(❀)
Part two,
" 기억속에 희미해진 그대의 약속 "
...
-
By the time the doctor had finished treating the last of the infected villagers, the sun was up. The Murasaki cough, quite literally translating to purple cough- it was hard to believe that it had been going around for more than a year now.
The name originated from how the infected patients' lips and thinner skin areas began turning purple as they worsened. Even she had failed to find out the true purpose behind the change in the skin's pigmentation. At first, it had been assumed the blood vessels burst and caused bruises underneath the skin. But that didn't seem to be quite the case.
Y/n was slowly beginning to realize the original remedy wasn't working as fast anymore. But it was a miracle no one had serious symptoms. Although stars appeared in her vision from the fatigue of days without proper sleep, she huffed it off and internally scolded her poor body for being so fragile. There wasn't exactly a moment to rest when one was being hunted down by the ruler of a nation.
Taking off the stained gloves, she gazed absentmindedly at the birds chirping on a lavender melon tree nearby. Lucky are they, able to go wherever they wish and whenever they want. It was a peaceful morning. Children came out to play, villagers chatted amongst eachother. The only thing that wasn't at ease was her mind. Constantly calculating the distance between the villages, and about when the soldiers will find out her location.
"Um.. Excuse me?"
The doctor nearly jumped off the pile of boxes she was sitting on. Being this tense all the time was probably taking a toll on her mental health.. Not to mention how tired her body was. What an irony.
"Sorry big sis! We didn't mean to scare you." A more squeaky and feminine voice chirped in. There were 3 village children gathered around, shying away yet not moving from their spots. "T-the adults said bring these to you. As in.. Thank you." A boy who spoke up for the first time offered her a small basket of roasted lavender melons, sprinkled in sugar. It was a cute sight to see, the boy's big eyes looking away in embarrassment and the other two watching for her reaction.
"Thank you guys. Why don't we eat together?" Y/n chirped with a closed eye smile. As if on command, their eyes sparkled and nodded happily as they joined her on the temporary chairs. "My name is Futaba! This is Takeru, and that's Kyoto. What's your name, strange big sis?"
Futaba took a big bite out of the soft fruit after finishing her introduction.
"My name is..."
She had been purposely avoided telling people her name in fear of getting caught. Most villages she left soon got invaded and interrogated shortly after. There had been rumors about how far the interrogations went..
It was terrifying to see people getting pushed far enough to the point they spit whatever they know. Surely, even the Raiden shogun, wouldn't allow that to mere children.
Right?
After a mental debate, she lowered the melon to her lap. "This is a secret I'm telling you guys, so pinky promise me you won't tell anyone else."
The kids looked at the woman with wonder, nodding and linking fingers with hers. Young ones are quite simple. When they think they know something adults don't, they are surprisingly sneaky about it. "Alright. This is top-class secret.. My last name is L/n, but I'm afraid I can't tell you guys my first name. Is that okay?" Futaba was the first to speak up once again.
"Wow! I bet you're super important if you keep your name a secret. Wait, big sis.. Are you..." Her eyes narrowed accusingly while Y/n chewed on the snack, amused.
"Are you secretly a hero in disguised as a doctor?"
What could anyone do in that situation other than to smile like an idiot? Even Takeru, who seemed to be the oldest, couldn't be older than ten. The memories from her own childhood starting to bubble up. "How did you figure it out? Ah, it seems that my true identity has been revealed." The audience dramatically gasped once more, not a hint of suspicion on their faces.
"That's so cool! I bet you fight bad guys everyday and help out villages like Konda." Well, that sentence was technically the truth. Y/n's eyes softened as she tilted her head. "You kids are smart. I'm sure I can entrust you three with the secret." After a while of chatters, all of them realized everyone was too hungry to keep talking.
