•
•
•
[ Y/N’s Point of View ]
–
Ah tsk– if it wasn’t for that damned mischievous little fox i would have, even atleast get one good side my adorable little descendant.
I jump down landing with a thud, Right now I am about not so far away from Mt.Youguo surely you can tell my point is destination is directed towards the Grand Narukami Shrine, but as much as I’d love to just rush it all in one go i can’t help but be wary of this eerie little feeling of a filth that have been bothering all my way here. By instincts i am inclined to stand my ground at this rate.
I glance down the snapped root, it looked almost as if it were horribly clawed by a rifthounds, thankfully it isn’t in a worse condition..
I might aswell pray and tell there certainly is someone nearby that have done jon defending so, albeit i can only think of the Yashiro Commission must have done it.
Hm?
I tilt to my sides noticing a clattering noise nearby and even a growl of a beast, surely this would only come from a rifthound is it not. Just about perfect timing i ought to vent out my frustration by time it arrived.
I began sprinting towards where the noise was heard, by time i arrived my eyes could only find but 3 dead hounds laid beneath the ground, A long purple adorning kimono danced with the sharpness of her polearm. To my sudden realization- I ought to turn back for Teyvat’s sake-
“You came.”
. . .
She speaks as if she surely did expect my arrival didn’t she?
But couldn’t i careless… I summon my polearm preparing myself for whatever may arise, who knows what might happen.
“You…. How are you alive..”
“A foolish question. This is not something worth mentioning now that i am here.. I by means should be asking how we’re you certain of me?”
. . .
“I happened to be analyzing Inazuma within the Plane of Euthymia, it was something i found considering my attention. Nor that i found a certain individual marching its way from the Kujou Estate, i was sure that it would only be someone capable of traveling with such speed.”
She speaks with her eyes fixated on the ground, the rifthounds began fading away to dust. And i myself haven’t even uttered a single word, silence seemed to threaten the tension between us.
“Now that you are here…. I am left with many questions of you Kujou Y/n-“
“Rubbish. Don’t you ever call me that. You dare call me a ‘Kujou’ when you were the one that stripped me off from my rightful birth!”
“That … I.”
“Unbelievable you are .. why do you think i came here now. Shadow, tell me straight to my damned face did you end me out of spite?… Or… did you perhaps-“
Before i could even finish in my turn to speak a sudden mist appeared that came from the broken branch nearby, filling the atmosphere until an illusion began appearing. My eyes could only stare down trailing body after body until it ended in one Shogunate samurai.
“We will defend Inazuma until our dying breath.” A nearby samurai who stood just about infront of us cried out, and i could tell in an instant that this could be just an illusion yet, to true to be a simple distinguished reality ..
“General?.. General! This is terrible..
The Almighty Shogun is gone, so is Kitsune Saiguu.. there is no one to rely on but ourselves but i am blessed to have find you here General.”
The samurai came to me speaking so desperately, wait did he just mention. Saiguu?’
“Hold on… Calm down-”
“Please general you are our only hope, I beg you, you have to save us… You have to save Inazuma..!”
I had tried to assure him to no avail only to have him interrupting me with his meaningless worries, before i could even try for the second time, Ei stepped from behind me to speak.
“She is right. Calm down, the war you speak of is over.” She tried to assure the Samurai, and i could notice the gentle tone of hers, that once reminded me of one god so close to her…. I shake my head, ‘what are you thinking.’
“Over? But… what do you mean, your Excellency?” The samurai exclaimed dumbfounded.
“Look around you the grass glows green and lush and a soft breeze blows, this is Inazuma at peace, you no will no doubt remember. There are no monsters nor there is anything that could threaten your life.”
“Hmm… But how… A moments ago, they were everywhere..”
“I saw them tear my comrades to shreds with my own eyes..”
He cried out. And this is it, i step in.
“Everything is fine now, rest your worries i assure you we have secured the peace of Inazuma.” I assure him this for once i use my voice in way it is gentle, just as how Makoto taught me to soothe childrens.
“Huh.. but…”
He looks at me and towards Ei back and forth as if he had doubts for a second, well who could blame him.
“I.. understand you two had saved Inazuma!.. you were right.. General.. as long as we place our trust in Almighty Shogun, aslong as Shogun is with us, Inazuma stand for an eternity!”
“Thank you! Your Excellency, Thank you General. Thank you…”
. . . .
. . . We both watched the mist fade along with the samurai and its fallen comrades from the ground.. again silence seemed to threaten us.. and i am the first to very break it.
“‘The Shogun… Is gone’… So is ‘Saiguu…‘ What is.. the meaning of this..?”
. . . .
“You already are certain of the thousands sacrifice we had made centuries ago during the disastser.”
“Get to the point.” I bark back.
