[fic] Sick Day (Haruka6)
Title: Sick Day
Fandom: Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 6
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Owned by Mizuno-sensei, KoeiTecmo, and Ruby Party.
Notes: For Darius' birthday.
Sick Day
Azusa left her room just as a loud thump echoed down the hallway from the direction of Darius' room. Alarmed, she turned and hurried that way. When she peeked into the doorway her eyes widened as she took in the petite form of Rudkhane helping his taller master into bed.
"Darius-sama, if you do not stay in bed then your cold will get worse," the much younger servant scolded as he pulled a thick blanket up over the blond. Azusa, blushing at the sight of the normally immaculate Darius in rumpled, dark blue silk pajamas, ducked quickly back into the hallway and moved quietly away.
After more barely audible fussing from Rudkhane, the boy left the room and pulled the door most of the way closed behind him. As he looked up he paused, visibly startled when he caught sight of Azusa. Sheepish, the redhead offered a weak smile and spoke quietly as she joined him in moving down the hallway. "Is something the matter with Darius?"
A long-suffering sigh from the normally unflappable teal-haired boy told Azusa just how difficult Darius was as a patient. "It is just a cold at this point. Darius-sama was going to try and head into town on work-related business, but I have managed to convince him to stay in bed for now. However..." Rudkhane glanced at the grandfather clock in the entryway as they reached the bottom of the staircase, "I need to head out in his place to offer an explanation to the dealers who are still waiting to complete acquisitions. But if Darius-sama is left alone for too long I fear he may attempt to go outside." A troubled look crossed the young man's face as he considered his options.
Azusa smiled at him reassuringly. "I can stay here and take care of Darius. I'll make sure he doesn't go anywhere, and I can bring him anything he needs so he doesn't have to get up."
Rudkhane gave her a skeptical look, but it slowly faded into resignation. "I suppose that is the only real solution." He led her into the kitchen. "I've prepared rice porridge. Please bring some up to Darius-sama along with a pot of tea. The correct blend of leaves is already in the strainer there." Rudkhane gestured toward the counter where a single-serving teapot was already placed on a tray with a cup and saucer. He moved across the room and took a small pot out of one cupboard and placed it next to a jar of umeboshi by the tray. "Sweeten it with this honey before you take it upstairs. It will help soothe Darius-sama's sore throat."
Azusa stared at the perfectly prepared tea tray. "Rud-kun, this is amazing. How long have you known Darius was sick?" The blond owner of the mansion had showed no sign of illness at supper the night before.
The unexpected question caused Rudkhane's eyebrows to draw together. "Since about two hours ago, when Darius-sama first tried to come downstairs. It has been a hectic morning running back and forth between Darius-sama's room and the kitchen."
At the admission Azusa took a closer look at the younger boy. Weariness tugged at the corners of his eyes, and his normally perfect clothes were rumpled. She assumed the latter had happened in helping Darius back to bed. "Don't worry, I'll take care of things here. You go ahead and do what you need to do." She moved toward the cupboard that housed the dishes and took down a medium-sized bowl. Rudkhane watched as she ladled porridge into it and garnished the dish with a couple of umeboshi from the jar next to the tea tray and a little bit of soy sauce. Azusa sent a brief smile his way to further reassure him as she put a kettle full of water on to boil.
"I'll finish setting up breakfast for everyone else in the dining room before I leave," the teal-haired boy informed her, taking a covered dish from the counter and heading for the doorway. "Please eat once Darius-sama no longer requires assistance."
"All right," Azusa answered, even though he had moved out of earshot by that point. She hummed to herself as she waited, glad she had happened upon the scene when she did so she could offer assistance.
The whistling of the kettle interrupted her thoughts, and she hurriedly set about brewing the tea before adding two generous spoonfuls of the honey to the pot. Once everything was ready she took a deep breath, lifted the tray, and slowly made her way upstairs. Once she reached the door she sidled up next to it and knocked lightly, careful not to jostle the tray. "Darius? It's Azusa, I've brought some porridge."
"Azusa..?" a hoarse voice, barely recognizable as Darius', repeated before a couple coughs cut him off.
Alarmed, Azusa nudged the door open with her foot and stepped into the room. "Darius? Are you feeling worse?" She looked him over worriedly. His cheeks were flushed and his hair was mussed a bit, though he was sitting up with pillows propped behind him. A book lay open on his lap. The expression on his face changed from chagrined to pleased and back again as he watched her move closer.
"You came to take care of me?" The normally smooth voice popped and cracked over the syllables before he had to stop and cough a few times into his hand, and Azusa wondered how she hadn't heard his coughing fits earlier, even from all the way down the hall.
