Don't mess with an Oni's Rival
Arataki Itto. Leader of the Arataki Gang.
Kujou Sara. Loyal General to the Raiden Shogun.
These two have it out for each other like no other person on Inazuma. Dare some say, the whole of Teyvat. And their bouts start off the same as any other.
Kujou Sara is either on her daily patrols or busy in her office until she gets a whiff of trouble about. It doesn't take her too long to realize who it is as their loud voice is already like a loudspeaker addressing the world who he was and what he'll do.
Itto be as it may, is a troublemaker sure. A criminal? To an extent. Leader of a terrifying gang? Oh, he'd bet his entire savings that's correct. But of course, he has lines he doesn't cross when it comes to his dastardly deeds. Only provoke, not attack the innocent. Being an annoyance at best, but if someone wants to test his strength? What's he as an Oni to refuse? And of course, his crew and loved ones come first before him. He'd never throw them into something dangerous (on purpose) if they couldn't handle it. And he knew that if something happened to any of the people he cared for, there would be hell to pay for the sorry saps that did anything towards them.
Now a little-known secret to the public besides their close friends, but the Oni and Tengu are buddy-buddy once they have their fight and the Oni wins, then gets to brag about their victory. Or the General wins and takes the Oni to prison for the day and then lets his gang break him out. Simple, sweet, and both of them semi enjoy it.
However, today was different...instead of the usual Oni and his antics, Sara was being chasing down a thief who had stolen a poor old woman right in front of her. She had to admit that he was sly and quick on his feet, but he couldn't escape her for much longer. As they both ran down a cliffside and the thief reared the corner of it, Sara gave chase to where she was immediately hit in the face with a shovel. She fell hard onto the ground, gaining her compose best she could, but the concussion from that hit made it all the worst for her. And to add insult to injury, she felt someone kick her straight in the stomach, having her grit her teeth from the pain. It wasn't long till others joined in, ganging up on her.
She tried to stand up but the sheer number of them were overwhelming. She thought she'd die there. To some petty thieves no less, she closed her eyes, awaiting the inevitable until...it suddenly stopped. She heard screams then multiple pairs of feet running in opposite directions. She slowly opened her eyes, not feeling the energy to turn her head or anything at all as she saw two people standing in front of her. Then came three others after one of the first two shouted for help. Then she felt her body being lifted up, with her feet dragging on the sandy floor beneath them. At this point, Sara had no idea what or who was helping her, until she caught a sight of bright green hair, and a unique mask only one person she knew wears.
Kuki...
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'This is bad. Real bad.' Kuki thought to herself.
All she thought today was going to be the day she'd get to relax but she heard a commotion thinking it was her dim witted boss. However, what she saw wished it was him, as she saw Sara being ganged up on by some cocky Treasure Hoarders who were beating the literal life out of the Tengu. Kuki ran as fast as she could back into town, hoping to find someone to help get them off Sara. That's when she saw not only members of the gang she was in, but Heizou too. After she explained the situation, they quickly fought off the Treasure Hoarders, and then got Sara the hell out of that area as fast as possible. But where did they take her afterwards? The only safe place they knew, their base. Why not a hospital or maybe her freaking work place? Kuki being the brains of the gang should've thought of that, but she was so focused on Sara she just...thought of the first place to her mind.
And to make matters worse, their boss was right there. Looking at the person he called his rival frenemy, who was now unconscious from the pain she endured till now. Her bird like mask was shattered, that dark as night hair torn, and her face was just...he couldn't bare seeing her like that. Kuki could sense him getting angrier by the minute. Not the angry of being taken as a joke by Sara, oh no.
THIS WAS REAL ONI RAGE ABOUT TO BE UNLEASHED.
The entire room was dead silent, with some of the gang members tending towards Sara's injuries all while in the surveillance of the Oni. However, all actions and stares were halted the moment Itto opened his mouth and muttered one question to them all.
"Who the hell did this."
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Itto is known for impressive records of starting fights and somewhat winning them. However, even if he lost a fight, he thought he could handle, people can't disagree he doesn't back down nor give up easily. And more can say he sorts of holds back a bit towards a certain General he's always arguing with as well. It was like their daily routine. Sara finds out Itto is causing problems, she goes and 'solves' them, Itto ends up getting in jail then broken out, or just goes back to base in general, win/win for everyone.
