Ah… He blushed lightly when he was told that it should be something he should know for himself. Well, that was true but what he wants for himself is still partly a mystery to himself. All he has are concepts, nothing concrete yet. In any case, he as glad Osu didn’t push any further and they continued down the corridor. He bowed to the nurses, not because he was told to, but also as part of a learned mannerism, he supposed. One of the only people he ever loved was his mother and somehow caring for others was a characteristic he could embed with her, so in a way, these nurses (whether they were male or female) were like mothers.
As they neared the end, he did as he was instructed, tapping his card on the reader of the lift and the door opened. Once inside, Osu took the lead. He was a bit surprised when the latter gave a brief lecture about their roles. Indeed, med-nins were double-edged swords. “I suppose you’re right. I should keep a more open mind. After all no one can predict what happens in the battlefield.”
When the lift finally stopped and the doors opened, Kiri was surprised that his first destination was the morgue. Osu’s explanation about his training was rather straightforward and sensible. And while he was surprised he was to get started right away in this area, he wasn’t at all scared. At least not by so much. As he said earlier, he had experience cutting up people, though perhaps the means and technical aspect to it differs. But what made this place even more uniquely strange was the fact that it was the civilian cadaver section. Ordinary people. He nodded at the other’s introduction and followed suit.
He quickly positioned himself to a good side to observe Osu as the body – Abe-san – was pulled out from its confines and readily splayed itself. As per instruction, he rolled his sleeves, put on a pair of latex gloves and then went to retrieve the cold tray that was just behind on top of a table. As he did so, he was a bit perplexed when he saw a red tendril slide out from the latter’s sleeve to get the tools needed for the lesson. That was definitely one for the books, a smile slipped on his lips but quickly got back to business.
The entire process of slicing delicately into the skin, revealing the muscle tissues and the bone was rather superb, an art in of itself. Though he learned the fundamentals of graceful swinging of the sword, this was fascinating. He pressed on the ribs that were placed on the tray, examining as he was instructed, amazed at the durability. And then finally, shortly after, Osu procured the heart, of which struck Kiri. He knew it was the life-pumping organ, but he didn’t think he’d see one so close, and away from combat. And as he was told, he reached out, a bit shaky at first, then steadily as he held the organ, still connected by veins. But the real impressive show was about to begin. Kiri could feel the other’s chakra at work as he kept his eyes on the organ, seemingly coming to life and every beat, even the tiniest of tremors he felt against his gloved palm, was exhilarating. And when Osu proceeded to open the heart, it was far more fascinating, the organ seemingly baring its secret to Kiri. Certainly, he would burn the image into his memory, how each vein, each chamber of the heart connect, contracted and expanded, the thin layer of the muscle that covered it, and the warmth.
The rest that he got the first hand experience of witnessing and touching were the other organs, though not all, just the major ones that Osu wanted him to have an overview of. Strictly speaking, it did affect his own mindset and awareness of the human body. Even if one were to argue that it was too brief, for Kiri, it was still quite something. Studying from text, or listening from reports and tales, was just different from holding it within your hand, personally experiencing. One fear was that he would get addicted to its exhilarating feel, like a madman or a serial killer. But it was not. It was purely fascination and admiration.
“I’ll do my best,” was all he could say. From the get go he should have expected such responsibilities anyway. This was a path you simply don’t choose by a whim. It was something that you had a feel for. And though he may end up dreading a life full of just books, reports and cadavers, he found it, at least fascinating to some extent, “I look forward to the books.” And in a way, he looked forward to studying more about the human anatomy in order to fully grasp where each and everything about the body works in such ways.
And as for the question, he shook his head. By the end of it, after they tidied up, he looked back to Abe-san and gave a bow before following after Osu.
