Chapter Text
From the moment Kazuha met the Traveler, he could sense he and his companion were different.
"You two give off not only the essence of wind and earth," Kazuha notes, "but also of the stars… but that shining brilliance conceals a dark vastness lurking just beyond."
"Eh?" The fairy-like being tilts their head. "The fragrance of what now? That's the weirdest compliment Paimon's ever heard…"
The Traveler only blinks at him—something in his posture becoming guarded.
"Pay it no heed," Kazuha says, shaking his head. "I mean only to say I am certain that it is by fate, not chance alone, that we should meet… and that gives our encounter meaning."
"Fate…" the Traveler murmurs before crossing his arms and looking at Beidou. "Is this guy a bard, by any chance?"
Beidou laughs. "You're not far off, but they go by a different name in Inazuma. This young man is Kaedehara Kazuha, a temporary addition to my crew for reasons I won't bore you with. Occasionally, he opens his mouth and flowers come out instead of words."
"With this fine ship and the soft breeze," Kazuha says, "would it not be romantically irresponsible of me not to acknowledge it with a line or two of poetry?"
The Traveler snorts softly.
Watching the Traveler—Aether, Beidou had introduced him as—is fascinating. There is an odd blend of confidence and uncertainty in his movements in his matches of the Crux Clash, as if he is used to fighting, but not like this. There is a tension in his rhythms, a clear sign of his restraint. A humming scent of wind and earth and something else, quietly contained.
Kazuha requests to speak with him in a more private location, and Aether agrees. "Now that we're alone," Kazuha says, "let me cut to the heart of the matter. You are skilled in manipulating the elements. And not just a single element, but multiple. Is that correct?"
Aether tilts his head. "How can you tell?"
Kazuha lets out a soft chuckle. "When I talk about that which I see or hear in you, this is not poetic symbolism at play. I mean this things in the truest sense possible. Since a young age, I have been attuned to the tidings of nature. I hear the breath of the wind and the whispers of the leaves. It is things of this nature that I also hear from within you, nothing more."
"I see," Aether says, and there it is again—that defensive, wary stance.
"Perhaps, you're curious about what I make of the scent of stars and the vastness you give off?" Kazuha hums. "You have an incredibly complex scent, like that of some mysterious being… Allow me to guess. You are from beyond this world, with an origin in the stars and the emptiness that surrounds them."
"Hey," Paimon says, stomping her foot. "Stop evaluating us based on our smell! It's weird!"
"It is a mere humble talent of mine," Kazuha says.
Aether stares at Kazuha, then huffs. "That's impressive," he says. "You can tell all that just from my scent?"
"Merely a guess. Is your otherworldly nature something you wish to keep hidden?"
Aether pauses, then shakes his head. "No, I'm fine with others knowing I'm not of this world. It's… well, pretty obvious that I'm not from any particular nation here, I think. And… well, I don't particularly hide my elemental abilities either."
Curious. Perhaps there is something else he does not wish to be perceived, then—but Kazuha decides not to poke at it, so as to keep the Traveler from tensing up once more. "Could you perchance enlighten me as to how you managed to obtain your combined elemental abilities?" he asks.
Aether exchanges a look with Paimon. "Well… all I did was touch a Statue of the Seven, and I guess the energy resonated with me?"
"Hmm, extraordinary," Kazuha murmurs. "So then, might I be so bold as to inquire how exactly it is that you learned to channel elemental energy, and even wield it in combat?"
Aether shrugs. "I had a lot of help with Paimon's guidance, but a lot of it was pretty instinctual."
Interesting. Kazuha asks Aether to demonstrate his elemental abilities—he hesitates, but agrees. "I'll say that I generally only use one element at a time," he notes. "It's a lot easier that way. Right now, I'm attuned to Geo."
"I see," Kazuha says, and then proceeds to observe the Traveler in battle.
Yet, even now, with their usage of elemental power, he gets the strong sense that Aether is holding back; that there is an even more natural way of fighting for him. "Are there further abilities you're used to using?" Kazuha asks.
Aether huffs. "Can't hide it from you, can I? Yes, but I tend not to use them and they can cause me some trouble, so I won't be showing them to you."
"I see," Kazuha says. "Regardless, your skills in battle are truly beyond reproach. Even with your opponent's speed, he shouldn't be able to overwhelm you. Your opponent is skilled at controlling his breathing and maintaining balance, which enables him to execute moves that many would find impossible. He relies entirely on the element of surprise to defeat his opponents. In other words, as long as you remain mindful of his ability to detect weak points, then his attack should pose no threat to you."
