Fugitive of Inazuma (Genshin Impact)

❀ VII ❀

Inside Angel's Share, Venti and Izanami sat at the front counter. She was listening to the ambiance of the tavern while the Anemo Archon chatted with the bar tender. Feeling a hand on her back, she realized Venti was introducing herself to the redhead behind the counter. "This is Izanami!"

The man, named Diluc, folded his arms across his chest as he gazed at the girl. "So you're the one he keeps talking about."

Izanami cocked her head to side, ears following the motion. "Venti talks about me?"

"A lot, actually."

"Has he told you everything?"

"Pretty much."

"Venti!" She hissed, glaring at the bard. "You can't just tell everybody who I am! What if someone overhears you?"

"Sorry, sorry. I know I sometimes get carried away," the archon replied. "But you'll forgive me after this. We'd like to order that special new shipment you just got in."

"You're the one who asked me to get it," Diluc stated.

"H-Hey, it was supposed to be a secret!"

"Secret?" Izanami questioned.

Venti's cheeks turned slightly red. "I may have asked for a special shipment from Inazuma."

"Special shipment...?"

Diluc kneeled down behind the counter. He revealed a tokurri and two ochokos he had stored underneath the counter. Izanami gaped at the sight of the small cups and bottle that reminded her of home. "Is this...sake?"

"Yep!" Venti grinned.

Diluc filled a single ochoko with sake and slid it towards Izanami. She carefully took the small cup and sipped at the alcohol. A gentle, refreshing flavor of lavender melon spreads across her tongue. Her ears perked up and her tail wagged at the taste she loved. She licked her lips with a smile. She gulped down the rest of the liquid.

Venti laughed happily at her merriment. "Glad you like it, Nami~!"

"I never expected to have sake outside of Inazuma. How did you get ahold of this?" The shinigami asked the redhead.

"You can get your hands on almost anything if you know the right people," Diluc answered, pouring her another round of sake. She thanked him before sipping on her second cup of alcohol. Venti, who excused himself, went to talk to one of the bar patrons. Seeing the bard was gone, Diluc took the chance to speak with the girl. "How do you know the bard?"

Izanami lowered the ochoko. "I met Venti a little over a year ago. I was visiting Mondstadt to help the Adventurers' Guild and we wound up working together. After completing the commission, he gave me a tour of the city and treated me to a meal. At his request, I spent a few more days in Mondstadt and we got to know each other pretty well during that time."

"He can be persistent when he wants to," Diluc sighed. "And in regards to your secret, I've got no reason to tell anyone."

"Thank you, Diluc. Even after two years, I'm still scared the Raiden Shogun will learn of my survival and send her army to drag me back to Inazuma. That is the reason why I haven't met too many people I have been able to trust with my secret. Only a few people know who I am and why I left my home."

"Not many talk about Inazuma. Even less know what's truly happening there, but tons of people were talking about how a death spirit was reaping innocent souls." Diluc saw the girl's ears flatten against the top of her head as her smile vanished. He could see the melancholy in her golden eyes. From her expression and the way Venti admired her, he was more than convinced the rumors were just that--rumors. "Clearly those rumors weren't true. They were just baseless slander."