Shades of Time

Tenpou stood on the outskirts of the small fishing village in the gathering dark shaking his head. It was completely like Shi to come halfway around the world so everyone would leave her alone, he thought. He could see even from that distance there was some sort of festival planned, probably a harvest festival considering it was late autumn here. Brightly colored lanterns were strung between the tiny houses and the strains of instruments being tuned drifted up to him. Several people had looked his direction then quickly skittered out of sight. The reaction was hardly surprising, considering he was in full military uniform with a sword strapped to his side. It had been a bad choice in hindsight he had to admit. But at the time, all he was thinking about was tearing someplace apart if he had to in order to find her and that was easier to do in the mindset of a soldier. But these people were fishermen and farmers, not soldiers and it would be highly unethical to engage in combat with any of them.



There seemed to be a strange sense of urgency about the whole figuring out he was in love with Shi thing. As though he felt time draining away his chances at a high rate of speed and there was nothing he could do to stop its’ loss. He sighed heavily, thinking maybe this had been a bad idea. If he did find her Shi would probably beat him unconscious for annoying her when she’d obviously come here to relax and enjoy the festival. He’d been about to turn around and head back without trying when a voice from very near his left ear said, “Welcome!”



He was so startled that he literally jumped then turned to find an old man carrying an odd stringed instrument and grinning up at him as though they were long lost friends.



“Uh . . .” Tenpou began only to be cut off by the old man laughing at him.



“You have to be la Soledad’s soldier.”



“What exactly is a la Soledad?” Tenpou questioned, looking at the old man as though he had gone completely senile.



“An excellent question, my friend. Many have asked it over the last fifty years including myself. I suppose the easiest way to explain is to say she is a goddess.”



“A goddess, you say?” Tenpou remarked, his lips twitching.



“Si. Who else but a goddess would not age in fifty years? She is still as she was the first day I saw her, skin like cream, hair the color of rich, warm earth, and eyes that remind you of the sky before a storm.”



Shi! It had to be, Tenpou thought. “Do you know where . . .”



“I’ll take you to her. She’s been helping my wife, Manuela, prepare for the festival. My name is Carlos, by the way.”



“Tenpou.”



“Si! You are her soldier. We’ve been hoping you’d come for her these many years now.” Carlos chuckled a little at his own words. “Well, at least those who are married have been hoping that. Every young man in the village has been trying to catch her eye for ages.”



Tenpou growled a little and Carlos noticed the other man’s hands tighten into fists. He smiled to himself. It was good that this man was jealous of others when it came to la Soledad.



As they came into town, Carlos smiled and greeted his friends and neighbors, not bothering to introduce the man at his side. Then again, he really didn’t need to. It seemed everyone who saw him knew instantly who he was. Not really hard to figure out, Tenpou thought. He stood out as painfully different with the stark black and gold of his military uniform among the bright and vibrant colors worn by those in the village. Whispers began the minute they passed and word spread throughout the village about the war god who had finally come for the sad and lonely goddess who’d pined for him so many years. The girls thought it was just too romantic while the boys rolled their eyes and groaned. They’d never hear the end of it after this. Married couples smiled at each other, remembering their own romances. But the older people of the village who knew Shi best wondered how she’d react to the man she’d all but given up on suddenly arriving at the harvest festival.



They rounded a corner and came into the middle of a place teeming with life, music and laughter. Young women in brightly colored dresses cast shy glances Tenpou’s way before being glared at by their elders. Tenpou barely noticed their beauty, looking for his chrysanthemum among the roses. He found her smiling and laughing with an old woman over the top of a young boy’s head as they danced awkwardly to a tune being plucked out on one of the stringed instruments.



Since the moment I spotted you,

like walkin’ round with little wings on my shoes,

My stomach’s filled with the butterflies.



Tenpou seemed to be frozen to the spot, staring at Shi. Gods, she’s so beautiful, he thought. Taking in the obviously native dress she was wearing. Bright red, fitted tight to the body with flowing sleeves and ruffles along the slit that ran up the side of the dress, she looked stunning in it and all he could do for a moment was stare. Carlos laughed and gave him a little shove toward the woman he’d come for. Tenpou was glad for a soldier’s reflexes, it had saved him from landing flat on his face at Shi’s feet.



Every time I try to talk to you

I get tongue tied

Seems like everything I say to you

Comes out wrong, it never comes out right



Shi in turn, had noticed he was there and they stood staring at each other for a full minute. Shi seeming confused and Tenpou looking as though he would faint at any given second.



So I say, why don’t you and I get together

Take on the world, be together forever.

Heads we will, tails we’ll try again.

So, I say, why don’t you and I hold each other

Fly to the moon and straight on to Heaven.

Cause without you they’re never gonna let me in.



“Tenpou, what in the name of all the long forgotten gods are you doing here?” Shi demanded once she’d regained her scattered wits.



“I just . . . I mean . . . that is. Uh. I needed to talk to you,” he said. Succinct, Tenpou, he thought to himself. Gods, this was definitely not working out as he’d planned it.



“What is so important that couldn’t wait a few days?” Shi asked, frowning. “Is something wrong with Goku or Nataku?”



“No. The boys are fine and before you ask, so is everyone else.”



“Then why are you here?”



“I already said that I needed to talk to you,” Tenpou said impatiently.



“About?” Shi prompted.



“It’s a private matter and I’d really rather not announce it to everyone here if you don’t mind.”



“Really, Tenpou, I don’t see what’s so important that it couldn’t . . .”



“Okay, that’s it,” Tenpou said, completely losing his temper and striding two steps forward, picking Shi up and tossing her over one shoulder before turning to Carlos. “Privacy would be where?”



“The beach is probably empty. It’s that way,” Carlos said, pointing and trying valiantly to hide the grin that was threatening.



“Thank you,” Tenpou said before striding off in the direction Carlos had pointed, earning openmouthed stares as he walked.



“Tenpou,” Shi growled, “you are about to get a lightning bolt in the ass.”





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The song used in this chapter is Why Can't You And I Get Together by the ever marvelous Carlos Santana. I don't own it either and make no cash flow from it.