Aether nods. "Thank you, I will not underestimate him."
Kazuha shakes his head. "Please, save your thanks. If anything, I should be thanking you for the opportunity to witness your command of the elements that defies all known principles. The world is a truly mysterious place, it seems, and one will always encounter that which is still unknown."
Aether lets out a breathy laugh. "Yeah."
After chasing down the thief and letting him go, Kazuha tells Aether about the story of his friend. He closes his eyes and can see the memories in his mind—arriving at Tenshukaku all too late, reaching out to snatch his friend's Vision out of the air, clutching it tightly despite the burn of that fading light.
"Perhaps one day I may come to find that all I have done is meaningless," he murmurs. "But as a wandering samurai, I find meaning in traveling and the sprawling beauty of nature that lies along the way, while still retaining the 'warrior way' in my heart…" he opens his eyes and trails off as he catches a sight he doesn't expect.
Aether is staring blankly at some middle point in the air, tears slipping out of his eyes as he blinks. "Ah—Aether?" Kazuha calls out. While the story is indeed sorrowful, such a strong reaction is… unexpected, especially from someone he just met.
Aether startles, meeting Kazuha's eyes. "Sorry," he says quickly, reaching up to wipe his eyes. "Um." He blinks a few times before his gaze shifts to Kazuha's bandaged hand. "Does it still hurt? From—when you caught the Vision."
Kazuha pauses before lifting up his hand. "On occasion, it aches when it storms." He tilts his head. "How did you know it burned me?"
"Uh—I guess, um. I assumed?" Aether shakes his head—Kazuha gets the feeling that he is attempting to gather some scattered sense of himself. "Sorry, I just… loss is difficult. If you need to talk more," he says, quietly, "I'm here to listen."
Kazuha allows silence to reign for a moment. "What did you see?" he asks. A flashback? Or… something else?
Aether tenses and then sighs. "It's nothing. I just… I'm happy to listen if you need it."
Kazuha hums and closes his eyes. "Do not let my feelings trouble you. But… thank you."
Aether smiles weakly, and they return.
Their next notable encounter is at the front lines of a battle between the resistance and the Shogun's army. Kazuha can see that he is now attuned to the power of Electro, but there's something else.
It's only after the battle, when they are gathered to talk, that Kazuha identifies it. The scent of death clings to him, but not the kind found in battle. It is strange, deeply intertwined with that essence of vastness within him.
Additionally, as Kazuha observes while Aether talks with Sangonomiya, there is a stiffness to him, both in his movements and in his expressions. Subtle, but present, and he is allowing Paimon to do much of the talking for him.
After Aether's conversation with Sangonomiya concludes, Kazuha reaches out for Aether's arm. "Aether, could we—" Aether startles, taking a step back, but Kazuha has already felt it as he brushed against the exposed skin. To describe it as ice cold would be insufficient to capture the pure void of warmth he felt. "—... talk," Kazuha finishes.
Aether hesitates but nods, waving to Beidou and Gorou. He looks at Paimon and they seem to exchange something unsaid before she disappears in a burst of constellations. Then, they walk towards a more secluded area. They end up by a shipwreck, Aether sitting down on what is left of a crate. "I'm guessing you sense… something," Aether says.
Kazuha nods. "The scent of death clings to you, interlaced with that thread of vast emptiness," he says. "What happened?" When Aether doesn't speak, he continues. "On the way here, I happened to learn of the bounty on your head." He huffs softly. "As expected, you seem to have given them quite the challenge in that regard."
Aether nods.
"I hear also," Kazuha continues, "that you witnessed the Raiden Shogun? I trust she's as oppressive as ever." He pauses. "I hear that she struck you with the Musou no Hitotachi—yet, here you are."
Aether closes his eyes, letting out a soft hum.
"It is said that none can survive divine punishment," Kazuha says. "And now the scent of death and nothingness is sharp and clear upon you." He kneels down, slowly taking one of Aether's hands in both his own, feeling it sap his own warmth. Interestingly, it does not feel terribly freezing—it simply does not show any signs or warming up whatsoever. "What happened, Aether?"
Aether opens his eyes and looks at Kazuha. His gaze feels something between exhausted and apathetic. "I died."
Kazuha lets that sink in. "But… you are here now?"
"I come back," Aether says. "It's not pleasant. I try to avoid it." He closes his eyes again, smiling wryly. "I'm already too invested… if I need to, I'll die again. For all of you."
