The Traveller and The Heron Chapter 4
Hanamizaka 08:03 | Ayaka
Over the sea, the sun was still rising by the time we arrived in Hanamizaka. The outskirts of Inazuma City, as some would define it, was also waking up, with citizens beginning their daily duties. The time-worn and leisurely atmosphere of this side of the city was apparent as ever. The prosperity of the city has never influenced this place, even then, her excellency still has as much influence here as she does all over Inazuma. Her power and grace can be observed here ever so slightly, bringing a quiet and different kind of vitality.
Behind the atmosphere and tranquillity of Hanamizaka however, lies a different operation entirely. This was one of many rendezvous points for the Yashiro Commission and our way of combating the effects of the Vision Hunt decree.
We soon arrive at Naganohara Fireworks, the place where all of Inazuma's fireworks are constructed to their finest detail. Also that they may become a dear memory to those who witness them, according to Yoimiya at least. They have become our allies as well, assisting us in various ways.
"Good Morning, Mr. Naganohara," I greeted him with a bow, "Is Yoimiya in at the moment?"
"Ah! If it isn't the Shirasagi Himegimi! Yes, yes, she is inside," he says, gesturing to the back of the shop, "You can go in immediately."
I turn to my small band of guards just then.
"Please keep watch for me, and behave so that you may not be questioned by the other commission personnel, I will be a moment", I request. They all nod in unison and disperse around the area. I turn and walk behind the shop to the back door I had used prior in separate visits to Naganohara Fireworks. Once I gave one final look around to see anything amiss, I opened the door and quickly entered the shop, attempting to not appear suspicious in the process.
"Yoimiya?" I call out, "Are you there?"
Just then, a small object appeared before me on the ground, making a crackling noise while sparks flew out its side. Before I had even registered what the object was, my body had moved on its own, summoning the Kageuchi within no time. The object stopped moving at the same time my sword was in my hand, and split in two via a clean-cut, spilling out silvery powder on the floor.
"Aw~!"
I heard a voice from behind a table, and a familiar face popped out from behind it.
"You're just too quick, Miss Kamisato!", Yoimiya exclaimed, "You need to give the firework time to do it's thing, otherwise the prank isn't any fun."
I smiled at her expression of amusement.
"Yoimiya, as you know, I have been training the Kamisato Art for many years now, I won't be so easily caught off guard like your usual prank victims," I giggled.
"Oh~ I know, I just thought I would at least try." Yoimiya said sheepishly, "You could use a bit of fun Miss Kamisato!"
I pondered her words for a second before realizing why I had come.
"How are our operations coming along? I had received word that Master Masukatsu had been arrested recently by the Tenryou Commission as well, I apologize for not coming sooner," I say.
Yoimiya reaches down at her feet and opens a secret compartment in the floor of the shop. She grasps a medium sized box from the compartment and sets it on the table.
"Well, I recently got my hands on this latest batch from Master Masakatsu's associates before he got taken away."
Yoimiya opens the box to reveal a small group of counterfeit visions we had commissioned to be produced prior. I reach within the box and take out an Anemo vision, and then a Geo vision, examining them for their structural integrity. They were very well made, as per the usual quality of work for Master Masaskatsu. However, now that he is in the custody of the Tenryou Commission and Kujou Sara of the Kujou Clan, our production for these counterfeit visions is now halted. As is one of our ways of helping Vision bearers evade the Vision Hunt decree. We have yet to find a solution for this problem, and even though we've been able to prevent real visions from being confiscated for the time being, I fear we may not be able to for long.
"These are beautiful Yoimiya, Master Masakatsu's handiwork is to be commended." I say, looking down at the Anemo and Geo visions in my hands.
"I sure wish he was here to hear you say that Miss Kamisato, he put a lot on the line making these for our fellow vision bearers, who knows what Kujou Sara and her men have done to him," she says looking down at the floor apprehensive.
"Master Masakatsu will be freed, one way or another, we must be patient for the moment and wait for our time to make a move," I say looking at Yoimiya in the eyes, trying to not appear unsure of my words.
"Whenever that will be, we still threaten your position in all this, even mine could be in danger if we try to break him out ourselves," she says looking at me.
