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Sara wasn’t quite sure how it was she came to find herself at Yae Publishing House on her day off. Nevertheless, there she stood, arm in arm with Raiden, chatting lightly as they waited in line.
“Remind me again why we’re doing this?” Sara asked the woman.
Raiden lightly poked her in the side. “I told you, I wish to know more of humanity. I find my expertise in that area lacking, somewhat.”
“For what it’s worth, I think you’re perfect already,” she told her, and she meant it. To Sara, Raiden was perfection given form.
“Stop, you’re just saying that,” Raiden claimed, somewhat downtrodden and still much too aware of her faults to consider herself perfect.
“Nonsense,” Sara immediately interjected, pulling the woman closer to her and placing a small kiss to her hair.
Raiden hummed in content, laying her head onto Sara’s arm, and the taller woman jumped slightly. Unsure why, she looked up towards the woman, only to find her gaze dancing anxiously through the crowd.
“They’re staring,” Sara muttered under her breath, and Raiden couldn’t help but smile.
“Let them stare,” Raiden told her, running her hand to the back of Sara’s neck, and pulling her close. “Let them see how much I love you,” and her lips met Sara's in a deep, passionate kiss.
Sara had to resist the urge to lift the woman off the ground and make the kiss ferocious, subtle love and passion turning to hunger and desire. She was always good with restraint, it had unfortunately been beaten into her at a young age, but Raiden’s newfound possessiveness never failed to make her stumble.
Instead, she let her wings unfurl, using them as a screen to block out any unwanted viewer, and pushed her tongue into Raiden’s mouth, deepening the kiss as much as she could allow herself, and making the smaller woman whine in surprise. When they disconnected, Raiden’s gaze was delightfully unfocused, and her face tinted a shallow red. She quickly regained herself, however, eyes reawakening and focusing solely on Sara.
“Behave yourself,” she told the woman, though the command was light, lacking in any true authority.
“As you wish, Your Excellency,” Sara said, playing at divine respect, and bowing slightly.
In return, Raiden lightly smacked her arm, relinking them together, and urging the woman forward through the line that had somehow considerably shortened in what they assumed had been but a brief moment. Sara returned her wings to their hiding place, falling in pace as they stepped forward, and tapping slightly on the unattended counter.
Upon hearing the noise, it was one Yae Miko that popped her head over the counter, seeming happy and excited, but her expression fell when she saw who her patrons were. “Ugh, it’s you two.”
“Indeed it is,” Raiden replied effortlessly, likely unaware of the slight annoyance in Yae’s voice.
“Here for books?” The pink haired woman asked. “You know, we’ve got quite a selection of romance novels that I’m sure would turn our little tengu here redder than her mask.”
At that, Sara’s hand shot to the mask fastened to her belt, worn there when she donned more casual attire, and her face grew perhaps a few shades less red than Miko had predicted.
She sputtered for a moment before regaining herself, voice even when it finally left her lips. “We are here for books, actually; none of that sort, though. Raiden wanted a somewhat relaxed way to better acquaint herself with the aspects of humanity she’s been missing out on.”
Upon hearing her stiff explanation, Yae couldn’t help but laugh. She had to support herself on the counter for balance, and, when she finally regained herself, she was wiping tears from her eyes. “You,” she said, turning to Raiden, “are much more like Ei than you’d like to admit, I think.”
Raiden raised an eyebrow at Miko’s statement. “In what ways?”
“Just an observation is all; she did something similar some time ago.”
Sara cleared her throat, rather loudly, and the women apparently only then realized she was still standing there. “So,” Sara said, somewhat awkwardly, “books.”
“Right, well in that case, I’d still recommend romance; that’s what most of our best sellers are these days.”
“I was thinking something like history, or an old, poetic epic; romance seems a little-” Sara tried to protest, but was quickly cut off.
Raiden pulled her closer by their arms, still linked, and nestled into Sara’s side, humming with content. “Romance sounds like an excellent place to start,” She stated, looking upwards, pleading gaze meeting Sara’s own.
Sara sputtered something unintelligent at the sight, face finally reaching the red hue Yae had foreseen, and choosing to bury it in her palms. She whined quietly, so quiet, in fact, she was certain none but Raiden would have heard her.
Yae Miko had heard too, of course. Kitsune have excellent hearing.
Raiden nudged Sara softly in the ribs, and Sara’s face resurfaced from where it had been hidden. “Fine,” she muttered, forcing back her embarrassment and electing to acquiesce to her love’s desires.
