Chapter 16

The next few days pass easily. No demons, no crash-outs, and no uninvited younger brothers showing up at my doorstep. True to his word, Aku doesn’t shy away from me. Now that he’s pointed it out, I can tell he seems to sense what I’m feeling, even if I don’t say anything to him.

Maybe it has to do with incubi’s nature to feed into humans and their darkest desires. But Aku puts a rather innocent spin on it—one that makes me smile and my cheeks flush with heat.

Still, there’s no word from Yukari. But neither of us bring it up; I think at this point, we’re just enjoying each other’s company in the present moment. It won’t last forever, so we’re taking it one day at a time.

Besides, I don’t want to think about what it’ll be like when Aku and I finally go our separate ways. Not yet, at least.

Let me have some fun while I can.

🔥

I know something’s wrong by the first sneeze.

The two of us are crossing back from the library on one of our day trips when I get the worst tickle in my nose. I barely have time to cover my mouth before I sneeze so hard my head begins to spin.

Allergies? I know it’s cherry blossom season, but damn…

Aku gives me the side-eye as I dig around in my tote bag for a mask. “What was that?”

“A sneeze. You’re supposed to say bless you.”

“…No.”

I kick him in the shin, ignoring the skeptical gazes from the people around us.

But by the time we get back home, I already have a whopper of a headache. I kick off my shoes and leave them by the door. The strap of my bag slides off my shoulder.

“’M gonna lie down for a bit… Feel free to eat whatever’s in the fridge.”

Aku huffs softly as I trudge my way into the bedroom. The back of my throat feels unnaturally hot, like I can’t get enough cool air no matter how many gulps I take.

Please don’t… Tell me I’m not coming down with something. I hate being sick!

I topple onto the mattress face-first, groaning into the pillow. Luckily sleep finds me rather quickly, even though the sun is bright against my eyelids.

Maybe I’ll feel better after a quick nap.

🔥

By the time I wake up, it’s already dark outside. Aku is reading in the corner of the room, beneath the string lights, casually sipping some tea.

Probably ice cold, knowing him.

I reach out for my glasses on the nightstand—and fall off the bed and onto the floor.

Aku is at my side at once, his gloved hands curling around my shoulders. He’s speaking, but it sounds muffled and far away, like he’s underwater. The floor feels unsteady beneath my body, as if it’ll cave in beneath my weight any second.

What’s wrong with me…?

The touch of his leather gloves is soft and cool—a stark contrast to my burning forehead. I try to feel it for myself, but I end up stumbling and nearly falling over again.

Okay, I might actually be sick.

Aku guides me back onto the bed, keeping one arm tucked beneath my knees. He shifts the pillows against the headboard and leans me against them. I reach up and touch my throat; already it feels as though it’s on fire.

“…ka? Ichika…?”

“’M okay…Aku…”

Every word scrapes against my throat. My skin itches wherever there’s fabric. I roll over, nearly colliding into Aku’s waist as I reach for his face.

He catches my hand with a stern but worried look. “You need to rest. You’re injured.”

I shake my head and immediately wince at the ache it brings. “Just a fever… Happens to humans all the time.”

It’s no secret I have the weakest immune system out of my very small group of friends. While Sayaka is a bit more understanding, Naomi never passes up an opportunity to make fun of me for it. I think it might run in the family, since Kotaro gets sick all the time, as well.

I get sick like this at least once every few months, no matter the season. I should be used to it by now.

So why do I suddenly feel so weak?

I feel hot but cold at the same time. I want some water, but I feel like I might throw up if I have any.

Aku rests a hand on my forehead with a soft sigh. “You’re warmer than usual. I’ll get you some water, just stay here for now.”

It’s just a fever, I’ll be fine in a day or two.

But I can’t find the strength to speak. Instead I just hum in reluctant agreement, settling against the pillows as he disappears into the main hallway.

At least my ears aren’t clogged; I can still hear everything just fine. The main offender seems to be my sore throat and headache. Give it a few hours and I’m sure I’ll have the chills.

To be honest, I become a bit of a wimp whenever I get sick. All I want to do is curl up in bed and sleep for hours on end. I don’t have the luxury of depending on my mother to nurse me back to health anymore, so I just laze around in bed until I feel strong enough to move again.

I assume this sickness will be no different than the one I got last year, just before the holidays. The mere thought makes me want to cry.

