Archive of Our Own

The last thing Kokomi had expected to receive that day was a letter from Kujou Sara, of all people.

She’d been grateful for the rather uneventful day at first, though that feeling had quickly changed upon noticing the unfamiliar envelope. It had somehow made its way onto the ever-piling stack of documents Kokomi needed to take care of, and if not for the black feather attached to it and making it stand out, could have easily been missed.

With the war over there was a lot of paperwork to be done, and while correspondence between the Tenryou Commission and herself wasn’t out of the ordinary per se, a personal letter from madam Kujou was rare.

Still, rare as it was, that only made Kokomi all the more curious as to the contents of this particular letter. With careful precision she took off the feather, before opening the envelope. A small, neatly folded piece of paper emerged, which she unfolded almost immediately.

In neat, swirly handwriting it read:

“To lady Sangonomiya Kokomi, Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island,

My sincere apologies for sending you this letter so unexpectedly, though I am afraid the matter I am about to disclose to you is too urgent to postpone any longer.

It is not my duties that have caused me to write to you this time, but rather somewhat of a personal matter.

Presumptuous as it may be, I send you this message bearing a request.

There is a rather delicate matter I would like to discuss with you in person, and perhaps most importantly, in private. While I unfortunately cannot reveal any details to you just yet, you have my word that this private meeting is not intended for any negotiations about the war whatsoever.

Of course, while my intentions are not of ill will, I completely understand if you decline. The risks of meeting a former enemy are high, and I will not hold it against you in any future negotiations should you choose not to accept.

Should you find yourself willing, however, I will be awaiting a response with a time and place that would suit you.

My sincere gratitude,

Kujou Sara”

After having finished reading the contents of the letter, Kokomi couldn’t quite ignore the anxious feeling that overcame her, nor the way her heart was beating rapidly inside her chest.

What on earth could possibly be the reason madam Kujou had decided to make such an absurd request?

In all honesty, the whole thing had “trap” written all over it. This could easily be a trick from the Tenryou commission to try and taunt the Resistance into making a wrong move. The best course of action was probably to ignore the whole letter completely, and simply continue any peace negotiations in the safety of the presence of other people.

And yet.

This particular message had sounded far too personal for Kokomi to disregard it so easily.

Madam Kujou had more than proven that she was capable of being fair and just, and the urgency behind her written words was rather clear. Whatever it was that had her so distressed, it did not seem to be a trivial matter.

With a sigh, Kokomi put the letter down, grabbing an empty piece of paper to write her reply.

One day, she’d probably get herself into some serious trouble thanks to her inability to say no.

All she could do was hope that day was not today.

The first thing Kokomi noticed as she approached the other woman was the horrible state she was in.

Kokomi had thought long and hard about where they should meet up, and had eventually decided on a small beach along the shores of Watatsumi island. Yet as madam Kujou stood on the exact spot they’d agreed upon, not even the warm rays of the sun did anything to hide her weakened state.

There were bags under her eyes, her face was unusually pale, and the way in which she carried herself almost made it seem as if one small breeze would be enough to knock her over.

‘Madam Kujou?’ Kokomi asked, having finished her observation and making the general aware of her presence.

‘Lady Sangonomiya.’ the other brought out, turning to look at her properly.

From up close, the woman looked even worse, tugging at Kokomi’s heartstring involuntarily.

‘Did you come here alone?’ she asked, unable to hide the undertone of concern in her voice.

While Watatsumi Island wasn’t exactly miles away, it was still quite the journey, meaning if madam Kujou had made said journey alone in this state, it was a miracle she’d even arrived in one piece.

‘I did.’ she replied. ‘It’s what we agreed upon, is it not?’

Of course. True to her word as ever.

‘It is.’ Kokomi answered, sighing softly. ‘Though if I’d known you were feeling unwell, I wouldn’t have asked you to meet me all the way here.’

At that, the other woman shook her head. ‘I understand the precaution. This is your territory. If I were to try and pull a stunt, you’d have the upper hand here. Considering how vague my letter was, I would have done the same thing had I been in your place. If I’d replied at all, that is…’

‘I take it the matter you wished to discuss has something to do with your current state, then?’ Kokomi asked softly.

Madam Kujou nodded. ‘It’s…humiliating, but I’ve used up all my resources. There’s no one else I can turn to at this point.’

Kokomi nodded in understanding, before turning around and gesturing for the other to follow her. ‘There’s a small sea cave close by where we can talk privately, if you wish. You’ll have the opportunity to sit down and rest, too.’

The general agreed without question, and quietly followed her along the beach. Their short walk to the cave was spent in silence, though it thankfully didn’t seem like her guest expected her to say anything anyway.

‘Thank you for heeding my request.’ she said as they walked inside.

When Kokomi noticed the expectant look on her face, she quickly gestured for her to sit down, not wishing to let her strain herself any further. Madam Kujou gratefully obliged, and sat down on one of the rocks inside the cave.

‘Of course.’ Kokomi spoke. ‘Your letter sounded rather urgent. Please, enlighten me about your situation.’

The other nodded, before speaking. ‘I’m sure you are well aware of the battle that took place at Tenshukaku.’

Of course she was. It had been the beginning of the end, and the very reason peace had finally returned to the land after all this time. It was hard to forget something so important.

‘Still, that battle was not the only one that took place that day.’ madam Kujou continued. ‘Before that, a Fatui diplomat had already made her way into the palace. She tried to keep up the pretence of being there on official business, but it was clear she was up to no good.’

‘A…Fatui diplomat?’

