Chapter 13 - Coming Together

Yuuji was on his way to his brother's bedside, to give his mother a clay pot for water when a girl crashed into him. Her basket of wild bird eggs went flying and all except one cracked open on the ground. He hurried to her help clean up the mess but bumped his head on hers on the way down.

Clunk!

"Oh, I'm so sorry…I'm so clumsy!" he cried and laughed nervously. He patted the soft dark hair on her head with an egg-gooey hand. Eyes widening, he yanked it back before she noticed and wiped the goo off on his hide. "But look!" Yuuji picked up the one egg that landed on someone's furs, "It survived."

"Mother is going to give me so much trouble. She's always saying that I'm so awkward..." the girl moaned and looked up at Yuuji, she blushed. "I wish I didn't have to do these stupid chores…I just want to play in the sun and daydream." Her cheeks burned hotter, "Oh, don't listen to me…I'm talking nonsense." She borrowed someone's shirt to wipe up the egg mess, which only smeared into a larger one. "My name's Sakura by the way." She bowed sweetly.

Yuuji's face wore surprise. "Oh, you're the one that is going to be mated with Yuki…I mean Eiri. Shuichi always calls him that and it's confusing sometimes. I didn't recognize you all this time…you've grown up so…so," he said and he too blushed, he couldn't finish his sentence.

"Oh, I know you didn't. Mother wouldn't let me leave our home much and I don't see you around that often. How come?" she wondered, both of them still squatted to the floor in the main cave.

"I…err, I dunno," Yuuji stammered and scratched his head. "I guess I'm hiding most of the time. You know lying in the sun and daydreaming, being a sloth all day."

Sakura laughed, "That's cute."

Yuuji smiled, "You really think so? My brother gave me that nickname by the way. I'm not even sure what a sloth is," he went stupidly and eyed over the summer frock the girl wore. A died yellowish leather, bare foot with miles of lush brown hair and green eyes. Yuuji sighed, mesmerized.

"I think a sloth is a type of monkey but that couldn't possibly be you…you're too cute to be an ugly monkey," she said and gaped, "Oh…I should get going."

Yuuji touched her arm, "Why do you have to leave, you have no eggs left and you'll only get into trouble? Let me help you find more eggs?"

Smiling, Sakura agreed.

Cho didn't know what happened to the bowl that Yuuji was supposed to bring to her, so she just dunked a sponge into the water and wiped Hiro's forehead. "I'm sorry my son, this time I couldn't change your father's mind," she said to her boy that just woke up and stared up at the ceiling in silence. She sighed and went to tend to Eiri, making him drink a tiny amount of water diluted with soyo.

Both men were awake after resting and sleeping for almost five days. Cho had woken them at intervals to give them water and a broth for slow rejuvenation. The Nakano woman was still quite irate with her mate's actions, but the deed was done. She even let that foreign chief Claude come in and sit with her for a little while, watching over Hiro. Shuichi barely left Eiri's side at all, but people were used to him unlike K. Each time that Claude came he bowed to her, gave her gifts that he insisted she take, clothing, food, herbs and once he even brought a liver of some animal. It was for vitality he'd told her, the richest part of a kill…that he wanted her to give it to Hiro.

How sweet, she thought.

The strange man from distant lands was a mystery to her. But somehow it was obvious he'd grown a fondness for her son that she believed went beyond a simple thank you. Yes, Hiro had saved his life, but she felt it went further than that…she could tell the man truly loved her son. She sighed. Gaia surely was testing them all. Turning to look at Hiro who was still so angry that he wouldn't talk to her she offered, "Today your friend brought you these. I think they're fish hooks or something." She placed the carved hardwood on Hiro's chest.

Hiro went to pick them up and inspected the craftsmanship carefully, before clasping them in his hand and resumed staring at the ceiling.

Cho sighed and noticed Hiro's close his eyes as a tear escape the corner. Her own eyes filled with tears too. "You're strong my Hiroshi, please…don't stay so angry forever."

Hiro's grey eyes opened and finally landed on his mother. "Its ok mother…I understand why father did what he did. I deserved it. Don't worry anymore…I won't run away from the gathering next year, I promise. But…" he hesitated, "…can I tell you something?"

