雨降って地固まる
ame futte chikatamaru
“When it rains, earth hardens” or “Adversity builds character”
~Japanese proverb
Kit
It’s warm in my bed or forest? Where am I? I look around and sit up. Fireflies move around me and my tree. Am I dreaming? Am I back next to where I grew up?
I slowly move to my feet and stumble out into the clearing.
He’s there.
It can’t be real.
Horus is lying there staring up at the sky. “I like it.”
"How are you here?"
"Magic.” He doesn’t turn around. “I heard that when you have a bead and nine tails of a fox, you can basically do anything. Like a dumb god with too much power.” His hands are behind his back; slowly, he moves them in front of me and holds them out.
Nine tails.
I count them nine times.
And then I count them again.
Orange, red, blue, pink, white. “How?”
"Everything costs something,” he says sadly. “And I had help.”
"But, but, this means—”
"Allow me.” Horus walks around me and places my tails at my lower back, they press into me and disappear, and suddenly I feel focused again, whole. I don’t even miss the bead. I have my tails, the ones cut off, the ones sacrificed. “I don’t deserve this.”
“You deserve everything.” Horus points to the sky. “He does too, but I think his journey is just beginning.”
“Who?” I look up and gasp as I see a King of angels. Bannik. His star shoots toward the heavens twisting around and around like a cyclone before bursting across the sky. “He’s beautiful.”
“He’s going to be okay.” Horus nods. “Now, about that bead.”
“Keep it,” I say quickly. “I want you to have a part of me. As long as I have my tails, I can live a long time; I don’t need the magic of the bead.”
He frowns. “And I do?”
“Yes, god of the sky.” I point up. “Because who knows when you’ll need to use the power to save a friend?”
"I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Lie.” I laugh. “Now, catch your fox.”
I don’t run, though. I want to be caught. I also like to tease. It’s been weeks for me, but for him? Hundreds of years.
His kiss is soft, tender.
He lays me down against the grass. “I need you now.”
"I need you too.”
His lips move down my neck in worship, toward my shoulders, as his hands intertwine with mine. His palms are warm, pressing me back against the ground. My head hits the dirt. The smell of trees and sunshine fills the air. He kicks my legs wide with his own. I welcome him. He releases a hand and rips at my clothing until there’s nothing left, then snaps his fingers, he's completely naked.
“Nice trick.” I laugh. “Why not use it on me?”
“I wanted to touch you.” He grins. “I would never use magic to take away your clothes when I could use my hands and feel you.”
Tears fill my eyes. “You’re going all romantic on me again.”
“I missed you for a very long time.” His head descends. “And I’ll love you forever, even in the darkness.”
He sinks into me, his eyes never leave mine. I’m captivated by the way he stares at me while his hips move. He hasn’t even kissed me yet, I’m curious why even as sensations wash over my body.
And then I see it.
Stars shine behind him.
He is, after all, their god.
And I’m now his goddess.
I never want to leave this moment, where the god caught me and kept me for his. Where I caught him and chose him for mine.
Darkness covers us. Stars burn from above as he moves inside me, his mouth parting, and with each pant, I see flashes of my bead in his eyes. Green, yellow, blue.
Yes, you will see what you worship.
I don’t worship my bead.
Or him.
I think what I worship is love.
Us.
He moves hard against me then, shoving me against the soft grass of the forest. “I love you, little fox.”
"I love you.” I arch beneath him and find my home.
My worship.
In my forest.