Ganyu X Gn Reader That Has An Obsession With Eating Flowers. Especially Toxic Ones. Like They Are So

Alt Ending

Xiao x reader

Angst to fluff

New event spoilers

@xiaosimpdamn

"I can't.... Rex.... I'm losing...... Sorry xiao"

Your distorted voice was heard through the chasm while the 5 we're looking for an exit after seeing bosacious.

"Xiao who is that? They said your name." Yanfei questioned but Xiao had an uncharacteristic look of shock before turning to them.

"He was the dendro yaksha. He never liked attention so he also hid when humans were they were near. During the destruction of khanreha he lost his mind and went into hiding."

Xiao talked about you in the same way he talked about bosacious. He loved the memories he shared with you but all good things come to an end.

But the end was not quite there yet. Just a bump in the road.

"I know who he is, the phantom yaksha. He helped from the shadows and saved any human he could." Yelan said causing Xiao to nod.

"I wonder where he went." Paimon looked to aether who was looking at Xiao.

There was a moment of silence before the sky darkened as a pained scream erupted from behind Xiao.

Turning around Xiao saw you on the ground with your (choice of weapon) on the ground next to you while you were squeezing your neck in pain.

"Y/n." Your head shot up at the sound with a look of fear.

"Xiao?" Your face didn't change in fact your breathing quickened. "I'm tired of these illusions. Just go AWAY." You broke down in sobs

"I'm not an illusion. I promise you I'm real." He inched closer not expecting you to jump into his arms.

You both started to fall back if it wasn't for the vines that wrapped around the both of you. Tightening the hug.

"I missed you so much. I hope your real." You mumbled into his chest.

"I'm real I promise." He wrapped his arms around you as the vines slowly set him down.

"The phantom yaksha." A high pitched voice said causing you to look up at 3 people and 1 floating child (I don't know to to describe paimon)

The voice shocked you and because you not used to being around people for so long you tried to teleport away but the strain of trying to use your powers caused you to pass out.

You woke up you saw the sky. You haven't seen it in so many years. It was a beautiful sight.

Xiao

You looked around realizing he wasn't there.

"Xiao" you said it so quietly you could bearly hear yourself. Tears rolled down you cheeks as you kneeled to the ground in a prayer position.

"Please don't... It's been so long (since last I seen my son~)." You cried not noticing the yaksha suddenly appear.

"Y/n" you didn't look to the sound this time. You thought the chasm was making another illusion.

"Y/n it's me." You felt a hand on your head as you slowly looked up to see Xiao with the traveler behind him.

Through the shock you didn't care that the traveler was there and jumped into xiao arms.

"Don't scare me like that." You cried into his shoulder. He hasn't changed a bit and you liked it that way.

"I love you, Atalus."

"I love you too, Y/n"

Hi!! I wanted to know if it is okay for me to draw the Alastor's assistant! Reader with my own Hazbin Hotel OC? It's your character officially so I wanted to ask

yeah that'll be amazing

make sure to tag me, i wanna see it.

tag the original artist too: @ghostly-one

Do you still write for TLOK (The Legend of Korra)?

Unfortunately no (◞‸◟ㆀ)ˢᵒʳʳʸ

Can we get Muzan but he has twin male children, who in the Uppermoons eyes are way more threatening and terrifying then Muzan, the twins are very overprotective of Muzan when he isn’t looking, and Muzan believes that his boys are sweet and harmless, but the twins are always killing anything and everyone who even looks at their father the wrong way

Another Papa Muzan scenario! After I just made one, it’s okay though! Let’s do another Papa Muzan!

Kibutsuji Muzan- Trio of Disaster

Muzan loves his twin sons to death and he will happily murder anybody, demon or human, who dare to try insult nor suppress his children. They are just as high power as Muzan and their privileges may or may not twist their point of view into believing they are unstoppable with how much Muzan spoiled them

Muzan isn’t aware of how his Upper Moons are more terrified of his sons then him. He wouldn’t be upset if so, he’d be relieved that his sons are becoming so much like their father and he would encourage them to continue maintaining their image. Muzan feels pride for his princes of the demons

Muzan is overprotective towards his twins, and that passionate treatment is traded back on the twins’ behalf. They hiss and bark at anybody who merely looks at their father, and that includes striking at Tanjiro when he first comes across Muzan. The twins value their father too much to let him be tainted, even in the slightest

Muzan isn’t aware of how the twins attack demons and humans he speaks to, behind his back. As much as he loves his sons, he isn’t really aware of how they really are like. He simply believes they are angels, unable to do anything wrong but they are truly as rotten as him

Muzan will argue hysterically with his Upper Moons over his sons. Proclaiming they are innocent and pure, as they always are with their father. As they torture Gyokko and Hantengu for daring to breath in their father’s direction wrong. The twins are rather cruel and evil but their intentions are centred around their father

Muzan loves taking his sons out to everywhere he goes. To Shibuya, to Tokyo, to the nearby River, to the Ubuyashiki household. Muzan will never leave his sons out and he constantly has them right besides him. He just can’t stand being away from his lovely sons

