Destiny's Entwined

8

The cart, cow and materials are all left for you they get ready to leave you had the maid make a bag up for each of them, giving him a hug you say "I am sorry" he shakes his head "as much as I had hoped we are not compatible" placing a kiss on his cheek you come down and open the main gates.

Waving them off as horse and wolf run down the road with them, you go and light the incense in the shrine and bow then going back up to your home you place an offering at the other tori gate and bow to it. Walking off to a pair of eyes watching you as the offering disappeared.

Quickly going over to check the rice fields, seeing they look fine you come back and prepare some of the items found over the last few days in the woods, your days were filled with going in to the woods, cleaning and weeding the fields and wandering around sorting little issues.

The soldier went back to the capital and handed over the letters saying "they are really happy there. Also the village he found only comes alive at night" the emperor jerked his face to him "they safe?" the soldier nods "he lives in harmony with them, he works in the day and they come out at night" sighing they both nod and have a small smile while reading the letters from you.

The second says "we will go and visit once a year or two?" the soldier smiles "yeah, but go in the day I don't think they mean any harm but if you go at night your asking for trouble and take shrine offerings" the emperor frowned "shrine offerings?" he nods "there is a shrine in the middle of the village and Shino placed goods on it regularly, everyday things when we were there he gave them some mushrooms and they had a party".

The second laughed "so living in harmony with the spirits? He was always more comfortable in the country side than the city" the soldier looked confused "he grew up poor in the countryside he wanted his parents to have comfort, so he joined the military and worked his way up the ranks. Then she got greedy, if he wasn't my friend I would of had her gone" replied the emperor.

As he spoke his secretary came in "General Shino's mother is here to see your highness" he cringed then making a neutral face nods, the woman herself walks in and bows then asks "any news on his ware abouts?" the second says "no, he has hidden very well. We will stop looking and you continue on as if he was away" she inhaled sharply.

Opening her mouth "you are calling off the search? That little bastard owes me a living" the emperor replied "General Shino, made a name and has left you an estate and money. So I suggest you take what he has given you with a smile, I can always turf you out of the place" she jerked and frowned "he was supposed to be your spouse, why are you okay with this?".

The second sighed as he looked at the emperor who nodded "the marriage was because we were told by you that was what he wanted, to find out that he was very unwilling to the point he would leave and completely cut ties with his friends and comrades. We have decided to leave him alone and you, but keep coming here and making a scene we will have you removed from his home permanently".

Swallowing as she realised without her son she is just a common woman and shouldn't even be able to get this meeting, bowing she leaves as they watch her out "maybe she finally realised what she actually is?" the emperor said while the second snickered, the soldier had watched this go down and winced at what had happened.

While your mother was making trouble in the city you were enjoying the spring and the birth of the new animals, looking at the babies you smiled seeing wolf and horse were gone again sighing you wander up into the mountain, bowing as you go past the tori gates.

Wandering further afield then normal you find an orchard of unusual fruits, wincing you turn to leave and blink at the person behind you, bowing "I apologise if I wandered on to your territory. I will be leaving now" they smiled and handed you a basket of fruit saying "this is a thank you for the offerings".

Smiling you accept the basket "I did not do it for recompense, but thank you" he looks up and says "I will walk you back down as the night is coming" looking up and twitching "thank you, much appreciated" you walk beside the man he takes you to the gate of your home, turning to him "thank you very much, I hope to bump into you again".

He smiles and laughs "it will be my pleasure" you walk in to your yard as he turns to leave, closing the gates you notice his form change and you blink and slam the gates close, going into your home and locking the doors you see the fruit and peeling what you assume is an apple you take a bite.

A sweetness hits your tongue along with a lot of juice, licking your lips and smiling you eat the rest sitting by the fire and reading the almanac, you make a tea the apple filled you up nicely, handing one over to Wolf and horse as well they eat it and become shiny frowning at them then looking down at your arm.

The man who gave you the fruit smirked happily as he noticed the shine come from your home, he wanders into the village and bows to the others as he walks past then sits on the shrine steps, a young girl comes down the steps and sits with him.