White wings

2. Fog, friction and chance

"You should have told me." Sara was fuming, pacing from side to side, in her bedroom. Shikanoin had failed to deliver critical information in a timely manner, and now they had to depend on Kamisato to share it with them. She was mad, but mostly at herself. They had less than twenty-four hours to gather information and get ahead of him, otherwise, she would have to take the deal.

"See if you can learn what's on that letter, and write a report with all intel we have so far. We need to be one step ahead by tomorrow morning." Heizou bowed in respect and left through the window. Even if they ended up working as a team, she'd need to have the advantage, and lead somehow. 

The rest of the day she tried hard to concentrate. Growing uneasy by the next morning meeting. From time to time her thoughts went back to the white-haired lead of the Yashiro commission.

That night she dreamed of her fall. She was fighting but it wasn't enough, she could feel the desperation in her throat as her lungs started to fail. The last thing she saw before losing consciousness was the violet gleam, swallowing and warming her body. Then it was all dark.

Blue eyes were the first thing she saw when waking up. Then they disappeared, as she rubbed her sleepy eyes. 

"Fuck." It was almost dawn. She could see the sky turning into its characteristic dark blue before the sun started to rise. She tried to get dressed with the speed of light while badmouthing Shikanoin who was still nowhere to be seen. "He better show up," she thought making her way down the city, running against the clock. 

She entered Chinju Wood when the sun's shape rose in the east. Then she heard the stream of water by the entry gate, but it seemed calm as always. "Where is the sound coming from?" She wondered.

"Glad you made it general." Said Ayato, walking from the water, as if he was inside. All of her instincts wanted her to fight, but she stopped herself, trying to look friendly. This was just a diplomatic meeting. "I'll apologize for Shikanoin's absence, I sent Sayu to distract him this morning, since I wanted some privacy to discuss our Allyship."

"Sayu? From the Shuumatsuban?" She asked, ignoring the fact that Heizou couldn't carry out his task, this was the first time she heard from that organization in a while.

"Ah! Too soon for that question, but I'll tell you, eventually. Why don't we take a seat?." He pointed at a pair of rocks by the stream, which seemed uncomfortable for her.

"I prefer morning strolls." She suggested, leading the way upstream. He was quick to follow and keep up with her pace. 

"Have you heard from the traveler lately?" He started. "He/she writes Ayaka often, but last time there was also a letter for me. Though we are good acquaintances, it was strange; and its content was rather unsettling. We have official information from the Akademiya's coupe and the restoration of the dendro Archon. But there was a piece of information that went missing on that report, about Dottore."

Now she was intrigued. She knew about the harbinger that played the same part in Sumeru as Signora did in Inazuma, but reports didn't mention much about him, he made a deal with Lesser Lord Kusanali and headed back to Snezhnaya.

"Should you be sharing this intel with me, Lord Kamisato?" She was concerned, about what he would ask in exchange for it.

"I want your trust general. I'm being serious about this. I think we both put the well-being of the nation before us, and that we will be facing an enemy of great strength. But we can be stronger together." 

"Why is that?" She didn't like the emotional talks, she needed the facts.

"I've studied your tengu curse for a while. Tell me honestly, when are you the strongest?" The rain, he knew that water could potentiate her bolts, making double damage. Her eyes went straight to his hip, where his water vision shined with the few morning sunrays leaking through the cedar trees. He smiled, he had prepared his speech carefully in advance, knowing how strong-witted Kujou Sara was, but also how formidable a team they'd made. "Also, we'll show a united front to those who wish to break Inazuma again, show them that we have recovered from the past events."

She was curious, he had her, and right now rejecting him would mean a loss for her. But she didn't like the disadvantage, she needed to be the lead. She was also worried about his fighting skills and having to carry him around.

"I agree with most of what you've said, Lord Kamisato." She tried to be as fancy as him with words. 

"Please, call me Ayato." He said, followed by the sound of suctioning, he was drinking bubble tea. She failed to hide her disgust. Boba? Now? For breakfast? She was astonished. "Would you like some?" He asked respectfully.

"No, thank you, I don't like sweets. And, Lord Ayato. Why are you so sure the enemy we are to confront is one of such strength, why can't soldiers fight him?" 

"Ah! Dottore is a formidable character. Very unique, since he holds the knowledge of a hundred lives."

"How is that possible?" Her concern grew, fearing that everything Kamisato was saying made sense and they needed to pair up. She was so close to saying yes but needed to put some resistance to feel safer.

"I'll be more than content to tell you if you agree to this partnership. Let me be your companion on this occasion, general Sara." She flinched. She never gave him permission to use her first name. It felt too personal. But no matter how long they stared at each other, she couldn't deny the opportunity in front of her. Her father hadn't given her a choice anyway, the little fighting spirit inside her was starting to calm down.

"I need to lead and make the strategies myself. I feel safer that way." He smiled, he'd finally broken her wall.

"Consider it done general. Sayu, come out now." Sara got on her guard immediately, was this some sort of trap? "Worry not general, Heizou is also in our company. I'd recommend having them trail us just in case we need backup or any information retrieved to Narukami."

Two figures fell down the trees. A small girl dressed like a mujina on one side, and Shikanoin on the other.

"The Shuumatsuban." Her whisper was light, but Kamisato could hear it.

"About that, let me introduce myself, not as my formal title, but also as Kamisato Ayato, leader of the Shuumatsuban. At your service." With a bow, he looked straight into her eyes, that was something he was expecting, the moment general Sara would seriously consider him as a partner in a fight. Also, he wanted her trust, and giving up one of his biggest secrets he was sure would play a big part in that.

Her reaction did not disappoint. It felt like the first time seeing him. The image she had created of him in her head crashed. Suddenly, his muscles were real, his sword useful and his vision powerful. She underestimated him greatly, and that was a flaw, not seeing potential danger. She didn't like that feeling one bit, nor how his presence made her feel the same way sweet food did.

"Please, take care of me." He said finally, sealing the deal.