end of the line. "What did you do that was so bad this time, that now he's mad at Everybody?"

"Me!?" He snapped back, reaching out he pushed down some of the red hair of the boy beside him, looking over him to see Hiromi on the other end. Miya however, remained silent as he watched the scene unfolding. Gleefully snapping away candid pictures as his friends bickered. Pictures that he knew they would hate if they knew he had taken them. "What makes you think this is my fault? How do we know the Wunderkind over there didn't ask him a million coding questions again until he turned his phone off?" That got Miya's attention.

"Hey! Don't blame this on me. I haven't heard from Cherry in two days!" The boy huffed with a puff of his cheeks, finally lowering his phone again to shoot the much taller, bigger man a glare of defiance. "Whatever 'this' is.." He gestured with his index finger and a purple painted fingernail. "It's probably you." He then gave a decisive nod and a snicker as he saw the vein on the side of Kojiro's forehead throb, and the result of his added annoyance on Reki in flip book fashion, captured on his camera roll.

"Joe...?" Reki asked, his voice strained. "...You're crushing me.." Kojiro looked down at his friend, finally realizing in his squabbles he'd pushed the poor guy down until his knees bent. Like a hammer pounding in a nail with one blow. He took his hand back in surprise before offering it to help him back upright again.

"Sorry." He muttered, watching as Langa straightened Reki's headband and moved a lock of red hair out of his eyes. Mostly making sure their much stronger friend hadn't hurt him by accident. He reached back behind himself, grabbing the railing of the walk way and looked down at the rubber shell top toes of his sneakers. He shrugged one shoulder. "Dunno. Maybe I did do something? Sometimes it's hard to tell with him." He gave a single, dry chuckle. "Sometimes it seems like everything annoys him. Every one annoys him. I annoy him... Often it's my goal! But, something doesn't feel right about this. He insults me, I insult him, all's right with the world. But there's not even a response to this." He brought up the group chat, looking at the last message he left an hour ago that read.
                                                   
                                                                                                            - Aw, you're just jealous everyone else is out. having fun.

                                                                                                               - and you chose to stay home. Shedding your skin.          

Langa leaned in a little closer and read the message over Kojiro's shoulder, practically climbing over Reki to do it. "Yeahhhh, That should have done it."

"It's like I'm not even here!" Reki complained, closing one eye with a wince as he ducked out from under his boyfriend causing him to stumble a step, suddenly without the support. "It's in the group chat! You didn't have to read it from Joe's phone, nosey." He reached out and poked the tip of Langa's nose upward until it wrinkled. Suddenly, he was stricken with inspiration! His eyes lighting up with a big smile. "Hey! I know! Let's go check on him. We still got a few hours until everyone splits off. Sooooo I say we get some of his favorite things, give him his cards and cheer him up." Reaching out Reki grabbed both of Langa's cheeks and stretched them into a smile that matched his own as they both looked at Kojiro who returned it, his own small and unsure. Tilting his head to the side as he considered it, sucking in a hissing breath between his teeth.

"..I don't know. Kaoru is kind of particular about his space - and showing up unannounced."

"He shows up at Sia la Luce unannounced after hours all the time." Langa shrugged.

"Again! Don't mince words." Kojiro laughed. Then it hit him! Every ounce of 'fuck it' that he possessed kicked in. Kaoru was acting strangely, he'd gone silent and Kojiro really did not appreciate how that made him feel. He couldn't think of anything Kaoru might hate more than a surprise party showing up on his doorstep and he was feeling petty enough to find that thought really funny. It seemed like a harmless enough prank, but enough to really get under his skin. He felt a little bad of course, that he was currently thinking of using their friends as weapons in his grand scheme but he knew Kaoru. He'd be mad about it, but he liked them all enough he'd get over it and loosen up eventually. And who knows? Maybe it would do as Reki suggested and pull him out of whatever funk he was currently wallowing in. 

"That's not where he LIVES, you dolt! It's not the same." Miya sighed, looking at Langa with a flat expression that obviously read 'Snow boy is such an air head' like a marquee sign, before looking back down at his phone. Thumbs typing a message quickly. "I say we do it. There! We've announced our intentions. And if he doesn't like it thennn..." He pressed send on the message, shrugging as everyone's phones sounded with a chime of a new message to the group chat. Miya turned his phone around to show them it was him, taking a few steps closer.

