บท 22: What a Surprise! - Chapter 20

MIZU'S POV

Five days later, we were still in Inazuma. I watched as the Traveler, Lumine, used all her strength to land a hit on me.

It was almost comical how effortlessly I dodged every attack, all while reading a book and wearing a blindfold.

(Mizu as Gojo) : "Traveler, it's not just about strength. It's about speed and precision," I said, grinning as if I wasn't even slightly bothered.

Lumine paused, panting a little. Her determination wavered a bit, but I could tell she was absorbing my advice.

Watching her, I realized just how far she was willing to go to improve. It was pretty inspiring, honestly.

(Lumine) : She paused, catching her breath. "Gojo, how can I improve..?" She asked, clearly eager to get better.

(Mizu as Gojo) : I snapped his book shut and flashed his usual confident smile. "Basically, all you have to do is practice because hard work doesn't betray you," he said.

She couldn't help but chuckle at the simplicity of his advice. Despite all his power and skill, Gojo always brought it back to the basics.

And maybe, just maybe, that was the real secret to his strength.

I watched her nod, clearly taking my advice to heart. She had that determined look in her eyes, and I knew she was ready to take on anything.

(Mizu as Gojo) : "Work hard, study well, and eat and sleep plenty! That's the way!" I added with a grin. "We must master the art of peace in addition to the art of war!" She laughed a little, probably because it sounded like something out of an old martial arts movie.

But I believed it. Balance is key, after all. I could see the thought resonating with her, and that was good enough for me.

(Paimon) : She perked up instantly. "Oh! Paimon likes that way of learning! Especially the eating part! Paimon's good at that!" She said with a big smile.

I couldn't help but chuckle. Trust Paimon to focus on the food. But hey, if it keeps her happy and motivated, I'm happy as well.

(Lumine) : She looked at me curiously. "So, Gojo, has there been anyone you fought who was on par with you?" She asked.

(Mizu as Gojo) : I scratched my head, pretending to think hard. "Ah, well… let me think…" Honestly, it's not easy being this good. But it's fun to make her guess.

What opponent have I fought who even came close?

(Mizu as Gojo) : "I think there are no opponents that have ever really made me serious," I started, pretending to think.

Sure, La Signora was a good challenge, but nowhere near my level.

(Mizu as Gojo) : Then, with a playful smile, I pointed my index finger at Lumine. "But I think it'd be you, Traveller. I think you might be the one to give me a real fight."

(Lumine) : She raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Oh? Why me?" She asked.

(Mizu as Gojo) : I chuckled, flashing a confident grin. "You forced me to use one of my strongest abilities after all. Be proud, Traveller," I said, my smile widening.

(Lumine) : Her smile was bright, a genuine ray of light. "Thank you, Gojo. I really mean it," she said.

(Paimon) : Before I could respond, Paimon butted in with her usual curiosity. "But Gojo, if you fight with the Raiden Shogun, would you win?"

(Mizu as Gojo) : I couldn't help but flash a confident smile. "Nah, I'd win," I said without a hint of doubt.

AFTER A FEW MOMENTS...

After the sparring session, I found myself wandering around the camp, Gorou trailing right behind me.

(Gorou) : "Gojo, our troops have all been in high spirits because of you. I can't thank you enough for what you've done. Just like Musashi, you helped us through tough times," he said earnestly.

(Mizu as Gojo) : I gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, General. I'm here to help. It's not just me; the Traveler and Paimon are with us too."

(Gorou) : As we continued walking, Gorou looked at me with genuine concern. "Are you sure you don't need anything? Your healing capabilities are way beyond anything I've ever seen! You even healed one of my men's severed hands back to full!" He exclaimed.

(Mizu as Gojo) : I chuckled softly. "It's okay, Gorou. As long as they're not on the brink of death, I can heal them back to full, no worries. But don't rely on me too much, alright?"

