beyondthedoor | closed.

[ It does humor her in a way though she's likely the only one to derive pleasure from something as demented as this. ]

You look like crap. [ Something about his condition sets off emotion within her and for a moment she considers dumping everything into his lap to tend to the wannabes that did this to him. Yet, a strong part of her knows the moment she moves for that door, he'll ask her to stay. ] How long have you been like this?

[ Must have been a while if they thought he was dead. She's dropping her arm's full next to him on the bed, the bottle rolling until it hits the side of his leg while her hands gently go for his glasses. ]

Broken?

I'd be surprised if I didn't, [he retorts, though it's a small and rather silly argument. He's happy enough that she's here, that she's unharmed. Really, just being in her presence makes him feel a little better.] I don't know. I was going to visit around four in the afternoon, originally, but I got sidetracked. [He probably smells like blood and homeless person. Not exactly date material. Ah, well.

He reaches out to grab the bottle so he can help in whatever way he can, but her hands on his glasses make him freeze. He blinks, a little wide-eyed; usually she doesn't initiate touch, even if it's just his glasses.

He's a little embarrassed, more visible in the way he smiles rather than any discernible blush in the darkness.]

Mm. I didn't realize the lenses were gone when I put them back on. It's all right, I have a spare at home.

I'll go find them.

[ It's meant to be a thing that will happen later, but knowing how impulsive she can be when it comes to a reason to kill, the impression otherwise may be there. All she needs is an excuse and that instinct within her mind clicks, though isn't it romantic how she wants to go 'find those lens' while possibly running into the same jerks who knocked them out? Maybe knock a little of their retinas out? ]

Later. [ Shiki adds as she pulls them off his face. Strange, he looks too different without them and for a moment she considers shoving the mangled wire back onto his face. ] For now, I need to watch you.

[ Turning her head away to hide what little pout may have shown at her face with that remark, she's picking up the bandages and unraveling the roll seconds after as if it never existed in the first place. ]

Lift your shirt.

It's fine for right now. I don't plan on driving anywhere.

[He knows exactly what she's thinking. He doesn't have to reach out and keep her here, or ask her to stay, because they have that kind of understanding. His eyelids feel a little heavy as she takes off his glasses, and he does feel a bit naked without them, but it's okay. She's making a really cute face and he doesn't want to miss it.]

Sorry for being such a bother. I'll take you anywhere you like. Later.

[There's just a moment of hesitation at her command, then he laughs it off. As soon as he moves to lift his shirt, though, he lets out an unfortunate groan.] My shoulder, [he explains, and works on one-handedly removing his shirt, which is definitely something he can do. It's torn in a couple places and crispy with blood in others. The stab wound he received is shallow enough that he's not about to bleed out and die, but it's still kind of gross to look at.]

[ It is gross to look at, but she endures all the same. Something twists in her gut at seeing him injured, but nothing can be done about it now. Revenge is something she can plan for a little later, right now he needs to have some help in dressing his wound.

Snatching the bottle, she twists the cap and lets it fall to the ground before dabbling alcohol onto the gauze in her hands. It soaks through to her fingers and the smell is strong, but it does little to dilute the stench from his wound. ]

It's a pain to go when you're driving.

[ Shiki complains of the simple things before slapping the bandage against his stab wound firmly and with less grace than usual. She's always been rough when handling her own wounds, so she doesn't stop to consider he needs a woman's touch. ]

[He winces. He already knows it's bad, but at least Shiki isn't saying anything about it. Not for the first time, he's grateful she's not like other girls.]

A --

[His retort is cut off by a sharp intake of breath, a noise that sounds a little pained. But he grins and bears it (almost literally), thinking she's probably pissed off at him and being cruel on purpose.

He paces his breathing, not wanting to freak her out.]

A pain? Why is that?

You go below the speed limit. [ She's a bit upset, but with herself for not going out to look for him. Had she found them attacking him, then there would have been no reason for her to resist jumping into the fray. ] Takes forever to get where we're going.