"Of course my son." Cho knelt next to her son and gave her full attention as he began to tell her a tale.

K was sharpening a tip to a large spear in the camp of his own clan, under the shade of a cherry tree. Today the sky was blue. The sun shone and all around him and the scent of cherry blossoms scented the air.

He planned on doing some big hunting soon.

Apparently in this region bear, deer and wild boars were plentiful here, he wanted meat. He was sick of vegetables and sour tasting fruits. Although that wild boar he'd found the other day, it wasn't nearly enough to feed everyone. But at least he was able to offer Hiro's mother the liver; it had felt important to do that.

He wanted to get all three clan's working together and planning a harvest hunt for the coming winter months. It was common that after the hot sun was done, the cold sun came or sometimes, no sun at all. He didn't know what to expect here, but he wasn't about to change his ways and be caught unprepared. Even though right now it was hot enough that all he needed to wear was a breechcloth, which was nothing more then raw leather wrapped around his waist and secured by a knot at the side of his hip. He wasn't ready for the Nakano/Uesugi style of cloth, in which many men wore, called a fundoshi he'd discovered. That was only enough material to cover the genitals held up by a scrap of leather that went up the backside. Seemed a bit uncomfortable to him, he'd rather let the boys hang freely or be naked. But still, summer would be over more quickly then they knew.

The hot weather was still so welcomed though! Such a difference from when he'd first arrived here. But at least he was free of the glacier, free of that horrid journey and finally situated somewhere he could call home with his clan again. And thinking of horrid journeys, K thought about Hiro for the millionth time today. It had been five days since that trek up the mountain and still Hiro and Yuki were confined to the main cave. Cho wouldn't let them leave until she was satisfied…this was what she'd told him.

K found himself fond of Hiro's mother; she was kind just like her son and she actually talked to him. She accepted his gifts and would let him talk to Hiro when he'd finally woken up. Hiro's father didn't seem to interfere but K knew he was watching him, he could feel the hairs on the back of his neck rise everytime. He really wished he could convince the man that he meant no harm to his clan or his son. And he hoped to show him so when he brought back a winter worth's supply of meat.

Proving that man wrong also felt very important to him as well.

Indeed the Nakano clan intended to stay in this area and not return to their home. It took too much time to travel here and since there was so much excitement going on, they decided to stay. K wondered if was mainly because of his clan, the Uesugi's didn't want to be left alone with them so close by.

The trust between clans was obviously not that strong yet.

But K had made sure to make his family move far enough that there was privacy between them all. He didn't want to be situated right in the main area; he didn't want to intrude more than he felt he was. He was a man of some honour and he wanted respect for his family, so he'd moved them closer to the water, over a grassy plain at the bottom of a slope. He liked the water and now that Reiji was gone, he didn't fear getting drowned in it. K stopped sharpening and gazed off…damn it had been Reiji all along. What a spiteful wench, he thought bitterly and sadly. And he'd blamed Ark, K felt badly about that but they had a talk, they kissed and made up. Although, he did notice that Ark and Judy were now closer than ever. But now, it didn't seem hurt so much anymore. He had to admit he sort of felt like a selfish bastard…he knew that his heart belonged to Hiro. But Judy was still his mate and he wouldn't change that. Looking up he smiled as she walked over to sit under the cherry tree with him. "Afternoon my fair maiden, come here," K insisted and pat his lap. He set the weapon aside.

Judy chuckled at K's chipper appearance. "You're in a good mood for once. For awhile there I thought I'd lost you Claude." She sat down and cuddled against her mate's chest.

"You'll never lose me…I'm not going anywhere if I can help it. At least that's if you don't want me to," K said his hand sliding over Judy's swelling tummy.

"Oh hunnie, of course not," Judy insisted and searched K's mouth for a kiss.

"But Ark?" K mumbled over her lips, interrupting the kiss.

She pulled back and sighed, "What does it matter? You're the one I had my rites with; I don't intend to change that. I love you."

K blinked in thought, his hand felt swift movement on her belly. "HA!" he went. "It moved…I love you too," K said happily and pulled Judy close to hug. She was right, it didn't matter…and now he didn't know why he'd gotten so excited about it. Besides, she carried their child. He had to be strong for her. "I'll be a good father, you'll see."

