Chapter Text
“This cannot be the doing of The Resistance.”
Ayato’s voice was hushed, barely overpowering the shuffling of papers and the whispers between the group. They had to be quiet, under the radar, in case news got out to Yuki’s captors about this entire investigation.
When the news of Yuki’s kidnapping had reached Ayato, he knew he had to act. Initially, he had thought of banishing all of his staff, minus Thoma, of course, and putting the entire estate into lockdown to prevent news of their plans from leaking.
However, he knew that this wouldn’t work. Sure, it would prevent information leaking, but it would look highly suspicious if one of the clans of the Tri-Commission suddenly went into a full on lockdown, just as Yuki was kidnapped. The kidnappers would make the connection, especially since the Kamisato and Kujou clans worked together. Thankfully, the emergency escape routes Ayato had constructed during the war had finally been put to use, and everyone had been successfully smuggled into one of Ayato’s meeting rooms. Staff had been banished from this wing of the house, but the group still had to be quiet. Word of this meeting could not leave the estate, at all costs.
It had what led to now, everyone huddled around a table in one of Ayato’s meeting rooms, the once spacious area cramped and stuffy, desperation and fervour clinging to the air. Itto had managed to bring the most manpower with him, convincing his gang, Shinobu, and surprisingly enough, Yoimiya. Most people, including Sara, didn’t know her very well. But, both Itto and Ayaka had vouched for her. And who was Sara to deny anymore manpower to this investigation?
General Kujou Sara.
Listen carefully. We have Yuki. If you wish to see her alive again, you will follow our orders.
We require 1,000,00 Mora for her return. Withdraw this money from the Kujou account. Put the money in your red kinchaku bag, and leave it in the marked barrel in the warehouse with the green door by the docks. Return at 2:30am to retrieve Yuki. Follow the times strictly, or Yuki will die.
Do not try anything funny with us. We have eyes and ears everywhere. We will not hesitate to kill our little hostage if the authorities are alerted. Our people have suffered under your Archons rule for too long. We will show no mercy.
The Sangonomiya Resistance.
“As you see here,” Ayato continued, pointing to the kanji of the ransom note. “This note is written with Inazuman kanji. If this was truly from The Sangonomiya Resistance, it would be written in the Watatsumi dialect. They have slightly different kanji to mainland Inazuma. I have seen the difference in the paperwork from them I have received. Unless they have purposefully written the note in Inazuman dialect, which I doubt, this cannot be them.”
A white hot ball of anxiety knotted tighter in Sara’s stomach. She had known as soon as she had read the letter that this couldn’t have been the Resistance. Whilst Sara and Kokomi weren’t close, they were not enemies. Sangonomiya would never stoop to this level, ever. And why would they? The war had been brutal on both sides. Sara had been downright generous to Watatsumi during the peace agreements. Whilst the Sangonomiya Resistance did have a motive, it would be downright stupid to act on it. And Sangonomiya wasn’t stupid. Nobody wanted another war.
But if it wasn’t the Resistance, then who was it? Sara felt bile rising in her throat, before she swallowed it down. She had to be strong. For Yuki.
“If I could add, it’d also be really inconvenient for anyone travelling to or from Watatsumi Island to request for the trade off to be at Ritou.” Thoma explained, unfurling a map of Inazuma onto the central meeting table. “If you look here, Ritou is the furthest port from Watatsumi Island. If they wanted to travel back to Watatsumi Island after the trade off, like you’d expect, surely they’d ask to meet at a closer port? It’s not like they want to hide their identity or anything either, since they’ve signed the letter.”
Sara rubbed her head, a headache forming from the stress, anxiety flooding her every sense as she spoke.
“So, if it is not the Resistance, then who is it?”
~~~~~
Yuki really, really missed her mommy.
It was scary in this room, and it was even scarier now since it was getting dark. She had cried so much that no tears were coming out now. She didn’t know what to do. Her head hurt. Why had those men taken her? What had she done wrong?
At least she didn’t have that bag on her head anymore. The men had forgotten to put it back on her after they left. Yuki wished they’d taken off the ropes on her hands and legs too, they rubbed and hurt. But, at least she could see now.
Yuki hadn’t ever seen a room like this before. It wasn’t like back home. There weren't the normal house things like a fireplace or a table or a bookshelf. Instead, there was nothing but lots and lots of boxes and barrels, all stacked on top of each other. It didn’t smell like a normal house either. It stank of fish. And not in the way that it did when Sara made tekkadon or buri-daikon at home. Home. She wanted to go home.