Azusa set the tray down on the bedside table and reached out a hand to press it against his forehead. "Rud-kun had to go out on an errand, so I came to bring your breakfast. Do you feel up to eating? Or would you like some tea for your throat?" Her brow knitted at how warm he felt against the back of her hand. Turning back to the tray she poured a cup of tea and offered it to him. Darius accepted it with a weak smile, sipping slowly at the hot drink as he closed the book and set it aside. Azusa busied herself with setting the rest of the items from the tray onto the small table. Though she knew Rudkhane would likely protest, she placed the tray with only the porridge bowl remaining onto Darius' lap and held out a spoon with a soft smile. "It will help keep your strength up if you eat as much as you can, and it's soft so it shouldn't bother your throat."
The look on Darius' face grew amused before he nodded, set the cup and saucer down next to the bowl, and accepted the spoon. Azusa watched as he blew gently on the porridge to further cool it down, then tasted a little of it. His eyes moved from the bowl to her face and his eyebrows rose. Without him even asking the question Azusa grew flustered as she realized she had been staring.
"I'll let you eat in peace and come back later for the dishes," she said as she turned toward the door.
"Azusa," Darius called hurriedly, stopping her in her tracks. She looked over her shoulder and saw him gesture toward a chair on the other side of the bed with his free hand. His hopeful expression asked her to stay more than if he had spoken aloud.
Feeling sheepish, Azusa nodded and moved over to the chair, noticing the book next to him. She picked it up, eager to have something to do that was not simply watching him eat. "Shall I read to you?"
Darius considered the question then nodded with a smile before eating another spoonful of the rice porridge. Azusa settled in and opened the book to a page marked with a thin ribbon and discovered it was about the Renaissance. She stumbled through unfamiliar art terms in various European languages as she read aloud.
Once Darius finished the porridge she set the book aside and gathered everything onto the tray before she poured him another cup of tea. He drank slowly, and when he finished he lay back into the pillows and closed his eyes. Azusa observed him for a minute before speaking softly. "I'll bring some more tea in a little while."
Darius nodded without opening his eyes and raised a hand to motion her closer. Azusa leaned down so she could hear him whisper without him having to aggravate his throat. "Will you take care of me tomorrow, too?"
Blushing, Azusa stood upright and took a step back. Sleepy blue eyes opened briefly to smile at her then closed once more. "...all right," she answered finally as she picked up the tray and headed for the door. "But only if you listen to Rud-kun and get plenty of rest."
The smile was still on Darius' face as she closed the door behind her.
Fandom: Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 6
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Owned by Mizuno-sensei, KoeiTecmo, and Ruby Party.
Notes: For Darius' birthday.
Sick Day
Azusa left her room just as a loud thump echoed down the hallway from the direction of Darius' room. Alarmed, she turned and hurried that way. When she peeked into the doorway her eyes widened as she took in the petite form of Rudkhane helping his taller master into bed.
"Darius-sama, if you do not stay in bed then your cold will get worse," the much younger servant scolded as he pulled a thick blanket up over the blond. Azusa, blushing at the sight of the normally immaculate Darius in rumpled, dark blue silk pajamas, ducked quickly back into the hallway and moved quietly away.
After more barely audible fussing from Rudkhane, the boy left the room and pulled the door most of the way closed behind him. As he looked up he paused, visibly startled when he caught sight of Azusa. Sheepish, the redhead offered a weak smile and spoke quietly as she joined him in moving down the hallway. "Is something the matter with Darius?"
A long-suffering sigh from the normally unflappable teal-haired boy told Azusa just how difficult Darius was as a patient. "It is just a cold at this point. Darius-sama was going to try and head into town on work-related business, but I have managed to convince him to stay in bed for now. However..." Rudkhane glanced at the grandfather clock in the entryway as they reached the bottom of the staircase, "I need to head out in his place to offer an explanation to the dealers who are still waiting to complete acquisitions. But if Darius-sama is left alone for too long I fear he may attempt to go outside." A troubled look crossed the young man's face as he considered his options.
Azusa smiled at him reassuringly. "I can stay here and take care of Darius. I'll make sure he doesn't go anywhere, and I can bring him anything he needs so he doesn't have to get up."
Rudkhane gave her a skeptical look, but it slowly faded into resignation. "I suppose that is the only real solution." He led her into the kitchen. "I've prepared rice porridge. Please bring some up to Darius-sama along with a pot of tea. The correct blend of leaves is already in the strainer there." Rudkhane gestured toward the counter where a single-serving teapot was already placed on a tray with a cup and saucer. He moved across the room and took a small pot out of one cupboard and placed it next to a jar of umeboshi by the tray. "Sweeten it with this honey before you take it upstairs. It will help soothe Darius-sama's sore throat."
Azusa stared at the perfectly prepared tea tray. "Rud-kun, this is amazing. How long have you known Darius was sick?" The blond owner of the mansion had showed no sign of illness at supper the night before.
