After their encounter, there wasn't a second in her day where he didn't find her. Pestering her to the brink of snapping her patience, demanding a rematch left and right.
Sara's fingers twitched, willing herself to resist the urge of rolling her eyes at the Oni trailing after her as she made her rounds in the city.
"Kujou Tengu! Are you scared to lose? You winning was a sheer of dumb luck after all!" He cackled out loud.
Sara was secretly glad that his vision being seized doesn't seemed to affect him in some kind of way unlike the others. Arataki Itto was still loud and obnoxious as ever. Getting under people's skin like a passive talent.
"I do not see any merits in accepting your request." Sara eventually responded, rounding on the corner streets of Inazuma.
Itto scoffed, "Who cares?! I want a rematch asap! Pronto!"
"If you want to get your behind manhandled so desperately then I would have no trouble of giving it to you. But as you are now, it wouldn't be a fair fight."
Incredulous eyes shot towards her, "Hey! Don't you dare underestimate me!" He bellowed out loud.
Curious eyes of Inazuma citizen followed after the two, wondering why the Tengu Warrior and Crimson Oni strolling together on the streets of Inazuma. News of Itto's vision being seized by the Tengu General was a hot topic to the city. Despite that, there was no obvious animosity between the two. Itto had been disregarding his usual routine of playing with the children of Inazuma to follow the General around twenty four seven.
"I should arrest you under public disturbance noise, idiotic oni."
"I don't see you as someone to abuse your power, Kujou Tengu!"
"I'm not." She replied without pausing, "You are being extremely loud to the point of disturbance, not only that you've been bothering me all day."
"Aha!" A mischievous grin settled on his face, "So, I do bother you! What do ya say? Wanna rematch?"
Sara paused on her tracks, opening her mouth to finally give him a piece of her mind. He had asked that question for exactly one hundred and four times, which irked her. Couldn't he add one more to make it exactly one hundred and five on the dot? Before she could say anything, a voice from behind her had abruptly interrupted her.
"Boss! There you are!"
They both turned towards the direction of the voice, three people were approaching them. From the way they addressed the Oni behind her, they must be members of his notorious gang.
"Wassup?" He greeted.
"Boss! Where have you been? We've got a fight today, remember?"
"Oh, shit!" He exclaimed, quickly moving pass her. "See ya later, Kujou Tengu! Gotta go!"
Her hand snapped towards him before he could go, snatching his arm in an iron grip that made him wince. "Hold it."
"What?" He questioned impatiently.
Golden eyes narrowed on them, "What did I just hear about this fighting?"
One of his gang members must've realized that they shouldn't have spoken so obviously about any fights, especially in the presence of a General of the Tenryou Commission.
The man bowed his head apologetically, "We don't mean that kind of fight, General! We meant onikabuto fights!"
Realization dawned upon her, remembering that Itto was roaming in the mountains once, trying to catch onikabutos. Sara let go of the oni, "I see. You may go."
She dismissed them, not bothering to stop their plans. As long as it didn't get in the way of the Shogun's plans, she didn't mind them playing their silly games.
Itto scowled at her, "We're not the type to hurt innocent people, ya know!"
Sara didn't bother responding. Turning her back on them as she made her way around the city once again. She knew, of course, that it wasn't in their nature to harm others, despite their constant pranks, the Arataki Gang didn't have it in them to harbor any malicious thoughts.
They were simply too kind.
Their gang leader, especially.
~~~
The rebellion has only gotten worse. They were at Civil War now, the status in Inazuma had drastically turn for the worse. What was happening now was exactly the reason why the Vision Hunt Decree was formed in the first place—fear that the citizen would use their visions against them.
It was exactly as what Kamisato Ayato had warned them those months ago. Vision wielders wouldn't sit by idly as they let the Shogunate take their visions away from them, all the more, it had made them stronger at resisting the Decree.