                                                                                                                                               - hey Cherry We r all coming over.

                                                                                                                        - These guys wont stop moping ur not here & its getting old.

" ..He should have turned on his phone and stopped ignoring everyone like a child."

Kojiro smiled devilishly, sliding his phone back into his pocket. "Alright. Let's do it."

Kaoru already had a hard time waking up on his best days, but today? This was nearly impossible! He laid on the couch glaring at the television looking like the worlds angriest pink hairball. Long, tangled and frizzy locks spilling out from the half pushed back hood. He'd slept most of the afternoon, which was the idea! He however, hated wasted, unproductive time and that was the sum of the day.  Some terrible scripted drama was on and he couldn't find the remote so he watched ruefully until he couldn't stomach anymore. Reaching over for his bracelet that laid on top of his phone. He retrieved it, his glasses and the large nearby bottle of water. Sliding the pink band back on as well as his glasses he started to unscrew the cap on the bottle as he spoke. "Wake up, Carla." He removed the cap and leaned up sipping carefully at the water, unsure if he could trust his stomach enough to guzzle it down the way he wanted to. Not to mention he was so hopelessly stuffed up now he might drown if he tried. He was so thirsty!

"Good evening, Master. You have 78 new unread messages." He nearly choked hearing the number, lowering the bottle and coughed against the back of his wrist. "Would you like me to read them?"

"No. I'll do it myself. Thank you." He put the bottle back down on the table and picked up his phone instead, turning it on and winced as the messages all came through. It was a combination of the sound, and the sheer amount of them! Also, quite a bit of guilt. He knew that the guilt of ignoring Kojiro would catch up eventually but that was a problem for future Kaoru and unfortunately for him, he was that sad sack now and somehow felt even worse to boot! As soon as he opened his message log his suspicions were confirmed, there were quite a few from Kojiro but most were from the children. He started there making faces as he nudged at the end of his nose with his knuckle, trying to coax a pesky stuck sneeze and sniffling softly. It was mostly pictures of their day, they all looked happy and to be having a good time. By all reasoning it should have brought a smile to his face but instead all he felt was building jealousy and loneliness. It was starting to consume as he closed Reki's and opened Langa's message next, flicking the screen with his thumb in an aggressive upward swipe to mark all messages as 'read'. He'd come back to them later with a clearer head so that he could actually appreciate them, but now was not that time. Giving himself a break from the 'sweeter' side he picked 'The Clown' next, but that way lay a very different kind of emotional pitfall. Noticing in the background of pictures an all too familiar mass of muscles and the way his smile seemed to falter in a progression throughout the day. Now he felt properly bad! Guilty, sad, jealous, lonely.. He marked these all as read as well, moving on to Miya and did the same. Ready to close it and face the music in the last set of messages he looked over the shutter mode flipbook of pictures at the end. Frowning as he noticed Kojiro staring at his phone, then the progression of yelling and slowly crushing Reki to the ground like an empty aluminum can. Great! He'd ruined everyone's day, not just his own and that was precisely what he aimed not to do by insisting Kojiro be with their friends instead of there with him. He was starting to feel sick to his stomach again, unsure if it was physical or emotional as he opened the last messages. Kojiro's.

                                                                                                          - I hope you're getting some sleep. Dont want to get run down.

"Too late.." He muttered, reaching for a tissue and gave his nose an attempt at a blow which proved to be useless.

                                                                                                            - Still not up? I'll call in a little while.

                                                                                                            - Your phone is off. Are you sure everything is ok?

                                                                                                        - When you get these, gimme a call you old buzz kill.

He bit the corner of his bottom lip over the spot where a silver ring used to be as he kept reading. This wasn't good. The messages went from worried, to almost pleading, to downright insulting and angry the more he read. Kaoru assumed, and correctly, that he was trying to get a rise out of him to get him to reply and it was working! Just not in the way Kojiro would have expected. Kaoru was getting mad! On top of everything else he was currently feeling, it felt like a short in his brain. Too many things, emotions, all at once. He marked the messages as read, went to the group chat to do the same and noticed he'd started trying to bait him there as well.

