Lanterns on the Water

Songbirds sang as the duo walked through the gardens surrounding Zento. The small childs laughter ringing clear as the crystal blue waters of the harbor while the man watched her with a smile. Alike and unalike they were as he placed each step carefully and with purpose, while she ran back and forth between the flowering cherry blossom trees and danced amongst the tall grasses.

They had been here for several days now, enjoying a relaxing time away from everything else. The girl’s mother had stayed behind, urging the two to enjoy themselves and come back once ready. And so they did, he taught her everything she would need to know once she was able to come to these lands on her own.

Isonu loved bringing Naomi here, to the lands of his birth. Still after all these years, it was where he felt the most at home. He would always serve Pandora and Marius, till the end of his days, but Tokuno still had its grasp upon his heart. He watched Naomi chasing after a crane, its call filling the air and startling the smaller birds out of a nearby tree. He began to scold her, but watching her smile and hearing her laughter brought a smile to his own face. She had gone through more than a child her age should, let her chase the bird if she wished. Just this once.

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