The unexpected question caused Rudkhane's eyebrows to draw together. "Since about two hours ago, when Darius-sama first tried to come downstairs. It has been a hectic morning running back and forth between Darius-sama's room and the kitchen."
At the admission Azusa took a closer look at the younger boy. Weariness tugged at the corners of his eyes, and his normally perfect clothes were rumpled. She assumed the latter had happened in helping Darius back to bed. "Don't worry, I'll take care of things here. You go ahead and do what you need to do." She moved toward the cupboard that housed the dishes and took down a medium-sized bowl. Rudkhane watched as she ladled porridge into it and garnished the dish with a couple of umeboshi from the jar next to the tea tray and a little bit of soy sauce. Azusa sent a brief smile his way to further reassure him as she put a kettle full of water on to boil.
"I'll finish setting up breakfast for everyone else in the dining room before I leave," the teal-haired boy informed her, taking a covered dish from the counter and heading for the doorway. "Please eat once Darius-sama no longer requires assistance."
"All right," Azusa answered, even though he had moved out of earshot by that point. She hummed to herself as she waited, glad she had happened upon the scene when she did so she could offer assistance.
The whistling of the kettle interrupted her thoughts, and she hurriedly set about brewing the tea before adding two generous spoonfuls of the honey to the pot. Once everything was ready she took a deep breath, lifted the tray, and slowly made her way upstairs. Once she reached the door she sidled up next to it and knocked lightly, careful not to jostle the tray. "Darius? It's Azusa, I've brought some porridge."
"Azusa..?" a hoarse voice, barely recognizable as Darius', repeated before a couple coughs cut him off.
Alarmed, Azusa nudged the door open with her foot and stepped into the room. "Darius? Are you feeling worse?" She looked him over worriedly. His cheeks were flushed and his hair was mussed a bit, though he was sitting up with pillows propped behind him. A book lay open on his lap. The expression on his face changed from chagrined to pleased and back again as he watched her move closer.
"You came to take care of me?" The normally smooth voice popped and cracked over the syllables before he had to stop and cough a few times into his hand, and Azusa wondered how she hadn't heard his coughing fits earlier, even from all the way down the hall.
Azusa set the tray down on the bedside table and reached out a hand to press it against his forehead. "Rud-kun had to go out on an errand, so I came to bring your breakfast. Do you feel up to eating? Or would you like some tea for your throat?" Her brow knitted at how warm he felt against the back of her hand. Turning back to the tray she poured a cup of tea and offered it to him. Darius accepted it with a weak smile, sipping slowly at the hot drink as he closed the book and set it aside. Azusa busied herself with setting the rest of the items from the tray onto the small table. Though she knew Rudkhane would likely protest, she placed the tray with only the porridge bowl remaining onto Darius' lap and held out a spoon with a soft smile. "It will help keep your strength up if you eat as much as you can, and it's soft so it shouldn't bother your throat."
The look on Darius' face grew amused before he nodded, set the cup and saucer down next to the bowl, and accepted the spoon. Azusa watched as he blew gently on the porridge to further cool it down, then tasted a little of it. His eyes moved from the bowl to her face and his eyebrows rose. Without him even asking the question Azusa grew flustered as she realized she had been staring.
"I'll let you eat in peace and come back later for the dishes," she said as she turned toward the door.
"Azusa," Darius called hurriedly, stopping her in her tracks. She looked over her shoulder and saw him gesture toward a chair on the other side of the bed with his free hand. His hopeful expression asked her to stay more than if he had spoken aloud.
Feeling sheepish, Azusa nodded and moved over to the chair, noticing the book next to him. She picked it up, eager to have something to do that was not simply watching him eat. "Shall I read to you?"
Darius considered the question then nodded with a smile before eating another spoonful of the rice porridge. Azusa settled in and opened the book to a page marked with a thin ribbon and discovered it was about the Renaissance. She stumbled through unfamiliar art terms in various European languages as she read aloud.
Once Darius finished the porridge she set the book aside and gathered everything onto the tray before she poured him another cup of tea. He drank slowly, and when he finished he lay back into the pillows and closed his eyes. Azusa observed him for a minute before speaking softly. "I'll bring some more tea in a little while."
Darius nodded without opening his eyes and raised a hand to motion her closer. Azusa leaned down so she could hear him whisper without him having to aggravate his throat. "Will you take care of me tomorrow, too?"
Blushing, Azusa stood upright and took a step back. Sleepy blue eyes opened briefly to smile at her then closed once more. "...all right," she answered finally as she picked up the tray and headed for the door. "But only if you listen to Rud-kun and get plenty of rest."
The smile was still on Darius' face as she closed the door behind her.