SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 81 out, this is Chapter 82 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?
Pairings: Albedo/Sucrose, Zhongli/Mitsuko/Kazuha, One-sided Diluc/Mitsuko, One-sided Diluc/Jean
Disclaimers: Genshin Impact and Sailor Moon belong to miHoYo and Takeuchi Naoko-sensei respectively. Me, on the other hand, own absolutely nothing, except the plot, I hope.
Chapter 82: Teyvat Arc: True Tales of the Violet Garden, Part Four
The next day...
The Traveler met up with Kazuha at the festive venue, the Kaedehara samurai was acting as a bodyguard to Mitsuko and Sucrose who were setting up the tea ceremony station.
"Greetings, Traveler and Paimon." Kazuha peered open his eyes, leaping down from the tree he was napping on that was situated close to the stall Mitsuko and Sucrose had set up. "I heard there would be guides for the Irodori Festival, but I didn't expect it would be you two."
We didn't expect to see you either!" Paimon giggled.
"Traveler, Paimon." Sucrose called out, looking up from the small stove she had put the kettle on to boil water. "I found something strange tucked under the natsume."
"Does the paper happen to have a poem written on it?" Paimon asked.
"How did you know?" the mint-haired Nekomata blinked.
"Fascinating." Kazuha pondered after the Traveler informed the trio about the ongoing over the past few days. "It's almost hard to believe such things could happen."
"Sucrose, can you show us that piece of paper?" Paimon requested.
"Sure." Sucrose nodded. "Please, have a look." she handed the piece of paper over.
"Last time, Aoi no Okina's poem ended with a reference to Akahito." Paimon read the rendition of 'The Five Kasen's Splendor: Akahito'. "And sure enough, this is a story about him. The story this time basically says that Akahito got his name from his love of red seals. However, the Shogun discovered that he had committed plagiarism, and he was soon exiled. If Paimon were to rate today's story, it sounds pretty unfortunate!"
"The other stories weren't much better either." the Traveler pointed out.
"I don't think there's anything particularly wrong with this story." Kazuha spoke. "I, too, was once wanted as a criminal by the Shogunate, so I'm not all that different from Akahito mentioned in this story."
"But according to the story, Akahito was exiled by the shogun because of his wrongdoings." Paimon reminded. "You did nothing wrong, Kazuha. Traveler, what are you thinking about?"
"Maybe it can help Xingqiu?" the Traveler noted.
"Didn't you mention that your friend has been struggling because he's unable to sign his name quickly?" Mitsuko inquired, lifting up a tea bowl from its upturned position. "In Liyue and Inazuma, I do recall a saying that goes: 'that which has been stamped has also been signed'. That's how I dealt with my portion of clan paperwork."
"Indeed." Kazuha concurred. "Perhaps using a seal could be a feasible solution. While sailing at sea, I sometimes carve things to pass the time. If you wish to create a stamp for his seal, I might be able to help."
"That's an idea!" Paimon cheered. "Quick, let's go tell Albedo."
"Eh!?" Sucrose squeaked. "Mr. Albedo is here!?"
Kazuha looked on amused as the younger woman blustered frantically.
Mitsuko chuckled and turned to the Traveler, "Traveler, Paimon, I don't suppose the two of you could spare some time for tea before leaving?"
At the plaza...
"Albedo, we've figured out a way to help Xingqiu!" Paimon informed, with Kazuha in tow.
"Interesting..." Albedo pondered after the Traveler related what happened. "A story of The Five Kasen appears again, and with a timely solution. A stamped seal, huh? Let me think. Indeed, it is an efficient solution. If we use a stamp, then Xingqiu won't have to struggle with his handwriting anymore. However..."
"Is there another problem?" the Traveler asked.
"Since Xingqiu's signature has been previously revealed to the readers, it would seem insincere if he only used a stamped seal for his new books." Albedo explained. "But, I have another idea. Using a seal is a part of it, of course. Let's go to Uyuu Restaurant now to discuss my idea with everyone."
