Reagan's Readings

Chapter Twenty Three

I woke up feeling less than great and a little warm. I groaned and reached out for Yoshi, smacking at the bed until my fingers hit skin. 

It seemed he was already awake as he responded immediately and clearly. 

"Koibito?"

I smiled despite my discomfort. He had taken to calling me Koibito, which was the Japanese equivalent to lover - something I definitely didn't mind being called. 

"Koibito?" he repeated, a bit more frantically. 

"No, no. Relax - I'm okay. I just don't feel -"

I cut off as a cough erupted from my throat. I started hacking up a storm so feral that my throat felt like it had ripped open. 

"Shit, Rae! Here, sit up," Yoshi said frantically.

He put a hand under my shoulders and hefted me up into a sitting position. He then proceeded to place his hands over my neck and cheeks.

"You're really warm, Rae," he let out in a worried tone.

I batted his hands away softly. "I figured. My eyes are burning."

He sighed and pulled the blankets away from me. 

"You keep getting sick," he muttered softly. 

I could sense that he wanted to pull me into him, but didn't want me getting any warmer. In replacement of that comfort, he ran his fingers through my hair softly, gently massaging my scalp. I leaned my head into his hand and sighed.

"I know I've been getting sick more than usual. I think the stress is taking a toll on my immune system."

The look on his face was so full of concern and when he opened his mouth, I already had a vague idea of what was going to come out. 

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm going to say," he responded to my thoughts. "I think we should take a few steps away from the case. It's obviously landing heavy on your shoulders, and making you feel awful all of the time."

I shook my head.

"I said I would help. So did you and the boys. It's our responsibility to follow through on our word. That's one of the most important things I can teach those two boys, and I'm going to be the example for them."

Yoshi's hand's abandoned me as he huffed and landed back on his pillows. 

"I figured that would be your response, but I had to try."

I landed a swift, light kiss on his cheek. "We know each other so well, huh?"

"Mhm," he murmured, turning his head and leaning forward like he was going to kiss me.

I abruptly stuck my hand in front of his face. "No! I'm sick! The last thing we need is for the both of us to be feeling like garbage."

Yoshi rolled his eyes and leaned in again, whispering, "You know I don't care."

I pushed his face away.

"I'm serious," I said in a stern voice, trying not to laugh at the pout adorning his features.

"I do have something else you could do to make yourself useful, though," I said suggestively. 

He snorted. "Tea?"

I flashed my teeth at him in a wide grin. "See, what did I say? It's almost like you can read my mind."

He grumbled under his breath at my sarcasm and rolled out of bed, heading towards the kitchen. What a guy.