Perhaps, she thought to herself as she watched the Kamisato housekeeper and the unknown traveller flee, I've gotten too soft.
"Sho-Shogun, who was that?" The words spoken by one of the Shogunate guards brought her mind back to the present. Maybe it's because she's getting closer to her dream but her mind has been wandering with increasing frequency as of late.
"Seize him under the decree," she replied, turning on her heel to return to the Tenshukaku. She had waited for two thousand years, a few more days wouldn't matter. "Next time, I will strike twice."
The Shogunate guards kept their heads low and parted to let her through. Her thoughts flitted back to the past as she made her way back. She may have confined herself to the Tenshukaku most of the time but she is now a God, and by the virtue of that alone she is aware of almost everything that goes on within Narukami Island. That Kamisato housekeeper, Thoma, reminded her too much of Kyosuke and it had caused her blade to hesitate earlier.
Once upon a time, she too, had a loyal retainer serving by her side through thick and thin just like how Thoma serves Kamisato Ayaka.
"Are you… planning to take the Shogun's place?"
"If needed, will you help me?"
"I will always be at your service, milady. The sun will shine on us again."
That liar, claiming to always be at her service. Where is he now when she needs him the most?
The Shogunate army were immediately mobilised to comb through the city but that is no longer her concern. She has other things to deal with.
"Almighty Shogun, do you require our assistance to track down those rats?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly and her gaze eventually fixated on the Snezhnayan diplomat, the Eighth of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers. The Harbinger's words were respectful but the tone of her voice was anything but that.
"Inazuma's problems will be resolved by Inazumans," she replied emotionlessly, "If that is all, you may leave."
She could tell that the Harbinger was not happy with how she was being brushed off like this, but Signora ultimately kept her displeasure to herself.
"By your will, Almighty Shogun."
"Your Excellency," Kujou Sara couldn't help but speak up after Signora had left Tenshukaku, displeased by the attitude of the Snezhnayan diplomat towards her Almighty Shogun.
"No matter, leave her be. I trust that you have assigned someone to keep an eye on the Fatui?"
"Shikanoin Heizou is on the case," Sara answered with a respectful bow. It took the Shogun a few seconds to recall who Heizou is.
"Ah, the detective in the Tenryou Commission?"
"Yes, Almighty Shogun."
"Good, I will be expecting results," the Shogun gave her outward approval for the arrangements made by Kujou Sara. She knew that the Fatui harboured ill intentions the moment they arrived at Inazuma. Still, there were reasons why she went ahead and gave them her tacit approval to go through with the Vision Hunt Decree.
Her attempt to revive Kyosuke was one thing, the corruption that had seeped deep into the roots of the Tri-Commission had given her quite the political headache for a long while. The Vision Hunt Decree was the perfect opportunity for her to identify the corrupt from the righteous before she removed the blight in her Tri-Commission in one fell swoop. The results of her little test had left her sorely disappointed in the Tenryou and Kanjou Commission. She will need to replace their leaders with someone who could be trusted once this is all over.
She gave the tengu beside her a glance. Sara would make a great replacement to take up the position as the Clan Head of the Kujou clan. Sadly, she's adopted, and even the Shogun does not have the authority to meddle with the internal affairs of how a clan should run things. By the very nature of Sara's circumstances she would face a natural disadvantage if she were to run for the position within the clan. If it's not possible for Sara to be the Clan Head of the Kujou Clan there are two other candidates for the position through inheritance by blood, Kujou Kamaji and Kujou Masahito, and she will have to assess them carefully in the meantime.
Currently, her greatest concern would be the delusions that the Fatui are disseminating across her land. She is aware that there is no such thing as a perfect plan. Like how she is taking advantage of the Fatui's plan to cleanse the corruption within her Tri-Commission, the Fatui is likewise using this opportunity to destabilise Inazuma and create a market for their delusions to make a hefty profit.
She had observed a delusion up close and its mere presence disgusted her. She couldn't imagine how and why Tsaritsa permitted the invention of such a revolting object.