On the second story of Uyuu Restaurant...
"That's it, Zhenyu!" Hirayama encouraged. "Your writing has greatly improved today, which means yesterday's intensive training was effective!"
"My apologies, but I simply can't do it anymore." Xingqiu moaned. "My hands are so sore that I can't even move them anymore. I should've known better than to read novels during calligraphy class."
"You just had a ten-minute break." Hirayama urged. "C'mon, you can do this!"
"When it comes to pushing a deadline, there is no one more brutal than Mr. Hirayama." Onodera gawked.
"No wonder Lady Yae would always send the editorial director to handle troublesome authors." Murata remarked.
"This is getting scary!" Paimon gasped. "It hasn't even been that long and Xingqiu's already zombified."
"Mr. Hirayama, we found a solution that might just solve our dilemma." Albedo spoke. "In both Liyue and Inazuma, seals are widely used as the equivalent of a signature. If we use a stamp to leave the author's seal on the books, then we could make the signature process a lot easier. Of course, a seal on its own is not enough. So, I propose that each signature consists of two parts. First, we'll use a personalized seal. We can simply carve one using Zhenyu's signature as the design. In addition, I'll also design a simple but elegant pattern that's easy for Zhenyu to write. That way, he will only need to draw a simple pattern on each book."
"Let me think..." Hirayama mused. "I think that would work! Not only does it still involve the author's own handwriting, but the result should be very beautiful as well."
"So, what you mean to say is, I've been saved from this predicament?" Xingqiu breathed in relief.
"Mr. Hirayama, it suddenly occurred to me that the reason we gave up on live book signings previously was because it would take too long for the author to sign each book." Onodera recalled. "But if we adopt Calx's proposed method, we might have enough time to do signatures at the live event. And if all the authors signed their books in the same fashion, then Zhenyu's signature wouldn't look out of place."
"If you think it's feasible, I would certainly be happy to design signatures for the other authors as well." Albedo offered.
"You may leave carving the stamps to me." Kazuha added.
"In that case, I shall contact the other two authors participating in the new release event." Hirayama noted.
"It is a great honor to use a signature designed by Calx." Satomi beamed.
"My pen name is quite complicated and isn't suitable for signing events." Kadenokouji Kenzaburou admitted. "However, if we implement this new format, then it'll be a dream come true for me as well."
"Looks like everyone's on board with the idea." Paimon cheered.
"I'm sorry to have kept you busy for so long, Zhenyu." Hirayama turned to Xingqiu. "Please, take the next few days to have a good rest. We'll handle everything from here. The books that Zhenyu already signed can be used as special prizes in future events held by the Yae Publishing House."
Outside Uyuu Restaurant...
"We still have some time to burn, where should we go next?" Paimon asked.
"Traveler, there you are." Ayaka approached the group with Venti.
"It's Ayaka and Venti..." Paimon drawled. "That's an interesting combo."
"I was just going to the festival venue to prepare the ikebana lesson, when I found a strange piece of paper on a flower stand." Ayaka stated. "This bard just happened to be close by at the time. He informed me that you've also found similar papers recently. As such, we came together to find you two."
"But the paper she found isn't quite the same as the ones we found before." Venti supplied.
"Here's the paper." Ayaka handed the piece of paper to the Traveler. "Please, have a look."
"All the poems we found before were roughly the same length, but this one is only two lines!" Paimon looked through the 'The Five Kasen's Splendor: Sumizome'.
"And even though there are only two short sentences, neither of them are next to the title or centered on the page." Albedo pointed out. "The position of the writing seems to indicate that there is other content written on this paper besides these two lines."
"If we take the poem literally, it reads, 'Dip this paper in water, and see the truth naturally appear.'" Xingqiu translated. "Speaking of which, I have an ancient text at home, specializing in ancient and exotic stories. It mentions a special ink that will show itself when wet and disappear when it's dry."
"So, shall we give it a whirl?" Venti suggested. "It just so happens that there is a pond nearby."