Muzan is very attached to his lovely twins. He has had them for so long, he can’t even express how much he adores them. Sure, he adopted them when he turned them into demons to save their lives for his selfish gain but that original reason has converted into a real fatherly love

Muzan likes buying presents for his twins. Even if he has to get his claws dirty to get them, he always comes back with lots of gifts for his sons and this kinda enables their entitled, aggressive nature. Muzan could care less, he loves his sons and he doesn’t bat a eye at the remarks he gets over them being unnecessarily cruel to everybody

Muzan will never bring his twins into a mission nor fight, under any circumstance. The final battle including him, he hides them away and proclaims his love for them is infinite. Sure, when he doesn’t come back, the twins are distraught and cry for days over their father’s defeat but they know they must carry on the legacy

“Boys. Come here, give Father a hug… this is sadly a serious situation but I need you two to run away. Hide, avoid the slayers as much as possible. They will come after you, and I love you two too much to let them hurt you. For Father, save yourselves”

mono

[ xiao x little adepti!reader ]

summary: xiao realizes that he wasn't really alone.

note: i miss little devil and xiao :'> | m.list

words: 1622 | warnings: mentions of perilous trails and kinda shitty narrative because it's 4 am and im sleepy | REPOST

"they've been staying at that exact spot for three days, mister zhongli," verr turns to the child sitting on a blanket at the balcony of the inn with a worried look on her face. in her hands is a tray with a plate of almond tofu and a glass of water. she was just about to deliver it herself, when she came upon zhongli, who was also making his way to the balcony.

"i think they're waiting for xiao to come home," the gentleman can only sigh in response, for he had already expected this before he made his way to dihua marsh.

"i see. thank you for letting me know. may i?" he gestured to the plate and cup, "i came to check upon them, so if you don't mind?"

"of course," she carefully hands him the tray, "thank you. now, if you'd excuse me," she gives him one last smile—albeit a little sad—before turning to walk back to the front desk.

zhongli nods at her, before continuing his ascent to the balcony with the tray in his hand. the sound of his footsteps on the wooden platform alarms the figure on the floor, little shoulders perking up and turning around to face him.

your eyes are not as bright as they were a few weeks ago, zhongli noted.

"baba," you smile at him—too timid and doesn't reach their ears, he thought— "is that almond tofu?"

"indeed," he placed the tray on a nearby table, taking the plate and the fork and kneeling beside you on the blanket, "would you like to eat it now while it's still freshly made?"

"yes please."

handing you the plate and fork, you start to feed yourself little by little.

zhongli watches you do so from the corner of his eyes, lips tugging downwards from how you seem so… in your own world. silence was not an unusual thing with you, but this kind of eerie silence is slowly eating him. you've always been a child full of wonder and curiosity. if he's not retelling thousands of his stories, then it's you theorizing about everything and anything.

"baba," zhongli snapped out from his thoughts, gold eyes meeting your somber ones, "were do you think gege xiao is?"

oh.

so this is what this is about, zhongli turned his head towards the direction of the harbor, as if searching for an answer. in some ways, he is. he didn't want to speak about the chasm or xiao's impending doom to you.

"xiao is… facing a big obstacle right now."

"will he be alright?"

in all honesty, even zhongli doesn't have a definite answer. he knows xiao, alatus, is strong and more than capable of protecting himself and others. if he wasn't, he would have been swallowed by his karmic debt long ago. he is most resilient and devoted to his cause. but he is also too destructive for the sake of others—self sacrifice and unshakeable from his own principles. too much that he disregards his own safety.

"his safety is not guaranteed—" zhongli grimaced at the way your lips wobbled, "—but i can guarantee that the strength he had when he first decided to face his predicament, will be with him throughout and will remain within him right to the end."

zhongli pats the top of your head, letting your body lean on his side with a relieved smile at the somewhat at peace expression on your face.

he may not have quelled the storm within you, but he hopes that his words had at least given you more hope and confidence in your brother.

"i miss gege," you whimpered.

"worry not, little one. he'll return to us soon."

he says this to you and to himself.

xiao can feel exhaustion eating away inside him.

when he said that escaping will take everything he has, he really did mean that in all ways. the method used in the end wasn't the same as he had first planned, but either way, both still required all of his power.

the only difference was that there's a chance of survival with the second option.

well, he wouldn't have survived without rex lapis' help, but he at least came very close to that chance.

"heroes, huh," he says to himself, looking down at the shrine below him. the words that the traveler and the cow—ushi, was it?—had told him just a few minutes ago echoed in his mind.

a lot had transpired in just a few days—days for him but it might have taken them more or less than a week though, he's not too sure about that—and even after the vigilant yaksha said that he'd take their advice, there's still a lot to mentally go through with the whole experience.

maybe it was because seeing bosacius—for the last time—brought a lot of ache in his heart or the fact that he had almost met his end in the deep and dark underground space. perhaps it's a combination of both. for the few seconds that was spent falling into the depths of the chasm, he had felt the loneliest that he has ever been.

it somewhat scared him. the crippling fear when you know that it's the end and no one is there to witness you do so—it seems that yakshas do have fears of their own. his just happens to be the fear of dying without ever leaving a dent in someone's mind.

maybe this fear manifested because he was never really alone at all.

