Hello readers!

Posting this 2 days early because 1) I have no impulse control, and 2) we're gonna have a long and busy day at the hanger tomorrow and Tuesday. Lots of work to do on the new bird that just arrived so my head will be hitting the pillow after my shift and I will not be getting up after that :P

Time for some whump- we get Ayaka's perspective in this chapter as well, continuing on from the last one as Thoma and the Traveller recover in the Komore Teahouse.

Shoutout to Agamveer, AxelLord20, FakeFae, GoldenPhoenix21, Kyred, Sanadan, Yung Link, airisuki56, oarasaiah, and vibyr for following!

Shoutout to Agamveer, FakeFae, Sanadan, Yung Link, allisdeen, luis014, and vilbyr for favoriting!

Enjoy!

-Ardoa88

Chapter 2: A Moments Respite

Thoma was drifting.

He drifts for a while, rising and falling with the waves, floating on the surface of the water with his chest to the sky, arms splayed out to either side. The sun warms his face and arms, the heat settling into his skin with familiarity, as if it belongs there, while the subtle coolness of the ocean waters press against his back. He idly wonders why the sea is so calm when it should be rough and uncontrollable, waves rolling and tumbling over each other as they try to bash him against the rocky shore-

Then Thoma frowns and wonders why he thought that.

He notices a pressure on his arm, like it's being gently squeezed, and when he turns his head he sees that there's a big pufferfish floating in the waters beside him. The fish's ovular brown body wriggles excitedly as it nibbles on the end of his glove, the brightly colored stands likely having drawn its attention. Thoma smiles at it, not bothering to scare the gentle giant away. Instead he turns and opens his palm, slipping it under the rippling waves and rubbing his fingers along the underside of the fish's belly. His sleeve gets soaked in the process but it's fine, he has more shirts. The puffer rests on his hand, the steady pressure growing heavier as it sits there, fins flapping slowly-

Wait.

Why was he in the water with his uniform on?

The passing thought makes Thoma blink, and he raises his head up and out of the water, looking down at himself to see- yeah, he's fully clothed and notably not in a bathing suit.

Strange.

Before he can ponder on it for too long, there's a sting in his arm, and he pulls his hand away from the pufferfish with a hiss. Lifting it out of the sea, he looks to see a thin rivulet of blood tracking it's way down his forearm, leaving a watery red line in its wake. Did… did the fish just bite him? Rude. And here Thoma was just trying to be friendly with the big guy. The pressure is still there, though, a uniform tightness that stretches all the way up to his elbow.

Very strange.

"...careful…"

"...pulled his…. I'll have to redo…."

The faint voices carry to him on the breeze, ones he… he thinks he recognises, but he can't quite seem to place them. The first is younger, and for some reason the worry in the single word makes his heart ache. The other is older, much older, speaking firmly and sounding somewhat exasperated. He thinks that there must be a fishing boat nearby. If so, maybe he can catch a ride with them back to shore. The sun's comforting warmth is starting to extend into the realm of too-hot, even for him, to the point where he's not sure if the water drops on his forehead are from the ocean or from sweat. He'll certainly have a sunburn soon enough if he's not careful, and then his dad will scold him about staying out on the beach for too long-

Thoma grunts as his head spikes with a flash of pain. It's gone as suddenly as it arrived, but that's enough for him to make a decision- he knows the dangers of heat stroke and the early onset of a headache was not a welcoming sign. Righting himself from his leisurely floating position, Thoma treads water and looks around for that boat, arms and legs making slow circles in the water as he spins.

But there's nothing.

No boat, no distant shoreline, no… no water?

Thoma has to do a double take at that one, because, sure enough, he's not treading water. At least, not any kind of water he's seen before. Instead of the deep layering shades of blue (or even the sparkling blue-purple of the waters of the Musoujin Gorge that are so beautiful to look at but so deadly to wade in) it's an all consuming black, with hints of red flickering in the upper layers.

His heart begins to beat faster in his chest because he's never seen water like this. His skin crawls and he wants nothing more than to swim out of this- this… could he even call it water? But the fact of the matter is that he doesn't know which way to swim. Doesn't know where the nearest island is. So he treads water instead, conserving his stamina as he thinks and looks around.

