All good things begin and end

The look Magnus gave her sent pleasant tingles down her spine and she felt her face heat at his words, leaning into his touch to her cheek with closed eyes. She had felt this way for only the first few weeks during her marriage to Hideki, when it had been new and exciting and he hadn’t yet shown his true colors. Then, the yelling and the cheating and the real abuse had started, and those feelings had been torn asunder. It was nice, albeit weird, to feel like a teenager in love again, and she reveled in it.

“You tease,” she jibbed, but her voice was full of affection as she gently bumped her shoulder against his. Then, they began to walk forward. It was always a bit of a struggle getting Magnus’ wheelchair across sand. The thinner wheels tended to slid through the bigger drifts and get him stuck, and then she’d have to give his back end a shove to get him out of it. It was slow going, but once they reached more level ground it was smooth sailing.

Getting used to the wheelchair had been a journey for both of them, resulting in a few fights and some tears, but in the end Magnus’ mobility was greatly improved compared to before, and it took a lot of pressure off of his back hip, which had begun to develop arthritis due to carrying more weight. His shoulders were beginning to show signs of it, too, but it was nowhere near as advanced and debilitating as it was in his hind leg. With medication and physical therapy that she’d been performing with him, Kiyo had been pleased to see his movements becoming easier and less painful.

“The map the boatman gave us says the Bamboo Maze should be to the South East along the coast. So if we cut across toward the south then follow the coast, that might be the easiest route for us. What do you think?” she asked, squinting at the map of Auster that they’d bought from the boatman and that her monkey companion was currently holding up for them.

"Hattori Kiyo"