Irielle dragged Kana along the cobblestone streets like a woman on a mission. Kana, still trying to keep up, winced at the strength in the elf's grip.
It wasn't exactly painful—but it was like being towed around by an affectionate but overzealous panther.
Eventually, the looming structure of the regional state office came into view, and Kana groaned quietly.
"So… this is where we get my ID, right?"
"That was the plan."
Irielle muttered, slowing down suddenly. Her steps halted completely just a few feet away from the building.
Kana stopped too, blinking in confusion.
"Uh… something wrong?"
Irielle looked back at her, brows furrowed in deep dissatisfaction.
"I don't like this."
Kana raised a brow.
"Don't like what? Bureaucracy? Because yeah, same."
"No. I don't like the idea of taking you in there like this."
Irielle huffed.
Kana looked down at herself.
"What, is there something on my face?"
"Everything is on your face. And your hair, and your eyes, and that stupid cute way you blink when you're confused. If I take you in there, people are going to stare at you."
Irielle said dramatically, waving a hand at her. Kana blinked.
"People are already staring at me."
"Yes, and I hate it! They're going to look at you, and then they're going to try to talk to you, and then—"
Irielle said, fuming now.
She leaned in close, eyes narrowed.
"—they're going to try and touch you."
Kana snorted.
"Okay, wow. Possessive much?"
"Yes. So we need to take preventive measures."
Irielle said without hesitation.
"What kind of measures?"
"We're going to cover you up. Completely."
Irielle said solemnly, turning away from the state office.
Kana threw her hands up.
"Look, it's fine. People stare, it happens. It's not like I haven't dealt with this before. Even if… the reasons were a little different back then."
Her voice softened slightly.
For a second, her expression dropped, the weight of old memories creeping in. But before the gloom could settle properly, she felt warm arms wrap around her from behind.
Irielle hugged her tightly, resting her cheek against Kana's shoulder.
"No sad thoughts. Not when I'm around. I said I don't like it, and that's final. You're mine to fuss over."
She said.
Kana blushed.
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's true. Now, to the shop!"
Irielle replied cheerfully.
Without another word, the elf spun Kana around and led her through a winding set of streets, this time with a purposeful spark in her steps.
Eventually, they reached a quaint clothing shop nestled between two towering buildings.
The windows were curtained, the door was unmarked, and everything about the place screamed private. Irielle pushed it open and peeked inside before stepping in.
"This place supplies my girls at the establishment. They know how to keep things quiet. If they don't… well, I'll give them a reason to remember how."
Irielle explained over her shoulder.
Kana sighed but followed her in.
"Somehow, that doesn't make me feel any better."
"Good. Keeps you on your toes."
Irielle replied with a smirk.
Kana was starting to realize that with Irielle around, her life would probably never be boring again.
______
The interior of the clothing shop was… not what Kana expected.
She paused just past the entrance, eyes widening as she took in the dim lighting, velvet-lined walls, and the sheer variety of garments on display.
Feathered corsets, fishnet bodysuits, leather straps, lace wraps—none of it looked remotely wearable in public.
If anything, the place looked more like a boutique for professional seduction than a casual clothing store.
Kana blinked up at a particularly tiny dress hanging from a rack.
'Is that even fabric? That's just string.'
"What kind of establishment do you run, exactly?"
Kana asked suspiciously, her tone wary as her gaze drifted to a mannequin in a posture that could only be described as suggestive.
Irielle hummed innocently beside her.
"One with taste. And high-paying customers."
"That's not an answer."
Kana muttered, trying not to stare too long at any one display lest it made her cheeks burn more than they already were.
Before she could protest, Irielle had wandered deeper into the shop and returned triumphantly with a dress in hand.
It was a sleek, satiny thing that shimmered dark blue under the lights and looked as if it had been cut with a single goal in mind: exposure.
Kana took one look at it and paled.
"That's not going to fit me."
Irielle grinned.
"You haven't even tried it on yet."
"I don't need to try it on to know—"
"Just once,"
Irielle coaxed.
"I'm curious how it looks on you. Please?"
Her eyes were sparkling mischievously, which made it all the more dangerous.
Kana sighed in defeat.
"Fine. But I'm warning you, I'll look ridiculous."
She stepped into the changing booth, which was barely a closet, and reluctantly began slipping into the fabric. Or rather—trying to.
It took less than a minute for her fears to be confirmed. The dress clung tightly to her hips and waist, but the chest area… failed. Completely.
The neckline was too low, the straps far too loose, and no matter how she adjusted, something kept slipping out, revealing the thin inner layer she still had on underneath.
"Oh no. This is not decent."
She muttered, trying to fix it one last time.
"I can hear you struggling. Let me see."
Irielle called out cheerfully.
"No! It's embarrassing!"
Kana hissed.
"I'll be the judge of that."
Came the response, followed by the sound of approaching footsteps.
Before Kana could protest further, the curtain was yanked open.
"Irie—!"
Kana started, panicked, but was quickly silenced when Irielle stepped in close, shielding her from the view of a few overly curious shop employees behind her.
Not that Kana noticed them. Her gaze had locked onto Irielle's face—specifically, her expression. The usual playfulness was gone. In its place was something heated, intense. Her golden eyes shimmered with a predatory gleam, and her lips were set in a faint smirk that carried no innocence at all.
Kana's throat dried.
"You're right. This one's not for the public eye. Too much to show, and far too dangerous."
Irielle said softly, her voice low.
She reached out and adjusted the loose strap with a slow, deliberate touch.
"Change into the hooded robes I picked. They'll cover you better."
Kana nodded quickly, her voice caught somewhere in her chest.
"Y-Yeah. Good idea."
Irielle gave her a knowing look, then drew the curtain closed.
Kana changed faster than she ever had in her life. But even with her new modest robe securely on, her body still felt heated.
She shook her head violently to clear the flustered fog from her mind.
'Nope. Not thinking about that look again. Not happening.'
When she emerged from the booth, Irielle was already at the counter, chatting casually with the shopkeeper.
Kana noticed her sliding a few extra items into the purchase pile—items made of mesh, ribbons, and suspiciously little else.
Kana narrowed her eyes.
"Are those—?"
"Nope. Nothing important. Just backups."
Irielle said quickly, handing over payment.
Kana wisely decided not to ask.
As they stepped out of the shop, Kana pulled the hood of her new robe low over her face, grateful for the cover.
The fabric was surprisingly soft and breathable, and it fell in elegant folds that hid her figure entirely. A drastic contrast to everything else in that store.
"Well? You look good, don't you think?"
Irielle asked, linking arms with her as they walked.
"I look like I joined a cult. But at least no one's staring."
Kana muttered, cheeks still warm.
"That's the spirit. Now no one will even know how delicious you are underneath."
Irielle said with a wink.
"Please don't say that."
Kana groaned.
The elf only laughed, clearly enjoying herself far too much.
Kana, meanwhile, couldn't stop thinking about that moment in the changing booth. The way Irielle had looked at her—like a switch had flipped.
As if all her teasing had been just a mask for something deeper, something more dangerous.
It left her unsettled… and a little flustered.
She shook the thought away. There were more important things to worry about. Like getting that ID without causing another scene—or drawing in another wave of animals.
Or worse, more people.