Kazuha looks at their hands. "This is… quite the revelation. Does anyone else know?"
"Thoma. He… watched me die. It's lucky that something went wrong with my process, or I might've…" Aether trails off.
Thoma, hm? The housekeeper of the Yashiro Commission's Kamisato Clan, as Kazuha recalls. More importantly… "Something went wrong?"
"Mm."
By now, Kazuha's hands are cold, and the sensation continues up his arms. Still, he doesn't let go. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
Aether blinks at him, surprise coloring his expression. "You're not going to ask me more?"
"If you want to tell me," Kazuha says, "I will listen. But I will not press if you do not wish to talk about it."
"Mm." Aether closes his eyes. "The coldness will fade in time, though I'm not sure how long it'll take since it was… different."
"Do you feel cold?" Kazuha asks.
"Mm." He nods.
"Does this help?" Kazuha asks, squeezing their hands.
Aether hesitates for a long moment. "It's a comfort, but it makes no difference in how long it takes for me to return to normal."
Kazuha huffs lightly. "But you enjoy it?"
"… You'll get cold," Aether says.
"I have traveled the wilderness and slept in the rain with naught but a tree over my head," Kazuha says. "I can tolerate being cold just fine. Aether, if there's anything I can do for you, you need only ask."
"Why?" Aether asks.
Kazuha blinks. "Why indeed. I'd like to think we are friends by now."
"Oh," Aether says softly. After a long moment, he lowers his head. "If… you'd be comfortable with it. Can I have a hug?"
Kazuha hums. He wordlessly withdraws his hands from Aether's, and then carefully wraps his hands around Aether's frame, pulling him against Kazuha's shoulder. Aether's arms come up to wrap around Kazuha's back. He is undeniably cold, draining what warmth Kazuha has from his rain-soaked clothes. But… it's been a long time since Kazuha has held or been held like this, and it makes something in his chest feel warm in spite of the lack of physical heat.
Aether squeezes him once with a shuddering breath before gently pushing Kazuha away. "Thank you," he says quietly. "And… sorry."
"You have nothing to apologize for," Kazuha says. "Take care of yourself, alright?"
Aether laughs. "I'll try."
As far as attempts go, Kazuha is not very impressed, considering that, in Aether's emergence out of Tenshukaku, the scent of emptiness and death is several times sharper than it was the last time. Judging by the black stains on his clothes, which exude that essence of nothingness, Aether has only just died. Again.
Kazuha barely has enough time to take in his expression of absolute apathy before Electro crackles behind Aether. Time seems to slow as he sees that divine blade descending to Aether's neck, and—no. No. Not again, not here, not by her hand, by her blade.
Something surges in him. Electricity crackles across his skin, and there is a whisper, a lingering scent—
There will always be those who dare to brave the lightning's glow.
Before he knows it, he is already rushing forward to push Aether aside and meet the Shogun's blade. There is an explosion of power, rattling him to his bones, but somehow—somehow, he is bearing her blade.
There's a ghost of a touch on his shoulder, I'm with you—and Kazuha feels both Anemo and Electro surge within him as he yells out, pushing her blade back.
He barely has time to process any of this before the Shogun recovers, lunging towards him. Kazuha manages to block the attack, barely, sliding back and supporting himself with his blade.
He watches his friend's Vision clatter to the ground, the purple glow flickering before fading. Kazuha registers how harshly he's breathing, how his heart pounds and his hands shake.
The resistance members yell out—"Charge!" And Kazuha would join but his limbs feel like static—
"Aether!" Paimon shouts. "They're no match for her, they're gonna…"
Kazuha looks at Aether, and sees a spark alight in that heavy apathy. The Traveler grips his sword, leaping at the Shogun before—vanishing. Immediately, the Shogun closes her eyes, a cylindrical barrier of Electro forming around her.
The soldiers hesitate at the sight, save for one brave soul that rushes forward—only to be blown back by a surge of electricity, barely caught by Gorou to keep him from falling down the stairs. The Shogun has no other reaction.
The other soldiers hover in uncertainty as Kazuha finally gathers the strength to stand. He picks up his friend's Vision, clasping it in his hand.
"Kazuha," Gorou calls out as he approaches. "You're alright?"
"Yes, I'll be fine."
"Do any of you have any idea what's happening?" Gorou asks, looking at the Shogun. His ears are pressed down in distress.
"Aether went to fight the Electro Archon inside a plane of consciousness," Paimon says, floating closer. "He's… well, we had a plan, so it should go better than last time, but…" she looks at the Shogun, clear worry on her face.
