• CHAPTER 149 - SIMPLY STRESS, NOTHING MORE...

    I'm not freaking out because everybody's life is in danger. It's just stress, honestly.

    The bathroom toilet was my best friend once more once we returned from my old home. The nourishing food I had eaten earlier finally wore off and my flu was catching up violently. As I was hunched over the toilet, Kai was holding my hair back--while trying to cool me off with his lips on my back--and Akatsuki was sitting outside of the open bathroom. It was embarrassing; I didn't want anybody to hear my purging and gagging. Though I knew Kai couldn't get sick, I didn't want to sicken Akatsuki.

    Soon enough, I was put on the bed after several minutes of vomiting freedom. Kai set an empty trashcan next to the bed and Akatsuki soaked a washcloth in cold water. I kept one pillow clutched to my body, trying to find any possible comfort. Kai ended up lying behind me on the bed, holding me close to him. He brushed my bangs out of my forehead and rubbed my shoulder whenever I would lean over the bed to vomit.

    "If your flu worsens before tomorrow afternoon, I'm hauling you to the hospital," Kai warned with a chuckle.

    "I didn't know I could vomit so much from eating so little," I groaned, belching.

    "You've been through too much the past couple of days," Kai kissed the back of my head. "Your stress is worsening your condition."

    "Idea," I weakly raised my arm to pose an idea. "I say we go back home...and I climb in the hot spring in the back yard."

    Kai paused for a moment, "That's not a terrible idea," he considered it. "Perhaps we could leave once your vomiting spasms end."

    Just as he said that, I hacked into the trashcan once more. I groaned loudly and almost started crying; the pain was so intense. I was happy, though, that I was able to return to my old home. I had missed the place so much, but I vowed to never return again. Despite how much I would pay to live in that house again, it would be impossible with the memory of mom and dad's murder haunting me--and the images from Minoru were no better.

    "Are you tired yet?" Kai asked me, playing with a lock of my hair.

    I nodded, "Yes, but I probably won't be able to sleep,"

    "I could always knock you out," Akatsuki smiled humorously.

    "Sleep," Kai demanded me, holding me a little closer to him. "We can go home tomorrow if you go to seep sooner."

    I forced my eyes shut and groaned, "My stomach is going to implode,"

    "Not so long as I'm here," Kai chuckled.

    I paused for a long moment with my eyes closed, on the verge of drifting off. Instead of the bloody images coming back to my head, I started thinking of Ai. We had given her back to her father, but was it really the best option? Was she truly safer with her father, despite that he put me and my suffering on display in front of her? I didn't trust her father; I wanted her away from him. But there really was nothing I could do about it.

    "I miss Ai..." I mumbled.

    ~*~*~*~*~*~

    After a nearly sleepless night of vomiting once every forty-five minutes, we finally opted to leave the hotel and go back home. Although Kai was border-line ready to send me to the hospital, I protested by painfully pumping my fist onto the end table in frustration. I was relieved to return back home but, unfortunately, it wasn't Matsuda and Orihime's since Kira was still on the brink of death. Did Akatsuki even know about Kira?

    "We need to hurry," Kai advised, slipping my jacket on me. "We need to feed Momo."

    I stopped, "How long has it been since he was last fed?!"

    Kai shrugged, "A day? Or two?"

    I stomped my foot down, "Kai, he's a cat! He's going to eat everything!"

    "May I barge in?" Akatsuki asked, stepping in between Kai and I. He embraced me close to him and rubbed my back. "I'm sorry you had to see everything."

    I blinked a couple of times and understood what he was saying. I embraced him back, starting to choke on a lump in my throat, "It's okay, Akatsuki. It's not like any of us could have done anything about it."

    We let go of each other and Akatsuki tapped his finger on my nose, "Get well, and don't be so reckless,"

    "No promises," I smiled.

    At that, Akatsuki departed out of the hotel with one more friendly wave. My heart would lift whenever I would see him; my sister had such a kind lover. When I stayed with Akatsuki for that month Kai and me were separated, he managed to make my day brighter. He gave me many memories to cherish, though I was suffering through one of the worst heartaches in my short life.

