21 A Letter from a Long Distant Friend
Gonjourno Kaguya, a dear friend of Kamisato Ayaka, had sent a letter from a distant land. The arrival of such correspondence raised questions about why someone so close was in a place so far away. However, there was a poignant reason behind Kaguya's departure.
Three years prior, the Gonjourno estate fell victim to a group of mysterious assailants, forcing its residents to leave the Far East to escape the danger. Despite her reluctance to leave her friend behind, Kaguya had no choice but to comply with her parent's wishes and join them.
Ayaka was deeply affected by Kaguya's departure, descending into a state of melancholy that lingered for months. However, her spirits were brightened when the first letter arrived from Kaguya, assuring her of their enduring friendship and promising to maintain contact through letters.
Since then, Ayaka eagerly anticipated each mail from Kaguya, cherishing the words of her distant friend as a source of solace and a reminder of their shared past.
Now, as Ayato presented her with the latest letter from Kaguya, Ayaka's heart fluttered with a mixture of excitement and nostalgia. She carefully unfolded the parchment and began to read the familiar handwriting, eager to catch up on the latest news from her dear friend.
[Dear Ayaka,
I hope this letter finds you well. It's been a while since I last wrote, and I apologize for that. Life here in Orario has been both challenging and rewarding. My family and I were doing fine within our new home, though I still long for the familiarity of our beloved Gonjourno estate.]
Ayaka's heart swelled with warmth as she read Kaguya's words, feeling a sense of closeness despite the physical distance between them.
[I got to join a Familia and managed to level up relatively well, albeit the members annoy me most of the time. Oh, how I miss talking to you, Ayaka. They don't understand how I feel and will always argue with me at a moment's notice.]
A pang of sympathy tugged at Ayaka's heart as she read about Kaguya's struggles in her new environment. She understood the importance of having someone to confide in and empathized with her friend's longing for their past conversations.
However, the next line of the letter causes her to furrow her brows as she reads something that provokes a different emotion.
[Anyway, I have a piece of important information that you might need to hear. You see, my Familia was working on a case about an evil organization called the Evilus that has plagued the streets ever since.
But get this, it was rumored that one of its leaders is someone with a half-mask on their face. It's almost identical to the one who killed your mother three years ago.]
"Impossible!"
Ayaka's hand trembled as she clutched the letter, her heart pounding with a mix of disbelief and dread. The mention of her mother's killer being alive reopened old wounds, stirring up a storm of emotions within her.
"What does Kaguya mean by this?" Ayato's voice broke through her thoughts, his concern was evident as he peeked at the letter. "We already checked the killer's frozen body a long time ago and it was confirmed dead."
"Master, please. Let Lady Ayaka finish reading," Thoma asserted, telling Ayato to be silent.
Ayaka took a deep breath, trying to steady her trembling hands as she struggled to process the shocking revelation. She continued reading the letter, hoping there was a piece of detail that would serve as a salvation.
[I apologize if this information upsets you, Ayaka, but don't worry, we will get to the bottom of this organization and give justice to your deceased mother. Until then, I will update you if I find more information that might interest you.
Sincerely,
Gonjourno Kaguya.]
Ayaka's mind raced with questions and fears, her thoughts consumed by the possibility that her mother's killer might have faked his death and was out there, plotting nefarious deeds.
She turned to her brother, feeling apprehensive about the course of events.
"Brother, we should inform Lady Raiden about this. It is an important matter she needed to hear immediately."
Ayato nodded solemnly, recognizing the gravity of the situation.
"You're right, we cannot afford to ignore this information. Thoma, I will prepare a letter to Her Excellency, you shall deliver it later."
"Understood."
That being said, Ayaka's mind shifted to the foreboding disclosure in Kaguya's letter and the unsettling ramifications it carried for their family and their commitment to uphold justice.
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Later that night, Ayaka stood on the porch of their home, the soft glow of lanterns casting gentle shadows around her. In her hands, she held onto her mother's fan, a relic of her past and a symbol of strength and resilience.
As she gazed out into the night, her mind wandered back to the memories of her mother - a woman of grace and courage, whose life was cut short by a man in a half mask. The pain of her demise still lingered within Ayaka's heart, a constant reminder of the injustice that had befallen their family.
"Still can't sleep, Ayaka?"
A familiar voice then called out to her from the doorway, and Ayaka turned to see her older brother, Ayato, standing there, concern etched into his features. She wore a weary smile before returning her glance to the night sky.
"It's hard to do so, not after everything I've been through," she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ayato stepped closer, his expression filled with empathy as he joined his younger sister on the porch. "I understand. The news from Kaguya's letter must have been quite unsettling."
Hearing her brother's opinion, Ayaka nodded, her grip tightened on the fan she was holding.
"To think that the man who took Mother away from us is alive and out there... It's difficult to come to terms with."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of their shared grief and uncertainty. Ayato placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, a silent gesture of unwavering support in the face of their family's tragic past.
"We'll get through this together, Ayaka. Besides, I already wrote a letter to Her Excellency so we could consult her about this matter tomorrow."
