Chapter Text
Two years have passed since the enactment of the Sakoku Decree in Inazuma. Within those two years the Vision Hunt Decree was also passed, followed by the immediate seizing of all visions across the land. It was a very uncertain time in the country, at least for vision bearers and merchants alike, but it eventually began to affect the livelihoods of every citizen. This in turn forced two opposing ideals to clash in a seemingly never ending war, one of freedom and the other of loyalty.
Fortunately with the bold entrance of a wandering traveller and guide, both these laws would be abolished. Inazuma was finally back to a relatively stable time of peace. The Yashiro Commission, in collaboration with the Grand Narukami Shrine was even able to host the old Irodori festival in Ritou, bringing creative minds from Mondstat and Liyue to the borders of Inazuma once more.
Despite this it was not entirely safe to say that things were normal again. Treasons and schemes were uprooted within the aftermath of the war. Authority figures that were once respected were put under arrest or removed from their once prestigious positions. Even those the country was once under diplomatic ties with, the Snezhnayans, were responsible for plotting the events of the Decrees enacted upon the people of Inazuma. They were even assisted by the Tenryou Commission to keep the true knowledge of their actions from the Raiden Shogun, costing them much trust in the end.
With such turmoil left to be cleaned up, the general Kujou Sara had much on her hands. She was given much scorn and doubts despite her trying her utmost best to right the wrongs of her clan. She conducted a number of peace treaties with the forces of Watatsumi Island, returned the visions of the remaining vision bearers, and made sure to acknowledge the lives of all soldiers once again that took part in the fight for the ideals of the Almighty Shogun.
It was much work, yet there was still more to come.
According to Watatsumi intel, several of the Tenryou Commission’s own samurai had still been in contact with the Fatui. This raised much concern with Sara and other generals alike, so upon further discussion they planned further investigations upon the matter. She would personally be involved with all the information acquired, having become more scrutinous after so many incidents. She hardly had much time to herself, but if it was for the sake to gain the trust of everyone in Inazuma, she would make any personal sacrifices necessary.
-
Another cry of despair rang throughout the district of Hanamizaka. Some people turned their heads to the horrendous shouting while a larger number tried with some difficulty to ignore them. They were coming from the imposing Sakura Tree growing proudly in the middle of the homes and buildings at the entrance to the neighbourhood, a small group of men sitting at one of the roots of the tree. The owner of said cries was none other than the self proclaimed gang leader Arataki ‘Card Master’ Itto, and he was currently involved in a very serious game of trading cards from a newly released batch.
“Boss, you sure you know what you’re doing?” Mamorou, a member of Itto’s gang, spoke up after the young oni didn’t bring his head up from his hands.
“Of course I know what I’m doing!” Itto insisted. “I’m just having a bit of bad luck today!”
“More like real shitty luck,” Genta, another member, quelled a bubbling snort, going over his current hand. “This is looking to be my third win in a row!”
The overseer of the game, Akira, only shook his head in hopes that he would not have to witness a man getting a playing card to the forehead from their agitated leader. It was another leisurely day for the Arataki Gang, meaning that they once again had endless hours to waste playing cards, keeping up appearances or planning upcoming beetle fights. Though these actions are considered necessary to the group it was hardly taken seriously by everyone else around them.
Arataki Itto was simply another public nuisance in the eyes of the Tenryou Commission; he was not enough to be a threat but he was still reported enough by some annoyed citizens to warrant arrests. He was also one of the rare cases of vision bearers who was unaffected after getting his vision revoked. Unfortunately for the Tenryou Commission this meant his misdeeds were further fueled with the intent of revenge, making demands to the general for the return of his vision and desecrating the message boards. Even with his vision returned he was not satiated.
With all this in mind, the police station began making it a policy not to let the general know of the trivial matters of the oni. The young woman already had been working tirelessly for the people of Inazuma, so this was the least they could do. Despite this, Kujou Sara's ears were incredibly sharp due to training, so she was able to pick up even on the passing gossip among the soldiers. That included the talks of the town.
"Please Miss Kujou Sara, you need not burden yourself with this," yet another doushin pleaded with her as she marched down the stairs leading to one of the message boards of the city.
"I heard there were many complaints today concerning a disturbance in Hanamizaka," she said promptly. "If you needed my assistance here you all should have alerted me already,"
"Of course, but…"
They continued to walk through their exchange while passersby looked on in curiosity. Some knew exactly where they were headed and were amused at what was to come. Wherever the oni went there was bound to be trouble to follow after all.
