Back from the death
The skies roar raged, turning pitch-black as furious lightning cross them with a force and ferocity never seen until then, before they plunge all Inazuma under the pouring rain, rivers of water flooding every inch of its streets threatening to break into its residents' houses.
And yet Yae, far from worrying about the Inazumans' well-being or the grief that seems to take over her Archon, can only understand her perfectly, sinking into the darkness of her surroundings as the hollowness inside her becomes heavier, more painful with each raindrop that falls. With each raindrop wetting her face and disguising her tears as one of them.
A broken sob escapes the lips of the Head priestess as her legs collapse sending her to the ground, her knees touching the wet grass under them, kneeling in front of the timid but vibrant red dendrobium she just planted at the base of the Sacred Sakura.
Her favorite place.
Yae thinks as a new wave of tears flood her eyes, rolling down her face to fall onto the petals of the flower, of Sara's favorite flower.
The pink haired woman almost wants to laugh at the cruelty of it, her gaze staring hopelessly at it and its intense color, before it lands on the same color painting the broken mask in her hands.
It wasn't supposed to end like this. Not with Sara…
She tells herself, cutting her train of thoughts as guilt consumes her for not have been able to stop the always brave and fearless general from going alone to a reconnaissance mission in which she encountered her death at the hands of some filthy fatuis and smugglers thirsty for blood and revenge.
More tears fall from her eyes to trace the edges of the broken tengu mask in her hands as thunders reverberate, shaking the ground beneath her, before she pulls the mask closer to her chest, to her heart in a feeble attempt to stay closer to the dead general. To feel her closer…
The cold wind blowing sends a shiver down her soaked body, carrying with it the rustling of the hundreds of petals adorning the centenarian tree's branches, before the echo of a voice whispers in her ear.
- It's okay, I'm here.
The deep voice of her beloved general soothes her, an inexplicable warmth enveloping her as if it was the tight embrace that the dark purple haired woman always wrapped her in with her strong arms.
- Sara…
Her voice breaks as she utters the name of her beloved, the warm and strong pair of invisible arms embracing her tightening more around her frame.
- I'm here. I'm always here.
Sara promises her, and even though her beloved never lies always being true to her word, Yae knows this time it won't be like that.
She knows that even though she can feel her strong arms embracing her as they always do, her wings wrapped around her tightly to shelter her from the pouring rain as Sara's body is pressed against hers giving her a feeling of warmth and protection while the ghost of her breathing tickles her neck, Sara won't be coming back anymore.
She won't come back from the death no matter how hard she prays and wishes for it.
The painful feeling clenching her chest only seems to worsen as the cruel reality hits her as hard as the cold wind blowing, making Yae seek shelter and comfort in the arms and wings of her long gone lover.
- I love you.
She croaks in a desperate attempt to let Sara know how much she loves her. How much she will always love her.
- I know. I love you too, my little fox.
She hears Sara calling her by her pet name softly, the ghost of a smile playing on the general's lips as she leaves an ephemeral kiss on Yae's wet cheek.
- I will always love you.
Sara whispers sincerely in her ear, tightening her embrace around Yae, and the pink haired woman can only embrace herself harder to keep feeling Sara with her, interlacing her fingers with the general's ones.
- Please, don't ever leave me.
She knows such a request to a dead person is irrational, but if somebody can fulfill it, it's Sara.
- I won't. I'll always be here with you, protecting you, loving you...
Even if you can't see me…
The wind carries the left unsaid words, bringing some comfort to Yae's broken heart as tears keep falling down her face to mix with the pouring rain, before the coldness returns, Sara's warm embrace and lingering kiss on her cheek long gone with it.
- I'll miss you…
Yae whispers, hugging the broken mask tighter against her chest and close to her heart, feeling a warm electro spark touching it, before she rises from the ground and walks back to her private chambers shakily.
As she walks away, the Sacred Sakura sways moved by the blowing wind, pink petals falling and swirling in circles to rest around the red dendrobium planted at its base.
- I'll miss you too, my little fox. Remember I'll always love you and protect you until we can be together again.
The general whispers gently, a tear falling from her eyes onto the Sakura petals while the wind carries away her words, a black feather coming to rest beside the vibrant flower as the skies mourn Sara's departure.