One of the best parts about being aboard the Astral Express wasn't the great views of space, the planets, the food, or the new encounters that came with it.
All of those were great things, of course, but it wasn't one of the best. As much as y/n loved all of those things, the one among the best had to be Himeko.
Y/n had been drawn from her to the start, mainly due to her first impression of the fiery haired woman. She viewed her as a very warm and kind person, reassuring and wonderful in all possible ways.
(Die try 💀)
The h/c haired woman wasn't the most chatty individual when she first boarded the Astral Express, but she was always willing to talk to Himeko.
"Do you not want to explore?"
"No, I'd like to stay here."
Y/n and Himek were seated together at a cafe, shielded from the welcoming but still rather hot sunlight by an umbrella while March was dragging Welt around, Dan Heng trailing after them.
She tore her gaze away from the trio, staring at the slice of cake in front of her instead. March had insisted that she order it and try it, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to eat it.
Himeko watched y/n carefully as she stared at the slice of cake before taking a sip of her coffee with a, "Is there something bothering you? You seem out of it. More so than usual."
Y/n looked up with a small, "oh" but didn't reply, seemingly debating on how or if she should answer.
"I just feel a little unsettled." y/n admitted, "I feel anxious, but I'm not sure what I'm so anxious about. I don't like that I remember so little, and it's really unnerving..."
She grasped her hands together on the table, brows furrowing, "Somebody is waiting for me, someone I care for very dearly. I promised I'd return alive, safe." y/n heaved a small sigh, "I broke my promise to them. It hurts."
"Broke your promise? You're alive, aren't you? It isn't too late for you to return home." Himeko pointed out with a small smile, "It may take time for your memories to come back, but you already know a few things. Your job as a Cloud Knight, your origin on one of the Xianzhou Alliance's ships."
Y/n inhaled lightly, "Miss Himeko..."
"One may happen before the other, your memories coming back or us taking you back home." Himeko continued, "Whichever comes first, you'll be able to see that loved one again. And fulfill that promise you made to them." the woman paused to give y/n a smile, "Only if you're open to staying with us on the Astral Express until then."
Y/n opened and closed her mouth, trying to find the words which slipped from her grasp every time she got ahold of them. Instead, she bowed her head as the burning sensation in her eyes increased and tears began to pool over.
"Thank you, Miss Himeko..." she whispered, rubbing the few stray tears away before they had the opportunity to fall, "I really mean it." she met the fiery haired woman's gaze again with a much more determined expression, "I will do my best to be useful to you and the rest of the crew! Honest! My body is your weapon to be used whenever you wish!"
"Woah, Woah, there's no need for that." Himeko laughed, offering y/n a napkin which she accepted and dried the few remaining tears, "You only do what you want to do, we're not going to order you around or anything."
"Mm... still, I'd like to protect you all." y/n decided, "Maybe I could split duties with Dan Heng. I'm Train Guard when he's Archivist, he's Train Guard when I'm Archivist."
"That could work, why don't you ask him?"
"I'll do that! Absolutely!"
"Miss Himeko!" March called from a distance away, waving wildly, "Look at all these cute accessories!"
Y/n scooped up her slice of cake, hurrying to stay by Himeko's side as the woman went to go investigate these accessories March had pointed out.
The three woman peered curiously at the accessories on display together, y/n beginning to nibble on her cake and finding that it was actually quite tasty.
Her eyes scanned over the various colorful and jeweled hair pieces, necklaces, and bracelets. The earrings were rather nice, but none really caught her attention.
Blue caught her eye, and her brows raised when she saw a simple blue ribbon on display. There wasn't much special about it, and it was much plainer in comparison to the other flashy and dazzling accessories.
Still...
"Do you want to buy that one?" Himeko inquired and y/n blinked, her gaze darting between the fiery haired woman and the ribbon before she nodded once.
"Woah, you're able to be interested in things?" March murmured and earned a small frown from y/n, "Sorry, I don't mean it in a rude way, only that you're always so quiet and solemn."
Y/n didn't know what to say.
