Page 47 of The Tainted and the Tamed
Slowly, the vicious red of his torn flesh began to lighten. As Murasaki became light-headed, Haruki’s burns visibly receded, shrinking until they were swathes, then islands of crackled skin and blisters. Haruki’s eyes moved behind his still-closed lids.
Open them, Murasaki silently pleaded.Just look at me one last time.
She was giving too much. She knew that. But she’d rather die from saving the man that saved her than drown from her own mangled lungs. That was a cruel way to die.
This way would be so much happier. She could leave the world content.
Dr. Setouchi grasped her wrist. Within seconds he had it wrapped in a cloth. “That’s enough,” he said, lifting her arm.
The tension in the room palpably lifted. Though Haruki was still in pain, he somehow looked healthier.
“It shouldn’t be possible,” the masked chairman said. At his side, another chairman sat wearing a fox mask. More than once, Murasaki caught Momoko eyeing it with disgust.
“It is possible,” Dr. Setouchi said. “She isn’t a vampire yet.”
“Please stop saying that word,” Murasaki said, her head swimming.
“Vampire?”
“That’s the one.”
“Does it offend you, Ms. Mukai?” asked the physician. “Or only your sense of rationality?”
“Both. I’m not—that’s something I’m not.”
A sudden, violent cough took her by surprise.
“Chairman Noguchi,” the physician said, “I believe you have wounds that need tending to. Momoko, can you assist him?”
She nodded, quickly ushering the chairman into the doctor’s exam room and office. She closed the door behind them.
“You did well, dear,” the remaining chairman said, patting her hand. “I think you should lie down.”
“Yes—yes that would be welcome.” Assuming he meant in the other room, Murasaki stood.
Her legs collapsed out from under her at once. The fox-masked chairman was somehow already there, catching her. “Right here will do,” he said. “It’s alright.”
Dr. Setouchi sighed. “You know something about this business, don’t you, Chairman Hayashi?”
“Nothing I care to comment on.”
“Nothing youcancomment on.”
“Be nice to me, doctor. Iama chairman.”
“I don’t recall you volunteering to help my wife and me when we were in need.”
The fox-masked man seemingly did not lose his good humor. “Even so.”
“What did I ever do,” Haruki croaked, at once breaking up their looming argument, “to deserve such loyal friends?”
Murasaki struggled to sit up. Only pressure from the fox chairman’s hand kept her down. She needed to see Haruki—to know he was alright.
“Glad you’re back with us, Chairman,” Dr. Setouchi said. “You’ll have such a large bill for all this, I can finally retire.”
A smile cracked the side of Haruki’s mouth that faced Murasaki. “You’ll never retire, old man.”
“Ha! I’m younger than you.”
