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A symphony of colors danced over the setting sun of Narukami Island - decorated with a mixture of vibrant oranges, brilliant pinks and regal purples. Surrounded by a roar of laughter near Yae Publishing House, the Traveler closed her eyes as she captured the scene in her memory. These were the elysian moments that she would pick from the shelf of her mind when she so craved to be back amidst it all once more. If only I could stay - locked into this picturesque segment of my journey… sadly, memories are but fleeting things… but they are the secret treasures of my heart.
Fluttering open her eyes, Lumine found the inquisitive and alluring olive eyes of the wine-haired detective honed-in on her. She noted that an enticing smirk creased the corner of his lips, causing her to blush. Why does he always look at me like that? Refocusing back on the rather… unique ‘acting’ before her of Arataki Itto, Iba and Etsu, the Traveler tried to hold back her laughter at the trio’s goofy antics for ‘Heizou Talks Fraud.’ Itto is making the narrating a little difficult… Stifling a giggle, the blonde glanced over to observe Heizou’s quick wit be the saving grace for Itto’s unscripted performance. Heizou’s nimbleness of thought is rather… attractive… She smirked as she eyed the stunning detective.
Itto’s flustered reactions were getting more unpredictable as the play went along. Hearing a more serious tone resonate from her young-minded friend brought the Traveler out of her reprieve. The surprisingly piercing gaze of the red-eyed oni was looking for Lumine’s help - as per usual with his escapades. “Hey, compadre! What do you think, am I being scammed here?”
“Heizou! Itto’s cheating! He asked for help!” Paimon pouted.
Completely unaware of what transpired, the Traveler found that she had missed a scene or two, while being lost in thought. Looking over to the detective, she tried to find an answer. Oh, thank the Archons! He’s still narrating… Phew! Taking a deep breath, Lumine intently listened.
“As the spark of intuition flickers and threatens to fade, Doushin Arataki clutches around in desperation, hoping to find a source of fuel to feed the flames of enlightenment!” Noticing the perplexed expression on the Traveler’s face, Heizou pushed away a chuckle and reminded himself to inquire about where her thoughts were later. Winking and pointing to the blonde, Heizou pulled her into the play, “Lumine, are you going to help this poor man out of his predicament?”
Pausing briefly, the Traveler was more curious to see how Itto would piece it together. Giggling, she egged on her friend, “Itto, just follow your heart!” Locking eyes with the detective’s olive ones, the blonde felt her heart skip a beat as he smirked widely at her. Wait, is he looking me up and down? Bright red color graced Lumine’s cheeks with the quicken of her heart rate.
• • • • •
‘Heizou Talks Fraud’ wrapped up with the message clearly understood by all and the Traveler grateful that the oni didn’t make himself too much of a fool. Paimon and Itto were performing their usual back and forth quips about the fake Onikabuto. Watching her friends, Lumine sighed contently as she placed her elbows on the railing and leaned back, comfortably bracing herself.
“Your companions are eccentric ones, aren’t they?” The chipper voice of the detective made Lumine smile. Leaning forward on the railing next to her, Heizou intentionally placed himself as close to her as possible - in order to meet her gaze… of course!
Giggling, the Traveler tilted her head slightly toward the detective and her golden eyes met his olive ones. “You’re one to talk.”
“Me?” Faining hurt in his voice followed by a wink, Heizou intentionally teased the blonde, “Oh, how you wound me, my dear partner!”
Bumping her shoulder against his, Lumine giggled again and rolled her eyes jokingly. “I enjoy the eccentric ones.” Her voice was laced with honey as she leaned in to whisper into Heizou’s ear, “There’s something rather… enticing… about those with a quick wit and curious nature.” Fluttering her eyelashes playfully with a smirk across her plump lips, the Traveler revelled in the fact that her flirting back with the detective finally caught him off-guard.
Heizou’s thought caught in his throat as soon as the blonde’s voice graced his ears. Her sudden closeness caused the detective’s chest to flutter then tighten. For one of the few times, he was speechless. If it weren’t for the other present company, I would attempt to steal a kiss… Smirking, Heizou turned his face to meet the Traveler’s. As he opened his mouth to respond, his words dissipated. Warm and wet lips planted an inviting and suggestive kiss on his cheek. Blushing, the detective was dumbstruck as he watched Lumine pull away from him. Kiss her, you fool. Gah, she’s right there! She’s right there - why can’t I move?
