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The first time Xiao had seen him, he had been mesmerized.
“He’s quite talented, Makoto.” Morax spoke quietly as they all watched the performance before them.
All the Archons gathered to drink wine and feast. While a single kitsune took to a nonexistent stage. Danced across the surface of the water as if it were glass. Kimono flowed with each movement. Spells gracefully slid off his fingertips. Red eyes never once met their gazes. Half lidded as if in a trance, encaptivated by their own performance. Until a flurry of pink petals rained down with their final movement. Pose held and the lotuses across the surface of the lake glowed. Creating a breathtaking scene as his gaze finally lifted. Met their eyes and applause echoed. Xiao stunned into silence.
“Kazuha is a treasure.” Makoto smiled sweetly as the kitsune took a bow. “He’s sure to take over the Grand Narukami Shrine one day.”
Kazuha…
Red eyes met his briefly. Curiosity and timidness reflected in those orbs, before the kitsune turned and walked across the water. Toward the other side of the lake. While the Archons turned to one another and started up conversation once again. Their guards either lounging about or bored. While Xiao stood firm. Until his Lord touched his arm.
“You’re free to do as you please.”
Cor Lapis eyes shifted toward the other side of the lake. Xiao’s breath stilled. Before his Archon turned back to the others and joined in. The Yaksha vigilantly stood at his Lord’s side. Until Makoto caught his gaze and sweetly smiled. A knowing look in her eyes and he quickly retreated. Teleported away from the table and to the edge of Mt. Aocang’s peak. A heavy breath left him.
His Lord was ever observant and Makoto was toying with him.
A soft breeze drifted over the mountain top. His hair ruffled. Until a feather caught his eye. Golden and shined even in the dark of night. As he reached out for it. Fingertips brushed against the fluff, before it morphed before his very eyes into a Qingxin blossom. Petals full of life as it landed in his palm. Eyes wide at the display. Before he turned his head. To the kitsune sitting by himself at the water's edge and a pile of Qingxin flowers in his lap. Hands busy.
Xiao watched him for a few moments. Hesitance bubbled up from his stomach. Before he turned and started walking. Shoes crunched through the grass, until he slowly came to a stop. Right beside the kitsune and hesitantly sat down. Flower twirled in his fingertips, before he held it out to the other male.
Red eyes lifted. Met Xiao’s gold and the flower was taken from him. The stem played with, before Kazuha reached out. Fingers brushed against Xiao’s skin, mouth opened to protest, before the flower was gently placed behind his ear. The stem curled to stay in place. While Kazuha softly smiled.
“I think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen you smile.” Kazuha spoke for the first time. His voice soft and sounded like a melody. “I can dance for you again sometime, General Alatus.”
Gold eyes widened. A war zone flashed before his eyes. The battle of the gods. The countless enemies. Their allies at their side for that single instance and Inazuma’s forces shoulder to shoulder with them. A younger kitsune right at the Yaksha’s disposal. Tails white as snow and eyes red as a sunset. A soft laugh echoed like a bell and forehead pressed against Alatus’.
“I love you…”
“It’s you…Kaede.”
Kazuha softly smiled. Ears perked up, before he leaned forward. Tail playfully swayed behind him, before their lips met and Xiao reached out to hesitantly touch Kazuha’s cheek until they parted with a soft breath.
“Only for a moment…” Kazuha regrettably spoke. “We leave tomorrow.”
His heart clenched. Fingers twitched against the kitsune’s cheek and brow furrowed.
“Don’t look sad, Alatus. I’m sure I’ll return again for a performance.”
That wasn’t the point. Their time in each other's presence had always been so short or filled with nothing but bloodshed. Their hearts already scarred with the aftermath of war. Their duties ironclad. Neither of them could leave the land of their birth.
“I do have something happy to share.” Kazuha spoke up. Ears twitched with excitement. “My mother said it was a gracious gift.”
The kitsune reached for the obi around his waist. Fingers pulled an object out from behind it and opened them to reveal the vision in his palm. Inlaid into a delicately crafted gold piece. The Anemo vision softly glowed between them. A happy smile on Kazuha’s face.
“Just like yours.”
Gold eyes turned to the table the Archons sat. Barbatos smuggly smirking in their direction and Xiao bit back a scoff at the Archon’s antics. Before he turned back to the kitsune and held his hand.
“It’s a gracious gift indeed.”
