Saimatsu (aka Shuichi x Kaede) Oneshots

Sick Days

There were sounds of birds chirping outside, it was soft, gentle... And interrupted by a dissatisfied groan of agony.

"No-no-noooo..." The voice mumbled. Tiredness was evident- and so was the straining to get words out. The voice of Shuichi was obvious, it was hoarse and very raspy. He sat up in bed, rubbing his forehead- which based off his face, must've been throbbing. He sighed and looked towards the window, only to flinch and squeeze his eyes shut, immediately turning away with yet another groan.

His skin was slick with sweat and covered in goose bumps all the same on account of the fever he had. He sighs and rolls back into bed with a huff- this time facing away from the blinding light that only increased his hellish headache. 

"Oh, Kaede's going to be so disappointed..." He though aloud. It was true- today was the piano recital she'd been practicing so hard for- ever the hard worker. He sat through some of those and boy did it look fierce. She'd worked so hard and planned everything so thoroughly, a date that fit perfectly with her friends and family. And yet- of all the times for him to be sick- which was obviously rare- it had to be at the worst possible time for him.

He croaks out as he tries to get out of bed- no, he wasn't going to let something as small as a cold make him miss something so dear to his... best friend? Female friend? Girlfri- He needs to focus. He sat up nauseated but quickly swallowed that down. He made his way to his closet, not bothering with fixing his bed sheets. He stretches before picking out a half-decent outfit his blurry vision could decide on. This was important to Kaede- only the best for his dear friend.

He stuffs it on, not caring for atleast patting the wrinkles. He wobbled to his bathroom and began his routine. And so it began, he wondering about for the day until the recital- as it seemed, that was the idea everyone else had. Many encounters ensued. 

"Shuichi are you feeling alright?" 
"Shuichi you look awfully pale."
"Shuichi you need to eat something."
"Shuichi you're not actually walking around in your state!"
Shuichi, Shuichi, Shuichi...

But he'd bare with it, all for his beloved Kaede. As he and his friends piled inside the fancy building, everyone of his group were trying their hardest to convince him to go home. 
"Shuichi..." Maki's voice warned. "C'mon man! You should sit down, you look like you had a run through with the devil!" Kaito finished. Tenko but in "Quiet it, guys! He's a big boy now-" her voice dripped with condescension, making him sweat and look away awkwardly. "-he knew what he was doing the moment he got out of bed. We don't need to rip him a new one, Kaede will."

Shuichi sighed at that- then coughed. Only having Tenko hit him hard on the back. "Thanks-" He choked out in agony, recovering. "Speaking of the devil..." Himiko trailed off, all eyes following hers. In the distance, a waving, royally dressed, jogging blonde with music hairclips approached. Shuichi stiffened and tilted his hat to cover his face as he cleared his throat and turned away. Everyone smiled at Kaede.

"Heya everyone! I'm so glad you all made it!" Kaede started with a smile, waving through the small group and to Shuichi. "Shuichi?" She called gently, he turned as she tried to see his face. The group snickered, "Shuichiii!" she called once more. Again, he turned from her. "Shuichi!" She shouted, he visibly flinched, turning and rubbing his ear- he sniffled and groaned out, "okay-okay.. Geez, enthusiastic for your big night?" He tried to lighten the mood. 

The group, again, chuckled, Kaede's smile faltered as she looked up at him. Her eyes softening as she took the hand he held on his hat and moved it away. She let out a soft "Shuichi..." under her breath as she felt his forehead. "You're burning up!" She gasped, gently grabbing his face to tilt towards her for a better look. She scanned him with empathy as he blushed from the proximity. He gently took her hands and pulled them off him. He laughed awkwardly.

"Did you guys know about this?" She turned accusingly to her friend group. They all flinched from her soft fury. "Not till he showed up." Kaito defended with a scoff. "He planned his day avoiding us till the last second so we couldn't do anything." he accused. "Shuichi!" she scolded, turning back to the victims. "You know you should've stayed home! I could've given you a video or something if it were that important to see! You didn't have to-"

As she rambled he stared at her face. She was angry, and alluringly pretty. He smiled and faulted a apologetic tone, "I'm sorry Kaede, I really did want to be here for you though." He responded, she glared. "You didn't have to do that-.." "I know but-" and he was cut off by a coughing fit, Kaede grabbed his arm "Shuichi! You aren't well... Go home." Something sturred in him 'nonono, I'm ruining her big night- jeez, what a friend am I...' he thought. "I'm fine, I promise, after you play I'll go straight to bed!" He reassured. 

