AN: No beta we die like hilichurls
'The hell is happening?' Aether sweatdropped. The blond was very… disoriented.
"Alright! Listen up, gang," A white-haired man with red horns poking out with head, all while seeming to be just barely clothes from the top up said as he stomped his feet on the ground to get attention drawn to him.
He stood upon a crate as he addressed the four people quite literally currently beneath him. Arm pointed to one side as he posed valiantly. "Now, you might be wondering why I called you all out here so suddenly," he laughed. "Worry not! For I, the great Arataki Itto, shall tell you!"
The oni spread his arms out, as if he was awaiting applause. No way was he going to get it though-
"Whooo! You go, boss!"
"Please illuminate us!"
"Let's freaking goooooo!"
Aether hung his head and stifled a sigh. 'These people…'
Itto smirked before he cleared his throat and looked over the vast horizon atop his crate. "As you know, because if you don't then I'm booting you out of this gang right here and right now- no I'm just kidding I wouldn't do that to you guys but still," he then put his finger to the sky. "Today is a very special day. Because!"
"Because…?"
They all awaited him.
Itto held his pose for a bit longer before he pumped both of his fists into the air. "That's right! It's our one and only deputy officer's special day! It's Shinobu's birthday!"
"Eyyyyy!"
"I knew it was today! I knew it!"
"Huh, I actually remembered."
Aether couldn't resist smiling at the gang's enthusiastic reply. Truth be told, he had a feeling this impromptu meeting would be about Shinobu's birthday.
"Now, since a couple of someones forgot to wake up early today, I'm going to have to start picking up the pace, and all of you better make your contributions too!" Itto folded his arms.
His three goons looked at each other, before turning back to their leader.
"But Boss, we were up all night battling onikabutos. It's only natural to wake up late. Besides, it's only 10 in the morning."
Itto tsked. "I didn't ask for logic and reasoning, Akira! I'm asking for cooperation and support!" He told him. "Anyway, I'm going to be putting all of you to your tasks now, alright? I know all of you will do whatever I tell you to, and you'll do it well."
"Of course, boss. You can count on us!"
The immediate answer impressed Aether. The loyalty and sense of duty they held towards the gang was nothing short of impressive. It was a testament to what kind of person Itto was.
"Now, Imma start telling you guys what to do," He pulled out a list from his pocket. "Let's see here… Okay. First off, we have to get everything we need. So, Akira, you're pretty famous in the food distinct. I need you to buy these and bring them back here. And no eating them! THey're for Shinobu!"
The sizeable man nodded. "Roger that, boss!" He stepped forward and grabbed the list. He made his way out to fetch what he needed before Itto stopped him.
"Hold on, I'm not done yet," Itto told him. "Wait until I've given everyone their jobs and you all can go together."
Akira nodded.
"Now, next up, Mamoru," he addressed the goon clad in blue. "You're in charge of the main decorations. Loads of color paper, party hats, whatever you can find!"
Mamoru nodded. "Roger that boss."
"Make sure they're all different colors, alright? I don't want to see the same color at least thrice! And don't get lazy on picking them either."
The goon shook the back of his head. "Uh… boss?"
"Is there a problem? Don't like the job?"
He shook his head. "No, it's not that. It's just… Did you forget I'm colorblind?"
"..."
"...Boss?"
"Hah! Me? No, I didn't forget," Itto laughed, sweat coming down the side of his face. "Of course, I didn't. I chose you for this specifically because of that," he cleared his throat. "With you in charge of buying the decorative materials, we'll be able to ensure that our decorations will be unique!"
'Surely he wouldn't buy that.' the traveler thought.
Apparently, he did. Mamoru couldn't nod any faster, wiping away stray tears in his eyes. "Thank you, boss! I won't fail you!"
'He bought it!'
"Now, Genta." the mentioned member stood straight.
"Yes, boss?"
"I need you to tidy up this area here so it looks nice. And when Akira comes back, help him with the food and all that stuff. I know you know your way around the kitchen."
"Roger that, Boss!"
Itto nodded. "Good. Now, for our last member, I give you the most important, most perilous job in the whole world today."
Aether gulped. "What is it?"
The oni looked at him. "I'm sorry for forcing this onto you, but we can't have anyone else do it. You're our only hope."
Aether steeled himself. "It's alright, whatever it is, surely I've gone through worse."
Itto blinked, before laughing. "Right! How could I forget? This job is perfect for you then. Here it is," he stepped down from his crate and put a hand on the traveler's shoulder. "Your job…"
"My job…"
What could it be? This was to be a last-minute birthday preparation, right? Why was he saying it all ominously?
"Your job is to make sure Shinobu doesn't get anywhere near this area."
Aether titled his head. "What?"
"Yep, you heard me," Itto sighed. "You're the only one that can do this. She can slip right past all of us. But I know you can do it."
What?
Genta mimicked his leader and pat his shoulder. "Best of luck to you, brother. That's a tall order."
What?
"I pray that you come out with your soul intact." Akira closed his eyes..
What?
