「 ♒ 」 Kougyoku didn’t forget about the letter, however she had to focus on her task as a general. The weeks passed and at one point she wondered if the letter was even real. Maybe she had missed him too much? She had longed for Judals return, she had hoped for it but it never happened and while her feelings and hopes stood still her life continued and took unexpected turns.
"Remind me what I do this…" The pinkette leaned back and looked up to her assistant but for once he didn’t scold her for being lazy with her paperwork. Both were tired and probably only wanted to go to bed and rest… well Kougyoku wouldn’t mind a peach bath but she hadn’t had one since… since her wedding.
It was then that the two of them heard a tumult outside of their tent. Slowly standing up the princess left her seat to join the soldiers outside. “Calm down!” She called out, surprised how long it took the men to react. “What’s the mat——” Kougyoku fell silent once her eyes settled on the magi.
"…Judal?" Her voice cracked and she could feel the tears in the corner of her eyes. She wasn’t a crybaby anymore but… he was back. He was really back. Running towards him the royal wrapped her arms around him and sobbed "…we—-welcome back home!" Tugging him closer the girl didn’t care that the whole troupe could see their general crying. "..y—you were dearly missed" She whispered so silent that only he could hear her.
The moment she set foot out of her tent, he felt like the world stopped turning. She hardly changed, if anything her features grew more mature. She looked good. Seeing her made him realize how much he missed Kou, how much he actually missed her. And then, she started to cry, like back then when she was dead worried about him.
"You really didn't change, Yoku." He wrapped his arms around her slender back and pressed the girl against his body. Feeling her tremble, hearing her sobbing, he could only hold her close to protect her. "I am sorry I took so long to come back." He answered, only for her. "I am home, old hag." He narrowed his face to bury his nose in her hair and the world started to move with one hard knock as reality came back to him.
The scent of peaches was gone.