"Shuichi-" "Please Kaede- we can see how important this was to you- I just want to be here for you- let me?" He grabbed her hand. It silently made her weak in the knees and she sighed, lowering her head to both show disappointment and to hide her burning face. She cracked her neck side to side and looked up at him after composing herself. "Okay, but straight to bed or I'll take you there myself." She ordered. Kaito coughed out a laugh "you heard the woman, Shuichi! She'll take you there if you don't." He chuckled, Shuichi smiled and hugged her.

She wanted to bathe in that hug- but the worry plaguing her mind stopped her. 'Maybe another time.' she thought. The two separated and she turned to Maki and Kaito, "keep an eye on him please?" she pleaded, Tenko just gave a curt nod and Kaito an excited thumbs up. She smiled and left to likely finish getting ready for her recital. 

"Soo..." Kaito slipped over to Shuichi as he watched Kaede leave. "...She look good?" He tease, Shuichi blushed madly and pushed him off as he laughed loudly. "Quit that!" He scoffed. "that's not a nooooo!" He called, Maki huffed and slapped Kaito atop his head. "Knock it off. We're supposed to take care of him not rile him up..." She scolded. Kaito gave an apologetic nod and sat beside Maki as they all got ready to take their seats.

As they all sat and watched all the speeches, and fluff the people onstage said, alas, it was Kaede's turn. She walked out, looking just as beautiful as Shuichi remembered, and she sat. She softly moved her seat up and grabbed the microphone infront of her on the piano, and began to say the speech she practiced infront of Shuichi many times. Still.. It never beats the real thing.

He could tell she was nervous as this was, by far, her largest audience. Still, she spoke. He was always envious of her bravery. "Hello everyone." She laughed. He melted. "I know you had to sit through some people's speeches so I'll make this quick." The audience chuckled quietly as she made a joke back to an elder woman who went on and on for what felt like hours minutes before. She sounded like a natural. "But I really, truly, honestly thank you all for being here. I spent months working on this for you all, so I hope I don't disappoint-" She was cut off by a scream from someone in the audience, not far from the sounds of it.

"WE LOVE YOU KAEDE!!!" The voice shouted, Shuichi knew it well, her mom, ever the enthusiast, happy to support her daughter. The audience began to laugh and then cheer with her mom. Kaede showed bashfulness and waved her hand. "aaaand that's my mom. Hi mom." "HEY SWEETIE!" The audience chuckled again. "right, well. I'm glad you all made it, from the bottom of my heart, thank you." She sounded so sincere, Shuichi was smiling. "Even if  some should've stayed home." She added, Kaito elbowed Shuichi as Kaede glared down at him from the stage. 

"Let us begin!" She concluded. And thus- she played. The song was beautiful. It was gorgeous. It had no words, but all the same no words needed to be said, the story was happy, full of love, peace, and aging death. He understood, Kaede didn't have to tell him- he knew. She was playing what she wanted in life. By the end of it, the audience roared, again, her mother screamed over them all. Kaito was standing up and applauding, when he notice Shuichi wasn't- he looked over and saw him passed out. "oh shit. Maki!" 

His eyes slowly opened and he was back home. What happened? He was laying in a neatly kept bed, in his pajamas. He sat up and groaned, his headache was still staying strong. "woah woah woah- cool it, you shouldn't be getting out of bed just yet." A voice- so soft and familiar. He turned.

"Kaede?" 

"That's my name!" She smiled. "Ugh.. what happened- GRK-" He gagged, she smiled. She'd shoved a spoonful of medicine in his mouth as he was talking. "Good, right?" "far from it..." He muttered. "stay here, I made you soup." She smiled, leaving the room and coming back shortly with heavenly smelling soup in a bowl. She placed a tray over him and the soup on it. He smiled and hadn't realized how hungry he was. She gave him a spoon. "you didn't have to-" "I know." He felt the bed dip as she sat. "but I did." She smiled. His heart warmed. "ah... Thank you." "you're welcome. Eat up." She ordered with a hearty smile as she held an icepack on his head. "What.. Happened?"

"well, after the show I was supposed to meet up with you guys outside- when you weren't there I looked around and found Maki carrying you. You must've passed out from your fever at the show." Shuichi felt shame pool his stomach. "Oh God.. I'm so sorry- I-" "nonono!" She smiled, knowing where he was headed. "I know- you were just trying to be there for me. Thank you. But it's my turn to be here..." She trailed her fingers up his arm and then laid her hand gently on her cheek. "for you." She leaned in close and kissed his cheek softly. He blushed wildly.

"WH- BU- HOW- WHEN- WHAT?" "you're kinda obvious Shuichi." She giggled. "ohhhhh...." He sighed and planted his face on the pillow  behind him. "I had the whole thing planned..." He groaned. "O-OH! Well- you can still-" She tried to help "nono.. This.." He sat up and kissed her. "this is perfect." She smiled. "eat your soup." She laughed and sat with him, talking as he ate.