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They say that the seasons carry about change in the world. It is a saying that you have heard one too many times from the elders in Inazuma when attending to your commissions. When trees shed to bloom fresh leaves once again, it reminds you that things are not temporary. New leaves mirror what was once in their stems, yet they are not the same. What was once there may not remain as it is for eternity.
You did not heed them much, but you understood why it was a common mantra to those living in the nation of eternity. You were one to look forward to change, which is why you left Inazuma in the first place. Surely, the world held many doors for you to open. Each nation in Teyvat offers an experience incomparable to the last. Many seasons were spent on festivals and hearing the songs of bards from across the land. You documented every moment to write about when you get back.
From time to time, you cannot help but look back at those words. When you docked at Ritou’s port, the Inazuman breeze met your figure in a welcoming embrace. The faint howling of the wind surrounded you as if to say, ‘welcome home.' At the same dock did you reunite with your childhood friend after many years lost to time.
You two caught up quite fast, it is as if you did not spend years not seeing each other. Kazuha was a gentle soul, you knew that. When accompanying him to train, he never once raised his sword to bring upon vengeance that was not his to deliver. He followed his set of conducts well and kept his sword sheathed most of the time. But as new leaves regrow to replace the old ones, Kazuha did too. If you were capable of change all these years, he was too.
Kaedehara Kazuha was no exception to the changing tides of time, and he wanted to make sure that you were aware of that.
His way with words were as alluring as ever. Poems of praise and adoration weaved through the open air to reach your awaiting ears. And you, like how a moth flies its way to open flame, fell for it every time. Never mind the dark undertones his poetry sometimes gave off, you figured that he explored many styles in your absence.
-
Kazuha and you often played hide and seek when you were younger. Of course, you lost every time. That man could hear even a pin drop and no scent could escape his keen senses. He knew where you hid each time.
However, you felt like he liked to prolong the game. Kazuha often patrolled areas deathly close to where you were, surveying the grounds yet never truly going for the neck. He would purposefully miss you, confusion deceivingly written on his face. You would remain still in your spot for minutes on end, nerves dancing around your system before he moves on to another area.
When you let go of your breath upon his departure, that is when he taps your shoulder signaling the game’s end. “Found you,” his voice never failed to bring chills down to your spine.
“Wouldn’t hide and seek get boring with only two players?” You inquired one afternoon after losing for the nth time that day.
Kazuha simply grinned and gently took both of your hands in his, “Any game in your company never gets boring.”
“…besides, I like seeking you every time. It reminds me that wherever in this world you may be, I will always find you.”
You kept that sentiment with you upon leaving. It weighed heavy on your heart that you did not get to tell him sooner, but the opportunity was fleeting. The boat for Liyue was leaving the day after and Kazuha wouldn’t get back from his pilgrimage for a few more nights. All you could do was pass on a letter to your cousin for when Kazuha comes back.
Your departure was one of the first heartbreaks that Kazuha had experienced. He understood your desire to see the world but the stinging in his heart hurt more and more with each passing day that you were absent from his company. If you wanted to roam the world, so did he and he hoped to wander around Teyvat with you.
As his longing for you grew, so did his hunger. Something else festered deep within the confines of the young Samurai’s heart. His training days dragged on and time didn’t seem to move, yet at the same time, days blurred past. Every day without you was utterly painful, the ache felt like mites gnawing at a delectable piece of wood. And as mites do, they gnaw and gnaw until there is nothing left.
By the time Kazuha reached adulthood, he was ravenous. He kept any remnant of you on his person everywhere he went, your letter (you had written more, however, none seemed to reach him) neatly tucked in his pants as he brought enemies to near death. He has already long been without a master, yet he still carried his blade as he explored the world. With each region did he pray to Celestia to cross paths with you once again.
-
Another samurai friend of his teased him about pining for you all this time. Each round of teasing not without the reassurance that Kazuha would see you again, of course. At those moments of time, Kazuha felt like he shared his burden with someone else. They shared each other’s holy grail and exchanged words of encouragement. “Let us help each other meet our wishes, shall we?” The taller samurai lent his hand out for a handshake. Kazuha took his hand and shook it in agreement.
His friend met his goal earlier than Kazuha had expected. As the Shogun landed her divine punishment, all the rounin could do was witness his dear companion’s final moments.
Kazuha found himself alone in this world again. Nevertheless, he picked himself up with a newfound goal and hope. In pursuit of reactivating his friend’s vision, he hoped that you were still alive out there.
For all the new friends you got to meet in Teyvat, Kazuha wiped his blade clean. Your time exploring rewarded you with wisdom that you otherwise would not have gotten from Inazuma alone. As for Kazuha, besides his pursuit of experiencing the world, any information that did not lead to you made his heart grow heavier.
Smiting one bandit after another, he asked for any clue of your whereabouts. With each bandit, he grew restless, each one was another encounter that was not you. If the scoundrel did not activate the masterless vision, then they did not know about where his darling was. Kazuha could not handle another loss. His once precise blade work growing more and more brutal at every second that you were not by his side, every brigand he left at death’s door even more mangled than the last.
