Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

You loved Kujou Sara. You really did. Years of standing by her side, through her highs and lows, stand as a testament to that. You’ve stood beside her in every meeting, walked in line with her to every event, whispered military tactics as you watched her march forward into battle, and if that isn’t enough to prove the unwavering bond between you two, then you do not know what will. Blood related or not, Kujou Sara was family to you, but this…

This was too much.

“You want me,” You gesture to yourself, hands flailing about frantically, emphasizing the absurdity of Sara’s request. “To keep this vision?”

“Precisely.” Sara’s voice is level as she fiddles with the sakura blooms floating in front of her, not at all reflecting the severity of her request.

“And correct me if I’m wrong, but this-” You dangle the vision in front of her wildly, a look of incredulity making its way onto your face. “-belongs to the gang leader you fought, right?”

“I see that your ears are still working, yes.” There’s a small self-satisfied smirk on Sara’s face as she eyes from the side. Archons above, if you weren’t visionless then maybe you would’ve kicked her a long time ago. With affection of course.

“Sara, he has oni blood, and I’m visionless.” You groaned out in frustration, hand clasping tighter around the vision. “If he finds out he could literally just show up here and kick me all the way to Watatsumi.”

There’s a full blown smirk on Sara’s face now. A large contrast to the usual strict persona she kept around the other soldiers. “Make sure to bring back information on the resistance.”

“I hate you, I hope you know that.” You grumbled in defeat as you pocketed the geo vision, choosing to sit on the cold stairs leading to the Narukami shrine. There was no use arguing with Sara when she already made up her mind. Besides, how hard could it be? It’s not like anyone knows that you have the vision, and it’s not like anyone would be stupid enough to take their vision back, right?

“Look, I wouldn’t be asking you this if I had another choice.” Sara sighs as she sits beside you. “Arataki Itto is a stubborn meathead, and it’s starting to get in the way of my job.”

You whipped your head towards her so quickly that you’re sure you may have fractured your neck to some degree. “And you think it’s a good idea to have him pester me instead? Me? I’m not weak but that man is built like a demon, are you kidding-”

“No one knows you have the vision.” Sara states firmly with an air of confidence, almost as if she had seen this coming and had practiced her response a hundred times. “And if anyone does, you can always just run to the shrine. They don’t tolerate fighting there.”

Somehow, that both eased and worsened your worries. “You owe me for this one.”

“I’ll bring you a plate of tricolor dango for every week that you keep that vision safe.” Sara offers, a small grin starting to form on her face.

You may know Kujou Sara like the back of your hand, but she knows you just as well. “Deal.”

“Well, that was quick.” Yae is grinning as she watches you walk into the dominion of the shrine, the fox ears on her head just adding to the sly look on her face. “I assume you ran into some problems with the owner of the vision?”

“No,” You breathe out, panting as you take a seat on the wooden stairs of the shrine. Sprinting up a mountain was not exactly a good idea, but it was your only choice. “Not yet.”

“Then why are you here?” Yae gestures for one of the shrine maidens to get you a glass of water as she stands in front of you, arms crossed and an eyebrow raised questioningly.

“I overheard some of the soldiers during their break.” Your breathing is starting to level out. A glass of water is handed to you, and you nodded to the woman with a grateful smile. “Apparently, the gang found out that someone other than Sara has the vision.”

You take large gulps of the water, feeling more refreshed once you had downed the entire glass. 

“Aw, poor thing.” Yae’s tone is nothing short of teasing as she pouts at you and pats your head. If you weren’t out of breath, then maybe you would’ve bickered with her. “Don’t worry. The great Guuji Yae will grant you asylum. I’d hate to see my favorite little adviser all beat up after all.”

“Hello, miss!” The voice of a man booms through the entrance of the silent shrine. “Has a puny human walked in here, holding a vision?”

The shrine maiden, who had the misfortune of being the man’s potential source of information, looked absolutely terrified at the sight of his hulking frame. You weren’t faring any better, tensing up, body going cold, and head pounding. Yae, on the other hand, just looked positively amused as she watched the scene unfurl before her.

“Good morning Itto, what brings you to the Narukami shrine?” Yae walks up to the hulking man, confidence bleeding through every step she takes.

You wonder what it would be like to face a creature of that stature and still walk without a care in the world.

Itto grins, acknowledging the presence of the woman whom he had an eating competition with. A competition in which he had almost died, but that was beside the point. “I’m looking for a puny human, around this tall-”

You frown at the scene, trying to decipher the context of the situation. You considered running away, but that would be too obvious. You’re sure that Arataki Itto didn’t know what exactly you looked like, only knowing a few details here and there from the information that flew around the chatter in Inazuma City. If he had known who you were, he would’ve bolted straight to you and snatched his vision back. For now, you were safe.

“Oh, you mean-”

The mention of your name coming from Yae Miko’s mouth causes you to freeze up.

You see the small grin forming on Yae’s face as she looks at you from the side. Her arm was slowly raising, her finger pointed out in your direction. The next words that leave her mouth have both betrayal and fear seeping into every fiber of your being. “Right over there.”

Red eyes meet yours, and the realization comes crashing down.

You were screwed.

Chapter Text

Your legs felt like they were glued to the ground.

The most you could do was stand up straight, if only to appear less vulnerable in front of the man who was currently marching towards you in large, confident strides. The ground seemed to rumble beneath his feet, as if the storm that clouded Inazuma had somehow buried itself into the ground, awakened with every step he took closer towards you.

“You’re the one Kujou Tengu entrusted my vision to, right?” The grin on his face was a large contrast to the context of the situation.

You were here, evaluating every single escape route, and he was there, grinning as if he had discovered a new curiosity to fixate on. You compose yourself. Visionless or not, you were still Kujou Sara’s greatest friend and advisor, you would not go down with a fight (although you’re sure that fighting with Arataki Itto would be wholly one-sided). Internally, you take a deep breath, and then, you reply. “Yes, that’s me. Do you need anything?”

The grin on Itto’s face widens, his eyes flickering with the promise of a challenge. “Good. Fight me.”

“Fighting is not tolerated in the shrine.” You don’t know what reckless spirit had entered your body, but it was too late to keep your mouth from running when it started. “I would hate to dishonor the sanctity of this place in front of Guuji Yae.”

Itto blanks once, twice. His eyes squint, his eyebrows furrow, and he tilts his head. If you weren’t worrying for your life, you would’ve likened him to a puppy, albeit an overgrown one.

“Then let’s fight outside the shrine!” Itto grins, seemingly proud of himself for thinking of a remedy to the problem.

“I-” You’re at a loss for words, mind racing as you think of any other excuse. If you fought Itto, getting beat up for all of Inazuma to see was the least of your worries. With the vision hunt decree in place, a vision being returned simply because of your incompetence on the battlefield would cause tension to rise further. “Well, you see-”

“The Kujou adviser can’t leave the shrine yet, unfortunately.” Thank the archons for Yae Miko’s timely intervention. Although she wouldn’t have to intervene if she hadn’t ratted you out in the first place. “And while fighting is not tolerated on these grounds, there are more… Interesting ways to settle your differences.”

You whip your head towards Yae, eyes widening, jaw dropping, and face warming as you take in her words and the implication of the tone she used. “Excuse me?”

“Tell me more!” Itto turns his body towards Yae, and for a second, you’re able to breathe properly now that his attention was taken away from you.

“The Kujou adviser over here isn’t much of a physical fighter.” Yae brushes past you with a wink as she gestures to one of the shrine maidens. “But that brain is unmatched when it comes to military strategy.”

The shrine maiden returns with a board, complete with the pieces required for the game. 

Ah, so this was what Yae meant by interesting ways.

This was your way out. 

You’d be an idiot not to take this chance. The only place where you were at an advantage, or at least equal footing with the man. 

“Have you played shogi before, Arataki-san?” You ask, eyeing the board as it’s handed over to Yae.

“Oh, you know me!” Itto grins at the fact that you knew him before he stills for a moment, scratching at his chin as he attempts to recall anything related to shogi. “No, not really.”

“How about this,” You walk down the stairs, pulling out the geo vision from your pocket as you stand in front of the large man. “I’ll teach you how to play, and if you beat me-”

You dangle the vision in front of him, smirking internally now that you’ve somehow gained the upper hand.

“-I will return this to you.”

You hold a hand out, waiting for Itto to seal the deal.

Itto grins, setting his club down to shake your hand firmly. However, you don’t expect him to abruptly pull you closer, leaning down to level his face with yours until the tips of your nose were only centimeters away. “I will win.”

Your face warms at his proximity, but you’re quick to recover.

There weren’t many things that you were skilled at, but shogi was something you excelled at. You were at an advantage, and you’d be damned before you let that slip away. “You can try.”

Arataki Itto pulls away, the grin on his face wide as his eyes burn with a newfound fervor. 

Oh, he was going to enjoy this.

This was your sixth game of the day. Each of them ended the same way. You, the victor, and Itto, the loser who seemed to grow even more determined with each loss. You made sure to teach him how to play the game, of course. You covered all the rules, the moves, the concept of promotion, and all that. The first three games ended in Itto getting absolutely obliterated, a sign of his status as a beginner. However, with each game, he seemed to be learning. Despite that, you weren’t worried. You had at least ten years of experience as an advantage, you could afford to relax.

However, you’re not sure how much longer you could keep up with the man’s energy. The sun was beginning to set in Inazuma, and Itto was still here, contemplating his next move. If you weren’t absolutely drained from the monotony of the games, you would’ve laughed at the current situation. You could only imagine what an oddity you two looked like to passerbys. The Kujou adviser sitting on the wooden floors of the shrine, and a man hunched over a shogi board, holding a piece that looked so tiny in comparison to his large hands. Not exactly the most common sight.

“The sun has set, Arataki-san.” You yawn as you move your piece, once again successfully ending the game as a victor. “I believe it is time to go.”

“I want a rematch!” Itto looks up from the board, a determined look still on his face. There’s a childlike excitement on his face as he grins at you, and briefly you wonder why you were even terrified of the man in the first place. “Fight me again!”

You contemplate. Honestly, you just wanted to get this over with. You still had a lot of unfinished work left at the Tenshukaku, and as much as possible, you wanted a good night’s rest right after. 

You doubt that Itto would take no for an answer. You’ve seen the bulletin board, you knew how stubborn and competitive the man could be. So instead, you offer a new deal.

“Once a week, every sunday. From the moment the sun rises until it sets, you can try to win against me.” You offer, slightly hesitant as your eyes flicker over the man’s face to gauge his reaction. “Just look for me here, if you want. I promise I’ll be here.”

Itto looks at you suspiciously, and you’re quick to emphasize the gravity of your promise. “Only death would keep me from granting you that challenge, I swear.”

Maybe that was a little too far, but you were desperate for rest, and you just wanted to convince the man to leave.

“Even the greatest of challengers must rest, hm. Very well!” Itto--seemingly swayed by your promise--doesn’t hesitate to jump on the opportunity, standing up straight with a newfound determination. He looks down at you, hands at his hips as he grins. “I’ll see you on Sunday, Tengu sidekick!”

Tengu… Sidekick?

Was he referring to you?

“Pure soul, isn’t he?” Yae grins as she sits beside you. Arataki Itto was no longer within your field of vision, the man leaving much more swiftly and quietly than he had arrived.

“I expected him to be more intimidating.” You laugh a little to yourself. “Didn’t expect him to just accept the shogi idea right off the bat. Especially when he’s so terrible at it.”

“He’s competitive like that.” Yae laughs. “Victory in all aspects, even in things he’s not good at. Especially since you keep entertaining a rematch.”

“I’d like to keep my name off the bulletin board, thank you very much.” You grumble, remembering all the challenges and conversations Itto had posted on it.

A comfortable silence settles between the two of you. However, as the sky continued to darken, Yae decided to finally break it.

“You should go back, it’s getting dark.” Yae pats your back with a smile.

You smile back. “Yeah, I probably should. I’ll get going.”

“Safe travels, dearest adviser.” Yae waves as she watches you walk off.

The walk back to Inazuma city proper was long and tiring. Having to traverse kilometers of distance and praying that you wouldn’t come across any monsters was probably a feat all on its own. By the time you arrived at Hanamizaka, your legs were screaming for rest. 

Some of the people looked at you warily, but aside from that, the commotion in the area continued on. You were still in uniform after all, and the Tenryou Commission, by association to shogun, still wielded authority over the masses to a certain degree. You may not have been the commission’s greatest fighter, but you were still part of it.

“And victory is mine!” A familiar voice rings out boisterously through the cold, evening air.

Alongside it, however, were childish giggles and whines. “Hey, that was my last onigiri! I want a rematch!”

“Maybe next time, young challenger.” There stood Arataki Itto, in all his archon-like glory, grinning down at a child as he triumphantly holds what looks to be three onigiris. 

The frowning child, one you’ve grown to recognize as Kouichi, glared at the taller man. His friend, Midori, only laughed at his expense. 

The guy was really just a stubborn meathead with a little too much time on his hands, huh?

“Oh, Tengu sidekick!” Itto’s face lights up in recognition as he walks towards you, his club and hard-earned onigiris fitted into one hand as he uses the other to wave at you. “Would you like to fight?”

The commotion in the area comes to a standstill, awaiting your response despite not being part of the conversation. The proposition of a duel had brought about mixed reactions. Most of the bystanders were curious, but you swore that you saw some of the doushin struggling to maintain composure. The Kujou adviser, challenged by the menace of Hanamizaka. If you were an outsider to this conversation then maybe you would’ve laughed alongside them.

“Unfortunately, as a helper in the Grand Narukami shrine, I cannot partake in physical duels.” You bow apologetically, before straightening up. “Guuji Yae has forbidden me seeing as such duels could… Destroy the sanctity of one’s spirit.”

Mentally, you gave yourself a pat on the back for lying that well in front of all of Inazuma City.

“How unfortunate.” Itto huffs with a frown, and with that, the crowds return to their own businesses. “In that case, would you like an onigiri?”

“Huh?” You’re dumbfounded as you look at his outstretched palm, a small onigiri resting on it.

“Eh? I thought you were supposed to have an unmatched brain.” Itto raises a brow at you, a teasing grin on his face. “Onigiri, do you want?”

Oh, he was seriously offering.

For a second, your eyes flit to the pouting child a few meters behind Itto before you look back at him. “You stole that from a child, Arataki-san.”

He looked offended at your accusation. “I did not!”

“Yes, you did.” You sigh. You just wanted to get back to the Tenshukaku, why did you have to run into this man again?

“It’s a spoil of war!” Itto huffs, crossing his arms as he looks to the side, a pout forming on his face. 

“He’s a child.” You snort at the man’s expression. 

“He’s a young challenger.” Itto defends himself, arms still crossed and pout still present.

“He’s like, 10.” You raise a brow questioningly.

“The earlier they learn of the samurai honor, the better.” Itto grumbles lowly underneath his breath, looking like a puppy that just got kicked.

You laugh at that. He looked adorable

That was enough to absolutely destroy the composure of the surrounding doushin who looked at you like you had grown a second head.

Itto on the other hand, had stopped frowning and instead looked at you with a newfound interest. Once again, he stretches out a hand, an onigiri on his palm for you to take.  “Onigiri?”

Embarrassed beyond belief, you snatch the snack with a frown. “I have to go.”

The shift in your mood does nothing to put a damper on the man’s newfound interest. “I’ll see you on Sunday, Tengu sidekick!”

You just walk off, not granting the man a reply, choosing to just chew on the treat as you walk through the Tenryou and into the Tenshukaku.

Honestly, you weren’t sure why you were so upset. Maybe it was because you had shown a sliver of vulnerability that you only ever have around the likes of Kujou Sara and Guuji Yae? You weren’t exactly seen as a friendly presence in the Tenryou Commission, most of the soldiers just saw you as the frigid stuck-up who sent their comrades into war without a care in the world. Somehow, you felt like you didn’t have the right to be happy around them, especially not when there was a battle raging on in different parts of Inazuma.

Conversing outside of formal meetings, laughing with friends, and showing any other feeling other than utter passion for the enactment of the shogun’s will was a luxury. While you don’t entirely agree with the shogun’s will, who were you to question the will of an archon?

It would not be you who will watch as Inazuma grows through eternity. You were a speck of dust in the timeline of the divine. 

This was one slip up. 

It won’t happen again.

Chapter Text

The sun had not yet risen, and yet here you were, standing in front of the shrine’s entrance. It took you at least a few hours to travel from Inazuma city to the Grand Narukami Shrine, meaning you barely had enough sleep considering the fact that you had to arrive before sunrise.

You were not one to turn back on your word, even if you had said it in a haste. You had promised a game from the moment the sun rises to the moment it sets, and you would rather be pummeled by a mitachurl than break your promise. While you were not exactly excited for this meeting, you were still hoping for the muscular oaf to show up. You did not want your lack of sleep to become wasted effort. You might just seek out violence yourself if that happened, and that oni might just be on the receiving end.

Of course, your efforts were not in vain.