A second lance of pain stabs through his head and Thoma cries out, reaching up with his hand to press over his eyes, only… only he can't move his hand. Something's holding it firmly in the water. The stinging sensation is back, but now there's more of them, like a whole school of fish has started snapping at his skin. When he looks down at the hand in the liquid he can't even see anything there, he can only see his still bleeding hand- and the blood was beginning to stain the rest of the liquid red as it leaked from the shallow cut- and feel the pricks of… of whatever it is that's latched onto his palm and lower forearm.

All he knows is that whatever it is is not a fish.

Actually… he's not sure that he even wants to see what's there. He does want to get the- well, whatever it is off of him, so he thrashes, splashing in the not-water and trying to pull his hand out from below the waves.

It works. For a moment, the pain recedes and the pressure ebbs. He even manages to lift his arm a few inches.

Then something clamps down on his arm like a vice and pulls.

"No!" Thoma gasps as his head is submerged, and he kicks as hard as he can towards the surface.

"...him!"

"I'm trying-"

The voices are clearer under the not-water, but that's all Thoma hears before his head crests the surface and he sucks in a greedy lungful of air. The heat from the sun pulses on his face one last time, and he feels it sear into his forehead hungrily before he's yanked forcefully back under. This time, Thoma is unable to put up much of a fight, his strength sapping far quicker than he expects. His eyes flutter and his head pulses painfully, watching the light above the water dim and waver as he's pulled down… down… down….

"Almost finished, my Lady."

Thoma hears the voice almost as if he were in the same room with whomever is speaking and, despite the fact that the pain is still there, that the light is all but gone now and the pressure is still throbbing in his head, he feels a sense of ease roll over him. Something comes to rest on his head, something gentle and light, and he turns towards it- but there's nothing there- as it begins carding through his hair soothingly. It almost reminds him of… of-

"His fever's spiked." And the young voice- a voice he knows from somewhere if his head could just stop throbbing long enough for him to place it- sounds a bit panicked underneath the overwhelming amount of concern.

He wonders why that strikes him as so incredibly wrong.

But then there's a coolness in the place where the pressure is pushing through his hair and he suddenly doesn't care if it's wrong because the cold chases away some of the burning heat and delays the relentless headache behind his eyes. Thoma moans, leaning into the chill and distantly noticing that no air bubbles escaped his mouth into the not-water. An almost amused hum vibrates through the liquid before the voice is speaking again, tone gentle and soft as the motion continues to lull his eyes closed.

"Easy now. You're safe, you're okay." A long sigh, "How do you always manage to get into so much trouble?" There's a familiar fondness in the tired tone, the voice wobbling on the last few words, and the murky waters around him abruptly clear.

Ayaka.

Thoma's eyes are almost fully closed by this point, but he struggles to open them again. It takes a long while before he manages it, and he's rewarded for his effort by the sight of his Lady leaning over him, her normally well-kept platinum hair wild at the edges, eyes as clear and blue as the summer sky crinked while a tight smile thins her pale lips. But her eyes are glistening, red at the corners like she's been crying, or close to it. She's looking at him but her gaze is a bit unfocused, as if she's not truly seeing him, and the corners of her lips are trembling, only staying where they are through sheer determination and willpower.

She was worried.

She was worried because of him.

He wants to reach up and wipe the tears away, wants to tell her he's fine. But his arm is too heavy. Everything is too heavy, his body feeling like it's being weighed down by multiple ship's anchors. Already his eyelids are falling against the pull of sleep, but he fights it. He has to fix this first: The last thing he wants is to make her cry.

He draws in a deep breath, trying to reassure her, and someone must be sitting on his chest with how hard the motion is. Despite the difficulty, he draws in enough air to speak, but all that comes out is a raspy whine, his parched throat betraying his attempt to form simple words.

The sound pulls her attention anyway and he watches as relief chases away the concern, a true smile taking the place of the forced one.

"Thoma," she breathes his name like a prayer and for a second, he thinks she might start crying again. But instead she sniffs, her hand sweeping through his hair in that same mollifying manner. "Get some rest."

He can't help but feel like there's something missing. The fog in his head is thicker than that which engulfs Tsuriumi Island, but he knows there's something- someone he's forgetting. Thoma tries to glance around and it's hard- Archons it's hard: He feels like he's dragging his head through the mud with how slow the motion is- looking around the otherwise empty room for… for…

His forehead pounds with an uncomfortable warmth at the movement and he draws a shallow breath, the air hissing through his teeth and brow furrowing. Before he can do anything more there's another burst of cold that chases away the pain and the heat- he didn't notice the heat before but it's stiflingly warm in here, wherever 'here' was- and he feels Ayaka place her other hand on his upper bicep, her thumb rubbing slow circles on the corded muscle.

