33 Nightmare
"It's my victory."
"I can't believe it, I lost to you!"
Under a Sakura Tree, an extremely intense battle lasted for hours.
It was a battle that involved Karuta, a type of card game.
Ei had finally defeated all her friends and obtained her hard-earned victory.
She stood up in joy, satisfied that her efforts to work up on top had paid off.
One by one, she received her hard-earned prizes from her friends.
It was Chiyo's turn.
"As for my reward … how about this?" the Oni looked at her smugly, "I'll find you a partner."
"Partner …?"
Ei was confused.
"You can't just be involved in fighting all the time." Chiyo held up something in her right hand. "When I find someone suitable, I`ll give him this talisman."
There was another round of laughter, Sasayuri and Kitsune Saiguu giving her approving nods.
Romance was the furthest thing from Ei's mind.
As Raiden Makoto was no great fighter, she held it upon herself to be her blade.
She was the Shadow Empress, the Kagemusha.
"Miko?"
A cute little pink fox had ran over to her side, nuzzling and gently rubbing her tiny head against her hand.
"Even your pet thinks so too."
Chiyo snickered as she looked at her, seemingly trying to pressure her into agreeing.
Ei lifted the furry animal with both hands and held it close to her.
A/N: Ei holding Miko.
The baby fox made a soft squeal as it stretched forth both her paws.
Ei knew all too well what that playful pet wanted.
She hugged the pet close to her with one hand and stroked Miko's fur on her head in gentle motions.
The baby fox closed her eyes, leaning into her touch. The pet was enjoying her action, as evident from her tail that twitched occasionally with each stroke Ei gave her.
A/N: Ei petting Miko's head.
"So, will you accept it?" Chiyo teased.
Ei could feel heat rushing to her face.
The idea of love between a man and a woman was simply something too foreign to her.
But since it was a reward from her friend …
… she would agree this time. It was something she earned through her hard-fought victory!
…
…
…
"Protect Her Excellency!"
Behind Ei were soldiers in purple capes, brandishing intricately engraved swords with the Tenryou's Commission Emblem emblazoned on their weapons.
They were the Tenryou Commission's most elite soldiers who were tasked with guarding the Sacred Sakura.
Upon hearing that Chiyo had betrayed her, she made her way right into the heart of the enemy's forces, taking only a small escort with her.
Ei had to put a halt to her plan to bring an end to the Cataclysm by calling forth Narukami's Holy Fury throughout Inazuma.
It was a technique that would require her to utilize the Sacred Sakura to rain her Divine Judgement on the hideous monsters that terrorized her people.
But that had to be put on hold because of this.
She could not afford to leave the Sacred Sakura undermanned for too long. Kujou Renzo could only hold on for so long with the forces at his disposal.
"Why are you doing this …?"
Her polearm cut another diagonal slice through the air, deflecting Chiyo's strike away.
"Kill … all of you … must die!"
Her friend spoke in a deep, chilling tone. There was no trace of the gentleness and sweetness that always so soothed Ei's heart.
They exchanged a few more blows.
Blackness loomed ominous over the sky, and the towering trees around cast a gloomy atmosphere over the battlefield.
There were cries and screams all around her.
Yet only one person mattered at that moment.
"Stop this … Chiyo!"
Her friend did not respond, but let out another crazed scream and charged at her.
Ei could end it all now with her next move.
The Musou no Hitotachi.
But something held her back.
This was one of her last remaining friends.
"Wake up, Chiyo!" Ei pleaded, a tear finding its way down her right cheek. "You … you still owe me a promise! Remember?"
There was no reply, only the ringing of steel against steel as their weapons clashed.
"Protect the Almighty Shogun!"
Nearby, a lone soldier who had managed to catch up with her charged straight at Chiyo.
His sword was swung with the speed and skill of a master.
But unfortunately, he picked the wrong opponent.
Chiyo's sword parried the strike cleanly and followed it up with a downward attack that split the samurai in half.
"..."
Ei watched the remains of the soldier cover the grass in red. His scattered armor pieces and swords littered the gloomy and dark battlefield.
It was then she realized that her friend was truly beyond saving.
She could no longer be selfish.
"I'm sorry. Chiyo."
Ei took a deep breath and gathered her resolve.
Makoto was dead.
No one could escape the heavenly principles.
It was her duty now to protect Inazuma from it.
To prevent a similar fate from befalling it like what happened to Khaenriah.
She had seen a nation stride forward and lose everything to the Heavenly Principles.
Eternity was the answer for her nation. Perhaps if time stood still …
"Goodbye."
Ei's figure slowly rose higher and higher admist the dark sky and above the trees, her purple robes fluttering amidst the wind.
Her hair and eyes were glowing with holy violet.
Vicious bolts of divine thunder began to strike down all around her, obliterating the unlucky monsters hit by it to ashes.
She was the Electro Archon.
It was the duty of every Archon to protect their people.
Her hand reached towards her chest.
It would be Ei's first time wielding the Musou Isshin that had been passed on to her with Makoto's death.
The unsharpened and unused blade, once a symbol of true peace, would now finally show itself on the battlefield.
"Be torn to oblivion!"
Ei summoned the sword through her chest and grasped it, swinging it and unleashing a strike in Chiyo's direction.
She was halfway through the strike when she noticed something different in Chi's eyes.
She knew that gaze.
It was fear … and relief?
Ei's hand trembled slightly.
The sword strike deviated from its path as she completed the move.
Chiyo was still standing, but her right horn and arm were gone, purple blood gushing out.
Behind her was a hill that had been split in half.
The Oni's eyes turned back to her.
The gaze held for only a second.
But it spoke volumes.
The Oni fled immediately.
"W-wait … come back … Chiyo!"
With that, the last of the original Okuzumeshuu, her precious friend, was gone forever.
…
…
Ei's beautiful eyelids fluttered open.
It was another nightmare.
She closed her eyes.
