ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝖵𝗂𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 ˚*･༓☾ Kazuscara

ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ２

───✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰ ─── ───✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰ ─── ───✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰ ─── ───✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰ ─── ───✱*.｡:｡

✯¸.•'*¨'*•✿ ✿•*'¨*'•.¸✯ ✯¸.•'*¨'*•✿ ✿•*'¨*'•.¸✯ ✯¸.•'*¨'*•✿ ✿•*'¨*'•.¸✯ ✯¸.•'*¨'*•✿ ✿•*'¨*'•.¸✯ ✯¸.•'*¨'*•✿ ✿•*'¨

"Interesting poem. How long did it take?" I ask him.
"I dunno.."
"That's helpful, thank-"
Water flew into my mouth as I turned to Kazuha.
"Is the ship.. *cough* really sinking?" he asks, his face drooping down to sadness.
I peep out the cramped space we're in to reveal a purple-lit city on an island, looking as beautiful as it always was.
"We're not sinking, we're here, Kazuha. Bye."
"Waait! Don't go—!"
。°。°。°。°。°
I jump off the boat as I land on the sand and dash around the edges of the island and make my way towards a blue-coloured, eerie forest. The nostalgia and memories flood into my mind as I look into the sky. Night-time already, how beautiful. The area above is beautifully lit with lanterns and the inky-black darkness that surrounds them. Night-time is my favourite when the stars aren't out. I think they are all just an illusion played by the Electro Archon to trick me. I think she's using it to bring me back to her, but that foul-mouthed god will never manipulate me! I will never obey her orders, like these pesky Inazumans do. They bow down to her and drool like her slaves. They'll do anything that she asks. Ugh, she makes me feel sick! I could vomit onto this blue grass right now! She might be using the stars as a trail to bring me back. I know it's all for show. It's to trick me. I just.. know it! But that's not what I came here for. I've come for the gnosis, to take back what's truly mine. The Fatui will not get those filthy hands on it! The idea of anyone snatching it from me dawns on me, filling me with rage. I clench my hands into a tight fist and stomp over to a blue, lantern-decorated tree. I crouch down and inhale, hoping that soon I would calm down.
。°。°。°。°。°
"Scaramouse? Scaaramouse!"
Oh, Celestials, no! He's followed me all the way here!
。°。°。°。°。°
"Will you shut up!? What are you doing here?!"
"I was looking for you."
"Why?! I thought we've already said our goodbyes!"
"Well.. I wanted to ask you—"
"Leave! I have better things to do than muck around!" I grunt, turning away from him, and walking away.
。°。°。°。°。°
He chases me and grabs my hand, yanking me to the ground.
。°。°。°。°。°
"Agh—! What's your problem?!"
"Don't.. go!" he shouts.
"Why? Too drunk to handle yourself?"
"I'm not drunk, Scaramouche.. I wasn't in the first place. I was just feeling a bit dizzy. You know how it feels when you're seasick?"
"Oh, so you weren't really drunk, and you really were out of your mind!"
。°。°。°。°。°
Myself, I don't really know what being seasick feels like.
I just imitate the way normal humans feel it. After all, I really am just some puppet with no feelings. What's the point of life if I can't feel like a human? I was created to be meant like a human, so that's what I strive to be. The most human-like, even more human than humans themself! But that can never happen, not ever. You can't be more human than humans. That's just.. insane! That's why this body and the spirit that controls it is worthless, and useless, because it's just a body with no life-like features. Not even I was seasick earlier, I was just like that to imitate the way humans feel. Is it really okay.. not to feel anything? I wish.. I could just jump into a river and float into the sea, aware of nothing and nothing to bother me.
。°。°。°。°。°
"Ei, you shouldn't just abandon him like that. Just because he's not the way you wanted him to be doesn't mean he can't feel that way about you as well. He deserves a life, just like you."
"But what do I do with it? This is just a mistake! I should've never tried to save myself from erosio-"
"Ei, just because one is slightly off doesn't mean you can't make another. Let him free, Ei. He can wander around Inazuma, just don't destroy him, please. For me, Ei."
"But Miko.."
"Ei, I know you don't want this, but it's for the best. Don't be so stubborn, now."
"Fine.. I'll let it be."
"I'm glad you've made your mind up. I'll take care of the situation for now, Ei, you rest. I know it's pretty tiring to make an entire artificial version of yourself, and I understand how much distress you're feeling. See you sometime."

