Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

When the puppet was first created, the first thing it had done was cry.

It laid on the ground helplessly with salty tears falling from it’s closed eyes. It was confused, scared and vulnerable. Ei could tell just by looking at it, that it would not be a suitable vessel to posses a gnosis. To posses a ´heart’.

Her plan was to use this experiment as a blueprint for her next puppet, then discard it immediately after she had observed all of it’s flaws and incapabilities. After all, this was all done to help in her pursuit for eternity. Now that it had fur filled its purpose, she can quickly get rid of it and begin planning for her next puppet.

She summoned her sword and prepared to strike it down upon the prototype, but at that very moment, the vessel slowly opened its teary eyes and the two made eye contact.

When Ei looked into its eyes, she saw fear and confusion. He looked so vulnerable, just laying there unable to move while making small whimpers like a new born child. When she saw him like this, there was something inside her that just clicked.

Like a desire, or an urge to protect this new vessel from all harm and misfortune that the world could bring.

She saw a lost child in him… and she couldn’t help but feel like she was that one that had to help him find his way through all of these confusing things.

The prototype caught site of her glowing sword and immediately looked frightened. He tried to drag himself away but failed miserably, the sight caused Ei to feel sympathy.

She hesitantly dematerialised her sword and looked at him with a strange fondness in her eyes, the look a mother would give to her new born child. The prototype noticed her comforting aura and slowly relaxed from the tense position his body was in. Although he was still crying, his eyes now looked at Ei in a growing curiosity.

Ei knelt down then helped the boy sit up and lean onto her body for support. She brought a hand to his cheeks and wiped away his tears gently with a fondness that wasn’t there before. The puppet unconsciously leaned into the touch and continued looking at his creator with big, curious indigo eyes.

Ei brought a hand up to hesitantly rest it on top of his long silky dark violet hair. She felt strangely attached to him, was this in the same category of the feeling a mother gets when she sees her child for the first time?

“Your name will now be known as Kunikuzushi, and I, Beelzebuld, will be your mother. From now on I will treat you as my son and we will seek comfort in each other in the same way a… family would." Ei wasn’t used to calling people family, not after what happened to Makoto.

The puppet leaned into his mother even more now after hearing her words, then weakly wrapped his delicate arms around her figure, as if he were giving her a hug.

Ei hesitantly held him back, being careful not to squeeze too much for he was so fragile she thought he would break.

It was at that moment that Ei decided she would protect her son at all cost, even if it meant isolating him from the outside world. She was going to make sure that he would be loved and protected, to make sure he would not die.

Like the way Makoto did.

————-

Kunikuzushi had everything Ei needed him to know locked away somewhere in his memory. Some of them are things he will come to remember overtime, while others will only take him a few hours to remember.

Ei had dressed him up in a traditional inazuman kimono, he did not know how to dress himself yet but Ei didn’t mind, after all children take their time learning new things.

Kunikuzushi was strangely attached to Ei. He clings to her hand whenever she attempts to walk away and get something, or he whines whenever she doesn’t hold his hand while walking. It hasn’t even been a full day and yet the two had already grown attached to each other.

Yae was still patiently waiting in Ei’s tea room for the finished product of her lovers creation. She was starting to get worried because it had been two hours now and she still hasn’t come back. Did something go wrong?

Just when she was about to get up and look for her, Ei had entered the room with something shorter than her following close behind. Yae assumed that it was her prototype.

“Ei dear, how did it go? You took longer than I expected. I’m a busy lady you know?" Yae teased with a smile, but she was indeed curious of what had come out of all her hard work.

“It did not go as expected…we can discuss it over some tea." Ei did not look mad or disappointed, so Yae assumed the project had gone relatively well. But what she saw next was not what she was expecting at all.

Ei placed a hand on the puppets shoulder, “go on Kunikuzushi, say hello to lady Yae and sit down." She encouraged him in a gentle manner. Yae could recognise that as the tone a mother would speak to their enfant with. Well this is going to be amusing.

Kunikuzushi gripped onto Ei’s kimono and slowly made himself visible to Yae. It looked weak and fragile. It was obvious it couldn’t carry out the role it was made for, so why was Ei keeping it alive?

“..h-hello…lady Yae." regardless of the fact that he pronounced Yae wrong, Ei gave Kunikuzushi a pat on the head for speaking up.

Yae’s heart immediately swelled when she looked at him beam when his creator gave him a pat on the head. This creation was adorable, Yae couldn’t bring herself to hate him.

Kunikuzushi struggled a bit but he eventually sat down gracefully with his hands positioned on his lap. He sat on some of his hair but he didn’t seem to notice, he was too intrigued by the pink woman who was silently observing him.

Ei sat down next to him and began pouring some tea for the three of them, it wasn’t as hot as it was before but it will do. Yae was looking at her in a demanding way, she had questions and she needed answers. It was understandable, she did just walk into the room with a clumsy young man.

“So, mind explaining what’s going on here? This certainly doesn’t look fit to furfill it’s purpose." Yae pretended she wasn’t hurt when Kunikuzushi frowned at her words.

Ei took a sip of her tea, “..yes. But I gave him a new purpose. He will be my son, kunikuzushi. The prince of inazuma."

Yae certainly wasn’t expecting that either. But it all made sense now, “oh dear, and why did you come to that conclusion? Why not just throw him away?" She was teasing her now. She just wanted to see if her suspicions were correct.

Ei frowned at her lovers use of words, putting a protective hand on Kunikuzushi’s shoulder. “When I saw him..something in me arose. An urge i suppose, to take care of him..like a mother."

Yae’s gaze softened, hopefully Ei wasn’t doing all of this because she wanted something to replace Makoto. The boy was quite adorable, Yae understood why Ei would choose to keep him.

“So now he’s your son?" She took a sip of her tea, that was a bit too cold for her liking. Ei looked down in an almost bashful manner before speaking up.

“Not just my son, but I was hoping he could be your son as well. We could perhaps raise him together"

Now this was something. Ei knew they both had no experience with raising children and yet she still decided to bring a new born into their already stressful lives. Yae let out a sigh then smiled at the two in front of her.

She was more than willing to raise a son with Ei, it would bring more liveliness into their lives too, isn’t that fun?

“You know how busy we both are, and yet you still insist on adding another creation into our lives?…alright then. I’ll be his mom too."

Ei let out a sigh in relief, she had no idea how she would have raised him on her own. “Thank you Yae..I’m sorry for putting such a large task on you."

“Well I certainly don’t mind, after all look at how cute he is." She cooed and leaned over the table to cup one of her son’s cheeks. Kunikuzushi flinched at the contact, but when he looked into her eyes, they only held love and adoration. He leaned into the touch and slowly placed a shaky hand on top of hers.

Yae’s heart almost exploded at that moment, she was going to enjoy this new addition to their little family. “My name is Yae Miko, I’m your mama Kunikuzushi. I apologise for the rude things I said about you earlier, you are perfect just the way you are."

Kunikuzushi smiled brightly at her and nodded then glanced over to Ei who was looking at the two with affection in her eyes.

“Yes, you are perfect kunikuzushi. We both love you very dearly."

Chapter Text

It was quite different having a ´child’ in their presence. A big change, but not necessarily a bad one per say. Difficult? Yes really, but it was also very strange. As if they were raising a baby together with no passed experience or knowledge on the topic.

Kunikuzushi did infact behave like an enfant. He was such a indolent being, spending most of his hours either eating, sleeping or babbling incoherent noises to his parents. He would need the help that usually only young children would require, like bathing or eating. Unlike what Ei thought she had programmed him to be, Kunikuzushi was basically a child. Unfit to be the puppet Shogun, but still she did not mind at all, it was.. just odd.

Besides that, Ei and Miko wanted to try their best to raise him in a loving environment. They would do so by spending time with him together, like they were right now.

The two were giving Kunikuzushi his very first bubble bath, it was the Guuji's suggestion. She claimed that toddlers usually tend to get happy or playful when in bubble baths, and she was in fact correct. Kunikuzushi had been splashing around in the water for quite some time now, getting water on both Ei and Miko in the process. Ei didn't mind, but Miko on the other hand, did. And so when he had finally tired himself out and began babbling nonsense to himself again, she let out a breath she didn’t even know she was holding.

The two simply observed the boy in silence like he was a foreign species, after all they both did not really have much experience with children, if Kunikuzushi could be considered a child.

Ei stared at him in concern as he babbled on. "I do not recall adding this to him, is his speech suddenly failing him?" He had spoken a day or two ago when he greeted Miko, but after that he had not used his voice for anything apart from babbling or making noises to replace speaking, which was also known as babbling.

Miko shook her head at how clueless she was on the subject. It was perfectly normal for children to not speak for the first 12 months, so this was normal, wasn’t it? "No dear, this is normal in new borns. He most likely hasn't fully acquired the skill of speech yet." Ei raised her eyebrows in confusion. Was Kunikuzushi following the same laws of which a young child would?

"But if I do remember correctly, when he met you for the first time he managed to say your name? Why did he suddenly just stop speaking after that?" Ei was increasingly growing worried, and Yae was well aware of that, but these were questions that she did not know the answer to either.

But still she couldn't help but take this as an opportunity to tease her, to lighten up the mood of course. She smirked, "if you are asking for my input, maybe it could possibly mean that he simply prefers me over you." She teased with little to no venom in her voice, but Ei's brows seemed to furrow even deeper than before.

".. is that so?" Her face fell a bit, and Kunikuzushi immediately noticed this, making a noise of concern as he held her cheeks, just like they would whenever he fell.

Miko coo'd at the sight as Ei placed her hands atop of his wet ones, sighing in the process. "Kunikuzushi, do you… like your mama more than me?" She asked for reassurance. Kunikuzushi gave it to her in the form of a light kiss on the cheek followed by a noise that he often made when he was happy. Ei was more than satisfied with that, though the lack of a verbal response still made her a bit concerned.

Miko tried to calm down her smile as she got up to pick a towel. "Don't worry Ei, if it bothers you this much then why don't we try getting him to speak? That will encourage him to be more vocal." She suggested to her lover.

Ei brightened up a bit more after hearing that, trying her best to put all of her concerns aside just this once. New born beings do not always develop everything immediately, and this boy was no different.

——-

And so they slowly began attempting to get the boy to speak more often.

It had been two days since they had agreed on trying to teach Kunikuzushi speech, but all of their attempts ended in vain, with the young puppet only saying the first two syllables before stopping or failing to say the rest. It was stressful, so much so that they were already beginning to doubt if he would speak anytime soon.

Today, Ei was not present in tenshukaku, leaving Yae to take care of Kunikuzushi on her own for a while. The Guuji did not mind, actually, she enjoyed his company.

She was currently preparing a meal for their dinner tonight, all while Kunikuzushi was seated on the floor. A plastic bowl suffering in his captivity as he played around with it in curiosity, babbling nonsense along the way which Miko would respond to as if they were having a normal conversation.

Miko let the food simmer on the pan before sighing and sitting down on a dining cushion, feet tucked underneath as her eyes immediately turning to look at her son. It was something she had been doing more often, call it a motherly instinct if you will. It was honestly shocking how he would manage to be entertained by anything or everything around him, but of course tenshukaku was no place for a child-like being like him to be playing in. He was prone to get into an accident, giving the two immortals no choice but to have to survey him constantly.

Yae Miko watched him for sometime but she ultimately grew bored. She thought of something to occupy her for the time being, when suddenly she had an interesting idea.
"Kuni sweetheart, do you want to play a game with your mama?"

The puppet forgot the bowl all together and turned to his mom excitedly, humming in approval. That was good. She got off of the cushion she was resting on and shifts to seat closer on the wooden floors in front of her son.

He looked at her expectantly as she thought of an ideal game to play with Kunikuzushi. She was not well aquatinted with games that children would be interested in, but she still knew of some. She was also young once, and she could recall a few games that Kitsune Saiguu would play with her often. One being a game she favoured back then, but now that she was older she did not really see the entertainment in it.

Kunikuzushi though might see it differently, so what was the harm in it? "Hm.. why don't we play peakaboo?" She suggested to him. Kunikuzushi tilted his head slightly at her. Peekaboo? He tried to say his concerns, but it only came out in mismatched noises.

Miko giggled and covered her mouth. "Here, this is how you play it." She gently placed her palms over his eyes, Kunikuzushi’s mouth gapping open in fear and confusion.

"Peakaboo!" She exclaimed happily as she restored his eyesight once again.

"I can see you Kuni~!" Kunikuzushi only stared back with furrowed eyebrows, and once she had made everything 'disappear' again he made a startled noise. He whined and tugged at her shirt in a panicked frenzy, only ceasing when his mom reappeared again to reassure him.

"Hehe sweetheart I can see you!" Miko giggled. It was so strange how he assumed that everything had disappeared once she covered his eyes. She was enjoying each and every moment of his troubled expressions that only grew to a stop when he finally began to understand that his mom was infact not disappearing anywhere. He was fascinated and scared all at once, but the smile on his face only grew wider the longer they played the game.

After some time, Kunikuzushi was bubbling with excitement as he took his moms hands into his and helped her place them over her own eyes just like she had been doing with him, although he wasn't exactly saying the words.

Miko would play along though, pretending to be scared or worried when he covered her eyes, and cheering in joy whenever he would reappear once again.

This was not particularly a good way to learn how to speak, but her coworkers at the grand Narukami shrine would always speak so highly of it, saying that it was a good way to spend quality time with their children. Besides, Miko believed that Kunikuzushi would learn how to speak over time on his own, eventually.

Miko heard footsteps. It seems like Ei had returned back home. Kunikuzushi didn't realise that yet though, he was too busy making himself 'disappear'.

"Do you hear that Kuni, it's your mother, she's back home." Miko told him happily. The puppet made a sound of joy, standing up way too quickly for Miko's enjoyment. But her worries dispersed immediately she saw Ei enter the room.

Kunikuzushi clumsily threw himself onto her, and Ei relied back in surprise. She held him close as she observed the kitchen, furrowing her brows in surprise when she noticed Miko on the floor with a plastic bowl.

