𝕎𝕖 𝕎𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕊𝕒𝕪 𝔾𝕠𝕠𝕕𝕓𝕪𝕖 | 𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟 𝕆𝕔 𝕀𝕟𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕥

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 6: 𝒢𝑜𝑜𝒹𝒷𝓎𝑒, 𝒟𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝐹𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓃𝒹

✧˖°࿐ The Lantern Rite was a month ago now. It was one of the most enjoyable days of her life, and how glad she was that she got to experience it. But her focus was elsewhere other than the amazing day, as Dongmei was bedridden as she was getting close to her due date.

Ganyu had taken an interest in doing her work in Dongmei's room, so that she wouldn't be alone.

"You know, I'm worried about you."

Dongmei hummed as she turned the page of her book, "And why's that?"

"You're... really pale. Your eyebags have gotten worse too."

"As if you're one to talk about eyebags," Dongmei chuckled, but it quickly turned into a cough. Ganyu rushed to give her the cup of water on the bedside table.

"Thank, Miss Ganyu. These past few months with you have really been enjoyable."

Ganyu grimaced, "Please don't talk like that."

"Oh hush. Let me get my feelings out," she paused, waiting for Ganyu's response. When Dongmei saw her nod, she continued, "Ever since you got supposedly ill and forgot practically everything, you've been my friend. Before that you weren't someone I could confide in, you were focused on work and barely made time for yourself.

"I was surprised when you asked me how to make Almond Tofu. You always seemed like you could do anything. I was ecstatic when we had conversations and made jokes, and when you seemed so excited about me being pregnant, and how much more beautiful my wedding was with you there," she began to tear up, but brought her hands up to wipe them, "Ganyu, you've been my best friend for seven months now, and they've been the best seven months of my life."

Ganyu's eyes watered. She wasn't expecting to mean Dongmei to feel so strongly about her.

"Thank you, Ganyu. I know you'll be the best aunt my child could ever ask for."

That's when the dam broke. Ganyu scooped what she could of Dongmei into a hug and sobbed into her shoulder.

"I- hic - should be the one- hic - thanking you! - hic- You've done so much- hic - for me! You better believe- hic - I'll be the best fucking aunt- hic - Liyue's ever seen!"

"Don't worry, Ganyu. I believe it with all my heart."

Dongmei returned the hug, and the two best friends stayed like that for hours, basking in each others company for the last time

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

She could hear Dongmei's screams of agony from outside. She was sitting on the floor outside the door.

Feng had shown up during their long hug with doctors, and not too long after Dongmei had gone into labor. Ganyu was kicked out of the room so the doctors had more space to work. Feng was allowed to stay in and promised to call for Ganyu as soon as she could come in.

She could hear the doctors' long gibberish about medical things that were happening. Ganyu was crying again. She was attached to Dongmei, she had helped her so much, especially during the very beginning of her journey in Teyvat.

It wasn't long until the screaming stopped. Ganyu buried her face in her knees. The door opened, and she looked up.

One of the doctors beckoned her inside. She stood up and entered the room. Feng was right by his wife's side, the doctors working to make sure the baby was okay in a corner.

"Hello Miss Ganyu," Dongmei croaked.

"Hello Dongmei," Ganyu smiled weakly.

"I must look pretty miserable, huh?"

"You're really self aware, aren't you?"

The two gave pathetic excuses for laughs.

"Just remember," Dongmei coughed, "You're the best aunt in all of Teyvat."

"And don't you forget that you're the best friend in all of Teyvat."

Dongmei smiled, "I really... can't... thank you enough... Miss... Ganyu..."

And Dongmei passed, in a room with her husband, child, and best friend who was nothing but a lie.

She couldn't feel anymore guilty.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Everything that she would need for her travels was in her bag. She would be heading north to Mondstadt to look for the Bough Keeper. It was where he was first encountered in the game, and it was where the Spiral Abyss was located.

She was planning this all along. She wasn't running away from her grief.

That was a lie.

Everything that Ganyu looked at in Liyue reminded her of Dongmei, and after a week of being there for Feng and Little Tian, she couldn't take it anymore.

She made it to Wangshu in record time, planning on saying a brief goodbye to Xiao, then to be on her way. Climbing up the stairs brought back memories of her time with Xiao. The other person who she considered a friend here.

Before she knew it, she was at the balcony where she would normally talk to Xiao when they were at Wangshu Inn.

"Xiao," she weakly called out.

The signature wisps of anemo to her right signalled his arrival.

She glanced over at him to see he was staring at her, "I'm leaving Liyue."

His eyes widened, his mouth opened slightly, "Why?"

"There's someone I need to find. He has information and power that will be useful if I can get him to trust me."

"That's not the only thing, is it?"

Ganyu gave a bitter laugh, "You've gotten to know me pretty well. But yeah, it's... Dongmei passed during childbirth and... she's the first person I've ever lost and it hurts. It hurts really fucking bad."

She could feel the tears appearing again and tried to wipe them away. Xiao awkwardly took a step towards her, then pulled Ganyu into a hug and patted her on the back. She let her tears flow for the umpteenth time that week and hugged him back.

They stayed like that for a few minutes before Ganyu got her crying under control.

"Thank you Xiao, I don't know what I would've done without you or Dongmei."

Xiao nodded, "How long will you be gone?"

"I'm not entirely sure myself. If it takes longer than three years then I'll come back to visit occasionally, and I'll send letters to you when I feel necessary."

Xiao's form deflated slightly, "Just stay safe. You've definitely gotten better at combat, so if I hear you got injured then I'll have to be harder during training when you get back."

"Hah! Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'll be going now Xiao. Let's have some Almond Tofu when I come back."

"Yeah, looking forward to it."