Author's Notes: See chapter one for disclaimer and explanation.
Love, Life, and Death By Annie-chan Chapter Seventeen: HomecomingHôjun reappeared above the town of Shôryû on the same hill he had appeared on the last time he came. The spray of trees between the town and him were getting a little red and brown, what with autumn coming.
As he walked to the town, he couldn't help but think about all that had happened. It took the lives of Nuriko, Chiriko, Mitsukake, Hotohori-sama, and nearly Tamahome, but they won the war. Suzaku had been summoned, and Kônan-koku was at peace again. Miaka-chan and Seiryû no Miko were back in their world were they belonged. Kutô-koku's horrible dynasty had fallen, making way for a new, hopefully better, one. Hôjun was done for now with his Seishi duties, and he was grateful for that. It meant he was finally able to come back home.
However, he was not the same man who had left. Witnessing the deaths of four other Suzaku Seishi, as well as experiencing a horrible war left its mark on him. He had a darkness in the back of his eye now, and it would probably never go away.
He also remembered Tasuki's farewell to him. The young bandit had always been much more forward with his emotions than Hôjun, and as they said their goodbyes to each other, Tasuki had started crying. Not just because of their parting ways, but for all that had happened. For Nuriko, Chiriko, Mitsukake, Hotohori-sama. For all the men, women, and children who had suffered because of the whole conflict. True, it all turned out as good as possible in the end, but that didn't atone for all they had done. Yes, the Suzaku Seishi were at fault for it as much as the Seiryû Seishi, in many ways.
He was nearing the outskirts of the village. People greeted him and welcomed him back, and he responded in kind, but his heart was set on only one thing: finally returning to his wife and children. He had not seen them in months, and his soul was aching to be near them again. They may have no idea about whether he was alive or not. He had heard back in the palace that the news of four dead Seishi was spreading throughout the empire, but it wasn't known by most of the public just which four they were, besides the emperor.
He found himself in front of his house. It was quiet inside, but he could feel the familiar sensation of Kôran and the children being near. They seemed fine, but a depression had settled over them, especially Kôran. Without further ado, he walked through the door.
The front room was empty. A small incense burner was smoldering on the low table, so someone had been in there recently. He could hear the muffled sounds of Tori and Seiryoku through the closed door to their room. The door to his and Kôran's bedroom was open a crack, and the distinct feeling of his wife's ki was undoubtedly in there.
He quietly walked to the door. It opened almost soundlessly, and he finally saw her. She was kneeling on the bed, looking out the window at the setting sun. She had a lonely look on her face, and sadness was shining clearly in her eyes. She sighed.
He was stricken by the sight. He knew she would be downcast when he returned, but the depth of it written on her beautiful visage was shocking. It looked like she would fade away any minute.
"Kôran," he whispered, his mask pulled from his face. He dropped it to the floor and took a step toward her as she turned around. She looked at him, a stunned expression taking hold of her. Then, she slowly got off the bed and stood to face him, emotions suddenly flashing through her eyes.
"Hôjun," she murmured, as if disbelieving. She took one step forward, her hand lifting shakily out to him, her breath suddenly ragged. She suddenly threw herself forward, wrapping her arms tight around him and burying her face in the folds of his tunic. "Hôjun! Hôjun!" Tears were flowing freely from her eyes, dampening his clothes. "Oh, Suzaku, you don't know how worried I was about you! I heard that three other Seishi besides the emperor had died, but no one could tell me if you were one of them! I was so frightened you wouldn't come back to me!"
"Kôran," he whispered again, holding her tight to him. "I'm here. Everything's all right now. Shhhhhh. Don't cry." Tears were making their way down his face as well, dropping into her long, loose hair. He clutched her to him, a sudden possessiveness taking over. Nothing would take her away from him again. He'd condemn to Hell's mercy anyone who tried. He buried his face in her thick, soft hair, breathing in her scent. Oh, gods, he had been much too long apart from her.
He gently placed a hand beneath her chin and tilted her head up to look at him. She looked up at him adoringly, a loving smile on her beautiful mouth. A small gasp made its way from her lips as he suddenly and forcefully claimed them with his own, tightening his hold on her until she squirmed in an attempt to make him loosen his grip. All feminine modesty left her as she brazenly pressed herself against him, winding her arms around his neck and purring her pleasure against his mouth. Her hands buried themselves in his hair, pressing his lips more firmly to hers. It was all too obvious what she wanted, right then and there.
He managed to wrench himself out of that kiss. "No," he rasped, his voice thick with desire. "Not now, Love. Later. Tonight."
She moaned an incoherent protest and reached for the sash holding his tunic closed. He firmly but gently intercepted her hands as they got the knot half loosened.
"Naughty, no da," he laughed, tapping her on the nose. "You're so shy otherwise, no da. How is that possible, no da?"
"Mmm. I don't know," she answered, calming down. "You just have that effect on me, I guess." She straightened and tightened the knot in his sash. "You always had more control than me when it comes to this, Hôjun. And, I'm so reserved otherwise."
He grinned. "We all have our quirks, Darling, no da. Now, I should go greet the children, no da." They walked out of their room into the children's room, Kôran still attached firmly to his arm.
"Tôsan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Tori squealed when she saw him, launching herself at him and latching her arms around his waist. She almost knocked him down, and he had to grab the doorframe to keep from falling. "You're back! You're back! You're back!"
"Yes, Tori-chan, I'm back, no da," he laughed, hugging her back. You're so much like you're aunt was, no da.
Seiryoku stood a little ways away. He was nearly two, and could stand on his own now. He had a confused look on his face, for he didn't recognize the man his sister was falling all over herself to get to. His mother walked over and knelt behind him. She pointed to the blue-haired man.
"Seiryoku-chan," she said in that tone that always meant something good had happened. "This is your father, little one. Go see him. He misses you so much."
The little boy stared at the newcomer. He had a vague idea that this man called his father was someone important, and Nêsan certainly liked him a lot. The man knelt down where he was, Nêsan's arms wrapped around his neck. The man smiled and held his arms out to the boy.
"C'mon, Sei-chan!" Nêsan crowed.
The little boy finally grinned his little baby grin, and walked—shakily, as he was still learning—to his father. He let himself be picked up and hugged tightly to his father's chest.
"I missed you, my son," the man whispered. "You've grown so much since I last saw you."
Hôjun shifted his son to one arm and beckoned to his wife, who came over and let herself be gathered to him as well. His daughter moved down from his neck and squeezed herself in, too.
Yes, Hôjun thought, holding his family tight. This is Heaven.
He had finally come home.
To be continued…Author's Notes: Yay! Hôjun's back where he belongs! I know he deserves it, so I made this chapter all fluffy. Yeah, there's some definite sexual reference for a bit there, but not too graphic, I hope. I don't think I'm ready to be writing lemons yet. Besides, if my parents found something like that saved on the computer—I save all the fanfics I write, of course—they'd kill me. Anyway, how'd this turn out? Let me know at mangareader@hotmail.com, onegai shimasu!