| [Feb. 26th, 2017|08:29 pm] |
Genma nodded, straightened, and moved to Ginta. There was no betrayal of human weariness in the rigid lines of his shoulders, no pause to work the stiffness from an aching back. Raidou's mouth tightened, watching him.
The splint was a semirigid length of light metal, padded on the inside. Under Abe's direction, Ryouma managed to measure and bend it, curving one end in to brace the hand, wrapping the edges up to cradle the arm. He lashed it with bandaging at elbow and knuckles, and wrapped a lighter layer over the broken edges of the draining wound.
Abe lay back, sweating, when it was done. "Good thing I didn't kill you in the Trials."
Ryouma scoffed. "You?" He rummaged for another scroll, found more blankets. "Need to throw up again before I tuck you in?"
Abe shook his head. "Not yet." He added after a moment, "Feels like the sea's getting rougher…"
It was. When Ryouma stood, he could see out one of the small portholes puncturing the hull. This cabin was above the waterline, but dark waves still slapped the glass as they rocked and surged. He couldn't tell if they'd cleared the cove.
The green glow at the corners of his vision died. He turned to see Genma sitting on the edge of the table, hands fisted on thighs, gaze locked in the distance like a man defying dizziness. Beside him, Ginta seemed unconscious or asleep, the yellow blisters of his burns drained, raw skin flaking away over new pink.
Genma told Kakashi, "Get the burn cream back from Yamada when she's done with it. Apply it to the entire area. Then bandages, but make sure they aren't too tight. There may still be swelling." He drew a breath, shoved off the table, and stooped to check Abe's splint. "That looks good." He paused, as if he'd forgotten what came next. "Thank you."
Ryouma ducked his head. "Lieutenant—"
Genma'd already stepped away. "Where's Kuroda? I want to get this over with."
A muscle flexed in the side of Raidou's jaw. Then he looked down, at Kurenai and Satomi curled against each other and the wall. "Yuuhi, would you accompany us?"
Kurenai stirred, yawned, rubbed the heel of her hand against one eye, and eased out from beneath Satomi's weight. Satomi clutched at the blankets, grumbling, and slumped over onto the floor. Kurenai stood, blinking hard. "This might go better after he's slept, Shiranui."
The ship rocked over a swell; Genma lurched, but kept his feet. "I've just spent several weeks with Kuroda as acting captain. He's not going to sleep until he's done with me."
Kurenai dipped her head, acknowledging. Genma turned for the door.
Ryouma met Kakashi's eyes behind their lieutenant's back. Kakashi set the jar of salve down beneath Kasumi's hand.
She nodded, without looking up. They left her to her officers, and followed theirs. |
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