Chapter 17: The Sickness

For the whole night, the couple spent time by cuddling and confessing their love to each other, until Yuki detected Ryohei was becoming sluggish as the night turned darker. As if nothing has happened last night, the couple went to their bed and immediately nodded off soon after they landed their heads on their respective pillows. Around 3 in the morning, Yuki was awoken from sleep, getting the urge to pee. He had the chance to watch Ryohei sleeping soundly and listen to his soft snores. He giggled at himself.

Yuki was about to get up from the bed when he felt an intense cramp from within his stomach. He bent his upper body forward, holding the pain and his groan so that he would not wake Ryohei up. It was his very first time enduring such pain that he did not know what to do to ease it.

"Did I eat wrongly?" Yuki murmured to himself while rubbing his stomach. It felt as if the inner wall of his stomach was squeezing the entire alimentary canal. He even got nauseous as the side effect, yet the cramp halted him from rushing to the toilet. He surely avoided vomiting on their bed.

Yuki turned to see Ryohei still sleeping and engrossed in his dream. Yuki smiled a little as he gazed at Ryohei's face. It was almost unbelievable that he had a fiance now, and they were working together to get married as soon as possible. If only Yuki did not consider further, he would snuggle into Ryohei's arms and sleep while hugging him. He loved that.

Hours of heart-to-heart confession, Yuki agreed to obey Ryohei's warning for not to leave the house unless Ryohei was at home. Although the fact that Yamato told him was vague, Ryohei could say there was always at least a person out there could smell Yuki. He was worried that one particular person would follow Yuki or even take an opportunity to pounce at him, therefore he asked Yuki to always wait for him at home first

"Ugh!" The pain kept on twisting his stomach. The nausea grew, thus Yuki had no choice but to steadily pace to the toilet. He did not fetch his white cane since he has already memorized how many steps he should take to arrive there exactly. However, his strides were unstable. Realizing that he could fall in no time, he opted to crawl.

The lid of the toilet bowl was opened, and Yuki puked his inside soon after that. He vomited liquids and panted by the bowl. The urge to vomit has not worn out, hence he waited for a few minutes.

Only then Yuki remembered. He and Ryohei have not had their dinner for that night. They were so preoccupied spending time with each other that they forgot to fill up their stomachs. The gastric juice must have digested nothing, hence contributed to Yuki's stomach ache.

"Yuki-kun."

From inside the toilet, Yuki heard a voice calling him. He could distinguish whose it was. He has not reacted to the calling when a hand grabbed his shoulder out of the blue. He was relieved but regretful at the same time.

"Are you sick? I kind of heard you puking," Ryohei rubbed on Yuki's back to ease the nausea.

Yuki had no choice. Whatever he would give as a reason, he knew Ryohei would not buy it. Ryohei could see, hence even if Yuki denied what has happened, Ryohei has already witnessed it.

"You're feeble," Ryohei grasped both Yuki's hand firmly. "I'm so sorry, Yuki-kun. I didn't think of your stomach. You must be very hungry."

Yuki leant forward as he sensed an overwhelming urge to throw up again. "I should be the one apologizing, Ryohei. I've woken you up. You are still tired from working yesterday."

Ryohei spontaneously shook his head. "I'm your lover, and this is one of all things that I could do for you," his hand naturally slipped under Yuki's shirt, "Your stomach has flattened and turned cold. I'll get you the med."

The sudden urge forced Yuki to puke once again. He has become very fragile and pale. Ryohei took a dipper of water and washed Yuki's face and hands so that the blind would feel a bit refreshed. Then, in bridal style, he carried Yuki back to bed, covered him in a blanket, and checked on his temperature.

"I'm afraid you are dehydrated, Yuki-kun," The warmness he sensed from touching Yuki's forehead was distinct, "Let's drink plenty of water, okay."

Yuki has not hindered Ryohei from going as Ryohei already rushed to the kitchen to get a glass of warm water and some food for Yuki. Around 30 minutes later, Ryohei returned with a bowl of porridge and a glass of warm plain water. He sat by the bed and put the food on the bedside table.

There was gloominess on Ryohei's mood, which caused Yuki to blink in puzzlement. He stretched out his hand, groping any surface near him to get to Ryohei's face. "What's wrong, Ryohei?"

Ryohei took Yuki's hand and kissed it dearly. "I'm so sorry, Yuki-kun. You've fallen sick because of me. You always prioritize everything regarding me, even my work and such. But I..."

Droplets trickled onto Yuki's hand. Yuki was surprised that he rose from bed to check on Ryohei. Ryohei blocked Yuki from moving too much since he was still sick.

"Even now, you are taking care of me despite being unwell. But I- I literally don't know anything about you, Yuki."

Any denial would mean nothing. The Ryohei before him was breaking down. It ripped his hear to see Ryohei sobbing like a little kid.

"I'm sorry for realizing this late, Yuki-kun. I just figured it out when I wanted to cook you some porridge," Ryohei kissed Yuki's hand, "I don't know what kind of taste you love. Do you prefer saltiness or some tinge of spiciness? Do you prefer more veggies over chicken shreds? I don't know even the simplest thing about you."

Ryohei kissed Yuki's hand longer in his weeping than usual simple pecks. Yuki wanted to hug him, telling him it was okay to not know what he liked. "Our relationship is progressing, Ryohei. The longer we live together, the more frequent you will see my strengths and my flaws. So do I. What matters is," Yuki slowly retreated his hand from Ryohei and caressed his cheek to wipe away the tear trails, "What you will do after you've perceived everything about me. Will you leave me, or will you stay?"

Ryohei snorted in. Yuki was especially kind and gentle to him, as if Yuki was his mother coaxing him after he has injured his knee or such. The warmth he has been yearning... only Yuki could deliver it sincerely. His endearment towards Yuki was infinite - only they could feel the fondness. Ryohei pulled Yuki closer to him and kissed him on the lips the longest.