Raion had no doubt that the day must come when Sakura left Him. Realism is a component of Japanese culture. Yes the past in an intrinsic part of the present but the future must bring change by its very chaotic nature. Sakura was but a flower in the bud, the bloom she would become would need experience in the garden of life in all its forms to be magnificent and Raion wanted more than anything to revel in that moment in this life or beyond the three rivers in yomi.
Continuity was a constant thread in His existence. His own children were strangers to Him. His first wife, the one-san of a training school in dance for maiko had long since cut all ties with Him. It amused Him that for all the supposed estrangement she still found it good business to use His family name and crest. His eldest son was now a samurai of some significance in the Emperors guard but had made no effort to contact Him for many years. Raion had reached out many times but had long since accepted that His presence physical or spiritual was not required or wanted. He had long come to the decision that in time He would marry Sakura. This He would do not from any need for power or contentment, or even the usual ideal of domestic bliss, rather it was a sure way to ensure her acceptance in the eyes of both law and society as His natural heir. Certainly the usual line of descent would be to His first born son but a carefully worded and accredited document of explanation would clarify the circumstance. This would be Sakuras last duty to Him. He had no wish to influence her life or decisions beyond that point rather trusting in the sanctity of the very nature that had first bought her to His tutelage and the training she had so willingly endured with stoic perseverance.
He felt the tears wash down His face and felt no shame. A man was allowed to show His nature in all its facets and grief was as deep an emotion as any. The pain He felt came not from loss, rather from a deep sense of sudden overwhelming weight. His father had been the wisest of men. A true warrior, a guardian of truth and honesty, a pillar that held the clarity of the heavens from being sucked into the muddy morass that could so easily be life. Now Raion felt the full responsibility of legacy and knew that from this day forward His existence would be forever changed. Yes He admitted some of His tears came from selfishness, the desire to still be the solitary outlaw searching out His own destiny. Yet also they came from an understanding that His father, His hero, would have never wished the mantle to oppress His son's free and unrestricted nature.
He was aware of Sakuras presence. Even deep in meditation He could sense her closeness and the particular scent her body bought into His world calmed and comforted Him. The tea was a welcome gift. He took it eagerly, savoring the warm liquid as it refreshed the parched inner skin of His cheeks and throat. The blend was one He found interesting. The mix was just different enough to grab His attention and He recognized the slight hint of jasmine perhaps, and the aftertaste of brown rice.
The aroma of the rice cakes became overwhelming. He had not wished to break His fast however necessary but the bean paste smelled so good and even deep in trance-like stillness salivated His mouth. Her hand had been outstretched for an eternity. A battle of wills between her concern and His insistence on self-denial. Eventually He gave, grudgingly, knowing that at this moment her judgment was far more clear than His and accepting the deep understanding she felt for His physical and mental needs. The cake was delicious. The flavor swept across His palate like a wave and although He forced Himself to chew the first slowly His mind was already contemplating consuming the second.
The night drew in. He was tiring, could feel His body start to droop from the formality required in sitting and was forced to concentrate a small portion of His mind to such irrelevancy.
"You are a fool Raion. I never deserved such reverence in life and certainly not in death."
His father's voice was strong and controlled, much as He always remembered it.
"Why do you sit in such pointless solitude when you have urgent responsibilities that require your constant attention?"
Raion thought to respond. Searched vainly for a remark or passage that would explain this state of loss that held Him captor as fast as a prisons chains.