"Limit the spread of delusions. I don't care if Watatsumi Island uses it or not, but I don't want to see any of those revolting abominations in Narukami."
She left Sara with those instructions before she leaves. She couldn't assert total control over every single island in Inazuma; it simply isn't realistic, but on Narukami Island, within Inazuma City, her word is law and her will shall be carried out without fail. She cannot guarantee that there will be no victims that fall prey to the temptation of delusions that arise from her tacit approval to perpetuate the Vision Hunt Decree to meet her own ends, but she can take steps to limit the harmful effects that will occur on her own island.
Tsaritsa, once this is all over I will make you pay for this transgression, line by line.
"Your Excellency? Where are you heading? Would you need someone to accompany you?"
"No need," she replied as she opened a portal that cut through space using her mastery over electro. "I will just be giving the Yashiro Commission a visit."
"I hope the tea is to your liking, Almighty Shogun."
"Bitter yet having a sweet aftertaste, able to quench thirst upon a sip. These are very fine tea leaves you have," she gave her honest opinion. The current Yashiro Commissioner sat across the table opposite her in a graceful seiza, yet inwardly he never felt so anxious in his entire life. It's taking his all not to let his inner worries show.
"Relax," the Shogun's words nearly scared the life out of him, her smooth flawless hands that had slain Gods and demons alike still holding onto the teacup that she is drinking from. "I'm not here to pursue the transgression made by your sister and retainer, nor am I here to pursue your fault for supporting the Naganohara family in distributing fake visions. If I truly wish to sentence your retainer to death he wouldn't have escaped in the first place. If I truly wished to pursue your crimes I would have done so a long time ago."
Ayato's heart nearly stopped when he heard the bombshell of a revelation being dropped on him so casually by their nation's ruler and deity. She's aware, he realised, she's aware of what they had been doing behind her back this entire time in opposition to the Vision Hunt Decree.
And here they are, acting like fools believing that they had succeeded in saving Vision wielders from the decree when the Shogun was aware of their little trick this entire time.
"Kamisato Ayato, I've heard that you have tried to repeal the Vision Hunt Decree several times."
"Yes, Almighty Shogun," Ayato lowered his head and answered truthfully, no longer daring to try and pull any more tricks, "but whenever the Yashira Commission did so it was always promptly vetoed by both the Tenryou and Kanjou Commission."
"I see," the Shogun answered in acknowledgement. She had left most of the nation's affairs to her Tri-Commission to govern over the long years that she had served as their deity ever since she replaced the original Shogun. In fact, in recent years she's rarely around when the Tri-Commission holds their meeting at Tenshukaku to discuss the nation's affairs, placing her trust in them that they will do what is best for Inazuma. The original intention when she set up the Tri-Commission was to allow the nation to be able to run on its own even in her absence. In her opinion, this was a necessary measure in the event that she's not available or if she's no longer around to protect Inazuma.
However, it seems that the recent actions of the Tri-Commission had started to deviate from the initial purpose which she set it up for. Ayato's words had only further affirmed what she already suspected. This needs to be corrected.
"Do you think that the enactment of the Vision Hunt Decree is wrong too?"
"Almighty Shogun, I…"
"You can speak your mind. I will not see this as a transgression," she promised.
"With respect, Almighty Shogun, the Vision Hunt Decree, it's… It's been bringing great harm to Inazuma and our people," Ayato made a sincere plea, knowing that there's nothing that he can hide under the gaze of his God. "We've seen people who had lost their ambitions, people who had succumbed to the temptations of the Fatui's delusions, we-"
"I know," she answered, causing him to raise his head in surprise and alarm, "the Vision Hunt Decree was proposed by the Kanjou and Tenryou Commission, but it had my tacit approval."
"Why…?"
