CHAPTER 4: Healing of Wounds
The sun felt good against her skin, and being out in the open refreshed her even more. She sat there by the garden, watching Kenshin wash clothes and the children play ball with Yahiko. Kaoru had already left to teach, while Sano was still out playing dice.
Meiou waved at Suzume, who was waving at her as she caught the ball. She had to admit, the energy of the children energized her as much as her previous months of rest did. She shifted her shoulder slightly, feeling slightly itchy, since her wound has now completely healed, but the scab was still peeling. She wanted to reach out behind her to scratch it, but decided against it.
She smiled when she remembered the things that happened while she was recuperating from her wound.
Sano was so nice then. He gave her laudanum when she was in pain, sat beside her when she slept, fed her and told her stories of how the restaurant was doing or what other antics Yahiko or the others got into. He was very sweet, and when she asked Kaoru if he was always this nice, Kaoru was surprised, saying that the only person he had been so nice to was her cousin, Sayo.
Meiou was in bed for three months and had to stay away from heavy work for another two months, meaning she had a hard time with her work in the restaurant. But suddenly, Sano volunteered to help her carry the dishes and other heavy work she had to do. Tae and Tsubame were surprised at this, and when they got really curious, they decided to ask him themselves. But he only laughed and said, "To repay my tab."
Within a few more weeks, Meiou's stitches were removed. Unfortunately during that time, Doctor Genzai wasn't around and Megumi needed someone to help her. Sano volunteered almost immediately, although he kept blushing all the time. When they were done, Sano offered her a drink of green tea and a piece of pastry. Megumi wondered where he got the money, but she never had the gall to ask him.
He spent a lot of time with Meiou, and she was grateful for the company. She had a protector with her, while he had a friend with him. Both of them were happy with each other's company that other people thought of them as a couple, much to the embarrassment of Meiou.
Suzume's cry snapped her from her reverie and she stood up to pick up the little girl. She had tripped and fell on her knees, and a small gash appeared on her skin. Suzume kept on crying so Meiou took the child to her arms and carried her to the step where she was sitting earlier. Yahiko and Ayame ran to their friend worriedly.
The child's sobbing receded and Meiou tried to calm her down, "Hush now, Suzume. It's just a small wound. Hush now, shhh…"
Suzume sobbed again before saying, "Ya… Yahiko told me once th…that if you get a wound, all the food that you ate will flow from your wound."
Meiou cast an angry look at Yahiko, who immediately looked ashamed. She shook her head and said, "No, that's not true, Suzume. Your wound is very far from your stomach. What he's telling you is a lie." She knocked Yahiko lightly on his head and said, "You are to blame for making her cry. Go take her to Megumi so she can clean Suzume's wound."
Yahiko scratched his head as he said a curt 'hai' and brought Suzume to Megumi. As Meiou stood up, she felt a small tearing at her back. She felt the area to find that the scab was already coming loose.
"Do you need help with that?"
She looked behind her to see Sanosuke standing near the place where she was sitting before. She smiled and said, "I guess I could. It's beginning to itch like crazy."
Sano chuckled at bit before calling out to Kenshin, "Oi! Rorouni! Do you have a small cloth with you there?"
Kenshin straightened up and handed him a newly washed cloth. "Hai. Here you go! What are you doing with it?"
"I'm going to remove Meiou's scab. She said it's itching…"
The purple-eyed samurai smiled and pointed toward the kitchen. "If that's the case, there's a small basin in the kitchen and Megumi's scab-removing kit is in the guestroom beside Meiou's. You can take her there to remove the scab."
"Hai! Arigato." Sano walked back to her and gently propelled her towards the guest room Kenshin told him. She sat on the futon as he said, "You wait here. I'll go get that basin and some water. Try to loosen your obi enough for me to clean your back, okay?"
She tried to answer but her mouth couldn't make a sound. She just nodded as he left the room.
Sano's thoughts went whirring as he went to the kitchen to get the basin and put some water into it. He was going to see Meiou's back, and clean her wound. Is her skin as white as her arms? Is she really that frail beneath her kimono? Are her breasts as perky as they seem?
Sano shook his head at the thought. Damn me, he thought, I hope nothing happens to me while I clean her wou…
Sano's thought went to a complete stop as he saw Meiou. She had loosened her obi and kimono, and she bore her entire back to him. She held on her kimono in a modest way that it covered her front but exposed her back. The pose was entirely innocent, but it made erotic thoughts fill Sano's head faster than Kenshin's Ame-kakeryu-no-hirameki.
"Sano…? Are you okay?"
Meiou's voice woke him from his lucid imagination and he came forward and placed the basin near him. He took Megumi's kit and kneeled behind her. He took out the necessary potions and salves for her wound. When he was ready, he laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "If you feel a slight pain, that probably means your wound is not completely healed yet. If you feel something, be sure to let me know."
Meiou nodded as she shifted, making her silvery hair fall to his hand. The strands felt like silk to his fingers, and he slowly brushed it away from the wound. He swallowed as he dipped the washcloth and gently washed the wound.
