(Kazuha x Tomo) Ephemeral Autumn Leaves

3. Fateful Departure

Kazuha was only ten years old when his father died and the world around him came crashing down. The Kaedehara Clan, which had been in long decline before Kazuha was even born, finally lost their status and had their estate seized by the authorities. To Kazuha, this was both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, he was no longer tied down to the estate, forced by his father to spend most of his life cut off from the outside world. On the other hand, this also resulted in Kazuha and Tomo parting ways. As the clan was forced to dismiss their attendants, Tomo's father no longer served the family, and Tomo was forced to leave with him.

"Let me stay with him, father!" Kazuha overheard Tomo saying on the day of their departure. Kazuha was alone in the gardens where he and Tomo would always play, watching the autumn leaves as they changed colour one last time. Tomo and his father were on the other side of the small wall dividing the garden from the courtyard.

"Stay with him?!" His father huffed in disbelief. "Stay with him where? The Kaedehara Clan is being evicted from here. There will be nowhere for you to stay."

"That's why I have to stay!" Tomo protested. "He needs someone to help him. He can't—"

"Nonsense," his father interjected. "He's lost his status, you have no obligation to protect him anymore. You can go say goodbye, but after that we're leaving."

Kazuha tilted his head back, resting it against the stone wall dividing them. Eternity? He thought to himself. I suppose nothing lasts forever after all...

Tomo came rushing into the gardens a short while later, totally unaware that Kazuha had just overheard the entire exchange with his father. Though he tried to cover up that he'd been crying, it was difficult for these sorts of things to be overlooked by Kazuha. The ever so slight traces of a salty scent, and glassy coating over Tomo's eyes, made it obvious to Kazuha that his friend had shed some tears. Nevertheless, as Tomo tried to show a brave face in front of his friend, Kazuha didn't bring up the matter.

"I'm staying," he said firmly, not a hint of hesitancy in his voice.

Kazuha was surprised by those words. "Tomo...you can't..."

"Yes I can, and no one can tell me otherwise!"

Kazuha was touched by his friend's words, but at the same time he knew that Tomo wasn't thinking rationally. "Tomo...there's nothing for you here now. There is no status for working for the Kaedehara Clan anymore. If you stay with me you won't have a roof over your head...you might not even know where your next meal is coming from..."

"So what? You're my best friend...my only friend! Isn't that enough?"

Kazuha could feel his heart being torn as he considered what to say. Didn't he want Tomo to stay? Of course he did! But he also knew that Tomo deserved so much more than throwing his life away to live as a wanderer. He didn't want that sort of fate to befall his friend simply because it had befallen himself. How could he bear subjecting Tomo to a life like that on his behalf?

"Tomo..." Kazuha spoke in a whisper. "You have a home...you have a family who still cares for you. You shouldn't throw that all away for someone like me..."

"But—"

"There you are," the voice of Tomo's father silenced them both as he entered the gardens. "Have you said your goodbyes, Tomo? We're leaving now."

Tomo and Kazuha's eyes met one last time. Neither boy knew what to say to the other, each fearing that they'd break down in tears in front of the other if they even tried.

Finally, Kazuha found the strength within him to force a smile. "You have a bright future ahead of you, Tomo. Don't throw it away."

Tears welled at the edges of Tomo's eyes as he understood that it was not only his father, but also his friend who was telling him it was time to say goodbye. The older boy finally managed to muster up his final words to Kazuha as well.

"We will meet again. I promise. One day when we're older we will travel Inazuma...no, all of Teyvat together! You got that? That's a promise!"

Despite their circumstances, those words did manage to put a slight smile on Kazuha's lips. "Promise."

Tomo nodded. And with that he was gone. Kazuha watched as he and his father exited the estate, heading down the path and off into the distance before eventually disappearing from view. Now it was Kazuha's turn to leave.

He turned to gaze at the estate one last time, the only place he had ever known as home. It didn't feel like home anymore. Turning his back on it, he set out down the path to who knows where. He had no family anymore, nowhere to call home. He didn't even have a friend to walk alongside him on this lonely path.

A gust of breeze rustled through the trees, blowing leaves in every direction. Some fell to the ground, others were carried away by the wind. One fluttered down towards him and he reached out to pluck it from the air.

Turning it over in his hands to examine it, he sighed. "So this is what freedom feels like, huh?"

                                                 ***

"Kazu-Chan, you okay?"

The sound of Gorou's voice roused him from his slumber. He rubbed his eyes to see the young general seated on the floor nearby with his legs crossed, leaning over Kazuha as he examined the boy's face with concern. "You were crying in your sleep..."

Out of embarrassment, Kazuha wiped the stains of tears away. He hardly ever cried in front of others, much less while he was sleeping. Dreams had never made him cry before.

"Mhm," the boy nodded, sitting up and turning away from Gorou towards the mouth of the cave. The storm outside had grown weaker, and most of the troops lay fast asleep except for those keeping guard. "How long have I slept?"

"It's nearly dawn," Gorou replied. "Though I don't think you'll be able to see the sun today given the rain. You still okay with travelling in this weather?"

"I've travelled through worse," Kazuha replied.

Gorou nodded, having expected that answer from his friend. "Alright then. I'll let the rest of my men sleep a bit longer, but I can escort you to the beach now if you're ready to leave. It isn't far."

Kazuha nodded in agreement.

There was a hidden cove down between two cliffs where Gorou led Kazuha, a small boat sitting at a tiny dock taking up the entire cove. On the eastern horizon, Kazuha spotted the peak of Mount Yougou rising up in the distance. That was where the Grand Narukami Shrine was located, and where he was headed.

"You ready?" Gorou asked.

Kazuha nodded, stepping foot into the boat and beginning to untie the rope keeping it docked. "Thank you for everything Gorou, really. You don't know how much it means to me."

Gorou blushed and scratched his head. "Anything for a friend, no need to thank me."

As Kazuha drifted away from shore, Gorou called out to him one last time. "Hey, if you ever need to make another escape from Narukami Island, look for a woman by the name of Captain Beidou in Ritou. She's the head of the Crux Fleet from Liyue and I know she'd be more than happy to offer refuge to anyone fleeing the Vision Hunt Decree!"

Kazuha smiled and waved one last time to Gorou. "I will. Thank you, old friend."

Gorou returned the wave and kept watch until the boat was out of sight. Once again, Kazuha was on his own.