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Kazuha could smell something was amiss, those claims Heizou got for his so-called crimes felt... Fake .
Actually, Heizou himself smells fake , a layer of static around the usual cherry blossoms he smells on Heizou, yet he knows it is him. No one else has that distinct smell other than Heizou.
There's only one answer to this conundrum— There's something amiss.
Not only just on Heizou, but for the accusations.
He knows he hasn't committed those crimes, yet people were adamant that it was him. And Heizou, who he knew would investigate further before issuing a warrant, seemed to be swayed by the people and truly believing it was him .
It doesn't sound like Heizou. Yet he's sure it was Heizou who was talking with him.
Yet again he is running away from Tenryou Commission guards as a proclaimed criminal, hiding in the foliage like back then, making use of his affinity of air to make his steps lighter and undetected.
Usually he would go to Heizou for help to clear his name, but since it was Heizou who issued the order that is out of the question.
He has to investigate 'his' crimes himself. To clear his name for both the Tenryou Commission and for Heizou himself.
If he can't prove his innocence, then it'll make wondering why Heizou feels odd even harder having to avoid being captured for false accusations.
First is to determine why him ? Since he can't know the motive of the crime since he is the apparent target, it's better to know why target him out of all people.
Was it his fame? His status as a 'Hero' alongside Traveller? Do they want to put the Kaedehara name to shame even further?
The real crime being committed is bringing his name to the mud, painting him a criminal once more while he's just a humble wanderer.
Now he has the reason for the crime, and of course he has to stop further crimes from happening, next is the plan to catch the perpetrator.
From what he had gathered from whispers and accusations on him. He stole items, assaulted people, and defaced and destroyed public properties at night and only at night.
So the doppelganger only moves at night, where it's easy to hide and be mistaken as other people ( mistaken as him ). And it seems he is likely attacking where people are present for witnesses and additional chaos to be made.
The real question is where would he strike next? Kazuha knows the elements now, but he is not Heizou who could use his intuition to correctly guess and know where the criminal would hit next.
His best bet is Konda Village.
Both near big cities and where the station of the Tenryou Commission will be.
But he can't let himself be caught by anyone, not even the culprit. He has to hide somewhere strategic, find the culprit and at the same time remain invisible to the roaming doushin's eyes.
He waited until nightfall by a thick shade of trees; eyes, ears, and nose sharp for anything uncanny and danger.
Rustle—
There— Kazuha's eyes trailed on a figure much like his own, sporting a kitsune mask to hide his face. Bingo .
Kazuha leaps from branch to branch quietly, eyes never leaving the doppelganger and waiting for a chance to strike.
It wasn't too long before he found it, catching the doppelganger making a move to an innocent mother walking with her son. Before he could attempt to harm an innocent bystander Kazuha uses his wind strider to quickly block the attempt to attack, metal meeting metal.
He hears the mother's surprised gasp and shuffle of feet, but his focus is on the doppelganger who tsked, jumping back a distance away from him.
"For what purpose do you do this?" Kazuha asked, not expecting an answer but curious all the same.
The doppelganger didn't respond but Kazuha could feel a sense of amusement in him, like he's enjoying being caught like this.
"I won't let you get away from your transgressions." Kazuha points his sword at the doppelganger, who did the same, mirroring him.
To a bystander it would look almost identical, swords pointing at each other, two similar bodies, clothing, and stances, yet one sports a kitsune mask, hiding his feelings, and another a righteous anger.
It seemed like there was a battle amidst the village, a final cord waiting to be cut to start the war.
But the sound of low sneering slashes through the tense silence, the doppelganger's shoulder shaking in mirth and laughter.
"This has become interesting." It was low, soft that Kazuha almost didn't hear it, followed by that sneer he let out.
And before Kazuha knew it the doppelganger ran out into the forest, out of Konda Village.
"Hey!" Kazuha yells out, immediately following suit.
He can't let the criminal loose, and with that scene in Konda Village it will be Kazuha's one step to clearing his name. But first to capture the true culprit.
The doppelganger is fast, twisting and turning in the attempts to outrun Kazuha. However Kazuha is persistent, he mirrors each turn, each twist.
He never let the doppelganger out of his sights no matter what.
Soon they arrive at a clearing, it was a scenic one if Kazuha has anything to say about it. Fresh green grass, towering trees around them, and the full moon shining down on them like a spotlight.
"Your facade ends here." Kazuha huffs out, steadying his breath for anything this doppelganger might do.
