Help me Help you - A Togafuka story

[2]

  I arrived at Toko's apartment the next day and knocked on the door again.

     To my surprise there was no answer.

     "Fukawa, it's me Byakuya I'm coming in!" I called out. No answer.

     I rushed in the door to see the clean clothes we'd washed yesterday strewn all over the floor, and there was Toko herself crying in her makeshift nest.

     "What's the matter?" I kneeled down to her level.

     "I-I couldn't k-keep it clean! I-it's too strange!" She yelled in my face, but immediately reeled back to shiver in fear.

     "Hey I'm not gonna hurt you or yell at you. So if that's why you're worried you don't have to be afraid." I consoled the weeping girl.

     "R-really?"

      "Really."

      "Can I ask a question." She spoke slowly and carefully.

     "Yes you can."

     "Can you get me something to eat? The delivery people don't like coming here anymore because I don't have enough money to pay them sometimes...and my place stinks." She rubbed her eyes.

     "I'll cook something for you, would teriyaki chicken be alright?" I asked, getting up and firing the surprisingly clean and deserted stove.

     "That sounds better than anything I've had in years."
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      After she ate I drew her a warm bath but she didn't seem too happy about getting in.

     "Please Fukawa, baths are always nice and feel really relaxing." I pleaded.

     "Hmph no." She cowered in the corner of the room.

     "Why not?"

     "It hurts to take a bath." She looked me straight in the eye. I could see her bottom lip trembling.

     "Why would it- oh..." I realized what she meant. "Can we bandage the places where it hurts so it doesn't touch the water. I won't look at them I swear." I promised.

     "Oh come on, you don't want to stare at a gross girl's scars?" She teased while deadpanning.

     "Absolutely not. I'd much prefer to respect your privacy, now let's get some bandages."
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After she was all bandaged up I closed the door and let Toko take a bath alone. While I was waiting for her to finish I tidied up her floor a bit and blew up a temporary air mattress I had brought with me. I'd get a real one soon.

When I had almost finished Toko emerged from the bathroom dressed in some clean clothes, hair dripping wet.

"Would you like some help with your hair? You've got a lot of it you know." I chuckled. She nodded.

"Yes please, I have an old blow drier you can use.

      I took the frail girl's hair in my hands and started to dry it. It took quite a while, I honestly wanted to take a break but I knew I couldn't let Toko see weakness in me even in small situations like this.

     I twisted her hair into two neat braids so her hair would stay out of her face.

     She looked stunning.

     "Why are you looking at me all funny? Did I do something wrong?" She raised an eyebrow at me.

     "No no! It's just, you look really beautiful." I blushed a bit.

     "Oh...beautiful huh? I like being called that! Say it again." She commanded.

     "You're beautiful Fukawa." I repeated.

     "I'm beautiful!" She clapped and twirled around.

     As I was about to leave for the day I felt her hugging me from behind.

     "I hope you never have to leave, you're the greatest." She mumbled.

     "Me too...me too."