KONDA VILLAGE - INAZUMA
Konda Village had always been a place of secrets.
Nestled in a valley thick with ancient trees and perpetual mist, the small farming community had survived centuries by knowing when to be seen and when to disappear. During the Vision Hunt Decree, they'd hidden refugees. During the Sakoku Decree, they'd sheltered travelers. And now, during the hunt for Yoimiya, they provided sanctuary.
The fog that surrounded the village wasn't entirely natural—old magic lingered here, remnants of shrine blessings and barrier techniques that made the area difficult to navigate for outsiders. The paths shifted. Landmarks became unreliable. Anyone who didn't know the secret routes would find themselves walking in circles until they gave up and left.
Perfect for hiding someone the Tenryou Commission desperately wanted to find.
Yoimiya lay on a futon in a small house on the village's edge, her consciousness drifting in and out like tide. The curse trigger—Sayu's jealous anger, the red lightning, the earthquake—had hit harder than the previous ones. Each time was worse. Each time took longer to recover from.
The Arataki Gang had carried her here through back roads and hidden paths, moving with surprising stealth for such a loud group. Mamoru had known the way—his family was originally from Konda Village, and he'd played in these mists as a child.
Now they stood guard outside, rotating shifts, watching for any sign of Tenryou Commission soldiers.
Inside, Yoimiya's breathing was shallow but steady. The necklace rested against her chest, glowing faintly red in the dim light. Her hands were bandaged—burns from where the lightning had been strongest. Her clothes had been changed by the village elder's wife, the scorched festival outfit carefully folded and set aside.
"Will she be okay?" Genta asked quietly from the doorway.
"She's survived worse," Akira replied, though he didn't sound entirely convinced. "Boss said she just needs rest. Time for her body to recover from the shock."
"How much time? The Tenryou Commission won't stop looking for her."
"Let them look." Akira's voice hardened. "They won't find her here. Not in this fog. Not without local help. And nobody in Konda Village is going to betray Yoimiya to those uptight Commission soldiers."
Outside, the mist rolled through the village streets like a living thing. It was late afternoon, but the fog made everything twilight-gray, muting colors and distances.
And somewhere in that mist, frustrated Tenryou Commission soldiers were learning why Konda Village had remained independent for so long.
KONDA VILLAGE - OUTSKIRTS
"This is pointless!" one soldier complained, stumbling over a root he swore hadn't been there a moment ago. "We've been walking for an hour and we're no closer to the village center!"
"The fog's unnatural," another agreed. "Magic. Has to be. We need a shrine maiden or someone who can dispel it."
Squad Leader Hideaki—a career soldier who'd served the Tenryou Commission for fifteen years—had to agree with his men's assessment. They'd entered the village with clear orders: locate Yoimiya, secure the cursed artifact, bring her to headquarters for questioning. Simple enough.
Except nothing about this cursed fog was simple.
They'd started at the village entrance with twenty soldiers. Now, an hour later, half his squad was missing—not lost, exactly, but separated. He'd sent runners back along the path they'd come, only to have those runners return from a completely different direction, swearing they'd followed their own footsteps.
"Squad Leader!" A messenger appeared from the mist, breathing hard. "General Kujou sends word. We're to withdraw and regroup. The village is too difficult to navigate without proper preparation. She's arranging for shrine blessing removal specialists."
Hideaki wanted to argue—they were so close, Yoimiya had to be here somewhere—but he was also pragmatic. Pushing forward blindly would just get his men more lost and frustrated.
"Fine. Sound the retreat. All units withdraw to the main road. We'll regroup at headquarters and wait for proper support."
The order spread through the fog. Soldiers emerged from various directions, all looking equally disoriented and relieved to be leaving. They filed out of Konda Village in a loose column, the mist seeming to part just enough to show them the way out.
Only when the last soldier had left did the mist settle back into its normal pattern, thick and protective, hiding the village like a secret.
In the small house, Genta peeked out the window and grinned. "They're gone! The fog worked! Boss was right—nobody can find anything in this mist if the village doesn't want them to!"
"Good," Akira said. "That buys us time. Now we just need Yoimiya to wake up and tell us what to do next."
As if summoned by his words, Yoimiya's eyes fluttered open.
The ceiling came into focus slowly—wooden beams, paper lanterns, the gentle light of afternoon filtered through mist. Her body ached like she'd been thrown down a mountain, and her throat was dry as summer dust.
