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Kujou Sara heard the quiet bustling of the marketplace at midday, the distant clanking sound of the blacksmith as he forged weapons out of freshly heated Inazuman steel, and sounds of sizzling, as well as the rich aromas of, the food at Shimura’s restaurant being cooked. The city was vivacious, yet peaceful. Maybe that was the reason that Her Excellency The Raiden Shogun (or as Sara knew her, Ei) made it a point to walk the city only during this time of day. At first, Sara was a bit annoyed that Ei had always requested Sara to be her guard during her walks. She would often think of all the pressing matters that required her immediate attention, but overtime Sara began to enjoy their walks together.
“So, General Kujou.” Sara heard Ei say as they walked the city. “I’ve heard there’s a new restaurant that opened last week. Have you had an opportunity to try it?”
“No, Your Excellency. Unfortunately, I have not.” replied Sara.
“In that case, would you-”
Ei was interrupted by a sudden crashing sound coming from further in the city. Sara and Ei began to hear bickering from around where the crash had come from.
“Hey, watch it!” Sara heard an oddly familiar male voice say.
“You watch it!” Another oddly familiar male voice replied.
“Guys, stop fighting! We gotta get this stuff to the boss!” A third similarly familiar male voice shouted.
Sara ran over to the nearby railing to look toward the lower part of the city. “Of course it’s them.” Sara groaned out when she saw the familiar faces of Genta, Akira, and Mamoru, members of the infamous Arataki Gang, below her, hurriedly picking up small boxes off the ground.
“Is everything alright?” Ei said as she approached Sara, looking over the railing when she got there.
“Just a public disturbance from some frequent trouble makers.” Sara replied, shaking her head. “I’m sorry Your Excellency, may we venture to the lower part of the city so I may deal with them?”
“Of course. I was hoping to go down there today anyway.” Ei replied.
Sara and Ei made their way down the stairs, Sara waving off guards as they passed them. She wanted to make sure she had as much control of the situation as possible, and having a bunch of soldiers trying to help would end up hindering her. Sara and Ei arrived at Genta, Akira, and Mamoru still bickering as they were finishing picking up what appeared to be boxes of Genius Invocation TCG cards they had dropped.
Sara interrupted them with a loud throat clear. When they looked up and saw her standing above and glaring down at them, they turned as pale as sheets. When they noticed Ei standing next to Sara, they looked like they were about to soil themselves. Luckily, they didn’t.
Akira made a loud gulping sound. “We were just-”
Sara raised one of her hands in the air, cutting him off. “Where’s Shinobu?” Sara sternly asked.
“Sh-she’s just around the corner.” Genta shakily replied.
“Good. Finish picking all that up and take us to her.” Sara demanded, sending the gang members in front of her into a cleaning frenzy. They quickly finished picking up their things, and led Sara and Ei to Shinobu.
When Sara turned the corner, the first thing she saw was Shinobu stumble, bumping into someone carrying food, causing it to spill all over the ground. “I’m sorry, I’ll pay for that! I promise!” Shinobu said, running away to the side toward a sitting Arataki Itto.
“Boss, check this out! They’re releasing a-” Shinobu said to Itto, before being cut off by Sara clearing her throat. -Ahem-
Sara, arms crossed and tapping her foot, with Ei and the other members of the Arataki Gang next to her, saw Shinobu look up at her. She saw Shinobu’s violet eyes go wide at the sight of her and the Shogun. Sara gave her a look that she hoped said something along the lines of “You have explaining to do.”
Sara then glanced over at Itto, and felt her mood sink. He wasn’t just sitting down on a box on the ground, he was sulking. Properly sulking. Sara had never seen the typically animated Itto look so… defeated. She may not have enjoyed his company or liked him all that much, but she didn’t like seeing him so uncharacteristically downtrodden. She didn’t hate the guy after all.
She briefly made eye contact with Shinobu again before turning to look toward Ei. “Your Excellency, permission to-”
She stopped short when she noticed Ei was not next to her, only the members of the gang present. Sara looked around, finally finding that Ei had wandered off to the nearby Dango stand, and seemed to be ordering her typically ludicrous portion of sweets.
Sara prevented herself from letting out a huff before turning to the members of the gang. “You three, go sit next to Itto.” She turned to Shinobu. “Miss Kuki, may I have a word with you in private?” she calmly but sternly asked.
