Ichiro panted as he pressed his hand against the wound to stem his bleeding. However, the effort proved to be for naught. The blood continued to flow, drenching his clothes until the coppery stench and sticky moistness were difficult to bear.

Dizzily, he thrust his head against the tree trunk behind him before closing his eyes. He'd never intended to die on this journey, yet here he was now, losing both his strength and his senses. With a weary sigh, he allowed his hand to slip to his side and gave thought to his impending fate.

He wasn't too far from the road, so with some luck, others would stumble upon his body and perform the proper funeral rites so that his soul could pass on. Perhaps, then, he would join his ancestors and offer his sister an apology for what had happened all those years ago.

The gentle rustle of leaves swaying in the wind reached his ears, and he relaxed. There was no use fighting the darkness, so he let it sweep over him and carry his mind into oblivion.

It's not so bad. Not so bad...

******

Kumiko recognized the scent of blood immediately, and her heart raced. She darted off the path in search of the source, soon coming across a sight that shocked her to the core.

Against a tree, the young traveler sat unmoving with his head slumped forward and his abdomen dark with blood. His hat lay in the grass a few shaku away while his bag was still slung across his chest. Whimpering in grief, she crept towards him to check for signs of life and resorted to nudging the left side of his body with her muzzle.

To her relief, he twitched before slowly raising his head. She retreated a little as he gazed down at her with dry eyes.

"I'm sorry, little fellow. We cannot play anymore," he managed to whisper, only for his face to contort into a grimace. He clutched a hand to his stomach while moaning weakly, then fell unconscious once more.

Kumiko realized the urgency of the situation. She had to stop his bleeding and take him somewhere safe as soon as she could. It wouldn't be proper to display her naked human form in his presence, but right now, there wasn't much choice. She took a deep breath and forced a transformation, telling herself that the illusion of being dressed could be conjured later.

After rising up on two legs and growing a new mass of shining black hair, she crouched down to tug at the young man's obi, loosening it enough that she was able to unravel it with one swift motion. Then, she parted the collar of his kosode and traced her fingers across his skin until she located the wound.

The cut was a couple of inches wide and judging by the fact that the blood around it had turned brown, the young man was not bleeding as profusely as before.

Thank heavens... Kumiko slipped a hand behind the young man's back to nudge him forward and stiffened upon feeling his warm body against hers. She swallowed. Was this how it would feel to make love to him?

No, don't think about that now! Stay focused! she chastised herself before winding the obi tightly around his abdomen and knotting both ends together. With an exhale, she shifted back to inspect her work for faults, then pondered the best way he could be transferred elsewhere.

There was no horse or wheeled transport to be seen, and although she could put her proper form to good use, she did not want to subject any passersby to needless terror.

Unless... Kumiko eyed his open kosode, noticing that there was still enough clean fabric left to fashion a makeshift rope. She could use it to secure him to her back while they traveled and, at the same time, direct some spiritual energy towards making it appear that she was fully dressed.

With renewed confidence, she lifted the young man's bag over his head and stripped off his outer garments. She couldn't help but pay attention to his sturdy shoulders, and she sucked in her breath. 

I don't mean to encroach on your modesty, but this is for your own good. I swear...

******

Alongside a travel pass and a string of coins, Kumiko had found a map of the Capital Region in his bag. A black circle drawn around the city of Sakai indicated that he hailed from there, though it was still a mystery where he'd been going.

She'd comforted herself with the thought that she would simply return his belongings later so that he could continue his journey as usual, then set off with him strapped to her back.

Now, his bare chest was warming up her skin like nothing else. She hoped for the sake of both his dignity and hers that he would not wake up again, but fortunately, he seemed to remain unconscious during the hour in which she followed the Uji river to find an old acquaintance.

As she drew closer to their residence, Kumiko found a smooth stone and cast an illusion to give it the appearance of a large cucumber. Then, she called out the name of the local kappa while waving the false prize in the air.

"Kogo! Come out. I have food for you!"

Kogo soon surfaced with a splash, revealing a water-filled cavity upon his head as he blinked his bulging eyes in irritation. "Who is it this time?!" he croaked before noticing the object in her hand and smiling bashfully at his mistake. "Oh, Kumiko, it's you. Is that what I think it is?"

"Yes, and I'll let you have it if you help me."

"All right. What do you want?"

She glanced at her own shoulder while continuing to grip the cucumber tight. "This man is in trouble. I have to get home quickly so that I can tend to his wounds."

Kogo became aware of the young man, and his smile faltered. "Oh, I see how it is. You've chosen someone besides me." 

"That's not true," Kumiko said in defense. "I'm saving him because it's the moral thing to do."

"Fool me all you want. Everyone knows that you act only in your own interests, and right now, I believe that man has something you desire."

Kumiko opened her mouth to insult Kogo, only to remember what was more important. She sighed, then admitted the truth. "You are correct. He is handsome, and I just want to bed him for one night."

"Well, good for you." Kogo flared his nostrils. "Is there anything else I can do before I speak to my friend?"

"Of course. I would like some of your medicine as well. The type that can heal any wound."

"I see. Can I eat now?"

"No," Kumiko replied, gazing at her hand. "Not until I have everything. That's how payment works."

"Well, all right." Kogo dived back underwater, causing several ripples to spread across the river's surface as Kumiko swallowed in anticipation.

A few torturous moments passed before the ground began to rumble, much to Kumiko's surprise. Her left foot slipped, and had she not regained balance by bending her knees, she would have certainly been sent sprawling.

What in the heavens?

The cause of the tremor became apparent when a long and majestic creature burst out of the water. Icy blue scales covered its body, and they glittered in the sun as it slithered onto the river bank beside her.

"Oh, my word," Kumiko murmured while scuffling backward. "You're enormous..."

"I hear that often," the dragon remarked, dropping a sealed red jar from its clawed feet. "Is this the healing salve that you wanted?"

Kumiko read the characters carved into the container and nodded. "Yes, thank you."

"You are welcome. Now, where would you like to go?"

"Mount Daigo," she responded, naming the location of Lord Tengu's domain. "Is it close enough?"

"Beyond a doubt. You may mount me now if you wish."

Kumiko stared down at the false cucumber in her hand, wondering if now was a good time to offer it to Kogo. The dragon cleared its throat.

"Hurry up. I don't have all day."

"Of course..." Kumiko felt around to make sure the wounded traveler was still secure, then, with a deep breath, tossed the cucumber into the depths of the river. It sunk with a splash, and she hoped that Kogo wouldn't be in too much of a rush to eat.

She clambered on top of the dragon's back and straddled its sides before it took off, causing both her and the young man to lurch backward. Panic overcame her, and instinctively, she grabbed at the closest thing in sight.

She apologized upon realizing that it was the dragon's feathery spine, but the creature did not seem the least bit bothered. She exhaled in relief, knowing that she had gotten away with deceiving Kogo and was finally returning home.

******

Historical Notes:

- The shaku was the old Japanese equivalent of the foot. Its length varied over time, but these days, it has been standardized as 30.3 centimeters (or 11.9 inches).

- The Capital Region, or Kinai, was the name used for the provinces surrounding the cities of Nara and Kyoto. Ichiro and Kumiko both reside in this general area.