"...Shedding... My skin?" He hissed slowly, eyes narrowing and jaw clenching as he read the message out loud incredulously. He no longer had a desire to read anymore, and most certainly not to respond to any of this! He didn't care if it got marked as read or left that obnoxious number of unread messages at the bottom of his screen. He closed the message and tossed his phone to the bottom of the couch, far enough away that he couldn't reach it and huffed a frustrated breath that naturally turned into a chest burning cough. Even though he would never admit it out loud, his feelings were hurt. If only he had continued to read.. the next few minutes would have been less of a surprise.

Flinging back the blanket he sat up and swung socked feet to the floor. Letting the hood fall away he leaned his forearms onto his knees and rubbed at his forehead slowly. Silently scolding himself for mistakes made already and although irrational for having such a thin skin. "Carla? Television off." Deciding he'd officially had enough he reached out and started gathering the same combination of medicine he'd taken earlier, intending to knock himself out again rather than feed the very strong urge to take out all of his hurt feelings in text form. No sooner than he'd swallowed the pills and a cap full of cough syrup for good measure Carla chimed.

"Master. Someone is at the front door." The proximity alert went off moments before he heard the bell. He wasn't expecting anyone and at this point his feathers were so ruffled he considered not answering. No! Actually he would answer and give whomever was on the other side a decisive 'fuck off!'. He stood up, and shuffling his feet with a shiver made his way to the door, rubbing one arm through the oversized hoodie briskly. Cold again from the loss of his blanket. He grabbed his black mask from where he'd dropped it much earlier, pulled it on and gave his front door a very swift and unwelcoming yank.

"Hey guys?" Kojiro started, opening the passengers side door of the pink car and groaning a bit as he unfolded and pulled himself out with his hand on the roof. He would never be able to understand how Hiromi could own let alone drive such a small car! His knees nearly locked up on the short drive over. "So, a word of warning before we actually.. you know?" He knocked on the roof softly to gesture as the three youngest piled out of the back seat. Squinting against the setting sun as they turned to listen. "..If you happen to see him unhinge his jaw at any point, you know, to swallow me whole? Run!" He played serious, inciting a genuine laugh from Miya and a cautious, unsure chuckle from the other two. "I mean, I know they say snakes won't attack if their mouths are full but this one? If he sees a smaller, easier target he might spit me out and strike again."

"Why are you trying to scare the kids? You know him best and you agreed to this!" Hiromi rolled his eyes as he got out as well, again somehow in charge of carrying bags. He sighed, realizing that the others were already walking towards the house and had left everything they brought to gift Cherry behind, so he of course, gathered the bags in large hands. "But really though... should we be worried?" He peeked over the hood at Kojiro, trying not to let the concern read on his face.

"Uhm, yeah? Like, Is he going to be really mad we just showed up like this?" Reki tried to keep the small tremble out of his voice as he dropped a step behind Langa. Grabbing his sleeve in one hand while the other came to rest on the taller boy's shoulder, practically steering him in front of himself like an unwitting human shield. He didn't really fear Kaoru so much as he didn't want to feel the rapp of the wooden fan to the top of his head. 

"It was your idea." Miya droned unimpressed, eyes glued to the screen of his game.

"And this was the one time you people chose to listen to me?! You know I have terrible ideas unless it comes to skating!"

"And even then.. They're not that great." 

Kojiro half listened to the quiet bickering behind himself as he kept moving towards the door. He was annoyed, on the verge of angry but didn't want to show it. Not now. He would have time to talk to Kaoru alone when everyone was gone. Scattered to the winds of family and their own plans soon enough. He bit down, gritting his teeth as he stepped up onto the front porch and just as he was about to ring the bell, he noticed the lack of foot falls behind himself. turning to look over his shoulder he found he was alone! "Where..?" He started as he turned completely around to find the other four standing behind the stone wall, peeking out at him intensely. Even Miya the bravest front of all, kept his distance. He sighed shaking his head a little his expression fell flat. "You've got to be kidding me.." Maybe he'd done too effective a job at teasing? Kaoru could be prickly, sure! But this felt over the top! Reaching out he pressed the bell and crossed his arms over his chest, calling back over his shoulder. "He's not actually going to eat anyone, you know! You guys are being ridiculous."