Upon reaching the stairs leading down to the Great Sakura Tree, another shout was heard, this time one that you would hear after someone won a hard fought battle. Sara had to squint her eyes to be sure the person sitting by the tree was truly the one who made that cry. She really wished in that moment that it was not who she thought it was, hands in the air in glee with a stupidly wide smile on his face.
"You dirty cheater!" Genta threw his cards to the ground, his face red in anger at his boss' victory. "How'd you even have that card??"
"Hey, all's fair in love and war, my man!" Itto grinned.
"This is hardly a war," Mamorou muttered.
"So, Akira," Itto turned to their current referee. "How's my score now?"
"Well you have two wins versus his five, boss,"
"What?! I swore I had more by now!"
"C'mon boss, you know you can't-"
"Halt!"
They all quieted down instantly at the new voice cutting through their bickering. Descending the stairs towards them was one of the esteemed generals in the shogun's army, Kujou Sara, and she did not seem amused in the slightest. Once she stopped before the group, Itto brought himself to his feet, hands resting defiantly on his hips.
"Kujou Tengu!" he greeted her with a smug look on his face. "What brings you here on this fine day. I didn't hear the vision hunt decree was back in full swing, unless you're finally here for-"
"I am here on several complaints, Arataki Itto," Sara interrupted him. "You do know there is only so much you can carry on with unauthorised noise in a neighbourhood, correct?"
"Hey, we're just having a little game of cards here, there's no law against that!"
"It would be most beneficial if you even knew what the laws of Inazuma actually entail,"
"Wait there's actually a law against that?"
"No you… you are simply causing too much noise,"
Sara quickly stopped herself, realising she was about to raise her voice. It was bad enough that the people had made noise complaints but she could not allow herself to lose composure before the man before her. He would certainly find amusement in her annoyance.
"Look," Sara started, addressing everyone present in his 'gang'. "Understand that I will only be issuing this final warning to you only to avoid any complications over an otherwise pointless incident. Are we clear?"
An unenthusiastic 'Yes ma'am' sounded from everyone except Itto, who was currently pouting like a child who had been scolded. Usually he would have put up more of a fight against the police but Sara was being more than fair in that moment. Plus it was probably to avoid a real scolding from his deputy, Kuki Shinobu.
As Sara looked on at the oni she was reminded of another incident he was involved in a few weeks prior, during the Irodori festival. She was so busy running back and forth for such ridiculous problems that were faced during the festivities that she was unable to tend to the problems concerning the standee. Luckily it was resolved by the traveller and Thoma, however Arataki did not get out unscathed, having downed an entire litre of a soy based drink.
He had only just awakened from his allergy induced coma but he was still looking a little worse for wear. His skin was pale and there were still signs of his face having been swollen. Despite being rearing and ready to take on the world he was barely holding out.
"I see you still haven't fully recovered from what happened at the Irodori festival," Sara spoke up after the awkward silence. "You should start being careful with what you eat and drink from others, oni,"
This made Itto look up at the tengu warrior, his pout replaced with widened eyes. Perhaps he was hearing things. The general Kujou Sara was looking out for him? Her rival? The one whose vision she had taken away? Even though Itto forgot in the moment that he was not the only one whose vision she had confiscated, he was still taken aback by her words.
"Uh sure," was all he managed to utter.
"Good," Sara nodded before turning to return to Tenryou. "You may be on the watch list for Inazuma City, but no citizen should be left to suffer under the rule of the Almighty Shogun,"
"Ah hey, you didn't have to add the watch list part, Kujou Tengu!"
By then she had already gotten far enough, so Itto's words merely carried on with the wind. He gave an annoyed huff before turning his attention to his gang, who had been standing off to the side.
"Can you believe her?" Itto groaned. "I didn't even get the chance to start our long awaited rematch!"
"Probably because she was avoiding it," Mamorou started.
"Though the boss may have been out for a while, he can still take her, I'm sure of it," Akira piped in as well.
"Yeah that's it! Though it was still weird she asked about the drink,"
"How come, boss?" Genta tilted his head to the oni.
Itto folded his arms then, seemingly in thought about his next choice of words. Her concern certainly sparked something deep down, yet he could not seem to pinpoint exactly what it was. In the end he was unable to figure it out and simply returned to his game of cards with his friends. Though, if they were to ask him again, he would most likely say he was touched that his rival cared so much about his well-being.
It was rare for anyone to be concerned for someone of his kin in Inazuma after all.