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Raiden is busy sorting through scrolls. She takes a brush out of her yukata’s obi and dips it in ink, writing on the scroll. She spares a second to tear herself away from the task. She asks, “where are you going today?”
Kunikuzushi doesn’t respond. He plays with a red ball given to him last week by the kids living near Narukami shrine.
“Are you going to visit those people?”
“Who?” Kuni throws the ball high, catching it before it hits his face.
Raiden scoffs, “You know who I speak of.”
Certainly not Katsuragi’s crew. They’re too much of a good influence. Raiden’s tone is annoyed. She must be talking about the other people.
Kuni glances in her direction, catching the ball a final time, “the masked people?”
Raiden’s glare narrows, eyes squinting.
Kuni continues playing stupid, “Katsuragi’s friends?”
Raiden lets out an exasperated huff. She hates when he does that, “I’d rather you spend time with the bladesmiths. They’re a better influence on you. They can teach you about swords.”
Kuni rolls his eyes, flipping onto his abdomen. He yawns. “I want to be a catalyst.”
“That’s unbecoming for a Shogun,” says Raiden, hands on her hips, “you are meant to succeed me, to usher in a new era of…”
Kuni parrots her words back with his hand, exaggeratingly mocking her.
“…eternity for Ina—Excuse me?!” She jumps to her feet, sparkles of electricity gathering at her legs.
Kuni snaps back, but in a low tone, “I’m sick of hearing your voice.” Part of him still feared her wrath, but another side of him tires of her restrictions.
She takes heavy steps towards him, her gait brimming with anger in the form of electro sparks spiking around her. She pulls him by the hand, bringing him to her level, yet he remains limp, not daring to look into those violet eyes.
“Look at how you’ve changed. You used to be so sweet. Those people have imprinted their horrible ways on you—your own manners are lacking! You used to be—”
Kuni has had enough. With ferocity she hadn’t seen, he yanks his arm from her grasp, glaring back at her with cold eyes.
She nearly stumbles, but catches herself in time.
On the floor, he scowls at the god towering over him, “I don’t lack manners. You just lack adventure.”
He stands, eyes still locked onto her.
“Miyuna…”
“No. it’s not Miyuna anymore,” he hesitates, but it’s about time he let her know how he felt.
“It’s Kunikuzushi or Scaramouche.”
“A what?”
That’s horribly different from the sweet name that was given to him.
“Scaramouche??”
The name rolls off her tongue. Her expression twists as if she heard something disgusting.
He scoffs, taking the ball and walking towards the door.
“Where are you going?!”
She tries to follow, but before she can take her second step, a bolt of electro shoots past her face.
“…”
She raises a shaky hand to her cheek, fingers touching blood.
Kuni turns his back on her, grabbing his bag and exiting Shakkei Pavilion.
Today he won’t be visiting Tatarasuna. He sets his sights on the surrounding area of Narukami, where those masked people had set up a camp.
He spots the tall blonde woman reading a book and the annoying carrot-haired teenager stoking a campfire. He’s hesitant to approach them. Would they accept his intrusion? It’s been a week since he last saw them.
It’s the annoying boy who spots him. He waves his arms excitedly. Something about him reminds Kuni of a lost puppy being reunited with its owner.
Kuni takes a few steps forward. “Hello.”
The blonde woman does not look up from her book.
Immediately Kuni feels the need to apologize. He bows, “I am sorry for not showing up last week. My mother, she—”
The woman interrupts, “it’s fine,” she lowers her book to take a gander at him, “still wearing that plain kimono? Where’s the sokutai I gave you?”
“I didn’t have time to get dressed. I…” his mind replays it. Part of him feels bad about throwing that bolt at her. He frowns, “I left in a hurry.”
The woman responds, “we’ll get you better clothes, if you’re serious about joining us. Capitano can make you look worth something.”
Kuni twiddles his thumbs, “are you sure? …and what was your names again?”
She raises an eyebrow, “you’re hard at hearing, aren’t you? Either that or your comprehension skills are lacking.”
“My what?”
She sighs, “we’ll work on it, and my name is Signora. The kid is Tartaglia but we call him Childe.”
