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The hot Karuizawa air felt like heaven on Ajisai’s skin as she leaned out on the balcony. She watched as the clouds made their slow crawl across the sky. It was such a wonderful and pleasant day.
It was the sound of a horse below that pulled her gaze away. Ajisai’s smile brightened and she waved out her hand with a loud call, “Goichi-san! Up here!”
The Samurai looked up at her from his steed and smiled.
“I’ll be right there!” Ajisai called again before turning on her heel and rushing down through the small home. She practically burst through the doors, stumbling as she made her way to Goichi’s side. ”How are you? Did you run into any Winter Warriors?”
Goichi pulled himself off Taiyo and stood before Ajisai. “No, thankfully. I think the Witches’ forces have receded almost completely now.
“That’s good!” Ajisai nodded. She grabbed Goichi’s wrist and started to tug him into the inn. “I went to the lake today!”
“Oh?”
She gave an excited nod and grabbed the flowers she’d picked while out earlier. She pulled a single tulip out of the pile and tried to snap off the long stem. After struggling with it for a moment she used her teeth to bite it off. She placed the shortened flower stem behind Goichi’s ear and through his hair. “Perfect,” she said with a smile.
Goichi looked at the gift through the side of his vision.
“It was warm out today. It felt nice.”
“Did Naomi-san know you were out today?”
Ajisai looked down at that. Her guilt was obvious in her nervous smile. “A-ah well… um. About that…” she rocked on the back of her heels.
“You shouldn’t go out alone right now,” Goichi frowned. “Even if the spell is broken you’re still healing. The priestess said that too harsh a wind could-“
Ajisai groaned out loudly. She ran her hands down her face and looked up at the other. “One windy day isn’t gonna refreeze my heart! Besides, you said it yourself, her forces are practically gone from the area. I’m perfectly safe!”
Her words only did the opposite of reassure the other. His frown deepened. He put his hand to her head with a sigh before letting his fingers run down and through her hair. He took the streak of ice blue that refused to turn back to its original raven black and pressed it to his lips softly. “I only worry about you. Naomi and I both.”
“I know,” she mumbled through her pout.
“I couldn't bear to see you like that again.”
Ajisai let out a loud whine and let her head fall to Goichi’s shoulder. She mumbled something into the fabric.
“Hm?”
She let out another whine before lifting her head enough to call out, “stop caring about me so much!”
Goichi only smiled and gave a humored sigh. He let his hand rest on the back of her neck. “Unfortunately, I believe that’d be impossible, my Summer Princess.”
Ajisai only pressed her face harder against him to hide her blush and gave another whine. She turned her head so she could say, “do you want sugar cookies?”
“Cookies?”
“Yeah, me ‘n’ Naomi made them. They’re like cardboard with gross frosting. They’re awesome.”
“They sound horrible.”
“You sound horrible.” Ajisai slapped at his hand before pushing off him and walking towards the kitchen. “Come eat disgustingly sweet sugar cookies with me or I’ll paint your horse again.”
Goichi gave an exasperatedly fond sigh before he followed after her.
After eating some sweets (which Goichi declared tasted like if you tried to make sugar into wood) they found themselves in the hotspring. Ajisai rested her head cozily against Goichi’s chest.
The samurai looked out at the blue sky. The few clouds that did show their face were thin and far between, only adding to the pretty painting-like scenery. If you asked either of them not even a month ago that they’d be in such a peaceful and domestic time they’d probably have laughed at you. At least, Ajisai would have laughed. Goichi would either swear the possibility on his life or tried to fight you for talking like a madman.
But there they sat. Warm and happy and together.
Ajisai looked up at her love and smiled. “I know you and Naomi want me to rest but… You’re still gonna keep your promise right?”
Goichi looked down at her. His promise. He remembered it clear as day. Her cold, near lifeless hands clenched in his. The way her hair and skin lost all color. The only warmth that stayed was in her smile that she somehow still held onto in what had seemed like dying moments. He’d promised to take her away. To show her everything. To give the world to a dying girl who’s whole world was her room for as long as she could remember.
Goichi would fight a million Winter Warriors before he went back on that promise.
He returned her smile. “Of course I will. Once Priestess Naomi confirms the curse completely gone I’ll show you the ends of the earth. Not even the great seas will stop us.”
Ajisai, his Summer Princess, her smile warm and blinding like the sun. He almost couldn’t look at it directly but couldn’t bear to turn away either.
“Good! I wasn’t gonna let you forget about it! I wanna see everything.”
“The sky is the limit.”
“The blue sky that connects the world.” She raised her hand out of the water and towards the sky. Looking at it between her fingers. “Just the thought warms my heart.”