Judy hid her face in K's chest to hide her guilt and said quietly, "Yes...a great father..."

K pushed Judy back by her shoulders gently, "Hey, what's the matter?"

She changed the subject. "I was wondering about that healer guy you keep talking about…"

K couldn't help but smile softly, "Hiroshi…what about him?"

Judy frowned at him. "I've never seen you so taken by someone before. Do you love him too?" she blurted out.

Studying Judy for a moment, K wondered what she was getting at. She'd never asked him things like this before. But, he had nothing to hide, "Yes, I love him…he saved my life. Why?"

Judy answered suspiciously serene, "Just wondering. He's a very handsome young man." With that she got up quickly and said, "Well, I got things to do," and stalked off without another word.

K looked after her perplexed. Was she jealous? He scoffed…she'd get over it.

Ayaka stepped into the main cave quietly and made her way to Hiroshi's bedside. It was still light out so the cave was pretty empty, save for Yuki and Shuichi close by. But she didn't care, she needed to see him…the mate that missed out on their ceremony. She could admit that it was embarrassing what Hiro had done to her, but now seeing him return almost lifeless over the matter…well, she forgave him. Now she had to tell him that, she could wait another year.

Time, it went so fast.

She knelt next to him and Hiro looked at her questionably and surprised even. "Ayaka?" he whispered. He looked away ashamed.

"Hiroshi," she started, "It's alright…I'm not upset anymore. You've suffered enough…"

Hiro looked back at her, her beautiful soft face, those big brown eyes. She wore simple beige leather wrapped around her body. "I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you. I won't let you down next spring," he told her truthfully.

She gave a soft smile and a small huff. "I was promised to another, maybe I should have saved you from this punishment."

"No, Ayaka…this was something I had to go through. I'm alive, let's forget about it," he pleaded and sat up.

Ayaka reached for the water and held it Hiro's lips to drink.

Blushing, he took a sip of water. "Thank you," he whispered. "Just so many things happened all so fast." He changed the subject, "I hear we're having lovely weather?" It was hard to find things to say.

"Why yes…it's very warm out there. And that strange clan has moved a little further from our camp—"

"—K?" Hiro uttered quickly, "So they didn't leave us?"

"No," Ayaka whispered.

Hiro let out a thankful sigh, "My father, has he been—"

"—no he wasn't the reason the Winchester put space between the clans. They're very interesting though," Ayaka offered.

Hiro smiled at that. "Yes, they are I imagine."

"Hiroshi?"

"Yes?" he asked looking questionable.

"I still wish to be your mate…but…promise me you won't humiliate me at the next gathering?" she softly demanded and levelled her eyes on him.

Taken a little aback, Hiro sat up straighter. "I won't, I promise..."

She got up to leave, she bowed. "Then once again I will send you Kiyoshi's wish Hiroshi." With that she rose and left.

Hiro watched her walk away

A/N: Yeah not a really wow chapter and it wasn't even that long. I'll make up for that with the next few chappies. It's really just a chapter to settle things again after all the buzz. An information chapter I guess. Some new developments XD Yuuji and Sakura eh...and Ayaka sideglances she was kinda right to the point eh? Things won't take so long to progress from now on tho. I don't see a huge need to make time hang to long since K and Hiro's feelings are sorta dealt with.. Or well they will be next chapter. No not a lemon.. I'm saving that for chapter 15. Which I will warn might not be for all XD But it's not evil or nothing bad happens.. just a high dosage of all male smut shrugs :P Also I got a comment about the gods and that being confusing...Is it confusing? I'd like to know if you think so or not. Thanks for reading!

Reviewers:

chocho: Hun I'm one of the biggest Athiest around :P The gods are only something for the meat of the story but I'm really sorry it's confusing. I hope you continue to enjoy the story..everything will get better I promise!

the2evils: Weee! I'm so -glee- that you liked the wolf and the butterfly spirits! No worries the baby thing all will be dealt with by chapter 16 hunnie. Squee -luvs on- thanks so much for commenting sweetie!

Siraelka: -glomps and snuggles- You know I got up this morning.. 5am or so for school, feeling utter crap and I read your comment and it just totally made the day! Thanks so much for you encouragement! I hope you continue to enjoy the fic hunnie!