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The wind was merciless. It tore at the sail, trying to push the boat towards the rocks, but the current by some miracle was stronger. Slowly, the boat Heizou rented from a Liyue merchant was getting closer to land.
Even being here felt wrong; Heizou could hear the water surface crack angrily, and from the corner of his eye he noticed sparks here and there. The sky was deep purple, and from afar he could see a bright spot high above the island. The clouds circulated around the spot, moving in a mesmerising twirl.
‘Are you sure it was a good idea to come here?’ asked a soft voice.
Heizou turned his head.
Kazuha was looking forward, his hands tightly holding the rope holding the poor sail in place — probably just to feel more reassured. For a moment, their eyes met, and Heizou saw a hint of worry, a slight frown between Kazuha's eyebrows.
‘Well, both of us haven't been here, and as I was looking for interesting places to visit, Hotaru told me about this island. She said it should be fine, but,’ he stuttered as a particularly furious wave shook the boat. ‘The weather seems to be not exactly nice today.’
There was a flash high above, and after a few silent seconds, rumble washed over them. The sound was low, but it felt like it had some emotion in it; old and tired. Heizou shivered as it vibrated right through him, and then grabbed the rope Kazuha was holding when another wave threw the boat upwards.
‘A bolt of lightning.’
‘Yeah, you don't say.’
Kazuha looked at him—annoyed?
‘Sorry. Go on.’
He sighed and looked in the direction of the island again, his eyes serene. ‘A bolt of lightning. From within the darkness, goes the golden eagle's cry.’
Heizou glanced once more at the white twirl above the island. They were close now, it was only a matter of minutes before they reached the shore. Even from where they were, he could see that Seirai was void of life; had been so for a very long time. The air was warm, almost welcoming, but the cracks around them made the place uninviting overall. The mountains were all crooked, and in the centre was a giant cavity, as if something had exploded there.
‘I wouldn't call it an interesting place to visit, if anyone asked me,’ Heizou said with a chuckle. ‘But I digress. I've been thinking just now, why does the eagle cry? Is it afraid? Or is it lonely?’ As Kazuha didn't answer, he just went on. ‘I mean, is this a sad poem? Or is it about nature being so powerful it frightens even its own creations? Or is the cry a metaphor for thunder?’
Kazuha sighed. ‘You're trying to look too deep into that.’
‘I know. Sorry,’ he bit his lower lip. It had already been awkward, and his mind couldn't hold onto one thing which only made it worse. ‘Though I understand. I understand what moment and feeling it depicts. Because we are in it.’
‘You don't have to fill in the silence, you know,’ Kazuha looked at him and smiled.
Maybe, but if I don't—
‘We're close,’ Kazuha said, and took the oar to gain control over the boat's movements.
Their boat was entering the cove, moved by the waves and the wind that seemed to be calmer between two smaller islands. To their right, there could be seen an abandoned village. On the left side, Heizou could see nothing but low mountains.
‘I really hope it's worth it, or Hotaru will owe me dinner.’
‘What did she say was of interest here?’
‘Well,’ Heizou mused. ‘You'll see. I won't spoil it.’
‘You don't know yourself, do you?’ Kazuha teased.
‘Tsk. I know where to look for it, though.’
When they moored, Heizou jumped out of the boat and looked around. Being closer to the crater only made it look bigger. Above it were soaring the fragments of the mountain.
‘It's so quiet here it's eerie,’ Heizou unchained his catalyst and held it in his hands for a few moments, waiting for Kazuha to step on the sand. ‘Let me check Hotaru's directions once again.’
He opened the book and looked for a piece of paper he had put in between the pages. Hotaru had described to him how to get to one specific small hill in great detail, but even with that it was his first time here, so he probably had to follow it word by word.
‘I'll keep it ready, just in case,’ he said as he closed his book. ‘Hotaru told me Fatui tend to hang around here.’
