For Eternity

For Eternity - XI

It was a rainy afternoon. Miko stood outside the Narukami Shrine with an umbrella over her head. She felt upset, maybe even threatened by the last fortune she got. Not just that, she was worried about her archon. She was worried what their fortunes could mean, and it made her worried. She asked herself things, such as, "What if I won't be able to confess my feelings for her?" or "What if someone takes her away from me? Have I proven my love for her correctly?".

"Lady Guuji, I knew you'd be here.", a sudden voice asked. Of course, the kitsune was caught off-guard. She turned around to face the stranger, who was none other than the younger Kamisato sibling.

"Oh? Well you're someone I would not expect to see around. Are you here for a fortune?", the maiden asked. Ayaka let out a slight giggle, but shook her head.

"Not really. I just thought I'd have a chat with you about a few things. Just something that has either crossed my or my brother's mind, and something that I just need an answer for.", she spoke slowly as she took a few steps closer to the Guuji.

"Well, if you want to talk, I assume somewhere else would be better. Of course, the sound of rain is lovely, but it might also be a nuisance to those who want to speak properly.", Miko said. Ayaka quickly agreed and together they made their way to somewhere quieter.

"This place shall be good now.", Miko announced as the stepped in the Chinju Forest. Ayaka sat down on a rock and looked at Miko.

"Now. What could it be that you wanted to ask me?", Miko asked as she turned to look at the Kamisato.

"My brother and I just thought that... You and the Shogun, you two seem to be a lot closer these days. It feels like where-ever the Shogun is, you will follow her like her own shadow. Almost like a bodyguard of some sorts, just... Make you feel a lot more threatened.", Ayaka told calmly, hesitating on her words. Miko tilted her head slightly, then let out a giggle.

"Goodness me, I am only making sure that my future is safe, you see. Isn't it usual for lovers to be attached to each other? That is the kind of feeling you and the Naganohara-girl gave to me. Speaking of which, I haven't seen her in a while...", Miko said, her voice getting lower by each sentence. Ayaka flinched slightly and got to stand up, while looking at Yae with fear and hatred in eyes.

"What happened to Yoimiya? What did you do to her?!", she spoke louder. Miko giggled more and more as she took steps away from Ayaka.

"Good manners you have. I mention about your girlfriend being hurt and you're already putting the blame on me? What a child.", the Guuji Yae said, only giggling more and more.

"If that's so. If you didn't know a thing about her, why would you mention her being hurt? Is there something you'd like to explain to me?", Ayaka replied as she took out her sword. A smile grew on Miko's face.

"That is a good question indeed. What could have I possibly done to her? As a shrine maiden, you know I do everything I need to do for a reason or another. If I had done something to Yoimiya, what for?", Miko said, taking a step forward. Ayaka lowered her sword slightly, then she got a hold of the situation.

"You-... You are the threat to Inazuma... All the time you've spent with the Shogun... Have you tried to backstab her too...?", Ayaka said, her expression broken.

"I am no threat, young one. I am just like you. In love.", Miko replied. Ayaka's eyes widened as she heard that. It didn't take her long to get the whole picture.

"You are nothing like me when it comes to love. The way I love a person is healthy, you are obsessed with that person. Not only that, but you're also so obsessed, that you think killing innocent people to proof your love for her is alright. That's insane of you!", Ayaka spoke, taking a tighter grip of her sword immediately.

"That is quite rude to say, don't you think? I am only doing this for her eternity. And for us. We will be eternal when there is no one who can possibly stand in our way. That's the kind of eternity I desire of. We will be together for eternity...", Miko ranted, every word of hers making Ayaka sicker and sicker.

"You're out of your mind... You think you can kill people for the Shogun with no consequences...? We are her citizens, you do realize that...?", Ayaka spoke, taking a step closer to the Guuji.

"I don't care what your answer is. I will make sure Inazuma will get rid of danger. Such as you.", she continued.

"We. Will make sure of that, sister.", a new voice said. Miko and Ayaka turned to the voice, where the head of the Kamisato clan stood. Ayato walked next to his sister and created a sword of his own. Ayaka smiled confidently and took a better hold of her sword and pointed it the Guuji.

"I have informed Thoma to evacuate Inazuma city. Only us two with the Shogun are here. Only because she isn't aware of the monster you are.", Ayato said. Miko laughed at Ayato's words.

"It's depressing, really. Once you two are out of my way, no one will be there to tell her.", Yae replied and created three kitsune totems in a second.

"Your fates are decided. Now perish."

Ei watched the leaving ships in Ritou. Though no one had told her what the situation was, she knew it had to do with the threat. She was more or less concerned about not finding Miko anywhere. She simply sighed and started to walk slowly away from the pier. The island was filled with silence, only the whispers of the wind could've been heard.

"You really don't want to believe me, do you?", a familiar voice said to her. Ei didn't turn around, she only kept on walking as the puppet walked behind her.

"Let me have some faith in her. I don't like the idea of her being a monster killing everyone she sees.", Ei replied. Raiden Shogun kept walking behind her, clearly annoyed.

"She doesn't deserve your daringness, she never did. Every time I saw her, I just knew that she was after something bad. I never expected her to take it so far to kill our entire nation. It's a shame, you never saw it coming, Ei.", the puppet told. Ei stayed quiet, trying to think of a response. Her thoughts were caught off, when she saw a rather short girl running right towards them.

"Her Excellency!", the little girl, Sayu shouted. Both the Shogun and Ei stopped walking and turned to the kid.

"Who are you? Is there something you need to tell me?", Ei asked, curious as always. Sayu took a couple of breaths, then let out a deep sigh.

"The Kamisato siblings! They're fighting the Guuji Yae in the Chinju Forest! They're about to lose, they need you help, Shogun!", Sayu spoke slowly yet loudly. Ei flinched in a second. She didn't want to believe what she heard, and it filled her with emotions.

"Shogun. Return to the Tenshukaku. I will come back shortly.", Ei spoke. The Shogun sighed and teleported away, as Ei started to make her way to the Chinju Forest along with Sayu.

The moment when the two arrived in the forest, Ayato and Miko were fighting each other. Ayaka was out, she had lost a lot of blood from the wound on her arm. Both of the siblings had noticeable shock marks, while Miko looked like she hadn't taken a single hit during the entire combat. Right the moment when Miko was about to deal the last strike on Ayato, Ei teleported herself behind Miko. She put a hand on her shoulder and teleported them in the Plane of Euthymia. Miko fell on the ground, confused about her surroundings. She turned to look at the archon standing behind her, feeling her heart miss a beat.

"...I believe I've finally gotten the pieces together..."