"Hey, hey calm down, its only me, its Inutashio, calm down Izayoi your shaking. What's wrong? What happened? Why did you leave?"
"Inu-tash-io", Izayoi buried her head in his chest and started to cry softly. Inutashio continued to wrap his arms protectively around her and stroke her hair gently.
"It's okay, don't worry, come on tell me what's wrong, maybe I can help".
"I- I have to get home, I'm sorry I just left, I'm so sorry", she said continuing to cry.
"Hey its okay, don't worry, come on I'll walk you home" he said turning to walk in the right direction, still keeping Izayoi beneath his arm.
Izayoi clung to his shirt like a lost child. After a few moments Izayoi broke the silence. "I got lost I'm sorry, I just left that was inconsiderate of me I'm sorry".
"Hey its fine, I just thought you got bored of me and ditched me".
"No, I wouldn't ditch you, I- ouch!"
Izayoi stopped abruptly and sat down holding her sock foot in her arms. Inutashio stopped and looked back. "What is it? What's wrong"?
"My foot, I ran out of your house so fast I forgot to out on my shoes and I stepped on a piece of glass or something".
Inutashio knelt down beside her and looked at her foot. The cotton white heel was already absorbing the blood and beginning to turn red.
"Do you have bandages and stuff at your house"? She nodded.
"Okay then, let's go". He came closer and scooped her into his arms. "Hey, no, no, no, its okay, I don't need you to carry me, I'm fine, I can walk" she protested.
"No, I don't think that you can" he smiled. It felt so right to have her cradled in his arms, if only the reason wasn't because she was hurt.
"Listen I don't want to be a burden, you can put me down, okay"?
"You're not a burden, besides what if I happen to like carrying you" he replied. He looked down into Izayoi's eyes and she could only blush. Inutashio continued to walk to her house until a thought struck him. "You've got a key to your house, right"?
"I think so, but if not my mom's taped a spare underneath the mailbox".
"Oh, okay good. What time is it anyway"?
Izayoi pulled up her sleeve and the green numbers glowed 7:18.
Inutashio turned into her drive and Izayoi tried to avoid the stares of her curious neighbors. He walked to the front door and gently placed Izayoi on the ground. He reached underneath the mailbox and pulled out the key. After opening the door, and Izayoi failing to get up by herself, Inutashio helped her into the house and placed her gently down on the couch.
"Now, where's your bandages"?
"No, no really its okay I don't need you to-". Izayoi was silenced by Inutashio's mouth on hers. After a few seconds they parted and he whispered in her hair, "Where are they".
"In the laundry room, above the sink", she replied with her eyes still closed. He disappeared and Izayoi leaned back into the couch.
He reappeared minutes later with a box of medical supplies. He sat down on the couch next to Izayoi and lifted her foot off the ground. The blood had now completely soaked through her sock. He gently removed the sock making sure not to put too much pressure on the heel. He saw her wince, "Sorry" he said quickly.
"No, its okay". Once the sock was off he had a better look at her foot. The cut wasn't that deep, but it was long. Occupying most of the left side of her heel. Having been in her socks prevented any glass from getting stuck in her foot. Inutashio began by cleaning all the blood off and also he had to disinfect the cut so that there wasn't any risk of infection. When he was all finished Izayoi's foot was securely wrapped in a bandage. "Thank you" she said. He nodded, "Your welcome".
"So are you okay to walk now, do you think"? Inutashio asked
"I don't know, lets see" she responded standing up on her non-bandaged foot and taking a step forward. She put her other foot on the ground and winced taking it immediately off the ground, causing her to lose her balance and fall forward. Inutashio noticed this and jumped up, allowing Izayoi to fall into his arms. Izayoi looked into his eyes with a look of disappointment. "I'm sorry," she said sadly. "Don't apologize, you haven't done anything wrong" Inutashio replied, picking her up and sitting on the couch with her in his lap. Izayoi just sat there looking sad. "What is it?" he asked
"I- I just don't like being so needy, I don't want to seem clingy," she said staring at her hands. "I don't want to do something that would cause you to leave me" she whispered a single tear rolling down her face.