The Long Road to Freedom 2: Fire on the Water

Reunited

1575, early Azuchi-Momoyama Period, early

The seasons passed slowly for Sesshoumaru. Kintsuke required time, he knew, but as Spring gave way to Summer, to Winter, and around again to a fading Autumn, he began to wonder if she would come at all. He listened for rumors, but there were none. He reached out with his senses, trying to find that ghostly echo just beyond their reach that had haunted him in the past, but it was silent. Whatever her responsibilities and endeavors were, she was not meeting significant resistance.

Still.

Autumn chilled into Winter, and before the ice and snow set in, Sesshoumaru made his way once again to the colony in Musashi where his Rin remained nested. The years were showing in her features now and it pained him, even as he was again welcomed by the cheerful chorus of 'Sesshoumaru-sama' from herself, her mate, and her two children. Only these humans, and only this home, were proper, acceptable, and he spared her two quickly growing pups a pat on the head before departing once more.

As he made his way to the place where he'd left Jaken and A-Un, he felt the stirring just beyond his senses that he'd been waiting for. He paused, scanning the horizon to the south until he saw it; the fluttering of a black haori and white hair in the biting wind. The figure strode along leisurely, leading a horse along by the bridle, and he quickly found its scent on the air; rich, molten.

It was her. She had finally come to him. His inner demon growled with satisfaction as she drew closer to stand before him.

"Two years, female..." he cooed, almost chiding.

She offered him a simple smile.

"Everything is in order now."

He took a moment to scrutinize her form, finding everything exactly as it had been when last they'd met; flowing black haori and hakama, a pure white kimono crossed and pressed neatly under the form-fitted cuirass crafted in the style of the mainland. When the breeze curled around her, he could see the strips and loops of leather and metal peeking out from behind her hips where her tonfa were poised, ready, and waiting. His gaze shifted to the beast she held steady.

"Such a creature will only serve to slow our pace."

She pursed her lips just so but did not argue, releasing the creature before falling into step behind and to the side of the path Sesshoumaru made in the slowly freezing tall grass. There were no words as they walked, for none were needed. The sounds, the scents, the sensations of the other being nearby was enough for now, and neither was willing to disturb the fragile tranquility and contentment they each found in their long-awaited reunion.

***

Jaken bolted up from his snoozing perch atop A-Un's saddle as he became aware of his master's approach.

"Lord Sesshoumaru! You've retur-...!"

His words fell short as he spotted the female tagging along beside his master at a respectful distance.

"Jaken, is A-Un prepared for travel?" Sesshoumaru asked simply, scrutinizing the two-head and the imp for any signs of trouble that might have transpired in his absence.

"Er..that is, yes, m'lord, he is," Jaken's goblin-like face wrinkled even more as he found Kintsuke's scent, "but what is a half-demon doing here?"

Sesshoumaru ran a hand through the dragon's manes as it lifted its heads to greet him.

"Kintsuke will be traveling with us from now on."