The moment the first few rays of sunlight had broken through the dark sky enveloping Inazuma, Arataki Itto had shown up with his signature grin. Underneath the light of the sun, he almost looked like he could stand amongst the seven and not look a single bit out of place. The horns were a huge giveaway to his inhuman nature, and the fact that he seemed to have a larger, much more muscular build than your average human was also another evidence of this. However, it was the markings sprawled across his body—intricate curves and angles of crimson—that caught your eye the most. Briefly, you wondered what it would feel like to trace your fingers across-

Wait.

What?

In that moment, you would’ve loved nothing more than to be on the receiving end of the Musou no Hitotachi.

No way in the Abyss did you just imagine the oaf in that kind of context. You try to reason out that it’s just curiosity. Maybe the skin along those crimson lines were of a different texture. You settle with that thought. Yes. Nothing but mere curiosity over the oni’s inhuman nature.

“I want that rematch, Tengu sidekick!” Itto declares before he brushes past you, grabbing the board from your hands before he sets the bag and his club down beside the stairs. He sits down on the same spot he did last Sunday, and he places the shogi board on the wooden floor. “I’m ready.”

You blink at the man, wondering if the sleep deprivation was causing you to hallucinate.

Itto sat with his legs crossed, grinning up at you from the floor before he pats the floor across from him. “No time to waste, Tenryou Onikabuto!”

Well, that was a new nickname.

“Yeah, coming.” You sighed, proceeding to sit across from the man.

Itto was in trouble. He had made countless thoughtless moves, and this was the price he was going to pay. You could tell from the focused look on his face that he wasn’t aware that you were a single move from putting his king in checkmate.

If he had known, he would’ve admitted defeat because there was no way in the abyss that he was going to win with how the game had been going.

He moved his king diagonally to the right, smirking smugly to himself as he removed his king from a state of check. However, that move was all you needed to win the match.

“Tsumi.” You grin as you move the gold general to the tile, successfully pushing his king into checkmate. “Better luck next time, Arataki-san.”

Itto’s jaw drops open, bringing his face closer to the board to see if it actually was a checkmate. When he realizes that he indeed lost for the 11th time that day, he straightens up and looks at you with a grin. “You are a worthy opponent. I will admit that, Tengu sidekick.”

“I would say the same, but you haven’t won a single game.” You jab at the man with a teasing grin before you can stop yourself. 

You rush to apologize, unsure if you had offended the man, but you’re cut off by his laughter ringing through the air.

“You’re a funny one, huh? I like you already!” Itto laughs for a good few seconds before he places his hands on his knees, leaning forward until he was close enough for you to see the flecks of orange and crimson in his eyes that seemed to be flickering with determination. “Now let’s play again.”

You can feel your face warming at his proximity, palms growing clammy as you slightly fidget underneath his gaze. It was strange. You could walk into a warzone with a straight face, but somehow the man’s mere presence was enough to send your thoughts into a frenzy. However, memories of your last encounter in Hanamizaka and the relentless teasing from both Yae and Sara—although the former was more unforgiving in her assault—was enough to sober you up.

“Get ready to lose, meathead.”

The next few weeks followed a similar pattern. Monday until Friday, you would attend to your duties at the Tenryou Commission. On Saturday, you would finish up any remaining responsibilities in the morning, and then you would spend the afternoon at Yae Publishing House, and after that you would end the day with some tricolor dangos at Kiminami Restaurant. Then on Sunday, you would be back at Mt. Yougou, at the Grand Narukami Shrine, waiting for the crimson eyed fellow to claim his rematch.

Seeing him was a habit at this point, and you were hoping it wasn’t one that would die hard.

However, you were not going to let that distract you today. The Vision Hunt Ceremony needed your full, undivided attention, and nothing would keep you from fulfilling your duties. The 100th vision would be confiscated tomorrow. The pyro vision holder from the Yashiro Commission being the unfortunate soul who would be stripped of his ambition. 

You never agreed with the Vision Hunt Decree. Too hasty, too cruel. You never understood how the shogun could enforce such an idea in pursuit of eternity. While the Vision Hunt Decree reduces any chance of revolt from ordinary citizens, there will always be those who resist, and you knew that very well. You saw the horrors of the frontline. You knew the price that people had to pay for the sake of the archon’s vision that no one but her seemed to understand.

You had lost many good people in the battle for Inazuma’s eternity.

And it looked like you were going to lose a lot more.

You made your way to the police station at Tenryou, preparing to report the new developments to Sara. You didn’t want to, honestly speaking. You had come across the pyro vision holder on a few occasions, and he seemed like a kind, driven soul. You dreaded the day that you’d have to see the passion in his eyes die out once he had been stripped of his vision. 

You dreaded tomorrow.

Briefly, you see a flash of blonde in the corner of your eyes. You whip your head to that direction, your eyes locking with golden ones. 

Ah, the traveler.

He holds your gaze, a mix of fear and challenge on his face as he holds on to Master Masakatsu, the man who had been arrested for creating counterfeit visions. You knew that if you pulled out your sword in that moment, the two of you would clash. However, even without the threat of being cut down by the outlander, you still would’ve let them go. 

One less thing to weigh down on your already heavy conscience.

Briefly, you nod at the blond before you turn your gaze forward, marching into the station like you didn’t just watch a prisoner escape with an outlander who—to your knowledge—probably entered Inazuma illegally.

When you enter the station, only Sara is there.

Realization dawns on you.

“You let them go.” You weren’t sure if you were asking or stating a fact.

Sara is rummaging through the cabinets, searching for something. The corners of her mouth were turned downwards, and the crease between her brows was deepening as she continued to search for something. When she finally seemed like she found what she had been looking for, she turned to you, paper in one hand and brush in the other.

She holds your gaze, and you can practically see the storm raging in her mind, the turmoil plaguing her spirit.  “I did.”

She hands you the paper and the brush, it was blank, save for the neatly written ‘incident report’ on it.

“But you did too.”

Well, this wouldn’t be your first time lying on an official Tenryou Commission document.

Thoma hailed from Mondstadt, you knew that much. It was a land that greatly contrasted Inazuma. From what you’ve heard, the place didn’t have a proper ruler, and their archon never really meddled with the humans there. You imagine, briefly, how unfortunate Thoma had been to land himself in the nation of eternity, rigid, full of rules, so unlike Mondstadt where freedom was the law of the land.

“Do you ever feel bad?” Thoma isn’t looking at you, but you knew he was talking to you. You were the only two people in the room after all. 

“About?” You raise a brow. You knew what he meant, but you had an image to live up to. Showing weakness in the Tenryou Commission was like baring your neck to an angry rifthound, and that wasn’t something you were willing to risk.

“Everything.” Thoma looks at you through the bars of his holding cell.

“It doesn’t matter whether I feel bad or not.” You reply, eyes cold, tone unforgiving. Just as you had always done. “The shogun’s will reigns high above my conscience.”

Thoma can only look down at the floor, fists clenching as he attempts to steady his breathing.

It was cruel, to have you hold the key to what could be his freedom and what could be your damnation.

Before you spiral further into your thoughts, the doors burst open, two doushins entering the room and opening the holding cell.

The doushin faces you, not meeting your gaze as he bows before straightening. “The ceremony is about to begin.”

You can only hope for a miracle now.

Chapter Text

“Hm, that won’t do.” Itto’s gaze is fixed on you, searching for an answer in the creases that line your face. 

You snap out of your haze, retracting your hand that was about to place your king into check. Quickly, you move your king to a different tile. “What?”

You were distracted, so much so that even Itto—who had nothing but capturing your pieces in mind—was able to notice. Aside from that, you had almost placed your king into a compromising position. It wouldn’t have cost you the game, but it would’ve been a difficult spot to get out of. That wouldn’t do.

“You’re distracted, Tengu sidekick.” Itto huffs, resting his elbow on his and his cheek on his palm. “It’s not fun when you’re distracted.”

“Oh and why is that?” You stare pointedly at Itto, just wanting to get the game over with. “You could take advantage of it and finally win, you know.”

“I would never!” Itto looks offended at your suggestion, a frown on his face as he straightens up to cross his arms. “It won’t feel like I won.”

For a second, you smile. Itto was many things—menace, oaf, brute—but despite all that, he seemed to have a strong sense of righteousness. It just so happened that it was often overshadowed by his seemingly childish antics coupled with the chaos he brought into every corner of Inazuma. You’ve seen many people lose their vision, and more often than not, they seem to lose a part of themselves in the process. Itto appeared to be a part of the exception, still as lively and passionate as he was when he still had the vision gifted to him by the divine beings who had been swayed by his unwavering ambition.

You both admired and envied him. You wondered what it would be like to have such a strong conviction that even the heavens would be moved.

Flashes of a pyro vision flying through the air, a blond outlander running through the crowd, and a blade preparing to strike invade your mind.

You were a coward.

“Hey, that’s even worse!” Itto groaned as he looked at you, frowning as he reached out to poke your cheek repeatedly. “I can’t fight you when you’re all gloomy and depressed.”

This man—no, this oni—was the only one with the audacity to poke your cheek like a bored child while you’re out here looking like you were ready to punch someone.

“Then what do you suppose we do?” Your eye twitches for a second as you swat his hand away, only for the man the poke even harder. If he wasn’t built the way he was, you would’ve kicked him off Mt. Yougou already.

Itto stops poking you in favor of grabbing your wrist and pulling you up to stand with him. “I thought you’d never ask, Tenryou Onikabuto!”

That nickname again. You really didn’t know why he had chosen to stick to that. However, thinking back to the other option—Tengu Sidekick—this one seemed more favorable. “Do I really look like a bug to you?”

Itto laughs, dragging you to the entrance of the shrine. “You’re small like a bug—“

You cut him off, huffing out petulantly. “Everyone is small compared to you.”

“That’s true!” Itto almost seems proud of himself as he chuckles. “You know, onikabutos may look intimidating at first glance, but they’re harmless. Just like you.”

“I could kick you down if I wanted to.” That was a lie, but the two of you knew that.

Itto only looks back to smile at you, his eyes meeting yours. It was terrifyingly genuine. Something you didn’t really see often from the people around you. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

You still, for a second, as you find yourself staring into his eyes. He looked at you, plain and simple. There were no hints of calculation, of cold analysis, of envy, of anger, of mockery, of fear, of anything that you usually find in the eyes of those at the Tenryou Commission. 

It was terrifying. This wasn’t familiar. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go, but then again, that could be just you. You see, when darkness is the only thing a person has known their whole life, walking underneath light seems much more disorienting than navigating through the shadows.

But archons did that tiny ray of light feel warm.

Almost unbearably so.

“Yeah, whatever.” You grumble out as you look to the side, unable to hold his gaze any more than you already have. His eyes were unnervingly mesmerizing. The flecks of crimson drawing you in as his eyes scavenge through bits and pieces of your soul that even you may not be aware of. It felt like he could see through you, and you hated that feeling. “Wait, why are we leaving the shrine?”

“We’re going to Inazuma City.” Itto stops to turn around and look at you, his hand still wrapped around your wrist. “I can’t duel with you when you’re clearly not going to put up a good fight. That’s dishonorable!”

He shudders, almost as if the thought of taking advantage of your distracted state was such an immoral act worthy of imprisonment. For a moment, you think back to one of the notes you came across in the bulletin board: Arataki “No Prison Food For Me” Itto. Inwardly, you laugh.

“Bold words, considering you can barely put my king in check.” Both your tone and the grin on your face are laced with mockery.

Itto, noticing the positive shift in your disposition, is quick to quip back with a smirk. “If I wanted to, I would.”

“Yeah, right.” You scoff at that, rolling your eyes teasingly before you start walking ahead of him. “Let’s go. The walk there is pretty long so if we’re any slower than we are now, we might not make it before the sun sets.”

Arataki Itto does not move. Instead, he just watches you walk off, an amused grin on his face. “With how slow you are, we won’t even make it there by sunrise!”

You turn around, frowning. “Yeah? Then what do you propose we do-“

An arm behind your back, another behind your knees, a sturdy chest against your side, and suddenly you're whizzing through the air.

You’re screaming at this point, face buried into the crook of Itto’s neck, eyes squeezed shut, hair flailing wildly around your face, and arms wrapped around Itto’s neck like your life depended on it. It probably did.

“ARATAKI ITTO, IF I DIE I WILL HAUNT YOU!”

Itto only laughs as he continues plummeting down to the foot of Mt. Yougou, unfazed as the winds roar wildly around him, unblinking as the ground gets closer and closer to the soles of his feet. He was too calm for this to be the first time he was doing this. You assume that this was probably how he left the shrine all of the time. Why walk through a perfectly good path when you can just jump off a mountain, right? 

“I GOT YOU, TENGU SIDEKICK!” Itto only laughs as you scream when he finally makes impact with the ground. He looks down at you as you continue to press your face on the juncture between his neck and shoulder. “You’re in safe hands, don’t worry.”

It honestly felt like you had left your soul up at the Grand Narukami Shrine.

Once you saw that you two were now on solid ground, you were quick to attempt to squirm out of Itto’s grasp, embarrassment flooding your veins. “Okay, you can let go of me now.”

Itto only holds on to you tighter, looking down at you with a grin that promised nothing but trouble and chaos. “Sit tight, yeah? It’ll take longer if I have to keep up with your pace.”

You frown at the implication. “Are you calling me slow?”

Itto grins down at you. “Yes.” 

And with that, Itto breaks into a sprint, and you’re back to clinging on to him for dear life.

When you arrived at Hanamizaka, you were absolutely disoriented. The moment Itto had set you down on the ground, your knees had buckled, and your face would have been intimately acquainted with the ground if the oni hadn't caught you. 

“Hey, don’t give up on me now, Tengu sidekick!” Itto is grinning down at you, holding your waist, firm enough to keep you standing but gentle enough to make you feel like you were simply floating.

In this position, it felt like every single boundary you had built as a member of the Tenryou Commission was lost. Your face was only a few inches from Itto as he towers over you. Your hands on his chest, warmth shared on the barrier where your skin pressed against his. You could feel his heart beat beneath your fingertips, quick but steady.

You couldn’t help but think that he looked a little too good underneath the afternoon sky.

He calls out your name. 

Once.

Twice.

It’s only on the third time that you were able to respond.

“Sorry, what?” Archons above, things were not looking good.

“You’re drooling, sidekick.” You can’t help but note that Itto’s voice sounded deeper, lower, breathier as he leaned down until your noses were merely centimeters away. There was something unfamiliar swirling in his eyes. You didn’t know what it was. You weren’t sure if you wanted to find out.

You’re quick to pull away from the man, wiping forcefully at the corner of your mouth, only for your hand to come back dry. You glare at him. “You sneaky little liar-”

Itto was hunched over, laughing his guts out as you burned from embarrassment. Despite the laughter being at your expense, you couldn’t help but admire his laughing form. He looked so carefree, so unapologetically happy to the point that it was becoming infectious.

You knew what you were feeling. You weren’t so emotionally detached to the point that you didn’t understand what the warmth in your body was, what the fluttering in your chest was. What you didn’t understand was why . Why were you feeling like this? Just weeks ago you were worrying about this archon of a man beating you into a pulp in exchange for his vision, but now you just…

Felt oddly at ease.

Maybe you would even go as far as saying that you felt…

Happy?

“Come on, tengu sidekick!” Itto grins as he grabs onto your wrist, finally finished laughing at the embarrassed look on your face. “Those tricolor dangos won’t eat themselves!”

Maybe, for once, you could allow yourself to indulge in this feeling.

You were a speck of dust in the shogun’s vision of eternity. Whatever happened today was barely even a millisecond in the archon’s eternal timeline. It wouldn’t matter if one of her pawns had acted a little out of line, a little unpredictably. The immovable god and her pursuit of a bleak, unchanging eternity would not be moved, altered, or destroyed in your pursuit of momentary happiness.

Making up your mind, you allow the oni to drag you where he pleases.

Just once. You tell yourself. Just for today.

Kiminami Anna looked absolutely floored at your request. While she was already used to your weekly visits, you usually only bought a plate or two of tricolor dangos. So hearing you state that you wanted 20 plates of tricolor dango was just pure insanity. “Are you sure you can finish that much?”

“Yes.” You state, not an ounce of doubt in your body. “I’ll probably be out of commission for the next three days, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“Well, if you say so.” Anna sounds slightly concerned as she begins making the dangos. “I’ll have it ready in a few minutes.”

“Thank you.” You bow gratefully at the woman before proceeding to sit beside Itto who was watching Anna’s every move as she made the dangos.

It was an entertaining sight. You’d go as far as even calling it adorable. The crimson horned oni sitting on a chair that looked a little too small for him, eyes filled with wonder and awe as he watches a master of the culinary arts work her magic in the kitchen.

“So how do we determine who wins?” You ask Itto, eyes trained on Anna’s nimble fingers as she shapes the dango dough into balls. You’re beginning to understand why Itto was so invested in watching the woman cook. It was incredibly satisfying to look at.

“The one who finishes ten plates faster, wins!” Itto finally tears his eyes away from the dangos as he turns to look at you. “And the loser must pay the price of all the dangos we ordered.”