Yae turned around, leading the pair to the romance section, and Raiden placed a small kiss on Sara’s cheek before they followed.
This woman is going to be the death of me, was all she could think.
Yae led the pair to a row of shelves, stopping abruptly, perusing for a moment, and pulling out a thin, hardcover novel. “Here,” she said, presenting the book for Sara to look over. “I had this one commissioned recently. It’s about a little tengu warrior, and a robot with a growing capability to love. I think you’ll both find it quite interesting.”
Sara, mouth agape, dropped her eyes to examine the cover. It was set against a forest in the mountains, the sky painted a brilliant pink above the trees. In front of the backdrop stood two women, back to back. One, the tengu, if the mask she was wearing was to be believed, looked shockingly like Sara did, the only exception being the undercut that her short ponytail revealed, and the other bore a striking resemblance to Raiden, sans mole, with her hair down, and her joints being painted much more mechanical than in reality.
The sight did little to ease the blush that still persisted on her cheeks. Yae could practically see the steam shooting out of the poor woman’s ears, and it was all she could do to cover her snicker behind her hand. Raiden, having scooted closer to see as well, immediately beamed.
“That sounds wonderful,” she proclaimed, excitedly bouncing beside a flushed Sara.
Sara ran her hand through her hair, finding the downy feathers that lay in secret beneath the lowest layer. “This one? Are you certain?”
“Is this one not a good choice?” Raiden’s lips formed a faint pout as she posed her question.
Sara sighed deeply, and a smidgen of the color left her face. “If that’s what you want, then I’m sure it’s wonderful.”
“Perfect!” Yae Miko interjected, pulling the two back from their own world. “I’ll ring you up for two then; one for each of you.”
Raiden looked at Sara with something she couldn’t quite decipher written on her face, and it made her nervous.
“Do you mind handling this?” Raiden asked, her face slightly scrunched but her tone gentle as she handed her copy of the book to Sara. “I wish to speak with Yae briefly; we shouldn’t be too long.”
“Of course,” Sara replied, though the prospect of Raiden secretly conversing with Yae did little to quell the churning in her stomach.
“Thank you,” Raiden said, placing a peck on her cheek. “You can just leave mine on the bookshelf at home.”
Home. Right. Sara wasn’t quite sure when it was that Tenshukaku had become home to her. She had been staying there more often than not, but many of her things still remained in the Kujou Estate, and it wasn’t something they had ever discussed. The thought of it, however, set her at ease, and she smiled as she replied.
“As you wish,” and, with that, Sara strode off to pay for the books, returning to the palace afterwards, as Yae led Raiden to her office within the publishing house.
—
Later that very same night, Sara found herself in quite the predicament.
Raiden had tasked her with collecting food for the two of them, something to eat together for dinner. As she strolled down the long hallways of Tenshukaku, she thought ‘ why couldn’t she just have one of the servants get it?’ Upon returning, however, the tray she had been carrying clattered against the floor, and she quickly understood.
Raiden lay flat against the bed, kimono strategically loosened just enough to show off her chiseled abs, and just a hint of the generous swell of her chest. Her hair, removed from its long, neat braid was splayed around her like a halo, purple locks framing the stunning divinity of her form, and one hand lay dormant on her thigh, while the other traced lazy circles in the sheets.
“You’re finally back, little birdie.”
Sara stood in bewilderment. Even since the release of her emotions, Raiden had never been this bold, this forward. She was stunned silent, thanks in part to the overwhelming thought of ‘what did she just call me?’
“Why are you-” Sara made to speak, but trailed off into silence as Raiden sat up in bed, kimono spreading just barely further apart, causing her to lose her train of thought.
“Oh? What’s got you so flustered, dear?” Raiden teased, a coy smile spreading across her face. A smile that Sara immediately recognized, one that, by now, automatically triggers her fight-or-flight reflex.
“Well, I mean, it’s nothing, I- the food dropped, and, um,” She sputtered, staring intensely as Raiden lifted herself off the mattress, and strode towards her.
“Hmm, something seems up, wouldn’t you agree?” Raiden’s voice was confident and alluring as she spoke.
She pressed a single finger to Sara’s shoulder, pushing her back slightly, and effectively pinning her against the wall. Her hand found one Sara’s own, and she brought it to her hips, letting it rest there as she pressed against the taller woman.
“You should tell me what’s got my little bird so red.”
