This dream date brought him to an oh-so-familiar place. Petals of the Sacred Sakura drifted from Narukami Shrine upon the wind. Seated in aisles, residents of Inazuma had gathered: Amenoma Tengo, Neko, Lyudochka, Yoimiya, Raiden Ei, Itto, Sara, Shinobu, Kokomi, Thoma, and more. Beside him, Yae Miko presided at the altar.
Wreaths hung from the shrine walls in beautiful violet colors. Everything had been set up for a wedding. Judging by everyone's expression and the fact he now wore a formal kimono, the groom was no one other than him.
"I didn't think you were the marrying type," he whispered to Yae Miko.
"Oh, silly Aether. This isn't my dream."
She waved the purification stick. The white ribbons would purify the guests and the groom. Once she'd blessed everyone, she nodded to the musicians. They plucked a melody on the strings of a koto and a flute: the traditional Inazuma wedding processional. Everyone stood.
From behind the main shrine, two figures emerged. Kamisato Ayato led a beautiful woman by the arm. She wore a shiromuku kimono that glistened like snow with flowing sleeves and a blue sash around her waist decorated with pink ribbons. Her white hair, normally done up in a ponytail, trailed across her back. Ayaka fluttered her eyelashes at him.
Aether's heart skipped several beats. He could only stare dumbly as Ayato led this beautiful goddess down the aisle. They stopped before Aether. Ayato handed Aether his sister's hand. He humbly took it, guiding her to stand by his side. Ayato sat beside Thoma. Yae Miko signaled the musicians stop. The Shrine Maiden then raised her voice.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Aether and Kamisato Ayaka. Beneath the Sacred Sakura, I ask that Her Excellency, the Almighty Narukami Ogosho, God of Thunder recognize this couple and bless them. Now, normally this would be where we have a moment of silence, but since our Archon is here…"
Everyone chuckled, a bit uneasy being so close to the most powerful incarnation of lightning in all Teyvat. Raiden Ei stood up and rested her hand over her heart.
"I, the Almighty Narukami Ogosho, God of Thunder, grant this couple my utmost blessing. May their love be eternal. May their union be full of bliss. And may they change one another for the better."
Once she had spoken, Ei returned to her seat. Yae Miko nodded to a shrine maiden who brought a tray with a large cup of sake.
"As is tradition, the couple will drink from the same cup which shall unite them as husband and wife."
Aether took a sip, relishing the sweet, light flavor. Then, he handed the cup to Ayaka who drank it. There was polite applause. The shrine maiden took the cup aside.
Yae Miko went through the ceremony. He only half-listened. Aether couldn't stop looking at his beautiful bride. Heart fluttering, he caressed her smooth hand in his own. Warm, supple skin worked upon his own. Ayaka gave him a sidelong smile that made him all dizzy.
At last, they came to the vows.
"Aether," said Yae Miko, "Will you in peaceful times, during sickness, this person love, this person respect, this person comfort, this person help, until death, do you promise to fulfill?"
"Yes," he said. "I promise."
"Kamisato Ayaka. Will you in peaceful times, during sickness, this person love, this person respect, this person comfort, this person help, until death, do you promise to fulfill?"
"Yes, I promise."
"Then beneath the gaze of Narukami Shrine, in the presence of Her Excellency, the Almighty Narukami Ogosho, God of Thunder, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Neither Aether nor Ayaka hesitated to kiss. Polite applause filled the shrine. Then, Itto started whistling, which annoyed some of the stiffer delegates.
They had a lovely reception. The band played traditional Inazuma melodies to their dinner of chazuke and other impressive dishes. He and Ayaka cut the wedding cake together. People came up to congratulate the new couple. Yae Miko, not so subtly, fended off a few aspiring social climbers looking to ingratiate themselves with the young couple. All the while, Aether never let go of Ayaka's hand.
He grinned at her. "So, a wedding? You really couldn't wait."
She smirked. "Well, Furina had hers before me. I wasn't going to miss out. Celestia forbid Keqing marry you before me."
As they chuckled, her fingers laced with his. He so wanted to kiss her all over but didn't know if that might breach some unspoken law of Inazuma marriage culture.
Her expression suddenly became somber.
"I wanted to do this in case something happens in Natlan."
Right. Ei must've told her about the horrible war.
"So, this is just in case I…"
"Aether," she said chidingly. "You know me better than that. This is so you have another reason to stay alive. You don't want to disappoint your wife."
"No," he said with a gentle smile. "I won't."
"Ah, Aether," said a smooth-voiced man. Ayato approached him, smiling in a veiled way that made him unreadable. "Might I have a quick word?"
Aether nodded. Ayato took him aside to the outer shrine. No doubt he wanted to give the whole: you make her happy or you'll regret it speech. He braced himself.
"Thank you for making Ayaka happy," Ayato began. "Now, as a member of the Kamisato Clan you will encounter certain political trials you may feel ill-prepared for. Should you need help, do not hesitate to call on me."
"Oh. T-thanks."
"Hmm. Is something wrong?" He asked, quirking an amused eyebrow.
"No, I just thought you were going to tell me to look after her."
"That would be redundant," he said. "I've no doubt you'll look after her. On that front, I have no concerns."
Ayato gave him a warm smile. Just then, Itto came barreling around the corner with a plate of cake. Crumbs lined his suit. He threw his arm around Ayato and grinned.
"Yo! Ayato-bro! Have you tried this cake?! It's freaking amazing?" Itto chewed some cake as if the emphasize the point. "By the way, pretty wild that you got to lead the bride up the aisle. The Kamisato Clan must really respect ya!"
