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It was the little things that surprised Heizou when he travelled on the continent.
Sure, not everyone spoke with an Inazuman accent, and that in places like Mondstadt they don’t use chopsticks – he knew all of that already. He also knew that different cultures had different instruments and it made sense that they would use different architecture too.
But the way that someone he bumped into snorted when he bowed by way of apology made him realise how far away from home Liyue really was. The instruments were different – and so were the songs and the dances. He had a feeling that if he ever sang songs from back home, only Kazuha would know them.
He knew that there were geovishaps and primovishaps in the land of the Geo element, but it hadn’t really occurred to him that there wouldn’t be electrograna either. If you wanted to climb to the top of the mountains in Jueyun Karst or Dragonspine then you needed to do just that – climb. Not using shortcuts sounded so tiring to him.
Golden fields gave way to rocky canyons and then, once the first stars started dotting the twilight sky, a warm breeze blew past him, tickling the hairs on his head.
“Ah…” A contented sigh came from the ronin next to him as he stared up into the sapphire sky. “It seems that we are in Mondstadt now.”
The detective subconsciously reached down and touched his Vision. What surprises would the land of the Anemo Archon have in store for him?
Fields of green was the conclusion that Heizou came to once they turned the corner. The wind rippled gently through the dandelion fields, a seed or two released into the air. The flowers themselves seemed to glow in the early night. Well, they weren’t really flowers as much as heads full of seeds. Heizou crouched down and saw that the flowers themselves were yellow and… not much to write home about, really.
Fields of dandelions gave way to vineyards that seemed to stretch in every direction. Grapes, ripe and plump for picking, hung from vines drooping with the effort of keeping upright.
“Seems like Dawn Winery’s doing well, even after the Stormterror incident…” Heizou noted to himself. “Ah, who am I kidding, that probably made people flock to the taverns, now that I think about it.”
“It would seem so…” Kazuha crouched down and Heizou looked on in scandalised silence as he plucked a bunch of grapes from a vine that was drooping so much that they were just hovering above the ground. “At least that is what I heard from Master Diluc and Charles the last time I visited Angel’s Share.”
“Kazuha put those back, they are not yours!” But Kazuha only chuckled at the detective.
“It will be fine.” With a grin, he popped a grape in his mouth and gave a happy hum as the sweet juices coated his tongue. “As I said, Master Diluc is a friend of mine, there should be no issues.”
“Beidou’s a bad influence on you…” Heizou folded his arms as he tutted.
“Do you want one?”
“… Fine.” Kazuha chuckled as he placed one in Heizou’s open mouth. “’S not like you can just put it back now anyway.”
“Agreed. Can you hold onto them for a second?”
“Yeah, sure, what are you doing-“ With a chuckle, his criminal friend emerged with another bunch of grapes.
“Kazuha!!!”
One small argument, sulk and snack later, Dawn Winery came into view. The comforting flickering glow of candlelight shone through the grand windows that probably cost more than what Heizou made in a year.
Lanterns lined the well-worn path leading up to the Winery, but aside from that the only light source were the cyan lights floating around them. The detective didn’t realise what they were until he gave them a closer look.
“Crystalflies…” He muttered to no one in particular. “I didn’t realise they’d be a different colour here too.”
“They are formed from concentrations of elemental energy.” Kazuha explained in his soft and calming voice as they both perched on top of the stone wall surrounding the Winery and watched the elemental creatures dance and drift through the air, leaving a trail of dust in their wake. “Just as how they are purple in Inazuma and are seen most frequently in and around Mount Yugou, in Liyue they are gold and seen in Guyun Stone Forest. And as for Mondstadt…”
“They are cyan, and drawn to places that make wine?” Heizou smirked.
“… Well, this is the land of wine, song and freedom after all.” Kazuha let out a small chuckle. “It only makes sense.
Though I heard that on Dragonspine – though it is technically within Mondstadt’s borders – they have a different appearance there too. Paler in colour, like the snow that is so prominent there.”
“You know so much about this stuff…” Heizou breathed, leaning his head on his hand as he watched the wanderer with interest.
“Well, I have been travelling for a while now. But it is as they say…” His smile turned wistful as he gazed at the stars above. Somewhere, among their depths, lay the constellations for both himself and Heizou. “The more you learn about something, the more you realise that you don’t know…”
“You’d think that with all of the questions people have about the world, there’d be more answers…” Heizou let out a small huff.
“Must be annoying for the sharpest and most successful detective of the Tenryou Commission.” He could hear the grin in Kazuha’s voice as he gave Heizou a gentle nudge.
“Infuriating.” The detective replied with a small pout.