It was a fair game, but you had one concern. “Arataki-san, do you even have mora on you?”

Itto doesn’t hesitate in his answer, not a single thought behind his eyes as he replied, “Nope!”

“Then how will you pay for all this if you lose?” You look at him incredulously, brows furrowed, jaw dropped.

“I won’t lose.” Itto says it like there was absolutely no chance of him losing. You didn’t know if you were going to admire him or kick him to the ground for the sheer arrogance he exuded in that moment. 

“Getting cocky, aren’t we?” You quip, crossing your arms as you grin at him mockingly. “Don’t worry, I’ll lend you some mora. It’ll be zero interest just for you.”

He mimics you, crossing arm as he leans down so that his face was within your line of sight. “We’ll see about that, sidekick.”

It looked like you were going to walk out of that challenge with less mora than you came with. 6 plates in, each plate having 3 sticks of dango, and you were already ready to pass out cold. You’re sure that if your stomach could speak, it would’ve cussed you out in seven different languages. The oni beside you, however, looked unfazed as he scarfed down his eighth plate with alarming ease. Archons above, just looking at the dango made you feel like you were ready to empty the contents of your stomach like a drunkard after a particularly wild night of drinking.

“I give up.” You groan out, forehead against the wooden table as you attempt to ground yourself to reality. It would be a terrible way to leave the world, death by tricolor dango.

“You sure?” Itto mockingly eats a dango in front of your face, biting the snack slowly, chewing noisily, and swallowing exaggeratedly. “This costs a lot, sidekick.”

“I’m sure a trip to the hospital would cost more.” You huff, not quite ready to fully admit defeat but also not quite ready to take a trip to the hospital after being absolutely ruined by a snack.

“Hah! That marks my first win against you.” Itto is grinning as he finishes his last plate. “I truly am undefeated!”

You straighten up, looking at him weirdly. Before you can voice your thoughts out, a voice interrupts you.

“Itto-san, I don’t think that’s how being undefeated works.” 

You turn to look at the source of the voice, and you’re met with the sight of the firework maker. Naganohara Yoimiya was a common sight in the Tenryou Commission. The young woman was always getting into trouble for threats to public safety due to fire-hazard related concerns. From the time you’ve spent arranging her incident report, you knew her to be someone who was as upbeat and spontaneous as the fireworks that her family was known for creating. She was always a welcome presence in the Commission even if her visits always brought more paperwork for you to accomplish

“Oh, adviser-san! You’re here too.” Yoimiya grins at you, waving energetically before she takes a proper look at you. When she finally manages to process the ruined look on your face, she switches to a tone of concern. “Are you okay? You don’t look too well.”

“Sidekick here just lost to me, probably needs some time to recover from the brutal loss.” Itto grins proudly beside you as he pats you on the back. 

“Keep gloating while you still can, oni. This is the only time you’ll win against me.” You scoff, dreading the fact that you would have to walk out of this restaurant a tad bit poorer than you were before you accepted the challenge. 

“What brings you here, by the way?” Itto asks Yoimiya, eyeing the shogi board in her hand. 

Yoimiya beams brightly. “Well after last time, I was hoping for a rematch-”

“Oh, is that a shogi board?!” Itto exclaims a little too loudly as he grabs the board from Yoimiya, earning a few dirty looks from the passersby who were hoping to enjoy a quiet stroll through the town. “Did you know that this loser here is one of the best when it comes to shogi?”

You were so close to punching Arataki Itto. So close.

Yoimiya looks confused as she looks at Itto who seemed to be looking expectantly at her. A few seconds pass, and it’s like something clicked in her mind. “O-Oh? Really?! Adviser-san would you care for a game?”

You smile at Yoimiya, straightening up as you reach for the board in Itto’s hand. “Sure-”

“Nope! Only I get the privilege of playing with this Tengu sidekick.” Itto huffs as he hugs the board closer to his bare chest, swatting your hand away.

The gall of this oni to swat your hand like it was a fly.

Yoimiya doesn’t falter. “In that case, can I watch you guys play? That is my board, after all.”

You grin wickedly at that, the underlying savagery in her words making you feel like a proud mother hen watching her chick learn how to walk. Your fondness for the young woman just increased.

“Sure, Naganohara-san.” You smile darkly at Itto as you forcibly pry the board from his chest. “This oni has been getting a little brazen. It’s about time for me to put him in his place.”

Itto raises a brow at you, a challenging smirk forming on his face. “Oh, and where is that?”

“Below me.” You reply without a second thought, not yet processing the double entendre in your statement as you continue to set up the shogi board.

Itto on the other hand, only looked at you with wide eyes, cheeks flushed as he attempted to process the words that left your mouth. 

Yoimiya and Anna only exchange knowing looks, mentally communicating as they wiggle their brows and stifle their laughter. They didn’t need to embarrass the oni further considering said oni looked like he just turned crimson from head to toe.

When the double meaning of your words finally sinks in, you’re quick to clear things up. “Oh wait, archons above, I didn’t-”

Itto—quick to recover—is already there to turn the tables when you showed signs of embarrassment. “Didn’t know you were into that, adviser-san. Although, I wouldn’t mind if it was you-”

“Shut up, you thick-skulled oni!” You squeak out in embarrassment as you speed up in placing the pieces on their respective tiles.

Itto grins. “It’s not just my skull-”

“Almighty Shogun just cut me down already.” You groan out as you slam your head down onto the table. 

Itto only laughs harder at your feeble attempts to cool off your face. It felt like your heart was running a hundred kilometers a second. Did this oni have some other cursed ability that allowed him to control the speed at which your heart beats?

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop.” Itto pokes the side of your head. “Come on, play with me. Unless you’re afraid of losing?”

“Hah?! You wish!” You glare at the oni, making your first move as you move the pawn to a different tile.

You cross your arms, watching the board silently as Itto contemplates his next move. You grumble under your breath. “Stupid pawn, stupid shogi board, stupid, loud oni embarassing me like that-”

Itto snorts, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. “I can hear you, you know that?”

“Good, you’re supposed to hear it.” You hiss, but the man is unfazed as he takes his sweet time in choosing a piece to move.

“Well, say it quieter. I need to think.” Itto scratches at his chin. Should he move his king? Or should he move his pawn?

You roll your eyes, a teasing smirk beginning to form on your face. “I didn’t know that you were capable of doing that.”

Itto looks up from the board, smirk deepening as the glint in his eyes starts growing more dangerous. “I’m capable of many things, sidekick.”

You freeze up, looking like a slime caught in the torchlight, eyes widening, heart speeding as you take in Itto’s words. The words were of no issue, it was the borderline salacious tone in which he said them.

“I- You-” When you’re unable to gather yourself for a quick reply, you just huff out, cheeks warm, arms crossed.

“What happened to that smart mouth of yours, sidekick?” Archons above, the man was really pushing it today.

“When I gather my thoughts I am going to diss you so hard you’ll feel for the next few Sundays.” You glared at him, not taking your eyes off him as you moved your rook. 

Itto only looks amused as he counters your move. “Looking forward to it.”

“Hah! Tsumi, you meathead!” You practically jump out of your seat as you manage to finally corner his king. It had taken a while, implying that Itto had gotten better at playing. He had been steadily getting better, and today, he had progressed to the point that you found the game to be quite challenging. That feeling of being matched was something you hadn’t encountered in a while, and while you feared what this could mean when he finally reaches a point that he can outsmart, you were also looking forward to the matches you’d have since they wouldn’t be so one-sided anymore.

“I was so close to winning!” Itto groans out as he glares at the piece you had used to corner him. “I’ll admit, you’re good at this, sidekick.”

“It’s only natural for the master to be better than the disciple.” You grin at Itto, all your previous embarrassment and annoyance disappearing as you continue to rub your victory into his face. “You still have a long way to go before you beat me, oni.”

“I will win, sidekick. Mark my words!” Itto huffs out as he sulks in the tiny wooden stool.

You only stick your tongue out at him, mockingly, like a child who was picking on their playmate. “Keep dreaming, meathead.”

You continued to bicker with Itto, a lighthearted feeling settling in your chest as the little squabble progressed. It was the first time, in a long time, that you had allowed yourself to let go. Most of your days were spent living up to the image of the ruthless adviser from the Tenryou Commission, and aside from your moments of slumber, you never really had the chance to rest from maintaining that image. While you weren’t exactly known as a cold-blooded authoritarian figure in the city, you were still known to be relatively reserved, suffocatingly polite. It was something that hindered you from ever forming relationships outside of your current circle that consisted of only Kujou Sara and Guuji Yae.

You knew that the time you were spending Itto was changing something. Like the earth, slowly eroded by time, depositing sediments into a river to change its course. That’s what it felt like. A steady build-up, almost unseen as moments pass. Its effects only seen if one were truly determined to seek it out. 

However, that epiphany was cut short. The bubble of momentary happiness you had created dissipated into the air as two doushins came running to you. “Adviser! We’ve been looking for you.”

With that, you were back to playing the role of the reserved, ruthless Tenryou adviser. “What’s the problem?”

“Unfortunately, we can’t discuss it here.” The doushin replied, urgency in his voice as he informed you of the situation. “We’ve been given strict orders to not disclose any sensitive information unless it is within the Commission’s headquarters.”

“Very well, we have no time to waste.” You state firmly, leaving a bag of mora for Kiminami Anna. You turn to Itto and Yoimiya, bowing lightly before straightening up to bid goodbye. “Unfortunately, I have to take my leave now. Duty calls.”

There’s something in Itto’s eyes as he watches you wave goodbye. You didn’t know what it was, but you knew that it was the first time you’ve seen something like that flash through his crimson eyes. “I’ll see you next Sunday, sidekick. You better be there!”

For a moment, you smile. Not out of politeness, or social decorum. Just a genuine one filled with nothing but appreciation. “I’m not one to turn back on my word, Arataki-san.”

And with that, you leave.

The entire time, from the moment you started playing shogi with Itto in Kiminami Restaurant until the moment you left, Yoimiya remained silent, watching from the sidelines. At first she was confused with how the oni acted, but after watching the two of you play, and then seeing your exchange before you left, it all seemed to make sense.

She just had to confirm it.

“Itto-san.” There’s a knowing grin on Yoimiya’s face as she plops down on the stool beside Itto.

Itto fidgets in his chair nervously, unable to meet the young woman’s gaze. “Yes?”

“What’s the thing you always tell me when we play shogi?” Yoimiya smiles darkly as she fiddles with one of the pieces. “A sitting king is good for nothing, right?”

Itto knows what she’s implying as they both eye his King on the shogi board.

“Yes.” Itto hunches over, indirectly admitting defeat in whatever sick power play Yoimiya was doing. He looked like a wanted criminal surrendering himself willingly, like he had just accepted his fate of imprisonment. There’s no better way to describe the sight of him at that moment.

Yoimiya’s grin only darkens further, a million ways of making the oni’s life more difficult running through her mind as she points at the King. “Care to explain why you did such a terrible job at castling?”

Arataki Itto was absolutely screwed.

Chapter Text

“Where is General Kujou?” 

The camp is empty, save for a few soldiers tasked to guard the encampment. There is no sign of Kujou Sara, but judging from the lack of polearms and supplies, you already had an inkling where your dearest friend had gone.

“General Kujou set off early with the other troops, adviser!” The soldier reports. “Last I heard, they were heading off to Nazuchi Beach.”

You grit your teeth at the confirmation, fists clenching as you attempt to compose yourself. While you trusted Sara and her ability to lead her troops, you wished that she had at least discussed it with you beforehand instead of storming to the frontlines. Especially now that there was a higher possibility that Sangonomiya may be present at the frontlines. It was something you had hoped to discuss with Sara before she had recklessly set off for battle.

Archons, this would be a long mission.

“Very well, I’ll go after her.” You sigh, rubbing at your temples as you think of the fastest possible route from the Kujou Encampment to Nazuchi Beach.

The soldier is quick to reply. “We’ll accompany you-“

“No,” You wave him off, grabbing a bag and a polearm. “I’ll be fine. Focus on guarding the encampment. General Kujou seems to have taken many of our forces with her to Nazuchi Beach. We need to keep as many of our soldiers here if ever the resistance attacks.”

You doubted that they would, but you needed an excuse. You had made sure that all of your recent attacks against the resistance were strategic. 

The goal was always to minimize casualty while increasing the expenditure of resources on the resistance’s side. The faster you depleted their already limited resources, the faster you could get this war over with without taking any more lives in the name of the shogun’s eternity. 

“Understood!” The soldier replies. “We will look forward to your safe return!”

You nod at the soldier to dismiss him.

The soldier leaves, his steps firm, his body tense. He was afraid, you knew he was. Who wouldn’t be when your comrades were out on the frontlines? When you wouldn’t be sure if they’d even come back? You wonder how many more days, months, or weeks were left before this war ended, and you wonder how many more of your soldiers would have to bear the weight of their conscience and the memories of comrades who were long forgotten in the crossfire.

Young men and women, sacrificing their lives when they should be out in the world living it. Some of them are believers of a greater meaning to the slaughter, and some are just prisoners of a circumstance they did not ask for but were born into. Both are just as bad, you realize. You’re guilty of being both, after all, and you knew, better than anyone, that it didn’t matter who it was who held the polearm. 

Death is still death, and one death, regardless of who brings it and receives it, is still one too much.

You didn’t owe the shogun your life, but you did owe the commission that served her. Taken in at a young age by one of the officers, the Tenryou was all you’ve ever known. Naturally, the environment you were in shaped the way you saw the world. You believed yourself to be loyal to the shogun, and you believed the shogun and her ideals to be the greatest manifestation of the Heavenly Principles. She was so admirably divine that you didn’t question her ways because what could a mortal like you understand about the eternal timeline of the gods? You were a pawn, and you took that role with pride, until suddenly, the illusion shattered.

You remember it, clear as day. A duel before the throne. You didn’t know the man, but you remembered the look in his eyes. You expected him to be afraid, to flee at the sight of the archon as she raised her blade, but instead, he keeps his eyes wide open, and he smiles like he had just been granted his final wish.

You can still hear his last words, the ones he whispered underneath his breath as his vision flies and the shogun strikes him down.

“There will always be those who dare to brave the lightning’s glow.”

That lifted the veil.

Everything else that happened after just helped shatter the illusion.

One day, you think. One day, someone will be there to make the choices that none of you in that camp could afford to make.

With that thought, you walk.

The journey from the encampment to Nazuchi Beach would take roughly around 2 hours. That is if one were to sprint the entire way with little to no breaks in between. You were human, and on top of that you were visionless, so walking the entire way would take you at least 3 hours. You were sure that by the time you got to the beach, the battle would have already been over, but it’s the thought that counts.

As you walk, you can’t help but savor the momentary peace that you have been provided. Out here in the islands of Inazuma, far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it felt like your worries were washed away. 

The colors that paint the landscape of your beloved nation were truly breathtaking, and if it weren’t for the war and the strict decrees that weighed heavily on the citizens of Inazuma, you would have deemed this place as a gift from the gods to the mortals of Teyvat. If eternity was the closest to the Heavenly Principles—as your archon claimed—then surely Inazuma would be the closest any of you could get to Celestia.

If only.

Celestia knows that if you were given the chance to leave Inazuma, you would’ve done it in a heartbeat. You loved your country, your people, and to a certain extent, you still had a fragment of devotion for your unfeeling archon, but there was so much more to Teyvat than Inazuma. You wanted to feel the winds of Mondstadt, experience the beauty of trade in Liyue, exchange knowledge with the scholars of Sumeru, partake in the grandiose parties at Fontaine, gain battle experience with the warriors of Natlan, and stand under the unending snowfall of Snezhnaya. There was nothing for you in Inazuma, the only one who would ever truly miss you was Sara, but you knew that she would understand.

Briefly, your mind wanders to the geo vision in your pocket, and for some odd reason, the thought of leaving feels a little heavier than it did in the past.

“-manufacturing them as fast as they can, but for some reason, there have been delays.”

“Well they’ll need to hurry up if they want to live to see another day. That harbinger isn’t exactly the nicest.”

“Shut your mouth, he could hear us!”

“Hah! All the way here? I doubt that.”

At the sound of unfamiliar voices, you’re quick to duck and cover yourself with the bushes. From a distance, you’re able to make out three individuals, Fatui Skirmishers.

Inwardly, you curse. While you wielded authority as a part of the Tenryou Commission, you highly doubted that you would walk out of this encounter unscathed if you were to clash with the outlanders. You’ve always found them to be quite suspicious, and judging from the bits and pieces you obtained from their conversation, this wasn’t something they wanted people like you to know. In addition to that, you were in the middle of nowhere. If they wanted to… dispose of you, they could do it with ease considering the landscape and the lack of witnesses.

You move to leave before they notice your presence.

A snap.

“Who’s there?!”

You curse under your breath, not bothering to look back as you break out into a sprint towards Nazuchi Beach.

