Chapter 1|Sai

Sakura felt herself relax as she put her hands to the clay, guiding it into the shape of a tea cup. The hum of the spinning wheel filled the small studio as a white noise, a constant companion to her silence. Today she had to make a tea set. The client left a lot of details to Sakura but requested it to look like the sea. As her hands continued to make the first cup, her mind wandered, filled with color palettes. An emerald sea perhaps or the sea during the storm, she thought to herself.

Time slipped by quickly and soon Sakura found it dark when she was done. Four teacups finished to her left. Placing the finished teapot next to them, she went to wash her hands when her phone chimed.

From: Papa

Can you go into the storage room and take a picture of grandpa's vase? The red one.

Texting back a quick answer, she made her way into storage room. Sakura sighed when she looked around, noticing a suit of armor against the wall that kept a pile of books from tipping over. She had forgotten that her grandfather was hoarder. Carefully she made her way further into the room, glancing down every now and then to make sure there was space for her to step. "I'll clean this room up when I get a chance." she mumbled to herself as she weaved between boxes. Her phone rang and Sakura moved it to her ear as she answered. "I haven't found it yet. The room is piled high and impossible to search through."

"You know he was a collector, sweetie." Her father reminded her. "Some of those items belonged to your great grandfather."

"Was it the armor?" She glanced back at the suit before resuming her search. "Found it. Next to some sword." The rosette picked up a red vase with one hand then turned it over, looking at the bottom for her grandfather's signature. "Is it real?"

"The vase?"

"The sword."

"Probably. Your mother keeps telling me we should donate some of his stuff to a museum. We can sort through all that when we get back."

"If we remember to do that. You still have.."

"Fourteen months." Her mother's voice came through, a bit softly.

"Hi Mama" Sakura greeted. "What time is it over there?"

"Eight in the morning."

Sakura glanced down at the time on her phone and groaned. "It's ten at night. I should get to bed. I'll send the picture after I hang up."

Wishing her parents a goodnight, Sakura promised to call them soon before hanging up. Placing the vase down she took a photo and sent it to her father. Glancing curiously back at the sword, she put her phone down. "Real huh?" She picked it up to look at it closely. The sheath was a dark gray that matched the handle which had red accents. "You'd think he would have went for something more fancy." She murmured to herself as she looked at the hand guard, designed to resemble a lion curling around the handle. Carefully she unsheathed the sword to admire it, gently running her hand along the blade. A sudden chime sounded loudly and she jerked her hand back. Blood quickly welled up from a small cut on her thumb. "Damn." She cursed, sucking on her wound to stop it as she placed the sword down. "Really dad?" She groaned after reaching for her phone and reading her dad's text.

"You shouldn't do that."

Sakura head bolted up and she looked around, trying to find the source of the voice. "I must be going-" She stared in front of her as the sword started to glow, growing bright enough that she had to close her eyes. When she blinked the dark blotches away, "crazy." She finished as she looked to where the sword once was.

In its place stood a man with pale skin, dark hair, and darker eyes. He ripped a thin strip of cloth from the sleeve of his white yukata before taking her hand in his, tightly bandaging her thumb. Sakura wordless watched his movements, a thousand thoughts rushing in her head. The man released her hand and bowed to her.

"Why are you so pale?" She blurted out as she tried to figure out what was happening. "Who-what are you?" She waved her hands in front of her, flustered.

"My name is Sai." He smiled at her as if to calm her. She felt more on edge. "I am one of many swords entrusted to defeat evil spirits, Summoner."

"I must be hallucinating." Sakura turned away. "I can't deal with this. I just want to go to sleep and not deal with this right now." The rosette padded off, mumbling about overworking and stress. Mechanically she began her bedtime ritual, eyes darting to the side every now and then, looking for more hallucinations. Finally in bed, she closed her eyes and swore to lessen her workload.

o o o

Sakura wasn't a morning person. Every day she struggled to wake up at six, often staying in the comfort of her warm bed for half an hour. The woman got out of bed in a huff, the promise of tea keeping her from returning to sleep. As usual she padded her way toward the kitchen to get the kettle going while she readied herself for the day. Eyes half opened, her hand went to the light switch, flicking it on.

The rosette paled. In front of her stood the man she dismissed as a figment of her imagination. He rose from his seat to give her a quick bow. "I heard you wake so I prepared you breakfast." Her eyes met his then darting to the table. "I did not see a hearth so I made a small fire outside. I hope it wasn't presumptuous of me to go through your.." He hesitated a moment, gesturing towards the fridge. "Your pantry."

"A fire?"

"Yes, in your courtyard." He answered, smiling to reassure her. It didn't work. Sakura hurried past him to the window overlooking the garden. "I already put out the fire. I suggest eating before your food gets cold, my lady."

"Who are you?" Sakura glared at him. "I don't know who paid you to mess with me but it's not funny." Crossing her arms she waited for his answer. He stilled, searching her eyes for something.

"I am Sai. One of many swords created to protect against malevolent Yōkai."

