War of the Tiger and Dragon

She started using the towel to dry her face when she sneezed suddenly. She tried to muffle it with the towel so Roku wouldn't hear it.

"Anyway...thanks for the towel. I better get upstairs and change..." She said.

".....I've miso soup on tonight....you need some." he heard her coughing.

"That would be great. I'll just go upstairs and get out of these wet clothes. I'll be right back." She smiled at him and put the towel over her shoulders. She walked inside and up the stairs to her room to put on some dry clothes.

Soon after, she came back downstairs in a fresh disguise. Still wearing the garb of a common village girl. She took a seat at the bar waiting for that bowl of miso soup to warm her up.

Roku came back out when Natsuki arrived back, "Hungry?" he asked as he place a bowl of miso soup with tofu and seaweed and a bowl of rice with fried fish.

"Yes, thank you." Her cheeks were a bit red and she sneezed again. "Oh no...not now..."

"Eat up. You'll need to stay warm." he said as he went to collect more cups and dishes.

The cook was in tonight as well as one of his daughters to help clean out the back.

"Mhm." She nodded and started eating her miso soup to stay warm.

Later one it got quiet, Roku told the cook he would clan up and he and his daughter could go home, the last customer was already gone and the other staff had left....all but Natsuki.

He came over with some sake as well as some soup for himself, "Feeling better?"

Natsuki had cleaned her plate and was enjoying a warm cup of tea when Roku came to join her. "A little bit. I'm not cold really anymore...but my face feels warm." She said. Indeed, her cheeks were still red and she looked a bit pale.

'I can sense something is wrong. Please come back upstairs, Natsuki.' Nemo said to her telepathically. He could sense that something was off with her body and well being.

'I'm fine Nemo. Don't worry about me.' She replied.

He reached over and touched her forehead with the back of his hand, "You feel a little warm but not feverish." he said.

Natsuki gasped softly when Roku touched her forehead suddenly. "I-It's probably nothing..." She said moving away from his hand and turning away from him a little flustered.

A small white cat with creme colored paws walked through the tavern entrance and let out a meow to get their attention. He jumped up into Natsuki's lap and settled there. Nemo could tell that his mistress was not feeling well and wanted to be with her.

"......Is that?" he asked quietly, suspecting that was the tiger.

Natsuki nodded. "Yep, this is Nemo." She softly pet his back and smiled. Even though he was a pain in the ass some times, he really did care about her well being and safety.

As time went by, Natsuki seemed to get steadily worse. Her cheeks were still very red and she started to sneeze again. "I should probably get to bed now..." With that Nemo jumped off her lap and headed upstairs ahead of her. She got up off the bar stool and started to walk toward the stairs. Her vision began to blur from the fever. She began to stumble and fall.

ROku saw her looking wobbly, but before he could say anything he moved quickly to grab her and scooped her up, "Oh dear...you are sick." he said, "Nemo." he whispered, "Please show me where her room is...she's got a cold." he said.

Nemo was at the edge of the stairs and watched everything unfold. He still did not trust that dragon, but he couldn't carry her himself in his current state. Nemo just meowed and went up the stairs slowly.

"Roku...what are you doing?" She asked softly looking up at him. She was very confused and the fever made her quite delirious.

"Thank you." he said to Nemo as he followed him.

"Hush now. You're sick, you need rest." he said to her, "You won't be able to work tomorrow if you don't." he said as he entered her room and he placed her on her futon, then removed her shoes.

Nemo lead him to her room which was on the floor above Roku's. Natsuki nuzzled closer to Roku attracted to his warmth. It felt good against her cold skin.

Once inside, Nemo sat right beside Natsuki's futon and watched Roku closely. Natsuki didn't understand why Roku was being so nice to her and helping her. He shouldn't care whether or not she was sick. If anything, he should be happy about it.

"I don't understand why you're doing this..." She said, coughing a little bit.

"You've been nothing but peaceful towards me. I've to return the favour it helping." he said, "Our parents can be enemies....but I don't with to be."

Natsuki smiled weakly, "You are so kind...thank you..." She reached her hand toward his and covered it gently. Nemo walked over to a dark corner of the room as the supplement finally started to wear off. Shortly after, he emerged at his full size. He remained by his mistress' side.

"Nemo will look after me...thank you for bringing me to my room." She coughed again. Her throat was sore and scratchy and her fever was at an all time high. Her face began to drip with sweat.

He smiled, "I'll do one more thing." he said, "Hold on." he ran out and went to his room. He then came back shortly with a small bamboo holding container and he popped it open. He showed some small pills, he held one to Nemo. "Sniff it, so you KNOW I'm not trying to poison her." he to him.

Nemo was worried. In her youth, Natsuki would get sick a lot but she outgrew it once she was older. Still, whenever she did get sick it was pretty serious. Natsuki snuggled up under the covers and closed her eyes. Nemo laid down beside her. He watched Roku carefully and raised his head when he came back in. He took some pills out of a bamboo container and held them out to him. He listened and sniffed them. He couldn't detect anything wrong with the pills and just nodded his head.

"What are those?" She asked looking at the small pills in his hand.

"Herbal medicines for fever." he said, and got the water jug as well, he dropped the pill into the water jug. ""Natsuki...You'll need to sit up." he said helping her sit up and held the cup to her lips, "Slowly drink."

Natsuki nodded and moved slowly to sit up. Her head was still spinning so she took it easy. She felt Roku's hand on her back as she sat up. She felt the cup against her lips and drank the water. It felt good against her burning throat. She felt the pills go down as she drank.

"Thank you, Roku." She said in a sleepy voice.

"Good." he said as he eased back to let her sleep, "Rest now. I'll need to go back." he said.

HE smiled, "You're welcome."

Natsuki nodded, "I'm sorry if I caused you any trouble..." She said gently. The fever was very taxing and making her extremely tired. Nemo remained by her side and planned to stay there all night.