Yuki laid on the concrete, nothing but the quiet murmuring of water keeping her company. Her mouth was so dry, and she was really thirsty. Maybe she could get a drink?
Yuki perked her head up, shuffling as best she could as she tried to find where the sound was coming from. The ropes tying her up were painful, but the men hadn’t done a very good job. She could still wiggle her legs enough to crawl around a bit, even if her face scraped along the floor as she moved.
Determined, Yuki wiggled her way toward the sound, hoping that she’d manage to get a drink of water. But, as she approached, she was let down by the sight of a small grate built into the wall, keeping her from getting to the water below. Dejected, Yuki flopped down onto the floor, staring at the water below as the dim light of the setting sun sparkled across the surface.
She wished Sara was here. Sara would know what to do. She was smart. Another well of emotion swelled within her, threatening to send her back into a spiral. This time, though, Yuki felt herself pause. Sara wouldn’t give up like this, never ever. Sara was super brave and smart and she wouldn’t just cry on the floor and be sad. She would find a way to get out. Yuki couldn’t just cry and be a big baby. She had to be brave like her mommy. She had to get out.
With a very small, but determined swing, Yuki kicked the grate with all her force. It wasn’t much, since her legs were tied up, and Yuki’s foot really hurt afterwards cause she was only wearing sandals, but she couldn’t give up. Sara wouldn’t give up.
~~~~~
“I… I may just follow the instructions.” Sara muttered, her hands curled into tight fists as she stared down at the ransom note. “I will most likely be arrested and banished from my clan for embezzlement of Kujou clan funds, but if it means that Yuki is safe, then-”
Shinobu put her hand on Sara’s shoulder, reading over the ransom note as the Kamisato’s rummaged through piles of letters in the background. Apparently, they were trying to find a handwriting match to the ransom note. Sara hoped they’d find something.
“We won’t let you do that, Sara.” Shinobu spoke, leaning down closer as he squeezed Sara’s shoulder reassuringly. “Nobody here wants that. We’ll find the bastards who did this. Won’t we, boss?”
From the other side of the table, Itto and his gang nodded, the Oni looking uncharacteristically serious as he spoke.
“I swear on my Granny’s life, I’m gonna tear those assholes apart with my bare hands.”
Looking back at the note, Sara felt her headache grow as her eyes read the lines over and over again, desperately trying to find anything she could work off of. Reading had never been Sara’s strong suit, her clan prioritising her martial education over anything else. Whilst it made her a good General, the rest of her skills were lacklustre at best. Thankfully, though, she wasn’t alone.
Shinobu squinted as she leaned forward and read over the ransom note, a small flicker of intrigue lit in her eyes. “You noticed that this note is weirdly specific in points? Like, look at this section. It says to ‘put the money in your red kinchaku bag’. How’d they know you own that? And why’d they ask for such a specific bag anyway?”
Sara’s eyes widened as she read over the passage again, the pieces clicking together in her mind.
“You are right. How would somebody know I own that bag? It was gifted to me, but I barely use it, as it is quite expensive and honestly, quite gaudy. But, to know of its existence, the person who wrote this would have to be close to me.”
“Shit, whoever this is is the worst. Even greedy enough to ask for the mora to be in an expensive bag so they can steal that too. Greedy bastards. That, or they’re desperate for money. You know anyone close to you like that? People with debt, or gamblers or something?”
Sara grimaced as she shook her head, sighing.
“No. As you know, my personal circle is rather small. There is nobody close enough to me who would be desperate enough to do anything like this. But…” Sara clenched her fist, a desperate hope clawing at her chest as she spoke. “At least now, we are closer to the truth.”
~~~~~
With one final kick, the grate fell away from the wall, falling into the water below. Yuki’s foot really hurt, and it had even started bleeding a bit ago. But, as Yuki watched the grate sank into the water far below, all that was forgotten. A determined smile lit up her face, as she slowly wiggled towards the now open gap. It was really little, but she was also little, so she could definitely get through after a tight squeeze. For now, though, Yuki just stuck her head out and looked around. Sara had taught her about planning ahead and about st…stara… strategy a few weeks ago, so Yuki knew she needed to think her escape through. It’s what Sara would do.
It was very dark, and the sun had set a while ago, so Yuki couldn’t see much. But, she could tell that the room she was in was quite high above the water below, the building on stilts as it sat above the water. The fall from this height would be scary. But, there was an even bigger problem than how big the drop was.
She couldn’t swim.
Tengu didn’t really need to learn how to swim since they lived in the mountains and flew everywhere. If the water below was deep, then she’d sink like a rock. And it’d be even harder to swim when her legs and arms were all tied up. Yuki wished she could fly so badly. But, right now, there weren't any other options to escape. She needed to think of a plan.