(Gorou) : He nodded with a reassuring smile. "Yes, of course! We don't want to feel indebted to you, after all," he said. Then his face grew serious. "But once the Raiden Shogun knows about this, it could be devastating. She'll definitely come after us. Are you sure about this, Gojo?"

(Mizu as Gojo) : I smirked, feeling a surge of excitement. "Yes, of course. That's what I wanted. I really want to fight her."

(Gorou) : Gorou let out a sigh, giving me a sideways glance. "You are truly a daring one, huh?" He remarked. Then, out of nowhere, he asked, "Anyway, what do you think of me, Gojo? Am I strong?"

(Mizu as Gojo) : I paused for a moment and gave him a look, from head to toe. "Hmm... those with a Vision are naturally strong. But in your case, you're both mentally and physically strong. Good balance," I said with a nod.

(Gorou) : He looked a bit puzzled after my response. "Is that good or bad? I mean, I've lost every time I fought with the Traveler. If I can't take her on, there's no way I can deal with you," he said, sounding a bit defeated.

(Mizu as Gojo) : I could see where he was coming from. "That's true," I admitted, "but don't put yourself down, Gorou."

I tried to make Gorou see things from a different angle.

(Mizu as Gojo) : "Look, just because she's strong doesn't mean you're weak," I said, trying to lift Gorou's spirits. "You fought well against her. Use your speed and your bow precision to slow down your enemies."

(Mizu as Gojo) : "You're right, I shouldn't compare myself to others. Thanks, Gojo. No wonder my troops are happier these days," he said with a smile.

(Mizu as Gojo) : "Don't worry. I'd say that I'm a spirit uplifter," I replied with a grin.

MEANWHILE, IN FONTAINE...

BYAKUYA'S POV

Dottore and Arlecchino found themselves surrounded by millions of sakura petals, which to the keen-eyed, were actually sharp blades.

(Byakuya) : "You know, it's useless," Byakuya said nonchalantly, swiftly dealing with Dottore's red gem that floated beside him, slicing it into unrecognizable pieces.

(Byakuya) : "I don't want to do this, but you forced me. Let me tell you, there's no way out," Byakuya said, his tone calm but menacing as he slowly approached.

Dottore and Arlecchino began to panic, unsure of their next move.

Each petal, though seemingly delicate, was as sharp as a blade and could cut through them if they made a wrong step.

(Dottore) : "How do you know about me? I don't know anything about you." He asked, his voice betraying a hint of desperation.

(Byakuya) : "When it comes to information, Gotei 13 can easily eavesdrop on anything and everything. They are amongst you yet you do not see them," Byakuya answered, sending chills down their spines.

Dottore felt the sting of confusion. Only the Fatui Harbingers would keep such critical information to themselves. Could one of them have leaked it?

He racked his brain for possibilities. Tartaglia, also known as Childe, came to mind immediately.

But it wouldn't make sense for Childe to betray them. He was too aware of the consequences; they could easily track him down and eliminate him if he stepped out of line.

Plus, he had a little brother, and they all knew Childe wouldn't risk his sibling's safety by doing something reckless.

Threatening his little brother was a surefire way to keep Childe in check.

Still, the question lingered: If not Childe, then who?

(Byakuya) : He sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration. "It's true," he admitted, leaning back slightly. "We even sent the laziest person to eavesdrop on you. He's so lazy that when we asked him to spy on you Harbingers, he used a Kamera instead and recorded everything you said and do." He shook his head, clearly exasperated. "Though, I have to admit, it did get the job done."

Dottore scratched his head, looking puzzled. Was there really such a person in the Fatui organization?

The very thought made him consider smacking his head against a wall.

The Fatui condemned anyone who shirked their duties, after all. This whole situation just didn't add up in his mind.

(Dottore) : "If that's true, then what's your proof?" Dottore asked skeptically, thinking the guy was just making things up.

(Byakuya) : "You're just a clone, aren't you? There are a lot of you, but it requires a hefty amount of materials to do so," Byakuya replied.

