Kazuha's Perspective
"I told you, we haven't seen her anywhere," Captain Beidou argued, taking a swig of her sake.
"I'm sorry, miss, but we're going to need to do a thorough search on the Alcor," the Millelith argued. "The Ministry of Civil Affairs has reported an offense against one of its respectable officials, and this 'Yunxi' is nowhere to be found."
Beidou rolled her eyes. "Look, I've known the kid for a long time, and she wouldn't harm a fly. I promise you it's a false alarm. Those snooty government officials are just trying to make trouble. Leave my ship now."
Suddenly, a young soldier made his way through the crowd, his expression gentle.
"The Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing has ordered to halt the inspections immediately. We are to cease all investigations before sundown."
There was a bit of clamor amongst the Millelith before the youth who had been speaking to Captain Beidou bowed apologetically, marching robotically off the ship.
Leaping from the crow's nest, I landed beside the captain gracefully.
"Captain Beidou, who is this 'Yunxi' you spoke of?" I asked inquisitively.
Beidou grunted. "A good handful of years back, Yunxi came to Liyue from Inazuma, and she started working on the Pearl Galley as an escort. She became popular amongst the upper class, and they called her the 'Celestial Pearl'. Fitting name for that silver hair of hers. She disappeared only a year or so after she reached her peak fame, and she came back two-or-so years ago only to disappear just as mysteriously. Ha. Who knows what that girl's up to?"
"I see," I responded, allowing my mind to process her words. "She is from Inazuma, you say?"
"If we hadn't been so busy lately, I would've invited her over for a drink or two." She smiled at me. "I know you'd appreciate the company of someone from your homeland."
I remained silent.
"Something on your mind, kid?"
"Oh! It's good to see you, Kazuha," she called from afar, gathering the tails of her ceremonial gown and rushing in my direction.
"And I, you," I replied accordingly. "Greetings, my lady. Your dance was lovely. In my eyes, you truly resembled a white crane in the snow."
She chuckled, her laughter a natural melody. "You have such a way with words, Kaedehara. Have you eaten yet? I'll treat you to something nice today."
"Ah, a kind offer," I smiled. "But if the mistress allows it, shall I go pay my respects to the late Lady of Kamisato?"
Her eyes darkened ominously.
"My apologies" she said, an unfamiliar tremble in her tone. "I would suggest that you rejoin the others, Kazuha."
I remained silent as she stood with her back turned to me, clutching her Vision in her left hand like a lucky charm. Her shoulders were tense, her arms were shaking ever-so-slightly, and she shifted her position ever-so-slightly.
"Lady Ayame?"
She swallowed.
"It's Rin," she choked out, her cheeks a bright red. "My name is Kamisato Rin, for I will always answer the call of the lightning's glow."
She pressed her sleeves to her eyes, and when she removed them, they were damp.
With her last breaths, she whispered a solemn goodbye and rushed into the rows of wisterias, her fists balled at her sides.
And that was the last I saw of her, because not even a fortnight later, she was announced dead.
"Kazuha?"
Sheepishly, I turned to face Beidou.
"Apologies, Captain," I replied, running my fingers through my hair. "I'll be heading to bed now."
She raised a skeptical brow. "You sure, kid? We have a few barrels of sake left, you don't want a sip?"
"I'm good, Beidou. Please, enjoy yourself without me," I assured her, descending the stairs to my room.
Wearily, I lit the oil lamp on my dresser with a match, extinguishing the latter with a puff of air. I began to undo the bandages wrapped around my chest, working my way down my arms to the scar where the imprint of an ambition remained.
The imprint of a Vision.
I remembered the way she had reached for her Vision that day, rather than the rosary that hung around her neck, for no matter how much she continued to deny it, Ayame would never be Rin. No matter how much she claimed loyalty to the Shogun, Ayame would never sacrifice her greatest belief to follow a cruel one.
And my intuition told me that somewhere along this path called life, I would have the opportunity to reunite with the true heiress once more.
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Ayato's Perspective
"Aya--"
"Shh," she whispered gently, drawing her finger over her lips. "We don't have much time. Ayaka will be back soon."
I leaned against the door. "Ayame, I . . . so much has happened. I found out that you were alive, but then you came back working under the Tsaritsa, of all people." I shook my head. "I don't understand. Why did you leave?"
"I left under the orders of the Shogun," she said grimly. "I knew that she would disguise my departure as death, so I left behind a puzzle for you. I didn't know whether you or Ayaka would solve it first, but I always suspected that you would be the one."
For a moment, we both were silent.
"I'm sorry, Brother. Even after all this time, I can't even see your face. I can't even squish your cheeks like I used to." She laughed. "You've grown so tall."
Curling up against the door, I covered my face with my hands, stifling my tears.
"Oh, don't cry," Ayame consoled, but I could hear that she was sniffling. "Don't cry, Ayato."
"I've missed you so much," I gasped, my words barely audible. "I remember running into the rain that night, and standing there, screaming your name into the sky, praying that some force in Celestia would hear me and bring you back. But you never came. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into years, and eventually, we all forgot about you."
Ayame chuckled. "But you never did, did you?"
"I never doubted that you were still alive, because deep in my heart, I always knew. I watched Ayaka grow up and become more and more like you with every passing day, and every time I looked at her, I thought of you."
"I'm sorry, Ayato," she repeated, her voice soft and feeble. "I'm so, so sorry."
Sighing, I wiped my eyes with the sleeves of my kimono.
"I know there must be a reason why you've chosen this path, so when you're ready, I--Ayaka and I, we will be here for you, waiting."
She lowered her voice. "I am currently faced with a terribly difficult choice, but unfortunately, I cannot rely on you to help me in making this decision. I apologize."
"Then I shall wait," I smiled through my tears. "The Shirasagi Himegimi's judgement is superior. I'm sure that you will make the right choice, Sister."
"Thank you, Brother," she responded brightly.
I pressed my palm against the door.
"Promise you'll return for me and our sister, Ayame."
She scoffed. "You're the only one who calls me that anymore. But I promise. I promise I'll come back."
"I suppose this is goodbye," I muttered raspily.
"I suppose it is," she responded, a hint of sadness in her voice. "I love you, Ayato."
My heart shattered softly.
She was really leaving this time.
"I love you too, Ayame."
I felt my sister's footsteps fading away, before all that remained was a silence that was somehow both melancholic and complete.