Chapter Text
Spring breezes into Inazuma, enveloping the land in its gentleness as the sun shines brightly in the clear blue sky and the air turns pleasantly warm. There are no traces of winter left, the cold winds are gone, the snow has melted and the colours have returned to the trees.
Ei walks the path to the Grand Narukami Shrine, hearing the breath of spring as the breezes toss her hair and birds chirp between the branches.
Among the sakura petals scattered on the ground along the main road leading to the Grand Narukami Shrine, there lie the violet-colored petals of wisteria. Wisteria is not as popular as the sakura, for the plant only grows great in number on Mount Yougou and is rarely seen anywhere else. However, to the folks of Inazuman who have walked the path to the shrine since they learnt how to walk, the plant, together with sakura, heralds the spring season when the land is sheltered under the shade of cherry blossoms and the road to their most sacred site is scented the sweet and musky scent of wisteria.
“Your Excellency, ” A young miko greets her as she reaches the entrance. “The Guuji and the others are already in the backyard.” The miko steps aside, offering to lead the way but is dismissed swiftly. The Grand Narukami Shrine is not only their sacred place, but it is also her sanctuary. How could Ei not know the way in her haven?
Prayers fill her ears as she walks the yumemiru corridor that leads to the backyards. The main courtyard is crowded. The shrine receives the most visitors during springtime when people come asking for fortune slips or praying for blessings on trivial matters, such as gaining profits or winning the heart of one's love interest.
Unlike the crowded main courtyard, the atmosphere in the backyard of the shrine is more relaxing and tranquil as only a few people are allowed access. Ei stands still on the corridor instead of approaching the center of the yard where a few figures are gathering around a small cherry blossom, deciding to observe the peaceful scene from afar.
Sasayuri is lying against the tree, his long raven hair cascades the tree trunk as the man contently enjoys his drink. His red tengu mask gleams on the left side of his face and his dark raven hair turns brighter as the sunlight shines on him. The Tengu General looks laid back without his battle armor and the solemnity he usually wears on his face.
The oni Chiyo, as lovely and elegant as always, is dancing to the rhythm of falling petals and rustling branches. Petals linger on her red junihitoe(*) before falling to the ground along with each graceful motion of the oni’s, cluttering up and swirling around her feet, while a nearby white fox in human form watches in adoration and admiration. Saiguu’s golden eyes follow Chiyo’s movement attentively, captivating by the oni’s beauty and movement. Her kiseru spins around her fingers as smoke fills the air around her, engulfing her in the aroma of sakura-scented tobacco.
Above them, the Tengu Chieftain is sitting on a large branch of the cherry blossom. Her black wings unfold, spread out as she stretches her arms and legs to untighten her muscles, just like what she usually does after waking up from her afternoon nap.
This is how their usual meeting is. Familiar yet far from being dull. Peaceful and pleasant, away from the bustle and crowdedness of the city. However, there’s a hint of poignant and falsity that Ei cannot tell when she looks at the scene. The warm sunlight touches her skin as the gentle wind caresses her entire body and slightly entangles her hair, just like how it has always been and should be when one stands in the open-air on a spring day. Her friends look and act the same and the sakura tree has not changed even for a tiny detail. Be that as it may, uncertainty encircles her, but not as the smoke emitting from the kiseru on Saiguu’s hand, for the smoke - though hazy and formless - is visible and feelable. This uncertainty, however, is like the rifthound whelps hidden in the dense fog of Tsurumi Island, invisible and miasmic, waiting to emerge from the mist and tear its prey apart the moment the prey is distracted.
As she is lost in the midst of doubt and confusion, a lilac paper umbrella looms over her head, enveloping her in a familiar sweet scent of wisteria. Makoto is standing beside her, her favourite wagasa(*) in one hand. Her dark violet hair is free from its usual braid, her lips slightly curl upward as she looks at their friends. She still retains that benign aura, warm as the sun at dawn and gentle like the breezes of spring, as if she wants to relieve the world of its pain and embrace its entirety in her tenderness.
And when Makoto finally turns to her, greeting her with unfailing affectionate, the clouds of uncertainty are dispelled and Ei gives in to the fantasy before her eyes. When she hurriedly leaves the corridor to get to her friends, Chiyo catches sight of her and excitedly waves her hand, successfully averting Saiguu’s eyes to Ei’s direction, while Sasayuri smiles at her cheerfully and the Tengu Chieftain jumps off the branch to greet her. As Ei nearly reaches Saiguu, she expects to be wrapped up in the sakura-scented smoke that surrounds the fox, but a metallic smell invades her nostril while a cold gust of wind chills her to the bone. And then, everything collapses.
Sasayuri is no longer basking in the warm sunlight, but is panting and coughing up blood as his back pressed against an aralia tree. The tengu mask lying on his head is cracked, the bow loosely held in his hand, string broken. His dark wings have been ripped off. His chest armor is broken, revealing a gash running from his left shoulder to his abdomen. Blood ceaselessly gushes from his wounds, saturating him in a frightening crimson color.
Ei is about to run to her friend, but is stopped by a sudden blow from behind. She barely dodges the attack and turns around, only to see Chiyo drawing her sword against her. Ei struggles to block another blow from Chiyo with her naginata, caught off-guard by the sudden change of her lovely friend. The oni keeps thrusting, leaving Ei no time to get a grasp of the situation. And the moment their sword clash while both of them keep pressing forward instead of backing down, Ei realizes her friend is grinning maniacally. Chiyo’s once bright eyes are filled with blood-lust, red veins run across her pale skin. Staggered by her friend’s lunatic look, Ei loosens her guard and within a blink, she is on her back, thrown down by a heavy blow from Chiyo. The Oni plunges and successfully pins her to the ground.
Both parties struggle to gain the upperhand. Ei tries to push Chiyo away, but is overpowered by the madness that has overtaken her friend. The oni tries to land a final hit on her and end the battle, but she misses as Ei manages to block and dodge the attack, though only by a hair’s breadth. When both of her wrists are roughly pressed down and sharp fangs are about to dig into her flesh, an enormous amount of electro power bursts from her hands, effectively stunning the oni and getting her enough time to escape the oni’s grasp.
The air turns colder as dark miasma emerges from Chiyo and wraps her slender body in a cloak of darkness. When the oni thrusts towards Ei again, she looks like a bolt made of shadow, piercing through the air as dark smoke trailing behind.
Ei firmly holds her naginata, electro energy blazes in her eyes as a blinding ray of lightning cuts through the air and strikes down the dashing bolt.
When the dark smoke dissipates and Chiyo appears from within the shadow, blood streams down from her right shoulder as the arm that should be there is now lying on the ground, together with a part of her right horn. The oni turns and runs away, into the dark forest that wasn’t there when Ei arrived at the shrine.
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- Junihitoe: a formal attire for women. It is what Chiyo is seen wearing in Ei's teaser.
- Wagasa: traditional Japanese umbrella.