In the heart engraved

1

A tea date in Tenshukaku.

Time always seemed to slip away so fast when they were together. Eternity had a new meaning for her now. Something she never thought it could be possible.

That idea brought Makoto's kind face to her mind for a moment. Ei was sure that this happiness was all what Makoto was wishing for her from whatever she was now. She had probably known it from the start, from that very first encounter between them. Morax was the one who would bring that joy to Ei’s life and the one who would teach her to live.

“What's in your mind, hm?” Zhongli was looking at her with a little smirk on his lips and a deep blush spread quickly all over her face.

“Nothing, I was just...”

Her first instinct had been denying it, too embarrassed to speak out loud about her feelings. However when Ei stared back into his amber eyes, the hesitation simply vanished.

“I was thinking of you... and Makoto. Sometimes I think she knew.”

“What did she know?” He was observing her attentively while his right hand played with a lock of her purple soft hair exactly as he knew she loved.

“That you were the one I needed all this time.”

Ah. What was on his mind now? The former Archon was still caressing her hair affectionately but his eyes became serious, maybe because of the weight of his own thoughts.

“Do you really believe that?” He asked finally. Ei was surprised by the nostalgic tone of his voice.

Wandering in old and painful memories, Zhongli seemed to be far away for a moment and she feared that she wouldn’t be able to reach him. Her heart ached for him and Ei lifted a hand to caress his cheek with the most caring touch until those beautiful amber eyes finally returned to her.

“Yes”.  She leaned forward pressing her forehead against his own gently. “You are the best that ever happened to me, Morax.”

She wanted to say more, to explain how grateful she was that he had returned to her life. How intense were her feelings for him. How important his sole presence was for her. But her clumsiness, awkwardness and lack of experience in love matters stopped the right words before they could be pronounced and when her thumb touched his lower lip suddenly, Zhongli smiled at her sincerely and captured her lips in an impulsive kiss that stole her breathe away and her thoughts all at once.

He didn't say how much her words had warmed his heart and calmed his mind but he hoped that his gesture would be enough to show her his feelings.

“Mmm...” Her cheeks were flushed again by the intensity of his kiss and Ei sighed softly against Zhongli's lips as she opened her eyes.

“You know where this will lead again, don't you?” He said smiling seductively.

The memory of their first time together clearly popped up in her mind exactly as the man wanted. Zhongli chuckled softly while he cupped her red adorable face between his hands.

“Y-Yes”.

“Are you ready then, Shogun?”

He was teasing her again and she knew it. That kiss was just enough proof of that. It had made her legs weak, her heartbeat crazy and an exciting warmth rose from her lower belly towards her body like fire under her veins.

She wanted him. She desired him with all her heart and Zhongli knew it. When he stole her lips again fervently pushing her down on the floor as his hands began to explore her curves, Ei forgot even the skewers of dango on the table next to them and the cups of tea they barely had touched.

All there was on her mind was him.