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The breeze swept through the trees, rusling leaves as it went. Atsushi basked in the warmth of day while enjoying the cool wind. It was beautiful, almost as beautiful as the sight below him.
“Please don’t look so grim,” A blonde woman walked along the dirt path that cut through his forest home. Next to her, was a human by the name of Ryunosuke. “It’s a nice day out.”
Ryunosuke wore a scowl when not accompanied by his sister. He walked at pace brisk enough to cause concern for those who had seen him start coughing from the overexertion. His hair was strange, dyed white at the tips and almost unnaturally black everywhere else.
Atsushi moved closer to the path to watch the two humans. He followed them through the woods with a smile. It had been two weeks since summer started and two weeks since he’d started visiting Atsushi’s home. In that time, Atsushi had developed a strong fascination with him… Something that most humans might label a crush.
“I don’t need to be babysat,” Ryunosuke turned to his partner with a withering glare. Most would shrink back from it but she stood tall. Behind her, Atsushi did the same.
“That’s not what this is,” His partner stepped closer to him, a smile on her face. Where Ryunosuke was dark, most of the people around him could be almost blindingly bright. “Gin just didn’t want you to be lonely.”
Instead of responding, Ryunosuke turned away looking slightly embarrassed. It was cute. Atsushi watched with a fond smile, appreciating the other’s prickly exterior.
The sun bore down in Atsushi’s forest harsher than usual. The occupants of his path didn’t notice the offensive rays as the spirit moved the trees to give them shelter. It was a simple act for a creature like him as he had dominion over this forest. If he really wanted to, he could trap Ryunosuke and his sister among the trees, never to be seen by mortals again...
But that would be wrong. The mere thought of it made Atsushi feel sick. He didn’t want that fate for anyone, no matter how much he liked seeing the human. He liked the freedom the humans below him had, it was something that didn't come nearly as easily to other creatures.
Besides, the human came to his home nearly every day without any sort of prompting. It was more than enough to watch him and his partners have a leisurely stroll. Happiness looked good on Ryunosuke.
As the weather began to cool, Ryunosuke’s visits began to decrease. Atsushi watched from red tinted leaves as the human walked alone down his path. Recently, it had become a common sight to see him in the forest alone, something he never would have thought of in the summer.
It was nice, even if the human did break out into coughing fits more often. Even if he had darker rings under his eyes each day. Even if his walks took longer and longer each day.
Atsushi accompanied him these times. He made sure the human was never alone, that he helped wherever he could. He pulled at the vitality of the forest itself, even as its energy declined with autumn. He tried his best to channel it into Ryunosuke, watching in delight as the human stood up straighter with the spirit by his side.
Three weeks. Atsushi waited for his favorite human for three weeks before he finally came back. A sense of relief flooded him at the sight of Ryunosuke and Gin alive and well… Well, not quite.
Ryunosuke looked paler than he had during the warmer weather. Atsushi knew that some humans had a fragile constitution. He knew that they were not as sturdy nor longlasting as his kind. It still hurt to see Ryunosuke looking so frail. It hurt even more to think about the idea of him disappearing forever.
Atsushi knew that humans didn’t last forever. There was something beautiful about their fleeting nature. Like flowers or the fireworks that humans seemed so fond of, Atsushi couldn’t help but find himself drawn to this human whose existence was more fleeting than most. He couldn’t help but appreciate his prickly exterior, his strength, his humanity.
It was obvious that he was much different that the human he admired, some of his kind may even argue that humanity was incompatible with beings like themselves. That didn’t stop him from following the two humans out of the forest. It wasn’t the first time he’d ever left, but it certainly was the furthest he’d ever gone as he walked with them through a maze of concrete and metal.
The weather grew ever colder. Ryunosuke stopped going on walks. Atsushi sat by his side, unseen but hopefully not unfelt. If he could have dominion over this place, he’d make sure that the human would never want for anything. Unfortunately, his powers hardly extended beyond his home. Even interacting with the human world was taxing enough to leave him drained of energy for an entire day.
But it was worth it. Atsushi rested his hand on Ryunosuke’s, frowning at how cold he was. It wasn’t how humans were supposed to be, that much was obvious from how warm his companions were. He did his best to help, focusing on the muted hum of the forest’s life. He channeled it into the human as best he could, his vision blurring as he did.
It was only once he felt lightheaded that he stopped. And he didn’t regret it. The sight of Ryunosuke’s cheeks gaining just a bit more color was enough to assure him that he was doing something of worth.
Snow fell onto the city below. Cold seeped in from the windows, doing its best to ruin the cozy home that had been so carefully cultivated for Ryunosuke. Atsushi wished he could keep it at bay, but there was little he could do. The forest was dormant which meant his connection was all but severed unless he returned. It hurt. A physical ache had taken a constant spot in his chest, only dulled when he saw Ryunosuke's increasingly rare moments of peace.