"Do you know how one gains a Vision, what the act of receiving a Vision really symbolises?" She slowly stood up and walked towards the window to observe the peaceful scenery outside, showing her back towards him. "Once upon a time I asked that question to someone I greatly value and trust. It was during the great war with Orobashi two thousand years ago. He told me this: Visions are a manifestation of a person's ambitions and purpose. Answer me, Kamisato Ayato, what does ambition bring about?"
"... Change," Ayato answered after much careful consideration. With ambition comes dreams, with dreams comes motivation, and with motivation brings about change.
"Exactly," she agreed. "Ambition ultimately brings about change, but change ultimately brings about conflict and with that comes war. I experienced that firsthand during the conflict with Orobashi when the previous Shogun was still around and it was when I saw how the previous Shogun was killed right before my very eyes. I witnessed a nation who prospered beyond our wildest imaginations, a nation without a God capable of slaying even Gods themselves fell into ruin, all because their ambitions had threatened the principles of this world. Visions are the embodiment of ambitions and ambitions are the precursor to strife and ultimately the bringer of conflict. In short, Visions are in my way of attaining my goal of eternal peace for Inazuma, ambitions are a potential hazard that might incur the wrath of the heavens upon our nation that spell our extinction. An eternity of peace is something which I had promised my people ever since I took up this position and become the nation's deity so I will do what must be done for that to happen."
"But…!"
"An Inazuma without dreams and ambition is nothing but a hollow shell? A nation not worth existing for eternity, is that what you wanted to tell me?"
"If you knew, then why…"
"There are things that I have to do as the Almighty Shogun of Inazuma. I may be a God, but even I cannot claim to come up with a perfect plan. Sacrifices will be unavoidable but this is already the best that I can come up with that will result in the least number of victims," she answered. "I'm sorely disappointed with the Tenryou and Kanjou Commission, but I see that the Yashiro Commission still knows where their allegiance lies."
"The Yashiro Commission exists to serve Inazuma and the Shogun," Ayato immediately pledged his loyalty to the unpredictable God in front of him, one who he could never guess her intentions and next moves. It's taking all he could to not break out in cold sweat, especially after what his younger sister and trusted retainer had done to attract her gaze.
"That's what the other two commissions said too, I do not need a bunch of empty words," she scoffed. "I'd rather you prove it through your own actions instead."
"What do you need me to do, Almighty Shogun?" Ayato inquired, having caught the hint that his deity is about to give him a task and that failure is not an option.
In response, the Shogun merely gave him a sealed letter that he received respectfully with both hands.
"Do not fail me, or I would not mind cleansing the Yashiro Commission myself."
The skies darkened and lightning briefly flashed across the skies outside.
"Your will shall be carried out," Ayato promised, head still bowed as he knelt before his deity. When he received no response for an extended period of silence he finally mustered the courage to lift up his head, only to see that the Shogun was already gone without him knowing when. The only proof that she had been here was the extra teacup with its contents empty.
The only thing that he's certain of is that change is coming to Inazuma.
If there's one thing she learnt in her two thousand years reign as the deity of Inazuma, it's that she's never suited to the life of politics. Her place is on the battlefield, not wading her way through devious underhanded schemes behind the scenes.
"Politics was more of your thing," she cannot help but end the conversation on that note after she had confided to him what had happened today. Talking to the person she encased within the huge electro crystal within her private chambers in a one-sided conversation had been a habit she had kept up with ever since he was no longer capable of serving by her side. He had always been a very good listener back then and that remains true even till now. Whenever she's feeling troubled or vexed she would come here to talk to him even if she's unsure he could hear her while being trapped within the electro crystal she had used to halt his death.
"Very soon, Kyo," she reassured him, placing her hand on the smooth surface of the crystal in longing for the person who had made her into who she is today. Without him, Inazuma wouldn't have a Almighty Narukami Ogosho. Inazuma would have fallen to Orobashi's greed and tyranny two thousand years ago.
Inazuma owes him, just like how she owes him for everything he had done for her ever since the day they first met.
"Greetings, milady, I am Kyosuke, or just call me Kyo. I will be serving you starting from today."