This was the first time Kokomi had heard of that fact. All she’d been told was that the Raiden Shogun had attempted to strike the traveller down. Anything before that was only known to those that had been inside of the palace at the time.

‘A Harbinger.’ the other clarified. ‘She attacked me, causing me to lose consciousness. It appears she was defeated by the traveller in a duel to the death afterwards, and slain by the Almighty Shogun as a consequence for losing, but I can’t say for certain.’

If madam Kujou had been attacked by a Harbinger, that sure did explain the awful state she was in. The only thing that didn’t make sense however, was the fact the battle at Tenshukaku had taken place weeks ago, not to mention the general had seemed perfectly fine during their peace negotiations.

‘The injuries I sustained from that battle were severe, but not fatal. Recovery seemed to be going well for quite a while.’ she explained. ‘During our peace negotiations, my wounds had almost completely healed up.’

‘Yet that does not seem to be the case now…’ Kokomi pondered.

‘Correct.’ the other replied. ‘For some inexplicable reason, my injuries reopened, their state worsening as if they were freshly applied. Since then, they’ve been going back and forth between healing, opening up, and then healing once more. Even Her Excellency’s best healers can’t seem to properly get rid of them.’

‘I see.’ Kokomi murmured, sinking into deep thought. ‘So the reason you contacted me…’

‘You’re the best healer I know.’ madam Kujou stated softly. ‘I know it’s completely out of line for me to ask you for help when we’ve only just barely managed to establish peace, but it was the only option I could think of. In this condition, I am incapable of performing my duties for the Shogun.’

That certainly explained the urgency behind her letter.

While persistent injuries weren’t exactly all that uncommon, the severity in which they returned in this case certainly was. Usually, wounds refused to close from the very beginning. Only seldom would they heal up alright only to return later.

‘Aside from that, I take it you’d like to prevent anyone from finding out you’re here?’

Madam Kujou nodded almost a little awkwardly. ‘I should mention I obviously intend to compensate you for your efforts, should you be willing to help me out…’

Kokomi sighed, and crossed her arms. Ever the business woman, of course.

In truth, she would have probably helped out even without gaining anything from it. She may have been a strategist, needing to come up with tactics that would ensure the most profitable outcome, but this was a personal matter. Madam Kujou had already made it very clear any future peace negotiations would not have a different outcome depending on whether Kokomi accepted or not, so these terms and conditions the other insisted on sticking to felt kind of unnecessary.

They may have been former enemies, but Kokomi couldn’t help but feel bad for the predicament the general had found herself in. She’d never taken pleasure in watching others suffer, but she also liked to think any bitter feelings the two of them may have had towards one another had been left in the past, on top of that.

In another life, Kokomi liked to think they might even have been friends.

‘Call me Kokomi, then.’ she finally decided to say, knowing madam Kujou wouldn’t take no for an answer. ‘That’s my condition.’

The other seemed surprised at that particular demand, her eyes widening in surprise almost comically.

‘Ah, perhaps I should elaborate.’ Kokomi chuckled softly. ‘You see, when meeting for official business, everyone always calls me “Lady Sangonomiya”, or any variation of that title. There are very few people that just call me “Kokomi”. Since this is a personal matter, and a rather private one at that, perhaps being on a first-name basis will help take the edge off a little. If I’m going to be healing you, that seems like a good start, don’t you think?’

‘You want to help, then…?’ the other asked, an undertone of desperation in her voice.

‘I won’t make any promises.’ Kokomi carefully said. ‘But I’ll do what I can, at least.’

Madam Kujou nodded softly, looking down a little awkwardly. ‘Please call me “Sara” in return, then. It’s only fair.’

Kokomi smiled softly, before getting back to business. ‘Could you show me the injuries in question? I’ll have to see what we’re working with so I know whether it’s something I can heal or not.’

‘Yes, of course.’ Sara brought out, before getting started with untying her intricate clothes.

It was almost strange to see the woman like this. Someone usually so full of strength wasn’t supposed to look so beaten down. It didn’t suit her at all.

As Sara tugged down her layered top, her back became visible, several burn marks covering her skin. They were an angry red, like they were still fresh, and Kokomi briefly wondered if perhaps this was some sort of curse the Fatui diplomat had managed to place upon her.

Wounds incapable of healing.

Surely, for a warrior such as Kujou Sara, that would be one of the worst fates imaginable.

Just as Kokomi was mulling this over, Sara’s wings unravelled, some feather’s falling down around her as they came to rest on the ground behind her.

And truly, it was a mesmerizing sight.

It was easy to forget Sara was a Tengu, with the way she blended in with humans so casually, but the dark, black wings sprouting from her back sure served as a good reminder. The feathers shone beautifully even in the somewhat dim light of the cave, and Kokomi had to resist the urge to run her hand through them. She had a feeling she would have to eventually, though, for there were some burn marks on Sara’s wings as well as her back.

It was then that the woman tensed, body going stiff.

‘Apologies, it’s-…it takes a lot of energy to keep them hidden.’ she explained, sounding almost embarrassed.

‘Please, don’t apologize.’ Kokomi assured her. ‘Your wings are as much part of you as your hands, or eyes, or feet. It would be cruel of me to consider them anything less.’

‘…Thank you.’ Sara mumbled, the tension leaving her body and making place for something more akin to awkwardness.

Kokomi had meant what she said, though she hadn’t quite expected for Sara to feel so uncertain about it. Much like the majority of Inazuman citizens, all she was used to was the stern, steadfast army general that knew exactly what she wanted. Seeing her like this felt strange, though not unwelcome. It served as a pleasant reminder that she herself wasn’t the only person out there putting up a front for the people around her.

