Good Evening Traveler

Chapter Sixteen: Miko's Assistance (again)

Paimon and Ayaka began their morning quite early as Lumine and Xiao still slept. Eventually the sun caught up with them, and Lumine began to stretch, slowly waking up. "Paimon? What time is it?" She asked, looking around. Paimon, as already mentioned, was outside with Ayaka. Lumine giggled, then tried to stand up. There was some sort of force pulling her down - literally. It was an exhausted Xiao reaching up in his sleep. Instead of being scared or overjoyed, Lumine grew worried. Xiao was always adamant about not sleeping ("I don't sleep. You have no respect for the ways of the adepti"), yet he was stiff as a log. Considering both staying and going, there wasn't much room for a choice when Xiao's eyes began to slowly open. He blinked to adjust to the light before noticing Lumine was staring at him. "Well we don't have all day. Get on with it," He muttered.
"You...you were sleeping..."
Xiao glared as his response. It was either admit to falling asleep by Lumine's side, or keep up appearances. I think we all know Xiao's choice. "I don't sleep," he spat. Instead of having regret for sharing the fact, the traveler began to smile softly as she stood up.
"I have to get to my commissions. Even if you were just resting...thank you," she waved as she left the estate.

Xiao sat there for a little while longer before he ended up banging his head against the wall. He was stupid. What was keeping him from Lumine? Nobody actively disapproved it, though it was merely difficult. Xiao had several of these thoughts as he eventually went outside to both a smug Paimon and Ayaka. "Great. What do you two want?"
"How did you sleep last night? You looked really cozy next to your girlfriend!~" Paimon teased. Xiao merely flicked her away like a mosquito. "Hey! That's not very nice! If you keep that up, Paimon will give you an ugly nickname!"
"I would rather have that than have you pry into my personal affairs."
"Fine then! Paimon will call you... Demon Boy! Tone-Deaf Bard, Bull Chucker, and Demon Boy!"
Ayaka giggled, then finally spoke up - with her fan covering her mouth of course. "We didn't want to wake you or Lumine up - you both looked incredibly comfortable and peaceful. It would have been a shame to be the one to ruin it!" She sighed.
"Well, the looks on your faces suggest you have something else to share. What is it?"
"Oh silly demon boy! When has Paimon ever lied to you?"
"You have said repeatedly that the traveler has been fine when in reality it is the opposite, especially about Inazuma, the chasm, and-"
"Okay okay, we get it! Sheesh!"
Ayaka continued to smile before handing the picture of Xiao and Lumine to him. Suddenly, all Xiao could feel was butterflys dancing in his stomach and cryo running through his veins, freezing him still. The tips of his ears grew warmer than Nataline, even looking the part. "I hope you do not mind this. I thought that a photograph would commemorate the occasion much better than stories," Ayaka explained before setting it in her pocket. "You have no business into my personal affairs," was all Xiao said as he disappeared from thin air. In reality, he had just went to the beach to clear his mind.

While that scene was going down, Lumine was doing yet another commission at the Grand Narukami Shrine for Yae Miko. She was helping her with some requests the citizens had, nothing major. Plus a little cleaning. While Lumine did her job, Miko did what she did best - press for information. "So," She began, "I've hear rumors that a certain someone has their eye out on a certain adeptus!~"
"What? Who? Did Ganyu say something? But...how would you have heard that all the way here?"
"Silly me, am I not being too direct? How is your relationship with mister adeptus Xiao, conqueror of demons?"
Lumine stopped in her tracks. "...What...have you heard?"
"Hm...Well, I'm only wondering to see if you have any advice. Has everything been going as you'd hope?"
"Not exactly...heh...We're both kind of awkward and afraid," Lumine did her best to get away but Miko held her back.
"How about we sit down and chat? As your friend, I'll do my best to not tease you!~" She laughed. Lumine giggled in response and finished her first commission. Eventually, the two took a seat inside one of the small shrine buildings. "Tell me about Xiao. What is he like? I've never met him before sadly." Lumine began to speak for hours upon hours about Xiao. Everything to how they met, to the gifts she had received, and even how much she cared about him. Yae Miko listened respectfully, occasionally asking a question or two. Eventually, it became time for Lumine to leave. The two friends bid farewell, and Lumine returned to the estate (of course, she finished her commissions on the way).
It was dark when Lumine returned to the Kamisato estate. Everyone else appeared to be asleep, thankfully. She set her things in her room before going to check for Xiao. When she looked upon the tall bookshelf, but he was missing. "Xiao?" Lumine called, wandering through the halls, "Xiao? Where are you?"
He was missing. Where was he? Instantly, Lumine grabbed her bag and ran outside. She kept calling for Xiao before looking to the beach below. Standing there, still as a rock, was a figure. The figure had an aura that seemed all too familiar... it was Xiao.

(Hey hey! Just a little heads up - I'm going to be having a minor surgery on 7/17/22, so expect more delays. Consider this tomorrows chapter! I appreciate you all for just reading this, and I hope you're enjoying it!)