Chapter Text
"Looks like someone had fun today."
Miko hides her smile behind her palm after seeing her panicked friend flinching on her seat. Soft giggles flow out from her lips while she watches Ei fumbling over the papers to hide the photograph that was in her hand.
Cute little Ei. Always so embarrassed.
"Miko!" Ei exclaims. She gives the fox envoy a small smile, perhaps hoping it would decrease Miko's curiosity on the photograph from earlier.
Miko waves her hand in return, before circling around the table to take a seat on the opposite side.
"How did you get in here?"
The Head Shrine Maiden shoots her a skeptical look, her finger points at something behind Ei. "The door?" Miko answers sarcastically.
She sits down, automatically feeling overwhelmed at the dozens of papers scattered all over the table. The sight gave her flashbacks of her first days as the Guuji Yae of the Grand Narukami Shrine. She can still feel the ghostly aches on her back to this day.
She hears Ei chuckling from her sarcastic answer.
"I meant, how did you get past the guards?" Ei asks again. "I specifically told them I am not to see anyone at this time."
But the words only flowed from one ear to another. Or perhaps she purposely ignored Ei's question. Miko's attention was already on the photograph she managed to steal out of the clumps of papers.
She has heard tales of Snezhnaya and their incredible technologies, especially this new invention which they called a "Kamera". It's purpose was to automatically save a mortal's precious moments without the need of waiting hours on end for it to finish like how a hand drawn painting would take.
She waves the photograph in the air, beaming with glee. "Ei looks so cute here!"
Ei's eyes widen upon seeing the photograph in Miko's possession. Without a second to lose, she quickly snatch back the photograph and hids it deeper into the papers.
"Miko, don't take what is not yours!" Ei scolds her. She shuffles the papers around, making sure that the photograph would be harder for Miko to steal this time. After that, she plays with her hair and takes a long strand out of her braid in order to hide the faint blush on her ears.
Ei sighs. "What is it that you want, Miko?"
"Can't a friend stop by to visit you once in a while?" Miko responds. She props up an elbow, letting her chin rest on her palm.
"You don't visit me without something in your mind, if I were to answer my own question I would think that you're here to persuade me to do something idiotic." Ei's childlike self has disappeared now, completely overtaken by a more serious attitude. She takes the papers, putting them into neat piles. "What is it this time—do you want me to partake in your little escapades or order the kitchens to make you fried tofu?"
"I was thinking of giving the Traveler a gift." The Traveler and their companion have done too much good for Inazuma. It's amazing how someone can be so selfless even when battling with their personal problems. A smile forms on Miko's lips. "They've done so much, they deserve something in return."
"I have already prepared a gift for them. I will see to it that I will be the one to present it to them, personally." Ei did not look up from her papers. "Now, if there are no more pressing issues to address you may leave now."
Miko places a hand on her chest, as if her words had shot through her heart. "Whatever did I do to deserve such cold treatment."
She then proceeds to cross her arms and stick her tongue out. But the Raiden Shogun ignored her childish behavior, and instead pretended to busy herself with the papers. Ei buried her face into the papers, vreezing through the words but never slowing down to understand them. Perhaps, she thinks that if she ignores Miko long enough, she'll leave.
Unfortunately for her, Miko doesn't have plans on leaving just yet. The Shrine Maiden stands and takes her seat beside the Shogun.
"Eiiii." Miko leaned on Ei's shoulder, taking hold of her arm and shaking her violently. Ei struggles to break free, and is successful but earned another pout from the Shrine Maiden. "You just got out of the Plane of Euthymia, are you really spending your time isolated here?"
"It is necessary to surround oneself in silence when thinking of the future Inazuma is bound to face." The Shogun takes the remaining pile of papers and then goes to sit on the other end of the table.
Miko frowns. But pouting is all she can do for now since Ei is acting so hardheaded today. She stays where she is, mimicking her sitting position from before.