Dottore's jaw nearly dropped. How could a stranger like Byakuya know about this? Only a few trusted people were aware of his clones.

(Dottore) : "That's not enough to convince—"

(Byakuya) : "You have a plan to steal the Dendro Archon's Gnosis, right? You're currently waiting for the right time," Byakuya interrupted.

The revelation hit Dottore hard. This was highly sensitive information, known only to the Fatui Harbingers themselves. How on earth could Byakuya possibly know this?

(Dottore) : He scoffed at Byakuya's attempt to get into his mind, (though he wasn't actually trying to.) "Hmph, say whatever you want, stranger. Why should I believe there's someone invisible who's been listening to us this entire time?" He retorted dismissively.

(Byakuya) : "In summary, you can't see and hear them, but their Spiritual bodies are dense enough that you can bump into or touch them, even if you're unaware of their presence," Byakuya explained.

Now Dottore was even more confused. He furrowed his brow, trying to make sense of what Byakuya was saying. Spiritual bodies? What exactly is he talking about?

(Dottore) : "I don't know what you're talking about, but I only believe in facts and science. There is no such thing that you spoke of," Dottore said, shaking his head in disbelief.

(Byakuya) : "Yes, they do exist. The one that's been spying on you is laughing right now. He's just right beside you. " Byakuya insisted, sighing and facepalming himself

Dottore looked around, his eyes scanning the empty space. There was nobody, only flurries of sakura petals flying around.

Had he gone mad? What nonsense was he spouting?

Feeling a mix of frustration and curiosity, he used his hand to feel around for this supposed "invisible" person, but encountered nothing but air.

(Byakuya) : "He avoided you, of course," Byakuya said with a hint of amusement.

Dottore's confusion only deepened. If such beings did exist, gathering information would be much easier, wouldn't it?

The concept seemed implausible to him. Shaking his head, he dismissed the idea.

(Dottore) : "I don't care. You're just lying," Dottore said dismissively. The thought of invisible beings spying on them sounded absurd.

Facts and science were his guiding principles, and Byakuya's claims didn't fit into that framework.

(Byakuya) : "That's up to you to believe or not," Byakuya said with a shrug. "Anyway, it's time for me to send you back home. You still have some uses, after all."

Dottore narrowed his eyes but didn't argue further. He knew better than to trust Byakuya completely, yet it seemed there was no point in debating. Resigned to his fate, he prepared himself for whatever lays ahead.

(Byakuya) : He sighed as he stood in front of Dottore. "Any last words before I send you two back?"

(Dottore) : Eager to deal with the issue, asked, "What is the name of the lazy person you spoke of?" He clearly wanted to get rid of the slacker as quickly as possible.

(Byakuya) : "Renji Abarai. Trust me, you'll never find him, despite his snores being loud," Byakuya said with a hint of annoyance.

He then reached out, touching both Dottore's and Arlecchino's foreheads. In an instant, they were teleported right in front of the Fatui organization building.

Dottore and Arlecchino were stunned. How had Byakuya teleported them back to their base so effortlessly?

If he could teleport them, surely he could have just sent them into the middle of the sea or somewhere even more dangerous.

Besides, they had numerous Fatui lairs scattered all over, but Byakuya had pinpointed their main base with eerie precision.

How on earth could he know this? It left them both puzzle, a bit unsettled and furious.

(Dottore) : He stormed in, furious enough to kick open the entrance door. "Who is Renji Abarai?!" He demanded, his voice echoing through the room. "Search for him and eliminate him! There's been someone leaking information!"

MEANWHILE, IN MONDSTADT, IN

STORMBEARER POINT, NEAR THE BEACH...

(Albedo) : "Stay here and be a good girl, alright? Big brother is going to gather some herbs. I'll be back in a few moments," Albedo said with a gentle smile.

(Klee) : "Yes! Klee will be a good girl!" Klee replied brightly, her eyes shining as she munched on an apple.

Satisfied, Albedo nodded and headed off, confident that Klee would stay out of trouble—for now, at least.

