[OPEN]

[soul_mods]

Characters: OPEN
Location: Clinic
Rating: PG13ish
Time: November 27 onwards
Description: Operation Arizona is over and people are back in the city. Hopefully in not too many pieces.

Comments

[OPEN] [27th of November] [Morning]

[a_r0yal_flush]

It had all happened so quickly, and before he knew it, Yuna had been injured in Arizona, and he'd once again been unable to protect someone he cared about. Was it always going to be the same regardless of the training he had? He didn't want to believe that all of Mifune's hard work went to waste, but he hadn't been able to do anything once again to protect others.

That thought swam through his mind as he busied himself with helping all those who were injured. At least Yuna would have Vergil to take care of her.

He'd felt the horror within himself the moment their resonance had broken, and his soul had hurt her further. The events sparked the memory Conrad's death in his mind, and Yuuri faltered with the bundle of bandages he'd been carrying around.

"Damn," he muttered to himself as the bandages dropped all over the floor. Apologising to everyone around, he dropped down to his knees while scrounging to recover each bandages.

His bangs did well to hide the tears threatening to spill from his eyes, and he inwardly cursed himself for not having a better control of his emotions. Yuna deserved someone better... someone who could protect her, and not someone who'd only hurt her further.

Clenching his eyes tightly, Yuuri forced it all down as he made a grab for the last bandage.

[ooc: starting off with prose, but feel free to reply with action tags! I'll swap over to whatever you guys want :) ]

action;

[givingsword]

And in that instant a girl's hand reached out, also slightly bandaged, to pick up that last bit, followed by a pair of wide blue eyes. Her expression was gently concerned, but she was smiling, as she offered it to him. "Here." She said kindly, on her knees, wearing what looked to be kendo-clothes. Her pretty face had a few bandages of their own on it, along as some along her shoulders and neck, even to some of her arms.

"You alright? "

[a_r0yal_flush]

T-thank you!

[He finds his thoughts easier to push aside when faced with the prospect of being in the company of another. Yuuri doesn't want to worry people, after all.]

Aaah yeah I'm fine.

[So here he is wiping at his eyes before offering her a bright smile that didn't quite reach his eyes yet. Taking the roll of bandages, he can't help but notice the bandages she's wearing.]

Are you alright though? I can go and find Dr. Watson if you need him?

[givingsword]

"Really? You shouldn't push yourself, if you're not okay, it's okay to say so." Kaoru said smartly, it's what she did after all. More like I just cried and was a burden.. She thought guiltily, before she blinked at him, staring at her own injuries.

"Oh, I'm fine. I got these before coming to Shibusen. I just was getting a check-up since Kenshin wanted me to." She flushed some.

[a_r0yal_flush]

Her words, though, cut right through him, and the last thing he wanted to do was to make anyone else worry. The concern in his voice was obvious as he spoke with a small smile, "My pa-- friend was injured." Pausing, Yuuri shook his head before correcting himself, "Actually, a lot of my friends were hurt during the mission, but I'll be fine."

It wasn't a lie, per say, but more that he didn't want to worry others when there was already so much to worry over.

When she spoke of her own injuries, his eyes opened wide in surprise as he said, "Before? But you've got so many!" The sight of her flushing, and the fact that she seemed walking around just fine, didn't seem to enter into the equation. If she needed to come in for a check-up, Yuuri would make sure that he wasn't holding her up from that. "Have you already seen one of the doctors here?"

[ooc: ack! Sorry I messed up with my previous reply! /switches back.]

[givingsword]

"So that's what's bothering you..to be honest, I'm feeling the same thing right now. My student is still back at home fighting a battle that I hear we win, but it's still painful to think about him alone right now. " She said distantly, her arms on top of her knees. A bandaid with a smiling raccoon-dog was on her jaw, much to her chagrin. "But I'm just going to have to have faith in him. "

At his words, she laughed, batting her hand. "That's how fights go, besides, I might not look it but I'm the master of a dojo that teaches swordsmanship. I can handle myself!" She smiled affirmatively.

[a_r0yal_flush]

Crouching back down at her confession, Yuuri's expression softened as he regarded her. "From what I understand, those back home don't even realise that anyone's missing because of the way that time works between here and there. That's how I've experienced it with people from my own world showing up," he softly murmured. It was easier now to forget about his own problems when he could focus on other people, and that made him relax a little as he offered her a smile. "I'm sure that your student is fine back home and that he's not alone, so try not to worry too much on it."

Well... she had a point, but that wouldn't stop him being concerned for her. Yet the mention of her being the master of a dojo had him looking at her in surprise. "Eee? Really? That's amazing!" His expression did brighten at that as he said, "I thought that you looked Japanese. I'm Yuuri, Shibuya Yuuri, by the way."

[givingsword]

"Really? Well I heard from the others that we all go home together..it's such a huge relief. I didn't think I made it, to be honest--" She trailed off, before she waved her arms. "O-Oh I'm not really helping you out am I? I'm sorry..what I'm trying to say, " Her expression softened. "Is that I know how you feel. I guess that's weird coming from a stranger.."

She immediately pinkened at the praise. "Ah..well, I'm pretty sure that's the first time a man has actually praised me for being one, hahah..swordswomen aren't exactly common.." She laced her fingers together.

"Mm, that's right. From Tokyo. Although..I'm not sure if we're from the same time--everyone is really confusing me here! And I'm Kaoru, Kamiya Kaoru. Nice to meet you, Yuuri-kun."

