Aiko and Izuna snippet (this boy is a walking heart attack)

"Priestess," he greeted. His eyes creased in a smile. "500 talismans, as requested."

Aiko blinked.

What, already?

"Sorry that it took so long," he said, stretching like a languid cat. His eyes were far too soulful. He was waiting for his compliment.

"Thank you," she said, because she had manners but hated to make a man happy. "May I see?"

He straightened and reached into the pouch at his side with his left hand. He held something out, clenched fingers down.

Aiko automatically put her hand out to receive it. She expected Izuna to drop it into her palm. That would have been normal.

Instead, he lowered his hand to meet hers. His left hand touched hers along with the warm metal of the talisman. She froze. He smoothly brought his right hand up to hold her hand from below as well. Izuna leaned in, eyes intently focused on hers. She was close enough to count his lashes, and to see lightning bolts of gray in what had seemed to be pitch black irises. His pupils contracted. “Here you are,” he said, so quietly that she found herself leaning in as well. It felt intimate.

Her heart thudded in her chest. She curled her hand around the talisman and pulled it back out of his grip. Izuna let her go without any attempt to clutch.

She controlled her breath, because her lungs wanted to pick up speed. She swallowed. With great difficulty, she looked away and broke eye contact. “Thank you.” Her voice came out hoarse.

Izuna smiled in a way that told her he knew the effect he’d had on her. “How is my work?”

Aiko stared at him. It was pretty good, honestly. It-

He meant the talisman. Metal working. He meant that. She finally looked at what he’d put in her hand.

The charm was the standard size, about as third as big as her palm. It was mostly rectangular, with an inward curve at the top that accommodated a decorative emblem around a hole meant for threading with string. It was branded with the kanji for avoidance of evil. She swallowed, rubbing at it with her thumb.

Above the kanji was an engraving of a woman in an elaborate kimono. It might have been meant to represent the goddess Izanami. Aiko stole a glance at Izuna and then back down. The woman had the short eyebrows of a traditional beauty, but it had her nose and it had her mouth.

“It’s art,” Aiko said honestly. She didn’t say that it also seemed like an homage to her.

Izuna gave a little bow. “I am here to be of service,” he purred.

‘He’s dangerous,’ she thought wildly. She took a sharp inhalation. ‘He can’t really be flirting. He’s just… He could be trying to put me off balance. Or he might just not know what to depict without specific inspiration.’

“I need to go now.” Aiko took a step backward and inclined her head. “Thank you. Goodbye.” She turned on her heel and fled inside the shrine, cursing the heat of her face.

“Goodbye.” His voice called after her, satisfied and smooth.