"Hello kunikuzushi, Miko. Why were you both seated on the ground?" She inquired, but Miko only hummed and got up, picking the plastic bowl Kunikuzushi was playing with beforehand.

"Don't worry dear, I was just playing with Kunikuzushi to try and get him to speak more." She reassured. Ei looked down at Kunikuzushi with a puzzled face in deep thought, mumbling something to herself.

Miko looked at her with confusion for a moment, but she just brushed it off and returned to check on the food she was making earlier. That was probably just Ei being weird.

————

The dimly lit library was silent and peaceful, the right atmosphere for reading in Ei's opinion. It gave her time to think on her own. This was her alternative place to rest ever since Kunikuzushi came along and threw imbalance into their lives. That was alright, the archon quite liked this new area that she had never truly appreciated before.

Usually she would not really come here to read, but tonight was different. Kunikuzushi still hasn't uttered a single word, and she was growing worried. She didn't understand why, so she was now reading a book about how to get children to speak.

Miko did say that Kunikuzushi is mentally a child, a toddler even. It was new to her, Ei had never even held a baby or spoken to one for too long, so she had absolutely no experience when it came to infants and what is good or bad for them. It does not matter anyway, she was learning right now.

She did not plan on informing Miko about what she was doing in here these past few days, she would only tease her about it if she did so anyway. So, she asked her to be the one putting Kunikuzushi to bed with her more often so that she wouldn't be bothered by him either.

Ei hummed in surprise as she read the book with growing interest that only increased the farther she pursued. "If you want to encourage your 2 year old to speak, you need to say sounds like "ma," "da," and "ba."  Try to get your baby to say them back to you. I see.." Kunikuzushi was not a 2 year old human child, he was supposed to be a weapon Ei would use to ensure eternity throughout the land.

But, it did not matter. She still loved him dearly and she was willing to try help him using any method recommended.

She was learning a lot of new things, and it was all so hard to understand. She never knew that teaching a child to speak would be so complex. It would have honestly been better if she just asked the geo archon, Morax, for some tips on how he got his son to speak.

Ei sighed and took her hot tea into her hand. She slowly dragged it over to her mouth, but then she suddenly stopped.

Something was coming. She could briefly hear the footsteps draw closer to the room she was in. It was only when the door was pushed open rather harshly, along with a sudden thud and a whine which she immediately recognised as Kunikuzushi’s, that she snapped out of her daze.

She put down her tea and rushed to the door. And just like she had thought, Kunikuzushi was there on the ground with tears brimming in his eyes. The puppet noticed his mother and immediately out-stretched his arms out towards her. Ei wasted no time in picking him up and holding him close to her.

"Kunikuzushi.. are you alright? Why aren't you asleep with your mama?" Ei asked him as she sat back down in the same position as before, this time with the boy seated aswell comfortably in her lap with her, still sniffling from his fall from earlier.

Kunikuzushi only pouted and gripped his mothers clothing tighter, resting his head on her shoulder. He woke up and discovered that she wasn't in bed with them, though due to the fact that he was still not speaking, the only thing he could do was pout to show how sad he was.

Ei understood him anyway, she often forgot that Kunikuzushi was so fragile and weak that even walking was something he still struggled with.

The archon sighed and decided to resume reading her book. It was silent for a few seconds, until Ei reached to bring her tea up for a drink and Kunikuzushi whined, reaching his hands to grab the small cup.

Ei looked at him with confusion, but she soon realised that Kunikuzushi must want to drink some of her tea. Miko would have gotten annoyed with him for trying to disturb her during her reading time, but Ei was different. This was a perfect opportunity to try putting what she had learnt into action.

This would be strange to her, she was not particularly used to any of this. But, if it's supposed to help Kunikuzushi, then she would do it. "You want to drink from mama's cup of tea?" She asked carefully.

Kunikuzushi stared at the cup, then at his mother before nodding slowly. The tea was still a bit warm now though, but it was alright Ei supposed, perfect temperature for somebody as young as him. She gave him the tea cup, and he held it weakly. The archon was worried that he might drop it, but she felt a wave of relief when he still managed to drink it clumsily.

"Mm..mm!" He pointed at the book his mother was reading. Ei furrowed her eyebrows at him, something she often found herself doing nowadays. "This is a book. The book is supposed to help me try and teach you how to speak love. Though, I do not think you will be particularly interested in reading this."  Kunikuzushi only shook his head and pointed at the book again.

The electro archon frowned at his stubborn behaviour, but there would be no harm being done. "Alright then. Here it says, pretend to have conversations with your child whenever they make noises..."

Kunikuzushi was paying close attention to what she was saying, occasionally drinking from the cup as he also stared at the words. But the truth of the matter was; he did not have a clue of what she was speaking about, but her voice was soothing him and keeping his mind at a pleasant peace, so much so that at some point the tea finally finished and he was just sipping the emptiness of the cup. His eyes were drooping and he blinked slowly, this was the effect his mother had on him.

Ei would occasionally ask Kunikuzushi if he thought these things were actually going to work. He often responded with the shake of his head or noises, even though he knew nothing of this topic, Ei still took his opinion very seriously.

" 'Show drawings of familiar people and places. Talk about who they are and what happened.' Oh? Would you be interested in that Kunikuzushi?" The only response she received in return was silence. That was when she finally took in account that the sound of Kunikuzushi sipping air from the empty cup had stopped.

And when Ei finally turned her gaze over to the boy, she was surprised to see that he had fallen asleep with the tea cup still held loosely in his hands, barely hanging from his fingers. Her gaze softened at the site, in a way that she often found herself doing whenever she was with Kunikuzushi, her son.

Yes.. Ei is a mother now. And she swore to stay by Kunikuzushi's side for eternity.

"Rest well..my son."

————

"Mm mm!" The puppet stubbornly clung to his creator with clear tears forming in his eyes, his grip on her only tightening the more time went on.

Yae huffed in desperation. Why was Kunikuzushi being so stubborn now? "Kuni baby she will be coming back home later." The tired mother tried to persuade him. Ei nodded in agreement and lightly attempted to unattach Kunikuzushi from her waist.

"I'm deeply sorry Kunikuzushi, but I must go this time. You will be alright with your mama here." Kunikuzushi whined even louder when his mother had successfully gotten him off of her, allowing himself to fully sit on his knees in defeat. Yae only let out a sigh in relief and gave her lover a sympathetic smile, which Ei returned sadly.

"I'm sorry for troubling you once again Miko. But, this truly is an important matter that I have to handle." There were some issues within the tri-commission that still had not been dealt with, meaning that Ei would need to aid them by giving her divine judgement over the situation. This, of course also meant that she would not be able to stay in the tenshukaku for the day, which was an outcome not favoured by it's residents.

Kunikuzushi did not take the news very well. He was attached to his parents, naturally of course because they were his parents, but also because he did not like it whenever they were separated for even a few moments.

Miko often left, and Kunikuzushi was slowly growing used to that already, but Ei had been by his side since he awoke in the place of dreams in which he was created, and on the rare times where she had left for whatever reason, Kunikuzushi was often in a good mood and fairly happy with just having his mama already.

But there were often times where all the puppet wanted to do was cling by Ei's side throughout the entire day until he fell asleep. Unfortunately for the family, today was also one of those days.

Yae placed a firm grim on Kunikuzushi as they both watched Ei leave, swimming in the sound of the puppets incoherent cries of desperation. This was for the best, but her son made her feel like she had just committed a serious offense.

Miko pinched the bridge of her nose to prepare herself for what was to come mentally. She was about to tell him to stop crying when he did something that made all her annoyance melt away into a feeling she wasn't yet fond of.

Kunikuzushi got up and turned to her with tears in his eyes, reaching forward for his mom as he cried.

"Mm..ma-..mama!" Kunikuzushi sobbed, throwing himself onto Miko and resting his head on her chest. Miko held him closer by reflex but her shock was far beyond words. He had just said his second word, and it was Miko once again.

She cooed and stroked his hair softly. Ei would be sad that she had missed this moment, but she was sure that Kunikuzushi would make up for it later. Right now she just allowed herself to live in the moment and comfort her baby.

So, she listened to his cries and soothed him lovingly as he continued to sob on her. She didn’t know how long they had been standing there, but at some point Kunikuzushi got tired of standing.

He did not want to go anywhere else, so they just laid down on the floor together and listened to the silence, and occasionally hiccups from the younger.

Now as Miko laid on the floor with a 2 weeks old puppet cuddling against her, she allowed herself to think about how she had ended up in this position. With a god as her lover, and a weapon for war as her son.

If she were to be honest, she would give them the world if she had it in her grasp, she loved them both that much. It was outstanding how her life had changed so much just because of this boy she was holding.

Kunikuzushi hiccuped again, and this time Miko stroked his cheek with her thumb, as if that would take it away. "Shh my sweetheart.. everything is going to be alright"

The hiccups came to an abrupt stop.

.
.
.

The sound of shuffling in the room and Kunikuzushi shifting in her arms is what Miko woke up to. She didn't quite remember exactly when she had fallen asleep, but she was still drowsy and in need of more sleep.

Kunikuzushi blinked a few times before registering his surroundings. It was his mother that was in the ro, and she seemed to be simply staring at the two with a soft expression on her face. The puppet made a noise of happiness and clumsily got off the ground, which startled Ei because she assumed he was going to tip over like he normally would.

He did tip over, but Ei was there to catch him in her arms, just like how she held him when they first met.

Ei looked into his eyes, and there she saw joy. She couldn't help but hold him close as she fell to the ground intentionally by her lovers side, their son seated happily on her stomach.

Kunikuzushi giggled happily and placed both of his hands on his mothers cheeks, squishing them in the process.

"Mommy!"

Ei stared at him with widened eyes. Kunikuzushi had just.. he called her mommy. He considers her to be one of the people he can trust the most, that brought him into the world to protect him and grow with him. Ei knew she was a mother now, but hearing him call her this was truly an emotional moment for her.

She fell her heart squeeze and moisture build up in her eyes, distorting her vision. But when the first tear slipped from her eyes, she felt somebody kiss it away lovingly. She turned her head and made eye contact with her love, Miko.

She smiled at her, a loving smile, and Ei smiled back, the tears falling at an even faster rate than before.

In this moment, she felt so happy. She has people to come home to, and people to simply sit in solitude with. She felt like she didn't deserve any of this.

Miko rested a palm on top of her son's.

"Welcome back home, Ei"

"..Yes.. home"

Chapter Text

—————

It had been decided that Kunikuzushi would be shown to the public only after he becomes comfortable with his body and other things.

Yae and Ei had just assumed that it would only take two weeks or less, so they both found ways to cut through their schedules iso that they could spend time personally teaching their son some basic things he needed to know.

The first thing they tried teaching him was walking. Usually the boy would only be able to walk small distances before falling over or tripping on his own feet.

As much as it was amusing for Yae to witness she also began feeling pity for him. Hence the reason they were now in a spacious room that they had ‘Kuni proofed’ according to Yae, with multiple soft blankets and pillows in case Kunikuzushi fell.

The idea was to position Ei at the opposite end of the room from Kunikuzushi and Yae so that he could walk his way over to the archon. Ei was sure this would work, if he could speak (and throw tiny insults at them) surely he must also know how to walk?

Ei went to the far end of the room while Yae held Kunikuzushi’s hand and led him to his side of the room. Kunikuzushi was left confused, why were they moving away from each other?

Ei held out her arms out to Kunikuzushi and made little grab motions with her hands. This was.. certainly not something she would ever imagine she would find herself doing in her entire lifetime.

Miko pushed down the urge to tease her about it and instead focused her attention on her son who was looking at her expectantly like he was demanding her to tell him what his mother was doing.

“Go on kuni baby, walk over to your mother over there. She wants to give you a biiig hug!" Yae encouraged him while rubbing his shoulder.

Kunikuzushi looked at Ei who was calling for him, then he looked at Miko who was encouraging him to go far away from her. He did not know of why they were asking him to go to one of them, he wanted both of them here with him.

Before he knew it, Kunikuzushi’s eyes began tearing up and his hands were reaching out to Ei as well as if asking her to come there.

“Mama, why is mother running away from us?"

Yae’s heart swelled as she wiped his tears away and gave him a chaste kiss on the forehead. “She’s not running away from us Kuni darling, she just wants you to walk to her."

“Kunikuzushi, I am right here waiting for you, try walking to me please?" Ei tried soothing him, the distance between them wasn’t even that large. Surely he would be able to reach her.

Kunikuzushi looked at his mother then began slowly making his way to her. He was still reaching out for Ei, who was smiling at her son in encouragement.

“Come on sweetheart, you’re almost there!" Yae Miko cheered as Kunikuzushi made his way to the centre of the room. It was at that very moment when he tripped over his own feet and fell flat on his face.

Good thing they Kuni proofed the room.

She bursts out into a fit of giggles while Ei stared at Kunikuzushi in surprise. Brows twitching slight. “How is it even possible for one to trip over their own feet!"

Ei sighed and made her way over to her son who was now sitting up and rubbing his eyes in confusion. “Maybe it’s best we try a different approach?"

Miko looked at Ei in curiosity as she helped get up again and gently gave him the hug her lover promised to him. The boy nuzzled into his mother’s chest and pouted.

“Kuni dear, why don’t we try walking to your mama together? Then we can all go get sweets?"

She thought this was a great idea. Not only will Ei be there to help him if he falls, but he would now feel more encouraged because he had some sweet treats on the line.

"Mm...okay. But I want extra sweets." The puppet demanded. He was almost exactly like his mother when it came to sweet foods.

———

Kunikuzushi had succeeded in walking, in fact he surprised them when he basically ran over to where all their sweet treats were being displayed. He was already sitting by the table and impatiently waiting for his parents.

Yae smiled in amusement and sat herself down by the table as well. Kunikuzushi was already making great progress so far, it seems he was unlocking some of his stored away abilities rapidly.

“In my eyes, it seems that Kunikuzushi is more than ready to get publicly recognised." Yae said as she poured some tea for them while Ei sat down to proceed with eating her sweets and thinking.

