guardian of the storm | ✓

Chapter Fifty-Seven ~ Reunited

~Chapter Fifty-Seven~

She stumbled back as the twins lunged forward, hugging her so tightly she felt all of the air in her lungs rush out. She managed to wrap her arms around them, a wide smile spreading across her face as she felt emotions bubbling up inside of her.

For the first time since she died, Winter felt at home.

She felt loved and safe, her fears shrinking back and the nagging, negative voice in her mind being silenced. She breathed in deep, cinnamon and fire invading her senses, "You have no idea how happy I am right now." She whispered, her eyes closed as she soaks in the moment.

"I think we have a small idea." Riku whispered back, finally letting go of her and brushing a piece of hair back behind her left ear, "I see you're still trying to hide behind that hair of yours."

She looked at him, noticing how tall he'd gotten and the way his hair skimmed the top of his eyelashes, the three piercings lining the curve of his right ear. "Like you're one to talk, you need to consider a hair trim."

"If anyone needs a hair trim around here, it's Ryu." Riku snorted, pointing his thumb at his twin, "Look at that mop on his head."

Winter looked to her left, a mischievous grin appearing on her face as she looks at the male's long hair that was tied back, "I think his hair is the perfect length... for me to practice my braids."

Ryu blanched and shook his head, the light catching on the single hoop resting on his left earlobe. "The last time you attempted to braid my hair I ended up with one giant knot."

"I was nine!"

"I don't care, you're never touching my hair again."

Winter's smile spread, her heart lightening, by the gods it felt good to be with her team again. "Cut the chit chat and get over here, the food's getting cold and I'm not going to let ya'll ruin my hours of hard work." Inazuma said, her hand resting on a rather large knife she'd been using to cut the meat.

"You made a clone and had it do all the work." Ryu deadpans, making his way over to the dinner table.

"Shut up you ungrateful brat."

Riku ruffles the top of Winter's hair, walking to the table as well, "Winter's back, what for like two minutes, and you're already your grumpy old hag self."

Inazuma clenched her fist, the handle of the knife splintering, "What did you just call me?"

"Oh, are you going deaf with old age?" Riku asks innocently, sitting down and portraying an angelic facade, "I called you a grumpy, old hag."

"Why you—"

Winter laughs, the sound echoing in the space, a pure and happy noise that caused Inazuma to pause with her fist raised to lightly bop Riku on the head. She wipes away the tears that had formed, "Ah... I missed you guys."

***

Eien silently slips into Winter's old office, his hands stuffed into his pockets and his shoulders slumped forward. He ignores the worried looks cast his way from Emiko and Daiki, his eyes distant.

Emiko clears her throat, "Now that we're all gathered here I'll just get straight to the point." she looks around the half circle that's gathered in front of her, looking at the remaining Originals, her eyes lingering on the worn out form of Eien and the tiredness radiating from Ja'far. "It's been five months since the end of the war, and while Daiki and I have been handling the affairs of the village, we feel like it is time to finally officially instate a new Augur."