With and Without You (AetherxAyaka)

Chapter 5: Visionless

Her heart felt warm as new hope for Inazuma existed. Those who died, will not have a death in vain.

The Traveler will lift the burdens that lay upon her shoulders. The very burdens that she couldn't live with.

They have only met once and yet she already feels as if he has saved her.

Ayaka took a moment to clear her mind and focus.

The Traveler may help, but it doesn't change her role in this either. She must still play the role as the eldest daughter of the Kamisato clan. She must still be the Shirasagi Himegimi and she must still work as apart of the Yashiro Commission.

There was no room for Ayaka, there never has been. Ayaka was a young women who was kept locked in a cage covered by sophisticated locks of elegance and status.

She had not much time to be herself or make friends.

If she was lucky a walk in town or the reading of a poetry once in a while, but never more than that.

She must still hone her art of the blade. She must still study flowers and tea. She must still practice edicate and elegance.

Miss Kamisato still had her duties of overseeing social affairs, parades, and partaking in political meetings with members of all three commissions.

Ayato, her brother, did a great deal of lifting these tasks from her, but she must still attend meetings. She still has to discuss her findings along with others.

She let every grip of happiness die down and prepared to play her part.

As for it wasn't over yet.

[Meanwhile at the entrance of Chinju Forest]

Aether was descending down to the forest directly below the Kamisato Estate, shortly after his encounter with the Shirasagi Himegimi.

The fact that Paimon hasn't said anything or even appeared, from whatever pocket dimension she stayed in, was uncomfortable. 

It was an uncomfortable silence and Aether wasn't quite sure how to break it, especially considering he usually wasn't the one who started or engaged much in conversation anyhow.

However he did find coversing with his floating companion much easier than it was with most. Sometimes people like Zhongli or Ganyu would hear Aether speak more than he normally did too.

It wasn't a lack of care, if was more so because Aether focused so intensely on the conversation he often forgot to speak his peice. It was also something he wasn't acumstomed to doing with anyone except Paimon, since she mostly did the talking. 

So when even she wasn't talking, it rose a slight concern to him.

He continued walking in somber silence down the path etched with torii gates. As he descended into the forest the light died down, even though it was far from night. The forest brought a certain eerieness, it was dark and gloomy. The only light that was admitted was from small mushrooms and flowers. A blue aroura hovered around the ground. And the trees split up high into the darkness.

A familiar noise was made and Aether looked over his right shoulder to see the flying fairy companion that he was just wondering about.

"Paimon wonders..."

Aether put a half-smile. He felt a little better now that Paimon was being more of her normal self.

"And what would that be?"

"Did you really have to do that?"

Aether knew exactly what Paimon meant. Despite her lack of self restraint in wording, she never actually came off as rude. Aether however, could not say the same for himself.

"Paimon wants to know, did you not like her?"

Aether immediately responded

"Nononono, it's not like that at all!" His hands went up in a crossing motion.

"Then what is it?"

Aether thought on his response to Paimon.

The truth is, Aether didn't have a problem with the Shirasagi Himegimi at all. Her voice was pretty and she was polite to boot. He can't help but think that he hurt her feelings a little when he so boldly declined the offer to help Inazuma. He knew what it would mean for the people of Inazuma if he could help them, like he had with Monstadt and Liyue. 

"Well, there is no excuse for it. I definitely could have been more polite about it..."

He trailed off as he searched for an answer for both himself and for Paimon.

"...I think that it has to do with Lumine. I'd love to accept Miss Kamisato's request and save the people of Inazuma. Her intentions seem true and her heart pure; but, it would come at a price much higher than I can afford, Paimon. In order for me to do that I would have to give up my chance at having a seat at the Raiden Shogun's table... for me to do that would mean I would have to give up my only clue to find my sister."

The walking continued for an extended time before Paimon spoke in response.

"Paimon thinks Paimon understands. You can't help them because it means that you could lose your sister. And she's the whole reason we came her in the first place."

Aether nodded his head and hummed in response as they both neared the ending of the forest. Light began to seep through the trees and an ending to the dark was  fading because of an obtrusive light source.

"Paimon thinks you should make it up to her, since it sounded like you made her cry."

The thought of that stung Aether a little bit. He never meant any ill-will towards the Shirasagi Himegimi. He was just so close to getting Lumine. For so long he felt so so far behind her. He felt that he would never find her again.

Then with Danslief, he found her in that abyss filled dungeon.

And as fast as she came, she left. In the flick of a finger and the exchange of a few words. She was taken from him by the Abyss order, claiming to be their queen.

Aether wanted to smack his head for being this stupid.

He gotten so very close to his goal that he became narrow minded, only focusing on his one goal to reunite with his long lost sister. He became so fixated on that goal that he hadn't realize that he partially became careless and reckless along the way.

He became obsessed with that goal and it almost made him greedy, selfish.

Huh, how ironic that the selfless hero of Monstadt and Liyue put his own goals ahead of Inazuma, Aether thought.

It was as if he was truly visionless.

Not in just the item that granted elemental power.

But visionless in a way that prevented him from seeing a future that benefits all.

Aether knew that by fulfilling the three wishes she asked of him, things would go differently than he wanted.

He knew that his heart was much too large to experience any more of the hardships that the Inazumans experienced. He would crumble and give in to Kamisato. He knew that he would eventually risk losing a seat with the Shogun for Kamisato.

And apart of him; deep, deep, deep down was okay with it.

He felt better about himself upon this reflection. If he didn't know any better, he might have confused himself for a poet or philosopher.

Aether was practically grinning from ear to ear as he began to be bathe in the refreshing sunlight.

He looked at his traveling friend and finally responded.

"Yeah, I guess I will."