    Kai wrapped one arm around my waist and pulled me in for a rough kiss on my lips. I pulled my head back after he tried to kiss me again and I beamed at him, "I've been vomiting all night,"

    "But you brushed your teeth," Kai cocked an eyebrow. "A couple dozen times, if I might add."

    "You can wait until we get back," I sighed. "I just want to get into the hot spring."

    Kai smirked, "May I join?"

    "No," I hissed at him. "Not unless there are bathing suits involved."

    ~*~*~*~*~*~

    "Momo!" I called out in excitement as soon as I walked into the front door.

    I scooped Momo up and cradled him in my arms like a child. Kai walked past me and I could tell he rolled his eyes, "I'll feed the damn cat,"

    "Get on it!" I snapped. "My poor baby is starving!"

    Oddly enough, as soon as I walked into the house, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. My nausea was starting to dissipate gradually and I was calming down. I felt safe; I hadn't been back at the house in weeks. It was good to have just Kai and me in our own home again.

    "How long will I be staying here?" I asked grimly.

    Kai looked back at me, almost confused, "You're staying," he smiled lightly. "For good."

    I jumped up and down, squealing like a school girl, "I'm so happy!"

    "How about, before we indulge in the hot spring," Kai cocked an eyebrow, smirking, "we eat a little something?"

    I beamed at him, "Don't put your face like that," I complained. "I don't like it when you do that."

    "Put Momo down. His food is ready."

    I obediently set Momo on the ground and ended up trying to pick off his stray strands of fur through the threads of my jacket. While Kai was starting up the oven for rice and vegetables, I slipped off my jacket and stepped into our bedroom. Shutting the door behind me, I took the biggest breath in and collapsed onto the bed. Unfortunately, that upset my stomach a little, but, surprisingly, nothing came out of my mouth. I sighed a huge sigh of relief and joy--I missed the home so much. It was so nice to have just Kai and me in our own home again. Did Kai not see Minoru and Kaiba as much of a threat anymore?

    With boredom settling in already while waiting for the food, I dug through my dresser drawers and finally found my bathing suit. I quickly dressed myself and, hesitantly, stepped out of the bedroom. I approached the breakfast bar, hoping Kai wouldn't see me in my bikini, but, alas, luck wasn't on my side--it was on his side.

    As soon as Kai turned to look at me, his eyebrows lifted, "Well, hello,"

    I sat on a bar stool and hunched over, embarrassed, "Quit staring,"

    "I think I can see your ribs," Kai joked. "What's with the bathing suit?"

    My face turned red and I looked up at him, "You said you wanted to join me..."

    Kai nodded, "Yes, but I didn't agree to the bathing suit part,"

    I glared at him, "No suit, no spring,"

    "Whatever," Kai smiled, finishing my plate of food. As he was handing it to me, we heard a crack and then the plate shattered in Kai's hands. I took my hands away just in time but the food ended up all over Kai's hand and the counter. Kai stared at the food for a moment and chuckled. "Oops. Don't know my own strength."

    I smiled, "Guess I shouldn't expect any hugs from you, then,"

    "Indeed," Kai rolled his eyes, cleaning up the mess. I tried to assist him but he gently pushed my hand away. "I don't want you cutting yourself."

    Too late. I had pricked the tip of my finger on a small edge of the plate and a small drop of blood oozed out of the wound. As though it were routine, Kai gently gripped my hand and stuck the top of my finger in his mouth. He set his hand on the debris on the counter and there was some more cracking coming from the remains of the plate.

    I stared at Kai nervously, "Kai, are you okay?"

    Kai pulled away from my finger and continued cleaning up, "Yes,"

    I wiped Kai's saliva off of my finger and kept pressure on it to cease the bleeding. As Kai was cleaning up and preparing me a new plate, I continued to stare at him in concern. He seemed a bit off since we left Kira. He was probably still so worried; we still didn't know if Kira would live or die. But was there something else behind Kai's attitude? Maybe it had something to do with our encounter with Minoru and Kaiba...