“Aww…” The pout deepened as he received a pat on the head. “Well, the Alcor will be going to Sumeru soon. You are welcome to come along – perhaps you will find some of the answers you seek in the land of wisdom?”
“Don’t tempt me.” Heizou mumbled. “If I ever enter the library at the Akademiya I don’t think I’d ever leave again – besides, the answers I want are to practical problems, not academic ones. Not sure how much help it would be if I went there. I’d probably end up with even more questions than I started out with.”
“Ah, true…” Kazuha smiled as Heizou leaned his head against him. “Knowledge, like power, can be highly addictive. I suppose I will just have to make the most of your holiday time while I still have you here with me. And resist the urge to make you stay for longer.”
“… Take grapes from a vineyard is one thing. Please don’t kidnap me too – Sara would be pissed.”
“I won’t, I promise.” Kazuha let out a small chuckle as he gave his friend a squeeze. “But since you’re here with me, let us make this time together pleasant and memorable.”
Heizou felt his cheeks heat up as his mind jumped to conclusions. They were friends, why would his brain think that-
“Last time I was in Mondstadt, I acquired an instrument they have here known as a guitar.” Kazuha explained as he pulled a large instrument from out of nowhere. It had strings and a neck, like a zither, but it was much larger. As notes were strummed and pegs were turned, he realised that the sound was a lot softer too. Gentle just like the guitarist himself.
“I heard a bard play with one, and I just had to find out where he got it from. One visit to Marjorie later and… here we are.” He gave a small chuckle as he finished tuning it.
“It suits you.” Heizou said truthfully, his words bringing a blush to the young man’s cheeks.
“Oh, I am not sure about all of that… but thank you.” He stared down at the guitar, avoiding eye contact. “I… have only been practising for a few months, so I am by no means an expert, but I did learn a popular Mondstadt lullaby while I was here.”
“Oh, like how you can play Hanachirusato on the flute and… leaf?” Kazuha really could make music out of anything. Heizou found himself being envious sometimes of how many skills his dear friend had.
“Just like that.” He smiled. “Hmm, it would be nice to learn how to play them on the guitar. I should ask Venti and Xinyan for more lessons…” He coughed to himself as he realised that he was going off-topic once again. “Anyway, are you ready?”
Heizou merely gave a nod, leaning closer in anticipation.
Dulcet tones filled the air around the Winery as Kazuha strummed away. His brows were furrowed in concentration and he did make the odd mistake here and there, but Heizou hardly cared. He was entranced by the way the guitarist’s fingers danced and caressed the instrument, pressing down in certain patterns with one hand to make one chord, before quickly switching again to produce yet another chord. Meanwhile the other hand plucked and strummed different strings – how did he remember which ones to use and when? It all seemed so confusing to the detective. He was sure of one thing, however – it must have taken a lot of practice for him to become this good.
It made him want to learn, but he knew that he would never have enough time (or will) to practice. Perhaps it was better for Kazuha to pursue the creative hobbies and to leave him with the more logical ones, like puzzles.
As Kazuha played, the crystalflies wafted through the air, drawing closer and closer to the pair. Shimmering dust fell in their wake and Heizou did his very best to keep still and not make any sudden movements. The lazy flaps of their wings almost seemed to be intentional, keeping in tune and in rhythm with Kazuha’s playing. Was this normal behaviour for them? Or was it just something that happened only in Mondstadt? Was this a well-known tune for them? How intelligent were crystalflies, really?
As Heizou pondered the existence of crystalflies, music, song, dance and Kazuha himself, he noticed a lone crystalfly settle down on the very edge of the guitar. A wide grin and an ever-so-gentle chuckle escaped the musician as both men watched the tender view. Luminescent cyan wings flapped along to Kazuha’s playing, much like how a conductor’s baton waves along with an orchestra.
Yeah, no, they were definitely much more intelligent than Heizou had thought before.
During the course of the song, Heizou had subconsciously drawn in closer and closer. He hadn’t realised how close he had gotten until he realised that Kazuha’s eyes were no longer on the guitar, and were on him instead.
Their warm, sunset-red depths were particularly alluring in this light, surrounded by the warm glow from the candlelit lanterns and the ethereal cyan glow emanating from the crystalflies, who were now perched nearby.
A light of Kazuha’s own seemed to come from within his eyes. An enchanting, radiant shine, beckoning Heizou even closer. The air was quiet now, but his own heart had a song he could hear now just as clearly as any melody. It had been singing for a while now, for a maple leaf for the young deer to cherish, but this was the first time Heizou had allowed himself to listen to it.
Their lips touched. Kazuha held him close.
And his heart’s quiet solo became a duet.