like the wind that flows through your hair

𝚇𝙸𝙸. 𝚆𝙸𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚃 𝚈𝙾𝚄, 𝙸'𝙼 𝙹𝚄𝚂𝚃 𝙰 𝚂𝙰𝙳 𝚂𝙾𝙽𝙶

It was almost midnight. The iridescent moon shown down on Ayaka as she made her way back home alone to the Kamisato Estate on the brink of tears. Thoma, Aether, and Paimon had celebrated with her earlier, but it was almost the end of her birthday and she had not seen nor heard from her beloved since breakfast yesterday. After the alley incident, they had cleared up the misunderstandings, but now she wasn't so sure. She decided to take refuge underneath her favorite sakura tree to stargaze as she attempted to keep the gut-wrenching, negative thoughts at bay.

The moment her heel touched the green shrubbery, the exquisite dragon hairpin that Zhongli had given her recently illuminated gloriously in her hair with a pulsating, heavenly light that surrounded her. At first, the distressed princess barely noticed the illumination originating from her hairpin. It grew steadily stronger to highlight the tips of the lush grass as they rippled and waved in the wind to welcome her like a golden, gorgeous carpet, and she gasped in sheer surprise at the magical phenomenon unfolding before her eyes. Could it be...? The light spread toward the beautiful, handcrafted lanterns hanging from the majestic tree with the silky burgundy ribbons attached that cascaded down from its branches like crimson teardrops. As the warm golden glow dispersed and the tree came into full view, so did the tall silhouette of a man, which took her breath away, rendering her completely speechless when the glow hit his stunning face. Her despair and anxiousness dissipated like mist instantly as she stood, frozen in shock.

Before she could sprint over and fling herself into Zhongli's arms, the serene melody of "Sad Song" by We The Kings began to play. It seemed to emanate from everywhere at once. It was so pure and ethereal that—if fairies existed in Inazuma, they would no longer be a myth tonight. The former archon's brown hair was tied in a high ponytail that hung down to his waist. He wore his beautiful signature apparel, Hermit of Mortal Life, and as his amber eyes opened slowly, a luminescent marigold color intensified in their depths. The dormant elemental powers of the former deity were resonating for the first time within them for her to witness. He flashed his right hand opening a red and black fan in a masterful flurry, displaying the embroidery of a golden dragon painted on the back.

A regal and divine aura surrounded him now as he dipped low in a partial noble courtesy with his right hand skywards. He began to sing mellifluously while executing her elegant dance moves—the one she did for the traveler to express her gratitude—only for Zhongli, it was to express his heart to her. He extended his arms horizontally and took two feather-light steps to the left.

With you, I'm alive like all the missing pieces of my heart, they finally collide.

Extending his left hand and bringing it back up slowly, he waved the fan in his right hand as he dipped low again as graceful as a swan. Skillfully, he slid his right leg forward and lifted the fan towards the dazzling moon as the wind flowed through his glowing amber highlights. His alluring voice reverberated throughout the air like a nightingale song.

So stop time right here in the moonlight. 'Cause I don't ever wanna close my eyes.

Standing upright once more, with his left hand now against his hip, he extended his right hand with the fan forward boldly like a phantom extension of himself. He twirled around several times doing a spectacular pirouette along with the melody which exuded dignity and grace as the octave in his voice lifted impassionately. With every flick of his gloved wrist and every bow at his hips, he conveyed his heartfelt feelings that were so tangible they exuded from every inch of his body.

Without you, I feel broke, like I'm half of a whole. 
Without you, I've got no hand to hold.

The heartbroken tears that swirled in Ayaka's eyes just minutes ago transformed into fountains of immeasurable happiness as she watched her beloved archon dancing exclusively for her, executing her signature performance's movements with unparalleled grace. Entranced, Ayaka stepped forward slowly towards Zhongli along the lantern-lined path, torn between her unbearable desire to leap into his arms and her reluctance to interrupt his ethereal performance by even breathing too hard. His voice drew her in like a magnet. It was utterly...surreal.

Returning to the original elegant posture that he had begun her dance with, Zhongli extended both his arms with exuberance, staring up at the twinkling moon briefly in homage. With a flutter of his fan, he unleashed his magnificent elemental skills in the enchanted garden. Instantaneously, several sturdy brown illuminating pillars were now erected around them protectively in the shape of the brown and amber Chinese qilin known as the Exuvia.

Finally, he made eye contact with the White Heron Princess. The archon's golden hues exuded warmth, eros, and agape all at once. On cue, the wind surged, urging the ancient sakura tree to answer Mother Nature's cry by shedding its delicate purple sakura blossoms in light showers upon their heads, as if rejoicing in celebration of Ayaka's birthday.

Zhongli lowered himself onto one knee, with a tiny rose-gold gift box balancing on the edge of his fan, as he spoke to her resolutely, "Kamisato Ayaka, will you do me the honor of becoming my soulmate? Marry me. Become my wife, my reason for living. For without you in my life, I'm just a sad song."

Within the small gift box that he held toward her nestled his one-of-a-kind jeweled tassel earring which he wore throughout the centuries in his left ear. It was not the extravagant cliché diamond ring that women usually hoped for, rather a part of him that he would entrust to her for all eternity and beyond if she accepted him.

‏Ayaka's smooth lips trembled faintly with immense emotion, and she almost passed out from her surprise and the euphoria that overcame her. The ground spun beneath her feet. She did not ever imagine so much happiness could exist in this world, and every whisper of it belonged to her in this moment. Ayaka stared, astounded, at the earring he held towards her—the only one of its kind in all of Teyvat—and understood that it was a symbol of his heart and soul, his entire existence that had seen centuries of hell and beauty... And he was offering it all to her unconditionally. There was so much love in his amber eyes it almost consumed her, and she wanted to get lost in them forever.

‏‏‎ Nothing mattered anymore besides him. Them. Every incident, coincidence, and stroke of fate that brought them to each other was an embroidery woven by the gods which finally fell into place and the galaxies gaped in awe. Her hand shook as she received the precious velvet box in her palm and ran her finger along the earring's delicate tassel reverently. There was only one word she could manage to utter repeatedly, her voice hoarse and sincere, as she threw her arms around him tightly, laughing and sobbing almost hysterically. "Yes! Yes...yes, yes!!"

When she lifted her head, her entire being seemed to glow from the inside out. Suddenly, she crushed her lips against his in a tornado of soulful passion that was all the answer he needed. Ayaka cradled Zhongli's face in her soft hands as she kissed him long and deep in a thrill of ecstasy. "Oh... I cannot fathom anything I want more. Be my favorite part of me now and always because with you standing next to me, I've got nothing to fear."

‏‏‎‎The leaves barely rustled and all the little animals that scurried around the courtyard fell silent; it was as if nature itself held its breath as it witnessed this everlasting moment and their kiss which was so powerful it could move the stars.

‏‏‎Yes, I will marry you, Zhongli.