She had been thinking seriously about kunikuzushi’s purpose. He was far too weak to become the puppet raiden shogun, for now atleast, but he was still able to furfill his other purpose.

He was capable of storing the gnosis inside of him.

Ei had already decided that he would be the best person to hand it over too, and he most certainly won’t use it in battle, not like she’ll let him go out fighting with people.

She had already brought this matter up with Yae, and she said she didn’t really see a problem with it. So all Ei had to do is ask Kunikuzushi if he wouldn’t mind.

Ei looked at her family. The boy was currently being spoon fed a slice of cake from Yae’s plate. He seemed to be enjoying himself right now so maybe it would be best to bring it up later.

———

Over the past few days Kunikuzushi was rapidly remembering things, so Ei and Yae didn’t even need to teach him much. Holding tea cups, having quick reflexes and even wielding a weapon. These things were coming to him like second nature.

And yet he still always sits on his hair.

It was night time, which meant it was Ei’s turn to watch over Kunikuzushi. The two had developed a sort of schedule where Yae would usually watch over Kunikuzushi during the day and Ei would watch after him in the night while Yae slept. This time table would only come into practice when one of them would be too busy to make a crack into their schedules or if one was too tired.

Both of them also tried spending quality time with their son together like a family, but that was easier being said than done.

Ei was currently sitting with Kunikuzushi on her bed in her bedroom. She was helping him maintain his long hair by combing through it and removing all the knots. Kunikuzushi was enjoying being pampered like this even though he wouldn’t admit it verbally.

Ei decided that now was the right time to tell him about the gnosis, so she broke the comfortable silence they had built.

“Kunikuzushi?" The puppet made a noise, signifying he was listening.

“You are familiar with the term a ‘heart’ are you not?"

Kunikuzushi had to search his ‘brain’ a bit to get the answer. "It’s the human part that keeps them alive right?" He knew it played a big part in them as a person, but he didn’t understand it that much.

Ei gave Kunikuzushi a rewarding pat on the head before continuing with her hair grooming. “Yes that is true, but that is not the only reason why the heart is important. Apart from keeping people alive it also helps humans feel emotions, like love, sadness or even loneliness."

Kunikuzushi was now confused, he wasn’t accustomed to all of those new emotions but he surely had experienced some of them in his few days of being in this world. But as far as he knew he did not have a heart.

“Mother, do I posses a heart?"

Ei had been expecting this question, so she already had a suitable response prepared. “..no. When I created you I gave you your own conscious, which gave you the ability to think and feel things on your own. You don’t necessarily need a heart Kuni, but if you want one I can give it to you"

Kunikuzushi thought about it, what difference would it make? Having a heart when he doesn’t even need it. His moms probably both had hearts, and everyone he meets after them will most likely have hearts too. But he won’t.

He would just be a vessel in their eyes, not a real living being.

Maybe having a heart would make him feel more alive?

“…i want to have a heart."

Ei put down her hair brush and turned Kinikuzushi around to face her properly. He looked a bit startled but then he looked at her with determination and desire in his eyes. Ei knew that look oh too well.

“Then so be it. I must warn you that it will hurt. But don’t worry you’ll be alright. Just lay down for me." Ei instructed.

Kunikuzushi hesitated before laying his body down. Was this really the right decision? Well it’s now or never.

He watched his mom summon what seemed to be a purple chess piece? How would that be a heart?

Ei noticed her sons confusion and smiled slightly, “this is a gnosis. When you become an archon, celestia grants you with these to aid you like a catalyst, think of it as the vision that a human gets.

When I made you, you were also supposed to posses my gnosis. It was supposed to be equivalent to the human organ which is known as the heart…but I feared that maybe.." she didn’t finish her sentence, instead she looked away sadly.

Kunikuzushi placed a hand ontop of hers. He knew what she meant, after her sister had died it’s only natural that she would start to behave this way. ”Mother I’ll be fine…I want to keep your gnosis, if that’s one of the purposes I was supposed to fulfil then I want to be able to do it for you."

The two held eye contact for a minute before ei caved and let out a sigh.

“…alright. Stay calm and relax your body for me."

Kunikuzushi did as told and relaxed himself. Ei summoned a burst of electro energy, then pressed the gnosis gently into the puppets chest, well as gently as she could.

Kunikuzushi felt a jolt of pain coursing through his body. It felt like he was being electrocuted by this foreign object that had been pushed into his chest. He let out a loud yelp of pain when Ei retracted her hand quickly and now all that was left was this buzzing sensation in his chest.

“Are you alright??" The mother worriedly asked her son.

“..yea just…give me a second to rest for a bit."

————

“Hey mama! Take a look at my cool electro mark!" Kunikuzushi had been walking around the palace with only his shorts on for a day now after he got his new heart transferred into him.

An electro symbol had appeared on the spot where the gnosis was located and that was honestly the only thing he was talking about now.

When Yae got back she was ambushed by him excitedly talking about finally having a heart. Yae was humouring him, which only encouraged him to talk about it even more.

“At this point it would be best if you just went out in the streets of inazuma shirtless so that everyone can see it"

“When I get publicly announced can I not wear anything?"

“Stop encouraging him miko.."

Chapter Text

Getting Kunikuzushi publicly announced wasn’t going to be an easy task.

Ei herself at first believed it would not be too complicated, but Yae Miko briskly reminded her that she first had to alert the tri-commission, and they would probably propose a private welcoming ceremony (or perhaps a party? She couldn’t wrap her head around it) with only members from the tri-commission present.

After that Ei was allegedly supposed to tell the other archons about her son and invite them to come over and see him whenever they pleased. Or rather, that is just what Miko thought she should do. Yae Miko would later argue that she said it as a joke, but Ei decided it wouldn’t hurt much to do so.

Then, it still was not over, because Miko wanted to get Kunikuzushi blessed by the sacred Sakura tree and then finally, they would begin preparations for announcing him to the public. It was a lot to do but the two were willing to do it all if it was what their son wanted.

——————

In the morning Ei had left to personally alert the tri-commission about her son while Miko was busy helping with the preparations for the blessing ceremony they would have soon, which left Kunikuzushi all alone in Tenshukaku to wander about as much as he pleased.

Ei and Miko didn’t leave without telling him some ground rules of course, whether he decides to obey them or rebel against them is up for him to decide.

The rules were simple:
Do not leave tenshukaku.
Do not touch any sharp objects.
And finally do not talk to anybody he has not met before.

Kunikuzushi would want to do all of those things but he was feeling very indolent for a reason he could not describe. Was this the human feeling known as ´laziness’?

Instead, he decided to use his free time to start discovering himself more as an individual. He felt foreign to his consciousness like he barely knew anything about the type of being he was. The feeling felt uncomfortable in his chest, so he thought that maybe trying to do new things would show him what he was actually like.

He learnt that he enjoyed dancing and hated sour foods, but preferred bitter things over sweet ones. He also discovered that he didn’t have a firm grip on controlling his elemental energy, hence the reason he accidentally electrocuted himself.

At the end of the day when his parents returned home, he got scolded for not waiting till one of them was around to help him with his elemental mastery. But, Miko still rewarded him in secret for finding out how to access said powers in the first place.

The kitsune was tired and so she fell asleep earlier which meant Ei had to be the one to coax Kunikuzushi into sleeping. The puppet only complied when his mother agreed to join him in the comfortable sheets.

That night Kunikuzushi spent about an hour telling Ei about all the new things he discovered while they were gone. Ei listened patiently until the boy finally got drowsy and fell asleep in her arms.

———-

“Kuni dear, stay still for me, please? I need to put your eyeliner on properly." Yae Miko tried reasoning with her son so that her job of dressing him up could be easier. Kunikuzushi pouted but still obliged even though he didn’t even want to be here right now.

Just like she predicted, the tri-commission highly recommended that there should be a welcoming ceremony so that they could all meet Kunikuzushi personally. Ei, as much as she didn’t want to, had no choice but to agree to their silent demands. They were her people after all.

Miko had suggested that she should be the one to help prepare Kunikuzushi while Ei ´mingled’ with her subjects. It had been quite some time since she last spoke to them more informally.

She finished straightening her son’s make-up before standing straight to look at her work.
Kunikuzushi looked graceful and elegant, even though his facial expression was so far from both of those factors. He looked uninterested.
He still looked gorgeous though.

“You look stunning Kuni dear, are you excited to go to the ceremony?" The kitsune cooed while lightly squishing the young boy’s reddening cheeks. Kunikuzushi frowned and lightly glared at his mom which earned him a small giggle.

He has to admit that he was excited to see more faces for the first time. He knows how much his parents love and care for the people that reside within this nation, he also had grown quite fond of them through his mother's memories. The issue was that he wasn’t looking forward to all the talking he would have to do.

“Aw don’t frown at me, sweetheart. The time is going to fly by very quickly and it will all be over before you know it." Miko gave him a chaste kiss on the forehead and a reassuring smile to ease his troubles. She knew him well enough to know that this wasn’t the type of event for him.

“Mm… let’s just finish this already"

—————-

When Kunikuzushi walked into the ceremony room alone because Miko couldn’t walk to Ei with him for some reason, he noticed that there were a lot of people inside. All of them looked like people of high status based on the way they presented themselves.

They were all sat down by their respective chabudai, but as soon Kunikuzushi’s presence was noticed in the room they got up and bowed in respect. The puppet liked the powerful feeling that gave him.

The young male placed himself beside his mother at the front of the room. Ei seemed to relax for a moment before quickly switching back to her usual cold demeanour.

“You may all be at ease."

Everyone quietly sat back in their seats, pushing down their urges to stare at their Shogun’s eye-catching son. Though some of them still allowed themselves to steal a glance at the young male.
Ei cleared her throat to summon their attention back to her. “As you are all aware, I recently became a mother to my son, kunikuzushi. He is my pride and joy, my inspiration to keep pursuing eternity, but above all, he is now also your shogun. A new guardian of Inazuma that will help pave a path of eternity for all of you.

You are to respect him as you would respect me, his orders as of now will be just as valid as an order directly from myself… of course, he will always have to speak to me about it first for permission."

Everyone in the room, besides Yae Miko and kunikuzushi, was shocked by the concept their archon had just spoken of. Two shoguns? That’s something no one would have ever thought existed.

Ei turned to look at her son and gestured for him to say something to the people. They were all looking at him expectantly so it’s not like he had a choice. He didn’t even prepare so he decided to just speak his mind.

Kunikuzushi stepped forward and unconsciously brushed a nonexistent strand of his hair out of his face. “All of you are citizens of Inazuma, people who are protected under the gaze of the almighty shogun. But as of now, you are my people too. People that I want to protect no matter what the stakes are.

I wish to get to know all of you better, and to stand by your side as an ally for eternity as we watch our beloved Inazuma flourish into a strong nation that others would think twice before attempting to engage in combat. I hope we can both grow to respect each other and trust each other in our times of trials and tribulations." He ended the speech with a bow that was too low because he still didn’t know how to properly do it, then stood back up to see their reactions.

Everyone in the room was moved by the things their now second shogun had said. After the devastating battle that had taken place in Inazuma, all of them felt as if a part of them had also died alongside their brave comrades who fought so hard to save their nation.

Kunikuzushi’s speech lit a small sense of determination in them. A determination to continue striving forward even after all that happened in the past.

Soon everyone stood up and proudly bowed in a returned respect to their new leader.
“Glory to the almighty shoguns! I am sure we are all looking forward to a life led by both you and the shogun." A member of the Keadehara clan exclaimed proudly, which earned a lot of cheers in agreement.

“Well, what are we waiting for? Let us rejoice!"

.
.
.
.

The party went well. Everyone spent the rest of the day drinking and celebrating their new heir of Inazuma. Of course, Ei and Yae Miko refused to let kunikuzushi drink any alcohol and the shogunate present had to control their alcohol intake out of respect. But overall it was still an enjoyable evening.

Kunikuzushi spoke to some of the people present, something he found enjoyable because he got to see how flustered and discomposed they would behave in front of him. It was only a natural reaction of course, but, many of them were only behaving that way because of how beautiful he was.

Like mother like son…

The night ended with a tipsy Miko and a very tired Kunikuzushi cuddled up together in Ei’s bedroom while the owner of the room was at the top of tenshukaku roof sending messages of electro to all 6 archons, alerting them of her son and inviting them to come to visit if they wished. She secretly hoped that some of them wouldn’t pay any mind to it.

After that Ei went back inside to rest with her family.

—————

Kunikuzushi was very well-liked at the Grand Narukami Shrine. All the shrine maidens thought he was quite adorable and the way he walked into the shrine while gripping the back of Miko’s white fabric just made their hearts melt into a puddle.

Yae Miko was always telling them how cute and grumpy he was before this point, but it truly was hard to believe that the son of the Shogun would act in such a way. But now that he was here standing in front of them her statements were all proven to be true.

Kunikuzushi didn’t even understand why he felt so small in the presence of his mother's co-workers. Maybe it was because of how nicely they treated him as soon as he had arrived. They even gave him some cake and dango to eat while he waited for them to finish preparations.

The ceremony went quite well. Miko would sometimes help Kunikuzushi do the right steps and the shrine maidens were constantly doting on Kunikuzushi whenever they got the chance but other than that everything went smoothly. So smoothly that Miko even allowed Kunikuzushi to stay with her for the rest of the day because of his good behaviour.

The puppet spent the rest of the day braiding sakura tree petals into his and the other nice ladies at the shrine’s hair. Sadly, after he attempted to eat some of the petals Miko immediately decided it was time to take him back home with the promise of visiting again another time.

—————

The day of Kunikuzushi’s public appearance had finally arrived.

People were curious when sudden preparations were being made for some type of big event. The citizens only found out what was going on a day before it was all happening, this sent them all into a spiral of different emotions. Most of it was excitement because who wouldn’t be excited about something like this?

The crowds were gathered around the statue of the Omnipresent God. Everyone was talking excitedly amongst themselves about what they thought the new prince of Inazuma would possibly look like or theories about where he must have come from.