Ayaka silently nodded, appreciative of her brother's reassurance. With Ayato by her side and the guidance of their family's benefactor, she felt a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness that threatened to consume them.
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The following morning, Ayaka, Ayato, and Thoma waited at the estate entrance, expecting their esteemed guests' arrival. The early dawn painted the surroundings with a serene glow, easing the tension that lingered in the air.
"Remember, Ayaka, I know that we've been part of the Familia for three years now, but you still need to greet them with dignity."
Ayato broke the silence, reminding his sister about displaying elegance and nobility in front of their benefactors. In response, Ayaka nodded, recognizing her older brother's directive.
"Yes, brother. I understand."
Soon, their patience was rewarded as the sound of multiple approaching footsteps reached their ears. Turning their gaze, they saw a small group of individuals from the Kamisato Clan's benefactor. One of them was a woman with pink hair and fox features.
"Oh my, how has it been, dear Ayaka? Did you sleep well? Have you been eating alright?"
The fox woman rushed towards the young lady and hugged her tightly, asking her a bunch of questions filled with genuine concern and affection. Ayaka was initially taken aback, but she eventually returned the embrace, feeling comforted by one of her benefactors' embrace.
"Thank you for your concern, Lady Miko. I am doing fine."
Yae Miko, a member of the Familia, became Ayaka's surrogate mother. Ever since the death of the young lady's parents, she occasionally checks up on her, ensuring she is well taken care of in their absence.
"I'm glad to hear that, dear. Just to let you know we're here for you."
With Miko's comfort, Ayaka felt a sense of relief wash over her. But before she could speak, another person approached the entrance.
"Miko, please. Stop being clingy with the young lady while in the presence of her brother."
"Eh, you're so dodgy, Sara. I know you're worried about her as well."
Kujo Sara, the captain of the Familia, mediated with a hint of reprimand in her tone, offsetting Miko's affection with a sense of decency befitting their roles. She served as Ayaka's mentor, training the young lady to her limits and guiding her in the ways of combat and self-control.
"That much is obvious, Miko. Now let go of her this instant," Sara insisted.
"You're no fun," Miko pouted.
Shortly, the fox woman freed Ayaka from her embrace, though the warmth of her affection still lingered within. Afterward, a third individual entered the entrance. With purple braided hair and a full set of armor, they silently approached the group.
"Welcome to our humble abode, Your Excellency. Delighted to make-"
"Hold on, brother. That's not Lady Raiden, it's just the Shogun."
Ayaka's words halted Ayato's greetings after noticing that the individual in front of them was not the Thunder Goddess, Raiden, but rather their counterfeit version. It quietly steps aside and allows the real one to pass through.
"I'm surprised you can tell the difference, Ayaka. I'm impressed."
"Of course, Lady Raiden. After all, both of us reprogrammed the puppet."
As it happened, both Ayaka and Raiden had jointly bestowed sentience to the Shogun. This achievement owed much to the deity's affinity with electricity and the young lady's expertise in robotics and computer engineering from her previous life.
As they exchanged thoughts, Ayato cleared his throat, signaling the group's attention. "Now that we're all here, shall we proceed to the meeting hall?"
The group nodded in agreement, and they proceeded towards the estate, feeling the tension for the upcoming discussion that lay ahead.
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Upon reaching the meeting hall, they all settled onto the tatami floor, cushions supporting their legs as they prepared for the conference.
Ayato, Ayaka, and Thoma took their places on one side of the table while Lady Miko, Kujo Sara, and Raiden occupied the other end. However, the Shogun, being a sentient puppet, remained standing by the doorway, as it wasn't programmed to sit.
Eventually, Ayato cleared his throat, signaling the beginning of the discussion.
"Thank you all for gathering here today. You see, we have received valuable intelligence that needs to be addressed."
His serious tone set the tone for the meeting as everyone focused their attention on him.
"Ayaka, would you please share the contents of the letter written by Gonjourno Kaguya?" he requested, turning to his sister.
The young lady nodded and took a deep breath before narrating the unsettling information revealed in her friend's letter. She spoke rather clearly and concisely, ensuring that everyone understood the gravity of the situation.
As she finished, a heavy silence fell over the room, each member processing the implications of the news. Miko was the first to speak, her voice tinged with concern.
"Oh my, that's quite troubling. If what your friend says is true, then the frozen half-masked person that we discovered three years ago was still alive, or rather faked his death."
Sara nodded in agreement, her brows furrowed in deep thought. "Indeed, if this information holds, it means this person was a slippery adversary to face. Your Excellency, what is our course of action?"
Raiden paused for a moment, considering her words carefully before responding.
"I suppose it left us no choice but to investigate ourselves. We should travel to Orario and aid the Familia of Ayaka's friend. Everyone, begin our preparation."
"Understood."
With the decision of the Thunder goddess, the group discussed the plan of their journey and the preparations needed for their departure. Unbeknownst to them, the road ahead would be fraught with danger and uncertainty, but the Familia were determined to uncover the truth and bring justice to those who sought to evade it.
