History of Death ─ Hu Tao x reader ✔

8.

The following week, things had returned to a normal pace. Less problems and all that stress faded.

Hu Tao was an exceptional case if this. She felt the anxiety bottling up— there was no more time to be spend with you. She was doing her best to accept this gruesome fact. Her lip was constantly in pain, from her teeth keeping on biting nervously down on it.

From time to time it would hurt more— at others almost not at all. Just like her grief, once she'd accept it she would become better with her inner peace.

She had yet to take a walk— she promised Zhongli after all. He had taken the right measures to get her out of the house. In that plan were included getting her a new friend possibly. Which was not known to her yet.

She would have to discover that for sure.

The brunette went out of the doorframe and closed the doors of the funeral parlor. The big wooden entry was now locked with a silver key. At least one day the harbor had to live without her services.

She sighed to herself having to think about a interaction a month ago. Where you were still alive.

However this was a story fir another time.

When she attempted to go out she was greeted by mother nature herself. A few dandelion seeds were in the air, dancing joyfully. Meanwhile the grass and leafs were just peacefully moving along with the winds gentle breeze. A fresh unexpected —  current caught her by surprise. The sun blinded her with it's strong source of light. She couldn't help but shield her face with her hands.

As she started to take steps forward, out of the front yard of the funeral parlor she saw many people walk past her on the open streets. It was busy as ever in the harbour. As expected of a place that was built upon trading, commerce and contracts.

People were as loud as always as they hastily sprinted from one to the other location. Additionally adding up to the hectic was the fact Lantern rite was soon around.

She went on with her walk. Doing her best to avoid running into people who would end up causing trouble.

On her way she met Zhongli who was currently taking a walk as well. She looked at him from the side. Skeptical of him and what he might had in store this time.

Tables really had turned, she used to be in the position of causing mischief.

The girls mind would often run off. Very often lately, but that was thanks to Zhongli planning to distract her from her loss.

She stood there silently, "and do you like the walk?" Zhongli asked. His voice was so calm as always. This gave her chills for once. He was so collected sometimes it wss really hard to tell what he was feeling.

His eyes focused on the brunette entirely. Meanwhile it was the opposite for the younger one. She forcefully tried to avert meeting his gaze. Her eyes were filled with mixed emotions she wasn't fond of sharing in this scenario.

The moment staid quiet. He didn't let go of her sight. A weak smile came over her lips. "I— do like it." she admitted. He raised a brow, a smile drawing over the inches of his lips. He was pleased to hear that she had found some liking in it. He put his hands behind his back, watching the young lady.

The flowers surrounding them in front of the gate were quietly wiping along. Quite similar to a slow dance.

"It's distracting and that's nice." she added up to her previous words. He felt glad about her state improving. He looked at her once again as a few people passed through the gate.

"Perhaps you should look around at the yujing terrace." He advised her. She raised a eyebrow in confusion. She didn't process what he meant. Her ruby eyes going wide as he slowly moved forward. A small shine within them kf curiosity.

She tried to get out some words, "Zhongli what do you mean—" was all she could say before being cut off by a person bumping into her. She stumbled only to quickly loose balance.

She tried to hold herself up and starred at the ground. Finally finding balance again. She realized that there was still someone in front of her since there was a pair of shoes standing there. She recognized them from somewhere.

"I'm sorry—" she said, but cut herself off as she realized who she was standing in front off. There was— which took her by surprise— Yan fei the young adepti decendant and legal consultant. The one which was the most popular in the field and around Liyue. Especially the harbor where it only took the blink of an eye for a trade to be made. In some cases it was only for fairness— in others it was from the fact that trade automatically attracted scams and misconducts. Before the ink was dry Yan fei would be there to help out.

That was the thing she was best known for.

Hu Tao's eyes went wide. Her ruby red eyes displayed a hint of surprise as they widened. Yan fei looked her closely into her eyes, not averting the eye contact like the brunette did with her employee earlier this morning. This must've been the gentleman's doing. She sighed while finding herself pondering about it.

This did not escape pink haired young woman who was rather attentive towards the details. Especially the body language. She decided to not press further on the matfer as her orbs wandered over to a group of people. It was Xinqiu with a friend of his— his best friend to be precise, Chongyun.

The dark haired mischievous boy— Xinqiu with a blue ton of hair loving books and being a great swordsman— who loved to tease his best friend. In contrast to that the light haired calm boy— Chongyun was the opposite a claymore user who was quite good in exorcism. He hated heat and got quite often teased by hid best friend for various things.

The cold appearing exorcist was actually a sweet boy. They were laughing and joking, judging from their light hearted body language. As if there was nothing bad going on— "To archons, I can't believe it he really tries to make me socialise doesn't he?" A voice appeared.  This cursing interrupted her observations of the best friends.  She raised a brow turning around.

A smile found its way to her face when she saw the brunette smirk. A small thought crossed her mind before she spoke. "Yeah he cares a lot about you." the pink haired girl smiled. This information made Hu Tao feel warm inside. She was feeling happier than beforethe funeral.

Maybe it wasn't to bad after all, to have people care and do the same. Perhaps it was unfinished business, to find a good life after all of this and maintain determined.

She continued to chat with a happy glance in her eyes with Yan Fei. Suddenly they recognized the similar silhouettes behind them.

It was the pair of boys— Xinqiu and Chongyun. "I'm sorry for your loss.." Chongyun said with a calm tone there was a hint of sadness as he approached Hu Tao.

She nodded and thanked him sincerely. Xinqiu on the other hand had already done so a while ago as he hadn't taken a bigger exorcism expedition between the time spawn before her death and after her funeral. Only when the light haired boy had noticed he felt bad— she was a friend of his too, but he had to remain calm and collected.

Hu Tao felt relief overcome her as she saw how many people loved you and respected your close relation with her.