She sighs before speaking. “You had not even changed one bit.. very well i will make haste, Kitsune Saiguu had reassured me that i do not have to worry about the responsibility for she would shoulder it to herself, protecting Inazuma and mobilize all her force at her disposal to combat threats.”
… She finishes as i am left utterly speechless. Centuries ago? Disaster?.. was that the same time that took place in Khaenr’iah, during that time after all.. i was but chasing after her..
And i haven’t yet heard of their passings up until now…
“. . . .”
“If… You hadn’t killed me back then… I would have came back here to atleast mourn the lose of my companion… Just why did you direct it all to me, what have i do to have been wronged by you… Ei.”
“. . . I had lose Chiyo i very well witnessed it with my own eyes to have her own mind be infected with the filth-“
“So you thought i had gone mad too?”
I interrupt her before she could even finish.
“You know very well that i would rather cut my own limbs than to even take the life whom was dear to me.”
Again i summon my polearm threatened by my arousal of rage, she does the same too.
“Y/n, don’t make me take this discussion.” She speaks once again in a stern voice.
“To your face, like hell i would want to either. How can you possibly blame me Ei?… You .. you were the one that turned me into your enemy.”
Huh? I watch her shake her head with her palm rested agaisnt her forehead, is she having a headache or some sort of dizziness. Tsk– as if I’d care….
. . . We both tilted to our sides certain that a beast is somewhere to be seen nearby causing harm. Alas, save all these trouble i either just leave all this forsaken duty to her and run to that Sly little fox as possible… But now seeing her this way, i can’t help but think i must have affected her during our last match-Wait you damned, why are you even worrying.
I run swiftly as i can taking the first lead ahead of her, leaving her behind as i reach the point where rifthounds are to be seen causing harm. Find you Atlast. I summon my polearm using the aid of my pyro, but before i could even land an attack an electro from my sides appeared to steal the very first strike.
And there she is again. She appears before me, using the power of her electro, giving me a side glance before passing-Wow was that supposed to be a challange?
I grip my polearm tightly before joining in. ‘Very well‘ i thought. We both worked together defeating rifthounds but i am by sure I didn’t miss the fact that she seemed to be taking every of my chamce to strike, is she provoking me or is this her ways or revenge. How childish, you are.. just like her– Y/n dammit you buffoon.
•
•
•
Done atlast. Hm? I glance at Ei from the side, i can’t help but sense something off. Hmm… I took the chance to land a hit on her to no avail.
“Has the once proud warrior in you learned to play this dirty.”
. . . She speaks nonchalantly shaking of her head. Sure what i did was certainly but a disgrace to a warrior. Only if i was, but today is different matter.
“I no longer live to what you call past. Have you forgotten your abandonment of me…. or should i nail that memory once again into your head. You ought to know you shouldn’t simply let your guard down besides your enemy. Shadow.”
“You… I can’t tell weither you have changed.. I was simply conserving my energy. Although i have some understanding of the situation already, it could take an unexpected turn at any time.”
She pauses before throwing me a firm look. And adds. “On the other hand… You are by the same as competitive as usual do you not, seeing that you haven’t dulled one bit.”
“I may had my life stripped once but my pride of course remains intact.” I reply immediately to her retort. And without another word i vanish appearing in front of her, only to be met with a reflected attack.
“Ha…. What is this. The Almighty shogun i once knew? Not so mighty after all. Did the past decade dull you to this extent.. Hm?..”
. . .
There was silent for a moment for what i know that what i mentioned is but a salt to the wound. Hmm a sudden misty atmosphere was released from the broken branch once again creating an illusion but this time… The person that appeared looked even more familiar… How could i ever forget someone this important.
“Furuyuma is that you?” Ei was the first to break the silence walking her way towards the elder. She deflected my attack to sides as if it had never happened.
Tsk-is she ignoring me now?
“Hmm? Ah, Almighty Shogun what brings you back too soon, i thought you were off to battle fighting in a distant land..? Oh isn’t that the Great Tengu Y/n, i may have been fortunately blessed by the both of your presence.”
I could only give him a nod as i take my steps forward maintaining but a proper distance with Ei herself. For the sake of courtesy i ought to refrain myself from strangling your neck while i am at it.
“It’s does seems that you two are again at your usual skirmish.. *sighs* her Excellency’s trouble is far from better it seems..”
.. .. .. Not again. With this begining i am certain of where this stories end..
“I once remember Her Excellency would often speak to me about dreams over tea.”
Hmm now to think of it, he certainly isn’t mentioning the ‘Excellency’ besides me but the latter…
“Good things don’t last forever, everything changes, fades, disappear completely over the passage of time. And so, people must make the most of the life they have, seize the chance to enjoy it while it lasts, and… Have no regerets in the end.”
As he finishes to recite the words. It alone bought nostalgic sense to me, thus, that i am sure it can only belong to no one other than, Makoto herself…
For that i know she lives her symbol of Transiency while the opposite of it stands right just besides me.