But today? Oh...today had Itto fuming. While his gang is out on their day off, with him taking some time to relax and not cause mischief, no matter how eager he was to try something out on the streets, he just wanted to give the people of Inazuma a break from his chaotic nature. So, why waste the time? He decided to just take a nice long nap, not being bothered by anyone at all. Just what a good leader should get, some nice down time. That was until he heard his gang come back into their base hollaring like animals. Itto thought they have done something without him, possibly robbed a bank or something. Or worst, a fight... So, he stormed into the main room only to see them...carrying a very unconscious Sara in their arms.
After the brief shock of realizing their leader was there, the gang stood in various spots of the room, all keeping their eyes on Sara and one of them tending to her wounds as well. Itto however, was beyond pissed. He took plenty of good looks at what those now dead to rights bastards did to her. He could feel his blood literally boiling from the sight, and couldn't bare it anymore. As much as he wanted to see Sara get better, he couldn't let those assholes get away.
He got up from his seat and then asked his gang one simple question,
"Who the hell did this."
All of them looked at him with a shocked expression, but it wasn't long till Kuki just blurted out what she saw. Treasure Hoarders...of course it's those low lives. They'll do just about anything just to build up their riches. Even if it means harming those who couldn't fight back. It made Itto sick to his stomach on how it all transpired. But that could wait till he got the full story from Sara.
Without giving it all a second thought, Itto grabbed his club, and headed out the door. He told his crew to watch over Sara, and not to follow him. They thought it was just for pride, but he just didn't want them to see what he was about to do, and what he was about to do was kill every single Treasure Hoarder nearby the spot Kuki said they found Sara at.
As Itto ran across the beach side of the cliff, he could already see the smoke of a nearby campfire in the sky. Then, he saw them. All minding their business while they counted their winnings. Itto didn't yell or shout, nor any kind of warning as he bashed one of the bigger thieves straight on their dome, smashing his head in. After that, he saw red. Literal carnage as he felt arrows and knives piecer his skin and body, but he couldn't give a shit about it all. He was here for one reason and one reason only; to make sure they got what they deserve for messing with his rival.
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It's been hours since Sara was knocked out, and when she finally came to, she was on someone's couch. She had a nice puffy quilt over her, and from the looks of the windows...it was dark. She moved his aching limbs abit, feeling the bandages sticking to her wounds and skin from the dried-up blood on them, and when she turned her head towards her right, she saw the Arataki gang. They were all in the same room as her, sleeping soundly with Itto sitting up on a wall, by himself. He didn't see Sara waking up nor heard her as she got up. Sara called out to him softly, gaining the Oni's attention quickly as he looked at her with tears now forming in his eyes. Before Sara could do anything about it, she was pulled into a great tight hug from Itto, who quietly shouted at her how much he was worried for her.
Sara, not knowing how to respond just told him to let go of her, and that she was fine. But after that tight squeeze, she might want to get some broken bones checked. Sara then looked at the Oni some more, realizing that he also had some bandages and dried up blood stains all over his body. She asked him how he got those to wish he responded with a very Itto response of, 'Oh y'know, just the usual fighting.' Sara rolled her eyes at the answer, with Itto silently cherring in his mind that she took the fake answer than press him for the real one.
Back to the time, it was close to midnight Sara could probably tell. So, she said her goodbyes to Itto and made haste towards the door out of their base. But before she could leave, Itto grabbed her hand softly and made sure she was okay to walk alone back home. Sara was already beginning to get irritated by Itto, asking him why he cared to which he just said he was worried for her. Not thinking she'd actually wake up at all too. Now, they both know the other very well. So, they both know when one lies and when one tells the truth. And with Itto; it's a special case for Kujou. As she could always tell he was lying by his tone. And be as it may, she couldn't detect a hint of him lying as he looked at her, easing up his tough guy act and genuinely wanting to let her know she's free to just stay the night with them, then return home the next morning. It wasn't like Sara was having second thoughts on it or something whe she did agree, all she wanted was to get closer and wait for all of them to fall asleep so she could see if they truly did something nefarious.
Truly, a genius plan. That's why she was laying back down on the comfy couch and covering herself up too. To only paint the illusion, she was going back to sleep, to just wake up and sneak attack them all. That's why when Itto said goodnight to her, she said it back with a thank you at the end, lowering his guard!
And that's why...she slept soundly. Knowing that she was surrounded by people who would not think twice about saving her.