She saw Shinobu nod as Genta, Akira, and Mamoru set down their things next to Itto and joined him. She waved Shinobu over to follow her around a corner, but one where she could still get eyes on Ei if she needed to.
“Madame Kujou, I am very sorry for-” Shinobu pleaded before Sara raised her arms in front of her. “Cooks, relax. No one’s in trouble… at least not yet.” Sara softly said. “What’s up with Itto?”
Shinobu took a deep breath, and shook her head. “I dunno Sar-Sar. He woke up this morning just all down in the dumps. The boys and I have been trying to cheer him up, but we haven’t had much luck.”
“Is he sick or something?”
“Nah, we took him to get checked out and the doctor said there’s nothing medically wrong from what she could tell. He’s just sad.”
“Well the gang has TCG cards with them, hopefully that’ll help.”
Shinobu shook her head. “I doubt it. We tried that earlier today. He even pulled a really rare Almighty Shogun card this morning, and that didn’t cheer him up at all.”
Sara paused in thought for a moment. “What about that beetle fighting thing? Didn’t they release some new… game type or whatever recently?”
“That’s what I was about to tell him when you got here, but to be honest, I don’t know how much that would help either. We tried to get him to look for Onikabuto with us, and he just said he wasn’t in the mood.”
Sara brought her hand up to her chin, and puffed air through her nose. “Okay, I have an idea on how to get him back to normal.” Sara said, taking her katana off her waist. “Here, hold this.”
“Uhm, okay. Why?” Shinobu said, taking the sword from Sara.
Sara walked toward Itto, stretching as she did. “Because I’m giving Itto his stupid rematch.”
Sara waved off the other members of the Arataki gang, as well as the nearby guards who were looking on, as she approached Itto. She stopped when she was a foot in front of him.
“Alright Itto, get up.” She said.
Itto didn’t bother to look up at her. “I’m just sitting here. Leave me alone, Tengu. I’m not breaking any laws.”
“I’m not arresting you.” Sara answered. “I’m giving you your rematch. I’m ready. Let’s go.”
Itto sighed. “Go away, Tengu. I’m not in the mood.”
Sara, taken aback, squinted in confusion. “You… don’t want to fight me?”
“That’s what I’m saying. So get lost.” Itto grumbled out, getting frustrated.
“Itto, this is a one time offer. If we don’t-”
“I said I don’t want to fight, so beat it!” Itto interrupted, finally looking up at Sara. He slumped down again a moment later.
Sara turned around and looked at Shinobu for a moment, both finding worry in the other's eyes. Sara broke eye contact with Shinobu, looking over to the side. She tried to think of more ideas to get Itto out of whatever rut he was in, but if TCG, beetle fighting, and fighting her didn’t lift his spirits, what would?
Then Sara had her idea. It was extreme and she didn’t like it, but it was just crazy enough to work.
She waved over at a few nearby guards, and signed to them.
“Get ready to hold back Itto. Tell those three the same.” motioning to the members of the Arataki gang as she ended her signing. She took a deep breath, and kneeled down in front of Itto.
“Itto?” Sara said, mustering as much caring in her tone as she could.
“I thought I said I beat it.”
“Yes, you did. And I’ll leave you alone, but I want to say something first.”
“What? Gonna make fun of me? I get it, you hate me.”
Sara crouched down as she responded. “I don’t hate you, Itto. Sure, to say we don’t get along would be an understatement, but that doesn’t mean I hate you. I just… have something to tell you before I leave you be. So can you please just look at me for a moment?”
Itto let out a loud sigh as he looked up and met Sara’s eyes. “What?”
Sara took a deep breath and smiled. She thought to herself, “Okay. Here goes nothing.”
She grabbed his face and kissed him right on the mouth. Hard. She heard shocked gasps from all those around her.
She swiftly let go of his cheeks and pulled away after a few seconds, seeing Itto’s face becoming red and shock in Itto’s eyes. He was completely stunned.
She reached out and booped his nose, “Boop”, and stood up, looking down at Itto, still sitting on his box.
Itto looked up at her, and when his face reached the same shade of red as his horns, he shot up from the box. “WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU TENGU?! WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU-”
“Restrain him.” Sara said to the guard and the members of the Arataki gang, and watched as they held back Itto. “When he calms down, let him go. No charges. Same goes for the gang too.” She turned around, and walked toward Shonibu.
Shinobu dumbfoundedly stared at Sara when she joined her, which Sara noticed after a quick double take. “What?”.
“What was that?! You said you were going to get him back to normal?!” shouted Shinobu.
