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Chapter 6: To Thunder Japan!

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Sampo Koski here! And I am on a boat to gettafuckoutofLiyue!

...

Oh, did I rush that last bit? My bad. Now, to be honest, everyone can get a bit shaken by the idea that I, your beloved Smuggler, is making a run for it. I mean, from who could I be running? And the answer of that is Rex Lapis as he wanted 'clarifications'.

It all started two months after the whole Me and DouDou vs. Shenhe. We were hailed as heroes (mostly by NingNing's secretaries), and we had gone back to work as usual. Smuggling is fun when you are pissing multiple Fatui groups at once.

Still, we had learned our lesson! The Mountains were filled with unkind people, while the sea was our homie as it should be for us piratey smugglers. So, no exploration back into Adepti's lands until strictly necessary and... avoiding a certain bird giving chase to me everywhere I go.

I mean, Xiao does look kind of adorable as a bird when I actually manage to get a glimpse of him, but he could be so... stalkerish. I blamed his Rock Dad for being too rocky as of now. I expected an escalation to ensue a few days after I learned to 'dodge the bird', but I was surprised it took months and for the next 'strike' to be someone that had been living in Liyue for a while now.

Cue Lady Ganyu, the General Secretary of the Qixing, visiting NingNing's legitimate business while Dou Dou and I were finishing getting the legit crates to the big-little lady herself. I almost jumped in surprise when she approached our table, and Beidou was equally surprised by the half-Qilin's appearance.

"I am sorry, but would you happen to be Sampo Koski?"

"That's me, Miss Ganyu," I replied cheerful, gritting my teeth inwardly as I knew the fun was over. Especially when she handed me what looked to be some official-tier letter. It was so official that a barely-distracted NingNing actually turned to fully grace it with her full attention as soon as it landed on my hands. "Hm? What's this?"

"A request for a meeting demanded by the Liyue Qixing to discuss of your crimes against the Harbor and Beyond," The cocogoat remarked calmly, if not with a hint of 'annoyance' (oh right, I kicked her step-sister's ass). "You are advised to be there punctually before the end of the day. And now, I shall take my leave."

Man, cold. She's so Cryo! And the worst part is that she used to be my waifu... then I realized there were bigger fishes in the sea.

After the horned lady left, I opened the letter, Dou Dou shifted her chair to get a look at it and Ning Ning was soon peeking at it from my other flank.

"'Sampo Koski, you are hereby accused of'..." Beidou paused, then frowned in shock. "That's a lot of horse shit."

"And most of it is outright false," Ningguang agreed with a nod. "Loitering? Vandalizing official walls? Sampo, I know your record and you never did that sort of stuff."

I nodded in agreement, but I leaned back on my chair, hands behind my head. "Yup. But that's not the point."

"What do you mean?" The pirate lady asked. "You need to fight this or-"

"There's no fight," I interjected, huffing. "The Qixing got pressured to get me exiled into the Adepti's lands since, you know, what I did back there."

Beidou sucked up all the air back to her lungs, and NingNing... frowned.

"What do you mean with that? You just got the flower-"

"And had to fight an Adeptus' apprentice there. You know, crazy girl that couldn't say much beyond 'no, you cannot violate these lands even if it is a matter of life or death'."

Ningguang turned her gaze to Beidou to seek confirmation of this new piece of information, and Dou Dou nodded at my words.

"And how... how would that anger the Adepti?"

"Yeah, that's actually what I don't get," The pirate girl frowned and turned to me. "So?"

"Well, up to a certain point we were getting our butts mauled back there. We cut some red string of this girl and she went murderous so... while that was happening, I kind of got a power-up."

...

"What kind of-"

"I have been blessed with a power from someone above Celestia and the Archons."

My confession was met with more shocked frowns.

"What does that even mean?"

"It means that I kind of 'broke the rules' to the point that Rex Lapis may have a bone to pick with me so... I think it's time for me to go," I answered curtly, then smiled a bit. "But worry not, I have a plan!"

We were soon at the closest section of the docks where my little 'Plan Inazuma' was staying at. Looking less like a boat and more like a silly thing under the cloth that covered it, after I pulled the cover away from it, I revealed a small 'turtle ship' with a large metallic pole over its upper section.

"...What's that ugly thing?" Beidou asked, and I beamed. "And no shitty 'it is a cool thing' answer from you."

I rolled my eyes, wounded in the pride and my soul. "Well, it is a cool thing-"

"Sampo-!" NingNing growled and I huffed.

"Fine, it's a small ship fitted to make the trip to Inazuma if needed," I explained thoroughly. "Since I am accustomed to get the boot in the past, I have plans to 'escape' trouble if it comes down to it. And since it's clear the Adepti are up to hunt me down, going to Mondstadt wouldn't do."

"...How does that pole even work? You want to drain the lightning or-"

"It disperses it. It's a little invention that got tested by the blacksmiths in the harbor as they have been tasked many times to find a solution to the Sakoku Decree," I further answered, interrupting Ningguang. "It is a cheap solution to this problem, but it's... 'ugly' to look at. And most of the bigger ships can't mount it since there's no safe space where to put it for maximum coverage."

Beidou nodded, looking deflated over the fact she couldn't make more safe trips to Inazuma. She did one already, but it was an experience that made the girl want to do most of her stuff in Liyue and, at times, in Sumeru.

