repeat balance.
PRELUDE | TIBET
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"What are you saying—?"
The day Shion met Dohko had been under a burgundy sky. The shadows and colors it cast across his complexion had made him seem like he was dancing before a slowly dying fire, perched nimbly atop a great, stone wall. Shion was sure that he had never seen the man before, but somehow knew that it was something he must have done often.
A small man with big aspirations, he supposed. But those were always the types that ended up changing the world.
"We will soon meet again."
It was a type of martial art he was practicing, Shion decided, each movement fluid but certainly deliberate. It would be clumsy at some points, but the young man would quickly right himself as if it had been an obvious mistake. Perhaps Shion should have left him to his practice and been on his way, but he found himself drawn in place until the sun finally set from the sky.
Dohko had been aware of his presence the entire time, of course. He relaxed his posture when the first of the stars lit from a sea of blue, and turned to smile at his chance companion— lopsided and familiar. Shion couldn't shake it.
"I have already waited 243 years."
In one motion he had seated himself, legs dangling over the edge of the wall. Perhaps an introduction wasn't even necessary between them, the air already comfortable, as if it were only natural for them to meet in such a way. But Dohko leaned over at an awkward angle regardless, looking as if he might tip over, and held out a hand.
"Dohko."
Shion stared at him warily for a moment before clasping their hands together firmly. "... Shion."
"Are you in any hurry, Shion?"
It was an unusual question to ask a stranger. But Shion vaguely realized that he may have already given himself away, having lingered behind for so long. The thought was as frustrating as it was embarrassing, and Dohko must have realized this; he laughed softly under his breath and continued without waiting for a reply.
"I only practice this late to pass the time. You can see some of the constellations clearly from this place at this time of the year."
He motioned with his free hand as if to make a point. As it was becoming darker the stars in the sky were likewise becoming more clear.
"... I can wait a little longer."
There was something distinctly uncanny about it. Another time, another version of himself— Shion wasn't sure how much he believed in fates or destinies. The world seemed far too bland for that sort of outlandish thinking now, he supposed— Even despite the countless amounts of unnamed feelings that were sparked in a single instant.
He shook his head. "I'm not interested."
"Wait!"
Protests fell on deaf ears, and Shion stepped back forcefully. He let go of the hand in his grip.
Dohko didn't.
Incidentally, first meetings are not always the most pleasant.
Hello, my friend.