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Long proximities awaited him when his lover laid there on that lavender field. When he witnessed his lover's eyes drifted over to his direction it was getting harder to differentiate, whether he were looking at him or at the one behind.
And when petals would ooze from the palm of his hand he'd scatter them in hopes for his own epiphany to thrive.
Countless nights he'd stare longingly at the moon that rose above the sea. As he spent eons waiting for a day that his lover would return to arms that would embrace him for an everlasting eternity.
He'd wait and yearn, so long as he kept roaming this very earth. Even when wisteria overgrown right at his feet. He would never stop looking over at the horizon whenever the sun started to sink. It reminded him of him who was yet to come back.
Just a few nights more that he had to endure til the chance that his long awaited lover would truly come back to him. Kunikuzushi barely kept himself contained as the idea of regaining his paramour kept him wide awake. His mind flew into various types of excitement.
But no matter, this was nothing compared to the rest of the centuries he waited for this to happen. So he tried to calm himself with well kept patience.
A few nights later, he headed to an abandoned shrine while carrying a small wooden box with special carvings on it's sides. Kunikuzushi carefully places the box in a circle of red candles, as he lit them one by one.
Then he sat on the ground in front of it, crossed-leg as he whispered a small chant, then everything went silent as he waited for something to happen.
The breeze around him was chilly, it whistles as it passes through leaves and trees. Attentively he narrowed his eyes down, waiting for something more. He lifts his head up to look at the sky, taking that it was almost a full moon.
He took a deep breath, using his last ounce of patience.
And when nothing happened, he sighed. But it wasn't enough to express how truly devastated he was that it didn't work. He sat there in loneliness, not having much energy to put up on moving just right after his summoning had failed.
🐉
Kunikuzushi awoke a few hours later, on the ground. His vision was still a little blurry and his head felt a little. But he could hear a muffled voice calling his name. It felt distant but close at the same time. He remained still and half awake, laying on the ground.
Kunikuzushi..
Kunikuzushi...?
Kunikuzushi.
Then he blinked and saw warm colours. And red.
Like a thunder struck he suddenly arose with wide eyes gasping for breath as if he had just drowned. He quickly reaches for the person in front of him, both hands cupping their cheek. He looked them in the eye as his lips quivered and he takes them into his arms, a tight embrace.
Tears welled up in the corner of his eyes, Kunikuzushi was crying. He continued to sob quietly while tightening his hold.
"Kazuha.."
He was able to mutter weakly as his grip on the other's cloth tightened again and he buried his tearful face into their chest. As he remained crying, staining their fabric with his salty tears.
The other carresses his back, his body that was aching. They were hushing him softly, urging him to fall quiet.
All his years of living, he had never done this intensity of crying.
"I'm here now, my dear.."
The soft and soothing voice spoke to him so gently as if it's purpose was to lull him to sleep. Then his sobs eventually died down as he looked up at them.
"Is.. this..
..are you real..?"
Is what Kunikuzushi settled to ask, perhaps it was because endless dreaming had been his only freedom from loneliness these past few centuries. And there was no telling if the man in front of him was real, or simply just a pigment of his wishful imagination.
🐉
They lay comfortably on the grassy hill under the night sky that showed them a swarm of bright stars. The hues created by heavenly bodies, were almost the same as what one would see, were they to stare at Kunikuzushi's eyes.
The latter's body continued to ease, as his lover tenderly carresses his dark hair. He glances up to him one more time as he had done so in the past few minutes. As if still trying to comprehend what was happening.
"Are you sure you're real..?"
He asked again quietly just like he did, the last few times.
His lover, Kazuha, couldn't help but smile down at him.
"Yes, I assure you, I am."
Kunikuzushi let out a soft breath before he replied.
"Not one of my delusions?"
"Absolutely not."
He cups Kazuha's face with one hand. Just to make sure, that he really isn't dreaming.
Kunikuzushi couldn't help the sudden sob that escapes him when he feels Kazuha's soft skin underneath his touch.
He looks away in shame and vulnerability as he tries to wipe away the few tears that escaped him. While Kazuha looks at him with fondness, his eyes soften.
He couldn't help but reach out to cup Kunikuzushi's face as well, as if imitating his actions. Except he moves even closer, to plant a very gentle kiss on Kunikuzushi's forehead, leaving the same feeling as being tickled by a soft feather.
A small gasp escapes the latter's lips, but it was followed with a small smile and a blush as he looked down in embarrassment.
Kazuha seems amused before he tenderly carresses Kunikuzushi's head.
"You're embarrassed? We've done everything together before yet you're.." His voice trails off.
Kunikuzushi's blush deepens and so does his embarrassment, especially from it being called out.
"It's.. It's not like that." He muttered quietly.
"Well I.. it's been a while okay?"
It really has been. Although for Kazuha, everything was like yesterday.. for Kunikuzushi it was not the same case.
His mind is clear to remember the times of, what felt like millennia, without Kazuha by his side.
Silence filled the air, the feeling of melancholy surrounding them was heavy as Kunikuzushi's expression looked sorrowful. He seemed to be contemplating on saying something.
He looks up into Kazuha's eyes like he was waiting for something.
His hands started fisting on his lap, a sign of distress or perhaps nervousness. Also a habit he had picked up long ago whenever he was hesitant.
And that, Kazuha could tell. But he was patient, he didn't prod for him to speak up and simply waited for him to speak up on his own accord.
Kunikuzushi eventually speaks, very quietly. Anyone else wouldn't have been able to make out what he was muttering.
But Kazuha had keen hearing.
"You wouldn't.. leave my side again, would you..?"