Pink blush graced the Traveler cheeks as she searched Heizou’s olive eyes, curious as to what was transpiring in his mind. She spoke softly, “Thank you, Heizou.” Watching the detective slowly come to, the blonde giggled, “Thank you for making Itto feel better.”
A snort of air escape Heizou’s nose as he jested, “What ever do you mean?”
“You could have ‘conned’ him too - as you obviously knew that the Onikabuto was fake from the very beginning,” she winked, “but you didn’t.” Lumine’s golden eyes were locked-in with the detective’s, “You continue to impress me, Heizou. Not only with your sleuth skills, but with your sincerity as well.” Perking up, the Traveler recalled an earlier question, “Oh! Did you receive my lunches that I dropped-off for you at the Police Station?”
A swarm of thoughts and questions pinged in the detective’s mind, but he pushed them aside. Smiling, his olive eyes shimmered, “Why yes! They were delicious! First, where did you learn that I love fried food? Second, why did you never tell me that your cooking is a-mazing!? And third, were you aware that dropping-off food for me at the Police Station would cause quite a commotion?” Heizou chuckled with a smirk, recalling his co-workers' constant questions about what is going on between him and the renowned Traveler.
Placing her hand under her chin, Lumine smiled, “Paimon told me about your two’s discussion of food when we were traveling back from Watatsumi Island.” She winked and placed a delicate finger over her lips, “My cooking is a trade secret. So don’t go spouting off about it to everyone you meet - hey, Zou-zou?”
Flabbergasted, Heizou grinned widely, “Did you just turn my name into-”
“A cute nickname?” She chirped, “Yes, of course! But, that’s our secret too.” Lumine winked as she bit her bottom lip - causing the detective’s chest to flutter. “As for the food and the Police Station, hm… I did not expect a simple gesture to cause such a disturbance. Do enlighten me as to the details.”
Heizou smirked, this woman… this thoughtful, kind, gorgeous and eloquent seductress has me wrapped around her fingers. Clearing his throat, the detective could not remove his olive eyes from the blonde’s golden ones. Recounting to the Traveler about the antics of his fellow detectives and their peppering of questions regarding the relationship between him and Lumine, the wine-haired man intentionally left out the parts about Kujou Sara reprimanding him when he tried to run after the Traveler with each lunch drop-off. Finishing his tale, Heizou smirked at the attentive blonde, “What prompted you to bring me lunch?”
The Traveler smiled as she sorted through her phrasing, not wanting to improperly convey her intentions toward the detective. “Well… I knew with you being gone from the Police Station for so long and with there being a couple of days between gathering the cast and the actual event of ‘Heizou Talks Fraud,’ I had a feeling that you may be a bit bogged-down at work,” her smile was sweet and sincere. “Also, I know when I am busy running to and fro, I forget to eat sometimes - so I wanted to make sure that you were taken care of.” Bright red blush graced the Traveler’s cheeks.
How… domestic… Heizou smiled. He felt as if his heart was about to burst out of his chest, as his mind filtered through the tantalizing thoughts of a romantic future with the beautiful woman before him. Unable to contain his joy at the ideas, the detective’s eyes shimmered, “Lumine… I-”
“Hey! Paimon’s staaarving!” The familiar squeaky voice of the fairy brought the Traveler and Heizou out of their shared trance. Huffing, the floating child placed her hands on her hips, “Can we go eat now?”
Excitedly joining in, Itto pulled the unsuspecting duo into a hug, “Yes, food is a faaantastic idea! Great suggestion, Flying Lavender Melon!” Chuckling in his jovial nature, the oni squeezed Lumine and the detective tighter in his friendly embrace. “Hey, hey now, compadres! Can you spot an oni?”
Gleefully chuckling, the Traveler and Heizou locked eyes and had their - now usual - silent conversation. Wriggling free from the oni’s arms, the detective smiled, “Of course, old chap!”
Itto fist-bumped with the fairy and they both happily danced at the prospect of food. Quickly pulling Lumine free from the oni’s grip, the detective twirled the blonde in close against himself. Heizou’s voice was low as he looked between the Traveler’s lips and eyes, “We’ll finish our conversation later?” Lumine nodded in agreement before the detective took her hand in his as the group strode off to find a nearby eatery.
