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The sun was nearly down. Kazuha had watched it run the evening’s course. But even under his careful eye, the day still drew to a close. What a day it was.
“Kazuha!”
He didn’t turn at the sound, and instead let the wind carry his gentle response. He could faintly smell tobacco, painfully familiar in the electric air.
“General.”
“I’m a general no more, Kaedehara.” Gorou spoke lightly as he approached. “The war is over.”
“So it is.”
Gorou put a hand on his shoulder, using it as a crutch to sit next to Kazuha on his small cliffside perch. He was far too young to ache the way war had forced him to.
They sat in silence for a moment. Only a moment, though.
Gorou sighed and leaned back on his elbows. “The thing you did back there. Standing down the Shogun. I still can’t believe it.”
“Honestly, neither can I.” Kazuha chuckled. He instinctively reached for his chest pocket, and found nothing there. Instead, he laid back, hands behind his head, eyes closed.
“I suppose some stories must end as they began.”
Gorou bristled beside him, surprised. When Kazuha cracked an eye open to check his expression, their eyes met.
Kazuha continued, “I gave back his Vision today. Returning to Inazuma…it’s time for me to let him rest. For better or for worse, his question’s been answered. I can’t keep leaving all my stock in the opinions of the dead.”
Gorou’s brow furrowed. His body language was always so honest. For someone with so much power, he felt like an open book.
“You know,” he spoke slowly, “he would have been really proud of you. I’m certainly proud.
“You sound so serious, Gorou. What have you done with my old friend?”
A light shove to his shoulder made Kazuha sway, but he was smiling at the praise regardless.
Gorou put on his most pensive face and stared into the night.
“I am a grown man.
I can be serious if
It makes my friend smile.”
Kazuha actually laughed at that. Not loudly, but still. He sat up to scratch at one of Gorou’s ears, and watched as he pretended to find the action insulting. But honest eyes were honest eyes, and Kazuha knew these well.
“I’ve missed you. I’ve been gone for too long.”
“Does that mean you’ll stay a while?”
“I suppose it does. Someone needs to make sure the Priestess doesn’t work you to death.”
“Her excellency would never-“
“So you don’t work yourself to death.”
“Fine. I’ll hold you to that, alright?” Gorou grinned in the low light.
Kazuha stood up, and offered his friend a hand. “Of course. Shall we head back?”
“Oh, man. I should warn you, the men got the first alcohol they’ve seen in months. It’s practically a whole nother war zone in there.”
“It cannot possibly be worse than what I’ve seen from the Crux.”
Gorou’s eyes widened.
“Oh gods, the Crux. Tomorrow, remind me, you are telling me everything from the great open sea. No detail spared.”
“Hm. As you wish.”
-
Home will change with time
But persistent friendship may
Root you into place.