The had walked for a while, the long hill behind, but Ai hadn't let go of his arm. She was still bouncing with that same excitement, whenever she found something new.
She was practically glowing, her eyes turned, trying to memorise every detail.
"Ne, ne, Shiki..." Ai asked, "Did you made all those outfit just for fun too? Or... Was it for me?"
"Yeah, kitten. I did." Shiki replied, smiling at her.
Ai blinked at him, her cheeks glowing.
"I mean..." Shiki smirked, "Can you really see Anyone fitting in those clothes?"
"That's why you're my favourite." Ai said, her face glowing, clutching onto him, pulling him closer.
Shiki didn't teased this time, he just gave a knowing smile.
---
The entrance came into view, and with it, two guards.
Ai slowed down almost instantly, her steps smaller. She didn't say anything at first, but Shiki noticed the way her grip on his arm tightened, her body leaning a bit more into him like she was trying to use him as a shield.
The guards weren't just standing around either. Each had a spear in hand, the tips gleaming faintly in the sunlight. They looked… not unfriendly exactly, but definitely alert.
Ai swallowed and whispered, "Uh… Shiki, they look serious…"
He didn't even flinch. "Yeah."
She stared up at him. "Yeah? That's it?!"
He chuckled under his breath. "Relax."
They reached the gate, and just as Ai feared, both spears swung sideways, blocking their path from either side in perfect sync.
"Wha-" Ai flinched, clutching onto Shiki more.
One of the guard gesture toward them, asking for a pass or something.
"Shiki... Now what?" Ai whispered to him, worried.
"Don't worry, kitten." Shiki replied with his usual smirk, "Leave everything to me."
"You always say that," She pointed out, whispering.
He casually reached out his hand, palm open and there, resting neatly on it, was a paper card with some sort of design Ai didn't recognize. He held it up for the guards like he'd been through this a hundred times before.
The guards took it without a word, both scanning over it, eyes flicking between the card and Shiki a couple times.
Then one of them leaned toward the other, whispering something Ai couldn't quite catch. She really wanted to know what they were saying, but she knew better than to interrupt.
Finally, the guard who took the card straightened up and handed it back. "Sir, Ma'am… you may pass. Sorry for the inconvenience."
Ai blinked. Just like that?
Shiki pocketed the card, still wearing that smug grin. He didn't even look back at them. "See?" he said to her, tilting his head slightly like he was rubbing it in.
She puffed her cheeks. "You're soo smug."
"Cute." Shiki teased.
"Yep... I am really cute." Ai teased back, accepting it.
Shiki's raised an eyebrow, "Accepting it?"
"Yes!" Ai replied, sounding as if she won.
The guards gave a polite bow toward both of them, which Ai awkwardly returned with a tiny nod while Shiki just walked on like it was nothing.
They stepped through the gate into the village, and Ai's curiosity flared right back up, her earlier nervousness already forgotten. She leaned a little closer to Shiki again as they walked deeper inside.
The streets were busy but not chaotic, people moving about with baskets, carts, tools. Wooden stalls lined some parts of the road, and the air carried the faint scent of baked bread mixed with something savory cooking somewhere nearby.
Ai inhaled deeply, her lips curling into a small smile. "Smells nice here…"
"Mm," Shiki agreed casually.
"What was that card?" she asked, curious.
"A pass."
"That's it? That's your explanation?"
"Pretty much."
She groaned. "You're impossible."
The road inside the village curved slightly, opening into a wider street where the crowd was thicker.
Ai's steps slowed as her eyes moved everywhere at once. Her grip on Shiki's arm hadn't loosened, but now she was leaning forward slightly, like she was afraid to blink in case she missed something.
"Whoa…" she breathed out, her voice almost drowned by the noise of chatter, footsteps, and the occasional clatter of wooden wheels on stone.
Shiki glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Overwhelmed already?"
"I'm fine," she said quickly, though her head was turning like a radar. "It's just… everything's so… so different. The buildings are all wood and stone… and look at that roof! It's not even flat!"
Her gaze swept over the stalls and storefronts. People were selling baskets of vegetables, bolts of cloth, tools, and things Ai couldn't even name.
A blacksmith's hammer rang out in the distance, rhythmic and loud. Somewhere nearby, the smell of fresh bread hit her nose again, stronger this time.
Then her eyes landed on a pair of women passing by, both wearing long skirts and tunics. Behind them, two men in rough leather vests were carrying crates. Ai's brow furrowed slightly.