"Y/n is still getting used to the change of scenery. Remember, it's possible she could've been in that tree for years." Himeko pointed out as she paid the shop keeper and received the blue ribbon which she offered to y/n. "Think of it as taking a nap. You're always a little drowsy after napping, aren't you?"
March looked thoughtful, "Well... yeah."
"Well y/n took a really long nap. It's only natural that she'll be a little reserved afterwards." Himeko chuckled, "Give her some time. She's already showing some signs of energy."
Y/n stared at the blue ribbon in her grasp before glancing at March, "Weapons."
March froze, "Huh."
"Weapons. Is there a place where I can look at some?" y/n inquired as she fidgeted with the blue ribbon, "Sewing materials, too. Mimi got cut up a lot."
Mimi. That tattered mess of fluff and fabric that y/n insisted on keeping? It had a name? That... that was so...
March's eyes sparkled as she covered her mouth with a round eyed look, 'So cute...!' "Miss Himeko! Let's find a place with sewing materials! Then a place that sells weapons! A spot to buy clothes too, I've already imagined something y/n would look adorable in!"
Y/n looked to Himeko for reassurance and the woman nodded with a, "We have time, let's go take a look."
While the h/c haired woman didn't know too much about sewing, Himeko was able to advise her one what to buy in order to properly fix up her lion plush.
March somehow managed to convince y/n to gran some fabric to make accessories as well, and y/n agreed despite thinking her little friend looked just fine without accessories.
Onto a spot where weapons were sold, and that was the first time Himeko and March 7th saw y/n truly excited.
She was all over the swords, eagerly twirling polearms with the skill of someone who'd killed with one, and she even scared the 💩 out of the blond long haired shopkeeper when she lifted up a big 🍑 axe with little difficulty.
His fiancée had come to investigate when she heard March's exclamation of, "What the hell?!" and was absolutely hyped. She even returned with a giant axe of her own and the two of them were immediately chatting up a storm.
After a long chat about battle scars, weapons, and the giant axes, y/n ended up taking one with her as she rejoined March and Himeko to shop for clothes instead.
Night had fallen on the planet by the time they decided it was time to return to the Astral Express, and Himeko was helping with sewing Mimi back together.
"Is this plushie special to you?" Himeko inquired as y/n watched on, the h/c haired woman nodding once.
"Yes, very." she murmured, a frown settling on her face once more, "I'm kind of bummed out about seeing Mimi like this... no, very upset, actually."
"Don't worry, Mimi will be as good as new in a moment. Just a few more..." Himeko murmured before her eyes lit up and she presented the newly repaired Mimi to y/n, "There! I can't do much about that missing ear, but at least your little friend is looking like a lion again."
Y/n's gaze immediately lit up and she took the little plushie carefully, almost as though she were afraid of tearing it. That fear quickly diminished as she gave it a tight hug, "Thanks a million, Miss Himeko!"
The fiery haired woman chuckled, patting y/n on the head, "Anytime. Now, we've had quite the eventful day. You should get some rest." Himeko winked, "This planet has a lovely beach. I think we should visit before we move on to the next world."
"Absolutely!" y/n exclaimed, leaning into Himeko's touch with a pleased look, "Goodnight, Miss Himeko! I'll be up bright and early tomorrow so I can protect you all well tomorrow!"
"If that's what makes you happiest, then go for it." Himeko replied with a warm smile, "Goodnight, y/n?"
Y/n waved farewell as the woman left the room and she turned her attention back to Mimi again with a happy look.
Mimi was nice and intact, she'd eaten some nice cake, she even bought a super cool looking giant axe!
She paused, then glanced at the blue ribbon seated amongst the sewing items which had been used to save sweet little Mimi's life.
Huh.
That shade of blue.
She took the ribbon and carefully tied it around the lion's neck, a small smile settling on her face as she finished tying it off into a bow.
"Hm. That's cute."
(I know but I can't write it because I'm not supposed to know for another week—)
(Anyways, I got ideas for Dan Heng and Jing Yuan but I can't pick which one I want to write first)
(Your Himeko pic✨)