The lavender melon was a good snack, and soon the children began focusing more on it. It was refreshing chatting mindlessly about topics other than death and diseases. The doctor was secretly, yet genuinely jealous of children who were able to live their life. Life as children, amongst friends and in a loving family. It was nothing less than what they deserved
Within a few minutes, the lavender melons were gone and stomachs were full. Y/n quietly took some sleep fighting drugs while the children were focused on eating, and her mind soon became less foggy. The Tenshukaku would likely send out patrols around Narukami as soon as they hear about her arrival here, so it was better to leave as soon as possible.
"Futaba, Takeru, Kyoto." They turned their heads from the drawings they were making on the dirt with twigs. "I'm going to have to leave soon." Takeru fully turned to herself and made a saddened expression. "Already? But you've just arrived yesterday.."
She had to look away, or else she would've been convinced to stay longer. But this was the best for the safety of the village and her own self. "I wish I could stay longer and play with you guys, but bad guys might know I'm here. This way, Konda village and myself will be safer." Kyoto frowned. "Then why are the bad guys after you? L/n-san hasn't done anything bad!"
How she wanted to ask the same question. But instead, a smile responded back to the boy.
"They don't like the thought of an outsider doctor running around Inazuma with unknown medicines." There wasn't a single piece of cloud in the pale blue skys above, and the wind was blowing nicely. A contrast to her whirling mind of thoughts. "But I will be back sometime again. When I do, I promise to tell you guys all my adventures. I traveled the seven nations after all~" The mood quickly lifted to an excited one once again, the trio whispering to each other with big grins.
"The seven nations?? I can't wait until you come back already! But big sis.." Futaba tilted her head. "When will you be back?"
Another question you wanted to ask the heavens above. "I will be back... Hmm." A colony of sakura blossoms flew in the wind, likely from the main city. Her smile didn't cease for the children.
"I will be back on a day just like this. A cloudless blue sky, I will return with the sakura blossoms in the wind.
I promise."
On the other side of Narukami island, news was spreading quicker than the wind. The doctor was heard to be in Konda village.
How naive were they to step foot into a village not even half a day's worth journey away from the city? Kunikuzushi began to doubt the thoughts he had for this doctor before. They never told anyone their name, where they were from, or where they planned to go next. How she planned the routes was a true mystery. One day a suspicious figure is spotted on Watatsumi island, and they're heard in the Amakumo peaks the next day.
The shogun sighed in annoyance as he stamped the rectangular pieces of papers he saw every single day. How he wished to crumple up every single one of them in his endless pile and burn it into ashes.
His thoughts were interrupted by an urgent knock on his door. Grunting, he gave permission for entry.
"Your majesty."
General Kujou Sara. The newest shogun found her to be more tolerable than most soldiers. She followed given orders without question and got her jobs done efficiently. "The target was recently heard to be coming out of Konda village today, traveling in the direction of Araumi. Shall we capture her right away?"
This was the first decent news he had heard in weeks. Kunikuzushi rested his stamp on its stand and turned to face the general. "Konda village you say.. She must still be near then, huh?" A smile found place on his porcelain skin. Stretching his slender fingers, he dropped the grin and flashed her a cold look. "Prepare the horses. What kind of a ruler would I be to not greet the infamous hero in person?"
"Understood. You will be notified once the preparations are ready."
Bowing once more, Sara quietly closed the door and left. Kunikuzushi looked at the map of Inazuma hung on the side of his wall, to the small daggers thrown at where the doctors were spotted during the previous weeks. He grabbed a kunai from his sleeve and swiftly tossed it to make a beeline near the city on the map. A soft thud made against the wall once the tip of the blade stroke through the material, successfully hitting where he aimed it towards. "Konda village.. Haha, just how stupid are you, doc?" He didn't know why she would be going to Araumi, where nothing but rubbles and ruin mechanisms await. But it doesn't matter anyway. "What a joke."
Slowly, the everblue skies were beginning to darken into a grayish blue.
"It looks like we'll be meeting quite soon."