"Shinobu is very smart, and fast. Look away and she'll be gone, so best keep her occupied and don't give a reason to be suspicious." Mamoru told him.
Why did it sound like he was talking from experience?
"Everyone knows what to do, yeah?" When he received nods, he continued. "Great. Once you're back here, start helping out wherever you can. I'll be doing the same. All hands on deck, yeah? I'm counting on all of you."
"You got it, boss."
"I'll do my best."
"Shinobu has done a lot for us. This is the least we can do to pay her back."
Aether also nodded. Though he didn't know Shinobu as long as they did, she was still a friend. And he'd gladly do anything for his friends.
Itto couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.
"Alright! Arataki Gang, roll out!"
"Take a break, huh? It would be nice, but if I take a break, who's going to watch over the gang and make sure they stay out of trouble?" a green-haired woman with a mask on her face raised an eyebrow to Aether by her side.
"Don't worry, Shinobu! They'll be alright! I guarantee they won't be in any trouble today." Paimon huffed behind the traveler.
Huh, Aether almost forgot she was here at all, with how quiet she was just a few minutes ago.
It had taken some time to find where Kuki Shinobu would be.
First, Aether thought of going to several islands, but he knew that would prove to be too tedious and time-consuming. They could have been searching for her and she might have already made it back to where they were setting up.
He couldn't have that.
So to remedy that, he thought of the next best thing; Asking around.
And it turns out, that the Arataki Gang had their own innate, instinctual, Kuki Shinobu Sensor, or KSS as they put it. It was a necessary skill to have when one was in the Arataki Gang. It was best to avoid Kuki Shinobu's wrath when possible. She was a rather sneaky person, after all. If you earned her ire in some way, you could bet your life that you would never see it coming.
And thus, the KSS led Aether to a small village in Narukami, Kongo Village.
"You say that, but you've never been with them for too long," she sighed. "They're all like children. Give them too much free time, and the next thing you know you have dozens of lawsuits and complaints coming your way."
Aether awkwardly chuckled. "Then, as an honorary member of the Arataki Gang. You have to make sure I don't goof off all of a sudden, right?"
"Of course. But you would never do that."
The traveler hung his head. "You… have a point."
This was pointless. He couldn't argue with someone who had studied the law. Hell, she studied the art of bullshitting and got a degree for it!
Maybe he should just come clean. He was sure the more he tried to lie and convince her, she'd spot holes in his logic and pry out the truth herself in record time.
"Ooh, everything is spinny~"
Aether and Shinobu looked behind to see Paimon, swaying in the wind with swirls in her eyes and a flush on her cheeks.
Both of them saw a small bottle fall out of her hands. In an instant, Shinobu caught the falling bottle, preventing it from falling and breaking. Upon inspection of the bottle, their eyes widened.
'Narukami Water…'
Did she-?!
"Ooh, what's that shiny thing! Paimon is gotta take a quick looksie~"
Paimon sped off to whatever caught her eye. Normally, it would be fine. Paimon could handle herself. But now?
The two immediately sped off to catch her.
"Where the hell did she find Narukami Water?!"
"I don't know! I wouldn't give it to her!"
"Think! Who would find it funny to give what is essentially a floating child a non-alcoholic beverage that mimics the effects of alcohol?"
"I don't- oh wait. Itto."
"The boss," Shinobu sighed. "I'll have a word with him later. This Narukami Water is a gigantic loophole in the system that someone got past through the Teyvat Health Organization."
Aether chuckled. "Sure, but before that. We have a Paimon to catch!"
"Ooh, are we playing tag? Okay, you both are- hic, are it!"
Shinobu resisted the urge to groan as she sprinted faster. Paimon was fast when she wanted to be.
Although Aether was a bit worried about what Paimon might bump into, he couldn't help but be thankful. She gave a reason for Shinobu to be distracted. Did she do it on purpose?
Hmmm, Nah. Knowing Paimon, she was just curious. But, Aether was never one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
"Ow~ I hit a wall."
Shinobu tsked. "See what happened?"
"Oh, oh my gosh!"
"What? What happened?" Aether caught up to them.
As they went around the corner, they saw that Paimon hadn't bumped into a wall at all.
"I didn't bump into a wall at all," Paimon snuggled into the rather modest chest- wait, chest? "I found two twin hills~ Ehehehe~"
'Well, she wasn't kidding.' It was indeed remarkable.
Shinobu smacked him upside the head. "Hey!" he scratched the back of his head. "What was that for?"
She glared at him. And though he couldn't see her mouth, he could tell she was scowling at him rather intensely.
He sweatdropped. "A-Alright, I'm sorry."
She didn't acknowledge his reply. She instead turned away from him and turned to Paimon.
Aether did the same. But rather than turn to Paimon, his eyes opted to look at who Paimon bumped into. Clad in a very familiar uniform, purple hair, a tengu mask on the side of it- Aether's eyes widened.
'Oh no.'
Paimon, in her non-alcoholic state, had bumped into one of the last people he would've hoped to meet today. Not because he had anything against her, of course not.
