The sky was blue and serene at the start of the journey. As the princess flew higher, the weather began to change, grey clouds coming together in a dark unison but still failing to stop the princess's flight since they did not mean to in the first place. The air got thicker and colder, the blue turning into its darker shades until it resembled a giant black sapphire. The ascent continued despite the weather and atmosphere changing its layers the higher the princess went. Raising her head, who could measure how high she was by now? But the sky has cleared once again, brightening with a more tranquil blue, few white clouds dispersed here and there, but a particular one that was not the making of nature drew her attention, and although she knew her destination very well and where she desired to head, the princess of the wind still reached her hand out, and it landed safely in another hand.
The firmament turned into a celestial canvas, as if the two creatures had reached the gates of heaven, and above the demonic cloud, Reiha held tightly to Rinmaru's hand just as he was holding to hers.
"This is the first time in centuries that you have allowed your scent to ride my wind."
Reiha spoke caressing with her other hand the demon's cheek, brushing few white strands away from his face, revealing a similar red jewel hanging from his ear, the one completing her single earring.
"I needed to make sure you were alright… I arrived very late, and there was no one… not even the dead queen."
At this statement, though gentle and faithfully spoken, Reiha's cast her eyes down, dimming slightly, as she sighed.
"Enya caused you trouble… did she not?"
"You know she cannot defeat me.
"I am certain no one can defeat you… because you made me a promise…"
"And I am still holding dearly to it."
The hand around the princess's tightened, a gesture to reassure her, and she held her head up again, gazing at the purple pair of eyes that had never, even during their long separation, strayed from hers.
"Yet… I presume I am still to wait… a few more… what now... years?"
Rinmaru's features turned complicated, as he held softly to the hand embracing his own without losing the warm strength enveloping their intertwined hands and Reiha was still able, even after all the decades and centuries, to read his thoughts correctly.
"You are still not satisfied…"
"Maybe now that Noboru has reappeared… I can feel satisfied at last after killing him myself…"
Reiha shook her head, the demon's mind was still drowned in the same tormenting darkness he was trying to erase. The princess circled his neck with her other hand, and said.
"I doubt even then you will be satisfied…"
Rinmaru avoided her sad gaze. He closed his eyes, shaking a little as he replied.
"There is many wrongs to be undone… I believe some can never be redeemed…."
"Exactly!"
Rinmaru opened his eyes surprised, this was not the kind of support he was expecting but he immediately understood what his beloved was trying to get at.
"Some wrongs can never erased, and you are doing all what you can helping others and punishing injustices… you have been doing this for decades… yet still, you cannot change the past, you can only mend the present and protect the future… stop punishing yourself like this!"
Reiha's voice broke a little, and her expression looked vulnerable for the first time. Only when held in each other's embrace were the two lovers able to express their feelings and show their weaknesses truthfully, without any fears or doubts.
"I know you have suffered so much…"
"This is our last chance at some happiness!"
Reiha's interrupted him, pleading without losing her gracefulness. The demon seemed puzzled for a moment then, drawing the princess closer to his heart, he promised.
"After slaying Noboru… I promise we will never be separated again…"
"So you are off to find out where he is hiding?"
Rinmaru nodded, although with all his powerful demonic hunting skills, he had failed till now in finding any trace related to Noboru or his followers.
"He will show himself sooner or later… and I am sure our paths will cross many times now that we are fighting the same enemy…"
Reiha tried to ease Rinmaru's worries, drawing a reassured humming out of him before he commented.
"It has turned into a joint journey… "
"We have always been on the same journey, my heart and prayers were always with you…"
"I know…"
Rinmaru hugged Reiha and the princess released the softest and most tender of her breezes to embrace his scent that she had never forgotten along the years and eras. Resting her head where she could hear his heartbeats, the princess softly murmured.
"I will not ask you to join us… I know you hate company and prefer to work on your own… but I will never stop praying for your safety…"
Reiha spoke, knowing in her heart that this was not the true reason why her refused her company while setting on his own journey of redemption. The real reason laid within his mind, he did not believe he deserved happiness yet, and his only left happiness now was being with the princess of the wind. As heart breaking as that was to hear the first time, and keep up with it for centuries, Reiha still respected his wishes. In return, Rinmaru smiled tenderly, raising gently Reiha's hidden face with his hand, warmed by the princess's mellow touches and scent.
"I will never doubt this… spending eternity by your side is what keeps me going on, determined never to lose any fight or lose sight of myself again…"
Reiha's expression faltered a little, her happiness flickering like a burning star's light at the reminder of the promise just made but she immediately regained her smile, without allowing the demon to notice her briefly quivering bliss destined to writhe in endless yearning. Raising her head, her dewy lips meeting his longing ones, she promised again.
"I will wait for you… for eternity…"