"gege!"

that's right. i was never truly alone. i just didn't really acknowledge that someone was there for me.

"gege!"

in fact, someone was always there for me, holding onto me.

xiao ignores the cries of rest from his muscles, limbs trembling at the ache that seems to dig itself into his bones. but he persevered, like he always does, pushing himself to stand.

"gege xiao."

the call for his name was clear as the sky—back at the chasm, he realized that the muffled noise he kept hearing at the back of his head was his name being called numerous times, the sound being blocked by whatever lives in that underground space. this time, finally, he can hear it as if the voice was right next to his ear. it sounded weak, a plea for him to appear.

it sounded like they've been calling him for so long only to be in vain.

with one last surge of his power, he enveloped himself with a green mist, disappearing and reappearing as fast as the wind could take him. only this time, his feet meet the wooden platform of his home.

ah, home. this is the first time i ever called someplace home.

"gege?..."

his head lifts up to where the sound came from, amber eyes meeting puffy ones—evidence of the time you've spent crying.

he says nothing, nor can he really think of something to say in this kind of situation. instead, he drags his heavy feet to your flabbergasted form on the floor.

once close enough, his knees fell to the ground with a loud thud, arms immediately sweeping you close with a relieved sigh.

"it's me," he whispers, "i'm here. i came back—and i'm never leaving you again."

after a moment of silence—you were still processing his sudden appearance—he hears the start of your cries, soft whimpers and sniffles right next to his ear and your small arms barely wrapping around his neck, fisting the cloth on his shoulder.

xiao does not initiate any kind of affection. yet here he is, striding towards you across the floor of the balcony with an urgency that you've never seen him have before, embracing you himself in a tight hug. it spurred more tears from your already weary eyes, the familiar warmth of your dear brother and his reassuring voice giving you a sense of peace—the ugly voices in your head are no more.

"w-where have you been?" you sobbed against his shoulder, trying your hardest to sound a little mad to scold him.

he only scoffs with mirth, finding your attempt endearing.

"i… met with my older brother."

"you left without telling me!" your fist thumps on his shoulders.

"forgive me, baobei—" he pulls away from the hug, calloused hands wiping the tears away from your puffy cheeks, "—i did not expect the trip to last weeks."

nor did i really think i'd ever come out alive.

"but i am here now," a rare smile appears on his face, immediately stopping you from your feigned tantrums to stare at him.

gege never smiles.

you sniffled, pouting at how he seemed unaffected. it must be an adult thing, you concur. still, this doesn't stop you from shooting him questions later.

"how was," you hiccuped, "how was your brother?"

a hum was his only response. he smooths down the disheveled mop of hair on your head, looking anywhere but your eyes.

"he's somewhere far from here."

"far from home?"

“mhm, very far. but where he is doesn't matter now," xiao shakes his head of any negative thoughts, "he may be far from us, but his memory will be preserved within our minds."

"can you tell me a story about him?"

"if you wish to hear it."

"mhm!" your eyes sparkled from excitement. it was xiao's first time to tell you a story from the past and you are more than ready to listen to his voice, his voice that you haven't heard in weeks.

"what was his name?"

"his name is bosacius. hundreds of years ago, i was not alone in protecting the land of liyue."

i was never alone before, nor am i alone now.

"there were four others—"

and now i have you.

Hii :D

Wanted to request Anya x child reader (platonic ofc)

We're reader is a very energetic child and is a scene kid, one day spends the afternoon in Anya's house makes her wear the same stuff too and the two go show Loid how pretty they were (He/him or They/Them pronouns for reader)

Might request a couple more times

-Cloverrs

◡̈⋆ʜᴇʟʟᴏ(●’◡’●)ﾉ I used he/him idk why it's just my default ig. Sorry this took so long I was trying to finish it by Sunday but the world was against me.

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"Papa Anya's home, brought a friend too." Anya exclaimed taking her shoes off and ran into the living room with you following behind her.

"Oh hello, you must be Y/n. Anya has told me about you." He lied. The most Anya had told him was your name, he did a background check on you and your family.

"Hello sir, thank you for having me over." You bowed saying a formal introduction. He expected nothing less from a student at Eden college.

"Thank you for being friends with Anya. Why don't you both go play while I make dinner."

"C'mon Y/n." Anya took you head and dragged you to her room.

Bon shot up and the sudden entrance and got up to greet you.

"Fluffly dog." You giggled as he rubbed against you, you started to pet the big floof and it seemed like he appreciated it.

"What do you wanna play?" You asked as Anya look around her room of toys and things loid gave her.

Her eyes landed on her nail kit and an idea popped into her head.

"Let's play dress up!"

"Okay!"

-------

You both were quite to the point were it made loid nervous so he checked up on you.

