Are you wishing for me?
As the sun goes back to its hiding place to rest and sleep, and the night slowly begins to fall over stars painting the firmament beautifully, the loud and boisterous voices of her soldiers die down little by little leaving room to the quietness of their surroundings and of the crackle of the campfires settled in their campsite, these being the only sounds filling the crisp air.
And in the middle of that tense calm filling the night, the getas of Inazuma's general echo thunderous against the ground as Sara walks through the improvised campsite at the edge of the forest at the base of the mountain where they are destined, stopping to sit beside one of her soldiers.
- Harukaze-san, go to sleep. I'll stand guard tonight until the sun rises and we can continue with our mission.
She orders the raven haired man, seeing Harukaze shaking his head as he lifts his gaze from the campfire in front of him to meet his general's golden eyes with what could only be defined as a determined look.
- With all my respects, general Kujou, but you should be the one resting tonight. You have been on guard these past nights and making sure all of us got a good night of rest. It's only fair you also get some proper rest as well.
The soldier tells his general amicably, a soft but respectful smile playing on his lips, before another one of her soldiers joins him by the campfire.
- Don't worry general. We'll be taking turns standing guard tonight, so please, get some real rest.
Now a dark blonde man tells Sara, making the general sigh but nod at them reluctantly albeit grateful they care about her.
- Very well then, Harukaze-san, Nashiro-san.
The general says as she stands up to go to a more secluded part of the campsite to be by herself.
- Please report me immediately if there's any suspicious movement around. Now, if you excuse me, I'll let you two stand guard until the sun rises and we can start moving again.
She tells them as she bows, and the soldiers can only chuckle knowing full well their general will be patrolling around the campsite's surroundings one last time making sure it's safe, to then go to sleep and be up at sharp 5 AM to do her morning routine before they can continue with their mission with the first rays at dawn.
That's just another thing they respect about her.
- Goodnight, soldiers.
- Goodnight, general.
She wishes them, bowing once again as she begins to walk away towards the edge of the campsite at the base of the mountain to do her rounds as her soldiers predicted, and before she finds the perfect spot to sleep.
Sara sighs as soon as she sits on the ground, letting her back rest against a rocky wall, her bow resting beside her and within her reach just in case it needs to be used against any danger or enemy.
The dark purple haired woman lets out another tired sigh and leans more against the rock to let her gaze get lost in her surroundings, taking in the dark and leafy forest in front of her in search of any danger, before she relaxes and lets her gaze wander up to the vast starry sky above her.
As she contemplates the starry sky, Sara can't help but notice the constellations of Vega and Altair shinning more intensely than usual in anticipation to their reunion the seventh day of the seventh month.
A soft smile spreads across her lips as the general recalls the tale of Orihime and Hikoboshi, and closes her eyes.
Images of a certain sly pink haired fox woman quickly fill her mind, her soft smile greeting her as her fluffy ears and tail twitch and wag in delight upon seeing her, before she sees Yae holding out a hand for her to take.
- My general.
It's all the woman in her head says with an inviting smile playing on her plump lips.
And the general can't help but smile back at Yae in a fond way, grasping her soft hand in her rough one to bring it to her lips and leave a chaste kiss on it, before letting her guide her through the path in front of them decorated with the most beautiful lantern lights.
- My Guuji.
Sara answers in return, hearing Yae giggling cutely, her amethyst eyes sparkling happily, before stopping to take a step closer to rest their foreheads together, letting the general bask in the soothing and delicate scent of the Sakura petals enveloping them.
- I can't wait to be together again.
Yae tells her, yearn sparkling in her amethyst eyes.
- Soon, my love.
Sara promises her, seeing Yae's eyes spark as brightly as the stars painting the vast starry sky, before her warm smile shelter her from the chilly night as Sara slowly succumbs to sleep to regain her energies for the following day so she can finish the mission her Shogun entrusted her with and reunite again with her beloved like the protagonists of the Tanabata tale.
Days go by after that night, and with them, the distance separating both lovers slowly shortens with the hope of recreate the tale of the weaver and the cow herder. With the hope that Inazuma's Guuji and its greatest general can reunite again under the starry sky guided by the magpies.
And in preparation for such a beautiful annual reunion and event as Tanabata, the Inazumans embellish their streets with the finest decorations they can muster. Hundreds of lantern lights and bamboo trees bring color to the sidewalks as the street stalls slowly begin to fill them waiting for the night to fall to come alive with the most upbeat music as well as with the delicious smell of food while the streets burst out full of people.
A soft smile spreads across the Guuji's lips as she helps hanging up the lantern lights around the shrine, also waiting for the night to fall completely to light them up and let their light along with the magpies in the clear sky weave a path that will guide Orihime and Hikoboshi to find their way to be in the arms of the other once again after being apart for so long.
A sigh escapes her lips as she yearns, wishes to reunite herself again with her lover, admiring the beautiful decorations embellishing the shrine and bringing an even softer yet livelier shade of the pink from the Sakura trees surrounding it as their petals swirl around creating a dreamy scenery.
As the stars slowly begin to wake up from their peaceful slumber to illuminate the ever darker sky, Yae can't help but take with her one of the tanzakus placed around the shrine that await for the visitants to fill them out with their wishes and hand them up in the bamboo trees hoping they come true.
So with an elegant handwriting, the priestess engraves in ink her own wish, bringing it to her chest as she slowly makes her way to their tree, to the Sacred Sakura contemplating its majesty under the starry sky, before she kisses her tanzaku and hangs it in the highest branch within her reach.
Content with it, the priestess hums to herself and closes her eyes, bringing her hands to her heart to pray for her wish to come true.
Please, let Sara be okay. Bring her home. Bring her back to me safe and sound.
She wishes under the Sakura petals, staying like that for a moment, before the summer breeze brings the fallen petals to dance around her enveloping her in their delicate scent.
- Are you wishing for me?
A soft voice says behind her, a gasp escapes the priestess' lips who recognizes very well who does it belongs to, before she opens her eyes abruptly to turn around and see the woman of her wishes right in front of her.
- Sara…
She lets out, tears pricking her eyes as the Guuji watches the strong general before her being safe and sound as she wished, before taking in her lovely appearance.
Yae can't help but feel her heart fluttering at the sight of the tough general looking ever so soft and gorgeous in a dark purple kimono decorated with pale pink Sakura petals, seeing the fond way Sara smiles at her.
- I'm back, my love.
The other woman says, opening her arms widely as her soft smile invites Yae to seek refuge in them, letting her sandalwood scent soothe her and tell her she's safe and finally at home with her.
- I'm glad you're back safe and sound – Yae confesses softly, nuzzling Sara's chest, before gazing up to look into her mesmerizing golden eyes – I've missed you.
She ends up saying softly, hugging her girlfriend tightly as Sara smiles coyly and kisses her head hugging her equally tight.
- I've missed you too. I'm glad to be back…
It's the only thing she utters, kissing her girlfriend under the shelter of their majestic tree, before the general grasps Yae's hand in hers and interlace their fingers to begin walking away.
- Shall we enjoy the festival? I've dressed myself exclusively for the occasion.
Sara tells her girlfriend playfully, hearing the priestess giggling cutely at it, before Yae pulls her into a much awaited and deep kiss.
- You look lovely – she compliments her girlfriend with a wink, seeing the tough general blushing ever so slightly under her intense gaze, before the dark purple haired woman brings their hands to her lips to leave a chaste kiss on them – And we shall, my love.
And with those words, the lovers begin to walk to the festival together after having reunited for Tanabata, the stars of Vega and Altair watching them from the sky.