[START]
Laws of the Land of Lightning:
"As we were responsible for the men and women who rebelled against the Shogunate, it is only natural that we would be expected to answer for them."
The sun bore down.
Located in a mighty crater yet borne aloft by a tower of pink coral, the Sangonomya Shrine was a sight that towered. Lacking the cold authority and sharp beauty of the Tenshukaku (in its towering display of golds and purple) but providing a more natural elegance in its embrace of the local flora and fauna in its vicinity.
As was often the case, at the foot of the stairs leading into the shrine proper stood two individuals. One's orange and white ears and tail twitched agitatedly as he near wrung his fists at his side. The woman he spoke to, noticeably shorter but standing with her back straight across from him was far calmer. Her coral pink ponytail only moved by the wind, brushing against her hips as her round piercing eyes held his narrow teal blues, until he relented and looked away,
"All wars end at the negotiating table, Gorou. This was a fate I anticipated." High and sweet, Sangonomiya Kokomi folded her hands at her waist and placated her companion with a gentle smile. Though he took a long, shuddering breath, his eyes remained alight, and his words more often than not slipped out of his mouth through his teeth,
"I… understand. But as the aggressors of the conflict, they should-"
"That is neither here nor there, Gorou." Shutting down any potential impassioned invectives as she saw him taking in breath for his tirade.
Seeing her friend visibly deflate, she continued onwards in softer tone,
"Though the Vision Hunt Decree has been repealed and our war has finally ended, there is still much for both sides to answer for. Regretfully, I am included in that group." Going so far as to place a tender hand on his un-armoured shoulder, "We should be grateful that the only one they wish to interrogate is me, Gorou."
"Your Excellency, that does not make it better. It is clear that the Shogun and the Tenryou Commission want to make an example of you!"
"Wait what?!" Paimon's screech, signalling the floating imp's arrival a foot ahead of her golden-haired companion, "What's going on?"
"Ah! Traveller and Paimon! Your safe return is unexpected, but welcome." Kokomi quick to turn and face her guests, Gorou reigning in his emotions enough to offer a warm greeting of his own.
The Traveller offered a soft greeting to the two before supplying their reasoning for the unannounced arrival,
"AH! You have no reason to thank us, Traveller." Kokomi's smile serene as she gently waved away their words, "Particularly considering the outcome we strived for would not have occurred without you."
"Heh, Kazuha and Lady Yae did all of the work in rescuing you. Offering your gratitude to me is unnecessary." Gorou mimicking his mistress with a bashful tremor in his voice, Paimon's curious eyes following the fast wagging of his bushy tale as the Traveller allowed themselves a small smile at the pink in his cheeks.
"AH!" Gorou's entire body stiffening in a moment as his gaze sharpened with a determined intensity, "Perhaps you could offer your aide once more, Traveller?"
"Gorou…" the low, scolding tone Kokomi used held a hint of warning, a new one to the two outsider's ears, "We have utilised their skills far beyond anything they should have had to provide…"
"But-"
The Traveller cut in, not quite catching the proud smile on their companion's face as they asked how they could help. Though neither missed the long stare the Watatsumi Priestess gave them beside her grinning general,
"With the Vision Hunt Decree repealed, we've opened a dialogue with Narukami island and are discussing reparations and the disarmament of our respective troops." "However, as the enemy commander, I am to be summoned to explain the actions of my side before a Tribunal."
Paimon and the Traveller both voiced their surprise, Gorou quick to continue on,
"They clearly plan on making an example of her Excellency to quell future rebellion and punish us for not worshiping the Shogun." Teeth bared as he roared out his grievance, only calming himself at the slight flinch he had elicited from the woman beside him,
"I… cannot dismiss this as a possibility." Kokomi's gaze drifting from the party to look to the pool, clear water reflecting the sweeping structure of the shrine itself and the great coral that embraced it from behind, "Our rebellion has done our relationship with the Shogun and the mainland no favours."
Her eyes pinched shut as her brow momentarily scrunched up; her tight expression quick to soften into a gentle smile,
"But considering the results of our labour, I cannot say I at all hate this outcome."
They languished in quiet before she continued on in a grave tone,
"I have reached out to various sources for legal counsel, as it is not my area of expertise." The Traveller's eyes fell to the woman's folded hands, the left scratching thin, pale lines into the back of the rights, "However…"
"No one has returned our correspondence." Gorou growled, arms folded over his chest as he glared off into the distance, "Like it or not, no one wants to stand against the Commissions. Let alone the Shogun."