"Sleep, Thoma," she says, "They're fine, I promise."

Thoma wasn't exactly sure who 'they' were, but if Ayaka said they were fine it was enough reassurance for him. He lets his eyes slip shut, allowing the weights to drag him down… down… down…. The coolness remains, as does the gentle massaging through his hair and on his arm, and it relaxes him further into the dark waters.

And Thoma drifts.

Ayaka sighs as Thoma's breathing slowly evens out and she sits back on her heels, brushing more of his hair away from his sweat-lined brow. The fever still has him firmly in its grips so she coats her hand in another thin layer of cryo, pressing the ice against his much too-warm forehead and watching it melt within seconds.

She worries her lower lip. It isn't enough, she knows it isn't, but it's all she can offer. She's not exactly a healer-

"Well done, m'Lady."

Ayaka tries to summon a smile for the elder, but she can't seem to manage, so she dips her head in thanks instead. "You did most of the work, Madam Furuta."

"Nonsense child." The words are firm but kind, and Ayaka looks up, watching as the old retired herbalist expertly re-wraps Thoma's arm with clean bandages. "You were a great help, you did a wonderful job." She finishes covering the newly-stitched cut and begins packing away her sutures and needle.

"I think I will go check on our other patient." Furuta announces, standing with a groan. "Oomph… my poor bones are getting too old for this kind of excitement- the misfortune of aging, I'm afraid. Don't apologize-" and Ayaka closes her mouth with a snap, swallowing those exact words as Furuta holds up her hand. "I'm always happy to be of service to the clan, my Lady."

Ayaka's smile is genuine this time and she nods. "Thank you. I'll join you in a moment," she says, icy blue eyes slipping back down at Thoma as her hand continues to absently card through his hair.

"Of course." And in Ayaka's periphery she can see that there's a playful twinkle in the elder' eyes; a knowing glint that the female staff at the Kamisato Estate got sometimes when watching her and her retainer interact that always made Ayaka's cheeks darken with color.

As they were doing now.

"I-I only mean I want to ensure his fever has stabilized first." Ayaka stutters out, and the resulting grin from Furuta only makes her blush deepen.

The elder's voice is measured and respectful, almost too respectful as she bows lightly from the waist. "Of course, my Lady." She says seriously, and then she's gone, leaving Ayaka alone in the room with her face feeling like it's just been dunked in a hot spring. She reaches up with her hands to lightly slap at her cheeks, as if doing so will help to erase the signs of… well, she didn't exactly know what to call the emotion but it was some combination of embarrassment and- pride? Yeah, maybe pride. After all, she was always there for her retainers and servants. As the veritable co-head of the clan it was her responsibility to care for those that served her, and doing so gave her a sense of satisfaction when they returned the same love and care with which she gave to them.

So yes, she was just proud… proud and, okay, maybe a touch embarrassed.

A low, wordless mumble snaps her from her thoughts and her attention immediately returns to the cause of her blush. Thoma's head turns away from her as his brow furrows, and there are high spots of color on his cheeks as well, but for a completely different reason. He mutters again, the words unintelligible but his wounded hand twitches at his side, a grimace stealing across his face as the movement likely pulls at the new stitches.

Ayaka quickly replaces one hand on his head, stroking the sweat lined strands and resting her other hand gently on his arm. If he started thrashing again… needless to say, Madame Furuta would not be happy if she had to redo the stitches for a third time. Thoma's agitated look abates almost immediately with the contact, and she resolves not to remove her hand again unless it's absolutely necessary. She didn't care if the Shogun herself barged in at that moment- she would not be moved.

She slowly takes her hand off his arm, eyes lingering on the white, sterile strips that wind from his wrist to his elbow. The cut on his forearm had been- and she swallows hard against the sudden lump in her throat- it had been deep. Unwillingly, Ayaka is pulled back into her thoughts as the memory- the nightmare of the past two days replays itself in her mind.

She had known that asking for the Traveller's help would mean risking their life to save someone they'd only met a few weeks ago, but… but she'd had no one else to turn to. With Ayato away on commission business and the Shogun rushing the ceremony there just hadn't been time to go to anyone else. And besides that, the simple fact that they'd seized Thoma, of all vision holders, didn't escape her notice; someone had betrayed her clan to the Shogun and she didn't know who she could trust at the moment.