Rolling over onto her side, Yuki scrunched her eyes closed, and thought as hard as she could. She knew she couldn’t swim at all, so just squeezing through the gap and falling in the water wasn’t a good strategy. Then what could she do? Maybe if she got her ropes off, she could swim hard enough? With all her might, she strained against the ropes, hoping this time they would miraculously rip. Yet again, it did nothing, and now Yuki was just even more tired than before.
That bad word Shinobu had said then told her not to tell Sara came to mind, as she kicked at a chunk of broken off barrel, frustrated at how useless she was at this. The chunk careened out of the gap and fell into the water below, bobbing at the surface. She couldn’t get out. She’d tried as hard as she could and still failed. Her head hurt and her foot was still bleeding and the ropes were starting to hurt her wrists. If only she was that little chunk of barrel, and could just float away.
An idea quickly formed in Yuki’s mind, as her gaze drifted back towards the broken barrel beside the grate. Maybe she could float away. If she managed to break off a piece of barrel that was big enough, she could float away! Yuki felt the fire of determination reignite within her, as she crawled over to the broken barrel. She could do this. She could get out.
~~~~~
The group became ever more desperate as night set in, drawing closer and closer to the deadline. Pages and pages of documents had been rummaged through, but they were no closer to the truth. Desperation gnawed at Sara, as she looked over all of the evidence again and again and again. But nothing new was coming up. She knew it was somebody who knew her personally. Somebody who used the Inazuman style of writing. Somebody who was desperate or greedy for money. But that was it. They hadn’t gotten any closer. Sara could see the hopelessness growing on everyone's faces as it drew closer to midnight. She was starting to grow hopeless, too.
Thoma re-entered the room, looking quite uneasy as he hovered by the door, keeping it half closed. He’d headed into town, attempting to scout out anything suspicious looking in Ritou. By the look on his face, he’d found something.
“Lord Kamisato, you have more guests.”
Another guest? The room fell silent as Thoma opened the door, beckoning two cloaked figures inside the room. Sara felt herself grip the hilt of her katana, her gaze sharpening at the figures. Who were they? Had Thoma betrayed them? How could he be sure they could be trusted? Her questions were soon answered when the two cloaked figures pulled back their hoods, revealing the two people Sara had least expected. Sangonomiya, and her general, Gorou.
“Priestess Sangonomiya? What are you doing here?” Ayato stood up, bowing respectfully, as his voice dripped with confusion. He wasn’t one to be caught out like this often. Gorou glanced over to Itto, who gave him a big smile before he started to speak.
“Arataki sent me a very concerning letter about a certain group impersonating the Watatsumi people. The both of us couldn’t just sit back and allow such a smear campaign to take place. And… and we couldn’t allow a child to get caught up in this, either.”
Sangonimiya nodded in agreement, her pink hair tied up into a messy ponytail. She looked exhausted, but still held an intense expression on her face as she spoke.
“As the High Priestess of Watatsumi, I can assure you myself, General Kujou, that this is not our doing at all. We would never-”
“I know.” Sara interrupted. “I know it is not you. You would not stoop to that level. You have honour. Unlike, unlike whoever…”
Sara slammed her fist on the table, the pain immediately drowned out by the pure desperation she felt. These two seemed like the last chance they had at finding Yuki. The two unexpected arrivals took their places around the meeting table and scanned over the current evidence for a few excruciatingly quiet minutes.
“This is all the evidence then, General Kujou?” Sara nodded, watching Sangonomiya grimace as she held up the ransom note, before her gloved hand drifted towards the top of the page. Her fingers brushed over the tear where the dagger had pierced the paper, before she spoke. “This… this tear was caused by a blade, wasn’t it? Would you happen to have it?”
Wordlessly, Sara passed the blade over to Kokomi. The dagger, from a distance, looked innocuous, the wooden handle simple and uncarved. However, the blade of the dagger was an anomaly to Sara. It was unlike the daggers she had trained with in the military, an odd hook at the bottom just above the handle. Sara knew she had seen it before, but agonisingly enough, the faded memories could do nothing more than claw desperately at the back of her mind like a caged animal.
Sangonomiya delicately examined the dagger, twisting it back and forth between her hands, before the priestesses’ brow furrowed and she placed the blade back down.
“This appears to be a Kabutowari. They were used by samurai historically, however they have fallen out of popularity and are quite rare nowadays. It’s currently only used for traditional ceremonies, or by…” Sara watched as Sangonimya’s face softened into an unsettling expression of pity, a deep sense of foreboding overwhelming Sara’s senses. A hush fell over the room, as Sangonimiya choked out the final words in disbelief.