"Water," she croaked.
Immediately, someone was there—Akira, she realized, holding a cup to her lips. She drank gratefully, the cool liquid soothing her raw throat.
"Easy," Akira said. "Not too fast. You've been out for hours. How do you feel?"
"Like I got struck by lightning. Which I did." Yoimiya tried to sit up, winced at the pain, but managed it with Akira's help. "Where am I?"
"Konda Village. Safe house. The Tenryou Commission just tried to search for you but the fog drove them off. You're safe for now."
"For now," Yoimiya repeated. She touched the necklace at her throat, feeling its steady pulse. "But they'll come back. With shrine maidens. With people who can see through the fog. They won't give up."
"Then we'll figure something out." Genta appeared in the doorway. "Boss is on his way. He said he'd get help. Important help."
"Itto's plan is to get help?" Yoimiya managed a weak smile. "That's surprisingly responsible of him."
"He's full of surprises," Akira said. "Though usually not the responsible kind."
Footsteps outside. Multiple sets, moving with purpose. The door opened to reveal figures emerging from the mist: elegant clothing, composed expressions, the bearing of people used to authority.
The Kamisato siblings had arrived.
Ayato entered first, his expression calm but his eyes sharp as he assessed Yoimiya's condition. Ayaka followed, her grace undiminished despite the rough journey. And behind them, small and worried: Saika, Matsuzaka, and Iwao.
"Miss Yoimiya!" Saika rushed forward, stopping just short of touching her, remembering the necklace. "You're awake! Are you okay? We were so worried!"
"I'm okay, Saika," Yoimiya said gently. "Thanks to you three. I heard you got help. That was really brave."
"We had to!" Matsuzaka said. "The Tenryou Commission wanted to arrest you! But you didn't do anything wrong! It's not your fault the curse does that!"
"Nevertheless," Ayato said, moving to stand where Yoimiya could see him without straining, "the Tenryou Commission views you as a threat to public safety. General Kujou is quite determined to contain what she calls 'the supernatural menace.' Her words, not mine."
"She wants to lock me up until she can figure out how to remove the necklace," Yoimiya guessed.
"Precisely. She views pragmatic containment as preferable to understanding the curse's true nature." Ayato's expression was unreadable. "Fortunately, the Yashiro Commission disagrees. We believe understanding leads to solutions, not merely temporary suppression of symptoms."
Ayaka knelt gracefully beside the futon. "How many times has the curse triggered now?"
"Three," Yoimiya said quietly. "Once on the beach with Saika. Once at the estate during your meeting. And now... with Sayu." Her voice cracked slightly. "Is she okay? I didn't mean to hurt her. She was just upset and—"
"Sayu has burns on her hand, but she'll recover," Ayaka assured her. "She's also quite remorseful. She didn't understand what the necklace would do. She was jealous—of Klee, of the attention you've given to her memory—and acted impulsively."
"She's a kid. Kids do that." Yoimiya looked down at her bandaged hands. "But someone's going to die if this keeps happening. The curse gets stronger each time. Lasts longer. Causes more damage. Eventually..." She couldn't finish the sentence.
"Eventually, it will kill both you and Klee simultaneously," Ayato finished calmly. "Yes. Our intelligence suggests the curse is escalating toward a terminal event. Which is why breaking it has become critical, not merely desirable."
Heavy footsteps outside. The door banged open and Arataki Itto filled the doorway, his presence as overwhelming as always.
"YOIMIYA!" His voice boomed through the small house. "YOU'RE AWAKE! The one and oni was worried! Well, not worried worried, because the one and oni doesn't worry, but concerned in a very manly and leadership-appropriate way!"
"Hi, Itto," Yoimiya smiled despite everything. "Thanks for getting me out of there. And for fighting off the Tenryou Commission."
"They didn't stand a chance!" Itto flexed dramatically. "Nobody messes with my people! NOBODY! I told them—I said, 'You want to arrest Yoimiya, you go through ME first!' And they tried! Can you believe it? They actually tried! But the one and oni is unstoppable! Unbeatable! Un—"
"Itto," Ayato interrupted gently. "Perhaps save the battle recounting for later. We have urgent matters to discuss."
"Right. Urgent matters." Itto plopped down on the floor, cross-legged, his usual chaotic energy barely contained. "So what's the plan? How do we fix this curse thing?"