He saw her shift a little and thinking she was in pain, he asked her, "Daijobu desu ka?"
She smiled at him, cocking her head to the side so she could see his face with one eye. "Hai… daijobu. It's just itchy, that's all."
He smiled at her as he gently began to peel of the scab on her wound. He peeled it bit by bit, making sure that he won't accidentally remove a scab that's not completely healed. He did slowly but surely, and he was relieved to find that her wound was completely healed. He smiled, "Nee, Meiou-chan. Your wound is okay now. It's completely healed."
Sano saw her cheeks bunch up in a cute smile, "Ahhh, that is good. But what else do you have to put on my wound when it's already healed?"
He held up a salve and showed it to her. She took it to her hands, but in the process, their fingers touched. Sano felt pinpricks of electricity run up his spine as his fingers touched her silky skin again.
"It's a special salve for scars. It heals the skin so there won't be a mark left on your back." He explained casually as he swallowed again. He took the cloth again and gently cleaned out the remaining peeling skin from the area around her wound.
Meiou was quiet for a moment, finally she asked, "Sano-san… how did you meet Sayo?"
She felt his hand stop on her back and warm breath being sighed. She asked worriedly, "Sano… daijobu…"
"I met her near the entrance of the cave… where your church was." He said as he continued his administering, "She and Shozo were being attacked, and I tried to help them. But she hated violence, and when I finished the fight, instead of thanking me, she slapped me." She heard him snort sarcastically, "When they left, I noticed a necklace on the ground, and I realized it was hers. I tried to return it a few times, but I always end up in trouble. I lost the necklace when I fell off a cliff (And I fell from the cliff because of that necklace) and I had to search everywhere for it. I met her and told her I lost her necklace and she got pretty mad." He stopped for a while and sighed, "I finally met the guy who took the necklace. I met him when me, Sayo and Shozo were in a trap. She was in a very bad situation then, and when I finished the battle with the guy, I had to run and try to take Sayo to the Dutch doctor." He resumed cleaning her before he said, "I tried to hurry, but some guy came out and shot us and delayed our trip. Sayo died from her sickness, while she was in my arms…"
Meiou became silent for a while, thinking at about his story, while Sano became quiet because the memories still hurt. He continued to wipe her wound absent-mindedly, not noticing that he had already cleaned it entirely.
"Itai…!"
Sano's thoughts perked up at Meiou's hiss of pain. He realized what he was doing and immediately checked her wound. It was red from the friction of the cloth, but there was no blood. He became embarrassed at what happened, and he blushed, "Go…gomen nasai. Did I hurt you?"
Meiou smiled, "Just a little, but I'm fine. I knew you were thinking deeply…"
He wiped the wound one last time, before taking the salve, "I'm sorry if I got lost back there. Some memories just can't be forgotten easily…"
"Hai… that's true…"
Sano's fingers scooped up some medicine, "This will cause your scar to tingle a little bit. Try not to scratch it, okay?"
She nodded.
He sighed and ran his fingers down the scar, smoothing the salve over the protruding flesh. He was gentle, and the actions of his fingers soothed Meiou. She smiled secretly, knowing that he was trying to make up for the pain he caused a moment ago. She sighed, "Sano-san, arigato. That feels really good."
Meiou's words brought his gaze to her and he smiled, "It will itch in a few moments. By the way, make sure that you have Jo-chan re-apply this salve everyday until the wound completely disappears."
She nodded again, "Hai…"
Sano finished applying the salve. He looked at her back, aching to touch the silky whiteness of her skin, wondering what her scent was, if it was salty from her perspiration. Finally, unable to stop himself, he leaned over and gently placed an open-mouthed kiss between her shoulder blades.
Meiou felt his lips on her back, and she blushed hotly. But as the pleasure over took the surprise, she found herself liking the sensation. She closed her eyes as she sighed.
Her sigh made Sano grow bolder, as he continued the journey of his lips from her back to her shoulder. Her neck was warm and silky, and smelled of flowers in early spring. He licked her skin and kissed her behind the ear. He cleared away the silky, silver strand of hair behind her ear and licked her there. It was slightly salty from her perspiration, and her flowery scent enveloped him. The sensation made Meiou gasp with pleasure and she moaned out his name.
"Sa… Sano…"
This is madness, Sano thought, I should stop… I should stop before things get out of hand. I should stop before I… before I…"
Meiou heard Sano curse as his lips left her skin. He stood up abruptly and breathed deeply, "Make sure you re-apply the salve everyday…"
She remained seated, her blue eyes filled with concern and puzzlement, "Sano…"
Her gaze held him captive for a moment. It seemed to be a long time before any woman looked at him like that. With eyes so filled with concern, kindness, beauty and…
Love…He gritted his teeth before he turned to his heel, "I'll try to visit you tomorrow." He said slowly as he left the room and closed the door with a loud bang.
Meiou still sat there, holding the salve container, her thoughts whirring, with questions filling her head, her heart beating like crazy.
