A Love Beyond Time

Sensei! Seimei! What are you doing?

Morning dawned bright and early in the Valley. The sky was awash in a dreamy combination of pastel pinks and blues that shimmered softly like the dimly lit insides of a seashell. Tiny beads of dewdrops still clinging to the wet grass blades glistened in the gentle morning sun, turning the verdant meadows into lush carpets of sparkling jewels.

Tenza and Nurugai sat together in companionable silence as they watched the thundering waterfalls. On Shion and Seimei's advice, they had a heartfelt conversation about the previous day's episode. Somewhere along the line, they also shared their past and future expectations.

Feeling happy about her future, Nurugai then revealed to the pleasantly surprised Tenza that Seimei had asked to adopt her and Mei as his daughters, as well as her affirmative decision.

===

"Nurugai, could I ask you and Mei something?"

The two young girls exchanged curious glances before they looked expectantly at Seimei and nodded. The Fox smiled at them.

"I would like to adopt both of you as my daughters. Are you agreeable to that?"

Nurugai was shocked. Seimei wanted her as his daughter? The adopted daughter of a Celestial Fox? A former Deity?

Is this a dream?

Seeing the dazed expressions on their faces, Seimei elaborated.

"I've grown very fond of you girls and sincerely hope to have you as part of my family. Nurugai," He turned to the Sanka girl. "I know you are very close to Shion and Tenza, but rest assured that you can still stay with them if you wish to, even after I adopt you."

"But..." Mei spoke hesitantly, "I'm a Tensen, and I—I did many bad things in the past."

Seimei stroked her hair affectionately before he touched her cheek.

"That was in the past, little plum blossom. And I know you were coerced into doing those things. You actually have a very sweet, pure nature."

The plum blossom Tensen's eyes filled with tears, and she sniffed, touched by Seimei's warmth and magnanimous gentleness. She nodded her agreement and threw her arms tightly around the Fox.

Seimei returned the embrace and looked at Nurugai, who was watching them with a smile.

"What about you, my little Sanka girl? Do I have the honor of calling you my daughter?"

She sucked her cheeks and looked into his clear obsidian eyes, careful to maintain her neutral composure. Inwardly, however, she was doing an excited merry dance. Finally, she could not keep up her façade any longer and leaped at the Fox with an elated laugh.

"Of course! Father!"

===

"Really? That's wonderful, Nurugai! You have a new family now!"

Tenza was overjoyed for the young girl; she would finally have the happy life she deserved after all the heartache and tragedy she had gone through. The excited 10th-ranked Asaemon piled her with questions about the clan's plans and possible locations for their future residence. However, Nurugai knew little about their new home other than that it would be hidden yet accessible to "the fated mortals". Those cryptic words, accompanied by a mysterious half-smile, were the only clues the curious Sanka girl managed to cajole from the Fox. But she promised to update her monitor once they had settled down.

Meanwhile, Tenza shared that he and Shion would resign from the Yamada Asaemon clan and seek their livelihoods elsewhere. This expedition drastically changed their lives and their viewpoints on many issues, such as the concept of true evil and crime. Tenza mentioned that Shion doubted that he could resume his role as an executioner when he now questioned the reasons for raising his sword.