With and Without You (AetherxAyaka)

Chapter 22: Recovery

The scenery before him felt distant. The sound echoed and the color seemed to lack some saturation.

But nonetheless he saw himself and Ayaka, fighting the machine.

It was the moment right before his vision failed. He had stuck down the mechanism with all his strength and the results was an shattering explosion. 

Even though he knew it was pointless.

He screamed out her name, hoping it would alert her of the fragmented shrapnel. Aether reached his arm out and yelled.

"Ayaka!"

Immediately his body moved into motion and he sat upright, still reaching his hand out.

His breath was panicked and quick, but slowly normalized as he took in the surroundings.

He noticed the maple wood floor and support beams. As he looked at the walls, it was apparent how even the windows elegantly let the perfect amount of light into the room. It complimented the black desk and wardrobe. The desk had an unlit maple lantern and many papers set aside. His eyes moved to the left side of the room to find find a familiar and refreshing blue kimino being held by a wooden frame.

To it's left was an empty sword stand. It had 4 racks, one would each hold a sword. The racks varied in size however, presumably to accommodate for the four most common Inazuman blade craftsmanship. Starting at the top, was the longest rack, probably for the Katana; for it was the longest unique blade predominantly used in Inazuma. Each rack decreased in size until it hit the smallest rack that the bottom. This was most likely meant to hold a tanto blade, a blade that is essentially a longer knife in a katana like fashion. 

Aether took a deep breath

'It was just a nightmare.' He thought in relief.

While, he was sure that they did fight the machine, her being in danger was surely no longer true. Afterall, he woke up in an amazing room with no foreseen dangers.

'Who's room is this anyways? Where am I?'

His eyes glanced down to the sheets that covered him. The left side of the beds sheets were peeled back slightly and left trail of someone once being there.

The Kamisato crest resided in the middle of the sheets, though admittedly the colors were different than usual. Apart from the normal gold color, it was white and surrounded by a light blue background.

'Strange...' his mind noted.

"Ayaka is fine." A voice said from the doorway.

Aether's attention instantly darted to the man who leaned on the open doorway. Aether should have noticed him sooner. He had clearly been standing there for sometime. This factor bothered Aether only because he knew it meant he lack energy and strength.

But Aether also knew who the man is, not alarmed by his presence.

He who had exchanged words with Aether briefly one time. He who Ayaka spoke very highly of. He who shared the same Kamisato sibling like facial features.

Kamisato Ayato.

"I- where is she?" Aether asked suddenly

"I sent her out with Paimon to collect Naku weed and other medical material. She should be back anytime now to fix up some herbal tea." Ayato said gesturing in motion with one waving hand.

"Couldn't you have sent a guard to get herbs?"

Ayato looked at Aether and shrugged his shoulders.