[It's painful just to watch the way he refuses the blood. He's too noble. She can certainly understand why he wouldn't want to drink it (the thought of anyone being forced to drink blood makes her stomach churn), but it's one thing to think "It shouldn't have to happen" when there isn't someone in front of her, suffering, and it's quite another to have Shinpachi be hurting so badly when there's something she can do about it.]
Please, Nagakura-san, it's-- [Her voice is too loud, too shrill. She glances quickly at the door to the room, chagrined, and then back to him. When she speaks again, her tone is hushed but no less desperate.] It's alright. You know I heal quickly, and it's just a little bit... just until we can figure out what to do...
[She feels like crying, but she can't let herself do that. Her pain is nothing compared to his; he's experiencing it, she's just watching it. He isn't crying and he's trying so hard to just bear the pain, so she can't let herself shed even a single tear.
There is a noise from somewhere outside the room and her blood runs cold; footsteps, and then voices, some of which she recognizes as the other captains. She doesn't know if they're intending to come in here to speak to Shinpachi or if they'll just be passing by, but if they hear his grunts of pain then surely they'll investigate, and that's not something she can allow, either. He wanted to keep this a secret.
(He wanted to not drink blood, too, but which is more important? Keeping his secret and ending his pain, or keeping him from having to do anything that would make him think of himself as a monster?)
It isn't an easy decision to make but she has to make one, and she glances down at her finger - coated in blood, now, and below it her wound is starting to heal so she's going to have to act quickly if she doesn't want to have to make another cut. Then she looks to his face and speaks in a barely audible whisper.]
I'm sorry.
[A bark of dry laughter pierces the air from the other side of the door - That sounds like Harada-san, she thinks - and she brings her bloodied finger to Shinpachi's lips.]
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Please, Nagakura-san, it's-- [Her voice is too loud, too shrill. She glances quickly at the door to the room, chagrined, and then back to him. When she speaks again, her tone is hushed but no less desperate.] It's alright. You know I heal quickly, and it's just a little bit... just until we can figure out what to do...
[She feels like crying, but she can't let herself do that. Her pain is nothing compared to his; he's experiencing it, she's just watching it. He isn't crying and he's trying so hard to just bear the pain, so she can't let herself shed even a single tear.
There is a noise from somewhere outside the room and her blood runs cold; footsteps, and then voices, some of which she recognizes as the other captains. She doesn't know if they're intending to come in here to speak to Shinpachi or if they'll just be passing by, but if they hear his grunts of pain then surely they'll investigate, and that's not something she can allow, either. He wanted to keep this a secret.
(He wanted to not drink blood, too, but which is more important? Keeping his secret and ending his pain, or keeping him from having to do anything that would make him think of himself as a monster?)
It isn't an easy decision to make but she has to make one, and she glances down at her finger - coated in blood, now, and below it her wound is starting to heal so she's going to have to act quickly if she doesn't want to have to make another cut. Then she looks to his face and speaks in a barely audible whisper.]
I'm sorry.
[A bark of dry laughter pierces the air from the other side of the door - That sounds like Harada-san, she thinks - and she brings her bloodied finger to Shinpachi's lips.]