Parallels

Chapter 1

A/N: Timeskip to about a little over three years since Chiaki first became a saniwa, so that explains all the different erm... personality changes. Among other stuff anyways.

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t had taken them a month. A month and a ton of resources, but they had managed. The Retrograde Army's forces, unusually strong in this particular instance, had finally been quelled at Jurakutei.

This victory was not without many near losses however. More than half the citadel was severely injured, infirmary overflowing with patients every time the auxiliary teams switched out members; the other half exhausted beyond what was humanely possible.

The Third Unit returned mid-morning, trudging through the courtyard, exhausted and forlorn. Chiaki sat in seiza position—kneeling with her full body weight on her legs—atop a large velvet beanbag on the front porch, wearing her azure and dark gray ceremonial miko outfit, gohei in hand.

"Unusually formal of you today, nushi-sama," Kogitsunemaru remarked as he sat down next to her, his legs hanging over the porch's edge as he let out a long sigh of relief and exhaustion. "What's the occasion?"

The rest of the Third Unit greeted their master before heading off to their respective quarters inside the castle, some tiredly rubbing their eyes, others their arms and shoulders.

"Ah, Ishipapa wanted me to pray with him at a nearby shrine as thanks for keeping everyone safe. Or well, not dead."

Kogi chuckled, folding his arm over his eyes and letting out another sigh, his breathing becoming slow and deep. The sage patted his thigh gently, mumbling a "Rest well. You deserve it."

When she turned her head, she saw that their captain, Oodenta, stood firmly before her, looking down at her apprehensively.

"Ah, sorry I didn't notice you there, Oodenta-san. Do you have any additional news to report?" the redhead asked, tilting her head to the side a little.

The Miike tachi raised his arm, holding out a bundle of silver silk. The sage blinked, looking between him and the bundle several times. "Erm... what are you..."

"He called out to me."

That's when it clicked.

"Ah, I see. Sorry for the lapse there, Oodenta-san. Haven't had a new one in ages, so I..." Chiaki let her words fall as she took the bundle from him, feeling a rather heavy sword underneath the soft silk. Standing up slowly, she felt herself wobble, almost toppling over onto Kogi were it not for Oodenta's firm grip on her arm.

The sage nodded to him in thanks, mumbling something about her legs falling asleep, to which the Third Unit's captain clicked his tongue at, but the redhead saw a small smile betray his otherwise stern look. Giving her a pat on the head, Oodenta too went inside the main building, letting out his widest yawn yet as he stretched his overworked muscles, before heading to the room he and Sohayanotsurugi shared.

Unwrapping the bundle, Chiaki saw a beautiful midnight blue sheath, which seemed to house an uchigatana given it's curvature and length. The longer she stared at it, she swore she could feel a burning sense of dread.

Proceeding into the main lobby of the building, Chiaki sat herself down on the tatami mat, gently placing the silk down in front of her, uchigatana atop it.

Putting her hands together, she mumbled a small prayer to whatever kami would listen to her. Please let this next one not be a pain in the ass...

Then the sage pulled her hands apart as small blobs of light form in midair between her hands, which then condensed into little sakura petals—a neat trick she had been practicing for a good while now. The petals then floated downward, and when light met the sheath, a glow began to emanate from the sword.