"Ah, your pursuit of eternity clouds over the change you have seen today." From the Traveler's reports, they have managed to pull Ei out of the Plane and showed her the developing city she is ruling. This has been the longest Ei has spent outside. Perhaps she'll have to ask the Traveler once again for advice. "How os your decision coming along?"
Tenshukaku is met with silence. The Shogun has become frozen in her seat, staring at the now visible table in front of her. Her brows knit close together as she fumbles for the correct answer. Miko waits patiently.
"Conflicting."
Oh? That's new. Knowing Ei, it was never her style to have second thoughts. She has the mind of a warrior. Once she has thought of a strategy, she will directly implement these into achieivng her goals.
Now, Miko remains silent.
Ei continues to talk. Every word that slips out of her tongue only increases her confusion. "During my journey today, I know now that change is inevitable. Humans will always find ways to sneak something new to replace the old, no matter how I try to shield them from it." Her shoulders slump in defeat. She rubs her forehead, cringing at the sudden headache. "But if I let them do as they please, then how do I reach the Eternity I try to achieve?"
Her words do have a point. It seems that she has learned a lot in her time outside, now that she has seen things in a different perspective. But it has conflicted her personal views too. Anyone, both mortal and immortal, can understand the struggles of balancing both.
"Mortals do strive for something new; they want to make their lives special," Miko says. "But there are some things that even erosion do not dare to defy."
Although they live longer lives than regular people, immortals too have fears. Many, from what Miko have heard, fear their upcoming ends and the possibility of having someone stronger than them take away their power. Ei has witnessed many deaths in her lifetime, despite being one of the youngest archons. Word has it that even Morax, the Lord of Geo, has been assassinated a few months prior during his yearly descent into Liyue. Hearing the death of her mentor only increased Ei's fear of death.
Miko looks at her friend, who is now more confused than before. The heavy atmosphere in Tenshukaku quickly dispatches and Miko has returned to her bubbly self.
Dear Ei, no matter how serious or cold-hearted you want to be there is still much that you do not understand.
Miko continues to speak. "You focus so much on your own idea of Eternity that you forget it has many kinds."
Ei looks at her, eyes widened in curiosity. "And those are?"
Miko is reminded as to why she came here. She wants to catch up with a dear friend, communicate with her like old times. Get her up to date with the latest trends mortals have come up with. Technically, just to spend time with her.
And possibly more, if given the chance.
The Head Shrine Maiden stands up from her seat. "Happiness...." she said, circling around the table, hungry eyes fixated on the Shogun. She walked as slowly as possible, swinging her hips to the side as if offering a pleasing sight to the archon. Ei did not move away from her spot. "Friendship...." Miko went on, taking her precious time speaking the list on her head. It was a clever way to keep Ei's attention on her. The Shrine Maiden stopped walking and then threw herself onto Ei, arms crossed over the other's shoulder in a tight hug. Miko placed her lips near Ei's ears, opening them to finish her unnecessarily slow speech. "Love...." She whispered the word into Ei's ear, sending hot breaths to tickle the archon's skin.
Ei's body grew tense under her embrace. Poor creature, Miko thought, it must have been so lonely in the Plane of Euthymia that she has forgotten to be touched by someone.
Grinning, Miko embraced the archon tighter, pulling her so close that Miko's breasts touched her back.
But it was too much for the archon. Upon feeling that warm chest of hers being pushed into the bones of her back, Ei wriggled herself out of that passionate trap. She distanced herself from the courageous woman, standing so close to the wall like a cornered animal. Ei turned back to the Shrine Maiden, eyes filled with rage, but the blush on her ears say otherwise.
"Outrageous!"
Miko burst into laughter. Her voice covered the entire room in such high velocity that it was the only thing stuck in rewind in Ei's head, though it didn't sound that bad at all.
"Oh my, a lot of time has surely passed that even a simple touch would make you flustered!" Miko managed to comment through her hysterical fits. The scene must really have entertained her so much that she had to wipe the tears from her eyes.
