Chapter Text
A pleasant afternoon, the sun at the right height to be warm without being overwhelming and the breeze gently caressing the skin.
The sound of cups being filled with brewed mate predominates in the silence, a slight nod of gratitude from the redhead leads to a premeditated conversation.
—Are you going to talk about your "big plan"? —asked the redhead with slight curiosity, raising his eyebrow and directing his gaze at the one with ash-colored hair.
—Don't get impatient, little Hei. I'll get to the point —he replied with a half-smile, bringing his hand to the "little" one's hair to mess it up, provoking a huff.
—It's only two years, Taichi —he swatted his hand away with a smack on the wrist, rearranging his hair with his fingers.
—Putting aside your tantrum —he smiled arrogantly, rubbing his wrist softly —, I was chatting with the GREAT navigator Beidou to sail with her crew before things get worse, I guess you already know about the movements of the Koujo navy —his voice quickly changed to a more serious one, his smile faded and his gaze went from exuding confidence to concern.
He sipped from the cup, trying to control his anxiety. —Yes, I know... When do they set sail? —his voice was softer than before, unable to focus on anything other than Inazuma's future.
—In three days, we'll be gone —The red-haired man imitated the action, finishing his cup in one sip, leaving it on the small porcelain plate with a trembling pulse.
Silence reigned once again among the old friends, avoiding each other's faces. In a hurry, Taichi got up from his seat and walked to the exit.
—See you later, Heizou —he said with dryness in his tone—. I have something to do —he left without waiting for a response, allowing the sounds of his footsteps to fill the room.
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A few hours passed since that meeting, my footsteps are muffled by the dry grass as I follow a girl with indigo-colored hair and golden eyes named Sara, adoptive daughter of the Kujou Clan.
I place my hand on the side of my body, feeling the sheath of my wakizashi's, ensuring its presence, calming myself slightly.
Its presence, since I obtained it has given me security; it has never failed me in any mission, and I sharpen it daily to ensure its effectiveness. Knowing Sara's skills, I have the advantage in close range, but my goal is to gather information; it is very risky to rush and attack her.
Her walk leads me to the port, the relaxing sound of the waves crashing fills the place, I breathe softly while glancing at the sailors disembarking from the fishing boat. My grip would soften, and my posture, consequently, relaxes, to allow me to pass as a simple port guard.
A sailor nod at me, and in response, I do the same to keep up appearances. Suddenly, I feel a sharp pain in my stomach, forcing my body to bend in an attempt to mitigate the pain as saliva spills from my mouth.
Desperate, I would try to draw my wakizashi while turning my neck to see my attacker. The girl with indigo hair quickly grabbed my hair tightly, forcing me to look at her a little closer, and she pulled me towards her to deliver a strong knee strike to my chest, knocking the breath out of me and thwarting my attempt to draw my weapon.
I fall to the ground coughing up saliva and a little blood; my vision blurs from the force of the knee strike. I struggle to focus on the gaze of my attacker, noticing her face devoid of feelings, looking down at me while my blood burns with rage from her icy stare upon me, making me feel nothing more than a mere insect. My hands tighten into fists and, by sheer will, I rise from the ground to meet her gaze at the same level, using my right hand to firmly grip the hilt of my wakizashi and my left hand to keep the sheath in place.
—...mm? —a small sound of curiosity would escape from the thin lips of the girl upon seeing how the nobody stands up and prepares to attack her.
I step forward and make a quick diagonal cut, aimed directly at the girl's right arm. She reacts instantly and moves to the side, advancing to close the distance.
Sara turns and lies with her back to me, stretching her arms to grab mine and resting it on her shoulder, using it as leverage and trying to apply a key to me. I pull my torso back to start struggling with her. I see for a brief moment how a faint purple glow is emanated from the left side of her waist, feeling the next second an electric shock run through my arm, flowing in my nervous system and tensing the muscles of the limb, causing my fingers to extend in the grip of the sword, letting it fall. I stifle a groan of pain and clench my teeth tightly, counterattacking with a punch straight to his side, causing him to gasp and let go of my arm.