‘And besides, I think they’re rather beautiful.’

Her cheeks flushed as she spoke those words, uncertain as to why she hadn’t just kept that thought to herself, though she quickly changed the subject in an attempt to distract Sara from her comment.

‘A-anyway…’ Kokomi brought out, kneeling down so she could take a closer look at the injuries. ‘This Fatui diplomat…was she a Pyro vision holder? These burns don’t look like something one could inflict with just a weapon.’

‘I’m not sure.’ Sara brought out softly, thankfully ignoring the comment about her wings. ‘She used both Pyro and Cryo attacks, so I think at least one of the two must have been a delusion, but I don’t know which one.’

‘I see…’ Kokomi murmured.

That certainly complicated the situation. Delusions were nasty things, as the Resistance was well aware, and not even Kokomi was sure she could heal wounds caused by such wicked creations.

She’d already failed once before, albeit under different circumstances.

‘Whoever inflicted these injuries must have had incredible control over their element…’ she whispered as she ran a gentle hand over the skin of Sara’s back. ‘They’re far more severe than any burns I’ve ever seen.’

Sara turned to look at her then, concern written all over her face. ‘Can you heal them?’

Kokomi swallowed thickly, averting her gaze. ‘I’m not sure. If they keep fading and then coming back, regular healing won’t cut it. It’s like putting out a big fire but allowing some small flames to remain smouldering. When left unattended, they’ll grow right back into the massive fire that was put out before.’

At that, Sara’s face fell. It was only a small change of expression, though it didn’t go unnoticed.

‘I’ll try, though.’ Kokomi promised her. ‘There’s the added advantage of my own Hydro element going directly against her Pyro. Healing burns should be possible, even when they’re this bad. All hope is not lost yet.’

‘Thank you.’ the other breathed out. ‘And-…I meant what I said, Kokomi. Should you wish for compensation, I will use any resources available to me to give it to you. So long as it doesn’t go against Her Excellency’s wishes, I mean, but-…’

‘I understand.’ Kokomi assured her, smiling softly. She was far too distracted by Sara saying her name for the first time to truly pay her words any attention. ‘I’ll keep it in mind.’

Sara nodded, and Kokomi pondered about where to go next from here. She’d have to do some extensive research to find out how to cure a condition this severe, though she also didn’t want to let the other leave without having done anything to help her.

‘I can’t do much for you at the moment…’ Kokomi admitted truthfully. ‘But if you’ll let me, I can at least use some basic healing to soften the sting a little? I’ll have to research this kind of injury before I take any big action, but it’ll help ease the pain for now.’

‘That’s alright.’ Sara spoke. ‘I didn’t expect this to be something you could solve in one day anyway.’

Kokomi nodded, and quickly got to work. While using her vision to summon the water she needed, she gently ran her hands over Sara’s skin.

‘I’m sorry if it stings a bit.’ she whispered before activating her healing.

Sara hissed for a moment as the water seeped over her open wounds, though she remained completely quiet after.

‘Still okay?’

A nod was all Kokomi got, though it was all the confirmation she needed to continue.

With careful precision, she made sure to let water flow over every single piece of blemished skin. Burn marks had always been nasty things, and she couldn’t help but feel somewhat angry at whoever had caused them. Whereas most weapons landed precise blows, their intent to kill quickly, fire mostly served to cause prolonged suffering to whomever it was cast upon.

Of course every element had its dangers, and Kokomi knew plenty of Pyro wielders that wouldn’t hurt a fly, but in the wrong hands, it was catastrophic.

With a sigh, she tried to shrug that feeling of anger, channelling it to strengthen her healing instead. There was no point in dwelling on something that had already happened.

Kokomi wasn’t sure how much time passed like that exactly, too focused on her work to really pay it any mind, though it must have been quite a while.

As expected, Sara’s wounds had not closed all the way, but they looked less destructive at least. It wouldn’t be enough to keep them from reopening, but it would be enough to allow the woman to safely travel back to Tenshukaku, at least.

‘I’m afraid that’s all I can do for now…’ Kokomi whispered, slowly retracting her hand. If she wasn’t mistaken, she swore she could see Sara instinctively chasing the comforting touch, leaning back ever so slightly.

‘It feels a lot better than it did before.’ Sara breathed out.

Kokomi nodded reassuringly, before speaking. ‘Come and see me again in a few days’ time, alright? I’ll send you a letter with the specifications on when and where. I need to do some research on how to treat these kind of wounds, though I don’t intend to leave you walking around untreated for too long.’

‘I’d appreciate that.’ the other agreed. ‘Thank you.’

After a few more seconds of awkward silence, she finally stood up, adjusting her clothes properly again, and retracting her wings. ‘I should-…’

‘Ah, of course.’ Kokomi agreed. ‘Let me walk you back to your boat.’

‘There’s really no need.’ Sara replied hesitantly. ‘I may be injured, but I’m still capable of making my own way back.’

While that particular comment may have sounded harsh to anyone else, Kokomi had the feeling there was more to it. Perhaps it wasn’t the fact Sara didn’t appreciate her company per se, but more so that she didn’t wish to be viewed as weak or helpless.

She hoped that was the case, at least.

‘Of course, I don’t doubt that.’ Kokomi said softly. ‘You’re clever enough to get out of tricky situations, even when injured. I just thought perhaps it would be nice to spend some time together outside of healing or negotiating.’

And really, Kokomi surprised even herself with that particular comment. She usually valued any moment she was able to spend alone, relieved when she found time to recharge amidst her hectic role as Divine Priestess. Yet for some reason, spending time with Sara didn’t drain her energy levels as much as she thought it would. Not even with her energy put directly into healing.