By the pond...
"It's really working, more words have appeared on the paper!" Paimon gulped when the invisible words started to appear. "Let Paimon see what it says! The story says that after Sumizome got the collection of poems from Akahito and put them into a stream of water." she translated. "The plagiarized words in the poem became blurry. Why would that happen?"
"You see, Paimon, in the past, when printing was not yet well-developed, handwritten text could easily become smudged in books when exposed to moisture." Ayaka explained. "To ensure the text lasted longer, they'd either write using a special ink or coat the paper's surface with a waterproof coating once the writing was finished. Such special inks are time-consuming and laborious to produce, and the waterproof coating could also prove just as difficult. However, since Akahito's poetry collection was an important gift to be presented to the Shogun, surely one of those two methods was used to protect it. But as for the plagiarized poems, not only would they lack Akahito's seal, but the words would also react differently when exposed to liquid."
"So, this poem wasn't written by Akahito." the Traveler realized.
"Which means Akahito didn't plagiarize his work!" Paimon gaped. "He was set up!"
"It appears that this is the truth that Sumizome's story is trying to convey." Albedo agreed. "Although the story is saddening, I've decided on the subjects to use for Akahito and Sumizome's portraits. Kazuha, Ayaka, would you be willing to be the models for my paintings?"
"I would be delighted." Ayaka smiled.
"As would I." Kazuha nodded.
"There you go!" Paimon beamed. "The next two portraits should be ready in no time!"
"And now that all four stories have all been collected, the story of The Five Kasen is now fully completed." Albedo commented.
The next day...
"Long ago, Inazuma had five legendary poets." Yae started the cinematic narration. "People bestowed upon them the title of The Five Kasen."
"One year, the poet Suikou made his way to the Tenshukashu and presented the Kasen's work for the Shogun's perusal." Venti continued. "But a page from the works of Aoi no Okina had been torn out. And Suikou was questioned regarding the matter. Suikou pleaded guilty; he admitted to drinking at the tavern the night before and vaguely recalled a mysterious figure approaching while he was intoxicated."
"That figure was none other than Aoi no Okina himself." Xingqiu added. "This turn of events had begun with an unnamed individual under whose coercion Aoi no Okina was forced to take drastic measures to retrieve a page of poetry. He knew nothing of this individual's true intentions. All he knew was that the poem had to do with an old acquaintance, Akahito."
"Akahito had once belonged to the Five Kasen." Kazuha narrated. "Each poem he composed, he marked with a scarlet red seal, hence the 'Aka' in his name. Such a distinguished writer was he and yet one of the poems he had submitted the previous year was found to be plagiarized. Akahito was exiled for his crimes and only four of the Five Kasen remained."
"Sumizome went over Akahito's poems and noticed that the plagiarized poem lacked his seal." Ayaka provided the ending. "She immersed his poetry in a stream nearby and only on the plagiarized poem did the ink run. Aoi no Okina passed by and witnessed Sumizome's doing which he then recorded in a poem. Thus transpired the events of Suikou's poetry submission and this is where the story comes to an end.
" You seem upset, Paimon." the Traveler noticed their sighing companion.
"Ever since we completed the story of The Five Kasen, there's still one thing Paimon hasn't been able to figure out." Paimon confessed. "One of The Five Kasen is called Kuronushi, right? It's just that... how could the story of The Five Kasen finish without him appearing at all?"
"Have you really not noticed?" Venti burst out laughing.
"This is no time to be playing games, Tone-Deaf Bard!" Paimon fumed.
"What he means is that the story of Kuronushi was already embedded within the four poems." Albedo explained.
"That's right." Venti nodded. "The key lies in the poem that Aoi no Okina wrote after seeing Sumizome rinsing the poetry collection. An average person could never understand the scene of a young girl washing Akahito's poetry collection in a stream. Even Aoi no Okina couldn't figure out the meaning behind Sumizome's actions. He was simply reminiscing and thinking about his old acquaintances. However, for the perpetrator who framed Akahito, it was completely obvious. He was worried that if this poem was seen by the Shogun, then the Shogun could discover the truth behind the plagiarism incident. If that happened, then he'd be finished. So, in desperation, he threatened Aoi no Okina to make him tear out this poem."
