A Single Spark (Scaramouche x Reader)

Chapter 31 - The Strings of Fate

⚠️⚠️⚠️ this chapter contains self harm, so this symbol "⚠️" will appear before and after that part so you don't have to read it. I made sure you wouldn't miss anything plot-wise. If you do read it, please don't copy it! It is an extremely negative and unhealthy response and if you need an outlet there are much healthier things to do and people to reach out to. ⚠️⚠️⚠️

Thank you for reading this far!

How could he have let this happen? Sure, there's been close calls before, but now...

Kunikuzushi couldn't bear to think it.

It can't be.

(Y/n) can't be gone, right?

The man screamed. He screamed and shouted and cursed the gods as thunder raged above him. He cursed fate as the largest storm to ever grace Mondstadt appeared. He cursed La Signora and violet lightening flashed across the sky as far as one could see. He cursed himself as the skies darkened. How could he be so stupid? How could he be so careless? This is all his fault.

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Kunikuzushi had no idea how long he sat there. The storm had long dissipated and it was well close to midday when he saw the rest of the group come up the broken stairway. He looked to Venti, to Zhongli, to Xiao, silently pleading for help in any way.

They were just as stunned as he was.

They were speechless.

They were no help.

The ex-harbinger sat on the cobblestone in the midday sun, feeling as lost as he did the day he was abandoned by his mother. He turned around when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

Zhongli.

For a few minutes the Lord of Geo was silent, his golden gaze fighting back a sadness slowly creeping into his eyes.

"We need to get (y/n) out of here," the tall man spoke quietly. Kuni nodded, but didn't move. He instead brushed away some hair that blew into (y/n)'s face.

"Kuni," Venti reasoned, "We all understand what it's like, to lose those closest to you. We know how hard it is, but you have to let go of their body, please"

"I...didn't want to lose anyone else," Kuni whispered. "I failed, again. I'm..I'm so useless."

"Kuni, please," Xiao said. "This isn't easier for any of us. We're trying to be strong for you." The adeptus's hand found his way to Venti's, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"Kunikuzushi," Zhongli said, "I promise (n/n) will get an excellent funeral–"

"NO!" Kuni cut him off. "They're NOT DEAD! THEY CAN'T BE! THEY– not so soon..."

A single tear stained (y/n)'s face.

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"Kuni, please," Venti said, shoving a glass of water towards his friend. "You haven't ate or drank anything for three days."

The puppet sat up abruptly. "I'll be back," he muttered.

His large hat's veil trailed past, caught up in the wind of his speedwalking.

The funeral is today.

(Y/n) is really dead.

Kuni locked the bathroom door and slammed his fists on the countertop.

⚠️ (start)

He undid the armbands that he normally wore, setting them on the corner of the table. The skin underneath–if you could call it that–was red and raw, full of scars that had not yet healed. The puppet took one hand, crackling with electro energy, and slammed it against his other forearm, biting back a scream. He deserved this, for not saving them. Kuni did the same thing to his other arm.

His indigo eyes, so dead, so deep, so dark, stared at their reflection, then fell down to his once–pristine forearms. They were charred, scarred, bruised, cut, burned...the list goes on and on.

⚠️ (end)

Kunikuzushi lifted his gaze once more, settling on his hair. It had grown long again in the past four years. He hadn't cut his hair since leaving the Fatui. The dark indigo hair flowed gracefully to the midback.

Kuni took a knife out of a hidden pocket...

...and cut it off to its previously short length.

It was a time of mourning.

There was a knock at the door.

The puppet jolted, put his arm bands back on, and rushed out of the bathroom, apologizing.

"Kuni..."

It was Hu Tao. She made no comment.

"Do you want to say goodbye? Their soul was sent off already but...do you want some time alone before the funeral?"

Kuni merely nodded, adjusted his hat, then walked off into a small room by the library.

There was a coffin inside the room, and it was made of intricately carved maple wood. The plush interior was lined a soft purple, and inside was a person much paler than they normally were.

(N/n).

(Y/n) was dressed in an extravagant outfit, befitting a god. Flowing silks of lavender, bands of gold and obsidian sparkling. With the makeup that had been put on, one could almost say they were a sleeping beauty.

Almost.

That was a fairytale from long ago, and true love's kiss never wakes the sleeping beauty in real life.

But he tried anyway.

"I miss you," he whispered. "I miss your smile, your idiotic ways, even the small nagging moments. I miss those warm (e/c) eyes, and the way the wind would blow through your hair. I'm sorry I won't be at your funeral, but...I don't want to break down. I know you'd want me to bring my walls down, to feel something, but I don't know if I ever will again. I don't want too. Not after you."

One final kiss on the temple, then the room is still and dark once more.

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Hu Tao came racing towards Kuni an hour later, in much more of a rush than she normally was.

"What's wrong?" he asked half–heartedly.

"The–the body," she panted.

The puppet stiffened. "What about it?"

"It's gone!"