“Maybe he’ll be handsome!"

“Nonsense, he must be a baby right?"

“Does the shogun have a secret lover?"

“Maybe my grandson could marry him.."

And so on.

The chatter died down when the almighty shogun ascended the steps to the statue, a short young male with long indigo hair following closely behind her.

The crowd broke into whispers and small gasps before they were silenced by Ei’s piercing gaze. All the chatter could be reserved for later. The archon composed herself and smiled at her citizens.

“My people, it is good to see that you are all in good spirits. So am I, for this is a time of celebration that I am delighted to share with all of you. Besides me is my precious son, Kunikuzushi. The second shogun and now, the vice ruler of Inazuma that will help pave a future of eternity."

Everyone instinctively looked at kunikuzushi as soon as ei finished her short speech. The pressure the puppet felt was suffocating in a way that he didn’t like. He knew it was only because they were simply curious, just like him. The difference was that they were curious to know if the young man before them truly was capable of leading their nation.

That was something he also wasn’t sure about either.

“People of Inazuma…" He could already feel himself squirming at the silence they gave, "Just by looking at all of you I can tell that you all have lived through great tragedy and misfortune. But even after all of that you are all still trying to push forward with a newfound hope in your hearts. Hope for a peaceful future with the people you love and the land that your ancestors have protected for many decades.

I also hope for the same thing for all of you, even if I haven’t known you for long. I know how much my mother cares about you all and I can tell that you are all extremely fond of her as well, but, I wish to someday have the same relationship with every one of you. I’ll try my best to be a good leader." He may have looked calm but behind his back, he was secretly playing with his fingers in anxiety.

Ei sensed her child’s growing discomfort so she quickly decided to speak up. “Everything he spoke of is true. He is also your ruler now so you are to treat him with the same respect that you would treat me with. Now, let us celebrate, for this is a day that will live on for eternity."

Everyone took this as their permission to speak and soon they all began cheering for Kunikuzushi, screaming things like ‘glory to the almighty shoguns!’

They were amazed by how passionate he seemed to be even though he had only met them today. Of course, they did not know that his mother's memories were carefully planted into his system.

Besides that, today was a day that the nation would celebrate for eternity, for it was the day they had been given a prince who would love and support them for as long as he lived.

Chapter Text

”Miko I just don’t think Kunikuzushi should be going outside so often."

“But Ei dear, if he doesn’t socialise with his people how is he going to lead them in the future?"

“We can just teach him all of that within the safety of Tenshukaku."

“Ei… you know that won’t do, he’ll be just fine outside."

This conversation had been going back and forth between the two for 10 minutes now. Miko was so insistent on letting their son go out more often while Ei wanted him to stay in tenshukaku for only celestia knows how long.

Ei knew the real reason why she didn’t want Kunikuzushi going outside. Both of them knew, she just would not admit it to herself. She didn’t want to come to terms with her true concerns.

She didn’t want to admit that she was scared. If not terrified.

Kunikuzushi was so fragile and weak to her. What would happen if somebody dares to attack him while he is out there in the world and she isn’t around to protect him? What if he wanders too far away from the city and ends up injured with no way to call for help?

What if he ends up just like Makoto.
What would she do then?

Yae frowned when she saw Ei’s facial expression change from a stern one to one of sorrow. She must be thinking about how dangerous it would be if Kunikuzushi was left out of their sight. Ei was still grieving over Makoto’s death, the idea of Kunikuzushi being at a slight risk of ending up like her sister was something she would clearly not tolerate. It wouldn’t take a fool to know that.

As her spouse, Yae would take it upon herself to get rid of all of her worries. She wanted to help Ei realise that Kunikuzushi would learn how to grow stronger so that he would be able to protect them and the rest of inazuma. Knowing her stubborn wife, this concept would take years for her to come to terms with.

“Ei.. don’t worry. I’ll be there with him so I’ll make sure he doesn’t get into any sort of mischief." The archon relaxed a bit, but she still seemed unconvinced. It’s not that she didn’t trust her, no, she trusted Miko with everything she had. Ei was just still worried because… anything could happen.

Miko let out a long sigh and cupped her lovers cheeks with her palms. Then she placed her forehead on Ei’s so that she could listen to her words very carefully.

“Ei, don’t you think Kunikuzushi would want to train harder so that he can protect Inazuma? He made a great promise to the people, it is our job as his parents to help him grow stronger so that he can stay true to his word. That is what you signed up for once you took him under your wing."

Ei’s eyes softened as she gazed back into Miko’s care filled ones. The kitsune was right, she had also made a promise to them. She promised them that he would protect them aswell. It was their job to aid him so that he won’t be fragile anymore, that is the role of a parental figure isn’t it?

Yes. She made that promise the moment she met Kunikuzushi’s gaze.

“Miko… thank you."

Before they even realised it, the two immortals leaned in to close the distance between them before they got rudely interrupted by the source of all the turmoil in the home.

“What are you doing?"

The archon found herself quickly distancing herself from the kitsune to fix her already perfectly done hair piece in light embarrassment.

Kunikuzushi still doesn’t know anything at all about the world they live in, this is merely the reason he asked that simple question, and Ei had no reason to be annoyed by his clueless behaviour. But yet she still found herself feeling displeased by Kunikuzushi’s sudden appearance.

Ei and Miko rarely ever got time alone now that they have established this small family with Kunikuzushi, it only made sense that tense situations like this would occur. Morevover, Ei is never willing to let Kunikuzushi out of her sight, she wants to make sure that he is always safe, but at what cost?

Yae Miko giggled to herself which made the clueless puppet furrow his eyebrows in confusion. “Now now, don’t worry, that was something you shouldn’t be concerned about any time soon kuni-kuni." The kitsune’s ominous response only made the boy frown to accompany his knitted eyebrows.

Miko reached her hand forward and rubbed her thumb on the space between his eyebrows to unfurrow them. “If you keep doing that your face might get stuck that way~"

The terrified expression she received in return was priceless, she couldn’t help but burst into a fit of giggles.

‘How immature of her…’ Ei shook her head in disapproval of the exchange and decided to put aside her embarrassment so that she could prevent Miko from taking anymore humour in their son’s agony.

“Don’t listen to your mama, your face will always be perfect." Kunikuzushi’s posture relaxed, but he soon crossed his arms and turned away from his mama for purposefully scaring him.

“Aww don’t be so upset with mama. After all, I can’t take an upset Kunikuzushi out to Inazuma city. Ah… oh well it’s alright, I guess I’ll just go by myself.." Yae Miko swiftly fake pouted and pretended like she was heading for the door to further enhance her little white lie.

Kunikuzushi gasped and scrambled to hug her as a poor attempt to make his mom stay. It worked though because she immediately returned the hug and coo’d at his clingy behaviour.

“I’m just joking with you, we are going to Inazuma city today so that you can become further acquainted with the people. Now isn’t that fun?" Miko announced with a small smile. The puppets face lit up and he slowly detached and began excitedly bouncing around the room like an electro seelie. Ei smiled and crossed her arms in amusement.

Kunikuzushi hadn’t been outside for a little over a week. Ei thought it would be best to wait until the chaos and uproar in Inazuma dies down from the announcement before she would let him go out into the city, atleast that is what she continued telling Yae Miko.

Now that the Guuji had convinced her to let him go out for the day, it gave her time to start addressing all the pending issue she had to deal with.

“Thank you mama! Is mother coming as well?” Miko her head, “you shouldn’t be thanking me, your mother is the one that gave you permission to go, but sadly she won’t be coming with us, she has a lot of business to attend to."

The archon still had to decide on which duties Kunikuzushi would be handling in her stead. Miko will be joining her later after their little adventure because she doesn’t trust her judgement, which is fair. She would end up giving him the least important ones like, managing tenshukaku’s library.

Kunikuzushi was slightly sad, but he also was aware of the weight his mother’s title carried, he would be able to spend some time with her later. That’s what he tried telling himself as to not feel bad about her not joining them. He has always preferred spending time with his parents together, it was very clingy of him but he simply did not care. Though they’re times like this where he has to make an acception.

“Oh, that’s okay. Be safe mother, me and mama will get home quickly so you won’t feel lonely!" The puppet said proudly, completely unaware of how his statement made his mother blush faintly in embarrassment. How did he know about that? Perhaps he’s exposed to too many of her memories.

Yae decided to be merciful on Ei by changing the subject, she has been too nice to these two lately..

“Alright lets go now kuni, the longer we stay here the less time you’ll have to roam around the city."

—————

Yae and kunikuzushi made their way into the inazuma city streets.

The kitsune had no destination in mind, maybe she would catch up with some old acquaintances or maybe she would buy some sweets for her lover, who knows. It’s not like the destination mattered, kunikuzushi would probably be willing to go anywhere.

With the way he was behaving, looking around excitedly with an adorable bounce in his step, it almost felt like she was taking a dog out on a walk. He even forgot to wear his shoes so he was walking around barefoot! Yae still made sure to pack him some footwear alongside some mora to help pay for any expenses.

The citizens were still not used to having Kunikuzushi around, but they did not react negatively to his presence. In fact, many of them were greeting him as they walked through the bustling streets. Though they were still tense, due to his high status, no one dared to go as far as approaching them.

The kids thought differently, most were blown away by his appearance and weren’t afraid to engage in a conversation with him. This one curious young boy in particular decided to run over to the puppet for further inspection, leaving his group of friends that seemed to be comforting one of their own behind.

Kunikuzushi stopped and stared at the boy in curiosity as he made his way to him. Yae decided it was best to just sit back and watch the exchange unfold.

The young boy shrunk under Kunikuzushi’s gaze, feeling shy and more self aware of the position he was in. He was beginning to regret running over here instead of comforting his friend.

“Hello Shogun, um I just wanted to say you are really pretty and if you want you can come play with me and my friends! Well if you aren’t busy of course.. " He managed to stutter out, his hands behind his back as he swished his body around shyly.

Kunikuzushi brightened up for the nth time today. He wanted to go and play with those children but he wasn’t sure if his mama would allow him to do so. The puppet looked at his mom and she simply nodded her head in approval. Kunikuzushi then turned back to the boy and at him smiled.

“Hmm.. thank you very much, you’re too kind. I would enjoy playing with you and your friends." The young boy was not expecting that answer, but still he cheered and prepared to lead Kunikuzushi to his group of friend before his mother rushed over to the three and quickly stepped in front of the boy to prevent him from doing anything else.

“I sincerely apologise Shogun and lady Yae. My son is just too curious and always ends up wandering off on his own.." The poor woman looked tired, she most likely had been the one supervising the children while they were playing.

Yae shook her head and smiled at the new addition to their conversation. “Don’t worry Miss Kamisato, there’s no harm being done and I’m sure these two would love to have some fun together… actually you look quite worn out, why don’t I treat you to some tea hm?"

She recognised the woman as a descendant from the Kamisato clan or wife of the current leader of the clan. The poor house wife must be all worn out by now.

The lady knew it would be rude to decline such an offer, so she submitted to the Guuji’s request with a heavy sigh and a hand resting upon her forehead. “You are too kind lady Yae, alright. Would it be okay if went to komore tea house?"

“That would be just fine." She turned to Kunikuzushi and pat his head softly, not as a sign of comfort but as a warning telling to stay out of trouble or else. The young male got the message and shuddered, but still he nodded and watched the two walk away to another building across the street.

The puppet turned to look at the boys group of friends in the distance. They were all gathered around another young child that seemed to be crying. Were they perhaps comforting them? But if that was true, what was this boy doing here? Shouldn’t he be comforting his friend as well?

Kunikuzushi turned to look at the boy that had been staring at him for quite sometime now. “Why is your friend crying? Shouldn’t you be comforting them right now?"

“Oh yea! I saw you and lady Yae so I kind of got distracted, my mother always complains about how I get too distant sometimes.. besides the point, that’s my friend, she’s sad because she lost her special sword that her father had gifted her. It was really important to her so I get why she’s sad.." The boy rambled energetically.

Kunikuzushi furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, “she’s crying because of a meer object? Why not just ask her father to make a new sword?" A sword is such a replaceable object, what could make it so special that losing it could bring someone to tears? Was it the fact that her father gifted it to her? But how would that make an object special?

“No no that will take away the specialness! Her father gave it to her as her very first sword so it’s special! It won’t feel the same if he just gets another one. Hasn’t your mother given you a special gift before?" This question made Kunikuzushi pause.

Had his parents ever gifted him with an object like that? Something that he would surely be sad about losing?

It only took a few moments before he remembered the buzzing feeling he had in his chest the day his mother gave him his heart. He talked about it for days and it made him feel special. Is that how the girl felt when she received her sword? If so, losing it must have been terrible for her.

Kunikuzushi shuddered at the thought of the same thing happening to him. He decided that he would take it upon himself
help the girl find her sword no matter the cost.

“..yes she has. Im sorry, I seemed to have misunderstood your friend’s situation, but I now understand why she is upset. If you don’t mind I want to help her find it." He said with a hand placed on the spot his heart resided in. The young boy nodded with enthusiasm and began leading Kunikuzushi to the rest of his friend group.

.
. 
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“It’s okay Yu.. we’ll find it soon!" A young boy said while rubbing his friends back. Another boy, who only seemed to have just noticed their friend’s sudden disappearance, decided to speak up aswell. “Where is Hikaru? He was here just a minute ago?"

Yu wiped her tears and sniffled with her puffy eyes glued the ground. ”I apologise, it’s all my fault.. first I lost my sword and now we lost Hikaru.. im bad luck, you guys should just stop being friends with me.. "

“There will be no need for any of that."

The three kids jumped in surprise when they saw their Shogun standing next to their friend with no shoes on. Had he actually succeeded in talking to the Shogun? But where were his shoes..

“Yea don’t cry Yu! He said he wants to help you find your sword!" Hikaru exclaimed while patting Yu on her back. The young girl sniffled and looked at Kunikuzushi with a new found hope in her eyes, “Really? I’m sorry for bothering you Shogun.."

