Collection of Kazuha x Scaramouche

Umbrella and Thunder (Fluff)

Final exams were kicking Scaramouche in the butt. He promised Nahida he would do well in the academia but at this point he would do anything to get an A for this stupid darn class. The teacher was an absolute asshole who barely taught anything and didn't believe in giving students full points because "no one is perfect." Her high pitched voice was not helpful in calming his brain and Scaramouche would've slammed his head into his desk if not for his large hat.

Even though he was a puppet and didn't need sleep like humans do, he still felt so tired and torn apart from the stressful day that he considered a second trip to irminsul. Scaramouche could feel himself overheating from all these exams, people, as well as the atmosphere in general. Seriously, who knew being in school would be so hard? And why the fuck is the day not over?

Finally, FINALLY, the bell rang an obnoxious sound that echoed across the academia, resulting in another set of headaches. Scaramouche dashed out the school, just wanting to get out this cursed place. As he left the school water splashed across his face, was it raining? Wait—where's my hat?!?!

Scaramouche almost plopped right down on the front porch of the academia as he realized he must've left it in his last class...which was probably locked by now. The rain continued to pour down on him, mirroring his emotions and he continued walking. The rain kept pouring down as Scaramouche hung his head and made his way out of the city. The Aranara was probably waiting for him in their little village.

He sighed and bumped straight into someone, who—

"My apologies, I didn't mean to bump straight into you." The person said, his white locks relatively dry and crimson eyes kind. The stranger was clearly not from around here. He held an Liyue styled umbrella, shielding them from the rain as lightning flashed dimly among the gray skies.

"Whatever, just don't do it again." Scaramouche muttered, shoving aside the person and continuing on his way.

"Ah, wait!" A hand held onto his shoulder as the person's soft voice rang, "Where are you going? I can accompany you as I don't have any plans right now, but only if you want me to of course."

Scaramouche groaned and was about to tell him off when thunder struck. The sound so loud like the silent disappointment from...Archons does he hate thunder. Perhaps some company would be nice. His expression must've shown how unpleasant he felt considering the stranger's concerned eyes that seemed to peer into his soul.

"Are you ok?" The stranger asked.

"O-of course...haha, uh...I'm just trying to find some Aranara..." He meekly replied. How do you tell someone you'd rather hang out with something they might not even be able to see in this pouring rain than be indoors somewhere dry and safe?

"Aranara? Are they a type of plant?"

"Well..." Scaramouche considered the possibility of the stranger thinking of him as crazy, "I guess you could say that."

The two continued on their walk, shoes hiting wet grass and listening to the sound of plattering rain.

Lightning flashed again and it was then that Scaramouche noticed the streak of red in the stranger's pearlescent white hair.

At that instance Scaramouche blurted out, "Niwa?"

Thunder boomed and Scaramouche tensed.

"I'm sorry, did you say something? I didn't hear you over the thunder and the rain." The man apologized.

Scaramouche plastered on a fake smile and said, "Nothing, I just asked what your name is..." He needed to confirm his suspicion.

The man smiled at him in return, "I'm Kaedehara Kazuha, I am a traveling samurai."

"Ah, I think I've heard of you, you're the one who blocked the raiden shogun's infamous Musou no Hitotachi right? What's someone like you doing in Sumeru?" Scaramouche tried masking his dread, now was a really bad time to say "Hey I basically was the reason why your whole clan fell and the reason your life sucks but you don't remember cause I tried to delete myself cause I thought maybe that would change shit even though it didn't!"

"You are correct, the Crux fleet were gracious enough to drop me off here in Sumeru. For now I am just going where the wind takes me, and it seems it has taken me to you." Kazuha's voice was honey smooth as Scaramouche felt himself cringe. Was he trying to flirt with me?

When Scaramouche didn't respond back Kazuha remarked, "This weather is quite dreary isn't it?"

"Uh...yeah, it's raining quite hard."

"I meant the thunder, I too find thunder to be rather...most people don't like thunder I suppose."

"Well...you are from inazuma, it thunders quite a lot there." Scaramouche recalled just how much it seemed to rain there, the whole nation seemed to be in mourning sometimes, as well as stuck in the past.

"So I take it you're also from Inazuma?"

"Yes, that place is quite dreadful." Scaramouche hissed, "All it reminds me of is pain."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No. It's all behind me now." Is it?

"Likewise, I also wish to put all that happened in my homeland behind."

They neared the giant lily pads and Scaramouche knew they were close.

Scaramouche could see the mushroom like hats of the aranara peaking their head while hiding behind stems and foliage. The sound of their footsteps sound like chimes to his ears, the rain was also starting to slow down, the sky already lighting up and he found he was starting to feel better too. He found Kazuha looked better in happier lighting, colors more vibrant than the previous dull reds and grays.

"Seems you've reached your destination." Kazuha said.

"You can see them too?" He asked.

"The little cabbage mushroom like guys?"

Scaramouche nodded.

"They're cute, I think they're scared of me though...hm...they kinda remind me of you." Kazuha murmured earnestly, eyes glittering at him.

"Are you calling me short?" Scaramouche asked, frowning.

"Huh? T-that wasn't my intention at all!" Kazuha protested, he sighed, "I hope this will help tell you what I meant..."

He leaned down and kissed Scaramouche on the cheek, "I like you, I want to be friends and if you'll allow me, something more."

Scaramouche froze.

"...I gotta go." Scaramouche ran away before Kazuha could see the red of his cheek.

"Hey, wait!!!" Kazuha called out, "I don't even know your name!!!!"

But Scaramouche was already gone.