“Maybe you’ll be able to hear my voice on the wind.” Kazuha spoke with a small chuckle. “Or maybe we should write letters. Like the mortals do.”
“I’d like that…Kazuha.”
As Kazuha suggested, they wrote to one another. Filled pages of parchment with celebrations and mournings. The day Kazuha’s mother died, Xiao almost went to see him. If not for the fact Kazuha refused him the luxury in his letter. While Xiao had done the same every time a fellow Yaksha passed. The pair of them used to loss and their duties their sole purpose in life, besides each other, until…eventually, Kazuha’s letters stopped coming all together. Which left Xiao with the only option left that he could execute after a year of silence.
“Are you sure you don’t need help?” Aether asked the moment they touched down in Inazuma. “We could-”
“I’ll be fine.” Xiao spoke up. “I know where he should be.”
Aether had looked hesitant, almost worried for him, but Xiao had teleported before he could speak. Form appeared at the final gate to the Grand Narukami Shrine and several maidens turned to look at him in surprise. A sad look on a few of their faces, while Xiao stepped beyond the gate. Shoes crunched against the loose stones across the pathway. Until he came to a stop. Another kitsune stood at the top of the steps and purple eyes intently watched him.
“You’re far too late, Yaksha.” She spoke. Eyes narrowed as the electro vision that hung from her ear glittered into the sunlight.
“Late? Where’s Kazuha-”
“He left months ago.” The woman cut off. Ears flattened against her head. “And we couldn’t get him to stay.”
“Why?” Xiao demanded as he stepped forward and frowned. “This is Kazuha’s home. He was born here. Why would he-?”
“Because…”
Gold eyes widened and the woman watched him sadly. Before he turned on his heels and dashed away. Leaving behind nothing but ash in his wake.
Shoes came to a stop. Crunched under broken boards and burnt remains. While a soft drizzle came down from the skies. The skeleton of an estate laid out before him and his heart heavy at the sight before him.
“Kazuha…”
Dulled red eyes lifted when he spoke. Met his gold and stared blankly. Head tilted slightly. His form soaked. Clothes stuck to his body. Hair wet against his face. While his tail was sopping wet.
“Who…who are you?”
Xiao bit his lower lip. Walked to the kitsune and knelt down in front of him. Red eyes watched him and never once flinched when Xiao reached out to cup Kazuha’s cheeks.
“Are you…important to me? You look sad.”
Xiao pulled the kitsune against his chest. Eyes squeezed shut. Fingers dug into the simple kimono and cursed. Not a single bit of elemental energy present on the kitsune.
“Kaede…why? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
A hand rested against his tattoo. The confused tone painful to hear. Before Xiao separated them. The clueless kitsune watched him with a blank stare. Soaked to the bone and his vision nowhere in sight.
He had never written once about the vision hunt decree. He had never warned Xiao of what was to come. Never asked for help. Never tried to escape. He stayed at the shrine. He offered his vision up so everyone else at the shine could keep there’s and then…
The rain came down harder. Slapped against the skeleton of the once beautiful estate around them. Barren and lifeless. When once it flourished and prospered.
None of the shrine maidens stopped him. Not even his apprentice, Yae Miko, had stood up to protect him. They let it all happen. They let him disappear. They didn’t search for him. Let Kazuha be replaced as the head shrine maiden and Kazuha…returned to his mothers estate.
“Who are you?” Red eyes watched him with a blank stare. Brow furrowed. “I…I should know you.”
Fingers reached out and touched his cheek. While Xiao bit his lower lip.
“Why don’t I remember?”
Four months. Kazuha had been like this for four months. Alone. Lost. Confused. Unable to ask for help. His memory gone.
Gloved fingers reached out. Cupped the kitsune’s cheeks and Xiao leaned forward to gently kiss him.
“Someone who should’ve abandoned their duties for you the moment you said you loved me.”
Red eyes widened slightly. Still full of confusion, but the statement hit hard. While Xiao stepped back and stood.
Then maybe he could’ve protected him. Could’ve fought for him. Could’ve been by his side. Instead of across the sea and out of reach. Simple pieces of paper and untold truths never once exchanged. Maybe they both could’ve been happier. Their lives filled with less pain and sacrifice.
“You…” Kazuha stared as Xiao softly smiled.
“Stay here. I’ll be back soon, Kaede.”
Before the kitsune could speak, he teleported in ash and smoke.
“Halt!”