Kunikuzushi frowned at how sad the child looked. For some reason just seeing children sad made him sad too.

He knelt down to get on her level and used the sleeves of his kimono to gently wipe her tears away. “You’re not bothering me. I choose to help you because I understand how you felt when you lost your precious item."

“Really? The Raiden Shogun gave you a special sword too?" The one of the unnamed boys asked in curiosity. Kunikuzushi laughed softly and shook his head, then parted his kimono a bit to reveal the electro symbol on his chest. “No, but she gave me a heart."

The four kids gasped in unison and stared at the symbol in awe, though Kunikuzushi did not allow them to stare for long because they had other matters to attend to. Maybe he could show off his cool symbol later.

“So Yu, can you explain to me how exactly you lost your sword?" Kunikuzushi asked patiently. The small girl nodded and began retelling the events of her morning.

“I don’t think you know this, but I am a descendant of the kaedehara clan, so swords and blade crafting are very important in my family. My father recently got me a sword of my own, but only for practice because he says I’m too young. Anyway, I carried it everywhere I went, and today wasn’t any different.

My father had to go do some business in the wild just outside inazuma city so he said I could come with him. It was all going okay until I had to go eat so I left my sword by a log. I thought that when I came back it would be right there but it just.." She sniffled again wiped her tears away.

Kunikuzushi frowned and stood up with a burning feeling of determination. He was going to find her sword no matter what happens. Though has never done anything like this before, but it can’t be that difficult right?

“Okay, let’s go Hikaru, Yu and…" he trailed off and turned to the other two boys of which he didn’t know the names of.

“Oh my name is Yoshiki." “I’m Ishimaru." The two nervously introduced. Kunikuzushi nodded in acknowledgment, “It’s nice to meet you two. Now Yu would you mind leading us to the area you were in this morning?"

———

As the group made their way outside inazuma city they caught the eye of many citizens. Their Shogun actively interacting with the youth wasn’t something they would see everyday. Though Kunikuzushi was not Ei, their ways of governing a nation could be very different. No matter, the heartwarming site made the citizens feel less intimidated by his presence.

The group, led by Yu, arrived at the spot the young Kaedehara last saw her blade.

“I left it right here." She explained while pointing at a spot near the log she said she sat on earlier that day.

Kunikuzushi took one look at the area and immediately noticed the small set of irregular looking marks on the ground. He didn’t know what they were called, but he knew that when you walk somewhere you leave those marks behind on the ground. The only difference with these marks was that they didn’t not look ‘normal’.

Hikaru noticed his staring and leaned over to see what had caught the Shogun’s eye. “Are those hilichurl footprints?" He asked no one in particular, voice loud enough for everybody else to hear. Kunikuzushi hesitantly nodded, adding the new word to his mental vocabulary list.

“A hilichurl must’ve taken Yu’s sword!" Ishimaru stated. So all they had to do was find this hilichurl and take the sword back? That shouldn’t be too hard.

Kunikuzushi was actually familiar with hilichurls because during the first few days of learning with his parents they were one of the things they told him to avoid crossing paths with. Wouldn’t he be breaking the rules by going after it then?

He decided he would think about that later.

“Let’s follow the footprints then. Don’t worry Yu, we’ll find your sword soon." The children nodded in unison and soon they all began following the footprints with caution.

———

They had only been walking for 5 minutes until Yu pointed out a hilichurl holding a sword. “That’s it! That’s my sword!" She exclaimed happily.

She wasn’t happy for too long though because the hilichurl did not appreciate her screaming. It became fully aware of their presence and began turning aggressive, getting ready to run to them and attack.

The kids shrieked in fear for this was their first encounter in a situation like this. Kunikuzushi had to quickly think of a way to make sure none of them got harmed.

His eyes caught sight of an electro slime preparing to jump on them so without thinking about his actions first, he quickly caught the slime in his hands mid jump and threw it directly at the hilichurl. The impact caused the hilichurl to disintegrate, dropping the unscathed sword in the process.

The children watched in awe as the Shogun walked over to pick up the slime again, seemingly unaffected by the rapid shocks of electricity the slime was radiating off itself as a form of self defense. Kunikuzushi noticed their staring and quirked an eyebrow at them in confusion.

Were they hurt? He didn’t hurt them did he? Or maybe they were afraid he would hit them with the slime just like he did with the hilichurl?

“Do not fret, I’m just holding it so that it won’t hurt you, there’s nothing to be afraid of now." He soothed them with his soft tone. The children snapped out of their shocked daze, their faces twisting into one of amazement. Yu hurriedly picked up her sword while her friends showered Kunikuzushi with praise.

“That was amazing! How are you touching the slime like it’s a football!" “Can you teach us? I want to know too!" “It was so cool how you hit the hilichurl as if it were nothing— oh and thank you for protecting us!"

And many other things that the puppet could not understand because they were speaking over each other.

Kunikuzushi smiled fondly at them, was this how it felt to protect your people? He felt relieved and another warm emotion that he couldn’t quiet grasp the name of. But as much as he enjoyed spending time with them, he was growing tired of interacting with people for such a long period of time. He wanted to finish this up quickly.

“Alright Yu, do try keeping your sword safe now okay?" Yu nodded enthusiastically before hugging Kunikuzushi’s legs tightly as a way to express how thankful she was for all his help. Everyone else soon joined in and formed a somewhat group hug with the young male.

Although he couldn’t reciprocate the embrace it was evident that he would have if his hands weren’t occupied.

“Thank you very much Shogun, I’ll be sure to tell my parents about how you saved us today." Yu said, letting go of Kunikuzushi after the short wholesome moment between them had ended.

"It was no problem, I’m just glad that all of you are safe. Please send my greetings to all of your parents."

The four nodded in unison, already getting giddy at the thought of telling their parents about the adventure they had with the almighty Shogun. Yoshiki suddenly furrowed his eyebrows,

“Are you coming back to inazuma city with us?" He asked in curiosity. He must have come out of the tenshukaku for a reason right? Maybe he was going to go do that now.

Just as Yoshiki expected, Kunikuzushi shook his head in response. “I have something else to do, don’t worry though, this won’t be the last time we cross paths. I just hope you all know the way back to your homes."

He had no business to attend to, he just didn’t want to talk to them any longer. He also didn’t know the way back to his own house, though he of course refused to admit that aloud.

The kids finally bid their goodbyes to their Shogun and ran off together, talking in excitement amongst themselves about the events of the day.

Kunikuzushi let out a long sigh, today went well. He was happy that he helped that girl find her sword, he was also happy that he got to spend time with some of the people of inazuma. He liked being around the children, but they were very tiring. Now all he wanted to do was rest.

He had spotted a tree with a lot of shade while he was talking to the children earlier. Without much thought he relocated the tree and laid in the comfortable shade. He hadn’t forgotten about the slime, in fact he placed it underneath his head so that it could serve as a pillow while he rested.

He had a lot of things to worry about, but right now none of it mattered. He would worry when he woke up from his quick nap.

———

The afternoon had approached faster than Yae had anticipated. She spent the day talking with Miss Kamisato about all the latest gossip in inazuma city.

She had enjoyed her time with her of course but it was nearing the time she would need to pick up Kunikuzushi from his little ‘play date'. The only issue was that none of the children from earlier or her son had arrived back here.

Yae was just about to get up and go look for him when, speak of the devil, Miss Kamisato’s son Hikaru, had entered the komore teahouse. But Kunikuzushi wasn’t with him?

At that moment Yae panicked for a moment, but reassured herself that there was probably a reasonable explanation for why he wasn’t there, and she could just quickly find him before Ei starts getting concerned.

Alright, everything is alright Miko.

Miss Kamisato brightened up at the sight of her son, though before she could greet him the Guuji was already on the case.

“You look happier than usual Hikaru, though I don’t see Kunikuzushi with you?" Hikaru giggied, his behaviour was more jumpy, an after effect of all the adrenaline from earlier.

“Well of course! I got to see the almighty Shogun in action with my very own eyes! He was so cool!! Oh but he couldn’t come with us because he had some business to deal with so we left him in the wild, just a little outside inazuma city!"

“Oh dear.. "

Yae didn’t know whether she should be angry, amused or worried after hearing that information, it was a lot to unpack honestly. First, what was he doing all the way out in the wild? And what ‘business' was he attending to? As far as Yae was aware, Ei was busy sorting out what business he would and wouldn’t be handling, so what could he possibly be doing?

Also according to Hikaru, Kunikuzushi had saved them from an attack? Yae had already started thinking of the worst scenarios. Although the children seemed to all be alright, the possibility of Kunikuzushi getting hurt and pretending to be alright just to not worry them was high.

And Kunikuzushi didn’t even know the way back home.

Before Yae even realised it, she was rushing to the location the child had given her without much detail. This was completely irrational and out of character for her, the people of inazuma would certainly wonder what situation could be so bad that even lady Guuji Yae of the grand narukami shrine was in shambles.

While Yae was making her way through the city streets she could already tell that Kunikuzushi was the top talk at the moment. Word really travels fast. Yae Miko rushing through the streets only added more fuel to the fire.

Honestly they weren’t too good at gossiping either because she could still hear what most of them were saying, maybe that’s because of her enhanced hearing, but that’s besides the point. Some of the things she was hearing were honestly absurd.

“Are you telling me he held an electro slime in his hands and didn’t get shocked?!"

“Apparently he strangled a mitachurl as well!"

Absolutely absurd, but it was just a little piece of gossip to keep them going. In other words, these were the least of Yae’s concerns.

When she finally arrived outside inazuma city, she began to think about how she would relocate him.

Kunikuzushi is a prototype created mainly using the power of electro, and he also has gnosis stored inside of him. People with vision or any knowledge in the way elemental energy behaves could recognise that he was nearby simply by his presence.

Yae could try finding him using that, but she didn’t want to waste any more time so she needed an alternative.

Since Kunikuzushi carries a lot of electro energy with him, he would possibly leave a trail of electro everywhere he goes. She could just use her elemental sight to track him down.

Yae turned on her elemental vision and just as she had predicted, there were faded, but still very visible, streams of electro wavering in the air. The kitsune smiled to herself and quickly began following the lines, hoping that her son would be at the end of the line.

Surprisingly, just after a few minutes of follow the trail, it ended by a radiant Yumemiru tree. Yae could sense a high level of electro already, which means he was probably in front of the tree.

She wasted no time, walking to the other side of the tree so that she could begin lecturing him on what he did today. She had not been expecting to see the cutest sight she had ever seen in the past 5 years.

Kunikuzushi was there sleeping under the tree, unscathed, with his head resting against an electro slime as if it were a pillow. She wished she could freeze the sight and show it to Ei, but sadly she could not. All that matters now is that Kunikuzushi is safe.

Yae didn’t have the heart to lecture him about all the rules he disobeyed, because in the end the real reason they came outside was to help him spend time with the citizens. He technically did exactly that.

It was good that he was exploring and learning new things on his own, that’s just how you grow is it not?

Allowing situations like this is the only way to help him become stronger. Ei certainly would disagree with her, but who said she would even know about these situations in the first place?

“Kuni dear, wake up it’s time to go back home"

“Mama..? Wait I’m sorry I— "

“Shh, it’s alright, you aren’t in any trouble. In fact, I’m very proud of you for what you did today. Now come on, you can tell me all about your day while we walk back.

Oh but don’t tell your mother about any of this, it will be our little secret."

Chapter Text

The sound of tea being meticulously poured into a cup occupied the comfortable silence in the tearoom that the small family was currently occupying. Kunikuzushi staring at his cup in anticipation as his mother leisurely took her time to pour the hot liquid until she was satisfied with the amount occupying the cup.

As soon as she finished, the puppet rushed to pick up the cup in his hands, letting out a cry of pain when he made contact with the hot surface.

“Are you alright Kuni sweetheart?" Ei worriedly asked while moving the cup of tea further away from her son, who was frowning at his red hands in pain. Once she had disposed of the threat she gently cupped his soft hands into hers and blew on them lightly, as if that would decrease the pain he was feeling. Kunikuzushi brightened at the action, almost completely forgetting the pain from earlier. It seems that it worked. The kitsune smiled while she watched the exchange unfold.

Ei seemed to be adapting increasingly well into parenthood. Yae noticed that her lover was unconsciously slowly becoming a loving and caring mother despite her stoic and unwavering mentalities.

Although this was all very fortunate, especially coming from Ei, it could also be unfortunate in different circumstances. For example, due to her protective behaviour towards their son, making decisions that would help him grow as an individual was something that she was not capable of doing.

It was not a problem though, Yae Miko was there to help fill in the gaps that Ei couldn’t, because they were raising Kunikuzushi together.

Like what she was doing now as she read through the list of duties Kunikuzushi would be responsible of taking control over from now on. It was no surprise that Ei had classified all his duties under the foolish ‘peacekeeping’ spectrum. She must have thought that it was the only duty that would not involve fighting, because it was the duty Makoto would undertake.

The Guuji could already see a pattern forming.

Raiden Ei would usually do most of the protecting while Raiden Makoto would handle the government. Now we all know how that ended up don’t we? But it seems like Ei did not see any problem with it, because she was repeating the same mistakes from last time once again.

It’s no matter. Although she could not convince her lover to change her decision, Miko knew that peace making here could not only be solved by words alone, you would have to clash blades with somebody at some point.

Of course she didn’t make Ei aware of that factor. She was just glad that Ei had agreed to teach Kunikuzushi how to protect himself using the power of electro that he was born with. It seemed she has picked up something to learn from after the calamity.

The only issue was; Yae didn’t know if Kunikuzushi was even capable of handling an entire government on his own.

Yae finished reading the document and signed it with her signature as well before placing it on the chabudai in content. “Alright, everything is all sorted out now."

Ei stopped feeding Kunikuzushi his tea and the boy turned to stare at his parents in anticipation. Earlier that day they had told him that they had something important to tell him, that was half of the reason why they were all drinking tea together in the first place.

