Chapter Text
A sigh escaped him as he tried not to cringe at himself, sitting high in the tree diagonal from her, trying desperately despite himself not to stare even though he’d already gone this far. He’d definitely reached a place far past the point of no return, and he knew it.
He first saw her at the Grand Narukami Shrine, and those violet eyes of hers had immediately enraptured him. He could never forget the way they shined like electro-infused stars, hailing down from the sky and shattering what he’d conceived to be “color”. His mind had never been able to place what face those purple eyes had come from, or anything else, for a very long time. He’d never seen that girl around the temple after that single occurrence, even though he’d always looked for her each time he visited, which was less and less often as the years went on.
Until one day he was walking through the city streets, ignoring the reports he was supposed to be writing, when a woman with green hair pushed a few Arataki Gang members away from a fruit vendor’s stall right beside him, shoving them along and telling them off for “trying to con the guy”. At first, he simply smiled to himself, thinking how it was less work for him. But then, as she passed, he saw a glimpse of her mask-covered face: and her brilliant Vajrada Amethyst irises.
Shikanoin stopped dead in his tracks the second he’d seen those unmistakable eyes. He whirled around, and opened his mouth to say something, but what was he supposed to say? “Hey, I saw you when I was five”? Or maybe “yo, I know your eyes”? No matter what he thought, nothing that would’ve come out of his mouth made any sense. So as he watched her turn the corner with the two bumbling idiots, he mentally noted that she was real, and that he could see her again. That maybe he could find her.
The mysterious woman with lime hair and violet eyes consumed his every thought for many of the following months. No picture he could find did the woman’s eyes justice, and he couldn’t find very many, let alone without her face mask on. Despite all his detective skills, the woman seemed to be a very hard case to crack. Until, almost a whole half a year later, he saw her again, the one place he wouldn’t have expected.
Heizou was taking a stroll by the jailhouse when he heard the same scolding voice as all those months ago. So he peeked his head inside, trying to see if he was wrong, or if…
It was her. He couldn’t see her face from this angle, but it was the same spiky green hair, the same cropped top and shorts. It was the same little jacket, the same stance, and the same voice, this time yelling at Arataki Itto himself.
“You can’t just keep breaking the laws, landing yourself in here, and expecting the gang to know what to do without you! Even if you’re stupid, you’re their leader, and they worry about you everytime you get arrested! Hey! Are you even listening right now?!”
Heizou ended up talking before he could stop himself or think through the idea of interrupting this woman. “Probably not, you’re pretty scary right now.” She turned on her heel, looking ready to kill him, but he felt his heart stop when her eyes met his. Damnit. Have I spent so much time dreaming about those amazingly purple eyes of hers that I’ve fallen for them already? He glanced away briefly. It was comical, the thought, but that fact that he entertained it for the tiniest moment worried him ever so slightly. “Aha, you really are scary.” Although, the truth was that he just couldn’t bring himself to continue to look her in the eyes, not if they’d impede his thought process. He’d already dug himself a grave, he could feel it, he didn’t need to bury himself in it too.
“And who are you to be butting into my business, huh?” There was a sharp tone to her voice, obviously still angry.
Heizou held up his Tenryou Commision ID, showing off his job as the best detective in the land. “Well, ma’am,” this time he looked her right in the eyes, as if to make a point, maybe to himself or maybe to this woman, “who are you to be butting into my jail, hmm?”
“Kuki Shinobu. I’m the deputy director of the Arataki Gang, so I hope you don’t mind me telling my boss to stop breaking the laws. Plus, anyone can be in here, so I don't see your point, mister-” she squinted at his card and he stiffened awkwardly, not thinking he would be inspected. She already had him backed into a corner. “ Detective Shikanoin.” The venom in her voice was almost enough to kill his bravado.
So instead of trying to retort, he just laughed. “Where in the world did you learn to talk like that, Miss Kuki?” He giggled through the words.
Shinobu raised both her eyebrows, expressing judgement on how this detective seemed so relaxed. “Law school… in Liyue.”
Heizou stood up straight. “Ah! That’s such a good school!” His nervous laughter turned suddenly to seriousness, impressed at this young woman’s huge accomplishment.
“Yes it is, and thank you, but this idiot here landed himself in a cell so many times, the gang forced me to come back before I could finish my degree.” She gestured towards Itto, and Heizou walked up to his cell.
He was genuinely annoyed with the man. To take anyone from their career because you can’t keep your life together is bad enough, but to take someone from Liyue’s law school ? Unforgivable . “Well, what do you have to say about that, Sir? Your stupid rivalry with my boss made the people you claim to be respoible for need another boss to take care of things while you flirt with Miss Kujou through your cell bars. Doesn’t sound like good leadership to me~”
Arataki Itto made a face. Whether it was annoyed or embarrassed was unclear. “We don’t flirt ! She just yells at me, like Shinobu is right now! And I always tell my gang not to worry, so it’s not my fault they called her back anyways!”