"Anya, Y/n. Are you both alright? " he knocked before griping the door nob to open it.

The door only opened halfway before Anya threw herself on it.

"NO. You can't come in, its- we're-" Anya struggled to find the words so like any good friend you helped her.

"It's a surprise"

"Yeah a surprise. We'll show you."

Loid was getting nervous. What kind of surprise could it be for Anya to slam the door like that.

------

"Look papa. I'm bondman." Anya ran into the kitchen were loid was, striking a pose. She was wearing beige trench coat, that was almost to big for here, with a hat to match.

"And I'm bondman's side kick." You wore black trech coat with a match hat. You and Anya were back to back sticking the same clothes.

You nails were painted a brilliant red and Anya's a pretty pink. (It was all over both of your hands along with other colors)

"Woof" bond barked, making his presence known. He once fluffy white coat was now sticky and multiple different colors. He was also wearing a hat.

"How... Nice." Lois was almost too stunned to speak. Not only had Anya made a friend, she managed to find someone just like her.

He's gonna get gray hairs dealing with the both of you.

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Can I (please) request how the hashiras would react to a Shy Reader? But it's not the "UwU super cute!" Kind of shy, it's more of a "omfg are u a phscycopath?".

What I mean by this is that you never verbally talk to them, you usually watch them from a far (they usually sense that somebody is watching them so they always look up into the trees to see you there, just observing them). Whenever you are caught by one of them, they usually just wave at you and you just nod back dismissively.

Did I mention the fact that you absolutely hate too much noise? You hate it so much that you'll even become aggressive over it. What I mean by even becoming "aggressive" is that if you think that it's too loud, you'll usually send them a death glare that is enough to shut them up. But if you continue having to do so, you'll just end up punching them, square in the face (hard enough so they pass out lol).

And you also take out all your anger on killing demons, so you're much less likely to actually punch them.

◡̈⋆ʜᴇʟʟᴏ(●’◡’●)ﾉ so so so sorry for the wait

♛┈⛧┈┈•༶༶•┈┈⛧┈♛

You were always first at every hashira meeting

You barely ever talked

You mainly talk to shinobu cause she patches you up after you missions

Rengoku and tengen annoy the ever living FUCK outta you

Rengoku is too loud for you but you never punched him cause he has a reason to be loud (he busted his eardrums)

You have only ever hit sanemi and tengen

No matter how many times you glare at them they don't leave you alone

You like being around giyuu cause he is a man of few words. You can actually have a decent conversation with him.

Gyomei likes you company and you like his

You don't give sanemi a second glance. He is just to much

You train with muichirou. He can never forget how cold you can be

You are never outwardly rude to any of them it's just that you have trouble with interacting

It's hard for you to be friendly in a field of work that you have to kill

Blood demon art: Botanical Garden P1, P2(current), P3, P4, P5, P6

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Akaza had no idea how he was going to get you back and Doma wasn't helping in the slightest (obviously).

"So, Mr. screw-up how are you going to get back the little angel. Muzan seemed pretty pissed that you encouraged his on and only kid to go out and get captured." Doma snickered. He loved watching Akaza get mad especially if he was the reason.

"I DIDN'T 'encourage' THEM, THEY ASKED A QUESTION AND I ANSWERED. HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THEY WERE GOING TO ACTUALLY LEAVE."

Doma laughed at his outburst further angering Akaza to his boiling point. Akaza was mid jump before kokushibo caught him.

"You should focus on getting Y/n back not fighting."

*with y/n*

The kakushi that had found you decided to bring you to Kaguya's estate. You had no concept of time so you had no idea how long it's been since you've been gone.

Surely you father has noticed by now and is on the way to get you.

You were in a bamboo barrel still chained but at least the sun wasnt a threat.

Once you reached you destination you were thrown into a room, you thought you were in by yourself.

"Hello?" You called to not expecting a reply.

"Now who tied a child like that. Poor thing can't even move." A gently voice said. You normally would be shocked but your father taught you all he knew about the hashira.

Shinobu kocho. Butterfly hashira, shes not strong enough to behead a demon but her poison kill them.

She started to unravel you as you took in her features. You've been around demons all your life, it was weird to see such 'different' features.

"What's your name?"

"Y/n kibutsuji." You said as she finished unchaining you.

"Ah you have a monster as a father how is that like?" She asked.

no way she called your father a monster

"f-Father isn't a monster. He's intimidating." You got extremely defensive like you would pounce on her at any second.

If it were any other demon she would've killed you by now but since it was you she thought it was cute.

"Aww did I offend you I'm sorry to break it to you but your father is a monster." This time she said without a smile, looking you dead in the eyes.... She was scary.

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anon request – diluc icons (150x150)

This hurt

Vigil ✤ Kazuha

V i g i l

A/N: Here is the Kazuha angst, sweeties :')) I wrote this with my prepared angsty playlist hehe- I.. well, my heart cracked..

✤ She/her

✤ Warnings: Death

➸ Honor (Sequel) ➸ Little Brother (Scenario) Resolve (Alternate Ending)

Words: 3.9k

"Text in this format means dialogue in flashback!"

