Fanfic100 - Water
Title: Elixir of Life
Fandom: Prince of Tennis: Fudomine Chuugaku
Characters: Kamio, Ibu, Inui, Oishi, Kikumaru, Tachibana, An
Prompt: 051 - Water
Word Count: 1483
Date finished: 04/20/2007
Rating: G
Summary: Kamio's recovery
Author's Notes: So it comes to an end. I know I glossed over it; sorry. Also - the idea of Inui as a healer was too good to pass up. Part One here; Part two here.
Disclaimer: Characters are owned by Konomi Takeshi, and whoever did the anime. At any rate, it's not me.
Kamio Akira was thirsty.
It had been a constant state for the last... oh, week. Maybe.
His concept of time was pretty shattered, much like his hand. Occasionally he wondered when - if? - they were going to kill him and get this over with.
He wished, though, that his dreams weren't so full of hope when he managed to get some sleep; he could feel the movement of a horse under him, something solid against his raw back that should be Shinji, considering the constant mumble in his ear.
And then they stopped. "He's awake," Shinji said. "He needs water."
Some of that blessed elixir slipped into his mouth, cooling and easing him. But not enough, and he nearly choked trying to ask for more.
"I have something that might help," an unfamiliar voice said - completely unfamiliar. It was none of his comrades, nor those who had taunted and tortured him lately. He still tensed, but whatever bound his arms tightened around him, and Shinji whispered calming words in his ear.
Something foul filled his mouth, but it too was liquid and he swallowed it anyway. To his surprise, everything faded into blackness.
The next time he became aware of his surroundings, things were clearer, and he could actually open his eyes. Even if it were only a crack.
There was a horse - from the color, it was Shinji's, too. The words mumbled in his ear were clearer, too, if still not quite loud enough for him to hear. But that was normal. He groaned softly and tried to move, and the horse came to an abrupt halt. "He's awake."
Again, the water in his mouth was helpful - but too little. "Please," he managed to gasp out.
"We're afraid it would make you sick," Tachibana said, and Akira struggled to open his eyes further, to sit up straight, to do anything but just sit slumped against Shinji's shoulder.
He couldn't.
"This might help again, however," that unfamiliar voice said, and another cup touched his lips. Less... foul, but no less welcome, he drank it, and sagged back again as everything went dark.
The movement had stopped the next time his eyes opened, and he lay on his side. There was heat against his back - a fire or something - and then warm water sluiced across it, followed by a soft cloth that did not keep him from hissing in pain. "Awake, I see," that same unfamiliar - well, less unfamiliar, now - voice said. A firm hand lifted his head, and a cup touched his lips. Water filled his mouth and he swallowed anxiously, hoping for more.
That wish was granted, and he drank greedily as much as he was given. Then his head was set down again, and the warm water on his back continued. It hurt, but less than the actual inflicting had, and he managed to keep from screaming. Not that he had a voice left for it....
"My name is Inui Sadaharu," the voice said from behind him - at last, a name to go with it! "Tezuka-sama left me here to help care for you, as I have had… experience in this." His voice was almost… blank, but the hands caring for his wounds were steady and as careful as they could be. "Tachibana-san will be in as soon as his sister arrives safely."
An? They couldn't bring her back already, there was no way it was safe.
A warm hand on his shoulder stopped him from trying to get up. "Kirihara is dead," Inui said firmly. "There can be no harm to her from him."
Akira slumped in relief, eyes closing as the ministrations on his back continued. Finally, though, Inui was done. His hand combed through Akira's hair as if looking for something, then he moved to kneel before his patient. "It looks like he didn't have time to get to your head," the other man said gently. "That's good."
Now he got to watch what was going on - not that he wanted to. It had been enough to see - feel - smell the burns that had been placed on his chest and sides, brands of lies he would wear for the rest of his life, Kirihara's insane laughter echoing in his ears as he tried to breathe through the stench. Inui stopped after a moment. "I want to give you something for the pain," he said gently. "Do you mind?"
He didn't. Whatever it was tasted… foul. Still. Same taste as before, so the darkness that swallowed him wasn't a surprise anymore.
"He's okay?"
She'd apparently asked that so many times already that Tachibana caught the rolled eyes of her escort - Kikumaru Eiji, anyway - and had to hide a laugh. "He's… hurt," he said gently. "Inui said he'll recover, if we're careful."
"Inui knows," Oishi Syuichiro said quietly. "He's... encountered this before."
There was something in the way he spoke that made Tachibana think there was a story hidden there, but he would not ask. "I think he'd like to see you," he interjected before An could ask about what Inui knew, and caught the gratitude in Oishi's face.
An hesitated, then bowed to her escort and left the room.
"Any problems?" he asked Ishida, and the tall man laughed.
"With her?" he asked. "No. The roads were dry, and we had good company to keep our minds off of the reason for the trip. Momoshiro caught us before we reached Tezuka-san's place."
Tachibana nodded. "Good. Thank you," he said to the two visitors. "Will you be returning, or would you rather remain until Inui goes with you?"
