Disclaimer: The usual.
After struggling for a while, I chose to gloss over the confrontation between Soi & the Byakko seishi as I'm not too sure of how Subaru & Tokaki fought as a team. The following chapter picks up from just after Seiryuu is summoned.
Chapter 6: Power of Love
They failed. The Suzaku seishi left for Konan. They had put so much in and still they failed. Chiriko had perished with the demon that tried to turn him against his fellow seishi and miko. The boy had fought a fierce battle inside. He had pleaded with Tasuki to burn him. When Tasuki couldn't find the heart to hurt him, the boy stabbed himself in the chest.
The boy had died, denying all attempts by Mitsukake to save him so that Moboshi may truly be dead this time. It seemed so surreal now on the empty wind-swept roof.
Tokaki looked at Subaru's youthful face. Then he looked down at his boyhood friend, lying dead in his arms. It was not a dream. Subaru inclined her head slightly. It was time for her to return time to the way it was…
Morning. The sun shone into his eyes.
Tatara's dead. Kasaru's dead. He had gone down fighting. Using the last of his life to protect the Suzaku seishi, their miko and his miko's sacred object. He would rather give up his life than see his Suzuno's sacred treasure being used for evil purposes. How like him…
They had misjudged the Suzaku seishi. Even the youngest, Chiriko, had proven himself a worthy seishi. Poor kid, Tokaki thought fondly of the young scholar. The lad's quite timid at first glance. A weakling, so Tokaki had first thought. But inside the lad was the heart of a true hero. Doesn't seem fair to them…
Tokaki turned and looked into Subaru's sleeping face. For a few hours under Subaru's power, they had fought like they did so many years ago. When they returned to their old selves, they were so exhausted that they had spent a week in bed recovering. Yep, they are old now.
Subaru awoke and planted a kiss on her husband's lips. "Morning, old man…" Tokaki grinned and cuddled his wife. Oh, Dourin… She was so warm and soft in his arms… Xi-fan came with their breakfast.
They went for a walk to sort out their thoughts about what had happened. It simply didn't seem real to them. They passed by the Byakko shrine. Tatara's gone. Still, they lingered a while in the doorway, peering in as the workers repaired the building. They had been worried about how Tatara will cope after they were gone. Now…
They learnt from a worker that a new Holy One had been elected by the royal family. The source of internal strife that had threatened Sairou was removed.
Sacrifice, the destined lot of a seishi. Byakko or Suzaku. Maybe Seiryuu as well. The heavens can be demanding. They had lost. Despite all their best efforts they had still lost.
It gnawed at the both of them.
"I guess we'll have to sit back and wait for Kutou to send its army our way… not that I'm gonna stand for it…" Tokaki mused as they came to the old grass field where he had proposed to his wife. Some things, like this field, were unchanged.
"We're too old…" Subaru sat down, aware of the painful creaking of her joints. Her husband sat down next to her. She buried her head in his broad shoulder. He nuzzled her hair lovingly. What of Suzuno now?
How will she react when the times of both worlds converge and she cannot find her love? Tatara has been cremated as was the custom in these parts. His ashes were scattered to the winds. With such thoughts in their minds, the old couple dozed off on the sun-warmed grass…
They both awoke a short while later with a smile on their lips. "Did you have the same dream I did?" Subaru asked with her eyes shining as brightly as they had when she was a girl. Tokaki nodded. "They're together…"
"In the gently falling snow…" Subaru completed. "Beyond both worlds… somewhere outside time and space. Together forever."
In their shared dream, they embraced each other amidst a gentle fall of glowing snow that was of neither world. The joy on the young couple's face was clear. Yes. Tatara and Suzuno were as they had parted so many years ago. They were now reunited by their deep love for eternity…
"Believe in miracles? I think all's not lost yet. The Suzaku seishi may succeed still…" Tokaki helped Subaru to her feet.
"Love, hope. They are powerful forces that can transcend death…" Subaru agreed. "In a way, we're all linked, through both time and space… Come on, old man. Xi-fan will be worried if we don't get home soon." She broke into a smile. They strolled home feeling much lighter in heart than when they had set off.
Hope and love, forces that can transcend space and time…
21st century Tokyo. A pair of high school boys ate their bento lunch under a tree. The pale-haired one turned to his companion. "Kasaru… How long have you and Suzuno been going steady? She just transferred here last month!"
"I dunno, Lanuan. Maybe we knew each other in a previous life or somewhat… You believe in Fate?" Kasaru toyed with a fallen leaf. Lanuan was not listening. His Fate has come in the form of the curvaceous cheerleading squad. Time for creative pursuits. He abandoned his lunch and got a vantage point for a view of those legs…
There was a new girl on the squad. He had never met her before, yet she seemed so familiar… And those legs… He craned his neck for a better view. He drew closer, closer… She caught on to what he was really up to.
"PERVERT!" The new cheerleader, Dourin, screamed and kicked Lanuan, much to the amusement of everyone present.
(END)
Author's notes:
Can't resist the last bit seeing Tamahome got reborn into modern Tokyo as Taka.