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It was a couple of days after Ei decided to lift the Sakoku Decree. Businesses were bustling in Ritou, it was almost terrifyingly flooded with people. It was like a bunch of ants crowding a puddle of honey on the floor. However, in Inazuma City, things were still almost the same. It had lots more smiling faces, more business being done, and last but not least, the feeling of eternal safety. All of these citizens no longer have to fear the wrath of their god.
Ei has already seen the new Inazuma before the Sakoku Decree was lifted, now Yae wanted her to see the aftermath of her decision. Though, Yae didn’t want to take her to Ritou. She knew how anxious Ei would get. There would be foreigners and non-mannered Inazumans alike, crowding her and invading her privacy due to her powerful status.
So then…why was she so nervous to ask? She didn’t want to take Ei on a…date…or anything…right…? Yae shot Ei her signature smirk to hide her nervousness, as she gently grabbed onto her Archon’s hand,
“That’s right Your Excellency, I humbly request of you to take this opportunity to once again see how the seed of your actions bloomed into a beautiful flower.”
“Ah…okay, hm…how about we carry out our little stroll when the clock hits noon tomorrow?”
The Guuji nodded in agreement at the suggestion,
“I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
Now it was Ei’s turn to nod. Yae disappeared to her chambers with a smile on her face.
A date it is, the Guuji thought to herself.
+-+
Yae lazily opened her eyes, her vision covered with pink and the feeling of fluffiness drowning her body.
“Mmmh…the maidens did such a good job fixing up my bed…..”
The Guuji’s eyes then shot wide open in realization,
“Wait. I’m the only one who does my bed…and I don’t remember doing my bed…”
Immediately sitting up and turning her head to look behind her, she saw 5 pink fluffy tails waving there. She lets out a small chuckle of relief before she concentrated her power on hiding them. But the fluff didn’t disappear.
“Huh?”
She tried again. Nothing.
“Eh?!!”
Yae could’ve sworn she felt herself go pale.
This can’t be happening. No way, not the day I’m going out in public. This is gonna be a long day.
+-+
“Lady Yae you’re-....here..??”
Inagi couldn’t tell if she was astonished at the beauty of Yae’s tails, or concerned about the fact that she showed her tails in the first place??
“Hm? Is there something wrong?”
Yae shot the lower class a glare.
“Oh! No! Uh, of course not!! The other shrine maidens are waiting to do your makeup in the dressing room..but may I..”
Inagi slowly reached out to one of the five fluffy tails attached to the Head Priestess. The hairs at the end of the Guuji’s tails, along with her ears, shot up at the sudden daring action. Inagi snatched her hand away in fear,
“Ah, forgive me Lady Yae.”
Yae’s face only flushed in embarrassment as she headed to the dressing room.
+-+
Yae usually wasn’t bothered by people being astonished by her, after all, it’s natural for kitsunes to be charming. However, she did not feel good about the current situation. Especially when Ei, the one SHE usually teases, is teasing her.
“Oh my goodness Miko, your tails are so wonderful! I hope you don’t mind if I touch them just like how you used to love me doing when you were just a tiny kitsune in my arms!”
Ei teasingly coos at Miko, causing her to lower her head in defeat,
“Ei…you know I only had one tail!”
“Haha, I didn’t think you’d admit it! You were such an adorable and clueless little one, but behold, now that little kitsune is now a charming, yet still undeniably adorable woman.”
Yae’s tails wagged at the compliment, and at that moment she wished she could just turn back time and not suggest this entire meetup. She gave Ei a knowing glare upon seeing the hand sheltering her mouth.
“Ugh..enough chit-chat, let’s just go on that damned walk already.”
“Of course, since my itty-bitty kitsune is so eager~”
The Guuji felt herself cringe at that statement, but she shook it off and took Ei’s hand.
