Chapter Text
Death is a fate that cannot be avoided by everyone, even Gods. Although it rarely happens, Suzaku's death has proven that death does not differentiate between anything.
It's just that, if the death of a God occurs because of losing faith and breaking taboos, then human death occurs because of misfortune, illness, and time.
Living as a long-lived God has made Byakko see so many human deaths. Sometimes he can also see the same soul reborn as a different person. Sometimes it still has the same appearance, like the last time before their death.
But the only thing they have in common is, they don't remember anything from their previous life.
Something that sometimes makes him feel concerned. They used to be such good people, but in their new life they become people with bad personalities. Or they used to be bad people, but they got a better life and lived a good life. That might be a reward for the punishment they received in hell before reaching the gate of reincarnation.
Then there are also those who remain good and get a good life. Still bad, in a new life that is just as bad.
Whatever it was, Byakko just prayed.
May all the departed souls never be reborn with regrets from their previous lives. Also never remember the bad things they did before. And most importantly, may they never experience the same life as the one they lived before.
"Byakko-san, did you bring some of the requested herbs?" Seiryuu's words managed to bring Byakko's mind back to the present. He must have been daydreaming for quite some time, to the point of not realizing the dragon's arrival.
"Yes, is Seimei-sama awake?"
"... Not yet. It seems like he slept longer today. But that doesn't mean Seimei-sama won't wake up! Seimei-sama is probably just too tired after receiving the Emperor's visit yesterday and will probably wake up soon—"
"Seiryuu." Byakko looked at his junior's worried face calmly.
"It's okay. Seimei-sama is not someone who would leave without a word. So he must have just fallen asleep due to normal fatigue."
Byakko didn't know who he said those confident words to. Whether it was to calm Seiryuu or to convince himself who always wanted to deny it.
Denying the fact that his master was getting weaker and withering day by day.
"You're right. Sigh, then let's go meet Genbu in the kitchen. He's preparing lunch and will boil some medicine for Seimei-sama."
"No, I'll leave this to you. I'll go to Seimei-sama's room to check on his condition."
"Of course. Can you wake him up too? We don't want him to miss two meals."
"I'll try."
Seeing Seiryuu leave, Byakko continued his way to his master's room.
The journey there was quite quiet with a few old servants occasionally greeting and welcoming him. The Abe residence that was previously bustling, had now become so quiet since Seimei dismissed most of the servants and guards, due to his declining health.
No one protested the massive layoffs, even though only a few cooks and cleaners were still working. Everyone just assumed that Seimei wanted peace in his retirement and left his care to those who were still working.
Seimei did need peace as they said. That wasn't entirely wrong. And they could have said the real reason out loud.
Like 'Seimei-sama needs peace before death takes him.' but they wisely chose not to say it. Because they knew that their master's Shikigami could hear anything even though they weren't there.
Everything became so awkward after the deaths of Ashiya Douman and Suzaku. Byakko couldn't deny it or do anything to ease it.
Seimei became quieter and spoke only as little as he could. He was still the humble and gentle benefactor, but he became more distant from everyone.
He played his role as an Onmyouji very well as he promised, even though the three of them knew how much it was burdening him.
One day, there was a time when Seimei couldn't wake up from his sleep because of a worrying nightmare. He would reject everyone and lock himself in his room for a few hours, then go back to acting like he was before.
It was always like that, although it rarely happened. Some people might just respond to it as stress and frustration or general fatigue. Of course, for the three of them who had been bonded with him knew that it was more than stress or frustration as they said.
Sometimes their master would talk to himself or to something unseen. Sometimes he would say that Douman came and complained about how bad his day was which of course was impossible. Sometimes he would also leave his side of the futon empty when he slept as if he was sleeping with someone else. Sometimes he would just daydream while watching the Shogi board where only his pawns were moving, then say...
"Douman, you lost, fufu..." And laugh alone. Like what he heard from behind the door now.
If it was a hallucination or maybe a sign of madness, Byakko, Seiryuu, and Genbu wouldn't have a problem with it. They don't care if their master has been called crazy by some ignorant people, they will remain loyal and obey him.
Whether their master is crazy, sane, sick, or healthy. As long as he is still alive, as long as he can still smile and laugh at them, as long as he needs them, as long as he calls them. They will always follow him.
"Byakko, aren't you going to come in or are you just standing there?" The call was still warm as the days before
Byakko slowly slid the Shoji door of his master's room before entering. His master's appearance had not changed at all except for his graying hair and his frail and sickly body. It was probably thanks to the Kitsune gene in him, so his face did not age.
