"I'll see you."

He cocked his head and stared at him for a while, that Kisumi was afraid he'd fallen asleep. Then, he opened his mouth and asked his question bluntly: "When?"

Kisumi bit his lip to keep from smiling. He'd always been blunt. "Soon."

Sekirai only stared at him but then he shrugged and turned away, returning to his task. Kisumi let him.

Soon, Sekirai, soon.

It will be time.

"Goodbye," he told Sekirai softly. Not touching. He couldn't bear it.

Sekirai nodded and smiled at him. "Yeah. See you."

When?

*

Small bites on his neck and he gasped out loud, fingernails scraping the smooth back of his partner. Red hair wet from perspiration clung to his face and he opened his eyes to see those penetrating blue stare back at him. The face above him smiled. Long, golden hair fell over his chest as the other trailed kisses on his bare chest.

"Ah!"

He arched his spine as he felt that tingle. His hands fell over his partner's hips, urging him closer, needing the contact.

"Hold on," his partner told him breathlessly.

He squeezed his eyes shut. "I'm trying," he growled back.

Kisses planted on his face, capturing his mouth as hands touched his backside. He groaned into the mouth.

He pulled away. "When?" he gasped.

"Soon."

"Yeah--"

Soon, they moved together, following the rhythmic pattern of making love. Red against yellow. Fire against ice. And when they fell back on the bed, exhausted, both closed their eyes and quickly fell into sleep.

When?

Soon.

I promise.

*

"I'll see you again, will I?" Sekirai asked, frowning.

Kisumi raised an eyebrow at him. "Of course. This assignment will probably only cost us a week or two."

"I have a bad feeling about..." Sekirai's voice trailed off and his face blanked. As if he couldn't see Kisumi anymore.

Kisumi blinked, hands stopping from tying his pack together. "Sekirai...?"

"...about all this." This was said as if in a breath, as if letting everything out in a sigh. "This new order, this sudden move, this retreat. I don't like it. I think...something bad is...going to happen soon."

Something bad.

"When?"

"I don't know." Sekirai absently rubbed his arm as if to warm himself. Silly. Sekirai was always warm. Then he looked up at Kisumi again. "I'll see you again, will I?" he repeated. Maybe he didn't remember when he asked it the first time.

Kisumi shrugged and grinned. "'Course."

"I feel, too," Sekirai said softly. "I feel like I'm going to see you for the last time."

Something washed over Kisumi and he suddenly felt an ache overcome his body. He shivered. It was an old pain, something he couldn't remember. As if from another life. As if from another time.

"Do you feel it, too?"

"Yes," Kisumi whispered. Then, without helping himself, he grabbed Sekirai into an embrace. He closed his eyes. This was Sekirai. In the many years they shared that hut, he had already become accustomed to his partner's scent. It was a strange comfort. He wanted to stay in the embrace. "I feel it."

Sekirai stiffened at the embrace, but he quickly relaxed and held Kisumi back.

"We'll see each other again," he said softly. "Friend."

"I promise."

*

A warrior leaving.

"I'll see you again, will I?" the one left behind asked.

The warrior smiles. "Of course."

Afraid to say anything more.

"When?"

"Soon. I promise."

*

A time past. A memory forgotten. A wish granted.

Centuries are but moments. The present is a gift.

When?

Now.

*

He opened his eyes and stared at the sky. Everything comes back in a rush. A dragon falling from the sky. A woman's voice, a woman's touch. A long time ago, a moment, just now. A smile...time has passed. The travelers are gone.

I'll see you again, won't I?

He blinked. He could feel the waves lapping at his bare feet, the wind picking his torn clothing. His body felt pained and his long golden hair fell into untidy strands over his face.

"Time," he whispered to the sky.

A dragon screaming for help.

Fire to melt his cold, cold heart. It was time.

*

Sekirai saw the figure on the road and he dropped his load of logs. Quickly, he held his ki in check and clenched his fist. He knew that figure. He was warned. Kisumi is now Basara. Sad betrayal.

Closer now. The figure taking one slow step at a time.

He saw red around him and, before he knew it, he was running, screaming in rage. Fire swirled around him and he saw only that. Fire.

He could hear a familiar voice scream behind him, screaming his name but he couldn't listen.

"BASARA!"

The figure looked up. Sekirai threw himself to the air in a jump. Basara jumped as well, fingers clenched and legs tense for a fight. Sekirai lurched forward, raising arm for power surge and a leg to block out any attack.

"SEKIRAI!"

He turned and saw the townspeople staring at him. He cursed under his breath, changing his stance to defense. But his eyes widened in surprise when, instead of the punch, he felt arms encircle his waist and a face before his.

Kisumi smiled. "Burn me," he said simply.

He leaned forward and let his lips touch Sekirai's.

Below them are but tiny shadows beholding two figures on the air in flight, embracing each other as if they've never met for a long, long time.

*

When?

Sekirai pulled away and smiled. "It's about time."