Narratives of a Lone Wolf [Rin Okumura x OC]

5.. Patching Wounds

"Ow ow ow," Rin cried out, hissing in pain. "Can't you be gentler, Yoko! That stings."

I furrowed my brows in concentration, a tangled mess of bandages in my left hand. I must have wasted a meter of it by now. This was supposed to be Yukio's job. He was the qualified Doctor. Not me. How the hell did Yukio make wrapping bandages look so easy anyway? The damned things didn't stay in place unless I used some force. Fuck my hands wouldn't stop shaking. Was it because Rin's proximity made me nervous. I growled in annoyance.

"I know. I know. I'm sorry. I'm no good at this stuff," I mumbled in frustration, "Unfortunately for you, there's no one else around to help, so just bear with me a little longer."

Rin gritted his teeth as I worked. I could feel the sweat dripping down my neck. He was too close for comfort. I needed to get out of here fast. Touching his naked torso had me feeling things. Things that stirred my dormant half. Things that made me want to give in to the danger I should have been smart enough to avoid.

"Where did Yukio go anyway?" Rin asked. He didn't seem too happy by his brother's unannounced disappearance. Probably because he couldn't believe Yukio would leave something as delicate as medical treatment in the hands of an amateur demon.

"He needed a word with Shura. He cleared you for infections though. Asked me to come in here to bandage you up for him. Why? Is there a problem? Because I'll gladly let you do this yourself."

He didn't miss the defensiveness in my voice.

"Relax. I was just asking. Besides, I can't bandage myself up even if I wanted to. It hurts too much to move."

As if to prove his point, he tried twisting to the side, but stopped short, hissing and wincing.

I looked away from him, suddenly feeling extremely guilty. This was my fault. If I had just stayed at my post, if I had just been watching him like I was supposed to, Rin wouldn't have gotten this badly injured. I wouldn't have let Amaimon go overboard playing with him like that, something I knew the Earth King was prone to do. And worst of all, I would have never given Shura the chance to get involved. Especially when I knew the threat she posed. Both to Rin and Mephisto. I gazed somberly at the bandages around Rin's body. Shura never knew how to hold back her strength. Hell, she probably thought she didn't need to given the fact that her opponent was Satan's son. Still, I could have prevented Rin a world of hurt. This was my fault.

"I'm sorry." My tone of voice surprised even myself. I had never sounded so sincere. My vision blurred. I quickly hung my head so he wouldn't see the tears. Fuck. My heat cycle was messing with my hormones. I knew it would. I just didn't expect to be this emotional.

Rin paused before gently tapping a knuckle to my head. It was an act of reassurance, but I knew the underlying message he was trying to convey. He wanted to see my face. I shook my head vigorously in response. I wasn't ready yet.

"Hey," Rin chided, "it's okay." His voice was a soft murmur. If I wasn't feeling so guilty, I would have been surprised. He was matching my energy. Not an easy feat for someone so impulsively dynamic.

"It's not your fault," he continued.

That drew the reaction he was looking for.

"But it is!" I cried.

In my outburst, I lifted my head and accidentally caught his gaze. Sizzling blue blown wide open in surprise. He wasn't expecting the tears.

I turned my head to the side, glaring heatedly at the wooden shelf. It was cluttered with various medicine bottles. A large green vial drew my attention. It looked like rat poison. Maybe I could down it and save myself some embarrassment. I hadn't meant to look at him. Just as I thought, I wasn't ready yet.