The Deal

"Then, I have to ask." Prince Soma looked Nobu straight in the eyes. "Are you the one that put that curse on Himari?"

There was an uncomfortable silence. Tension was forming. Sachi didn't know what they were talking about. Himari was cursed? What curse?

Nobu didn't say anything. His silence was deafening to Sachi. A knot of anxiety formed in her chest. Why wouldn't Nobu say anything?

Soma didn't back down. "Anyone with strong magical prowess can see people's magical energy. Since Himari doesn't have magical energy, only her life energy can be seen. So, I'm sure someone of your strength can tell that Himari's life energy is fading at an alarming rate. One's life energy does not change drastically for no reason. I have known Himari ever since we were small and her energy never changed before, so why is her light diminishing? I will ask you again. Are you the one that put a curse on Himari?"

Nobu's eyes narrowed, and his voice grew dark. "And what if I am?"

Sachi felt a sharp pain in her chest. Was Himari dying because of Nobu? Sachi wanted to speak but her voice wouldn't leave her throat. 

"Then you leave me no choice..." With a chill, Soma summoned a cold blade in his hand. He lunged forward quietly and swiftly. 

Nobu was unfazed and didn't move as Soma approached him.

Soma swung his blade at Nobu. But Nobu was suddenly pulled back, and Soma's blade met another blade instead of reaching Nobu.

Himari who had been looking through books on her own felt Soma's cold chill and had rushed over to find out what was going on. She unsheathed the sword Nobu created for her, pulled Nobu back, and blocked Soma's attack.

Once Soma realized it was Himari, he quickly pulled back. "Himari... What are you doing? He's dangerous."

Himari stood her ground, placing herself between Nobu and Soma. "Soma, I can't have you hurting my bodyguard."

Soma scoffed. "Bodyguard? He's supposed to protect you? He's slowly killing you. Don't you know that?"

Himari sighed and put her sword away. "So, this is what this is about? I know that already."

"Huh?" Sachi and Soma were both taken aback.

Himari continued. "Nobu is not at fault. I made that choice myself..."

-

12-year-old Himari fell through the sky and crashed into the flying young Nobu. Luckily, Nobu was able to catch Himari.

Nobu groaned and his eyes widened. He didn't expect for someone to fall on him, much less a human. This was the first time he ever saw a human. 

Himari, whose eyes were glazed over, hugged Nobu. "Thank you for saving me. Can you bring me home?" Himari pointed up towards to the island she came from.

Nobu hesitated. Is it a trap? But he looked into Himari's eyes, and he didn't feel any malicious intent. He slowly flew Himari back to the island and dropped her off on the edge. Nobu turned to fly away but Himari grabbed Nobu's hand. "Can I go with you?" Himari pleaded softly.

"What about your home?" Nobu asked.

Himari's hands gripped at her clothes. Her eyes looked as though they would give way to a flood at any moment. Her voice shook as she spoke. "I think my parents are mad at me... I don't think I can go home until I keep my promise... Then... Then they won't be mad anymore..."

"What promise?"

"I need to learn magic and make them happy. You're a Tengu aren't you? You know magic right? Can you teach me?"

"Aren't you afraid of me?" 

"No. Why would I be? You're nice." 

"But look at me. I'm a monster." Nobu's features were less human like. His red skin, sharp teeth, and black feathers had to be scary to the human child. He had been told his whole life that humans feared his kind because humans saw them as monsters. He was taught to be wary of humans should he ever encounter one for due to their prejudice they would attack with no hesitation. But this human didn't seem to be afraid or dangerous like he had been told.

Himari looked at Nobu confused. "You're no monster. You're a kid like me."

Nobu was surprised by Himari's words. This was nothing like what he had been told. Where was the hate? The violence? The prejudice? Maybe the humans aren't that bad?

Nobu thought long and hard about what to do with Himari.

Himari spoke up, interrupting Nobu's thoughts. "I'll be really good. I won't cause you any trouble. Please teach me. You're my only hope." 