It was because he was with the Kuki Shinobu! A member of the Arataki Gang!
Aether watched as Shinobu and Sara locked eyes with each other. Were both of them waiting for the other to make the first move-?
Sara sighed. Aether twitched.
"Who was the idiot that gave what is basically a child a non-alcoholic beverage that mimics alcohol?"
'What?'
Shinobu chuckled. "That's what I said. I'm pretty sure it's one of the gang's."
"I trust I can leave them to you?"
"Oh, I don't know. They might call for you instead once I'm done with them."
"I'll take that as a yes."
Aether's eyes widened as his head turned towards the both of them in quick succession. Judging by the amused look on both of the women's faces, they didn't hold any degree of animosity towards each other.
All the while, Paimon simply floated idly, ignorant of her companion's inner turmoil.
Aether could only drop his jaw.
"What?"
"So, the two of you know each other," Aether stared blankly at the sky. "Huh."
The four of them sat down at Kiminami Anna. They needed someplace to sit down to chat and keep Paimon in one place.
And it turns out, that most of them could eat too, so why not go to Kiminami Anna for a bite to eat while they were there?
Plus, it could keep Paimon occupied. Seriously, he'd thought she would be asleep by now.
"Yeah, we've met." Sara nodded her head to Shinobu.
"As many times as the gang gets into trouble," she sighed. "Which is a lot."
"Y-Yeah, I noticed." he shyly scratched his cheek with a finger.
Shinobu noticed this odd behavior coming from the traveler. "Is something wrong?" she raised an eyebrow.
"N-Nothing at all!" he awkwardly laughed. "It's just… I would've never expected you two to get along like this, knowing…"
Sara and Shinobu had stared at him for a moment, then they turned to each other. Because of their seating position with Sara being at the far right, Shinobu next to her, and Paimon and Aether next to each other, Aether didn't see the slight smirk on both of their faces before they turned back towards him.
"Oh? Us? Get along? I don't know about that." Shinobu glared at Sara.
"You read my mind." Sara glared back.
Aether blinked. "What?" They had been getting along so well just a few moments ago.
"I haven't paid you back for all of those times you've squeezed right through the law with your twisting of words." Sara gained an electrifying air.
"Just try it, I'll give you the slip," Shinobu smirked, he could hear her vision starting to whirl.
Was he just imagining it?
Inch by inch, he realized their faces growing closer and closer together. He'd seen people with visions go up against each other for training before, sure. Their visions would contract each other in a blazing effect.
But this, with two vision wielders of the same element, the seemingly innocent electrifying spark had doubled in intensity but not in reach. Seems that both of them still knew to keep their fight to themselves and not involve others.
Still didn't stop him from feeling tingles all over his body, or his hair from standing up.
"Wheee~ So tingly~" Right, Paimon was still out of it.
Aether turned his attention back to the two women he was sitting with.
Sara smirked. "Oh? You're approaching me?" she crossed her arms. "Instead of running back to your gang, you're coming right at me?"
Shinobu matched her ire. "I can't beat the hell out of you without getting closer."
To Aether's surprise, Sara looked amused. Her!
"Interesting, then. Come as close as you like."
Aether could only turn his head away, a feeble attempt at avoiding the clash. There would be no stopping them. He knew how stubborn they could both become.
After a few moments, and he had heard no scream from anyone, he raised an eyebrow.
"Hey."
He couldn't tell whether it was Shinobu or Sara that called out to him, maybe it was both. But regardless, he figured it was safe to put his head up now.
"Is it over-"
BZZT
"Ahh!" Aether almost fell off of his chair and a fingertip zapped him on the forehead. "What was that for!?"
"That was for being so easy to trick. I'll have to teach you not to believe everything you see, and not to take them at face value." Shinobu tsked, beside her, he saw Sara shake her head, amused.
Where was the lightning? The thunder? The tension that was between them?
Ah, he got it. "I've been bamboozled." he stated dryly and gave them an unamused look.
Apparently, it got them chuckling a bit. "But you're not betrayed, or backstabbed now are you?" Shinobu stifled a laugh. "Come on, lighten up. It was a joke. Of course, we get along."
Sara nodded. "You thought because we're on separate sides that we would be at odds with each other, correct?"
Aether shrugged. "Yeah, something like that."
"I don't fault you for that. But the one you call Kuki Shinobu is something else," Sara smiled at her. "Sure she joined a group of ragtags-" "Hey!" "-But the fact is that she's still very much the most capable and respectable member of that gang. She leads them well, punishes them for their faults, and her presence has minimized the amount of trouble the Arataki Gang could garner."
Shinobu smiled softly at her. "Aw, that's sweet."
"I'm serious. With your qualifications, you could go anywhere."
Shinobu laughed. "I could, but… I think the gang is where I want to be."
Sara nodded her head. "If you say so."
Aether witnessed the exchange of two people who could've been enemies, but thanks to the bizarre hand of fate, they had instead become very good friends.
Though he couldn't imagine it happening with Sara and Itto. Both of them hated each other's guts.
