Chapter Text
He leaned on the railings of the ship, overlooking the sea. In the distance there was a tiny island growing bigger minute by minute - once it was his home, Inazuma. Wanderer sighed, remembering Nahidas words. To him it was pointless, his past was over, what could she hope to accomplish by sending him on this journey?
Make amends… Sometimes she was too naive for a god, he thought as he closed his eyes. He had left Inazuma long ago, there was nothing for him there. But apparently she thought otherwise if she so confidently brought up the idea of friends. To think a puppet like him needed friends, to think they could offer him anything at all - foolish, naive, childish.
He sighed and opened his eyes. That's what she was, still just a child. How could she understand, she hasn't experienced what he did. If she had gone through this, he thought, Nahida would surely think otherwise. Then she could understand.
He closed his eyes one more time and felt the gentle cold breeze, the faint sakura petal scent in the air, chatter on the port, the rumble of the ship as it stopped. They were finally here and it all already irked him.
Without saying as much as a simple goodbye, he jumped over the ships railing and gently landed on the docks below as the breeze carried him there. The creecking of the wood was still the same as he remembered. Every step he took was accompanied by a noise he once knew. Annoyed at his thoughts, he rolled his eyes, pushing the memories away.
..
"What now Beuer?" he muttered to himself as he stood in Ritou, not quite sure where to go nor what to do. He was a wanderer, free to go wherever he pleases, but that was in Sumeru. Here in Inazuma everything was permeated with the electro energy, he could practically feel it crackling beneath his feet making him uneasy. He was a wanderer, but that didn't mean he'd like to go where he felt like ... this. It irked him, the electro energy, the charged air around him. It annoyed him so much, this feeling of constant charge ready to strike any moment. Surely, the doing of the Shogun to control people, to embed obedience and create a feeling she's always near.
"What do you want me to do Beuer?" he asked a question with no purpose. The instructions were simple "I want you to go to Inazuma. I understand this might be difficult for you, but think of it this way. The tree doesn't stay the same over time, it can grow and invite many different birds on it's branches. I want you to see these birds for yourself, if I simply describe their appearance it won't be enough. You have to experience it for yourself."
He groaned and glanced at the tree growing in Ritou, decorated with ribbons and encompassed with shrines. "Something tells me you won't be the answer here"
It was morning when he arrived, now the sun stood high up in the sky. He had been wandering Ritou for half the day and he still had no ideas how to unravel the confusing lesson Nahida had thrown at him. He continued this for a while longer - walking through the streets, observing civilians, merchants, guards, occasionally walking back to the tree in the center of the town to check for some new insights. Nothing. Not a clue where to start.
With crossed arms, he sighed just a little louder than he normally would realizing he had to continue his journey down the road to Inazuma city after all.
"You okay there, little guy?" a loud voice called from behind him. He had been called many names, but this was the first time he had been called a little guy. "Excuse me?" he calmly turned round, annoyed yet slightly amused at the idiocy of a person who would dare to call him like that. "I said, you okay?" the voice repeated. When he saw the owner of this voice it made a little more sense, though it didn't change the fact it had already left a bitter impression. The person in front of him, now towering above him, continued "You seemed kinda lost there, little guy" the voice chuckled "Need any help?"
The now nicknamed little guy stepped back a bit to fully examine the uninvited guest in his personal space. The towering figure stood there with a grin, long and messy silver hair, pair of red horns. Weather in Inazuma was rather warm during the day, but to think it was so warm that only a coat with no shirt would suffice… He scoffed "And what are you supposed to be. The tall guy?" he said with poison in his words, thinking it would be enough to deter any further conversation. To his surprise, this was followed by genuine laughter.
..
He had seen this little guy wander from building to building, walking down the same street how many times now always stopping by the tree in the city square. This poor guy really was lost, wasn't he. And now he was too embarrassed to ask for help. That's what Itto thought at least.
Shinobu had said he needed to be a little more responsible, not to rush head first in any troubles. Well, he had watched him for a while, there were no guards around him, he didn't look like a guy who was looking for trouble. He certainly looked like someone from not around here. The troubles that he could get himself in with a newcomer, let alone a lost newcomer, were practically zero.
