Perhaps Dottore's little gift affected you more than it affected Kunikuzushi.
The fear of letting your dear puppet out of your abode once more claws at your being, practically tearing your skin apart at the mere thought of him possibly seeing such a thing one more.
The image of his crying while throwing up only makes your skin crawl.
How can you ever let him experience such a thing again?
Which is why you've been insisting on keeping Kunikuzushi in your abode, pleading for him to stay just a while longer while you spend days on end in your abode as well, barely going out to quickly talk to Xiao or Rex Lapis, hoping that they'll understand.
Understand that you are grasping at strings, using everything that you can in order to keep Kunikuzushi safe.
Tearing at your sanity as you see that fateful night in your mind whenever you lose Kunikuzushi from your sight.
How could you have been so foolish as to suggest for him to leave your abode in the first place when this is the safest place for him to stay in?
You've practically pushed him towards danger.
Your decades of experience practically thrown out the window as you think about every possibility that your actions may have caused that tragedy.
Let m- augh me go now - Irminsul knows of his f-fate! Saving him is fruitless-
Irminsul...
What exactly does Dottore know about Kunikuzushi's fate?
Clenching your fist, you can't help but fear just what the Fatui has been doing behind your backs... What is the Tsaritsa planning? Why have they connected to Irminsul?
"(Y/N), it's been awhile since you've been out of your abode. The Inazuman puppet is still with you?" Turning around, you're met with Xiao's usual scowl though you notice the slight tick of concern behind his facade as he crosses his arms while staring at you.
Letting out a sigh, you nod your head, already preparing yourself to inform him of your latest run in with the Fatui. "Kunikuzushi is still with me... though I don't think it's safe for him to be out and about now after that harbinger informed me of the Fatui's interest in him... They've also found a way to connect with Irminsul, if what Dottore told me was true."
Humming, Xiao merely runs his hand through his hair before nodding at your words. "Then I'll make sure to tell Rex Lapis about this seeing as you'll be going back to your abode soon." Turning around, Xiao prepared to leave but before he does, he throws you another glance. "Make sure to report back to Rex Lapis, you know how he gets when you're away for too long..."
Without another word, your fellow adeptus disappears from sight, leaving you to your thoughts as you look down at the scenery before deciding to go back to where Kunikuzushi is knowing just what he'll be telling you the moment you step foot inside.
"You can't keep me locked up here forever, (Y/N) please... it feels so lonely here... after getting a taste of what it's like to be in the village, you can't expect me to just stay here all alone-"
"I've said it before, Kunikuzushi... I don't know if it's safe for you outside-"
"You'll be there for me though. If I was ever in trouble, you'll be there to save me, right? You promised."
"And what if I'm not there when it happens? Like what happened at the village? You didn't even call my name - I could've prevented it from going that far-"
"Then I will this time. I-I'll call out your name as soon as I think something's wrong. Just... just please (Y/N), staying here in this silence... I feel like it's driving me crazy. I don't know what to do whenever you have to leave for a few hours and I'm all by myself... please. Just... I wanna be free again..."
You watch as Kunikuzushi looks up at you with his big purple irises, glistening with unshed tears as he grasps at your robes, trying his best to get some sort of reaction from you, anything at all that would indicate if you'd continue keeping him inside or not. But alas, all he gets is a sigh from you.
How long has he felt this way?
Were your actions truly caging him away from what he's wanted for so long?
Gently, you remove his hands from your clothes causing him to freeze up, not at all used to you not immediately pulling him into your embrace during times like this. Instead, you ruffle his hair before walking away towards the small cottage that you have in the middle of the island, turning your back on him as you speak.
"I apologise for making you feel that way during your time here, I guess I wasn't that aware of my actions. In a few hours, we'll make a trip back to the overworld. Let me know if you have a certain place in mind that you'd want to go to. I'll prepare your things."
As you continue your way back to the cottage, Kunikuzushi can only stare at your back, frozen in place as he feels something sting within him...