"I see," Kazuha murmurs. He closes his eyes and breathes. Most prominent is the hum of Electro in the air, but there are layers to the scent he can't identify. "I'd heard the Traveler vanished briefly at his first encounter with the Shogun as well. So that is what occurred…" And he certainly hopes it turns out better than last time, since last time he died, didn't he? Kazuha wonders what consequences there are for dying too often. The apathy that weighs upon him—what would happen if it crushes that gentle care of his?
"Is there nothing we can do?" Gorou asks.
"We can't reach him now," Paimon says. Kazuha opens his eyes to see her wringing her hands. "We just have to wait."
Kazuha hums, looking at the Shogun. "If nothing else… we can hope."
There is a brief pause, and then— "H-hey, look!" one of the soldiers calls out, and Kazuha looks back to see a light emanating from what appears to be the location of the Statue of the Omnipresent God. The glow becomes stronger before surging towards the sky, scattering into lights like stars. Just as this happens, Kazuha feels a hum in his hand, and his friend's Vision crackles once, twice, flickering with light.
"I can feel it," that soldier says, eyes wide. "My Vision…"
Two other soldiers echo the sentiment, seeming to be in something of a daze.
Kazuha looks back at the Shogun, gripping his friend's Vision tightly. What is happening in there?
Then, lightning crackles. The Shogun's barrier drops, and pale light coalesces into Aether's form, his back to Kazuha as he faces the Shogun.
"Hm," the Shogun says, looking down at him. "We will meet again another time." She turns around, robes flapping in the air before the gates of Tenshukaku close behind her.
Aether seems to slump slightly, and this spurs Kazuha to action. "Aether!" he calls out, rushing forward as Paimon and Gorou do the same. Kazuha lightly grasps the Traveler's arm as he pats him down for injuries. "Are you alright?" he asks. He seems physically fine, but… "How odd," he says, hand on Aether's neck. "I can't tell if you're running hot or cold. Both?"
There's that sense of that bottomless lack of heat along with a prickling energy that… doesn't quite feel like heat, but registers similarly at his touch.
Aether blinks at him slowly. "Ah… I'm fine," he says, and Kazuha lets him go. "Or, well… I will be. I think things have been sorted now. How much time has passed?"
"Not too long, just a few minutes," Gorou says. "You just vanished and the Shogun closed her eyes, Electro forming a field around her. We couldn't get close. And then everyone felt like they could feel their Visions again—it was strange."
"Ah. Well, they should get those back shortly." Aether blinks again, swaying slightly.
"Hey, Aether, you okay?" Paimon asks. "You look tired."
Aether hums. "Yeah, it's… been a lot. I think I want to sleep for a week. An actual week."
Kazuha exchanges a look with Gorou. "I find myself uncertain if you're joking," Kazuha says.
"Nope," Aether says. "I think I'm about to pass out."
A look of alarm crosses Gorou's face.
"Don't be alarmed," Aether says, waving him off. "I may sleep like the dead, but I promise I won't actually be dead, probably. I won't starve or anything. I just ate. Ugh, it'd be nice if those teleport waypoints were working…" He looks down the stairs leading to Tenshukaku. "Stairs…"
He doesn't seem to be fully aware of his rambling. "You say very strange things, Aether," Kazuha says. "If you like, I can bring you to wherever you are staying?"
"Hmm?" Aether blinks at Kazuha. "Oh, great. Well. Komore Teahouse is probably best." There is a pause as he stares at some middle distance. "I think that's it from me," he says. "See you when I wake up." He suddenly falls forward like a doll with its strings cut.
Kazuha rushes forward to catch him, wincing slightly as pins and needles reverberate through his body at the impact.
"Aether!" Gorou calls out, hovering worriedly. "Is he…"
Kazuha adjusts his grip, calling upon the power of Anemo to lighten the weight. "I'll take him to Komore Teahouse. Paimon, will you come?"
"Of course," Paimon says, and vanishes into scattered stars whose scent settles around Aether.
Kazuha nods at Gorou and the soldiers before calling upon the winds to guide him.
A young lady opens the door for them at Komore Teahouse, first a sliver before catching sight of Aether in Kazuha's arms, after which she slides the door open fully. She peers at Kazuha. "You are…"
"Aether requested to be brought here," Kazuha says. "Would it be possible for him to take a room to rest for approximately a week?"
"A week?" the lady repeats. "Ah—yes, of course. Please, follow me."
