Kaedehara 'Kujou Killer' Kazuha

'My brother..'

Kazuha finally had a moments peace. He checked himself. His clothes were torn from where the spiked rocks had narrowly missed, he was covered in small cuts and bruises. Mud streaked his clothes, face and hair. He shook his hands and small droplets of hydro flew off, his hands would still feel wet and cold for a while but that was just how elemental hydro was compared to regular water. He shivered, remembering Yaku's arrows, his face when he held a whole ocean for his friend, the look in his eyes.

Kazuha shook his head and gazed at the purple storm clouds ahead, he would have all the time to think later right now he had to get through the storm...

-----

Diluc hadn't left Dawn Winery for a week now, whispers flitted through the dark halls, the staff always talked. 

Adelinde was beginning to worry. At first she had chalked it up to him just feeling under the weather, she told herself to not get all worked up over it, the master would be right as rain in no time and he would just find her constant fussing to be tiresome.  But now it was different...he had barely eaten any of the meals she had prepared, he simply sat in his room, head in his hands.

He barely looked up at the knock on the door as the maid entered. He could feel her taking him in, his bloodshot eyes paired with dark panda circles, his face tired and drawn, his hair an unruly mess. 

'Sir..?'  she took a tentative step towards him. 'The bar staff have been asking for you..you haven't attended any of the meetings either, Charles and Ernest have been running back and forth but I don't think they can handle more..' Diluc remained unresponsive and Adelinde attempted to change tactics 'Master Diluc if this is something you need to talk about-'

'Adeline, what goes on the kitchen?' She stilled, staring at him.

'What do you...'

'You don't let me in the kitchen...what goes on in there'

She laughed 'Nothing..nothing of course, this is your house master Diluc you can go wherever you please' he finally looked at her, appearing to be lost in thought before finally moving. 'I will' he said simply, rising off the bed he began to march towards the door, he flung it open, startling a maid coming down the hall. He barely acknowledged her apology as he made towards the kitchen. Adelinde watched as he opened the door and looked in.

The kitchen was pristine. The tiles sparkled and everything was neatly organised. He glanced around as a startled cook stared at him in confusion. He turned and slammed the door.

'Master Diluc is everything alright...?' Adelinde stood watching him, concern lacing her voice. Diluc simply stared back at her before clearing his throat. 'How do I get him back?' his voice was low, he stared at the ground looking strangely like how he did as a child. 

Adelinde remembered the time she had caught a young Diluc stuffing his face with grapes he had stolen from the grapevine. She had told him off sternly and he had hung his head, his chubby cheeks drooping with shame. She remembered having to hold him for the rest of the day, his little face burying into her neck as an even smaller, chubbier baby Kaeya teased him.

The Diluc that stood before her now was a strong young man, nothing like the small child that had often ran to her with tears streaming down his face because "Kaeya stole his turtle" or "Kaeya threw his grape juice on the floor" or "Kaeya wasn't anywhere" the last one had threw her into a state of panic, she had ransacked the house looking for the mischevious blue haired menace and had found him attempting to turn grape juice into wine in his closet. She had tried to be angry but Kaeya's little round face was the picture of innocence and she simply couldn't bring herself to scold him. 

'Get who back?' she asked gently, but she already knew the answer. Diluc seemed..guilty, it was an expression she hadn't seen in a long time on the stoic's face. 

He finally looked up at her, and when she heard the heartbreak in his voice she almost wished she hadn't asked.

'My brother..'

--------

Kazuha strolled through Mondstadt. The sun shone and the birds sung sweetly. The anemo archon statue stood tall, its hands stretched towards the sun. He squinted up at it smiling, even he had to admit the electro archon statue didn't look as grand. 

'Beautiful isn't it?' 

He knew he would run into him soon, Kazuha didn't even bother to feign surprise, he just smiled at the blue haired man who had foiled his plans. 

'You're a traveller?' Kazuha nodded and Kaeya's grin grew 'We had one of those a while back, golden haired with a fairy friend, I do miss the both of them, perhaps I'll surprise them on their travels' Kazuha listened intently for once. He had never been one to take interest in idle chatter, not even with his old friends. He would bury himself in a book and let their conversations become background noise, however the way this man spoke was different, there was a charming musical lilt to his voice and  the way his lips moved at the pronunciation of every word seemed to enrapture Kazuha. He wanted this man to continue in his mysterious voice. 'You've lived here long?' he asked. The blue haired man looked down at him 'Most.. of my life, yes'.

'I never got your name?'

 'Kaeya, and you?'

'Kazuha.'

'Kazuha..' the way he said his name sent shivers down Kazuha's spine 'Have you explored much of Mondstadt yet Kazuha?' the shorter man shook his head and Kaeya smirked 

'Come, I've got the day off, I'll give you a tour'