“Signora and Tartaglia. I’ll remember that.”
“I don’t think you need anything done! You’re pretty!” Childe says with an unusually wide smile.
Kuni shrugs, “Thanks.”
He didn’t stop there, “y’know, Baal turns water into wine. I bet in 5 romantic lines I can make you mine.”
Kuni’s eyes widen and he stumbles his sentence, “I’m—I’m—sorry? What?”
Signora closes her book again, “oh no. He’s smitten.”
“He’s what?”
“I didn’t get to tell you this last time we met. Did you know your body is 70% water? And I’m thirsty.”
“I’m not made of—” Kuni can barely get a sentence in when Childe drops another one-liner.
“Do you love water? Cause that means you love 70% of me.”
Kuni covers his mouth, shocked. “What??? Why are you saying this and why is it cute?”
Signora stands, her ice cold stare on Childe, “leave the boy alone.”
“Wait I got a few more! Are you a large body of water? Because all I can sea is you!”
By now Kuni’s face is entirely red. “Uhm…”
“I want to take my kids to a water slide. Can I use your th—”
“Tartaglia!” Signora steps towards him.
“Wait wait one more—”
Signora’s patience was gone at this point.
“I heard you wanna fight Teyvat’s climate crisis. So what if we bathe together to save water?”
All Kuni can respond with is a pitiful laugh.
At this point Childe has earned a backhand slap from Signora that sends him falling over.
She mumbles, “I hate that they left me on babysitter duty.”
“What was that about?” Kuni is left blushing at the whole spectacle. This annoying human shows romantic interest in him?
He giggles at the thought. “Aha, it's almost absurd!”
Signora nods, “you should’ve heard him when he laid eyes on Columbina and Capitano.”
What? She must’ve misunderstood. Kuni corrects her. “No, I mean, its absurd he finds me attractive. Why would anyone feel anything for me?”
Signora doesn’t know how to respond to that. She doesn’t know if that’s sad or pitiful. Her expression says it all: a concerned frown and her mouth slightly ajar.
Kuni notices and asks, “did I say something wrong?”
“No,” she waves him off, “it’s fine.” tell the truth Rosalyn. “You should think better of yourself. Anything can be possible for you.”
Kuni stays quiet. Hm maybe she’s right.
Signora and Childe prepare the meal.
Kuni watches, fascinated by all the food they were putting together. Katsu sandwiches and a sashimi platter, and some local Mondstadt dishes? Whatever it was, Raiden would never let him eat it. “We have no need of that useless, disgusting task.”
Kuni’s face lit up as he took small bites of a katsu sandwich. “Why is this so good?”
“Cause Signora made it.”
“It’s nothing,” she sits between them with her own plate of food. “Pierro and the others should be arriving shortly. We can discuss you joining us when they arrive.”
Shortly was an understatement. Its hours when they arrive at camp. The evening colors were already bled across the sky. Within that timeframe, Kuni had taken three naps, listened to Signora read about dead lovers, wrote a poem in his book and helped Childe gather sakura blooms.
Now Kuni stands before Pierro, their leader. He doesn’t look up at him either. As he did with Raiden earlier, he kept his gaze downcast.
Pierro sits on a boulder, elevated above his peers. He asks, “Why should we let you in?”
Kuni begins, “I’m…” but not even two words leave his mouth when he’s stopped by Pierro holding up his hand.
“None of that ‘I hate my parents.’ We are not here to take just any runaway. That’s what the regular ranks are for.”
Kuni bites his lip. No longer does he avert his gaze. He glares into the eyes of Pierro, a bit of venom creeping into his tone, “fine. I can work my way into your little group; and that god is not my mother.”
Childe pipes out, “Put him through a test. I wanna see how strong he is. If he’s made by Shogun, he’s gotta be strong, right? Let me fight him!”
Pierro pats him on the shoulder, “calm yourself, little man.”
“Little?!”
“No,” Signora crosses her arms, smiling. “Let Tartaglia fight him. He thinks he can take him. I need to see some entertainment today.”
The others agree, nodding and mumbling.
Columbina adds, “Don’t be afraid to hurt him, new kid! I’m placing bets on you.”