The memories of their very first meeting flashed through her mind. She has been getting increasingly sentimental as of late.
"Do you think I have been too merciful to the people of Watatsumi?" She asked aloud even if she's aware that he could never reply to her. "Their God waged war on us, killed our deity, causing so much bloodshed and the deaths of so many innocents and brave warriors. I allowed them to continue to worship Orobashi, gave them freedom, supplies, and established trade between Watatsumi and Narukami to save their dying economy. Yet, for two thousand years they continue to harbour deep seated resentment for me while having the shamelessness to continue to ask for my protection. Am I too merciful, or are they simply too ungrateful?"
There was no reply.
"Do you think I should have eradicated Watatsumi Island instead?"
Again, no reply. She sighed.
"If it's you, you would have known what's the best approach. I'm… I'm not suited to be a ruler. My place is on the battlefield. Always has been, and will always be."
She looked out of the window. The skies are dark and gloomy, just like her mood right now.
"I tried being a virtuous ruler. Really, I did try. I promised Inazuma and my people eternal peace, even if I understood better than anyone that eternity is as fragile as a fleeting dream. I wanted bygones to be bygones, I wanted differences to be smoothened, I wanted my people to be able to feel free to chase their dreams under the protection of the lightning glow so that they wouldn't experience what we had experienced."
"I know eternity is but a lie; there's no such thing as eternity because even Gods can be killed. Even Gods can die; we had seen it happen. I created the Tri-Commission for that very purpose so that in the event of my unexpected death Inazuma could continue to function and prosper. I placed my trust in them, slowly extracting myself out from the governance of Inazuma and what do I receive in return? Betrayal, corruption, and everything else that I wouldn't stand for. The Tri-Commission are doing things behind my back that they are supposed to stand against. Disappointment couldn't even start to describe how I felt when I first learnt of it."
"When there is change there will always be people opposed to it, but change is inevitable; things will always change, it is the law of the world. How else will mankind improve without change?"
"You said that change is the precursor to war," she spoke, recalling the moment when they had the philosophical discussion of the concept of change, "you said that it's contradictory, that humans need to change to improve but change brings about opposition and opposition will bring about war. It's a never ending cycle. I asked you if that meant that we will never have peace. You told me that peace is possible if people can put themselves in each other's shoes and understand each other. I remember thinking that you were so foolishly naive."
She released a silent laugh.
"But you also told me that we also need strength to uphold the peace we hold dear. Notions of peace are but a mere joke without the strength to protect it. I am strong now. I am now a God. Yet, Inazuma is once again in turmoil. Where did I go wrong? What did I do wrong?"
She desperately yearned to hear his voice, for him to answer her doubts. Once again, her attempts were in vain.
"If change is the precursor to war, then I will bring about a war that ends all harmful change to Inazuma. The Fatui, the tumours in the Tri-Commission, Watatsumi Island; it's time to remove the cancerous blights in our nation. I had been too naive, too merciful, foolishly believing that people are capable of putting grudges aside after two thousand years like how I had done for Orobashi and its people. I was wrong. Watatsumi had endangered Inazuma's eternity. I shouldn't have spared them two thousand years ago, I should have driven them into extinction."
The last part of her sentence was spoken with simmering anger, but she calmed down eventually.
"I will be gone for a while. There are things that I have to see to completion. I… wouldn't be able to talk to you for a short while," she whispered. "The next time we meet, hopefully, you will be able to talk to me again. It's… It's been lonely, having nobody to rely on but myself for two thousand years."
She closed her eyes. When she reopened them again, gone were the insecurities belonging to Mei of the Kamino Clan. What remains is the determined gaze of the Almighty Raiden Shogun.
It's been two thousand years. This time, it seems that she would have to step onto the battlefield and wage war against Watatsumi once more.
This time, Watatsumi shall no longer be given any mercy.
This time, there shall no longer be a Watatsumi Island drawn into the map of Inazuma.