Ninja Love: Saizo Kirigakure

Chapter 33

Morning came, and Saizo escorted me to our temple's healer to have my wound redressed after breakfast.

The medic, called Rennoshin, was a kind man with light hair and smiling eyes. He pulled down the top of my kimono only far enough to change my bandages, and always asked me if I was okay with him proceeding. This morning, though, his jade green eyes widened a the state of my wound.

The few times I had been conscious for these happenings, I always tried to avoid looking at the cut because I was afraid it would make me queasy, but this time my intrigue at his reaction drew my eyes down to the gash in my chest.

It looked pretty gross to me, as it was a deep wound still in the process of scabbing over and healing, but I didn't see anything particularly alarming.

"Is something wrong?" I was a little worried. Maybe there was something amiss that I had overlooked.

Rennoshin shook his head hesitantly, his eyes still studying the injury. "No, quite the opposite in fact. This laceration shows absolutely no signs of infection, and is healing at a seemingly accelerated rate."

I shrugged lightly. "I've always seemed to heal rather quickly. Even if the other shrine maidens and I would get into the same kind of trouble back home, I would always be the one up and walking the soonest after."

"That may be so, princess, but this is unlike most of the cases I've seen. Even last night, there were obvious signs of inflammation and damaged tissue from the poison on the Hachisuka's blade, but now it seems to have cleared up. If you keep healing at this rate, you'll be as good as new in a couple of weeks!" Rennoshin smiled up at me, and I beamed back.

"That's great! I'll be able to get back to training by then?"

"Most likely. It'll definitely leave a scar, but it should stop hindering your mobility soon enough." Rennoshin wrapped some fresh bandages around me, trying them firmly in front of me. "Washing the wound would do you some good, and help to stave off another wave of infection. If you decide to bath it today, just wrap it like you saw me, and tie it in front of you. You should be able to do it, but I'm sure someone would be willing to assist you if you need it." He glanced over my shoulder, presumably to make eye contact with Saizo.

I fought off a small blush and shot a prayer to the goddess that Chiyo or Kuma would be around to help me instead. I pulled up my light yellow kimono back around my shoulders and tightened my sash before giving a small how to the medic.

"Thank you, Rennoshin. I will be sure to come back tonight for another redress."

"You're very welcome, princess Misaki. And please, call me Ren." He bowed in return.

I smiled, already following Saizo out the door and replied, "Only if you call me Misaki!"

We turned down the hall and I heard Ren chuckle and agree.

Saizo informed me that we were going to the bath houses, since Ren suggested one and Saizo merely wanted to keep clean. We travelled down the maze of temple halls in silence for a minute, before Saizo started up a conversation.

"You manage to find admirers wherever you go, don't you?"

His question startled me, and I caught myself unsure of how to answer. "I don't know? I haven't really paid attention to the details of how people treat me. Why?"

It was Saizo's turn to shrug. "It seems to me that very nearly everyone you meet takes an easy liking to you, even romantically." He said it so nonchalantly, but it really bewildered me.

"You mean Ren? We've only just officially met a few days ago! Besides, half the times he's encountered me, he had been treating me when I was unconscious."