They had been walking together for at least an hour when it seemed Ichiro could no longer remain silent. "I hope this isn't too forward, but I'd like to know more about who you really are. Your kind are still a mystery to me."

"I suppose it's fair," Kumiko mumbled, since this was something which she'd been dreading. "Where would you like me to start?"

"I'm not so sure. I have countless questions..." Ichiro gazed at the sky for a few moments, then relaxed his neck. "All right. You could start by telling me where you came from originally."

Kumiko couldn't remember being anywhere outside of Japan, so the answer was clear. "This land has always been my home. I have yet to see the world beyond."

"So, you're just like many others. I don't have the courage to traverse the ocean either. It frightens me."

The truth was that Kumiko didn't wish to go to the trouble of learning another language, but she nodded and awaited Ichiro's next question.

"Which part of this country are you from? And who are your parents?"

Kumiko sighed. Having family was a luxury among kitsune, and the arbitrary place names given by humans were hardly important to a cub exploring their surroundings. "I have no idea of either. And it doesn't matter anyway."

Ichiro regarded her with pity as expected. "You shouldn't think that. Home and family are what people need to thrive."

"I am no person."

"You are one to me."

Ichiro reached out to clasp her left arm, which forced Kumiko to stop. She spun around and her mind reeled when she saw the tenderness and longing in his eyes. He wore the look of a man blinded by love, and in the tense silence, Kumiko half expected him to kiss her.

Her heart pounded when his grasp loosened, and he retreated in shame. "Forgive me. I couldn't help myself..."

"It's no trouble," Kumiko made an effort to assure him, even though she would have been more than willing to return the favor. "We all have our times of weakness."

Ichiro refused to turn and face her. "You don't understand. Kumiko, I..." He clenched his fists and let out a groan that suggested his heart was in pain. "I want you to be happy," he finally confessed with a tremble in his voice. "Whether in solitude or in the company of others. I can only hope it will be the latter..." 

He exhaled and strode past her with a stony countenance. "Let us not waste our time talking. The day is limited."

******

As if to echo the sorrow and confusion brewing within her, the sky became overcast and brought a steady shower of rain down on Kumiko as she staggered along behind Ichiro. Mud and damp grass soiled her socks, which caused her feet to feel heavier with each step she took.

Sure enough, Kumiko began to lose strength. Her stomach rumbled as a result of the meager breakfast she'd had that morning, and she reached out in desperation, hoping to capture Ichiro's attention.

He twitched before her fingers could even meet his body. Without further hesitation, he removed his wide-brimmed hat and passed it towards her. "Put this on and keep your head dry. Don't worry about me."

"You fool," she murmured, stunned by his charity. "You'll catch a cold."

"And I'd gladly do so for your sake," Ichiro explained. "Besides, we should be arriving at Uji soon."

For some reason, Kumiko felt her strength return and she guided Ichiro's arm away. "Don't be silly, getting sick will be far worse for you than it is for me. Put your hat back on."

Ichiro stared at her like she was insane, all the while heedless to the rain soaking his hair and clothes. "I beg your pardon?"

"I'm five hundred years old and I can conjure up fire," Kumiko snapped at him. "If there's anyone who needs protecting, it's you!"

Ichiro swallowed as his eyes became devoid of emotion. He placed his hat back on with difficulty and shuffled away. "I see. That is a long time indeed..."

Kumiko realized her terrible mistake and could only keep silently abreast of him from then on. She had clearly waited too long to disclose her real age, and now she would have to deal with the unpleasant consequences.

The rain continued to drench parts of her body in ways that Kumiko had forgotten were possible. She sneezed and released a tiny puff of smoke that went unseen by Ichiro, for he was busy hurrying towards the bridge up ahead.

If her memory was reliable, it would take them right over a wide section of the Uji river and allow them to reach the nearby town soon. Kumiko smiled in relief at the thought of finding new shelter, only for all hope to vanish when she and Ichiro began to cross the bridge.

Something more dangerous than the rain was disturbing the water from beneath and causing it to bubble like soup in a pot. Kumiko knew of only one creature able to do such a thing, so she raced in front of Ichiro and cut off his path.

"Get back!" she cried while extending her arms and trying to keep her voice steady. "The river dragon knows who we are!"

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"No time to explain! We have to go!" Kumiko grabbed Ichiro's arm and began to drag him off the bridge with her. He resisted just as she feared.

"Enough of this madness!" Ichiro shouted while driving his fingers between her palm and his damp sleeve. "Why should I turn back now?"

"Because I-" Kumiko's attempt at an honest confession was interrupted by the enormous scaly creature that shot its way out of the Uji river. The speed and force of its movement resulted in a burst of water strong enough to not only drench her and Ichiro completely but knock them off the bridge as well.

There was scant time to even scream in the moment it took for them to hit the rushing water and become separated by a violent current. Kumiko floundered in an effort to keep her head above the surface whilst darting her eyes around in search of Ichiro.

An unwelcome chance of salvation came in the form of the river dragon swooping down to hover beside her. It's piercing yellow eyes shifted in her direction. "Get on my back, or I leave your lover to drown. The choice is yours."

The right action was obvious, and Kumiko used the dragon's thick scales to support her feet as she hoisted herself up. Then, the dragon dipped its clawed feet in the water to retrieve Ichiro's wet and senseless body before taking flight with the young man locked in its grasp like some unfortunate prey.

Kumiko shut her eyes to block out the sight, for she knew then that her rash actions would finally become her undoing, and it would be nobody's fault but hers if Ichiro died today.