Sara stared at the counterfeit visions in her hands, it had started circulating around Inazuma, worn by those who had visions, fooling the Shogunate by handing out the counterfeit instead of the true visions.
The Shogun had merely glanced at the counterfeit, scoffing at their impudence.
Sara clenched her fists, Her Excellency expected better from her, and she had let her down.
She barked out new orders, "Make sure to be thorough! Examine the visions wisely!"
~~~
Her first battle was at Nazuchi Beach. The troops she led were ambushed by the Resistance under the command of General Gorou. There had been news report of the shady meetings by the resistance at Nazuchi Beach. Her Father, the Clan Head, had immediately ordered her to set out and arrest the rebels. The Tenryou Commission was blinded by the obvious foil set by the Priestess of Watatsumi Island.
And only then, did she fully realize that her nation was at war against each other.
The battle had lasted for hours, both sides handling various casualties. With one glance at the state of her soldiers, Sara had commanded a retreat without hesitating.
At the Kujou Encampment, Sara personally tended to the wounded, ignoring her own state of exhaustion and minor injuries. Making sure that the soldiers under her were taken care of as much as she could. She refused any help from her servants, preferring to do everything by herself.
Because of this, many soldiers regarded her highly. They were proud to say that Kujou Sara is the pride of the Shogun's Army.
~~~
The next time they crossed paths, it was at the shore of Chinju Forest. Sara had intended to stroll on the mountains after securing herself a much needed free time with all the planning and preparations she had to handle, with the resistance growing stronger day by day, they couldn't afford to wait around. Especially if those who are with the resistance were vision holders.
Sara was having a severe migraine. Taking the time off for herself, she needed a breather. The Shogun's will and the people's obvious protest had been torturing her mind. She felt suffocated—although it was words that she'll never admit out loud. It was too outrageous.
It was the Oni who saw her first.
"Well, if it isn't our favourite General, Kujou Tengu!" He called out, grinning mischievously while leaning on his claymore.
Golden eyes widened at the sight of him, or more specifically, the sight around him. Forgetting her migraine, Sara stormed her way towards them. "What are you doing?!" She all out hissed.
Itto quickly backed away from the furious Tengu, raising his hands in obvious surrender. "Woah! Chill out! Look closely, Kujou Tengu! These are nobushis!"
Sara faltered in her steps, eyes surveying the area once again. True to the Oni's words, the enemies that laid on the ground were indeed nobushis.
"They've been roaming around the area a lot, General. One of the villagers asked us to take care of 'em." A member of the Oni's gang provided for her, proudly proclaiming their good deed.
"I...I apologize. I was too harsh. I will make sure to notify the Tenryou Commission and send out more guards to patrol the areas."
"Well, with the war in full swing I bet you have the time to take care of small matters like this." Itto shrugged, swinging his claymore out of the sand. "Don't ya worry about the small stuff, Kujou Tengu! The one and only Arataki Gang will take care of this!"
"Ya bet we are!"
"That's right, Boss!"
His gang quickly approved, supporting their leader. Sara let a small smile grace her features. Despite the war, she couldn't help but feel like she was being envolped in warmth. It was the effect Arataki Itto had on people, as well as the positive vibe of his gang. She was glad to see that the war has not affected them as much like how the other's were, maybe it was because she was always on the front lines that she could point out small changes, but she was pleased that some things had never changed.
She turned her back on them, saying her farewell over her shoulder. "I'll leave you to it then, I'll make sure the Tenryou Commission awards you generously thanks to your good deeds."
~~~
Master Masakatsu is a craftsman of unparalleled skill known for his delicate crafts. Sara had respected him dearly, so it was to her great disappointment to find out that he had been assisting the resistance by crafting the counterfeit visions. The Tenryou Commission had arrested Masakatsu, he was currently being detained in the city's police station.
Sara wanted to know Masakatsu's reason for betraying the Raiden Shogun, what could the resistance offer that was worthy of turning his back on Her Excellency? With these questions in mind, she had promptly made her way to the police station.
