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On the day of her birthday, the birds are already cheerfully singing their morning songs as Ei makes her way to the Grand Narukami Shrine. It may be a special day for her, yet she still has to attend work as any regular day, and today her affairs led her to the well known Shrine. But today, she feels uncharacteristically excited.
Ei quickly finds Yae Miko in front of the Sakura tree, easily giving orders to the other Shrine maidens as they hurry from one place to the other following her guide. It’s like her eyes are polarized to her, Ei has always found her pink hair and the sly curve of her body the first thing in every room she walks into, ever since she can remember.
“Good morning, dear Ei.” Miko says when she approaches her. Her sweet voice makes flowers bloom inside Ei’s ribcage. “ My , by the looks of you, you must have had a very pleasant dream last night. Was I in it, by any chance?”
Ei feels her cheeks grow with pink colors. “I fear the answer to your question may be inappropriate, lady Guuji.”
The two of them have been dating for a couple of months now, ever since Ei finally left her plane of Euthymia for good to rebuild the Inazuma of the future her sister longed for; but to respect Miko’s boundaries as much as her own, outside of the comfort of the Tenshukaku and, especially, in front of the other Shrine maidens, they keep her appearances as mere friends. Miko has never liked prying eyes when it comes to her personal matters; and Ei, of course, is happy to oblige as long as she’s comfortable in her relationship with her.
“Ever the gracious and well-behaved lady, aren’t you? Even during your birthday.” Miko says, her lilac eyes gentle on hers. “Well, as luck would have it, I happen to be in a good mood today. How about I do something nice for you, hm? ”
“Really?” her eyes light up, an easy smile blooming on her lips. “ Oh . I meant to say— What kind of thing are you thinking of, Miko?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know.” Miko chuckles, placing a hand politely in front of her mouth. “Why don’t you stay at the Shrine after everyone’s shifts are over? You might like your surprise.”
After that, Ei leaves and spends the day diligently working at the Tenshukaku— rigorously organizing the documents, tirelessly planning expeditions to make Inazuma a safer land, signing important documents, scattering the troupes, and so on. She's so focused on her work that she barely notices the hours quickly passing by.
After everyone’s gone home for the night, Ei remembers to make her way back to the Narukami Shrine, as promised. She finds Yae Miko in front of the Sakura tree again. This time she’s wearing the ceremonial robes, her formal attire with beautiful cloth in delicate pink, elegant blue and delightful broderie, hugging every edge and curve of her body. She looks stunning .
Miko looks at Ei from the corner of her sharp eyes and she starts performing a dance, not exchanging a word first. Ei recalls asking her time and time again to let her see the ceremonial dance, but she’s always been too stubborn to let her witness it. And now here she was, her only spectator, a dance for her eyes only to see. Ei is overjoyed, to say the least, her chest full of an achingly familiar warm feeling.
Miko dances under the moonlight for what feels like hours, though truthfully Ei has completely lost the passage of time in the swirling of Miko’s hands in the air, the sweet scent that surrounds the scenery, cherry blossom petals falling around her body, falling on her cotton hair, as she sways with the faint music.
When the music softly ends, Miko slowly stops her graceful movements. The dance is over, but Ei’s eyes are still on her— The way her pink hair cascades down her shoulders, soft rose-colored locks framing her delicate features as she catches her breath, her long eyelashes caressing her cheeks. Her lilac eyes find hers looking back at Ei, dumbfounded at her beauty and grace.
“Take a picture, it’ll last longer.” Miko winks as she walks up to her with ease. “Was that to your liking, dear Ei?”
“That was— You were stunning . The dance was bewitching , and the scenery was breathtaking , I—” Ei opens her mouth. Closes it. Tries again, feeling like every word that’s scattered in her brain just isn't enough to captivate just how much she feels right now. “I don’t have enough words, I’m afraid. Thank you , it was simply perfect, Miko.”
“ Oh? Wait a moment, Ei. You’re not planning to just leave it at that, are you?” Miko places her hands on her hips, one eyebrow raised as she looks down at Ei. “Come on, I've shown you my beautiful dance— now it's your turn. Shouldn't you offer me something in exchange?”
