VI
Usagi and Sona sat down on the porch just outside the monastery. Sona happily sipped her drink, her ethawl sitting on her lap. It seemed to play a soft tune that filled the silence between them. Usagi had a hand on her cheek to support her head. Her eyes were lost in the sky.
A messenger had told them that Lestara will be there soon to pick up Sona. The green-haired sighed, but she knew that she had to go back to her home in Demacia anyways. Not to mention, she didn't want her getting caught up in this mess.
Sona glanced up at her, then followed her eyes to the sky. It was a clear day on the island; there were hardly any clouds save for the one blocking part of the sun. The blue-haired poked her friend's shoulder and she jumped.
Usagi stared at her blue eyes and tilted her head, "What is it Sona?"
She made a few handsigns at her, bobbling her head side to side. Usagi lowered her head as she replied, "Shen and I just had a serious conversation. It was bound to happen anyways."
The blue-haired frowned, then gave a few more handsigns. Her friend shook her head, "It's something I don't want to talk about." she turned her head away, a hand still holding up her head.
The ethawl gave a low murmur before Sona plucked at its strings. She played a soothing tune that calmed their surroundings. Usagi's head felt a bit lighter and she felt safe. She knew this tune very well, she would hear it during some of her Ionian performances.
"Thank you." Usagi gave her a small smile. Sona had her eyes closed while playing but she smiled back to her. The green-haired started humming along to the song.
A carriage surrounded by guards pulled up in front of the order. Sona opened her eyes and took her hands off the ethawl. Usagi casted her eyes downwards for a moment, then smiled at her. "Looks like its time for you to go."
Sona nodded and put her instrument down beside her. She gave her friend a tight hug and she hugged back. In those few seconds, Usagi thought about the situation and how she wanted her to be safe. "Be careful." she whispered. "I hope you come visit soon."
They pulled back and the blue-haired nodded. She stood up, her ethawl rising with her, as they glided to the carriage entrance. Usagi watched as the driver opened the door for her. She could see Lestara inside, greeting her daughter. The carriage closed and soon they were off.
"Is that Sona Buvelle? She seems like a nice woman." Akali stood behind her and spoke.
Usagi almost jumped hearing her voice. "Huh? Yeah, she's very nice. Jhin threatened her in the past, so I'm just hoping for her safety." she made a fist with her hand as she muttered, "If he tries anything, I'll end him myself."
Akali remained silent as she looked in a different direction. The first thing she asked when the investigation started was if there was a way to get rid of him. Shen shook his head saying his father wouldn't want that. He wanted to put him back in jail.
"What are you going to do now?" Akali asked her.
"I already informed everyone I need to. I want to help with the investigation." Usagi replied. She furrowed her eyebrows and looked into the forest surrounding them.
"I see." Akali said it as an absentminded thought. She had her head turned in an entirely different direction. "If need be, I can accompany you back home."
Usagi stood up and brushed off her dress. She shook her head as she said, "I should be fine. But thank you though." her book rose and levitated in front of her. "I'll be heading home for now."
As the green-haired's feet left the ground, Akali closed her eyes and gave a nod. "I hope you come to see us again soon." she said to her. Her back was turned to her as she walked back inside the monastery.
"I hope so as well." Usagi bit her lip as she said that. After the conversation with Shen, she wasn't sure where she stood. And she knew Akali wanted Zed dead, she hated him with a passion. She sighed; what would've came out of the conversation if she truly told everything?
She flew with the recent conversation repeating in her head. She remembered the last few words he said before letting her leave, making her spine shudder.
'If you threaten the balance as well, we will not hesitate to end you too. Take that into consideration before making a reckless decision.'
She didn't realize the tears falling until they blinded her. She blinked and rubbed them until her eyes were red. A potion to prevent crying ran through her mind as she rubbed the remaining ones away. Usagi levitated down until she reached the ground.
She reached for the door when she felt something. It was the same presence from outside the Kinkou Order. Maybe it was a messenger? Perhaps it was one of the ninjas from the Order? Maybe it was another foe that followed her to her home?
She spun around to find a vastayan. A very strange one she had read about recently.
A fox vastayan who didn't seem to belong in any of the vastayan tribes. The author described her as the 'pinnacle of beauty' amongst both humans and vastayans. She could see why; aside from her ears and tails, she was unnaturally beautiful.
They stared at each other with a blank face until Usagi broke the silence, "You're that fox they call Ahri. What do you want with me?"
Her fox ears perked up as she sighed, "So you know me already." her tails swayed in the light breeze as she continued, "I overheard the conversation you had and... I can help you find out who he is connected to. But..."
Usagi stepped back as she leaped forward, a spirit orb levitating in her palm. The green-haired could faintly feel the energy of human spirits within the orb and shuddered. Ahri smiled, "...I want you to help me in return. I've been told you have a strong affinity for magic and have many potion and spell books."
"And what do you want with that? Vastayans have an even stronger affinity for magic than humans." Usagi pointed out.
"Would you say you're human still?"