She briskly moved around the familiar place, her keen ears overhearing the soldiers taunting words. "...Did you really think that little trick of yours could fool us?"
"Hehe... locking you up was just the beginning."
"...Argh!...No!" Masakatsu's pained grunt had Sara moving quickly. Her eyes settled upon her two soldiers hovering above the obviously tortured Master Craftsman.
"Hey, you there! What are you doing!?" She snapped, causing the soldiers to whirl on her direction.
"Ah! M–Ma'am!" Kinoshita spoke with panic on his voice.
"W—We were just teaching him a little lesson... That's all." Maeda tried to excuse his actions.
"Make way, let me have a look at him." Sara went past them, crouching down beside Masakatsu, checking on his condition. He was tortured badly, various injuries casted upon his body. She let a low growl escape her lips. "I'm sure you're well aware that torture is strictly against military regulations."
"Y–Yes, ma'am." Kinoshita all but squeaked out.
Sara moved to stand, glaring at the two soldiers who sunk their heads low with guilt. Crossing her arms across her chest she glared at them, "If you are unashamed of such disgraceful action, then you are also unworthy of the Tenryou Commission itself! Do I make myself clear!?"
"Y—Yes, ma'am. I—It won't happen again!" Maeda stuttered out."
Sara's head jerked to the side, her sharp hearing caught wind of the creaking sound of an old wood plank. Someone else was here.
"Who is that..." She murmured, eyes narrowing on the place where the sound came from. "Quick, go and investigate."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Before they could move, a resounding sound of an explosion echoed around the police station.
"Huh? Was that an explosion?!"
"I–It sounded like...fireworks?"
"Quick! Lets hurry!" Kinoshita motioned for his fellow guard, the two scurried off to investigate the source.
More sounds of explosion erupted, Sara had a suspicion of who could cause such uproar. Using the moment of distraction, she swiftly moved away from the scenes, hiding in the shadows.
Her golden eyes took in the sight of Naganohara Ryuunosoke's child, Yoimiya, rush in on the scene along with a male traveler with exotic clothes along with a floating small child.
Masakatsu weakly pushed himself up, eyes widening, as if he couldn't believe his eyes. "Y—Yoimiya? Is that you?"
Yoimiya crouched down beside him, a worried frown on her face. "Master Masakatsu! Sorry we took so long... Ugh... those awful guards!"
"C'mon, we've got no time to lose! They could be back any minute..." The small child reminded them, the group quickly stood up intending to leave.
Sara took this chance to move out of the shadows, standing before them, taking in their surprised faces.
"You were over there watching us this whole time, weren't you?" The traveler spoke, confidence on his voice.
She crossed her arms, "Yes. Leave, before I let my judgment get the better of me." Sara closed her eyes, gritting her teeth. "He's in serious condition, be sure he gets immediate medical attention."
Sara let them pass her, glancing over her shoulder before they could leave, she spoke once again. "But remember..." She warned, "Once he's recovered, it won't be long until I bring him right back."
"Uh, well... Ahem, you can bet we'll do all we can to keep that from happening."
"Thank you..." The traveler said, throwing her a grateful smile.
"Hn...Leave this place."
~~~
(A/N: Wouldn't ya look at that I totally jinxed myself from the previous chapter. I ended up not posting yesterday simply because I got too lazy. So? What do you think? I've done my archon quest AGES ago I could barely remember any details that I have to search the scenes up. Traveler finally made his appearance, it won't be long till the Vision Hunt Decree is over. But of course, we wouldn't end the VSD arc without some IttoxSara scenes here and there right? Especially in the middle of war there's a loooot of opportunities. Then again, they could move more freely if the VSD is over, because Sara wouldn't be too caught up in war preparations. Just so you know, I have Aether as my Traveler that's why I'm using him AND I still haven't done my Itto quest yet, I wonder if I'm missing some valuable IttoxSara content on his story quest.)