"Probably not, but he likes you a lot more so we'll just hang back for a second."  Reki called back, sinking below the edge of the stone wall a bit more. Only his eyes and wild red hair visible over the edge now.

"Have you met Kaoru?" Kojiro muttered, mostly to himself with a roll of his eyes and a shake of his head. No sooner than the words left his lips, he was startled by the rather violent way the door flung open! Turning back quickly dark eyes met narrowed gold, annoyed and threatening but only for a moment until he realized who was here and he visibly softened. 

 "Oh.." Was all Kojiro could manage as he dropped his arms from his defensive stance, giving Kaoru a once over. It all made sense now. This was a sight he wasn't expecting and hadn't seen in a very long time. The smaller man in front of him looked just that. His usual arrow straight posture was slumped as if holding his own weight was too much, drowning in one of his hoodies he sniffled and twitched his nose under the mask. "Aw, Bunny." he cooed at him with a soft chuckle. "No wonder you didn't want to come out today."

Kaoru didn't speak at first. He took a single step forward, which instinctively made Kojiro take a step back. He knew if there was one thing Kaoru hated more than being sick, it was that nickname he'd given him when they were teens. He wasn't exactly sure if he was going to make him pay for it, or the chuckle in his words when he was suffering, but he knew something was coming. It was not what he expected at all! Kaoru moved a little quicker this time, closing the gap between them but instead of the quick jab to his stomach or arm, instead he lifted his own arms, the sleeves of the sweatshirt hanging almost completely over his hands and wrapped them around Kojiro's neck. Closing his eyes he nuzzled his face into the warm skin of his neck and the fabric of his collar and sniffled. He couldn't smell him. That scent unique to only him, some designer fragrance that he used to find cloying that mixed with his body chemistry and mellowed in such a way that Kaoru now found comfort in it. And that made him a little sadder. 

"You're here." Kaoru breathed the words, hugging him just a bit tighter. With those two words Kojiro hugged him back, letting his own head rest on top of the mess of blossom pink hair. "If I'm dreaming again I'm going to be so pissed..." He felt Kojiro laugh, that lovely sound reverberating in his chest and spreading to his own made him smile beneath the mask.

"Been dreaming about me, eh? How'd I look..?" He pulled back just a bit to look down at him as he made his joke and wearing a forced smile. Trying to catch his eye so he could get a good look at him, see if he could get a reading on how bad it was. He could always read Kaoru like a book, much to the 'mysterious Cherry Blossom's chagrin. Now that he had him in his arms he could feel how warm he was though the thick zip up and every time his forehead brushed against his jaw it felt like heat coming off of a stove. "Did you make me more handsome? Bigger.. oomf!" He never felt when one of Kaoru's hands let go from where they were clasped behind his neck, he did however feel when his fist connected with his side. It was a weak hit, it mostly started him.

"I was obviously delirious.." He muttered, tone taking a sharp edge to it but lacking in his usual follow through. He really was not well at all.

 "There's my guy." Kojiro put a wince on through a smile as he slid his hands from around his waist and brought them up to hold the sides of Kaoru's face looking into his eyes, rubbing a thumb gently over his cheekbone. "I'm sorry you're sick. Why didn't you say something?" Kojiro pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead that made Kaoru's eyes close as a shiver passed through him. It alarmed him a little, feeling Kaoru tremble but he kept that to himself.

"...I feel like we shouldn't be watching this.."

"Shut it, Snow boy! He'll hear us!"

He had indeed heard them! Kojiro felt the man still in his embrace bristle. Kaoru's eyes opened suddenly, glassy and looking both startled and alarmed for a moment before narrowing threateningly up at Kojiro who returned a sheepish smile and scratched the back of his head. "..By the way! I'm sorry about that too." He gestured behind himself with his thumb. Kaoru still glared daggers, twitching his nose again with a sniff. The mask always irritated his nose when he didn't feel well, causing the faces he made to happen more often. It was hard to find him threatening when he looked like that. Kaoru ducked around Kojiro's raised arm and his impenetrable wall of a body and spotted the other four members of their ragtag little crew practically in the bushes. His posture straightened almost instantly, a quick hand reached up and grabbed the collar of Kojiro's sweatshirt.