Aku returns with a glass of water in one hand and a cool damp cloth in the other. After a few feeble sips he helps me settle back into bed (never mind I’m still in my work clothes). The cloth feels heavenly against my forehead; I tug it down just a bit to cover my eyes with a blissful sigh.

The last thing I remember is Aku pulling the blanket up to my chin. But after that, I’m out like a light.

🔥

When I wake up the next morning, I can tell the fever’s finally hit. No matter how many blankets Aku piles on top of me, I can’t get warm. My head’s on fire, but the rest of my body is chilled to the bone. I barely find the strength to slip my arms out from underneath the covers to grab my phone to text my boss I won’t be coming into the library this morning. While I’m at it, I text Sayaka too; I don’t see myself getting to the store tonight, either.

Aku only says a few words to me here and there. He seems uncomfortable with the fever, which makes me wonder if demons can actually get suck like humans can. Still, he doesn’t leave me on my own; he sponges down my face, leaves out water with pills, and later on in the afternoon he brings me a bowl of soup to eat. I only manage to get through half of it before laying back down, but I appreciate the effort.

The rest of the day passes, bleeding into night. I drift off into fitful bouts of sleep every few minutes or so, unable to shake the chill from my body.

Well into the night, my fever still clings to me. Aku threads his gloved fingers through my sweaty hair as I rest my head in his lap. He drapes another cool rag against my eyelids. It’s not much, but at least I manage to sleep for a bit.

Although, fever dreams can be difficult to deal with.

🔥

My dreams can become quite lively when I’m sick (ironically, the only part of me that doesn’t want to rest and take it easy). They jump back from scene to scene, throwing in snippets from my day-to-day life just for the hell of it. People, places, books I’ve read, things I like to do—it all jumbles together into a mess of a storyline. It reminds me of writing a book when you’re drunk out of your mind, and when you wake up you’re left with no memory of writing those messy words down on paper.

Tonight I dream of a boy. At least, it looks like a boy. He’s running around, limbs sprawled out wildly with every breath. I can’t see his face, even as he runs right past me. I try to call out to him, but my voice is frozen in my throat.

Something small and red catches my eye; I glance down in time to see a lone red spider lily right beside my leg. Its tiny petals fall and sway in the air, carried by a gentle breeze I can’t seem to feel. But no matter how many petals fall, the flower remains untouched.

I reach for the flower—and that’s when I hear the growl.

Of course, that damn rogue demon would make its way into my fever dreams.

But when I turn around, it’s nowhere to be seen. Instead a cloud of shadow rolls its way towards me. Slowly, menacingly. The mere sight of it makes my stomach churn.

When it gets closer, I realize why: it’s not shadow at all, but a mass of writhing, snapping creatures climbing over one another just to get closer to me.

Demons!

But I can’t move. My knees begin to buckle, my voice stays lodged in my throat. I can see little black horns and swishing tails in the cluster of demons, their claws sharp and teeth bared.

Run, damn it!

I drop to my knees and clutch my head hard. Someone’s screaming in the distance. My face flares with pain. Somewhere, in the midst of all this, I can hear a child crying out my name.

🔥

“…ka! Ichika!”

I gasp awake—oh, the wonders it does to my already sore throat—and gaze up into Aku’s crimson eyes. He’s moved the rag further up my forehead, just enough to see my face.

“Aku…?”

“You were screaming in your sleep. I couldn’t get you to wake up.”

I swallow hard with a grimace. “’M fine, just a nightmare. I—”

A searing agony shoots through my skull. It’s everywhere at once, biting at every nerve and muscle, lighting my skin on fire. I yelp out, my nails feebly clawing at my skin, as though it’ll relieve the pain even the slightest bit.

Wait, no…

Aku’s voice is muffled again, too far away to make out any words. I squeeze my eyes shut.

The pain…it’s not everywhere. Slowly it begins to peel away, gathering right at the apple of my cheek—

My eyes meet Aku’s. In a flash he reaches out and rips the bandage off my face.

“Ichika…!”

I reach up before he can stop me. The wound on my cheek burns fiercely, as though the rogue demon’s claw is still buried in my skin.

What’s happening to me?

“Aku…”

His crimson eyes are sharp as he guides my face to his, careful not to touch the wound with his gloves.

“Ichika, you need help. Now.” He pauses, grimacing before he meets my eyes. “…Call the witch.”