However, Ei did not share her friend's joy. She was too furious, perhaps even a bit disgusted.
"That was unacceptable behavior, Miko!" Ei continues to yell. "Have you no shame?"
What a foolish question. They have known each other for years, she should have known by now that Miko rarely feels shame. She simply does not care of her reputation at all. If anything has happened to tarnish her figure, she would just run away to the forest and continue living life as a fox.
"It was only a little fun," Miko defends herself. She walks closer to Ei, her smile never fading.
Ei, on the other hand, is forced to back away. Still taken aback by Miko's sudden actions, her mind couldn't process properly in keeping this meeting as civil as possible. This readapted scene of a predator and prey continues until Ei's back reaches the wall and Miko is standing awfully close to her.
"I could have you killed for this!" Ei threatens.
"Oh, please, as if you have the guts to do that." Miko rolls her eyes. Her ears twitched as she tries to calm Ei down. "Can you stop shouting? People would think you're being murdered."
Something flashes in Ei's eyes. She raises a hand, ready to let it slap through Miko's face if it meant to get those filthy thoughts out of her head. But Miko's movements were fast. She caught Ei's hand in the air, took hold of the other, and forcefully pins her to the wall.
Now, if someone were to walk in on them it would be such an awkward sight.
Ei looks surprised once again. Before, she would dodge Miko's attacks effortlessly having to know her movements by heart and would win their sparring practices every time. But 500 years have passed after that. Miko has done a lot of things to improve her skills during that long period of time.
Ei attempts to break herself free, but Miko pins her down harder. This led to them struggling to overcome the other for a very long time.
Eventually, Miko won in the end, having to resort in pinning her own body on top of Ei to keep her from moving.
"Unhand me."
"Oh? And what are you going to do once you're free?" Miko grins, showing off one of her pearly white fangs. Under the dim lights of Tenshukaku, Miko looks menacing in Ei's eyes. Like a hungry animal taunting its prey before sinking its teeth into delicious meat.
Three loud knocks echoes in the room, along with a booming voice coming from outside. The door's handles are being violently shaken.
"The door's locked in the inside! The Shogun is in trouble!"
"Gather more men and use the other door to get inside!"
Ei snaps her head back to the fox envoy. Anger flashes once again in her eyes that is now glowing a brighter purple.
"What did you do?"
Miko could not help but laugh. This was too easy. Here she thought that Ei would make the effort to double the security around here, considering that they have been doing this for years. Both knew that Miko was a troublemaker at heart, always disrupting the peace for her own entertainment. Ei would do everything in her power to make sure that the fox has been taught a lesson.
They have been at each other's throats since. Truthfully, Miko felt hurt that Ei would forget about their past fights.
"Now, isn't this familiar," Miko says. "Do you remember the nights we would sneak into the forest, Ei? Where I would push you up to a tree and hold you like this?"
The Shogun blinks. Then, she turns away, avoiding Miko's gaze but exposing her blushing ear. Another memory pops up into Miko's head.
"I do not know what you are talking about," Ei replies. "What we had in the past shall not be spoken of again."
"Is that so?" Miko leans closer, pushing her breasts onto Ei's just so she can breathe into the Shogun's ear. Her hot breath turns the other on, she didn't bother to hide her tomato colored ears now. "Then we shall not talk then, but use our voices for other means."
"What are you imply—?" But Ei was cut short with a gasp when Miko unexpectedly licks on her ear. She looks like she was enjoying it for a quick second, but her anger got the best of her. "Absurd!"
"Always the ears, Ei." Miko laughs proudly. Even after all these years apart, Miko still remembers the archon's weak spots. "So adorable."
"If you do not release me I will have the guards imprison you for—Ah!"
Again she was cut short, this time with Miko's thigh pushing up to her crotch. Miko's grip tightens, her body has practically glued itself on Ei's that even the most agile martial defenses cannot free her.
The only thing Ei could do was try to talk Miko out of it. But even that was near to impossible.
"Miko, if someone sees us...."
