o20 [Action]

[ahappylie]

[Okita returned earlier in the day and has since been trying to make his way back to the village with mixed results. Without his journal, he can't call for help even if he wanted to and he was dumped somewhere toward the south of the village at the tail end of the 18th, once the blizzard passed. He's got a stick and is using it to pick his way slowly through the snow, but seeing how he's been temporarily blinded and is nursing a broken right arm hidden in his kimono along with a head injury, this is an experiment destined to fail.

If anyone toward the lower half of the village is willing to find him? He'd like to get inside and stop freezing.]

Comments

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

...?

Is there something wrong, Ijyuin-kun?

[20mask.livejournal.com]

[Still staring.]

Soujirou-san, you can't see.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

...Ah, I've been caught, have I? That's too bad. I was hoping no one would notice.

[20mask.livejournal.com]

[Again no reply. He's now even more worried than before, and hurt because Soujirou wouldn't tell him what was wrong when he asked when it was such a serious thing, even if he's not denying it now. True they barely know each other but... If he was so much hurt he should have told it. And he's angry at himself for not noticing it earlier.

He will turn and go find someone to attend Soujirou now. Without much more than a sob as a reply to Soujirou's words. He'll be back in a bit.]

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

...
[And now he feels bad. He'd been hoping to keep his temporary blindness a secret so people didn't worry and because there's nothing they can do for it. He'll just wait for Akira to come back to apologize to him, lowering his gaze to the floor.]

[20mask.livejournal.com]

[Akira will be back after a while, bringing some bandages and other things that he puts besides Soujirou.]

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[Raises his head when he hears someone approaching, but can't tell who it is because they aren't talking.]
...Ijyuin-kun?

[20mask.livejournal.com]

Yes?

[He sounds curious as he moves to try to get an eyeful of Soujirou's head injury.]

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

You're upset I didn't tell you, aren't you.

[20mask.livejournal.com]

I understand why you didn't want to tell me.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

...you do?

[20mask.livejournal.com]

I'm a stranger, you don't want to let a stranger know that you're blind now. Right?

[He understands, it doesn't mean he isn't hurt but it's mostly about himself for not noticing. What kind of doctor will he be if he doesn't pay attention to the injured people to see what's wrong with them? He couldn't expect to have people always tell him exactly what was wrong.]

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[He smiles a little and shakes his head.]
It's because we aren't strangers that I didn't want you to know.

You'd end up worrying over something you couldn't do anything about. Just like you are now.

[20mask.livejournal.com]

But I already worried. I worried all the time, and I can do something about it, I can help you be more comfortable.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

There is no discomfort, Ijyuin-kun. It's inconvenient, but it will clear up in time. There was no reason to unnecessarily tell people when it will just go away.

[20mask.livejournal.com]

What if I hadn't helped you come here and just accompanied you? You wouldn't know the way, or could trip and injury yourself more.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

I would have listened to your footsteps - or gone toward the sound of people. Really, these injuries aren't much compared to what I'm used to.

[20mask.livejournal.com]

Still that could have been dangerous. And really I do worry without much, I'm often told that, so it's fine.

[Not questioning about the injuries he's used to, he assumes it's from being at that place.]

Anyway, someone should come soon to check on you. But I could take a peek at the head wound as it is.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

Worrying won't do much other than shorten your own life, Ijyuin-kun.
[He reaches up and touches the head wound, then nods.]
That would be quite helpful.

[20mask.livejournal.com]

I can compensate it with tons of laughs, right?

[Smiles and reaches to take a look at the wound and treat it with first aid.]

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[He laughs at that and nods.]
That's an excellent philosophy to have.