"So, you're just going to... leave?"

"Yup."

Dou Dou scowled. "Sampo-"

I got it: it isn't nice to give goodbyes so suddenly. But it wasn't like I couldn't come back. Hell, it would be fair to say that once Rex Lapis 'died', I could try to return but... for now, staying wasn't an option.

"I don't like it. Not at all. And it sounds scummy of me but... really, do you know how this can go wrong if I stay or if you two help me 'hide away'? It would be a nightmare, and you two are my friends- I don't give grief to my friends."

Dou Dou looked away, while the other girls

"Really?" NingNing asked sarcastically and, before I could answer, she pulled me a quick one on me by actually lunging for a hug. "Still, you're not leaving without a hug and the promise you will be back." to be my friend and my slave-worker.

I was soon sandwiched by the two girls as the pirate girl didn't want to be left out. But while Ningguang let go of me, Dou Dou made a point on how truly close we were by not letting go as quickly or as happily as our business friend.

"Dou Dou-"

"I-I want this to stick to me. The memory. I... I will miss you, 'PoPo'," She sniffed loudly, nuzzling against my shoulder.

"That name shall perish if you want me to return," I snarkily remarked, but I ruffled her hair a bit. "But I will be back. Not gonna let my fellow smuggler go without dating advice in her times of need."

She playfully smacked my shoulder after pulling back from the embrace, and I actually felt hurt by it. Ouch, the feelings.

Still, it was sober. Too sober. I could tell that I was going to miss the place but... there was one thing I left for Dou Dou to deal with.

"Also... these two letters. Do bring them to their destination."

"You're not going to tell them?"

"Nah," I admitted tiredly. "Tao Tao will understand, same for Fe Fe."

"I doubt they will," NingNing huffed. "But time is of essence. Good luck in Inazuma, Sampo."

"Same for you with the political plans of yours, NingNing."

After that, I sailed off towards Inazuma. The small ship was furbished with all the stuff I needed for the trip, and I even prepared fishing equipment in case I was to run out of food. Like hell I was going to die in the ocean - I was a smuggler, the sea was now my home.

And as I was off for the next region, I was soon swept away by the one thing that I hadn't taken under consideration: there is a good reason why Dou Dou is the one at the wheel of the ship whenever I am around...

I can't pinpoint directions when I am sailing the seas.

Different POV

It was a little over lunchttime, and a certain little girl that had decided to depart from the temple to find some solo time was glad that no one was nagging at her 'freedom time'.

Relief crossing her face, she found herself reaching the little beach behind the religious site. The book she had been carrying by her arm soon opened to the last page she read the previous day. She had a smile on her face, delighted by the fact that her grandmother was still around to do the religious rites while she was still too young to tackle the matter just yet.

Being a little priestess is no fun. Especially when you are meant to eventually take over the entire temple. That was a lot of responsibilities, but little Sangonomiya Kokomi was 10 and happy with her life. Her granny, albeit strict at times, still loved her lots and she could still enjoy the beauty of Watatsumi Island without being pressured into more boring lessons.

She was too young to be bothered by such a thing! Which is why books were her only protection from the boredom that would be adulthood. In those books of hers, most of which involving warriors and heroes, Kokomi would see herself as the bold heroine of Watatsumi. The one that would wage the 'right war' and settle the centuries-old score between her home and the Shogunate.

Many times she had been told that Inazuma was to blame for slaying Orobashi, for killing a 'rival god' and then refusing to aid their struggles, but Kokomi knew there was more to it - her ancestor forced that situation by having their own God clash with the Shogunate and, without hesitation, the Electro Archon struck back, bringing down their patron deity in the process.

Kokomi was taught about revenge as something needed, but she was aware that, despite all those harsh stories, there was always more to it. Just like there was more than just a strange young man that had just shipwrecked in the very beach she was staying at. What got her attention was the fact he was wearing clothes unlike those of her home- actually, none that were of Inazuman descent. A foreigner?

With a baffled look on her face, the little girl stood up from her seat-rock, walking closer to the sight of said man celebrating having 'survived the trip'. Kokomi remembered that Inazuma was meant to be isolated, so maybe that was tied to that.

Despite having a feeling this man was something like a pirate, the childish curiosity deep in her heart easily had her common sense beat as she approached and-

"Are you a pirate?"

The young man froze up, and then his green eyes turned to her. "Hm? Oh my, what a cute girl! And... no, but one my friend is a pirate lady."

"Really?"

"Yup. Also, I am Sampo."

What a silly name.

"Kokomi."

Sampo beamed at her. "Nice to meet ya, Komi-hime."

She smiled back at the cute honorific.

"Say, can you help me to speak with this island's leader? I would like to not cause a ruckus by being found here unlawfully."

"Granny should be free soon. But I can show you around!"

Smiling widely, Sampo patted her head. "Sure thing. Lead the way, Komi-hime!"

Kokomi thought she had found her first ever friend but... she would find Sampo better suited as her most trusted war advisor and surrogate big brother.

AN

The Inazuma Arc thus begins, but it will be far longer than the Liyue one. Sampo will be back in Liyue in due time, but for now he has a lot to do in Inazuma between Canon and Non-Canon.