The light that entered the Travellers eyes was as if the sun had crested the horizon within their golden orbs. Fumbling around themselves as all, including their close companion, stood baffled at the display. All until they produced a small, pale object and handed it to Kokomi with a victorious smile,
"Traveller, what is this?" fingering the small, stiff rectangle she had been provided. Dark ink dominating both sides of the pale card, the flowing calligraphy denoting the same name and address on both sides, "A legal representative… from Liyue? That- are you certain they would be willing to help?"
"OH! You must mean Yanfei!" Paimon turning to her companion as she shouted her realisation, met with a firm, smug nod,
"Yanfei?" the two Inazuman's cocking their heads in shared confusion.
The Traveller gave a simple explanation of their interactions with the legal representative of the Nation of Geo; Paimon was more than happy to animatedly elaborate for Gorou. The animated tale she told of Krosl and the fake Smaragdus Jadeite hairpins enrapturing the General immediately as the Traveller sidled away with his superior.
Her expression was not quite so hopeful,
"It is a nice thought, Traveller. But even though so much has changed, Inazuma remains a closed nation and the storms just beyond our shores still rage. There is no way you can make it to Liyue and back again before I must face the Shogun and the Tri-Commission representatives."
The Traveller blinked but allowed themselves a smile that the Priestess could only describe as knowing and smug, golden eyes twinkling as they explained that it all depended on Yanfei agreeing to take the case, as they could have her in Inazuma in moments…
Kokomi was left sputtering as the Traveller sped off and called for their companion to follow.
The warm afternoon gave way to a humid evening, finally granting the lady permission to retreat into the privacy of her chambers and better ponder this addition to her present circumstances.
Word of the Traveller's quest for her had spread across the island like a spark to a dry field, the outlanders' praises sung only slightly louder than the mysterious legal advisor they were seeking. Gorou's retelling of the tale (of which Kokomi was certain was littered with exaggeration) embellished to high heaven the second it was provided to the rumour mill.
The business card was laid on a table far from her bed and she was met with a blade of lightning and the roar of thunder in her dreams…
.
.
She had no expectations, thus the woman she was provided with left her entirely baffled.
Her hair a similar shade of pink to her own. Her… unique red outfit accompanied by a large hat and a mighty book strapped to her hip, a heavy addition to the slight and slim lady.
Her greeting had been bright, allowing for the first glimpse at her large green eyes, but she had immediately dived back into the hulking scroll she had been reading as she and the Traveller walked forth to meet them. Interrupting the conversation Kokomi was having with the Traveller only to ask for another of the scrolls he was carrying for her, burning through their contents in minutes.
"I admit, I don't know whether to be concerned or relieved at the speed in which you are consuming that information."
"My memory is quite sharp and navigating through legalese is what I do." Kokomi felt the warm smile she gave was for her, but her eyes never left the page so she couldn't be sure, "Rest assured, I am memorising all that I am reading. Once I am certain of the similarities and differences between the laws of Liyue and Inazuma, I will start peppering you with questions regarding your case."
Gorou's ears twitched at this and he quietly inquired,
"Shouldn't it be the other way around?" Paimon nodding along with him,
"Yeah, we tell you the problem and then you research the solution?"
Kokomi gave a questioning look at that and the Traveller explained the woman had heard they were having trouble in Inazuma and simply directed them to get her information on the Inazuman legal system (provided by Kamisato Ayaka from the library of the Yashiro Commission).
On turning back, where Gorou and Paimon were repeating their questioning, Kokomi saw the young woman look up from her texts for the first time in hours,
"That would be working backwards." Yanfei pouted and shook her head, expression quickly returning to bright optimism as she dove back into the texts, "Rest assured; you have a top-notch legal advisor in your corner now."
"Are you that confident in your skills?" Paimon voiced a question Kokomi felt was too rude to ask, quietly grateful,
"This is my first foray into Inazuma, but not my first foray abroad. I have worked with the Knights of Favonius in the past." She held out a hand and made a gesture for it to be filled, the Traveller providing her with her next scroll and rolling up the one she threw back at him, "I am well aware that first impressions are everything after all. If I succeed in your defence, my reputation here will be secured. I have a vested interest in your life and freedom, Lady Sangonomiya."
The… candid nature of her reply was oddly comforting and, to Kokomi and Gorou's ears, logical at least. She was shown to a room she could use as a study (nose near pressed to the scroll the entire time) and left to her own devices.
There was still lightning in Kokomi's dreams when the sun set that evening, but when she returned to bed after being started from her slumber, she drifted off with curious thoughts pertaining to the guest lodging in the room next door. Her trip outside of her room showing flickering fire-light and the sound of a stiff brush on paper slipped from under the door, Yanfei's work ongoing, even at this late hour.
