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“Man, we really gotta visit Liyue more often! The people are all so different here, I love it!” Itto strolled down the streets of Liyue Harbor, his arms stretched lazily behind his head and an easy smile on his face. Shinobu walked beside him, easily keeping pace with his long strides.
“It would be easier to visit if you didn’t have so many travel restrictions put on you.” She said dryly. “Sorting out all that paperwork was a nightmare.”
Itto let out a slightly embarrassed chuckle. “Not my fault!” he said. “How can they expect me to remember all their inconvenient rules?”
Shinobu gave him a very unimpressed look. He withered under her gaze, scratching the back of his head. “Okay, okay, I already promised to do better. And look at us! We’ve been here for days already and we haven’t gotten into a lick of trouble!”
“I’m very curious to know what your definition of ‘trouble’ is. I doubt the Millelith would agree with you.”
“Hey!” he exclaimed, a stupid grin on his face. He threw an arm around her shoulders. “No need to worry! The sun is warm, the sky is clear, and all is well. We should be enjoying ourselves!”
She ducked out from under his arm and scowled. Well, he assumed she scowled, with the mask covering her mouth and all. Itto had gotten very good at reading her expressions from her eyes only. “What we should be doing is running the errands Lumine sent us on.” she said sternly. “Do you still have the list she gave you?”
His jovial expression went slack, and his arms flailed about his person for a moment before landing at his back pocket and relaxing instantly. “Of course I do, sister!” he said proudly, pulling out a neatly folded sheet of paper and waving it in front of her. “Have a little faith!”
Shinobu didn’t even bother replying, just snatched the list from his hands and looked over it quickly. “Cor Lapis, violetgrass from the pharmacy, vegetables…” she muttered under her breath, already running the logistics in her head. Itto left her to worry about it, instead opting to gaze fondly at the bustling harbor around them. The sun was almost completely set, but the city didn’t seem like it was slowing down any time soon. Stalls were still open, boasting a variety of freshly caught fish, couples were laughing as they walked down the paved roads arm in arm, and he spied a few children excitedly playing together on the pier. Before his feet could stray even a step in their direction, Shinobu had grabbed the front of his jacket without looking up from the paper, tugging him along as she marched down the street. He didn’t even protest, continuing to soak in the city around him. She often complained that he was like a hyperactive puppy whenever they went out to town, trying to run around and explore every corner of the place, but he couldn’t help it. She hardly tried to argue with him anymore.
“So, where to first?” he asked happily, gently prying her fist loose from his shirt and lowering it back towards her side. She shook off his hand with a grunt before glancing back down. “There should be a general store somewhere up ahead, where she needs us to buy..” she squinted at the paper. “Their entire stock of onions, tomatoes, and salt.”
Itto blinked, before letting out a wide grin. “That’s our Lumine for ya!”
The shopkeeper did not take it as matter-of-factly as Itto did. His eyes blew wide when they ordered, but once they explained they were there on behalf of the Traveler, he just let out a resigned sigh and disappeared into the backroom. Itto leaned back on the counter while they waited, enjoying the slight ocean-scented breeze that brushed against his skin.
“She certainly has made quite the reputation for herself, hasn’t she?” Shinobu said. She had one foot propped up against the wall of the shop, and her eyes scanned the mountains beyond the city, looking unusually at ease. Itto couldn’t help but smile at her. “Lumine? Oh yeah, the international grocery menace.”
Her eyes crinkled as they flicked over to look at him. “And I thought the Arataki Gang had a problem with customer etiquette.”
He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Woah woah woah, the Arataki Gang has no problems whatsoever! We are perfectly polite, upstanding members of-”
The rest of his words were rudely interrupted by Shinobu slapping a hand over his mouth. “I’m gonna stop you right there, One and Oni ,” she said sternly, but Itto could hear the hint of fondness that always occupied her tone. “Because you and I both know you leave much to be desired in terms of civic duty."