The memory of peering into the crib with excited blabbers remains fresh, untarnished with the passing of time.

It feels like it’s just yesterday when your mother reached for the wailing baby laying inside to hand him in your caring touch.

“This is your little brother, [Name].” you squealed when the boy clung unto your finger, “His name is Kazuha. Be a good sister for him, understand?”

“Yes!”

Ah, that did feel as if it was just yesterday.

“Nee-chan!”

Dropping the basket of laundry, you frantically looked around.

“Nee-chan!”

“Kazuha-!?”

He was sprinting, arms flailing as tears spilled past his eyes and panicked exclaims left his lips.

His friend was chasing him from behind, laughing as he waved an undercooked fish—your brother’s worst nightmare.

Comedic but understandable.

“Tomo’s making me eat it!” your younger brother mumbled behind you, pointing accusingly towards his friend who sheepishly spluttered excuses at your stern gaze.

Taking the skewered fish in Tomo’s hands, you hummed, patting his and Kazuha’s heads.

“How about I cook something for the both of you, instead? How’s that sound?”

“Yes, please! Nee-chan’s cooking is the best!”

You can never get tired of cooking for the two of them, even if your sibling eventually asked to be taught, you find yourself still taking over cooking duty. Lovingly whipping up dishes is your forte.

It stuck around when the household eventually lost the attending servants following the fall of the Kaedehara clan. It even stuck through the grim times of your parents’ passing.

Kazuha had gone through so much at a young age, changed little by little—and you aren’t oblivious to it. With his growth, you are a witness to his budding shell of maturity.

Single years fold into a decade and all of a sudden, the mirthful silverette who doesn’t last a day without calling you ‘big sister’ has grown up.

Far too quickly, to be honest, but who are you to hold him back?

“You don’t call me ‘nee-san’ nowadays,” you laugh jokingly, “My, you’ve grown so much, Kazu!”

He stares at the plates of food you set on the dining table, his sigh small and feeble as you continue gushing. Albeit he has a smile on his face, it appears tight. Forced.

But you turn a blind eye to that—you’ve always been doing it.

Now, however, it seems that your brother has grown tired of humoring you. It has been going on for too long.

“I’m not some child anymore..” his monotonous voice is so unlike him—it’s as if he no longer is the person you grew up with.

Having him address it bluntly prompts you to pause, the only sound being the sizzling of unagi meat, frying to perfection.

The richness of its color, however, dulls when you process what your sibling has mentioned.

As if its vividness is an illusion meant to shield you from present-day reality.

Still, you shake it away, keeping the smile on your face as you set the fried meat on a new plate, turning to put it down on the table beside the other dishes.

“Oh, Ka-“ you stop, seeing the look in his eyes.

The way his carmine optics bore against your [c]s is foreign.

It’s scary.

It’s different. It’s new.

You sit down in front of him, trying not to show how restless you’ve become. Such an attempt is futile, of course, since you’re in front of the person you’ve been with for years.

“Kazu-“

Thud!

Silence zips your lips when he lays his chopsticks down. It isn’t by any means a slam—but someone like Kazuha doesn’t need to be outright with anything in order to express a negative opinion.

“So please refrain from initiating unnecessary coddling,” he cuts you off with a swivel as he leaves for the door. “I have grown up now, sister. I... need you less.”

What?

A multitude of emotions hit you at once, all coming from his sudden statement that feels like it can tear you apart. But oh—who were you kidding?

You know that this will eventually come.

The very day where he admits that he is capable of being alone. Without you.

The opening of the door causes you to stand from your chair, “Wait!”

He does as you said but doesn’t look back. His hand remains on the handle of the knob, unchanging of his decision to leave.

You tug the black and red scarf from your neck, inching close to the man so you can wrap it around his neck.

“It’s cold outside.. won’t you at least eat something?”

It takes him a moment to respond—but his decision does not change.

He detangles the fabric on his neck and, without looking you in the eye, sets it in your hand, rejecting your offer.

“Later.”

And he’s gone.

Nothing changed much after he left with that declaration.

Often times he still returns in the dead of night, a smile on his face. It will only ever droop when you come in the room greeting him a lovely evening, and he will sigh.

“I told you not to wait up for me.”

He will depart for his room before he can hear your explanation.

It leaves you hanging, hollow with bitter hope and refusal to believe that you both have reached that time in life where he doesn’t need you as much.

Each time he turns his back, you are filled to the brim with sorrow you didn’t know you were capable of holding.

Retreating to the upper floor of your home, you will stay at the balcony sighing your concerns away to the stars. To the place where you believe your parents are staying, listening to your bouts of frustration and worry.

“Was I a good sibling for him, mother? Father?” you’ll sometimes mutter as you play with your silver locks, the only thing you share with your sibling other than the forgotten name of a once esteemed clan.

And as you vent all these to the stars, you remain oblivious to the lone figure hiding by the shadows in the adjacent room. His frown is tiny. Sad, but not guilty.

Kazuha will leave once again before he’ll hear his sister’s frustrated cries.

