Archive of Our Own

It was a calm day in Inazuma, and Kujou Sara was exhausted.

As part of her daily prayer, Sara took much needed time to meditate. Usually, she walked away focused, able to mentally prepare for her day, but after diplomatic negotiations over tense conversation, she needed something else to rejuvenate her.

So, a change of scenery would be a welcome change while she aimed to meditate again, this time at the Grand Narukami Shrine. While it was a surprise to the regular visitors to the shrine to see Sara on a different day than usual, it was a pleasant one. Sara’s presence was a reminder to the divine and the mortal that sought to protect Inazuma at any cost. Sara meant safety.

To one person, Sara meant something different.

“General, what are you still doing here?” Miko asked. Sara didn’t respond, which Miko did not like.

Oh, how it quickly became a game.

Miko’s smirk lasted for a second, if only Sara could see it. As she tracked around Sara’s sitting body, she never took her eyes off of her. It was as if Sara was prey.

“Little bird,” Miko sing-songed, still moving. Sara hated that nickname, and Miko loved to push that button. How far did Miko have to go to make the obnoxiously uptight Sara snap at her? It changed by day, and Miko was no stranger to the thrill of the chase.

No response. Miko huffed, one that Ei had often rolled her eyes at. But Ei wasn’t there - Sara was, and she would have to do.

“My little bird,” Miko continued. Her fingers skirted from shoulder to shoulder along Sara’s back. Was that a shiver? “What has kept you so enrapt?” She giggled, high-pitched and flirty. The more dense Sara was to Miko’s interest, the higher Miko had to turn up the volume on her intensity.

Still, no response.

“My, my, our stalwart General is planning something , it seems!” Miko said. Her mocking tone never wavered. “I can only imagine what our Shogun would have to say about that~.”

Sara twitched, Miko was sure of it. To keep Sara guessing, Miko started stalking in the other direction.

Focus on me , Miko thought, as she studied Sara. Whatever disturbance from Sara was gone, and Miko was only left with the rise and fall of her breathing. Boring.

“In fact, Fatui foot soldiers were seen in the area. And with our dutiful General nowhere to be found?” Miko said, crouching down next to Sara. “What would our Almighty Shogun think?” Miko’s fingers threaded across Sara’s hair, pulled it back, then leaned forward to hiss in Sara’s ear: “ What negligence .”

Another twitch and a mumble.

Pleased, Miko moved to Sara’s other side and whispered in that ear, “Do you think you are exempt from our Shogun’s wrath, little bird?”

Sara grunted, face screwed up.

“Don’t you want to stay in her good graces ?” Yae traced a finger along Sara’s jaw, causing another twitch. She moved in front of Sara. That concentrated face was so cute .

With a giggle, Miko slid her hand around and cupped Sara’s cheek. “Don’t you want to… feel her approval?” She ghosted her lips against Sara’s as she spoke, noticing them part, as if in anticipation.

Sara gasped.

“Oh my , your face is all red!” Miko said, pushing Sara’s hair behind her ear. “Do you feel alright?”

“Mmnng…” It was soft, but it was a Sara-like protest nonetheless.

Miko cupped her hand to her ear. “Hmm? What was that?”

“Guuji,” Sara mumbled.

“ Yes? ”

Sara’s brows furrowed. “What are you doing ?” She whispered it, as if the concept of meditation went by the same rules as a library.

“Seeing to my beloved guest’s needs, of course.” Miko shifted her position so her head laid in Sara’s lap, making Sara’s eyes shoot open. “Is that so wrong?” Miko giggled.

Eyes jammed shut. “I’m meditating, now is not the time.”

“You’re cute when you pout. Ahh, if only you could see it,” Miko trailed off with a giggle. She reached up and brushed Sara’s cheek. The agitation was starting to come off Sara in waves, and Miko’s tail was nearly wagging.

“D-don’t say such things!” Sara yelled, unable to control the volume of her voice. Several passersby stared as they walked past, whispering to themselves about the commotion. Sara heard; her face contorted into frustration mixed with shame. How could she lose her composure in public? Especially at a sacred shrine?

Miko hummed, then sat upright in front of Sara. Her tail twitched in Sara’s lap. “Pay those nosy humans no mind.”

Defeated, Sara opened her eyes and cast them down. The fluffy pink tail moving around on top of her crossed legs was the object of her interest.

“I missed out on a whole day of training, of my duties,” Sara lamented. “And for what? To get agitated when I aimed to find inner peace?”

Miko leaned back on her palms, giving Sara a lazy smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “My dear General. In order to access inner peace, you must first have it to begin with.”

Sara’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t know what you mean.”

With a shallow laugh, Miko winked. “Don’t you? You hold yourself to as ridiculously uptight standards as Ei.” She crawled into Sara’s lap and threw her arms around Sara’s neck. “When’s the last time you let go? Had fun that wasn’t scheduled ?” One hand rested on Sara’s thigh. “Relieved yourself of what I imagine is a horribly repressed existence?”

“I have fun.” Sara pouted at Miko’s raised brows. “I do . And I’m not repressed! I’m just…” She trailed off, looking away.

Miko snorted. “What, saving yourself for the Shogun?”

Sara’s face, if possible, got redder. “ W-why would you say such a thing?! ” She clapped a hand over Miko’s mouth.

“Well? Isn’t it obvious?”

With the pitiful look Sara gave her, Miko relented. “You could have any woman you wanted, but you’re scared of distracting yourself from the Shogun.” The shocked expression on Sara’s face only egged Miko on. “So, it only makes sense that if you were to pursue the Shogun, you couldn’t be distracted from her, by her.”

“Th-that’s not…”

“Hmm? Speak up, little bird.” Miko caressed Sara’s burning cheek.

Sara grumbled. “That’s not entirely true.”

Miko grinned; by Sara’s accounts, it seemed genuine. “Oh? So I was right!”

Just as Miko’s hand started to trail down from Sara’s cheek, Sara grabbed it. “She’s not the only one I want, Miko.”

Sara’s intense stare led to a kiss, which Miko responded to with electricity, which Sara re-responded to with her own. They fought for dominance, Sara’s out of desperation, and Miko… well, perhaps a bit out of desperation as well.

When Sara finally pulled back, she whispered, “Miko…” Her first kiss in ages, and it was with Miko. Sara’s heart thrummed in her chest.

Miko cleared her throat, not wanting to appear like she enjoyed it too much. She giggled, not being able to help herself.

“Oh Sara, you should visit me more often.”