Chapter Text
“In the name of the Almighty Shogun, Itto of the Arataki Clan- your Vision will be confiscated by the will of the Vision Hunt Decree.”
“Like hell!”
Kujou Sara bit back the annoyed sigh that threatened to escape her lips. She had sent men already to confiscate his Vision- and each one returned empty handed. She decided after the fourth group that failed to gather it from one man she would go to confiscate it herself. That was how she found herself staring down the descendent of Oni with a heavy grip on his Vision.
“I will not repeat myself again. You may hand it over peacefully, or I may pry it from your hands myself.”
That was the wrong thing to say. If anything, it simply made his will stronger. She did not wish for this to end in confrontation, however, if he continued to be this difficult-
“Alright. If you can beat me, I’ll hand it over.”
“...Excuse me?”
She didn’t like how happy he looked as he explained his plan. A one-on-one fight, not to the death but for their Visions. If she caught his Vision before he could get hers, he would give it up. If he caught hers, she had to leave him alone.
She openly scowled at that. Though she held back any scathing comments. If it was a sparring match that was required to take his Vision peacefully, then she would be the one to take up the duty. Sooner or later, his will would weaken and the Vision would be confiscated all the same.
Sara drew her bow and nocked an arrow, “Then prepare for your Vision to join the others amongst the statue.”
The flurry of arrows exchanged was enough to kill a lesser man, but for those of Oni blood against a Tengu, it was hardly a matter worth counting. He would shoot back with just as much ferocity as she pulled back with a stoic gaze upon his path.
She tore away the sleeve that was caught by an arrow- not a moment too soon as he rushed towards her to grab the vision that hung from her belt. Stepping away quickly and sending another arrow towards him (taking a chunk from his sleeve and pinning it to the wall), she found her supply exhausted.
Yanking an arrow from the walls (the tip ever so roughly bent), she began to fire from what the walls and floors had been peppered in. He was hardly one to fumble with a bow, sending a response of arrows with each one she shot. It was like that until her arrow tore his vision away from his belt. Within the seconds she watched it tumble to the floor, she prepared herself to rush over to snatch it up before he grabbed it again.
Yet-
“Alright- I’m beaten.”
She blinked.
Sara wasn’t sure if she heard him correctly. It was still within his grasp, she would need at least a second to cross the room to collect it. Instead, when he picked it up, he brought it over to her.
She took it without a word, still willing her surprise to be kept hidden under her stoicism. It hardly stopped its glow, pulsing just as strongly as it did in his hold. When he offered out his hand, she could not keep her confusion hidden any longer.
“This means we’re rivals now, Kujou Tengu!”
“We are not rivals.”
“Eeh, of course we are!”
He patted her back with a surprising fondness, as if this was all good fun to him.
“The two of us are evenly matched, so that makes us rivals.”
“We are not.”
She would find that he hardly took her words on their “rivalry” to heart.
He showed up not a few days later at their training ground, demanding loudly as he marched up to her a rematch for his vision. She had hardly begun her usual rounds, the sun still rising above the peaks of the mountains in the distance, and the disruption of her routine nearly caused her to let her arrow lose at him.
At first, she ignored him. She continued on with her routine, each hour he only seemed to grow louder. Even when the other soldiers came to begin their own routines, he watched her pull back arrows as he continued on about their “rematch”. They were not rivals, no matter what he said.
It was when the sun had begun to go down and he had not lightened up on his desire for a rematch that she finally caved.
“Fine. We will have a rematch.”
Even though she bested him a second time, he had a large smile on his face and continued on and on about their “rivalry”. When she began to retire for the night, one of the servants asked her if her “rival” would be appearing more often. She returned curtly, “We are not rivals.”
“Oh-,” the servant handed her a small box, “Then I suppose this is from your ''admirer”?
Sara opened the box, finding it filled with sweets. And a note, boldly proclaiming he would be the winner of the next rematch.
She gave the sweets to the servant, and tore up the note silently.
They were not rivals.
