Eyes of Kindness

Izayoi

His eyes were not the eyes of humans, but in them there was a kindness and understanding, something that I hadn't seen in human eyes in a long time.

He suddenly spoke out, "A human. You are a human, are you not?"

My mind was screaming run, but his sweet voice convinced me to stay.

I said not a word as I began to examine his injury. It was still bleeding pretty badly, so I ripped off a piece of my sleeve and bandaged his wound. He watched me with curious eyes as I worked.

When I finished he said, "Thank you. But are you not afraid? Most humans would've run away. May I ask, why did you stay?"

My voice had been quivery, unlike his smooth creamy one, when I answered, "You were injured, and I had to help you. What kind of cold-hearted person would leave an injured… uh… what are you anyway?"

He laughed heartily then told me that he was a demon of the class of dog. He told me of how he got his injury. He had been in a battle with hundreds, maybe thousands of demons, who as of now lay dead, but he too had suffered from the bloody battle.

By this time I had been very confused. I had always been taught that demons were despicable monsters that would kill a human in the blink of an eye. People had always said that even if you saved a demon's life they would instantly kill you as soon as they were able to, without mercy.

It made me wonder, why did he seem so sweet? Why hadn't he killed me yet? Was he planning on killing me when his strength returned?

But when I looked into his eyes, I knew, without a single doubt that all those stories about demons, that all those people who spoke of demons and everything I thought I knew about demons had been wrong. I knew demons were just like humans, some good and some evil, and it took this demon to show me that.

I asked him what he was planning to do now and if he could even walk. He got up slowly, but not without some struggle. He almost fell once, but I grabbed onto his arm and steadied him. When he regained balance I felt my face flush a bright red when I realized I had a hold of his arm, and let go a little too quickly.

He took one look at me and busted out laughing. My face began to get even more red, and it took him forever to stop laughing, but when he did he told me that he may have to rest there a few days and that he would consider it a blessing should I come to speak with him again. I then realized something I never had before. The people I knew, had know all my life, they weren't my friends, just hired hands who worked in the castle, respecting their princess. This demon didn't respect me as a princess, but a person. He closer resembled a friend than anyone else ever had.

A whole new light came to my eyes and I began to see many things much more clearly. My eyes began to water up as I thought of how this demon, who I hardly knew, cared for me, in a way no one else did. He cared for my heart, who I truly was, not my royal status. I had never once, in our talk, mentioned my royalty, nor did he mention his status, but he surely guessed my silk robes that would have taken years of wages of a normal village woman to buy.

His clothes remained a mystery to me. Never had I seen the likes of such clothes in these lands. It made me wonder what his status was, but it mattered not.

I remember talking to him for hours, neither of us ever mentioning our family life. He told me many stories of the countless demons, humans, sprites, and many other creatures he had encountered. I hung on his every word, hardly daring to breathe, afraid I would miss something; I would sit without saying a word as he painted beautiful pictures in my head. He could have made it as a storyteller. He was much better than the person storyteller I had had as a child.

All too soon the sky was darkening, and it was time for me to head back to the castle, but before I left, I promised to return with the sun the next day. He gave me a smile and I headed off with a light heart. I was so merry that I completely forgot about why I had first made my journey through the woods.

The second I walked through the castle door, it hit me full force.