Before you read: Again, for people who aren't familar with the game, a balverine is a werewolf. There's information on my profile about them, as far as what they look like : )

Chapter 6

Mugetsu smelled the disease before it reached them, and ran for his master. Watanuki stopped hacking at the irksome thorny bushes, whipped sweat from his face, and began to ask what had the fox so excited.

But then he smelled it too. A reek, like particles of ice and rot that polluted the air gagged him and he leaned against the long handle of his scythe, coughing. Mugetsu growled and his front lowered to the dirt as his haunches rose and front legs spread, and Doumeki rounded the bend and came into the clearing.

Watanuki gasped. He dropped his tool and ran for him. "What happened?" He moaned, catching the Hero has his body suddenly toppled forward.

"Second favor," Doumeki croaked. His fingers dug into the warlock's arms, sure to bruise. "Bitten. Cure me."

A part of Watanuki went cold, analytical. "How long ago?" He questioned, moving the larger man to support him with his shoulder and directing him to the cottage's door.

"Hours…four, five."

The spellworker nodded curtly as numbers, ingredients, and rites few through his head. There were many ways to fight the balverine sickness; which to choose…?

He settled on one. Doumeki didn't like it, and Watanuki resolutely ignored his opinion as he began gathering the things he would need.

"We can't wait that long…" the Hero ground out from his seat before the fire. "I'll change in a week."

Watanuki shook his head, only distantly listening. "No…there is a reason. While there are many ways to purge the blight from your body, all of them are painful, to varying degrees. Only some cannot be trusted not to kill the patient. This is one that I personally know will work, and the pain will be manageable."

Doumeki glowered. He was obviously unconvinced.

But he sighed and asked, "Why do we have to wait so long?"

Watanuki flashed him a small smile.

"Because that's how the ritual works. We will wait a week, and then I shall halt the infection at its height."

"Its height," the fallen man rumbled dubiously.

Watanuki's smile turned grim; he knew the Hero would also be unhappy with what came next. He breathed in deeply. "During your initial transformation."

Silence met this admission. Watanuki chanced a look at the Archer and almost laughed.

"You look unhappy." He managed in a strangled voice.

Doumeki stared at him, exasperated, with eyes bright from infection.

Watanuki observed this. Biting the inside of his cheek, he sought out and appraised Doumeki's symptoms. Yes, a week should be plenty long enough. He asked to see the wound to be sure, but the man hissed in pain when he went to remove his jacket. Blood from the bite had dried and stuck the leather fast to his skin, and peeling it away stretched and further broke the scab. The warlock knelt to help him gradually pull it away, and when the first punctures came into view, Watanuki finalized his theory. He poked gently at it, minding Doumeki's flinching.

"It's an angry wound," He noted aloud. "And deep. The infection set in quickly…you're already displaying the signs." This he said as the pad of his thumb brushed beneath the Hero's right eye.

"Signs?" The man questioned wearily. Watanuki shuddered at the proximity and the vibration he felt in the other man's chest. He licked his lips.

"Uncommonly illuminant eyes," He grinned widely. "Your hair is changing color- it's difficult to be sure, in this light, but it looks to be taking hues of brown. It should grow thicker and coarser. Towards the end of the incubation period, your knees will swell and your fingernails turn black." He sat back on his heels as Doumeki gave him a doubtful look. Watanuki guessed at his thoughts.

"The rest happens during the transformation."

The Hero, faintly green, groaned and pressed a hand over his face.