Page 62 of Mercy Written in Blood

"The journal."

"Later."

"Your name."

Renji's expression did not change.

"Dr Takahara."

A faint smile broke through, exhausted but real.

Aoi looked at Akiko. Akiko looked at Renji. Renji continued cutting through the ruined shirt.

"What is?"

"I was hoping…" Haruki paused to breathe. "You were a hallucination."

"Hallucinations are not usually this expensive."

The monitor alarm changed pitch.

"Pressure eighty-two systolic," Aoi said.

"Second unit."

Renji turned back to the wound. Haruki still had hold of the edge of his sleeve — not enough strength to restrain him, enough to be noticed.

"Let go."

"You're very commanding."

"You are bleeding internally."

"I've had worse introductions."

Renji removed Haruki's hand.

"Take your jacket off."

Haruki blinked slowly.

"You usually ask people to undress this quickly?"

Aoi's mouth twitched. Akiko looked down to hide a smile. Renji did neither.

"You can remove it yourself, or I can cut through what remains of it."

"That wasn't a no."

Renji took the trauma shears. Haruki watched him do it with the solemnity of a man witnessing an execution.

"You're enjoying this."

"No."

"You didn't hesitate."

"I rarely hesitate while treating penetrating trauma."