Peasants and Royals

XX. Tell Me, You're Joking.

As Shinobu and Itto were walking to find the "Wangsheng Funeral Parlor" they heard some familiar voices. 

"Thank you." 

"No problem, it's better to stay in Liyue until things are better." 

A girl with blonde hair nodded, it seemed her friend with platinum blonde hair did as well. 

"Shinobu where are you going?" Itto followed Shinobu as she was walking toward the two. They were talking to Beidou so of course they would be safe, right?

Shinobu tapped the blonde girl's shoulder as she was done talking to the dark haired woman, "Uhm, excuse me? Are you perhaps Yoimiya Naganohara?" She asked herself why she just casually name dropped someone's name.

"Shinobu! Itto! It's great to see you, we have news... News that we don't know how you'll react to..." Yoimiya turned around, so did Kazuha.  "It's about what's going on in Inazuma..." 

"Something's going on in Inazuma?" Shinobu raised an eyebrow,  "What's going on in Inazuma?" 

"Well....the Sangonomiya Kingdom acted on the overthrow plan and...." Yoimiya said, a bit of pity was noticable in her voice. Was she serious?! Did people get....killed?! 

"Wait....Gorou led it, right?" Itto eventually spoke up, "He told me about it." 

"Yes, he did lead it. Princess Sangonomiya had no plan to be involved in it, but unfortunately she was dragged into the mess." Kazuha replied, it clearly wasn't in his plan to speak up about the matter but... then again it wasn't in the Kujou Kingdom's plan to be overthrown. Isn't that right? 

"Wait.... Are Heizou and Sara safe?!" Shinobu's face turned worried and panicky. Why when it came to Heizou she was the most worried?! It's not like she liked him! 

"Well, we left once we heard Sangonomiya's army. So we don't know whether or not they are."  Yoimiya sighed, "But if they did esca-" 

"Do they know how to defend themselves at least?!" Shinobu grabbed the side of Yoimiya's shoulders. Why was she panicking?! She didn't like Heizou! Not anymore, at least! 

"Most likely not....I don't know Sara or Heizou's physical strength. Let alone if they made it out, like I said we left when we heard Sangonomiya's army." Yoimiya looked into Shinobu's sorrowful eyes. 

Tears fell quickly on Shinobu's face, she clearly was upset, devestated....and a lot of more emotions she couldn't quite comprehend, let alone understand. "Why? Why them? Why Heizou?! Why couldn't it be that shitty king?! Why, why is it always the innocent?!" Shinobu's body went limp in Yoimiya's arms, what was the point of keeping strength if the man she..... loved wasn't even there? 

"Shh..... It's okay. Hopefully this war will all be over soon." Kazuha walked over to Shinobu and patted her back, his soft and gentle voice slowly but surely comforted her. "I thought you never liked Heizou." 

Shinobu took steps back to stand next to Itto and sniffled, "My eyes get like this. Allergies." Her face was puffy and her expression was offended. She did  love Heizou, she was just too scared to show it. Too scared of rejection, but she blew it. She didn't get rejected. She rejected him.

The four of them wandered the streets for a bit, wondering if the palace would be okay. They didn't care for the king or the riches....

But they did care for the innocent lives that wouldn't be spared. They cared for victims. They cared for the people that were dragged into that.... Hellfire.