She heard him before she saw him. He stumbled through the undergrowth before falling to the ground with a groan. Ryachi studied the young man as she moved in for a closer look. His cheeks were flushed with heat and sweat soaked the black striped yellow bandana around his head. It had been a very long time since she had seen another human being in this part of the forest. She dropped quietly to the ground beside him. Gently pushing back his black hair, she found his skin burning to the touch. She reached for his arm and pulled it over her shoulder. Gently lifting him, she worked her way through the forest towards her home. She would have to get there as soon as possible. He would need the proper herbs as quickly as possible.
Ryoga tossed and turned on the mat. Images of Akane rejecting him over and over again haunted his dreams. Then coolness swept over him, easing the pain, and the visions faded. A soft voice sang to him soothing his tortured soul. With a sigh, he eased his struggles and returned to the dreamless sleep.
Ryachi sighed with a smile. This one was a fighter, strong of will. But something haunted him, pulling him down into the blackness of despair. She stroked her fingers through his hair. Now it reached his shoulders and surrounded his face as he turned his head on the palette.
"He must be a martial artist" she whispered to herself, "His build speaks of hard training."
A blush stole across her cheeks as she recalled undressing that very body to bathe his skin. He was very handsome. She had run her hands over almost every inch of his body exploring the broad planes of his chest, the smooth muscles of his thighs. Each night she lay next to him as the chills swept through him, giving the warmth of her body and fighting the fire in her own. Soon he would wake from his fever-induced sleep and be on his way after a while.
Slowly Ryoga opened his eyes. The early morning sun burned and he quickly turned his head towards the cool interior. Again he opened them. Though blurry at first, the inside soon came into focus. The soft humming voice he had thought part of his dream became clearer. Its soft notes soothing and calming his restlessness. He followed the sound through the room until he found its source. She sat in the corner, peeling vegetables into a pot. Light glinted off the braid that lay across her shoulder and touched the floor. Bare thighs cradled the big pot between them as she reached for another vegetable.
"Who are you?" he questioned, his voice deeper than usual from disuse.
"Oh? You're awake" her smile practically lit the room, "I am so glad. For a moment there I wasn't sure you would make it. But you are strong."
"Who are you?" he repeated.
"My name is Ryachi. Who are you?" she asked as she set the pot and vegetables aside. Picking up a cup full of water she moved to kneel beside him. A gentle hand lay on his shoulder as he struggled to rise.
"Don't try to sit up yet. It is too soon after the fever for you to have the strength."
"I … how long have I been here?"
"Two turns of the moon. That would be two months," she answered as she held the cup to his lips while supporting his head on her thighs. Ryoga could feel the warmth of her body seeping into his.
"Two months?"
"Yes. You became ill in the forest. I found you and brought you here. I had all the herbs I needed to assist you. You have been here ever since. It will be a while yet before you can move about as you once did. But I will help you"
Again she smiled and Ryoga found himself returning that smile. Her green eyes held his own as he lifted his hand to touch her cheek. It felt as if his hand weighed a ton.
"I am so weak" he commented.
"No, never weak. You have been ill. You can't expect to be completely healed so soon."
"How"
"By the herbal skills of my father and the martial art skills of my mother" she said, "The combination will have you back to full strength before you know it."
"Thank you Ryachi" he gave her a tentative smile and Ryachi thought her heart would burst in her chest.
Ryoga recovered quickly with Ryachi's help. She brewed herbs for him in the morning. During the day, she trained with him to get his strength back. Her style was unlike any he had ever seen before. It was like the forest came alive with wind. He found that it complimented and enhanced his own. Soon they were training at the same level and it seemed as if they were one person. In the evenings, she would cook a delicious meal.
The only awkwardness came at night when it was time to sleep. There was only one palette. He knew the she slipped into it after he was asleep. Several times he had awoken in the middle of the night to find her warmth at his back or his body wrapped around hers in a protective cocoon. She was so warm and soft in his arms. Her breath tickled his skin as she slept. He never had the heart to disturb her but it was always more difficult to go back to sleep.
The next night, something was different. Ryachi was quieter than usual. She cooked and handed him his bowl without a word. Then she returned to sit across the fire from him.
"Ryachi?" he asked, "What is wrong?"
'You are fully healed now" she whispered.
"This makes you sad?"
"Only because now you will leave and go home" she answered honestly, "I do not know if I will see you again. Soon you will forget all about me while I will always remember you."
"I won't forget you"
"Yes, you will forget as soon as you see Akane again. I know she holds a special place in your heart. Is she your wife?"
"No she's… "
"She is your girlfriend then?"