. . . Dear Tea master you are but rising to aid the tension between us and Ei, the more you mention her the more salt is poured down into the open wound.
“… Perhaps you are right.” Ei spoke. And i couldn’t believe what she said.
The conversation went from time to time.
. . .
. . .
“Oh, goodness me. Speaking of befuddled, look at me rambling away to my heart’s content and forgetting to serve the tea.”
“For the two of you to come to visit and I don’t have the tea ready. A truly egregious loss of decorum… One moment I’ll just… Hmmm? Where in the world is the tea set?” Elder Furuyuma looked puzzled and i can’t blame him, he is but a piece of memory… After all.
“Please take it easy, i will go fetch the tea set for you.. master.” I assure him.
“I couldn’t possibly have the great general fetch it herself that would be most discourteous indeed.”
“Don’t worry about it. Take rest, we’ll be back right away.” Ei exclaimed in attempt to soothe elder Furuyuma before she insists that we continue to play along this illusion of a memory. Just why have i come to this to be dragged this far..?
“She is right… Please take your rest. This is place is but complicated… It’s quite unlike the usual tea house in your memories.” I say continuing to play along. “Please leave it to us.”
•
•
•
| Somewhere in Kamisato Estate |
–
“I will stay out here, you fetch the tea.
I am certain that the guard here wouldn’t be so delighted to see me, i won’t explain further.
“… Very well, if that is what you wish… I won’t pressure you.” She turns walking towards the Kamisato gate. Leaving me behind.
. . . .
. . . . Hm? She came back early.. but the tea isn’t with her. I land next her through the pine tree. Sure my polearm is just with me. Not once i had ever let my guard down except i could be everyday ever be so delighted to take her on.
“I have sent the someone to fetch the tea while i have a chat with you. Refrain yourself from doing whatever you are after. Y/n.” She speaks through cold sheer voice alone, that sent me to halt away my attempt to do so.
Ha, what is she.
“There is no reason for me to converse anything to you.”
“I will but ask you again. How are you alive..?” She inquires me through crossed arms expecting an answer.
Must i have to tell her how am i alive. How can i possibly know, i never once expected to be this alive either she surely won’t buy my word for this.
“The Fatui, they found me right after you had just killed me.”
. . .
“How.. is that even possible-“
“Sure you can question that either. How? How indeed! You didn’t expect I’d come here didn’t you neither did you expect my laid bleeding body down the ground. After all i did for you. For this nation…. And for her… Only to have you wronged me… I should be the one asking. Why, why did you bring your hand to end me out of spite?“
. . . There was a following silent, the tension roused as she turn to open her mouth this time her expression seemed as if… It was guilty. And i refused to believe that.
“I… Did not wrong you … Someone had told me that you weren’t in you’re right mind right after you left. The palace had hinted otherwise of your disappearance and her too.”
As she finishes, i could only be left dumbfounded. Did she mention ‘someone’ she surely isn’t hinting that this happened as a part of scheme or simply is she denying that she took this matter to her hand.
The sky above us began to darken and the clouds produced driplinging water as it now began to rain. The thunder roared from a distance as i speak.
“Ha!… What are you… To simply believe anyone. The once Mighty and stubborn Shogun i followed isn’t a type to believe a bystander’s word… Or are you saying this to deceive me.”
I say through gritted teeth and that is it, i am at my patience i summon my polearm in the sole purpose to end this meaningless quarrel.
Yet before i could even do. A nearby voice spoke interrupting me and as i turn to look who. A cold from my wrist appeared to pull me from behind out of blue.
. . .
“Almighty Shogun, i found the tea set, this one particular should be fit for Your Excellency’s use… And you were alone?… I was certain for a moment you were conversing with someone or was it perhaps my imagination.”
“It’s quite beautiful, thank you. And no i was simply speaking of myself there’s no one here.” Ei, spoke assuring the assuming representative. And i could only but remain still threatened to hide down this forsaken bush.
“Ah, is that so. You are too kind, a humble servant such i does not deserve the gratitude of Almighty Shogun.”
After a few moment i heard the footsteps of the Samurai walk away and that is where i took this chance to appear.
“How ungraceful. To simply pull me and beat me down the ground sure is something else, do entertainment me that you haven’t developed a new method so displeasing?” I groan as i get up Patting myself off the bush filled with rustled leaves. Without me realizing it again due to the lack of her presence of the ‘living’. She came to me walking taking off the leaf stuck in my hair and there she spoke.
“Let us return… We ought not to keep furuyuna waiting too long.. and as for your question. It was Miko who taught me so.”
.. . . . Huh? I watch her turn taking her leave before me, bewildered i am with my jaw hanging midair as if i couldn’t just possibly believe what i saw and heard.. No..No… That is it Miko, you ought to pray for your beloved tail who knows what nasty actions I might take.
•
•
•
[ To be Continued]
Comment