Wolf and Keeper

Epilogue: New Journeys, New Beginnings

"Every day is a journey

And the Journey itself is home."

- Matsuo Bashou

--

Ebume, Mutsu Province, 1556

A warm spring breeze made the wooden windchimes hung around Hashi-ji clink together melodically. Their hollow wooden sound filled the courtyard with a certain kind of music that rang out in an odd harmony to the sound of hammers on wood and the sounds of work and repair. The courtyard was filled with talk and laughter, and the air was filled with the smell of tea and freshly cooked rice. There was the occasional splash of the excited koi in the pond beside the temple, and the leaves in the trees rustled out their own melody that swirled with the smells and sounds.

"Yuzu, pass me the tiles, please," Sen called from where he sat on the roof, his head wrapped with a headband to keep sweat from his eyes as he waited for Yuzuha to appear from the other end of the roof. She did, holding a stack of clay tiles in her hands. "Thanks."

"Hey, we gonna stop to eat soon?" She asked, pausing to squat down beside him, watching him fit and plaster the tiles snugly into place. "I'm starving."

They paused when the loud groaning rumble of her stomach permeated the air, and they both burst into a fit of laughter as she sheepishly began to climb down from the roof. Sen didn't even bother answering as he also began to descend with her. Emi and Hachirou were already down and waiting. Hachirou had shed his armor and was dressed down, his shaved head shining in the sunlight as Emi playfully teased him about its distinct sheen. He paused as he dismounted the ladder and watched his three friends with a sudden realization.

Hashi-ji was feeling like a home again. He watched as Yuzuha took a bowl of rice and sat down next to Emi with a laugh, and saw the nun and sohei quickly pray before eating. He saw kappa down by the riverside accompanied by various other river-dwelling yokai, all happily going about their business. Birds chirped overhead, fish swam in the ponds, and he could hear the distant hammers of the Ebume forge where Goemaru made his wares. Everything was the way it should be, only Hashi wasn't there. It still stung, but it didn't hurt like it did in the beginning. Hashi wouldn't want him to be unhappy, after all. Part of him still wished his friend could be there...

"Sen," Yuzuha spun around on her rear and smiled back at him, "you gonna stand there looking stupid or are you going to join us?"

"Says the one with egg on her chin," he shot back with a smile as he joined them on the veranda, dropping down beside Yuzuha as Emi handed him a bowl with a giggle while Yuzuha picked a clump of egg off her chin with narrowed eyes. He tossed one of the small fish to Kawataro, who held it up and waved it in thanks before he squatted on the stones around the koi pond.

This place felt like home again after so much time away, and if he had to admit it... he enjoyed it. It felt nice.

Over the wind, there was a small ring of the temple entrance bell, and all heads turned to it the sound. Standing there on the temple steps were several sohei, all wearing distinct sets of prayer beads, and at their head was Umemaru. Sen stood and walked over to them, setting his bowl down on one of the old stone walls as he did.

The group all bowed in greeting before Umemaru spoke, "Sen, forgive the intrusion."

"What's this about?" Sen asked, crossing his arms and looking the group of monks over.