Shinobu fumed. “What do you mean, not your fault ?! You’re always getting into jail, how can the gang not be worried! Plus, they needed someone to keep them out of trouble! It’s not that they are worried about you, it’s that they were worried for themselves in your absence! Get your head out of your ass, stop flirting with Kujou Sara, and think about the kids you promised you’d take care of! How are you going to keep that promise from the inside of a jail cell, you bonehead!” Shinobu groaned, and stormed away, as if to try and cool off.
Heizou glanced at Shinobu, finally noticing the electro vision that was set in her shoulder brace. For a brief moment, he felt his own vision hanging off his hip, humming lightly with power. He watched the ground, wistful. He couldn’t imagine not being able to pursue your passions due to an internal issue across the sea. His vision gave him freedom, but perhaps her’s was not so fortuitous, at least not this time. “Say, Shinobu.”
“Kuki to you, Detective.” The words were curt.
“Sure. Say, Kuki. I’ll get you on the next boat back to Liyue if you want.” He watched her, almost nervous for a reaction.
“ Huh ?” She turned around, confused and annoyed, but with a tiny shine of hope and excitement over those violet eyes of hers, just as he expected.
“Look. I’m a man of the law, too, Kuki. While you finish your degree, I’ll keep an eye on this flirtatious idiot. I’m sure Sara would appreciate not having to arrest as many people anyways. It would work out in both of our favors.”
“No, it wouldn’t. I get to finish my degree an ocean away, and you get stuck making sure this guy doesn’t eat any beans accidently. I don’t think…” she paused, contemplating, knowing she was basically throwing away her chance at her desired life. “I don’t think that’s a fair trade.”
“Perhaps not to you, but believe it or not, I respect the Arataki Gang a lot for their ideals.” Heizou smiled softly. “How long would it take you to finish your law degree?”
Shinobu sighed. “A whole ‘nother year or so. But even if you were serious, that’s much too long for me to trust in a stranger's kindness, no offense.”
“None taken, I understand. But this is a serious offer. You’re getting on the next boat out of here, and at the very least, you’re- what? A few days closer to your goal? What's the worst that can happen in a year that hasn’t already happened in the time you’ve been away for your studies until now?”
Shinobu raised an eyebrow at him, and a silent knowing look passed between them. A look that told them both just how much really could go wrong. “Knowing this gang, a lot. But… I suppose you have a point.”
Itto dramatically fell forward onto the bars. “See, Shinobu, this guy’s gonna help us out with the cops! And I promise, I can be on my best behavior for a year if it means you get to finish school!”
Shinobu nearly growled at him. “ Yeah , right . Knowing you, you’ll find yourself at the Tengu’s feet in a week.”
“ Wha- ! Shinobu , you wound me! I would never go to jail on purpose, it’s awful in here! They try to give me beans all the time!” He pouted and went back to somehow being quiet.
Heizou raised his eyebrows in question at Shinobu. “What do you say, Miss pre-law?”
“I say… the boat two weeks from now. I’ve got to break this news to the gang and give them a protocol to follow in my absence. Due to someone’s bad habits,” Shinobu glared pointedly in Itto’s direction. “The Arataki Gang is suffering a lot of instability right now. As much as I’d like to go back to Liyue, it’s my duty as Deputy Director not to up and leave them. I’m sure you understand?”
Heizou smiled and held out his hand. “Deal, then?”
“ Deal .” Her hand was warm when they shook, and Heizou wouldn’t forget its feel anytime soon. It was the kind of warmth he hadn’t felt in a long time. Something genuine and grateful, with respect for one another glazed on top. He smiled again, this time for real, and nodded as if to seal the deal with his own promise and approval.
So two weeks later, he waved Shinobu off at the docks and yelled his promise out to her again. “I’ll keep your idiots in line, Shinobu, don’t you worry!”
“It’s Kuki, Detective, Ku-ki !”
“Sure, sure, Kuki!”
They’d talked back and forth through letters for a while, him receiving her correspondence first. She was asking after the Gang and Itto’s jail life. He wrote back, promising that he was only feeding Itto beans when he didn’t behave. She wrote back, telling him “not to feed Itto any beans at all, please”, to which he would laugh and send a return message. It went on like this for a year, and as she turned into a name on a paper, he almost forgot that she was the one those violet eyes belonged to.
When she returned, he was first to greet her, the Arataki Gang in tow, Itto having dragged himself out of a cell just in time to see her arrive, now a fully fledged graduate of Liyue’s law school.
Heizou had gotten into the habit of watching out for Itto and the others in jail, though, and he continued to do so, fostering a sort of business partnership with Shinobu in the process. And he was happy to help her and the Arataki Gang. It gave him an excuse to make fun of the idiots, to get intel from them, and to see Shinobu more often. He loved those stupidly pretty eyes of hers, and everytime he saw them, his worries seemed melt away. That was, until Shinobu would open her mouth and stressful words would seep out of her.
