Chapter 6 – Sick
Jaden fell onto the bed with a heavy groan and pulled the covers over his half naked body. He was so tired; he barely made it to bed. His body was exhausted, as was his mind. Being on the go all the time was really hurting his health. He had a cold the previous day and was pretty sure he still had it.
His body was covered in sweat and his head was pounding. The warm shower hadn't helped much and by the time he dried off with a towel and change into pajama bottoms he was already covered in thin layer of sweat. He was cold one minute and warm the next; it was going to be a sick day tomorrow.
Wait! I can't call in sick. I have a duel tomorrow. My vacation just had to be cancelled. Jaden felt his world spin even though he was laying flat on his back. He turned on his side and tried to get some sleep. He hadn't eaten yesterday or today but no one seemed to notice. He stomach didn't want food and he feared that he might just relapse into, what he deemed, his nightmare state. (1)
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Aster was supposed to stay the night at Jaden's apartment. The key was in his hand but he had no idea why he was given it. Pegasus had thrust the key into his hand a couple days before and mentioned discreetly that Jaden was in need of some company. Aster had no idea what that man was up to, he was always coming up with some new plan.
Deciding to finally unlock the door he put the key into the hole. He heard the door unlock and walked into the apartment. His bag was dumped in one of corners in the hall. Jaden was nowhere in sight so he decided to look for him to announce his arrival. Truth be told he was a bit nervous, he had always thought of Jaden in a more than friends way but knew where the brunettes feelings belonged.
Aster searched through the apartment and finally came to the last room, which had to be the bedroom. He opened the door and was surprised to find Jaden sleeping under four blankets. The teen was curled up and looked like he was still cold. Aster moved the blankets off the teen and noticed that he was soaked with sweat, his hair was damp and clung to forehead and his face had a red hue to that had nothing to due with a blush.
Aster shook the teen awake carefully. Jaden opened his eyes, overly bright with fever, and took a good look at who was interrupting his precious sleep. He glared but it didn't have the desired effect. He rolled over and tried to the pull the covers back on. Aster refused and picked the teen up. Jaden didn't have much energy to fight and couldn't help the blush that formed on his face. Aster was blushing slightly as he took the teen to the bathroom.
Filling the tub halfway with cold water he removed the brunettes clothes, blushing badly as he was doing this. He set Jaden into the water and no surprise; Jaden became fully alert and was very agitated. Aster tried not to look as Jaden sighed at the cold water cooled down is fevered body. Aster gave Jaden a towel when he got out and fished through his drawers for a new set of clothes. The bed sheets had to be changed as well since they were soaked through.
"Why didn't you tell anyone you were sick?" Jaden shrugged but didn't say a word. Aster helped the teen onto the bed with dry sheets. Jaden pulled the covers over his body once again and was once again asleep. Aster couldn't help remember the well-toned body Jaden had and left the room before more dangerous thoughts filled his head.
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Chazz was currently waiting outside Shepard's office. The man hadn't arrived yet but once he did he would find out where Jaden was and go there. He would bring back the teen and make sure he apologized to everyone he had hurt. Then Chazz would talk to him about the warning he had left them. The note was currently crumpled in the teen's hand.
Chazz couldn't remember how many times he had read the note and tried to register the meaning behind them. When he found the necklace everything had fallen in place but he still refused to admit that he had been one of the reasons Jaden had left. Yes, he blamed himself but that did not mean Jaden had no blame. Jaden was never the type to run away but this time he did. True that their relations before Jaden had left had been far from great; they just ignored each other or insulted one another.
Chazz knew he had his own apologies to make but he had to find Jaden first so he could. He was getting desperate now, he couldn't concentrate on anything at the moment and he was starting to feel the first signs of depression. He clutched the necklace tightly trying to will it to bring Jaden back at this very moment but he knew that wouldn't happen.
Shepard was heading his way and he met him halfway. The older man looked shocked at the teen.
"What are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to you and you're not getting out of this!" Chazz watched the man as he unlocked his office and walked in; Chazz followed. "Where the hell is Jaden Yuki!"
"Language."
"I don't give a damn about my language right now. I need to know where he is ASAP! Now where is he?" Chazz felt the palms of his hands sting as they slammed onto the desk. "Tell me where he is right now!"
"I'm afraid-"
"I don't want to hear it. Tell me where he is or I will search through your files."
"Now see here!"
"Shut up and tell me where he is!" Chazz could feel his anger rising and knew that Shepard was having a hard time dealing with him.
"But boss how is he supposed to tell you if want him to shut up?" Ojama Yellow just happened to make an appearance. Chazz pushed him away and glared at the elder man.
"How much does he mean to you?" Chazz looked puzzled at the question.
"What?"
"How much does he mean to you?"
"He means enough to me that I'd be willing to raid this office and the next for information and risk expulsion. Now tell me where he is damn it!"
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Jaden was currently sweating out the fever running through his body. His body was aching all over and he was currently having a less than restful sleep. His moans drifted through the door to the kitchen where Aster was making soup for the teen to eat. He had been stuck in bed and had missed his scheduled duel and would probably miss at least two more days worth of appointments.
He would rather be here than where Pegasus was talking with Jaden's manager. From what he could hear over the phone Pegasus pissed was not someone to mess with. A rather loud moan coming from the bedroom meant that Jaden was currently dealing with one of the major aches he had developed. Aster considered taking him to the hospital but Jaden had refused.
The soup was ready so Aster put some into a bowl and brought it into the bedroom. Jaden's hair was currently soaked and was sticking to every available area of skin. Aster moved the teen's bangs away from his eyes and woke up the sick brunette. Jaden moaned and opened his eyes. The thought of food made Jaden want to be sick and he turned his head away.
Aster helped Jaden sit up and showed him that it was just soup broth and that it would help him. Jaden looked wary for a moment but started to eat or rather drink the broth. The bowl was emptied and the brunette had once again gone back to sleep.
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Chazz had finally gotten the information he wanted and took off on the ferry that arrived. There he would take a car to the address given to him and talk to Jaden, calmly. It was a long ferry ride so he ended up falling asleep. By the time he reached his destination he wide-awake but it was late so he booked a hotel room. Tomorrow…tomorrow he would see Jaden and bring him back to the island. Tomorrow: defiantly tomorrow.
(1) Nightmare State – This refers to when he had slipped into a kinda coma in the story before this, Sleepless.