“I’m not sure the Dragon would approve—”
“Satoshi, I am the Dragon’s Heart and I am officially ordering you to put that on your skin now so we can see if this helps. Because if it doesn’t we will try something else.”
Satoshi parted his lips.
“I am fully dedicated right now to getting you some relief.”
“Thank you.” He pursed his lips together.
Deja stopped braiding and looked at him. "Me too. I thought he was going to scratch his skin off his body. Whatever that is, please give it to him. He looks like he is in absolute pain."
Satoshi hesitated. “Okay. I’ll just put a little on.”
Zo stood up. "Let me help you out."
Say what?
Nika and I exchanged a look.
I’d seen Zo glancing at Satoshi a lot since we’d been in here but I hadn’t thought nothing much of it.
Is Zo trying to holler at Satoshi?
I mean, if one forgot about the allergy stuff and looked past all the red bumps and dry patches. . .Satoshi was a really good-looking guy. Muscular. Strong jawline. But right now, with the scratching, he just looked miserable to me.
Zo walked over to Satoshi. "Come on. Let me help you out of this shirt."
I blinked.
Satoshi frowned. "I don't really have a lot of itching on my chest."
"We should still take care of everything," Zo gestured.
Satoshi sighed and stood up. Zo helped him pull his shirt over his head, and I immediately realized Satoshi had lied.
Yikes!
Angry crimson welts covered his torso like a topographical map of hell, some weeping clear fluid where his nails had torn through the skin. The flesh between the red bumps had turned an unnatural shade of purple-red, swollen tight as if something writhed just beneath the surface. Where he'd scratched most viciously, the skin had begun to slough off in papery flakes, revealing raw meat underneath that glistened wetly in the light.
"Damn," Nika muttered. “Hedoeshave that shit. I’m going to need two face masks.”
Deja sighed. “Be quiet, Nika.”
But underneath the horror, Satoshi had a nice muscular body, defined abs, and broad shoulders.
Yoichi frowned and gestured to the staff. “Get tons of towel and a warm glass of milk for him.”
“And those face masks,” Nika added.
They rushed off.
When they returned minutes later, they held even more supplies and Yoichi was over there re-reading my Grandma’s instructions as Nika put on two new face masks.
God, please let this work.
One of the servers handed Zo a pair of plastic gloves, and Zo snapped them on. Then he dipped his fingers into the mixture and started applying it to Satoshi's back.
And I swear on everything. . .the moment the mixture touched his skin, Satoshi's entire body relaxed.