.
.
Narukami island was everything Watatsumi island was not.
The glow of the Sakura Tree high above, scattering electrified petals to the lush green grass and sharp rocky crags below, wooden and thatch roof buildings becoming tile and stone as the countryside met Inazuma City.
Yanfei's expression was grave.
Paimon was fidgeting, flitting hither and fro with a frown on her lips.
Her attendants (sans Gorou, who could not be trusted to remain calm) were the picture of agitation, only a few of them making any attempt to appear calm.
The Traveller, thankfully, remained stalwart and neutral. Kokomi taking to lingering closest to them as the boat pulled into the harbour and they gingerly disembarked.
As this was an official function, procedures had to be followed; the boat took them to Ritou where they were met by Tenryou Commission soldiers headed by Kujou Sara herself. Though her golden eyes blazed with purpose as she officially greeted them, her expression reminded Kokomi of a woman biting her tongue (particularly as they fell to her, the Traveller and other members of their entourage).
They were escorted hastily through the land, not stopping for a break until they arrived at Tenshukaku and were separated from the Traveller and the Sangonomiya fighters. Kokomi and Yanfei travelling onwards alone.
"Remember; in, hold, then out. You're going to be fine." A soft instruction as the ascended the stairs, showcasing to Kokomi that she was not as well composed as she believed she was, if this near stranger could correctly read her agitation. Stood before the doors of the Tenryou Commissions headquarters, the reality of the situation gave the Priestess pause.
Then a warm hand was in hers.
Yanfei gave no impression that what she was doing was some foreign gesture, her eyes were focussed on a book she had open in her free hand as her thumb rubbed gentle circles into the back of her hand. A minute after, maybe two, or perhaps it was mere seconds that Kokomi's frazzled mind had stretched out into eternity, Yanfei spoke,
"We will enter when you tell me you're ready to begin." Her voice was low, and she flicked her gaze to her only after that first sentence. A smile returning to her lips for the first time since Ritou, "Just remember to leave it to me, alright?"
Her exhale fell up and out of her chest in a cascade of wind, a smile that painfully stretched her face was plastered on her lips as a far more sincere intonement of,
"I am in your care." Whispered out.
There hands were joined as they entered, the two squeezing each other back as they faced the assemblage.
.
.
To see the conflicted expression of Kujou Kamaji as he sat before Kokomi's council was morbidly amusing. She may have even smiled if it wasn't her life and freedom on the line.
The room was draughty, further intensifying the goosebumps that rose across her skin as she kneeled on a cushion on the tatami mats. Forced to look up at the representatives of the three commissions of Inazuma, only Kamisato Ayato absent (for reasons unknown to her), leaving the families heiress to take his position for the Yashiro commission,
"And, via our subpoena, we were able to clarify that the murder of the villagers was falsely attributed to the Sangonomiya resistance by order of your predecessor." Yanfei waved a copy of a missive (sent to the front lines) before the assemblage, before placing it on the table before Kamaji, the young man glaring down at the paper with a pained expression,
"Many vile actions have been placed at the feet of the former head of the Kujou clan." The drawling voice of Hiiragi Shinsuke followed, Kokomi noting the upturn of his lips as Kamaji's head bowed further, "It seems like an easy feat to simply level the blame at him."
"Are you arguing that the multiple missives, retrieved under the supervision of Kujou Sara and Tenryou commission forces, are in fact forgeries?"
"I am doing no such thing, my dear-"
"Then do you have some insight into Kujou Takayuki's character that would suggest that he was not responsible?"
"I- up until now it would appear out of character for the Kujou head to do such a thing."
"Do you perhaps have a character witness to corroborate?"
"I do not require one, I merely doubt the contents of the letter, Miss yanfei."
"So you DO believe it to be a forgery." Hiiragi bristled as Yanfei smiled, spinning on her heels she addressed the Yashiro Commission, "My lady, if you may."
"Now see here-"
"The Yashiro Commission, under the orders of Lord Kamisato Ayato, lead the investigation. The Kanjou Commission had multiple instances in which they were able to review the collected evidence and could raise any concerns before the trial." The interruption was sharp, delivered from behind a fan as Kamisato Ayaka levelled a cold stare to the Kanjou Commission head from across the room, "None were provided."
"Forgive me for my impertinence, but interruption is not tolerated within this setting. Particularly amongst commission heads." Hiiragi was visibly biting back a scowl in the face of Ayaka's stony expression,
"Forgive me, Lord Hiiragi." Her voice remained pleasant to the ear.