+-+
The yellow, orange and pink gradients of the sunset complimented the pink and purple hues of Inazuma. Two eternal friends, lovers, and acquaintances strolled along Ritou, hand-in-hand. It was a beautiful sight…if you weren’t paying attention to the fact that Yae’s facial expression looked like her soul disappeared from her body. Everyone’s eyes were on her and the Shogun…or more like everyone's eyes were on the Shogun, and the five fluffy tails coming from the Guuji. Ei looked around in wonder and admiration of all the foreign faces. She almost looked like a child receiving candy.. which brought a soulless smile to Yae’s face. That smile quickly faded when they appeared in front of a certain tengu general.
“Almighty Shogun! Oh! Lady…Yae…???”
Sara squinted at the Head Priestess’s tails to make sure her eyes weren’t deceiving her. Once her eyes confirmed that what she was seeing wasn’t an illusion, her eyes immediately went wide,
“Oh my…”
“Hello, Ms. Kujou!”
Ei gave a soft smile and a wave to the general. Sara waved back, her eyes still glued to the tails in front of her. The amount of disappointment on Yae’s face is immeasurable, it greatly contrasted with her light and happy voice,
“Ah, Sara, you sweet sweet general..!! What brings you here??”
If she didn’t sound like a wasted middle-aged mother before, she definitely did now.
“Oh um,” the tengu saluted, “I’m just here making sure that the Irodori Festival is running smoothly Lady Yae. Especially after the whole situation with the green bard from Mondstadt.”
If Ei wasn’t a bit bothered by everyone’s attention slowly shifting more and more to her companion before, she CERTAINLY was now.
“I must say Ms. Kujou, your dedication to keeping Ritou safe during such a rowdy festival is truly admirable!”
“O-oh uh, it’s such an honor hearing those words come from your mouth Almighty Shogun!! I’ll keep working then!!”
Sara bows out of respect for the Shogun and leaves to start barking orders at the Tenryou Commission guards once again.
“A dense one she is, but at times she can be quite useful.”
Ei lightly chuckles before pointing at a very familiar face,
“Hm, Miko..that boy right there sort of reminds me of the canine general from Watatsumi Island that you spoke to me about.”
Fear. Absolute fear.
“Please don’t look this way…”
Turquoise eyes locked on Miko, then her tails, then Miko again. Shock turns into a face of victory as he confidently walks toward the two.
“So it looks like I’m really not the only one with a tail here! Hah! Take that Yae Miko!”
“Hm? What tails? Oh, poor Gorou…that seasickness of yours must’ve given you hallucinations!!”
Yae feigned concern.
“H-huh…seasickness?! No way I’m falling for a trick as dumb as that!”
“It’s said that when cute little doggies like you get seasick, they get nasty bumps on their faces and their tail color turns a nasty green…the same shade as that patch of green hair on your tail!!”
Just like that, Gorou dashed away in a flash in search of a certain fish to heal him from his seasickness.
“Miko…that was a bit mean don’t you think??”
“No...it was self-defense!”
“Of course it was.”
Ei added an eye-roll to her words.
“Whatever, let’s just keep strolling around.”
Ei gave Yae’s hand an apologetic squeeze as they kept entertaining themselves with the Irodori Festival. They bought copies of one of Yae Publishing House’s hit novels, “Pretty Please Kitsune Guuji?” and bought Dango milk at a local food stand. Ignoring all of the stares they were getting, and all of the randoms daring to touch the Guuji’s tails, they were enjoying their time.
As the festival was wrapping up, Yae remembered that she had to visit the insufferable Yashiro Commissioner. Ei, noticing how much her mood was brought down, gently grabbed both of Yae’s hands and spoke softly,
“What’s the matter? If this festival is bothering you too much, we can just return to the Tenshukaku and rest. Please don’t bother yourself with such unwanted burdens.”
A soft, genuine smile was brought to Yae’s face,
“Thank you Ei. I’m getting very exhausted from walking so much, I wouldn’t want to get blisters on my feet…”
Ei cringed at the thought, earning a laugh out of Miko.
“But seriously, let's go rest.”
Ei nodded and gently grabbed Miko’s hand.
“Yeah.”