Ai and Junko were close. Every moment that they spent together made the Showa idol extremely happy. And all of this happened because Ai grabbed her hand on stage. With the support, the younger girl was able to stand up to her fear of the storm. Their performance chemistry doubled in the show alone. Each performance after only got better as the two began moving in perfect unison. Right now there was a single thing that either of them would change.
Junko shifted her position on the couch. She had just finished her bath. Before bed each zombie would bath. Bacteria grew on their bodies faster than on the living. To preserve their bodies from decaying faster washing more than once a day was necessity. Ai was currently finishing up her turn in the bathroom.
Wrapped in a towel the short haired girl poked her head in the living room. "Where's Sakura? I would like her help with my bandages."
"Glasses took her somewhere." Saki replied with a small frowned. The blonde was sulking about it and probably didn't even realize. Sakura was the one called on the most to help with things like that. The redhead was always willing and the easiest person to go to for help.
"Oh." Junko picked up on the disappointed tone in her friend's voice. Well, she would be more than happy to help. In fact she really wanted too. With their current relationship Ai should be able to rely on her for this. The fair haired zombie opened her mouth volunteer her help. Sadly she was cut off before a single word came out. "Saki, can you help me then?"
"Sure, no problem." The biker rose from the chair.
"That's not necessary." Junko spoke in a firm tone the two others turned to look at her with a bit of surprise. "I'll do it." Without waiting for a response the older woman gently ushered her partner into the bathroom. The blonde watched as Junko asserted herself picking up on the light threat in her voice. Saki grinned; the normally shy girl had the guts to glare at her.
The silver haired woman shut the door behind them. "I'll help you." She stated in a voice that wasn't up to negotiations.
"You don't have too..." Startled the Heisei girl averted her gaze. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt her. But she knew it was coming if her friend was going to be persistent.
"I want to."
"Why?" Ai looked back at her with a curious expression.
"Because we're partners." Junko stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Even so, I don't want your help." The dark hared zombie inwardly flinched at the hurt look on the older woman's face. She glimpsed down using her hair to hide the only exposed part of her body.
"W-why?" The hurt that hit her chest made Junko wonder if there was a chance that it was still alive to create such a pain. To be outwardly rejected like that.
"Junko, please leave."
"At least give me a reason you're refusing me. You don't trust me enough?"
Ai flinched. That wasn't it. She trusted the long haired woman more than anything. If she didn't this situation wouldn't be bothering her. "I don't want you to see my body..."
"What? Why?"
"..." Ai remained silent still refusing to look her in the face.
Junko glimpsed down at her completely covered body. A brief thought of what types of marks marred her body entered her mind. "I don't look any better. I look like I could be Frankenstein's daughter."
"Actually you look more like you could be Sally's daughter from the Nightmare Before Christmas."
"?" Junko took a deep breath. Now, she at least knew where Ai was coming from. She didn't practically like the thought of someone seeing her stitches exposed either. But still...They were partners. There would be no one the Showa idol felt more comfortable seeing her stitches to other then Ai. And she really wished her partner felt the same way she did. "Do you really think I would care what you look like?"
"No, but that still doesn't mean I'm comfortable with it. I'm sorry but these are my feelings on the subject."
Overwhelming sadness filled the older idol as her head dropped and her shoulders sagged. It hurt a lot not to be the one Ai relied on but she couldn't pressure her anymore. It was wrong. If this continued all the progress they made would be shattered. Quickly the silver haired woman turned around. Whatever expression she was making she didn't want anyone to see it. As calmly as possible -though still looking like a fleeing rabbit- she moved away heading for the door.
"Where are you going?" The dark haired girl asked. Did the pain in her chest over run her self-consciousness? Why was she stopping her?
"Leaving, before you really start to hate me. Don't worry, I'll send Saki in."
"What are you talking about? Do you think I'm going to hate you for wanting to help me?" Junko stayed silent and the Heisei idol sighed. "It's a long process so if you really want to stay and help I'd be more grateful."
Honestly she still didn't seem too comfortable and Junko picked up on that. Be that as it may, she was willing. She was showing the amount of trust and intimacy the Showa girl wanted. Whatever happened next she swore to herself not to make Ai more stressed then she already was.
"What would you like me to do?"
Ai dropped her towel and began to un-wrap the bandages around her head. "I've brought the scissors. That way we don't need to waste time unwrapping and we can just cut through them." The long haired woman walked over to the stand. On top were seven rolls of gauze and the scissors. By the time she grabbed them Ai had started un-wrapping her neck.
