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Kazuha was the one to arrive at Tenshukaku to successfully rescue Tomo from the divine punishment.
Yet he doesn't get away with it so easily– the bright bolts of lightning caused Kazuha's eyes to get blinded, taking away his sense of sight for an eternity. He ends up having to utilize his other senses instead, and to rely on the company of his dear friend.
As the noble had to focus more on his surroundings with his already great sense of hearing, his ears became more sensitive to sound only. Tomo by his side feels guilty throughout his recovery. Not knowing how to act or feel after that incident, he swore to Kazuha and especially himself to never let a situation like this happen again. No matter the price he'd had to pay.
Yet the blonde further drowns in his guilt and devastation. He couldn't help but feel awful for indirectly inflicting this issue upon him, and watch Kazuha take action within his miserable state as days went by.
He would never be able to see the stars at night again, never see the maple trees in autumn; nor would he ever get the chance to experience nature and its beautiful vivid colors through his vision. Though Kazuha always reassured him with the same excuse that he chose this path, how could Tomo not feel responsible for this outcome?
The first traumatic responses took place soon after the incident and those weeks were perhaps the most terrifying ones he had ever lived through.
At day, Kazuha would be faced with the hardship of having to overcome obstacles without the help of his sight. Like fighting against Nobushi that attacked them when their guard was lying low, and relying solely on his friend to protect him. He felt useless, and mostly like a burden to Tomo; trying to get used to his circumstances wasn't going to work well if there was always a disruption.
All while nightmares haunted Kazuha at night, near-death experiences of the Musou no Hitotachi.
During those times, his body would get sweaty while his breathing made his chest heave in fear– his hands would grip onto the blanket, in search for the soft fabric of Tomo's haori and the warmth radiating from his body. Despite his efforts, Kazuha couldn't find him.
Then, as more of that anxious feeling assaulted him, he shook.
He would keep searching, turning and shifting on the futon until he would find a hint of him.
A great disadvantage came with his blindness: he couldn't see anything– not a silhouette, not even the faint moonlight shimmering through the gaps of the wooden shack– nothing at all.
The panic blocked off all his other senses and as the pace of his heartbeat rose to its climax...
The Musou no Hitotachi striked him; the blinding light of it was what caused Kazuha's sanity to snap and eventually make him break into tears.
He would find himself silently weeping, his palms wiping away the excess of his tears, smudging it all over his face.
Only then, did Tomo wake beside him.
The blonde tiredly moved to his side, his violet eyes sparking a hint of worry and sadness for the man. Though Kazuha flinched with the sudden brush of their bodies, he leaned closer to chase that warmth; it was one sign that Tomo was alive and well, next to his soft breaths and heartbeat pounding against his ear.
It was a very comforting sound.
"I'm here, Kazuha." One whisper was all it took to make him relax.
The unsteady rhythm of his heart beating in his chest eventually calmed, as if the storm that has raged for several hours has finally been tuned down to the calmest of seas. Although the albino couldn't or ever will be given the chance to see Tomo anymore, his soothing voice was enough to get him going instead of giving up. Atleast while he was still recovering from the terror.
Tomo himself could be defined as an anchor of sanity, or as one to give you courage during the hardest of times. Despite him saying otherwise and rejecting everything Kazuha said to reassure his mind, Tomo's actions spoke louder than words.
They remained like this for a few more minutes, until exhaustion began to catch up to Kazuha; partly because his nightmares had been mentally draining and because Tomo's comforting embrace was automatically lulling him back to sleep.
And so, he finally had sweeter dreams.