SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 66 out, this is Chapter 67 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Pairings: Albedo/Sucrose, Zhongli/Mitsuko/Kazuha, One-sided Diluc/Mitsuko, One-sided Diluc/Jean

Disclaimers: Genshin Impact and Sailor Moon belong to miHoYo and Takeuchi Naoko-sensei respectively. Me, on the other hand, own absolutely nothing, except the plot, I hope.

Chapter 67: Teyvat Arc: Omnipresence Over Mortals, Part Six

Back at the Grand Narukami Shrine...

"Lady Guuji." Sara approached Yae. "Here I am, as promised. Rest assured I came here alone and told no one about this trip."

"I knew you would keep your promise, after all." Yae noted. "I'm sure you've barely been able to take your mind off it these past few days — have you managed to get any sleep at all?"

"You're quite mistaken." Sara insisted. "I would never doubt the leaders of my clan. So, where is your proof?"

"Here." the Traveler entered the conversation.

"How wonderful." Yae praised. "Everyone's keeping their promises today. Hand them to Sara. She can examine them for herself."

"What is this?" Sara took a look at the presented official Tenryou Commission document. "I see this document bears the official seal of the head of the Kujou Clan. And it doesn't look like a forgery. I don't understand. Not a single word about the resistance, Sangonomiya, or the situation on the front line. What about the soldiers who gave their lives on the front line, or the hardship endured by the people? Do they deserve no mention!? Utter disregard for human life. Why would they want to hide it?"

"For the sake of the Vision Hunt Decree, of course." Yae replied. "Don't you think the Shogun might reconsider her policy if all of the things you just mentioned appeared in this report?"

"So, the Tenryou Commission..." Sara was stunned. "They are deliberately deceiving the Shogun?"

"Now, who else do you think might be benefiting from the Vision Hunt Decree?" Yae continued her questioning.

"I also have a confidential letter here." the Traveler handed over the Fatui correspondence letter.

"This is a letter from the Tenryou Commission to the Fatui." Paimon supplied. "The head of the Kujou Clan kept this a secret from the Shogun, too."

"The things you wanted to see, but also wished not to see, are here before you." Yae prompted. "Surely, you aren't planning to turn a blind eye to them?"'

"So, everything I've ever held on to..." Sara muttered in disbelief. "It's all... how could they... this betrayal is unforgivable... Takayuki, you've got some explaining to do!"

"Kujou Sara seems pretty angry." Paimon mused after Sara stormed off. "Looks like our Tenryou rebellion is successfully underway."

"If we follow her, we might meet the Raiden Shogun." the Traveler pointed out.

"Let's catch up with her." Paimon nodded.

"Hold on, Traveler." Yae voiced. "There's something else we need to discuss. Last time you entered the Plane of Euthymia, it was in front of the Statue of the Omnipresent God, correct?"

"Correct." the Traveler nodded.

"You must find a way to recreate the circumstances of that day." Yae advised. "If you can get the Raiden Shogun to 'open her heart' to you once more before the Statue of the Omnipresent God, you will have the opportunity you need."

"I will do my best." the Traveler promised.

"Take this with you as a farewell gift." Yae handed over a omamori pouch. "The omamori from the Grand Narukami Shrine are very potent indeed. I thought I'd put one aside for you."

"I will treasure it." the Traveler accepted the pouch.

"If you find yourself at your wits' end, take it out and see what happens." Yae added. "Maybe your prayers will be answered, and all your problems will disappear in the blink of an eye. Or, if you ever think about me during your journey, take it out, won't you? Who knows, maybe I'll just end up appearing right in front of you. Time for you to face my hopeless fool of a friend. I'm counting on you."

At the entrance of the Tenryou Commission headquarters...

"You followed me here?" Sara noticed the Traveler behind her. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. Since you are witnesses, I suppose I can shield you from arrest — at least until I have received an explanation from Takayuki. But, if it turns out that you have been deceptive in this matter, then not only will you be arrested immediately, but you'll also be charged with one more crime. Do I make myself clear?"

"Lead the way." the Traveler responded.

Inside the Tenryou Commission headquarters...

"Apologies, Ma'am, orders from the top." one of the Tenryou guards stood in their way. "No one is allowed to enter!"

"Out of my way!" Sara snapped. "I need to speak to him. I won't tell you twice!"

"Stop!" Kujou Takayuki stepped into the hall after the fight. "Sara, have you gone insane!? How dare you disregard my orders!"

"M—Master, I..." Sara stammered.

"Go on, ask him!" Paimon urged. "Don't let him intimidate you!"