"Which means the one who threatened Aoi no Okina is the same person that framed Akahito!" Paimon exclaimed.
"The culprit is none other than Kuronushi." the Traveler revealed.
"That's right." Venti concurred. "Though there are only four poems, they still manage to tell the complete story of all five Kasen. Since the Shogun mentioned in the poems is certainly not one of The Five Kasen, the only character left is the mysterious one with an unknown identity."
"However, this also brings something else to mind." Albedo pointed out. "The story of The Five Kasen has more or less reflected everything that has been happening around us lately. Which begs the question: Is there a Kuronushi in our world as well?"
"Speaking of which, I wonder if our dear Kazuha has come up with anything." Venti glanced over at the silent samurai.
"Kazuha!" Paimon called out. "Are you okay? You've been standing in front of this blank canvas for a while and you don't look so good."
"Apologies for making a wild assumption, but has the story of The Five Kasen reminded you of anything?" Albedo inquired.
"A few things did come to mind, actually." Kazuha admitted. "However, they were nothing more than some past incidents regarding my family. I don't mind sharing the stories, but I'd prefer not to bring you any more trouble."
"We're all friends here, Kazuha." Paimon related. "You can always tell us whatever's on your mind."
"Kaedehara, please forgive my assumption, but perhaps you are thinking of the Raiden Gokaden?" Ayaka realized where the thoughts of her family's former retainer had gone.
"It appears that Miss Kamisato and I were thinking of the same thing." Kazuha confessed. "But it also has much to do with the Yashiro Commission. It would be improper to speak of it here without the consent of Miss Kamisato."
"It's fine." Ayaka assured. "Those of us here are all trustworthy, so there isn't any harm in it. However, this matter is somewhat complicated and may be difficult to explain. Let me start with the Raiden Gokaden. As you all know, the Yashiro Commission's primary purpose is managing ceremonial and cultural affairs, and Inazuma's art of forging swords is a very important part of our culture. The Raiden Gokaden were once the top five schools of the forging art in Inazuma. Although these families were swordsmiths by craft, they also held many important positions in the Yashiro Commission. Unfortunately, of the five, only the Amenoma Art still maintains its artisan lineage. The descendants of the Isshin Art are also still alive, but the craft has been lost to time. The descendants of the Isshin Art are none other than the Kaedehara family."
"But that's all part of the past now." Kazuha nodded. "The Isshin Art was lost with my great grandfather's generation. My grandfather was dissatisfied with my great-grandfather's lack of effort. When he was young, my grandfather traveled all over Teyvat to find a way to revive the family business, but it was to no avail. And in my generation, our last remaining family property was lost as well."
"I heard my elder brother mention that the decline of the Raiden Gokaden happened very rapidly." Ayaka related. "In a span of a few decades, three of the families suffered various misfortunes and disappeared completely. Later, there was speculation that all of these misfortunes stemmed from some background machinations, meaning that someone wanted to wipe out the Raiden Gokaden. However, since not every family of the Raiden Gokaden came to ruin, such explanations were treated as nothing more than a conspiracy theory."
"I've also believed such ideas were just theories and rumors." Kazuha nodded. "However, I know that a major incident happened to my great-grandfather when he was young. Not only did it affect the Kaedehara Clan, but it nearly jeopardized the Kamisato Clan's position in the Yashiro Commission as well. After reading the story of The Five Kasen, I can't help but feel like it's pointing me toward the truth behind that incident."
"What exactly happened to your great-grandfather, Kazuha?" Paimon asked.
"I still can't say, I need to speak with someone to verify the details." Kazuha frowned. "Let's meet here again at noon tomorrow. I will tell you everything I know then."
SailorStar9: Any OOC-ness is regretted. *Grins* Don't you just love plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.