"I Give You My Heart"

Teehee

Kazuha breathed in the smell of books. Lots and lots of books. Even though he was outside, the land of knowledge smelled like literature.
He was making his way up the hill that overlooked Port Ormos, where Kazuha, Beidou, and the rest of the Crux Fleet had just arrived. Kazuha was making his way to where he was supposed to be meeting the traveler. It had been quite a long time since Kazuha had seen Aether and he was looking forward to seeing what new scents he had acquired from adventuring in Sumeru.
Then Kazuha stopped, looking up at the crest of the hill. Well, it was more of a mountain, but words could hardly describe the beauty of the land so what is the point in trying?
Kazuha planted his feet. He smelled something he didn't want anywhere near his newfound family or the traveler. Kazuha rested his hand against the hilt of his blade. Anger, blood, evil. These were the things Kazuha smelled.
Kogasturube Isshin vibrated, speaking into his owner's mind, "what's this? I haven't felt such hostility from you in a long time! Let's cut them to pieces!!!"
"Be patient," Kazuha spoke softly as he listened to the wind.
He heard a quiet sigh.
He wasn't entirely sure what that meant so he continued on with caution. As he made his way to the top of the hill, he saw a figure.
They were facing the port, seemingly looking out at the ocean. But Kazuha couldn't see their face from where he was. This stranger was dressed in white and blue, looking quite a bit like the port waters, themselves. A Hydro user maybe? His attire looked Inazuma-inspired, but not quite authentic, but who was Kazuha to judge? Besides, he couldn't see the front anyways.
They apparently didn't hear Kazuha's approach because they didn't turn around. Or, that's what Kazuha thought.
The ex-samurai stood there, just watching this figure for a moment. The wind blew by again, playing with Kazuha's hair and clothes as it went. The chimes on the stranger's hat jingled as the wind danced across the hill.
The wind wouldn't say anything about this person. Kazuha would have to figure it out on his own.
Kazuha stepped forward again, a leaf crunching under his foot.
The figure turned, lifting his hand to hold the brim of his wide hat. Shining on the front of his clothes was an Anemo vision.
Kazuha put on a warm smile, eyeing this character carefully. He lifted a hand, "hello, friend, what brings you to Port Ormos?"
This figure flicked his eyes up and down, looking at Kazuha skeptically. "I don't think that's any of your business."
Kazuha chuckled, walking towards them, "maybe not, I was merely curious. Forgive me."
"Let me at him! I want to cut up his pretty little face!!!" Isshin yelled in Kazuha's head.
It was hard not to react to that, but Kazuha held his smile.
"Curiosity is what gets people killed, you know," they pointed out as they folded their arms across their chest.
"I'm aware, but thank you for your concern," Kazuha stopped about a meter away.
"Hah," they blew air out of their nose and the wind blew by again as they chuckled. It felt like they were either mocking Kazuha or laughing at an inside joke. Either way, it felt patronizing.
As much as Kazuha wanted to believe that vision holders couldn't be evil, he knew that Celestia isn't always fair.
"OOHHH! LET ME AT HIMMM!!! NDUSHSABBSJSSJSJWNMKD!!!" The sword screamed.
The figure took a deep breath as they stopped laughing, "I'm not concerned for you, I don't even know you."
Kazuha smiled wider, "there's no harm in assuming kindness from others. Even if it's false, kindness doesn't hurt anyone."
"That's wrong, too," he held his hand out, shifting his weight into his back foot. He shook his head, "people get hurt no matter how you speak to them."
"That is very true," Kazuha said. Then, in a split second he crouched down, drew his blade, and lunged at the stranger. He halted with the edge of his sword against their throat, "and that's exactly why I can't have someone like *you* here. I'd like for you to leave without a fight and you're welcome to."
Isshin was buzzing with excitement so powerfully that Kazuha was fighting to hold it still.
Now that Kazuha was close he smelled something else. A great amount of despair and loneliness and something else he couldn't place.
