"Yae, I hear you got the better of little Alice," Yae Saiguu teased, setting aside her armpit-baring miko outfit.
Reisen Riou shot her a deadpan look, continuing to ruffle Yae Miko's fur. Saiguu sighed, losing interest—she knew she couldn't outwit Reisen. He'd play dirty, and Ei would scold her.
"Fine, no more teasing. You're no fun, Reisen. Ei's the interesting one," Saiguu said, waving them into her secret hideout. The unassuming exterior hid a sprawling interior, a true fox den.
Reisen and Ei had first checked the Grand Narukami Shrine for Saiguu but, finding it empty, tracked her here—Ei knew this hideout well.
"Don't be mean, Saiguu," Ei said, eyeing the miko outfit. "Sis sent us to keep you in check, make sure you don't go overboard with this."
"Overboard?" Saiguu bristled. "I stitched this myself, needle by needle! Why can't I promote it?"
"We get it," Reisen said, "but it's too much for Inazuma right now." He, too, wouldn't mind seeing miko in such outfits on Narukami's streets. Inazuma's shrine maidens, trained from youth in poise and etiquette, were elegant and beautiful. But this otherworldly design? Too avant-garde for today's Inazuma.
"Hmph! Think Makoto can stop me?" Saiguu activated a barrier, trapping Reisen and Ei inside the fox den. "Let me school you on this barrier, Reisen, Ei. It's powered by over a thousand tricolor dango and crimson sakura sweets. Break it if you can!"
Alice's eyes gleamed. "Enough talk, Saiguu. Go push those miko outfits!"
Inside, Ei hesitated, blade in hand, unsure if she should cut through. "This is interesting," Reisen chuckled, pulling a plate of tricolor dango from the floor and handing it to her. "Looks like we've been played, Ei."
As Teyvat's top barrier master, Reisen found Saiguu's construct trivial. Its clever twist—diverting backlash to food—was intriguing but no match for him. He could slip through without breaking it.
Ei took the dango, exasperated. "I know you can get out. You're not leaving?"
"Why bother?" Reisen said, producing a crimson sakura sweet. "I'm 'trapped,' sure, but I also want to see those miko outfits in action."
Ei stared, speechless. "Have I been too soft on you lately?"
Reisen grinned. "My hometown had a philosopher, Gaozi, who said, 'Food and desire are human nature.' Another sage put it, 'Food and love are mankind's greatest desires.' Sublimate that, and it's governance. 'Food' is material needs, 'love' is spiritual pursuit. Inazuma's people chase both. Doesn't that govern a nation?"
"It's just an excuse for your lechery," Ei retorted, pressing him against her chest. "Snap out of it."
Reisen rolled with her, a lightning bolt pinning the dango plate midair, skewers hovering. "You're looking forward to it too, you naughty Shadow."
"You're out of line!" Ei pinned him down.
They traded playful jabs, then sat up to talk business. "How'll you handle Sis?" Ei asked.
"No need," Reisen said. "Inazuma's strong enough now. I trust Sangonomiya's not foolish."
"Um… am I hearing too much?" Yae Miko, in fox form, raised a paw timidly. "Can you let me out?"
"Dream on, little fox," Reisen said, ruffling her head harder.
"Ugh!" Miko whined, turning human and clinging to Ei. "Shadow Sis, he's bullying me!"
Ei ignored her, diving back into Watatsumi talk with Reisen. "Any plans for this year's Three Realms Gateway Offering?"
"No sabotage—Sis would never forgive me," Reisen said. "But I've got intel: Khaenri'ahns are eyeing Enkanomiya for digs."
Ei pictured their war machines. Rumor had it Khaenri'ah was building a massive one, stronger than most Archon kin but too clunky, falling short of god-tier. Reisen's barriers were its kryptonite, nullifying it instantly. Still, for mortals and lesser kin, it was a godlike killer.
"Khaenri'ah's automatons are no joke," Reisen said. "They burrow underground, looting ancient ruins. The Rock-Shadow-Thunderlight Brigade fought them for seven or eight years but couldn't stop them from copying old tech. Still, we didn't lose out—we've got copies of their data."
Most came from Brigade raids. Reisen himself sank a Khaenri'ahn ship, snagging half its haul of ancient tech records.
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