The Traveller was her only hope.

Ayaka was honestly worried they'd refuse, but she needn't have feared. They stood after listening to her request, determination shining in their golden eyes as they placed a hand over their chest, agreeing to go in her stead.

Because she couldn't go.

No matter how many times she told herself it was for the good of both the clan and the commission for her to stay behind, it still felt like an excuse. And she still felt like a coward.

The waiting alone nearly killed her, and she'd spent the majority of the time pacing in the small back room of the Komore Teahouse, likely burning a hole into the woven rug much to the dismay of Kozue (who tried to get her to drink some tea and relax) and the delight of Taroumaru (who'd gladly paced in a circle with her, tail wagging the entire time). After an hour and a half Madame Furuta arrived, the elder finally convincing her that fretting about something she had no control over was hardly productive, and set about giving Ayaka small tasks to help them prepare for whatever the outcome of the ceremony may be. As day turned to night, the sky coloring a beautiful pink through the Ootari tree's violet leaves, Ayaka began to fear the worst.

Then Taroumaru barked a greeting, and it was like all of the tension was finally ready to burst, the wave beginning to crest as Paimon flew in calling for help. Ayaka was on her feet in an instant, rushing out into the hallway to find Thoma, dirt-stained and weary, limping towards them with the Traveller hanging off of his shoulder like a sack of rice.

Her heart had warred with two conflicting emotions: Relief that Thoma was still alive, and guilt for the Traveller, who she'd sent into harm's way in her stead. But her feelings were roughly pushed to the side as they'd rushed the Traveller into the room, laying them out on the cot as Madame Furuta began to examine them. Ayaka's hands remained clenched together as she waited for the herbalists' evaluation, eyes tracing the lines of pain etched onto their face, barely holding back a gasp when she saw the scorch mark on their lower ribs that looked startlingly like some kind of fierce burn. It was only when the elder had looked up and calmly declared they would be alright that Ayaka let the tension in her shoulders drain, a sigh of relief slipping from her lips.

She turned to smile at Thoma, and her chest swelled with elation because he was alive and here- they both were! And-

And Thoma had swayed.

His eyes had slowly closed, eyebrows drawing together and a dirt-stained hand reaching up to pinch at the bridge of his nose like he did whenever he had a headache. That's when she saw the blood. It had soaked into the fabric of his glove, coated his fingers in red, and left lines of crimson dancing delicately down his sun kissed skin all the way to his elbow.

She'd called out his name, and he had slowly turned his pale face- much too pale, why had she not seen that sooner!- towards her voice, eyes blinking open to reveal a dull verdant green gaze that stared back blankly, a look clouded with pain.

He'd swayed again, only this time gravity won the battle, and Ayaka barely caught him as his eyes rolled back and he crumpled like a shadow puppet with it's strings severed. In that moment Ayaka felt like every second was being dragged out for an entire minute, and all she could hear was the beating of her heart and the rush of blood in her ears as she'd lunged to catch his slowly falling body. Even still, his deadweight almost dragged her to the ground, Ayaka barely managing to hold the lankier boy up as she fought back her rising panic. Madame Furuta directed her with a sharp tone, instructing her on what to do and how to help. The whole process was a blur, and throughout it all the only thing Ayaka could think was: Not him… oh, Archons, please not him!

It had taken fifteen minutes to scrub the blood from her hands after they were done and an extra thrity to get the stains out of her clothes. She couldn't believe all of it had come from one person-

Ayaka shudders, banishing the memory with a shake of her head. She didn't have the time right now to process it properly, right now she had to make sure her- had to make sure Thoma would be calm enough for her to leave his side without fear of him opening his wound again. Then she would have to go checkup on the Traveller and see how they were holding up. She had been surprised that it'd only taken a day for them to wake, even if they were still confined to bed rest. It was an impressive recovery to say the least, especially considering what Paimon had described happening at the ceremony.

Thoma shifts again, and Ayaka's attention flies to his face, looking for any signs of discomfort, any signs that his dreams are turning sour, but he settles quietly, his face still far warmer than what's healthy. She creates more ice, feeling the cold prickling on her skin as the fractals form, and Thoma hums, unconsciously leaning into her hand.