The winds whip wildly around you as your legs strain to increase the distance between you and your pursuers. You can feel them closing in, and you can feel your legs starting to tire out. Your heart is pounding, your ears are ringing, and your body is screaming for rest as you attempt to escape.

The thought that this might be the end of the line for you briefly passes through your mind, but you’re quick to set that aside, focusing instead on running away.

Focusing on the weight of the vision in your pocket.

Something cold hits you.

And it hits you hard.

Arataki Itto has never been this nervous about making a decision in his entire life. He sits on the stone, his thoughts going back and forth between Kiminami Restaurant and Tomoki’s food stall. Would a tricolor dango do? Or maybe dango milk would be better? Or is food too general to be a gift?

“At this rate, it will be long past sunrise when you get to Mt. Yougou.” Shinobu’s eye twitched in annoyance as she watches the oni. “I’m sure that any gift would do.”

“But I can’t just give any gift!” Itto whines as he buries his face in his hands exasperatedly. “That would be dishonorable!”

Shinobu rolls her eyes. “I’m sure that whoever it is would hate it regardless.”

She knew who the gift was for. It was painfully obvious.

“Shinobu, how dare you!” Itto looks offended as he looks at her. He picks at the end of his club, his thoughts racing. “I just want it to be special…”

Shinobu perks up at that as she notices the shift in the oni’s tone. Through the time she spent as deputy of the gang, she has never seen the man this worked up about something. Never this serious, and never this sincere. 

With this realization, Shinobu smiles inwardly. “If it’s someone special, then maybe you should go to Netsuke no Gen?”

“The crafts store?” Itto looks up from his palms, a flicker of hope appearing in his eyes. “Aren’t they out of stock all the time?”

“I heard they have a secret stock in the back, you should try to check it out.” Shinobu replies. “I’m sure you’ll find something of value there.”

“You’re a lifesaver, Shinobu!” Itto beams at her. “As expected of my deputy!”

Shinobu is fighting the urge to kick him down. “Let’s go, boss. If we don’t go there now, you won’t be able to reach the shrine by sunrise.”

Sara leads her troops away from the beach, taking the wounded and fallen along with them as they retreat back to safety. She can feel it. The small voice at the back of her head growing as her conscience swirls with guilt and anguish. She did not expect that the traveler to be that competent in combat, and she didn’t expect for Sangonomiya to come back that early, with backup no less. That inability to foresee the dangers cost her lives. 

Many lives.

She can hear her soldiers. She hears every grunt, every shriek, every last word, and every last breath that leaves them. The stench of blood and sea wafting through the air makes her head spin. It was the scent of her failure as a general.

The scent of defeat.

Sara wishes she had stayed and waited for you. You probably would’ve told her it was too hasty, too reckless, and you would’ve been right. The only thing keeping her composure intact right now was the fact that you would be waiting for her at the camp. You would know what to do. You always did. Sara found that when she was too exhausted to face the world, you would be there, waiting, ready to share her burden until she’s back on her feet.

That’s why when she sees you, sprawled on the ground, the sides of your uniform stained crimson, it felt like her world came crashing down.

She screams out your name, running to you as fast as her legs can manage. The soldiers behind her are scrambling to rush beside her as well, the medics at the forefront.

Sara takes you into her arms, brushing the hair from your face, the words leaving her sounding muffled, desperate. “Hey, wake up. No, don’t close your eyes. Please-“

Your eyelids are flickering as you go in and out of consciousness. “Sara…”

A sob breaks out from Sara’s throat as she wipes away the crimson staining your face, the sight repulsing her. That shouldn’t be there. That shouldn’t be anywhere near you. “No, don’t talk. You’ll strain yourself, please. Archons-”

Sara only cries harder.

Image be damned, you were the only true family she had in this world.

She had the right to cry.

“Madam Kujou, we need to check the adviser-“

Sara’s grip on you tightens for a second, almost as if she didn’t want to let you go. However, the remaining voice of reason in her urges her to let go, handing you over to the medics who make quick work of your injuries. 

You’re out cold by the time you were laid down on the wagon. The only sign of life was the steady rise and fall of your chest. Sara hated it, every single second of it. You weren’t supposed to be there. You were supposed to be at the camp, talking with the soldiers, boosting their morale, discussing war strategy. You weren’t supposed to be in a wagon, bleeding out as you fight to stay alive.

Sara moves to walk forward but is stopped when she feels something solid underneath her foot. She steps away before picking it up.

It was a vision. Stained with blood. She recognized it to be the one she gave you at the shrine.

Sara clenches the vision in her fist, realization dawning on her. She approaches your wagon, grabbing your hand and closing your fist around it.

If you left her today, she would never forgive herself.

Not when you were actually starting to live instead of just going through the motions of it.

“This won’t do.” Itto grumbles as he pushes the hourglass aside. “That sidekick is already always rushing around, an hourglass would just add to the pressure.”

Shinobu is so close to kicking him down. This was the fourth item Itto had declined, and Shinobu was getting impatient. Sure, the vendor just looked happy to have someone buy his items, but Shinobu hated bothering other people. Her job was literally to make up for all the inconveniences that Itto brought to the citizens of Inazuma.

“Well, I have this final thing.” Genichirou, the vendor, sets a black box down on the counter. “It’s something I’ve been keeping around in case I needed to impress someone, but I’d hate to have an unhappy customer.”

“What is it?” Itto looks at the box curiously.

Genichirou opens the box to reveal a velvet flower attached to a golden brooch. “This is called the Gladiator’s Nostalgia. It’s an old treasure. The stories say that a legendary gladiator once wore this on his chest. It was his only weakness.”

Itto traces the golden brooch, the vendor’s last few words ringing in his head. “His only weakness?”

Genichirou, seeing a more positive reaction from the man, is quick to fan the flames of interest exhibited by the oni. “Yes! I’m sure that it would be a really heartfelt gesture to give this to someone.”

“After all, what better way for a warrior to convey his feelings than saying that ‘you are my only weakness.’ Right?” Genichirou smiles as he pushes the black box forward. 

Itto mirrors the vendor’s smile, pulling out a bag of mora and laying it down on the counter. “I’ll take it!”

The vendor takes the mora and then proceeds to hand Itto the box. “I hope that the receiver of this gift will receive your heartfelt sentiment, good sir.”

“I hope for that too.” Itto bows lightly to the vendor, his usual boisterous aura gone.

Instead, a certain calm washes over him. A moment of satisfaction. It was a strange thing, a strange feeling to be pursuing something other than total victory. Itto was walking into a battle that he had a great chance of losing, but for some reason, he finds that not acting on whatever it was he felt was a much greater loss. 

Odd, to give for the sake of giving and not expecting anything in return.

‘Countless victories. ’

Itto thinks to himself with a smile as he traces the box delicately. 

‘And you are the only one who can bring me to my knees.’

Chapter Text

Arataki Itto first saw you in the Tenryou Commission Headquarters after he had chased after Kujou Sara in hopes of taking his vision back through a duel. He remembers it, clear as day, the way you looked as you read through some documents, hair framing your face a little too perfectly.

It was curiosity at first, he swears it was. What was someone like you doing in the Tenryou Commission? You didn’t look like a fighter. You didn’t have that aura around you, he would know. You almost looked… Out of place.

Itto doesn’t think anything of it at first. All thoughts concerning the mysterious officer leaving his mind as he proceeds to look for Sara, hoping that she would finally entertain his request for a rematch.

From then on, he keeps seeing you everywhere. In the streets, in the shops, in the restaurants, in the police station… Mostly at the police station. He sees you in passing, like a glimmer of sunlight peeking through the foliage. It’s brief, but it’s enough to have him whipping his head around to look for you only to be met with disappointment.

Why in the shogun’s name was he disappointed?

The second time he saw you—fully saw you, not in passing—it was at the police station after he had caused quite a ruckus at Hanamizaka. In his defense, Yoimiya had asked him to test out the fireworks she made. What was he supposed to do? Say no? Not a chance. Arataki Itto did not back down from a challenge, but Arataki Itto also did not see the mischievous smile on Yoimiya’s face as she hands him the firework that honestly looked more like it was built to be a fire hazard than an ephemeral decoration for the sky.

He remembers it well. You were at the back of the room, sifting through a pile of documents, brows furrowed and lips tugged into a frown. Itto didn’t realize that he was staring until the doushin in front of him was coughing—quite exaggeratedly—to catch his attention.

“Did you catch a cold or something?” Itto raises a brow at the doushin, slightly annoyed at the situation. He just wanted to get out of there as fast as he could, or maybe he just wanted to stare at you a little longer. Who knows?

The snort that leaves you is anything but graceful. 

Itto perks up at this, eyes darting to you immediately, a goofy grin on his face as he realizes that his small remark had caused you to break from your stoic expression.

As if you had realized your mistake, you were quick to bow lightly and apologize. “Sorry, please continue with your interrogation.”

Itto briefly wondered if Celestia lost one of their gods because the voice he heard sounded nothing short of divine. Maybe he was exaggerating, maybe he wasn’t, but he swore that he could listen to you talk all day, and he wouldn’t complain. Not a single bit.

For a moment, Itto pauses… Was he… Did he…

Did he have a crush on you?

Itto walked out of that station feeling like a 13 year old who just discovered what feelings were. Like he had just moved on from his “ew, love” stage that all the kids go through. That was odd to him. Very odd. Him? Having a crush? At this age? 

Itto wasn’t old by any means, but he was well past the point of crushes. Big, strong Arataki “Kind of Scary at First Glance” Itto crushing on the mysterious officer from the Tenryou Commission? Crushing ? The only thing he should be crushing at this age was his opponents’ will to fight. He wasn’t supposed to be crushing on people. It was…

Uncool. 

Itto sulks, sitting on a rock as he attempts to make sense of his feelings. It felt like there were tiny specters in his gut, fluttering and flying as he remembers the embarrassed look on your face. He didn’t even know your name, why in the abyss was he so worked up?

Over such a small thing too?

You literally snorted .

Heh, looked cute while snorting though -

Itto freezes at this thought. Archons above, he was down bad. It was unfair, he thinks briefly. The Tenryou Commission shouldn’t hire people that are that good looking. Itto concludes that maybe that was the reason. You were just too pretty, too good looking for Itto to not develop a tiny crush on. While he had nothing other than fighting and thoughts of how to be a more effective menace to Inazuman society in his head, he wasn’t completely blind to everything else. He knew beauty when he saw it.

And damn did he see a lot of it.

“Boss, what’s with that weird look on your face?” Shinobu looked creeped out. 

Itto is quick to wipe the smile off his face, but it was too late, the damage had already been done. “Nothing! Nothing at all. W-What brings you here?!”

A little too loud. Itto thinks. A little too obvious.

Shinobu just chooses to ignore it. She was too tired for this. “The treasure hoarder you fought last week is asking for a rematch.”

“Ah, yes!” Itto feels like a new man, standing up straight as he grabs his club. “Can’t keep him waiting can we? That’s dishonorable!”

The third time was at Yae Publishing House, and the events of that day nearly cost him his life.

“Care to tell me why you were staring at the adviser like a creep instead of talking like a normal human—oni?” Yae Miko was quick to correct herself, but she was not having it at all. Her brow was raised, her arms crossed, and her foot tapped impatiently against the ground. “You have ten seconds to reply before I rat you out.”

“I-” Itto is at a loss for words. In his defense, he wasn’t staring at you like a creep. He just happened to pass by the area, and then he saw you smiling as you read one of the light novels and somehow he just lost track of time. He could spend an eternity watching you smile.

But first, he needed to think fast. He couldn’t have the kitsune ratting him out and making him come off as a creep. Suddenly, he’s struck with a bright idea. “A duel! If you win, I’ll tell you and you can go rat me out, but when I win, you keep quiet and we pretend this never happened.”

Yae raises a brow questioningly before her lips twist into a smirk. “Very well, but I get to choose what we do.”

“Whatever it is, I still won’t lose.” Itto grins, finally feeling like he has the upper hand. “Do your worst.”

“Oh?” Yae’s smile darkens, and for a second, Itto’s composure wavers. “A kitsune ramen eating competition.”

That sly fox.

Itto can feel the regret meshing with every single fiber of muscle in his body. “I will win.”

“You better hope you do.” 

In the end, the oni loses and ends up in one of the tiny clinics in Hanamizaka. The disapproving look the doctor gave him would have made him laugh, but he was literally going in and out of the mortal realm. There was no way in the abyss that he would do that again.

Yae was kind enough to assist in healing him. A smug look on her face as she waits for his full recovery just so she could rub her victory in his face. “You lost.”

“That I did.” Itto groans out as he attempts to sit up before he just gives up. He hadn’t recovered enough, it seems. It was understandable considering the fact that he was deathly allergic to soybeans, and he had eaten a large amount of ramen— containing soybeans—that was probably enough to feed an entire platoon. “I want a rematch, fox lady.”

“No thanks.You don’t have to worry, I won’t tell anyone about your creepy little hobby.” Yae laughs, sitting down on the chair beside the oni’s bed. “However, you have to tell me why you were staring at the Tenryou’s beloved adviser like a creep.”

“I agreed to no such terms.” Itto huffs out, crossing his arms as he indignantly turns away from the woman. “We agreed on it before the duel, and I lost. Do your worst.”

“We are in Inazuma, not Liyue. Such contracts hold much less value here than in that nation across the sea.” Yae states before sighing theatrically. “But of course, if you really want me to tell the adviser about your… questionable hobby, then who am I to deny you that?”

Itto’s eyes widen as he begins weighing the consequences. “Know what, name your price, fox ears.”

“Tell me why you were staring at the adviser like it was your first time seeing a human. Answer that, and my lips will remain forever sealed.” Yae replies humorously before she shifts to a more serious tone. The grin on her face is gone, and her gaze is cold—analytical, almost—as she stares at the man straight in the eyes. “The adviser is a dear friend, and I would do anything for a dear friend. So if you have bad intentions, spit it out before I pry it out of you myself.”

Itto isn’t a coward. Not at all. However, the woman’s words and the dark look on her face was enough to send an imaginary shiver down his spine. While he definitely did not have bad intentions, he wasn’t sure if his actual reason was believable enough. “I… The… Yeah.”

Yae raises a brow questioningly, looking like a mother who waited for her son to confess his misdeeds despite already knowing about said misdeeds. If her intention was to pressure the man into talking, then it was definitely working.

Itto takes a deep breath, and then he lets it all out in one go. 

“I think your friend is cute, and I swear I was just passing by, but I got so caught up in staring that I didn’t realize that minutes already passed. I swear I’m not a creep, I just don’t know how to approach people without scaring them off, please don’t rat me out!” Itto was somehow able to sit up and bow down until his forehead was touching the bed he was in.

Silence.

A beat.

And suddenly, Yae is laughing.

Itto raises his head from the bed, looking at the woman weirdly. He wasn’t sure if he said anything funny or if the woman was some sort of sadist who enjoyed seeing people at their most vulnerable. Honestly, he was leaning towards the second option.

Yae wipes the tears away from her eyes as she begins to settle down from her laughter. “Well, I can’t blame you. The adviser is really pretty, right?”

“Well, yeah.” Itto huffs out, cheeks reddening until it almost matches the color of his horns. “Please don’t rat me out.”

“I won’t.” Yae smiles fondly at the oni as she stands up from the chair, preparing to take her leave. “Rest up, Itto-san. You’ll need it.”

“I will, fox ears.” Itto grumbles as he lays back on the bed, pulling the blanket to his chin.

“Oh and also, about your vision.” Yae stops at the door, turning her head around briefly to look at the man.

Itto perks up. “What about it?”

“Kujou Sara entrusted it to your beloved adviser.” Yae grins. “Maybe now you’ll have a reason to approach the person instead of staring like a creep.”

With that, Yae Miko takes her leave.

The gears in Itto’s head start turning with the newfound information. A plan starts to form in his head as he plays out the numerous possibilities. His plans of sleeping until he healed were quickly thrown out the window as thoughts about a certain adviser filled his head.

He wondered what it would be like to talk to you. Would you smile at him like you did when you were reading the novel? Would you snort cutely when he made stupid jokes? Itto wanted to know that and more. He wasn’t sure if his interest was simply out of the desire to uncover the person behind the mysterious adviser or if there was something more.

One thing was for sure though, whether it be genuine admiration or momentary infatuation, Itto wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip from his fingers.

Arataki Itto was many things, but a quitter is not one of them.

And that’s why, on one fateful Sunday, he found himself at the shrine.

The events were a blur. The moment he left Hanamizaka until the moment he arrived at the shrine were mixed into one hazy memory kept in the confines of his mind, but the images of you were clear. So clear that retrieving the memory of that day felt like he could just reach out to trace the lines creasing your face, like he could just breathe in your scent mixed with the smell of blossoms falling from the trees.

“Have you played shogi before, Arataki-san?” Archons above, you sounded divine .

Arataki Itto knew how to play shogi. He was well versed in any type of challenge, may it be samurai duels, eating, children’s games, or battles of logic: Itto was familiar with them all. He knew how to play, knew the game well enough to teach Yoimiya and then beat her over and over. He should’ve been honest, but he figured that maybe a little white lie would help prolong this moment with you even for just a second, a day, a week, or a month.