Pantalone slaps a mora pouch on the boulder, “I am placing a bet too. Tartaglia is far stronger than you give him credit for.”
Columbina protests, hands on hips, “He’s going against a divine creation. Be real.”
Kuni’s smile widens. Something about this group excites him. The way they interact with each other is alien to him. It’s unlike anything he’s witnessed. Perhaps this is the concept of family and friends that has eluded him for so long? The laughter, the idle talk and witty banter, sharing a meal, the warmth…none of this is felt with Raiden. It’s all silence and formalities with her and the fear of being stricken for a single misstep.
Kuni gets into battle stance, but then he realizes—
“I don’t have a—” and then he’s slammed onto the ground by Childe.
“Owww…” Kuni rolls onto his sides, his hand clutching it. In a strained voice he asks, “can I have a weapon?”
Pierro points behind himself, “Capitano has them.”
Childe helps Kuni stand. “Why didn’t you say anything? I’d have stopped if you did.”
Kuni grimaced at him. “I was about to.”
Kuni goes to the big guy, but he’s a liiiiiiittle intimidated by his massive frame. This guy is a human??
Capitano lays dozens of weapons before Kuni. Swords, polearms, spell books, power orbs, and bows; half of them probably stolen. “Take your pick.”
Kuni carefully examines each one, but his eyes settle on an old tome. He picks it up, “this one.”
Capitano nods, “Ah, The Black Pullet. Signora will need to enchant that one.”
“Enchant?” Kuni’s never heard that term used regarding a weapon.
Signora rejects. “You’re daft if you think I’m claiming that one. Make Pantalone do it.”
Pantalone also wants nothing to do with it. “No. I am merely an accountant.”
Kuni asks again, “what does ehchant mean?”
“You don’t know?”
He shakes his head.
Capitano dumps all the info on him. “Enchanting a spellbook is imbuing it with power. It becomes part of you until it's destroyed. There’s rumors about Books corrupting their owners.”
Kuni skims his fingers across the cover, “hmmm, I’ll enchant it. It’ll be my book. I’ll do it.”
Signora guides him through every step of the enchantment spell. Once Kuni recites the words and lets his power sink into it, the book is enveloped in a faint purple glow.
“Whoa.”
Everything about the process was calm until the book was hit by a strike of purple lightning. It’s force knocks the group back.
Everyone’s trying to get up but Childe is already standing.
“Can we fight now?”
Kuni resumes his battle stance, the book floating before him. “I’m ready.”
Childe dashes toward him, same as before. Kuni throws bolts of lightning—the only thing he knows how to conjure—and dodges Childe’s attacks.
Being a catalyst should mean anything is possible. Kuni materializes an electro sword and uses it to meet Childe headon.
Their swords spark in their hands from the elemental reactions, but they don’t notice it.
Childe is in another dash towards Kuni.
Kuni dips at the last second, the hydroblade barely cutting across his cheek.
Childe spins into another slash attack, one leading into another, Kuni whipping back and dodging both.
Forgoing the sword, Kuni throws bolt after bolt, but Childe dodges each one.
‘I can’t predict his movements.’
He’ll be damned if he’s beat by a mere KID.
Their fight goes on until Kuni leans into Childe’s attack, but sweeps his leg under him to cause him to fall. Childe stumbles and Kuni swipes a hydroblade out of his grip.
Kuni pins him to the ground and holds the blade at his neck.
“I trained with Raiden. You are no match for me.”
“Are you sure?”
Kuni’s eyes dart downward, noticing the other hydroblade pointed at his side.
“A draw.”
“I guess so.”
“You look pretty when you’re tired.”
Kuni frowns and gets off him.
“I like the way you fight,” said Pierro, “perhaps you can be our little skirmisher.”
“Skirmisher? I’m more of a balladeer.”
Childe’s never heard that one before. “A what?”
“I should…go home.”
Signora is packing her books ahead of time, but choosing to leave one out. “If you’re coming with us, our boat leaves at evening time tomorrow.”
“Why so late?” Kuni asks.
“We can’t risk moving in a big group during the day.”
“Alright.”
Childe slams his hand on Kuni’s back. “I hope you join us. I wanna spar with you more.”