"Master Takayuki, I've seen the report to the throne and the letter to the Fatui." Sara informed. "Please, tell me why!"

"So, this is how my documents went missing from headquarters?" Takayuki glared. "You stole them."

"Should I take your words to mean that... these documents were not forgeries?" Sara gasped. "They were really penned by your own hand? Please tell me, Master, I need to know: has the Tenryou Commission really... betrayed the Shogunate!?"

"Yes, I have dealings with the Fatui." Takayuki admitted. "And yes, the report you saw was penned by my hand. The diplomats from Snezhnaya promised a very generous reward indeed and all they requested of me in return was to see that the Vision Hunt Decree is upheld. For too long, the Kujou Clan's position has been coveted by so many. There is no shortage of clans who would tear us down at the first opportunity. So, when the chance arose to gain the backing of another powerful nation and crack down on our enemies at the same time, it appeared to me to be an excellent deal. I simply saw no need to inform you, Sara."

"But... you worship the Shogun." Sara protested. "How can you betray her after all this time and act like it's nothing!?"

"Betrayal?" Takayuki scoffed. "How can you call this a betrayal? The Fatui may think they are using me, but the reverse is true. What could they possibly hope to achieve? When the lightning strikes in Inazuma, they shall fall to their knees and tremble, paralyzed by fear and trepidation. After all, none can contend with the supreme power of the Almighty Raiden Shogun and the Musou no Hitotachi!"

"He's just over-confident in her power." the Traveler realized.

"He doesn't worship the Raiden Shogun herself, but her power as a warrior — especially the Musou no Hitotachi." Paimon agreed. "In fact, he seems to be way too into it."

"But Master... what about loyalty?" Sara asked. "Ever since I was adopted by the Kujou Clan, you taught me the importance of loyalty from servants to their superiors. But it's clear to me now that you wanted my loyalties to stop with the Kujou Clan. So, you were scared that I would betray you one day? You hypocrite! Preaching about virtue just to mask your own wretched selfishness!"

"Selfishness?" Takayuki snorted. "I am but safeguarding the eternity of the Kujou Clan. I'm quite sure the Almighty Shogun would be sympathetic to that, as would the former head of our clan."

"Hate to say it, but his ego is getting in the way." Paimon noted. "If he thinks the Kujou Clan is a match for the Fatui, Paimon thinks he's in for a nasty surprise."

"Let's see what Kujou Sara thinks." the Traveler left the decision to Sara.

"I've doubted the Vision Hunt Decree in the past." Sara revealed. "I asked myself, is this truly the correct thing to do? Even though it goes against what I know in my heart to be right? But I chose to obey the Shogun. For as long as she leads the way, who among us is qualified to judge between right and wrong when we have not yet reached the end of the path? But now I realize that the path of eternity is one without end, while this path... it has long since been defiled by your selfish ways. So, I'm going to tell the Shogun the truth about all this. If nothing else, my conscience will be clear!"

"Stubborn and futile." Takayuki tsked. "Report to the Shogun if you so wish. The Kujou Clan's position is now unshakable, and nothing you can do will change this. The Shogun is at Tenshukaku receiving a Snezhnayan diplomat — the Harbinger by the name of 'Signora'."

"Signora's the one behind all this?" Paimon exclaimed. "Not her again! Way back in Ritou, Lady Hiiragi said something about the Kanjou Commissioner meeting with an arrogant-sounding woman. We should have known."

"A diplomat from Snezhnaya?" Sara snarled. "If she thinks she's leaving Inazuma in one piece, she's got another thing coming!"

Near the Resistance camp at Fort Fujitou...

"What are you thinking about, love?" Kazuha asked gently, nuzzling his nose against the back of Mitsuko's nape, the couple were enjoying a respite from battle.

"Whatever happened to Khaenri'ah..." Mitsuko leaned into his embrace. "From what little I garnered from Zhongli, it wasn't voluntarily, not on the Archons' parts, at least."

"You may have a point..." Kazuha conceded. "I, for one, can't see the Anemo Archon willingly annihilate an entire nation."

"Kazu-papa," Sayu shifted a drowsy look at her other 'parent'. "Will you be staying after all of this?"

"It depends, actually." Kazuha admitted. "Your Mitsuko-mama still needs me to meet your Zhongli-baba."

"Okay." Sayu muttered and went back to her nap.

"Speaking of Zhongli," Mitsuko started. "There's something you need to know about him; he absolutely despises seafood: something about the battle with Osial giving him severe PTSD."

"So, that's why your 'Fullmoon Egg' uses only fowl meat." Kazuha chuckled.

SailorStar9: Any OOC-ness is regretted. *Grins* Don't you just love plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.