Boundary - [Taiju Shiba x Reader]

16◄

Credit: deviantart - user: RitoruJushi

☾☽

In a realm veiled by unconsciousness, Taiju soared through billowing clouds of white light, a sensation of weightlessness enveloping him. Invisible angels surrounded him, their ethereal presence comforting, even though their forms eluded his sight.

He felt warm within the celestial embrace, Taiju found a rare tranquility amidst life's tumultuous currents. As he glided through the heavens, an unseen force guided him towards an elusive figure, an angelic being cloaked in mystery.

Drawn towards the ethereal figure concealed behind billowing clouds, Taiju pursued her, occasionally catching a glimpse of her elusive frame.

Turning inward, he reflected on rare moments of inner calm, free from life's burdens—no responsibilities weighing him down, no need to conceal his family's existence, no bothersome challenges disrupting his business, and no haunting guilt lingering in his thoughts. In those serene moments, his mind resembled a still lake on a quiet morning.

The scene shifted abruptly. No longer in flight, Taiju found himself seated on the edge of a newly constructed pier, the scent of fresh wood enveloping his senses. Overlooking his knees draping from the pier's edge, he became engrossed in his own reflection, oblivious to the faint sounds of wings fluttering nearby.

He could hear the sounds of birds tweeting, and the sweet smell of summer.

Leaning back, he noticed a womanly figure with wings emerging from her back, cloaked in a soft orange glow—the same figure he had pursued through the clouds. A profound sense of peace washed over him, encompassing the highs and lows of his life.

As the angelic figure approached, her wings gently stirred the air, causing ripples on the water's surface and flipping back Taiju's hair. A realization dawned on him—the woman before him was the embodiment of the love he had lost, the mother who had shown him unparalleled affection.

"Mom?" Taiju's voice broke the newfound tranquility, replaced by a subtle sadness. A warm, glowing hand touched his shoulder, rekindling forgotten laughter and dismantling the tough exterior he had built over the years.

Under her soft touch, Taiju crumbled, a storm of emotions overwhelming him. Her words echoed the past, reminding him of the love he had received and the responsibility he bore for Yuzuha and Hakkai.

God, there were the burdens and feelings he tried to escape.

Her arms enveloped him in an embrace, radiating warmth and love without the need for words. Despite what he had done to Yuzuha and Hakkai, his mother's unconditional love persisted.