🌿Raiden Shogun (Ei) x Tighnari 🌿 A Guide to the First Flower's Bloom
Inazuma sure has changed drastically since Tighnari last had a chance to visit. No raging storms pummeling the island every other day, no Vision Hunt Decree on patrol, nothing. Just a relatively calm, peaceful region as far as the eye could see, recovering relatively well from the recently concluded war. It was the perfect chance for him to explore the flora and fauna of the region for himself in almost complete peace.
Venturing out into the wilderness first thing upon arrival in the region was a tempting move indeed, but Tighnari was not as familiar with Inazuma the way he was Sumeru. He couldn’t stick every mushroom he found into his mouth for a little taste test, lest he accidentally consumes something extremely poisonous. Some plants were notorious for not being safe to touch, either.
The best place for him to start his research would be seeking out the assistance of an Inazuman field guide from someone who at least had a solid idea of what they were doing. He didn’t need to traverse the depths of the islands to seek out the most talented of biologists, just a simple field guide to better prepare him for the dos and don’ts of the region.
He made his first official stop be Inazuma city, where he figured that it would be his most accessible option for the time being. A little handbook, that’s all he was looking for, but the book vendors on the street felt overran with fiction as far as the eye could see. It felt as if he could find everything but what he was after, from godawful cliché romance novels to teen fantasy books that always attempted to be more unique than the rest. It was indeed a great contrast to Sumeru, which was full of thoroughly researched encyclopedias and reports as far as the eye could see.
He would have to find something eventually. Theres no way that the simplest of practical resources would be hidden away amongst a long-forgotten community of scholars, or something.
As he was picking up the books and wincing at the strange covers and titles of each, his ears picked up the sounds of two women discussing books close nearby. The chattering could lead him to yet another merchant to check out, so he looked up from the books he was observing and looked to see where the chattering originated from.
He blinked his eyes a few times blankly before dropping the book that he was holding in his hand right onto the stack. That long, braided, purple hair was recognizable anywhere, even to an outsider like him. Especially once news of Inazuma’s situation reached outside of the region, there was no mistaking who that was.
He was looking directly at Raiden Shogun, browsing books and giggling like a little girl with shrine maiden Yae Miko.
He stood there in total disbelief. Wasn’t the Shogun defeated at the end of the conflict? He must’ve not heard the entire story, not like it would pertain to him very much as he’s from Sumeru, but it would still seem like a very important fact to note if she were still alive. The two of them did not currently seem to be of any threat, but Tighnari hastily went back to browsing the books in front of him, keeping his ears perked up just in case. All he heard was pure, innocent giggling and light chatter. Not one trace of the booming maniacal laughter that he would expect to hear from the Shogun. It was rather hard for him to refrain from turning back and glancing over just to reassure himself that they weren’t secretly trying to eye him up. Admittedly, he also found them both to be rather gorgeous in person. Even though he only had a look from behind, there was something about their radiance that drew him towards them. Especially Raiden, her deep purple hair more beautiful than any Sumeru Rose that he had ever laid his eyes on. His tail softly wagged every time he gave in and snuck a peek, until he eventually realized it and grabbed his tail to force it to stop moving.
While he was attempting to make himself focus on the books, and only the books, he looked further to the right of the stand and caught the Shogun herself browsing for books out of the corner of his eye. They made eye contact for a moment, and Tighnari froze in both fear and awe. He braced himself for a possible outburst, but the Shogun instead looked away rather awkwardly. Tighnari remained still, careful as to not make any sudden movements, but she didn’t seem too hostile, oddly enough.
"Shogun?" Tighnari said, to break through the awkward silence.
"Ah! Please, it’s just Ei. The Shogun puppet is dealing with matters elsewhere!" she said, a little startled.
Puppet? Elsewhere? Tighnari sure had a lot of catching up to do on recent Inazuma happenings. He perked one of his ears up in further curiosity.
"Forgive me, but I’ve never seen a kitsune with such large ears before!" she said, holding back her excitement.
"Probably because I’m not a kitsune?" he said.
"Do not pay any mind to her, dearie," Yae Miko said, startling Tighnari. "She’s normally far more reserved than this, but it holds true that she cannot resist a fox of any kind."
Ei reached out to touch his ear, though he flicked her hand away with his ear in response. He had enough common sense to not let every pretty lady touch his ear so casually…as much as he would honestly like to in this situation.
"Now now, have you forgotten your manners after all of those years alone?" Yae said, grabbing her by the shoulder and guiding her back from Tighnari.
"Ah! My apologies, it’s…been a while," Ei said.
Tighnari didn’t know what to make of the situation. Inazuma’s two highest ranking leaders having an ever so casual chat with him in the middle of the city. All he was after was a mere field guide for plants, but it seemed like he would need a survival guide for just getting through the day.
"No worries... oh great Shogun," he said with a tinge of sarcasm.
"Please, just Ei."
"Right. So anyways, if you’re really all that mighty, could you at least help me find the book I’m looking for so that I could at least be on my way faster?”
"Oh, absolutely! And please, do not worry about spending time here, Inazuma is quite open and welcome to all!"
Welcome to all? Sure didn’t feel like it with all the weird looks I’m getting.
"If you say so," he said, blinking. "Now, I’m looking for a guide on local flora. Anything to make sure I don’t kill myself eating something that I ideally shouldn’t."
"Well, it would help if you looked at the right stands. Most of the vendors down here sell purely fiction."
She’s not even going to question why I want to taste test the local plants?
He looked once more at the stands around him. Tighnari took a moment to closely read the covers of the books that he could see, and indeed, they were all works of fiction.
"Sorry, Inazuman script is a bit different than Sumeru’s."
"I can teach you!" Ei blurted out, then immediately covering her mouth with her hands.
Tighnari’s ears perked back out of both surprise and embarrassment. Sure, that meant some more time for him to get to know the lovely Ei personally, but was seeking such company with Inazuma’s Archon truly appropriate at this time?
"Goodness, little ol’ Ei seems quite fond of you to be inviting you over so hastily," Yae said with a smirk. Tighnari still was unsure if he should be flattered or fearing for his life, so he stood there attempting to calm his breathing and stop flushing before he became Yae’s next victim of teasing.
"...Can you just help me find a field guide please?" he said, wanting to get things done and over with.
Yae Miko pulled aside Ei and started whispering in her ears. He wasn’t sure what good she thought that would do, considering how he can still very clearly hear them.
"Go on. Show the little fox boy your knowledge of the vendors here. What was his name, again?" Yae said, a bit loud for someone trying to have a conversation in secret.
"I didn’t quite catch it-"
"Dearie! You couldn’t even have bothered to properly exchange names! You’re really a lost cause when it comes to these things."
"What kind of things? What do you even mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean," Yae said, spinning Ei around go face Tighnari. "Now, go ask him his name and show him around Inazuma little."
"I can indeed! What is your name, before I forget to inquire?" Ei said, as Yae looked on giving her a look that just said "you already forgot to."
"It’s Tighnari. And sure, whatever gets me onto the field faster."
Ei didn’t waste a second at Tighnari’s acceptance. She grabbed onto his arm and dragged him further up the city, a little too eager to show him around the different vendors. Behind them, Yae Miko joyfully giggled, and purposefully lagged behind in order to give the two of them space.
“Oh dear, this should be entertaining,” she said to herself.