Ayato looked at Yoimiya directly. "To break the curse, you need Klee. Both bearers must be present, in close proximity, to trigger the resolution mechanism. According to what we've learned about sympathy curses, the transformation from curse to blessing requires both parties to acknowledge their connection with complete emotional honesty."
"Klee's in Mondstadt," Yoimiya said. "That's... really far away."
"Actually," Ayaka said quietly, "according to intelligence we received from the Yashiro Commission's contacts in Liyue, Klee isn't in Mondstadt. She left approximately a week ago. Alone. Heading toward Liyue, and presumably toward Inazuma."
Yoimiya's breath caught. "She what?"
"She ran away," Ayato clarified. "Left Mondstadt in the middle of the night, traveled through dangerous territory, caused multiple incidents including the destruction of the Jade Chamber in Liyue—"
"The Jade Chamber fell?" Itto interrupted. "That big fancy floating palace thing? It fell?"
"For the second time, yes. Apparently Lady Ningguang triggered the curse by touching Klee's necklace despite warnings. The resulting magical feedback destroyed the palace's support enchantments." Ayato's tone was clinical, but his eyes held something that might have been sympathy. "The point is, Klee has been traveling toward Inazuma for over a week. And according to our latest intelligence, she boarded a ship called The Alcor in Liyue Harbor yesterday morning."
Yoimiya's hand went to her necklace. "She's coming here. She's actually coming here."
"The Alcor is Captain Beidou's vessel," Ayaka added. "It's a reliable ship, well-maintained, with an experienced crew. The journey from Liyue Harbor to Ritou Port takes approximately three days. Which means—"
"Which means Klee will arrive in Inazuma in about two days," Ayato finished. "Perhaps less, depending on winds and weather."
The room fell silent as everyone processed this information.
"She crossed two nations to reach me," Yoimiya whispered. "She's eight years old and she crossed two nations. Alone. Because of the curse." Her voice broke. "Because of me."
"Because she cares about you," Ayaka corrected gently. "Breaking the curse requires both of you. And because, from what we've gathered, she's quite determined when she sets her mind to something."
"Determination is good!" Itto declared. "Determination is how you win beetle battles! And fight monsters! And—" He paused, processing. "Wait. So if Klee arrives in two days, and the Tenryou Commission is hunting for Yoimiya, and they're both wearing cursed necklaces that explode when people touch them... this is going to be complicated, isn't it?"
"Extremely," Ayato agreed. "The Tenryou Commission will attempt to arrest Klee at Ritou Port. Standard procedure for foreign arrivals with suspicious circumstances. Which means we need to intercept her first, bring her to Yoimiya before the Commission can interfere, and facilitate the curse-breaking process before another trigger occurs."
"That's a lot of things that have to go right," Genta observed.
"Yes. Which is why we're planning carefully." Ayato pulled out a small notebook, flipping to a marked page. "Thoma is already en route to Ritou Port with documentation that will expedite Klee's entry process. He'll pose as Yashiro Commission official business, claim Klee as a cultural exchange consultant, and bring her directly here to Konda Village."
"Will the Kanjou Commission accept that?" Ayaka asked.
"They will if I make it worth their while. I've already sent gifts to Commissioner Hiiragi—rare Mondstadt wine, expensive fabrics, a generous donation to their administrative fund. Enough to ensure their cooperation, or at least their willful ignorance."
"You're bribing them," Itto said.
"I'm engaging in diplomatic gift exchange," Ayato corrected with a slight smile. "There's a difference. Legally speaking."
"And the Tenryou Commission?" Yoimiya asked. "Kujou Sara won't just let this happen. She's determined to arrest me. Probably determined to arrest Klee too once she hears about the Jade Chamber incident."
"General Kujou is bound by protocol and chain of command," Ayato said. "If we move quickly and present the situation as resolved before she can mount a full response, she'll be forced to accept it. Fait accompli. By the time she organizes another arrest attempt, the curse will be broken and both girls will be under Yashiro Commission protection."
"That's assuming we can actually break the curse," Yoimiya pointed out. "We don't know how. Just that Klee and I need to be together and... what? Hold hands? Hug? What triggers the transformation?"
"Emotional honesty," Ayaka said softly. "According to the documentation we've reviewed, sympathy curses break when both parties acknowledge their connection without reservation or pretense. The specific physical action varies, but it's typically something that represents vulnerability and acceptance."