"Well, thanks for waiting! Here's your food."
They all jumped up at the sudden voice. They looked up to see a young woman with a grin on her face. "Did you forget you were here for food?" she mused.
They all shared a laugh. Aether totally forgot that they were there to eat.
As the food was being distributed, and Paimon eagerly awaited her meal, Aether keep his eyes from being drawn to Shinobu's meal.
While Sara's meal had been a light broth, Paimon had opted to get a Taiyaki, and he had bought some bird egg sushi for himself, Shinobu had gotten a beef bowl.
Now, it wasn't the beef bowl itself that had him surprised, no.
It was the staggering mountain of rice along with the beef.
Shinobu noticed his gaze as she took off her mask. "Is something wrong?"
Aether shook his head. "Nothing. I'm just surprised at the amount of food you got. Especially the… rice."
The deputy officer smiled. "Yes. This is my personal request to everywhere I order food from."
Behind the counter, Anna nodded. "Miss Shinobu always orders more than five cups of rice for every meal."
"Every meal?" Aether's eyes widened.
"On bad days, she eats more than ten." Anna shrugged.
"Ten?!" he turned back to Shinobu, before he dropped his gaze. That was rude of him. But still.
"What? Rice is delicious. And some days, I eat to cope with stress." Shinobu casually said.
'Still… where does it all… go.' Before Aether could stop himself, he let his eyes trail down her exposed midriff. Her curves were obvious, but there didn't seem to be any fit of fat going on there.
Plus, it looked very nice-
Snap "Hey! My eyes are up here." Aether immediately looked at her eyes. He was screwed, there was no excuse for his actions.
Though Shinobu made no move to cover her exposed midriff, looking at her face, there was a visible blush as well as furrowed eyebrows. Without her mask, she looked to be flustered, but at the same time embarrassed, furious, and… Aether shook his head when he thought he'd found a hint of triumph sweep her facial expressions. It was confusing.
THankfully, Shinobu didn't acknowledge him further than that. She opted to hide her face in her rice bowl and- oh boy was she putting that bowl away.
So this is why she needed many cups of rice.
Taking a bite off of his bird egg sushi while sighing in relief as he had dodged a bullet, or in this case, a sword slash, his eyes wandered towards Sara, who looked amused.
Once Sara noticed his gaze, she smirked. She put a thumb up, put it horizontally, and slid it across her neck.
It was then that he noticed that Shinobu was glaring at him from within her mountain of beef and rice, that had just been refilled with rice.
"Uh oh~ You're in trouble~"
'Don't need to tell me twice.' Aether gulped.
'I'm so dead.'
"Interesting, isn't it? Just one prick and you'll feel it all go away."
"Y-Yeah, it really is."
"Want to give it a try? I've been demonstrating the effects on objects and small plants, but the effect it has on living beings is truly something else."
"No thanks."
"Huh, knock yourself out. Just watch yourself."
"H-Huh?"
"You never know when you might encounter one of these and get into a bad time, after all."
"Oh, yeah. Of course, I will."
"Or I might just blow a dart at you and you'll never see it coming."
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
"Look, I-I'm sorry for earlier, alright?"
"Why? Whatever did you do earlier?"
"Y-You know! Hey! Tell me you're kidding, please!"
Shinobu laughed. That did nothing to ease him.
"It's just Naku Weed paralysis. In small doses, it won't last for more than a minute, and that's if it hits somewhere vital."
Aether's eyes widened, which made Shinobu laugh harder. "I think you're missing the point here!"
"Alright, I'll stop, I'll stop," Shinobu then winked. "Maybe."
"Shinobu!"
"Anyway," Kuki opted to change the subject. "Pretty cool huh? Naku Weed isn't just medicine." she grinned.
Aether wanted to go back to their earlier conversation to make sure he wasn't without risks, but a look in her eyes told him it would've been a bad decision.
So he conceded. He sighed. "Yes, yes it is." And he wasn't lying. Naku Weed was medicine. And he'd known that Shinobu's art and craft heavily involved the usage of Naku weeds.
"Indeed. If it can heal, it can also hurt. What is it that makes Naku weed so valuable as medicine? I thought that to myself," Shinobu mused as she looked up to the sky as they walked along the coast of Narukami Island. "Turns out, it can cause a faint numbness in the area where you put it on. So, up the concentration, a bit, make it so that the feeling of numbness spreads throughout the body and you get the feeling of a thousand needles poking your body as long as you move. And there we have a paralytic."
Aether could only laugh awkwardly. "Yes. Truly… amazing."
"It's 100% organic too. And there's absolutely no harm in making one." she told him.
"I'm sure there isn't." Aether couldn't do much other than smile and nod his head.
If there was one thing he was sure of, it was that he and Paimon would never disclose this information to Lisa. The chaos that would come from it would not be on their hands.
Speaking of Paimon…
"Hey, Paimon. You alright?" Aether waved at her as she floated several feet above them. Seemingly keeping watch.
"Y-Yes! I'm wonderful~ No shrine maidens in sight."
