chiscara.

[childeishly]

chiscara.

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[abovefate]

...Your teacher? So there's someone else crazy enough to stay here.

[ he sighs and crosses his arms ]

You're not even from Inazuma. I should leave you here and whatever happens to you is none of my business.

[childeishly]

I think she lives here.

Inazuma, so that’s where you’re from. [ he’ll remember that. yuuri from inazuma. ] I don’t want you to get in anymore trouble because of me, so… you should. [ he summons a hydro snake, using it to try to clean some blood that’s on yuuri, since he gave his cloth to him. ] I’ll be okay.

[abovefate]

[ He has to harden himself, and fast, if he wants to rule properly. For all he knows this child is just a trap and he really shouldn't waste any more time in here. His people are a bigger priority ]

Very well. If you've survived here this long, you probably don't need me all that much.

But maybe you should try a little something called stealth.

[childeishly]

I’ll have you know this is the first time something like this has happened, and it’s probably only because of the whale. That’s the first time I’ve seen it since I fell in. One day… one day I’m going to take it out!

[ he rolls his eyes at the mention of stealth. ] I want a big fight. I want them to think they have the advantage and then I want them to see how wrong they are. Their eyes widen as their blood runs cold… my name the last thing on their tongues before they’re dragged down to hell.

[abovefate]

Oh? How bold, for a brat. But these monsters won't remember anything, let alone your name.

You have a vision. Maybe I'll let you fight me when you grow up.

[childeishly]

How about you fight me right now! Consider it my going away present to you.

[abovefate]

[ there's a soft laugh at that ]

You can't afford to lose any strength now. If you want to fight me, get back to your home. I'll wait for you in Inazuma, how about that, mm?

[childeishly]

[ he holds his pinkie out to him. ] You promise?

[abovefate]

I promise.

[ he does lock his pinkie finger with his ]

... Will you really be fine if I leave you here?

[childeishly]

[ he’s going to recite the Snezhnayan pinkie promise nursery rhyme and then take his pinkie back. ]

I’ll be okay. I have to be now. I made a promise to come see you in Inazuma.

[abovefate]

Then I'll be waiting for you, Ajax.

Don't lose your eye again.

[childeishly]

[ he opens it fully for the first time, and unlike his dull blue eye it’s bright purple. ] I’d hate to lose my reminder of you, Yuuri. I’ll take care not to lose it.

---

[ several years pass and the abyss situation in snezhnaya has gotten worse, with the land having almost been completely ravaged by heralds and monsters alike. his hometown is all but lost and while ajax, now tartaglia, has made plea after plea, they’ve all fallen on deaf ears. they don’t want to send help, so he goes to collect his family on his own, but instead of returning to the capitol with them he flees… heading for another nation… one far, far away. ]

[ Inazuma. ]

[ it takes what feels like ages, but they eventually make it, landing in ritou. he manages to secure a small spot, but mora is tight, so he starts asking around… maybe he can finally try finding yuuri. ]

…somebody has to know. Hey, excuse me, do you know anybody named Yuuri?

[abovefate]

[ He feels his presence the moment he sets his foot in Inazuma. How could he not — after all, he left him with part of his power. It's been long enough that he'd been certain he wouldn't see the boy again, so of course once he felt him he just had to see it with his own two eyes.

Unlike when they met in the Abyss, he's wearing elaborate clothes and there are shogunate soldiers right behind him as he walks up to him, coming into view barely a moment after he says his name.

And of course at the sight of him, everyone seems to be in awe as whispers about "The Shogun" visiting start ]

You do realize that's a fairly common name, right? You wouldn't go anywhere by asking for that.

[childeishly]

[ childe has an eyepatch covering the eye that yuuri had replaced, but the closer he gets the more it seems to resonate - parts of his skin glowing purple. ] I’m afraid not. I only just arrived in Inazuma. Don’t know much about it. [ didn’t know you were the shogun, he wants to add, but he manages to avoid doing so. ]

And I’m sure I would have eventually gotten somewhere. Describing you certainly would have done the trick. [ his lips quirk. ] I’m here for my fight.