Nobu still stayed silent. He didn't think it was a good idea to get involved. "Look, you seem nice, but I really shouldn't get involved with humans. I can't trust you."

"What if we make a deal?" 

"Huh?"

"I read in a book once that Yokai will do things as long you make a pact with them. If you teach me magic then I will give you something in exchange, that way we can also trust each other."

"Making a deal with a Yokai is dangerous for a human though."

"That's okay. I can handle it." Himari's eyes fired with determination. "What do you want in return?"

Nobu recalled stories the elders of the mountain told him about how the humans, Tengu, and Tsuchigumo lived together in peace long ago. About how the Yokai were able to take on human appearances and live among the humans. He wondered how life with humans was. How life outside the mountain was. He wanted to experience it. But even if this child wasn't afraid of him, didn't mean the rest also wouldn't be. "I want to look more like a human..."

"Huh? Why?"

"I want to fit in and live life like you."

"I don't think you need to change how you look though."

Nobu snapped. "You don't understand! My kind is hated because of how we look and who we are. I don't want to live like that if I'm going to enter the human world."

Himari's voice got quiet. "I'm sorry for being ignorant. I understand what you're saying. I want to fit in too... That's why I need to learn magic... Let's help each other out."

Nobu thought for a moment.

"Please!" Himari begged in desperation.

"Oh! Oh alright!" Nobu sighed giving in.  "I'll teach you." 

Himari jumped up and down in excitement. "Thank you! I'm Himari by the way. Now let's make the deal." She extended her hand.

"Nobutoshi." He reluctantly took her hand. "We don't have to make the deal..."

"You said yourself you can't trust me, so making a deal will give you reason to trust me. Now let's see... You'll teach me magic, and I must make you look human? How do I do that though?"

"I would just need some of your magical energy to add to my powers and then I should be able to make it happen."

"Sounds simple enough. But we can't do it here. We'll have to find another island."

Nobu transformed into his crow form. "It'll be easier to carry you this way, get on."

Himari carefully climbed on to Nobu's back. Nobu took off, the two of them searching for an island to call home. On the flight over, Himari explained her situation of how she hasn't been able to unlock her magic and about how she ended up falling in the sky. 

Nobu and Himari finally came across a poor low populated island where they found a cave to stay in.

Nobu started a fire with his magic. "Shall we get started?"

Himari nodded.

"I've never done this before. I only know how to do this in theory, but I'm confident I can do it" Nobu continued. "Since you haven't been able to unlock your powers, I'll give you some of my magical energy and swap it with yours. My magical energy should awaken your powers, and I'll use your magical energy to give me a human appearance."

"What do I need to do?"

"Just follow my lead." Nobu said confidently.

The fire crackled softly in the cave, the air heavy with intent.

Nobu created a magic circle around the both of them. The circle glowed faintly even in the low light. "This will open the space between your energy and mine. Once we're connected, we trade what we agreed."

Himari took a deep breath. "I'm ready."

"Whatever happens, do not pull away."

They sat across from each other within the circle. Himari placed her hands in his, her breath quick and shallow.

Nobu concentrated on his magical energy, feeling it within the core of his very being. The circle pulsed. His power flared. "Feel the energy within yourself. Let it move through you. I'll guide the flow." 

Himari focused to find her energy within herself. A faint thread of golden energy rose from her chest.

"There you go. I can feel it. Your magic is awakening." Nobu explained.

But what flowed from her wasn't magic. It was warmer, denser, and frighteningly bright. Not arcane, but vital. Her life force.

"Wait... This isn't-" But the pact was locked before Nobu could finish. His body drank in Himari's energy hungrily. 

Himari's head snapped back as light spilled from her chest. "It burns..." Nobu panicked, trying to pull back and stop the pact, but it was too late. The circle sealed. His own power surged forward, flowing into Himari, twisting through the golden light she had given him. Her hands convulsed. Her veins lit with his dark crimson power - not awakening her own but clashing with what little of her remained. Himari cried out in pain and fell back. 

