everlasting lament | Aether

007

Looking out into the sea, you can't help but recall a past memory, Guyun Stone Forest looked so different compared to a couple eons ago. You remember Liyue only beginning to stand on it own thanks to Rex Lapis and the Goddess of Dust.

Unfortunately, out of three of you, only two are still alive to till this day.

Continuing your walk, you pass a tribe of Hilichurls that seem not to pay too much attention to you as you stroll by. Humming a small tune to yourself as you walk along Guyun Stone, you spot a few people from Beidou's crew, it seems like they were getting ready for the tournament.

Walking over there, you recall your conversation with Zhongli.

"You haven't said a word about his sibling, right?" Looking over your shoulder, you see him at the doorway of the kitchen and you sigh, turning your head back to the dishes.

"As if, I never break my promise to you. It's best if he can experience this world at his own pace and let him decide what he'll choose in the end. I've already made my choice years ago." You say, "...I already know what his answer is maybe and I'm already prepared for it."

Sighing at this, you spot a person waving at you and you quickly head over, smiling upon realizing who it was.

"Well if it isn't Captain Beidou, it's been a while." She laughs at this, placing a hand on her hip as she looks at you.

"Y/n, I haven't seen you since the decree in Inazuma began. How did you even managed to escape?"

You smile at this, placing a finger on your lips in a playful way, "that's my little secret."

You say, laughing at the end as you spot more of her crew setting more heavier things up. "So, you're starting the tournament soon?"

Beidou nods, looking over everyone else who's busy organizing things. "Yup, this year's prize is a masterless vision."

Upon hearing this, it captured your attention, "a masterless vision, you say?" You look at a box that one of female members was carrying, suspecting that the dead vision was in there.

"Seems like it caught your interest, interested in signing up?"

You laugh at this, "well, if you're offering them maybe I will sign up." You grin at her, feeling at the moment at peace without having Aether or Paimon by your side, trying to control your life. They didn't even know you were out here today, you left your home to get some fresh air and to get away from them both.

"Oh, that reminds me." You pay attention back to Beidou, you see her pointing back at the ship, "Kazuha was the one who decided to put the vision as the reward this year."

You hum at this, gaining information from Beidou about Kazuha, who in fact, you haven't seen since Inazuma. "I see, do you mind if I pay him a visit?" You ask.

"Yeah sure, go ahead. I'll be heading back soon, just gotta make sure everything down here is going by smoothly." You thank her and approach the one of the spare boats they have in the water.

Within 5 minutes, you're helped onto the alcor by some of the members, some greet you as you walk by, trying to find Kazuha.

After a few minutes of looking around, you spot him sitting onto the side of the boat, looking out into the sea. Smiling at this, you slowly approach him, trying not to the startle the boy and make him go over board.

The look in his eyes meant that was not aware of anything happening around him, a distant look in his red eyes.

"The weather is rather peaceful today, not a single thunder cloud in the sky." You say to him, standing beside him as you look out into the sea with him.

You knew he was thinking of his old friend, the one that was killed by the Shogan after losing a battle with Kujou Sara.

You watch as he doesn't respond immediately, his eyes flickers for a few seconds as if processing your words. Finally, he slowly looks up at you and you smile down at him, a soft look in your eyes feeling a bit sentimental about meeting up with an old friend.

"It's been a while, Kazuha." His eyes widen as he's in shock as he blinks his eyes, wondering if you were truly standing before him.

"....y/n?" He mutters.

The smile on your lips only falters as you could tell the boy was having trouble believing you were here. Kneeling down, you wrap your arms around him gently as he were made of fragile glass.

"I thought you were still in Inazuma." You feel him hug you back, his fingers gripping your coat tightly, as if thinking you would disappear as well.

You chuckle at this, patting his hair with your fingers as he leaned his head on your shoulder. "I heard about what happened, I'm sorry."

Your voice cracks a bit and he hears it.

"...I'm sorry for you being here to comfort you—"

He shakes his head, "no, you don't need to say anything but let's stay like this...just for a few minutes.

Ah. The boy was touch starved and you couldn't blame him, he lost his best friend and had to leave the nation he grew up in with nothing by the clothes on his back and a dead vision of his friend.

He melts in your touch and you close your eyes, savoring this quiet, reunion with a dear friend before you had go back to deal with Aether and his flying companion who you knew would come find you soon.

"Everything is fine now, I'm back."

Kazuha hums lowly at this and you smile to yourself. To be able to cherish a moment like this was rare for you.

A/n: Hi y'all, I'm back. I had to change the story line to fit with the cannon one but it's all good. More updates coming soon ✨

No, I don't plan on changing the reader from being a Mei kin—its official.