.*The Unfamiliar Path*.
Sano had thought he walked this path through the woods during every season.
Summer was always wearisome, when a lingering cocktail of heat and humidity stagnated the air and left him uncomfortable, even after repeatedly dabbing the sweat off his skin. The oppressive swelter had made it hard to breathe and buzzing of insect wings near his ears pricked at nerves in his back and shoulders; yet, the trees canopying overhead provided shade from the unforgiving July sun and Sano decided it could always be worse. After all, summer had been the captain's favorite and somewhere, Souzo was smiling now. He'd closed his eyes at that thought and the corners of his lips twitched softly upward.
Then there was autumn, bringing the cool breeze that blew soft as a whisper and gently ruffled through Sano's hair like a caress. The sensation had sent shivers down his spine and he'd inhaled deeply, feeling connected to the change in nature as leaves floated lazily down around him. This was the time to let go of past hang-ups and mistakes, to bury them and plant the seeds of absolution that would bloom once the inevitable ice melted. Like sprigs of canola bringing bare expanses of rolling hills to life, Sano would rise anew from the ashes of the previous year…so long as he had dice in his hand and luck behind him.
Winter followed shortly, pulling a soft blanket of white over the world and tucking it into the bliss of peace and silence. Sano's breath had been visible before him as he trudged through the chill that pricked at cheeks stained in blush, but there was a fire in his chest that kept him as warm as the coat he'd slipped over his shoulders. If he could keep the flame kindled, there was tangible evidence that he could overcome whatever discomfort life tried to needle at him. His grip tightened on the jug at his side, the sting of liquor remaining in his throat from his last swig.
And once more, it became spring—Sano's favorite—when cherry blossoms erupted overnight in soft clusters of pink along crooked dark branches, fulfilling those old autumn promises of renewal and rejuvenation after long weeks of winter. April rain washed the slate clean, made sake taste better and the glitter of a starry sky brighter. Hope and prosperity were in the air, just like the butterflies dancing about the fragrance of fresh flowers, and Sano's heart felt exceptionally light.
…or, at least his heart had been light last year. This time, everything was different.
Traversing this road Sano had taken so many times alone felt entirely new when his footsteps fell behind the lead of another's. Lagging behind, his attention was no longer on the transformation of his surroundings but the one taking place inside himself. Sano kept his hands stuffed in his pockets for a long while and followed Saito without a word, gazing pensively at slick black hair that met the collar of a navy jacket.
How could so much have changed in twelve months? At exactly this time one year ago, Sano had sake money in his pocket and a persistent feeling of confidence that radiated from his chest. He was self-assured—comfortable with himself and his abilities—and his largest desire had merely been to find a good meal for dinner.
Now, under the falling cherry blossom petals, all he saw was Saito and he suddenly felt lost, like he'd never before taken this path that he'd once known so well. In some ways, he didn't even recognize his own mental reflection. Sano's life was no longer governed by Captain Sagara's approval or a roll of the dice or a large vessel of sake. It had become infinitely complicated because it was no longer about only himself, and that left him with more questions than answers about the future.
Feeling stupid and more than a little silly, Sano cast his gaze to the side. They'd met frequently since the unexpected reunion in Tokyo, but there was no indication of how long their acquaintance would last; it was all physical exchange laced with familiar banter, but never any deep conversation about what was to come—if anything, at all.
It was a strange feeling. Sano hadn't ever been the kind of person who made or relied on plans, but there was unease growing alongside a dangerous affection inside of him that he tried so hard to quell. The facts were the facts, however. Sano was getting attached and Saito had already disappeared once without explanation. There weren't any promises or guarantees that he wouldn't vanish again.
How could he inquire about such an intention without looking pathetic or too vulnerable, Sano wondered for the hundredth time. Every way he considered phrasing it sounded too awkward (he couldn't even imagine saying some of those words with his own lips) and gave Saito total control over the situation.
Maybe the best course of action was simply sitting back and waiting…but Sano had never been one to do either of those things. He reminded himself that he was a person of action and conviction who forged his own way, and then realized if that were true, he wouldn't have fallen so far behind that he was trailing Saito's footsteps now.
Sano looked forward again, his gaze falling upon Saito's arm and wandering down to the hand covered by a white glove. He stared at it until his mouth parted suddenly and a moment of clarity clapped him over the head. Perhaps, he'd been approaching this in the completely wrong way. Maybe some mysteries were better solved without the movement of lips.
His feet picked up the pace to catch up, hitting the ground faster until he was shoulder-to-shoulder with Saito and matching his stride. Without taking his eyes off the road ahead, Sano swallowed and sought out Saito's hand—first hooking his pointer and middle digits about the pinky and then sliding them across the palm.
The response was an immediate salve to any indecision and an answer to everything he'd ever wanted to ask. Saito's fingers folded in, returning Sano's grasp in full, and then even surpassing it.
That was all he needed, even if they never spoke of this moment or talked about what the future had in store.
Sano's tongue poked out to wet his lips and he couldn't fight the tiny smile that pulled outward to his cheeks. Without turning his face, he peered up through the corner of his eye and it finally struck him that, for once, there was no cigarette in Saito's mouth. Maybe he'd been too distracted by questions of his own, and in that case…
Sano pulled his hand free just enough to slip his fingers between Saito's. Their palms pressed together as their digits intertwined, and still without a single word spoken, they continued down a road that was once familiar and now entirely new.
In time, they'd map it out again together.
The cherry blossoms fell, the summer heat hung, the leaves left the trees, and the snow lined the path once more. When the pink petals returned the following spring, they were greeted silently by the same entangled hands that had never let go.