Rewind | Genshin Impact

Chapter 7

15th of April 2020

Venti, Bennett and Chongyun were standing outside of Xingqiu's apartment door. Venti could already hear faint music and chatter.

As the day progressed, things did not get any better. Venti noticed how Chongyun and Bennett were saying nearly the exact same things and acting the exact same way they did in his 'dream.'

At this stage, he didn't even know if it was a dream. It was just too weird. Even though any other explanation for this seemed impossible, it just didn't make sense for it to only be a dream.

As strange as the thought was, Venti just couldn't help but consider the possibility that he might have been sent back from the future and given an opportunity to try again. To save Kaeya. 

The door suddenly opened revealing Xingqiu with a huge grin on his face. He quickly kissed Chongyun on the cheek (Wow what a surprise.) and grabbed his hand, before turning to face all of them.

It was strange seeing Xingqiu like this, so happy and carefree. The sound of Xingqiu desperately begging everyone in court was still haunting Venti. 

"About time. I was getting worried."

"Yeah sorry-" Chongyun began, then he motioned towards Venti. "He has been acting super weird all afternoon."

"Yeah-" Xingqiu said with an interested expression on his face. "You're staring at me like I'm a ghost." 

Venti - unable to hold himself back any longer, walked up to Xingqiu and threw his arms around the other boy. Pulling him into a tight embrace without saying a word.

Xingqiu, surprised by this, gasped. But he still reciprocated and hugged the bard back. "Are you okay Venti?" He chuckled a bit. "Are you drunk?"

Venti laughed, feeling tears of relief well up in his eyes. "You always assume the worst in me." He muttered. 

"Mhm." Xingqiu replied with a chuckle. "Well come in - everyone else is already here and we all need to hide for Kaeya's arrival." 

Bennett and Chongyun started to walk inside. But Venti just stayed in place. "Kaeya... Alive..." He voiced out his thoughts, bringing about a very confused expression on the other boys faces. 

"Hey-" Venti heard Xingqiu whisper out loud to Chongyun and Bennett. "Did he uh - maybe - take something a bit stronger then alcohol?"

Bennett and Chongyun simply shrugged. Then Bennett walked forward and softly grabbed Venti's hand, leading him into the apartment.

Once they entered the apartment Venti saw everyone else already there - in the exact same positions he expected them to be. 

Then Venti saw him. His aqua-blue hair, tattoos, stone cold expression. 

Xiao.

"Hey -" Venti heard Xingqiu's voice beside him, but before Xingqiu could continue Venti simply walked past him and straight to Xiao, throwing his arms around the other boy. 

Xiao, obviously taken aback by this, nearly fell over in his attempt to get away. As a result it just made Venti hold on tighter. "Wh- hey!" 

"I thought you were just someone from my imagination." Venti whispered in his ear. This definitely didn't help Venti's goal to seem normal and fit in, although right now he didn't care. Xiao was in front of him, a real person, alive and well. 

For some reason, despite how weird everything was, he had a feeling in his gut that if he could trust anyone it would be Xiao.  

"Do I know you?" Xiao spluttered as he finally escaped from Venti's grasp, staring at the other boy with pure confusion and shock.

"Yes- well no - well sort of." Venti rambled on, most definitely not helping his case. Especially due to the fact that Xiao looked as confused as ever. 

Venti sighed before looking around him, ensuring that everyone else was out of earshot. Then he leaned over to whisper to Xiao, "I think- I think I'm from the future..." 

At this Xiao jumped back, and his confusion was replaced with anger and frustration. "Is this a prank? Did Xingqiu put you up to this? Because if so it's not funny." 

"No- it's not a prank!" Venti exclaimed, desperate for the other boy to believe him. He closed his eyes. "Look - I just need to check, you don't remember anything?"

"What are you talking about?" Xiao inquired.

"You know-" He dropped his volume to a whisper. "The murder..."

Xiao blinked a few times before responding, "are you on something?"

"No! I'm not on drugs or drunk or anything - at least I don't recall taking drugs-"

"You're friends with Chongyun, right?" Xiao interrupted him, as his eyes scanned across the room. 

"Yeah but don't get him! I know I might appear crazy to you, and I might be crazy, but I also might not be. At least give me a chance." He begged the other boy, grabbing his hands and going down on his knees. This definitely wasn't Venti's proudest moment but he was beyond desperate. 

A look of concern appeared in Xiao's eyes. "What are you doing? Get up!" He urgently whispered. "Look - If you somehow manage to convince me that you are actually from the future then I will hear you out."

"Really?!" Venti exclaimed joyfully as he jumped up and pulled Xiao into a hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you-" He expressed.

"Yeah, yeah." Xiao said as he pushed him off. "Your proof better be good."

"Well very soon Xingqiu's going to ask for everyone's attention-"

"Can I get everyone's attention?" Venti heard Xingqiu say.

"There it is." Venti whispered to Xiao.

 "Kaeya's going to be arriving any second now, so can we please all hide?" There were mutters of agreement heard throughout the room as everyone shuffled around to find a hiding spot.

"You two could have just planned that." Xiao whispered back.

Venti pulled Xiao to hide behind a nearby couch, then he turned to him. "Xingqiu's going to answer the door and talk to Kaeya. You'll be able to hear Kaeya telling Xingqiu that it wasn't necessary to put up all these decorations. Then there will be footsteps and the door will close." 

"That's oddly specific-" Xiao began, but Venti quickly shushed him when he heard a knock on the door. 

Then that exact thing happened, much to Venti's delight and Xiao's shock. 

"This still doesn't prove much, it could just be a coincidence." Xiao stated, although there was evident confusion and shock in his eyes.

"Well luckily we've got a whole night of predictions to make." 

Xiao turned to face Venti with a calculated expression on his face. "Let's say you keep getting all this right and I end up believing you- then what do you want me to do?" 

"I want you to help me prevent Kaeya's murder."