(Kazuha x Tomo) Ephemeral Autumn Leaves

1. Violet Light Amidst Violent Lightning

The roaring wind and towering waves battered Kazuha's tiny wooden boat as he drifted aimlessly across the sea. He was disoriented—as the storm raged around him, smells and sounds became distorted, making it impossible for him to tell where anything was. He strained his vision, struggling to catch a glimpse of the land, of anything really, but spotted nothing. The boat rocked violently back and forth as arches of violet lightning flickered across the sky and thunder rattled his eardrums.

It seems the Raiden Shogun is trying her best to prevent me from fleeing, he mused to himself, a slight chuckle escaping through his lips. He was certain that he was going to die.

Clenching the dim, now lifeless Electro Vision in his right hand, memories of what had transpired earlier that day flashed before his eyes. His friend Tomo had challenged the Shogun to a duel, which had been accepted by the warrior Kujou Sara on the Archon's behalf. While both sides fought honourably, in the end it was Tomo who lay on the ground in defeat, and Kujou Sara who emerged triumphant. Kazuha had arrived at Tenshukaku in the last moments before the Raiden Shogun unleashed divine punishment, the Musou No Hitotachi, onto his friend.

Everything after that was a blur to him. Kazuha didn't even have the chance to say any words to Tomo, nor gaze upon the expression on his dying friend's face before he heard the thundering voice of the Raiden Shogun call out: "Seize the Vision Wielder!"

Kazuha had leapt forwards, taking hold of Tomo's Vision before fleeing the scene—it was as if he were being whisked away by the Anemo Archon himself. Though the Shogun sent a contingent of soldiers after him, he miraculously managed to escape from Inazuma City, somehow ending up on a small fishing boat and out at sea, heading westwards towards Kannazuka. He didn't know what he would do from here on out, all he knew was that he needed to escape with the now faded Vision. After all, it was the only reminder he had of his friend's ambition.

However, gazing upon the sea as the storm swirled around him, his heart began to sink. "I'm sorry, Tomo," he whispered softly to himself, "but it seems that I will be defeated by the Raiden Shogun as well."

At that moment, a flash of purple light off in the distance caught his attention. It was different from electrifying streaks of lightning tearing through the sky—for one, it was much closer to the water, but it was also a much gentler glow than the jagged zigzags above. As he focused his vision, Kazuha could make out just exactly what it was.

"A...a Seelie?" He said in surprise. What was it doing out here at sea? He had never heard of Seelies being found so far from shore, let alone in such violent weather such as this. The powerful winds and waves seemed as if they would obliterate the poor Seelie, yet it remained floating there above the water in defiance. Kazuha maneuvered his boat in its direction, after all, Seelies were supposed to guide travelers, weren't they? Perhaps this Seelie was trying to tell him something. As he struggled against the forces of nature, the Seelie slowly led him off in a certain direction, acting as Kazuha's only beacon of light in this world of darkness. He didn't know how long he had followed it for, but gradually the strength of the storm began to subside and in the distance he spotted land.

He soon fell unconscious.

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"Kazu-chan? Kazu-chan wake up!" The sound of a young man's voice rang through Kazuha's head. Kazu-chan? Who was calling him that? Wasn't Tomo the only one who called him by that nickname? He struggled to open his eyes. Tomo! He wanted to shout, greeting his light-haired friend with an embrace. Tomo you're alive!

When his eyes finally did open, there indeed was someone standing above him. His pupils struggled to adjust to the light, but he could vaguely make out the features of a light-haired man...