Sara’s cheeks flushed ever so slightly, almost as if the suggestion was somehow absurd to her. ‘A…leisurely walk then?’

At that, Kokomi nodded. ‘I don’t see why not. We’re no longer on opposing sides, and this part of the island is quite deserted, in case you’re worried about being seen with me.’

‘It’s not that.’ the other woman stated. ‘It just…feels unfair to demand any more of your time after already taking up so much of it.’

‘You’re not demanding, I’m offering.’ Kokomi assured her, surprised at the honesty. She knew Sara cared about being fair and just, but the fact that extended outside of her duties as general were a pleasant discovery.

‘Very well then.’ Sara sighed, probably sensing she wouldn’t take no for an answer. Either that, or Kokomi had genuinely managed to convince her. ‘I should warn you though, my social skills in private settings are…limited. I’m not very good at small talk.’

‘Neither am I.’ Kokomi chuckled softly, storing that little piece of information in her mind for later.

As her and Sara walked out of the cave moments later, Kokomi had a feeling the two of them might get along more than either of them could have anticipated at first.

Perhaps that imaginary friendship in another lifetime could be moved forward to this one after all.

The next time Kokomi met Sara again was only a few days later. Much like she had promised, she’d done some extensive research on how to best take care of the other’s injuries, and had found quite some interesting facts.

She’d offered to meet in the middle, at Tatarasuna, to shorten Sara’s travel distance, but the woman had insisted on meeting at Watatsumi again. Kokomi didn’t mind per se, she just hoped that didn’t mean Sara unnecessarily strained herself. It’d make healing her a lot more difficult in the long run.

Still, as Sara arrived that afternoon, she didn’t look as worn out as last time they’d met.

‘It’s good to see you again.’ Kokomi told her while smiling softly, before realizing what those words meant exactly.

“It’s good to see you again.”

Perhaps not the best kind of greeting for someone only here to get their burns healed. Having come here indicated Sara was still in pain, so Kokomi saying she was pleased to see her again might not have been the best message to convey.

‘Sorry, I didn’t mean-…’ she started, getting flustered.

‘It’s fine.’ Sara spoke, looking almost amused. ‘It’s good to see you again too, even if the circumstances aren’t ideal.’

Kokomi nodded awkwardly, trying to avoid the other’s gaze. ‘Perhaps in the future we could meet under more fortunate circumstances too.’

By the seven, she really needed to shut up before she said anything more embarrassing. She didn’t want to scare Sara off by being too friendly all of a sudden.

See? There that expression was again. That shocked look indicating the suggestion alone was positively absurd.

‘You mean like…acquaintances?’

Kokomi chuckled awkwardly, hoping her nerves weren’t as obvious as she felt they were. ‘Ah, forget I said anything, please. You’re here for me to heal you, not to listen to my ramblings.’ she said. ‘Shall we?’

Sara almost looked like she wanted to say more, though if that was truly the case, she didn’t go through with it.

Once again they made their way towards the sea cave, and once again Kokomi didn’t feel the pressing need to keep her guest entertained with small talk. They walked in comfortable silence, only speaking up when they genuinely had something to say.

‘I must admit Watatsumi is a stunning sight.’ Sara spoke up eventually. ‘I haven’t had the chance to properly visit it before, but…I can see why you’d want to protect this place.’

Talking about the war remained risky, especially considering their respective roles, but Kokomi could tell Sara’s words were genuine. She wasn’t the type to try and sweet-talk her way into getting what she wanted, and only voiced her thoughts when she felt they contributed something to the conversation.

It only made a compliment coming from her all the more valuable.

‘It is.’ Kokomi replied, averting her gaze towards the slow roll of the sea’s waves. ‘Though it’s the people here that truly enhance that beauty.’

‘I see…’ Sara hummed, mulling those words over for a moment. ‘I should have figured.’

‘Oh?’

‘Well, you’re the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi.’ Sara explained. ‘I can only assume that fulfilling such a role requires you to be drawn to the very people you help aid.’

A logical assumption to make, really. And while there was some truth in it…

‘They’re all wonderful.’ Kokomi agreed. ‘Though I must admit…sometimes I much prefer being on my own with a good book.’

It was quiet for a moment, before Sara let out a small chuckle. It was a pleasant sound, though Kokomi wished it hadn’t been directed at her in that moment. The smallest pout appeared on her face, and the other quickly shook her head upon noticing.

‘I didn’t mean any offense.’ Sara started. ‘I’d just…expected you to be more of an extrovert, considering your role here. Being in a leading position can be quite socially draining…I suppose I wrongly assumed you would enjoy that aspect more.’

‘Sometimes people have to take on roles they don’t particularly fit into.’ Kokomi carefully stated, walking into the cave as she did. ‘They simply have to learn how to change and adapt as they go.’

She didn’t know why she’d decided to reveal that particular piece of information to Sara, really. Aside from the traveller, she tended to keep those thoughts to herself, assuming they were too selfish to ever be spoken out loud. She was grateful for the people of Watatsumi, not to mention grateful for her position as Divine Priestess, so suggesting anything else felt unfair to those that had helped her get this far.

‘I think you’re doing a fine job at it.’ Sara interrupted that train of thought, walking in alongside her. She seemed to ponder that for a moment, before saying the next bit. ‘A leader who sacrifices parts of herself for her people, huh…?’

The opposite of what the Shogun had done, Kokomi noted, though she didn’t voice those thoughts out loud.

‘Just make sure not to lose yourself in the process.’ Sara added, her tone surprisingly gentle.