I take a step back and grunt quietly, I direct my gaze to my arm for a moment, I observe how, despite the stiffness, my muscles experience slight spasms. I can barely feel the sea breeze on my skin, the same breeze that, in another context, would comfort my body and mind, but now, its calming effect is minimal, my heartbeats are frantic and my breathing is irregular. A strange pressure builds in my stomach as I connect my gaze with the cold golden color of Sara's eyes.
I push myself forward with my legs, charging at her, directing another strike to her side, but I loose my legs the moment she deflects my attack, allowing my body to turn and go behind her, grabbing my weapon and propelling myself again to create distance, adopting a defensive stance while I keep my eyes on her figure.
The muscles in my electrically shocked arm lose their initial tension, gradually being replaced by an annoying tingling, with my joints regaining the ability to move.
The boards under my feet creak as I charge once more at Sara, I guide a diagonal cut straight to her face, she steps back, but the tip of my blade manages to reach her cheek, leaving a small gash on her skin.
Sara traced the lower edge of the wound with her thumb, staining the tip of her finger with blood. The girl did not waste a second before launching her offensive, closing the distance with a swift lunge.
I stiffen my arm as much as possible so that Sara thinks it's still numb, I quickly move my torso and use the limb as a whip. She stops the movement by holding my bicep, causing my forearm to reach her head and manage to grab her hair. In my peripheral vision I notice again the faint purple glow on her waist, I try to anticipate her attack and stoke with my weapon to pierce her stomach, but she uses her free hand to hold and stop the blade, staining the steel with her blood, activating her vision falters, but keeps her icy gaze towards me, being able to feel its irritation through their eyes.
The hesitation does not last more than a few moments, recovering its faint glow. I tighten my grip on her hair, pulling her head back to propel her towards mine, giving her a hard head, breaking the side of her mask on impact, causing her to fall to the ground with a thud, but that doesn't stop her from sending an electric shock to the arm holding her. I let out a scream of pain when my arm contracts violently, small tears appear in my eyes while in my chest I feel the irregular beating of my heart, the electricity is slowly destroying the muscles of my arm, even so I do not stop and I continue to hit my head against theirs to the point that the blood peeks out of the wounds on our foreheads. Each blow given was slower and more painful than the last.
We both fall onto the cold ground of the dock after a few moments, lying on our backs; my arm no longer burns, it just remained like a dead weight on my shoulder; blood flows down my face to the edge of my cheek, painting the plank red; my body is weak, tired. Tears finally fall from my eyes, accompanied by pitiful moans.
I barely manage to stand up, using the little strength in my legs to keep me upright. I take my weapon and watch Sara, who lies unconscious inches away from me, I breathe a sigh of relief when I feel the relaxed rise and fall of her chest.
Making sure not to be attacked from behind, I turn around and try not to stumble as I walk towards the fishing boat.
I control my breathing, anticipating my last physical effort. I tap my wakizashi against the rope, which connects the boat to the dock, until it is cut. I take a few steps back, watching as the boat begins to move away and exhale one last time, using the strength of my legs to gain momentum to the edge of the dock, jumping into the interior of the boat.
I fall backwards onto the ship's deck, my wakizashi slides just inches away from me. I contemplate the reddish hue of the sky, the wind from the stern guiding the navigation and waves its flag above me.
As my eyelids give in to fatigue, I try to convince myself that escaping now is the best thing to do; the Kujou already had me in their sights, continuing my investigation was risky, practically a suicide, but nonetheless, I continued with it. Now my situation was worse than before; by attacking their adopted daughter, they would consider me one of their next targets, it would be a serious mistake to stay in Inazuma any longer.
My eyes wander and my breathing becomes regulated, I let the wind guide me to my next destination, to the nation where I will find refuge.