“Oh, you know me!” Itto smiled away the conflict in his head, choosing to instead focus on the fact that you knew him. Like, actually knew him.  “No, not really.”

Briefly he wonders what exactly it was you thought about him. He wasn’t sure what impression he had on you. Good? Bad? KInd? Terrifying? He hoped it was good, but judging from the flicker of fear in your eyes when he had approached you, he was sure his impression wasn’t excellent.

The thought of that makes his heart sink, and he swears to himself that he’ll change that. No matter what it takes.

“How about this,” You walked down the stairs, pulling out the geo vision from your pocket as you stood in front of Itto.. “I’ll teach you how to play, and if you beat me-”

You dangle the vision in front of him, smirking. Itto doesn’t know why, but seeing you like that made his stomach twist and turn in inexplicable ways. He could feel the blood in his veins pulsing rapidly, his hands twitching to reach out and brush the stray lock of hair that falls down your face. Itto hopes that you interpreted his behavior as desperation for the vision in your hand rather than desperation for you .

“-I will return this to you.”

You held a hand out, waiting for Itto to seal the deal.

Itto grins at this as he sets his club down to shake your hand firmly. However, like a knee-jerk reaction beyond Itto’s control, he pulls you to him and levels his face with yours. Mentally, Itto is kicking himself to the ground. What he had just done was an invasion of personal space, and from a distance, he could almost hear Yae saying ‘what a creep’ underneath her breath.

But archons above, you weren’t pulling away, and Itto thinks his situation might not be so hopeless after all.

 “I will win.” Itto will lose many battles, but he will win the war. That’s what he tells himself, at least. He was strong with or without a vision, but if being visionless meant he could spend moments like this with you, then you could keep that vision for eternity.

“You can try.” The glint of fear in your eyes was gone, and in its place was the passion of a challenger. The very same fire in Itto’s eyes as he chased the thrill of the challenge in all aspects of his life.

Itto pulls away, his grin widening as he thinks of the next few Sundays to come.

As expected, Itto lost. It was his first time losing this many times in something he was supposed to be skilled at. He expected it to hurt his pride to a certain extent, but it never truly did. You were a difficult opponent, Itto admits that. There were times where he genuinely found himself unable to win no matter how hard he tried. However, there were also moments where Itto was only a single move from victory, and each time he would make a bad move to steer the direction of the game. The moves were always terrible enough to make him lose, but good enough to make his play believable. He made sure of that.

So when the day came where you were practically on the brink of losing every single time, Itto decided to switch things up a bit. He didn’t know how much more lying he could do, or how many more terrible plays he could make before you caught him in the act, so he speaks.

“Hm, that won’t do.” Itto’s fixes his gaze on you, trying to figure out what could have put you in such a distracted state. Was it the Vision Hunt Ceremony? He heard that it had gone into chaos after the chief retainer of the Kamisato Clan escaped. Maybe that’s why you looked so stressed.

You seemed to have snapped out of your haze at the sound of Itto’s voice. “What?”

“You’re distracted, Tengu sidekick.” Itto huffs. While he understood the situation, he couldn’t help but childishly wish that all your attention was on him at that moment. Call him selfish, but Sunday was all he had, and he’d be damned if he didn’t make the most of it.  “It’s not fun when you’re distracted.”

“Oh and why is that?” You stare pointedly at Itto, looking like you just wanted to get the game over with. “You could take advantage of it and finally win, you know.”

“I would never!” Itto frowns, crossing his arms. He knew that was a possibility, and anyone who actually wanted their vision back would have done so in a heartbeat.  “It won’t feel like I won.”

And he wasn’t lying. Because that vision was secondary. He wasn’t here to win his vision back. Sitting there, playing with you… That was enough. More than enough, even.

Sure, he lost many games, but did it really matter when every moment spent with you felt like a victory in itself?

Which is why later that day, he finds himself at Hanamizaka with you. He had carried you all the way from Mt. Yougou to Inazuma City, and while it had been done for the sake of efficiency, Itto would be lying if he said that efficiency was his only reason for sweeping you into his arms.

The feeling of your side against his chest, of your breath upon his pulse, of your arms around his neck… It was overwhelming. An odd kind of overwhelming where Itto felt like a wave of calm was washing over his being. As if just having you in his arms was enough to make him feel like he was floating, like nothing could be better in that moment.

He looks down at you for a second before he sets you down, quite reluctantly.

But then. You trip over your feet.

“Hey, don’t give up on me now, Tengu sidekick!” Itto, as he caught you in his arms, firmly believed that the gods of Celestia were smiling upon him that day. 

Itto could feel your warmth bleed through the clothes and into his skin. He could feel the way his pulse quickened as he gripped your waist firmly. He felt like all his senses were buzzing with electro, your hands against his chest sending jolts of electricity all throughout his body. Itto wonders if you can feel the beating of his heart kept in the confines of his chest.

And he wonders if he’d find the same erratic beating in your own.

“You know, you should step up your game a bit, Itto-san.” Yoimiya states as she moves her rook. “Playing shogi and hanging out is great, sure, but there are better ways to make someone feel special.”

“Like what, fireworks?” Itto huffs, countering Youmiya’s move. “We’ll end up at the police station again, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t really like the taste of prison food.”

Itto shudders just thinking about it.

“I was going to say fireworks, yes. But…” Yoimiya pauses, scratching the back of her head as she attempts to gather her thoughts. “You could always just give the adviser a gift, you know?”

Itto looks up from the board. “You know what? Maybe you’re onto something.”

“But what exactly should I give?” Itto suddenly feels like he’s back at square one.

“Well, as long as it’s straight from the heart. I don’t think it would matter.” Yoimiya smiles at the man before patting his shoulder. “Our hearts are full of nothing but pure intention, and I’m sure that there’s no way you can ever go wrong with just giving a part of it, you know?”

Itto fiddles with the shogi piece, anxiety filling him as he plays out the possible scenarios should he decide to give you a gift. “What if I pick the wrong gift? What if it gets thrown back at me or something?”

“I doubt that!” Yoimiya laughs at the imagery that the man’s words conjure up in her head. However, the laughter settles down after a while and she smiles. “With the right person, there is no such thing as a wrong gift, so long as you give it with the right intention.”

Itto finds himself at the shrine again, a pep in his step as he watches the first rays of sunlight break through the Inazuman skyline. He took his time going through the steps leading up to the shrine, even going as far as stopping once every few seconds to reach out the sakura blooms falling lightly from the trees in a dance led by the wind blowing softly through the mountain. It was a beautiful day, and Itto believed that there was no better day to convey that fluttering, itching, racing feeling in his chest. It was as if Celestia created this day just for him.

Just for the two of you.

So imagine his surprise when he arrives at the last torii, and he finds the shrine empty. There were a few shrine maidens working around, but this… This was emptiness. Because what other purpose did he have for a shrine if there was nothing left for his devotion? What other purpose did he have in traversing the boundary between sacred and mundane when the only thing that gave that act of traversal a purpose and meaning wasn’t there at the end waiting?

“Once a week, every sunday. From the moment the sun rises until it sets, you can try to win against me.” 

“Just look for me here, if you want. I promise I’ll be here.”

“Only death would keep me from granting you that challenge, I swear.”

Itto sits at the entrance, black box in hand and heart in the other as he watches the sun make its way through the sky and into the obscurity of the horizon.

He waits.

No matter how heavy his heart gets as each hour passes, he doesn’t leave. 

“It’s a beautiful day,” Itto whispers out into the air that was slowly growing colder as the sun begins to set, hoping that the wind would carry with it all the words left unsaid. “It’s a shame you’re not here, sidekick.”

When the sun is gone he leaves, but like a ship at sea in the middle of a storm with only the light to guide him, he returns—without fail—every Sunday, from the moment the sun rises to the moment it disappears. 

He doesn’t miss a single Sunday because that… That would mean acceptance. Acceptance of the fact that you wouldn’t be there waiting for him. Acceptance that you would never be there waiting for him ever again. Itto didn’t want to imagine the worst. He always pushed those thoughts from his head because it felt like if he even dared to let it linger for a second, it would somehow become a reality. 

Archons, no one could blame him for the fear that grips at his chest, the ache that stabs at him whenever he goes to the shrine and sees that you aren’t there. Not even Yae knows where you are. No one in the city does. Somehow, he preferred not knowing. Not knowing leaves room for doubt, for chance, for a miracle, and Itto was going to hold onto that tiny sliver of hope that uncertainty brings. 

You did promise, after all.

Chapter Text

It’s been a while since you’ve stepped foot on Mt. Yougou, a while since you last visited the shrine. There’s a weird, almost nostalgic feeling settling in your chest, as if several lifetimes stood between the present and the last time you walked through the torii gates of the Grand Narukami Shrine. 

Near-death experiences seemed to do wonders to a person’s state of mind.

You weren’t healed, not completely. Your sides still ached with every movement, and you still felt like you were relearning how to walk, like a child taking the first few steps after doing nothing but crawl and roll over. Even now, sitting on one of the wooden steps of the shrine, you couldn’t help but wish that you were in bed instead. However, time stopped for no one, and you weren’t about to let another week pass in which you did not stay true to your word.

It’s still a few hours before the sun broke through the skyline, still a few hours before you had to face him.

Archons, what would you even tell him?

But you stop.

Why did you even need to tell him?

The most you owed Itto was an explanation for your absence. A reason for why you couldn’t grant him the rematch you promised, and what you could offer to make up for it. That was all he needed to know. Anything beyond that was beyond the relationship you two had. He didn’t need to know how tired you’ve been the past few weeks. He didn’t need to know the pain you felt every time you made the slightest movement. He didn’t need to know the struggles you faced as you wished for just a single night of rest free from the worries, the pain, and the fear.

Arataki Itto wasn’t a friend, family, or a lover-

Archons, why did that even cross your mind?

For whatever reason, it didn’t matter. This was a transaction. An agreement. Contracts do not acknowledge feelings, they acknowledge your word. If you don’t fulfill it, then there must be something in return. No pain or struggle should keep you from fulfilling it.

But archons above, was it stupid for you to wish that maybe he’d care?

And was it stupider for you to not want him to, all at once?

You’re not even sure if he would arrive. You’ve been gone for weeks, surely he must’ve assumed the worst and just left. He had better things to do, and what use was an opponent who’s six feet under? 

You needed to get yourself together. This… This is a luxury, and so were the past few weeks. Sooner or later you would have to face reality, your responsibilities. You heard of the casualties, the mourning families, and you knew that you played a role in that disaster at Nazuchi Beach. What right did you have to worry about trivial matters, about a man who could probably care less about you so long as you grant him a rematch, when there were people out there—good people—who had lost friends and family all because of your shortcomings as an adviser?

You were the brain here, so why in the Abyss couldn’t you think straight?

“You’re… here.” 

You look up. You were so consumed in your thoughts that you didn’t realize that the first few rays of sunlight had already broken through the dark morning sky.

Itto looks like he had seen a ghost as he stands in front of you, a black box in one hand and his club in the other. He looks at you like it’s the last time he’ll ever get to. His eyes trace over your face, your figure, anything he could take in. It was almost as if he was trying to make sure that you weren’t an illusion, a trick of light.

There was something stirring in his eyes, but you didn’t know what it was. It wasn’t something you’ve seen before, at least not on him.

He looks at you like you were from a lifetime ago.

Quickly, you stand up and explain, legs wobbling slightly as the pain kicks in. “I apologize for not being here the past few Sundays. The battle at the beach didn’t turn out so well, and you’ve probably heard. I've been keeping up with it, so I couldn’t find the time to visit. I know everything just sounds like an excuse, but-”

Itto’s fingers brush against the side of your forehead, right where one of your scratches were, and the words felt like they were stuck in your throat. His hands are shaky, uncertain as it traces lightly over the healing wounds.

His face drops, a dark look settling in his eyes as he moves to gently grab your chin between his fingers and turn your head to the side. His jaw clenches. “You’re hurt.”

Yes, archons above, you were in so much pain. Despite being out of commission for the past few weeks, you haven’t found the time to let all of the hurt sink in. Too busy worrying, to busy anticipating. Just hearing his words made you want to break down and cry, but you don’t. You can’t. “It’s just a small scratch. It’ll heal in a few days, probably.”

“Who did this?” Itto looks angry, but it’s silent. You can feel the tension in his hand, but you note that he doesn’t tighten his grip around you, not once.

Why was he angry?

You were confused, but you were quick to reply. “It’s part of the job-”

“ Your job is to sit and think-” Itto’s voice is low as he pulls his hand away and inhales deeply. You can see the tension in his muscle, the subtle clenching of his jaw. “-not to get yourself hurt on the frontlines.”

You frown. In all the time you’ve spent with the oni, you have never seen him act like this. “We’re in a war, Arataki-san. It happens-”

“It happens? I thought you were dead! ” Itto finally breaks, and the devastated look on his face was enough to make you step away, stumbling slightly in the process. “I thought you were gone, and you’re telling me it’s just a scratch when you can’t stand without struggling?”

You didn't know how to react to this. You had gone over the numerous possibilities that could take place when you confronted Itto, but you did not prepare for this. “Your vision is still safe with me whether I’m in good shape or not, okay? It’s still here, not a single scratch on it if that’s what you’re so worried about.”

“You think-” Itto’s mouth falls open and his eyebrows furrow deeper as he stares at you incredulously. “You think I’m worried about my vision?”

You look at him like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “Well, yes?”

The disbelieving look on Itto’s face disappears, and in its place was a look akin to defeat.

Silence. His eyes scan over your face, searching for something, for anything other than your stone-cold facade, and he finds nothing. You can see the fire in his eyes slowly dwindling, the fight in his body slowly retreating.

The silence dragged on for a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity before Itto spoke.

“Just… Just give me the rematch.” Itto whispers, uncharacteristically quiet as he makes his way past you, pocketing the black box, and sitting on the wooden floor.

What just happened?

Itto left before the day was finished, your games didn’t even make it until the afternoon. 

He said he had something to attend to, something important , and he had to leave early. That was a terrible excuse, both of you knew that, and the both of you knew that the other knew. However, none of you made a move to change the course of the day, and instead, you both retreated, allowing the other to slowly walk away.

For some reason, every step he took out of that shrine weighed heavier and heavier on your heart the farther he gets. Looking back, you could understand why he left, and why he looked so dejected, but the mystery of why he would even feel that remains.

Itto was worried, you could tell, and you knew that it’s only right for friends and family to feel that way. Were you friends?

Without a doubt, you could consider Itto a friend. He was kind, funny, and being around him made you feel so happy to the point that it felt illegal. Some part of you always knew that Itto was more than just the stranger you met on Sundays, but you couldn’t understand why you would be anything more than an obstacle to him.

You had his vision. In your hands was the personification of his ambition, and you were keeping him from it. You were a hindrance, a block in the path that he had to overcome to reach the summit, so why would he consider you as anything more than a thorn at his side?

“Trouble in paradise, my beloved adviser?” 

You don’t look at Yae as she sits beside you. You were too caught up in the storm in your head to even entertain her teasing at that moment. “Sure, let’s go with that.”

Yae only sighs at your boring response. She honestly expected more stuttering and denying, which you probably would’ve delivered if you weren’t so absorbed in your thoughts. “You know, you could’ve handled the morning better.”

“I know.” You sigh, picking up a fallen stick and poking at the ground with it. “But I didn’t want to assume.”

Yae snorts. “Assume what? That Itto cares?”

“Aside from his vision, he has no reason to-”

“Even without his vision, he has every reason to.” Yae looks at you pointedly. 

You don’t reply. Instead, you continue to trace patterns onto the dust that accumulated on the ground of the shrine. You didn’t know what Yae meant by that, and it didn’t look like she was going to explain it either. What other possible reason could Itto have?

You could think of many impossible reasons. It was part of your job to think of every single outcome, and you were excellent at that. However, part of your job was also ruling out the impossible. Preparing for such things was a waste of resources, a waste of time.

In this case, a waste of feelings.

Archons, when did this issue become a problem with your feelings ?

“You know Itto only-” Yae speaks briefly, but she cuts herself off at the last moment. There’s a storm of conflict in her eyes as she bites down on her lip, almost as if she was physically struggling not to tell you whatever it was she was about to tell you.

None of you speak for a while. You were both too busy fixing your own thoughts to even consider sharing it to the other. 

“I had a friend like you once, adviser.” Yae starts, looking off into the horizon as memories of the past few hundred years fly through her head. “Well, I have that friend, but she’s… on a different plane of existence.”

You frown, trying your hardest to remember if Yae had mentioned that friend of hers in the past. You come up empty, so instead, you sit in silence and wait for Yae to continue her story.

“She always felt as if she was responsible for everyone. Felt like it was her job to create an ideal world for them. It was very one-track minded, if you ask me.” Yae smiles fondly at the memory of her friend, but you can see the deep-seated hurt underneath it all. “What she couldn’t understand was that humans are more than beings that need protection and guidance. Anything that didn’t fit her ideal world was immediately deemed a threat, or an error that needed immediate correction.”