“Do you like the snow?” Atsushi asked a sleeping Ryunosuke. He’d taken to resting during the days as fits of coughs kept him up late into the night. It was horrible to watch him wretch and gasp for breath. The thought of not being by his side felt even more horrible. “I think it’s nice. I know it doesn't last forever but... Isn't that the beauty of it?”
In his forest, he’d watch the snow fall during the winter. He'd hold snowflakes in his hands and admire the intricate shapes before they could melt. The cold would seep into his bones, leaving behind a pleasant chill. Now, he felt unnatural warmth. It left him feeling weak, powerless to help the one thing he wanted to grab hold of.
“Ryu!” Gin rushed to Ryunosuke’s prone form. He coughed as if there was something trying to exit his body. Atsushi kneeled behind him, a hand on his back. He couldn’t feel the forest or its power, but he could at least try to offer his own power to help.
Color did not return to the human’s cheeks. It didn’t matter how much of his own energy he pushed into him, it did little to ease his suffering. It did nothing to stop the drops of red which fell from his mouth.
Atsushi watched on helplessly as blood poured from the human’s mouth. He sat uselessly as he gasped for air that his lungs refused to accept. He followed him and his sister as men took him away, holding his hand all the while.
Atsushi sat outside Ryunosuke’s room. He stayed there as nurses and doctors hurried by. They couldn’t see him in this form. No human could. And yet, it still didn’t feel right to sneak into Ryunosuke’s room. Entering without permission felt wrong in a way he couldn’t explain.
Sometimes Gin walked by. Her face grew more grave by the day. Doctors visited Ryunosuke more frequently. It was clear enough that he wasn’t doing well.
It took a week for Atsushi to work up the courage. He entered behind a doctor only to regret it.
Ryunosuke was pale, much more than he’d ever seen him, even after he’d collapsed on the floor. His chest rose and fell in a weak, unsteady pace. A mask sat over his face, pumping oxygen into his weak lungs. Despite that, he still coughed. The sound was loud and rattling, a sign that he likely didn’t have much time left…
But Atsushi still had plenty of time. The realization hit him so suddenly. Creatures like him lived for thousands of years. Surely, he could give Ryunosuke some of his own time. It was a little more draining than what he’d been doing before but there was no reason why it wouldn’t work. Besides, if it meant his favorite human could feel better, he’d gladly do whatever he could. He’d make any sacrifices he needed if only to see Ryunosuke standing on his own once again.
Atsushi spent his days by Ryunosuke’s side. The human was doing much better than he had been previously. The doctors had called it a miracle, they’d given him months in exchange for Atsushi’s years.
But that was enough for now.
As long as Ryunosuke was okay, he would be too.
It wasn’t long before those months began to dwindle. Ryunosuke’s health once again began to decline. His vitality slowly drained from him as Atsushi watched. His breath grew shorter with horrible coughing fits punctuating his words more often than not.
It was only a matter of time before Ryunosuke was whisked away again. This time, he stayed by his side every moment of the day.
Doctors frequently came to check on Ryunosuke. They commented quietly on his worsening condition. Atsushi did all he could but his years turned from months to days, days to hours. It wasn’t enough. No matter how much he gave, it wasn’t enough to keep him alive. At this rate, Atsushi would run out of time, and they’d expire together…
And yet, he still had so much energy. Even as he shaved millenia from his life, that energy that thrummed beneath his skin, that which he’d shared with Ryunosuke already, never truly faded. It was the force that sustained him, that would eventually go on to form a new life once he was gone.
But why form a new life when he could save an existing one?
“Please Ryunosuke,” Atsushi held Ryunosuke’s hand. He didn’t have much time left, neither of them did. But still, he would do anything to make his beloved human happy. If giving the rest of his life was the way to do it then what other course was there to take?
“Please live.”
A soft breeze ran through the air. Buds on trees were shaking but didn’t budge. New life clung stubbornly to the old. Ryunosuke watched in wonder.
Spring had never been a pleasant time of year for him in the past. Pollen would agitate his already weakened immune system forcing him to either stay inside or stubbornly persist. Now, however, he could freely breathe in the fresh air, unimpeded by the weakness of his own body.
A miracle.
That’s what the doctors had said. His momentary recoveries in the past had been pure luck, his lungs clearing just before they gave out was nothing short of a miracle. It was a chance at a life he’d never planned on having. Most might see it as a second chance, he saw it as a first.
And yet, there was a strange heaviness to everything he did now. A warm weight pressing down on him, gentle but everpresent. His sister had once said it was relief, the stress of knowing his life could be cut short at any moment evaporating. But Ryunosuke knew that wasn’t the case. Even if he couldn’t explain it, he knew this was something stronger than relief, stronger than anything else he’d ever felt.
This feeling was love, eternal but forever unrequited and unknown.