Chapter Text
Big Sky Country/Land of the Rising Sun
Sparks of the fire crackled as a log settled into the coals. The tiny lights drifted higher into the inky darkness of the sky. Carried higher by the easy breeze into the realm of the stars. Twinkling among the jewels of the sky, the sparks vanished. Those brief, intense specks of light were no comparison to the steady flickering of the pinpoints of light shining in the void.
McCree stirred the fire and sent a shower of embers flying to their doom amid the spectacular backdrop of an unending sky. Nothing blocking the view for miles. Scrub brush, cactus, Joshua trees. Nothing a couple of men couldn’t overcome with ease. Cities were simply a mental construct to distract of the reality of the world when faced with a sky bigger than a man’s comprehension.
It was impossible to take in the entirety of the sight with one look. Even twisting and angling in every direction failed to bring the wondrous sky into focus. The all encompassing dome of azure blue and velvet black wrapped itself around the world, offering protection and mystery. The horizon stood as a temptation to more secrets than could ever be learned. A step forward always brought more questions. An endless game the sky played with the earthbound inhabitants.
Tonight the watchful eye of the moon was winking close. The sleepy crescent of silver trying to keep the vigilant cowboy company. Jesse smiled and sent another surge of sparks to share the majesty of their eternal counter parts. How much longer would his own intense existence in this world last? When would he burn out among the stars he strived to reach every night?
Jesse hoped never to learn the answer. From the never-ending sky he glanced back down to earth. Under the sun bleached red and gold serape slept his own piece of the heavens. An everlasting star missed by its fellows and held in wonder next to a heart that dared to be as boundless as the night sky.
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Grey predawn light gradually filled the world. In the distance the songbirds chirped and whistled with exuberance. Their songs filled the stillness of the early morning, bringing energy that few others felt. Dark shadows of tress silhouetted against the growing lightening of the sky hid the excited little creatures. Unseen they sang to the slow increase in white filling the horizon.
Tendrils of steam rose from the teacups to join the dissipating mists. A quiet moment in the soft light insistently rising in the east. Gradual and insistent. Ever present. Beautiful and blinding. Color returned to the world as slow as seconds ticking by an incessantly persistent clock. At first unnoticed then alarmingly quick while at the same time agonizingly slow. Time counted in seconds dragged on. Time counted in sunrises thrilled with anticipation.
An eternity passed while the sky gained in brightness. Every morning a different combination emerged. Golds and reds, and oranges and purples. Never knowing what to expect from the predawn lights. Streaks of clouds or clear brilliance? Never the same. Always a surprise. Ever amazing.
From the shadows in the distance an icon emerged. Large and imposing, Mt. Fuji struggled to rival the approaching visitor to the sky. Hanzo breathed deeply and cradled the teacup in his hand waiting patiently. Soon.
Even when expected the burst of color from the horizon took the archer’s breath away. Today, a tiny blinking speck of liquid gold poked above the horizon. That small announcement quickly flared into a cascade of light, banishing the lingering mists and returning color to the world. Rays of shimmering white streamed through the clouds to touch the earth with warmth. Orange tinted trees and buildings cheerfully welcomed the sun to their world. Gentle red grinned on the horizon. The grey hesitancy of the predawn world burst into brilliant blue with a blink of an eye.
Hanzo had never been ready for his world to explode with color and blanketed with warmth. It had been a cold existence wandering the world isolated and grieving. He had not been ready for the gradual influence of the man who would be the one to change his life. His own captured sun waved brightly as he meandered through the gardens to the shrine. This man had gradually involved Hanzo in the rest of the world. Incessantly brought more life into Hanzo’s world. Such a slow and unseen process that Hanzo was unprepared for the burst of love for the sun that threatened to consume him. And without fail his personal sun restored life to his world. Always unexpected. Always beautiful.