Author: Mosh
Fandom: Shounen Onmyouji
Title: Watching the Tsurus
Pairing: Guren & Masahiro
Rating: G
Summary: A flashback to a more peaceful existence.
Disclaimer: These characters belong to Hikaru Yuuki. No money being made, no copyright infringement intended.
A/N: There are some adorable flashbacks in chapters 3, 4 & 5 of the manga (and the anime, too) which bunnied me for this ficlet. I just adore the idea of Guren spending time with little!Masahiro, being left to babysit. With thanks and love to Honeybean for having a look over this for me! 750 words. :)

Note: You may not archive, re-post, or alter any of my stories without my permission. Please contact me first. Thanks!

Many years ago, when Masahiro had been just a small boy, Seimei had entrusted him to Guren one summer afternoon. After some pondering on what to do, Guren had taken Masahiro to the secluded Water Gardens to watch the tsurus.

Masahiro’s eyes had been impossibly large as he stood on the bank of the lake and watched the birds ducking and diving and frolicking on the silver-rippling water. Content to sit on a nearby seat and observe, Guren kept his eyes trained cautiously on Masahiro’s form, making sure he wasn’t straying too close to the edge of the lake. It wouldn’t do to have old accidents repeated.

Masahiro had quickly lost interest in the tsurus, however, and had taken up trying to catch a bug hopping around in the grass.

With a smile playing lightly on his mouth, Guren followed the surprisingly quick motion of the toddler’s small fist as it closed around the grasshopper. Masahiro held onto it for a few moments, peering inquisitively through the gaps of his fingers, before letting the bug go, his curiosity finally sated.

Then, like the swift changing of the winds, he decided he was more interested in what Guren was up to, and came over to see. He stared up for a few moments, then reached out as if to make a grab for Guren’s fiery hair, but he couldn’t quite reach it with his height.

“It’s peaceful here,” Guren said to the boy, as Masahiro settled both hands on his knee to steady himself and surveyed him with those deep, dark eyes full of wonder. As the sun slowly dipped down in the sky, the reeds lining the lake glowed a greeny-gold, and the tsurus splashed happily in the water beyond, in their own world. “I thought it best to choose somewhere quiet, so we wouldn’t be disturbed.”

Masahiro offered him a bright, toothy smile, almost as if in answer.

Guren smiled back at him, quite unable to help himself. “You’re one of the only people who hasn’t shied from me, or been frightened,” he mused. He sat back slightly as Masahiro attempted climbing up onto his lap. With the very tip of his finger he flicked a few of the loose black strands framing the boy’s face, watching them feather back into their original place. “Curious little thing you are.”

The boy couldn’t seem to get a good grasp of Guren’s leg, and slipped back down onto the grass. He rose, his smile faltering, and tried again. The second time he fell his smile was completely gone, and in its place was a line of solid determination.

Guren watched all this with amusement, how Masahiro kept getting up every time he fell - no tears, no frustrated sounds, just a focused desire to overcome the obstacle - how his grasp intensified each time, his arms working relentlessly, feet kicking at the ground.

“You have a fighting spirit,” Guren said quietly, “Just like Seimei did at your age.” Oh yes, Seimei’s grandson would one day become a powerful Onmyouji.

After countless attempts Masahiro finally found purchase and managed to hoist himself up, and after much squirming and arrangement of limbs he settled on Guren’s lap, taking a fistful of Guren’s hair as if claiming his long awaited prize. There was a light tug, a sigh from below, and Masahiro rested his head against Guren’s chest, his frame becoming quite boneless.

Guren, unsure of what to do now he had a two year old sitting on his lap fast asleep, shifted slightly until he was more comfortable, carefully cradling Masahiro in his arms as he did so. He let his head fall back and stared up at the darkening blue sky, content.

The boy had a fierce heart, and seemed capable of judging character even at such a young age. He would no doubt grow to be a fine teenager, and eventually a strong man.

“I enjoy your company,” Guren said to the sleeping boy. Even if Masahiro had been awake, he wouldn’t have understood. But then, maybe he would’ve got the gist, and turned another sunny smile up to Guren in return. Guren could only entertain the notion, but it was a nice thought nonetheless.

He let his eyes slide shut, his arms still holding the small boy safely to him, deciding that this was one moment he would not share with Seimei.

This was one perfect moment he would keep for himself.