Winter Born

[You know what? You guys are perfect for one another. I'd lock you in a closet together if I didn't think I had enough to cope with from you individually.]

Not much. She's been sick a lot.

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Can she keep water down?

[She's not out here and Ken seems forthcoming. So he'll interrogate him until she's out.]

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She seems okay on water, but she's not eating. Well, she's tried, but...

[You can probably fill in the blanks, right, Doc?]

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Water won't help her much at this point.

[He looks at her door.]

How long has she been in there?

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Um. Not long. A few minutes. Is something up?

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...She's sick. I thought that was why I was here.

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Aside from that, I meant.

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She has a fever, congestion, and has been vomiting. She's likely extremely weak and losing more strength as we speak.

And you let her stand up long enough to shower.

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No I didn't, she let herself do it! She wasn't gonna take no for an answer as soon as I told her you were coming!

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[He is not amused.]

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[The sound of the water cuts. Aya carefully steps out and dries off. The heat's made her a little light-headed, but she remains mindful of the fact. She wrings her hair out, combs it and pulls it back into a low ponytail. After changing into clean pajamas, her door opens and she pads out, face flushed and boy does another nap sound good right now.

It really shouldn't require that much energy to take a shower. She hasn't quite noticed Hatori yet either-- blame it on her watching her footsteps across the floor more than the room.]

Hey, Ken, do you still have my pillow?

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[Oh, hi again.

[No, Aya does not look good. She really shouldn't have tried to take that shower but that's her lookout and like Hell is he going to feel responsible for a grown woman's decision-making. (Except he does, of course, but neither of them have to know that. Right?) The one thing he's grateful for is her timing. Ken's had quite enough of being told off for not trying to physically hold her down.]

Yeah. Why?

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[Hatori falls silent, just watching her. He's gathering information while making sure that Aya doesn't collapse. Really she should be sitting down. Better than that, in bed.

Still, he doesn't stay quiet for long.]

You should be in bed, Aya.

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[Aya looks up at that other voice.]

Ah-- Hatori. I'm sorry, for making you wait. Were you here long?

[That thing about being in bed? Not getting addressed. She takes the pillow back from Ken with a quiet thanks to him, then flops onto the couch with it.

That's close enough to bed, right?]

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I'll go get your blankets.

[Yes, someone is taking the chance to excuse himself but quick. Patient confidentiality, right? Well, that and Ken's not about to wait for someone to find another excuse to tell him why he's messed up now. It's a good enough excuse for his purposes, and he's taking it.]

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Ken.

[That's the voice of a man who will do horrible things to you if you take another step, Ken.]

I need your help carrying Aya back to her room.

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...Is there something wrong with the couch?

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I don't know what's wrong with it!

[And I may or may not be reaching the end of my patience with this situation. Nothing personal, guys... you're just DRIVING ME CRAZY.]

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A bed is more suitable for rest and it will be closer to her bathroom should she need it. At a time like this, it is the best place for her. [That part is explained to Ken. The next part is explained to Aya.]

I've seen and smelled worse. Please don't make my job difficult.

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[Aya is exhausted. She feels like hell run over. She has just gotten past a panic attack and mad rush to get herself presentable and whether Hatori cares or not is completely irrelevant. Aya cares. Now being forced to choose between two humiliations from the one she likes has her feeling horrified at the thoughtlessness and devoting all of her energy to not making it obvious that this has upset her, because the last thing she wants is to be seen as a child. What to do, then? She can protest-- and give just that impression-- or go back into the room that she wanted him not to be in if it could at all be helped and just deal with being mortified.

Please don't make my job difficult.

She pushes herself back up, head turned so that the hot tears threatening to leak from her eyes won't be seen.]

I can walk myself.

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Aya?

[Ken frowns.

[Okay, to Hell with being pissy because this? This is Very Not Good and frankly, it's about time he asserted himself. First and foremost because Ken knows Aya a Hell of a lot better than Hatori does - not that you'd need to know the girl to know something's up here. Secondly, he lives here. This is his house and he's sick to death of having to stand there and take being talked to like some combination of caretaker and idiot kid brother.]

Dr. Sohma? I spoke with Aya a bit before you got here and she made it pretty obvious she'd much rather we spoke out here. I'll make sure she gets back in one piece one you've left, but I really think that right this minute she'll be a lot more comfortable in the living room.

[And you know something? This is not actually up for debate. We're staying.]

So. I'll go get her blankets.

[And yes, this would be me presenting you with a fait accompli and walking out. This discussion is over.]

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[Ken gets a frown before Hatori goes over to kneel in front of Aya. His eyes are gentle and soft. It's the look he only gives to her. Something she may be aware of just from their outings together.]

Aya, I don't want to upset you. The bed is the best place for you to be. You shouldn't be walking around though and I cannot carry you.

[She knows why. He gets a look of concern on his face as he gently takes one of her hands.]

Please, let him carry you into the other room. I don't want you to get worse. If I could I would do this myself...

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