The Mafia Boss's Secretary

Kai

>Kai<

I woke up after a few hours to see that Hatchiko was sleeping soundly. I realized that what caused me to wake up was him holding my hand loosely against his forehead. He must have gotten to warm again throughout the night. I noticed that his forehead felt warm and clammy, but it wasn't as warm as it was last night which hopefully meant that he was getting better.

Looking around I glanced outside to see that it was still dark outside. That prompted me to check the time. Four in the morning? We haven't been asleep very long at all. I attempted to take my hand back, but when I did he shifted like he was trying to follow my hand; at least until I placed my other hand against his forehead. He sighed and relaxed again.

"Kai, you should probably head home, it's awfully late." Nori stated poking his head in the room making me jump slightly.

"I told him I'd be here when he woke up." I responded not taking my eyes off of Hatchiko. "Not that you care, but clammy is now one of his symptoms too."

"So, he's actually sick now?" He asked.

"I'm afraid so." I responded. "I'll get ahold of his parents later to see what they want me to do."

"Why wait to call them?"

I finally looked over at him and glared. The poor kid has only been here for six days, and he hasn't left his dorm for five of those days. He hasn't had any time to get a doctor here. It seemed to click for him after a minute or two. 

"Oh, yeah, having a doctor here would be helpful." He stated. "What's his temperature been?"

"one-oh-one point three the first time, one-hundred point five the second time, and I haven't taken it again yet." I answered. "Why are you so mean to him?" I asked looking back at Hatchiko and to him again. "He hasn't done anything to warrant the treatment he's been getting."

"He hit his mother!" Nori responded. "Then he ran away and she proceeded to try to get him out of the duel."

"It wasn't intentional." Was quietly stated making both of us look at Hatchiko. "I've never once intended to use my training against my own mother or my own clan." He stated. "I felt so bad that I didn't know what to do with myself; that's why I ran away." He slowly sat up. "The duel and accidentally hitting her were the first two times that I'd ever used my training." He stated. "I usually stick to the shadows trying to get through my college classes, I'm not permitted to be in the field."

"Well, duh, you're the bastard son of a clan." Nori stated.

"Yeah, like I need the reminder; my own clan doesn't except me." I looked in his general direction. "I don't belong there, I don't belong here, and I don't belong in the Sage clans' territories; so where do I belong?" He asked. "I was adopted; so I know that going home isn't an option anymore since I've been on Lotus land for so long."

"Why did you run away?" Nori asked making Hatchiko look up at him.

"Because I'm a coward." He responded. "I couldn't face my dad or my brothers after I'd slapped my mom." I could see the pain flash across his face even though he tried to cover it by looking down. "I ran because that's what I'm best at."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"It means that hiding is a perfected art for me." He answered with a dry chuckle. "Running is all I can do since I'm not allowed to actually use anything I've learned in the field."

"You're not allowed in the field?" Nori and I both asked shocked.

"No." He sighed. "I'm not trusted to be out in the field." He looked at both of us before sighing and plopping back on the bed again throwing his arm across his eyes. "They think I'll be easily turned against them; so they keep me out of the field so that I don't jeopardize the missions."

"So, they don't trust you?" Nori asked.

Hatchiko didn't answer for a few seconds before gasping and looking up at me. "Is that what it is?" He asked sounding like a broken child. "They don't trust me?"

"No." I answered pulling him into a tight hug while glaring up at Nori. "They might just be protecting you from this lifestyle."

"Then why adopt him in the first place?"

"To give him a loving home." I snapped making Hatchiko tense up in my arms.

"I-I don't feel-" He whined weakly before I felt all of his weight on my arms.

"He's out." I stated laying him down gently again. "I never realized he had it so hard."

"Me either." Nori stated looking down at him. "It must suck not belonging anywhere."

"I think the best option for us is to make sure he feels welcomed here now." I remarked. "I don't think he'd ever tell us all of that on his own if he weren't feverish."

"What do you mean?" Nori asked.

"He's the chief's son." I stated. "Adopted or by birth; having vulnerabilities is a weakness we can't afford."

"So, this might be what he's been dealing with since he was adopted?" Nori questioned. "And even now they still don't trust him?"

"Exactly." I grabbed Hatchiko's wrist out of instinct and sighed when I could still feel his pulse. "I need a wet washcloth, and make sure it's cold; please."

He grabbed the now dry washcloth off the desk where I'd tossed it earlier and left. I sighed and looked back at Hatchiko. This kid has been through so much, there's no need for him to have to go through it here too. To be a part of a family that you aren't really a part of must suck. Nori came back a few minutes later with a bowl and the wet washcloth. He handed me the washcloth and laid the bowl on the table next to me. I put the washcloth on Hatchiko's head and sighed waiting for some kind of a reaction from him.

"Kai, why is he so sick?" Nori asked kneeling next to me. "Not eating alone shouldn't have done this to him."

"He might have gotten sick when he was walking around outside last night with no shoes on." I suggested. "If he has a weak immune system that could explain why it hit so fast."

"What are we going to do if he's not better for the fair tomorrow?" He asked looking worried.

"I'll take care of it." I sighed. "He hasn't done anything to anyone yet, so there's no reason that he should be targeted here."

