Both the Kiryu twins were home sick with a cold. Their parents were away hunting so their master Toga Yagari was the one taking care of them. Toga sighed out a breath of smoke while lounging on the couch not really watching the television. The boys were asleep, the house was quiet, and Toga was bored. There really wasn't much for him to do until Zero and Ichiru got up but that wouldn't be for awhile. He sighed again and stubbed out his cigarette, and then he leaned back, closed his eye, and took a nap himself…

Zero woke up to another coughing fit. His younger brother was still asleep though. They had gotten over their sore throats a few days ago, but now Zero was stuck with a cough and Ichiru had a high fever again. Zero looked around his room for a moment; he wanted to go to sleep but he also wanted to get up. He could faintly hear the television in the other room and knew someone must be home. He slowly got out of bed before putting on a robe. Poor Ichiru was hot, but he was cold. He tip-toed out of their room and went towards the living room. He smiled when he saw his Master asleep on the sofa. Zero hadn't known he was here. He walked over to him and thought his Master would wake up to the sound of his footsteps but he didn't. And even though Zero had high hopes for his energy level he was still sick and fatigue got the better of him. Not bothering to wake his Master up and ask permission Zero lied down on the couch next to him and put his head in his Master's lap. And it didn't take very long at all for him to fall sound asleep.

Ichiru woke up feeling just as hot as when he had fallen asleep. His room felt so stuffy it was hard to breath. Ichiru sat up and noticed that Zero wasn't in bed. He must have been in search of a cough drop. Goodness knew he'd kept Ichiru awake because of it. Ichiru was thirsty himself though so he decided to go out into the kitchen and get a drink. He took a detour however when he heard someone snoring lightly. He snuck to the living room and saw his Master asleep on the sofa with his head back, and Zero sound asleep with his head on their teacher's lap. And Ichiru not wanting to feel left out lied down next to his Master on the opposite side, and like Zero fell asleep with his head in his lap.

Toga woke up a while later to a loud cough and movement at his side. He looked down and saw both his apprentices asleep on either side of him. Toga smiled and kept quite. Yes, he had known the boys loved him like a family member but…he had never quite understood until then. He combed his fingers through both their silver locks and waited for them to wake. The sky outside was turning gray with the oncoming storm but they were safe inside. In turn the boys found an article of Toga's clothing to hold on to in their slumber. Zero found Toga's sleeve, and Ichiru latched on to the leather chaps Toga wore. Toga smiled again then leant down to kiss the top of their heads. Whether he would ever admit it or not these boys were incredibly precious to him. And as Toga sat there longer he came to realize that it didn't matter the weather was bleak, or he was still slightly bored, or that he would probably catch a cold as well. The only thing that mattered to him was that he was happy, and that there was no where else in the entire world he would have rather been then right there.