A Love Beyond Time

Chapter 31-Are you ready for Round Two?

The Valley of the Foxes—Central region

The hours passed quickly, and soon, the day was drawing to an end. Brushstrokes of soft pink-gold and pale lavender-blue lent a dreamy, almost romantic allure to the vast expanse of sky, further accentuated by the fragile wisps of curling clouds.

Right next to the thundering waterfalls, a tall, muscular figure dressed in turquoise blue was practicing a series of swordplay. His moves were fluid and lethal as lithe, rippling muscles bunched and relaxed under smooth, tanned skin, obvious even under the satiny clothes.

Graceful, yet deadly, like a sleek leopard whose powerful body is masterfully camouflaged beneath its silky coat.

He performed a tricky back flip, landed lightly on his left foot, and pivoted in a tight circle with his sword arm and right leg extended. Fallen leaves, previously lying docilely on the grassy grounds, tossed and twirled around him as though something—invisible and unfelt—had stirred them up, only to be sliced into ribbons by the sharp blade. As the bits of dried foliage spiraled madly about before falling, the sword gleamed in the setting sun, a brilliant metallic glow that matched the striking head of silvery spiky hair.

Shion drew himself to his full height, inhaled deeply, and stretched languidly. As he did, his spine tingled as though charged by an unseen current.

The samurai frowned lightly at the sensation that had started after his bath at the Healing Cave. It was not unpleasant; on the contrary, he rather liked it. Nonetheless, he was still perplexed at its suddenness and inexplicability. Did his Foxy lover add some secret potion to their bath? Or did he perform some mysterious ritual on him without him noticing?

Shion shook his head and chuckled lightly. It did not matter, he thought. Seimei would never hurt him. Perhaps, he mused hopefully, the Fox had done something related to mate bonding or claiming. That is, if such rituals exist among the immortals and fairies.

I could ask Harumi. She's mated, so she might know.

Just then, Shion sensed a familiar presence lurking in the shrubs behind him—a presence he had expected the entire day. Still with his back to it, he spoke.

"Tenza, come out from your hiding place."

===

The Valley of the Foxes—the Western region

At the same time, Seimei was seated lotus-style in a deep cave located in the 'forbidden' Western region of the Valley. His eyes were closed, and his posture, though ramrod straight, was relaxed. Before him was the map of Horai, which had been used during the battle strategizing session twelve days ago, and an unlit joss stick.

Seimei was waiting. Waiting for the right moment to act.

Then, at the split second when the sun finally descended and before the moon began to rise, that precise moment of total darkness, a bright white flame shot to life.

The cave was now empty.

===

The Valley of the Foxes—Central region

Tenza emerged from the thick shrubs and smiled sheepishly at his sensei as he plucked leaves from his hair.

"Sensei."

"Tenza."

Both Master and Student stood facing each other without a word. The blond young man's anxiety spiked, and he tugged at his hair as words rushed out of his mouth to disperse the awkward silence.

"Erm, nice swordplay earlier, Sensei. You picked up new moves from Saito?"

Those moves that Shion had practiced earlier were actually from the new set of swordplay that had emerged in his mind mysteriously during his previous duel with Saito. But he did not reveal that information to his student.