Though when Kusanagi thought back on it she realized in horror that she had actually asked Ranmaru to stay with her last night!
Argh! Kusanagi pulled at her hair. Damn that lightning storm!
Ranmaru merely raised an eyebrow at her antics and this irked Kusanagi even more. “Don’t you give me that look, you pervert! You-” Kusanagi was about to continue her rant but suddenly all of her energy seemed to leave her, her anger deflating like a balloon. She suddenly felt very tired and somewhat sick. “Ugh...” Kusanagi groaned as she put her head on her knees and wrapped her arms around her legs. “I don’t feel so good…” She murmured.
Ranmaru who was expecting her usual fireworks was quite surprised when she suddenly deflated. Like a fizzled out, dud of a firework.
And then...Kusanagi began to cough. She coughed into her hand, hoarse coughs that racked her entire petite frame... Life sucked.
Kusanagi knew she had caught a cold.
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Ranmaru suffered a sudden flash of memory...his sickly miko love had fallen extremely ill and had become bedridden. Coughs had wracked her body painfully, and she had started to cough into her hand violently. When she took her hand away from her mouth Ranmaru remembered seeing the blood there. Kusanagi!
Ranmaru rushed to her side and peered at her hands worriedly. Phew. There was no sign of any blood. But... “What’s wrong?”
Kusanagi was surprised by how close Ranmaru was to her again so soon. “Uh, I think I caught a cold, that’s all. It’s not big deal.”
Ranmaru blinked. “A cold...?”
Kusanagi groaned, “Yea, a cold. Haven’t you ever gotten sick before?”
Then at Ranmaru’s perplexed look-“Oh never mind. You’re impossible! It just means I’m sick...”
“Sick...?” Ranmaru’s eyes widened in panic. He immediately rushed out of the bedroom. “ROZE! TAIHEN! IT’S
AN EMERGENCY!” He yelled at the top of his lungs as he ran like a rocket down the hallway.
Kusanagi’s eye twitched as she watched the dust cloud that had sprung up in the wake of Ranmaru’s retreat. Talk about over-reacting. What’s that guy’s problem anyways? It’s just a cold. Geesh.
Ranmaru came back mere seconds later, literally carrying poor Roze into the room. He set her down and Roze gave him a glare before dusting off her immaculate dress. Cough. She turned to Kusanagi a thermometer in her hand. “I heard you caught a cold. Should I alert the press?” Roze teased. Kusanagi sighed heavily, “Oh shut up...” But her voice lacked the vigor and edge it usually had. She lay back on her pillows tiredly as Roze stuck the thermometer into her mouth. Roze waited a moment before taking the thermometer out of Kusanagi’s mouth and peered at the reading. “You have a fever alright. It’s at 105…” She frowned. “That’s a high-grade fever. No school for you today, young lady. You need to rest up, drink lots of liquids and defeat this cold of yours.”
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Ranmaru’s ears perked up, “Defeat?”
“Yes, having a cold is like a life or death battle for the body that it has to fight to win, in order to get better.” Roze nodded her head knowingly.
“Battle? So the enemy is the cold?”
Roze began to look worried at the odd gleam she noticed in Ranmaru’s golden eyes, “Well...yes...”
Ranmaru nodded, a fierce look in his eyes.
“Wakarimashita. I understand. I will help Kusanagi defeat the cold!” He held a fist up before him adamantly. Roze sweat-dropped, “Uh, right....”
“W-what do I need to do?” Ranmaru asked Roze hurriedly, a slightly nervous edge to his voice.
“Well, first things first, just make sure Kusanagi drinks LOTs of liquids. Keep a cool towel on her forehead to keep her fever down too, and for starters how about you go and get Kusanagi her breakfast.” Roze began to tick off a list on her fingers.
Ranmaru bowed, “Of course, I shall return shortly with your breakfast, Oujo-sama. ”
Kusanagi imperiously waved him away, “Yea, yea, just get going already.”
Ranmaru was in protective guard dog mode. Ranmaru couldn’t get the image of his sickly miko love out of his mind, nor of his memories of those times she had fallen ill...Ranmaru remembered how he had stayed by her side, not knowing what to do. He had been completely useless. An invisible enemy had taken hold of his miko love Nagi, an enemy he could for once not defeat...sickness...Death.