"But you're human." Protested Sakura. "You're ju-" Sai held his hand in front of him, palm shimmering. A small light emerged from his skin where a sword appeared suddenly, the same sword as last night. "Magic." She finished weakly. Sai gestured for her to sit down and eat.

Sai sat across from her and watched as Sakura pushed her rice porridge around. "I-" He stopped, unsure eyes avoiding hers, before becoming blank once more. "I have been sleeping for many years. What you saw was my dormant form. When you cut yourself, I felt your blood call to me." A pale hand reached out, gently touching her healing thumb. "It is fate that you have awaken me, summoner."

"I..I don't understand." Sakura pulled her hand away his touch."Summoner? Yōkai? This is a bit much."

Sai considered his words carefully. "I know this is overwhelming." He glanced around the room. "This is difficult for me too."

"Oh." Sakura took in the sight of him. Still dressed in the white yukata from last night, the sleeve torn. He looked so out of place in her kitchen. "You must feel confused." Lost. She thought of how he cooked with a fire outside instead of stove. Sakura wondered how she'd feel if she was dropped in a strange future, not knowing how to do something so simple as cook in her kitchen. "We can take this slowly." Sai looked up, tension leaving his body. "One day at a time."

He smiled.

o o o

"Summoners," Sai began to explain, "are those who command our power." He watched her carefully put a tea set in a box. "We form bonds with them to gain power. Without a summoner, we cannot fight at full strength. The Swords are used as tools to defeat Yokai that are a threat to humans."

"Do all summoners get the whole sword turns into a person thing?" Sakura held her hand up. "Pass the red ribbon please."

"Our meeting was unusual but not unthinkable." Placing the ribbon in her hand, he continued. "Often we meet out summoners in human form."

"So how does one typical become a summoner?"

"After we found someone we believe is worthy, we form a bond that is sealed when they spill their blood on our blade."

The rosette snipped at the ribbon and began to tie a bow when she noticed Sai fell silent. "Sai?" She looked up. His eyes were closed with a grimace on his face.

"There are times," He said slowly, "when the bond is forced. Occasionally we are too weak without a summoner and must forge a bond due to dire situations. This happens very rarely. It is also possible for a human to force a Sword into a bond if we are weak."

"Did I?" Her hand rose to cover her mouth in horror.

"No." He reassured her. "I would be stuck in my slumbering state if it weren't for you. I'm grateful."

She smiled weakly at him. Sakura tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "So how come I haven't seen any evil spirits?"

"You can't see them?"

"No, Yōkai are considered just folklore."

"I can feel them." Sakura quirked an eyebrow at him. "The Swords can detect Yōkai and each other." He explained. "We can minimize our presence so other Swords can't feel us and some Yōkai also have that ability."

Sakura placed the wrapped tea set down and rubbed her temples. "Let me get this straight, You are a magical sword who fight demons with the help of a summoner. Theres other swords out there with other people like me. Is there anything else I should know about?"

"Yes."

Sakura waited for him to continue. "Are you going to tell me?"

"No." Sakura felt her temple throb in irritation. "Excuse my rudeness, but I would prefer to speak about this at a later time." The swordsman stood up and bowed, leaving Sakura alone with her questions.

o o o

Sakura slowly felt herself wake from her sleep and glanced at the clock. With a groan she shoved a pillow over her head, trying in vain to go back to sleep only to get up with a huff. Quietly she made her way to the kitchen for water when she noticed the low lights were on. "Sai?" He sat at the table, staring at nothing. "Sai?" Sakura went to his side, tapping his shoulder.

"I apologize. Would you like me to serve you tea?" Sai stood and began to get cups out.

"I just want some water before going back to sleep. Why aren't you asleep?" Pale hands stilled. "Is there something wrong?"

"I don't mean to worry you." Sai smiled at his summoner only for her to frown at him.

"Tell me what's bothering you."

Dark eyes focused on her hand as he spoke. "What if I don't wake up again?" Reluctantly he met her eyes. "I don't want to be stuck again."

Sakura bit her lip, mulling thoughts over. "You never did explain how you got stuck in that state. Can that happen again?" He slowly shook his head. "Would it be helpful if you slept in the same room as me? I use to be scared of the dark and my mother would sleep in the room with me to make me feel safe."

Sai hesitantly nodded. "If it wouldn't burden you."

"I'll go get the futon then."

o o o

Sai listened to the soft sounds of Sakura breathing in and out, matching his own to hers as he tried to relax his body. In. He loosened his grip on the blanket. Out. Gradually he felt the tension leave his body. I'll be here. He closed his eyes. She'll be here.

AN: I originally wrote this as a two part drabble. I liked the idea but didn't have a story at the time. After posting it, I couldn't stop thinking about Magical Girl!Sakura so I've been working the past couple of months on this story line. I currently plan this to be MultiSaku however I have been thinking about my endgame pairing.

I renamed the drabble version of this to As One:Divergence. I'll be posting ideas and fun little non canon stories set in this AU over there. If you haven't read the drabble version I'd hold off for a couple chapters because the drabble is set in the future of this fic. Or read it if you don't mind.

Please leave feedback on things you enjoy or want to see, it helps me write faster.