Love In A Mug

Chapter 13

"Naruto! Chōji is here with the connoisseur." Annie said tapping on the bathroom door.

It was a big day for the cafe as one of France's foodie aficionado was visiting to judge some of Naruto's recipes. The team had been working hard alongside him helping him prepare since 7:00 o'clock.  Unfortunately, this was the fourth time he had run to the bathroom to vomit.

"I'm coming."  Naruto responded weakly hugging the cold ceramic bowl before flushing and washing his hands. He rinsed his mouth with some of the mouthwash that was in the cabinet then splashed cold water on his face. He stared at himself in the mirror before running a hand through his hair.  He looked awful because he's been extremely tired and more nauseous than usual having a bad flare up with the Addison's disease. "Hold it together." He grumbled closing his eyes tight to ward off the onslaught of dizziness that always followed after he vomited. 

Some days he found food to be his enemy even with his favorite cuisines not able to keep them down and sometimes it's a challenge to cook or be in the kitchen because the smells alone would make him sick. 

Itachi finally put his foot down yesterday and made an appointment with the doctor for after work because he had fainted after picking up Kiyoshi's toys.  He had just put Kiyoshi to bed and as he was picking up the stuffed animals and stood up too quickly.  Thankfully it was in the living room on the carpet and he didn't hurt himself but Itachi wasn't happy so today after work he is seeing the doctor.

The blonde exited the bathroom and put on a clean apron.

"Naruto, this is Alois Boucher." Chōji said introducing him to the older chef who was tall with strands of gray throughout his sideburns.

Naruto took a nervous bow. He had been waiting for this moment since the day he completed his culinary classes and started working at the cafe. "Enchante de faire votre connaissance." Alois greeted with a smile in his native tongue. "I've heard nothing but amazing things about you and your food. I can't wait to try it."  He chuckled lightly.

Naruto was glad that Alois was so laid back. He wasn't sure what to expect from the judge.  All of the rumors he's heard about him have been nice along with his reputation but you really can't know until you meet in person.

"Then let's not keep you waiting." Chōji said with a smile and gesture for the man to take a seat then returning to the kitchen with Naruto confident that the blonde was going to deliver a great impression.

It wasn't surprising that Naruto was exhausted when Itachi arrived at the cafe to pick him up.  He wanted to cancel the appointment and go home to sleep but the raven dragged him to the car.  He wasn't having it.  Nonetheless the two walked into the hospital checking in early.  They sat quietly in the waiting room until they were called back.

"Uchicha Naruto." A young nurse called waiting for the couple to follow her. She led them to a scale where Naruto kicked off his shoes before stepping onto it. His hand unconsiously fell to lay over his stomach that's been bloated for a period of time so much so that his pants were getting snug and uncomfortable but he chopped it up to being too tired and lazy to keep up with his normal exercise routine. Since returning from their honeymoon he preferred sleeping in their cozy bed next to his newly wedded and warm blooded husband, too lazy to rise early in the mornings to go to the gym.

"Okay.  You can step down." She said typing on her iPad.

He blushed with embarrassment knowing that he had gained some weight. She opened the door to the exam room and moitioned for him to take a seat on the table where she took his blood pressure and asked him a few questions before leaving them alone to wait for the doctor.

"You're insufferable you know that." Naruto pouted sitting on the table as Itachi sat in one of the two emply chairs looking at a magazine.

"Don't worry, I love you."  Itachi replied not bothering to look up from the magazine he was flipping through.  He didn't need to make eye contact with the younger to know that he was pouting and pitching a fit. 

"Hmpf." A snort could be heard from across the room the blonde peering daggers at the Uchiha who just turned another page keeping his eyes focused on the article that he found interesting.