Jihi hesitated, unsure whether to tell him the truth or not. He would have to learn eventually, obviously, but something in her wanted to lie, to hold that advantage over him for as long as possible. It took a moment for her better judgment to overcome her instinct.
No, tell him now, she thought. If he can't accept it, it's better to know now, instead of when he's face to face with Mita.
"We've already been up the mountain," she said, moving her head to indicate Kiyoshi. "We found the source of the sickness. A tengu, but he looked...I thought he was sick. He said his partner helped the mountain and its creatures and even the crops in the village, but once they met, his partner started losing their magic. He thinks the village paid you to kill the first tengu. He knew your name. I wondered how he knew your name, but I didn't figure it out until you told me the tengu offered to turn him into once of them. He..."
Jihi closed her eyes at the memory, feeling the lump rise in her throat again. She took a moment to push it back it down before she continued speaking. "He was so sad. He said he'll leave the village alone if we bring you to him." Jihi opened her eyes, her gaze meeting Juzaburo's. "I don't know what he wants you for. He didn't say he wanted to kill you. If he tries, I won't let him. But you have to face him."
No, tell him now, she thought. If he can't accept it, it's better to know now, instead of when he's face to face with Mita.
"We've already been up the mountain," she said, moving her head to indicate Kiyoshi. "We found the source of the sickness. A tengu, but he looked...I thought he was sick. He said his partner helped the mountain and its creatures and even the crops in the village, but once they met, his partner started losing their magic. He thinks the village paid you to kill the first tengu. He knew your name. I wondered how he knew your name, but I didn't figure it out until you told me the tengu offered to turn him into once of them. He..."
Jihi closed her eyes at the memory, feeling the lump rise in her throat again. She took a moment to push it back it down before she continued speaking. "He was so sad. He said he'll leave the village alone if we bring you to him." Jihi opened her eyes, her gaze meeting Juzaburo's. "I don't know what he wants you for. He didn't say he wanted to kill you. If he tries, I won't let him. But you have to face him."