The Grateful Crane 2

The next morning he set off to the market in the town, and sold the piece of cloth for a lot of maney. Yohyo had never had so much money in his life. He was very excited and he bought many things with it. Soon, in his excitement, he had spent all the money, so he went home and asked Otsu to weave another piece of cloth. So greedy did he become, that he did not notice that the more she worked, the thinner Otsu became. However, as she loved Yoho very much, she wove new cloth for him every time he asked for it.

One day Yohyo asked for some cloth once again, and Otsu said, as usual, "I will weave for you but remember your promise-don't look into the other room while I am working."

Yohyo promised and sat down to wait but he soon got tierd of waiting for her. He could hear the sound of weaving, and he began to ask himself why he could not look in at Otsu, while she was working. Once he began to have doubts he could not stop himself from looking in.

He thought, "Otsu won't be angry with me if I look in only for a moment."

Finally, he could wait no longer. He crept to the entrance of the other room and looked in. Otsu was not there at all! Instead, he saw a very thin crane which wass pulling off its feathers and weaving them into the cloth. Yohyo recognised it as the very same crane whose life he saved so many months ago.

He crept away again and sat thinking quietly. He felt very anxious-what would Otsu do, now that he knew her secret?

At last the sound of weaving stopped, and Otsu came out of the roomwith two pieces of cloth in her hands.

"Yohyo," she said, sadly. "You have broken your promise to me. Now that you know that I am a crane, I cannot stay here any longer. Take these pieces of cloth, sell one, and keep the other. Perhaps it will remind you of me."

"Please Otsu, don't leave me," cried Yohyo. "How can I manage to live without you? I love you!"

But Otsu only smiled gently and shook her head.

"No, Yohyo," she said. "I came here to reply you for your kindness to me, and I stayed for love of your gentle heart. But since I have been weaving for you, you have changed and become greedy and hard."

"I must go, goodbye."

"Don't go, please, Otsu!" cried poor Yohyo. "Don't leave me alone! I won't tell your secret. I won't ask you for any more cloth. Don't go!"

Otsu just smiled sadly again and waving goodbye, she stepped out of the door. At once she changed into a crane and opening her beautiful wings, she flew up into the sky. As Yohyo watched in despair, she rose higher and higher into the sky, until she could be seen no more.

Then there was only the sound of Yohyo's voice calling,"Otsu! Otsu!…"