Chizuru/Okita for Yume

[cannotcrossdress]

Although winter has nearly past, spring nights still had a faint hint of bitterness that had yet to be blown out with the increasing warmth. When the sun was out, Chizuru could open the doors and let the rooms air out a bit...save for Okita's.

The room had grown stuffy though, and if Chizuru had begun to notice it, she could only begin to imagine how maddening it must be for Okita, bedridden, who always searched for opportunities to break out of his quarantine and wander around the hallways.

But he was asleep now...really, the only time she could ever let her guard down. Even when fatigued with injury, he found ways to keep her on her toes. She lightly stepped around his bed, taking great care not to make any noise while she tried to tidy things up.

A floorboard creaked beneath her, freezing her in place. Her eyes slowly made their way to where Okita remained, still as the dead. She stared for a moment upon the realization that she couldn't remember a time where she'd seen him so at rest...

It was alarming.

Slowly dropping to her knees, she slid over to his bedside, leaning forward on both her palms and bringing an ear inches above his face. Was he breathing?

Comments

[sadistsword]

Souji has always hated the fact that he was bedridden, that he couldn't go out at free will, that he couldn't watch the scenery, the sky, the stars as long as he was tied down like this.

He's been completely useless for some time thanks to the tuberculosis. He has taken the ochimizu now in hope he could do something again, but now here he was again - tied down to the bed, useless. Except this time it had been his choice. In a really weird way. He had leapt in front of her, his body shielding her so that she wasn't getting hit by the silver bullets. He wasn't regretting this move either. It was alright, as long as she was alright.

That didn't mean those wounds weren't painful because they were and he usually didn't find a way to rest well without the wounds tormenting his body, but...

But right now, it was better. This is why his body came to a rest and his breathing had calmed down a lot, but he was definitely breathing.

And usually, his body would react to an invasion of his personal space, but it didn't this time around.]

[cannotcrossdress]

...breathing, and asleep, Chizuru was relieved to discover. She pulled back and knelt beside his beside, loathe to wake him, even if he needed to eat. Folding her hands into her lap, she pulled her eyes away and looked up at the doors she'd cracked open.

"...Spring is coming soon, Okita-san..." Her voice was just below a whisper, as though it was aimed more at herself than the man she addressed. "Once it warms up, maybe we can spend more time outside."

[sadistsword]

Souji did hear the voice subconsciously, not really the words that had been spoken, but the voice in itself had been enough. It was soothing, it put his guard down a little more and it felt strangely... safe.

His head turns a little towards the direction Chizuru was standing, almost as if he was searching for her.

[cannotcrossdress]

Chizuru jumped slightly as Okita shifted, her breath catching. Was he awake?! She couldn't quite tell...she remained where she sat, though, afraid that scooting back would wake him up. Her hands flew up from her lap, at a sudden loss as to what she should do.

...she should...she should get back to cleaning! Cleaning, right!

Could she...stand without disturbing him...? She stared at Okita for a good, long moment. He didn't look nearly as bratty when asleep, she noted with a smile. In fact, he looked downright gentle.

She couldn't help the giggle. He was so cute, asleep like this!

[sadistsword]

The giggle was a little different from the usual sounds surrounding him and it does awaken him - though he doesn't open his eyes yet, even if he's curious what was so funny or what time of the day it was even.

The curiosity didn't really win against the fact that he wanted to surprise her a little, so he tried not to appear to be awake yet.

[cannotcrossdress]

She really should've gotten up to do chores, but how many opportunities were there to see Okita this wide open and unguarded?

She reached over and placed a palm on his forehead, pushing back the bangs that so often shaded his eyes. It was an absolutely pity that she didn't have ink and a brush nearby...

[sadistsword]

Probably not many. This wasn't really as if he was unguarded, though. The moment he felt her hand on his forehead, he opened his eyes and grabbed for her wrist before he turned tables and pushed her firmly, but gently onto the ground.

"Were you watching again over me? Or were you trying to do something else?"