"I suppose they do," he said innocently.
"Hey, compadre," said Itto to Aether. "Congrats on the wedding."
Aether returned to his wife.
Their reception continued for a few hours more until the guests began to depart. Ayato left with Itto, who went on and on about the cake. Yae Miko gave him and Ayaka a wink before she too vanished. All those guests left the dreamscape. Now, it was just him and Ayaka—no, him and his wife.
Ayaka clicked her heels. The dreamscape went black, replaced by a folding screen bedroom with a futon. Ayaka took his hand. She crossed over to the bed. Outwardly, she conducted herself with ambivalence and grace, but Aether saw the giddy smile threatening to break her façade. Ayaka was seriously looking forward to this.
They lay down on the futon facing each other.
"Now," she said, "we consummate our union."
He cupped her chin and brought her in for a sweet kiss. Within moments, she cracked. Ayaka pounced on him. They kissed, open-mouthed, tongues sucking and swirling. She tore off the sash around his waist and threw the kimono off his shoulders.
"Hey, slow down," he chuckled between kisses. "Give me a second to breathe."
Ayaka ran her hands across his bare chest. Her nails tickled along his abdomen. Aether managed to untie the sash holding up her dress. Ayaka raised her arms, helping him remove the shiromuku kimono.
Her underwear-clad body impressed him. Countless hours of training mixed with dancing gave her a unique physique: she was a blend of muscular and lithe. Here and there she bore a few scars earned in duels, which only added to her allure by making her exciting. Everything about her was perfectly proportioned from her thighs and waists to her shoulders and breasts.
Framed by her flowing white hair, Ayaka glimmered in the moonlight like a heron of snowflakes. She stroked his crotch beneath his underwear. He fondled her breasts behind that bra.
Ayaka tugged down his underwear, letting his erection spring free. He kicked aside his underwear and unhooked her bra. The cloth fell, exposing Ayaka's breasts. They were sizable, though not overly large. Her areolas, on the other hand, were quite wide. The nipples, perky, bright, and pink, practically begged to be pinched.
He massaged them in his palms, brushing his thumbs around those tips. Ayaka grabbed his cock. She stroked him, hand twisting in a screwy motion. Her other hand rubbed his testicles. With her thumb, she caressed the space between his balls.
"You've been practicing," he said.
"Naturally."
They made out while fondling one another. Ayaka tasted wonderful. Much as she tried to be the stoic heiress, Ayaka couldn't help giggling and moaning whenever they touched each other. When they parted for breath, her cheeks were flushed.
"My husband," she purred.
Ayaka pulled off her panties. As he suspected, she was aroused. It always excited him to see he had this effect on her.
She got into his lap and directed his cock inside of her, throwing back her head and sighing with delight. Aether wrapped his arms around her waist, and she around his shoulders. They made love facing one another. Ayaka loved doing it like this: her eyes gazing into his, her breasts bobbing with his every thrust, and their lips locked.
Her wonderful moans filled his ears. Her hot breaths poured across his nostrils. Ayaka locked her ankles around his waist. Strong, athletic thighs encircled him. Using her arms slung about his shoulders, she pumped herself up and down. He helped along, thrusting with his hips, and pushing down with a hand resting just above her buttocks.
Ayaka kissed him with all the love she had. She kissed him until she couldn't breathe, and then she kept kissing him. He met her love in equal passion. His heart hammered, utterly lost in the sensation of her breasts flopping, her wonderful, slick skin upon his, her lips pressed against his, and her walls clenching his cock.
"Aether," she panted, "Oh, my husband! Aether! So good!"
"Do you want to slow down? You look short of breath."
"No," she said, "I'm getting…close. Oh gods!"
Her nails dug into his shoulders as her body tensed.
"Aether!"
Her walls clenched. Even then, Ayaka kept pumping and kissing. She spurted, and that was enough to send him over the edge. He erupted.
Eyes closed, she savored the high. Her hand traced her belly, full of his semen. Between those big, struggling breaths, she giggled.
"That… was…incredible," she managed. "I… hope you… get me … pregnant…"
Aether kissed her cheek. "I don't think you can get pregnant in a dream. Anyways, Yae Miko said the number one rule of these dreams is to never have kids. Otherwise, you won't want to wake up."
"I… want them now."
Ayaka pouted in a way he found so utterly adorable. He hugged her sweaty body to his.
"One day," he said, "you'll have them. When I find Lumine, we can be a real family. Until then, please be patient."
Ayaka rested her chin on his shoulder.
"Promise me…" she whispered, "promise me… you'll stay alive until then…"
"I will."
"Kids?"
He smiled, hand caressing her cheek. "As many as you'd like."
"Aether, darling husband…"
Gently, he laid her down on the futon. With her ankles locked around his waist, he couldn't exactly break free, so he consigned himself to a night inside her. Aether studied her face, eyes closed in what he assumed was a peaceful sleep.
"M-more," she pleaded. "All… night long."
Aether obeyed. He and his wife made love until the sun rose and their dream ended.
In Liyue:
Keqing tapped her foot on the floor, arms folded as she sat by her work desk.
"Grr," she grumbled, "Why do I feel so irritated?"
Ganyu glanced up from her paperwork. "Because last night, Ayaka had her sex dream with Aether."
"I know, thanks for reminding me."
"You're welcome," replied the secretary with just a hint of a smile.
"I can't let my rival get ahead," she said. "Just you wait, Aether. My turn's coming soon. Then, you'll be all mine."
