Work Text:
Walking down a path within Chinju Forest side by side, Sara would occasionally glance down at Heizou to look at him. They were heading to two different locations but crossed paths at Byakko Plain so they chose to travel together through Chinju Forest but only until a certain point.
They really had privacy to themselves so Sara saw this as her now or never moment.
Sara cleared her throat to get Heizou's attention but he had his attention focused on the tanuki dancing for their attention. Of all times, a tanuki just had to be dancing!
"Would you like to follow it?" Heizou asked but he was already stepping closer to it.
"But- Okay."
Heizou's eyes widened to hear Sara was alright putting work aside for once. He mischievously smiled then took Sara's hand in his so they may follow the tanuki. Sara easily let herself get dragged around because she could use it as an excuse to step closer towards Heizou.
It was a shame Chinju Forest received little light because it made Heizou's fingers feel cold against her palm.
"So what are you doing after here?" Heizou asked as he hopped on the first rock to get over the stream.
"I am meeting with Ayato to discuss some- ugh, private matters." Sara answered while letting her hand slide out of Heizou's grip so he may cross. Once he was on the other side, she hopped over on the middle rock when she noticed Heizou's hand.
"It'll be a shame if you arrive soaking wet." Heizou explained.
Sara held a smile back as she took Heizou's hand to make the final hop over. Well good thinking from Heizou because Sara was close to slipping back if it wasn't for his tight grip on her hand and a hand on her back.
Not only did Heizou help Sara get back on both feet but he swapped their places so he would stand closer to the stream. Neither of his hands moved off her hand or back.
Sara was internally panicking on how to tell Heizou he may let her go now but his hands felt nice. No! They were.. what were they doing again?
"Oh! I see you!" Heizou exclaimed and dropped his hand off Sara's back so he may pull her in the direction of the tanuki.
Right, they were following a tanuki, and not just messing around. Her shoulders dropped because she let herself delude in such romantic fantasies.
At the stairs, Heizou walked two steps ahead so they wouldn't bump against each other. They kept the distance like such but remained holding hands.
Sara looked up at Heizou but he was busy trying to locate the tanuki in their new hiding spot. She gulped. He was beautiful, stunning, mischievous.. he was a refreshing gust of free wind.
"It's quite nice out here, isn't it?" Heizou asked to fill the void of silence.
Sara kept her eyes on Heizou when she replied with, "Yeah, real beautiful."
Sara held her breath because the following was going to be daring and crazy. She gulped then squeezed Heizou's hand so he would stop and turn around to check on her.
When Heizou looked back, Sara had closed the gap between them by stepping up the stairs. She let his hand go to cup both of his cheeks and pull his face closer to kiss him.
The two stood on the stairs in the middle of Chinju Forest with their hands on top of each other. Heizou put his hands on top of Sara's hands so they would remain there as she kissed him. This moment set a fire within Sara because how daring of her but something felt wrong.
As Sara kissed him longer, she noticed how cold Heizou's cheeks felt against her palms while her body was on fire. One would get heated from a kiss but Heizou wasn't. This wasn't..
Sara slowly pulled away but Heizou didn't pursue after her. Sara looked at Heizou with a confused look but Heizou seemed to know the answer because of his sad smile. Sara tried to pull her hands away but Heizou kept them pressed against his cheeks.
With a sigh, Heizou told Sara, "You should answer him."
So that was what was going on.
"... Sara~ Hello?" Sara suddenly gasped which scared Heizou a step back.
"Geez." Heizou sighed with a hand to his chest to calm himself. "Ah, are you alright? You were just spacing out." He told her but Sara was still disoriented.
Was that really some type of daydream? She wasn't the type to do that so casually.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Sara mumbled then crouched down to steady herself. It all felt so real and perfect, why couldn't it be true?
She looked up to see Heizou had crouched down as well. So she never kissed him.. none of that happened. Sara looked away because seeing him now hurt.
Sara cleared her throat, "I have to go." She couldn't let such silly fantasies distract her from work but she wasn't getting up. She didn't want to go.
Sara couldn't read the expression Heizou was giving her. Was he hoping she would change her mind or ask him to remain with her?
After much silence, Heizou sighed.
"Let me walk you to the Kamisato Estate." Heizou offered.
Sara looked down at his hand in hopes that maybe that daydream was a vision for the future but his hand didn't move. Of course. It was nothing but a foolish daydream.
"Okay." Sara quietly said.