"Good job, keep watching alright?" Shinobu told her.
"You got it, boss lady~"
Shinobu had asked Paimon to keep watch of anyone approaching the coast, whether they were bandits, the commission, or shrine maidens.
Paimon had agreed immediately. If only because she had something to do and her body still felt very light. Shinobu had only done so to keep her on her feet and avoid having her run off again all of a sudden.
"Still avoiding the shrine maidens, huh?" Aether smiled.
Shinobu didn't need to have her mask off to express her displeasure. She could roll her eyes just fine. "Like the plague. I'm still afraid one of them might notice me through my mask."
"Don't you wear that mask precisely because you avoid being seen?"
Shinobu nodded. "Yeah. And for the most part, it works, but the fear is always there regardless."
"You ever think it's enough?"
"What is enough?" she raised an eyebrow.
Aether scratched his cheek with a finger. "Won't they recognize you with your green hair?" he'd seen an image of it when she showed him before.
The annoyed and unhappy expression she made as they took her photo was amusing, to say the least. Not that he would ever say that to her face. Maybe to the gang.
Totally not so they could take the fall for it.
To his surprise, she shook her head. "Not at all. For some reason, I put on the mask and the shrine maiden disappears and the Deputy Officer of the Arataki Gang appears!" she put her hands together and threw them up as if mimicking an explosion.
"Huh, that reminds me of this guy I saw in a book once," Aether grinned in amusement. "He lives a double life, he's a reporter but he's also a superhero." he looked at Kuki, wanting to see if she was interested in hearing more before he continued as he realized he was about to go on a brief tangent.
"Well? Go on."
Aether nodded. "So, anyway, the whole reason you reminded me isn't exactly because of him. It's because of his glasses."
Judging by the way her eyebrows moved, she was interested. "Oh?"
"Yeah. The glasses change his whole look, apparently. No one can recognize him as either of his lives if he has his glasses on or off. His privacy and his greatest secret, all kept together by a pair of glasses."
It was ridiculous, now that he thought about it. The whole point of his transformation from reporter to hero was signified not by the change of his hair, sometimes it was by opening a part of his shirt, but most times, it was his glasses.
The damn glasses.
"Wow, maybe I should do that too," Aether could tell she was smiling from behind the mask. "You think a pair of glasses would look good on me?"
"A pair of glasses? I've… never really thought of it," Aether put a finger on his chin. "I think you'd be able to pull it off though. You already have the professional air to you, put on a pair of glasses and you'd pass off as one of Ningguang's staff."
Shinobu with a pair of glasses was… a very enticing image.
Glasses were very versatile, you know?
"Ah, that's the… really high-ranking woman from Liyue, right?" Aether nodded. "Pass on the glasses then. I like my appeal right now."
She stretched, once more emphasizing her attire and appearance. Green hair, mask, fishnets, short shorts…
"Eyes up, bucko."
"Y-Yes, ma'am."
Shinobu had a blush on her cheeks as her eyes narrowed.
"Strike two."
"S-Strike two?" There were strikes?! Aether awkwardly chuckled. "A-Alright, I'm sorry."
Again, Shinobu didn't acknowledge his apology. Instead, she looked down at her attire and chuckled. "Yeah, this style matches up more with the gang's."
Shaking off his earlier embarrassment, Aether look at Shinobu as she said those words fondly. IT was then that he learned something new about the girl.
Her eyes were very expressive.
"You really care a lot about the gang, don't you?"
Shinobu smiled. "Of course. They were my home when I didn't know where to go," she looked at Paimon, who was trying hard to look serious as she scanned the perimeter. "They might not be all that bright, they might always get into fights, and people might say bad things about them from time to time, some of them being true, but I know."
She walked over to where the sea kissed the sand. The waves swept over her feet and she sighed in relief.
"They're good people who had nowhere else to go. People that didn't belong anywhere else. People that didn't think they would find a home, a place to belong until they eventually did… Until I eventually did."
Aether, Paimon, and Shinobu eventually began walking side by side towards… somewhere once again. Currently, they were in a clearing walking along a paved road surrounded by grass, but who knows where they would be next?
As long as Aether did his job right, as long as he kept Shinobu away from the gang as they prepared for her birthday, everything would be alright and he could check this off of his list-
"So, you ready to tell me why you kept me away from the gang since this morning?"
Aether almost tripped on his feet. "W-What?"
"Don't 'what' me. I know what you've been doing."
Aether awkwardly chucked, wow he's been doing that a lot today. "What have I been doing today, I wonder ha ha."
"Let's see, first you try to get me away from the gang earlier when you first approached me, and then you distract me by telling all sorts of stories and other things, and then now you try to distract me, again," her eyes narrowed. "Is there something I should know about?"
"Whuwhazzat?" Aether stammered. "Of course not-"
"And before you lie to me, again, I'll remind you that I'm certified in various areas, including the law." she glowered.
"Y-Yeah I know-"
"I studied in Liyue," Shinobu smiled, but as she was wearing a mask, the only indication Aether had was her eyebrows, and yet that was enough to promise pain. "So watch your words. Tell me, what is going on?"
