[His wrist is probably being crushed right now, but Sano can't feel it; he's too distracted by...well, everything, really. But Shinpachi is starting to waver and Chizuru is closer - too close - and Sano's body feels like it's burning and his mind is either working too hard or going fuzzy and he's not sure where to go from here.
He has to keep a hold of himself. He has to he has to but it's so hard when he's on fire and Chizuru has licked the blood away and brought attention to her lips and -
Is she crying?
No, gods, it's all too much. Sano can't handle this all at once. He's still a new rasetsu and getting used to how everything operates, but he's also still him, right? And he can't stand to see - or hear - a woman cry, especially if it's his fault.
And it is partially his fault this time.
But what can he do?
(He wants to wrap himself around her and use his body as a shield against the cruelties of the world and wipe her tears away and see her smile again, but he can't because he's not used to his new strength and what if he hurt her and made her bleed and)
Still clinging to Shinpachi, Sano instead leans closer to Chizuru, pressing his forehead against the top of her head. And he speaks, his voice low and gruff, coming out harsher than he intends.]
no subject
He has to keep a hold of himself. He has to he has to but it's so hard when he's on fire and Chizuru has licked the blood away and brought attention to her lips and -
Is she crying?
No, gods, it's all too much. Sano can't handle this all at once. He's still a new rasetsu and getting used to how everything operates, but he's also still him, right? And he can't stand to see - or hear - a woman cry, especially if it's his fault.
And it is partially his fault this time.
But what can he do?
(He wants to wrap himself around her and use his body as a shield against the cruelties of the world and wipe her tears away and see her smile again, but he can't because he's not used to his new strength and what if he hurt her and made her bleed and)
Still clinging to Shinpachi, Sano instead leans closer to Chizuru, pressing his forehead against the top of her head. And he speaks, his voice low and gruff, coming out harsher than he intends.]
Don't cry.