"Leaving without a fight would be so boring," he chuckled. "I'm going to enjoy breaking you." With that, they condensed the air behind Kazuha, pulling him backwards.
Kazuha sliced forward with his sword, but the stranger had disappeared.
"Up here!" They shouted from above as they hovered in the air.
They could fly?! Kazuha had never seen an Anemo user who could maintain themselves in the air. Kazuha surged upwards, making another attack at their chest.
The blue-clad stranger dashed to the side, sending two wind blades at Kazuha's back.
Kazuha dropped back onto the ground, sprinting towards his assailant. He leapt into the air and, instead of making an attack, he reached out and grabbed onto their ankle.
"Wha-" They couldn't even finish the word before they were weighed down, unable to maintain floating with the extra weight.
Kazuha twisted around in the air, using his vision to get the upper hand. He let go of their ankle and grabbed their wrist instead. If he could immobilize their hands, they wouldn't be able to attack because they were a catalyst user.
The attacker growled as they hit the ground, seeing Kazuha about to land on top of them. They lifted both of their legs and, with the help of their vision, kicked Kazuha a few meters back.
They hopped to their feet quickly and dashed towards Kazuha, ready to make a counterattack. They made two more wind blade strikes as they ran.
Kazuha was hardly able to get to his feet and dodge before his attacker was already on him.
"He's fast!" Isshin shouted with glee, "finally! A challenge!!! Fight for your life, Kazuha! This man has the intention of taking it!!!"
The anemo user condensed the air around Kazuha. They wore an intense look on their face.
Kazuha surged upwards, then dashed down. A wind blade sliced at his clothes as he came, but it was worth it. He swung his sword down with all his weight.
The stranger was hardly able to move out of the way, but Kazuha wasn't about to stop his pursuit.
He spun around, swinging at him again, and again.
The stranger seemed surprised by his animosity. They he began to smile, rising into the air once more, "let's see what you're really made of!"
Kazuha faltered. He hadn't noticed how beautiful they were until they smiled like that... They looked amused and like they were thoroughly entertained by Kazuha's murderous natures.
"Why do you hesitate?!" Isshin shook with urgency, "don't let him get away!!!"
"Don't yell at me while I'm fighting!" Kazuha retorted as he dodged more wind blades.
"You were getting distracted!!! What could possibly-" Isshin gasped softly, "you never pause during a fight, something must have happened! And your hands are incredibly warm, now!!!"
"Shut up!" Kazuha seethed, now bleeding from his arm thanks to Isshin's yelling.
"It isn't my fault I can't see what's going on! Just let me taste his blood!!!"
"Give me a minute!" Kazuha used his vision to leap into the air, coming face-to-face with his opponent. He swiftly grabbed their wrist. For a moment they hesitated in the air before Kazuha yanked him down.
In that small moment of hovering, Kazuha took a good look at them. They really were quite pretty. They had purple eyes and hair to match. It blended with the blue of their clothes really well, he thought. He also noticed they had gold painted onto their face. It looked like Kintsugi, which is the art of repairing broken pottery with gold. He noticed those lines snaked down his neck, too. It was quite dazzling to see.
Then Kazuha pulled them down with him, but this time he couldn't use his vision to get higher, so he would be landing first. That was fine, he just needed to land on his feet.
And so he did, and a second later, so did his attacker. Kazuha was ready for it, he swung his leg out in an attempt to sweep them.
They easily lifted their feet off the ground, floating there listlessly. Then they grabbed onto Kazuha's arm as well so their grips were locked.
Kazuha felt dread filling his stomach, as he looked up at their face.
They had a sadistic grin spread across their lips as they lifted their leg and said, "you're nothing but an unsightly insect!!!"
The air within Kazuha's space condensed in only a second, exploding back out. Kazuha's ears rang as he was flung backwards, but he refused to let go. He took his attacker with him, having the thought, "everyone's an insect compared to you..."
The stranger wasn't expecting Kazuha to hold on with such a strong grasp. He didn't notice fast enough and was pulled back with him. He used his vision to slow their fall, but it wasn't by much.