Ei looks back at her, her sharp lilac eyes demanding compensation, but her head feels too light, traces of Miko’s movements still dancing behind her eyelids, and her chest feels tight with how much she feels for her. If Miko were to place her ear on her chest, she’d hear the sound of one too many flowers blooming under her warmth.
Ei doesn't have eloquent words to give to her, so she does the next best thing, and she leans forward, pressing a kiss to her mouth.
She touches her lips to the warm skin of Miko’s lips, brushing like a summer breeze swirling over the Narukami Shrine, comforting and new. Miko reciprocates the kiss, quickly reaching up with her hands to hold the base of her head, and Ei gets lost in her scent.
She lets Miko kiss her until her stomach unfolds and Ei loses track of time and space, of the feelings that she keeps tucked in underneath it.
“Hm, I suppose that will do.” Miko says playfully when they part from the kiss, a glimpse of pride sitting behind her lilac eyes.
Ei clears her throat, her chest uncharacteristically full.
“What you did tonight for me, it really was perfect. I wanted this more than I’ve ever wanted anything. I want everything with you. I love you , Miko.” Ei lets the words fall out of her lips before realizing the weight of what she said. She's suddenly nervous. Was that too soon? Too personal? She's quick to dismiss her words, the solemn look of an archon back on her soft features. “You don’t have to say it back, however. I only… I suppose I wanted you to know that. That is all.”
“ Hm , alright.” Miko says simply, an easy smile on her lips. Ei stares back at her, her heart picking up the pace. Is that really all she has to say to her heartfelt confession? At her confusion and distress, Miko chuckles. “Not the answer you were expecting to hear, dear? Ah , the look of stunned surprise on your face… I think it might be my favorite.”
“Are you messing with me right now?” Ei reluctantly says. She knows Miko to be a tease, but she also feels her heart on the edge of shattering here.
Mercifully enough, Miko shakes her head, locks of rose-colored hair framing her face at the motion.
“No, actually I am not. Or to put it another way, seeing your reaction was exactly what I wanted to do.” She draws a playful smile, knowing full well the effect she has on her. She has Ei on the palm of her hand, right where she wants her. “You are far too much fun, I can't help but tease you from time to time.”
“Alright, but I stand by my words, Miko. You’re the scariest, most clever, fascinating person I know, and often I find myself out of breath just by looking at you. I love you .” Ei says, deciding to give her the full truth and come clean about it. She’s been running from her feelings for centuries now, but she decided to stop running ever since she left her plane of Euthymia for good. It’s only fair Miko knows of the emotions she makes bloom in her chest. Ei clears her throat, Miko’s sharp gaze on her far too intense for her to handle at the moment. “Now, let us get going. It’s getting fairly late.”
“Alright, dear Ei.” Miko says, her voice soft like it’s made of velvet. “ Ah , one last thing before we leave. Will you lend me your ear, please? We wouldn’t want anyone to pry on our secrets now, would we?”
“Alright.” Ei says, heart drumming against her chest. “What is it, Miko?”
Miko leans to her, her delicate hands sliding down to her waist and holding her there, her lips all too close to the shell of her ear, not close enough.
“The secret is— I love you too . The way you look at me, like I’m the only beating heart in the world— I didn’t have much of a choice in the end, did I?” Miko says, and she sounds like she’s smiling, like saying, It’s you ; saying, I could have anyone in the world, but I need it to be you. “Now, do me a favor and don’t go spreading the word out there. I have a public image to uphold, after all.”
“Are you being serious?” Ei can’t resist drawing a smile, too, joyful and gentle in her demeanor as she palms Miko’s cheek, the soft skin that meets her under. “You love me too, Miko?”
Ei glances at her through the evening light with her heart sitting on her lips, smile spread wide, and she can’t ignore the warm and achingly familiar emotion taking root in her chest. And she swears, in this moment, she can feel the way her entire body trembles under Miko’s gentle and lilac gaze.
“Your honest heart is one that has captivated me, yes . I really do have high hopes for you.” Miko says, and squeezes her waist lightly. Her eyes find Ei’s and she stays there, like nothing exists in her that doesn’t know her name. “You will do your best to live up to them… Won’t you, my love?”