Itto ripped her hand from his mouth, intending to passionately defend himself, when the door behind the counter swung open and what appeared to be a tower of crates with legs shuffled up to them. The shopkeeper dumped them on the counter with a thud and wiped his brow. “Your order,” he wheezed, gesturing to the stack and visibly panting. Itto’s face lit up, and he leaned across the counter to grasp the man’s hand and give it a firm shake. “Thank you very much, bro!” He heard the unmistakable rattling of coins as Shinobu set a bag of mora down, and with a glance in her direction saw her lift one of the crates into her arms. He dropped the man’s arm with a start and hurriedly wrapped his arms around the rest of the stack, sending her a grin when she scowled.
“I can carry the rest, let’s grab what we need and meet up with Lumine!”
She rolled her eyes. “Alright, oni, lead the way.”
As they began walking away from the shop, the shopkeep called after them. “Please remind the Traveler that she is limited to one order a week! And even that is pushing it..” He added with a mumble. Itto shifted the boxes in his arms to send him a precarious thumbs up. “Will do!”
Tackling the rest of the list was easy from there, excluding of course the time Itto tripped in his haste to check out a small toy shop on the corner. But really, who could blame him? They were selling beetle figurines for Celestia’s sake. Beetles! Shinobu chewed him out for dropping one of the crates and dragged him from the store, but he made sure to note its location. He would definitely be visiting again soon, Shinobu be damned. Well, not actually, because he was quite fond of her, but still. He wouldn’t let her stop him again.
By the time they finished their assigned errands, the sun had long set and the lanterns hanging along the streets were happily twinkling away. Itto’s arms were beginning to feel just the slightest bit tired, carrying so much for so long, but he gave the discomfort no mind. Because Shinobu was holding nearly as much as he was, and if he complained it was very likely that she would toss him off of the pier- he was lucky to have such a great deputy.
“Soo, where exactly is she?” Itto asked. He had ended up trailing behind her, since, y’know, she actually knew where everything was. They carefully descended the steps leading to Bubu Pharmacy, gripping their cargo tightly. “She gave me instructions to find her campsite- I think I recognize the spot she described. I used to go on walks around there while I was studying in the harbor.” Shinobu said. “It’s actually pretty close by, just past the edge of the city.”
“Alright, awesome!” Itto replied. “I was hoping you’d show me around some of your old haunts- get a taste of Shinobu the academic!” He would have spread his arms out in the air for emphasis if they were not currently carrying several crates worth of goods.
She gave a snort of surprise, a rare occurrence for her. Little he did these days seemed to shock her. “Didn’t realize you’d be interested in anything to do with ‘academics.’” she said teasingly.
He grinned. “But I am interested in anything to do with you . After all, what’s a boss without his deputy?” His smile softened, growing fonder. “And what’s an oni without his best bro?”
To this, Shinobu just shook her head. “Utterly hopeless, that’s what.” She couldn’t hide the smile in her voice from him even if she tried.
Together they followed a trail with some weathered stone stairs up and around the edge of Mt. Tianheng. One rickety old bridge and a couple of waterfalls later, they finally made it to Lumine’s campsite. She was set up near some ruins overlooking Liyue Harbor, with a tent nestled against the side of the mountain and a couple of logs dragged over to sit around a modest cookfire. The site looked well lived in, suggesting relatively frequent use.
Lumine herself was slumped against one of the logs. She looked like she had taken a stroll through a battlefield, which knowing her was actually not too unlikely, because her dress was splattered with monster guts and peppered with burns. A few shallow cuts trickled blood down her arms, but she seemed to pay them no mind.
She raised her head when she noticed them approaching, and shot them a grateful smile from her place on the ground. “Archons, am I glad to see you.”
“Compadre!” Itto exclaimed joyfully, a smile wide on his face. “I’d wave, but, y’know. Hands are a little busy.” He held out the crates for emphasis. “Where do you want these?”