[ Not even Aozaki drives as slow as him as her fingers rub in and around the wound to clean up the dry blood. They dig in a little to feel how deep the knife went without even thinking twice of how much it might hurt him. In her mind she's ensuring a long life for him with minimal injury over gentleness. ]

Switchblade?

[ This is the sort of girlfriend he's picked up for himself. A girl with her fingers into his side asking him to confirm the weapon used to create the wound instead of one asking if he's going to survive. ]

[He manages a small, weak laugh.] It's the law, you know. Besides, if I drive too fast it looks suspicious. [And Mikiya is the last person one would expect of hiding something big, or being suspicious.

He isn't expecting her to shove her fingers in the stab wound though. His impressive manliness (who are we kidding) only goes so far-- he clenches his teeth and cries out, his vision going red and white briefly.]

I-- I could have told you that, Shiki, [he manages through labored breathing. The fingers though. God damn.]

[ Only then does she realize the extent of his pain tolerance and she's much more gentle in withdrawing her fingers with fresh blood on them. ]

It's beautiful. [ His blood. Raising her fingers to admire it in the dim light of her apartment, she neglects the attention he needs only briefly. ] Something that shouldn't ever be seen.

[ The weirdest girlfriend award goes to... ]

You sure you don't need the hospital? I can call for Akitaka.

[He watches her, tries to focus even though his vision is wavering from the pain. Mentally, he's coaching himself... The pain will fade. It hurts because it's healing, that sort of thing. He's not really thinking about how weird she is. She has a bit of a murder obsession, but she's still not the type to kill anyone.]

I'm okay. [With his breathing calming down somewhat, he manages a gentle expression.] I don't need to go anywhere.

Fine.

[ Wiping her hand dry on the sleeve of her yukata (despite blood being one of the more difficult things to clean out of finer linens), she resumes the attempt to help bandage him up. Applying light pressure to stop the bleeding, her head dips in towards his dangerously close without awareness. He doesn't have his glasses on and it's strange, but not worth commenting on again. ]

Your eyes. [ Look nice without the glasses to obscure them. ] They're really that color, huh?

[ Smooth. ]

[Mikiya is aware, though. She's incredibly close, and there's no way she's doing it on accident-- at least in his mind. Something about that closeness makes his eyelids heavy, and he fights not to let his gaze drop to her lips.

It happens anyway. Despite the pressure of the bandage and the pain he's in, he can't help but lean forward that extra inch or two and brush his lips against hers.

How very impolite.]

[ That just happened. Shiki's unusually aware of the slight movements he makes so when he does that, there's a quick reaction from her, though hardly a friendly one. Her eyes flicker in a prismatic array as she's caught off-guard and suddenly his face is nothing more than a shadow with lines across it. ]

Ah-?! [ Swallowing down what little surprise she might have shown after with the jerk of her head, it dawns on her quickly after that he had intended to be romantic. ] Kokutou?

That's not fair. [ She adds with puffed up and red cheeks. ]

[She's so cute, especially when she pouts, and he just smiles warmly-- if a little deliriously-- and ducks his head.]

Sorry, [he murmurs.] I don't have great timing.

[He should've done it at dinner or something, not while she's keeping him from bleeding out.]

It's just right.

[ Whether she means his timing or the kiss, Shiki resumes her focus on trying to patch him up. What concern she may have had for his injury is gone, replaced by an urgency to make sure he'll be all right.

Words from two years ago haunt her mind. He can't die, not here, or ever. As illogical of a though that is, she focuses on sterilizing the wound the best she can, taking great care to use her prosthetic over her own fingers. A more efficient tool over her own appendages, the accuracy was increased by magic unknown to her.

Plus it was more likely to be sterile. ]

Does it still hurt?

[Oh, Shiki. But the warmth in her words is enough for him. He doesn't ask for much, even though this would be pretty taxing on any other girlfriend in Japan. Shiki's different.]

Yeah, but I feel pretty good. Is that strange?

You really into this or something?

[ What a strange kink, but she's not in a place to be judgmental right now. Instead, she unravels the bandages now while placing gauze tightly against the wound. ]

'splains a lot.

No, that's not it.

[He paces his breathing carefully, even though her accusation makes him want to laugh.]

If it's you, I feel safe.

