Fugitive of Inazuma (Genshin Impact)

❀ XV ❀

The fireworks were a beautiful display. Izanami and Xiao had both enjoyed the firework show Yoimiya had set up for them. They had finished the sake and placed the ochokos back on the tray.

Just as they stood up, they heard yelling in the distance. When they were going to check out the situation, the man who owned the dango stall ran up the hill. The panicked expression on his face spoke volumes. "Lady Izanami, you must escape. The Tenryou Commission has arrived on the island."

"Of all the times..." She sighed.

"The others and I will keep them occupied as long as possible so you can flee."

"Thank you."

The man then walked up to her and gave her a bracelet that was colored and shaped like cherry blossoms. A beautiful white gem complimented the design. "My wife never believed those rumors about you for even a second. Because of you, I know she is at peace. Please, take this and run."

Izanami stared at the charming bracelet. "I..." She didn't want to take something that was his wife's. It could serve as a memento for him. But she understood why he was giving it to her. He wanted her to have it and she wouldn't refuse to take it. "I will keep it safe."

The man smiled before rushing back down the hill.

As the yelling crescendoed, the couple searched for a way off the island. They climbed down the cliffside and landed on the small sandy bank below. Ankle-deep in the water, they snuck around the cliffside. They thought they were in the clear, but a group of soldiers spotted them. "Halt!" One man shouted. Another aimed his spear at them and threw it.

Xiao was the first to react. He grabbed Izanami and used his vision to teleport them to a safer location before being pierced by the spear. He kept a tight grip on her even when they arrived in an area he wasn't familiar with. Because he was unfamiliar with Inazuma and its landscape, he had teleported them to a random location.

Izanami, on the other hand, recognized where they were. "This is Chinju Forest. We're not far from Kami Island."

"Will they not be searching for you there as well?" He asked.

"Only one way to find out."

Heading East, they trekked through the forest and along the cliffside until they reached the sea. They located the two trees that concealed the translucent bridge leading to Kami Island. However, they found more than that. Bodies of soldiers littered the ground. From the markings on their armors, she could tell it was a mixture between Tenryou Commission soldiers and Yashiro Commission soldiers. Seeing the bodies, she was afraid to cross the bridge. She could sense the danger as her fur stood on-end. She took a few steps back. "It's not safe here."

"Is there a place where we can go?"

Izanami could only think of one place. "Yashiori Island. That is where we can find the resistance."

"Can we trust them?"

"I...I don't know. They're the only organization who stands against the shogun. They oppose the Vision Hunt Decree, but I don't know their standing on the Shinigami Hunt Decree." Izanami turned to Xiao. "I know it's risky, but the resistance is the only safe place from the Tenryou Commission and the Shogun herself. I cannot continue to burden Ayaka with my selfish whim to remain on Kami Island. Baal may label her and the entire Yashiro Commission traitors."

Xiao agreed that it was a reckless plan, but he didn't see an alternative. "Seeing there is no other course of action, the resistance is our only option."

"Then let's not waste any time. I'll take us to Yashiori."

The shinigami transformed and allowed Xiao onto her back. She decided to take the long way out of fear that the Tenryou Commission would find them quicker if they traveled by land. Using her vision, she created pyro platforms and ran across the ocean's surface. She ran around Narukami Island and crossed over to Yashiori Island. She wasn't exactly sure where the encampment was, but she knew it was somewhere on the island.