Cold Hands

He doesn't reach the inn until after dark, but thankfully the owner isn't so cold-hearted as to turn away a blind man and a young girl who can by now barely stand. He thanks the man profusely for the room, water and what little food he can provide at this late hour. It's more than enough for the two of them, especially since he doubts they will be able to stay awake much longer.

Apparently Tokito was able to read his mind and took that last thought as permission to fall asleep, because he finds she's already unconscious when he lays her down on the bed. She remained stubborn almost to the end, only consenting to let him carry her once she ran out of energy to argue. He did try to soothe her wounded pride, by explaining that it was possible to still be strong while also being dangerously dehydrated and exhausted. And strong as she is, when it comes to physical hardship, his experience far surpasses hers. The desert was a nice challenge but he hadn't counted on having company. Of course he's not really worried, he knows she'll be fine once she's rested and had something to drink.

She won't like it, but he decides then that next time he's crossing such harsh terrain, he'll pack supplies for two. He only neglected to do so before now because he knew it would offend her. But she will just have to learn to live with it, because he doesn't want to see her end up in a state worse than unconscious.

Her clothes are as dirty as his, completely covered in sand, and he knows he really should wash them, but that means getting them off of her without waking her up. Despite the fact that he's blind and therefore wouldn't be able to see anything he accidentally uncovered anyway, he doubts she'll take that into account when she's beating him into a bloody pulp for 'molesting' her. In fact, she'd probably think him all the more likely to commit such a crime, since 'it was an accident, I couldn't see' would be an all too convenient excuse for him. Anyway, her cloak is easy enough to remove, as are her socks, and the shorts he wouldn't even think about touching. Which leaves her yukata. He weighs up the risk of her wrath with his concern for her wellbeing and decides to risk it. He prays for bandages and is relieved when he does find them, not as tight as they used to be, but secure nonetheless. Not that his hand lingers long enough to notice.

Having oh so carefully removed this last item of clothing he pulls the blanket back up to cover her, though the night isn't really that cold. It's this very fact that causes him to be surprised at the mumbled complaint he hears coming from behind him as he folds and stacks the garments.

"-said 'm cold!"

"Ah, at last she awakens... now that all the work is done."

"Shut up! It's your fault for creating work for yourself in the first place!"

"It's called self-sufficiency. I can teach you some time, if you'd like."

"Pfft, I think I'll pass."

Her voice shakes a little on the last sentence. Is she actually shivering? He strains his senses to detect the slight movements. It's unmistakeable and he's back at her side in an instant. Of course she protests and weakly tries to bat his hand away when he tries to feel for a temperature. He offers her a cup of water and she glares at it stubbornly for a moment before huffing and snatching it out of his hand, very nearly spilling it in the process.

"Let me know if you need more-"

"I'm not helpless!" she snaps back, irritable as ever. But she's still shaking and she feels warm to the touch, not cold.

"Do you still feel cold?"

"Yes! I told you twice already!" She rolls over further, putting her back to him. "You never listen..."

He sighs. Like I ever have a choice.

They stay in awkward silence for a good few minutes, while she sulks and he wonders about the best course of action. So long as she's not dying, he thinks it probably best to wait it out overnight. In the morning if it's still bothering her then they can seek out a doctor. He doubts very much that she will let something so 'pathetic' keep her grounded for long anyway.

"See!" she snaps, putting an abrupt end to his ponderings.

"No," he smiles politely, ignoring her anger, "No I don't see."

"Idiot!" she gasps, exasperated, "You're supposed to keep me warm!"

Akira simply can't suppress laughter at this unlikely order, and naturally this only makes Tokito more irate.

"Fine! You just keep right on laughing if you want your tongue cut out..."

He does his best to hide his amusement, though it's difficult, especially when he sees an opening that's just too good to miss.

"And just how, pray tell, am I supposed to keep you warm, dearest Tokito-sama?" Smiling disarmingly at her, he imagines the blush that heats up her face could be due to more than just a temperature. "Well?"

"Well... well you're the expert, aren't you? You should know!"

"Ah, but I'm afraid that some of my methods might offend your delicate sensibilities, Toki-"

"Try me."

He can feel the challenge in her eyes just as loud and clear as he can hear it in her voice. And what's a gentleman to do, when a lady makes such persistent demands, but do exactly what he's told?

"As you wish."

So he lies down behind her, wrapping one arm around her waist, drawing her close up against him. A few moments pass in relative silence, save for her all too obvious (to his ears) attempts to keep her breathing even and calm. Whatever she's feeling, he doubts that she's any more used to this than he is, so she must be at least a little nervous. And then finally, barely audible, she mumbles,

"I'm still cold."

He prays that that means what he thinks it means as he lifts the cover and slips underneath. He's not hearing any complaints so-

"Cold hands!" she squeaks, and he laughs long and loud, both amused and relieved that she can feel the actual temperature of his skin.

"Well that's what you get for asking an ice-user to keep you warm!"

"You did it on purpose, you bastard!" And with that she turns round to beat him for his insolence. Her fists connect with his bare chest none too gently but he still can't stop laughing. "Stupid... bastard... idiot... Akira! Don't yo-"

He's not sure who's more surprised by the kiss, her or himself, but neither one of them pulls away immediately. So having gotten himself into the situation, he does his level best to get out of it with some dignity, struggling to remember how exactly this kissing thing is done. When she pulls back, to barely a hair's breadth away, leaving their noses still touching, the only review she offers him is a slightly dizzy-sounding "Idiot..." before her eyes slip shut. Absorbed as he is in his own dizziness, it takes him a moment register the cause of her quietness. Oh well, at least he got a kiss. He pulls her closer and wraps the blanket more tightly around the two of them, cooling his side a little as he does so. If she's not still dizzy in the morning, he knows he may well lose a limb for this, but he believes it's well worth the risk.