"Oh, look..! You've brought the children and the Clown! Stupidity.. Thy name is Joe." He let go of his collar, not because he wanted to. What he wanted to do was jab him in the side again! But instead he turned away and coughed into his bent elbow, pushing Kojiro aside with his other arm. "What are you doing?!" He asked the also embarrassed looking four as soon as he could catch his breath.

"...Waiting to see if you'll really unhinge your jaw and eat Joe alive!" Miya called back to Kojiro's horror, throwing his hands up and silently mouthing 'why?!' back at him behind Kaoru's back just before Reki's fist dropped on top of the boy's hood right between the cats ears. "Ow! You slime!"

"Don't say that! Cherry doesn't look so good and probably feels worse. Be nice you brat!" Reki snapped back.

Kaoru turned to look at Kojiro, one could see the storm clouds gathering around him almost literally. His jaw clenched and every bit of his annoyance clearly written on his face as he pulled his hood back up and crossed his arms over his chest. As they stepped into the yard and approached wearing their best smiles, Kojiro took a chance and moved a step closer to Kaoru, leaning in.

"They were worried and wanted to check on you. Try to be nice, huh? They've got plans tonight so they won't be here long." He tried to press another kiss to the side of his face and instead got a face full of hand, grabbing him by the jaw and pushing him back again.

"..And neither will you!" Kaoru replied in a flat scratchy voice. He was feeling light headed and could hear his heartbeat in his ears as the vein at his temple pulsed. He found himself briefly wondering if he today was the day he would actually burst a vessel? But as much as he hated being intruded upon when he was feeling vulnerable, it really was actually very sweet. Even with the minor injury to his vanity, he was kind of glad to see them if only for a few minutes. He'd been busy, the others as well! With respective jobs, school, practices for Miya.. This was supposed to be the day they all had time to see one another after weeks and catch up. As infuriating as he could find them sometimes, and although he'd be reluctant to admit it out loud, he had missed them. Kaoru sighed heavily, eyes closing and slumped his shoulders. Even if he had missed them, he couldn't bring himself to entertain. He felt bad about it, of course but he had his limits and everyone was far too much. "No. Absolutely not." He started. "Everyone will get sick, and I can't have that." He offered a half truth. Mostly the idea of so many people in his space at this current moment nearly gave him hives! "I'm very sorry that you cut your evening short but you understand?" If there was a God, and he was kind, he hoped they understood! To his relief the smiles turned sympathetic and they nodded. Even Miya who was at the back of the pack, keeping his distance from the walking germ that was Kaoru.

"Yeah, of course! Hey, no problem Cherry." Reki started, trying his best to reassure his friend. "We all just want you to feel better, and you won't be able to rest with a party going on." The others nodded in agreement, all but Hiromi who was currently busy dumping bags and all the items they'd brought onto Kojiro after the two decided he was going to stay with Kaoru for a while. 

"We brought you some stuff to cheer you up. Guess it was a pretty good call after all, kid."  Hiromi offered the explanation as he hung the last bag on Kojiro's fingers, "We're going to take off, we don't want to keep you. " This thankfully jogged Kaoru's foggy memory that he also had something for them as well, seeing the amount of items they'd selected for him accumulate in his boyfriend's arms.  What was all of that stuff anyhow?!

"Oh! Before you go, I have something for the rest of you too. Just.. wait here?" He asked of them, slipping back inside but left the door open. He went to his kitchen, washed his hands before picking up anything that the others would touch and grabbed the pink stack of envelopes he'd set aside. Inside were the New Years cards he'd made and planned on handing out when he saw them. Before he woke up and realized he wasn't going anywhere today, that was.

While Kaoru was gone, Langa felt it as good a time as any to ask Joe the question that had been nagging at the back of his brain for the last few minutes. "Hey Joe..?" Langa waved his hand to call the other man closer, causing him to quirk a dark green eyebrow as he hummed a quizzical response. "Why did you call Cherry 'Bunny'? ..Or is that a... you know?  'Couples thing'?" insinuating that he was more than willing to drop it if the answer turned out to be more intimate than he was willing to share.