Aether and Paimon recoiled at the sudden burst in her ominous presence looming over them. Even Paimon was suddenly surprised and loosely grabbed onto his shirt from behind.
'Looks like the jig is up.'
He sighed. "Fine," he breathed in. "The gang is-"
"Shinobu!"
A sudden call-out brought the three of them out of their moment. The ominous aura Shinobu was oozing suddenly disappeared and Aether and Paimon could breathe normally again.
A familiar purple-haired woman rushed over to them along with two men clad in identical uniforms.
"Sara? Is something wrong?" Shinobu raised an eyebrow.
"You need to come with me, right now!" Sara didn't bother waiting for her and instead kept sprinting along with her two companions.
Shinobu immediately followed, as did Paimon and Aether. "What's wrong?! Did the gang do something?!"
The purple-haired woman shook her head but didn't say anything further as they sprinted.
While they were running, Shinobu was running all sorts of situations in her head already.
'Did they get in trouble? Did they piss off the wrong person? Did they cause someone an incident?' Alas, she would never find out until a little later when they had arrived at where they would actually be.
Finally, they reached a clearing with trees and grass all around, but the thing that stood out was a table with what looked to be several boxes, as well as a doused campfire with a steaming pot on it.
Faster than everyone could react, Shinobu rushed ahead and scanned the area.
The boxes on the table were hot as if they had just been placed there after being in a fire. The campfire was still warm. Not to mention the footprints-
Her eyes widened. The footprints! She kneeled and traced each separate footprint with her finger. The gang had six members, including her and the traveler. She knew their habits. This was definitely from them.
She grit her teeth. She turned back to Sara and the others behind her. "Everyone, the footprints lead this way. I swear when I find out who did this I'll make sure they'll pay-"
Except when she turned around, she was suddenly attacked.
"Surprise!"
Not by weapons, but by a blast of confetti to her face.
"Happy Birthday Shinobu!"
And behind it, were Itto, Akira, Genta, Mamoru, and even Ushi. Slightly behind them, watching with amused smiles save for Paimon who was still slightly out of it, were Sara, her two companions, and the Traveler.
The whole Arataki Gang and then some.
Shinobu's eyes widened. This time for another reason entirely. "What?"
In front of her, Itto laughed. "You should've seen the look on your face! Oh, this was a great idea."
Accordingly, his goons cheered him as he posed valiantly. Shinobu was still shocked.
"This was a great idea. I suggested it, after all." Sara approached from the back. She glared at Itto, before she sent a warm smile at Shinobu. "Happy Birthday, Shinobu."
Itto glared back. "Hey, my plan was fine. We were going to get Shinobu here and surprise her anyway. With or without you, you would've been fine."
"Sure you would be. You're hopeless."
"Says you! Who invited you anyway?"
Sara pointed across from him towards the Traveler, more specifically, to the floating child-like figure on his shoulder just barely hanging on. "Paimon did. She told me about the surprise party, your plan, everything. Who, if I remember, was given Narukami Water by someone here!"
"Oh, uh, I don't know anything about that."
"Really now?"
"Nu-uh, not a thing. Right boys?"
"No boss!"
Sara narrowed her eyes at the oni. "I'm watching you."
Itto scoffed. "Sure, watch all you like. Why did you even bring two of your goons here anyway? Our food is for invited guests only."
"I had them with me because it would sell the act further. See how well it turned out?" the two goons nodded vehemently and with pride.
"Shhhnkkk haha, hahahaha, hahahahahaha!"
The sound of roaring laughter interrupted both of them. They all turned towards the birthday celebrant who was struggling to reign in her laughter.
"Uhhh... Shinobu, you alright there?" Itto asked. Even Sara looked confused, if not a bit worried.
Shinobu took a few more breathes to calm herself down and barely managed to do so. "It's… my apologies- It's just… I had almost forgotten." She held her head up. Tears just barely managed to escape her eyes. "Thank you."
This… This was her home. This was where her home was. The people she cared about, the people she was in charge of, although she didn't ask for anything, nor did she expect anything, she still received more than she felt she should've from them.
She spread her arms wide and lunged at them. The Arataki Gang recoiled due to habit, while Sara and Aether had stayed still with smiles on their faces.
In her rush, her mask had come undone as it slowly fell to her feet. Her bright smile shone through as she hugged everyone near her. The Arataki Gang's initially frightened expressions slowly melted into happy and appreciative ones.
"Thank you for everything, Shinobu. Happy birthday." They collectively said.
Shinobu hugged all of them tighter, even as Paimon began nuzzling on her arm, she didn't mind. Come what may tomorrow, and damn what she thought had happened earlier, but now?
She was happy.
"I love you all, so much."
The celebration hadn't been grand, but by no means was it small.
The food available was by no means small, nor did it leave them wanting for fourths. There was more than enough for everybody and Itto made sure of that. In fact, that was the very first thing he thought of.
