[TWWM] Those Connected by Fate

Moonlight poured down into their little clearing, a halo of silver that danced eagerly against the rippling water. Their little garden whispered in the night, smooth stacked stone, sand that curved gently towards the water. It had taken them so long to gather everything, and it had been such a joy to have completed it. A true feeling of zen that fell across the area. It was a short lived joy however, as Kaito's strength was waning. That pain was gone now though, and in its place stood an intensely strong spirit. Sauvi gazed at him in wonder, taking in all the new details. 

"Your fountain!" she exclaimed, excited to see the smooth stone against his back once again. It glowed softly from within, and water bubbled up as well, pouring generously down a tree's trunk and pouring over into the moss that hung in thick healthy clumps along his shoulders. 

"I feel...So wonderful!" his voice echoed in her mind, strong and full of life. "Look at these!" he twisted, gazing upwards, "I have antlers! And my coins!" swaying lightly, he watched the coins dancing beneath the...shadows? "What?"

"Oh my!" he adjusted his focus, looking at the big picture. On his back stood a massive tree, its trunk twisted and reached upward, branches sprawling out and over him. Hanging from every branch were hundreds...no thousands of silver leaves. They flickered and shimmered brilliantly in the moonlight, glinting as if he'd managed to capture the moon itself. A tear welled in the corner of his eye.

"Oh...Sauvi..."
"You look so beautiful Kaito."
"Thank you...this is the most incredible gift...I cannot even begin to..." He squinted, turning away for a moment. Regaining his composure, he turned to her. "You are as stunning as ever, and somehow even more!"
She shuffled, shying her face away from him, the esk equivalent of blushing.
"You look absolutely stunning Sauvi, look!" he said, gesturing towards her head. "You have a little vine crown!"
"A crown!?" she said, absolutely tickled.
"A pretty crown for my Queen." he reached forward, gently touching his snout to hers.
She squinted, overcome with giddy joy. She hadn't felt this happy since... She exhaled softly, realizing that she hadn't felt true happiness since the night she ran from the garden. She sighed heavily and leaned into Kaito. Looking down, she saw wine flowing from the grapes clustered at her tail. It smelled sweet, it reminded her of home. It trickled down the grassy slope, mixing with the water that flowed from Kaito's fountain, and swirled gently into the pool of water. It was so peaceful.

"Kaito, I am so happy."
"Me too love. I feel as if we could...do anything now, go anywhere we want."
"Yeah, I feel so light and free!"
"Sauvi. We have changed so much! But still...in my spirit, only one thing matters most of all to me."
"Yes?" she looked up at him, feeling his love stronger than ever.
"Its you, You are my everything. I know our journey didn't quite go as we had expected it to... but I wouldn't change a thing. I am here with you, and thats all that matters to me.
Tears streaked down her cheeks, and she buried her face in his soft chest. "Thank you my love, I was so unhappy and selfish before, I see now all that you gave up to be with me. I'm so grateful. Thank you"
"Sauvi?" a note of seriousness entered his voice, "I need you to understand that my purpose has not changed. I feel a great change within me, and all...this" he gestured to the cluster of life on his back. "Yes, I've changed, but I will never leave you, I will always be here for you. I don't want you to ever think that I'd ever..."
"I know!" she cut him off, stammering a bit. "I know Kaito! I love you so much! I..."

They sat in silence for a moment, emotion overwhelming them both, unable to put into words the feelings they both had. Overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment, they sat together, gazing up at the moon. 

Kaito mulled thoughts over in his mind, the world seemed so open and free now. He felt exhilarated, so many possibilities. He wanted to explore, to travel. Glancing down at his dear love, he felt a beautiful future open up before them. The places they could go, he felt a desire to meet other spirits, to possibly free them as he had been freed.

'My purpose...' he thought. 'My purpose is to be with Sauvi, and to help those who need it. And...' glancing down at Sauvi, he hoped she would agree to journey with him. 'I must find my father...and learn what my absence has done.' Lifting his eyes back towards the moon, a wave of guilt washed over him. 'I left so much behind, I do not regret... but I must know...'

Fireflies gathered around them, flickering gently in the dark.