SKY OF PAPER: AN ASIAN STEAMPUNK FANTASY

CHAPTER 72

One night I was shaking, cold and drenched in sweat. Kassashimei gently rubbed a cloth across my forehead and arms, then tipped a cup of medicinal tea to my lips. I admired her and the smile she gave me. She remained as confident as ever; and even though I knew she was worried, she would never let me see it. Auntie picked up a basket and left to purchase more herbs.

"Do you think it would have been better if I had died on that ship?" I asked.

She shook her head. "You're a fool to say things like that. The more nonsense you spout, the more I might consier torturing you with some songs from my shamisen."

"Do that, and I'm sure you'll make me sicker."

We laughed and held each other's hands. For a while, we stared at each other in silence and let the fire from the stove illuminate the longing in our faces. The quiet chatter from the people outside and the gentle buzz from the night beetles lulled me into a sense of calm.

"Kass," I asked quietly, "how did you overcome your sickness?"

She sighed, then pressed her lips against mine. My eyes widened and my breath stopped. We remained together, lingering in that kiss for what seemed like hours.

As she pulled away, brushing the hair from her face she said, "Terr, you can't die just yet. There are things you still need to do."

I lost track of the passing days, but I knew of a particular evening when I was woken up by the sounds of fire works and the festive melodies of strings and flutes. Kassashimei came barging into the hut making pleas with Auntie who was boiling more medicinal tea. Whatever she was asking for, Auntie protested, shaking her head incessantly. Shrugging her off, Kassashimei picked me up from the bed and slipped my shoes onto my feet. Against Aunties angry ramblings, she placed my arm around her shoulder and helped me outside.

Confused, but trusting, I continued to limp beside her down the center of the village where brightly colored stalls had been setup, drawing people in with food and games. The sounds of drums pulsed through the air while dancers dressed in elaborate clothing moved in rhythm to the beats.

"It's the summer festival," I said weakly.

"Of course it is," Kassashimei replied. "I told you there would be one when we got back."

She shifted my weight against hers and proceeded to guide me further down the road, taking in all the sights and sounds as we went. I looked up at the sky and watched fire works crackle against the light of the moon. Children laughed, running about with food in their hands and the prizes they'd won from the gaming stalls.

I was determined to not be a burden, so I pulled my arm from her shoulder and proceeded to walk as best as I could on my own. During my first few stumbling steps, she tried to catch me, but I gestured at her reassuringly and quickly regained my balance.

"You see? I knew all that talk about dying was just an exaggeration. You're fine."

Her tease left me grinning.

"Well I can't let you have all the fun by yourself now, can I?"

We spent the evening sampling every fried food and meat-on-a-stick that the stalls provided. Sadly, there was not much due to the war rationing, but it didn't matter. With or without the war, the summer festival remained just as joyous.

On some occasions I found it hard to keep the food down. Swallowing was as much a chore for me as walking, but Kassashimei made sure not to give me any pity. Sick or not, she was quick to point and laugh whenever I coughed out the food. Still, I was all too happy to laugh with her.