Lumine gestured vaguely towards a stone pillar. “Somewhere over there would be wonderful. I’ll sort through them later.”
While Itto carefully set the goods down in a neat little pile, Shinobu made her way over to Lumine and gave her an appraising look. “I almost feel sorry for the other guy.”
Lumine let out a low chuckle. “Other guys . A Fatui offshoot group is now behind bars, and they are not happy about it.”
Shinobu passed her haul off to Itto to put away with a nod of thanks. “And the goop in your hair?”
Teyvat’s legendary traveler let her head thunk pitifully against the log with a groan. “I took a shortcut through the Dunyu Ruins and got ambushed by a group of slimes. It’s gonna take forever to wash this stuff out.”
Itto snickered as he joined them around the campfire. “Ambushed by a few measly slimes? You’re losing your edge! Spending too much time away from the gang!”
That earned him an eye roll from both women. “Time away may be beneficial for improving cognitive function, actually.” Shinobu muttered, and Itto sputtered in response.
“In my defense,” Lumine interrupted. “I definitely busted something in my leg in that fight earlier, and had to hobble my way back to camp. I think a shroomboar could have gotten one up on me.”
Shinobu had her bag in her hands in an instant. “Let me take a look at it. I have medical training.”
Lumine sighed and got to work pulling off her boots. She winced, and Itto crouched down to help. “I can’t thank you both enough,” she said gratefully. “My list of things to do is always a mile long, and I never have time for it all. Your help is such a relief.”
Shinobu elbowed Itto out of the way and took over when he fumbled with Lumine’s shoes. “It was no trouble at all. We’re always happy to help.”
“Yeah, you’re family!” Itto added. “Plus, the more time I get to spend with my bro, the better. I know your travels are, like, super important, but things are always more fun when you’re around. We’ll take all the time with you we can get.”
The two of them pretended not to notice how misty Lumine’s eyes got. She cleared her throat. “Well, speaking of my super important travels, how would you feel about trying a new recipe I learned in Fontaine?”
Itto was on his feet in a flash. “Uh, absolutely I want to! What ingredients do you need? I’ll grab ‘em from the stash!”
Lumine laughed, Shinobu rolled her eyes, and Itto spent the next part of the evening chopping vegetables and tossing them in the pot while Lumine supervised from her spot on the ground. While he may have been known far and wide for his awe-inspiring beetle fights and undefeatable TCG strategies, cooking was notably not on his repertoire. Things came dangerously close to burning more than once, and Shinobu was forced to intervene each time. Despite his struggles, he was still able to proudly present a simmering pot that sent delicious aromas wafting through the air.
“I present to you all,” he said dramatically, gesturing towards the pot. “A wonderful rendition of- um, Lumine, what’s this dish called?”
“Tasses Ragout.” she answered with a smile. “A man in Fontaine taught me the recipe after I helped him and his family out, and it’s been a staple on our menu ever since.”
As if on cue, a very rumpled-looking Paimon drifted out of the tent with a loud yawn. “Paimon smells something delicious cooking out here, is dinner ready? Paimon is starving .” she glanced around the campsite, and her eyes instantly narrowed. “Bull-Chucker.”
“Mini Melon.” Itto replied, just as serious. “Y’know, I’d think you’d be more happy to see me, considering I just made you dinner.”
Paimon turned to Shinobu. “Thank you for the meal!” she said to her gleefully.
Itto sputtered. “Hey, she hardly did anything! If I knew you were gonna be ungrateful, I wouldn’t have made enough for you!”
Paimon stamped her foot in the air, and their continued bickering echoed off the cliffs. Shinobu cringed. “And there goes any hope for a relaxing evening.”
Lumine just grinned back at her. “Are you kidding? We’ve got good food, good friends, and a good view. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Below them in the harbor, ships returned home safely from distant storms, sailors laughed heartily as they drank with their crews, and families settled down for a calm night with a kiss to the forehead. They were happy, they were warm, and all was well.