Sometimes, he will chew over it when he is wandering Inazuma—thinking, pondering if perhaps there could’ve been a way to say it without hurting his sibling.

But as he contemplates over and over, he finds that there is no easy method to admitting the truth.

His friend Tomo, albeit not being told anything, is naturally cognizant of the things revolving around the silver-haired siblings.

The older sister’s presence has been diminishing and he can count her appearances at Kazuha’s side getting less.

He has implied several times to make up with the female even if they had no outright argument, and when faced with a baffled question of ‘why’, Tomo only smiles.

“Because you’re family.”

So simple and yet—when Kazuha thinks of the matter a minute longer, the taste in his tongue becomes acrid.

“What upsets you?” his friend questions as he coos over his white feline, “You’re not the Kazuha who’s always crying for big sister, heh.”

The silverette cannot even find it within him to send a retort. His silence, to others, is a message that typifies a want to be alone—but to Tomo, who has known him since they’re both children, that silence is different.

With a hum, he stretches his limbs, yawning as his cat rolls around the grass.

“You know, [Name] won’t hate you for wanting it,” he starts, “You want to wander, don’t you? But you feel like you’re tied down. You’re grounded—because [Name] is here.”

Kazuha flinches and his friend snickers.

Spot on.

“I’m just going to repeat what I said because I meant it, Kazuha. Tell her the truth. She’s literally the most understanding person I know—it’s not like she’s going to despise you for wanting something.”

“… I’ll think about it.”

Tomo sighs. It’s not what I was hoping for but it’s a start.

Remembering something that moment, Tomo lets out a loud scream that nearly sent his friend toppling in the nearby stream of water. Kazuha looks on with slightly wide eyes as the other man jumps to his feet, violet eyes gleaming.

“Oh, right! I plan to initiate another challenge!”

Another challenge…

Kazuha closes his eyes with a hum, “I do hope you’ll last another. You’ve been faced with the worst of the worst.”

The chuckles that leave his friend’s lips are excited and sort of expectant.

“It’s going to be the ultimate one of all! So if you’ll excuse me~”

Perhaps a talk with your brother will do you both good.

You’ve both been acting like strangers walking on eggshells underneath the same house and it is driving you insane.

He’s not even looking you in the eye anymore!

Given his quiet personality, confrontation will be difficult, but he’s a cooperative person. Besides, he always hears you out.

There isn’t any reason for him not to when he knows that this will be done only for the betterment of the future.

So, with a nervous disposition but eager heart to settle things right, you lift the basket from its place with plans to head over to the market. It’s an hour or two before dusk, just the perfect time to shop for dinner.

“Mm.. some dry-braised salted fish for tonight sounds lovely.” You muse, remembering how the dish is your brother’s favorite.

Ah, the number of tries he takes to perfect and stylish it into his own can’t be forgotten.

It doesn’t take too long to cook it, but you’ll be making tons of other side dishes and dessert, so it’s best to start early!

You exit the abode, the smile on your face present as ever even when you’re greeted outside by a couple of Shogunate Soldiers. Their features appear sterner, their hold on their naginata rock solid.

“Are you Kaedehara [Name]?”

Hm?

“Yes. Can I help you?”

The soldiers lunge forward, spears falling to a position pointing at you from all possible angles, cutting any means of escape as you furrow your brows.

“What’s the meaning of this?”

“Your brother has defied the Decree of the Shogun and was hereby declared a criminal. Going against an Imperial Decree results in punishment inclusive to his immediate family.”

Your basket falls to the ground.

Thud!

Kazuha’s feet create a loud sound following his landing, a breath of panic expelling past as he rushes away.

The warmth in his hand escalates to a scalding degree, burning and searing like the fading power of Electro held within the golden casing.

To think that that was what Tomo meant.. !

He does not feel anger, no, just the burn of desperation and want to hide his friend’s Vision because he doesn’t want it to be taken away—to be placed in that statue that displays the lost ambitions of many others.

He’ll be damned before the Shogunate can take it… !

The criminal evades those at his tail, making swift maneuvers on rooftops and alleys without a second thought.

His limbs are answering his every command, be it to duck, to jump—or to even draw his blade.

He is still ways away from the port but getting there won’t prove to be too complex for someone like him. He’s cut down plenty of the samurai in his escape from Tenshukaku.

Tomo…

“You’re family. Tell her.”

Family—

“This is the first one in a long time I’ve heard of it being extended-! To whom again? The clan that has lost its prestige a decade ago, right?” he almost trips in his sprinting, darting to an alleyway so he can further eavesdrop.

Did I hear that correctly?

A relieved sigh escapes when those chasing him run past his hiding spot.

Sucking in his breath, the silverette tightens his grip on the faded Vision of his best friend as he listens in the hushed conversation.

“Be quiet!” someone hisses, “If someone overhears us, what next? Still, I do feel bad.. they lost so much already. I can’t believe they’d drag an innocent person into it, too..”