"Like meant for one another," Iwao said suddenly. All the adults turned to look at him. The boy blushed but continued. "In fairy tales. Curses always break with a love for each other. or whatever."
"This isn't a fairy tale," Yoimiya said, but her cheeks had gone pink.
"Isn't it?" Ayato's expression was thoughtful. "A curse binding two souls across impossible distance. A desperate journey to reunite them. A test of their connection. The narrative structure is remarkably similar to traditional tales of enchantment and resolution."
"Except we're not—Klee and I aren't—" Yoimiya stumbled over her words. "We're friends. Best friends. It's just two people who care about each other trying to survive a curse."
"And perhaps that caring is exactly what the curse is testing," Ayaka suggested. "But connection. The depth of bond that transcends distance and danger. The willingness to sacrifice and struggle for another person's wellbeing. That's rare, Yoimiya. Precious. Worth preserving."
"Whether the curse wants romance or friendship doesn't matter," Ayato said practically. "What matters is that when Klee arrives, you'll need to be honest with her about how much she means to you. No hiding behind casual friendship or downplaying the significance. The curse will sense dishonesty. It will reject half-measures."
"So I just... tell her?" Yoimiya's voice was small. "Tell her that I've been thinking about her every day since she left? That the necklace makes me feel connected to her even across the ocean? That when the curse triggers, I can sense her pain and her fear and her determination? That I—" She stopped, overwhelmed.
"Yes," Ayaka said gently. "Exactly that. Complete honesty. Even if it's scary. Even if you don't fully understand what you're feeling. The curse will transform honesty into healing."
Yoimiya touched the necklace, feeling its steady pulse. Somewhere out there, on a ship crossing the ocean, Klee wore the matching crystal. Was she scared? Excited? Determined?
I'm scared too, Yoimiya thought toward her. But I'm also glad you're coming. Even though it's dangerous. Even though you shouldn't have to make this journey. I'm glad I'll see you again.
The crystal pulsed warmly, and maybe it was imagination, but Yoimiya swore she felt something back. Not words. Just... presence. Acknowledgment. Connection.
"Two days," she said aloud. "In two days, Klee arrives. And then we break this curse together. Or we die trying."
"Let's aim for the breaking option," Itto said cheerfully. "Death is boring! Breaking curses is exciting! Plus, I already promised the kids I'd make sure you're okay, and the one and oni ALWAYS keeps his promises!"
"Even the impossible ones?" Matsuzaka asked.
"ESPECIALLY the impossible ones!" Itto stood, striking a dramatic pose. "Because that's what heroes do! They make the impossible possible! And Yoimiya is a hero! And that Klee kid sounds like a hero too! So when they get together, it'll be double hero power! UNSTOPPABLE!"
Despite everything—the pain, the fear, the weight of the curse—Yoimiya laughed. "Thanks, Itto. I needed that."
"Anytime! Now, what can the Arataki Gang do to help? We're not good at planning or strategy or thinking, but we're GREAT at punching things and causing distractions!"
"Keep watch," Ayato said. "The Tenryou Commission will attempt another search once they acquire shrine blessing removal. We need warning if they approach. Your gang knows these woods better than any soldier. Use that advantage."
"You got it!" Itto saluted sloppily. "GANG! We're on patrol duty! Let's show these Commission soldiers why you don't mess with the Arataki Gang's territory!"
He thundered out of the house, his gang following with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Their voices faded into the mist, leaving a strange quiet behind.
"He's ridiculous," Yoimiya said affectionately. "But reliable in his own chaotic way."
"The best allies often are," Ayato agreed. He stood, brushing off his robes. "Rest while you can. Recover your strength. In two days, everything changes. Either the curse breaks and you're free, or—"
"Or it kills us both," Yoimiya finished. "I know. Believe me, I know."
"Then let's ensure the first outcome." Ayaka squeezed Yoimiya's hand carefully, avoiding the necklace. "You're not alone in this. The Yashiro Commission, the Arataki Gang, your neighborhood—everyone is supporting you. And soon, Klee will be here too. Together, you'll be strong enough to break any curse."
"I hope so," Yoimiya whispered.
The Kamisato siblings left, taking the neighborhood kids with them. The house fell quiet except for the sound of mist against windows and the distant calls of the Arataki Gang securing the perimeter.
Yoimiya lay back on the futon, one hand on the necklace, feeling its steady rhythm.