Hayate woke abruptly. Blinking his eyes from sleep he stared up at the ceiling before him, his mind trying to recover memories from the night before. In a blur of color and sound everything came back to him as if reliving a recent and very vivid dream.
Wow, so it had happened. Hayate had made his choice. He chose to love Fai with all his heart, had taken a risk in revealing what was deep inside his heart. It was almost like there was this precious box inside him that had been closed, locked away forever, and he had revealed every secret of what was inside that box to Fai. It made him feel complete yet at the same time vulnerable.
Taken by surprise at how he felt, Hayate could only wonder at what would become of them. But he had faith in Fai, that the older man would take good care of him from this day forth. Fai would never let anything happen to him, that he was sure of. It was like his heart just shivered at the thought, at knowing and believing in Fai, seeing at last who Fai was. Trusting in him. That feeling just began to well up inside of him like a spring running over. He had never in all his years of living ever felt this way before, as if he trusted Fai with his very soul.
Oh, how Hayate wanted to share this feeling with Fai, for Fai to at last see that Hayate had given up everything and was willing to follow him to the ends of the earth. Even if he could not express himself with words, Hayate promised that he would by his actions. He would love Fai until the day he died.
Unknown to Fai perhaps, Hayate at last could see something in the other man he had never seen before. And Hayate vowed that he would let no one ever tarnish that side of Fai.
Feeling all at once protective of the man he loved, Hayate turned to Fai and brushed a lock of hair away from Fai’s face. Drinking in every rich detail of his face. Then something inside his gut twisted. Hayate blinked back tears and his heart began to race.
Something was not right.
Hayate took a deep breath and came instantly awake when the warmth of the body next to him penetrated his skin. The sheets were moist, Fai looked pale as if his skin was splashed with moonlight. He was running a fever!
“Fai!� Hayate said cupping his face and looking more closely at him.
Then something snapped inside of Hayate and he was up, putting on the robe he wore from last night, and running to the door throwing it open. Instantly he caught sight of a servant and dragged her inside.
“Something is wrong with Fai, he’s…sick!�
“Oh, there is a healer staying here,� the girl said glancing at Fai. “I’ll go get him.�
The girl took off and all Hayate could do was stare at Fai, wracking his brain to do something, to find some way of helping, but he felt slightly helpless. He wasn’t strong enough to carry Fai to the hot springs, and even if he did he’d probably make both of them drown since he couldn’t swim. Why did he have to be born a small weakling he thought angrily. Why couldn’t he do this one thing for Fai and help him?
Pulling himself together Hayate went to Fai and grabbed his hand, looking down at him. “I’m sorry I don’t know what to do.�
“That’s why I am here,� a familiar voice spoke from the door.
Hayate spun on his heel as he came face to face with the old man healer from the brothel.
“Old man!� Hayate said his face lighting up. “How…where…how did you get here so fast?�
“I do have a name you know,� the healer said moving Hayate aside to check Fai’s temperature with the back of his hand. “It’s Geesan, and this old body likes to be reminded to live a little longer so I come up here often. Now move aside, you’re not helping one bit lad.�
"But I must,� Hayate said reaching out and taking hold of the old healer’s hand. They stared at one another for quite some time and finally the old man nodded and understood, barking out orders to the rally of servants who gathered at the door.
“You there young lady, bring me a good pitcher of that healing spring water and a cup, and you fresh sheets and warm blankets, a bowl of warm water, some clean towels, and oh yes a sponge if you have one.�
Turning to Hayate he said, “Boy, get undressed.�
“What?� Hayate said blinking in confusion at the healer.
“I said get undressed. You said you wanted to help your ’friend’ so I suggest you listen to me and do as I say.�
Surprised and caught off guard all of a sudden the healer could only stare in wonder as Hayate actually did what he said without being a smartass about it, stripping himself bare of all clothing and politely covering himself up with his hands. Hayate was glaring at the old man, a look on his face urging the healer to give him some other instructions that weren’t so embarrassing.
“I’m surprised,� Geesan said after a while. “You’ve changed.�
“Shut up,� Hayate said throwing a distasteful look at Geesan. “What next?�
“Get in bed and keep him warm.�
“What?�
“Just do as I say. Remove his pants as well, and lay on top of him, gently. The heat from your body will help bring Fai’s fever down quicker.�
“Umm, are you sure this will help?� Hayate said shooting the healer a dirty look. His question went ignored and so frowning Hayate did as Geesan asked of him, climbing back into bed, blushing heavily since well they weren’t alone and tugging Fai’s wet pants off of him.
No he wasn’t aroused over this, he was still worried, but he pressed his warm body gentle next to Fai’s, wrapping an arm over Fai’s chest as instructed by the healer and his leg as well until he was partly covering him with his own body. Next thing he knew Geesan had removed the damp sheet off the bed and from Fai and grabbed some ready sheets and heavy blankets from the servant who entered the room, several other girls falling behind. Hayate turned completely red but settled once Geesan threw a new clean sheet over them both and four heavy quilts over that.
“Good, make sure you stay on him lad, he needs your body warmth to stay warm.�
“I don’t see how this is helping.�
“You are,� Geesan said patting Hayate on the head and handing him a small cup with some warm spring water in it. “That’s a good lad, now yes master Faivish will be fine. I’m leaving him in your hands boy. Make him drink the spring water, and keep this wet cloth on his forehead. The fever isn’t bad he’ll be fine especially drinking from the healing waters. And…he has you.�
Hayate smiled at those words and nodded, lying back down against Fai’s warm body. He felt as if Fai and him was one body, a single soul so tightly wound together and at any moment they might melt into one. He pressed gently against Fai, creating a bond of heat between the two men that penetrated Hayate’s own body like fire. Geesan had been right, this would help bring Fai’s fever down and keep the chill away. He took the wet cloth as Geesan instructed and patted Fai’s brow, worry blanketing his eyes. The cup felt unsteady in his hand, or else his hand was shaking too much.
Once they were alone at last with the doors closed, Hayate looked down at Fai said, "Fai, please wake up, you need to drink this."