He walked along the beach, following the small curve at the side of the mountain, Kazuha following. The sand was dry, vicious waves of the sea stopped by the smaller islands and not reaching this far. There were a few tiny crabs, and the plants were growing just fine, but overall the place was empty. It was absolutely silent, except for occasional thunder and his and Kazuha's soft steps.
‘It's so peculiar. There is no rain, but the lightning just keeps striking and striking.’
Kazuha didn't answer, and Heizou exhaled loudly. He knew it was going to be like this, yet he still asked Kazuha to accompany him. He didn't know if the sense of Kaminari in the air was caused by this island or by the faint tension between them. They had to talk eventually, and him filling in the void, as Kazuha called it, was not going to prevent it from happening.
‘Kazuha,’ he called warily, stopping and turning around. ‘About what happened—’ he faltered.
‘It's okay. There is no need,’ Kazuha replied after a moment of silence, and smiled. Heizou wanted to melt right through the ground suddenly, to just join the groundwater in its thoughtless journey. He lowered his gaze and took a deep breath.
‘Yes there is. What I did was lowly of me, and I want to apologise.’
‘Heizou.’
He was making an idiot of himself. The entire trip was a mistake. Yes, the place he wanted to take Kazuha seemed worth it from what Hotaru had told him, but he just wasn't ready. Maybe it would have been better if he'd just let Kazuha go on his new voyage and waited for himself to calm down before trying to reach out again.
Maybe it would have been better if a few days ago he hadn't gone into the city, knowing well it would rain in the evening.
Maybe it would have been better if he'd just said hi to Kazuha and went on, and not taken him on an hour-long stroll talking about nothing.
Maybe it would have been better if when it started to rain, he'd found a better place to hide for them than an old palmate maple tree in the outskirts.
He was good at catching criminals, at solving cold cases, at fighting even. At having sincere conversations while trying to make amends he wasn't good. If his wrongdoings happened at work—of course, but not… whatever this was.
Heizou felt himself taking a small, awkward step back, ready to just keep on going to that damn smaller island, when Kazuha spoke again.
‘Look at me.’
Maybe it would have been better if he hadn't kissed Kazuha.
‘I'm sorry,’ he whispered. ‘Please, forgive me. I took advantage of the situation, it was truly wrong, and…’
The sight of an extended bandaged hand made him fall silent, and he finally looked up.
‘I hope I don't sound rude but it suits you much better when you're self-assured and joking. Cannot say I dislike this part of you, though.’
‘I—’ Heizou wanted to punch himself in the face, but laughed at the remark. ‘No, but really. That was a dirty move.’
‘Maybe you'll take me to that already notorious place of yours and we'll talk there?’
Kazuha still held his hand, and only then it occurred to Heizou that he wanted him to take it.
Slowly, as if afraid to be burnt or to burn, he took Kazuha's hand and turned around.
They walked in silence some more, Heizou occasionally opening his book and looking through Hotaru's directions. The surrounding gradually stopped looking so hostile and empty, even though the landscape didn't really change. He was probably simply getting used to it.
‘I hope you don't feel any dangerous odours in the air,’ he said after some time, as they approached a small island that was fitting Hotaru's description.
‘No, it seems safe here. Serene even. There is some… mournful lament in the air, but it is so old I almost cannot feel it.’
They passed shallow water that separated two islands, and went around the small cliff. As the surface of the hill became visible, Heizou's eyes widened in surprise. The hill was covered in tiny light-turquoise flowers that glowed faintly. It looked like a big soft smouldering blanket. As they stepped on the slope, Heizou felt a buzz.
‘Okay, it seems that dinner will be on me. They aren't just glowing.’
He finally let go of Kazuha's hand, threw his catalyst on the ground, and stood on his knee, touching the petals with the tips of his fingers. Kaze resonated in him, fizzing lightly. With a wide grin, he lay on his back, allowing flowers to swallow him. It almost tickled, and a chuckle escaped his lips.
‘Are you alright?’ Kazuha asked, sitting down on his heels next to Heizou.
‘Yup. It tickled a bit.’
Kazuha smiled and looked around. From where he was, Heizou could only see the purple clouds high above them, white flashes here and there. It was quiet, but not eerie anymore. Lying, he could hear a soft breeze rustling the flowers.