“The Kujou clan.”
~~~~~
“Please,c’mon!”
Yuki whispered, pleading with the broken barrel to crack. She had managed to lodge a big chunk between one of the ropes tying her up, and she just hoped that she had enough power to snap the chunk off. She was really tired now. It was a long time past her bedtime, and all this pulling made her arms and legs sore. But she was so, so close. Yuki didn’t know when the bad men would be back. They wouldn’t like it if they caught her escaping like this. With a resounding crack, a large chunk of the broken barrel snapped off, kicking dust up as Yuki fell to the floor with a thud. The dust got into Yuki’s eyes, which usually would be annoying, but now, it felt like a big achievement. All she had to do now was crawl over to the gap where the grate had been with the wood, and she’d be able to float away! Sara would be so proud that she’d gotten out all by herself and she’d give Yuki lots of sweets and a big hug.
Gripping the barrel chunk between her teeth, Yuki slowly dragged it closer and closer to the open grate, the old wood tasting like freedom. She squeezed her head through the gap, breathing in the salty air as she stared down at the dark water below. It was a really, really tight squeeze, but she was so so close and she just had to wiggle around and squeeze through and she’d be fr-
Her face scraped against the concrete as she was wrenched back into the room.
“No! Stop! Let me go!”
Yuki kicked and screamed against whoever was dragging her back, but was swiftly stopped when something hard and metallic hit the back of her head, making her ears ring loudly. Yuki’s world spun as a large hand yanked at her hair, forcing her to sit up. She could make out the mean men who had taken her, and the man in purple as they surrounded her, talking to someone she’d never seen before. He looked old and mean and he was scowling so deeply at Yuki that it made her blood run cold. She could barely make out their words, as her ears rang loudly.
“Apologies, Master Takayuki. We didn’t expect her to-”
“Silence!”
Takayuki’s spittle hit her cheek, as Yuki felt the back of her hair grow warm and wet. Her head throbbed painfully as the man in purple wrenched her up by her hair. Her legs trailed bonelessly across the floor behind her as the two men walked out of the room, dragging her along. The old man spoke, deep bitterness in his tone as he rambled.
“This is all because of that insolent little bitch! I had her right where I wanted, right under my thumb. I trained that little runt to be obedient to a fault, she was my perfect little tool. Yet, when my plan with the Fatui was uncovered, she didn’t even defend me! Refused to even visit me in jail, her own master! I did this to elevate the Kujou clan to new power, yet she turns around and betrays me, and even her own clan. I let her, a filthy, impure Tengu into my home, and this is how I am treated? She will pay for her disobedience.”
Everything around her was blurry and Yuki couldn’t make out what was happening, but she could feel the ground change from cold concrete, to the damp wood of a boat. The old man lit up a tobacco pipe as he continued to rant, sitting down on the deck.
“All I had to do was go for her weak points. I’m lucky you were so easily exploitable. The plan is simple. Sara gives me my rightful riches back, so I can flee to the mainland to live in luxury, and she gains her sweet little baby back. Or, well, she thinks she would.” The old man grabbed at Yuki’s neck, pressing his tobacco pipe into her cheek as he smiled sinisterly.
“I never planned to give you back. That brat doesn’t deserve it. And you’re such a cute girl. I know you’ll sell for a pretty penny.”
Hot tears rolled down Yuki’s face as she sobbed. She was so scared. She just wanted her mommy. She wanted to go home and for her mommy to tuck her into bed and kiss her goodnight. She screwed her eyes shut, praying this was just a dream as the man’s large hand tightened around her neck. This was all a dream, right? She’d wake up soon, and she’d do archery practise with mommy and dancing with Ayaka and she’d play with Itto and Shinobu and… and…
“Master Takayuki! There’s-”
The words were cut off by the piercing whistle of an arrow, followed by a loud thump. Yuki’s eyes shot open. Her vision was still blurry, but she could spot people scrambling around, as a red puddle grew from the man on the floor.
~~~~~
White hot rage burned through Sara’s veins as her target fell to the floor, lifeless.
Takayuki had underestimated her. He’d stationed guards to every entrance and exit, standard military strategy, but had forgotten one, small detail.
Sara was a Tengu.
She dived from the ceiling skylight, black wings outstretched like a bird of prey. Another arrow left her bow, grazing her target as he ran to the exit. His escape was not long lived, however, as Kuki’s blade sliced through his neck and he slumped to the floor.
