A Love Beyond Time

What do you truly feel about Seimei?

Current times--The Valley of the Foxes

The late morning sun beamed its warm rays upon the lush, verdant vegetation and brushed a thin layer of shimmery gold upon the symphony of richly glowing jewel colors, making the Valley appear like an opulent artwork intricately crafted with precious gems and gold. So dazzling and exquisite it was, that anyone who accidentally stumbled upon this land would believe it a mirage or the miraculous work of the Gods and Deities.

But would they still feel such wonder and awe if they realized the identity of the artisan behind this beauty? Would any of them discover the history—the tragic story—that indirectly led to this creation?

And most importantly, what would their sentiments be towards that artisan once they knew his past?

Tenza had no idea, for he was asking himself those very questions now.

By nature, the blond young man was a happy-go-lucky and simple-minded person. He was not as preceptive and sensitive as Sagiri, Senta, and his dear sensei; reading deep into or between anything—the room, the lines, dots, characters, kanji, whatever—was not his style. Neither was he the observant type like Nurugai nor the coolly analytical sort like Gabimaru to think deeply about things: their causes, effects, repercussions, etc. To him, it was a waste of time. Tenza's preferred way of handling things was to grasp them straight by the horn and then punch them in the face with all his might—especially those who pissed him off.

In other words, he was impulsive and reactive. But it did not mean that he was stupid; Seimei had reassured him out of that notion— a notion that was hammered and yelled into him by his drunkard parents since he was a wee babe. If Tenza had to be honest with himself, he was extremely fortunate to have met Shion and Seimei. They had changed his life forever and for the better, too.

And now, sitting here in this breathtaking Valley created by the one who had given him a 3rd shot in Life (his 2nd chance was from his sensei), he searched deep within himself for the answers to those questions.

What did he truly feel about Seimei now that he knew everything?

Admiration, sympathy, a tad of protectiveness. And guilt, shame, and mortification—for all the horrible things he had mindlessly and callously yelled at the Fox this morning.

"You must have forced my sensei to sleep with you in exchange for my resurrection! You forced yourself on him!"

Intense self-disgust washed over him when the image of a stricken-looking Seimei flashed in his mind. The latter's ghostly pale face and terror-filled, haunted eyes. His trembling body. Had he gotten an unwelcome flashback?

If only he had known that Seimei had endured the very things he had so cruelly accused him of. Tenza desperately wished he could turn back time to take back what he had said.

I'm so sorry, Seimei. I did not mean to hurt you. I did not mean to...

"Tenza?"

Nurugai laid a tentative hand on her monitor's arm as she studied his pain-contorted face worriedly. She sighed with relief when his eyes opened, but her youthful brows furrowed when fat teardrops began to collect and drip steadily from the corners of his red-rimmed eyes. On the other side of Tenza, Yuzuriha reached out and pulled the young man close in a sisterly hug. Somehow, the kunoichi knew the reason for the young man's breakdown.

"It's all right, Tenza. It's all right."

===

"Why?"

The single syllabus, though so softly uttered that it might be mistaken for the breeze's light whisper, was still loud enough to create a whiplash through the clearing.