• • • • •
There was no end to the amount of food that both the oni and fairy could put away. Lumine chuckled, watching the two across the table from her and the wine-haired detective. Feeling her hand being gently squeezed, the Traveler nearly forgot that Heizou was still holding her hand. Being with him is so… easy - as if we’ve done this before. Even our hands and fingers embrace one another perfectly. Her golden eyes met his olive ones, as she turned to face the handsome detective. Both nodded at one another with an unspoken agreement before they snuck away from their companions. Best not disturb their merry-making, Lumine giggled.
Having found a quiet and secluded spot around the corner from the restaurant, the Traveler and Heizou sat down in the grass on the edge of the rock face. Dangling her feet, Lumine chanced a look down at the water before glancing over to the man beside her. “What’s on your mind, Heizou?” She giggled, feeling his intent stare on her.
Smirking, the detective was taking in the stunning scene before him of the elegant woman - that he craved - being beautifully caressed by the moonlight. Storing the picture in his memory, he recalled an earlier thought. “After the first day of you bringing me lunch, I had a spark of inspiration.” Pulling out a hand-wrapped gift, Heizou handed it over to the blonde as blush graced his cheeks.
Her eyes inquisitively shimmered, “What’s this?”
Motioning for Lumine to open the gift, the detective watched in anticipation. Hopefully she doesn’t find the gifts too forward…
Delicately removing the ribbon and unwrapping the gift, the Traveler treated the packaging itself as a precious treasure. Her golden eyes grew wide while she gasped. “Heizou…” drawing out his name sweetly, Lumine was beside herself. In her hands were two books. One being a special-edition lore and mysteries of Inazuma - that she had been searching for since before leaving Liyue. The other being a blank sketchbook that was hand-bound in a burgundy leather with sunset orange accents and gold roping that mirrored Heizou’s attire - with his familiar tri-circle and crosshair symbols imprinted into the leather. Hugging the books close to her chest, her eyes twinkled, “Heizou… I-” Lumine’s eyes searched the detective’s joyful olive ones. “I will cherish them… always. Thank you!”
Chuckling, Heizou was overcome by a surge of emotion, “I’m glad that you like them.” Teasing, he smirked, “If I recall correctly… someone has been looking for that Inazuma lore book for some time.” The Traveler nodded, speechless, as the detective continued. “As for the sketchbook, I noticed that your current one was running out of blank pages. But I wanted to add a little bit of ‘me’ to join you on your journey… to remember me by.” A hint of melancholy hung in his voice.
“Firstly,” Lumine bumped her shoulder against the detective’s, “you are impossible to forget. And secondly, when the time comes for me to traverse through the other nations,” she smirked, biting her bottom lip, “I will merely be visiting them.”
Perking up, Heizou caught her deliberate phrasing, “Merely… visiting them?” He arched an eyebrow, watching the Traveler closely as she shifted under his inquisitive gaze.
Clearing her throat, the blonde smiled, “Yes. In my time in Inazuma, I’ve come to view it and the people that I’ve met here as my… home.” Feeling the detective’s fixed eyes on her, pink dusted Lumine’s cheeks. “When I can, I plan to always return home…”
Heizou was beside himself - presently unaware of the second meaning behind her use of the word ‘home.’ She considers here as her… home? She plans to always come back? Could there truly be a possibility… of… us? Butterflies built up in the detective’s chest, fighting to burst forth. Composing himself, a query teased his brain, “But… Inazuma is so far removed, physically, from the rest of Teyvat. How…? How you plan to-”
“I have my ways…” Lumine’s eyes seductively shimmered as she leaned in close to the detective. A sultry tone escaped the Traveler as she whispered in Heizou’s ear, “but… that’s a secret.” Placing a quick, yet enticing kiss on his cheek, the blonde pulled herself away and winked. Giggling, she found his dumbstruck face quite… adorable.
Before he could pull himself back into reality, Heizou’s thoughts were interrupted by the loud banter of Itto and Paimon having a friendly, yet noisy disagreement. Glancing toward Lumine, the detective saw that she was already standing and preparing to make her way back to their companions. Sighing in contempt at their moment being interrupted, Heizou reassured himself that he would not be so romantically dense when he and the beautiful Traveler were permitted another moment alone. Standing up, the detective and Lumine smiled at one another, as they interwove their fingers once more. For now, I will simply enjoy the short bursts of shared solitude… and holding her hand in mine.