| [May. 5th, 2009|06:29 pm] |
When Raidou started breathing again, Genma did, too. When he saw anguish melt away from Raidou's face, and relief take its place, Genma felt his heart stutter and catch its rhythm. It had been, for the few milliseconds while the forbidden senbon went to work, true terror for Genma. If he'd miscalculated the meridians; if he'd placed the center needle too close to Raidou's beating heart, if shock or fatigue or the meds he'd already taken, or any of a number of factors unique to Namiashi Raidou had reacted badly...
But there was no gasping, dying friend accusing him from the mouth of hell. There was no nightmare. Just the terrible reality of what they had been through already, and what more they had to face to get home. Compared to killing your best friend, it seemed almost inconsequential.
Genma's hand shook for a moment before he grasped the second bandage and stripped it away. The burns here were more numerous, but less severe. The rake had touched more shallowly, or perhaps the living skin had been easier for the Mist-ninja to heal than the thick scars over Raidou's left side.
Three more needles sank in, creating a barrier around heat-flayed flesh. And again there was the gasp, then the sigh, as relief--not just relief, but true freedom from pain--washed over Raidou.
Genma sagged, coughing weakly, cradling his side. Eyes still riveted to Raidou.
"Ok--Fresh bandages--Then we can go." |
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