“Well, there’s nothing we can do. The Shogun issued the penalty to immediate families, right? As far as I know, there are only two Kaedeharas left—”

Kazuha feels his heart stopping. Kaede..hara?

There’s no mistaking it.

But why—?

Why would a punishment meant for him extend to her?

She’s innocent!

Going off-course, he sprints in the direction of his house.

The house that he lives in with his sister who takes great care of him—the same sister he’s willing to leave in favor of chasing what he wants in life.

He’s willing to, but he doesn’t.

Because perhaps—perhaps if he stayed and buried his desire, then he will amount to the same greatness she has done for him.

But he cannot stand it, either. As patient as he is, as kind and ‘gentle’, [Name] can always see through his face.

He’s always been antsy—always itching to wander and he’s stumped that his sister is well-aware of that fact. Still, she’s always playing the ignorant one, pretending not to care- still coddling him as if he’s little and he’s had… enough of it.

But now that the situation has pinned this misfortune upon them, the ronin realizes that she’s only pretending for his sake, as well.

“Cut that out, I don’t need it. I fear that.. you will only embarrass yourself.”

Wasn’t it him who refused to tell her of his want to roam free in the first place?

“I understand that I am your brother—but there is no need to worry over me all the time. I can look after myself, [Name]. Do worry about something else, instead.”

Wasn’t it him who stuck around, still?

The bitterness in his tongue increases with each leap of his feet. He doesn’t even process the race of his heart as he’s carried through the same path that leads him home.

To his family—to his only sister.

Everything seems to pass by slowly, in a blur, like the specks that decorate his vision the more his mind throws stacks and stacks of memories. This is madness.

Complete and utter madness.

He rounds the corner to see the figure of his only sibling, her back turned to him—she cannot see him, but he can see the armed soldiers flanking around her.

His throat tightens and certainly, he wouldn’t have been able to utter a word due to how it feels like his throat has been crushed.

“[Name]!”

Yet, the furious scream that tears past his lips denies all kinds of ‘impossibility’ the instant he sees the female falling to the ground, the sight of red splatter making him draw his blade.

Whoosh!

The summoned wind is opposingly gentle to the brewing storm in someone’s beautiful carmine eyes.

“[Name]-.. !”

That voice.. Kazuha?

Sometimes, the depth of emotion in Kazuha’s eyes is too deep for you to understand. Despite being so silent, he’s so, so expressive with his stares.

That even when he isn’t trembling when he lifts your torso, you know how much he’s quaking from within.

“What are you.. doing here? You have to go,” you cough red when he adjusts you in his arms, the sight of the fallen soldiers reminding you of the situation at hand.

“Quick—before they.. catch you.”

He shakes his head,

“I’m taking you with me, I have a boat prepared, come, let’s—”

“Don’t lie to me, Kazuha.”

He pauses, flitting his gaze down to meet yours. You hate how you can’t seem to focus on him, though.

Your sight is blurring in and out, only providing small intervals of clarity where you can see the panic in his features.

A sight you didn’t think you’d see on him until now.

“I know you made it for yourself. You’ve been planning to leave home, weren’t you? I’m not..” you’re not oblivious to his wish, “I’m not mad. I was only holding you back, wasn’t I?”

He sucks in a breath.

“I-I-“

What was he supposed to say?

Weakly tapping his arm, you start taking quick breaths—just to take in all the air you can while tolerating the gaping wound from being impaled.

It hurts. You want to scream. It hurts.

But you don’t—because you do not want to appear weak to your brother.

You promised mother and father that you will not cry when faced with problems—he mustn’t see, Kazuha mustn’t see.

But at this moment, you just want to break apart. Disbelief is kicking in, you can’t believe this is happening.

When—where did everything go wrong?

“Besides, I’m not of use to you anymore. As if I’ll last the journey to Liyue-“

“Don’t say that!”

You blink owlishly, gasping out in pain when his hand presses against your wound, futilely attempting to hold back the bleeding.

“K-Kazuha?”

Your own hand shakily plants itself atop his own, helping him press—as if his hand isn’t heavy enough to stop the flow—it down.

It will hurt, but you can’t say for sure. You’ve already grown numb and your head is swimming.

Still, you focus on him.

Still, you help him apply pressure even if you know—even if he knows—that it’s too late.

“Don’t say that. You’ve..” his voice cracks, “You’ve done so much, [Name], you-“

You took over the clan household when our parents died. You struggled to make ends meet for both of us. And yet.. all I do.. all I do is… !

Kazuha angrily bites on his lip, his hold on his composure beginning to slip as his mind throws in a reel of olden days.

“I’m leaving, [Name]. Please don’t wait up, I may take longer.”

“I’m grateful, but I don’t need that anymore.”

“Stop that, already.”

He dips his head with a muffled cry. All I do is wander and desire for a future where I can roam freely. I haven’t even thought of you..!

“You’ve grown, Kazuha,” he snaps back into this harsh reality when he feels the hand atop his disappear, presently moving to brush his messy locks.

He doesn’t know why all of a sudden his sight is becoming misty, but perhaps—perhaps it is because he remembers when his sister used to brush his hair the same way with a loving smile.