The two exchanged glances. "We'd prefer to stay," Kikumaru said.
"Then welcome," Tachibana said before either of them could say anything else. After all, he owed them and their Lord quite a bit.
When Akira woke next, he was almost positive it was a dream. An sat quietly on the mat before him, her eyes on his, and she smiled as soon as he woke. "How are you feeling?" she asked.
He paused a moment to take stock. "Better," he rasped, and then coughed.
"He said you'd need water," she said, and moved forward, carrying a cup. She helped raise his head, and he drank thirstily; he hadn't noticed it until she'd mentioned it. She refilled the cup as often as he emptied it, and didn't retreat when he'd finished and lay his head back down. He had so many questions, but he still couldn't speak well, so he said nothing.
She, however, told him of her ride with Ishida, Kikumaru, and Oishi, of how the other Samurai had caught them and they'd turned right around. And then she merely spoke, poetry, stories, her voice lulling him into a state of half-meditation. It was restful. Inui's voice was jarring, but she merely nodded to him and walked from the room.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," Inui said gently. "I wanted to check your hand."
Akira blinked in surprise; he'd actually forgotten about that. Well, with all the rest of the damage, maybe that wasn't so surprising.
At least, not until he got a good look at it - and at Inui's face as he examined it. How was he going to tell Tachibana-sama that he'd never hold a katana again?
He didn't get the chance to consider it; even as the question crossed his mind, the door slid open and his Lord stepped in. "How is he?" he asked.
"The hand is damaged," Inui said evenly. "The bones will recover, but it's been too long since they were broken. The rest - he will recover in time."
Akira thought he heard a gasp, something… but then Tachibana hummed softly, and he turned his attention back to his Lord. "There is always a place for you here," he said firmly, eyes boring into Akira's. "Never doubt it." And he did not break eye contact until Akira nodded.
But it didn't really make him feel any better, and so it was something of a relief to drink that foul-tasting concoction that let reality fade to black.
It was An, really, that helped the most. Akira spent weeks trying to get back to some semblance of normal, and with her support, found... a place to fit in. Certainly the others helped, but there was only so much they could do - and only so much they could understand. Not that she could - but he knew by her attempts that she loved him.
That made all the difference in the world.
There were no other incidents, no... accidental meetings with Yukimura's people, although they were all very careful moving around the countryside for a while.
He could, at least, stand straight and on his own, make appropriate movements and gestures for the wedding, and their room was dark enough that night that she could not see the scars and burns that marked him. No matter what she said, they disturbed him.
But even that went away, in time.
Fudomine
Fandom: Prince of Tennis: Fudomine Chuugaku
Characters: Kamio, Ibu, Inui, Oishi, Kikumaru, Tachibana, An
Prompt: 051 - Water
Word Count: 1483
Date finished: 04/20/2007
Rating: G
Summary: Kamio's recovery
Author's Notes: So it comes to an end. I know I glossed over it; sorry. Also - the idea of Inui as a healer was too good to pass up. Part One here; Part two here.
Disclaimer: Characters are owned by Konomi Takeshi, and whoever did the anime. At any rate, it's not me.
Kamio Akira was thirsty.
It had been a constant state for the last... oh, week. Maybe.
His concept of time was pretty shattered, much like his hand. Occasionally he wondered when - if? - they were going to kill him and get this over with.
He wished, though, that his dreams weren't so full of hope when he managed to get some sleep; he could feel the movement of a horse under him, something solid against his raw back that should be Shinji, considering the constant mumble in his ear.
And then they stopped. "He's awake," Shinji said. "He needs water."
Some of that blessed elixir slipped into his mouth, cooling and easing him. But not enough, and he nearly choked trying to ask for more.
"I have something that might help," an unfamiliar voice said - completely unfamiliar. It was none of his comrades, nor those who had taunted and tortured him lately. He still tensed, but whatever bound his arms tightened around him, and Shinji whispered calming words in his ear.
Something foul filled his mouth, but it too was liquid and he swallowed it anyway. To his surprise, everything faded into blackness.
The next time he became aware of his surroundings, things were clearer, and he could actually open his eyes. Even if it were only a crack.
There was a horse - from the color, it was Shinji's, too. The words mumbled in his ear were clearer, too, if still not quite loud enough for him to hear. But that was normal. He groaned softly and tried to move, and the horse came to an abrupt halt. "He's awake."
Again, the water in his mouth was helpful - but too little. "Please," he managed to gasp out.
"We're afraid it would make you sick," Tachibana said, and Akira struggled to open his eyes further, to sit up straight, to do anything but just sit slumped against Shinji's shoulder.
He couldn't.
"This might help again, however," that unfamiliar voice said, and another cup touched his lips. Less... foul, but no less welcome, he drank it, and sagged back again as everything went dark.
The movement had stopped the next time his eyes opened, and he lay on his side. There was heat against his back - a fire or something - and then warm water sluiced across it, followed by a soft cloth that did not keep him from hissing in pain. "Awake, I see," that same unfamiliar - well, less unfamiliar, now - voice said. A firm hand lifted his head, and a cup touched his lips. Water filled his mouth and he swallowed anxiously, hoping for more.