You were silent. There was honestly nothing you could do in that moment other than to listen and hope that you could figure out what Yae was trying to tell you beyond the narrative. To add to that, you were still trying to figure out how Yae came to the conclusion that you were somewhat like this friend of hers. You two seemed nothing alike.

“She was so convinced that her depiction of reality was the only one that could ever be, and she was willing to throw away everything for that…” Yae’s smile only seemed to grow more pained with each word that tumbles from her lips. “Even the people that loved her most.”

“I’m assuming by ‘people that loved her most’, you mean you … Right?” You asked softly, not wanting to raise your voice beyond a whisper. 

“Yes. Ever the quick thinker..” Yae replies with a sigh. “And it’s because of that fact that I know what it’s like to love someone who insists on walking through the world alone.”

Yae turns to look at you, her eyes looking like they were about to bore deep into the very fiber of your consciousness. “And I know what it’s like to so desperately want to stand beside them, only to be set aside because they could never see beyond the walls of the world they’ve built for themselves.”

Your movements still, and like a streak of lightning breaking through a stormy sky, you get a glimpse of what Yae is trying to tell you. 

“You are loved, adviser.” Yae reaches out to wipe a tear that you didn’t know had escaped your eye. “I know you’ve convinced yourself that it isn’t for you. That love is for the good people, the people who’ve done nothing wrong, the people who aren’t difficult—“

Yae’s body tenses, and her voice drops to a whisper.

“—the people who aren’t you. ”

You can feel your head starting to pound, your throat starting to tighten, and your eyes starting to sting. It was one thing to have those thoughts echo in the isolated chambers of your head, it was an entirely different thing to actually hear them said.

You attempt to speak. Anything to stop the flurry of thoughts that raged through your head. “Yae-“

“No, listen.” Yae places her hands on your shoulders, a hint of desperation in her eyes as she looks at you directly. “There are times where you don’t need strategies, adviser. Times where you don’t need to rationalize your feelings in an attempt to get rid of them. Times where you don’t need to make assumptions to prevent losses.”

“Sometimes you just need to trust in people, trust in yourself.” Yae breathes out. “Trust that they are capable of loving you…”

Her next words would probably haunt you for the next few years.

“And trust that you are worthy of that love.”

“What are you still doing here, Itto-san?” Yae asks, looking at the oni who continued to sit on the wooden steps in silence. “It’s raining, and this place is hardly a good shelter from the storm.”

“Sun’s not down.” Itto doesn’t tear his eyes away from the entrance of the shrine.

Yae could feel her heart sink to her stomach. She honestly wanted to tell him where you were, but she feared his reaction when he finds out what state you were in. If she informed him that you had been attacked by the Fatui, she was sure that there wouldn’t be a single Fatui member left in Inazuma. “But it’s about to. I don’t think it will make a difference-”

“Yes, it will.” Itto clenches his jaw and a look of hurt flashes through his eyes, almost as if the implication of Yae’s words drove an imaginary sword through his side.

“It will.” Itto whispers to himself, the last few rays of sunlight catching onto something sliding down his cheek, disappearing quickly as it had appeared.

You were in good hands, and if Yae didn’t know that before, then she did now.

From here on, everything else would depend on you and what you choose to do with her words. Healing wasn’t something she could force you to do, it was something she could only push you towards as she cheers from the sidelines. This was a conversation long overdue, something she should’ve told you before things spun more and more out of control.

Yae Miko considered you one of her greatest friends, and she’d damned before she let another friend go down a path of self-destruction over something that could have been avoided with a loving intervention

She once made the mistake of letting a friend walk alone into a plane of isolated existence, she won’t make it again.

A few days later, 3 days before Sunday to be exact, you find yourself walking up Mt. Yougou again. The past few days were spent strategizing, apologizing to each family personally, and the burial ceremony of the soldiers that had fallen. Some of those days were also spent thinking, meditating, and reflecting on the things that Yae had told you last Sunday. While you would have appreciated more time to deliberate, it was time for your’s and Sara’s monthly visit (although you were at the shrine weekly up until recently, so you could hardly call your visit monthly).

In the last few moments of silence you had to yourself, you take your time. You walk slowly, steadily, breathing in the cold air and letting the burden of existence fade with the breath that leaves your lungs. In the silence of the trail, in the vastness of the landscape, all your worries seem insignificant. There’s something so freeing in comparing the things you’ve given such power to the infinite universe and realizing that you and your earthly concerns were just another speck in the great unknown.

All that floats through the eternity of the universe would one day fade, and if fading is where everyone will inevitably go, then we might as well enjoy the moments that we are given to be a conscious part of the world.

You’ve realized that Yae was right about every single thing she said. However, knowing does not always mean believing, but of course, you were still thankful for all that she said. Knowing was a prerequisite to believing, and you hoped that one day you would make it past knowing and finally start believing and acknowledging the truth in her words.

“You must understand the situation you are facing.”

Who was Yae talking to?

Quietly, you inch closer towards the mountain. You continue to listen to the conversation in secret, hoping that no one would be alerted of your presence.

“The Vision Hunt Decree was obviously devised as a means of manipulating the Shogun, the ones behind it knowing full well her susceptibility as a puppet with a single-minded focus on eternity.”

It felt like you had been dumped into a pool of freezing water.

What was Yae saying?

The Vision Hunt Decree?

A puppet?

The Shogun?

“The Balladeer confirmed this.” The voice was strangely familiar, but your thoughts were too much of a mess to even begin any proper form of retrieval in your head.

You knew of the Balladeer. You’ve heard of the Tsaritsa’s Harbingers, but what did the Fatui have to do with all of this-

Briefly, memories of skirmishers, frost, blood, and the conversation before that flash through your head.

“Yes. This is the strongest piece of evidence we have to go on.” Yae answers back. “Now, we also know that every aspect of the Vision Hunt Decree's promulgation and execution has been enthusiastically spearheaded by the Tenryou Commission from the outset.”

A smaller voice, one much more familiar, speaks up. “Ayaka was saying that every time they submitted a petition against the Vision Hunt Decree, the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions would veto it straight away with no negotiation.”

You knew that. You were always the one who brought in those petitions in hope that maybe… Just maybe they would reconsider. Each time, without fail, the petition was rejected without even a single minute of deliberation.

You never truly understood why, but now… Now it was beginning to make sense.

“The Tenryou Commission is working for the Fatui.”

The blonde whips his head around, sword drawn and body tensed for battle. The floating… individual beside him quickly flies behind him to hide, but you can see that if it came to it, she would be ready to defend her companion, just as she did at the ceremony even when faced with the Shogun’s blade.

Yae only looks like she was expecting your arrival, both at the shrine and to the conclusion that the commission was a farce.

It was you who had spoken, and never had words felt heavier on your tongue than they did in that moment. “That’s it, right?”

You weren’t going to believe all of it that quickly. You trusted Yae, but it was your job to look at all available evidence before making decisions. You needed to see it for yourself, you needed to find it out yourself. If you were going to undo the very thing that made up your identity, you would do it with your own reasons, not because someone else told you to.

“Yes. It's all too clear that both the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions are in some form of collusion with the Fatui.” Yae states. “Hmph, foolish humans, blinded by their greed.” 

That, you could agree on.

“Thus, the current situation is that our Fatui antagonist is still at large, has the two rogue Commissions wrapped around their finger, and is distributing Delusions from the shadows…” Yae looks at you, gauging how well you were taking the numerous revelations. “Unfortunately, given that said antagonist is under the protection of two Commissions and the Raiden Shogun, we would be rather hard-pressed to track them down.”

“So what should we do?” The floating girl asks, worry clear in her voice as her eyes flit from you to Yae.

“It will be easier for us to start with someone from Inazuma.” There’s a light smile on Yae’s lips. “So my plan is... to incite rebellion in the Tenryou Commission.”

“Rebellion? What are you talking about? After everything you just said, it sounds like the Tenryou Commission has rebelled already!” The floating girl sounds exasperated. Honestly, she had every right to be.

Yae’s plan was dangerous, and a lot of things could go wrong if she didn’t move her pieces right.

Yae laughs lightly. “When I say rebellion, I don't mean betraying the Shogunate... I mean, inciting a certain someone to betray the Tenryou Commission.”

“If we manage to convince her, I'm quite sure we'll be able to get you another audience with the Raiden Shogun.” Yae smiles, and realization dawns on you.

Archons, this would not look good for you.

The traveler furrows his brows. “Who is this certain someone ?”

“I'll give you a clue: She's currently in charge of the Shogun's Army, she visits the shrine at this time every month, and she is our guest today. In addition to the beloved adviser, of course.” Yae looks past you and the traveler. “She also appears to be standing right behind you.”

With that, You hear Sara’s familiar voice. “Don't move a muscle! You've got some nerve showing up here in the shrine when there's an active warrant for your arrest!”

“Do you believe it?” Sara asks you as you two walk down the trail. The tone of her voice sounded conflicted. It was as if she wanted to hear your honest answer, but at the same time, it felt like she wanted you to say no.

The two of you have known nothing but the Commission and the Shogun, and to a certain degree, you could understand her pain, her conflict. However, while the two of you had doubts, Sara had always been the one to quell them. She would always find a way to justify, to deny, and you could understand how devastating it must have been for her.

“I’ve always been suspicious, Sara. You know that.” You say softly in hopes that you wouldn’t provoke the woman. Briefly, you can see her grit her teeth. “But I’m not going to believe it that quickly. I trust Yae, but I need evidence. I owe it to the Commission, I owe it to you, and I owe it to myself.”

You can see Sara relax a little. “But, if the evidence does show that there was a betrayal… Then I’m sure you’ll know what my decision is.”

“You would betray the Commission just like that? The Shogun?” Sara whispers out, sounding almost… hurt.

For a long time, you had accepted that there was nothing you could do, that there would be someone to walk on the rough roads to execute your ideals. You believed that someone would make the choice, that someone would dare to brave the lightning’s glow.

Only lately did you realize that your belief was just another one of many that perpetuated the storm that hung over Inazuma. If everyone believed that someone else would do it, then who would be left to actually do it?

You’ve made up your mind, and if Yae pulls through, then you already know what to do.

“The Shogun may have watched the birth of Inazuma, but it is us who is watching her nation die as a consequence of her neglect.” You stand firmly, looking Sara in the eye. “If everything Yae says is true, then my actions will not be a betrayal, it will be justice.”

Sara is quiet.

“I’m tired, Sara.” You breathe out shakily, closing your eyes as you think of your next words. “I’m tired of surviving. I’m tired of standing in the sidelines and wondering if we’re getting closer to the end of the war or just going deeper into it. This is not a life worth living, and the Shogun’s ideals are not ones worth dying for.”

“My duty has always been to the people of Inazuma.” Your words provide clarity, even to you. “And it always will be, regardless of who lives in the Tenshukaku and declares themself the archon of this nation.”

The universe has presented you with a way out, although it would probably be better termed as “a way through”. You would walk through the guilt, through the challenge, through the discomfort, through the unknown, and you would do it all because somehow, the idea of standing still and never getting anywhere is more terrifying than marching into oblivion.

You may not know what happens next, but you know where you are, and if where you are isn’t something you’re satisfied with, then the only choice would be to move forward.

It would take time, but it finally felt like you were taking control of your life instead of letting the world decide for you. You may have been born into a circumstance you did not ask for, but you weren’t about to let the shackles of your birth hinder you from growing to become a person you could proudly love and value as another individual worth sharing the beauty of the endless universe with.

Chapter Text

“You go ahead, Sara.” You stop when the two of you reach the tree at Hanamizaka. “I… Have matters to attend to.”

Sara looks at you, pausing for a second before she nods and walks ahead to go to the Tenryou. You can only imagine what she’s feeling at that moment. You knew Sara needed her space, but you’d be lying if you said that her needing space was the only reason you stayed behind.

You owed someone an apology. Honestly, you owed that person many things, but you had to start small. 

You head off to Shimura’s. While you didn’t believe in the corrupt practice of bribery, you didn’t want to come up empty handed. Having something to give might appease the oni, after all. However, some part of you knew that whether or not you brought something, the oni wouldn’t be so rude to the point that he’d kick you away and leave you to fend for yourself. The trip you took was just another excuse to delay facing Itto, another excuse to keep you from having to face the fear of inevitable rejection.

Luckily for you, the lunchtime rush had long passed, and there were only a few people left hanging around Shimura’s.

The old man smiles at the sight of you, “Ah, adviser! Here for some ramen? Or the group meal?”

“Ah, no. Not this time, Shimura-san.” You return the man’s smile. “I was wondering if I could order mixed yakisoba, an egg roll, miso soup, sweet shrimp sushi, and some grilled unagi fillet?”

“Oh, why of course!” The older man looks pleased. “I’ll have it ready in no time! Will you be eating here or will you be taking it out?”

“I’ll be taking it out. If it’s not too much trouble.” You reply.

The older man nods. “Of course it’s not! Kindly sit here and wait while I fix up your order.”

“Thank you.” You smile at the old man, sitting down on one of the chairs.

The scent of the spices hitting the pan invades your nostrils, and for a second, you’re reminded of a kinder time. You remember the kitchen at the Tenryou, the kind woman who would cook for all the soldiers, the recruits who’d slide you their dangos and claim that they weren’t hungry anymore. 

It’s moments like this that you realize just how much of the world you had been blinded to because you were so focused on your perception of it. You never were alone, you just forced yourself to believe that you were. In wanting to protect yourself from the tragedies of this world, you willingly brought it upon yourself. You realized that now.

In these last few moments, you wanted to make things right. You had three days. You were ensured three days, at least. No one knew what the future held, and you weren’t going to stand aside and let every opportunity pass, especially when all of those may very well be your last.

On Sunday, things could only get better or much worse. Here, in the eye of the storm, you make do with whatever peace you are given before the winds rage around you once more.

You would start with Itto. 

You owed him that much.

When you get your order from Shimura, you thank him and immediately head off to Hanamizaka to look for the oni. You weren’t sure if he’d be there, but if you had to spend all three days waiting for him, then so be it. Waiting for him seemed much more productive than worrying about what could happen to you once the traveler presents his evidence.

Luckily for you, when you reach Hanamizaka, you’re met by the sight of Itto sitting on the ground, playing rock, paper, scissors with Kouichi. 

It was a heartwarming sight.

The oni was hunched over, leaning down a little despite already sitting just so Kouichi didn’t have to strain to reach up to him. His brows were furrowed, his lips curled into a frown as he gave his all in shaking his fist.

Unfortunately, the oni lost.

You laugh before you could stop yourself. Itto looked too adorable.

Immediately, Itto is straightening up, his chest puffing out, and his eyes darting around to look for you. When he sees you—smiling, laughing, and looking as beautiful as the day he first saw you—it was almost as if the breath was knocked out of his chest for a second.

“I apologize, could I borrow this oni for a while?” You smile at the two kids.

Archons, when did smiling feel this freeing?

Within a split second, Kouichi and Midori were pulling Itto up and pushing him towards you despite his vocal protests. They probably thought they were being slick, but you could see the mischievous glances they shared with each other. “Of course! No need to return him. He’s not good at rock, paper, scissors anyway.”

“Hey! I heard that, brat.” Itto grumbled, crossing his arms as he gave Kouichi a playful glare. 

“Congratulations, you have ears.” For a second, you wonder if kids these days always had this much attitude. 

Itto’s jaw drops, not expecting the kid to have the sheer audacity. “Why you-”

“Bye adviser-san!” Kouichi bids you a quick goodbye, giggling mischievously and dragging his friend, Midori, with him to run away from the oni who still looked like he was trying to make sense of everything that was going on.

“Keep safe!” You call out to the kids with a soft smile, waving lightly.

Itto’s eyes soften at the sight of your smile, his breath hitching and his pulse quickening as he attempts to embed the memory of your face into his head. Under the sky of the slowly setting sun, you did not look a single bit out of place.

It was as if the universe, in all its ethereal beauty, would not be complete if it did not have you in it.

“You’re drooling, Arataki-san.” You turn to look at the oni, a sly grin on your face.

Immediately, Itto is rubbing at the corner of his mouth forcefully, only for his hand to come up dry. The familiarity of the situation sinks in, and suddenly, Itto is looking at you.

“Very original , sidekick.” Itto scoffs, but you can see the grin forming on his lips. “Did you need anything? You don’t usually… Look for me.”

‘It’s usually the other way around. ’ Itto almost wanted to add.

“I…” The playful look on your face is gone, and in its place is uncertainty, worry. “I came to apologize.”

“For what?” Itto raises a brow, trying to remember if you had done anything wrong. However, memories of last Sunday flood through his head, and he realizes that you probably felt bad about that.

You cared enough to feel bad about it.

You cared.

Suddenly, Itto is grinning, a searing warmth spreading throughout his chest as he looks at your confused face. “Is this about last Sunday?”

