He had no power of his own, well no mystical power and yet he could feel the pull of her magic in the air. The hair on the back of his neck stood up as he finished washing in the manor, having returned from yet another mission.

He bent down before him and picked up the small basin of water, pouring it over his face as he carefully thought over the mission.

It had gone well and according to plan, he had lost no men and yet here he stood playing it over and over in his mind's eye. It was his calling, his life's work, to make sure all missions went this well and so he would study the mission repeatedly. Finding ways to make the next mission more efficient, safer, and more expedient.

He sighed as the memories of the kill began to fade and other memories tried to overcome him. He gnashed his teeth together and opened his eyes; ripping a gasp of air into his lungs and shaking over the sudden chill that clothed his body. With great effort he pushed them aside and continued washing his body.


As he lay on the futon in his private chamber, he wondered idly what she could be doing this far out. She was nowhere near home though he knew she had left quite some time ago.

Home; it was a place he hadn't thought of often. He had moved so much in his youth, seen so much, experienced so much he didn't know if he could call anywhere in particular a home. He tried not to let his mood sour as he thought of the sacredness of a home, no physical location had given him the asylum he so desperately sought.

He recalled the children that ran up to him and his men today, bowing gratefully for their safety and asking them for a game. He indulged them and his men by staying to rest and play. After all, it had been so long since the villagers had relaxed, so long since the children had laughed.

Although the demon that had been plaguing them had been slaughtered, he could see the residual grief on the faces of the mothers who had done all they could to protect their children during such a time. Women who had no doubt lost their husbands, children, and faith.

He knew all too well the feeling, he was a demon slayer after all. He knew loss came with the job but these people were victims. A title he also knew well.

He played with the children while his men sought out provisions from the forest for the village families and for their impending trip. He played until the children laughed breathlessly and until the mothers smiled reluctantly.

This too was part of the job. Part of his purpose. Restoring lives; even if only for a moment.

Just as she had done for him.

His lips quirked up into a smile as he recalled chasing her through the fields at harvest time, her hair flowing behind her like a cape, her laugh embellishing the air rushing pass them and enchanting the sun into lingering in the sky for a little while longer while they played. Her voice caressed his name and bound his heart as her feet pushed against the soil of the earth before hiding behind the long stalks of vegetation.

The game was never fair, after all he'd vowed to find her anywhere. He could feel her, feel her light, her warmth, pouring out of her like a stream and she hadn't the slightest clue.

As he popped around the corner, he would watch as the burnished sun in her eyes lit up with surprise and glee. Her full shapely lips would part over her teeth and bless him with the only jewel he sought in life; her smile. She'd laugh and laugh as she surrendered to his merciless tickles, her soft, lean body under his hands.

Finally admitting defeat, she would blush in his arms or on his back as they made their way back to Kaede and the others for 'punishment', another day in the sun by her side.

Yet his evenings by the stream where he would bare his soul to her was where he could really see her beauty for what it was. That was when he found it.

Home.


The next morning as he sat in a meeting with his men he found that the gruesome face of life had reared its head yet again as another village in distress reached out to them. the growing ogre population was an issue no one could contend with lightly.

He did not hesitate to dispatch men immediately and prepare the reinforcement team soon after. He had a job to do. Even if it meant he moved further away from her approaching light away from home.

As he picked up his small bag, Yun, his right-hand man observed him.

"What is it Yun?" he asked, his low grovel voice rumbling in his chest.

The young man beside him smiled and clapped his back.

"Did you sleep well? In the arms of your phantom?" he joked.

He laughed in response.

"She's no phantom Yun."

"Yet no one else has seen her." He teased.

He chuckled reluctantly. "I have a feeling we'll see her soon enough."

"Oh?" Yun replied. "And how do you know this?"

"The sun rose and did not set last night." He muttered as he fixed his belt.

Yun threw him a look of disbelief.

He smiled. "For the first time in a long time, the darkness of the night was not following by the darkness in my heart. I slept as if I were whole again. It can only mean one thing. She is near."

Yun laughed and shook his head, "And so naturally you leave to battle with no promise of return. How will your phantom ever find you?"

Kohaku smiled.

"She won't have to, as I've vowed to always find her."