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"So, let me get this straight, you two have lost a dog, and you'd like me to fetch it back for you? You know I don't spend my time on these sorts of cases."
Shikanoin Heizou furrowed his brow, staring inquisitively at the two. The Traveler and Paimon had shown up in Sangonomiya, interrupting his musings with a request of theirs, although from Paimon it was more of a demand.
"He's not just a dog!" Paimon flailed her arms, trying to emphasise the importance of this case. "Kageroumaru is a Canine Bunshin! He's a super special ninken who made a contract with the Traveler! There's no way he just went missing!"
Aether nodded, staring at Heizou with pleading in his eyes. Heizou just sighed, rubbing his head with the palm of his hand.
"As intriguing as a ninken is, even if I wanted to help with this case, I can't leave Sangonomia yet, I promised Gorou."
"Well we know that! That won't be a problem at all." Paimon smirked, hands on her hips.
"Oh? How so? You lost this ninken on Sangonomia?"
"We lost him in our teapot." Aether began.
"Yep!" Agreed Paimon.
"Ah right, you've told me about it before. That adepti creation. So your ninken got lost in there, hmm." Heizou closes his eyes, hand lightly tapping on his head as he considers their request.
Paimon saw his consideration, and tried to sweeten the deal, hope lighting her eyes up. "Oh, we'll use the Realm dispatch to let you in, and while we're searching, you can look around!"
"I'm not sure how the peaks of Liyue compare to Sangonomia, but it'll certainly be something different." Traveler tried, glancing at Paimon.
Heizou sighed, lowering his arms. Then, upon opening his eyes he began. "Alright, you've convinced me, let's go look for this ninken of yours, shall we."
"Yes!!" The duo cried out in joy, turning to exchange a high five with one another.
They then placed down the teapot, and entered into the Traveler's abode.
Once in the mountainous peaks however, Paimon began to shake her head. She'd leave Heizou and Traveler to search the outside of the teapot, while she remained inside, insisting that she search inside while they searched the exterior of the teapot.
And so Heizou and Aether set off, deciding where first to visit.
"Well then, why don't we first visit Wintersweep Peak, you've got a few floating islands there haven't you? Even if we can't find some clues while we're up there, we should at least find a great view." Heizou smirked, a glint in his eyes. A hand landed on Aether's wrist, tugging him along with Heizou, leading them to Wintersweep Peak.
A great view? Aether thought to himself, this was starting to feel like less of a missing dog search and more of a date. Heizou's carefree attitude certainly was.. unique.
Their ascend up onto the floating islands was rather smooth, Heizou's abilities often assisting on getting the height they just needed. Soon enough, they were on the tallest island, and they could see out onto the clouds and other mountainous peaks of the teapot.
"Hmm." Heizou muttered, his hand tapping his head again. "Just as suspected, this place is a dead end, no clues here."
"Ah..." Aether muttered, downcast.
"But one suspicion of mine is confirmed." Heizou nodded, a smirk smug on his face.
"Oh?"
"The view here is truly amazing, you've done a great job with these statues traveler."
Heizou smiled as he said these words, accompanied by a warm glow of the sub behind him. At this moment, Aether was almost blinded by his charms.
A-ahhh. Heizou is so... WAIT. Remember the plan Aether! REMEMBER. He glanced away, blinking quickly and trying to draw the red away from his cheeks.
"I appreciate your... compliment, but shouldn't we get moving on?" Aether tried to draw the subject away, lest he get distracted again.
"Alright, alright." Heizou conceded, nodding. "Well then, let us begin our descent."
Aether turned away, and had just started his descent when Heizou continued.
"By the way, as we go down, can I hold your hand?"
"E-eh?!" Aether stumbled, his foot slipped from the rock and started to cause his freefall, before a firm grip on his wrist tugged him back up safely on the island.
"As I'm sure you've just seen, these islands are not nearly as safe as they are beautiful, and for a weak little detective like me, I may just slip and get hurt. But if I held hands with the illustrious and world renowned Traveler, surely there'd be no way I got hurt."
"..." Aether stood up from his place on the ground, his face turned to the side. "Fine.." He mumbled.
"What was that?"
Aether grabbed Heizou's hand, his face turned away from him. "Let's get going." As they walked off together, Aether hoped the fact he was in front was enough to hide the red all on his face. But from the gleaming smugness he felt from behind him, he had a feeling that wasn't so. Honestly...
Why did Heizou have to be the true dreamy one?
_-_-_
In the end, the duo had searched all of the islands, and not only had there been no sign of the ninken, but the was zero clues to be found either. Aether expected Heizou to be downcast by it, but the man was as upbeat as ever, happily exploring the islands with Aether. In the end neither of them had found anything, and ended up back where they started, by the mansion.
"Doesn't it bother you?" Aether asked, genuinely curious.
"Hmm? How I found no clues? Of course not." Heizou smirked, his eyes held a teasing glimmer, he'd long since figured it out.
"Why not?". Aether was a bit hesitant, he didn't put it past Heizou to have figured it out alright, but he was really hoping he wasn't that transparent to Heizou.
"I'm sure you already know, considering your the one who planned this birthday date, after all." Heizou's hands settled in a folded position on his chest, a grin resting on his face. Aether was caught, had long been caught, and he was finally called out for it.
"Ahaha." Aether blushed, embarrassed. "Were we that transparent? When me and Paimon got that birthday letter, we wanted to give you a fun experience for today, but we weren't quite sure what to do, so we made up a case of my ninken going missing. Paimon has been in the mansion setting up the party."
"I appreciate the effort Partner, it's not everyday you get to enjoy the scenery such as this. Although..." Heizou's grin switched back to a smirk, as the man walked up to his face, and put his lips to his ear.
"Next time you need my attention, no need to lie, alright? Lie to me again, and I'll have to punish you." The whisper echoed through Aether's mind, and he stumbled back, unable to hide the furious red on his face this time.
"...Under ..Understood, Heizou." After a moment of regaining his composure, Aether began again. "Let's head inside, Paimon's been waiting for you."
Heizou laughed, finding a clear joy in Aether's cute reactions. "Sure thing Partner."
Despite the lack of a case, Heizou had come to a conclusion on one thing that day. His partner truly was adorable. He couldn't wait until it was Aether's birthday, he'll certainly prepare.. quite the suprise.