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Sleep was not a necessity for [the Wanderer]. He doesn't have the ability to become tired, no matter how strenuous the day has been. He could do it if he wanted to, but he didn't like the idea of putting himself in a vulnerable position.
Naturally, Kazuha would need his sleeping hours in order to function the next day. Whenever he mentions that it's time to settle down for the night, [the Wanderer] usually makes a remark on how weak humans are for having such needs. The young samurai would chuckle at the comment, because as soon as he said he wanted to rest, his companion was already gathering tree branches to start a campfire.
Kazuha is a very quiet sleeper. He sleeps on his side most of the time, shifting occasionally throughout the night. [The Wanderer] was grateful for this; he probably would have left a long time ago if he had to stick with someone who snored instead.
By the time Kazuha drifted off to sleep, the former Harbinger would find a spot to lay down close to him. Not too close to make it awkward, but not too far away to keep an eye on him. He can't trust humans, so he has to be cautious; [the Wanderer] would tell himself this to justify his actions. They hadn't met for too long, after all.
His eyes shifted between the fireplace, the sky, and the sleeping figure as the hours passed. At some point around midnight, when he peered down on his companion, he noticed that there was something off.
His breathing had become more rapid. His brow was furrowed and covered in cold sweat, while his teeth were tightly clenched. [The Wanderer] moved closer to him, his face showing genuine concern.
"Uh? A nightmare?" He muttered to himself. This was the first time he'd ever seen Kazuha, who was usually so composed, in such distress. He was whimpering and panting so pitifully.
"Hey, Kaedehara." [The Wanderer] tried to wake him up, but his words met no end. He let out a deep sigh of frustration. What a nuisance.
"C'mon, Kaedehara, wake up!" He insisted, lifting a hand to place it on his shoulder. As soon as his fingertips touched the fabric of his garments, Kazuha flung his entire body towards him, knocking him to the ground. Before the puppet could react, the samurai wrapped his hands tightly around his neck.
"K-Kazuha!" The boy stammered.
He immediately backed away the moment he recognized that voice, his eyes wide open. When he realized what was happening, his face went from one of despair to one of dread and then regret.
[The Wanderer], on the other hand, was astounded. He needed a moment to gather himself before he could sit back down. He fixed his gaze on the shaking form in front of him. If ever he had any doubts about his partner's strength, he was now certain he was a formidable opponent.
Kazuha is not a man who frequently dwells on the past or the things that might have been but never were. The vision bestowed upon him was a clear reflection of his essence, and the life he chose as a wanderer was befitting for someone who values freedom above all else.
He does, however, have his fair share of bitter memories that often torment him. The day his dearest Tomo met his demise at the hands of the Raiden Shogun is one of them. He swore a part of his heart died along with him.
Unfortunately, he didn't have the time to grieve properly, for he was a wanted man, a fugitive on the run. The Shogunate was tenacious and would go to any length to execute the Vision Hunt Decree. He couldn't let them take his vision nor his friend's, so he had to do whatever it took to survive and flee Inazuma.
In his nightmare, he was racing through the woods, trying to escape from the soldiers that once tried to hunt him down. Lightning flashed across the sky, followed by thunderclaps. One by one, his pursuers fell to the ground. Kazuha wasn't keen on fighting, yet he wasn't going to give them the chance to lay a hand on him. His chest ached with both exhaustion and sorrow, but he had to keep running.
When he thought he was no longer being followed, a sudden burst of light struck at his feet. He jolted back while his eyes struggled to adjust to the brightness.
The Raiden Shogun had appeared right in front of him. Her presence is always as intimidating as an approaching storm and as unpredictable as lightning itself. Her deep violet eyes, glowing fiercely but devoid of human feeling, made contact with his own crimson ones. Your doom was sealed the moment the Shogun locked her sight on you. You were no longer the owner of your fate, and it was up to her when to terminate it.
Before he could notice, she had vanished from where she was standing. Kazuha felt a tingling sensation on his shoulder. He knew if he didn't act now, he was done for.
But the divine punishment of the Musou no Hitotachi didn't reach him. Instead, he met the Shogun's eyes again.
Did he?
"Snap out of it, you moron. You were having a nightmare, that's all."
The always-blunt [Wanderer] called out.
Kazuha took his time to catch his breath and clean his face from all the sweat.
The samurai laid on his back, keeping his distance from [the Wanderer]. He felt ashamed for attacking his friend.
He took a moment to observe the glimmering stars above him. The moon was still high in the sky.
"... [Wanderer]?"
The aforementioned turned his head as soon as he heard his name. Kazuha realized that the color of his eyes matched the night sky. How could he have mistaken them for Raiden's?
"I apologize. I rarely have dreams like this. I was-"
"There's no need to explain yourself if you don't want to. I am not interested in prying into other people's business." He responded earnestly.
Even though Kazuha appreciated his sensitivity, he felt he deserved to know.
[The Wanderer] was aware of his past as much as Kazuha was of his. So it only made sense for him to act in such a way towards him.
Even if he wasn't meant to be an exact replica of Raiden Ei, she still gave him enough features that resembled her appearance. The reasoning behind this decision is still unknown to the puppet, and it will most likely remain so for the rest of eternity. She never saw him as her son in any way.
Somehow, it made him feel guilty.
Both of them got back to their usual positions for the night. Kazuha laid on his side, and [the Wanderer] sat next to him.
The light-haired man never resented the Shogun for what happened to Tomo. Even on the day he confronted her, he had no desire for vengeance; he was driven by the determination to protect those he cherished. In the end, he was grateful that he was able to carry out his friend's will.
And who would have thought that the kin of Raiden, the kabukimono his ancestors welcomed in Tatarasuna, was now his traveling companion?
"One more thing." Kazuha spoke. The dark-haired boy raised an eyebrow inquisitively. "I want to thank you, dear [Wanderer]".
Those words caught him off guard. "Eh? For what?."
He gave him a lighthearted smile. "When I'm sleeping and you're around, the wind is always gentle. That's how I know you are always looking out for me. I wholeheartedly appreciate it."
If [the Wanderer] had been wearing his hat, he would have used it to cover his face. He hoped it was dark enough for the samurai not to notice how flustered he was.
"Doze off already! I will not wait for you in the morning if you oversleep."
"Alright, then. Goodnight."
"Night."
Kazuha promptly fell asleep again.
And [the Wanderer] remained awake for the rest of the night. He wondered if he was losing his ability to conceal his true intentions from others (a skill he had honed during his time with the Fatui) or if Kazuha was truly so smart to see right through him. In any case, he could no longer deny that he was growing fonder of him.