Bonds of the Soul

Sickness

The temperature was starting to drop, the weather was getting wet, and Cold-and-Flu Season was fast approaching. Which meant it was only a matter of time before Yuya got sick. The poor tomato got sick three to four times every winter, and his parents were already preparing for his first illness of the season.

What they weren't expecting or prepared for at all was for all four of the boys to get sick at the same time. But at breakfast one morning all four of them were sniffling and pale.

"Are you all sick?" Yusho asked, surprised and worried. Yuto immediately crossed his arms and, in a hoarse and stuffed-up voice, said, "No' be...!"

"Really?" Yoko asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because you're white as a sheet and sound terrible."

"I'b no' sick!" Yuto insisted, before sneezing. Yoko shook her head, unimpressed by Yuto's denial. She walked to the first aid kit and pulled out a forehead thermometer to check the boys' temperatures. Yuri, Yugo, and Yuya didn't put up a fuss, but Yuto sulked the entire time Yoko took his temperature.

"You all have low fevers," Yoko said when she finished taking the boys' temperatures. "Go back upstairs and put your pajamas back on. No school for you today!"

Yuto whined. "I'b no' siiiiiick! I'b fiiiiiiiine! Really!"

"Nope, back to bed with you, Yuto!" Yoko said sternly. "I'll go ahead and call the family doctor."

Yuto pouted furiously as he reluctantly followed his counterparts back upstairs to their bedroom. He hated being sick. He, like Yuya, got sick three to four times every winter, and Shun never let him get out of bed when he was sick. Which Yuto would usually do anyway, until Shun literally tied Yuto to the bed to get him to stay in it.

The four boys changed back into their pajamas and climbed back into bed. Their new family-size bed had arrived a few days ago, and it was very comfortable. It had taken some effort to rearrange the room so that the bed would fit without making the room cramped, but it was definitely worth the trouble.

The four boys snuggled down into their blankets and closed their eyes to rest. But after about five minutes of resting, Yuto opened his eyes again. He slowly sat up and started to get out of bed. Before his feet even touched the floor, the bedroom door opened and Yoko walked in. She immediately noticed Yuto trying to sneak out of bed. "Nuh-uh. Bed. Now," she said sternly.

Yuto sulked as he got back into bed. Yoko walked over to the bed holding four small objects in her hand. They were little wristband call buttons designed for elderly people who were bedridden. Yoko had gotten them a few years ago when Yuya had gotten very sick, much worse than he'd normally get. She was now silently thanking whatever power may be that the call pager had come with four wristband call buttons instead of just one.

"Here," Yoko said, putting the wristbands on each of the four boys' wrists. "If you need anything at all, you're thirsty, too cold, too hot, anything, press the button and it'll alert me. I'll come take care of you."

Yuto sulkily glared at the button on his wrist, still in denial of being sick as he lay back down on his pillow. Yuya was already falling back asleep. He normally slept the entire time he was sick, and was near impossible to wake up for food and medicine.

Yugo, meanwhile, looked worried. "U-uhb..." Yoko looked at him, waiting patiently for him to say what was on his mind. After a few moments of hesitation, he asked, "A-are you sure we're sick?"

"Yes, you're definitely sick," Yoko said gently. Yugo let out a whimper. "I don' wanna be sick... I always ge' nigh'bares... fever dreabs..." Tears started falling from his eyes.

Yuto blinked, then snuggled closer to Yugo, wrapping his arms around him. "I'll wake you if you have nigh'bares," he murmured reassuringly. Yugo calmed down a little, cuddling close to him. "Dank you..."

Well, that would be one way to keep Yuto from trying to sneak back out of bed. Yoko smiled and left the room to await the arrival of the family doctor.