At that point Ranmaru realized something. Ranmaru had only ever been good at one thing – killing, destroying. He knew nothing about healing or how to save someone. He was completely clueless about how to help Nagi. Killing and fighting were the only things he was truly good at. And before this that fact had never left him feeling so empty and worthless. But he remembered how Nagi had sensed his pain and so 220
would always smile serenely at Ranmaru even while coughing up blood, and assure Ranmaru that she would be alright, and that she wasn’t in any pain. But he could smell the blood on her hands...smell Death coming for her...
And now this strangely weak, subdued, and quiet Kusanagi frighteningly reminded Ranmaru of his lost miko love...who had been weak, frail, and sickly...and how she had died because of him.
Ranmaru was plagued by such thoughts as he prepared Kusanagi her breakfast and found himself to be both distracted and worried. What if Kusanagi...died? He couldn’t help thinking in his mind over and over again. And so he ended up burning and over-cooking everything, which for Ranmaru was extremely unusual. In fact, it was more than unusual, it was impossible. However, Ranmaru prepared Kusanagi’s tray of food in a daze and didn’t even realize his mistake. He then headed back up to Kusanagi’s room to bring her her breakfast and set the tray right on her lap.
Kusanagi was prepared for another one of Ranmaru’s flawless dishes...and so her eyes widened in surprise when she saw the charred eggs, burned pancakes, and was that…bacon?
Huh? Perfect Chef Ranmaru had actually burned something?
Uso! Did a pig just fly past the window? Kusanagi’s jaw dropped and she watched as Ranmaru tried to pour her some orange juice and noticed how his hand was trembling. He ended up spilling the orange juice because of this, so that it overflowed out of her glass and onto the tray.
“Oi! Ranmaru watch what you’re doing!” Ranmaru looked down in shock to see what he had done. And immediately began to clean it up.
“Forgive me, Oujo-sama...” He murmured distractedly. Kusanagi also noticed that Ranmaru had this ‘far away’
look in his eyes. She became worried because maybe the poison was still having an effect on him. She shook her head. Why was she worried about that stoic baka anyways? “Mou! Geez, pull yourself together man. What the hell is wrong with you today?”
Ranmaru blinked. “Nothing.”
Kusanagi narrowed her eyes at him. It was definitely NOT nothing. But what could be bothering Ranmaru so much Bitch 221
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that he was failing to be the Perfect Butler?
Ranmaru took the tray away, “I will redo it...”
Kusanagi shook her head. “Don’t bother. I’m not even that hungry. Just bring me a glass of juice. Think you can handle that?” Kusanagi couldn’t help herself from giving Ranmaru a condescending look. She was so used to treating him badly. Ranmaru bowed, a dejected look on his face. “Hai, Oujo- sama. ” He slowly walked out of the bedroom, tail between his legs, ears flopped down on the sides of his head. He really was bad at this ‘healing’ thing after all. Sigh. Kusanagi watched him go guiltily. He looked like a kicked puppy.
An image of Nagi’s smiling face entered Ranmaru’s mind...He shook his head. He couldn’t fail her again, err, he couldn’t fail his new Mistress like how he had failed to protect Nagi. Yosha! Ranmaru grabbed a hold of Roze and pulled her outside of the bedroom so that he could speak with her in private.
“Roze- san I have a problem. I don’t think I’m capable of being a good healer to Oujo-sama. This is a
very delicate situation and I just don’t know how to be delicate. What else can I do to help Oujo-sama, Roze- san? How can I become more capable...?” Ranmaru demanded to know with his hands on Roze’s shoulders, a serious look in his eyes. Roze got a mischievous glint in her eyes as she adjusted her glasses, and a cat’s paw smile formed on her face, “Well, first you have to look the part of course. That way you’ll get in touch with your feminine side. Everyone knows that women naturally make good healers because of their maternal instincts. So to become a better healer you simply have to discover your inner femininity. And your healing instincts are sure to come out.”
Ranmaru quirked his head at her, “Look the part?”
Roze grabbed Ranmaru and dragged him off to her room while cackling evilly. “Yes, just leave everything to me!”