As he headed off into the forest, Klee began to pile up rocks to pass the time.

She thought about how much fun it would be to blow up the sea to catch some fish, but then she remembered that Jean had just released her from detention today.

She definitely didn't want to end up in trouble again so soon. With a determined nod, she focused on her rock tower, trying to be the good girl she promised to be.

BOOM!!!

A sudden explosion echoed over the sea, sending water and fish flying into the air for a moment, forming a brief rain.

Klee was stunned and instantly looked around to find who was responsible.

She definitely didn't want Jean to mistake that explosion for one of hers, especially after finally getting out of detention.

Eyes wide, Klee scanned the area, hoping to find the culprit before anyone pointed fingers at her.

Klee's eyes suddenly fell upon a man near the shore unlike anyone she had ever seen in Mondstadt.

His slanted blue eyes and long golden blond hair, tied into a half ponytail with the rest freely flowing, stood out immediately.

Draped in a black cloak decorated with red clouds, he wore navy blue pants paired with sandals.

His fingers and toes were adorned with black nail polish, which matched a ring he wore on his right index finger.

Beneath the cloak, a V-neck, sleeveless, midriff shirt with mesh armor peeked out, hinting at his preparedness for battle.

Completing his attire were practical pants, stirrups, and sandals. A utility belt strapped around his waist held two bags, presumably containing his equipment.

Klee couldn't help but be both curious and cautious. This man didn't look like he belonged to Mondstadt—or anyplace she knew.

(Klee) : "Hey mister! Stop that explosion! Master Jean would be mad and Klee would get punished for it!" Klee scolded the mysterious man, her small hands on her hips as she puffed out her cheeks in a mix of determination and worry.

(???) : The man turned around, eyes narrowing as he spotted her. "Oh? What do we have here? You are an interesting one, aren't you? Aren't you afraid of strangers?" He asked her.

(Klee) : She shook her head defiantly. "No! Klee is a believer in justice! You must admit your wrongdoings to Master Jean!" She declared, her voice firm despite her small stature.

(???) : "And what if I don't? What will you do, little miss?" he asked, his tone almost teasing.

(Klee) : She hesitated for a moment, then puffed up her chest. "Umm... Uhh... Klee will tell big brother Albedo and Master Jean!" She said, trying to sound as brave as possible.

(???) : "Pfft... Hahahaha!" He laughed, finding her attempt amusing. "You're funny, little one. Go away."

(Klee) : She started to hesitate, unsure of what to do next. Then, an idea suddenly struck her. "Here, mister! Klee will give this in exchange that mister won't explode anything!" She said as she handed him a bunny-looking white ball.

(???) : The man grabbed the ball, looking puzzled. "Oh, what is—Huh?" He suddenly stammered, surprised. "How did you do this? Did you make it yourself?" He asked her.

(Klee) : "Uhh... Sometimes, Klee makes it herself. And sometimes, big brother Albedo helps Klee," she replied with a shy smile.

(???) : "This is… This is… This is art!" the man suddenly declared, his eyes wide with excitement. "Teach me how you do this, kid!" He said enthusiastically.

(Klee) : "Uhh... Klee is not sure if she's allowed to teach strangers how to make it..." She murmured, starting to ponder the idea with a thoughtful expression.

(???) : "It's okay if you don't want to, kid. I'm not forcing you," he said gently. "You're an artist, after all. Take a look at mine." He reached into his bag and pulled out a small white spider and a white pigeon, showing them to her with a proud smile.

(Klee) : "Oh! They're small and cute!" She said with a bright smile.

(???) :"Right?! On the other hand, yours is way better than mine, kid! I really should relearn everything I know," he sighed, looking at her creation with a mix of admiration and mild frustration.

(Klee) : "Ah, my name is Klee, by the way! What's your name, mister?" She asked, her curiosity shining through.

(Deidara) : "Just call me Deidara. Nice to meet you, Klee," he replied with a grin. They both shook hands warmly.