I opened my mouth to protest but I stopped myself, she had been right. Freeing Master Masakatsu from the Tenryou Commission was something that needed to be done. Not that he constructed counterfeit visions for us, but that he was a good person and had done nothing remotely illegal. However the situation was this, and either me or Yoimiya appearing on the Tenryou Commissions front gate without warning and with our intentions would most certainly threaten the Yashiro Commission's place with the Shogun. And that was almost a non-starter. I resolved myself and faced Yoimiya once again.
"Nonetheless, we must find a way before visions begin to be seized once again, but leave that to me Yoimiya, you need not worry about how, but I may need your aid," I say.
"And I'll be there whenever you need me. I promise!" she says with a grin. I smiled in return. I thought back to her words from earlier, running them again in my head.
"Hey, when you stated that I could use a bit of fun as you put it, what did you mean by that?" I ask her pointedly.
Yoimiya thinks to herself, "Oh~ well I meant that maybe you should give time to yourself, even in the climate we're in now. Time where you enjoy yourself without a care in the world about anything! I think that's when someone has the most fun, like there's so much to do! Visit the festival! Eat street food! Ummm~ Oh I know! Go on a date with someone!"
I smile and let out a giggle.
"If I've given no time to potential partners in the past, I can assure you I won't have time for someone on a date, but thank you Yoimiya, I've got much to do for today, so I'll see you again soon. Take care of yourself, I can't imagine a world where you lose your vision. I'll take my leave now." I say with a bow after.
"Alright Miss Kamisato, you as well, bye~" she says waving at me.
With that, I exit out the back door of the shop. The next stop was Konda Village for a rendezvous and to check up on someone.
That same morning, Ritou 07:03| Aether
Paimon and I woke up really early to start the day, we were all too familiar with helping out locals of the nation we happened to be in. After the whole registration debacle, Thoma sent us off after explaining the job we had to do. Pretty soon we were at the doorstep of the International Trade Association.
"Hello, are you Mr. Kurisu?" I asked the man in front of the building.
"Oh? Why yes, I am. You must be seeking refuge with the International Trade Association. The Outlander Affairs Agency took you for all you're worth, I suppose." Mr. Kurisu asked.
I grinned.
"Very nearly, but luckily we had a friend with us" I said in reply.
"Ah good, that's a relief." Mr. Kurisu sighes, "You need to be careful around here Outlander, or you'll find yourself losing your savings all at once."
"We heard the association has been having difficulties lately. Is that true?" Paimon asks.
"Yes, wherever possible we'd like to help," I said.
"Oh, why thank you, young Outlander if you can, that would be immense for us. Yes… left, right, and center. Obstacles at every turn. But that's nothing new for us." he says.
Paimon chimes in again.
"The Sakoku Decree certainly makes things difficult for Outlanders who come here huh."
Mr Kurisu perks up in recognition. "But it's not the root cause of our woes. The Decree may restrict our activity here, but in and itself it doesn't stop us from being able to enjoy a comfortable existence. In reality, what's really squeezing us outlander merchants dry is...those Mora-grubbers from the Kanjou Commission. They impose astronomical tax rates, unbelievable regulations, and that's not the worst of it! They just issued a new Tax Decree recently that, for some reason, completely changes the way we pay our taxes. It used to be Mora, now it's something called Crystal Marrow. Most of us hadn't even heard of the thing until that decree came along. So in order to pay our taxes we began an arduous search of this Crystal Marrow."
I began to grow more and more irritated with what Mr. Kurisu had gone through.
"But then we found we'd only managed to create a bigger problem for ourselves. The rising demand for the Crystal Marrow drove the price higher and higher…Now there's only one vendor who even has it in stock." he continued.
I squinted my eyes at his words. "Isn't that a monopoly?" I asked, arms crossed.
"Exactly. This vendor keeps pushing the price up, and we have no choice but to buy from them because the Tax Decree forces us to. It's a vicious cycle, the consequences of which is that our taxes will soon exceed our profits, and once that happens…" Mr Kurisu kept explaining, now looking downtrodden.
"Can't you discuss the situation with the Kanjou Commission? This is an absurd treatment." I asked.
"We've tried communicating with the commission directly, but Inazuma is a nation where the cries of a few struggling merchants will never be heard over the ever present roar of thunder. I sure do miss my homeland of Fontaine right now," he said.
At that point I've heard enough.
"Aether, what do you think we should do?" Paimon asked.
"Oh, I know what we're gonna do."