That wish was granted, and he drank greedily as much as he was given. Then his head was set down again, and the warm water on his back continued. It hurt, but less than the actual inflicting had, and he managed to keep from screaming. Not that he had a voice left for it....
"My name is Inui Sadaharu," the voice said from behind him - at last, a name to go with it! "Tezuka-sama left me here to help care for you, as I have had… experience in this." His voice was almost… blank, but the hands caring for his wounds were steady and as careful as they could be. "Tachibana-san will be in as soon as his sister arrives safely."
An? They couldn't bring her back already, there was no way it was safe.
A warm hand on his shoulder stopped him from trying to get up. "Kirihara is dead," Inui said firmly. "There can be no harm to her from him."
Akira slumped in relief, eyes closing as the ministrations on his back continued. Finally, though, Inui was done. His hand combed through Akira's hair as if looking for something, then he moved to kneel before his patient. "It looks like he didn't have time to get to your head," the other man said gently. "That's good."
Now he got to watch what was going on - not that he wanted to. It had been enough to see - feel - smell the burns that had been placed on his chest and sides, brands of lies he would wear for the rest of his life, Kirihara's insane laughter echoing in his ears as he tried to breathe through the stench. Inui stopped after a moment. "I want to give you something for the pain," he said gently. "Do you mind?"
He didn't. Whatever it was tasted… foul. Still. Same taste as before, so the darkness that swallowed him wasn't a surprise anymore.
"He's okay?"
She'd apparently asked that so many times already that Tachibana caught the rolled eyes of her escort - Kikumaru Eiji, anyway - and had to hide a laugh. "He's… hurt," he said gently. "Inui said he'll recover, if we're careful."
"Inui knows," Oishi Syuichiro said quietly. "He's... encountered this before."
There was something in the way he spoke that made Tachibana think there was a story hidden there, but he would not ask. "I think he'd like to see you," he interjected before An could ask about what Inui knew, and caught the gratitude in Oishi's face.
An hesitated, then bowed to her escort and left the room.
"Any problems?" he asked Ishida, and the tall man laughed.
"With her?" he asked. "No. The roads were dry, and we had good company to keep our minds off of the reason for the trip. Momoshiro caught us before we reached Tezuka-san's place."
Tachibana nodded. "Good. Thank you," he said to the two visitors. "Will you be returning, or would you rather remain until Inui goes with you?"
The two exchanged glances. "We'd prefer to stay," Kikumaru said.
"Then welcome," Tachibana said before either of them could say anything else. After all, he owed them and their Lord quite a bit.
When Akira woke next, he was almost positive it was a dream. An sat quietly on the mat before him, her eyes on his, and she smiled as soon as he woke. "How are you feeling?" she asked.
He paused a moment to take stock. "Better," he rasped, and then coughed.
"He said you'd need water," she said, and moved forward, carrying a cup. She helped raise his head, and he drank thirstily; he hadn't noticed it until she'd mentioned it. She refilled the cup as often as he emptied it, and didn't retreat when he'd finished and lay his head back down. He had so many questions, but he still couldn't speak well, so he said nothing.
She, however, told him of her ride with Ishida, Kikumaru, and Oishi, of how the other Samurai had caught them and they'd turned right around. And then she merely spoke, poetry, stories, her voice lulling him into a state of half-meditation. It was restful. Inui's voice was jarring, but she merely nodded to him and walked from the room.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," Inui said gently. "I wanted to check your hand."
Akira blinked in surprise; he'd actually forgotten about that. Well, with all the rest of the damage, maybe that wasn't so surprising.
At least, not until he got a good look at it - and at Inui's face as he examined it. How was he going to tell Tachibana-sama that he'd never hold a katana again?
He didn't get the chance to consider it; even as the question crossed his mind, the door slid open and his Lord stepped in. "How is he?" he asked.
"The hand is damaged," Inui said evenly. "The bones will recover, but it's been too long since they were broken. The rest - he will recover in time."
Akira thought he heard a gasp, something… but then Tachibana hummed softly, and he turned his attention back to his Lord. "There is always a place for you here," he said firmly, eyes boring into Akira's. "Never doubt it." And he did not break eye contact until Akira nodded.
But it didn't really make him feel any better, and so it was something of a relief to drink that foul-tasting concoction that let reality fade to black.
It was An, really, that helped the most. Akira spent weeks trying to get back to some semblance of normal, and with her support, found... a place to fit in. Certainly the others helped, but there was only so much they could do - and only so much they could understand. Not that she could - but he knew by her attempts that she loved him.
That made all the difference in the world.
There were no other incidents, no... accidental meetings with Yukimura's people, although they were all very careful moving around the countryside for a while.
He could, at least, stand straight and on his own, make appropriate movements and gestures for the wedding, and their room was dark enough that night that she could not see the scars and burns that marked him. No matter what she said, they disturbed him.
But even that went away, in time.
Fudomine