Somehow, for every bandit that fell under Kazuha’s blade, his frustration contracted; the insatiable hunger in the pits of his being settling down albeit for the time being.
-
Kazuha finally got his long-awaited intel in Araumi. After paying his respect to his friend’s grave and laying the masterless vision to rest, the white cat that resided near the mound of dirt picked up its feet. He followed suit of the feline and stopped near a group of locals discussing a ship to dock the next afternoon. Kazuha expertly maneuvered himself behind a tree and picked up on your cousin’s voice. His heart soared for the first time in years, you were finally returning to Inazuma.
You, however, were blissfully ignorant of all of Kazuha’s endeavors even as you wandered with him now. He asked all about your trip around the continent, an exchange of itineraries perse. Promising to write poems about your ventures, you spared no detail. You even mentioned that your trip will go into your writing. When it came to his part of the exchange, he told you about his friend and the vision hunt decree that went on in the nation. You nodded in admiration of his bravery and strength.
Kazuha believes that you do not need to know about the rest of his trip.
You picked up a Dendrobium flower from the sands of Nazuchi Beach. The residents there believed that this flower blooms under a rather unique circumstance. It was bittersweet really, how a being so beautiful thrived under bloodshed. You caught Kazuha’s eyes on you and called him over.
“It looks good on you, you know,” you tried to lighten the mood. “My favorite flower suits you more than it does me,” you giggled dryly as you began to tuck it in his haori. Truly, it looked good on Kazuha. The Dendrobium crimson petals brought out his ruby eyes.
Kazuha decided that he never wanted to let you go, ever.
On the topic of flowers, you promised to take him back to your abode to show him your patch of Glaze Lilies. You had painstakingly tried to preserve them in your ship to Ritou. With much effort and singing, you had successfully grown a patch in your garden. Needless to say, you were proud of yourself.
Kazuha loved to see that pleased look on your face. He approached the patch and gingerly ran his thumb on the petals. A flower that grew under song and pleasant sounds. It was nature’s own way of reciting poetry. Somehow, it reminded him of you. You, his darling muse, who thrived on what the world offers. Even as children, he observed the way you lit up during festivals. It reminded him to commission the kimono maker in Hanamizaka to make you a garment adorned in the light blue flora.
You watched as Kazuha tenderly admired your hard work. After all your trips together, you were only able to truly observe him now. He had grown into a fine young man. Kazuha was already quite the looker back then, but time had only polished her work on your friend. His silver hair fell over his face as he bent down even more. It fit his gentle frame, plus the polite look on his face enamored anyone from all walks of life in Inazuma. It felt like you were spending time with your childhood companion yet also not. Kazuha has only grown more handsome, wiser, and talented.
You once hark back to what the elders have told you before. In a way, Kazuha was the leaf.
Your book was a hit! The Guuji was pleased with your immersion of both fiction and nonfictional elements in your writing. After sending back her comments and polishing your drafts accordingly, it was published. Within weeks, your works have been read all over Narukami. Rumor has it that even the Lady of the Kamisato clan was a fan.
However, with fame comes minor problems. You had to run errands more often, even more so with your book-signing. That meant that you had to spend less time with Kazuha. You apologized profusely, and even though Kazuha replies back with the same understanding look, you still felt guilt bubble in your stomach.
Kazuha does not consider himself as a jealous man. In his eyes, those who want to pursue you are temporary; they are mere distractions that prove themselves futile against him. It concerns him not what those delusional bygones see in their future with you. He knows that what preoccupies you right now are not other suitors. At the end of day, Kazuha knows you will come home to him. You have to.
However, he is human after all and with that comes temper. Some pests are more resilient than others. Like irksome weeds that grow, the best way to get rid of them is to uproot them. Celestia forbid those bastards ever make you uncomfortable, lest they never see the light of day again.
Kazuha kept guard throughout the entire book signing. You insisted that you did not need the extra security, but you were ultimately grateful for his company. Though you did not mind conversing with others, talking to this many people did wrack your nerves. There were at least a few hundred people from all over Inazuma. Kazuha gave your hands a comforting grip before the booth opened.
Some fans were more… enthusiastic than the others. You were genuinely grateful that people enjoyed the fruit of your passion and labor. However, some folks were getting too close for comfort. Opting for more intimate poses for the Kamera. You stood your ground and reinstated your boundaries. You hoped you did not have to reach for your polearm this time.
Kazuha observed and stayed back at your request. Those scoundrels are in for it later. A few more Dendrobium sprouts on your garden are nothing on your safety and comfort, after all.
After finishing up your duties late at the Yae Publishing House, you began to trek back to your home. Though rewarding, today was a bit exhausting. You had told Kazuha that he could go earlier if he wanted to. He mentioned that he had matters to attend to and curtly kissed your knuckles before taking his leave. You blushed at that memory.
