White Anxiety
The late spring rain pattered against the eaves. Bai sat on the porch, sewing absentmindedly. Yiyong had been away from his mission for three days, the longest such absence.
When the familiar footsteps finally sounded outside the courtyard gate, Bai immediately put down the haori in his hand and walked quickly to meet them.
"Senior Yiyong!"
The figure who pushed open the door carried a strong smell of blood. The sleeves of Yiyong's uniform were torn, a faint bloodstain on his left cheek, and the hem of his crimson haori was stained darkly.
"You're injured again." Bai's voice trembled with suppression, and he hurried forward to support him.
"It's just a minor injury." Yiyong's voice was tired, but he still let her support him and walk into the house.
Bai pursed his lips as he carefully examined the wound under the lamp. There was a deep knife wound on Yiyong's left arm, and blood was still oozing slowly.
"This isn't a minor injury at all." She pulled out her medicine box and expertly began cleaning the wound. "Why do you always neglect yourself like this?"
Yiyong watched her busying around in silence. The girl's silver hair shone softly under the light, her brows furrowed tightly, yet her movements as she tended to the wound were exceptionally gentle.
"It's required by the mission," he explained briefly.
"What kind of mission would require such serious injuries?" Bai's tone was rarely filled with reproach. "If...if next time..."
She didn't say anything else, but focused more on treating the wound. Yiyong noticed a few tiny needle holes on her fingertips, which were left from mending clothes these days.
"The haori is patched." Shiro finished bandaging the wound and took out the patched haori. The damaged part had been stitched so carefully that it was almost invisible without a close look.
Giyuu took the haori and brushed his fingertips over the stitches. "Thank you."
"Take off your team uniform and I'll mend it together."
When Yiyong took off his bloodstained uniform, Bai gasped. His back was covered with scars, old and new, the latest of which stretched from his shoulder blade to his waist.
"Is this... this just a minor injury?" Her voice trembled a little.
Yiyong didn't answer, but just lay quietly on the tatami, letting her treat the wound on his back. The smell of medicated oil filled the room, accompanied by the sound of continuous rain outside the window.
"Are you scared?" he asked suddenly.
Bai's hand paused for a moment. "I'm afraid. I'm afraid that one day Giyuu-senpai will be seriously injured and won't be able to come back."
This sentence made Yiyong fall into silence.
A few days later, Yiyong's injury healed a little, and the two began to practice swordsmanship in the courtyard again.
"Water Breathing, the final form." Giyuu demonstrated the movements, "It requires integrating the essence of all the previous forms."
Bai observed his every detail intently. Over the past few days, she had already mastered the first ten forms, leaving only this last one.
"Try."
Bai gripped the Sun Blade tightly, catching her breath. The blade traced a smooth arc, and water sprayed through the air as she moved. While not perfect, it already displayed a remarkable level of completion.
"Raise your wrist higher." Yiyong stepped forward to adjust her posture. "Make your breathing more stable."
Under his guidance, Bai quickly mastered the essentials. When the Sun Blade was swung for the last time, the water flow it brought up was as spectacular as a real waterfall.
"Very good." Yiyong showed a rare look of approval, "You learn very quickly."
"It's Senior Yiyong's fault for teaching me well." A faint blush appeared on Bai's face.
In the evening, Bai was in the kitchen preparing dinner. Yiyong sat on the porch, watching the girl busy at work. She had grown taller and her swordsmanship had improved rapidly, but she still occasionally showed signs of unease—especially when he returned late from a mission.
"I'm going to the headquarters tomorrow." Yiyong said during the meal.
Bai paused while serving rice. "How long will it take?"
"Three days."
She nodded silently and put another piece of grilled fish into Yiyong's bowl. "Please be careful."
The next morning, Bai got up early to prepare Yiyong's luggage. She carefully checked each item and placed the medicine and bandages in the most convenient place.
"No need to prepare so much." Yiyong looked at the packed luggage.
"Better prepared," Bai insisted, stuffing another packet of rice balls in. "For the journey."
At their farewell, Bai stood at the courtyard gate until Yiyong's figure completely disappeared in the morning mist. She returned to the courtyard and began her daily sword practice. The water splashed by her sun blade shimmered in the morning sun, and each move was precise and sharp.
She knew that only by becoming stronger could she stop having to watch Yiyong get hurt. Maybe one day, she could stand by his side and fight alongside him.
As night fell, Bai sat alone on the porch mending clothes. The needle pierced her finger again, and she smacked her lips and held the bleeding finger in her mouth.
Moonlight filled the courtyard. She looked in the direction where Yiyong left and whispered to herself:
"Please come back safely, Senior Giyu."
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