Heirot

The doctor was waiting on the porch for Kyosuke when he got back. He was smoking another cigar, and sitting on a wooden barrel. "She needs to get washed up. I pulled out the tin tub and filled it with warm water. There's some soap near it and a towel. I don't know what connection you have, but you are closer to her than I am and it just wouldn't be proper if I gave her the bath. So, even if your not close your going to have to suck it up. She needs to get clean, she'll rest better clean. So you're going to have to go in there and help her get undressed and into the tub. Can you handle that?"

"I can do it," Kyosuke says, looking away a little awkwardly. "But isn't she sleeping? Is it a good idea to wake her up for something like that?" Of course, he's grateful that the doctor waited for him to get back and didn't just send him off so he could do it himself. ...Kyosuke doesn't know how he would react if he came back and saw him bathing a naked Shinobu. Probably not very well.

"Better get her now while she's only half a sleep then when she's fully tuckered out," he told Kyosuke. "Besides, I don't my good sheets soiled." He chuckled a bit and looked back to Kyosuke. "Its up to you though."

Kyosuke manages a small smile before shrugging. "I think if you're worried about dirtying your sheets, you're a little late," he points out. She's already been sleeping there for about half an hour now. He considers it, then opens the door. "If she wakes up on her own, I'll help her bathe," he tells the doctor. "I want her to gather as much strength as she can." Hearing him say they would find out whether she would live or die tomorrow made him hesitant to do anything that would endanger those chances.

Shinobu blinked her eyes open at the sound of the door opening. They fluttered in Kyosuke's direction, and she swallowed. Her eyes felt so heavy that it was hard to keep them open. "Is everything okay?" she asked him softly from where she lay.

Kyosuke guesses the doctor knows what he's talking about if the soft sound of the door opening is enough to wake Shinobu. He gives her a reassuring smile and motions to the tub that was set out for her. "Would you like to take a bath?" he asks, setting the clothing he picked up down. "I'll help."

Shinobu looks at the water, and then at Kyosuke. She feels dirty and grimy and knows she'll sleep better clean. Slowly she pushes herself to sit, her body shaking with the effort. One of her quivering hands reached to untie the sash around her waist that held her kimono closed. Drowsy eyes lifted to Kyosuke. She looked awful, unable to focus on what she was doing, or maybe not even having the strength to do something so minor.

Kyosuke does his best to look reassuring, but the news that she might not make it is fresh on his mind. Still, he puts on a smile, one that doesn't reach his eyes as it usually does, and makes his way over to her. He quickly helps her out of her clothing, starting with the troublesome sash and then peeling off the rest of the grimey, sweat stained layers.

Shinobu thanks him softly, feeling like a doll as he gently helps her out of the clothes. She feels bad that he is having to take care of her. When the clothes have been pulled away Shinobu stands up slowly, holding onto Kyosuke's arms as she tries to step into the tub. She slowly slides down into the hot water, leaving her wounded arm outside the tub.

Normally, Kyosuke would probably feel differently about being so close to a naked Shinobu. In fact, the last few days shows exactly what his reaction normally is to that. But right now he's too concerned to even sneak a peek. He just helps her over, easing her into the warm water the doctor prepared for her. When she looks comfortable, he gets the bar of soap for her. "...Do you need help with this?" he asks, sounding unsure.

Shinobu rests her head on her arm as she waits for Kyosuke to bring the soap. She lifts her gaze to him. "I'm sorry, I'm a handful..." Shinobu takes the soap from him slowly and starts to wash, but her hands quiver, her strength fells. She clasps the soap tight in her hand. "I think I need help," she finally admits after clenching it for a while. She's furious with herself, and ashamed that she can't even wash herself. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright, I don't mind," Kyosuke says, fully meaning it. He's not in the least bit annoyed by this, knowing that Shinobu would do the same for him if he found himself... more or less on the verge of death like this. When she drops the soap, he just looks even more worried, reaching over and taking it from her. He'll help scrub her off as well. ...Might be better anyway, probably don't want to get her new bandages wet.

Shinobu manages to tilt her head forward into the water to help Kyosuke wash the dirt and grime out of her hair. When she's clean she peers at him through wet strands of black hair. "Thank you..." She tilts her head and kisses the hand he used to wash her, before frowning. "I think I need help getting out..."

Briefly, Kyosuke gives Shinobu a hug from behind and squeezes his eyes shut for a moment, while he was in her blind spot. It's gone fairly quickly though, and he nods. "Let me get a fresh set of clothing out first," he says, then does so before helping Shinobu out and drying her off.

Shinobu smiled very wearily, but it was a pretty smile nonetheless. "Did you get me something pretty?" she joked. Shinobu stands while he dries her off, feeling the warmth of the fire burning.