(Kazuha x Tomo) Ephemeral Autumn Leaves

12. Reunited

"An Outlander you say?" The light-haired young woman gazed thoughtfully into Kazuha's eyes, most of her figure concealed beneath a hooded cloak. A hydro jellyfish floated leisurely next to her as she twirled her fingers through its tentacles. This woman, who declined to give her name as she boarded the Alcor after they docked in Ritou, held a strange air of familiarity about her, though Kazuha wasn't exactly sure why. He had simply been told by Beidou that there was someone important coming to meet them. The fact that she clearly wielded a Vision, however, piqued his interest. This was no ordinary visitor.

"They've gone off to do some commissions for the Yashiro Commision so they can meet with the Raiden Shogun," Beidou explained.

"I see..." the mysterious girl said. "If this Outlander is as strong as you claim, then it is imperative that they do not become a mercenary of the Shogun. That would be a definitive blow to the efforts of the Resistance."

The Resistance? Kazuha thought to himself. Now that he thought about it, he had encountered this woman before—she was none other than Sangonomiya Kokomi, the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island!

"Lady Sangonomiya?! I didn't recognize you!"

A glimmer of recognition lit up in Kokomi's eyes. "Ah, son of the Kaedehara Clan, I knew you looked familiar. A pleasure to see you again."

"My lady, you need not concern yourself with the Outlander joining forces with the Raiden Shogun. They do not seem interested in meddling with Inazuma's internal affairs."

"I see..." Kokomi noted thoughtfully. "But in any case, wouldn't it be in our best interest to bring such a powerful individual to our side?"

"And how would you plan on doin' that?" Beidou wondered.

"Oh, I was just musing," Kokomi replied, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "The Resistance could use all the support it can get."

"So have you come here to hire us?" Beidou asked.

"I've heard stories about how the both of you are skilled and renowned fighters," admitted the Divine Priestess. "I think you would be excellent additions to our cause, that is, if you're willing to join us".

The captain of the Crux chuckled and crossed her arms. "As long as the pay is decent."

Kazuha's heart leapt at Kokomi's offer. He was actually somewhat surprised by this enthusiasm—fighting the Vision Hunt Decree had never particularly been a strong ambition of his own. It had, however, been Tomo's.

The Kaedehara boy nodded with a slight smile. "I accept this proposal."

                                                       ***

For the next several days, Kazuha and Beidou remained docked in Ritou as Kokomi continued journeying undercover to seek out more supporters for the Sangonomiya Resistance. On one particular day, however, she returned with haste delivering them urgent news. An arrest warrant had been issued for the Outlander. They had narrowly escaped divine judgement at the hands of the Raiden Shogun, and it was only thanks to a housekeeper from the Kamisato Clan that they survived.

"They've sought refuge with a resistance camp on Yashiori Island," Kokomi explained. "But the Tenryou Commission has been deployed to apprehend them. If we leave now we should be able to rendezvous with my soldiers and prevent that from happening."

They did just that, managing to arrive at Nazuchi Beach in little over a day, and right in the heat of battle between the troops of the Watatsumi Army led by General Gorou and those of the Shogun led by Kujou Sara of the Tenryou Commission. Laying in the underbrush as they awaited Kokomi's signal to attack, it was a bittersweet sight for Kazuha to behold. On the one hand, he witnessed his old friend Gorou fighting alongside his new friend, the Outlander. On the other, he laid eyes upon the Tengu who had defeated Tomo once again.

"The wait is over my comrades!" The Divine Priestess finally proclaimed, descending into the battle and unleashing a torrent of hydro attacks onto the enemy forces. "Now is our moment!"

Kazuha chuckled as he leapt forth to join the fight. "Heh, calm as the breeze, my lady."

He sliced forwards, taking down several of the Tenryou Commission's troops in a smooth motion.

"Kazuha!" Gorou shouted in excitement.

"We meet again, old friend," Kazuha said.

The battle only continued for a short while longer before Kujou Sara realized that their forces were outnumbered by the new arrivals. "Tch...all forces, retreat!"

It wasn't long before an eerie calm fell over what had only moments earlier been a battlefield on Nazuchi Beach. It hadn't lasted longer, but already there were several casualties laying in the sand, both Shogunate and Resistance forces. Kazuha looked on in sorrow as soldiers hurried to retrieve the bodies and rush the wounded away to the infirmary. Luckily, Gorou, Kokomi, the Outlander and Beidou had all emerged from the battlefield unscathed.

When it came time for the Divine Priestess to formally meet the Outlander, she explained that she was surprised that they wished to join the Resistance, inviting them back to Watatsumi Island to discuss further plans. She requested that Kazuha and Beidou remain at the camp alongside the other mercenaries to dissuade further attacks from the Shogun's forces.

"Sounds good to me!" Beidou replied with enthusiasm. "How bout you, Kaedehara?"

As much as he wanted to accompany the Outlander and Gorou to Watatsumi, he knew he had a duty to stay. This was about more than just him—it was about resisting the injustice imposed by the Raiden Shogun over all of Inazuma, which had not only stripped Tomo of his ambition, but threatened to do the same to everyone here as well. He nodded in response. "We will remain here to defend the camp, and await further instruction from you, My lady."

Kazuha lost count of how many days passed by as they guarded the camp. It was largely uneventful, with only a few skirmishes with some Shogunate forces and wandering ronin taking place. However, just when Kazuha thought he should head to Watatsumi to receive an update on the current state of affairs, Gorou unexpectedly showed up one day accompanied by a battalion of soldiers.

"Gorou?!" Kazuha exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"It's the Outlander!" The general stated as he and his troops entered the camp. "They disappeared several days ago while on a mission here on Yashiori Island. We received word from the Grand Narukami Shine that they were back on Narukami Island and planning on going up against the Raiden Shogun!"