Sara and Itto had made a temporary truce upon the birthday of a common friend. Itto took pride and attempted to rub it in Sara's face, but Shinobu didn't even let him start when she'd smack him upside the head every time he tried. Something Sara was very grateful for.
Of course, the two men that Sara had come with also had their share of the celebration, much to the Arataki Gang's dismay. But at Shinobu's insistence, they reluctantly agreed to let them. It was her birthday, after all.
Her day, her choices, her decisions.
Today, she was the boss.
Alas, the day had to end somehow. And when the sun was just about to set, Sara and the others said their goodbyes, but not before Sara had taken the liberty of giving Shinobu her birthday gift.
"An overnight stay at the local Inn, with all meals fully funded by yours truly until the day after. Should you ever need anything, please call me and I will provide."
Sara had given this treasure to Shinobu's hands. Shinobu couldn't possibly accept, especially since it was for one person only. Yet the gang had collectively insisted that she accept. It was her birthday.
Shinobu knew how stubborn they could be, and how stubborn she could be, but it didn't help that they were presenting her valid reasons to accept such as it being a present meant for her, and the gang wanted her to go there and not sell the accommodation.
Thus, she accepted the offer. But not before volunteering to help with the clean-up and glaring at anyone who told her to do otherwise. She could do this much. She was a Deputy Officer, not a princess to be pampered!
Even if it was said Deputy Officer's birthday!
The Arataki Gang along with its honorary member waved goodbye to Shinobu as she went away.
"Take care, Shinobu!"
"We promise we'll be good!"
"Happy birthday!"
"Happiest birthday to the Arataki Gang's Deputy Officer!"
Aether chuckled. "I'll watch over them for you."
Shinobu smiled at every one of them. Though she briefly stopped when she looked at the traveler. She closed her eyes, shook her head, and brought it back up with a smile. "Jeez, I'll only be gone overnight." though she sounded annoyed, she was anything but. She kept waving at them until she was out of sight as she walked to the district where the Inn was.
Aether nodded his head. He turned around and lifted up the remaining plastic chairs.
"Hey, the hell are you still doing here?"
Aether turned to see Genta crossing his arms.
Wait, it wasn't just Genta. A look around told Aether that everyone had been giving him disapproving looks.
Well, everyone save for Paimon, who had taken thirds of dinner before she went to bed.
"Uh… helping?"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Itto wagged a finger at him. The oni picked him up by the scruff of his collar and pushed him forward. "Nope. Leave this all to us. You go after Shinobu now."
Aether raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"You heard me, go," the oni pushed him once more with a hand to the back. "Just go!"
"Alright! Alright!" Aether scratched the back of his neck. Damn, Itto was strong. "I don't know what you want me there for but sure."
Collectively, Itto, Genta, Akira, Mamoru, and Ushi sighed. He didn't even know Ushi could sigh!
"So dense." Mamoru palmed his face.
Hey!
"Anyway," Itto looked at him straight in the eye. "Listen to me, yeah?"
Aether nodded. "Yeah?"
"Shinobu is our one and only Deputy Officer. She's a great friend to have, and an even better gang member. If you hurt her in any way, shape, or form…" the threat was left unsaid, but it didn't need to be.
A quick glance told him that everyone was thinking the same as their leader. Genta were cracking their knuckles, Akira were making death signs, and Mamoru was… just staring at him.
Menacingly.
Aether couldn't do anything but nod. "Absolutely. I'll keep that in mind. I would never hurt her."
"Words are cheap, back it up with action," Itto said, no humor in his voice. "Now go."
"I'm going."
The gang didn't wave goodbye. This time, they put their hands on their chests as they let out tears of joy, while Ushi performed a salute in his own way.
Itto sniffled. "They grow up so fast."
It wasn't hard to get the room number of the Deputy Officer. Mostly because it was put on the list as a "Do not disturb" room. No doubt because of her allegiance to the Arataki Gang. Scarily easy too due to his own reputation around Inazuma.
Man, though reputation quests pay off in their own way, huh.
Nevertheless, he resolved himself to knock on her door. One, two, three.
"Who is it?"
"It's me."
"What-!?" Aether swore he heard someone trip off their feet, as well as an exclamation of some variety of curse before the door opened.
Aether was not ready for this.
Kuki Shinobu had always been seen in her usual attire, along with her mask. She had made an image with that as the ever reliable yet strict Deputy Office you could always count on.
But now? With her hair down, mask off, clad in just a robe that clearly meant she wasn't expecting any visitors?
'Hoo boy.'
Shinobu quickly glanced at both sides of the hallway, then she all but dragged the traveler into her room before anyone could see.
"What are you doing here?" Shinobu didn't hiss, but she did whisper to some extent.
"I don't know either. I was told to come here by the gang. They didn't say why." he told her.
Shinobu groaned. "Those meddling idiots."
"What was that?"
"Nothing," she sighed. "I'm going to have to lecture the gang tomorrow about keeping secrets."