Usagi opened her mouth but stopped herself. Her heart glowed a bright blue in response to her instead. She gave a defeated sigh and asked, "What exactly did you need?"
"I would like a potion to hide my presence. I wish to see Akali but I cannot have her Master stand in my way."
"Akali? I didn't know she had a fox friend." Usagi chuckled.
Her chuckling slowed when Ahri's dead serious glare didn't waver. "Girlfriend.", she corrected the green-haired. "But I wish to see her more freely, she's concerned about the repercussions if she continues to sneak out to see me."
"...A simple wish, hmm." Usagi said to herself, nodding her head. She turned back to the fox and answered, "I can make that for you. But only if you help me with one thing. Vastayans are not the most... trustworthy."
"Neither are humans." Ahri squinted at her.
"But according to you, I'm not human." Usagi mimicked the smile Ahri had on her face moments ago.
It was her turn to give a lengthy sigh. She tilted her head, her ears perked up again as to listen carefully. "And what do you need me to do?"
Usagi thought for a moment; she wanted to question a few people on what they knew about the situation. They had a hard time finding him, but she was certain that with her heightened senses, she could track him down. "You know the swordsman, Yasuo? He's a supposed criminal who killed one of the Elders. Tomorrow morning we can go and search for him together."
Ahri nodded as she asked, "May I stay nearby for the night?"
Usagi furrowed her eyebrows as she glanced at the front door. She made a stiff turn and opened it with her magic. Ahri raised her eyebrows before she let herself inside. The fox had never seen so much clutter though; books were scattered, papers littered the floor, and strange liquids were on every surface. Among the mess though, she could see a room that she assumed was the green-haired's which was entirely clean.
"You can stay in the guest room." she said opening a door to the side.
Ahri peeked in, it was a small room with a bed and a light hanging above her. It was the only other place in the house that wasn't messy. "Thanks." she said as she closed the door on the other woman.
Usagi wriggled her nose before leaving to work on the potion for her. She sat in the kitchen and opened her book and flipped to a spell. She grabbed another book from nearby and flipped to a potion. Lastly, she flipped through her diary and to an entry she wrote a while ago. Some feelings she wanted to get on paper.
The guest room's door creaked open again as the fox peered from the room, watching the woman have out a few jars and mix ingredients. She watched as the green-haired conjured a pitch black essence feom the palm of her hand and dipped it into the mixture.
Ahri narrowed her eyes; the essence looked vaguely familiar.
She walked over to get a closer look at what she was making. The Vastayan assumed it was the potion she asked for, but seeing her mix and using magic made her a little curious. It wasn't everyday she got to see a human up close and personal.
"What was that magic you used?" she called from behind the woman.
Usagi jumped and swirled around. One hand grabbed the side of the table while the other went directly to her heart. "You scared me." she cleared her throat as she asked, "I was just using magic that would be the main component for hiding your presence. You'll move like... a shadow."
"A... shadow?"
Ahri pondered the thought for a moment. She shook her head at her first assumption, it was merely a coincidence she said that. By the time the fox wanted to say more, she turned back around to her work.
"You don't get a lot of visitors do you?" Ahri sneered.
"Oh... no, I don't let a lot of people into my house."
"Then why did you let me?"
"Because you're helping me. And besides," Usagi turned around to face her, potion in hand shaking it gently. "You don't seem like you have a home to go to. It wouldn't be fair if I didn't let you stay for at least a night."
Ahri thought back to the two gemstones in her pocket. "I see." her ears drooped slightly as she took a step back. She was about to slink back into the guest room when something caught her eye on the table: Usagi's diary. She recognized it as the same book in her hands from before.
She snatched it from the table, skimming the entry she had it on. Before she could properly read it, a force knocked the book out of her hands. Ahri snapped her head at the green-haired, who had her hand outstretched, a mortified look on her face.
"What are you doing with my diary...?"
"I was curious, you carry it around everywhere so it must be important to you."
Usagi stooped down to pick up the diary, brushing it off before closing it and setting it aside. "It is very important. Its... things I think about but can't say, things I think about but will never say. They're so I can get them out of my head."
"I understand, although... my situation isn't as similar. I had memories, feelings I wanted to forget. I didn't want to keep remembering them, I wanted them out of my head. I went to a magical garden." As Ahri said the last part, Usagi's eyes widened. "Do you know of this garden?"
"...I do." Usagi tilted her head. "How could you go to that length?"
"I was unsure of the risks at the time. I foolishly walked inside, hoping the most painful memories would disappear. An old lady, the gardener there, warned me of what happened if I stayed. The flowers didn't take just one memory, they would eat everything and leave you hollow."
"Oh god. I didn't realize..." she stopped and stared into her golden eyes. "You were very brave."
"No, I ran... just like I usually did... I ran."
Ahri held the side of her arm and moved away. Usagi lowered her head, still gripping the potion in hand.
"...That's something we both have in common."
A/N: Sorry for the delay in updating. Life happened, but I'm hoping to updatd biweekly like before ^^