"Didn't he step into a fight you were in?" Nori pointed out. "Then your mom made him your sworn brother?"

"Yeah, but those aren't exactly related events." I remarked. "Neither of us were given a choice on becoming brothers."

"What does that mean?"

"When I said it took some convincing for him to become my brother; that wasn't the whole truth." I sighed. "It was really more like mom and Nala pressured him into it because he was overthinking the repercussions that I would have to face once dad and the clan found out."

"He wasn't worried about the repercussions that he'd have to face himself?" Nori asked looking surprised.

"No." I answered him. "He never even mentioned himself; aside from mentioning that he's already caused me trouble, and becoming sworn brothers would only add to my troubles." I explained. "I don't really see what everyone's problem with him is, not once have I seen him do anything selfish or malicious."

"He did fight with his mother." Nori responded. "You know how the clans look on that."

"I do, but the reports of what happened with that are all consistent, and his mother even stated that it was an accident." I remarked glancing back down at Hatchiko.

"What about trespassing on Sage Territory?"

"That was an accident because of how distraught he was, and he didn't cause anyone any harm." I defended. "Hell, Shota even said he looked so pitiful when they crossed paths that he couldn't bring himself to punish him for trespassing."

"Why not?"

"Because Hatchiko was so torn up that he was terrified to go back to his territory because he was afraid that his father was going to kill him." I glanced at Nori. "Apparently he told Shota that if it wasn't going to be for hitting his mother; then it was going to be because of his trespassing." I answered flipping the washcloth over on his forehead. "He didn't even know who he was talking to; that's how out of it he was when he was found."

"Wow." Nori remarked. "Everyone knows Shota; even if they aren't active clan members."

"Exactly." I pointed out. "He's been judged for his first mistakes, and now he's acquired a reputation that he can't seem to get away from." I sighed and lifted the washcloth to sweep the hair off of his forehead before dabbing at the sweat that was starting to form on his neck and arms. "If he was as bad as everyone thinks he is then why would he have saved my sister, or helped me in an unfair fight that could have cost him his life, and why wouldn't he argue or try to get out of his duel like everyone does."

"What?" Nori asked. "What do you mean the fight could have cost him his life?" 

"He had a knife to his throat at one point because one of the men got a lucky shot and jarred one of his injuries." I answered.

Thinking back to that moment of the fight had me realizing that this kid is definitely not as bad as everyone thinks he is. If he was a trouble maker having a knife pulled on him wouldn't have put the fear on his face that it did in that moment. I don't ever want to see that look on his face again. I'll do anything and everything in my power to make sure he never has to show that look again.

"Kai?" Nobu asked quietly from the doorway.

"Yeah?" I asked turning to face him placing the washcloth in the bowl of cold water.

"How is he?" He stepped closer glancing at him before returning his eyes to me. "Should we call the doctor?"

"No, his fever is going down, he'll be fine." I answered. "I think as long as he takes some medicine and we can get him to eat he'll be fine in no time."

Quiet coughs caught my attention as Hatchiko shifted in his sleep rolling onto his side facing me. His hand seemed to be reaching towards me. I placed my hand on his and he seemed to relax and settle down again. Sleeping soundly now.

"Kai?" The twins asked simultaneously making me hold up my other hand silencing them. I motioned with the same hand for them to be quiet.

I don't want him waking up if he's not fully rested. It's only been about an hour since he feinted on me, so I know that he needs more rest. His moving tells me that he's only sleeping now. That's better than him being unconscious for hours. I sighed in relief knowing that he already seems to be doing better.

I knew it wasn't going to be to much longer before he woke up, so I waved the twins away and asked them to make something light for him to eat. I knew when he started to wake up because he gripped my hand before pulling it towards him.

"Why are you defending me?" He asked as his eyes slowly opened. "Why bother trying to change everyone's opinion of me when they will just hold on to their opinions?"

"Because I know that you don't deserve the treatment they are giving you."

"Oh, don't I?" He asked as he looked at our entwined hands. "I cause trouble everywhere I go." He mumbled. "No matter how hard I try; I always mess things up."

"Hatchiko?" I asked quietly. "What are you saying?"

"I am the troublemaker I am accused of being." He pulled our hands closer to his face with a sigh. "I meddle in things I shouldn't, and get in the way of others, and now we're sworn brothers; all because I have a hero complex."

"You regret becoming my sworn brother?" I asked making him look up at me with a glare. 

"Don't think I don't know that it was purely business from your side." He stated. "I heard what you said earlier, half conscious or not I know what I heard." He glanced at our hands again. "Your mother is a genius for thinking of us becoming sworn brothers, right? What does he think of you making it a blood oath though?"

I sat in silence realizing that he caught me. My dad doesn't know it's a blood oath; no one but us knows, and I'd like to keep it that way. He smirked and sat up letting go of my hand. We locked eyes for a second before he chuckled and stood in front of me before shaking his head and heading to the door. He stopped before sighing and grabbing a bag from beside his desk and leaving. I heard the dorm door close and made my way to where Nobu was cooking soup.

"He went to shower; so you don't need to rush." I stated making him jump as I entered. "I'll go check on him and make sure that he's okay, we'll be back in a bit." I added before turning to leave the kitchen again. "Do be nicer to him from now on, all of you." I ordered before leaving the dorm.