[ Safe. It's almost insulting how he thinks that when the pinnacle of their relationship involved the phrases "I don't want to die" and "I want to kill you". Still, she's keeping those thoughts to herself as she brings the stretchier fabric along his skin firmly. ]

When you say crap like that, I want to go out and find those guys. [ A bit of a huff as she tightens the bandage. ] No one gets to stab you, but me.

How romantic, [he says, smiling more.]

I guess that's your exclusive right, Shiki.

[ There's a pause as she takes the time to consider whether or not he's joking with that remark. Some days it's harder to tell since he's usually lacking in a sense of humor, but that statement leaves her overwhelming incredulous. ]

You were opposed to it before. [ Reminding him. ]

What changed? [ Another pause: ] Liking me or somethin?

[He shakes his head lightly, not wanting the blood loss to make him dizzy.]

I still am. But, I know you won't hurt me, Shiki.

I won't take advantage of it.

You shouldn't act so confident when you've been bleeding out half the night.

[ Hasn't she already hurt him by accident in the short time she's spent tending to his injury? Blood fascinates her, especially forbidden blood from her youth, but it does little to excite her now that it's all over her hands. ]

Hasn't most of the time we've known each other been spent trying to refrain from killing you?

[Being a little rough and weird is not the same as cutting him into pieces. And she's only ever done that once, and that was really SHIKI so you know what it's complicated.]

Really? I never noticed. [He smiles serenely.] You should speak up about what bothers you, Shiki.

[ #COMPLICATED ] It doesn't bother me!

[ Another huff, but despite that fire in her tone, those hands of hers somehow manage to remain gentle. A task she's set in her mind surely. ]

Shouldn't you be too tired to boast like a counselor?

[Mikiya chuckles, then winces. Okay, she has a point because he keeps doing that.]

A little, [he says finally.] But someone has to.

[ No, he doesn't have to do shit. That's what springs to mind immediately, but she's a proper lady who knows if she bursts down a swear word, he'll reprimand her for that. He might even be worried about her agitation.

Instead, she swallows it down and just finishes and takes a step back to admire her handiwork. Well, not quite so much admire her handiwork as it is to look over his body. ]

... You'll live. [ What a great vote of confidence. ]

[... He isn't sure what she's going to say until she says it. His instinct is to laugh, but that kinda hurt a few seconds ago, so he just smiles.]

Thank you.

[He's looking a little wavery, though, like he should probably lay down.]

[ She must be thinking the same thing because she's lifting a hand and bringing it towards his shoulder with a gentle shove. Her intent is to just knock him over onto the bed, but he's always been resilient to those things as well, hasn't he? ]

Your bed time's long gone. Better catch up while you can.

[His eyes pop open, and he lets out a little startled noise as he's shoved. He doesn't go down immediately-- he kicks off his shoes, first.]

Right here...?

[She's so insistent. And improper. He blushes a little, but doesn't put up much more of a fight.]

All right... [He's so tired, anyway. So he shifts and lays down in a way that won't agitate his wound, and hopes he doesn't bleed all over her sheets.]

[ If only she cared for the implications. Right now she sees a wounded boy who probably can't walk more than a foot without collapsing so it makes sense to her that he needs to sleep. Preparing a bed for a guest usually involved fresh bedding, but that was done by a servant which she doesn't have here in this tiny apartment. ]

You'll have to make do. [ Meaning she's not going to listen to him insist otherwise. ]

[He props his head up on his arm for a makeshift pillow.]

I don't mind. I always sleep well next to you.

We're not sleeping together. [ So abruptly spoken. ]

'cause I feel like going out for a walk right now.

[ That doesn't need to be translated in the slightest. Shiki's always made the intent behind her walks clear enough. ]

[Ugh.]

Shiki...

[Please don't go out and kill people. We can talk to the cops.]

Are you going to say something absurd like two wrongs don't make a right?

[ Because he would dish that out while he's bleeding all over her bed, wouldn't he? She shifts her weight from one foot to the other while waiting for an answer, wryly adding on: ]

What comes around, goes around. That's all I've got to say on the matter.

closed.

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