。°。°。°。°。°

"Come back, please!"
。°。°。°。°。°
She left me in the dark, in a forest with no light whatsoever. She told me she was coming back, but it's been an hour and there's no sight of her. I don't know what to do! Where am I? I only have myself, white clothing and a purple-ish veil with me. I feel so lost and confused. I walk over to a tree and crouch down, hoping to calm myself down. I look up to see something. A spark, in the inky-black darkness of the air that surrounds me. Now, two sparks. One white, one red. As beautiful as the trees in the forest. I lean against the tree and close my eyes, waiting for answers.
。°。°。°。°。°
I awake to a blurry figure clanging a pan onto a stove, stirring up food of some sort. Ah, I must have fainted. I felt like I just had the weirdest dream ever.
。°。°。°。°。°
"Scaramouche! You're awake!"
"What.. happened.. to me?"
"You fell onto where that tree was then fainted!"
"Tree..?"
。°。°。°。°。°
I walk over to a tree and crouch down, hoping to calm myself down.
。°。
I crouch down and inhale, hoping that soon I would calm down.

。

The tree!
✼　 ҉　 ҉　 ҉　 ҉　✼ ✼　 ҉　 ҉　 ҉　 ҉　✼ ✼　 ҉　 ҉　 ҉　 ҉　✼ ✼　 ҉　 ҉　 ҉　 ҉　✼ ✼　 ҉　 ҉　 ҉　 ҉　✼ ✼　 ҉　

"Kazuha, why have you brought me here..? I told you to leave me alone."
"Scaramouche.. You were sick, I couldn't just leave you like that."
"Well that's very kind of you, but maybe it wouldn't hurt to just listen to what I say."
。°。°。°。°。°
I turned my head to see a neatly stacked pile of books, edged to one side of a stool next to my bedside. My hand lingered over one of the book's covers, but then I was hesitant.
。°。°。°。°。°
"Ah, sorry about those. I read them normally in my free time." he said, breaking the silence.
"I buy them from some book stalls sometimes when I go out for walks." he tells me.
。°。°。°。°。°
The covers and blurb intrigue me so, as I trace my finger down the writing of a book I held on my lap as I sat up. I look at the title name of the book. 'The Life of Mouun the Shrine Maiden' I read as I turn the cover to reveal a beautifully illustrated page.
。°。°。°。°。°
"That book was a gift from an old friend of mine, who mostly hangs around Watatsumi Island and such, around that area. I'm sure if you ever go there, you'll be sure to find him. I believe he's a very high-ranking general, who is very animal-like. He told me he found this book in Bourou Village, but I don't really know the whereabouts of that place." he tells me, cooking up something which smells strongly like eggs.
"Kaedehara, what are you making?"
"Hmm.. they call it the 'Teyvat Fried Egg'. Sorry if it isn't to your liking, I don't really have anything else to eat here. I'll need to go out and buy some things later, but I'll have to be quick in that."
"Why?" I replied, glancing at him.
"I'm a criminal in Inazuma! Didn't you know The Tenryou Commission is looking all over the place for me?" he jolted.
"No, I did not.."
"You look like an Inazuma local, how could you tell me you don't know..? he sighed.
。°。°。°。°。°
He turned away to keep an eye on his few eggs, mumbling inaudible words which I was too tired to care about.
I ignored him, slanting my view to a counter in which laid a pale, white vision, reflecting Kazuha's figure which now has turned its eyes to me.
。°。°。°。°。°
"Hm, does this vision interest you, Scaramouche?"
"How did you get two visions?"
"It's a long story, from a long time ago. Maybe we can both share our stories one day, together. Ah, the eggs are ready. I hope you'll like them.

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YAYA I FINISHED THIS CHAPTER CUZ A FRIEND TOLD ME TO ALSO WHOEVER COMMENTED ON MY ALBEROSE FIC I WILL DO IT ON THE WEEKEND SO I JUST NEED TO RE DO SOME OF THE CHAPTERS AND WE'LL BE COOL HAVE A GREAT DAY U GUYS ILY ALL ALSO SO SORRY THAT THIS CHAPTER IS SHORT I KEEP RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS

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