A path with falling cherry blossoms, the air filled with the scent and freshness of wisteria. A little girl was walking towards the ancient tree in the royal garden. That little girl was Fuji. Fuji found many scrolls about Seimei in the library, so she borrowed them to read. She knew about this quiet place thanks to Sakura, her healing guardian.

  After sitting down in the corner of the ancient tree, the little girl began to flip through the book to read. Not far from her, light footsteps approached her. She looked up and saw a boy whose robes had a royal symbol on them.

  Takumi was 12 years old at that time, with his warm brown eyes and a posture befitting a prince. It was their 1st time meeting each other in a royal garden. He heard about the new advisor in the court. With that curiosity, he came to meet her. Takumi felt something the first time seeing this little girl, adorable and lovely. He mumbled to himself, “Did fate bring us together?”

  Fuji, on the other hand, also looked curiously at Takumi. She bowed to him lightly and said, “Your Highness, I am Fuji, advisor at the court.” Takumi nodded and then picked a small flower for her. “For you.”

  This encounter marked the beginning of Fuji’s love story in her first lifetime. By the time she turned twelve, she had come to understand the strange warmth in her chest whenever she saw Prince Takumi. Their souls, though bound by duty to different worlds, quietly found one another.

  It was a normal court day when Lord Ito summoned Fuji to perform a purification. A noble child had been possessed by an oni. In her formal onmyoji robes, she knelt gracefully by the child’s bedside and raised her hands. With firm concentration, she soothed the malicious spirit and sealed it into the prepared talisman vase.

  The task left her drained—not just physically, but spiritually. She was still a child, yet she had to carry herself like an adult, her every step echoing with the weight of her family’s legacy.

  Her feet dragged as she made her way to the ancient tree in the royal garden—her place of quiet refuge. To her surprise, Prince Takumi was already there, waiting. He was fourteen then, his posture relaxed but his eyes filled with concern.

  “Fuji, you’re tired,” he said gently. “You don’t have to pretend when you’re here with me. Let this place be our secret.”

  Fuji hesitated, caught between protocol and the comfort of his voice. “But… Your Highness—” she began, only to be interrupted.

  “You know I prefer it when you call me Takumi,” he said softly.

  Though it wasn’t proper, Fuji sighed and complied. “Takumi… it’s my duty. I am an onmyoji of the Abe no family, a court advisor, and heir to Seimei. I shouldn’t be so… comfortable.”

  Takumi reached into his sleeve and held out a small, golden-wrapped candy. “But right now, I only see my friend Fuji—the little girl who used to read me stories here under this tree. The only one I’ve ever felt at ease with.” He smiled gently. “Happy birthday, Fuji.”

  In that moment, something stirred inside her. Her heart fluttered—not out of obligation, but something far more fragile and tender. He didn’t see her as Seimei’s heir or the palace’s onmyoji. He saw her.

  And slowly, Fuji understood what it meant to love someone.

  But what she did not yet know was that this love—so pure and quietly blossoming—was never meant to bloom. Their fates would not be allowed to intertwine… not in this life.

  Many years later, Fuji grew up beautifully. At 16, her fair skin had a radiant luster, similar to polished ivory, which made for a delicate canvas. Her long, dark hair flowed like liquid night, each strand catching the light and creating a stark contrast to her skin. The sheer length, which reached her wrists, accentuated elegance and grace. Her beauty lay not just in these characteristics but also in how they worked together to produce a stunning and unforgettable sense of youthful loveliness.

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  At that time, more and more generations in Abeno also grew up healthy. Unfortunately, most of the Abeno members did not have skills or knowledge like Seimei. At this rate, the Onmyoji line is in danger. Long ago, the fox god Inari warned the Abeno family of this future. Seimei's bloodline, other than Fuji, no one can surpass. Fuji is the only hope of their family.

  There is no doubt about the parents' love for their only daughter. They watched her grow up strong and beautiful like she is now. However, with many years living under someone's shadow and his reputation, they possessed knowledge about power, legacy, and family reputation throughout generations. The way they looked at Fuji was not like they were looking for their daughter; it was a look for the last flame of Abe no Seimei.

  Consumed by a growing fear of losing their legacy and desperate to ensure the survival of their lineage, they resorted to forbidden means. They secretly set up an altar and cursed Fuji's soul to live forever. Fuji's soul will always be reincarnated. A duty from which she could never escape. Her parents thought the curse was for the best of the family and for Fuji; however, they became the ones who betrayed their most precious daughter.

  Seimei, now in the spirit realm, could not do anything to stop them. Bound by the laws of the spirit realm, his power, once boundless, was now confined, leaving him a helpless witness.

  Her parents kissed her forehead, whispering apologies she’d never heard. In their fear of losing everything Seimei built, they sacrificed the one thing he loved most.

  Fuji went about her duties, unaware of the silent tragedy unfolding behind her back.

  During her work in the palace, she often met Prince Takumi in their secret royal garden. Beneath the ancient tree, they would read together, share quiet stories, and steal precious moments away from the world’s expectations. In those peaceful intervals, their bond grew—subtle yet profound—until love quietly took root in both their hearts.

  But as the emperor’s son, Takumi had no freedom in love. He was bound to marry a princess from another kingdom—a political alliance that demanded his compliance. Though married, he lived with his wife as one would with a stranger. His heart remained devoted to Fuji, his only love.

  The day had come, Takumi’s wedding day.

  It was a sunny, warm afternoon, with no clouds in the sky, as if the world itself refused to mourn. Dressed in ceremonial robes befitting a prince, Takumi stood beside his bride. They performed the traditional sake-sharing vows in silence. Each sip of sake felt like ash on his tongue, each traditional movement a hollow echo of the vows his heart refused to make.

  Their hands met during the ritual, yet Takumi didn’t flinch—his body moved with precision, but his heart was far away.

  The princess, too, seemed like a figure caught in duty. There was no joy in her smile, only acceptance. Both of them were merely completing a task written by the hands of others.

  As soon as the ceremony ended, Takumi slipped away. He found her where he knew she’d be—the ancient tree in the Royal Garden.

  “Fuji… you came.” His voice was low. “I didn’t want you to see me like that.”

  Fuji stood under the shade, bathed in dappled sunlight. Her court robes were heavy with formality, and her hands trembled slightly beneath the folds. “I know,” she replied softly.

  Takumi raised his eyes to her. “I couldn’t escape my duty. But please believe me—you’ve always been the only one. I’m sorry…”

  Fuji smiled, a bittersweet curve of her lips. She had long understood this day would come. “I know,” she repeated. “And… that’s enough for me. As long as your heart still holds my name, that is enough.”

  She turned fully to face him. “My prince… may your marriage be blessed with peace and harmony.” Her voice wavered slightly. “And may your heart… find rest, even if it’s not with me.”

  They stood in silence, neither willing to look away, until the moment passed. Then they turned, walking separate paths away from the garden—away from each other.

  But their hearts, quietly and eternally, remained intertwined.

  Years passed.

  On the day Fuji grew old and was nearly at her end of life, Takumi appeared in her room and took her hand in his.

  “Fuji, don’t be afraid; I will go with you soon. You will never be alone on your road… I will always love you. In the next life, I will find you again…always.” Fuji could not hold back her tears after hearing that. Although they could not get married in their youth, they still cared for each other.

  Fuji closed her eyes. She watched her soul leave her body and head to the path for dead people. Takumi felt his love was gone, so he lay down next to her and joined her as well. In silence, they left the world together.

  And so, the true journey begins—a path across lifetimes, where love defies death and duty is sealed in the soul.