Meeting is the Beginning of Parting

Meeting

They first met under the sunlight. It was the beginning of their parting.

"There you are."

The youth, whom she reckoned was no older than fifteen—thus younger than her, but not by much—turned his attention from the sky towards the voice.

Junyou had expected an annoyed reaction over her intrusion, which she's fully prepared for. After all, it was part of her duty. The Commander had tasked her to find his son, who apparently had a penchant for wandering.

She readily obliged, even if it was only more because she was curious than anything. She had never seen anyone from the Commander's family, and he rarely talked about them anyway.

It didn't really take long for her to find him in that meadow.

Instead of that anticipated annoyance, all she received was an inscrutable smile.

"Need something?" The lad—thin and pale against the sunlight, windswept hair covering parts of his face—inquired; his voice was only slightly louder than a whisper, yet spirited.

"Your…your father asked me to find you," Junyou answered, wondering just when her voice became that meek.

"Oh, I see," he remarked, still lying flat on the grass, nearly motionless and clearly not intending to leave despite the revelation. He went back to gazing at the sky, ignorant of everything—including Junyou, who was beginning to fume.

"I'm serious," she tried again, attempting to sound firmer—it worked to an extent.

"Then tell me your name," he looked back at her; his smile was a touch wider.

"Eh?"

"I don't want to go along with a stranger, you know."

With a tinge of regret and through gritted teeth, Junyou spoke her name. He continued to lay still after that.

"…I told you my name. Can we go now?"

"I haven't told you mine."

It took quite a willpower for Junyou not to completely lose her patience—especially with him seemingly intent on toying with her, all while keeping that strange smile of his.

"Then do it."

 "If I told you, then that would make us friends, no…?"

"…I guess…? Why?"

"Are you against that?"

"No…I guess not."

There's nothing to lose. She's just doing it to get the job done, she told herself. The sooner she could end this roundabout conversation, the better.

"Ah, how pleasant—for my soon-to-be friend, I surely would love it if she would watch the sky, too. This lovely sky—perhaps she never had the chance to. Or have you?"

Unthinking, Junyou cast a skyward glance. Maybe that vast expanse did look inviting after all.

"No, I haven't had the chance to do that."

"Would you?"

Perhaps just for this moment, she could. She would.

"I suppose… it's fine…"

There was a surprise on his face as if he actually didn't expect her to accept. It was soon replaced by that smile she was no longer a stranger to.

"Well, then, my name is—"

Parting

"Wait for me."

How many times had the words left her lips? She had lost count. For all his talk of friendship, he certainly had left her behind too many times in his curiosity for the world.

"Life is short, you know?"

He would always say this when he allowed her to catch up, and then she would forgive him. 

Only now did Junyou understand the gravity of the words, well-hidden behind the mask of smiles.

A life of only sixteen years was now fading before her eyes—she could feel it from the hand she was holding. Had she let go, it would fall back to the sheets.

"Sho-should you re—really be here, Jun-chan?" he managed a smile despite the laborious feat of turning to see her and speak.

The words reminded her that she had snuck out just before she was supposed to sortie into the enemy territory—but through him, she had learned to follow her heart. She had to do this. The Commander can wait.

"I...I'm leaving soon," Junyou choked. She had left her fears unsaid, though she didn't think he wouldn't be able to catch on.

"I'll be okay. You need to hurry, or father will get angry at you...I'll be okay."

"I'll come back," she said. "Then we can go to the festival again…"

"...And we'll see the lights, eat good food...just like the old times...wa—wait, I sound like an old man."

Junyou had to laugh at that despite everything.

"Then that means you have to rest," she let go of the hand, though she was hesitant at first. But he didn't seem to be as disappointed as she had feared. "Wait for me, okay?"

"Life is short, you know?" 

From the distant, upward gaze and a hushed voice so resigned, Junyou came to realize—he was under no illusion.

Neither did she.