But Miko did not speak. She did not use her words in expressing the emotions she has been dying to let out. All of that went to her actions, the sudden softness in her grip, and the hint of sadness and lust shining in her eyes.
Miko's hands began to wander around Ei's body, caressing and fumbling over her clothes as if searching for something. Ei's anger has dissolved now, instead she has found herself urging for more of Miko's familiar touch.
But she can't let Miko know. Not now.
Ei stands frozen, pinned to the wall while battling her own emotions with the Head Shrine Maiden feeling over hee body.
"I missed you so much, Ei," Miko whispers close to her ears, purposely brushing her wet lips on to skin. Ei's body trembles underneath her, but showed no more sign of struggle. Miko took this as an opportunity to touch her body, tracing a long and slender finger down the beautiful curves of Ei's waist. "I missed touching you."
Miko slowly begins to busy herself, every second that passes only increases the hunger that she has kept hidden for so long. Her hands move up and down, gaining back the familiarity of Ei's body into her fingertips. A hand fumbles underneath the Shogun's skirt, squeezing her soft thighs. Her other hand rests on top of Ei's breast, a thumb rubbing on the area where her nipple was hidden behind the thick clothing.
"I missed kissing you," Miko says while kissing Ei's ears. Ei arches her neck to the side, exposing more areas for Miko to plant her kisses on. Ei's chest heaves up and down, brushing their breasts against each other. But despite her needs, Ei avoided the shrine maiden's gaze.
It didn't worry Miko though. Truthfully, it only increased her persistence. She lowers her head, first planting soft kisses and then drags her tongue along the line of the other's collarbone. Miko stops the tracing in between the two bones and switches from licking to sucking on the sweet tasting skin.
This scene was too familiar. Trapping the Shogun against a wall, daring to touch her in places that would declare a death sentence on her head if she were part of the common folk, planting her marks on the Shogun's clear skin to show the world who she belongs to. It was like a hit of nostalgia.
Miko has finished sucking on Ei's neck. She admires the bruise, feeling like an artist showing off their artwork. She kisses it, softly and carefully, before proceeding to do the same with Ei's breasts.
Ei flinches, surprised to feel Miko's wet lips on her now sensitive skin. Miko decides to take it slowly this time, careful not to give the other too much at the same time.
"Don't you miss this, Ei?" Miko breathes out. Now, she inserts her thumb into Ei's clothes and successfully fiddles the hard nipple. Her other hand is making its way into Ei's underwear, not diving directly into the action but enough to make the archon want more.
"Don't you miss me?"
"I—" Ei suddenly gasps at the tingling sensation on her breasts. She bites her lip. Whimpers still escape from her throat even as she suppresses the incoming moans. It didn't sit well for Miko to torture her like this, prolonging to answer Ei's wants and watching her silently suffering. But, for now, she's going to let herself have all the fun.
Ei did leave her after all. Without warning, without even a single word. She's going to make her pay tonight.
Miko stops kissing and focuses on touching her instead. She slips three of her fingers inside Ei's clothes, taking hold of the soft breast and giving it a few squeezes. She drags her other hand along the lacey underwear, tracing her finger around Ei's area. Ei gasps again, this time a little louder.
Ei is already trembling so much. During her absence in the real world, Miko has busied herself with the physical affairs of the mortals—greeting strangers, then inviting them over for afternoon tea, and letting them leave the next morning. She has learned a lot by now, especially on how a tease she was. Most of the people she has been with couldn't last a minute before screaming and begging her to touch them already.
She wonders how long Ei can resist such temptation.
"I what, Ei?" Miko says, taunting the Shogun with her innocent tone. She continues with her maneuvers, enjoying the priceless reactions on Ei's face. "You'd have to complete that thought, dear, else I won't know your answer."
The Shogun's face is red all over. Her breaths had become so labored now. Hot sweat begins to form on her forehead. She's having trouble keeping her voice down. And still she refuses to yield.
