The Tragedies of Life {A Genshin Impact OC Story}

Chapter 27: Promises to Fate

(This chapter is written in a slightly different style <3)

"What the hell?" Wanderer sat up in the bed, looking down at the rose-gold hair clouding his eyes from where Kinoko lay her head on his chest.

Kinoko reluctantly got up, her eyes tired and limp. When she realized that Wanderer had no recollection of last night, she sat up as well, giving him space. "This was your doing, not mine." She yawned.

"Huh!?" He looked at her, flustered and in utter shock. "I would never do something so-"

"Oh, but you would." Kinoko cut in, a small smile on her face. "Do you have nightmares often?" She asked softly, resting her head on her own pillow.

He seemed taken aback by that question. "No. I don't."

She yawned, enjoying her last few moments of warmth before getting out of bed to brush her hair. Her face shifted to one of concern. "You sure? You were sleep-talking..."

"That'd be silly. A puppet having a dream." He said sharply, looking away from her. Wanderer got out of bed too, checking to see if his hat was dry yet. "What did I say?"

Kinoko paused for a second, wondering whether to tell him everything he said last night. She remembered comforting him, bringing him back to peaceful sleep. "I...you told me not to leave you." She murmured softly.

"Oh." He seemed to not know what to do at that moment, choosing to focus on his hat. "Don't take that kind of stuff serious-"

"I will." Kinoko finished untangling her hair and stood next to him, trying to see his expression. "Are you scared I'm going to leave you?" She asked, her heart pounding in her chest. She cursed herself for having so much confidence this morning.

Wanderer pressed his lips together, his expression unreadable. He put his hat down, taking in some shallow breaths, though they were very controlled. "Everyone leaves me at some point, one way or another. It won't make a difference when you do."

Kinoko's heart sank. She took his shoulders and turned them so he faced her. "Koi." Her mind sparked with what her heart told it to say next. "I promise, I'm never going to leave you. No, I vow to you that I will never leave you. If I break this vow, you can hurt me, you can get your revenge on me, you can do with me what you please to satisfy yourself. This is how sure I am that I will never leave you." Her breathing turned short and shallow, her eyes desperate for him to believe her. To look at her. When he did, she knew what infinity felt like.

"Kinoko." He never said her name often. "You don't know what you're doing." He murmured.

"I don't care. You can say I'm stupid, you can say I'm crazy, but please, don't go believing the part of you that is so hurt it wants to watch me leave you." She never broke eye contact, hands tightening around his shoulders.

"If that's your choice. I'll hold you to this vow." He stepped away from her, heading towards the door. "You ready? It's time for our commission."

Kinoko sighed, her mind spinning with the weight of the words she had just said. "Y-yeah, I'll just get dressed first." She disappeared behind the wall behind her bed, returning a few minutes later with her regular outfit on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You think you can take on three ruin guards?" Wanderer looked down at the sheet of paper with commission information. "You shouldn't be using your power, you know."

"I'll be of some use. Training to fight hasn't only improved how I use my power, y'know." Kinoko walked alongside him cheerfully, trying to forget the conversation they had earlier that morning. She turned, seeing tall figures up ahead in the more dark areas of the Avidya Forest. Ferns and low plants brushed against her legs, making her shiver a few times. "I can distract them." She said, her voice lowering the closer they got.