It is the same touch he flees from nowadays.

The same touch now—the same loving smile.

“As much as I hate to admit it, you’re right—you’ve grown so much.. and I’m still clinging onto the past.”

So lively, so beautiful and yet—

“You’re strong now..”

Yet it’s dying.

He presses harder on his sibling’s wound, almost sadistically—as if he’s hoping that it’ll ignite a painful reaction. “[Name], please, let me-“

Because if it hurt—then it means she’s still okay. She’s still responding.

“So capable.. so independent, you are.”

So why—? He almost chokes out a sob. Why are you not reacting to it!?

“Mother and father would be so proud of you. I am sorry if I was lacking in any way.”

“Please, [Name], you can’t do this.”

He trembles, the composure he created so, so close to breaking as he gives up on endeavors that are pointless, to begin with.

Instead, he tilts his head up, wishing to curse the heavens above.

For everything.

“I’m happy to be your sister, and.. I’m proud of you… Kazu..”

“Wait-“ he stumbles over his words, catching the falling hand of his sibling and registering how deathly pale she has gotten in a matter of seconds. “Wait, please—I-“

As much as he wants to voice out he’s sorry..

For many things; for turning his back on her, for being distant when all they have is each other, he’s unable to find his voice when he sees the tears dripping out of his sister’s [c] eyes.

His strong older sister—weeping. It’s the first time he has seen her cry.

Her smile trembles—

“I love you. My nice.. little.. brother.”

—And her [c]s are then hidden forever.

The way she endearingly called him in her dying breath has him freezing, his heart pausing as if he had died along with her.

But then the spark of pain welcomes him back to reality—to life.

And then he is leaning over her.

“[Name]..” breathless whispers escalate into panicked murmurs. “[Name]?”

His heart is pounding in his chest as he tries to shake her awake, like when he’d do when he’s eight and awake from an awful dream.

“Nee-san.. can I sleep by your side tonight?”

And although her [c] eyes are tired, she will still smile. “Okay.”

And she’d keep watch over him the whole night.

He’s reminded of it when he hopelessly shakes her awake, to no obvious avail. But he keeps grasping her arms, anyway, like he used to many years ago.

But things are different now.

“[Name]—[N-Name]!?”

He said it himself—he’s no longer a child.

“Please, don’t leave me- I- you’re all I have left!” The ronin’s composure finally breaks loose and his tears begin landing like a profuse waterfall. His uncontained sobs remain unheard.

This time, there is no one to wake him up from his nightmares.

“No—no, no- no, please..!” Kazuha weeps as he holds his sister’s cold hand, shakily pressing it to his forehead, imitating the sweet action she has always given him. A hand on his head, on his shoulder—or on his cheek if he’s tearful.

“You can’t!”

She’ll tell him not to be sad because it’ll make her sad, too.

And he’ll hurriedly wipe his tears because ‘no! big sister mustn’t feel sad because of me!’.

Then [Name] will muster a smile as bright as the sun and hold his face in her warm hands, and press a kiss on his forehead.

He’ll get red and thrash around, whining, ‘onee-san!’. And about how embarrassing it is so she mustn’t do it anymore.

Now, he is holding her hand in his own, trying to remember the same warmth it emitted just a day ago. Just a few hours ago. How long has it been?

And when he doesn’t feel the warmth—when he doesn’t remember the warmth, when all he feels is the cold and the obvious lack of love, Kazuha breaks apart.

His heart squeezes and his tears spill more, his lips parting to release the honorific he has dropped a long, long time ago. “Nee-san!”

“You don’t call me ‘nee-san’ nowadays,”

“Onee-san!”

“My, you’ve grown so much, Kazu!”

“Onee-san!”

I’m calling you. He cries, like a picture of misery. So why aren’t you waking up? Sister! He cries, like a heartbroken child.

The winds around him pick up, warning him of incoming men sent to apprehend and penalize him the same way they did to his sibling.

It’s suffocating—maddening, even, and he wants to tear them all down himself.

But [Name] wouldn’t like that.

So, with a muted cry and bolster of willpower, he tears himself from the body of his kin, trembling.

He can hear the thundering steps of the samurai as he hurries to untangle the same black and red scarf [Name] has once attempted to give him. The same fabric he has rejected.

“I’m sorry.. I’m so sorry.” he hugs her with all his might, with his soul, and with his heart before he’s back up on his feet and running. I love you, too, nee-san.

“Get him!” someone roars from behind.

And although he wishes to turn and slice them away, he couldn’t—because he’d be seeing the fallen figure of the same person he had neglected to cherish.

So, instead, he nestles the scarf around his neck whilst clutching onto the Vision of his friend.

Down the path, he runs.

Years ago, he will be accompanied by the people he loves, chasing a faraway future.

Now he is running on the same path alone, running after a dream that can now be turned into reality.

Far from Inazuma.

Far from home.

a/n: did it hurt-

@lehra @melkxsh

bonus angst sketch

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　Return to the Scrying Glass　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