Chapter Text
Yae Miko’s laugh echoed behind them as Gorou and Lumine retreated from the Grand Narukami Shrine. Why did they fail, Gorou thought to himself. The fortune slip they drew said Good Fortune? The pair continued running. Out through the main gate of the shrine and down the long winding staircase cut into the side of Mt. Yougou.
Gorou’s heart was beating hard in his chest as he was running away. Lumine ran next to him, her hand resting on his shoulder. They slowed their running to a moderate jog, stopping in front of a small roadside shrine.
Gorou’s heartbeat wasn’t slowing down. It usually calmed down as soon as he stopped running. It must be because Miko had gotten under his skin.
But it wasn’t just his heart that was acting weird, his shoulder was warmer than usual. The shoulder that Lumine had been holding on to. She had removed her hand by now, but the warmth was still lingering on Gorou’s shoulder.
Lumine was standing next to Gorou, close enough for her scent to fill his nose. She smelled really nice. He hadn’t noticed that before. A smell of flowers, but a flower he didn’t know. Maybe it was the white ones she had in her hair? He had never seen a flower like that in Inazuma. The flowers suited her. White and pure like her with a hint of the same purple as her electro powers.
Gorou suddenly remembered Yae Miko’s teasing words from earlier. You can just leave all your fur grooming to your little friend here. The words made Gorou’s mind start to wander. He imagined what it would be like if Lumine would groom his fur. Her hands gently combing through the fur of his tail. Laying his head on her lap while her hands moved up and started softly petting his ears. Her sweet scent all around him, lulling him into a light slumber.
“...rou. Gorou!” Lumine’s voice woke Gorou up from his daydream. He quickly looked up and found her eyes on him. He didn’t notice her calling him at all.
What had he been thinking about!? Lumine was a hero of the Watatsumi Army. The honorable Captain of Swordfish II. She was a person he should respect in all he did, not daydream about. Gorou silently cursed his indecent behavior before focusing his attention on the Traveler.
~~~
Lumine was running away from the Grand Narukami Shrine together with Gorou. Her thoughts wandered as they fled down the stairs lined with red gates.
Why did it all go so wrong with Miko? Lumine was only trying to help, but she felt like she had only made things worse. Her helping had somehow just hurt Gorou.
Lumine glanced over at Gorou’s face. He looked scared and hurt. Was that tears forming in his eyes? She would pretend not to see them, fearing she would only hurt him even more if she noticed him crying.
Lumine was feeling a bit shaken by Yae Miko. She couldn’t understand how Miko could get into her mind so easily. It scared her slightly. Recalling the earlier teasing, her eyes wandered to Gorou beside her. Lumine noticed how the sunlight made the fur on Gorou’s ears and tail shine. Light brown and white fur glistening like copper and snow. It looked really soft. Lumine wondered if Gorou actually would sleep holding his fluffy tail. She tried to recall his expression earlier in the day. She remembered his flustered response to the question from the fox priestess. He probably did sleep holding his tail, the image of it formed in Lumine’s mind. Cute. Lumine’s thoughts kept focusing on Gorou. Thinking about how he was always trying to act older than his actual age. It made her sad how all the events in Inazuma had forced him to grow up so fast.
By now Lumine and Gorou had stopped next to a small shrine. Breaths slowed as they calmed down from the ordeal with Yae Miko.
“I’m sorry Gorou.” Lumine apologized. “I couldn’t be of any help to you.” She didn’t get a response. Looking over to Gorou, she wondered how upset he was by the whole thing.
“Gorou are you alright?” Lumine asked. His eyes were fixed to the ground, a panicked look on his face, breathing still rough. Lumine was starting to get worried now. She reached out a hand and grabbed his arm.
“Gorou. Gorou!” Lumine said louder than before lightly shaking his arm.
Gorou’s eyes snapped up meeting her eyes as he finally heard her calling. Gorou’s eyes looked like turquoise gemstone. Lumine hadn’t realized how pretty they were.
“Are you alright Gorou?” Lumine asked again with a gentle voice. Gorou nods silently. Lumine noticed how she was still holding on to Gorou’s arm, quickly releasing her grip on him.
“Let’s go to Inazuma City” Lumine said to try and soften the tension in the air. “We can get some dango if you’re hungry?” Lumine could see how Gorou’s ears perked up at her words, his tail beginning to sway slightly. It looked like Gorou wasn't aware of the actions of his limbs. Does he like sweets? Lumine thought to herself. She couldn’t recall them ever eating anything sweet together. They’d had plenty of meals together when she was on Watatsumi fighting beside him. But never anything sweet. This was a new side of Gorou.
I bet he’s really cute when eating sweets.