Peri of My Heart

The warrior woman smiled the content smile Sarevok hadn't seen in years at the end of their relationship and his first life.

- "I will go now. There are many old friends to greet... but I tell you, build a shrine to remember the dead loved ones by, and you can talk to me again. I know you don't have them in the West, but..."

- "Tamoko. If I, and the very world, survive this turmoil, I intend to stay here. There I will always be the fiend people regard with fear and suspicion - here only a select few are aware of my past. There there are bad memories flooding from wherever I go - here my heart is at a strange peace. No, I don't intend to leave Kara-Tur," Sarevok said.

- "I am glad to hear that. Good bye then... Mei will show you how to build a shrine."

And then, without an elaborate goodbye, she was gone. Mei smiled at Sarevok.

- "See now. She doesn't want you to suffer. She doesn't suffer. However you wronged her, you made it right by doing this," she said.

- "This... overwhelms me. But I wish you to be on my side as it does," Sarevok said. The two stepped out of the shrine, to meet the expressionless Kozakurans and the broadly grinning family of Sarevok.

The shukenja Eiko grabbed Peri's hand.

- "Come, bushi... come greet Yoshimo-san's spirit."

Peri entered the shrine, feeling a strange flutter in her stomach.

- "I call you, Yoshimo, the son of Akita-sama and Katsue-sama, for the one who rescued your spirit wishes to speak to you. Blessed be the gaijin god whose hand brought you home," Eiko recited.

And Yoshimo stood there, looking disoriented and shady. Seeing Peri he managed the typical grin of his, but his eyes were still sad.

- "You brought my heart to the Ilmatari," he said.

- "Of course I did. I promised to. Yoshimo... I am so damn sorry that... that what happened, happened," Peri said.

- "It is I who should be sorry... believe me, I am. I reside now in Meido, the Sphere of Reflection... and there has been a lot of time to reflect," Yoshimo smirked.

- "Don't be, Yoshi. You certainly didn't know what you put yourself into... I have made much graver mistakes, but with less grave consequences for myself."

- "It eases my heart that you say so," Yoshimo smiled.

- "How is it in Meido?" Peri asked.

- "Grey. Quiet. Peaceful. The souls just drift about and contemplate their life. After a while I will have another chance and be reborn."

- "Tamoko is in a place called Yomi," Peri said, and Yoshimo smiled.

- "That means that she has fulfilled her purpose, and gets to be at peace and happiness forever. How I hated you for slaying her... how little did I know."

- "Don't worry about it," Peri said. "I thought that I hated Sarevok, once... instead I love him, and my hate was gone the instant I got to know him. I don't even hate Jon Irenicus. I hope he will learn... and with Ilmater as his mentor, how could he not?"

- "Seems that you have organized quite a business of reforming old foes," Yoshimo said, the first smile reaching his eyes on his face.

Peri smirked.

- "I am far from a do-gooder, my friend. Yoshi... I was in love with you. I thought, at times, that you, too, were with me. And then, when you would retreat, I thought that I was mistaken."

- "Oh Peri. I loved you like a man loves a woman, I truly did. But first I felt enormous guilt, as you were the hated slayer of my sweet sister. Then, when I realized that she gave you no choice... then there was the guilt. The unbearable guilt. I really made a mess out of my life, didn't I?"

- "Good and bad stuff both, Yoshi. You gave much joy to people too," Peri said seriously. "I... miss you."

- "It is great to be remembered, Peri. But you need to live. To love. If you make yourself a life here in Kozakura, perhaps we will meet again."

- "I would love that. In case the war brewing in the spirit world will not destroy us all."

- "Never peace, right?" Yoshimo laughed sadly. "Goodbye now, Peri of my heart."

- "Goodbye," Peri whispered, crying - and Yoshimo was gone.