Sara’s eyes darted around, pupils blown out as she scanned the warehouse. Where was her daughter? A blade plunged into her shoulder, but Sara hardly felt it as she shot around and sunk her fangs into her enemies neck. He squealed like a rabbit as she tore his throat out, blood staining her face.
The metallic taste of his blood lingered as she ripped her way through the warehouse. The others took out the remaining stragglers, guarding the doors to prevent anyone from escaping.
Yoimiya, after learning of the Kujou clans’ involvement in the kidnapping, had remembered that there had been an unusual increase in Kujou clan soldiers around the docks. Thankfully, she had had firework materials stored in this warehouse, and had managed to draw up a helpful, if basic floor plan for them. She had marked up a section by the exit, where boats could be docked up and stored as they unloaded materials. Everyone was sure that Takayuki would be there. Sara knew he was a paranoid man, and would want to stick as close to his exit as possible.
And they were right.
~~~~~
Yuki heard Takayuki curse, as people ran around desperately, trying their best to launch the small boat as quickly as possible. Arrows whistled through the air and hit the boat and crew around her, splintering both wood and flesh. She brought her hand up to her face, rubbing her eyes in a desperate plea for her vision to unblur.
Takayuki held Yuki close, scrambling around desperately, before she felt the sharp press of a blade on her throat as he held her up and roared.
“Sara! I know it’s you! Let me go, or I’ll kill her!”
The arrows stopped, and the building fell silent. Sara was here? She’d come to rescue her? Steps broke through the quiet, and the blade pressed in closer to Yuki’s throat. Even through the fog of her concussion, Yuki knew it was her mommy from a mile away. A desperate sob bubbled up from deep within her.
“Mommy!”
“Shut it!” Takayuki growled, the blade pressing closer and closer into Yuki’s neck, before a vengeful grin crept upon his face. “Oh, how I relish having this much power over you again, Sara. You were always such a servile child.”
“Let my daughter go.” Sara snarled, the midnight black of her wings spread out behind her as she approached the boat, casting a deep shadow across the floor.
“Look at how you’ve let yourself go, showing those barbaric Tengu instincts. It seems all those lessons were for nothing.” Takayuki said, unphased as he mocked her. “Oh, but I do hope this will get through your simple-minded yokai brain. Give me my money and let me go, or else I will slice the neck of your snivelling little brat to ribbons.”
The blade cut lightly into Yuki’s throat in warning as the rest of the team burst in, taking in the situation. They were here to save her. But Yuki knew. Takayuki didn’t want to let her go. He craved revenge far more than anything else. It was hopeless. He was going to kill her. The desperate whispers of the group filled her ears, as Takayuki leaned in, his voice dripping with disdain as he wrenched her head up.
“I cannot wait to watch Sara’s face as the blood drains out of you, little fucking brat."
Grief washed through Yuki as her vision swam with tears It was the last time she’d be with her friends, her family, and she couldn't even see them properly. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks and mixed with her blood, stinging as they dripped into the shallow cut on her neck. She had just wanted to be loved. That’s all she had wanted. But now… now she was… she was...
No.
She’d finally got the family she wanted. Yuki couldn’t let some… some asshole take it away.
Something warm pressed into her palm, its presence unfamiliar, but comforting, as the ropes fell away from her hands. Yuki felt embers of hope flicker within her, as she slowly pulled her arm away from her back and glanced down.
There, sitting in the palm of her left hand, was a pyro vision.
Embers grew into fierce flames, Yuki’s blood running red hot as she turned her head towards Takayuki. She had a family and friends and…this stupid old man wasn’t going to get in the way of her happiness!
Takayuki’s smug grin wavered, as Yuki lit up, her anger kindling her growing heat. He attempted to push her away, the blade dropping from her throat, but Yuki held on. She pressed her forehead into his, an frightened expression on his face as she leaned in and whispered.
“Bye bye.”
Yuki let herself go, her anger reaching a crescendo as she lit up into a ball of white hot flames. The blaze flickered in her blurry vision, crackling and untamed as Takayuki screamed.
The flames went as quickly as they came, and Yuki was left kneeling, blood dripping from her head as she knelt beside the pile of ash that once was Takayuki.
She…she had…
“Yuki!”
Yuki’s courage left the moment Sara spoke, melting into a sobbing mess as Sara ran over to her.
“Mommy you… you came for me!”
Sara’s warm embrace enveloped her as she cried. She was so tired and hungry and her head hurt so badly, but Yuki knew that finally, she was safe. Darkness crept into her blurry vision, as her head pounded more and more, and as Sara picked her up, Yuki finally slipped into the gentle, warm welcome of unconsciousness.