Miko giggled at her son’s eagerness, deciding to not be evil by attempting to stall more time to keep him in suspense for any longer. “Your mother and I have been discussing what duties you’ll be handling when governing Inazuma. From now on you will be in charge of keeping the peace within the nation, which includes things such as solving political tension for example."

Kunikuzushi squinted his eyes in confusion. Peace making? Political tension? That sounded like jobs that held a large amount of responsibility to them. Would he even be able to accomplish anything like that? He didn’t want to mess up and let his parents look down on him.

Miko, who noticed her son’s distress, leaned over the table to give him a soft kiss on the forehead in an attempt to reassure him. “Do not worry Kuni Kuni, we are both sure that you’ll do an amazing job. The omnipresent Raiden Shogun doesn’t just pick anybody to help govern her beloved inazuma." She teased while glancing at her lover.

Ei scoffed at the comment and placed down her own cup of tea before joining into the conversation too. “Which reminds me, the geo archon will be arriving in Inazuma in a few hours. He had received my invitation yesterday morning and agreed to visit us today at noon."

Miko’s face brightened in delight. “Did he also agree to bring his son along with him as well? Kuni needs to have more friends that are like him too you know."

‘Like me?’ Kunikuzushi thought whilst looking at his reflection in the cup.

When Miko told Ei about her request, Ei didn’t see the reasoning behind it. But she saw no harm in it and agreed to ask if he could come as well. It was a surprise that Morax had agreed to bring him along with him.

“Yes, the adeptus will be coming as well."

Kunikuzushi sat there and listened to them in confusion. He knew about the 7 archons of teyvat, but he had not been expecting any of them to come and visit him. And also it seems like this geo archon also has a son as well just like his mother? Was he also created in the same way he was?

Ei noticed that her son looked like his mind was clouded in mist. She wished she had informed him about their guests yesterday but when Yae and Kunikuzushi got back from their trip both of them were too tired to talk about anything.

“Do not worry Kunikuzushi, he’s coming for a more casual visit, think of it as a friend coming to see you."

“And his son looks exceptionally attractive Kuni, who knows? Maybe you’ll—“

“Miko, please don’t tell me that was the real reason you asked him to come?"

Kunikuzushi’s hair had gotten into his tea.

——-

Although this was just a casual visit, Yae Miko still picked out a white kimono that had been adorned with multiple flowers for him to wear. She tried to coax him into wearing the matching shoes that came with the kimono but he simply would not budge.

After that long process, the three immortals found themselves standing outside of the tenshukaku, watching as a beautiful dragon descended upon of them with a small figure on his back. The puppet unconsciously gripped the back of his mothers kimono.

Kunikuzushi stared at the new guests in curiosity as he had never seen a creature as alluring as this one before. He was equally surprised when the boy on the lizard swiftly jumped off the creatures back and said creature suddenly began omitting a strange gold light that made the puppet squeeze his eyes lightly shut.

When he hesitantly opened them again, there was a tall man standing in the place the dragon once was.

The first thought Kunikuzushi had when he laid eyes on him was that he had seen him before, in two dreams that he had. One was nice and warm, while the other dream was scary and destructive. Looking at the man that once stood in the dragons place made a cold feeling settle at the cavern of his heart.

He shook his head lightly to get rid of the memory. After he let himself settle down, curiosity got the better of him and he blurted something out without thinking about what he was about to say first.

“Where did the flying lizard go?"

His mama had always told him to think about what he would say before he said anything. Now when the newcomers stared at him in shock, and he could tell that his mama was struggling to hold back from laughing. He truly wished he had listened to her.

Ei placed a palm on her forehead in embarrassment. “My apologies, Kunikuzushi is still struggling with his vocabulary.." Morax shook his head with a warm smile on his face. He was not offended at all, he was more amused actually. No body had ever confused him for a flying lizard before.

“Do not be alarmed Beelzebub, It’s actually quite funny, I’ve never been confused for a lizard before." The geo archon reassured in a lighter tone. Though the boy next to him seemed to think the opposite, his facial expression looked angry. Kunikuzushi noticed, but decided to just remain silent about it.

“No need to be formal, please, call me Ei. Last time we met under some unfortunate circumstances.. so let’s start from the beginning." She had met him for the first time while leaving the battlefield during the calamity in K’henriah. They did not speak much due to the situation they were in, but Ei found him to be a respectable man.

Morax nodded, his smile weakening just a little. “That is true, but no matter, it is all in the past now. So, would it be correct to assume that the people with you are your lover, Miko and your son Kunikuzushi?" He assumed while turning to look at the two.

Miko smiled and bowed shortly as a sign of respect. Kunikuzushi attempted to do the same as well but his came out more like he was attempting to pick up something from the ground. Nobody pointed it out, he was still young after all.

“My name is Yae Miko. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you Morax, and I’m delighted to see that you brought your son along as well. Kunikuzushi really needs more friends that are around his age."

Xiao was caught by surprise. Nobody usually referred to him as Rex Lapis’ son. Whenever they did, it always made his chest feel warm. Also didn’t she know that he was 3006? Did his appearance really look so young?

“The pleasure is all mine. I was happy to hear that you wanted me to bring Xiao along, he is also in need of friends at the moment. Though excuse his silence, he is not very talkative."

The young adeptus flushed down the feeling of embarrassment that was slowly rising in his chest. Xiao did not desire to have any friends, and with the way Kunikuzushi reacted when he heard Yae say the same thing, it was safe to assume that the two would both atleast share one thing in common.

“Go on baobei, why don’t you introduce yourself?" Zhongli asked with a kind smile. Xiao hadn’t even realised he had stayed so long without speaking, that was extremely ill-considered of him.

“My name is Xiao, pleased to make your acquaintances." He greeted briefly. When Rex Lapis gave him an approving smile he couldn’t help but smile back slightly in return.

Now that the greeting part was over, Yae smiled cunningly and placed a hand on Ei’s shoulder. “My my, you and Morax barely know anything about each other and this simply will not do. Why don’t you two get to know eachother better while I watch over the kids hm?"

Ei squinted her eyes in suspicion. Normally she wouldn’t request to aide in something unless she had something completely different planned. This was not the time for a stunt like this, but the look in Yae’s eyes showed that she wouldn’t back down even if she reasoned with her.

Letting out a defeated sigh, the electro archon thought it would be wise to just let the shrine maiden do as she pleased. “How kind of you Miko, I for one think that is a great idea, if that would be alright with you Morax?"

He crossed his arms and gave his companions a nod in agreement. “That would be quite alright, Xiao might get tired of following us around, so it would be for the best if he stays under your care, if that would be okay with you Xiao?"

The adeptus wanted to tell Rex Lapis that he would never get tired of following him, and that he would much rather prefer it if he was by his side during this visit, but still he nodded in approval nonetheless. It would be too rude if he were to decline the offer.

When Kunikuzushi witnessed his mom hurriedly shoo off the two archons away from the tenshukaku, he had a feeling that she already had something planned for him and Xiao.

Speaking of which, Kunikuzushi glanced at the short boy in front of him. He was watching Morax disappear into the distance with an expressionless face, though when the puppet looked into his eyes, he saw an emotion that he was all too well familiar with.

“Do not worry, he’s going to come back soon. I also hate it when I’m separated from one of my parents"

Xiao did not respond. Though the message was full heartedly received.

.

.

.

.

Now as the three made their way through the tenshukaku halls, Kunikuzushi took this as a good opportunity to properly study his new companions features, since he never got the chance to do so earlier.

He seemed to be the around the same height as he was, the way he dressed differed largely from the usual attire that the people of Inazuma would wear. The puppet also noticed his vibrant yellow the that were enhanced by the red markings painted at the corners of his eyes.

Although his appearance looked like one of a young teen, his clothing and the way he carried himself like a seasoned warrior made it clear that he was not one to be messed with. Overall, he had peaked the puppets interest.

Xiao could feel Kunikuzushi’s eyes burning holes into his figure so he instinctively turned to meet his gaze. But unlike some people, when they locked eyes Kunikuzushi didn't look away.

Kunikuzushi’s eyes gave off an ominous feeling, like they was something else hiding inside of them, a dark purple mist. Just looking into them made Xiao feel goosebumps take over his skin. He just did not feel or act like a normal being, but if he wasn’t one then..

Just who is he?

The two boys didn’t even notice they had stopped moving their legs until they heard Yae’s voice from further down the hallway calling out to them. Kunikuzushi broke contact slowly and began making his way to his mom with the green adeptus following closely behind him.

The kitsune slid open the door and revealed a large room filled with multiple children’s toys and play sets. Xiao and Kunikuzushi both stared at the room in confusion. Xiao had no interest in children, and Kunikuzushi had never expressed any amusement in children’s toys either, so what could Yae possibly want them to do in here?

The Guuji saw their identical expressions and shook her head with a smile. “Aw don’t look like that, I spent a lot of mora just to set this up for your play date." The way their expressions morphed into ones of displeasure almost made the fox double over from laughter.

“I’m just teasing. I don’t expect you to play with these, this is all for Kunikuzushi’s training to become the second Shogun. How will he succeed in bringing peace if he doesn’t practice beforehand?" So they were playing with toys. Xiao was confused on how he had anything to do with this.

Kunikuzushi frowned and crossed his arms. “How will any of this help me with that? And what’s Xiao got to do with any of this?" The adeptus nodded in agreement to that question, little did they know that Yae Miko had already been planning this for 3 days now.

“We’ll use these props to act out real life situations that might take place in the future and it will be your job to find a solution to them. Morax’s son will help us in acting out these situations. You wouldn’t mind, would you?"

He knew he did not have a say in the matter either way, so he sighed and uncrossed his arms from his chest. “Alright, I don’t mind."

Miko clapped her hands together. “Good, now get in, we don’t have all day now."

.
.
.
.

The three immortals were all sat on the ground with their legs folded under them. In Yae’s hand was a stuffed toy fox, and in Xiao’s, a small teddy bear. Both of them had their own perspective sets of identical kimono’s by their side.

“Let’s start our first lesson with something simple and easy. Me and Xiao will play the roles of two separate shopkeepers that are in the middle of a business related conflict. Your job as the Shogun is to find a way to resolve this issue." Miko explained.

Xiao was still confused as to how he was going to help, he also wanted to know why he was given this children’s toy. “Would you mind shading some more light on the scenario? I do not understand what I’m supposed to be doing."

Yae’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. “Oh? I thought I already told you. Never mind then, in this situation the two shopkeepers are both selling identical kimonos to the public, when they both found out about the other’s design, they naturally assumed that they had copied one another. Just play along with the toy i gave you and get into character."

The adeptus thought that was a foolish problem that could easily be solved by just picking one of the shop keepers and taking them out of business. Nevertheless, he set aside his pride and decided that he will do this for Morax’s sake.

“Now that we’ve settled that, let’s start Kuni. Try treating this as real as you possibly can."

“Okay." The puppet replied. Though he seemed calm and collected now, Internally he had a strange heavy feeling that was weighing him down. It was caused by the thought of making a mistake during this lesson.
Was he scared? He didn’t think so? He shouldn’t be though, because his mother thought he would be perfect for this.

He cleared his mind and focused on the situation in front of him, they both seemed to be waiting for him to say something, so he light cleared his throat to fill the silence.

“Tell me, what is the matter here? You two seem to be distressed." The Shogun inquired.

“Oh dear me, it’s the Almighty Shogun! I’m sorry for having you come out like this, it’s just that this person has been selling a complete replica of my limited edition kimonos." The kitsune replied as she took control over the toy in her hand. Kunikuzushi tried to hide the small smile on his face when he saw how ridiculous she looked.

The adeptus cringed internally, being fully aware that he would have to do that as well. He didn’t even know what he would respond with, so he decided to speak based on an argument some people in liyue had which he once witnessed long ago. “…that is absurd. I recall making and stocking these kimono’s months before you."

Yae Miko was slightly taken back by how well he was playing the role, nonetheless, she needed to spice this up a bit. “That’s not true, my Kimono’s have been doing far better then yours, maybe that was the reason you decided to copy me." It seems like her words had worked because Xiao narrowed his eyebrows at her statement.

“Do not say such foolish things. My kimonos have been well enjoyed by people for quite some time now. It’s no secret that your financial situation has seen better days, that is more likely the reason you copied me." He would hate to admit it but he was actually enjoying this quite a lot. In fact, the adeptus even felt himself getting slightly annoyed with her.

Miko was taken by surprise once again by what he had said. But she wouldn’t let him make her fail in this fake argument, two can play at that game. “Oh? That may be true, but let us not ignore the fact that you have been envious of how my kimonos are selling so well? Everybody knows that your business hasn’t been doing great. That along with the fact that your father is greatly ill with needs of mora for treatment must have given you all the reason to copy my design." She said as she watched the grip on the toy bear tighten.

Xiao’s eye’s widened in shock and the first person that immediately came to mind was Rex Lapis. How would he live in a world if he did die due to this sickness? He was already beginning to forget the true purpose of all of this.

Kunikuzushi watched all of this unfold in front of him. In his eyes, the answer to this problem was as clear as day. Both of them seemed to lack something that could only be achieved by cooperating with the other. It would be the best outcome that would surely benefit the eternal peace of inazuma.

Eternity? A concept that his mother had delicately implanted into his consciousness. Due to him being created with all of her thoughts acting as a base for his own, it was only natural that eternity is something he seeks to attain, but his view of it was not the same as his mothers. Maybe that’s why he was entrusted with this role?

“I have heard quite enough. Problems like yours are not going to benefit us in our journey of living in a nation of peace for eternity, all the the reason why I have thought of a suitable solution that will surely benefit you both.

Regardless who copied who, it is evident that both of you are in need of a financial help. Why don’t you just combine your shops? The doubled amounts of mora you will receive will be enough to help your financial situation and provide your father his treatment. And if you still lack the sufficient amount of mora, I will be sure to ask one of the tri-commissioners to lend you some. Doesn’t that seem fair?" He concluded.

