A/N: Special mention to Drop Your Oboe for inspiration from a line in her review: "The dead stay dead!"
Neal stood, starry-eyed, as his wife came toward him, Yamani mask hiding all emotion. Her kimono, a river of blue silk, whispered as Yuki reached out and touched his cheek, the barest feel of skin against skin, and Neal recoiled as if he had been slapped or stung. She studied him with deep brown eyes, sparkling with concern. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice the same as it had been years ago.
By this time Neal had gone as white as the powder used in Yamani makeup. "Yuki? Is it really you?" he sputtered.
She nodded, taking a fan from her obi and opening it, hiding her frown of confusion. Snapping it shut she tucked it back into the sash and slipped on her mask. "You should lie down, Nealan, or at least sit."
Numbly, Neal did as she told him and instead missed the bed to fall to the hard wood floor and hitting his head. "I needed that" he muttered, "I must be going crazy"
The corners of Yuki's eyes crinkled and her eyes sparkled brightly, hiding laughter. "Nonsense Neal, you're fine and now we and Midori can live as a family."
"Yes, I'm going crazy." Neal shook his head. "Wait, let me get this straight, you died, have been dead for sixteen years, and now from a blast of wind, you pop out of nowhere?"
Yuki's eyes crinkled again as her husband's facial expressions changed from clueless, blank, to surprised and finally, as he stood, grinning like a madman, blissfully happy.
The knight and healer took the Yamani's hand, savoring the warmth her skin radiated. Kissing her knuckles, he glanced at her and smiled. "Why are you hiding again, love?" "I love it when you smile."
Yuki hid a blush at his simple request, but smiled nonetheless. "It's years of training, Meathead, Kel should have told you that."
Neal rolled his eyes and nodded, "She's told me." The knight and healer wrapped his arms around his wife, a thing he hadn't done in so long, and kissed her, glad to have her back and to hear their two heartbeats together once again.
But it was Yuki who pulled away, "Neal…I can't stay forever. Only when Midori dies do I rest again. Forever."
"What?"
"The Goddess told me that I have only until Midori dies, then I need to go back."
Meanwhile in Cavall…
Owen sat beside Lady Margarry at the supper table, laughing with her relatives over a joke. Glancing briefly at the window, out to the distant road he sighed and stared into his steaming carrot and basil soup.
"Are you expecting anyone to come, Owen?" her voice broke his daze and he turned to his betrothed and smiled, "Actually yes, my squire has apparently gone missing and I expected her to be here" his voice hinted both worry and anger.
"So you've taken on a girl squire? That's…" she paused in thought and grinned, "Jolly of you. So what is she like?"
"Her name is Midori and she's the daughter of one of my friends, Neal of Queenscove She's stubborn but determined, and she makes the craziest plans. She even suggested I come here."
"That was a good plan, Owen" Magarry replied, taking his hand and smiling.
Owen grinned and turned to the window as something tapped at the window. "It's one of Kel's sparrows and its got something." Owen stood and opened the window to let the bird deliver the message and to receive a cherry as a treat before flying back.
Owen opened the message, read, and sighed in relief. "Merric knows Midori's in Corus and won't be here until tomorrow or so."
"It is good that she is prompt when she means to be. " Wyldon said, "I hope you have taught her well, Jesslaw."
"I hope she stands up to your standards, my lord, she's to be the third lady knight, among others." Owen answered.
Corus…Midori had long since finished her horse's stall and taking a quick bath, and now was reading a book about different heroes. The one she liked best was the one about the struggling princess and her strive to rule a kingdom.
A knock interrupted her reading and she got up to answer the door, when she did, she was surprised to find Amyl. "Do you want to go practice? Bring your blade and bow, I'll go get mine and meet you there."
Midori nodded and collected her things and went to the practice courts, wondering who would win, for both her and Amyl were evenly matched.
Once there, after they had readied with the padding, Amyl pulled her blade from her sheath as did Midori and they stood, blades touching.
Amyl struck first, blade like a whirlwind as Midori struggled to block and to find an opening. When she found one, she lunged as Amyl parried and stepped back. Midori sidestepped as her friend brought her blade in a wide butterfly sweep. Midori grinned and brought her blade down to land with a sharp twang upon Amyl's, the sound echoed and as Amyl turned she found herself hilt to hilt with Midori. At this chance, Midori brought her height and weight to bear down on her slightly shorter friend, as Amyl struggled to regain her stance.
Finally as Amyl's knees gave, Midori brought her sword to kiss her friend's throat "Surrender, squire." She whispered, mock-coldly.
Amyl lowered her gaze and put up both hands, "I surrender."
Both looked up at the sound of cheering and noticed a crowd had gathered to watch them fight. Amyl lowered her gaze in embarrassment and Midori hid behind her mask as some squires and pages congratulated them.