He looked at the opponent's shogi pieces that were defeated by his master's pieces and sat down. Picking up all the pieces, then arranging them into their original positions before playing.
"Genbu and Seiryuu asked me to wake you up. They are preparing lunch, since you woke up late. Maybe there is still time while waiting for them to finish, should we play so we don't get bored?"
"No. I have played and won once. So I thought someone would be angry if you managed to beat me, Byakko."
Seimei smiled at something invisible once again and Byakko could only pretend as if there was someone else there.
He was used to it, even though in his heart he wondered. Could his master really see 'Douman'? Could he really see the ghost that caused his master's festering wound? If so, could his master also see Suzaku?
His master's behavior sometimes confused him. He always held himself back from asking his wildest questions.
Had Ashiya Douman become a wandering spirit that was around his master to pick him up? Was his master's time almost up? Had he been there all this time to accompany him while waiting for his master's death?
A wave of a hand in front of his face, made Byakko wake up from his reverie, then looked at the owner of the hand who still showed a gentle smile to him.
"It's unusual for you to daydream in front of me, Byakko. Is there something bothering you?"
"... I'm just worried about your health, because you've been sleeping a lot more than usual."
"Oh, is that all?"
"Yes. I also thought about forbidding the emperor from coming if his visit makes you too tired."
"... You don't have to be like that Byakko. Besides, I'm happy to get a visit from the Emperor who was previously a little prince that I often carried."
"Only because Seimei-sama wanted it."
Silence.
Seimei sat silently while watching the maple tree that was visible from the window. He always looked calm, but fragile. As if he could go along with the leaves that slowly fell to welcome autumn. And Byakko couldn't take his eyes off him, not even for a second.
Seeing his master like this, scared him. Made him realize how quickly time passed. How close they were to the end that would come. How he still hoped that all of that would never happen or not happen anytime soon.
May time stop so that he never says the words of goodbye that are getting more and more stuck in his throat.
May his selfishness be forgiven by his master, because he still hopes for him to live longer, even though he knows he has lived a life filled with the burden of fear and pain of a death that is not his fault.
"Byakko."
"Yes?"
"Stop thinking about something that hasn't happened yet."
"Ah..."
Was it because of the reflection of the light or were his eyes starting to have problems too. But in front of him, his master's appearance as white as paper in a spotless white kimono looked more transparent under the sunlight than usual.
Would he disappear like the yokai who returned to nature, when their deaths came?
"Seimei-sama—" It felt like he was choking and suffocating as he called out.
Byakko reached out his hand because the fear suddenly appeared like a tidal wave. And Seimei grabbed it, then pulled him into a hug that immediately made all his feelings overflow.
He couldn't do anything but sob softly in the soft embrace that he hadn't felt for a long time. Like this was the last time and if it was, he would never want to let go.
He clung to his master until he forgot how much time had passed. At some point, Genbu and Seiryuu must have knocked on the door and decided to give them some space. He would have to thank them later.
"Byakko."
Seimei gently cupped his face and wiped his red, tear-streaked eyes, before guiding him to make eye contact.
"It's okay. There's nothing to be afraid of. Everything will be fine, whether I'm here or not.
The upcoming separation is not the end for you, Seiryuu, and Genbu. It won't be the end for any of us either. We will surely meet again, even if we're different people than we are now."
"Sniff,,, how can you be so sure with your words? As if we will indeed meet again after you're gone."
Byakko rubbed his eyes as he watched his master who was now smiling up to his eyes. Oh, how beautiful and sincere that smile was.
"Because that's what I see in the distant future from now."
The wind swept by with the rustle of leaves causing several leaves to fall into the room. His master's words disappeared as if carried away by the passing wind, leaving no echo for him to understand.
His master still gave him the same smile as before. But the transparent shadow behind him would never be missed or forgotten by Byakko.
The way those two hands touched his master's shoulders and gave him a hollow smile, then disappeared the next second with another gust of wind.
"Yes, I understand now." He muttered to no one who answered.
Some of his questions might have been answered now. Then Byakko forced himself to smile at his master.
°So you did come to wait and pick him up, right? Then you have won over me who could not possibly keep him in suffering any longer. °
°May we meet again in the distant future as my master said. Be it as old people, or new people. °
Be it with a greeting of 'Welcome back' or 'Nice to meet you'.