Roze ended up dressing Ranmaru in a complete nurse’s outfit ensemble. (Don’t ask why she had this in her closet to begin with. One really doesn’t want to know.) Ranmaru was a 222
somewhat effeminate looking man to begin with with his golden eyes, long lashes, and long, coppery colored hair, and so he had ended up looking quite ‘cute’. Or at least Roze thought so. The nurse’s outfit consisted of a pink dress, white stockings that went up to his mid-thigh, a pair of red high-heeled shoes, and a matching pink nurse’s hat that was sitting on top of Ranmaru’s head and that had a tiny red cross in the center of it. Roze dug out a stethoscope and put it around Ranmaru’s neck for the finishing touch.
Yosh! Roze smiled pleased as she looked her masterpiece over. This was sure to put Kusanagi in better spirits. Roze tried not to drool at her finished product and wiped a hand across her lips.
Roze then dragged Ranmaru back to Kusanagi’s room and pushed him back inside. Kusanagi looked up to see Ranmaru and at first didn’t recognize him at all. “Oi! Roze who’s-” But then Kusanagi furrowed her brows at the nurse and then her eyes widened like saucers when she realized it was Ranmaru! And her jaw dropped. “R-Ranmaru? What the hell-! Ugh...” Kusanagi trailed off, too weak to explode about Ranmaru’s odd crossdressing behavior. The perv. Ranmaru was in full Doctor, err, Nurse Mode now. He quickly went over to Kusangi’s bedside and handed her a glass of juice. “Serving you to the best of my ability of course.”
Kusanagi blushed as she took the juice. Oi oi oi! Why was she blushing?
Roze giggled behind her hand and Kusanagi shot her a look. Ah, this was all Roze’s doing. That explained it. That weirdo maid of hers had the strangest taste. Who else in their right mind would think to dress Ranmaru up in a nurse’s uniform! Kusanagi looked Ranmaru over... I mean, it’s absurd!
Who would want to look...at that...? Her blush deepened as she noticed how the dress was so tight on Ranmaru that his defined chest could be seen through the pink material and that the dress was short enough that Kusanagi’s eyes were drawn to his leg muscles that seemed to be leading towards-Kusanagi’s inner voice piped up. Eeee~ He’s just too cute~
Oh shut up! You can’t be serious!
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I think some new passion has been awakened inside of me upon seeing Ranmaru dressed like a girl. Oi! Oi! Oi! Careful with that line of thought! The
‘censors’ are going to get mad. This is a T for teen rated story you know.
Spoil sport. Kill joy. Goodie goodie...
This is going to be a long day...
Ranmaru had begun to enjoy getting to play ‘nurse maid’
to Kusanagi all day – perhaps a bit too much. He brought her juice, fluffed her pillow repeatedly, and then decided to bring her even more pillows so that there was barely any room left for Kusanagi to lie back on her bed. Ranmaru didn’t let Kusanagi lift a finger either. Anything she needed he ended up bringing to her instead.
She had tried to sneak out of bed to get a book only to have Ranmaru practically move the entire library into her room as a precautionary measure. He also diligently kept the towel on her forehead perfectly cool. He spoon-fed her lunch. The list went on…
Kusanagi had tried to sneak out of bed once when she had to go to the bathroom, but Ranmaru had caught her then too. He then proceeded to pick her up and took her there while he waited for her outside the bathroom door, tail wagging like a dog, as he waited for his Mistress to finish. It had been completely mortifying. She knew that with his yokai hearing he could even hear her…going to the bathroom. Mou!
Kusanagi pulled at her hair out of exasperation. Ranmaru was driving her nuts with all his suffocating and over-protective behavior! And Roze was no help either and was only beginning to make things worse. Just when Kusanagi had been about to drink some juice Roze had piped up-“Oh Ranmaru, Kusanagi is much too weak to sit up and drink on her own. You had better help her.” Roze snickered behind her upraised hand.
Ranmaru bowed, “Hai, Roze- san.”
Ranmaru went over to Kusanagi’s bedside and supporting 224
Kusanagi with his arms so that he was practically cradling her, helped her to sit up and drink. She was blushing fiercely and completely embarrassed, but on the inside... Aww, he’s so sweet! He’s treating you just like a princess!
He’s in my personal bubble! Someone get him out! Help!