“I did.”
“Sar-Sar, he’s screaming, causing a scene, and trying to fight you.”
“Yes. Normal.”
Shinobu face-palmed. “You know, and I can’t believe I’m gonna to say this, sometimes you’re just as bad as him.”
Ei, five sticks of Tri-Color Dango in her hands, joined them. “Gene-” She paused when she noticed Shinobu, and smiled at her with a slight bow. “Miss Kuki.”
She turned to Sara again. “Is everything under control, General?”
“Yes Your Excellency, everything is under control.” Sara replied as she watched Itto throw his tantrum.
“Why is that Oni yelling at us?” Ei asked.
“Itto’s mad at me. It’s nothing worth concerning yourself with.”
“Oh, so that’s Itto!” Ei said with a smile. “He seems angrier than he’s been described to me. What happened?”
“Sara kissed him.” Shinobu answered.
Ei sighed. “Well, that’s another bet lost with Miko.”
Sara sharply turned her head to Ei. “Your Excellency?”
“Miko said you two were involved. I thought she was crazy, but I guess she was right. I suppose that’s what I get for being a shut in.”
Sara stared deadpan at Ei. “Itto and I are not romantically involved.”
“Then why did you kiss him?”
“Well because he was sad.” Sara noticed how ridiculous that sounded as the words left her lips.
There was a moment of silence between the three. Sara stared at Ei. Ei stared at Sara. Shinobu looked between the two. Itto yelled from the distance.
“You’re not helping your argument,” said Ei.
“Regardless, Itto and I are not involved.” Sara said. “And don’t tell Miko I just did that.” she added after a brief pause.
“Fine, but she’s going to hear of it sooner or later.” Ei responded.
“Yeah, I think the publishing house employees saw that.” Shinobu added on as she turned toward Itto. “Uh, Sara?”
“Yes?” Sara responded, turning toward Shinobu, seeing her pointing toward Itto. Sara followed Shinobu’s finger to see Itto’s face even redder as the guards and the gang barely were able to hold onto him.
“He’s getting madder,” said Shinobu. “You may have to fight him now. I’m not sure anything else would calm him down.”
Sara let out a heavy sigh. She looked toward Ei. “Excuse me Your Excellency, this will only take a moment.” she said before walking toward Itto. “Let Itto go.” She instructed the guards and the gang.
Itto immediately rushed and lunged at her as soon as he was free. Sara swiftly ducked under his arm and turned when Itto got past her, wrapped her arms around his waist, and threw him into a nearby bush with a suplex.
Itto popped back up in an instant. “Lucky throw!” Itto yelled as he ran toward Sara again. “But that’s not gonna- WOAH!” he screamed as he flew through the air and landed into the same bush. “Ow…”
“I disagree that luck is a factor.” mocked Sara as Itto was stirring. “On the off chance you want to keep getting thrown around, it’s going to have to happen outside the city.”
“FINE!” Itto yelled.
The two, accompanied by the other members of the Aratakki Gang and Ei, went to the outskirts of the city. They fought for a half an hour, Sara mostly just trying to tire Itto out, until Itto finally collapsed onto the ground defeated, huffing from exhaustion. Sara, similarly exhausted, breathed heavily as she hunched over, resting her hands on her knees.
Sara looked over to Itto just as he looked over to her, seeing a smile spread across his face. “Good… Fight…” Itto said. Sara just nodded as she watched Itto turn to look toward the sky. “Hey… Tengu…”
“Yes Itto…” Sara said as she caught her breath.
“Can I… ask you something?”
“What… Itto…” Sara asked, shaking her head.
Itto took a few more breaths before answering. “What was… I so mad about?”
Sara sharply turned her head toward Itto as she panted, still seeing a big smile on his face. She couldn’t believe it, and she couldn’t tell if it was better that he didn't remember rather than he did. She certainly wished she could forget.
She just shook her head. “You know… how I said… I don’t hate you?”
“Yeah?”
“I take it back… I hate you, Itto.”
Itto laughed. “No you don’t… If you did… you wouldn’t… have fought me for so long.”
Sara groaned and rolled her eyes as she stood back up. Itto was right. He got her there. She started her walk back to Ei and Shinobu, ignoring the other members of the gang, still panting from her fight with Itto.
She took a deep breath a moment after she got there, and looked up at them. Ei chimed in when Sara stood upright. "So, I heard that new restaurant is great. Who's hungry?"