Steam rose from the natural hot springs in that quiet grove of forest where love bloomed so freely, and there the troubles shrank away.
At first, the Nohrians had been skeptical of—and even threatened by—the springs. "You must think we're fools," said Xander, "planning to boil us alive like this!" It wasn't until Leo reassured his mistrustful family by bearing all with his lover and together dipping in first.
The two families were shocked by how plainly Leo and Takumi showed each other affection, but it wasn't long before the hot springs washed away even any lingering doubts that Takumi-bear and Leo-chan as a couple was anything less than a thing. And a good thing at that.
Even Xander and Ryoma bro'd up. Although Camille rather took a liking to Ryoma herself, much to Xander's dismay. She invited herself over to the Western Fortress to join the Hoshidan prince for dinner that evening, and being the willful woman that she was, Ryoma was hard-pressed to give an answer that would please. Leo smiled knowingly as he observed her mating patterns. How predictable she is, he thought. We come to a foreign country, and already she's chasing after the locals—
Well, Camille wasn't the only one guilty of that, was she? Leo laid his head down on Takumi's strong shoulder and felt satisfied. There are many things that can be healed by a bit of time in a hot spring: tired legs from riding, old friendships in need of kindling, and perhaps even the old blood feuds that have lasted generations between two ancient families.
In the end, it was decided that the Nohrian family could stay with the Hoshidans at the Western Fortress for as long as they desired. Peace was declared openly that day in a pact that would come to be known as the Optimistic Onsen Armistice "Chill-Out" Agreement (named by Leo). The name didn't quite stick well enough to make a holiday, but it did prevent war for a good long while.
Indeed, many new bonds formed between the two families in the coming days, but that, my friends, is a story for another time.
fin
June 18 2018