After her emotional outburst during dinner, Yamazaki walked with her to their shared room. He was constantly looking at her with a worried expression but never said a thing. When they reached the privacy of their room he breathed out," Are you okay Yakamura-kun? You seemed very upset over something. Is it about you cousin? You don't have to say anything if it makes you feel uncomfortable."
" Thank you Yamazaki-kun but I am feeling much better. I was a bit worried about the condition of my cousin's health. My aunt wants me to work to find a cure for her disease but I was just very overwhelmed because I'm not so sure where to start. There aren't many leads, but, I'm very sure that things will turn out alright in the end! We just have to believe!"
Yamazaki's eyes widened. To him Chiyo was truly magnificent to be able to think so positively. He smiled and said," Of course. Just know that hope will always be your biggest tool."
Chiyo smiled back and turned her back towards him to change. When she had first moved in, she was very unsettled about having to change infront of another man. She didn't trust Yama-kun a lot and would always look over her shoulder to make sure he didn't turn around. However, as the months glided by, she looked less and less until it just felt right to change in the same room as him. He normally was either working or turned around and respected her privacy. Yamazaki went to his desk to work and was completely unaware that his female roommate was changing.
An immediate blush spread over his cheeks as he thought," Oh shit…" when he saw her bare back. She had taken the bandages that served as binders for her breats. After all she was still a girl. However, the only thing that stood out was a ragged scar on her back.
Without even thinking, he walked up to her and touched it. Chiyo gasped as she felt something cold on her back and flinched back immediately while looking at the hand's owner. Yamazaki immediately pulled his hand away while his face blushed in silent shame.
" I-I'm sorry! That was wrong of me to do! Please, I meant no harm. I just wanted to look at the scar on your back." he stuttered.
This seemed to calm her down and she started to laugh a bit. " It's okay. J-just give me a warning before you that do that next time. It just scared me a bit! Anyways, sure but it doesn't strike me in the least of how a scar could be so interesting."
Yamazaki knelt down and gently traced the edge of the scar. His touch was feathery and light and Chiyo shivered a little. The scar was was torn and ragged and burned with a bright violet red.
" When did you get this scar? It seems to be a very fresh sword wound."
" You're right. I got it when I first joined the Shinsengumi. Twas the night where Okita and Saito found me and took me back to headquarters. I met some of the failed rasetsu and one of them managed to give me a small cut on the back. But I kept forgetting about this and since I didn't treat it well...it turned into a scar."
" A small cut?"
" Well, I have seen much worse."
" True. Does it still hurt?"
" Umm well...sometimes. It's not that bad though so you shouldn't worry yourself too much over it. You already have so much to do and this is just something unnecessary."
Yamazaki frowned," This isn't necessary! You are hurt and I do worry about you. I am the doctor here so be a good patient and let me help you."
Chiyo's eyes widened and she just nodded meekly. Yamazaki sighed and walked to a box on his side of the room and grabbed a container. It was a tub of olive green salve that smelled like herbal medicine. He coated his index finger generously into the salve and gently began rubbing it into her back. The salve felt cool and left her skin tingling. He rubber his finger in small circles gently and he suddenly felt the urge to touch her more. Chiyo's eyes drooped and she sighed mentally. It felt nice actually. With much hesitation Yamazaki's finger left her pale back and he heard her whisper," Thank's Yamazaki-kun."
" No problem"
She finished changing into her sleeping yukata and climbed into her futon. The sheets were still cool and she nestled her face into the sheets. Her back still tingled where Yamazaki had touched her. After her cry and the small message she was given, Chiyo was more than ready to knock out for the day. Her world darkened as her eyes drooped shut and close out the world around her.
However, Yamazaki couldn't sleep and busied himself with reports. He started at his finger and thought," It's still warm from when I put the salve on Yakamura-kun's back."
He smiled gently and looked her to her sleeping back. A warmth filled his heart as he felt new found power to work at the stack of papers on desk.
