Zen was growing increasingly restless.
It had been nearly a month since he'd received Shirayuki's last letter. He'd sent his reply almost as soon as he'd read it, so it should have arrived within ten days. Assuming that she had read it within a day or two, he should have received her reply by now. In fact, he should have received it almost a week ago.
The young man sighed and set down the document he was supposed to be filling out. Maybe he was just being impatient. Shirayuki was running her own business now, helping numerous people to heal and overcome their illnesses and injuries. She was busy. It probably took longer for her to find time to read his letters and write a reply than before. That was all that was going on. The letter would come. Maybe even by today. Or by tomorrow. Just… soon.
But he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Anything could be happening to Shirayuki in Tanbarun, and he might never know about it! Was she safe? Was she ill? Did something happen to her?
"Keep thinking so hard, and your head is going to explode," Kiki commented idly as she walked past his desk. Zen made a face at her in reply, signing off on the finished document and setting it aside.
"Don't worry, I'm sure that she just got busy with something," Mitsuhide called from the other side of the room.
"I know, I know," Zen grumbled, irritably grabbing another document from the pile. "It's just the last time there was any kind of irregularity in her pattern, her grandparents died. Can you really blame me for being concerned?"
"Well when you put it that way no, not really," his friend admitted, frowning and glancing towards Kiki. "Tell you what, why don't we take a break and head to the manor house in the woods tomorrow? We can leave early and spend the day there, then come home in the evening. It'll take your mind off things and by the time we get back Shirayuki's letter might have arrived."
Zen hesitated, turning in his seat to stare out the window at the sun as it began to set. Take a break, huh? "Well, I suppose it couldn't hurt."
.oOo.
By the time they reached the little ivy-grown manor the next day, Zen was in considerably better spirits. There was something so invigorating about being out and about in the woods early in the morning. He actually found himself grinning as they approached, a burst of random energy filling his entire body.
"Mitsuhide! Kiki! I'm going on ahead!" he called impulsively, racing forward
"Careful braggart, you'll hurt yourself!"
Zen laughed and kept going, ignoring his friend as he focused all of his attention on the obstacle in front of him. Gathering his strength, he jumped and vaulted the garden wall of the old mansion, grinning with the exhilaration of the rushing wind, the freedom of the chilly morning, the girl staring up at him with wide, green eyes.
Wait, what?
With a startled yelp, Zen tumbled to the ground, feeling his right arm crack against stone as he rolled, but fortunately managed to retain his grip on his sword. Groaning slightly, he pushed himself upright, wincing as he looked at the angry red mark on his forearm. Was the lack of a letter from Shirayuki making him hallucinate now?
"Told you so, Zen!" called Mitsuhide's worried voice, causing him to look up into the frantic brown eyes of his friend. "Are you hurt? Did you fall on your head? Tell me, what's one plus one!?"
"Purple," Zen replied, rolling his eyes. Then, with a wicked smirk that he barely managed to conceal before his friends reached his side, he added, "Wait. Who are you again?"
"It's me, Mitsuhide!"
"Oh. I forgot, was that your name?"
"Kiki! Not helping even a little bit!"
Zen laughed, unable to maintain a straight face any longer. But his amusement was stifled as he heard the faint sounds of movement coming from behind him.
So he hadn't imagined her.
"Hold," he growled, turning sharply towards the girl creeping away from them. She flinched, ducking her head and clutching the edge of her hood, apparently trying to hide her face. He frowned at that, taking his sheathed sword in hand as he rose to his feet. "Mind telling me who you are? And what you're doing in the woods all alone?"
"Oh, I just, uh… I just left my home, and I was in a hurry, so I got lost and ended up on a random road and… I'm here," the girl mumbled, her hands flailing slightly in her efforts to explain herself, her eyes still downcast, her fingers occasionally tugging at the edge of her hood.
What in the world was she trying to hide?
In one smooth movement, he flicked his sword towards her face, causing her to flinch back, her fingers slipping from her hood and giving him the chance to catch the edge of the fabric on his sheath and toss it neatly back.
They both froze.
No way.
A wondrously familiar set of wide emerald eyes stared up at him as the girl cowered instinctively, her hands raised protectively as though to conceal the gorgeous, brilliant red hair that extended to just below her chin. Then, if possible, her eyes widened further as a spark of recognition flashed through them, her soft, pink lips parting slightly in wonder, her hands falling away.
"You… cut your hair," Zen whispered breathlessly, hardly even aware of what he was saying.
The girl blinked in surprise, then burst out laughing. "Of anything you could say, that's the first thing that came to mind?"
"Hey, give me a break; I'm still in shock!" Zen replied automatically, blushing in embarrassment even as he felt a broad grin spread across his face and extended a hand to pull her upright. I've never heard her laugh like that before. "You've gotta give some warning before you come to visit, or I'm liable to say stupid-sounding things."
"I'll bear that in mind for the future," Shirayuki giggled, slipping one hand into his and using the other to subtly wipe tears from her eyes. Wait, why was she crying? Before he could ask, his best friend stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. "I've missed you," she murmured into his shoulder.
Zen couldn't help but smile as he clasped her gently to him in turn. "I've missed you too."
Shirayuki was the first to pull back, glancing up and down as she took him in. "You've gotten taller," she remarked.
"How is that any less obvious an observation than you cutting your hair?"
"It wasn't the observation that caught me off-guard; it was your timing," she smirked in reply still looking him over. "Oh, your arm! It's injured!"
Zen blinked, startled for a few seconds, then laughed. "You of all people should know that I've had worse," Zen shrugged, eyes glinting teasingly.
"And you of all people should know that an herbalist can't turn a blind eye to any injury," she grinned playfully back, tucking her hair behind her ear as she rummaged through her satchel. "Here, I have a healing poultice you can use on it; that'll help."
"Shirayuki, you know I trust you, but maybe we can head inside first? My life's not in any immediate danger this time," Zen smirked.
"So hang on. This is the Shirayuki?" Kiki interrupted her head cocked curiously to one side.
"Uh, is it a good thing or a bad thing that I have 'the' in front of my name?"
"A good thing, in this case," Mitsuhide laughed, stepping forward. "It's good to see you again, Shirayuki. It's been two years, hasn't it?"
"Mitsuhide! Fancy seeing you here," Shirayuki grinned back, her eyes bright and cheerful. "And… are you Kiki? Zen's mentioned you in a few of his letters."
"He's done more than just mention you," Kiki smiled slightly in return, extending a hand to shake. By now Zen knew Kiki well enough to know that such a greeting was almost akin to a hearty embrace for his serious friend. "It's good to finally have a face to put to the name. I have to say, your hair is a lot more striking in person than in my imagination."
Shirayuki laughed and Zen silently decided that was his new favorite sound. "I guess it does stand out, doesn't it?"
"So, Shirayuki, why are you here?" Zen interjected. "And why didn't you tell me you were coming?"
"That's a story for later. First let's get your arm taken care of. I feel like I'm at least partially responsible for your less-than-graceful landing," she smiled.
"Hm, I guess that's true," Zen agreed, smiling in return, but he wasn't fooled. He could see the instant tension that had appeared across her shoulders, the guarded look in her eyes.
Whatever circumstances had forced her out of Tanbarun, they weren't good. But ultimately, that didn't change anything. No matter what the situation, he would keep her safe.