Promise of a River

Chapter 3: Peace

By: LadyRainStarDragon


The adolescent sat in the field, allowing the wind to caress his skin as the sun sat upon his back, lost in his meditation. It was so peaceful here, with the wild-flowers nodding their greetings and the tall grasses weaving an ages old Kagura dance before his eyes.

If he had been reclusive before, you could say he was even more so now. Of course, he sought out Kamaji and Lin from time to time, listening to them tell him about how their days had been. Occasionally, he would even venture to tell of experiences of his own.

Not very often though.

He rolled onto his stomach, eyeing the building of his employment as it both squatted menacingly and rose majestically into the sky.

So much activity filled those walls so much of the time, he wondered how the others could stand it. The others, Lin in particular, thrived on the chaos and the ordered hustle. Chihiro herself had done well in it, quickly finding her own spot to fill, a worker ant falling into line and pulling her share for the colony. She had probably done the same in her own world by now, going to school, making friends, doing all of the things others her age should do. Soon enough, it would be time for her to take care of herself.

When he finally got to her, he would make sure that she was taken care of, never lacking any of the things she would need.

He wished to wrap his coils about her right now, keeping her safe from harm, tracking the coursing of the blood through her veins.

For now though, he would wait. His time would come. It was no use dreaming of the future, when he still had to live his present. He would gain that living river again someday.

Rolling onto his back, his arms reached behind to become his pillow as he watched the clouds pass by. Sometimes, he could see other dragons fly by, playing in the clouds, performing the ancient dances that brought rain to the earth and reproduced their species. He never took part in those, he had no mate.

The former river god allowed his eyes to close, smiling gently as he listened to the heart of the earth far below, and the birds in the air sang along to the beat. Half an hour passed, and he was again ready to enter his place of employment.

Not so much rising up as flowing up, he stood and waded through the river of grass. A lone blue butterfly fluttered before his face, settling on his nose. Stopping to admire the tiny being, his crossed eyes made him look like a child again, innocent and curious. The voices in his head, demanding that he do this or that, had stopped again while he gazed at his living nose-warmer.

A green face framed with a blue mane formed in his mind, sparkling black eyes set high above the muzzle. A touch of a smile ghosted along the dragon's face, then the butterfly flitted off again.

He remembered the face. The blue of the wings matching her hair must have triggered some deep memory. He couldn't recall who it was, but welcomed the feeling it gave him.

Peace.

Squaring his shoulders, he set his course for the bridge yet again. It was time to go inside and receive his night's assignment. Whatever it was, whether running off a bad customer, practicing a new lesson, or balancing the accounts, that feeling would follow him today.

And he was going to need it, because also heading for the bridge, he saw the one man who could spoil his whole night. Yoruiki, coming for his monthly massage.


Kagura - a sacred dance performed in Shinto Shrines.