The guards were useless. The normal mortals had scattered the second the fight started and it had taken far too long for the general herself to show up. Bow in hand and arrow aimed at him. While Xiao scoffed. Kazuha’s vision already in hand and a section of the statue destroyed. Rock scattered across the wooden platform. Visions intermixed with the debris and his spear in hand.
“By order of the vision hunt decre-”
“You utter another word and I’ll rip out your throat.” The woman fell still the moment he spoke up. Gold eyes ablaze as ash wafted off his skin and a glare sent in her direction. “This doesn’t belong to you and I refuse to give it back to anyone other than the kitsune it belongs to. You of all people would know why. Right, Ei?”
Gold eyes turned to the Archon behind him. Her spear in hand. Purple eyes ablaze and a thick tension in the air. Every mortal frozen still and afraid.
“General Alatus…” Purple eyes fell to the vision in his palm. “My version of eternity-”
“Your version of eternity has left Kazuha a broken shell of what he was.” Xiao cut off as the Archon frowned. “The brilliant, smart, kind kitsune I fell in love with during the Archon war stared at me as if I were a stranger. Unable to recall my name. Unable to tell who I was. He abandoned his duties to you to save others and I found him sitting in a rotting estate in the rain. Lost and confused and he never once said a thing to me, because his loyalties lied with you and your land. The same lands his mother devoted herself too and you’ve gone and destroyed her son.”
Her breath hitched. Anger flashed across her gaze and fingers tightened around her spear.
“She trusted you to safeguard everything she stood at your side to protect and you destroyed the only thing she held precious to her.” Xiao bit out as electro energy sparked through the air. The mortals scared. “You’re the one who has broken him, because no one except for you can challenge the power of the head shrine maiden. You’ve killed Kaede and I intend to bring him back.”
“I refuse…he’s all that’s left.” Ei spoke up as electro energy flared. “He’s the only one that survived all the bloodshed. He’s-!”
“He’s not yours to lock away.” Xiao cut off. “And he’s been waiting for me.”
He teleported the second she lunged for him. Spear striked to kill. As he reappeared in front of the kitsune and Kazuha blinked up at him. Confused until Xiao yanked him to his feet and shoved the vision into his hand.
“Devalin!”
A draconic cry filled the air. The huge dragon slammed into the earth behind him and Xiao pulled the kitsune toward the legendary beast.
“Let’s go. We don’t have much-”
He was jerked back. Kazuha frozen in place as he turned back and found recognition in those red eyes. Fear in them.
“Alatus…what did you do?”
Gloved fingers reached out to cup wet cheeks and smile.
“What I should’ve done that night at the lake.”
Red eyes widened. Breath stilled. Before he pulled the kitsune forward. Kazuha reluctantly followed as he helped the kitsune up onto the ancient creatures’ back and slid in behind him.
“Deva-”
Lighting flashed. Slammed into the earth in front of them and Devalin roared. Fangs barred as it took off into the skies and thunderclouds filled the sky. Kazuha shaking against him as Ei appeared below them and brandished her spear.
“Alatus…”
Gloved fingers intertwined with bandaged ones. Red eyes met his and Xiao brushed their foreheads together.
“Can you show me one of your spells? Like you did before? I’ve missed them, Kaede.”
Red eyes softened. Fingers tightened around his and tears welled up in those eyes.
“I never thought I’d see you break the rules…Liyue’s ever vigilant Yaksha.”
“Only for you, Kaede.”
Sakura petals exploded across the sky. Devalin shot up into the clouds and electricity slammed into the spell. The shield sparked to life and crackled. Kazuha held tighter to him. His tails rapidly split until nine sparked and flared with power. The shield rapidly repaired itself and Devalin shot across the skies of Inazuma. Right above the dark clouds over the ocean and away from Narukami island. As Kazuha let out a shaken breath.
“Alatus…”
Gloved fingers cupped tear stained cheeks. Their lips brushed together and Kazuha lunged forward to hug him tightly.
“Everything will be alright.” Xiao spoke as he tightly wrapped his arms around the kitsune. “We can go back and reclaim your shrine when your Archon regains reason.”
Kazuha shook his head against Xiao’s chest. Red eyes lifted to meet his and the kitsune softly smiled.
“I’d rather stay with you…if you’ll let me. I want to see Liyue.”
“Of course.”
Kazuha happily smiled. The light in his eyes returned and sparkled.
“Then let’s build a shrine in Liyue. For all the Yaksha, Alatus.”
“Of course. We can build it together.”