The vision at his hip flickers, the internal crimson glow brightening before dimming again. Thoma seems to react to it, his breathing hitching and brow creasing as Ayaka swears she can feel his temperature increase beneath her fingertips. She glares at the stupid rock. Hasn't it caused him enough trouble already? If it really wanted to be useful it could stop feeding into Thoma's fever; the pyro heat not helping with his already high temperature. She briefly entertains the idea of just ripping it off and chucking it as far down the hallway as she can manage.

But… if Thoma were to wake up without it, especially after the vision hunt ceremony…

Yeah, no. Better to keep it on him for now. At least until he is coherent enough to understand where it went and that it would be safe.

Her own vision chills at the small of her back as she conjures up more cryo, and she wipes it gingerly along Thoma's fever flushed cheeks and down the side of his neck. Ayaka glances at the cracked open door, hesitating for a beat before deciding she doesn't really care if Furuta comes back in right now. She moves so that she's positioned behind Thoma's head, making sure to continue stroking his hair as she shifts. Then, careful of his injury, she lifts his head and shoulders, scooting forwards and laying his upper half against her folded knees.

He settles into the new position, head turning unconsciously into the folds of her dress. This time, Ayaka can't call the rosiness in her cheeks anything other than endearment as she keeps a steady pace with the hand carding through his tangled blonde locks. She may not have been able to save him from the Shogun, but she was here now and she would protect him the same way he always protected her. Even if all she can do for the moment is try and shield him from his ailments.

Ayaka hears the door to the room slide open fully, and her hand stills momentarily as she looks up sheepishly, an explanation already on her tongue as to why she's in such a delicate position with one of her housekeepers.

The Traveller smiles back at her, golden eyes filled with fondness and… longing? It's gone before Ayaka can decide, and they close the door behind them, Paimon offers a wave in greeting before floating to hover by her side, eyes wide as she looks down at Thoma.

"Is he gonna be okay?" Paimon whispers the words, and Ayaka is grateful for the consideration the usually loud pixie is displaying.

"Yes," she replies, voice equally hushed, then turns and looks up at the Traveller. "I'm surprised to see you up and moving already. I would've expected Madame Furuta to confine you to bed for a few days at least, after the hit you took."

"No way!" Paimon answers for the Traveller, a devious grin wide on her face. "A little hit like that won't keep them down!"

"Shhh!" The Traveller raises a gloved hand to their lips, glancing meaningfully to Thoma when Paimon's voice had started rising.

The little pixie covers her mouth with her hands, eyes blowing wide. "Oops… sorry."

"How is he?" The Traveller asks, taking a seat next to her and folding their legs underneath them in a way that's not as traditional in Inazuma; with one tucked under the other and both knees flared out to the side.

"He's okay," Ayaka reiterates, her hand resuming its ministrations. "He has a fever- not a strong one," she adds, and she can't help but remember the time he'd come back, drenched from head to toe after being caught in a bad storm. He'd been sick for a week from that one, the fever refusing to let him go much like the stray dog that had followed him back to the estate.

"And he tore the stitches in his hand, but those have been redone by Furuta." She continues.

The Traveller frowns, and they look over at the white wrappings. Their face pinches, "I… I didn't realize he'd been…" They trail off with a pensive look, staying quiet for a time. When they speak, their voice is tinged with gratitude. "He saved my life."

"And you saved his." Ayaka's response is almost immediate, because she knows that look (has been on both the receiving and giving end of it), and the last thing she wants is for the Traveller to feel as if they were somehow responsible for any of this. "You rescued him when I- in my stead, and for that I will forever be in your debt. Thank you." Ayaka offers an awkward bow from her kneeling position, dipping as low as she can with Thoma in her lap.

The Traveller actually looks flustered at her heartfelt thanks, raising their hands to wave off the words as though Ayaka can somehow take them back. "I-It was no trouble, really."

"You were zapped full of electricity and knocked out for a whole day!" Paimon pointed out, volume slowly creeping back up as she crossed her arms.

"It was no trouble." The Traveller says more firmly, sending a sour look at their companion. "I was glad to help, and, besides…" They rub the back of their neck. "It… did get me an audience with the Shogun, in a way. Even if our conversation didn't go quite, uh, as I expected it to."

Ayaka's eyes widen. "Did she know anything about your sibling?"

"Well," a wry smile pulls at their mouth. "We were too busy fighting to really address it."

