❤️A fox's Journals - Genshin Impact fanfiction❤️

✨Chapter 12 - The fox in the chasm✨

A few weeks after Lantern Rite, Childe returned to Liyue to spend more time with Nika and give her some more gifts. He walked around the city hoping to run into her and Rei. However, he only came across Rei, who was sitting around having tea outside. He walked over to greet her and asked her where Nika was at the moment and why she wasn't with her. He took a seat across from her at the table. "Oh about that I didn't put that spell on her like I should have, I trusted that she would stay in the city. Unfortunately, she ran off with Yanfei and now the two of them are in the Chasm." It took Childe a moment to process what she had told him. " You just let her go!? Why didn't you go after her? That place is dangerous!" Rei drank her tea while she listened to Childe lecturing her for a few minutes. " Are you done? She's going to be fine, she's not by herself after all." Childe sighed, "Aren't you supposed to always be with her? Shes been left in your care for a reason right?" Childe was actually worried for someone other than his family and Rei was actually surprised by his behavior. "It's amazing how much you care about her, don't tell me you've taken a liking to the little fox?" Childe went quiet and looked away from her, "I'm just curious about her that's all." Rei laughed, "Sure you are, keep telling yourself that."
Meanwhile, Nika was with Yanfei who was introducing her to the traveler before they were later met by Yelan and later by Itto and Shinobu. Of course, Itto decided to pick a fight with Yelan due to a disagreement between the two of them. Nika wasn't sure what to do as she stood beside Yanfei who eventually tried to stop those two from fighting. The ground started shaking before breaking apart and they all fell, Nika groaned and sat up looking around for everyone. Everyone was together, they looked around seeing where they were, they regrouped and they didn't notice Nika wander off. It wasn't until Yanfei went after her she found Nika in her fox form laying down on the ground near a rock. She looked sick and Nika complained about the atmosphere and how terrible the air around the entire place felt. Nika became happy for a few moments when Xiao came but then became sad after he left after a few moments. Nika was carried by Yanfei for most of the time they tried to find a way out as well as going through all the domains. During one of the days, Nika was in her fox form lazily resting on Yanfei's shoulder. And Itto wanted to pet her but she wasn't having any of it so she slapped his hand away with her tail. Of course, Itto complained that it wasn't fair that he wasn't allowed to pet her, Nika huffed and proudly stated that the only other three people other than Rei that can pet her were, Childe, Xiao and, Zhongli. After that they met up with Xiao again after a few days and Nika was worried about him. He didn't look too well, and she stayed by his side while he took a break for a while. Nika wasn't feeling too great either ever since she came down here, she had been in her fox form the aura she felt in this place made her feel sick and weak. For now, she stayed by Xiao's side since she was comfortable around him. Xiao eventually glanced over at Nika and pet her before asking her what she was doing here in the first place.
"Oh, well, Rei let me go off on my own for a while and I met Yanfei along the way. I kind of followed her for a while and we met with everyone before we ended up here."
"Hmm, I see, you're always getting into some sort of adventure, aren't you?"
Nika laughed a little, " I like adventures! Especially when I get to meet new people."
They rested for a while until the next day or so, since it was tough to figure out how many days had passed down there. It wasn't until sometime later after going through another domain that they finally found what Yanfei had been looking for. Nika was curious and like the curious fox she was, she tried to play with it when it fell to the ground, until Xiao picked it up and placed it back hovering in the air. Nika was listening to how they were going to use the artifact to get them out of here and was worried since Xiao was going to be the one to use it.
The beginning of the ascent was nerve-wracking to Nika, even more so when dark shadows emerged, and the others had to fight. Nika did what she could once she reverted back to normal with what Rei and Childe had taught her. After a few minutes, she stopped and caught Xiao looking at everyone it didn't register to her what he was planning to do. It wasn't when she realized what he was planning that it was too late for her to stop him, before she knew it she was back on the surface. Nika looked for Xiao but couldn't find him, she couldn't believe that he had just planned to sacrifice himself like that, she was on the verge of panicking when he suddenly appeared in a flash of gold and blue light. He seemed just as surprised as everyone else, Nika rushed to him nearly tackling him in a hug. "We thought you were gone forever! Don't do something like that ever again!" Xiao was startled by her outburst even more so with the tears slowly forming in her eyes he was hesitant, but he did hug her and apologize for doing such a thing. Xiao decided to walk Nika back into the city, Nika had decided to scold xiao on the way back for scaring her so badly and he promised to make it up to her somehow. Halfway into their walk Nika caught sight of Childe making his way towards them he was out of breath and ran over to Nika grabbing onto her shoulders before pulling her into a hug. "Are you okay? What were you thinking!? Going to a dangerous place like that!" he was generally worried for her, however Nika wasn't focused on how mad he looked, she was happy that he cared about her and that he was hugging her at the moment. "I met a new friend, and I followed her into the chasm but I'm fine really!" Nika seemed happy with her adventure, though she was still anxious with almost losing one of her friends. He let go after a moment and Nika went to Xiao and thanked him for walking her this far, but she would be fine, and she would go visit him at the inn another day. Xiao told her to be careful especially around Childe before he left. Nika turned back to Childe her fox tail wagging happily, "Are we going back to the city? Is Rei waiting for us, I have to tell her everything that happened." she seemed really excited to tell her about her adventure and to rant about how worried she had been over Xiao. Childe laughed and petted her head, "You're really something, I don't understand were you get all this energy from." They made their way back to town where they met up with Rei who was out having tea with her father, Nika and Childe joined them before telling Rei everything that happened. She was glad Xiao was alright, but she was curious at how he managed to escape even so she was glad he was still here with them. She noticed Rei and Zhongli giving each other a knowing look and she wondered what that was all about. Later that day, while Nika was spending time with Childe, he remembered that he had something to give to Rei. It was a letter and gift from Signora along with a jewelry box. Nika of course wanted to see all the shiny bracelets and earrings that Rei had gotten. Rei opened the letter and Nika peeked to see what it said, it seemed like she was being invited to another tea party with Signora and had invited her to Inazuma. "Wait, she wants you to meet her at the tea house? Can I come too? I want to go home for a while and I want to see Yae again." Nika chimed in. "Well, I don't see why not but isn't it hard to travel there right now?" Nika thought for a moment and she knew she was right but she remembered the slip of paper Yae had given her in case she wanted to return home. "We can travel back and show this permit Yae gave me so they let us in without any issues." Rei was a bit surprised since this was the first time she had heard of this from Nika. They decided to return back to Inazuma the next morning.

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Thank you all for reading! Updates have been slow as of late but I'll try to update at least once a month when I can.

Sorry if there are any spelling mistakes my editor and I might've missed. (Photos were taken by my editor and friend who I share this account with)

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!