It went on like that for a few good weeks: the banter amidst the professionalism. And then the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree began, and he was suddenly plunged into miles of work, just to find out who the Vision holders were. He was completely overworked, and Itto fought Kujou Sara so many times just so he wouldn’t have to give up his Vision that not even she could help him. Even when he was in a jail cell, he managed to evade the Vision being taken from him. Heizou was in there one time, supposed to be overseeing the idiot, but actually trying not to fall asleep as Sara and Itto fought like old lovers.
And then there was a tap on his shoulder, and he sat up immediately. Heizou looked up to see Shinobu, who gestured for him to follow her outside, a strange smile on her face he hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Hey, what’s up, Kuki? Is everything alright?”
“They're working you overtime again, aren’t they? You look exhausted, Detective.”
How does she know I’m usually overworked like this? Surely I can’t look this bad all the time? “I wouldn’t say I’m the most awake. What’s this about, Kuki?” He changed his tone from sarcasm to genuine confusion, even a little concern. Shinobu didn’t usually act like this, she felt far away.
“I’m sorry Itto’s being such a bother. To him, his Vision is what allows him to keep his promise to the kids we save from the streets. It’s what lets him keep everyone safe, and in these times of uncertainty, the Gang needs that help more than ever. He isn’t trying to be difficult with the law, he just doesn’t agree with it, like always. So on behalf of the Arataki Gang, I’m doing this .” She lifted his hand from his side and placed something inside it. Something heavy, something electric. “Please respect it, and when this is all over… please give it back to me in person .” Her voice got quiet for the last bit.
Her hands fell from his, and she bowed respectfully, distantly. He closed his hand around the object, as if to hide it from view as she walked away solemnly. She hadn’t met his eyes even once.
And when she was out of sight, he walked behind a wall and opened his hand to look at the contents of it. A sparkling jewel, as bright as her eyes itself, flickered and dimmed slightly.
Her Vision.
He’d always respected Shinobu, but this … he closed his eyes, and for the first time since he’d visited the shrine on New Years three years ago, whispered a prayer. A prayer to anyone that he would be able to return this to her. Then he called Sara and told her that he would like to keep this particular Vision close by, so that he may respect Shinobu’s wishes, as thanks for her giving it over so peacefully. Sara didn’t like it, but after some convincing, he was allowed to keep it.
And when the Vision Hunt and Sakoku Decrees had evened, he had found Shinobu at his office, asking just as peacefully for it back as she had given it to him. He had gratefully returned it to her in pristine condition, just glad that everything had worked out. She had nodded at him in thanks, placing her Vision back on her arm piece, her face looked as professional as it could without her outright saying she hoped nothing like this would ever happen again.
“ Thank you , Shikanoin.”
“Of course, Kuki.”
That’s why he felt so awkward, watching her like this. It had only been a month or so since the decrees had been lifted, and she’d gone to Liyue to actually pick up her diploma. Something had felt awful when he saw her at the dock as she left, not because she’d waved to him and thanked him for the opportunity to actually get her law degree. Not because she’d boarded the boat then, but because when she set sail, he’d felt an overwhelming wave of anxiety, like something terribly bad was going to happen. And ever since she’d come back, both her and Itto had been strangely quiet about the trip. Everything else had been fairly normal, but Shinobu specifically had been acting differently. She felt a little more on edge than normal, so Heizou had resorted to this: spying on her.
He so far hadn’t seen anything out of the ordinary, she was being as diplomatic as always, giving the same lessons and hearing the same bullshit excuses. But as the day went on, something that he found her doing often was fiddling with her naku weed whip and praying at shrines. It was as if she were trying to get some sort of evil off her back. And that evening, he watched her duck into an alleyway and heard her start crying. Sure, it hadn’t been the best day, but …
Heizou ran to her. He didn’t know why, but he ran to her. His feet moved without permission, channeling anemo energy into his legs, throwing himself into the alley without thinking. She flinched, trying to swallow her tears when she heard his footsteps, not knowing who it was or why they were there. “H-hello? Did you need something?” She asked nervously as she turned around, trying to regain her composure.
“Kuki… What’s wrong?”
“D- Detective, it’s you.” She wouldn’t meet his eyes.
“Kuki. What’s wrong ?” He only repeated his words, his face undoubtedly showing the jumbled concern he’d been feeling for the past several days over her.
“It’s nothing, Shikanoin. Go ahead and solve whatever mystery has your attention. I’m fine.”
Heizou wanted to help her so badly. He couldn’t stand the thought that tears would crowd those beautiful eyes. He wanted to tell her it would be okay, but what would be okay? He couldn’t help her if she didn’t want help. So he took a deep breath and walked up to her. She looked around, not meeting his eyes, but he just smiled and whispered out a laugh. “Ah, Kuki, it’s okay. I’ll solve your mystery one day.”
“Huh?” She looked at him, confused. Archons, he wished he knew what her face looked like. He would bet a lot of money that if it portrayed any of the same genuine spark he saw in her eyes and heard in her voice, she’d be absolutely beautiful.
His face morphed into some sort of wistful affection, almost like he had a regret or two. “Go home, Shinobu, it’s late.” His hand dropped from her shoulder and he walked soundlessly from the alley like a ghost.
Kuki Shinobu didn’t correct the way he said her name .