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After treating Sanan the physician grimaced, 'that woman sure did a wonder...she saved his life. If it wasn't for her I'm sure this man would be dead.' He squinted his eyes as looked outside to see the well mannered woman sitting under the shaded tree as rain drops cascade around her, making the scenery ever more beautiful.
"How does such a woman even exist?" He murmured to no one but himself as he began packing away his utensils while not taking his eyes off the woman.
A low growl came, shaking him from his trance. He quivered by the malice in the growl as he quickly look towards the culprit, Hijikata.
"G-g-good evening sir. I was just f-finishing up." He says as he frantically finished his task at hand, adverting his eye from the harsh glare the vice captain was giving.
"...How is he doing?" Hijikata reclaims his outer calm persona as he glances back at his comrade.
"U-uh..His fever came down and he has been stabilized. His shoulder however..." The physician trails off looking grim as he does so.
"What is wrong?" Hijikata asks, his fear dipping in his tone as he grows worried for his dear friend.
"It was treated well, too well infact. I've never seen such precise stitching in my field. That woman is remarkable. His shoulder was treated in a significant amount of time increasing his odds for healing. All that's left is for his body to heal, but...unfortunately sometimes one's body can not take the strain and not heal properly. We must hope for the best. Please do not allow him to do any heavy lifting, or straining on his shoulder for at least 3 months. His ligaments and tendons were torn...I'm shocked he still has his shoulder intact and can move them." He says, as his eyes shift back towards the woman who is standing melancholy in the rain, as water cascades all around her in a rhythmic fashion.
Hijikata observes the way the student physician watches the woman, how his eyes soften and glimmer as he stares at her with a sense of admiration and respectfulness. A strange feeling in his gut comes forth but he ignores it.
"I see...I appreciate what you've done here for us. So are you saying his shoulder is..unusable?" Hijikata asks the question he has been dreading to ask.
"Well it should be that way, how his muscles were torn and ligaments were separated but...when I observed into his wound slightly I saw that woman's work and...it was frightening-" The physician says as he diverts his attention back to the vice commander, his eyes wavering as he does so. "She did an act of god that has never been tried or even thought of before. So this matter is out of my hands. I truly do not know if he'll be able to use his shoulder, or even anything in his shoulder anymore...I'm sorry I cannot give you anymore information, this is out of my comprehension. Just aid and restrain him from using his shoulder and we shall see." The physician said with a bow, paying his respects to both of the vice commanders as well as the woman why solemnly sits under the tree.
Hijikata stays silent and nods as he watches the physician leave, eyes diverting towards Mai, who continues to sit in the rain. His mind running rapidly from the new information he collected. 'This woman...has she lied to us? If she knows this much about medicine as well as fighting she shouldn't have been a measly waitress...something isn't right.' He thinks as he squints at her, observing her form that is doused in rain, seemingly like a statue.
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(Mai)
'I was so close...'
'If only I was a little bit faster then maybe...maybe things would be different.'
Countless, regrets cloud my mind. 'I shouldn't have acted hastily, I should have stayed still...maybe just maybe I would have been able to...'
I throw my head in my hands on my lap sighing, water dripping down my face but I could care less.
The fact that I could have easily prevented such an injury infuriates me, hopefully my mending of his shoulder shall be good enough. Medicine was never my expertise but I still excel in the field, probably more so than others in this era do to my advanced future knowledge. I didn't exactly
throw myself in my studies. But one study infact I was infatuated in, medicine. Mainly in ways that would benefit myself, yes my body never did contract any illness or diseases growing up which was fortunate for my line of work and place of living which was severally unsanitary, I still pressured myself in the act of healing, wondering why my body healed the way it did. But also not for myself but for the benefits of others.
I was able to practice my suturing techniques more often then I would be found of in my years. Either if I encountered a large gash on my body I would mend myself. Yes, my body may heal itself but it isn't a miracle worker that would mend a broken bone, or a gash that is deep enough to see bone, it just heals faster than your average man. So using myself and my colleagues, I increased my suturing skill. Coming back to my bunking room seeing my roommate with a large gash is sure enough a way to motivate oneself in the arts of medicine.
I sigh, the water dripping down my face. The cold droplets leaving a frigid trail. This doesn't effect me and won't in the future, it's calming almost. The freezing drops hitting my skin trying their hardest to sober me but I stay still as a statue.
The idea of failure haunts me, just the seer act of failure gnawing on my mentality. Wishing for the best but I'm no optimist...I'm not like Chizuru. If I fail him...then I fail the shinsengumi. All those things they said about me would be false.
Countless degrading thoughts ridicule my head, gnawing at my insides. Squeezing my thighs I breathe and then slap my face harshly.
"Hmph!"
Finally standing up, completely drenched, I make my way to the opened shōji door that houses the unconscious Sanan and Hijikata that stays by his side. I step towards them, stopping at the door to not wet the beautiful wooden floor, Hijikata noticing my presence as he diverts his attention towards me.
I look at him, my blurry swollen eyes as I bow lowly.
"I'll do everything within my power to bring him back, Hijikata-san. I'm sorry for my failure."
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Date: 7/16/2023
(Let's totally forget my absence...like it never happened)
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My charm? (Hakouoki Fanfic)
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