Kojiro blinked as he processed the question then laughed loudly with a shake of his head. "Oh! Naw! Nothing like that. He hates it! But! Hang around him long enough and you'll figure it out eventually." The others looked at each other, sharing a look of confusion as they tried to piece it together themselves, having not even considered the question even though they'd all heard Kojiro use the name. But now that the question was asked and out there, they couldn't help but ponder.  Karou reappeared,  bringing the items back and sniffling while twitching his nose under his mask gave them to Langa to pass out. Inside were hand made cards, and for the younger boys money as tradition required. But he didn't pass them out yet, instead he studied Kaoru with his head tilted to the side a little. While the others, grabbed at the fanned cards, recognizing their names he'd noticed Kaoru trying and failing at fighting a sneeze. He took a hitching breath and turned away, sneezing three polite, muffled and quick "'choo!"'s into his bent elbow. Always in threes. Each one snapping his head forward, the hood falling off again mussing his hair even further. When he finished he blinked slowly with a slight shake of his head, shaking off what was left of the itch. As Langa Blessed him in English without missing a beat, the others all looked up at Kaoru and slowly the pieces fell into place as their smiles turned amused and teasing. Kojiro recognized the devil horns practically growing from their heads as three of them snickered. "And there it is.." He muttered, taking this time to back into the house to put everything down before the inevitable happened. They'd figured it out and Kojiro was not going to save Kaoru this time. With all of the nicknames he'd given the group of friends, it was only fair that they should get one or two jabs in.

"Joeee! You didn't tell us after all this time that Cherry had the cutest sneeze ever!" Reki let the observation fall out of his mouth with a teasing tone as Kaoru bristled again giving him a glare.  If looks could kill, the redhead would have been a goner! The usually unflappable Kaoru had given them ammunition to jest, when usually there were no chinks in the armor! Whether he could help it or not.  

"Don't say it.." He warned the boy with a groan. Thinking to himself 'fuck, not this again' as he hung his head giving it a shake. He was tired, and never going to live this down!  Not with this group. They were all just as incorrigible as Kojiro and once they found something to tease about they were like dogs with a bone. Unable to let it go. He didn't feel like sparring today.

"What? " Miya chimed in, a Cheshire like smile spreading as he practically sang the word. Why shouldn't they get their digs in? Kaoru always did his fair share of piling on and now turn around was fair play. "We shouldn't say you sneeze like.." 

"Ohhh! Bunny!" Langa blurted out as he understood the name and joke now, tapping his forehead with the heel of his palm. His slow realization caused the others to burst out laughing. Good old Langa! His timing was either horrible or perfect with no room in-between. 

"You're making me really regret waking up today.." Kaoru muttered under his breath. "Yeah.. okay! Get it out so you can all go home." He sighed, rolling his hand in a 'lets get it over with' motion and sniffled. "I'm tired. So let's hear it. You each get one! Then you can all feel free to fuck off!" 

"Aw, what a grumpy bunny! And such language in front of the children!." Hiromi mockingly cooed, reaching down and covered the ears on Miya's hoodie. They each took a turn down the line pretending to be scandalized. By this time Kojiro had returned, remaining in the doorway as he tried to decide when to step in. Two or three more jokes... Obviously he wanted to step in before Kaoru exploded! He didn't like being mocked and judging by the way his fingers curled into claw shapes by his sides and then started to rise in a threatening, strangling motion that time was right about now. 

"Okay! Guys!" Kojiro spoke up loudly and gave a short, shrill whistle to get everyone's attention over the last uttered joke before reaching out and grabbing Kaoru by the shoulders. Standing behind him and smoothed his hands down his arms. "Everyone have a Happy New Year, thanks for the visit and we'll see you later. Time to let Cherry get some rest. " He could feel how tense Kaoru was as his frustration grew. Kaoru huffed, shrugged the hands off of his body and turned to leave with a dismissive wave over his shoulder and maybe a gesture or two as the others bid him farewell and a Happy New Year as 'Bunny', he stormed back into his house. That was so much more exhausting than he worried it would be. He slammed the door behind himself, but didn't lock it. Expecting Kojiro to follow him at some point once he was done calming the giggles and smoothing things over like he always did. That was just who he was. When he wasn't Kaoru's accomplice, he was the fixer of the occasional faux pas.