'Pick a star… whichever one you like.'
Raiden cared little for the stars, each shimmering, flickering dot of light only betraying its transience. One day, she knew, they would all be blotted out, obscured by the dark canvas of space.
'We'll go there together.'
Such simple, innocent words, and in the blink of an eye, Raiden cared more for the stars than she'd ever thought possible. She dared not pick one at random, like the Traveler suggested, instead devoting the rest of the day to studying each constellation closely.
For hours, she stared, standing in the middle of the street like a woman possessed. Passersby would point and mutter, but Raiden didn't mind, barely taking notice. There were so many stars to choose from, and she wouldn't return to her love without an answer.
Still, the night grew ever older, and she didn't wish to be bothered by the Millelith. She wasn't entirely ignorant of mortal habits, nor of their preconceived notions - the sight of a lady alone at night bound to attract some sort of attention.
Indeed, silence hung thick in the air, enough to unsettle a person of lesser resolve. At times, the odd shuffling of feet could be heard, but it was hard to imagine that she walked up the same Chihu Rock that mere hours earlier had been so full of life.
Raiden turned a corner, stepping out of a narrow alleyway and into the main avenue. Yuehai Pavilion was still a ways off, nested high in the cloud district, and she felt a stray twinge of annoyance at the thought.
On one hand, it pleased her that the Traveler received the recognition he deserved, allowed to stay there as an honored guest. On the other hand, his host had proven to be a strange, perplexing and irritating thorn in her side.
The Yuheng was a conceited and irreverent little girl, and the Vision she wore on her back a source of never-ending mockery.
"Oh, Traveler…"
A woman's voice reached her ears, sultry and coy. It wouldn't have sounded out of place coming from Miko, but her dear familiar remained in Inazuma, watching over the Grand Narukami Shrine with diligence.
"My, but you do know how to please me… so diligent… so thorough."
The voice came from within a small shop, its windows slightly ajar, emanating a sweet, enticing scent. Raiden could've sworn she heard the Traveler being mentioned, and before she knew it, she'd crossed the street, pressing her ear flat against the door.
"Yes!" the voice exclaimed, delighted and in ecstasy. "Just like that… your strong hands, your fingers, your grip so firm on my-"
Like a puppet on strings, and perhaps that was just the case, Raiden tore the door open, metal hinges whining and screeching as they gave way under her strength.
Stunned, the Traveler spun around to face her, his eyes wider than a startled deer's. More importantly, however, was the woman draped over his shoulders, her chestnut hair brushing against the back of his neck.
For the first time in months, Ei and Raiden, id and ego, found themselves in complete and utter agreement.
"You will cease this foolishness at once."
Aether barely held back a yelp, and no doubt a high-pitched, girly and embarrassing one at that.
The mortar in his hands had fallen to the floor, but not before landing painfully on his foot, and through gritted teeth he cursed Paimon for failing her one and only job - to stand guard and make sure that no one, especially Raiden, approached the Scent of Spring this night.
Ying'er was truly a menace, and worst of all, he could never tell how much of her teasing was in jest. Unfortunately, she was the only one who could help him craft a sweet-smelling perfume for Raiden, and so he'd taken every precaution for his visit to turn out as discreet as possible.
"R-Rai- I mean- Ei! Fancy seeing you here! I didn't think you'd be out… tonight…"
Aether trailed off, his blood running cold at the blank, empty stare he received, reminding him once again of how intimidating the Shogun could be. The shop suddenly felt even more cramped, and the heat from the stove he'd brought grew almost unbearable.
"Hey!" exclaimed Ying'er, finally getting over the shock of Raiden's sudden appearance. "What do you think you're doing, tearing doors off other people's stores, and not to mention interrupting my precious one-on-one time with the hero of not one, not two, but three entire nations!"
"Silence."
The flirtatious shopkeeper squeaked, clinging to Aether's arm as though her life depended on it.
"It- It's not what it looks like, I promise!" he begged, shrinking with each step Raiden took in his direction. The static in the air was suffocating, the clacking of her heels doubtlessly spelling his doom.
He was about to die, he realized, torn to oblivion by the woman he loved.
A pair of hands forcibly took hold of his robes, and Aether pressed his eyes shut, flinching when Ying'er let out a short, hair-raising scream. He'd not even had time to make peace with his sister, much less the grim reaper.
To say that he was surprised when a pair of lips crashed against his would be an understatement, a far cry from the nothingness he'd expected. A confused, muffled sound escaped his throat, though not for long, as Raiden took the chance to slide her tongue across his bottom lip, wrestling her way inside his mouth.
An intense battle ensued, lasting for several minutes on end before they finally parted. Aether couldn't fathom how Raiden still wore the same inscrutable expression on her face, her eyes revealing nothing.
"W-What?" he asked dumbly.
"You fool. Did you not think that I perceived the fragrance in the air, the sweetness of crushed amakumo fruit, or the rose-tinted fumes so reminiscent of cherry petals?"
"Ehe-"
"However…" interrupted Raiden, her eyes falling dispassionately upon Ying'er - the poor woman shaking on the floor in fear.
"This body is the noblest and most eminent of all in this world, and you, my love, shall have no other."
Aether nodded vehemently, finding not a single reason to protest.
In utter silence, and under Raiden's watchful gaze, he then bottled the perfume he'd spent the night creating, and as soon as he was finished, she took his hand, leading him out of the shop before he had time to so much as sneak a peek at Ying'er.
Once outside, and at a safe distance from the Scent of Spring, he thought he heard a whisper - one of reverence and disbelief.
"So that's his type of woman!"
Were it not for the darkness, none would've missed the heavy blush spreading out across his cheeks. Whether or not they would've missed Paimon, however, on a nearby rooftop and fast asleep, was something that remained to be seen.