[abovefate]

[ he crosses his arms at his chest, looking at him as if he were AN ANT ]

How ridiculous for a child to think he's worthy of fighting me.

[ there is a crowd around them now, and the whisper continue. The shogunate guards also seem to be ready to fight, taking Ajax's words as a threat - but Yuuri dismisses him ]

That's enough joking for now. You have been invited as a personal guest of mine, so be a good boy and follow me.

[ he turns around and starts walking, expecting him to follow. ]

[childeishly]

I am not a child. [ that seems to irk him, because he said the same thing in the abyss. ] …you made me a promise. [ he doesn’t move. ] Fight me, Yuuri. This isn’t a joke. [ he summons his hydro blades and darts forward, electro dancing across his skin and infusing his blades. ]

[ yes, he’s stupid enough to do this. his guards will be no match for him, but yuuri… ]

[abovefate]

How lively. You still want to joke even after all this.

[ the smile he gives looks completely different from the way he acted in the Abyss - he looks and feels colder. He once more gestures to the guard to stay put, and steps toward Ajax - wrapping his arms around him ]

Just play along. I remember my promise, this isn't the time nor place for this

[childeishly]

[ he slams into yuuri and ends up in a… hug, and that has him confused. the blades dispel, and he quickly scans the area, as if trying to piece this all together. he’s unsuccessful, so he has no choice… he has to play along. ] Fine.

Lead the way. [ he steps back and follows him quietly, playing nice and doing as he says, so he doesn’t cause anymore trouble. ]

[abovefate]

[ he turns to his soldiers, and then— ]

It's just like I told you. He is an old friend who has finally come back to Inazuma. He's not an outsider.

Well then, let's go to the palace. It has been a long time since I gave you a tour, Ajax. And this time you brought your family as well.

[ he will resume walking, heading to his palace. It's only when they're inside that he can finally dismiss his guards altogether - and it seems no one is allowed there without his permission ]

I didn't actually expect your visit anymore. You do know how tense relationships are with other nations nowdays, don't you.

[childeishly]

I made a promise. [ he murmurs under his breath. ] But, yes, you’re… right. [ he heaves a sigh. ] I’m sorry I made things difficult back there. It’s been a shitty couple of… months? And I haven’t exactly had the time to let any of this out.

I had to pay my way in to Inazuma. Forge documents saying we’re residents, and thankfully nobody’s recognized me. [ since he is still technically a harbinger. he might have defected, but whether or not he casts the title aside doesn’t matter. ]

It’s good to see you again. [ he gives him a crooked smile. ] You know… you could have told me you were the shogun back in the abyss… you jerk.

[abovefate]

I've seen your documents. That's why I lied back then.

[ glancing at him ... he's certainly grown up. It's not like he doesn't know humans do that, but it's strange to see him again after years, and see him as a man now.

And then he gestures toward a door to the right ]

You will find rooms there. They're all empty, so each of you can pick whichever you want. ... I'll have food sent to you.

As for you, I want to talk.

[childeishly]

…oh. Eh heh. I had to pay a lot for those. It’s part of the reason I thought to look for you. I was hoping to find some work. [ because he’s poor af now. ] But, ah, sure. You’ll send for my family?

[ if that’s all squared away, then he’s fine to talk. he’ll follow yuuri wherever. ]

[abovefate]

[ he nods, and leads Ajax to the garden in the back ]

... I couldn't tell you I was the Shogun. I shouldn't even have saved you - that was very reckless of me. But I don't regret it.

Things must have been really desperate for you to bet your all on a chance meeting with someone from Inazuma.

[childeishly]

I had to leave Snezhnaya. It’s bad over there, as I’m sure you can imagine, and no matter how many times I asked her Majesty for help… [ he just shakes his head. ] I wasn’t going to abandon my family. I wasn’t going to let them die to the encroaching abyss creatures. Harbinger or not, my family is what matters most to me. I left, and I’m not going back. I’m not her weapon to wield anymore.

[abovefate]

[ wait

what ]

—You're a Harbinger?