Standard disclaimers apply.

Epilogue

The windows which lined the little square room gave a rather magnificent view of Nature at her best. Just outside the window the land sloped downwards, wavy and undulating like the cascading tresses of some forest spirit. Little wooden houses usually always closeted in by fields of ripening corn dotted this landscape, almost as if created by the brushstrokes of some capricious artist on a canvas of velvet greenery. A single silver thread cut through the heart of the valley, its shimmering, sparkling waters rushing with indecent glee over the smooth round pebbles which lined the river bed in a somewhat unseemly haste to resume their onerous journey through the White Mountains which surrounded the valley like a crescent moon.

It was a shame really, that neither the brazen sunlight which streamed in through the open windows, nor the flirty mountain air which occasionally danced through the room could induce its sole occupant to look out of the window. He sat cross legged on a cushion by a window, more absorbed in the Weiqi board spread on the low table in front of him than in the beauty which poets struggled for words to describe and artists died to paint.

The sound of rapidly approaching footsteps however, succeeded in capturing his attention. With a small sigh he abandoned the problematic configuration which was spread before him and turned towards the door. Presently, the door slid open and for a moment a boy, not more than fourteen years old stood framed in the doorway, his dark eyes surveying the room inquisitively.

"Hello." His face broke into a smile when they came to rest on the man. "I had a feeling that it might be you." He started forward. "Have you been waiting for long?"

The tenor of his voice wasn't particularly pleasing, stuck as he was in those twilight years where the shadows of his dying childhood still haunted the footsteps of his approaching manhood.

"Not really." The man's face reflected his smile but only for a second. "And as you can see…" He waved a hand airily over the Weiqi board. "I have contrived to pass my time quite pleasurably."

"Hnn."

It was clear that the boy considered such sedate amusement poor sport.

"So … how have you been?"

"Well, the weather has been behaving implacably." The boy seated himself on the empty cushion on the other end of the low table. "So I think that we can expect a high yield of crops this year. The cattle are also in fine health and dear Miyu-chan has done us the honor of presenting us with five healthy piglets." He paused. "Oh … and Sakura got married."

"Sakura?"

"She is farmer Wang's daughter and is considered as something of a beauty in these parts."

"So…" The man's stern lips quivered a little. "You are nursing a broken heart?"

"Alas." The boy sighed dramatically. "Such are the pains of puberty."

"I see."

For a while both of them were silent and both pairs of eyes turned towards the Weiqi board.

"Why are you so grim?" The boy said abruptly. "You look like somebody has died." The smile had returned to his lips but for some reason it looked different. "Or could it be because somebody has not died?"

The man did not answer immediately.

"Do you remember Rashim?"

"Rashim?" The boy frowned. "I see. So is that a stylized way of saying that you failed … again?"

"I was trying to soften the blow."

For a while silence reigned and then the boy started to laugh.

"You audacity never ceases to amuse me."

"I try."

"You know, humility does not become you." The boy had stopped laughing but a smile still quivered around his mouth. "So, what went wrong? I find it amusing that Fa Sang failed to tame such inexperienced warriors."

"As did Ryuutoshiki."

"Ah … him." There was a dismissive snort. "His heart was not in the game. He just went to Fa Sang because he had nothing better to do."

There was a moment of tense silence.

"I see."

"I don't think you do." There was a quiver of laughter in the boy's voice. "You think I allow him a bit too much freedom."

"Don't you?"

"I allow you a lot of freedom as well."

"Yes, you do." The man acknowledged immediately. "And I am honored that you consider me to be so worthy of your trust."

"Really." The boy started to laugh again. "Sometimes you can be positively hilarious."

The man waited till his laughter died down before he spoke again. His voice sounded grim. "Armuna is gathering her forces."

"Naturally."

"I believe that it was she who sent Kinta to their aid."

"Kinta?" The boy sounded amused. "Armuna is taking no chances I see."

"But even then, he has not been in battle for years. Ryuutoshiki could have easily overpowered him."

"I see. Would you like to point out to him the error of his ways?"

The man's lips quivered. "I am not a fool."

"I thought so." The sliver of amusement had not quite disappeared from the boy's eyes. "Anyway, I am not too disappointed. A win which comes easily cannot be … savored."

His eyes alighted on the Weiqi board once more. "So the play did not shape up as expected." Lifting a hand he brushed the pieces aside, clearing the board. "Let us set another board then." With a kind of painstaking deliberation he began to rearrange the pieces on the now clear board. "What we need is a change of strategy and … patience." He surveyed his handiwork for a while. "I may lack a lot of things but I definitely do not lack patience."

There was a moment of silence.

"So, what do you lack?"

The boy glared. "Dumb questions do not deserve an answer."

Before the man could speak a small pebble sailed in through one of the window and rattled over the floor. It was soon got followed by another and then another.

"Oh that must be Shang and the boys." The boy slapped his forehead. "I almost forgot."

"Shang?"

"I was supposed to go fishing with them." The boy got to his feet as another pebble rolled off the wooden floor. "Ignore the fuss. They think that they are being discreet."

The man raised an amused eyebrow. "You are … sneaking out."

"Uhh … yes." The boy moved to the window. Leaning outside in a somewhat conspiratorial manner he signaled somebody to wait, possibly the one who was throwing the pebbles.

"Dare I ask why you are sneaking out?"

"Oh we were supposed to help farmer Wang with the harvesting of his apples today." He grinned. "In comparison I infinitely prefer fishing."

"And leave the poor guy in a lurch."

"I suppose." The boy's eye twinkled. "But to work on a day like this and thereby be a model citizen." He swung one leg over the window clutching a beaten fishing rod. "It just wouldn't be … normal."

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End of Part I

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Here is a teaser from the sequel which I intend to publish soon. I hope that you will like it as much as this one.

It is true that our country has been protected for centuries by the Miko's wish. However, by releasing Seiryuu Kutou has shown us that a Miko's wish can be broken. If Kutou can undermine the Suzaku no Miko's wish like this then what guarantee is there that they will not similarly undermine the wish made by our miko? We have been the victim of Kutou's aggression before and I now fear that emboldened by the strength to their now released God they will wreak havoc on the nations once more. We cannot allow that to happen. So I think that it is time for us to unite our scattered resources into one solidified whole which, I hope will be more than capable of answering Kutou's foreign policy. If need be then we shall attack Kutou …before they attack us…

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Author's note: Dear wallflower, kindly look in my profile page for your review reply