Chapter Text
If one were to describe Kujou Sara to you, they would most likely say that she was loyal and fearless, as well as rather stoic in most situations.
However, one Yae Miko would say she was a nervous bird that hovers over its faith and god alike and pecks at those who get too close to them.
She grinned in amusement as the Tengu shifted where she sat upon the tatami mats that lined the throne room of Tenshukaku. Her hand continuously strayed up to fix her already impeccably straight mask, eyes looking around anxiously as if looking for a distraction from whatever thoughts are currently tormenting her mind.
“Dear me, little bird. Shaking like a leaf. One would think you were being hunted by a hungry fox.” She grinned, stepping out of the shadows.
“Guuji Yae.” She straightened, face flushing.
The Kitsune's teeth gleamed as her smile widened, beckoning with her hand to stand. “Come now little bird, it’s time you joined the meeting. I’m tired of suffering looking at the smug face of that Kamisato boy alone.”
Sara swallowed thickly, her hand once again straying up to shift her mask. “Do you-“ she cut herself off, eyes shifting away from the Kitsune’s face.
“Hmm?” Miko shifted closer, looping her arm through the General’s, dragging her toward the meeting room. “Do I What?”
Sara glanced back at the fox Tentatively, squeezing Miko’s arm with her own for reassurance. She cleared her throat. “Do you know why I wasn’t allowed in the beginning of the meeting like I usually am?”
The Guuji cocked her head, slowing her pace as she took in the nervous aura of the General. “Do you really not know?”
“Of course I don’t!” Sara snapped, teeth pressing together, jaw tense. “I wouldn’t have asked otherwise!”
“The letter from Miss Sanganomia, do you know what it says?”
“The divine Priestess? No, she only asked that I deliver it to the Shogun and said that it was of utmost importance.” Her eyes narrowed, “why?”
Miko’s smirk rankled the Tengu, “let’s just say that your affair with the jellyfish has come to light.”
Sara’s jaw dropped, stopping completely. “My what? Jellyfish?”
The Kitsune let out a giggle, quickly covering her mouth with her fingertips. “The affection she has for you is cute. Now,” Miko tugged on the Tengu’s arm, jostling her to continue walking. “We have a meeting to crash.”
“We’re here.” Miko grinned, pulling both herself and Sara over to where the Archon sat.
Sara glanced around the room, eyes roving over each of the commission leaders present before turning and bowing to the god before her.
“Your Excellency?”
The Shogun looked to the Tengu for a moment, hand covering her mouth in thought before moving to shift a small rolled up scroll towards the woman. “Here General Kujou, give this a read.”
Sara’s brows furrowed, reaching out with trembling hands to unroll the parchment. She could feel the eyes of the other commissioners as she read.
‘To Her Excellency, the Raiden Shogun,
The Resistance of Watasumi island, while in the negotiating stages with one General Kujou Sara, have decided that there is a need for a better collaboration.’
Sara froze in horror, disbelief coloring her features. Were they saying that the negotiations weren’t good enough? Or just because it was her leading it? She glanced up at the Archon who in turn stared back at her.
“Keep reading.” Her tone was cold, void of any detectable emotion. The Tengu idly wondered if this was Ei or the Puppet.
‘ While the talks and planning are going well, there is a matter of importance that Kujou Sara can’t directly help with without me first talking to you.’
….what?
‘ I cannot currently entrust my army, my soldiers, and the protection of Watasumi island to the Kujou Commission. Something that Kujou Sara seemed to understand though seemed disappointed. I feel that the truth of the matter is she doesn’t wish to disappoint you, your Excellency, which I hope that you don’t take this as a failure on her part.
I shall get to the point of my intentions now. In order for my men to be combined with and entrusted to the Kujou Commission, I must have security and faith in the placement of Watasumi.
Meaning, we can’t fear being waged war against again, as well as cut off from supplies and have some sort of say in decisions made in our area of Inazuma.
In way of doing this, I wish to have a political union…’
Sara’s head snapped up, choking on her own saliva as she gasped, feathers sprouting from her neckline. “A political union? Your Excellency!”
Amusement flashed in electric orbs, signaling to Sara that Ei was in control of the body. “Please General, keep reading.”
She took a shaky breath, giving a soft nod of her head before resuming scanning over the parchment.
‘ In way of doing this, I wish to have a political union. This will not only benefit the standing and wellbeing of Watasumi island and its people but also of Narukami island and your own reign.
Any child born of the Sanganomia bloodline is born with divine blood blessed by the Omikami, mixing it with that of the Narukami bloodline would forever tie it both places and assure peace.
I was researching ways this could work with your own bloodline and I have found some interesting ways of possibly transmuting it. But that cannot really be discussed in a letter and I shall await another meeting to discuss further details.
I feel I must make it clear that I am not propositioning you, your Excellency. There is someone else I have in mind to wed for this political alliance to prosper. A Kujou, and I believe you know whom I am speaking of.
Please give your reply at your earliest convenience. I feel this is of great importance and much preparations must be made.
The Divine Priestess of Watasumi,
Sanganomia Kokomi’
The General's mind was whirling, she reached out, grabbing at the nearest thing, which happened to be Guuji Yae Miko, to steady her.
The Kitsune held her arms, shifting slightly closer to try and snap the woman back to this reality. “Little bird?”
Sara jerked away from the Guuji, “my apologies,” she bowed her head, shifting to look back over at her Shogun as dread boiled in her stomach. “I do not understand your Excellency. Am I to gather my brothers?”
Miko covered her mouth to hide her laugh while the rest of the Tri Commission looked away.
“Madam Kujou,” cut in the amused voice of Kamisato Ayato. “I do not believe they are who the letter is referring to.”
“He is correct,” Ei smiled, standing up and walking over to take the letter from her General. “She would have no benefit from marrying either Kujou Masahito, or Kujou Kamaji. I believe the latter is engaged. On top of that you were removed from the clan by them and despite still having the name Kujou when those with that name were stripped of any authority. You lead the Kujou Commission and the Shogunate army.”
Her breath caught in her throat, the pit in her stomach rising like bile in her throat. The eyes of the room on her felt suffocating and her wings itched to burst free to fly her away from this situation.
Miko’s words from earlier echoing through her skull. “ Let's just say that your affair with the jellyfish has come to light.”
“You recently said you wished to drop the Kujou name. But didn’t wish to be nameless, being without a clan name meant being considered dishonorable. Is this still a wish?”
Sara’s lip trembled, hands clenching into the fabric of her yuigesa. “Yes, your Excellency.”
“Then come, we have much to discuss.” Ei smiled softly, reaching out to place a soothing hand on Sara’s shoulder. “Meeting dismissed for now. We converge again when I speak with both my General and the Divine Priestess of Watasumi.”
“Yes, your Excellency.” The leaders of the commissions spoke in unison, bowing their heads in respect as they rose to leave.
“Miko, Sara, come. We have much to talk about.”