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Raiden Ei and Yae Miko were cuddling together in the Shogun's bedchambers in Tenshukaku. After a long day of obligations and paperwork, both women just wanted to relax in each other's presence.
For the most part, Miko was always the bigger cuddler out of the two. Normally wrapped firmly, yet possessively around Ei like a warm scarf of kitsune fur.
But tonight was different, Ei was being the cuddlier one instead. Miko wasn't going to argue, since she rarely gets to watch Ei cling onto her like a starving kitten. An endearing sight of devotion to their companionship.
So, there they both lay, Miko leaning against the headboard of the bed, with a novel in hand, and her other placed gently atop Ei's head stroking her softly. Ei laid on Miko, her head on the kitsune's stomach as she languidly basked in her lover’s sweet attention. Both women were completely nude, bathing in the moment of vulnerability and trust.
Ei’s arms wrapped possessively around Miko's waist while their legs were intertwined like vines grown on a trellis. The sight was that of tender embrace, a soft love only the two of them could understand.
Ei lifts her head momentarily before pressing her whole face into Miko's stomach, feeling soft skin that was almost akin to fur. Her hold tightens as she starts nuzzling against Miko's stomach.
Miko looks down to a sight she will keep close to her heart. Inazuma's Archon acting like a domesticated house cat, she swore she could almost hear purring. Letting out a soft contented sigh, her free hand continued to pet Ei's head, now picturing what the stoic warrior would look like with cat ears. An amusing thought, she muses to herself.
"Dear, what are you doing?" Miko breaks the peaceful silence, putting down the light novel to observe the affectionate acts of the other woman.
Ei doesn't respond at first, taking her time to revel in Miko's soothing aura that seemed to ease all her doubts and sorrows. "Drowning in your presence," she finally mumbles, her voice tickling Miko’s body, sending a pleasant shiver up her spine.
"For any particular reason?" Miko inquires, always open but patient when it comes to Ei. For the formidable stoic heart of Ei, her language was that of quiet soft touches from calloused hands and an endless love born from loss and grief.
Instead of a verbal response, chaste kisses were peppered across Miko's stomach from lips that were used to the taste of bloodshed. A seasoned warrior faced with the greatest adversaries rivaled to Gods; now holding a kitsune with the gentlest touches, full of love and devotion, a promise towards their shared Eternity.
"I have always found it symbolic that my tainted hands get to hold your pure body, Head Priestess," Ei mused, light curious touches roaming over smooth skin. Her thoughts focus on worshipping her partner for all the hardships, abandoned nights, and responsibilities left onto her. All the unsaid words spoken through stolen glances, hidden behind a steeled yearning heart from the shadows.
Miko rolled her eyes endearingly, letting out a huff as she let Ei's hands roam, enjoying the meticulous attention. "My hands are also tainted with blood, especially yours, are they not?" She innocently teases, flashing sharp canines. The smallest blush forms on Ei’s face, a memory of last night's rendezvous flashing in her mind, before she refocuses her attention.
"Shh, let me appreciate you like every second is my last," Ei whispers, hands sliding down the curve of Miko’s waist, a desire burning deep in Ei’s eyes. “To think that you have worshipped me during your most lonely nights—I must repay your devotion tenfold. I am your God, but you are what breathes meaning into me. Without you, I am nothing but tainted sin.”
Slowly, Ei sits up, head level to Miko as hands drift up towards Miko’s abdomen. Ei looks down, her prying fingertips feeling each rib beneath plush skin, tracing each curved rib until it connects with the spine. Soft skin that hid the firm undertone of muscle that highlights the secretive nature of the kitsunes.
Hands ran down a ticklish spine, following the curve down to sturdy hip bones that transition to a rounded plump bottom. Two hands on each cheek, giving a small squeeze to feel fingers sink into soft flesh. Pure adoration blossoms in Ei’s chest before moving to tender thick thighs. Ei lowers her head to sprinkle more sweet kisses across each thigh, her fingernails lightly trailing across the sides leaving goosebumps in their wake. She looks up towards Miko, devotion radiating within her purple eyes.
“As the Head Priestess, representing virtue and morality, you worship the Raiden Shogun—the divine deity seeking an everlasting Eternity.” Ei’s words were filled with authority, as if she was addressing a room full of people. Her tone softens as sweeter words spill from her lips. “But as Miko, representing transience and cunning, you worship me—an impure creature that only seeks bloodshed as a means to an end. An Eternity filled with endless suffering and screams of the agonized before they meet the end of my blade.”