[a_r0yal_flush]

"There are others that you know here? I can imagine how much of a relief knowing about back home would be," he honestly said. It was something he had felt when he'd first found others here. "It's not weird at all," Yuuri murmured. "Thank you... it really means a lot to me."

While he did appreciate her effort, the last thing Yuuri wanted to do was to burden her (or anyone else). She seemed too nice, but for the young Maou, everything was still too fresh.

"It's the first?" Yuuri couldn't believe that. It didn't matter to him that she was a girl running a dojo, but more the fact that he had just as much respect for either gender running one. His expression was bright as he said, "You must be pretty good to be the master of one though! Umm... although I don't think there are any swordsmen in Japan anymore, not where I'm from."

The moment she said Tokyo, Yuuri said, "I'm from Tokyo as well!" He hadn't really met anyone here from his timeline, but that didn't bother him too much. "It's great to meet you too, Karou. I take it that you've only just arrived?"

[givingsword]

"Mm-hmm! Two live with me, Kenshin and Sanosuke. " She smiled lightly as she shook her head. "No, I'm really just saying things, I'm sure you're still pretty upset. Just hang in there, okay? " She added, before flushing some. "Well where I come from, girls are supposed to be in the kitchen. Ironically everyone does whatever they can to keep me out of the kitchen." She said dryly.

"Not anymore? Hm, so no sort of swordsmanship? That's.." Her brows furrowed. "I see.." She nodded. "That's right, not for very long. And you? How long have you been here?"

[a_r0yal_flush]

"That's great to hear! It makes being here a little easier," he confessed even if a part of him knew that his friends were safer off back home. Falling silent at her added words, he regarded her quietly for a moment before nodding. "Hm! I'll try to," he offered with a small smile.

"In the kitchen?" He muttered and could only imagine how his mum would react if someone told her that. Aaa that was something he didn't want to imagine, and he hurried to push that thought away. "Well I think it's great that you are! I think that if you're good at doing something, that you should do it no matter what others think... well, unless whatever it is actually hurts someone else."

Tilting his head at her words, he murmured, "Aa well there might still be some kendo in some schools, but definitely not out in the streets or anything. It's against the law to carry weapons."

He smiled in sympathy when realising that she'd only just arrived. "It might seem a little strange at first, but it's not too bad living here," he offered before saying, "I've been here for about eight months now."

[de_faulty_hero]

Cloud had come because Sephiroth had ordered him to go, and he had given in because he knew some people in the clinic. He knew that the ex-General expected him to go right to Watson and get the long gash on his upper arm healed. His wound was nothing compared to the injuries of others, but he had gone because Sephiroth wouldn't take 'no' for an answer.

Walking through the crowded clinic, he forced himself to not look around much to avoid his anxiety of this place. Instead, he went looking for a familiar face, and he found himself staring at the crouched form on someone rather familiar. Something in the kid's shoulders caused his eyebrows to knit together in concern.

He stepped over and grasped the last roll of bandage material before Yuuri's finger could close on it. "Heroes aren't supposed to be clumsy, Yuuri," he remarked light-heartedly.

[a_r0yal_flush]

Reaching for the last bandage, Yuuri's fingers blindly groped for the bundle before realising that he'd missed it. Eyes snapping open at the familiar voice, he automatically glanced up despite the odd shining in his gaze.

"C-Cloud?!" He called out in surprise.

Scrambling to stand back up, Yuuri did his best to push everything he felt down as he laughed awkwardly. "Aaa... I guess I don't make much of a hero then," Yuuri murmured before his gaze fell away. No, he really didn't. Forcing those thoughts away, Yuuri tried his best to smile as he glanced back at Cloud.

"What are you doing here?" He asked before gasping. "No one you know is in here, are they?"

[de_faulty_hero]

His eyebrows knit together as he regarded the kid, considering the implications of that sort of thing. Yuuri was an emotional kid, but as far as he could tell, the boy had his head on straight. There was something wrong when the kid looked to almost be on the verge of tears.

Offering the bundle of bandage material back, he kept his silence for a little while longer as he scrutinized the kid in front of him. Glancing around, he decided that now was not the place to be probing for answers, so he let it go. Had someone that Yuuri was close to die?

"My partner said I had to come here for treatment," he said simply, gesturing to the tight bandage on his upper left arm. "It might need sutures, but it will probably heal well on it's own too. Helping out?"

[a_r0yal_flush]

He tried his best to act as if nothing was wrong, but the look Cloud was giving him was telling him otherwise. Yuuri didn't say anything, and when the verbal escape was given, the young Maou took it as he awkwardly reached out to pluk the bandage Cloud offered.

"Treatment?" It was then that he glanced down to the bandage, and he felt worry instantly bubble up within. "We need to get that looked at!" He called out in alarm. Granted, his overreaction was more due to his emotional state, and he almost dropped all of his bandages again as he gestured for Cloud to follow. "I can take a look at it if you want? I mean, I'm not as good as Winry or Doctor Watson, but I know a little bit about suturing."

[de_faulty_hero]

By now, he was used to Yuuri's considerable overreactions, so he took it all within stride. He didn't think that the wound was a big deal, but Sephiroth wouldn't tolerate him being around without a few sutures. He figured the ex-General would have sutured it if he had pressured enough, but he had allowed himself to be driven off to the clinic instead.

He fell in step behind the kid, hoping for somewhere a little more private. He disliked clinic settings at the best of times. "Sure, though there's no need to overreact. It's not like my arm is about to fall off; it's nothing much."