Kazuha trails after her, directed to a private backroom. The lady moves to a closet and pulls out a futon, laying it out quickly. "Here—um…"
"Kazuha is fine," Kazuha says. He gently sets Aether down on the futon, pulling the blankets up to cover him. Then, he kneels by Aether's side and breathes, closing his eyes.
So much occurred in such a short span of time. He remembers how his clash with the Shogun shook his entire frame, how he felt the surge of Electro not only without, but also within.
For in all the time that he had spent searching high and low trying to find someone who might rekindle it, never had he imagined that he could be the one to cause its light to shine once more. It was almost as if his late friend were lending him his aid from behind the scenes.
He opens his eyes and takes his friend's Vision in his hands, running his thumbs across the dull sheen. "I wonder," he murmurs softly, "if you had anything to do with it, Aether." He pockets the Vision once more before reaching out to touch Aether's neck, just to check.
Still jarringly and unnaturally cold and heated at once. His pulse is weak and slow, far slower than that of any healthy—or even living person should be. Kazuha frowns. Will he really be alright…?
A low murmur of voices comes from beyond the door. A knock on the frame, "Excuse me," and then the door is sliding open to reveal an individual that Kazuha quickly gathers to be Thoma.
"You must be Thoma." Kazuha stands, giving a bow. "I am Kazuha, it's my pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Thoma blinks. "Oh, you're…" He quickly shakes his head and gives a bow in return. "Yeah, I'm Thoma. I heard you brought Aether here?"
"Indeed." Kazuha peers at Thoma. Aether said that Thoma witnessed his death, didn't he? "He had an encounter with the Shogun."
Thoma tenses, gaze flicking to Aether's unconscious form.
"I believe there were two parts to it," Kazuha says. "He emerged from Tenshukaku covered in a black substance. He looked very… distant, as well."
"Oh," Thoma breathes, and there is a touch of grief and guilt in that breath.
Kazuha looks away, looks at Aether instead. He looks pale, but his expression is peaceful. "The Shogun attacked him as soon as he stepped out of Tenshukaku. Luckily, the strike was averted, and Aether rushed at the Shogun, disappearing in a flash. Paimon said that he went to fight the Electro Archon in a plane of consciousness, and not long later, he reappeared and the Shogun stood down. He noted that everyone should be getting their Visions back soon, so I can only presume he… somehow, changed the Shogun's mind." Kazuha lets out a breath, pulling up a knee. "He said that he would sleep for a week, and that he might seem dead, but he'll be fine…" He closes his eyes. "I certainly hope so."
Thoma comes closer, and Kazuha opens his eyes to see him sit next to Aether, across from Kazuha. "Thank you for bringing him here," Thoma says. "In comparison to everything he's done for us, for Inazuma, there's been so little I could offer him. If he hadn't faced the Shogun the first time, I would've lost my Vision, and with it all my aspirations. I can only hope to repay him one day, but I don't think it'll ever be enough." He sighs, looking at Aether's face. "For now, I will offer him this sanctuary and hope that he'll recover quickly. I'll look after him until he wakes."
Kazuha hums. "Do you not have other responsibilities? With the Kamisato clan, and with your duties as a 'fixer'."
Thoma laughs. "My reputation precedes me, huh? I've been out of the public eye for a while since the Vision Hunt Ceremony, though, and I can stick around here a little longer."
"I see." Kazuha gazes at Thoma, takes in the line of guilt upon his shoulders. "I wonder. Was it you who put him up to this? To put his life on the line for a nation he's barely stepped foot in?"
Thoma flinches as if struck. "I… played a major part, that's for sure. But it didn't really sink in until the Vision Hunt Ceremony what exactly we were asking of him, and by then…" Thoma laughs wryly. "He was committed to seeing the end of it."
I'm already too invested, Kazuha recalls Aether saying. If I need to, I'll die again. For all of you.
And so he did. Kazuha wonders if he, too, played a part—if Aether's concern for Kazuha contributed to his concern for the state of Inazuma. There was always a curious sense of care in Aether's conversations with him—Aether spoke to Kazuha not like a casual acquaintance who crossed paths with him on occasion, but a friend he knew well.
What a wretched state of affairs.
"I understand," Kazuha says, and stands. "Please, take care of him."
"You won't stay?" Thoma asks.
"I find it a bit stifling to stay in one place for too long," Kazuha says. "Perhaps I will meet with him after he recovers. I trust he is in safe hands."
Thoma nods with determination. "Yes, I'll make sure he's safe."
"Good. Then, farewell."