Soft hands turned firm and unyielding as if Ei was momentarily trapped in the past, forgetting what it was like to be embraced and loved. The familiar cold and bitter loneliness seeping into her bones, memories of nights spent in tents with crusty old blood staining her clothes, hair, and skin. Guilt and regret swarming her head, wondering if this was truly what she was born to do.
A warm hand cups Ei’s chin, grounding her back in the moment of adoration and safety, a far cry from how things were before. Miko gazes at Ei with understanding and compassion swirling in those lilac eyes. Ei bows her head thankfully at the silent action, an anchor to the present moment they’re sharing, to the transient Eternity she promised Miko.
Ei leans forward; soft lips placed against soft lips in a short passionate kiss. “So, as Ei, I must worship you until I remember every inch of your body. Every detail of you etched into my mind, into my soul, that if I were to carve a marble statue of you, I would not hesitate with each strike.” A pure promise filled with love that had been swelling over centuries.
Miko’s heart fluttered with the attention she was getting, yet she couldn’t help but tease the poor woman. “Where did you learn how to speak so sweetly?” She casually remarked, that familiar sly smirk dawning on her face. “Surely this is not some ploy to learn all my delicate curves so you can make a puppet of me, hmm?” She teases lightly, but a scowl morphs onto Ei’s face at the thought.
“No, of course not. A puppet could never replace the perfection you exude.” Ei states simply, like it was a fact.
“Ah, but a puppet can replace you instead?” Miko counters, always knowing how to challenge Ei’s quieter beliefs.
A pause.
“I am far from perfect and nothing more than a shadow, acting a role I was never born to have.” The sentence slipped out so easily from Ei’s mouth, a depressing thought that told Miko all she needed to know. Miko lets out a dejected sigh at the response, her ears twitching in disapproval at the notion.
“Now, now.” Both of Miko’s hands come up to firmly hold Ei’s face, forcing her to make eye contact. “I am far from perfect too. Call yourself a shadow all you want, but all I know is that my love belongs to Ei. If you are a shadow, then who do I love?”
“Are you not able to love a shadow?” A tinge of hurt was heard.
“I cannot love a shadow because you are not a shadow, Ei.” Such sweet simplistic words that always challenges Ei’s perspective of self-worth. Though thoughts of self-doubt and worthlessness will always follow in Ei's footsteps, maybe for now she can trust Miko’s words.
Silence envelopes the moment and soon they are both deeply staring into each other’s eyes. The twinkle of safety and vulnerability danced in Ei’s eyes while a sparkle of care and softness shined in Miko’s.
Without speaking, Miko extends her arms towards Ei and she leans forward instinctively, Miko's arms wrapping around her head as she’s forced towards Miko’s chest. A small “mmpf—!“ of surprise was heard as Ei’s face was smothered between her pillowy breasts, warmth cascading from each side of her head. Soon, she melted into the security as her hands naturally landed on Miko’s hips to fully ground herself.
“You have always seen yourself as a shadow,” Miko broke the silence as her hands gently ran through Ei’s long purple hair. “But I have always seen you as Ei, shining brightly through calamity, a beacon of light tearing through disaster after disaster.”
Her hands paused running through Ei’s hair, stilling for a moment as if to hold on desperately to the woman laying obediently before her. A glimpse of silence passes as Miko inhales sharply to dispel her more unpleasant thoughts. She looks down at her lover, feeling the rhythmic ticklish breath of Ei’s between her breasts, both content. This was enough, this was always enough, she thought to herself.
“You never seem to care about yourself, so I promised to myself that I’d care for you tenfold in your stead. Never once did I see you as a shadow. I’ve truly only seen you as Ei, my Ei, my lovely sweet stubborn Ei.”
Another wave of silence falls, quiet breathing atop the drum of heartbeats, noting the transient moment in which they both share. Ei laid there, her mind letting the words fall onto her like a blanket to protect her from her whispering self-doubts and guilt. She couldn’t believe how safe Miko felt, and how she gave her up to pursue her stagnant Eternity.
Miko’s arms fell back to her sides as Ei lifted herself up to face Miko head level. Loose strands of dark purple hair framed Ei’s face, a small sheen of sweat covered her face. No one else besides Miko was able to see Ei in this state, a moment to remember and relish.
Calloused hands placed softly on either side of Miko’s neck, gently cupping her chin, and gentle lips pressed against sweeter lips. Passionate, loving, and filled with trust. Not a hint of lust was felt but all the unshared love between them communicated through lips, words spoke surface level but actions were profound.
Miko’s hands raised to capture Ei’s hips, pulling her closer into a sweet embrace, then her arms wrapped behind her back. Body melting into body, minds blending with another, and souls dancing intricately where neither lead nor guided.
It was perfect. It was ephemeral. It was Eternity all wrapped into one.
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Ei.”