"Oh," Ayaka feels a swell of disappointment. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," and it's the Travellers turn to reassure her, saying, "I figured it wouldn't be that easy, but now I've got her attention, at least."

"Yeah, and now half the city is after us!" Paimon throws her hands up into the air, unable to hold her voice down forever as her words slip back into their normal screeching range.

Thoma's eyes squeeze together at the sound and he groans, eyelids fluttering slightly and hand twitching while the rest of them hold their breath. His chest rises as he draws in a deep lungful of air, and when he exhales he seems to relax, eyes falling solidly shut once more. The trio let out a collective sigh and the two humans turn as one to glare at the pixie.

Paimon laughs a bit nervously, flitting back a pace under their looks. "Paimon'll just… uhh… Paimon will go see if the nice old lady has any food for us." She whispers, popping out of existence in the blink of an eye.

The thought of food does make Ayaka's stomach rumble, and she realizes she hasn't exactly had anything substantial to eat since yesterday morning, her stomach too nauseous with worry to swallow much more than a few bites of onigiri. Paimons outburst did raise a good question, however, and Ayaka turns back to the Traveller with the query ready to be brought to light.

They're rubbing their chest, a slight grimace stuck on their face that disappears when they notice Ayaka's attention, hand dropping to their side and head tilting curiously in preparation to listen.

"How are you feeling?" She asks instead, filing away the other question for a later time. It would allow her to sit on it herself and consider some solutions to the issue it posed.

The Traveller didn't answer for a long time, their hand reaching up again to rub at the space above where Ayaka knows the star shaped burn is. "Getting struck by lightning sucks." They finally say, and Ayaka can't help the soft laugh that slips out.

"Does it really, now? I could never guess." She teases gently, and the Traveller smiles.

"It's happened once before." They say conversationally, and Ayaka's eyebrows rise in surprise.

It's not that lightning storms are necessarily rare in Inazuma- hell, they have two entire islands that are constantly pelted by rain and lightning year round and a perpetual storm protecting their borders- but usually the air will fizzle in a peculiar way before the electricity actually arcs to the earth. It's a warning sign every Inazuman has learned to identify and most people can hear it with enough time to get out of the element's unyielding path. There are even special flora that provide a- well a lightning shield for a lack of better term- the electro-infused cores repelling the very element they collect in their violet leaves; or maybe cancelling each other out would be a better way to describe it. Needless to say, the thought of actually getting hit was a rare thing.

"I was in Mondstadt," the Traveller continues, face softening at the memory, "and me and my companions were heading back to the city after chasing off some Hilichurls when the storm struck. One of my friends, Bennett, thought he saw a house in the distance; he said he could see the light coming from one of the windows. I couldn't see anything through the rain, but we figured it was as good a direction to head as any." The Traveller chuckled. "Well, turns out the light was an electro crystal. When we saw it we started to run away, but by then it was already too late, the lightning arced from the sky to the crystals and caught us in the middle."

"Oh my-" Ayaka had seen electro crystals before. Surprisingly, the purple rocks weren't as common around Inazuma, but they could give you a good static shock if you got too close to one.

"Yeah, it hurt, but-" and their hand rubs at their chest again, "not in the same way this one did. That one was a cold sort of zap, an impassive act of nature, whereas the Shoguns was more like… it felt like a surge of fire flowing through my veins, hot and sizzling and…" Their words petered out into silence, and they shake their head, golden hair swaying from side to side with the motion. "Outlanders heal a lot faster than the people of Teyvat. Even now, after a full day of recovery, the wound still smarts. If… if I had been from this world, I- I don't know if I would have survived."

Ayaka lifts a hand and rests it lightly on the Traveller's shoulder. "I'm glad you did." She says. The physical contact seems to snap them out of their pensive mood, eyes rising to meet hers and Ayaka feels her breath catch as she stares into them. She's never had the time to really study them before, but now, in the low glow of the late afternoon light that filters through the papery folds of the window shade, she can see they're not just one solid color. Their eyes seem to gleam from within, like a setting sun, a brighter and richer shade like honey in the center that stretches out in banding rays of light, paling to a more subdued amber at the edges that was still vibrant in its own, brilliant way.

They were beautiful.

"Paimon's brought snacks!"

The pixie returns, and Ayaka's hand snaps away from the Traveller's shoulder faster than the Shogun's lightning itself. Ayaka feels her face flush briefly, the Traveller reprimanding Paimon for not using her indoor voice while Ayaka mentally panics.