The person in front of him huffs out, shoulders falling before turning in a very specific way, hand on his hips and seemingly looking at him from behind the kitsune mask.
"Persistent." Was the word that came out of the doppelganger's mouth.
"You've been committing crimes under my image, suffice to say that I can't let that go on." Kazuha places a hand on the hilt of his sword.
"What's the difference?" The mask muffles his voice, but Kazuha swears that there's a feeling of familiarity in them. "You were a criminal, you'll always be a criminal."
"I was rid of my status as a criminal, the Sakoku Decree is no more. I am no longer a criminal."
A sigh was heard, followed by a shrug of shoulders. "As I said: you were once a criminal, you'll always be a criminal."
That sneer resounded again, and this time he felt something in the air. Static .
"Not me." Kazuha unsheathed his sword, pointing at the sneering kitsune mask. "It's you."
Another sneer from the doppelganger, and Kazuha didn't let him make any move before he sent the first strike.
It should be a clean hit, he should have hit the doppelganger, yet when the sword is a few feet away from him there is a force preventing him from going further, followed by the shrill noise of static akin to nails on a chalkboard.
It makes Kazuha's ears ring as he is repealed back a few feet away, showing the doppelganger, seemingly smirking, almost mocking him.
I didn't feel any element envelope him, how did he block my attack?
"My turn~" The doppelganger raised his hand and three balls of flames appeared beside him.
It wasn't any ordinary flames, they didn't smell like it, and these flames looked almost cartoonish.
They wave around everywhere, floating and slowly inching towards him. He knows best to not touch it, or else.
Shing—
Kazuha did a front roll, almost getting nicked by a blade that slashed where his neck was moments ago.
Fast—!
Another swing of the other's sword, this time Kazuha blocking it with his own with a loud clang .
The doppelganger swung his blade at him multiple times, fast enough that Kazuha couldn't do anything but block it, each clash a ringing to his ears.
This is…
Kazuha feels something tug on his leg, making him lose balance and giving the doppelganger a chance to stab him, luckily rolling away before the blade could even hit him and he once again assumes his stance.
Those balls of flames are now beside the doppelganger, floating around him, and his hands are raised up again, snapping his fingers and the area is once again filled with those balls of flames.
What use is it? For what is it?
Kazuha didn't linger to think about it, using anemo to quickly maneuver himself to deliver a strike.
This time the doppelganger moved to the side, too quick to be considered human, but Kazuha can adapt, stopping himself before he could go further and twisting his body to direct a slash of air to his opponent.
The male chuckles, and like his first attack, those blades were stopped by something , creating a shrill static noise once again.
"Interesting." The doppelganger hums, obviously amused, a hand going on the chin of the mask (and yet again he is hit with familiarity ).
Kazuha growls, his composed form staggering with irritation. How can he not land a single attack on him? How could he block his attacks without lifting a finger or even using the elements?
The doppelganger hums again, still amused.
It was a chance if Kazuha has anything to say about it.
Light on his feet, anemo coating him once more, he once again aimed for the doppelganger who looked at him amusedly. With the quickness of the wind, instead of striking him head-on Kazuha twisted his body, moving behind the doppelganger.
It seemed to catch the doppelganger off guard, turning his body to face Kazuha and with a sharp twist to his blade, he cuts off the kitsune mask hiding the doppelganger's face, watching with stilled breaths as the mask was cut perfectly in half and it fell, almost slowly as Kazuha's eyes widened.
The doppelganger staggered backwards, almost like a marionette without strings, before facing him with vivid green eyes.
"Aww, the fun's over." A familiar voice huffs out playfully, his own face smirking at him, yet his eyes... "But— the game's just begun."
Peridot eyes stare at him, with markings that don't belong in his face. And in the haze of the full moon, six oddly shaped tails seemed to shimmer into existence, swaying side to side in amusement.
Heizou's voice lets out a sneer, unnatural with his own image. The smell of static choking cherry blossoms filled his nose .
This… is something he hadn't encountered before .
He couldn't move, either from the realization or something else. His hands couldn't unclench on his blade, his feet unmoving in the grass.
The doppelganger grins, all teeth, as he raises his hand. Instantly a ball of light manifested on his palms, at the same time flames almost burned off his being revealing…
No… it can't be…
That doesn't solve his second problem.
Heizou's face smirks, looking down on him with so much glee and feral amusement.
"Let's see if you can survive this, hm?"