Another

Chapter 30: Painkillers

"Ow ow ow ow.” I muttered. Aoi briefly looked at me, the soft candlelight illuminating her azure eyes into blue flames. She made sure I was still before continuing to douse my stab wound in alcohol. I hissed at the burning sensation, the alcohol slowly flowing inside of the puncture. My wounds were already beginning to scab at the very edges, but for ‘demon healing capabilities’, it sure hurt like I was human. 

    Aoi placed the bottle down on the nightstand by my cot. “You’re healing surprisingly slowly.” I raised my eyebrows, halfway convinced that she somehow read my mind. She grabbed a roll of bandages from her apron. 

“Most demons would be fully healed by now,” she hesitantly added. 

I laughed, lifting my arms so she could wrap the soft cloth around my midsection. “Yeah, I figured as much.” Aoi tightened the bandages, prompting a grunt out of me. “Most demons usually don’t need medical attention, right?” I mused, once I regained my breath. 

Aoi nodded, and held a hand out. In the center of her palm were two small white pills. I scooted up the cot, ignoring the painful pull the movement caused in my torse. 

“What’s this?”

Aoi daintily picked up a small cup of water up from the side-table, before reconsidering. She set it back down on the table. “Painkillers.” She responded. “Also, seeing as your wounds include a punctured stomach, it’d be best to not eat or drink for a while.” Aoi spoke in a way that told me she’s explained this a thousand times before. Even though I could miraculously consume regular food, she didn’t know that. She just told a demon to lay off on the food. I did my best to fight off a grin. Her blank face told me she hadn't quite realized it. Not just yet. 

“ I see.” I leaned forward, inching a bit closer so I wouldn’t have to stretch my arm as far. 

You’re a demon. You don’t need it. 

I paused. Aoi peered at me questioningly. I smiled, not wanting to alarm her. I am a demon. I don’t need painkillers. They should be saved for someone else who might need them. For someone who was human. 

“Are you alright?” Aoi placed the cup down. She raised a hand, fingers hesitantly inching towards me. I did my best to look happy without giving anything away. I don’t want to make her uncomfortable, especially since she was already forcing herself to treat me when I knew she was scared of me. 

“I’m alright.” I replied confidently. She shakily withdrew her hand with a sigh. I motioned to the painkillers in her palm. 

“Honestly, I don’t really need those.” Aoi glanced at the meds, before staring at me dubiously.  I waved it off, dismissing the medication.  

“Give me a bit of time. I’ll be good as new.” I pulled the blanket higher up my midsection, trying to cover the gaping hole. 

“They should be given to someone who needs it more than me.” I whispered. 

Aoi paused, before nodding. 

I relaxed on the cot, thankful that she didn’t push any further. Aoi placed the painkillers on a wrinkled brown paper atop the nightstand. She dusted off her impeccable white apron absentmindedly. “Now, you were suffering from a pretty severe concussion when you were first brought here, along with what would have normally been fatal cut wounds.” I nodded along. Aoi continued to drone on. 

“You recovered pretty well. You were generally in good condition, aside from the severe concussion. I wouldn’t be surprised if you suffered from Amnesia.” Yep, the memory loss. 

Aoi folded the paper into a small triangle and slipped it into one of her many pockets. “However, that was before your meeting with the Hashira.” She picked up the cup of water and the roll of bandages, placing the roll into another pocket. “Judging from what the kakushi told me, and what is blatantly obvious, any progress made on your recovery from the concussion is at square one. Perhaps even worse. You have a stab wound alongside several damaged internal organs and four broken ribs. Additionally, your collar bone is fractured, the front part of your skull was crushed, your left eye destroyed, and you have several broken fingers and a dislocated elbow.”