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They all feel the shift in the air. Sara sees it in their posture, their expressions, their movements; even those without Visions or an ounce of Youkai blood in their veins knew something had changed.
Sara, with both, fights the urge to call out her wings and wrap them around herself, as protection against the oncoming storm.
It’s a tingle in the air, the moment static starts to build, a gentle wind that forms as the weather changes.
Just as quickly, it goes away-- and the room exhales, as one. In years past, they would have expected to hunker down, preparing another thunderstorm to envelop Tenshukaku.
Sara clears her throat, calling the attention back to herself. She exchanges a glance with the Yashiro Commissioner, Kamisato Ayato, tilting her head ever so slightly. He tilts his own in return.
There would be no storms today. Their Archon willed it so.
“Returning to the subject of our southern deployments...” she begins once more, gesturing to the map.
The meeting resumes without fanfare. There is work to be done, after all. More work per person, with the Commissions barely restored to working order after two committed treason. Sara herself had even taken over a portion of the Tenryou Commission’s duties, with Kamisato Ayato shouldering much of the remaining slack.
What Sara does not share, as everyone moves on, is that her Youkai blood still sings with static and lightning. Their Archon’s will was still imposed upon the land, her divinity extended outward. It demands that the skies remain clear, that her foes find their luck turning sour.
Whomever was the target of the Raiden Shogun’s attentions would be found without delay. Sara hoped, for the sake of her sanity, that it was not Yae Miko. If Guuji Yae had created mischief in Tenshukaku once more, Sara would need to set aside time to clean up the inevitable mess.
Kamisato Ayato clears his throat this time, and the conversation shifts to the next festival. Curious visitors to the formerly closed lands of Inazuma had arrived en mass at the most recent celebration, and the Yashiro Commission had barely managed to keep everything running. Perhaps a complement of trustworthy guards would help, perhaps greater incentive for stall-runners, so that there would be more businesses benefitting...
Much flies over Sara’s head. She is a soldier, a servant of the Shogun, not a peacetime leader.
Sara’s heart thuds abruptly, and her wings flicker into existence for a moment before she can get them back under control. Her Youkai blood’s song turns to a roar before going silent, and the Archon’s will vanishes.
The door to the meeting room slides open to Sara’s left, and the twin scents of Sakura and charged air tumble in on the breeze.
“Kujou Sara.” A familiar voice calls softly, silencing the remaining murmurs of all attending.
Sara stands and turns to face her Archon, bowing a perfect bow as everyone else scrambles to stand. A pit of dread forms in her stomach-- were there more traitors? Would more blood have to be shed in Tenshukaku?
She takes a moment to remind herself not to call the Raiden Shogun by her name. This was not a private conversation, after all.
“Your Excellency.” Sara says, rising from her bow. The eyes of the Shogun are a deep purple, the warmth in her expression only visible by the faintest of wrinkles around her eyes.
So it is Raiden Shogun, not Raiden Ei. In the safety of her own mind, Sara breathes a sigh of relief. There would be some predictability, then.
“Come here for a moment, General. I require something from you.” Raiden states clearly, stepping over the threshold into the room. She pauses, turning her head to acknowledge the rest of the room. “I am... pleased, with your efforts. My business here is solely with Kujou Sara.”
Oh no.
Kamisato Ayato looks quietly smug about something, too. This cannot be good.
Sara approaches her Archon respectfully, standing an appropriate distance away. “As you wish, Your Excellency.”
“Mm. Closer, please.” Raiden says, more quietly this time. Her head is tilted oddly, and the scent of Sakura grows sweeter on Sara’s tongue.
Sara moves closer. “If this is a matter of secrecy, Your-- erk!”
A hand flashes out, latching onto Sara’s collar and yanking her closer as she lets out an embarrassed squawk.
The sound is cut short when soft lips press against Sara’s own, silencing both her voice and her thoughts.
Raiden, Sara reflects, tastes faintly of Amakumo Fruit. She even runs her tongue along Raiden’s lips to confirm it. Yes, Amakumo Fruit.
The hand holding her lets go, and a flicker of lightning passes through Raiden’s eyes as the woman grins. She raises a delicate hand to run along Sara’s cheek as the other pushes back Sara’s wings, which have furled around them.
And then, the moment ends, and Sara wants to scream . Preferably on a mountaintop, after fleeing from humanity for a decade or two so they forget.
Raiden steps back, inclining her head. “There. Thank you for your time, Sara.”
Her eyes brighten for a moment, and Ei winks, very visibly licking her lips. “That was quite enjoyable.”
She turns to their audience and stares . “As you were.”
And without another word, the Shogun is gone.
Kamisato Ayato coughs. “As the Shogun wishes. Shall we...”
The meeting is in ruins . They’re all staring at her rather than doing their work and Sara cannot think because By the Shogun, the Shogun just kissed her . Her heart pumped loudly in her chest, and any attempt at dismissing her wings is met with the memory of Raiden’s soft lips.
Sara licks her own lips, feeling the entirely unbecoming smile on her face.
She didn’t usually like sweet things, but she might have to go buy some Amakumo Fruit from the market now.