Like a Falling Leaf [Kazuha x fem!reader]

Another day, another customer

Today was a day just like all days before. You helped your parents at their music shop. You sold flutes, lyres, quitars, drums..., all materials needed to make these instruments, replacement parts, paints and oils to treat the instruments... everything that came to mind was found there. You were a very recognised family.

Today you were supposed to take care of the customers while your parents signed some papers and made a contract with some new music businesses. You rested your head on your hand, leaning onto the counter. It was monday... meaning that most people were at work and didn't go shopping. You were bored, it's not like you wouldn't like music, it's just that you hated wasting your life standing behind a counter. This certainly wasn't your plan. What you wanted to do was to become a known artist all around Teyvat. You wished you could leave the shop for a month and go to a master to learn from. You heard that one lived in Dragonspine. You'd go there in first place.

Thinking about your future you didn't really notice the little bell ringing above the door trying to tell you someone entered the door. But once you heard the footsteps coming from the entrance of the shop you perked your head up. You were met with a boy, seemed to be around your age, who had a red themed outfit. He had light blond hair with a hint of red in them, his right hand was heavily bandaged.

'i wonder what happened to this guy? Did he like burn himself or... He's not around here either. I would know if he was. I'd ask him but it doesn't seem like something he would talk about publically.'

"Welcome to l/n's music shop," you greeted the boy with a forced smile. You always did your best on seeming like you loved this place with your heart and soul. But it didn't trick this guy. A slight quick frown could have been seen. Or at least you thought you could see it. Maybe you had just spent too much time dreaming to learn what faces people make. Maybe it was just the way he was, maybe he really saw through you. But it didn't matter. He didn't ask anything and just replied with a polite "hello".

He had a very unique voice... it was soothing but somewhat cracky... Almost as if he was in constant pain. You wondered if it had something to do with his right hand... But you were not going to ask, you weren't that much into poking others with questions. Sure, you had a lot of them, but as long as you didn't know the person you had questions about, you just didn't ask any.

"Can you also repair flutes?" He suddenly asked after walking around the shop for a few minutes.

"I-... Uhh, yeah, i can. I mean dad usually does that but i technically can do it myself since he's attending to other matters, today."

"It's okay, i can come back tomorrow..."

"Wait no, i mean i have done it before so you don't have to worry, i can easily fix it!" You were absolutely not going to tell your parents why did the only customer leave so you were doing your best so he would buy something.

~Your POV~

"It probably can't get any worse, does it?" He admitted while handing me his flute. He was right though. It had some real cracks in it and when i tried playing it, it didn't catch the right notes.

"You sure you don't just wanna get a new one? We don't have the exact same but we have some very similar copies. Also from Inazuma like this one here," i told him pointing at the flute in my hands.

He sighted. Sounded like it was the answer he hated the most out of all.

"If you can't fix it i might leave. There is no need for me bothering you in the light of day and you're probably right. I knew it was probably completely ruined. Thanks for your time anyway." He told me with a sad smile, streching out his hands to take the flute back. But i quickly pulled it out of his grasp to which he looked at me with surprised eyes.

"I'll fix it. No matter if it's the last thing i do but i'm going to fix it." I said firmly without giving the boy a chance on having a word in.

"...All of so suddenly... Why did you change your mind, if i may ask?"

"I'm definitely not gonna lose the first and probably last client of today."

"Huh, in that case i presume you could do as you wish." He admitted lastly after seeing the determination on my face.

"Mhm, that's exactly what i'm gonna do..." I said as i bent down to search in the counter shelves for repairing tools. Once i found some i stood up again and began on working on the flute.

"So... What's your name?"

"Kaedehara Kazuha"

"So~... Kazuha, tell me. What exactly did you do to this flute? Seems like you almost killed it."

"It's been through some rough conditions. I have travelered with it over the seas from my home land."

"I assume you're not around here then?" I shot a questioning look at him.

"No, i'm not."

"Then where do you come from?"

"Inazuma."

"Inazuma? Isn't that like super far away or something?" I kept questioning.

"I guess you could say that." He admitted as he went to sit next to the counter.

"Hmm... Inazuma... Tell me about it."

"Well... How do i put it? I really liked it there, but the ruler of this land made some bad choices, affecting the people, splitting them into two and because of that same ruler i am wanted on that land, so i can't return."

"Wow, seems that you've got pretty much of a story to tell... But what's with that flute? Why did you want me to fix this so badly?"

"This flute is from my home land as well. It once belonged to an old friend of mine. He was never that good at playing it though, but it's the memory of him that makes me want to keep it," he's voice again getting a bit crackier.

"... I see, i'm sorry." I'm not sure what happened to him nor his friend but it sure was a delicate topic that i shouldn't get myself too involved in. For the sake of Kazuha.

"You know... It might actually take more than 12 hours... You shouldn't waste your time here watching me trying to fix it, don't you think?"

"Oh... Yes, you're right. When can i come back to get it?"

"Hmm, maybe tomorrow afternoon, you can come till 7 pm actually, we're closing then. But if you're just a few minutes late i think i could give you your flute then as well... See yourself."

"Okay, i'll pay you then, promise," Kazuha said with a slight chukle, waving at you while leaving the store.

"See you! Ah, and 'please visit us again'!"

You got right back to work with Kazuha's flute. It really was badly damaged... But you should be able to repair it - at least that's what you told yourself.

'i really hope i don't mess it up, telling from the sword he had, he could kill me if i did'

(So, how did i do? Are you interested in reading further?

Anyway, 1242 words, not bad, not bad *in Childe's voice of course*)