"I am sorry as well, Lord Hiiragi. I was merely concerned that you were providing baseless assertions with no supporting evidence." A placid smile on her face before she offered a, "May I continue my point, I was interrupted before it could be completed, after all."
She gave a mild 'thank you' when she was hastily waved on,
"Now, due to the Raiden Shogun's continued promise to the people of Watatsumi island, the crime of treason cannot be applied to my client or any soldier or individual residing on Watatsumi island, due to their inalienable right to self-governance."
"It does seem as if the Resistance is wielding their unique status as a mean to attack when they want and avoid responsibility." Kujou Kamaji straightened his glasses as he slowly offered his piece. Hiiragi sitting up straighter and near glowing in response,
"Alternatively, it seems the Tri-Commission is seeking to disregard the people of Watatsumi islands autonomy despite being the aggressors of the conflict." A breezy comment, flippantly added by Kokomi's legal aide,
A pin drop could have been heard on that soft floor, but Yanfei breezed onwards before the steadily reddening Hiiragi Shinsuke could erupt,
"It is a proven fact that the Kanjou and Tenryou commission, to some degree, colluded with the Fatui to engage in a protracted campaign of violence. Additionally, the Vision Hunt Decree negatively impacted residents of Watatsumi island, who chose not to submit to the Raiden Shogun's rule YET found their Visions seized under a Decree they were not obliged to comply with."
Yanfei was marching back and forth before the bench as she spoke, tone near flippant as her words seem to have a visibly piercing effect on all three representatives,
"Now we arrive at a situation where the aggressors of the conflict have seen fit to turn their anger against the people of Watatsumi once again, via the punishment of their leader, who defended herself, her people AND the people of Inazuma from the crimes two of the three present Commissions were committing against them."
*SLAM*
"Enough!"
"No." Despite the difference in tone and volume, Yanfei's reply was almost like a physical blow to Kamaji's face. Yanfei's face had narrowed into a sharp glare as she stepped back, all three representatives in her line of vision now, "This governmental body has targeted the people of Watatsumi and is continuing to do so via its assault upon my client. This governmental body has documented proof of systemic corruption. And this body has no right to charge Sangonomiya Kokomi, a woman who is NOT an Inazuman citizen, with the crime of treason and sedition."
She took a breath and continued,
"But, if you insist on charging my client with treason as a criminal of war, then, as any Inazuman citizen has the right to when faced with a conflict between themselves and the Bakufu as an entity, we demand to be tried by the Raiden Shogun herself and her head general."
All colour left Kokomi's face.
.
.
"You put her fate in the hands of Kujou Sara and the Shogun?!"
Night had fallen and Sangonomiya Shrine was lit by gentle, flickering light. The entourage had returned to the island shortly before sunset and had finally concluded their report on the proceedings,
"I recognise a corrupt individual immediately and knew that remaining in a situation where the Tri-Commission remained responsible for Lady Sangonomiya's fate was unwise." The legal advisor intoned with a strict tone, "From my own understanding, Lady Kujou Sara is a law-abiding individual who stood against the corruption of the Tenryou commission as soon as she heard of it."
Gorou and Kokomi's eyes followed Yanfei's to the Traveller, their sharp nod and insistence that she had flown into a rage at the fact they were seemingly betraying the Shogun to the Fatui was some comfort,
"So… do you think she is willing to go against the Commissions for revenge for what they did?"
"I highly doubt that. I merely left the decision in her hands as a test of her honour."
All present blinked,
"Despite whatever feelings she may have towards you as her former enemies, I am confident that she will present an honest and well-rounded case to the Raiden Shogun regarding your actions on and off the battlefield."
"So, this is based on faith?!" Paimon shrieked, near apoplectic when Yanfei scoffed in her face,
"This is based on my reading of the law." She sniffed, "As the one with the most interaction with you, as the leader of the enemy army, she will have to lead the prosecuting case against us. When she has assembled her findings, she will call us back for our audience with the Raiden Shogun."
"And you're really not concerned?" A disbelieving lilt present in the Priestesses voice,
"The only crime that the Shogunate can pin onto the Resistance is the destruction of the Mikage Furnace. Something the Resistance did damage BUT a member of the Resistance was also responsible for fixing it."
"Wait, we weren't a member of the Resistance at the time we were helping Xavier?" Paimon hissed and was met with a quartet of stern stares,
"A fact that is… an unnecessary edition to my report on the situation."
The Traveller added in comments about the Fatui's intervention with the Furnace and how their actions contributed to the potential disaster,
"How confident are you that we could convince Xavier to come as witness, Traveller?" "Actually, that is no longer relevant. Witnesses will likely be barred from our audience."