“Yes.” You frown before bowing lightly. “It wasn’t right for me to dismiss your feelings of concern like that. While I understand that our dynamic is… An odd one, I would be stupid not to at least consider each other to be familiar enough to worry about each other’s wellbeing.”

Itto sighs dramatically before he flicks your forehead.

It was light, very light, but the audacity this oni had to even flick you.

Wow. Just wow.

Quickly, you’re rubbing at the spot and gaping at him. “Did you just-”

“You’re using that tone again, sidekick.” Itto frowns childishly. 

“You just flicked my forehead.” You’re still gaping at him. “Also, what tone? I talk in the same tone all the time.”

“The formal, high and mighty adviser tone. Full of big words and all that formal stuff.” Itto huffs with a frown before a mischievous grin suddenly appears on his face, almost as if he had been struck with an extremely bright idea. “ Also, I didn’t flick you that hard. You’re being a baby.”

Your jaw drops. Barely even a few minutes into your conversation and you were already being attacked? How dare he? “Am not!”

“Are too.” Itto grins at your frustration.

“I am not.” You glare back at the man.

“Yes, you are.” Itto leans down to match your height until his face is a few inches from yourse. “But if it hurts that much… I could kiss it all better if you want?”

Immediately, you’re sputtering out protests and backing away from the oni hastily. Your heart is beating wildly in your chest, your blood is racing quickly through your veins. He only said a few words, but those few words were enough to send you into overdrive.

Suddenly, Itto is laughing, clutching at his stomach and slapping his leg as laugh after laugh leaves his system. He was shameless about it too, not letting anyone’s look of judgement or curiosity deter him from what may very well be the best laugh he’s had in a while. “The look on your face!”

Immediately, Itto is frolicking around and making an exaggeratedly terrified face in what seemed to be an impression of your reaction a while ago. 

“Yeah, whatever.” You grumble out, grip around the bag of food tightening as you attempt to settle the imaginary specters whizzing about wildly in your stomach. “Stupid oni, I could report you to the Tenryou if I wanted to.”

“Go on then. I dare you, sidekick.” Itto grins, taking the bag of food from you and beginning to walk off.

Immediately, you attempt to grab at the food that Itto took. It was supposed to be for him, but he didn’t need to know that, especially not after his brutal teasing. “Hey, don’t steal that-”

“You’re still injured, sidekick. Let me do the heavy lifting.” Itto replies. “Now come on, I’m taking you somewhere.”

“Where exactly?” You call out to the oni who was slowly going farther and farther away from you.

“Just trust me.” Itto looks at you over his shoulder. “Unless, of course, you want me to carry you all the way there?”

Memories flash through your head, and suddenly, you're scrambling to catch up to the man.

Itto only smirks at you. “Thought so.”

“Amakane Island? You don’t look like the fireworks and blossoms kind of person.” You raise a brow at the oni as you two walk past the stalls and further into the tiny island.

The island was one of the most beautiful parts of Inazuma. The dense gathering of yumemiru trees resulting in an endless rain of pastel pink blossoms, dancing through the wind, to nature’s inaudible music. It’s a sight to behold, especially when the Naganoharas were setting off their famous fireworks. Amakane Island gave the best possible view during those times. If you were forced to choose only one place to ever inhabit, it would be this island. 

“I’m not,” Itto shrugs as he continues to walk deeper into the thicket of trees. “But it’s a nice place, no?”

“Yeah,” You smile softly to yourself. “Yeah it is.”

Because Arataki Itto may not have been the fireworks and blossoms kind of person, but you definitely were.

When the two of you reach the edge of the tiny island, the oni is quick to plop down on the grass and pat the ground beside him. “Come, sit.”

Carefully, you kneel down and sit, allowing your legs to dangle off of the tiny cliff’s edge. “The food is yours, by the way.”

“What?” Itto looks at you, a bright expectant grin on his face as he holds up the bag. “Are you sure?”

“It’s a peace offering.” You reply with a shrug. “I wasn’t sure what you liked so I just got everything that didn’t have soybeans in it.”

“Aw, sidekick. Didn’t know you could be this thoughtful.” Itto grins as he pulls out two of the bentos and offers one to you. “Here.”

“It’s yours, Arataki-san.” You wave the offer off. “It’s not a peace offering if you’re just going to give it back.”

“Why do you always call me that?” Itto groans as he sets the bento down beside you. “Loosen up, adviser. It’s just us here. Call me Itto.”

You frown. “That would be inappropriate of me. We’re not that familiar with each other for that-“

“Then let’s be familiar.” Itto crosses his arms. “I’ll ask you questions, you ask me questions. We’ll know each other better, and you can call me by name then. Sound good?”

“You’re not going to give up on this, are you?” You sigh when Itto nods vigorously. “Fine, ask away.”

“Favorite color?”

And with that, the two of you spent the next few hours asking each other questions. While the questions got more and more personal with each one that passes, you didn’t mind, strangely  enough. There was something so freeing in being known and knowing, something so terrifyingly comforting in the idea of letting your walls down and allowing someone even a single glimpse into the very depths of your soul.

Itto speaks of challenges. His life sounding like a song of adventure that you one day hoped to experience. He speaks of the ups and downs, the highs and the lows, but not once does his enthusiasm waver. He doesn’t see Inazuma as a bringer of tragedy and victory, it was… Just another place. Another place to discover, another place to conquer. A perspective so detached and intimate all at once. He saw Inazuma as it is, not through the lens of a survivor, not through the lens of a conqueror.

Arataki Itto was so in love with life and adventure, so passionate about the thrills of even the most mundane of things. Even in the most broken, in the most undesirable. Every single thing in this world had something to offer to Itto. His love of adventure went beyond the land, the mountains, and you were beginning to understand just who Arataki Itto was.

And archons, it was difficult not to feel things for someone like him.

“You know, I envy you a lot, Itto-san.” You smile sadly, watching as the lights of Inazuma City begin to light up as the sun slowly disappears over the horizon. “You get to explore, and you get to see so much. I… I want to do that someday.”

“You will, don’t worry.” Itto turns to look at you, a fond smile on his face. “Not sure when someday is, but I know it’ll come, and when it does, you should take that chance, yeah?”

“I will.” You rest your chin against your knees. “When all this blows over, I’ll go to Liyue and go haggle with the vendors. If I haggled here, I might get a shoe thrown at me.”

Itto only laughs at that. “The people love you too much to do that.”

You fall silent. Archons, those words… They meant a lot, but healing did not happen overnight, and as much as you wanted to believe in that, you couldn’t, not now. So you keep it in your heart, bury it in your mind for later. Someday you would look back, and when you look back, you hoped that you would be able to find the truth in those words.

“You don’t believe me, huh?” The smile on Itto’s face is sad as he looks off into the horizon. “I’m gonna be honest with you, fox ears told me a lot about you.”

“All good things, I hope.” You say in an attempt to lighten the mood. “What did she say?”

“It’s a secret.” Itto turns his head towards you, a lazy grin on his face. “She said enough, though.”

“Enough..?” You trail off questioningly. Yae had always been a great mastermind, and you’d be lying if you weren’t worried about what she had told the oni and what that information was for.

“Enough for me to wish that I was her.” Itto’s grin turns mischievous. “I’d look sexy in her outfit, don’t you think? I could totally pull that look off-”

“Archons, I didn’t need that image in my head.” You groan out as you bury your face in your hands.

Itto only laughs at your expense.

“No, seriously what did she say?” You turn your body to look at Itto, and he’s quick to mirror you.

Itto ponders for a moment, tapping a finger against his chin theatrically. “Are you sure you wanna know?”

“Wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t want to.” You grumble quietly, but you’re quick to rephrase it when Itto raises a brow questioningly. “Yes, I mean yes.”

“That’s better.” Itto grins smugly. “Well, she told me all the books you liked, gave me a list, even. She told me that you liked dangos, not the ones that were too soft. They had to be—her words, not mine—firm enough to chew, but soft enough to melt in your mouth.”

You smile lightly, almost touched at the fact that Yae was able to remember all of that about you. “Seriously-”

“Shush, the great Arataki Itto isn’t finished talking.” Itto shushes you and laughs at the disbelieving look on your face. “She told me you bought a lot of books, and you’d always give some of them to the schools in Hanamizaka. She told me you always bought desserts for the soldiers every week, and you’d never truly tell them who gave it.”

The smile on your face falls, and as Itto looks into your eyes with the fondest, softest look on his face, you find yourself at a loss for words.

“So yes, she told me enough.” The grin on Itto’s face turns nervous as he fiddles with the fabric of his pants. “Enough for me to feel like I’ve known you for so long.”

Itto’s eyes meet yours, a look so sincere that seeing it felt almost illegal . “Enough for me to want to know you even more.”

Arataki Itto was an adventurer, heart, mind, body and soul, and you may very well be the greatest adventure that he’ll ever have the honor of having. You weren’t a conquest. You weren’t a challenge. You weren’t an obstacle.

Itto liked winning. Itto liked the thrill of facing such powerful beings and coming out victorious, but when he looks at you… He sees a journey. One with no destination, one with no predetermined path. He didn’t know if there would be anything at the end, waiting. He didn’t know if he’d ever get to see that end.

But he finds that he doesn’t mind because somehow, the journey mattered so much more than the destination ever could.

If walking by your side was all he could ever have, then so be it.

But for you, it was too much. Too much to handle. The message behind Itto’s words, the feelings he poured into each letter, each syllable, you couldn’t take it. It felt like swallowing the sun, like drinking the sea, like compressing infinity into a singular rip in reality.

There was only so much denial a person could do when placed face to face with the truth. 

You could feel yourself beginning to choke on all the words that you so desperately wanted to say. “Itto-san. I’m sorry-“

“You don’t have to say anything.” Itto waves you off with a smile, but the hurt in his eyes was very clear. “Just wanted to let you know. I’m not the best with words, but… Yeah.”

(For a second you can hear him whisper, “damn, that was so uncool.”)

You fall silent at that. Sure, you could acknowledge that your feelings for Itto went beyond friendship, but you didn’t want to risk what you currently had with the man. You liked Arataki Itto, that much, you could admit, but could you ever go beyond that? 

Itto had so much to give. There was so much about him to love. He was rough around the edges, sure. He could get arrogant, overconfident, and there was not a single Sunday where he wasn’t constantly bickering with you… But even with all that, he was kind, caring, and there was not a single Sunday where you didn’t find comfort in his existence, even on the Sundays where you weren’t in the shrine.

Arataki Itto’s companionship was something you didn’t want to risk, not until you were sure that you could give him what he deserved.

And archons did he deserve the entire world.

But what you didn’t know was that you offer Arataki Itto the world, the entire universe even, but if given the chance, he would always choose you.

Ever since that day at the Tenryou Commission Headquarters, it has always been you.

“I can’t give you anything, not right now.” You whisper out, the unspoken plea sounding louder than your voice ever could in that moment. “I have nothing to offer. My feelings are a mess, and… You don’t deserve that. You shouldn’t have to deal with that.”

Itto turns his head towards you, a conflicted look on his face as he deliberates his next move. You can see his face scrunch up and relax, almost as if he was arguing with himself inside his head. It drags on for a few seconds, the storm of conflict raging in his eyes until suddenly it settles, and he’s cursing under his breath. “Ah, screw it.”

Suddenly, Itto is pulling you towards his chest, wrapping his arms around your waist, and pressing his forehead against the crook of your neck. 

Archons, it was warm, so terribly, comfortingly warm.

Even without meaning to, you find yourself reciprocating the hug, wrapping your arms around Itto, closing your eyes, and breathing in.

You smell hints of sweat, of dangos, of Yumemiru, of the flowers that bloomed in Hanamizaka, of unknown forests, of distant mountains…

Arataki Itto was a fusion of the known and the unknown. He was that fine line between the familiar and the unfamiliar, of knowledge and oblivion. His presence both comforts you and challenges the boundaries of all that you’ve ever known.

You wrap your arms tighter around the oni, pressing your body firmly against his as you give yourself this moment to be selfish. If this may very well be the last time you’ll ever get to feel Itto’s skin against yours, if this may very well be the last time you’ll ever get to feel this loved, and if this may very well be the last time you’ll ever want to give someone the love that they deserve.

Then so be it.

Maybe the future will be kind, maybe it won’t, but if it won’t be kind, then you find comfort in the fact that for one moment, even in this just one moment, you’ll get to know what it’s like to be one of the good people, the people who aren’t difficult…

The people who aren’t you.

And you know that you shouldn’t be thinking like that, not after everything Yae had told you, and not after the days you’ve spent thinking and pondering, but healing was not linear, you could recognize that. For now, you would be selfish, and maybe that momentary selfishness would be the first step to finally seeing your worth and what you deserve, but you would never know.

But you’re not about to let the unknown hinder you from moving forward.

You can feel Itto exhale shakily against your neck, his breath warm, tickling your skin. His grip around you tightens, and you can feel his fingers digging deeper into your skin, a hint of desperation present in every single one of his movements.

Arataki Itto holds you like it's the last time he’ll ever get to.

He pulls away for a second, but his hands remain on your waist. Your eyes lock, and in that moment, no matter how unbelievably cliche it sounded, it felt like nothing mattered because Itto saw you. Not the officer, not the adviser, not the challenger… Just you.

He says your name like a gospel, tumbling past his lips as his eyes flick up, down, and back to your eyes. “I hope you know it’s taking everything in me not to kiss you senseless right now.”

In that moment, you were not the officer, not the adviser, not the challenger.

You were just you.

And in that moment, the selfish part of you—the one that didn’t constantly want to set the world on fire and lie in the center of the inferno—wanted nothing more than that man before you.

“Do it.” You whisper out shakily, hands gripping Itto’s shoulders tighter as you try to steady your racing heart. “No one’s stopping you.”

Itto smiles, but he doesn’t move his lips any closer to yours. Instead, Itto presses his forehead against yours, moving closer until you can feel his warm breath grazing your lips.

“I don’t do things half-heartedly, sidekick. It’s a huge blow to my pride if I didn’t give you the best damned experience you’ll ever have.” Itto states firmly, eyeing your lips with a small grin before he locks eyes with you again. “If I’m doing that, I’m doing it right.”

Itto pulls away, and before you can find yourself missing his touch, he presses a soft kiss onto your forehead.

Softly.

Tenderly.

A shaky breath leaves you as the warmth of his lips bleed into your skin, underneath it, and before you could even stop it, the tears were already flowing down your cheeks.

“I’ll make you love me, sidekick. When I’m done, you’ll love me so hard that I’ll be the only thing you can think of.” Itto promises with a sly grin as he wipes your tears with the rough pads of his fingers. “Just like you did to me, you know? It’s only fair.”

You bury your face into Itto’s neck, clutching at him like a lifeline. “I’d like that.”

“Good, it’s not like I’m giving you a choice.” Itto jokes as he wraps his arms tightly around your waist.

It wouldn’t be easy to undo the hurt of the past few years, but for Arataki Itto, you were going to try.

Because Arataki Itto was the kind of person who would hold your hand before you strike the match, the kind of person who would run into the inferno and drag you out of it, the kind of person who could love you with all your brokenness and not despite of it.

If a man so great, so kind, so utterly breathtaking was able to look at you and find it in himself to love you, then who were you to deny your own worth?

How could you deny it when he holds you like this? When he looks at you like this? He holds you with a touch so firm, so gentle, so warm. He looks at you like you were the incarnation of the sun, the moon, the stars. He looks at you like you’re the world and more. 

“I’ll win your heart. Doesn’t matter what it takes, I’ll do it.”

Archons, he already had it, he didn’t have to bother trying.

He brushes his lips against the skin of your face like the drops of dew rolling off the flowers in Inazuma in the early morning. He pulls you against his chest like you’re the only thing in this world worth holding.

Three days, you had three days in the eyes of the storm. Three days of silence, three days to pretend like the world you knew wasn’t on the brink of destruction. Tomorrow promised nothing, and you decided that you were going to make the most of every day until Sunday.

If the storm settles, then you have more Sundays to look forward to.

If it doesn’t, then you’d have the memory of those Sundays to keep with you.

And that…

That was more than enough.

Chapter Text

“What will you do?” Sara asks, her voice so quiet that even the sound of the unraveling futon was louder than the words that leave her mouth. “When the war ends, I mean.”

It’s the first time in a while since you’ve slept in the same room as Sara. It was a habit that slowly lessened after you were considered too old to be having sleepovers. While moments like this were rare, and you wanted to spend as much of it awake as possible, the two of you had a big day tomorrow, and you were not about to bore her with a response longer than all of Sangonomiya’s directives compiled.

“Travel, I guess.” You smile softly. “If you’ll allow me to, of course, General Sara.”

Sara snorts, throwing a pillow at you. “It sounds absolutely unnerving coming from you, don’t say it.”

You catch the pillow, sticking your tongue out at the Tengu mockingly. “Would you rather have me call you Kujou Tengu?”

You weren’t able to catch the next pillow that went flying in your direction. You swore that you could almost feel a buzz of electro embedded in the fabric.

“That stupid oni is rubbing off on you.” Sara grumbles as she settles into her futon, but there’s no malice in her tone. “Be careful, you might get stupider if you spend any more time with him.”