Kuni nods, his lips curling into a small smile.
Childe gives Kuni a bracelet with the Fatui symbol on a charm.
“Something to remember us by, if you don’t come back.
Kuni isn’t used to being gifted something directly. It’s different than people anonymously leaving gifts in hopes for something in exchange.
Kuni returns to Tenshukaku late. He hopes Raiden is still at Shakkei, sorting through documents.
He enters through a hidden entrance out back.
“Please don’t be home yet, please don’t be home yet, please don’t be home yet,” he whispers repeatedly. He feels anxiety weakening his arms and legs as he tiptoes to his room.
The stairs are right there. Maybe she hasn’t checked yet. He could sneak to his roo—
“Miyuna.”
He halts, her voice chilling his core. He turns around, head low.
Her eyes caught sight of the Fatui pendant around his wrist.
“You we’re with them today.”
“I…”
“What have I told you about those masked strangers? They are nothing but troublesome wanderers.”
“No! They all love each other, way more than you’ve ever shown me, Raiden.”
Whatever was left of Ei’s behavior has disappeared. She feels no emotion but anger at his words. “If I didn’t love you I would have destroyed you.”
“I want to go with them.”
“You will not.”
Kuni’s had enough. “Stop meditating and talk to me yourself!”
Raiden says nothing.
“Ei!”
Nothing.
“Ei!!”
Silence.
“You are meant to be the next Shogun. You cannot be allowed to delve into things that stray you from eternity’s path.”
“Forget your eternity! I don’t want it.”
Kuni tries to flee but something zooms past him and grabs him. Raiden held onto him, dragging him back upstairs.
“We will do what we must.”
“Let me go!” He struggles in her hold, trying to pry her fingers off his wrists.
“Eternity will be granted.”
“Please.”
“Inazuma will prosper. Inazuma will reach the heavenly principles.”
Raiden and Kuni are thrown off the stairs by a sudden, massive explosion that destroys the entire side of Temshukaku.
In the ensuing smoke, Raiden stumbles to her feet.
“What the-”
Kuni feels himself grabbed and whisked away. Whoever has him glides out the opening.
“Miyuna!” Raiden runs after, chasing this mysterious person on the rooftops.
Her attention is so focused on the person carrying away her brother that she doesn’t see the massive fireball careening towards her.
“!!!”
At the last second, her head turns and she notices the bright light.
Kuni watched the fireball knock her off the roof. She couldn’t be defeated that easily, right?
When they’re clear of the commotion, Kuni looks up at the face of his her—
“Childe??”
He lifts his mask, “pretty cool ain’t it?! Signora used some bombs she got from Mondstadt and Sandrone lent me her automatic glider. It’s why we’re flying!”
“You?”
Childe gives him a wink.
“Pierro gave us the Okay to retrieve you. He figured you’d need help.”
“Am I a harbinger?”
“Not yet. There’s one thing we gotta do.”
Childe takes Kuni to Nazuchi Beach. Carefully, he sets Kuni down on the sand.
“If you want, you can call me Ajax.”
“…”
“My name. That’s my real name.”
Ajax? Hmm.
“Ajax.”
He lets the name escape his lips, a privilege not given lightly by its holder. He treats it as the most important secret he’ll hear.
Kuni’s eyes wander back to the horizon. Oh how he wishes to see what's beyond this place. These harbingers, these masked people… they’re so fun to be around. They’re the family he would rather have. Not Raiden.
“If you’re coming with us, we’re leaving now.”
Kunikuzushi looks into his bag. Mistplitter and his sketchbook are kept safely inside. It was the only thing he had with him. The only thing he had to his name. His art, his ballads, and his original creator’s sword.
He stands, clutching his bag tightly as he weighs the decisions in his head. He nods at Childe and says, “I will go.”
“Great,” Childe extends a hand, offering a handshake, “Welcome to the Fatui Harbingers, balladeer Scaramouche.”
Kuni reaches out, but his hand wavers. Raiden’s words echo in the back of his head. Her presence is a shadow looming over his actions. He takes a deep breath, finally shaking hands with Childe.
“I’m happy to be here, Tartaglia.”