Watcher of the Woods: Breaking Up

Chapter 4: Breaking Up


 "Tengu!" I screamed.

A thin silver line severed the demon’s arm, and it dropped to the ground. The demon screamed. My ears were hurting, and I covered them with my hands. Blood was slipping from the demons stub where his arm was cut off.

 "Get out of the way!" Tengu's voice yelled.

I moved, and tripped to the ground. I heard screaming, and looked. Tengu had the demon pinned to the tree, with a sword of some kind. It had many blades coming out of the main blade, and was glowing green. Then the demon reached out with his other arm.

 "Watch out!" I yelled.

Tengu dodge it, causing him to back off a little, which gave the demon a change to attack him. The demon growl, as he slammed Tengu against the tree.

 No, I thought. I have to do something! I looked around for something. I saw a branch that fell off a tree. It was just enough for me to lift. I got behind the demon, raised the branch, and hit the demon in the back of its head. The demon made an oaf sound, and then turned its ugly self toward me, dropping Tengu.

 “Run!” Tengu yelled.

I turned and ran away, hearing the demon and Tengu fighting. Then, I heard a scream, and then nothing. I stopped, and leaned against a tree, catching my breath, “Tengu?”

 “I’m fine.” I heard behind me. Causing me to jump around and went into defense mode. Karate Kid!

 Tengu blinks, his clothes were stained with blood from the demon, and then he started laughing.

I straightened, and cleared my throat, “I-Is that demon?”

 “Dead? Yes.” Tengu laughed, his hand covered his mouth.
 I blushed, “Oh.” He laughed more. My eye twitched, “What is so funny?”
 Tengu, coughed, stopping his laughter. “Nothing. Just, what was that pose you did?”.
 I flushed, and cursed myself for that. “It was….”
 “Were you going to turn into a bird, and fly away?” Tengu said, with his voice cracking into laughter. “I didn’t think a human had that type of ability.”
 “No, I guess not.” I groaned, “It wasn’t that. Have you ever watch The Karate Kid Movie?”
 Tengu, stops laughing, cock his head like a dog, and asked, “What is The Karate Kid Movie? What is a movie?”
 “Never mind.” I said, turning around and leaned my forehead on the tree. I sighed, and then I felt a sharp pain on the side of my stomach, and hissed in pain, “Oh.”.
 “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” Tengu said, seriously. Over his laughter spell.
 I cleared my throat, and said, “Nothing. Just when I fell back there, I must have hurt myself. There were roots sticking up from the ground. I think I just bruised myself.”
 “Let me see?” Tengu said. His hand lifted my shirt some and I slightly jerk, my heart beating faster than normal. Tengu paid no attention has he looked at my side, “I see. You’re going to be sore for a while.”
 I noticed the bruise. It was purplish black, and was a size of a fist. It looked like; I was punched instead of falling onto a root. I sighed and laid my head on the tree, “If my mom see’s this. She’ll have a heart attack.”.
 Tengu continued to look. I felt his fingers softly touch the bruise. I felt cool stuff smooth over. “What are you doing?” I looked at him.
 He had a pouch in his hand, and was rubbing green stuff on my bruise. “This will help it. By the time you get home, the bruise should be about healed.” He looked up and continued, “You were something back there. You have a lot of courage to hit a demon like that. Most humans panic and runaway, not help me.” I saw his cheeks warmed.
 I felt my cheeks warm also; his hand was still under my shirt, right below the bruise. My speech was failing, “I-I-I… It was nothing really.”
 Tengu smiled, and then stood up, his hand moved to my shoulder, “No. It was you. You are a strong woman. You were braver than most men.”.
 I blushed, and looked away. “I don’t know about that.”
 “I do.” He said. I looked at him. His ears were back, as he continued, “Once, a human man was in here. He was drunk, and couldn’t tell exactly were he was going. I watched him, to make sure he got out, but a demon was about to attack him, and I was forced to show myself, and fight that demon. The man, watched for a second, then hightailed it out of here, and never looked back to see if I was all right. He was a coward. However, you actually tried to help me back there. And, I-”. His lips press over mine, and kissed gently, then said, “And I am grateful, but you will never do that again!” He slightly yelled, knocking me out of my dazed from the kiss.
 “Hu-Huh?!”
 Tengu looked upset, he started to pace back and forth, “I have never been so worried in all my four hundred and twenty years!”
 “F-four hundred?” I asked, but he kept pacing and mumbling.
 “I felt this hurt in my chest! I have never felt before I met you! How am I going to explain this to the council? A human is not supposed to know of us. And I….” He stopped and looked up, and said, “And I’m at fault if you get hurt, Asa”
 “I didn’t get that hurt.” Nevertheless, he kept pacing, and mumbling.
 “I can’t let that happen again. I think it’s best if you stay away from”
 “No!” I yelled, stopping his pacing.
 “No? Asami, you could have been killed! I know the council would have covered that up, but I couldn’t get over the guilt of losing you.” Tengu quickly turned away, and said, “For the safety of you, I am forbidden you from coming back here.”.
 “What?” I asked, my hands fisting.
 “I forbid you to come back here ever again. You must understand, Asami, that these woods are a danger to you, and other humans. I am the guardian of this woods, and must do my job to protect it, and any humans who trespass into here. As you saw, demons are real, and you are their meal.”
 “Then, why haven’t you ate me yet?” I asked, swallowing. He straightened, tensed. “You are a demon, right? But, you-”
 “I am a demon. I’m no different from that demon I killed in order to protect you. I can easily tear your throat out in a heat beat if I wanted too.”
 “I-I’m sure you can, Tengu.” I swallowed back my tears. His ears twitch. “B-But why am I not scared of you? Do you know?” My voice cracked some but I fought against it, and continued, “I do, Tengu. It’s cause I love-”
 
 “Stop, Asami.” He said in a harsh tone that cause me to jump. “I knew I shouldn’t have allowed you here. We can not continue our relationship. We are too different. I have my reasonability’s to this forest and the council. You’re just in the way.”

That was a knife to my heart. “Wha-. Tengu, no, we were laughing a while ago, how can you-”
 “I am a demon, I can.” He turned toward me. His eyes serious. “You do not realize the dangers’ if we continue our relationship. You can be killed by any demon who comes here. Even the council will have you dispose of if they find out. So, we end here, today. I’m sure you will find any other male, human male to have a relationship with.”
 “No!” I shouted, tears were threaten to fall, I clenched my teeth and said, “I don’t care if I get killed, or what ever the council wants to do to me, Tengu. I want to be with you!”
 Tengu’s ears twitch but his face was still serious, “But, I do care Asami.”
 I blinked, and tears spilled over my cheeks. Tengu, caresses my cheek, and said, “I am sorry. It would be better, and safer, for you, if we do not see each other anymore. You must understand that, Asa.”
 “Better for whom?” I asked, lowering my head, “Fine, Tengu. I won’t be a bother to you anymore. Just forget that I love you.” Tengu’s finger stalled over my cheek as he was gently stroking my cheek. “Just forget everything. I know you can, since you are a demon, right? You may forget but I will not!” I jerked away from him and ran out of the woods and home, leaving him standing with his hand where my cheek was. I couldn’t tell if he was happy or not. I didn’t look back. My vision were blurry, and tears wet my cheeks.