Kusuriuri of Ri

You weren’t supposed to fail.

how could it be? Having a master as wise as Ri, and a assistant as useless as you? Could you bear being his assistant any longer with the weight of being a burden to him any longer?

The last thing you remember, was trying to keep a child safe. It was during a mononoke attack, you had just rounded everyone up, but a baby barley even a toddler was oblivious to the danger. and fuck, they were just like you. With nobody to protect when you’re at your most vulnerable moment. And nobody even cared for anyone but themselves at this moment.

you couldn’t just leave them them, all those memories you tried so hard to bury down came rushing back to you. The times when you were put down for others, the times when you tried to help everyone and they all left you to rot alone. You can’t let that happen to a innocent child.

without thinking twice, you ran over, kneeling on the floor, and held the child, close to your heart, one hand on their fragile little head, the other around their back. Using yourself as a shield, the child wasn’t hurt, but your master can’t say the same about you.

the mononoke was ruthless, thrashing against anything that gets in their way, and your master had already released the sword by then, their shingi didn’t even see you, the villages buildings were crashing left and right, one fell right on the two of you.

when you woke up, you were wrapped in bandages like a mummy, but all that you could think of was the child. You won’t be a burden again, you can’t. You’ve tried to hard trying to become Kusuriuri’s assistant, no way you were going back like that. But with your body injured like this, you could barley move a limb, let alone sit up without pain bursting through your bones.

the only reason you were still alive really was because the Shingi realized you were gone, and so was the child of a mother who was crying desperately for him to save her baby. He found you under those debris, completely unconscious holding that crying child in your hands so tightly it took him quite a while to pry out even for a god-like being like him. Only then did he let his Kusuriuri or, Ri come back.

you looked around, then realized you were probably resting in the homes of someone in the village who let you stay overnight. Because your master had told you there were barley any inns nearby, and the nearest one might take a day to walk to. You sat up, pain shooting up your spine but you tried to ignore it. Looking at your battered hands, you couldn’t help but think back to that child no matter where your mind wanders to.

but your peace was only temporary. The same woman who was also the mother of the child you saved came running up, spouting nonsense about how you hurt her child, the owner of a house who looked like the Shōya (village head) was trying to block the madwoman from getting to you

“I know you did something! Why couldn’t you warn anyone!? I found a scratch on his knee and his face, didn’t you see how hard he was crying when we found him!?” she spat

the irony was real, you couldn’t even walk, and she was complaining about her child, who you tried your absolute best to save, having a scratch?

meanwhile village head was a kind and sincere man he tried to calm the woman down before she could get close enough to harm you, asking her to go home and rest. But she wasn’t having any of it

“Ma’am please. They’ve tried hard enough, please go home.” he insisted

“Go home!? Nonsense! They hadn’t tried hard enough! That battered body clearly isn’t a good enough punishments! The heavens should’ve declared you dead instead!” she shouted insult after insult, but you really couldn’t care anymore. Talking feels like a chore, even when she demanded you talk, and apologize. You couldn’t get words out of your mouth.

something felt like it was stuck in your throat. Something painful, when you finally uttered out a single word, you started to sputter, you covered your mouth realizing blood was coming out of it. Before you even realized, you were throwing up, clumps of blood clots came out your mouth as you wretched, all you wanted was your master by your side, but you didn’t want to burden him any more. You’ve done enough wasting his resources on you, gosh you felt horrible, for anyone unlucky enough to be beside you. Maybe the woman was right? Maybe you should be dead in a ditch.

Just as your vision was starting to blur, a familiar gentle hand was placed on your back, Kusuriuri was right beside you once more, wiping your mouth with a handkerchief and helping you lie back down.

“Ho… I was gone for just a few minutes and people are already causing you trouble? Don’t worry. Just try your best to rest.” he comforted you, cleaning up the bloody mess you left behind.

instead of gratitude, you couldn’t help but finding yourself engulfed with sadness, tears blurred your eyes and dripped onto the mattress as you look at Ri. You have messed up countless times, and yet he’s always been so patient and gentle, you were the opposite of the assistant anyone would want. Why hadn’t he replaced you, why was he so caring towards you? You don’t deserve it. Any of it.

Ri’s thumb wiped the tears off your cheek slowly looking at you “what is it. Are you in pain?”

you shake your head, but only ended up crying harder. If only you could be perfect, like your master. Gentle and wise…

Ri stares at you, his hand on your cheek, wondering what was wrong, but not wanting to make you speak. He scoots closer to you, then sat cross legged then slowly started to pull you onto his lap, into a hug, patting your back gently… trying to bring you comfort that no amount of words could give. Letting you cry into his shoulder about how useless you think you are.

(write your own scenario! 💕)