"Ne, ne, Shiki…" She tugged lightly on his sleeve. "You were right. Men and women do look different."
Shiki smirked faintly. "You thought I was liying, kitten?"
"Well, it's more obvious than I thought." She looked down the street again, her lips moving like she was counting something in her head. "Their hair… their clothes… even the way they walk…"
She was about to move on when her eyes caught a smaller group, a handful of kids running past, laughing loudly. Two boys, one girl, all no older than ten.
Ai blinked, watching them until they vanished around a corner. "Ne, ne, What are those?"
Shiki raised an eyebrow. "Children."
"They're the same as men and women, just… smaller," Ai said, her head tilting slightly. "But you can still tell if they're boys or girls…"
"That's usually how it works," Shiki replied, his tone amused. "They're not fully grown yet. Smaller bodies, higher voices, less… developed."
Ai made a small sound, somewhere between interest and confusion. "Weird."
"They grow up eventually. Then they become like everyone else."
She nodded slowly, still glancing back in the direction the kids had run.
"You know... Someday you'll grow up too." Shiki smirked, teasing her.
Ai pouted, glaring at him, "Hey... I know what you mean. You handsome bastard."
Shiki laughed, reaching out to pet her head.
"Hmm~" Ai hummed, nudding into his palm, "Feels good."
"You really are a kitten," Shiki smirked.
Ai didn't replied, instead enjoyed the pettting.
---
As they walked further, the amount of new around her kept piling up. Stalls stacked with colorful fruit she'd never seen. A fountain in the middle of a small square, water sparkling in the sunlight as kids splashed each other near its base.
"Ne, ne!" she burst out again, her voice practically bubbling with energy. "Did you really make all of this?"
Shiki's smirk deepened. "Yep."
Her eyes widened, almost sparkling. "Seriously?"
"I told you, didn't I?"
"You..." She caught herself mid-sentence, then just let out an exasperated laugh. "Ugh, you're impossible. But… wow…" She looked around again, spinning slightly on her heel like she wanted to soak in every single detail.
The moment were pure curiosity, but the world had to remind her that it had its own pace.
She'd slowed down a little to look at a stall selling strange trinkets when something large and wooden rushed past just behind her. A horse-drawn cart, the hooves clattering hard against the stone.
The sudden whoosh of movement made her freeze for half a second, but she barely got to turn her head before—
—Shiki's arm wrapped around her waist in one smooth, firm motion, pulling her flush against his chest. The scent of his clothes and the solid weight of his presence hit her all at once.
The cart rattled past without slowing, the driver shouting something indistinct before disappearing down the street.
Shiki's eyes followed it, his voice flat and sharp. "Fucker."
He looked down at Ai, his arm still around her. "You okay?"
For a moment she just stared up at him, her brain catching up to the fact that he'd moved faster than she could react. Then her lips trembled.
And suddenly, she broke into the most exaggerated, dramatic cry imaginable.
"Shikiii~! Shikiiii~! Thank you, God, I was so scared!"
Her voice wavered like a bad stage actor, her arms flailing slightly before she latched onto him with both hands, burying her face into his chest.
Shiki sighed, but there was a faint smile pulling at his lips. "You're fine. It didn't even touch you."
"I could've died!" she wailed comically, peeking up at him with one eye to see if he was buying it.
"You're acting."
"Shut up and let me have my moment."
He chuckled quietly, wrapping his arm around her, hugging her, his voice softer now, "Stay closer next time, kitten. Or do you like giving me heart attacks?"
She cheeks reddened at his word. "Shiki... I didn't meant to. Sorry for scaring you."
Shiki just shook his head, but the faint warmth in his gaze didn't fade.
They started walking again, Ai now practically glued to his side. She kept glancing over her shoulder like the cart might reappear, but it was clear the moment had only made her more aware of the constant movement around them. The people, the animals, the constant sound of life.
"T-thank you for saving me, Shiki." Ai said again, looking at him, still wrapping his arm in her arms, leaning closer, her cheeks dusted red.
Shiki looked down at her, smilling, "Kitten... No need to thank me. I'll always protect you. You're my responsibility."
At his words, her eyes went glassy, then looked up toward him, glowing, her face turned in a radiant smile, then she started rubbing her cheek on his shoulder.
'I- love him...' The thought bloomed into her head, all of a sudden. 'I really love him. He is my hero' Her cheeks pinks, her eyes glued to him. And Shiki, his head held high, looking beyond, toward the future.
---
END OF CHAPTER : 8 : START OF A NEW ADVENTURE!
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