After speaking those words, she went on to untie her top for easier access, which was all the better for Kokomi, because that gave her time to let the statement sink in for a moment.

Somehow, from only a few short meetings outside of the battlefield, Sara had managed to figure her out perfectly. Kokomi didn’t doubt that was a necessary skill for a general to possess, but it still came as a surprise. Not even the people closest to her knew her innermost thoughts, purposely keeping them hidden to avoid conflict.

Yet for some reason, Sara had managed to extract that information from her with just a simple compliment.

Kokomi was suddenly extremely grateful they were no longer on opposing sides, the ability to obtain information so easily one she wished she too possessed.

‘From what you’re saying, I’m almost inclined to think you relate to my struggle somehow.’ she finally answered, the hint of a smile on her face.

It was quiet for a moment then, before Sara eventually spoke up once more.

‘In a way, that’s not too far from the truth.’

She knelt down almost soundlessly, her wings appearing in much the same manner as they had done last time, and Kokomi quickly followed.

She knew the woman could be cold and standoffish, not exactly known for her many friends, but she hadn’t expected her to relate on this level. She’d assumed that solitude to be a tactical decision, not something she had so little control over. This new revelation rather came as a surprise.

‘Apologies, I know our situations are vastly different, of course.’ Sara stated when she noticed the silence carried on too long. ‘It’s just that being in a position that was chosen for you by others, forcing you to adapt to these new circumstances-…well, I understand.’

‘That’s…somewhat of a relief.’ Kokomi admitted truthfully. ‘I didn’t realize we were so similar in that regard.’

As she knelt behind the woman to observe her injuries again, she couldn’t help but think about those words a little longer. It was surprisingly comforting to know she wasn’t alone in her struggles, especially when it came to someone she respected.

They may have been on opposite sides in the past, but Sara’s way of handling things was always fair and well-intended, making it surprisingly easy to get along with her now that the fighting had ceased.

‘This may sting a little.’ Kokomi warned, before summoning a gentle stream of water to flow over Sara’s wounds.

The other hissed at the sudden pressure, though she remained completely still aside from that.

‘I think I may have figured out why your injuries are so persistent.’ Kokomi spoke. ‘While conducting research on the topic, I found an article explaining how certain elements can be preserved for a longer amount of time. Hydro water that never runs out no matter how much you drink, Dendro plants that grow the size of a hundred year old tree in just one day, and…eternal flames caused by particularly vengeful Pyro wielders.’

‘The fire never went out.’ Sara concluded. ‘The reason my injuries aren’t healing is because the fire keeps forcing them to reopen.’

‘I’m afraid so…’ Kokomi murmured, running a gentle hand over the other’s back to try and heal a particularly nasty burn. ‘The preservation of elements is pretty uncommon, but considering it was a Fatui diplomat…I wouldn’t put it past her.’

She of all people was well aware of the damage the Fatui could do.

‘Is there any way of undoing it?’

‘I can certainly try.’ Kokomi said determinedly.

A sigh escaped Sara’s mouth then, almost sounding a little defeated.

‘I’m sorry for placing this kind of burden on you.’ she spoke. ‘You’re busy enough as it is.’

‘I already told you it’s fine.’ Kokomi assured her. ‘If there’s anything I can do to ease anyone’s suffering, I’ll do it.’

‘Even at the cost of your own well-being?’

‘Well-…’

Sara turned to look at her from over her shoulder, knowing expression on her face.

‘The suffering of others is not your responsibility to bear.’ she said. ‘As a leader, perhaps, but not in this instance.’

‘I know that.’ Kokomi huffed. ‘But for people I care about, it’s worth making the effort, leader or not.’

Her cheeks flushed as she realized the full meaning behind her words, and she could swear the other woman seemed to have the same problem.

‘I just mean-…’ she started. ‘I respect you. You’ve always acted fairly, and your determination is admirable. As well as your leadership. It’s…’

She was making this worse, damn it. Perhaps she should contemplate dissolving herself into the water and making a quick escape.

‘Thank you.’ Sara murmured, averting her gaze. ‘Though I could say the same about you.’

‘R…really?’

‘Of course.’ the other insisted. ‘I respect you too, you know?’

The flushing of her cheeks only worsened at that, quickly resuming her healing to get her mind off of things.

‘I’d hate to see you lose your spark because of something I could have prevented.’ Kokomi admitted. ‘That’s why I’ll try my best to heal you. So that perhaps one day, I’ll be able to look at you with all your strength and poise from some place other than the battlefield.’

She’d fix this somehow, even if she wasn’t sure how yet.

‘Then I’ll gladly place my trust in you.’ Sara told her, causing a small smile to appear on her face. ‘And I’ll share that wish of yours.’

These meet-ups of theirs continued for several weeks, regular healing required to help Sara fully recover.

It was going well, or so it seemed.

The injuries causing her so much suffering were gradually closing, much like the distance between the two of them.

It was an unexpected side effect of their time spent together, though not one Kokomi particularly minded. As it turned out, they had a lot in common, their interests aligning in ways that made conversation a whole lot easier than with most.

Despite the unfortunate circumstances that caused the need to meet up in the first place, Kokomi had to admit she’d begun to look forward to the days they spent together.

For the first time ever, she had the feeling someone viewed her as more than just “the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island”. To Sara, she was just Kokomi, a healer willing to help her out because of mutual respect. Perhaps even a friend.

Considering the other tended to share more personal details Kokomi doubted she’d ever tell enemy nor co-worker, she liked to think they were, anyway.

Of course Kokomi should have known things couldn’t possibly keep going this well.

