The warm feeling of coming home from the rainy cold outside
A cold breeze searches it’s way over the landscapes of Inazuma. The Sakura trees start to loose it’s patels and some birds already start leaving into warmer regions.
But no matter how cold, the Shogun will be found in the backyard of Tenshukaku, training the arts of the sword.
Heavy breaths and the clashes of polearm and sword can be heard over the otherwise so peaceful garden.
The wind blows through the dark hair of the sparring partner and two yellow eyes look fully concentrated into the Shogun ones. It doesn’t happen often that the Shogun and the general of the Tenryo Commission come together in such nearly friendship like occasions, but every now and then they meet and share their love for sparring.
It was originally not the Shoguns idea to spar together, neither was it the Tengus. It was the idea of Yae Miko, she said something like:
Isn’t that what friends are for? And both of you could definetly need some some company.
Come to think of it Sara feels a bit icky, the Shogun and her, friends? Sara would never dare to call them friends.
A slap with a polearm on her shoulder brings her out of her thoughts.
„You’re unfocused, Sara.“ There’s no judgement in her voice, it’s rather an observation.
Sara bows her head slightly, „my apologies, Almighty Shogun.“
The Shogun huffs „how often do I have to tell you to call me Ei?“
Sara bows her head again „my apologies… almighty Ei.“
Ei laughs.
They get interrupted by a soldier asking for the General, it seems to be urgent so the Tengu bows ones more and excuses herself, before leaving the courtyard.
When she is alone again, Ei looks down on her polearm and then around the garden. The Sakura trees and bonsais, the petals dancing through the air, being blown away by the wind, the small river, everything seems so peaceful. The wind blows through Ei’s messy hair and she suddenly feels the cold running through her body. While sparring she tends to fade out her surroundings completely. Sometimes she has to be careful to not loose the track of time during her training sessions.
Something about the cold wind feels refreshing so Ei decides to stay outside for a little longer. She sits down on her knees, closes her eyes and just focuses on the wind around her.
The cold reminds her of past times, the nights she spend on battlefields, soaked wet because of the rain, it felt like freezing to death. The Shoguns army lost many men not only through the blades of the enemy, but through the bitter cold. She remembers it clearly, not being able to sleep for far too long, the rain got worse each night. On the days they were merely trying to defend their camps until one day the rain suddenly stopped, the only thing that saved them was that the enemy dealt with the same. One fight she remembers clearly. They decided to attack in the early morning hours, betting on the element of surprise. It was the only chance they had. Once the enemy recovered they would’ve been dead, because they lost so many to the torturing circumstances. So they attacked. It was a small village, most of the inhabitants escaped prior and the soldiers of the enemy used it as a camp. When the Shoguns army attacked, the enemy was unprepared and tired, they stabbed them in their sleep, didn’t hesitated when they were trying to reach for their weapons, they killed everyone. It’s not a battle Ei is proud of. She doesn’t even know if she can call it a battle. They took advantage and used the enemies weakness, to stab them behind their backs. She hates it.
Furthermore Ei remembers entering a small house at the end of the battle, after hearing noises. There was a family still hiding, she thought all civilians had left the village, so she was surprised seeing them here. The father instantly jumped up and tried to attack her with a wooden pile, being drained by the past fights she reacted too late and the wood met her head. She felt like loosing here consciousness. The last thing she remembers is how one of her soldiers entered the house and killed the man with his sword. Ei couldn’t move, she couldn’t tell him to stop, she just heard the screams of the mother and the crying of children. It is like all of this happened yesterday.
She opens her eyes in shock.
Rain pouring over the courtyard, the wind got even colder.
When did it start to rain?
How long did she fade out?
It’s raining a lot but somehow her body feels strangely dry, like only a few drops managed to fall on her.
There is an umbrella being held over her. She looks to the side and sees Yae Miko sitting besides her, resting her head on her shoulder, while holding an umbrella above both of them.
„How long have you been here?“ Ei asks, still not fully back to the presence.
Yae takes Ei‘s hand and gently rubs her thumb over Ei‘s knuckles. „For some time.“
„I…“ Ei tries to find some words. She lifts her hand to her forehead and grabs into her own hair before speaking, „I got lost in my memories again“.
„I know“ the Kitsune lifts her head and looks into the archons eyes. She places a kiss under Ei‘s ear „but now you’re back.“
Yae knows Ei wouldn’t wanna talk about it right now.
„Let’s get back inside, I don’t want the Almighty Shogun to catch a cold.“
There’s a small smile forming itself on Ei‘s lips, it is one only reserved for Miko.
They get up and go inside. Yae takes Ei‘s hand and leads them to a room where tea awaits them.
Yae sits down and gives Ei a sign to sit down besides her, so Ei does exactly that.
They share tea and Yae talks about how things are going in the Yae publishing house, the new shrine maiden and how an Oni wants to make a ramen eating contest, despite being bedridden for more than a month after the last one.
Ei listens to all of it while commenting every now and then.
They get closer the latter the evening gets, drinking tea and sake, making small gestures of affaction, like letting their hands touch, Yae laying her head on Ei’s shoulder, Ei playing with Yae’s hair… until they end up laying on the floor, Yae in Ei’s arms and somehow Ei feels like this could be a part of the eternity she always wished for.
It gets silent and they just lay there for awhile until Yae moves and gets herself on top of Ei, who just looks at her, a slight blush on her face.
Yae looks into her eyes and then on her lips, before getting closer and finally closing the gap between them.
As their lips meet Ei feels a sensation running through her body. She wraps her arms around her and holds her even closer.
Yae runs her hand through Ei‘s hair, while they keep on kissing.
After a while they break apart, longing for breath.
Yae lays her hand on Ei‘s cheek and whispers into her ear „let’s go somwhere else.“
In the morning Yae wakes up by a soft sunlight tickling on her skin.
She opens her eyes and finds herself in a room she knows very well, even though it's been some time since she last saw it from this perspective.
The dark wood surrounding her, the smell of Amakumo fruit and Sakura petals and the soft fabric covering half of her naked body brings back memories from long ago.
Ei sits, legs crossed on the floor before the other side of the bed, meditating. She probably didn't notice that Yae is awake.
Yae tries to recall the memories from the night, flashbacks of hot kisses and touches. A fulfilling feeling sets over her and she moves around to look at Ei.
Sometimes it feels like she understands the human fascination for love, but she would never say that out loud.