Christy got there as fast as she could, and she worried she wasn't fast enough. The moment she entered, she was sure Haise was dead.
He lay limp on the bed. His lips were cracked, his wound was festering, and he was barely leaving, though his heart continued to pump blood all over the bed.
Christy ran over. "This wound…its too deep for me to heal you with my power alone."
"I know…" whispered Haise. "That's why you have to destroy my kagune. I don't trust myself, and Chitose is pregnant."
"You want me to kill you?!" Christy snarled at him.
"Please."
SLAP.
"I'm hoping that woke you up, stupid." Christy said. "Stop trying to give up. You have a job to do and a pregnant girl to protect. You think she can survive if her bodyguard dies? You think I can protect her better than you can?! Me? A mere human?"
Christy squeezed his hands.
"You have too much faith in me."
Christy smirked. "You're only saying that because you know I'm right."
"But then how…?"
Christy drew an athame from her purse.
"No…no stop…"
She carved some flesh from her arm, set it down, and stitched herself up like this was normal for her.
It might be. The very thought made Haise shudder with indignation.
"Eat it." Christy said firmly.
"No."
"You jerk, are you mocking my sacrifice? We don't have time for you to be squeamish. If you aren't killing me, it's ok right?" Christy held it out.
"But I—"
"Do it for that unborn child." Christy said. "That mom has to do this to protect her child. And she's a human. And I'm giving it to you. Stop disrespecting me and eat!"
There was no further argument.
His wound healed, and with his strength back they were able to get Chitose to the safe house.
But when he was safely home, the taste of Christy's flesh haunted him. It wasn't that it tasted good, because it didn't, not at all. It was the sacrifice.
How many times had Christy made that sacrifice?
Who else had tasted her flesh?
The thoughts whirled in his head even after the taste had faded from his mouth.