She’d expected their little meet-ups to be ruined by an unwanted visitor, perhaps. An enemy, or a rumour that was being spread. Maybe even another conflict between clans.

She had not expected her own depleted energy levels to be the cause of a meet-up gone awry.

Usually, Kokomi tried to plan things around said meet-ups. She’d schedule important meetings so she’d have enough time to recover afterwards, help out the people of Watatsumi as much as she could while maintaining healthy energy levels, and retreated when she felt she was on the verge of collapsing.

This time, she was not lucky enough to be granted that opportunity.

The past week, people had been needing her so often that her energy levels had depleted entirely, plummeting even below zero. While enough energy remained for her to heal Sara, having to socialize, even with someone she was fond off, felt like an impossible task. Trying to come up with a conversation topic felt like it might make her head explode.

And yet before Kokomi had even so much as tried to explain her dilemma to the other woman, acceptance and understanding was already offered to her.  

‘We don’t have to talk, you know?’ Sara told her as they entered the familiar cave, taking her by surprise.

‘I just don’t want you to feel like my silence is because of you.’ Kokomi argued. ‘I have genuinely enjoyed our conversations before, it’s just-…’

She faltered halfway, not quite sure how to explain what she was feeling. To someone like Sara, being so easily tired out from social situations must have surely seemed weak. That was the exact opposite of what Kokomi wanted the other woman to think of her, though she could also not ignore her rapidly declining mental energy.

‘You don’t have to explain yourself.’ Sara assured her. ‘I understand.’

Kokomi gave her a sceptical look. ‘…You do?’

Sara nodded. ‘Social interactions are a lot like training, in terms of energy. Sometimes, you run out of breath sooner than you’d like, and it’s best to take a break until you feel ready to go again. Even if technically you could continue with some effort, it would do more harm than good if you unnecessarily pushed yourself. As priestess, I don’t doubt people can sometimes demand a lot from you, attempting to push you past your limits.’

Kokomi stared at her in pure disbelief.

She hadn’t expected anyone to understand, let alone someone like Sara. The general didn’t seem like the type to get worn out from social situations easily, especially considering her role within the Shogun’s army and her clan.

Then again, that had been an awfully hypocritical assumption of her, hadn’t it? From first glance, people would likely suspect much the same thing when looking at her, yet the opposite was true. Perhaps, unlikely as it sounded, Sara truly did understand.  

‘I…see.’ Kokomi brought out.

‘I always find pleasure in moments spent with people with whom you can be as silent as you like.’ Sara explained to her, the hint of a smile playing around her lips. ‘Those kind of people…those who appreciate the silence, and with whom your energy levels don’t run out…are particularly difficult to find. Most think silence is awkward and uncomfortable.’

‘…but it only is when you make it so.’ Kokomi concluded for her. ‘That’s-…’

Perfect, she didn’t say.

Aside from the traveller, she’d never met anyone who truly got it before. Gorou came close, being her friend and draining her energy with very limited, slow amounts, but it still wasn’t quite the same.

‘It would be my pleasure to be the kind of person you can be quiet around comfortably.’ Sara stated, at which Kokomi’s heart skipped a beat.

If she wasn’t mistaken, she could swear she saw Sara’s cheeks flush ever so slightly, though she decided not to comment on it. The other had been kind enough to show her sympathy for being mentally drained, something Kokomi could get more than just a little insecure about, so it would be unfair of her to make such a jab.

‘Thank you…’ is all she said, at which Sara nodded.

The rest of their time together was spent in comfortable silence, the only sound being the splashing of the water Kokomi used for the healing occasionally.

By the time Sara said her goodbyes, Kokomi did not have the feeling her energy levels had depleted any further, and she couldn’t be more grateful.

Perhaps healing Sara had allowed her to do some self-healing as well this time.

‘Feeling better?’ Sara asked her the next time they met up, coming ashore with a small, reassuring smile on her face.

‘Much better.’ Kokomi agreed, smiling at her in return. ‘Thank you for being so considerate last time…’

‘Don’t mention it.’ Sara assured her. ‘I meant it when I said I understood.’

Somehow, Kokomi didn’t doubt that. Sara and her had been getting along awfully well lately, constantly finding things they had in common and could relate to. For the longest time she’d assumed her issue with low energy levels was something that other people wouldn’t understand, let alone experience as well. Yet with Sara…she felt understood and heard.

‘Still.’ Kokomi insisted. ‘I appreciate it.’

Just as she was about to retreat to their familiar sea cave once more, Sara paused.

‘Actually there’s-…I found something a while back, when I was on patrol.’ she said, almost looking a little awkward. ‘It’s nothing special, but…it reminded me of you, so I decided to bring it along.’

At that, Kokomi felt like her heart might actually implode.

To have good conversations was one thing. It was something she cherished and appreciated, a feeling which she knew was thankfully mutual, but that was during the time they were actually together.

The knowledge that Sara thought of her outside of their scheduled meet-ups was an entirely different thing.

‘It’s a bit silly…’ Sara murmured, rummaging around in the small bag she carried.

‘Of course it’s not.’ Kokomi assured her. ‘I appreciate it.’

‘You don’t even know what it is yet.’ Sara mused.

‘And still I already know I’ll appreciate it.’

The other chuckled slightly at those words, a surprisingly pleasant sound, before finally pulling out a small object wrapped in a cloth. As she started taking it off, a shimmering, pinkish conch shell slowly became visible.

‘I don’t doubt you already have a plethora of shells and clams and whatnot…I just thought it was pretty.’ Sara explained. ‘And like I said, it reminded me of you.’