Was that- was that too forward of her? She is the leader of the Yashiro Commission, and such informality would have been harshly scolded if anyone had seen her. But the Traveller wasn't exactly a dignitary from Liyue or a trade merchant from Mondstadt, so maybe… maybe it was fine? They certainly hadn't seemed put off by the physical contact, but they could just be being polite because they know her and are just too kind to correct the misstep. Add that to the fact that they're in such a private setting-

Something bumps into her arm, and Ayaka blinks, looking cross-eyed down at the top of the onigiri that's been shoved under her nose. She looks up to find the Traveller watching her, an eyebrow raised as they chew on their own snack. The onigiri bobs up and down in their gloved hand, and Ayaka realizes they're offering it to her.

"O-Oh, thank you." She stumbles over the words, and internally cringes at how nervous she sounds- it's almost as bad as the first day she started learning the proper duties of being a clan leader, tripping and fumbling with her words like a newborn foal.

"There's tea too!" Paimon grins, her voice tempered after having been scolded. She holds out a cup of the steaming liquid, waiting for Ayaka to accept it in her other hand before Paimon begins scarfing down on the remaining rice treats.

The Traveller chuckles, reaching for an egg roll with their chopsticks "Save some for the rest of us Paimon."

"Not a chance! This is first come, first serve!"

Ayaka smiles and takes a bite of the onigiri, the warm rice having a simple flavor to it that quells the rumbling in her stomach. The tea is an original house blend of the Komore Teahouse, a combination of sakura leaves and imported violetgrass from Liyue. It's one of the more expensive teas they sell here, providing a rich taste and Ayaka is silently grateful to Kozue as she drinks it. The fragrance of the sakura leaves calms her mind, allowing her to ponder over the current problem she's yet to address with the Traveller.

While she thinks, her hand absently dances through Thoma's hair, twisting and tangling the dark blond locks before unwinding them again. He shifts beneath the ministrations, face relaxing further, the lines on his brow and around his eyes easing. She thinks he looks so much younger like that, so carefree, unburdened by the weight of his position in the clan. His forehead still burns with fever but at least he seems to be resting now. Ayaka hums quietly as she takes another sip of the tea, the soft melody vibrating low in her chest while the Traveller and Paimon proceed to have an- albeit quiet- chopstick fight over the last dango.

Paimon eventually gets it, the pixie abandoning the chopsticks with a soft shout of frustration, diving on the strawberry sweet and snatching it up in her hands. "Aha!" She cheers triumphantly, before shoving the whole thing in her mouth in one go, her cheeks puffing out like a squirrel.

The Traveller scowls, placing their hands on their hips and glaring at the floating pixie. "Cheater." They pout, but there isn't much heat in the word, a fond smile threatening to pull their lips up.

Their interactions are adorable, reminding Ayaka of the times she and Ayato would play Tamari in the backyard of the estate. She can't help but laugh, barely remembering her manners in time to reach up and cover her mouth with her hand. The Traveller and Paimon both look over with matching sheepish expressions that quickly change to grins.

Then Paimon looks down, horrified. "Ahh! Oh no! I ate all the food! I'm sorry Ayaka- I guess I should've saved some for you…"

Ayaka has to fight the urge to laugh again at how put out Paimon looks: The pixie's expression is twisted like she's just committed a most egregious crime. "It's okay." She says with a shake of her head. "You two will need all your strength for what's to come."

She almost wishes she didn't have to say it, the merriment in the room all but vanishing as the two look at her seriously.

"What's to come?" Paimon repeats, phrasing it like a question.

The Traveller understands, however. "We can't stay in Inazuma City." They clarify. "Not with all of the soldiers looking for us."

"But…" Paimon looks lost, "but where will we go?"

Ayaka sets down her tea cup, the hand-painted clay clinking delicately on the tray between them. "Watatsumi."

"Bless you."

"That wasn't a sneeze, Paimon." The Traveller's smile returns for a split second before it's gone again. "What's at Watatsumi?"

Thank the Archons they catch on quickly. "The resistance." Ayaka answers. "The island is the host of their main stronghold, the Sangonomiya Shrine. If you can get there, the Shogun's soldiers won't be able to follow you."

"Okaaaay…" Paimon stretches out the word, brow furrowing as she thinks. "So, how do we get there?"