She was certainly not expecting that, but it all sounded like music to her ears, so she smiled and pulled Kunikuzushi into a tight hug. Although she had no doubts that he would be able to find a suitable solution, he really exceeded her expectations. She hadn’t even thought of that, but to be fair, she hadn’t thought about a solution beforehand either.

“You seem like a natural Kuni Kuni! You must’ve got it from me~" Despite his dead panned expression and the fact that he didn’t hug back, he was still clearly enjoying the praise he was receiving. Xiao watched the exchange with an unreadable expression on his face.

Kunikuzushi has a sharp mind, that’s from what Xiao could tell at the very least. He was just thankful that the issue was over soon, he was starting to feel offended on his stuffed bear’s part. “I must admit, I didn’t think about that. You have my respect." He praised.

The puppet successfully pried himself away from his mama and shook his head. He really only did the bare minimum. "It wasn’t anything serious. All I did was think of a solution."

The kitsune saw no use in continuing these lessons any longer. Not when her son seemed to be a natural problem solver, and a discovery like this one deserves a reward. She stood up and straighten up her clothing before placing a hand to rest on her hip.

“It seems to me that you don’t even need any training Kunikuzushi, in fact, both of you performed so well today. I think you deserved yourselves a nice snack. Just sit here while I go and get something for you two alright?"

The thought of eating more dango was enough to make Kunikuzushi’s expression light up childishly. Even though his mother had given him half of her portion already while they were having tea, it still was not enough. “Could you bring dango?"

Miko sighed and gave him a deadpanned look. She knew that eating all this dango probably would not be healthy for him, even if he was a puppet. She wished he hadn’t got this trait from Ei as well. "Sigh.. what am I going to do with you?Alright, and what about you Xiao?" She still agreed because she enjoyed how happy he looked when eating them.

Xiao’s stomach churned at the thought of having a meal that was not almond tofu. He did not think she knew how to make it, and denying the offer could be quite disrespectful. Instead he just thought about the closest thing related to his favourite meal.

“…tofu would be fine."

Yae soon left the room after that, leaving the two boys in a prolonged silence, and it continued to stay that way until 30 minutes had ticked away slowly and there was still no sign of the kitsune returning any time soon.

Xiao didn’t seem to care, it just meant that he would not have to eat anything, but that was until he began to notice Kunikuzushi playing with his hair with a growing distressed expression on his face. Xiao was not good with emotions, so he did not know how to move forward in a situation like this one. “…you seem distressed, what is the matter."

Kunikuzushi flinched and diverted his attention from his hair to the other person in the room. Xiao assumed he reacted that way because of his blunt way of speaking, but the truth was Kunikuzushi had just been caught off guard by this voice. “Did I disrupt you? If so then I am sorry."

Xiao shook his head. “No, I just noticed you looked weary."

Kunikuzushi let out a small breath. He was only worried because his mama hadn’t come back and it’s already been quite some time now. He never liked being away from his parents, just the implication of one of them simply throwing him away made his chest tighten. The thought of them leaving him was always somewhere in the back of his mind. After all, he was a failed prototype.

Xiao had been silent for some time now, patiently waiting for a response. It wasn’t necessary for him to tell Xiao anything, but Kunikuzushi still spoke up. “Mama hasn’t come back yet, and I don’t like it when any of my parents aren’t with me. What if she won’t come back?"

Xiao was taken aback by how easily he had revealed that information to him. Maybe he was surprised, because he knew that if he was him then he wouldn’t have spoke about his concerns so easily.

Xiao remembered thinking that as well, that his father would simply abandon him for another weapon. So maybe he could tell him something that he had always wished somebody had told him.

Xiao shuffled around to face Kunikuzushi before speaking. “Do not worry, it is clear that both of your parents care about you deeply. They wouldn’t just leave, I’m sure there is just something keeping her occupied now."

The puppet visibly relaxed when he heard those words, though it was still evident that he was worried about his mom. Xiao decided that he would try doing his best to distract him from his thoughts, that’s what Rex Lapis did to help him sometimes.

“Why don’t we do something to pass the time then while we wait." Xiao suggested. Kunikuzushi took that into consideration and began scanning the room they were in to see if there was something they could do in the meantime. His face specifically lit up when he saw something on the adeptus, his hair to be precise. Xiao quirked an eyebrow in confusion when he noticed this.

”Your hair looks nice. Would you allow me to braid it?" He said, referring to the two long hairs at the sides of his head. Xiao would have been embarrassed, he was supposed to be protecting liyue not doing whatever this is, but the thought of looking like a specific anemo archon made all the embarrassment turn into a warmth in his chest.

He had always thought about it, but he was too embarrassed to ask the god of freedom to braid his as well, he wished he had asked him then but, now it was too late. He sighed and nodded in approval, causing Kunikuzushi to excitedly moved closer to him and grab three separate locks of his hair.

Kunikuzushi was very gentle with Xiao’s hair, it made the adeptus feel calm and slightly tired, but he brushed the feeling off immediately because adepti do not rest, even outside of liyue. In the meantime, to keep himself awake, he decided to spark a conversation with him.

“You braid well. Who taught you how to do it?" Xiao asked in curiosity. Kunikuzushi smiled to himself. “No one. It’s just another action my mother had unconsciously placed into my consciousness. Although, my parents do braid my hair sometimes so I may have learnt from them too."

Xiao did not question what he meant by ‘planting into his consciousness’, instead he hummed in response and remained silent after that.

“What about you? Do you know how to braid hair?" Kunikuzushi asked in return.

Xiao never took the time to actually learn about such meaninglessness things, but he had always been curious on how he would look if he had braided his hair. It was more of him wanting to follow in Barbatos’ footsteps, not that he would have ever admitted that to himself.

“..no. But I would like to learn. I know someone who had braids." His response piped the puppet’s interest, he might have a clue on who he was talking about.

“Oh? And who might that be?"

“..the anemo archon, Barbatos. Have you met him?" Xiao asked, not really expecting him to say that he had.

Kunikuzushi thought about it for some time, but he actually had seen this anemo archon. He had also seen the geo archon and many others, but not in the way that most would assume he had. “..no. But i have seen him before, in a dream. That’s what I think they are at least."

Xiao’s face changed to a slightly confused expression. “Really?" He for sure knew that Kunikuzushi was not too old, so how could he have known what he looked like? Barbatos had gone to sleep and wouldn’t even be awake for who knows how long.

Kunikuzushi nodded. He hadn’t told his parents about it because some of the dreams he would have were not happy ones. He didn’t want to be the one to remind them of all the bad things they had witnessed in the past.

But still, the dreams he would have sometimes woke him up in the dead of the night, with cold tears streaming from his eyes. He would always unwilling cry after each dream, happy or terrifying. And the fact that he was never going to be able to tell anyone about them was really weighing on his heart.

Not all of them were sad ones, like the one where he had seen the other archons in. That one was rather plesant, but there was another dream with only two of those archons in it, Morax and this Barbatos, and in the background laid total destruction, that is why Kunikuzushi remembers them specifically.

He hated that dream, because that was the dream in which—

“Yes... Some of my mother’s memories come to me in the form of dreams. He was in one of them, and he looks quite a lot like you."

Xiao did not respond to that.
Instead they continued sitting in a weirdly comfortable silence as Kunikuzushi continued with his hair. Kunikuzushi did not mind the silence, he preferred it more than speaking anyways. That was another thing the two had in common.

Kunikuzushi finished the braid, then stood up to search for a mirror in the room. When he had finally found one, he returned to Xiao and placed it in his hands for him to see his reflection for himself.

The adeptus’ eyes visibly softened when he looked at himself in the mirror. The hairstyle reminded him so much of Barbatos, and he didn’t know what to think of it. So instead, he just stared at his reflection in the mirror for a minute or so.

Kunikuzushi peeks over his shoulder to see Xiao’s reflection as well. “Do you like it?"

Xiao opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Once he had realised this, he managed to force himself to speak again. “...yes, i do."

Kunikuzushi wanted to bring up the fact that he looked awfully similar to both Morax and Barbatos now, but he now knew that those two were a delicate topic to touch on, so all he did was smile at him.

After a small amount of time, Kunikuzushi spoke up. “Now it’s your turn to braid mine." He said while smiling happily at Xiao. He stared back in confusion. Has he forgotten that he does not know how to braid hair?

“...but I do not know how to." He informed him once again. Kunikuzushi resisted the urge to slap his face from being so forgetful.

“Oh. That’s quite alright, I’ll just teach you then."

Although Xiao wanted Barbatos to teach him, he also didn’t mind Kunikuzushi teaching him either. That was mostly because he told him that the next time Xiao sees Barbatos, he should ask to braid his hair for him so that he would be impressed. Nonetheless, Xiao picked up the rhythm rather quickly and now he was attempting to braid Kunikuzushi’s long locs of hair to look just like the Electro archon’s.

It was a wonder how he had been able to maintain such long amounts of hair, though he saw him sitting on it today, so he must also struggle to manage it. But still, it was knotless and soft to touch, the electro archon and her wife must’ve taken their time caring for him.

The two were loving parents, they cared about Kunikuzushi very much and they would pamper him to show that they loved him. Xiao was happy to see them behave this way, but there was also another part of him that couldn’t help but feel jealousy.

Kunikuzushi would never have to go through all the suffering he had went through, he would be happy with two loving parents that would go through extreme lengths to protect him. But where were Xiao’s parents? Rex Lapis was more of a master than a father to him, and his other parent, who he wasn’t sure if he was even his father, went to sleep for celestia knows how long without even telling him.

He wished that he could have been a happy family with his parents as well, he wished that they would also make sure to help him maintain his hair everyday, and pamper him to show that they cared, but they didn’t, and to Xiao, it looks like they don’t care for him. He felt abandoned, angry and sad. But he knew that it was wrong to be jealous of Kunikuzushi, because he claimed that he also knew what it felt like. What did he mean by that?

“...Kunikuzushi, earlier you said you hated it when one of your parents wasn’t with you as well right?"

It had been two minutes and he still hasn’t responded. It was only when he moved to see Kunikuzushi’s face that he realised that he had fell asleep while he was doing his hair.

How had he managed to fall asleep in this way?

Xiao thought he was being quite rough when tending to his hair. He sighed and shook his head with a small smile on his face. For now, he’ll just continue trying to finish the braid he had started.

This was for the best, at least he had successfully managed to distract Kunikuzushi.

———

“..you just left…"

“..Xiao was here, there was nothing to…"

Kunikuzushi slowly opened his eyes. He felt warm, like someone was holding him. When he fully opened his eyes he realised that he was in fact in the place he felt the safest; his mothers arms. With his mama, Xiao and Morax standing in front of them.

It seemed like his parents weren’t happy with each other, but he didn’t care. Instead his eyes began to water when he saw that his mama was here again.

“You told us that you would— son? Dear are you awake?" The two women were alarmed when they heard him sniffling, causing Yae to quickly kneel down next to them.

Once she knelt down the puppet immediately pulled her into a group hug. They were taken aback, but quickly they both hugged back tightly to reassure him that everything was alright.

“Please... do not abandon me.”

Ei and Miko were saddened when they heard him say those words. The hug grew tighter and Ei began shushing him in a comforting manner.

"We won’t ever abandon you Kunikuzushi. Not now or any other day for that matter. We love you." Miko said while planting a kiss on his forehead. Kunikuzushi nodded and buried himself further into his parents arms.

All this happened while Morax and Xiao stood back and watched. Xiao was frozen in his place and watched with an indescribable expression until he felt a hand grabbing his own and turned to see Rex Lapis looking at him sadly. “Why don’t we give them their alone time? It’s getting quite late."

Xiao wordlessly nodded and allowed himself to be led out of the room by Rex Lapis. He remained silent as he watched him write a letter telling them goodbye, and he remained silent as they made their way to wherever Morax was leading him to.

It was only when he heard his voice calling him when he finally looked up and saw Rex Lapis looking at him with sadness in his eyes. Xiao could do nothing but stare back in return.

But suddenly he felt himself being pulled into a loving embrace. He hesitated at first, but he still raised his arms and hugged him back tightly in return.

“Let us return home, Xiao."

Chapter Text

Recently, Kunikuzushi had been acting very clingy torwards his parent, even more than he normally would. Neither Ei or Yae had any idea why, but it was not necessarily a bad thing.

Actually, Ei was more than happy about this new change, it gave her an excuse to constantly drown him in her affection and unwavering protection.

Yae found it quite adorable as well. She loved Kunikuzushi dearly and him openly expressing how he felt like this was a good thing, but sometimes it was very ..unfortunate.

————

Yae arose from her slumber in the early hours of the morning as she normally would any other day.

At this point she had gotten rather used to waking up with her body tangled somewhere among her lover and son’s own, so when she noticed that they were in yet another odd, compacted position, she paid no mind to it.

Yae stealthily freed herself from their embraces, being especially careful as to not wake up Kunikuzushi. Last night it took quite some time to put him in bed. Yae did not want to go through the long and tiring process yet again.

By the time they had convinced him to get under the covers, both of them were already tired and found themselves joining him in the comfortable sheets. The sinister smile on his face gave Yae the impression that he had already been anticipating that outcome all along.

Miko sat at the edge of the large bed and took a moment to look at the two most important factors in her life sleeping peacefully with each other. Kunikuzushi’s body sprawled on the bed in all different directions while Ei’s remained in a more or less stiffer position.

Despite how large the queen sized bed was, the unspoken fact was that they all always preferred cuddling up close to each other, or just being in each others presence in general. It was the reason why they all always slept in Ei’s bedroom despite having their own respective rooms in the tenshukaku or anywhere else.

Yae never even used to live in the tenshukaku until Kunikuzushi came into their lives and she decided to not go back to her room at the grand Narukami shrine. The shrine maidens were beginning to raise suspicion, but she quickly told them that she was just Kunikuzushi’s caretaker as to not raise anymore rumours. Her little white lie wouldn’t last for long though.

The Guuji quietly left the room and made her way over to the kitchen that nobody else touched unless she was in it. She planned on making breakfast as she normally would before preparing for the day and leaving the tenshukaku for her usual endeavours.

