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The wind is stirring, water drops are falling more and more frequently from an already cloudy sky. The weather was closing in, but fortunately both Xiao and Kazuha were already in the inn, specifically inside the yaksha's room.
It was quite tidy, since the adeptus only used it to rest - something he rarely did - but the samurai's presence brought a certain cozy air to the environment. In recent days, the places they frequented for rest were quite cavernous, so a stop at the inn was very welcome.
Kazuha sits up in bed, still drying his hair with the towel from his recent shower.
"Xiao?" he calls out the other's name, seeing him standing in front of the window as if enjoying the increasingly stirring wind that was entering the room.
"What?" the adeptus takes a deep breath, turning his face to the samurai.
The moon illuminating his pale face is enough to leave Kaedehara silent, forgetting even what subject he intended to bring up with the other.
"You are so beautiful" the words come out of his mouth naturally. A smile takes his lips as he sees the indignant face of the yaksha.
"You are so weird..." Xiao grumbles, but the blush on his face fools no one.
Eventually, he decides to close the window as he sees that the rain was getting heavier and heavier. As he sits down next to Kazuha, he already intends to question him about the next day's plans, but something stops him.
A sound of lightning.
"Oh, it's thundering..." the samurai comments, a little uneasy.
"Yes...I don't understand mortals who fear such a common phenomenon" Xiao decides to opine without much thought. He didn't think Kazuha fit into that; the samurai was always so confident and connected to nature. Surely he would agree.
Well, that's what he thought.
However, the weight Kaedehara feels in his chest is intense. All the memories that this simple - yet noisy and devastating - phenomenon brought up could not be contained. He had certainly overcome - or almost overcome - his past, but there were still some scars.
It is impossible to answer the yaksha without his discomfort becoming evident. A few tears of frustration at his sensation of vulnerability threaten to fall, but he stands firm, suppressing them.
Something tricky to do when the sounds and lights in the sky continued, trapping him more and more in his memories.
"Kazuha?" is the adeptus turn to call out his beloved's name. He was expecting an agreement, but the silence that had extended since his speech was not normal. Seeing that the samurai does not take his eyes off the window, he slowly placed his hand on the other's shoulder.
Kazuha seems to awaken from a trance, as he stares at him a bit startled and bewildered.
"Oh, really, it's something so ordinary..." he agrees, offering a gentle smile as if he didn't appear to be scared seconds ago, but Xiao is not satisfied with that. There is something strange, he could feel it. Kazuha decides to add. "However..."
"However?" Xiao encourages, shyly lowering his hand to the samurai's, touching it gently.
"I believe I will disappoint you now, but I have a certain fear of lightning," he sighs. "They don't bring me very...pleasant memories."
"Ah..." The yaksha feels a certain regret take over him. He didn't usually regret being honest, but awakening bad memories in his beloved was the last thing he wanted.
Even more so when it was something a little...obvious. After all, Kazuha was from Inazuma.
Xiao intensifies his hold on the samurai's hand, as if trying to comfort him. His mind works to seek some word of comfort, but this was not something he was used to.
"Everything okay, dear?" Kaedehara seems to worry as he senses the other's actions.
"I...that...hadn't crossed my mind" he takes a deep breath. "I..."
Kazuha is surprised for a few seconds before letting giggles escape his lips.
"Don't worry Xiao, I like your honesty" he confesses, making the yaksha stare at him in confusion.
"But you seem bothered. And...there's no way a detail like that could disappoint me, you're so..." The adeptus searches for words to express his admiration, but the amount of praise that comes to his mind makes him more and more embarrassed. Finally, he manages to say softly. "...skilled, and...helpful... thoughtful..."
Now it is Kazuha's turn to be embarrassed. He didn't think he would hear so many compliments coming out of the yaksha's mouth, and he didn't even know where he got so many adjectives from, but he was certainly loving it; the sound of thunder was being completely ignored and his mind was drifting away from the bad memories.
In the end, they were both flushed red. Xiao was avoiding eye contact and Kazuha was wearing a simple smile on his face.
"Are you comforting me, Xiao?" is his first question; he brings a hand up to the other's chin, encouraging him to face him.
"...maybe"
"You are so kind, thank you so much" Kazuha says sincerely, slowly bringing his face closer and sealing his lips briefly to the yaksha's. "Hearing compliments like that from you makes me...extremely happy" his smile intensifies.
"I just told the truth" the adeptus states, trying to hide his embarrassment. "How can I comfort you further?" he questions, curious. "I don't want you to have unhappy memories plaguing you"
Kazuha's smile widens even more, his heart palpitating intensely at all the attention Xiao was paying him. It was noticeable that the yaksha was trying his hardest to do something he wasn't used to just for his sake.
"Hugs are very welcome while we sleep" the samurai suggests and the adeptus doesn't think much before lying down next to Kaedehara and hugging him comfortably.
Little did he know that for Kazuha, the simple presence of the yaksha was the greatest comfort he could have.
The lightning was not so bothersome now.