"Please—"
Miko raises an eyebrow, but that evil grin did nothing to make her face look skeptical. Ei isn't making an effort to form words, all she does is seal her lips shut. But maybe this next move will make her talk.
Cutting her teasing short, Miko slips a finger inside Ei's underwear. The skin was getting so warm that Miko can even imagine it pulsing with lust. Finally, a moan escapes from Ei.
Miko's heart jumps excitedly at the sound. Suddenly, all she can think about was to stop teasing and get on with it. She wants to touch more of Ei, want to hear more of those sounds escape from her lips as she rubs hard inside her until she was wet. But she can't do that. Not now when she's this close to making Ei beg.
"I told you to say what's in your mind, didn't I," Miko says. "This conversation won't continue if it's all one-sided. Now, what is it you want me to do?"
Another finger joins in on rubbing Ei's area. Miko squeezes her breast harder. She's close now. Just a few more seconds and she'll be crying out her name so loud that it will echo on for eternity.
All she has to do is push Ei harder.
Ei is sweating now, even without getting much activity. But the heavy breaths, the hot temperature between them, and that look on her eyes says it all.
"Please," Ei gasps. "Please...."
Her heart is beating faster now. Her mind is already itching for Ei to say it. To say that she wants to be back in the old days. To say that she misses her back even without the use of words but with how aggressive her embraces would be.
Any minute now, and they would be screaming the other's name all night. They will finally be reunited at last.
Miko couldn't control her lust any longer. Watching Ei struggling to fight back her urges was entertaining, but the Shrine Maiden wasn't exactly known for her patience.
Ei opens her mouth again. Miko braces herself.
"Guards!" was what Ei called for. In a quick flash, Miko lets go of Ei and distances herself. The Shrine Maiden frowns at the purple-haired woman, pouting her lips to show her disappointment.
The guards arrive very quickly. Surprisingly, they even manage to break through Tenshukaku's doors with possibly their own feet. They storm inside the room, weapons at the ready to defend their Shogun from any sort of attack.
"Shogun! Where are the intruders?" their captain asks, the same man that denied Miko entry from before. His eyes scan the room, but the only thing he saw were the Shogun and the Head Shrine Maiden. He lowers his weapon, his body relaxing. "Guuji Yae? How did you get in here?"
Miko sighs. Though good in bed, most mortals are not blessed with the gift of wisdom. With what happened in here today, along with the disappointment infesting with her logic, she is not in the mood to explain everything to the guards.
She turns to Ei, completely ignoring the third party. "Once a killjoy, always a killjoy," she tells the Shogun. Miko points her nose in the air, like how a spoiled child would do if something does not go their way. "It's good to see that has not changed."
"You have overstayed your welcome, Miko," Ei replies. The tone she uses is the one where she is speaking to her enemies, threateningly. But there was also a hint of a tremble too. Perhaps she is still under the effects of what happened here?
"I think it's best for you to return to the shrine."
Ah, she is still. If she wasn't that affected by her, she would have ordered the guards to throw her in the dungeon. Though, that would be a risky move since all of Inazuma knows of their friendship, it won't sit well with the people to hear of their sudden dispute. Quite possibly, the worst she could do was imprison her here in Tenshukaku for a week!
But Miko couldn't say that this observation did not brighten her mood a bit. She can come back another time, perhaps not tomorrow but another time. After all, the second time's a charm.
She rubs the bridge of her nose, sighing once again, and then turns towards the door. "Alright, I can see that my service is no longer required tonight."
Only for tonight. They have been separated for far too long and Ei has imprisoned herself in her Plane of Euthymia for 500 years without proper contact of real people. Sooner or later, she'll realize how much she has missed.
Miko steps outside Tenshukaku. For a second, she admires the silent Inazuma as it shines brilliantly under the moon's glowing light.
"Expect me to come back, Ei," Miko tells her friend. "We're not done catching up yet."
She flashes a seductive grin at her before leaving Tenshukaku with its confused guards, and their dumb-stricken Shogun.