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A distinctively sweet smell of cinnamon and caramel alerted Kazuha of Gorou’s presence just before he felt a pair of arms close around his waist accompanied by a nuzzle to the back of his head.
“It’s good to see you too, Gorou.” Kazuha said softly, twisting around so he could look into the blue eyes of his hybrid boyfriend. Even though he’d been tipped off to the other’s arrival just before, Kazuha was still always thrown off by how the Watatsumi Island General could almost perfectly sneak up on him.
“You were gone for so long!” Gorou complained. He ducked his head slightly so their foreheads pressed together.
They were in plain sight of any passing pedestrians, near the paintings of the Five Kasen, but neither of them cared. Right now, they were the only two people in the world.
“I know, I wish I hadn’t been.” Kazuha agreed ruefully. He reached up to cradle Gorou’s face in his hands. “But I’m here now.”
Gorou let out a happy trill and ducked his head to kiss Kazuha. Neither of them were the PDA type, but the springtime air was making Gorou feel friskier than usual. He felt his tail curl happily and broke apart from the kiss reluctantly.
“Mmm, Gorou.” Kazuha whispering his name was probably the best sound Gorou had ever heard. “Perhaps we should move somewhere else to continue this. Don’t forget, this is my hometown so I know the perfect spots for a roll in the maple leaves.” He added with a chuckle.
The anemo user grabbed Gorou’s hand and led him away from the crowded festival center. Both of them struggled to contain their giddiness as they nearly collided with a few festival goers. They muttered breathless apologies and excuses carelessly.
Later, when the sun was sitting staunchly in the middle of the sky, Gorou stumbled back into the Ritou square, holding an equally giddy Kazuha in a princess carry. Yae Miko had been admiring the portraits of the Kasen although upon seeing the flushed faces of the two males and the strands of grass and leaves residing in their hair, her lip curled up into a smirk.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the Watatsumi General and the Wandering Samurai.” She crooned, sidling up to the two. “Whatever could have happened to put both of you in this messy state, I wonder.”
Much to the head shrine maiden’s disappointment, Gorou didn’t respond as she'd hoped. The general merely let out a rumble--similar to a purr--and nuzzled his face into the side of Kazuha’s face affectionately.
“Oh, we were just enjoying the floral arrangements, Lady Yae.” Kazuha responded demurely, acting as if the red mark poking its head out from the dark cloth resting around Kazuha’s neck wasn’t there.
“Hmm, is that so?” Miko responded, narrowing her eyes. “You both seem to have made quite a mess.”
“My apologies, I didn’t realize.” Kazuha replied, not sounding apologetic in the slightest. “I suppose we should go get cleaned up then, right General Gorou?”
Much to Yae’s annoyance, the geo user still hadn’t responded to her attempts to call him--and Kazuha--out. He didn’t even seem particularly lucid, still contenting himself with tending to his mate.
“Ugh, what did you do to him?” Yae huffed, her face twisting into a scowl. “He’s no fun to tease while he’s in this state!”
“Do you normally tease him?” Kazuha countered. “My, that doesn’t sound like very fitting behavior of the Head Shrine Maiden, Guuji Yae.”
“Just take him and go.” Yae huffed. “And he better be back to normal the next time I see him, Kaedehara.”
“No promises.” Kazuha answered smoothly. “Good day, Lady Yae.” He gave Gorou a little nudge and the hybrid blinked rapidly, as if he’d just been woken up. “Come on, let’s go clean up.” The anemo user’s voice had changed significantly, taking on a tone as sweet as honey.
Gorou gave a soft murmur in response and walked away, still holding onto Kazuha. Yae turned away with a flick of her ears, as if swatting away a bothersome crystalfly.
Well, she mused, I suppose if the shiba is going to be in this state more often, the Kaedehara heir will make a decent substitute for verbal sparring. At least he gives as good as he gets.