Chapter Text
The man stepped forward until the moonlight illuminated his face. The kid let out a wet gasp followed by a watery cough, a barely hidden sob of anguish.
Prince Touya.
The princess' brother. His mother's brother.
Which made this...
His uncle.
Oh.
Well damn. That was a sucker punch to the face.
A bitch slap really. As if they didn't have enough of life throwing a wrench in their plans. Being reminded to viciously that this kid was the son of his clone that they had traveled with.
Was it any wonder why the kid never talked about anything? He was overly aware of them. Of their feelings.
The kid took a shaky step forward. Something in the man's expression shifted from the cautiously guarded look to surprise. Another shaky step forward and his eyebrows rose up as he relaxes his stance. The kid slowly picked up his shaky pace until he ran the last ten steps and jumped. Arms outstretched he collided with the man who didn't budge in the slightest.
"Oji-san!" He wailed and the man wrapped his arms around the kid in wonder before he stiffened and bit his lip with a pained look. A tear rolled down his cheek as he further enveloped the kid in a hug. He bent low over the kid as his sobs pierced the air. Kurogane stiffened as he realized he'd ignored the presence behind the man and cursed as he remembered the pork bun had Ginryuu.
It was the priest.
He looked as if he had just woken as he peered blearily at them then at the kid and his uncle. His eyes widened and he threw himself forward wrapping his arms around both kid and man with a cry.
"Ji-san!" The kid stretched out his hand to grab hold of the priest who clung to his hand and pressed it to his wet cheek.
"So this is the heir to the clan head from another world." Said an imposing woman with long raven hair. She was a head shorter than the mage but radiated power an authority as she waved away the men circling them. The glowing spirit animals that had helped them kept them away but allowed the woman to pass through. She inclined her head to the spirits and came to a stop a foot behind the mage and himself.
"The clan guardians went into a frenzy seven hours ago. They only do so during the birth of an heir or death of the clan head." She pulled a fan out of her sleeve and opened it covering the lower half of her face, the mage stiffened beside him. He moved so the trio behind them was hidden from her prying eyes and watched her with a cold look in his eyes.
"But that's not quite right is it?" She asked herself absently gazing at the water behind them then up at the moon. "No. He is one of mine. Isn't that right?" She asked directly eyes narrowed in fury as power filled the air, deep and suffocating. Her fan snapped shut but that didn't ease the tension along the mage's shoulders.
"Zu Mu..." The woman cast them one last look then walked forward, taking advantage of the space the mage had left behind to walk between them. The kid was rubbing his face clean and making himself presentable as the woman neared him. He pulled the pork bun off his shoulder and held her to his chest as he bowed low at the waist. The woman reached out and gently, almost motherly in her actions, raised him from his bow. Her hand cupped to his face, thumb lightly caressing his cheek.
The mage grabbed a fistful of his shirt and dragged him forward at the same time that he'd grabbed the back of his shirt and pushed him ahead.
They were not going to let him out of their sight.
Ever.
Again.
His grandmother stood before him. She was as fierce and imposing as many described. Yet there was also a gentleness hidden beneath her tough exterior. Her eyes glacial and distant to outsiders met his own eyes as he hurriedly made himself presentable and pulled Mokona to his chest as he bowed to her might and wisdom.
Hands, soft and kind, yet strong and full of callouses that spoke more about her strength than anything else; lifted him from his bowed position even as the hands on his back remained.
Tsubasa felt his breath catch in his throat as the frosty look melted away. She was alive. Her hand was so warm against his cheek. Actually touching his cheek. Brushing her thumb against his cheek as father often did when he told him how much he loved and cherished him.
She was taller than mother was, but shorter than Father. She radiated beauty.
Was this right? She was alive. Maybe this actually wasn't his home. Even if his uncle felt the same, exactly the same when no other had felt this way.
"The clan heir's birth stirs the guardians. The clan leader's death stirs them. I have not passed, neither have I birthed an heir." She lifted a hand and Wukong was beside her instantly and Tsubasa could recall all the times he played with the guardians. Of them all, Wukong had been his companion and familiar despite belonging to the clan.
"This property would have gone to the clan heir, yet here it is willed to a Japanese man with no record as to how it was done. And our seers have acknowledged a void." Tsubasa stiffened and looked down when the hands on his back tightened their grip. They knew of the void left behind.
"Hush those tears child." She commanded and Tsubasa followed her command even as everything in him wanted to weep from the pain in his heart. The hand on his shoulder gave a light squeeze. Kurogane and Fai cautiously stepped forward catching his eyes and he took strength from their encouraging nods.
"You must be tired, we can discuss the void tomorrow. A growing child such as yourself needs plenty of rest." Tsubasa quietly bowed in gratitude for the reprieve from questioning. His uncles shared a look over his head and let him be.
"Wukong will lead you to the guest rooms, though i dare say, you may already know where they are." Tsubasa gave a small imperceptible nod. She nodded her head and left to deal with the hornet's nest that had become the clan.
"When you're ready to talk kid. We'll be here." Oji-san muttered gruffly taking his leave. Ji-san offered him a small smile before reaching out and cupping his cheek.
"Rest well." He whispered softly, a gentle look of fondness in his eyes. How long had it been since he'd had this expression aimed at him?
A hand on his shoulder drew his attention to Fai and Kurogane. He took a deep shuddering breath. His breath caught in his throat. His nose tingled unpleasantly and he bit down the urge to cry. He'd shed enough tears tonight.
He was home.
He was home.
He. Was. Home.
He was finally home.
And they were not.