Chapter Text
Lumine drops into a fighting stance, the bamboo blade somewhat familiar in her hand after Kazuha taught her the basics of the samurai’s art of the sword back on Beidou’s ship. Ayaka stands before her, her pose much more refined and elegant, as is everything the Shirasagi Himegimi does. When Lumine first met her, she thought such a person would be unreachable. It seems like such a silly thought now, because the woman in front of her has a heart of gold, so willing to love and be loved. Lumine wants to give her the world.
“Are you ready?” Ayaka asks. Lumine grins.
“Bring it on.”
In the blink of an eye, Ayaka is lunging forwards, and it’s only Lumine’s honed instincts that has her raising her sword to block the attack clumsily. Ayaka is merciless, as quick as lightning and giving Lumine no room to breathe as she strikes again and again.
(“Don’t hold back on me,” Lumine had told her before. “I can take it.”
Ayaka had given her a gentle smile, but a spark of challenge had ignited in her eyes. “As you wish, my darling.”)
Lumine has lost all semblance of technique by now, Kazuha’s demonstrations long forgotten in the heat of battle. She’s skilled with a sword- there’s no question about it- but Ayaka’s technique is polished to perfection. Every swing of her blade is calculated, every movement retaining such grace and composure. Lumine has travelled across the universe, witnessed the birth and death of stars, and yet in her entire lifetime she has never seen anything more beautiful.
She should’ve known she would’ve never stood a chance.
With a final blow that lands on Lumine’s side, Ayaka beams. “I believe that is my win.”
Despite being slightly winded, Lumine chuckles and cocks an eyebrow at her. “And what might you want as your prize?”
The answer comes in the clatter of their bamboo swords falling to the ground and hands clutching the front of her dress, lips meeting with the same fiery passion of their battle. Lumine may have lost the first one, but this one she will win for sure.