~
After bidding farewells privately to the village chief, the traveling doctor was soon hit with realization with the fact that news should have spread into the palace by now. She began moving right away. The Grand Narukami shrine was her next destination, but she followed the paths that would lead to Araumi instead in order to distract the shogun's men. This way some distance between herself and the soldiers could be placed once they're out searching.
However, the shrine had more civilization. They would be able to prepare faster once her true direction was caught.
The villagers were nice enough to give her fresher clothes and sew the cloak back together. She had bought it at a random shop from Fontaine and got attached to it ever since. Now that thinking about it, she barely had time to change clothes before visiting Konda village.. How long has it been since that thing was washed-
Cringing at the thought, Y/n kept her vision on the path and carefully listened in for any unexpected noises. Only some faraway sounds of hilichurls, leaves rustling, and birds singing as usual. Safe for now. The trip to the shrine wasn't planned to be long, just enough to go up for an overlook of Inazuma, and make a beeline back down. Where to go next.. Maybe Higi village in Yashiori island. It's been a while since she heard from them.
In a distance, there was a perfect looking rock for sitting and taking a break. There should be enough distance between and shogun's men, right? This was a very well-deserved break anyway.
Life as a wanted wanderer wasn't exactly rainbows and friendship. Speaking of friendship, the regards of her friends from Liyue popped into mind. Y/n suddenly wanted to go qingxin picking with Ganyu again, and talk about the history of Osmanthus wine with Zhongli once more. That man was absolutely insufferable. Thinking that walking around with a fan covering his face will clear any suspicion of the missing emperor.
Oh, how was director Tao faring? She almost cried when the doctor left Liyue.. Hopefully she made many more friends. Hu Tao was an interesting character, but not many appeared to be friendly with her.
As expected, the stone ahead was warm and toasted from the afternoon sun. The medicine began to wear off, and her poor sleep schedule was coming back to haunt her. Ignoring the urge to fall into the ground right then and there, Y/n took out a dango skewer the village prepared her before departing. It was cold and somewhat stiff- but much better than going hungry. Taking a bite, another small group of birds landed on a lush tree nearby. By the size, it was well over a century old. Ah.. The days back when she peacefully spent her days sleeping in trees during hot summers. That was until her teacher came to find her in panic.
Wait.
The plant was huge, and the leaves were a vibrant shade of green. Unless one would squint their eyes and focus onto each and one of its branches, it would be difficult to spot a much-smaller-than-average female laying on it. Maybe just one hour won't hurt....
A single bird landed on the rock beside her. Leaving the small crumbs of the skewer for it to eat, she made her way to the tree. Its rough texture made it easy to climb, and she made it to the thickest branch you could find.
It had been almost a week since the traveling doctor was able to fully lay down on her back. What an irony compared to what she would always told her patients.
Slowly, a land of dreams awaited herself.
~
"Sensei, look at this purple flower! Isn't it pretty?" She smiled back at. "That is called a naku weed. It's a rather common plant in Inazuma."
Naku weed. She explained that it was harmful when eaten raw, but is a great painkiller once you boil and prepare it properly. Despite it being a flower, barely any scent arose from the blossom covered by purple leaves. "I need to tend to a patient soon. Here, go to the city and buy yourself something to eat." The female reached into her bag and pulled out something.
Sensei gave her a small bag of mora, and she received it with your smaller hands. The older woman smiled and walked away.
She began skipping ahead towards the outskirts of the city, wondering if she would find any street vendors. The city often became too crowded for her likings.
Byakko plains are pretty. Naku weed is pretty. The boy's purple hair is pretty, too. A boy?
Up ahead, there was a young boy looking about her age sitting on the ground. Where were his parents or friends?
"Hello."
His piercing indigo eyes stared back at your e/c ones. "Hi." He replied quietly, gluing his eyes back at his knees.
"Where are your parents? Are you lost?" He looked down at the ground at your question. "I had no one to come out with, and there was nothing to do at.. Home. So I came out by myself."