You did not mind walking alone, Narukami Island was well protected, and you had your weapon with you anyway. A gust of wind woke you up a bit. The breeze felt stiff that night, but you did not mind, it was yours and yours alone to enjoy. The thought made you halt your footsteps, when was the last time you walked alone? Every previous night walk was spent with Kazuha. God knows you absolutely enjoyed his company, but you saw him so often that you forgot the last time you had some alone time.
Nonetheless, you were grateful for his company as always.
Giving your thanks to the wind, you continued on your walk back home. You had to pass through a remote trail before getting to your destination, but it was nothing impossible. Little you passed this trail at least a hundred times alone.
A familiar group of voices startled you from your train of thought. You squinted your eyes at the group of people ahead of you.
Oh.
It was the bunch of overzealous fans at your book signing earlier.
You really did not want to deal with them right now. All you wanted was to go home, clean up, and rest.
What made matters worse is that there are more of them now. The group noticed your lone figure and started approaching you.
You stilled, nerves bubbling in your stomach once again but this time, it made you want to vomit. These people looked even more deranged than earlier. Even with a vision and a weapon, you were not sure you could fight against at least a dozen folks.
“So you’re too good for your own fans now, huh?” Their leader slurred. You can recognize that person as the most eager of them all, even boasting about knowing your address.
“Seems like your head has grown too big,” another chided. “Why don’t we shrink that back to it’s original size, hm?” The leader supplied before everyone bared their weapons.
You immediately went to ground yourself, gripping your polearm tightly. Two of them lunged at you so you ducked and hit them at the back of their heads. It was not enough to knock them out. Shit. A burlier one charged at you while you heard at least three gearing up behind you. It was becoming more and more difficult to avoid their advances. Even with the help of your vision, you were not knocking them out fast enough relative to dodging their attacks.
Sweat made your hair cling to your face obstructing your line of vision. An attack at your ankles made you trip while another crazed fan hit your polearm away. You heaved as you felt your lower back hit the rocky ground. The leader of the bunch raised a hammer at your form. You closed your eyes and summoned a shockwave as a last resort.
A strong gust of wind enveloped the near vicinity and within seconds, you heard weapons clanking to the floor followed by several thuds. That was certainly not your shockwave. You internally thanked Celestia for whatever it was that saved you. Was it the divine wind from centuries ago that fended Inazuma against foreign attackers? Or was it a vigilant who came at the right place and right time?
Ready to thank your savior, you opened your eyes. Hues of red and black greeted your sight at first, you panned up to see Kazuha glaring at your attackers’ unconscious forms. You slowly stood up and patted yourself before coming to examine Kazuha if he was okay.
“I should be the one asking you that,” he replied, his front part still obscured from your view. You reach out to turn Kazuha’s face towards you.
You stilled.
Kazuha was covered in blood.
And so were you.
You did not have any wounds on you save from a few scratches around your legs and knees. It did not seem to be Kazuha’s blood either.
“Kazuha… that’s not your blood, is it?”
It was Kazuha’s turn to freeze. His eyes fixated on you before darting to the attackers laid around you. You followed his sight, and your sweat was suddenly ice on your skin. The Snezhnayan winter had nothing on the chills that surged through your entire body.
Your attackers were all dead.
The ground started to spin, and your legs turned to jelly. Kazuha immediately caught you, your head landing on his shoulder. The stench of blood made you fainter than before. You cannot believe any of this right now. You were no stranger to violence seeing as you used to watch Kazuha train before. You knew what came with Kazuha’s identity as a samurai. However, he has not killed anyone in your presence before.
“You did this…?” You muffled into his haori. Of course he did, but it was still unbelievable. A dozen dead within seconds. His bandaged hand patted your head as he swayed you both. “What matters at the moment is that you are alive,” Kazuha shushed you. He showed no remorse in his voice. Is this what he was like on the battlefield? You sobbed even more. A thousand waves of emotions overwhelm your body like a tsunami.
“I’d pry deaths hands open for you, my grace,”
Somewhere deep down, Kazuha had it in him to do this. You would be delusional not to think so. It was only a matter of time. Did he do it for a cause? It would take some time for you to process that.
“Not even the passage of time could keep you from me,”
With each passing line, his voice grows less empathetic. You could not say for sure if Kazuha changed. Would the Kazuha from before do things differently?
“Celestia forbid the world to pry you from my embrace,”
But as trees do, Kazuha shed a part of himself to show you another. You do not know what made your stomach flip more, the fact that Kazuha would do this again for you, or the fact that you did not know as much about your dearest friend as you had thought.
“I would scour through Teyvat with the wind as my company.”
But you would be a fool to think that your sweet and gentle Kazuha, was the only facet of his that exists. You would be delusional to think that the Kazuha from your childhood was the same as the one encasing you in his arms right now.
“Let’s go home, shall we?”
You nodded. Everything drained you. The book signing, the brawl, Kazuha, His scent, His embrace. Everything. What is even more draining is the fact that Kazuha stays true to his word, no matter what.
He would never let you go, and you knew that.