Kazuha raised his sword as they landed, once again pressing it against the stranger's neck, but from below him. His left arm was pinned down by his head, but he was confident enough in his right hand alone.
"Come on! Cant you cut him just a little bit!?!? PLEASE?!?!" Isshin begged.
The stranger scowled down at Kazuha, pressing down against the blade, but his skin didn't break despite how sharp Isshin was. "It's very rude to just attack someone out of nowhere you know. And you didn't even intend on winning?"
Kazuha smiled, blood leaking out of his nose profusely, "who said I didn't want to win?"
"You were hardly trying to hurt me and kept pausing before you attacked. You're practically *begging* me to kill you. And now you've forced me onto you like this." He smirked, "and this is right where I want you."
Kazuha tightened his grasp on Isshin, slicing their throat. Only, it didn't slice... it cracked.
The stranger leapt backwards and onto his feet, pieces shattering from his neck. He glared at Kazuha, sending more wind blades after him.
Kazuha jumped to his feet, quite disturbed. Was this person made of ceramic?... He dodged the blades, rolling onto the ground and snatching up one of the larger pieces of debris.
The stranger opened their mouth, an angry look on their face. Their lips moved forming what was probably a curse, but the only sound that escaped was a garbled and broken groan. They bit their lip angrily as they started running towards Kazuha, attacking haphazardly.
Kazuha dodged all of them, clutching that piece of pottery to his chest protectively. Just what was this person? He was made of some sort of ceramic. It felt like porcelain, smooth and soft in his hands. Was he a construction made by a powerful mage? But then how did he have a vision?...
The stranger raised into the air again, continuing their assault. They opened their mouth to speak again, but the sound it made was entirely terrifying. A yell that sounded like a monster was being crunched within the gears of a Ruin Guard. It was horrifying enough to make Kazuha loose his breath and take a step back.
"STOP!!!" A shrill yell came from the crest of the hill.
They both turned to look in shock.
Paimon was screaming her head off, "why are you fighting?!?! The Traveler took so much effort to get you both here to meet each other and you're fighting?!?!"
The traveler folded his arms with a nod. Then he hurried over, looking at them both worriedly.
Kazuha was bloody and his clothes were ripped, and the stranger's neck was literally shattered and missing quite a few pieces.
Aether gave them both stern looks before gathering up the pieces of ceramic scattered in the grass.
The stranger folded his arms and sat down with crossed legs in an aloof manner.
"You're friends with this...?" Kazuha wasn't sure what to call him.
"Yes! Paimon just said that!" She exclaimed. "Ohh! Does Paimon always have to repeat herself?!?!"
"Sorry," Kazuha offered a smile as he sheathed his sword. Isshin grumbled and groaned about it, whining that his blade hurt and needed fresh blood. Kazuha ignored him.
"You two need to make up right now!" Paimon commanded.
Kazuha slowly sat down, "I apologize for being hostile. I was only trying to protect the people I care about. Any friend of the travelers is a friend of mine." He held his hand out.
The stranger rolled his eyes.
"Hey! Scaranara has to apologize, too! Paimon knows you had too much fun beating up poor Kazuha!"
The stranger pointed to their throat, opened their mouth to speak and another disturbing sound came out.
"Oh-" Paimon shied away, "Paimon doesn't think that's normal... uh, haha, sorry..." She hurriedly assisted the traveler in gathering the shards off the ground.
Kazuha took his hand back, seeing that the stranger—Scaranara as Paimon had called him—wasn't going to take it. Kazuha looked down at the shard in his hand. He ran his thumbs along it, turning it around. The inner side was a dark purple, matching Scaranara's hair and eyes. Kazuha looked up, wondering how this was possible.
Scaranara was glaring at him, holding his hand out.
Kazuha realized that he was holding a piece of a person and touching it like it was an object. He hurriedly handed it over, "sorry..." He felt his face heating up from embarrassment.
Scaranara turned the shard over a few times, eyeing Kazuha.
"I think we have all the pieces!" Paimon and the traveler returned. "Let's get to camp and get you two fixed up!"