Oh come on, you know you like it. This is so...romantic~
Inner Kusanagi seemed to wink at Roze, who was giving Kusanagi a thumbs up.
Roze thought the two of them looked extremely cute as Ranmaru continued to pamper Kusanagi. Maybe she should take a picture. Ooo, good idea. I can use it for blackmail against Kusanagi later.
Roze!! You’ve both been plotting against me behind my back! Argh! Nooo~ What’s ‘romantic’ about a guy in drag anyways? Bunch of sickos...perverts...hmph!
Perverts? What are you thinking about exactly? You’re the one with your mind in the gutter, Kusanagi. Kusanagi gripped her head, “Ahhh! Be quiet! I can’t take much more of this! Argh!”
And just when Kusanagi thought things couldn’t possibly get any worse-Ranmaru had leaned over her, his face nearing hers and Kusanagi was about to have a heart attack.
Kathump. Kathump.
Her heart was beating a mile a minute. Just what the hell did he think he was doing now? Kusanagi was about to pass out. Was he going to kiss her? Kusanagi wasn’t mentally prepared for all this. Wait! I’m not ready! Ah! But then-He simply pressed his forehead to hers, checking her temperature, before then pulling back and nodding to himself. Huh? That’s it? Kusanagi blinked back at him in shock and then exploded, “Just what the hell was that!”
Ranmaru frowned back at her confusedly. “I was just checking your temperature. It appears to be going down.”
Kusanagi tugged at her hair, “Then why don’t you use a thermometer like a normal person?” She had been slightly disappointed, err, surprised he had done something like that merely to check her temperature.
“I’ve never used one of them before.”
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Kusanagi looked at him in disbelief. “Weirdo.” She shook her head.
This had been pretty bad but Kusanagi had given herself a pat on the back for having put up with all of Ranmaru’s crazy antics that day. She figured things couldn’t get any worse, right?
But that was until he pulled his next stunt, which was simply the straw that broke the camel’s back-Ranmaru came into the bedroom with a bucket of water and a sponge in his hand.
Kusanagi raised an eyebrow, “What’s that for?”
“Why your sponge bath, of course, Oujo-sama. ”
“Sponge...what!” A blush crept up across Kusanagi’s cheeks and across her nose.
“Since Roze told me you’re too weak to move...it would be much too dangerous for you to take a shower un-supervised. You could pass out in the shower and hit your head. Or pass out in the bath and drown. So I will bathe you, Oujo-sama. ” Ranmaru informed her matter-of-factly as he began to near her bed. Kusanagi pulled her bed covers up to her neck suddenly self-conscious. “What
are you crazy? You will do no such thing!”
Ranmaru blinked at her confusedly and misunderstood her hesitation. “Really, it’s no trouble. I would be happy to bathe you, Oujo-sama. And I’ll even do it the ‘human’ way instead of licking you clean...” Ranmaru was nodding to himself, impressed with his own brilliance.
“L-l-lick?” Kusanagi turned bright red, “No way in hell!
And of course you’d be happy to give me a bath...you complete HENTAI! PERVERT! Argh!” She exploded into emerald green sparks. “That’s it! I’ve had enough! I can’t take any more of this!
I need some freakin space from you or else I really may die or end up killing you! OUT!”
Ranmaru hesitated in shock, “Oujo-sama...? ” What had he done wrong this time, he wondered.
“Out!” Kusanagi flung a pillow at him, which hit him square on the face. “Out! And I don’t want to see your stupid looking, emotionless face for at least six hours! Why don’t you 226
go on a date with Orihime or something in the meantime. And that’s an order! You are dismissed!” Kusanagi hissed. Ranmaru looked shocked and hurt, but simply bowed, tail between his legs, ears down.
I really may die! Or end up killing you!
He didn’t want to cause her death again, err, cause the death of his new Mistress after all or cause her any undo distress.
“Hai, Oujo-sama, as you wish.” Ranmaru left obediently.
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CHAPTER 8
Second chances come with a ten percent
interest rate
Thank the Gods she had been able to finally get rid of that overprotective, cross-dressing weirdo, so that she could finally have some peace...and quiet. Kusanagi smiled to herself. She then went over and put her favorite music CD into her CD player and instantly heavy metal j-rock began blaring out of the player’s speakers.
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