As Itto walked up to him he continued to think, surely if no one else wants to help such a fancy guy, the responsible thing would be to help him, to help a lost little guy in need. He probably was too ashamed, the fancy people, as he recalled, had trouble speaking with the not-so-fancy people. Maybe he even had tried to ask for directions, but because of his fancy clothes no one really wanted to talk to him. Outsiders, especially lost outsiders, especially especially fancy lost outsiders were still a rarity in Ritou even after the borders had been open. It would be no wonder then why he still meandered around aimlessly with no help in sight.
"You okay there, little guy?" he asked rather loudly to catch his attention. The little guy muttered something, not quite sure if he had heard him, Itto asked again "I said you okay? You seemed kinda lost there, little guy. Need any help?" he gave a warm smile to appear as friendly as possible. His appearance was one of the reasons why some people preferred to keep their guard up around him. Hopefully, thanks to the smile, this guy got the memo that he was here to help.
As the small figure stepped back a bit it asked "And what are you supposed to be? The tall guy?" which caught him off guard. He hadn't really thought about it before, but now this idea seemed genuenly funny to him. He burst out laughing placing a hand on the little guys shoulder, which apparently wasn't appreciated since it was shaken off quickly. "Sorry, sorry" he apologized through the laughs "I hadn't thought about it before. I guess I really am, huh" another chuckle escaped his breath before he finally handed out a hand in greeting "I'm Arataki Itto, the one and oni" he proudly exclaimed waiting for a reply.
There was no reply. The little guy sighed and was ready to turn away "And you are.." he prompted with a gesture until finally getting an answer which he didn't quite understand how to interpret "I'm merely a wanderer. There's no need to occupy your mind with my presence. Please, you are free to continue your daily activities as I have no intention of delaying you here any further"
It was a strange response which took a moment to fully comprehend, though Itto quickly gave up on figuring out the meaning behind it. The tone alone was enough. It was mysterious and rather monotone, but he could somewhat understand the intent here - this guy seemed to imply he would much rather prefer to be left alone. He respected that, however he couldn't let a newcomer get lost either. What if he wanders outside of the city? Who will get this guy back? It didn't seem like there was anyone around who cared about this person if he went lost or missing since he hadn't spoken to anyone as far as he could tell.
The trail of thought quickly derailed as he saw the little guy walking away without a word. "Hey, wait a minute!" he swiftly caught up with him as he tried to slip away unnoticed. The little guy was unimpressed and possibly slightly annoyed, however this was for his own safety, after all "I can't just leave a guy like you without any help! Where are you going? I could help you get there safe and sound. Is it a place in Ritou or in Inazuma? If it's Inazuma I can protect you along the way, little guy, from ronin. They are very dangerous for such a small fry, but with me by my side you have nothing to fear, when Itto's here!"
Oh, the irony of this situation, he thought to himself. The little guy smirked, he wasn't afraid from a bunch of nobodies who thought they were protecting their last drop of honor. He could easily take out this towering figure if he wanted to. They were still in the city with too many people around and he didn't want to make a scene here, too much unwanted attention is never good. Instead, he chuckled pleased with the thought, he would deal with this persistent figure outside the city, there he would show him.
"What's so funny?" the uninvited intruder to his personal space continued to dissipate the silence. Little guy, still walking, glanced from underneath his hat at the tall figure and formed a deceptionally warm smile "You can protect me?" "Yeah, for sure! See this?" the tall figure pointed at the geo vision hanging around his neck "I can take those guys out, no sweat. I could do that even without it if I needed to" he proudly exclaimed hoping that would convince the little guy he will be truly safe during his travels with him.
The attitude here proved to be the pivot point, this arrogance coming from the oni, he could easily use it against him. This was such an easy opportunity it would be a shame to miss it "Alright, you have convinced me. I am going to Inazuma city, if you can guide me safely there I will pay you" after all he needed an entertainment along the way. "Woah, really! I mean, I'm totally not doing this for the mora or anything. I am doing this to help a traveller in need. But I really could use some mora too, ya know" he chuckled nervously.
With the deal set, their destination was set towards Inazuma city, but before that - the edge of Ritou.