Aether stood up from where he was thrown. He then dusted off his pants. "Look, I can go right now. I don't know why I'm here, and from the looks of it, neither do you. We can just call this a day and act like this never happened," he neared the door and grabbed the handle. "Nice room. Happy birthday, Shinobu- ah!"
"Sit down," Shinobu once again grabbed his arm and threw him right at the cushioned chair. "I'll make some tea since you're here already. Might as well make the most of it."
"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to impose."
Shinobu shook her head. "It's fine. Besides, this room, all to myself? Gets a bit lonely when you've spent so long with the gang around you all the time."
If she wasn't to complain, then neither was he.
"Alright. At least let me help out-"
"Zip it," Shinobu leaned forward and pushed him back into the chair. "Let me do it or so help me I'll give you a taste of the naku weed experience."
Aether immediately nodded. "Okay, okay, ok…ay…" he trailed off as he noticed one teensy-weensy detail about their position right now.
Shinobu was clad in a robe. Just a robe. And at the angle she bent, the robe's hold around her chest area succumbed to gravity and became a bit undone and loose. And right now, when she was all but leaning forward, face-to-face, Aether had a first-class seat to the window of magic that is the brief Archon-given sight of Kuki Shinobu's chest.
He immediately blushed.
"That's strike three."
Aether looked up at Shinobu to face his doom.
But rather than the outraged look or the slap that he thought would come. He got something else entirely.
Kuki Shinobu was looking down at him from the angle she was staring at, red-hot blush present on her cheeks, but she was smiling as if Christmas had just come early.
"Three strikes is my threshold. Once you reach the third, you get punished for it," Shinobu told him. "But for this one, I'll give you a choice."
"A-A choice?" Aether's mind was becoming hazy. The proximity between them, the brief glance of heaven he had seen earlier, and the completely unexpected reception from her had thrown his mind into a complete mess.
Shinobu nodded. "If you don't like what I'm about to do, push me aside," her eyes gained a determination he had only seen a handful of times. "But if by chance, you do… well… we'll go on from there."
Shinobu didn't give the traveler much area to voice his concerns and opinions. Because as soon as she had told him, she slowly and slowly drew nearer to him.
In but a few seconds, his senses had nothing but Shinobu on them. Her smell, her face, her eyes, her soft skin. And then his gaze was drawn to her soft lips.
'Ah.' His eyes widened in realization.
A choice was to be made in this moment. Holding her by the waist in his arms that somehow had managed to grab on, he could feel her shaking a bit. He knew that without a doubt, this was one of- if not the hardest endeavor she was getting into.
She welcomed his acceptance, but at the same time, would accept his reluctance or refusal. Such strength was not such a thing everyone had.
But in his mind, there was no decision, there was no thinking. There was only something left that he had to do.
"Hmmp!"
Shinobu's eyes widened as she was suddenly pulled closer to the point where she sat on his lap. But that wasn't what shocked her the most.
It was the feel of another person's lips, Aether's lips, on her own.
With that sensation, came a bombardment of emotions. Joy at being accepted, fear of what to do next, the anxiety about her performance, and most of all, lust at what they would soon do.
It was all too much for the girl, not to mention their position! Her rear was just above his jr. and she could feel it poking through. A deep heat pooled inside her.
They released from their brief exchange of physical contact for air, yet to the both of them, it felt like an hour had passed.
"C-Can we… do that again?" she stuttered.
Aether chuckled. Shinobu narrowed her eyes and banged his fists on his chest, yet she could muster no strength. "I-I was caught by surprise, okay! I didn't expect you to- Hmmp!"
Saying no words, the traveler had pulled her back in for another kiss, this time both were more enthusiastic about it. Though Shinobu's eyes widened for a brief moment at the sudden contact, she shook herself out of her stupor and put in some effort into the exchange.
A lot of effort.
They pushed off of each other again for air, their eyes were getting cloudy.
Shinobu heaved. "Hey, can we do that again?"
They kissed.
"One more time?"
And again.
"I'm getting the hang of it now. O-One more time?"
And again.
"Please? Again?"
And again.
Countless minutes passed as they sat together like that. Finally, they pushed off of each other once more.
Looking at Shinobu now, she was undoubtedly disheveled. Her robe had come party undone, not enough to reveal any sensitive parts, but the skin it revealed was more than her usual attire did.
Shinobu chuckled as she noticed where Aether's hands went.
"You've been staring at my stomach the whole day. Do you really like it that much?"
Aether's answer was a gentle squeeze. Shinobu then sat up properly on his lap, fingers playing with the ribbon of her robe. "If you like it that much… then who am I to refuse?" she gave him a half-lidded gaze.
Aether smiled as he kept his hands to where they were. Occasionally moving and squeezing.
"Hey, I know of another sensation similar to the tingling of Naku Weed Paralysis. I hear it's a very pleasant feeling. Similar to the tingle that Naku Weed Paralysis gives you, but more like a spark." Judging from how his hands went down a tad and squeezed, he was all for it.
She chuckled and leaned forward further until her chest was on Aether's as her lips went near his ear.
"Hey, let's make each other spark for as much as we want, okay~?"