She felt pity for the boy. Y/n didn't understand the feeling since she never met her parents, but wished to share sympathy. "Oh. Um, but your friends might be worried for you. You should go home."
"I don't have friends."
She mentally slapped herself. Be more careful Y/n!
"I can be your friend. What's your name?" At last, he looked up from the ground. Her eyes, a vibrant hue of e/c. It felt like home, unlike the raging storms of his mother's eyes whenever he glanced up at her.
She somehow failed to notice his suspiciously high quality silk kimono and his fair skin. The only thing she saw at that time was a boy. A boy just like herself.
"My name is Kabukimono."
~
A gasp woke her up. Drenched in cold sweat, she took deep breaths and brushed through her hair. The word "Kabukimono" rang in her mind as Y/n blankly stared at the leaves and closed her eyes once more. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. It wasn't the sound of her heart beating. That was for sure. What else could make this sound?
Horses.
Y/n sprang up from the laying position and peered down at the ground. It was already late dusk and the sun was close to setting. There were at least ten horses galloping proudly below in the distance, carrying their riders on back. And the one at the front leading them all had a familiar shade of blue hair, on a yet black stallion.
Raiden Kunikuzushi in flesh.
The worst part was that they were heading towards her current direction. Keep calm. They'll pass eventually and she could get down after they left.
However to her absolute luck, the group came to a halt right by the rock she sat on merely a few hours ago.
"Your majesty, the footsteps appear to end here. Shall we take a break?" A soldier began to record things onto a piece of paper. The shogun gracefully jumped off his jet black horse. "You speak as if I can't see with my eyes and think with my head. Perhaps you're experimenting with ways to get yourself exiled?"
At last, the enfamous tyrant ruler of Inazuma himself. Y/m stuck as flat as she could onto the branch and observed, ready to flee for her life the moment they looked up. Thankfully they didn't come any closer to her tree, as the shogun had already sat on the rock. Well.. Not exactly something to be thankful for either.
Some of the soldiers were recognizable, since she bumped into a few patrols from time to time. They were likely gathered up for this expedition since they had seem glimpses of the doctor.
"Search around the area, check everything visible to the eyes. Look underneath every rock and leave not a single blade of grass unsearched for."
What a ruler he was, sitting on a stone and barking orders instead of contribuating. But what more was expected of him. Y/n sweatdropped while the others spread around the area around, fulfilling their orders. Only one remained by his side. Kujou Sara- she had only heard the name before. Her raven locks that stopped above her shoulders reflected the sun's rays that was halfway gone into the horizon. Admittedly, she was quite the beauty for a battle general. The doctor mentally slapped herself for the thoughts in a situation of literal life or death.
"My lord, I dare to ask. I do not doubt your decisions but I am curious to why you are this keen on catching this doctor?"
The question asked by the Tengu descendant made the doctor lean into their conversation.
"Bold of you to question the shogun's choices, general. But since you're somewhat tolerable, I suppose I will tell." Scaramouche picked a flower from the ground beneath him and twirled it in his hands. "Whatever village she visits after, the infected ones are mysteriously cured. The days I spent trying to find doctors who could actually do their job properly is ridiculous." He tossed the plant away soon after with a huff.
"I simply need her to show whatever witchcraft that woman uses to cure this thing. And yet there she is- rejecting every so polite invitations to the palace each time."
Y/n wanted to say that she was scared. But the only thing his tone made her think was that he sounded like a child that got mad because of another kid who won't give him a turn on the swings at the playground. If it weren't for the given situation, she would've stiffled a laughter.
"Understood, your majesty."
"Hmph."
She took another deep breath. Breathe in, hold. Breathe out. Breathe in, hold. Breathe out.
"It's been a while since those useless things left." The male sighed and placed a foot above his opposite knee, throwing the flower onto the grassy earth.
"How annoying.. It's almost as if this damned doctor is hiding in the sky above!"
The moment he looked up, their eyes met each other.
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