Not Quite a Falling Star

Chapter 2

The young woman returned to the tengu's location as the sun moved passed noon. He held a similar position to the one she had last seen him in, but his head was leaning to one side.

"Hey!" she yelled as she approached him.

His shoulders twitched and there was a pause before his response. "Oh, you're back."

He spoke with a much more subdued tone than earlier. The young woman could not discern if he was exhausted, bored, or both.

"So, are you better yet?"

"Hmmm?"

"It's been a few hours."

The tengu adjusted his shoulders comfortably and moved his wings accordingly. Light glimmered over the dark wings as they shifted. It was a bit unnerving for the human observer. The yokai smiled at her unease.

"Of course, I am. I was sleeping to accelerate the progress."

Something in his voice caused the woman to doubt his words.

"Of course, you were," she toyed, "Get up, then."

His face straightened with incredulity, "You expect me to get up because you tell me to get up?"

"I don't know if that was supposed to be intimidating? It sure sounded childish to me!" She surprised herself with her pluck.

What was she thinking? Was she trying to aggravate the beast? Was she trying to insult him? Either one was wrong. She found herself annoyed with the stubborn creature and annoyed with herself.

Wings flapped from their seated position effortlessly. Their size disturbed the air. The woman's spine flinched, but her feet were firmly planted on the forest floor. The display was elegant and powerful, until the tengu placed his palms down to stand. The moment his weight shifted to the core of his body he winced and cried out. Despite ample opportunity to mock him, the woman expressed only concern and rushed to his side.

"Please be careful!" she urged as she kneeled in front of him.

"It just hasn't been enough time, that's all. I thought a day had passed but it's just a few hours. We don't perceive time the same way you do," he spoke with a low voice, averted eyes, and bright red cheeks.

Who would have thought that tengu blushed? His embarrassment was charming, but it was evident he was being untruthful.

Adjusting her boyish voice to sound comforting, she said, "My name is Jade. What's yours?"

"I'm Ryūsei...I've never told my name to a human before. Aren't you being a bit forward?" He finally turned his gaze towards the young woman.

"And I'm going to continue being forward. Something is wrong, isn't it? You really should be a bit better now, but you're not. What's going on?"

"I thought I told you to leave." Resentment burned in his eyes.

Jade ignored his comment and settled herself more comfortably on the ground in front of him. She crossed her legs and placed a cantina in her lap.

"Do you know how easily I could kill you?" Ryūsei insisted on being bitter.

Shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly, Jade opened the cantina and insisted on being gentle, "Would you like some water?"

"What makes you think I drink water?"

"Well, I can see that you're sweating. I don't know what tengu drink and eat, but I know when I sweat, I get thirsty."

Ryūsei lifted his hand to his neck and then his forehead to feel the moisture. Resignation filled his eyes. "I guess I'll have some water."

Jade smiled and happily handed him the container, "Sip it slowly, OK?"

The water was cool and refreshing. Despite his pride, Ryūsei followed the woman's advice. She was kind, but her nearness to his injured body made him edgy. He knew little of humans. There were countless stories that described their weakness, treachery, and cowardice, but this human displayed none of that. This only served to increase his unease. How deep would she humiliate him? Did she plot to betray him?

"Ryūsei," she said softly, "How did you get that gash on your stomach? It wasn't from falling, was it? It's what caused you to fall, isn't it?

"It was from a sword. That's all you need to know. Now I know you don't plan to leave, but I see that a rare opportunity has arisen." He was smiling again.

Jade swiftly became distrustful of his smirk, but she decided to inquire about this opportunity, "And what would that be?"

"You see, I rarely associate with humans, but some years ago, I had the pleasure of tasting some sweet human-made doughy things...I think they were called pastries! Well, I very much would delight in some of those pastries. Some of them had fruit on them. Can you bring some back for me?"

Pastries. He went from threatening to kill her to asking for pastries. Her day was anything but boring. She would entertain his request, but only as a negotiating tool.

"I can do that, but I have two favors to ask in return. The first would be that you let me take another look at your injury."

The tengu tensed up and protested, "Absolutely not! It's already wrapped up and the bleeding has stopped, what more can be done?"

"Ryūsei, am I wrong to suspect that you are not healing properly and that you feel strange?"

"I feel strange because the air is thick with human stench!"

"Listen, I think you've been poisoned," She said forcefully.

Poison. The foul word burned a frightening image in his mind. 

" ...Retsu wouldn't...no...that can't be right..." the tengu's voice drifted and his lip trembled.

His words came slowly but his attitude shifted swiftly. With unsteady hands, he began to peel back the wrapped cloth around his torso.

"Be careful, you don't want to start it bleeding again," Jade cautioned.

The cloth was removed just enough to reveal the skin bordering the gash. It was no longer ivory, or even pink. The skin had turned an alarming mottled green. Ryūsei felt his sickness increase at the sight. Jade observed his face grow pale and terrified.

"I'm going to do everything I can to help you get better, OK? Do you know of an antidote?"

"No, I don't know of one," he said listlessly, "but it probably won't kill me, it'll just...never mind. Please just leave me be. I want to be alone."

"I understand. I will be back later. If you still don't want company, I'll just leave a few pastries nearby."

Footsteps carried her back to the trail. The last thing she wanted to do was leave his side, but she knew, by his melancholy tone, that he needed space.

"Oh, my second favor, is that you don't move about recklessly. Please just take care of yourself."