That was when Sara realized that she was, in fact, very very red. Blush spread across her face and chest, and the heat behind her skin was like magma rolling through her bloodstream.
“I- uh,” She started. “I’ll go get more food,” and then bolted out of the room, slamming the sliding door shut behind her.
She heard a small groan as she stood in the hallway, but she spared it no mind. She sprinted to the kitchens, barely breaking a sweat by the time she arrived, and picking up replacements for the food she had thrown on the floor.
Her excuse had to at least be believable, right?
She walked back to the bedroom where Raiden waited very, very slowly. This wasn’t so much due to the fact she didn’t wish to drop the food again; no, it was because she wanted to have a moment to think, to clear her head.
What in the world was that? Surely some kind of prank, or joke; it had to be.
Raiden had never once acted this way, not before or after the release of her soul, and, quite frankly, it scared Sara. She was unsure why it was that she was so unsettled, but she simply was, all the way to her core.
As she pondered, however, she realized. The teasing, the cocky aura, the archon forsaken smirk; it all reeked of Yae Miko. When she remembered that Raiden had spent the afternoon talking with the pink haired fox demon, the pieces all fell into place, and Sara understood.
Her brow furrowed, at first, but then, after a moment, it brought a smile to her face.
Sara then found herself back at the entrance to the scene she had hastily fled, and she chided herself for acting so rashly. She padded into the room quietly, sliding the door open with her foot, and closing it gently with her hip.
Raiden was laying on the bed, though, this time, she was much more covered. Her kimono had been tied once again, and her hair, still loose and flowing, was much more orderly. It seemed almost as if she was sulking.
Quietly, very quietly, Sara placed down the tray of food on a table in the corner, and made her way over to the bed. She sat down, and the mattress sank to support her.
“Hey,” she said, voice gentle and patient.
Raiden, laying on her side and facing away from Sara, didn’t move an inch. “Hey,” she responded, though it seemed distant, and unsure.
Sara carded her fingers through the long, soft purple locks, hoping to convey the overwhelming love she felt.
“You okay?”
Raiden shifted, then. She sat up, and turned towards Sara, and the sight hurt her heart. She was crying, or, at least, she had been. All that was left was puffy, red bags under her eyes, and a small tear or two left in their corners.
“Did I do something wrong, Sara?” She asked, and her voice threatened to break.
Sara clasped both of Raiden’s hands within hers, bringing them to her lips and pressing gentle, loving kisses to them.
“Of course not, my love. I’m sorry; I was caught off guard, that’s all.”
Raiden sniffed. “You just got so easily flustered back at the publishing house, and it was so cute, and I asked Yae Miko for tips, and now,” she brought a hand to her eyes, wiping away what had begun to form, “this.”
“Shh,” was Sara’s immediate reply, gently pulling the shorter woman into her lap, and wrapping her arms around her. “It’s okay; it’s okay. I promise.”
“I’m a machine. I’m a fighter, and a ruler, but I’m not a lover. I don’t know what I’m doing when it comes to you, Sara. I saw how you reacted, and I thought ‘I should be able to do that.’ I want to make you flustered, or take your breath away, or-”
Sara interrupted her with a kiss, picking up the pieces of Raiden that the woman had been so desperately clutching at.
“You already do,” she told her, and she traced her hands up to Raiden’s face, cradling it gently.
“Your smile,” and she kissed her on the forehead,
“Your laugh,” and she kissed the corner of her eyes,
“Your demeanor,” and she kissed her cheeks,
“Everything you are,” and she finally kissed her lips, “does that and more to me already. I promise.”
Raiden smiled against her, not so much overwhelmed by, as she was simply overflowing with love, and she said as much.
And Sara responded in kind, professions of love pouring out, flowery and beautiful thanks to the poetry lessons a friend had given her recently, and, from the bottom of her heart, she meant every single word, every single line.
They sat like that for a long time, Raiden straddling Sara’s lap, face buried in the crook of her neck as the tengu woman ran a soothing hand up and down her back.
Then, after their own little eternity, Raiden sat back. She planted a kiss to Sara’s lips once again, and finally broke the calm silence.
“I think we should eat now, love. After all, you did make two trips.”
Sara smirked. “If you ask me, I’ve got dinner right here.”
Raiden swatted her arm playfully, and climbed off of the woman, heading towards the tray of food. “And I’m the one who was being too forward.”
Sara merely laughed at that, getting up from where she sat and joining Raiden.
And that night, just like many others, they ate dinner together, in a peaceful harmony, as no one but themselves.