"I'll cut from the back."
"Thanks." The younger woman brushed up her hair exposing her nape. Junko wiggled her finger under the wrap pulling it away from her skin. Slowly she snipped down each strand of gauze falling to the floor. The Showa girl noticed Ai tensed up with each cut. And now she knew why.
She studied the marks embossed on the younger zombie's body. She tried not to stare knowing it would make Ai self-conscious but couldn't help it in the end. The dark haired girl waited for Junko to snap out of her shock by un-wrapping her hands.
Her exposed skin was scarred up with red lightning tree patterns. The design formed from her capillaries rupturing on impact. On the other hand black charred skin and blisters spread out everywhere on her. Around the edge of each scarred patch was dead peeling skin. A lot of damage can happen in three milliseconds it takes to get hit by lightning.
Ai had managed to un-wrapped both her arms while Junko was frozen in place the whole time. "Bad huh? I'm like a shedding snake."
The bitter voice snapped her out of her daze. "I'm sorry! It's not! You're not!"
"Don't worry about it. Please continue."
"Oh, right." The scissors slide down her back slowing down once she hit her lower back. Carefully she cut down the curve of her butt. All that was left was the gauze around her legs. The zombie was now fully exposed. She quickly grabbed another dry towel and dried of again.
Junko couldn't help but notice that the worst of it was her right arm. The hand had the full impact of lightning. From the tips of her finger all the way to her shoulder was nothing but crusty black encasing over muscle. From the end of that the ruptured capillaries spread out up her throat to her jaw and across her body. Even her feet were covered with black peeling patches with the red trees connecting them.
Ai took a seat near the rolls of bandages and started with her foot going up her leg. Then she worked on the second leg. Her torso was where Ai appreciated the help. She held the end of the wrap in place as Junko wrapped it around her middle. The light haired woman made sure the wrapping didn't twist or crinkle up. Ai on the other hand fought every urge to lean back into Junko's chest. The short haired girl felt the soft brush of her breast against her back every time she felt her arms wrap around her middle to grab the bandage from the other side.
Junko was grateful to be doing this from behind her. When her arms brushed up against the side of Ai's breast she knew she was blushing. From the top of her chest she now had to sideways to cover both shoulders. She cut the extra gauze and tucked the end piece into the wrapping.
Junko suddenly grabbed her burnt hand in both of hers. "?" Ai opened her mouth to question why but shut it when one hand began moving up her arm. Slowly the fair haired woman ran her fingers over the rough skin sensually. She wasn't grossed out about it as Ai would have thought.
With a smile the Heisei idol placed her own hand on top of hers. Junko paused and look up without removing hers. Did her action make her partner uncomfortable? Of course they did. What was she thinking? The short haired zombie moved her own hand up Junko's arm stopping at the stitches on her forearm. Her thumb gently caressed the bumpy stitched up skin affectionately. Mimicking the actions.
"Hey Junko, will you help me again next time?"
The older woman brightened like the sun. "Yes!"
A/N: Honestly I would have rather made this more about Junko's body but since she isn't that one covered in bandages to change. That plus she didn't seem to be self-conscious about sneaking into the onsen with the others either. But It's easy for me to picture her shy and self-conscious.
I wonder if Ai would have been willing to sneak in. Ignoring the fact she looks like someone who would follow the rules, would she have gone in if they were allowed? I would say probably not. She didn't even seem excited when they heard they were going. The only thing she cared about was not smelling like rot. While none of them really seem self-conscious about their bodies I can only come to the conclusion is that she doesn't want to been seen. Also, I'm ignoring the fact she wasn't too comfortable being around them to begin with.
In the anime getting struck gave her full body third degree burns. While electrical source can give burns I don't think that actually happens. According to the internet they only get red "lightning tree" marks appear. They eventually can go away as well. Burn marks on the other hand cause blisters, peeling dry and leathery skin, swelling and of course, charred and discolored skin. Personally, I think that would be more traumatizing or "gross" to have exposed. So I gave her both cause, why not really?
On another note, when Junko was depressed and she grew the mushrooms on her head I thought that was a Danganronpa reference at first. But then I thought why would it be? DR has nothing to do with either zombies or idols. So I just figured it was because of bacteria and all the stuff that survives on a body and help the decomposition. Thus zombies must wash often and dry well. Kotaro must spend tons on bandages and makeup alone for them...