‘I-…I see.’ Kokomi replied, cheeks flushing. She couldn’t tell whether the comparison was accidental or not, but it was sweet of her nonetheless. ‘Thank you.’ 

Knowing herself, this shell would be something she’d treasure for a long time to come.

By pure coincidence, Kokomi read a particularly interesting piece of information in a book that evening.

Tengu tended to collect little trinkets and offer them to their loved ones as gifts.

Granted that the piece of information was indeed true…that certainly was interesting. Very interesting indeed.

About two sessions later, Kokomi drew the conclusion that one of these days spent together would be their last soon.

Sara’s wounds were healing well, the embers no longer smouldering like they had done in the beginning, which meant that very soon they’d no longer have a reason to meet up.

And to be completely honest, that thought alone was enough to potentially drain Kokomi’s energy levels by about forty percent.

She’d miss these sessions of theirs. Not because she enjoyed seeing the other woman suffer, but because she’d grown to enjoy her company. They had both good conversations and comfortable silences, sharing personal details and stories while genuinely getting along. Kokomi didn’t think she was ready to give that up quite yet.

‘Are you alright?’ Sara asked her, clearly noticing something was amiss.

‘I’m fine.’ Kokomi replied. ‘Just…low energy levels again.’

It wasn’t a complete lie, anyway.

Sara hummed absentmindedly, looking down at the cave floor.

‘Are you?’ Kokomi asked in return.

‘Low energy levels as well, I suppose.’ Sara sighed. ‘Don’t worry about it.’

Just as Kokomi was about to reply, an unfamiliar sound echoed through the cave, causing both women to tense.

‘What’s—’

‘Get behind me.’ Sara hissed as she quickly got up.

Kokomi didn’t even get time to process what was happening, the other’s wings shielding her from whatever danger was approaching. The sound echoed through the cave yet again, this time recognizable as howling.

‘Rifthounds…’ Sara hissed, pulling a dagger from her sash. The hidden weapon didn’t even come as a surprise to Kokomi, knowing how doubtful the other was when it came to trusting anyone but herself. That was probably a good thing right now, because three intimidating beasts drew nearer, eyes set on them as their prey and Sara’s bow too far away to reach in time.

‘They’re not supposed to be in this area at all.’ Kokomi whispered. ‘Why are they—’

‘Duck!’ Sara yelled, swinging her dagger in the air.

For a moment it seemed like she’d missed, though that changed when one of the hounds appeared seemingly out of thin air, right where Sara was approaching with her dagger.

The creature whined as it was stabbed, quickly floating away while the other two growled, angered by the attack on their friend.

‘How fast can you run?’ Sara hissed.

‘I-…’ Kokomi breathed out, her mind whirling until she understood the implication behind those words. ‘Hold up, I’m not leaving you behind!’

‘It’s either that, or we both get slaughtered.’ Sara argued, pulling her close and out of the way just in time for the Rifthound’s attack to miss her. ‘I’ll be fine.’

As if on cue, the third hound came up behind her, slashing at her wings like they were nothing but a glorified dog toy. It managed to rip out quite some feathers, though it quickly disappeared a second later, not allowing Sara the chance to retaliate.

She let out a pained cry, stumbling forward as she released Kokomi’s arm.

‘Sara!’ Kokomi exclaimed, sounding frantic. She couldn’t tell how deep the gashes were, but it looked, and sounded, bad.

‘Get out of here!’

Despite the way Sara insisted, Kokomi couldn’t find it in herself to listen to that particular request. Instead, her eyes narrowed, gaze focussed on the Rifthounds in front of her.

‘You know, people always warn you not to play with fire.’ she said to no one in particular, summoning her catalyst as she went. ‘I wonder why no one ever warns you about water.’

Without showing any mercy, she trapped the three Rifthounds inside huge water bubbles, taking away their ability to breathe. They struggled and whined as they realized their mistake, yet couldn’t seem to get out no matter how hard they tried. By the time the first of them started convulsing, Kokomi still hadn’t stopped.

‘I think that’s enough.’ Sara softly spoke from beside her. The moment she put her hand on Kokomi’s shoulder, the water dropped, allowing the hounds to make their escape.

They didn’t think twice about attacking again.

‘You’re stronger than you look.’ the other woman told her, smile playing around her lips.

It made Kokomi smile in return too, a sense of pride coming over her.

‘Are your wings okay?’ she asked, turning serious once more.

‘They’re fine, don’t worry.’ Sara assured her. ‘It looked worse than it is, I was just taken by surprise. The feathers will regrow, and the gash is only small. Thankfully, my wings aren’t that frail.’

‘That’s good…’ Kokomi said, letting out a sigh of relief. ‘I’m glad.’

Just as she was about to suggest taking a break, another much bigger Rifthound came charging into the cave. It dove towards them at rapid speed, rage seeping from its very being.

‘Sara-!’

There was no time.

Strong as Sara claimed Kokomi was, her slow attacks would do nothing against an enemy this quick. All she could do was push Sara down to cover her and hope for the best, having been the first to spot this new enemy.

‘What are you—’

The Rifthound didn’t cease its charging, flying over them and clawing at Kokomi’s back. Fabric tore and skin broke, and Kokomi could only cry out in agony as she felt warm liquid dripping from fresh wounds.

There was some sort of irony in all of this, she figured.

‘Kokomi!’ Sara yelled.

The Rifthound came charging again, though this time, Kokomi didn’t have the strength to try and stop it.

‘Why you little…’

Electricity started crackling around them then, Sara’s hold on her tightening. Kokomi could only barely make out what was happening with the way her head was starting to spin, but the bolt of electricity being sent into the Rifthound’s direction sure shook her awake for a moment.