Ayaka's hands clench in her lap, mindful of the head resting there. "That's… the difficult part, I'm afraid." She takes a deep breath, then says, "You'll have to sneak past the Kujou Clan's frontline, they have a fort at the northern end of Tarasuna, but if you can get past them, you'll reach the resistance base to the west. From there, I can put you in contact with someone who can take you to Watatsumi."

"Wow… sounds like you have this all planned out!"

The Traveller is holding their chin, nodding along with Paimon in agreement. Then they look up, and there's worry in those bright golden eyes. "What about you? What will you do?"

Their concern is touching, but this was one problem Ayaka has already been dwelling on as she kept her vigil by Thoma's side for the past day and a half.

"I'll stay here." She says, then pauses to clarify. "Not here here, in the teahouse, but here in Inazuma. I'll do what I can on my end to sway the people to our side of the issue. Many of them already dislike the vision hunt decree, and if I can convince the other commissions to see reason…" the sentence remains unfinished and Ayaka shrugs. "This is where I can help the most."

"And…" The Traveller glances meaningfully at the unconscious blond.

Ayaka hums, reaching down to run her hand through Thoma's hair again. "He won't be happy about it, but… well, he'll basically be grounded until this whole thing blows over."

"Grounded?" Paimon sounds like she's never heard the term, head tilting with curiosity.

"He'll have to stay in the teahouse." She explains, "With the whole city on high alert, it's not safe for him to just walk out in the open."

"Oh."

"Yeah," Ayaka smiles sadly. "Like I said, he'll hate it, but at least he'll be safe. And he will always have Taroumaru for company."

"Why doesn't he just come with us?" Paimon asks.

"Paimon-" The Traveller's hand reaches out, Ayaka's not quite sure of what their intention is, but it hovers in the air almost like they're trying to warn Paimon off. Ayaka understands, she does, and if it was her decision to make, she would send Thoma to Kokomi's shrine in a heartbeat if she felt he would be safer there. Alas, it wasn't her call, and though he was unconscious at the moment, Ayaka knew with certainty what his answer would be.

"He won't go." She says, and the tug at her lips feels twisted, like it should be sad but she's unable to fully forgo the part of her that wants him to stay by her side. "Not if I plan on remaining here."

That look is back, the one from earlier, and now Ayaka can firmly say that it is a look of longing. The Traveller's gaze holds a distant sadness in them as they look between her and Thoma, a bittersweet smile pressed to their mouth.

Ayaka's heart goes out to them, she knows what it feels like to await the return of a sibling; she can't count how many times Ayato would leave without so much as a warning, taking off for official clan duties or for other, less well-intentioned outings. Sometimes he would be gone for a few days, other times he'd disappear for a few weeks, or a month would pass without so much as a letter. And every time, Ayaka would end her days waiting by the door with a fresh pot of tea, watching and waiting for him to storm back in with either a smile or a scowl depending on how the trip went. Waiting for him to see her and grin at the tea steaming on the table beside her as she invites him to sit and tell her about his latest adventure. Waiting for hours until she nearly falls asleep in the entrance and has to be escorted to bed by Thoma, who always shakes his head and chuckles, muttering gentle reproaches about how tea was not an appropriate substitute for a proper night's sleep.

She makes an aborted movement to rest a comforting hand on their shoulder again, stopping as her previous doubts over etiquette return. The Traveller either doesn't notice or doesn't acknowledge the awkward motion, standing from their seated position and bending down to pick up the tray with the empty plate and half-full pot of tea.

"Guess we'd better go start getting ready then." They say to Paimon, and the pixie nods in agreement.

"Right! Ooh- Paimon's gonna go see if the nice old lady can make us some dango for the road!"

The Traveller shakes their head, looking somewhat amazed as Paimon leaves, saying, "She's like a walking- er, floating black hole: Where does all that food go?" They glance back at her when they reach the door, gaze lingering on Thoma. "Take care of him."

It's not phrased as a question but Ayaka nods anyway, looking back down at her retainer and stroking the side of his face gently as she answers. "I always will."

Fin! Thanks for reading!

Chapter 3 should be out next week on Tuesday. Though, it might need to be split into 2 separate chapters if it starts getting too long. If that does end up happening I'll post them on the same day (time permitting) so you don't have to wait for the conclusion :)

As always with any of my works, feel free to comment and critique below. I love hearing from you all!

Have a great week!

-Ardoa88