Meraki

Part 3 Chapter 1: Electric Flames

When the trio left the Kamisato residence, they thought more about what Ayaka Kamisato had said and while they explored Inazuma, they met three people whose Visions had been taken away. They had also met Yae Miko, the Head Shrine Maiden at the Grand Narukami Shrine. These two factors caused the trio to return to the Kamisato residence, now determined to help. They figured that this way, they'd also be able to meet the Raiden Shogun for Aether.

"Hello! We're back!" Venti yelled. His call was met by silence, until Thoma came up behind him and tapped the bard on the shoulder. He pointed to the right side of the screen, as a girl with light blue hair holding a fan walked out from behind it.

"Aether, Sying, and Venti, it is a pleasure to finally meet you both face-to-face." Ayaka spoke.

"Yeah. About our first meeting...it was just a huge request, and we didn't understand the situation fully, but now, we're ready to help out." Sying said.

"Thank you. You three have now witnessed the pain of those derived of their Visions. What are your feelings on what you have seen?" Ayaka wondered.

"I hope they can one day be free from their torment." Aether replied.

"Perhaps, in the eyes of a deity such as the Almighty Shogun, the lives of those who inhabit the world are inconsequential." She sighed. "Thunder's roar, lightning's flash, the wind's assault, and the rain's descent; all these things take place with no regard for the feelings of the common people."

"We will help you fight the Vision Hunt Decree, but you must promise that Aether will meet the Raiden Shogun." Sying decided. The girl in front of them nodded.

"Let us move to the Komore Teahouse to continue this discussion. We ought not to involve other members of the Yashiro Commission.

"Do they have sake?" Venti asked as they left the Kamisato residence.

"It's a teahouse, Bar–Venti. They serve tea." Astral pointed out. "And if they did, you're not having any. And that goes for too, Aether."

"C'mon Sying, I'll be 17 in a few months." The Traveler complained.

"Exactly. A few months. And you're 16. Not 18 or 20." The adeptus commented.

"Don't worry, I'll sneak you some." The bard whispered.

"I heard that." Sying growled.

"Ehe."

When they got to Komore Teahouse, Ayaka explained more about the Vision Hunt Decree, the Resistance, and the Raiden Shogun. The trio also learned that a guy named Masakatsu was put in jail for making fake Visions for people so they wouldn't lose their real Visions. Ayaka tasked the three of them to meet up with a girl by the name of Yoimiya Naganohara, who helped run a fireworks shop. Supposedly, she would help the trio get Masakatsu out of prison. The group went to her shop, and found out Yoimiya gives Vision bearers fake Visions, and even hides them in her shop until it's safe. She also knew how to get inside the building Masakatsu was in, so the foursome traveled to their destination and went inside.

"This way! As long as we stay quiet, we've got a good chance!" Yoimiya told the trio.

"Right. Let's find Masakatsu, and get out of here." Aether agreed. The group stayed close to the ground, occasionally hiding behind any object they could find to avoid getting caught by the guards. Sying kept his tail close to his body, so it wouldn't drag behind him. Eventually, they reached the area where the prisoners were kept. Looking from their hiding spot behind a wall, they could see two shogunate holding polearms, standing over a beaten Masakatsu. The two guards were shouting insults at the man, when a girl with short indigo hair and a red tengu mask came toward them.

"Hey, you there! What are you doing!?" She questioned. The two guards turned around in surprise.

"Ah! Ma'am! W–We were just teaching him a little lesson. That's all." They replied nervously.

"Who's that?" Venti wondered.

"That's Kujou Sara, adopted daughter of the Kujou Clan of the Tenryou Commission. She's also a general in the Shogun's Army." Sying told the bard.

"Make way, let me have a look at him." Sara commanded. The two shogunate moved away, as their general looked at the man on the floor. "I'm sure you're well aware that torture is strictly against military regulations." The guards nodded as she continued. "If you are unashamed of such disgraceful action, then you are also unworthy of the Tenryou Commission itself! Do I make myself clear!?"

"This is our chance! Let's move while they aren't watching Master Masakatsu." Yoimiya exclaimed, accidentally knocking over a nearby box. "Sorry, I didn't mean to." Sying let out a long sigh before turning into his mini dragon form and sitting in the hallway for the guards to see him. The adeptus stuck his tongue out at the two shogunate and ran off once he saw them follow him. Kujou Sara was also out of sight, so Aether, Venti, and Yoimiya ran inside the room. Yoimiya and Aether helped Masakatsu to his feet, while Venti stood close by. The Archon took out his bow and got ready to fire at Kujou Sara, who had re-entered the room.

"Leave, before I let my judgment get the better of me. He's in serious condition, be sure he gets immediate medical attention. But remember, once he's recovered, it won't be long until I bring him right back." Sara declared. The group wasted no time in getting Masakatsu back to Yoimiya's shop and met up with Sying on the way there. After that, the trio returned to Komore Teahouse, where they had dinner with Ayaka and Thoma.

The next day, the trio met Ayaka at the Teahouse, where they learned Thoma hadn't arrived yet. She told them that he had been arrested by the Tenryou Commission and his Vision was to be taken away in front of the Statue of the Omnipresent god. The trio decided to go to the ceremony, but when they got there, a crowd of people blocked their view. When they pushed their way to the front, they saw Thoma being guarded by two shogunate. The Raiden Shogun stood near the statue, giving a cold glare to Thoma. She extended her hand, and his Pyro Vision came flying toward her. Thoma tried to move forward to grab his Vision, but the shogunate blocked him with their polearms. Aether jumped in a burst of Electro and grabbed the Vision before landing on the ground. Venti and Sying followed after him, and the three of them looked at the Shogun proudly. The Shogun narrowed her eyes as the two guards ran toward them. Venti blew one away with Anemo, and Sying sent the other one flying with his sword. Aether gave Thoma his Vision back, as Sying deflected a shot of Electro from the Shogun. The Electro Archon walked down to the group, creating steps for herself.

"Capable of using elemental energy without a Vision, you are an exception, it appears." She stated, coming closer. "Exceptions, the enemy of Eternity." There was a burst of Electro energy and the Raiden Shogun was holding a sword. "You will be inlaid upon this statue." She sliced the sky with her sword and Aether and Sying found themselves in a strange new landscape with red gates scattered around. The sky was a menacing dark red, and in front of the two, was the Shogun. Venti and Thoma were nowhere to be found. Aether surrounded his sword in Electro and charged toward the Shogun, with Sying in front of him, holding his Nova infused sword. The Raiden Shogun swung her polearm as they passed, and Sying fell on top of Aether after taking the hit. The landscape around them disappeared and the two of them were back in Inazuma. Venti ran over to his friends, shaking their unconscious bodies.

"Astral! Aether! Wake up!" He cried. The Shogun moved closer, and raised her sword in the air. Venti surrounded themselves in Anemo, creating a shield to protect them. Thoma grabbed a nearby polearm and threw it toward the Electro Archon. She blocked the spear, and Thoma grabbed Aether. Sying crashed into Barbatos, temporarily waking him up. The Anemo god held onto everyone and teleported them back to Komore Teahouse.

"Sh-Shogun, who were they?" A guard asked.

"Seize them under the decree. Next time, I will strike twice." She replied, walking away. "Astral, you and I will finally have our showdown."