MY KAEDEHARA ୨୧ kaedehara k.

vi.

"ARRIVAL"

"i'll come back unharmed."
"you better, don't even bother returning with a small scar."
[y/n] scoffed at his words.

the young adeptus closed his eyes as he recalled his past conversations with his close friend. the cold air in wangshu inn's balcony softly blew the strands of his hair.

"xiao." the boy didn't bother turning his heels to face the man behind him. he knew that voice too well. "did you need anything, morax?" zhongli stood beside him with his hands behind his back. "i was sent here for business matters so i decided to check on you." the brunnette responded.

there was a peaceful silence between them before xiao finally asked what's been lingering on his mind. "was it really okay to let them travel on their own?" his amber eyes fixated on the horizon. "you worry too much, xiao." zhongli chuckled softly.

"[y/n] is capable of taking matters on their own hands. you underestimate them too much." the tall man gently pats the head of the adeptus. "it's not that. it's just that it feels...weird..not having them around." xiao admitted, unsure of the right words to use.

"you've looked after them for too long, huh?" the geo archon removed his hand from the yaksha's teal hair and places it on the railings. "thank you, xiao." morax added.

the adeptus' eyes widens a little, taken back by rex lapis' words. "you never fail to fulfill your duties." zhongli smiles softly. the side of xiao's lips tugs up a little, but he quickly went back to his signature impassive look.

"i'm sure [y/n] is grateful to have you as their guide. from my point of view you two acted more like siblings." xiao chuckled quietly at what zhongli said. "it was such a pain having to deal with their constant whining." the adeptus hummed. "yet you stayed and escorted them until the end."

they both stood in silence, enjoying the sunrise. the brunnette fixated his eyes to the scenery. as for xiao, he closed his eyes to recall those days where [y/n] and him first met.

the bond they share was unfrangible. and this was formed thanks to [y/n]'s sedulous behaviour towards him, starting from the day they were introduced to each other until today. they listened to him. they understood him. they never gave up on him. those times that xiao ignored and spoke hurtful words towards them no longer affects the both of them.

the moment xiao fully accepted [y/n] under his protection was the day he realized that he no longer needs to suffer alone and feel the stinging pain of loneliness, knowing that someone was willing to be there for him no matter what it costs. [y/n] proved it to him many times already.

ever since, the cryo wielder felt like family to him. something he never knew he'd have after his destructive past. and it was something he was grateful of. but of course, the conqueror of demons would never admit that.

but this didn't stop the amber eyed adeptus to worry about their safety. "would it ease your mind a little if i said that i sent someone to watch over them?" zhongli spoke as if he read xiao's mind.

🎐

[y/n] stretched their arms the moment they hopped off the vessel and onto the creaky wooden made dock. kazuha following behind.

the samurai made up his mind, he decided to stay and escort [y/n] around inazuma only for a few weeks. who knows where [y/n] could wander off to. the map they hold on to was not as reliable as it looks like, atleast thats what kazuha thought.

they bid their farewell to beidou and the crux. [y/n] thanking the captain as the woman hugged them tightly, to the point where it felt like their ribs would break. "careful out here you two! but most importantly, enjoy." beidou winked at the duo.

now walking side by side, [y/n] took in the new scenery before their eyes. "oh wow." they gasped quietly as they eyed the food stalls, buildings, mountains, decorations, everything. this truly was all new to them. kazuha gave them a side glance, lowkey admiring the person next to him.

he snapped out when [y/n] pulled him to the food stalls. [y/n] peeked on the goods with eyes sparkling. kazuha chuckled at his companion's behaviour. "would you like to try one?" the samurai analyzed the way [y/n] eyed the candied fruit.

[y/n] looked at the boy and nodded without hesitation. cute. he thought as he ordered one from the seller. the cryo wielder couldn't help but look around the other stalls, curious of what other types of food could there be.

"oh, kaede look at this-" [y/n] pulled the arm of the person behind them. excitement took over them that they didn't even bother to look at the boy. until they felt a small tap on their shoulder.

[y/n] hummed in a questionable way, they faced the person behind them, expecting the white haired samurai. but no. "i think you got the wrong person." the boy chuckled shyly with his hand lightly rubbing their nape. "oh-"

"[y/n]! there you..are.." kazuha trailed off with the candy fruit in one hand. his eyes scanned [y/n]'s fingers still laced around the other boy's wrist. the samurai raised a brow.

"oh shit, i'm sorry." [y/n] lets go of the poor boy. "it's oka-" "hey! don't leave paimon just like that!" the blonde turned to his floating companion. [y/n] slowly stepped back to stand beside kazuha.

"is that..a talking balloon?" kazuha finally spoke. "no, emergency food." the blonde corrected. "FOR THE LAST TIME! paimon is not emergency food!" [y/n] held back a laugh. "ehem- i apologize for dragging you, uhhh?" [y/n] trailed off. "aether. this is paimon." he gave them a soft smile while he motioned his hand to paimon. "aether, paimon, yes. i am deeply sorry for my childish actions." [y/n] gave kazuha a quick side glance before smiling awkwardly. "it's alright..?" "[y/n]." aether nodded.

"oh, so you're the traveller beidou was talking about." kazuha's eyebrows raised slightly in realization. "y-yeah ahaha.." aether responded, quite flustered with the current situation and the fact that beidou speaks about him.

the duos stared awkwardly at each other before paimon came up with an idea. "well since we kinda know each other why not hang out and explore for a while, hmm?" paimon suggested for the sake of the three.

as [y/n] was about to agree to it, kazuha quickly held [y/n] wrist with his free hand. "we're good." he gave the two a closed eye smile before walking past them with [y/n] behind. "what was that for?" the cryo wielder whispered as they got past the crowd.

he didn't know. he didn't know either. the thought of [y/n]'s hand holding someone else's did something inside him. whatever it was, he didn't like it one bit. "i just think it's better if we don't get involved with anyone else." kazuha smiled and handed the candied fruit to them.

[y/n] dropped the topic once they saw the food they've been wanting to try. they took a bite savouring the taste. "this is so good." their eyes sparkle. "here have a bite!" they point it to the boy's lips. "no, i'm okay-" "c'mon it's really good." kazuha looked at them as heat crept up to his cheeks at how close they were. the samurai hesitantly took a bite of the sweet, still blushing.
"not bad." he chuckled before turning away to hide his flushed face. "where to next?"