Sara truly was a magnificent warrior.

The cave finally turned silent once more, the fate of the Rifthound unclear. Either it had turned to ashes from Sara’s thunder, or it’d fled.

‘Are you-…?’ Sara helplessly brought out, concern written all over her face.

‘It’s-…’

Fine? Things weren’t fine, as much as Kokomi would like them to be. She’d bleed out at this rate, dying within a matter of minutes.

‘…the well…’ she murmured, her eyelids drooping. ‘…at the shrine…’

‘The well?’ Sara brought out, probably trying to make sense of her words.

‘…healing…’ Kokomi tried to explain, though her mind was too fuzzy at this point. ‘Healing well…water…thing.’

She could only hope Sara had somehow understood, because she lost consciousness a mere second later.

Whether she’d wake up again remained yet to be seen.

For the first time in ages, if not ever, one of the Shogun’s generals set foot on the sacred grounds of Sangonomiya Shrine.

She’d carried Kokomi, who was slipping in and out of consciousness, all the way to the blessed well leading to Enkanomiya, ignoring the shocked stares she got along the way.

Kokomi’s own healing water stemmed from this water as well, her Hydro vision calling upon it to grant her its favour.

Of course it was still not comparable to healing directly from the source, but as the Divine Priestess, the well did allow her immense healing powers even stronger than most regular vision holders.

Right now though, it was Kokomi herself who required healing.

From her slumbering state, she could vaguely hear people arguing in the distance, demanding Sara to put her down or try and stop her from continuing. Kokomi wanted to argue with them, convince them Sara was not a foe, but her body wouldn’t budge, nor would her eyelids open.

Sara herself seemed to remain calm at all times, unbothered by even the meanest of words, while her comforting hold on Kokomi did not falter. It was the one thing grounding her and keeping her from slipping away.

After a surprisingly small amount of time, the arguing ceased, allowing Sara to continue.

The sound of rushing water became louder and louder, indicating they were close to the well. It was a miracle Sara had managed to understand her muttering, yet one she was more than grateful for.

‘It’s going to be okay now.’ Sara whispered to her, voice surprisingly gentle.

For a moment, Kokomi feared she’d simply jumped in, allowing gravity to pull them under. That is until she heard the faint sound of fluttering wings, and realized they were descending slowly.

Sara was flying down towards the water with her almost like some sort of guardian angel.

The fresh and cold water made Kokomi groan as it came into contact with her wounds, though its healing properties soon started easing the pain instead, allowing her mind to slowly collect itself again as well.

As they sank into the water further, Sara held her head and waist to make sure she wouldn’t be submerged entirely and drown.

Soon, the area around them started glowing, finally giving Kokomi enough strength to open her eyes. She blinked in an attempt to block out the brightness of it, though what she’d rather not block out was the endearing look Sara gave her. It was a mixture of concern, relief, and even something akin to adoration, and Kokomi didn’t think she’d ever had someone look at her like that before.

‘It’s working…’ Sara breathed out.

‘Mhh…sorry for worrying you…’ Kokomi murmured, giving her a weak smile.

‘I-…’ the other started. ‘You shouldn’t have put yourself in front of me like that…we talked about this. You’re always sacrificing your own well-being for others while you shouldn’t. I wouldn’t want something horrible to happen to you, especially not because of me.’

‘And I already told you it’s worth it for people I care about…’ Kokomi hummed.

‘Still going on about that, huh…’

Kokomi gave her a small smile, and reached up to softly touch Sara’s cheek.

‘Come closer a bit…’

‘What?’

‘Just do it.’ Kokomi told her, smile not faltering for even a second.

Much to her delight, Sara actually did as she was told, leaning in until their noses were almost touching.

‘Closer…’ Kokomi said.

‘I don’t think—’ Sara started, cheeks flushing.

Kokomi didn’t know what possessed her in that moment.

Before she knew it, she closed that last small distance between them, pressing her lips against Sara’s own. Perhaps it was the lack of blood, or a result from the two of them having spent so much time together, or perhaps it was just Kokomi indulging for once.

Sara tensed, causing Kokomi to pull away. Or at least attempted to, because Sara moved her hand to the back of her head to pull her closer once more.

‘You’re not just stronger than you look.’ Sara spoke as they parted, sounding a little breathless. ‘You’re bolder too.’

‘And…is that a good or a bad thing…?’

‘It’s marvellous.’ Sara stated. ‘You should do that more often.’

‘Be…bolder, you mean?’ Kokomi asked, cheeks flushing. ‘Or kiss you?’

Her mind was going into overdrive, not even the cold water enough to cool her down.

‘Both.’ Sara stated, pulling her in once more. ‘I think both would be good.’

Heeding Sara’s advice, Kokomi did in fact attempt to be a little bolder from there on out.

Such as boldly asking the other to come visit again next week, despite her injuries having healed completely, some light, faded scars the only remnant of her previous wounds.

Sara agreed without any hesitation, giving her a soft smile in return. Said smiles were slowly becoming more common too, something which Kokomi was incredibly grateful for.

As for the people of Watatsumi…well. They needed very little persuading to allow their precious Divine Priestess her happiness.

Especially with the way her energy levels seemed to thrive after every visit.

(And of course it also may have also helped that Sara had saved Kokomi’s life.)

Whether it was some mysterious Tengu magic or just some inexplicable side effect of the waters of Watatsumi remained unclear to anyone but Sara and Kokomi themselves, though no one seemed to mind so long as things would remain this peaceful.