The third time, she is eating her breakfast as she usually does. As she takes her fifth mouthful, she hears the noise of what sounds like the doors being pushed open so forcibly they land on the floor. When she goes to investigate, who else stood there but the self proclaimed rival of hers.
“Mornin’ Tengu of Kujou! Are you ready for our next rematch!?”
“...You broke down the Kujou estate’s doors.”
“...Oh, sorry.”
He looked embarrassed, as if he hadn’t thought the whole plan through. Which Sara believed was true. She doubted he thought anything through with much more thought than a bull.
“I’ll fix it, consider it your win then.”
Sara didn’t say anything as the oni then began to reattach and fix what he broke. She went along with her routine, and by the time she returned at midday, the door was fixed. A servant gave her another note, yet again from Itto. Yet again speaking of their next “rematch”.
She breathed out a heavy sigh. They were not rivals.
But at least he fixed the door.
“Crowfeather Tengu of the Kujou! Once again we meet as rivals!”
“Please stop making such a commotion, I am here to pick up the current shipment of rations.”
He did not stop making a commotion. In fact, he instead followed her and carried a number of the ration crates back to the storage area with her. In the end, she did not talk. He however, had limitless oxygen to spare.
“Ah, damn, you won again didn’t you.”
“What.”
“You carried back more crates.” He said this as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“Of course I did, it is only natural that I would bring back the rations that are needed by my subordinates.”
Itto laughed (loudly, like everything he did). She did not understand what was so funny about her statement. Though for his effort for a “rematch”, it did get the rations all here earlier than expected.
“Well. I’ll thank you for the help.”
“...What help? This was a battle you know.”
Sara said nothing to that. She just walked away back into the training area. She had no idea how to deal with the oni who kept claiming that they were rivals.
05:00 AM
“Oh, general, your rival is looking for you.”
A newbie, no doubt. That was the only reason Sara could fathom one of her subordinates would think something so outlandish. She did not have a rival. What she had was an annoyance.
“What does that oni want this time?”
“Uh...something about...an eating contest, I think, Ma’am.”
“Just ignore him.”
10:00 AM
“General, you have a letter.”
“From who?”
“Your rival-”
She tore it up without looking at it. She already knew it was another “challenge”. And as she kept saying, they were not rivals.
15:00 PM
“General-”
“Ignore him.”
20:00 PM
“General Tengu of the Kujou!!”
Sara was sure she would break the brush in her hand as she finished the letter she had started.
“Get out of my house.”
“You’re still awake! Let’s have a fight!”
“You’re making too much noise, children should be sleeping at this hour.”
She meant it as a jab, something as childish as a rival only befitted a child-
“Oh, it is getting late. Hadn’t considered that...well, you can win this one on that account then. I’ll get you next time.”
Sara only scowled as he climbed down the tree that her window looked out on. She finished her letter and prepared it to dry to be sent in the morning. She closed up her windows and continued on with her nightly routine.
When she began her morning routine the next day, she saw the rematch demand on the bulletin boards around Inazuma City. She mentally prepared herself for what he would consider a “battle” next. They were not rivals, he was simply an annoyance.
“Kujou Tengu of Thunder!”
“What is it?”
He tossed up a colorful ball, gesturing for her to come over. The group of children that surrounded him looked at her just as exceptatedly. She stayed perfectly still.
“Come! This will be our greatest battle yet! A battle of speed and wits!”
“...Just because I am on my break-”
“Please Miss! Itto’s been telling us about how fast you are, and that’s perfect for our games!”
Sara considered the large eyes that looked up at her, urging her to use her break for a moment of play. She thought about it as she looked away. When she was young, when the generals would play games with her, she was reprimanded for wasting time.
But she also remembered how warm the people had been to her. How they had taken their time to play with her when she was so overwhelmed by the city and the humans who lived in it. Though it was something that was discouraged- she could not help but think back with some fondness.
When looked back at the children, she let out a sigh.
“Alright. I will allow five rounds. No more, no less.”