‘I really didn't mind,’ Kazuha said suddenly, almost making Heizou jolt. ‘I understand why you feel it was wrong, but I had all the chances to stop you, yet I did not. It's not like you pinched me to that tree and forced me.’
Heizou felt his face heat up. ‘Now you're being guileful just to take revenge, aren't you?’
‘I might be.’
The smile on Kazuha's face was sly and bright at the same time, and Heizou sighed faintly, though this time feeling his burden lightened.
He liked Kazuha, as simple as that. It was just a weightless feeling in his chest that made him smile and sense joy when Kazuha was around. It was not a burden to him; nor was he going to make it Kazuha's. He didn't wait for reciprocation. He was just going to enjoy it while it was there. Yet his stupid head that was extremely good at some things was completely useless in terms of others, making him lose all ability to think when it was needed the most.
The kiss had been quick and awkward; Heizou barely brushed his lips against Kazuha's before realising what the did, mumbling a panicked apology, and stepping back.
He wanted to groan as the memory resurfaced. It was so stupid.
As they sat quietly, Kazuha found a leaf to play some calm melody. It was easy to breathe, and the air smelled faintly of the flowers. At some point, Heizou felt a drop of water hit his face.
‘Oh no,’ he said and glanced at Kazuha. ‘I think it's finally about to rain, after all the rum-rumble.’
‘I don't see any houses around to hide. There was a tree way back, we might hide there if you want.’
Heizou could see a grin playing over the corners of his lips and squinted. ‘This is only a little bit funny, you know.’
They remained in their spots, even when the light rain started. Kazuha still played his leaf, the melody changing from calm to a more lively one.
‘Rain over-dyes the dew ash, or what was it?’ Heizou said, remembering faintly something he had read long ago.
Kazuha hummed and smiled. ‘In the deep of dark, raindrops falling down on me, were it for dear you, me being drenched I do not mind.’
‘Oh really?’ Heizou laughed. ‘For me you don't mind?’
Kazuha tilted his head to the side and looked at him warmly. The rain became stronger, making Kazuha's light hair lose its volume and stick to his face. ‘Do you mind?’
‘Being drenched? I'm fine,’ he glanced to the side to avoid the warm gaze. ‘Hey, look,’ he pointed at the flowers.
In the rain, the turquoise petals were almost transparent but still glowed, making the scenery even more dreamlike. Every hit of every drop gave out a faint tinkling that Heizou couldn't hear when they spoke; it almost sounded like a melody. The sky was a deep, dark purple, almost black, and in the darkness the glow only seemed brighter.
‘May I kiss you?’ rang through the music of the rain, almost deafening. Heizou looked at Kazuha.
He knew he was an awkward mess when it came to casual relationships; his speeches had always been easily confused with flirt; yet it somehow came to this.
He took a deep breath.
‘I… think so.’
The smile on Kazuha's lips was not mischievous or teasing, it just was there, as warm and beautiful as it always was. He placed his hand on Heizou's shoulder, not waiting for him to sit up or even move, and lowered down. The smell of wood hit Heizou's nose, and he closed his eyes, holding lightly on Kazuha's elbow and gently pulling him closer.
The kiss was slow and careful; Kazuha's lips brushed against his for a few endless seconds, and as Kazuha pressed a bit stronger, Heizou could feel a breath hitch in his throat.
‘I'm sorry I'm leaving,’ Kazuha whispered when broke the kiss, and caressed Heizou's cheek with the back of his palm.
‘You don't have to be.’
‘But I am.’
Heizou smiled with only a hint of sadness. He took Kazuha on this short trip not only to spend time together before he left on another journey, this time to fulfil his promise to Kagotsurube Isshin; he wanted to have even if a small travel together, just the two of them, to some interesting place as a parting gift.
‘If you should go, I will be waiting for the moon, turning my eyes toward the eastern evening sky,’ he said quietly, probably butchering the quote.
Kazuha just smiled.