The Traveller stated that it was worth asking the question and quietly dismissed themselves. Gorou followed onwards, but Kokomi was not paying much attention to either of them.
She had some choice words for her counsel,
"It seems you are taking a gamble with my life and freedom." Her voice was small, hardly representative of the myriad of strong feelings that left a physical pain in her chest,
"I don't gamble." Far firmer, the woman barely blinked as she held Kokomi's gaze,
"You do understand the punishment for treason in Inazuma, correct?"
"Of course. And I would never place you into a situation where that fate is in anyway a possibility. I would not do that to any client." The addition seemed an afterthought, but she soldiered on before her client could comment, "Should Kujou Sara not act in the way I know she will, I have a myriad of other avenues. The law is on your side; thus, I am also. This is a case I WILL NOT lose, Lady Kokomi."
The dreams were worse that night, the Raiden Shogun's glowing purple eyes pulsed with every crackle of her lightning formed blade. She was not quite awoken by the warm hands that cupped her face, choosing to nuzzle into the hold of the one touching her and be lulled into a more restful slumber, those hands gently stroking her head as she took in the heady scent of old parchment.
When the sun rose and she saw her, she pretended to be asleep until long after Yanfei awoke and quietly extracted herself from her gripping arms. Though, Kokomi remained lying alone, hugging her own body in hopes of simulating the warmth she had lost.
.
.
For all the nightmares and fretting, the meeting was…
"The Resistance has not and poses no continued threat to Eternity. Dismissed."
…uneventful.
The march to and from Ritou were slow, disbelieving affairs. Kujou Sara having barely gotten two sentences into her thick report before the Narukami Ogosho cut her off. A strong sense of purpose radiating from her as they approached Inazuma City; a continued feeling of disbelief following their exit.
"I will say, despite the… lax nature of whoever wrote the codices on Inazuman law, it is nice to enter a court where the laws are a bit more… open to interpretation…" Yanfei's bright commentary granting her glowers from their Shogunate escort, even as they began to withdraw as the stony path gave way to the wooden docks,
"Is that… not a bad thing?"
"It's all relative." The Liyue lawyer shrugging as she tottered along the pier, "So long as the potential meaning of such laws is not too painfully broad, I am confident I can always make an ironclad argument on my client's behalf. Case and point being you, of course."
Kokomi allowed herself a small giggle behind her hand at her metaphorical and quite literal puffing up of her chest,
"I will endeavour to remain out of trouble but hope that I can call upon you for assistance again should I ever require your services."
"We offer generous discounts for returning customers." Yanfei lit up like a star, leaflet like document coming to hand from pockets Kokomi did not realise she had, "Particularly those who wish to sign up for exclusive contracts for legal representation."
A curious brow was raised as she skimmed across the provided, colour coded texts,
"That is a… sizeable discount. All for agreeing your company will be my go to for legal queries?"
Yanfei was an exciteable being who seemingly wore her emotions on her puffed out sleeves when not on the job. So her inability to meet her eyes now was a surprise,
"Yes, there is that…" Her voice fading somewhat before those twin greens burned anew with the fire of her passion, "But I was suggesting an exclusivity to me in particular. A contract between us as individuals."
"Oh!"
"The adepti would often provide permission to those they knew would require them to call their name in times of need." "Now, I am no adepti-"
Many across Teyvat felt an inexplicable urge to scold someone for their lies (and would have all scoffed at how poorly said individual told that particular fib),
"-and I cannot promise I will be able to hear you from all the way across the sea. But-"
Stopped dead. Kokomi was giggling freely now as she snatched up the flailing hands of her legal advisor into a soft yet firm grip,
"There is no need to pitch your services to me, my friend. You came highly recommended and far exceeded my wildest dreams. Should I have need of you I will send a message, so long as you are willing to come to me again."
Yanfei felt an uncomfortable warmth and tightness in her throat and was highly conscious of the feathery softness of her client's warm hands. Clearing her throat twice did not return her ability to speak, so she nodded as her ears burned red under her hair.
Under the watchful eyes of the half-adeptus, Lady Kokomi boarded a boat and was swarmed by her shrine-maidens and close soldiers.
The night was dark, so it was easy for them both to lose sight of one another, but they kept looking out onto the water until long after they could reasonably be seen. Kokomi reluctantly moving below to escape to the cold, salty bite of the sea breeze, Yanfei meandering back up the pier to find her way home.
[END]
Based on a story prompt provided in the Genshin Collective Discord.
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