Reisen Riou thoroughly enjoyed the hot spring show—especially Yae Miko, whose every angle (save the most private) was bared. Ei's too good at this, he thought, praising her knack for "revenge" against Yae Miko while sparing Makoto. Sneaking out of the Yuna Clan's springs, he was drained—nosebleeds galore, only stanched by Longevity Thunder Elixir's blood regeneration. The thrill lingered, leaving him sluggish at work, though he powered through a day of Shogunate recording. Yae Miko, perhaps exhausted from the chaos, was absent.
"Finally off!" Reisen Riou prepared to bolt, but Ei stopped him at the Tenshukaku gate. "Riou," she called.
"Lady Ei," he replied, formal.
"Enjoyed last night's view?" she asked, aura dark.
"Uh…" he stammered.
"Follow me."
Trembling under her menacing vibe, he trailed her. "What do you think about it?" she pressed.
"What?"
"Don't play dumb. You knew what you saw."
"Well… I'd be delighted, especially with a beauty like you, Lady Ei. But your thoughts…" Bam! A naginata strike knocked him out cold.
"Ei, he agreed, didn't he?" Makoto's voice froze Ei. Makoto, Yae Miko, and Torachiyo peeked from behind. Ei, dizzy with embarrassment, stomped Reisen Riou awake. Groaning, he lurched up, colliding with Ei as she shifted balance, sending them tumbling.
Makoto shook her head. "Lord Riou, I approve of you and Ei in principle, but you must become a Great Youkai first."
"Congrats!" Yae Miko chimed.
Torachiyo, clueless, echoed, "Yeah, congrats!"
Reisen Riou, rubbing his head, understood Ei's frustration—these meddlers! Planning a solo escape, he was yanked along by Ei, who fled with him. "Sorry for knocking you out… and for my sister and Miko's weird talk," she said.
"Uh…" Reisen Riou faltered, nearing his estate. They stumbled in, hand-in-hand, until Ei released his nearly crushed grip—needing days to heal, even with Longevity Thunder Elixir and his youkai resilience.
Calming down, Ei's dark aura faded. "Are you serious? Would you really marry me?" she asked, eyes piercing.
Reisen Riou knew this was his last chance—one wrong word, and he'd sleep in the ley lines. Ei, catching meme fragments from his mind (Thoughtless Blob, VR Proxy, You actually talk to your kid?), fought a twisted grin, tempted to hunt those "netizen sages" across worlds. Before she could, he answered, "Yes, I want to marry you."
Her mind-reading confirmed his sincerity: A wife stronger than me, dressed like a villager, can't cook, but stunning. Future's grim, but I'll stand by her. Last life, I had no such luck—just my life to give. Speechless, Ei hugged him, whispered, "Wait for me," and vanished.
"She agreed," Reisen Riou mused, savoring her warmth. "This deepens our bond. Plan A and B aren't enough—time for Plan C." Inexperienced in love, he knew Ei was too. But her antics last night? Suspicious. Meanwhile, Ei, heading to Tenshukaku, crushed the eavesdropping device in her sleeve.
…
"I thought you'd stay at his place," Yae Miko teased, lounging as a fox on Makoto's shoulder.
"Too much for him," Ei said, catching on to innuendo.
Yae Miko leapt down, shocked. "Our stiff Ei's getting it? Incredible!" Ei scooped her up, ruffling her fur. So this is what he likes? Comfy. Yae Miko squirmed delightedly. "Ei's chest is better—Makoto's a bit small," she joked.
"Oh, my sister who married into the Red Fox Yae Clan had a cub—thick Baizhu bloodline, named Yae Sakura, I think. Pink, adorable, almost as cute as me. Ei, want a familiar?" Yae Miko suggested.
Ei, struck by the familiar name, played it cool. "Sure, I'm free."
"Don't just pet my belly, tail, and head—back and paws need love too!" Yae Miko whined. "Makoto, smooth my tail!" Makoto, chuckling, complied, noting Yae Miko—her familiar—clung to Ei today. "Once Ei's married, I'll miss her," Yae Miko teased.
"Ow, my belly!" she yelped as Ei jabbed her. "Stop talking nonsense!"
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