Nobu crawled to her side. "Himari...? Are you...?"

Himari stirred. Her skin was pale. Sweat clung to her brow. Her eyes fluttered open, but her pupils were glassy. Her breathing was shallow. "Nobu..."

"It's Nobutoshi."

"That's too long..."

Nobu sighed. "Seeing as you can talk you seem alright..."

Himari coughed. "I don't... feel right..." 

"Because it wasn't right. It wasn't magic. You don't have any."

"But you said it was awakening..."

"I was wrong. What you gave me wasn't magical energy. It was part of your life energy."

Himari's eyes widened. "What does that mean?"

"It means... I hurt you... I didn't mean to... I'm so sorry..." Nobu sat back, the horror settling in. What have I done? I should never have gotten involved. 

Himari grimaced as she slowly sat up. "It's okay. It's not your fault. You only did what I asked of you... Is there any way to undo it?"

"I gave you some of my magic, but because you have no aptitude for magic, your body cannot carry it. It will destroy you from the inside. To remove it, I would have to give you something back in return. But your life energy has already mixed with mine. I cannot easily separate them..."

Himari sighed. "I guess there's nothing we can do..."

"No. I will become stronger. I will become strong enough to separate your life energy from mine and return it to you. I will become strong enough to fix this." Nobu's heart was filled with determination. "Until then, I will protect you and make it up to you." Nobu used his magic to create a small whistle and hand it to Himari. "If ever we're apart, use this to call me and I will be there for you no matter what."

Himari stared at the whistle. "You don't have to go this far... It's not your fault."

"Even if you say it's not my fault. I feel responsible, so I will fix this." Nobu's eyes were full of resolve.

"Alright... Well, if you can't teach me magic, can you at least teach me how to use a sword and to fight?"

"Compared to your last request, this seemed reasonable." Nobu chuckled softly.

"What about your human appearance?" Himari finally asked.

Nobu had forgotten all about it. But now the wish he had desired felt tainted. "I can live without it..."

"Hey! I gave you life for it. While I think you look fine as you are now, I also think not looking like a human after the trouble we went through would be pretty selfish."

Nobu flinched. Himari's argument was hard to refute. "Okay..." Nobu concentrated on the energy Himari gave him. He glowed a soft gold until his skin matched Himari's, his teeth were no longer pointy, and his wings were absorbed into his back. "So...?"

Himari smiled. "You look nice."

-

"You see, it wasn't Nobu's fault. It was my own selfishness that got me in this position." Himari finished. 

Soma put away his sword and lowered his head. "I'm sorry for trying to attack you..."

A tear slowly fell down Sachi's cheek and her voice broke. "Himari... Are you really dying?" Sachi's heart ached. Was her first friend going to die?

Himari hugged Sachi. "Hey, it's okay. I'm fine really."

"She's not going to die. I won't let it happen." Nobu said sternly. "I am a man of his word. I will find a way to fix it."

Himari rolled her eyes. "Yeah yeah. Seriously, you guys are making this into too big of a deal."

"It is a big deal. Your energy is fading fast." Soma turned to Nobu. "I can tell you've grown very strong. Your magical energy is even on par with mine. Why have you not been able to give her energy back yet?"

"It's harder to separate than you might think. Life energy is really fragile and if I don't handle it carefully then I will do more harm than good. I need to give her back only her life energy to take back my magic. If I give her back her energy with even a little bit of mine then it'll make the exchange unbalanced, causing Himari harm."

"I trust Nobu. He has always kept his word. So, I am not worried about it, and neither should either of you." Himari said.

Sachi hugged Himari tighter. Afraid if she let go then Himari would be gone. "We'll find a way. We have to."

Himari smiled as she hugged Sachi back.

Suddenly the ground began to violently shake, and the bookcases began to tip. 

Another tremor.

The four of them lost their balance and fell to the floor. 

This tremor was larger than the previous two.