“You’re just jealous I spend more time with him.” You tease, lying down on your own futon that was placed beside Sara’s.

Sara only huffs, turning to her side, her back facing you.

A few moments of silence pass before Sara is speaking again. “I’d approve your resignation, you know.”

A beat, and Sara is quick to take back her words. “Nevermind, I wouldn’t. I have a different offer, however.”

You hum questioningly, urging Sara to elaborate on her words.

“When the war ends, and all goes well, I believe that Inazuma might start opening its borders.” Sara turns to you, pulling her blanket closer to her chin. “Our relationship with other nations will need repairing.”

“Oh it will need more than just repairing, trust me.” You huff, thinking of the mess that the war would leave behind. Living through a war was hard enough, recovering from it was even harder. “We’d need to send excellent ambassadors for that.”

“Exactly.” Sara smiles. “You’d make a good ambassador, you know?”

Suddenly, you’re looking at Sara, a small spark of hope and excitement crawling through your stomach like balethunder. “You’re joking, right?”

“If you can deal with Guuji Yae and her mind games, I’m sure you can deal with anyone.” Sara smiles, the glint in her eyes reflecting your own excitement. “You can travel all around Teyvat. It’s still work, but… It’s better than staying cooped up in your office, no?”

You realize, in that moment, just how much Sara valued you, and archons, did it make you feel so warm. Her offer, much like her directives, was strategic. If you were made responsible for foreign affairs, you wouldn’t feel so far, but you wouldn’t be hindered from seeing the rest of what Teyvat has to offer.

It was Sara’s way of assuring herself that no matter how far you were, you would come home.

You smile. “That would be great.”

“But-” You poke Sara’s forehead affectionately, laughing lightly at the frown that was forming on her face. “-we can worry about that when the war is actually over.”

“You’re right.” Sara mumbles, eyes starting to droop as the need for sleep slowly washes over her. 

“Good night, Sara.” You mumble out, your own eyes closing as you fall asleep.

Tomorrow carried with it the revelation that could make or break the very foundation of your nation’s current workings. If Yae Miko and the traveler could prove that the Tenryou Commission had long betrayed the Shogun, then that might just be the last thing the entire situation needs before it falls into an even greater state of political unrest.

You hoped that there would still be something left of your nation to rebuild it with once the storm blanketing both Inazuma’s physical and political landscape passes.

Kujou Sara was loyal to the shogun, and everyone who knew her knew that. If the shogun told her to run, she would ask how fast. If the shogun told her to jump, she’d ask how high, and she’d do it all without a second thought. However, Kujou Sara was also a Tengu warrior, and while she may believe that the duties as a Kujou and as a warrior were of the same ilk, there were moments—just like this one—that urged her to think differently.

Sara’s duty as a member of the Kujou Clan is to guard Inazuma, and her duty as a Tengu warrior is to guard the mountains and the forests of the said nation. Her duty was very clear, but why did it seem that everything she was doing seemed to be the opposite?

In a nation where flowers bloom from the blood spilt on the battlefield, in a nation where ambition is rejected, was there anything left to protect?

Had the warrior, the general, the great Kujou Sara long failed in her duty both intrinsic and adopted?

It didn’t matter at that moment, Sara thinks. She didn’t really have a choice other than to fold the note you left, grab her bow, and walk to the shrine ahead of you.

You needed to find out the truth, and you needed to find it on your own.

Sara wishes you would walk with her to what may very well be her last walk as Kujou Sara, the adopted daughter of the Kujou Clan, the Tengu warrior, and the beloved general of the shogun, but it seems that this was a journey she would have to walk through alone.

The documents were incomplete, but every single one that remained painted a picture as clear as the water that runs through the rivers of Inazuma.

Guuji Yae was right. The Tenryou and the Kanjou had long betrayed the shogun.

You flip through each report, read through every line, every stroke, every drop of ink staining the paper. You find that the hardest lies to discover are the ones that have half the truth.

None of the reports mentioned anything about the war. None of the strokes of ink conveyed the horrors your soldiers had gone through as they laid their life down for their nation. It was written in a way that deliberately omits, not in a way that it was simply forgotten (it was not like you could simply forget to mention a war that has been waging for quite some time).

You were also guilty of forging your own reports, but you forged them because you knew that some of the arrests made under the Tenryou’s authority were unethical, lawful but immoral.

But this… This was erasure.

An injustice to the memory, to the honor, to the lives of the people of Inazuma that had sacrificed themselves for ideals they deemed absolute, only for it to be revealed as nothing more than a plot to forward the selfish desires of people drunk on power and run by greed.

Archons, you have never been this angry, this devastated -

The shouts of soldiers, the clashing of polearms, and the thudding of bodies against the ground pull you from your thoughts. Quickly, you shove the papers back into the drawers, removing any sign that you had shuffled through any of the locked documents. You immediately sprint out of the office, running towards the source of the noise, towards the Tenshukaku.

A woman stands a few meters away from you, and around her are a few individuals that you recognize to be Fatui. Further, you can see a few of your own soldiers, some unconscious, some struggling to stay awake, and some struggling to stand as they point their spears towards the woman and her cronies.

“State your purpose.” You were honestly impressed that you were still able to keep your voice level.

“Ah, the Tenryou Commission's adviser.” The woman grins, and it’s utterly unnerving. “I was wondering where you were.”

“You didn’t answer the question.” You reply as you clench your fists tighter in an effort to ground yourself. You regret not grabbing a polearm on your way here. 

“I’m a diplomat from Snezhnaya, adviser. Would you like to see my papers?” The woman is smirking as she starts to walk closer towards you. Immediately, some of your soldiers rush to your side, polearms ready to strike at your command.

“Diplomats don’t cause conflict with the nation they’re visiting.” You spat, your eyes flitting towards the Fatui skirmishers behind her that looked awfully familiar. “Nor do they attack the officials of it. Your papers will not do anything to spare you from the punishment of breaking the law.”

“Tsk, uncooperative.” The woman sighs dramatically. “Very well, finish what you started.”

Bursts of cryo flew from the ground, throwing your soldiers a few feet away from you and causing you to topple down. Immediately, the skirmishers behind the woman are running, their gazes locked on you. 

“Make sure to do it discreetly when you dispose of this… Filth.” The woman sneers, turning around as she walks forward into the Tenshukaku.

Quickly, you stood up to run, but one of the skirmishers was quick to grab you.

A sharp pain bursts on the side of your head and suddenly, your vision goes black.

You had informed Itto that you might not be able to make it this Sunday, and while Itto wished that wasn’t the case, he didn’t have a choice other than to accept. You didn’t inform him why. Well, you did, but Itto didn’t believe you.

You told him you had matters to attend to, and while that was expected—considering what your job was—the distant, worried look in your eyes implied that there was more to it than “matters to attend to”. However, Itto did not pry. He trusted that you would tell him on your own time.

That’s why on that Sunday, he found himself exploring through Inazuma in search of onikabutos, but somehow, in his search, he had found you too.

The moment he stepped foot in Chinju Forest, his senses went on high alert. There was something off, very off. The forest did not usually smell this strongly of blood, there weren’t enough monsters or innocent civilians walking through to make it turn out that way.

But today, that metallic stench hung heavily in the air.

And as Itto got closer and closer to the heart of the forest, he realized that what he smelt wasn’t just anyone’s blood.

It was yours.

Immediately, Itto is running as fast as he can towards the source of the smell. His thoughts were running so fast, and he could hardly keep up with all the emotions bombarding him all at once. He could feel the worry tug at his stomach, the fear grip his chest, and the anger fill the entirety of his core.

Whoever dared hurt you, they would have hell to pay.

Itto’s eyes lock on a group of Fatui skirmishers, laughing and talking among themselves as they take their time walking, almost as if they were on a leisurely stroll through the forest.

Well, that would change very quickly.

Especially when Itto sees you slung over the shoulder of one of the cryogunners, blood trailing down your forehead and dripping to the ground as you remain unconscious.

Itto sees red.

“Hey scumbags.” The look on Itto’s face is dark as he walks menacingly towards the group of skirmishers. “Do you guys have a death wish?”

“Hah?” The cryogunner scoffs. “Scurry along. You don’t want to get involved in this, trust me.”

Itto grits his teeth. Talking wasn’t his style, and if you weren’t in the skirmisher’s arms, his club would’ve been long acquainted with the faces of the Fatui members. “I got involved the moment you-”

“Oh?” The cryogunner is grinning, manhandling your unconscious body until he’s holding you by the collar of your uniform. “This filth your lover or something-”

The cryogunner wasn’t able to finish his sentence because suddenly, the end of Itto’s club hits him square across the face and sends him flying to the trees.

Immediately, Itto grabs your unconscious body. He can still feel your breath, your pulse, but he can feel it growing weaker. He scans the area for a place where he can lay you down while he makes quick work of the scum that dared to lay their fingers on you, and when he spots a small patch of grass that’s fairly protected and hidden, he immediately brings you there and lays your unconscious body.

Before he runs back to the skirmishers, he holds you tightly against his chest, pressing a kiss between your brows as he whispers, “Don’t die on me, sidekick. You still owe me a match.”

Itto lays you down softly, and once he’s sure you’re safe, he turns to the skirmishers.

“You’re going to pay for this.” Itto spat before he lunged forward and brought his club down with a force that may have rivaled the Musou no Hitotachi itself.

When Itto reaches the shrine, your pulse was barely there.

His thoughts were racing, so terribly loud that it was beginning to sound like silence. They ran through his mind so fast that he couldn’t even make out what each individual thought was about. They sped by so quickly that the numerous screams started sounding like one singular, deafening sound.

Arataki Itto was on the verge of breaking down. Never in his life had he felt this helpless, this useless.

He carries your body to the shrine, praying to whatever god there was out there to keep you alive. It’s pitiful, an oni wishing, hoping, praying harder than all the other devout followers of the gods. Itto didn’t give a damn.

Arataki Itto would do whatever it takes to have you by his side.

“What happened?” There’s a look of horror on the shrine maiden’s face as she takes in your bloodied figure. Immediately, she calls out to the other shrine maidens. “Nana! Maki! Get the red bag from the drawer beside the fortune slips.”

“Help me, please. ” Itto begs, kneeling down onto the steps as he lays you on the wooden floor of the shrine. 

“Leave it to us.” The shrine maiden, Hotomi, reaches her arms out and urges Itto to hand you over to her. “The adviser is in safe hands here.”

Itto is almost reluctant as he holds you tighter, looking at the woman’s hands warily. 

“Please, we’re running out of time.” The shrine maiden whispers out as she takes in your bloodied state. “The faster we get to work, the higher the chances of survival.”

Itto flinches inwardly at her words, not wanting to entertain the thought of losing you. However, the woman was right, and if Itto kept you any longer in his arms, then it may very well be the last time he’ll ever get to.

He brushes a strand of hair away from your face, wipes away the blood smeared on your forehead, and presses his lips against your head. “You’ll be okay.”

Itto hands you over to the woman, and she’s quick to take you away and begin treating your wounds.

However, when the woman takes you away, something falls from your pocket.

Itto attempts to call out to the woman, but he stops himself. He didn’t want to delay the maidens any more than he already had. Instead, he walks towards the object, and when he sees it, recognition washes over him.

Slowly, he crouches down and grabs the yellow vision. When he sees the stains of crimson on it, he clenches his fist harder around it, a sharp pain echoing through the chambers of his chest. He doesn’t want to think about it, but when he realizes what could’ve happened if he wasn’t around at the right moment, you would’ve been gone… And he probably wouldn’t have known about it until a few days had passed.

Itto stands up, walking towards where the women were treating you. One of the shrine maidens looks at him, confused as he sets down the vision on the table.

“The adviser dropped this.” Itto explains before he walks away. He couldn’t bear to look at you at that moment. If he had stared any longer, Itto might just snap.

And only Celestia knows how terrible it would be when Itto finally snaps.

You were not one to turn back on your word, even if you had said it in a haste. You had promised a game from the moment the sun rises to the moment it sets, and you would rather be pummeled by a mitachurl than break your promise. 

This Sunday… It may very well be the last.

A sense of longing fills your chest, and as you wait for the oni with the crimson horns, you find yourself wishing that you could wait forever. The Vision Hunt Decree was no longer valid, and the visions were being returned to their owners as fast as humanly possible. You wondered what that meant for you and Itto. 

However, keeping Itto’s ambition just to have him by your side wasn’t right, and your conscience could never let you do that. Itto had been a great driving force in helping you move forward, and it would be utterly cruel for you to hold him back from doing the same.

You didn’t want to doubt him, not after his declarations at Amakane Island, but times change, and people along with them. If Itto chose to stay, then you would be grateful, but if he chose to move forward, then you would understand.

The moment the first few rays of sunlight had broken through the dark sky enveloping Inazuma, Arataki Itto had shown up with his signature grin.

“Ready to lose, sidekick?” Itto taunts as he leans down to your height. “Cause I’m totally on top of my game today.”

You smile fondly at the man. “There’s no game today, idiot.”

“Aw?” Itto pouts childishly before he whines. “But you promised!”

“I did, but the premise of that promise is no longer valid.” You grab Itto’s hand, and for a second you can see him flush.

You couldn’t stop yourself from feeling a little bit smug when you see the blush dusting his cheeks. 

“The Vision Hunt Decree has been lifted.” You state as you drop the geo vision onto Itto’s hand and close his fingers around it with your own. “I no longer have a reason to keep this from you.”

Itto’s face falls as the implication of your words sinks in. 

“That means no more Sunday games, huh?” Itto attempts to joke as he pockets the vision, not even taking the time to look at it and savor what would have been a victorious moment. “You don’t have to complain about not getting enough sleep on Sundays, at least.”

You smile at that, but you can feel the sadness gripping at your chest, the moisture gathering at the corners of your eyes. “And you can finally go back to having your Sunday bug fights at Hanamizaka.”

Itto pulls you to his chest, wrapping his arms around you as tight as he possibly can without accidentally hurting you. “You idiot, you’re acting like this is the last time we’re going to see each other.”

“Is it not?” Your response is somewhere between a laugh and a sob as you wrap your arms around Itto’s waist. 

Itto melts into your touch, a dopey grin on his face as he feels your body press against his. “You may have fulfilled your promise, but I haven’t.”

“Oh? How are you sure I’m not yet head over heels for you?” You pull away to look at the oni questioningly.

“The fact that you can still think of anything other than ‘Arataki’ and ‘Itto’ is proof of that.” Itto grins. 

There was barely any space between you two. You could feel Itto’s breath fanning across your face, tickling your lips. You realize that you’ve never known the true meaning of “so close, and yet so far” until that moment. Your eyes flicker from Itto’s eyes to his lips, your heart speeding up as you notice that Itto was doing the same.

Itto’s staring at your lips intently, his grip on your hips slowly getting tighter as he speaks. “Would you slap me if I kissed you right now?”

“I’d slap you if you didn’t.” You joke, but eventually, your laugh dies out as you notice Itto’s pupil’s dilate and his breath pick up.

“You said that, not me.” Itto grins as he pulls you flush against his body. “You only have yourself to blame for what happens next.”

You can feel entire body grow warm at his words. “Oh, really-”

Itto’s lips crash against yours, and immediately, your mind goes blank. He kisses you softly, a stark contrast to his rough exterior. He grips at your body like he simply can’t get enough of you, and he pulls you in like doing anything else would mean losing you.

You wrap your arms around Itto’s neck, and in response, he wraps his around your waist, pulling you in with both the touch of his hand and the motion of his lips. 

For a second, you pull away, breathing heavily, eyes half-lidded as you attempt to steady your racing heart.

Itto grins at this. “What’s on your mind?”

“Can’t think straight, give me a moment.” You whisper out as you tangle your fingers into his hair.

“Wrong answer, sidekick.” Itto chuckles before he trails his hands up to your waist, digging his fingers into your skin as he leans down to whisper. “Clearly, I haven’t kissed you enough.”

Itto doesn’t give you a chance to reply as he cups your jaw and pulls you in to capture your lips with his.

A lot of things had happened the moment Arataki Itto decided to step into your life, and you were sure that even if he chose to leave, he would’ve forever left his mark. You were not sure what tomorrow will bring, but you do know that you wouldn’t trade today for anything. 

You may not know of the throes of the heroes, or of the tragedies of the gods, but you knew of Arataki Itto. You knew of the way his lips curl in a smile so heartwarmingly genuine. You knew of the way his breath would hitch at the slightest feel of your skin. You knew of the ways he’d deliberately mess up his strategy right when he was about to win.

Perhaps there is more to the game than winning, just as there is more to love than just the happy ending. We walk through life and nothing is ever certain, but should uncertainty hinder you from seizing what could have been?

In a game of two, victory is just as inevitable as loss, and the chance of heartache is just as probable as the chance of happiness. Do not let your fear of what could go wrong hinder you from chasing what could go right.

It’s a valuable lesson you have learned,

Because in the matter of castles and of sitting kings, the only thing better than winning is the wisdom we get from playing.