She took out everything she needed and began preparations for making the food. Not even 5 minutes into the process, she heard the soft but loud patter of Kunikuzushi’s feet making contact with the floor. Oh dear..

He entered the kitchen and quickly ran over to Yae clumsily. He had just woken up in a panic because he didn’t feel his mom’s body in the bed anymore. “Mama.. come back to bed." He whined whilst tugging at her silk clothing.

Yae sighed and gave him a soft pat on his head. Now that he was awake, he probably would not be any willing to go back to bed without her returning with him. He was still, surprisingly, adjusting to normal day and night systems living beings used.

“Good morning to you too sweetheart. Sadly I can’t go back or else you and your mother won’t have breakfast. Why don’t you go back to bed in the meantime?" Yae answered while reassuming with their breakfast. She knew he would say no anyway, but it never hurt to try.

Kunikuzushi whined in annoyance, frowning as he slid down onto the floor till he had wrapped himself around his mom’s leg, squishing his cheek into her side. It was very clear that he will not be going to sleep after this.

He didn’t say anything more after that. Actually, Yae was sure that he had fallen asleep wrapped around her leg. But still despite the new obstacle, she carried on with breakfast. Having to carry her son around the kitchen with her leg was a troublesome task.

But she got the job done anyway. After placing three plates with food on the table she turned her torso to face the clingy Kunikuzushi that had been stuck to her leg for about an hour now.

“Kunikuzushi, could you go wake up your mother for me? Breakfast is ready."

When he heard her say his mother he excitedly scurried off Yae’s foot and ran to Ei’s bedroom. She was confused as to where the sudden burst of energy came from. He was acting like an excited dog yet again.

Although Ei’s eyes were closed, she knew Kunikuzushi was making his way torwards their bedroom. The large amount of electro that he carried with him was enough of a warning, but his footsteps that gradually grew louder were also a large factor as to how she could tell he would be arriving soon.

She did not have enough time to prepare herself for him throwing himself on top of her. Covering her frame like a blanket.

Kunikuzushi was smiling brightly while shaking Ei lightly in excitement. “Mother, mama is done preparing breakfast! She says we have to go eat now."

Ei couldn’t help but laugh in joy at the feeling of her body being shook around like this. Kunikuzushi’s smile really was contagious. “Good morning Kuni sweetheart. Thank you for waking me up."

She felt.. happy.

Happy in a way that she had never truly experienced before, it was a different type of happiness from the times when she would be around Makoto, this happiness gave her the urge to smile brightly, and made her feel as if she had something to look forward to tomorrow. It was a feeling she truly never thought she would experience even once in her lifetime.

Ei got up from the bed with her son still clinging onto her, and moved Kunikuzushi around to her back so that she could give him a piggyback ride to the kitchen. “Well, let’s go shall we? Your mama must be waiting for us."

Kunikuzushi cheered in joy as his mother began carrying him with ease to the kitchen.

When they got there, Yae’s heart felt like it was about to explode from how adorable the two looked with their messy bed hair. Ei placed Kunikuzushi down on a chair and sat on the one opposite her lover. “Good morning Miko." She greeted happily.

Even if Yae was really already taken aback by how domestic and beautiful Ei looked, the thing that moved her the most was how happy she looked. She couldn’t help but pick up her lovers hand to give it a soft kiss as a sort of greeting. Ei blushed lightly and intertwined their fingers together.

Kunikuzushi knew by now that this was how his parents share their love for each other, so he just watched them patiently and waited till they were done for permission to eat his food, which was soon granted after the short exchange had come to an end.

Miko had left the table early to go prepare for her day at the Grand Narukami shrine. Luckily, Kunikuzushi was too occupied by his mother feeding him her breakfast to pay any kind to her absence.

Yae returned and gave her family each their own special kisses. For her lover a chaste kiss on the lips, and for her son a loving kiss on the forehead.

“Alright, I should be heading off now." Ei nodded in understanding, but Kunikuzushi frowned a hooked himself onto her side once again for the second time this morning. “Don’t leave me.. can you not just stay for today?" he pleaded.

This was the first time something like this had happened. Usually Kunikuzushi wouldn’t put up much of a fuss whenever they had to leave the tenshukaku to handle their duties outside. “I’ll be back before you know it Kuni Kuni, they’ll be plenty of things for you to do while I’m away." Yae reassured.

Kunikuzushi shook his head and held on tighter. He did not want to be left behind. “I don’t want to do anything else, please don’t leave me alone.. " He pleaded with sadness lingering in his voice.

Yae was saddened by his sudden acts of desperation to be in the presence of his parents, but she just could not miss another day at the Grand Narukami Shrine. The shrine maidens were growing more concerned about her whereabouts by the hour.

She thought about a way to distract him for a while before thinking of the perfect idea that would buy her enough time to leave unnoticed.

“I’m sorry Kuni— oh wow! Look at that purple fox!” Kunikuzushi turned in the direction his mom was looking and surely enough, there was the floating head of a purple fox moving around in an excited manner.

Kunikuzushi’s eyes brightened up as the fox took a piece of his hair in his mouth and began playing with it as if it were a jump rope. Kunikuzushi produced a surprised sound and watched it with captivated attention, but it was only a matter of time before the fox had disappeared.

The puppet let out a sound of disappointment and turned back to see if his mom had witnessed its disappearance as well, only to find that she had fled alongside the fox.

Ei felt something tug at her heart when she saw how sad Kunikuzushi looked when he realised Yae had left. She had witnessed the cunning fox make her escape while their sons attention was captivated, and although she had just done what she needed to do, it left Kunikuzushi looking like a kicked puppy in the aftermath.

“Are you leaving too?" Kunikuzushi asked sadly.

Ei was going to tell him yes in the beginning, but she had noticed that Kunikuzushi was behaving quite vulnerable today, and she didn’t have the heart to just leave him all alone in their large quarters. Yae could take over for her today if the issues she needed to attend to were urgent.

She didn’t even remember the last time she spent quality time with Kunikuzushi actually, so perhaps today she would take this as an opportunity to teach him some fighting techniques. She promised she would, but she never really had the time to do so.

“No. Today actually I thought that i should start teaching you some fighting techniques."

Kunikuzushi seemed to bring all his energy from earlier back. He had especially been waiting for the day where his mother would teach him how to fight. He had seen how his mother fought in his dreams, and he had wished that one day he might be as skilled as she was.

Ei folded her arms and shook her head sternly. “But, only after you bathe and get ready." Kunikuzushi’s demeanour seemed to change at the words. He looked quite sad actually, but why was he suddenly causing a fuss over bathing?

“Will you bathe with me? I don’t want do it alone.. " he asked hesitantly. Ei could not say no to him, as long as he would be alright.

Although she was a bit curious as to why he was being so clingy today, Ei still complied. “Alright sweetheart. Why don’t you put away things here while I go set up the bath?"

Kunikuzushi shook his head no, reaching out to hold her hand inaudibly. He did not exclusively say why he did not wish to, but Ei could assume that it was because he did not want to be alone, which she understood. She was aware that Kunikuzushi had a constant fear of abandonment.

So she squeezed his hand in return and let go to begin collecting their used plates. Kunikuzushi stayed close by, giving her a hand here or there to help get the job done faster. And once they cleaned up efficiently, the two went to the bathroom to begin running a bath.

They operated in a natural rhythm they had been building up over the past weeks. Ei would warm the bath and Kunikuzushi would sit by her side rambling on about anything and everything on his mind.

This time, Ei was choosing some appropriate clothing that would be more suitable for their practices today while her son was telling her about all of the new things he had discovered so far. She knew all of which he was talking about, but she was still happy to listen with full interest in what he was saying.

Once Ei was sure the water would be alright to bathe in, her and Kunikuzushi stripped of their clothing and got into the warm bath.

As Ei cleaned herself off she made sure to observe if Kunikuzushi was bathing correctly, in which he was. The only thing he did struggled with however was his hair, but his parents already took it upon themselves to help him maintain it.

So Ei tended to his hair with gentle hands and care, the same hands that had mercilessly slain many beasts in the past, were now soft and delicate as they strummed through her sons hair to free it of any dirt that had built up in the past.

And the thing was, Ei had no idea that she would act this way. She thought that she was setting her own creation up for a life of misfortune, but so far, it was far from that. Her and Yae were doing a good job at raising him despite their busy lives and lack of experience.

They loved and cared for him, that was all the experience they needed was it not?

——-

It took quite some time to get Kunikuzushi all dressed and ready for the day, but after getting him to wear the clothes Ei picked out for him earlier on, the two made their way outside the tenshukaku to the training grounds that resided at the back of the large quarters.

Kunikuzushi watched in excitement as Ei materialised a sword, spear and bow. “Okay. Which one do you want to try using first?"

He looked at the them all carefully, deciding to point at the sword first. He saw his mother use that in his dreams, so it was obvious that he would want to choose it first.

“The sword? Alright." She picked it up and handed it to Kunikuzushi for him to take. He took it carefully and held it with so much care, as if it was a precious artifact. To him it was, his mother had given it to him after all.

Ei materialised her own sword into her hand as well. She had never taught anyone how to fight before so she hoped that things would go smoothly from now on.

“Wielding a weapon is not as easy as it may seem Kunikuzushi. It takes time, patience, and determination to properly establish your own special connection to your blade." Ei said while demonstrating with her own graceful and precise cuts through the air.

Kunikuzushi stared in awe as she made one final strike in the air with a burst of electricity seemingly appearing out of no where, like gateway to another dimension. She swiftly rested her sword on her back and turned to Kunikuzushi, hoping that he had caught site of all of it.

“Go on, try it for yourself. You don’t have to do it in the same way I did."

He nodded and raised his sword without being sure of what exactly he was going to do. His mother had said that it was important to develop a special connection between himself and his sword, so he closed his eyes and let his inner thoughts and desires use his body to roam free, allowing his emotions to take full control over his movements.

He was going exceptionally fast as he made quick slices in the air. His feet moving as if he had done this countless times already before. Technically, he had. But his body had not.

At the end of the attack though, he used too much electro energy and instead of it coming out of the sword as it normally should, it bounced backwards and collided roughly with his body.

He basically attacked himself. But instead of the scream of pain she was expecting, he just frowned at himself in disappointment.

Ei folded her arms in surprise. Was this yet another error on her part? But if so, how was he not affected by it? “Kunikuzushi, are you alright?"

The puppet nodded and brought the sword down. He thought his mother would be very disappointed in him for failing. “Yes im not hurt, im sorry mother.."

Ei shook her head at the apology, he still seemed to be more skilled than she had first assumed when it came to using a weapon. “You have nothing to apologise for, you did exceptionally well for your first attempt. Why don’t we just start off with something easier for you to channel your elemental energy through."

Kunikuzushi watched in curiosity as she discarded her sword and took out a floating weapon instead.

A catalyst?

Kunikuzushi put down the sword and received the weapon with delicate hands. How would he be using this to fight? He had no record of his mother ever using this either, so it was nothing more than a foreign object in his eyes.

“How do I use it." He asked bluntly.

The truth was, Ei did not know either. She herself had never used a catalyst before, it was more of Miko’s expertise, but today they would both learn together. “Why don’t you try channeling your elemental energy into it. I assume that’s how it would work."

Kunikuzushi squinted his eyes at her in annoyance. She didn’t know either. That’s alright, he’ll just try doing what he thought was the correct way to activate it.

Kunikuzushi concentrated and invisioned that he was somehow connected to the weapon, then it seemingly vanished out of thin air. But he still felt like he was using it, even if nobody could see it.

Ei rested a hand on her hip, Kunikuzushi never failed to exceed her expectations. “Now try using it, but do not over do the amount you’ll use." Kunikuzushi nodded and attempted to use the catalyst.

Electricity came down and struck the ground heavily, leaving as quickly as it had appeared. Kunikuzushi stared at the spot the attack had just came from in awe, turning to his mother in excitement to see if she had also been a witness to the events the unfolded in front of them.

Ei smiled brightly at him, and in that moment Kunikuzushi felt his chest warm up again.

“You did well."

Is this what it felt like to have his mothers approval? To be praised by her?

Kunikuzushi made a silent promise to himself that he will try leading a life that she would be proud of being a part of.

——-

They had been training for a few more hours after that, but Ei still ended their session a bit too early because Kunikuzushi’s fragile body would not be able to handle too much straining. Kunikuzushi did not complain, he was just satisfied with the fact that he got to spend this much time with his mother today.

Due to Kunikuzushi not wanting to be left on his own, Ei allowed him to stay in the room with her as she worked on some pending reports that had been demanding her attention recently. She did not really see him being there as an issue, and he promised that he would not cause a scene so it was all alright.

Ei still did not wish for him to get bored just watching her, it makes putting him to bed extremely difficult. So, she gave him some papers and ink to occupy him as she worked.

The reports were more tame this time. An update on the Grand Narukami shrine, some permission requests from the tri-commission, and some other issues she would go handle herself in person tomorrow.

Although this was the job that Kunikuzushi should be handling, Ei wanted to clear up some of the work before actually handing this title to him because she did not wish to give him too much work. Yae did not know she was doing this, but she did not have to know either.

But she would surely give Ei a stern talking to if she did however find out, in which she most likely would.

But despite the consequences, she completed the work and set the documents aside. She was still weary about giving Kunikuzushi such a task. Now that she had thought about it, she did not hear Kunikuzushi utter a single word while she was working. Was she so absorbed in the reports that she completely cancelled out all of her surroundings?

She stood up from where she was seated and turned around to check if her son was alright. Ei was surprised to see that he had fallen asleep, but he, unfortunately, had smeared some of the ink across his cheek due to him falling asleep on the pen.

He seemed to be hiding something underneath his arms, so Ei leaned down and carefully pulled them away from his weak grasp to inspect what he had been drawing while she was busy.

There were three separate sheets of paper.

The one Ei saw first was of two poorly drawn stick people sitting down and smiling next to each other. If it wasn’t for the long hair on one of them that must have symbolised Kunikuzushi and a poor attempt at mimicking the young yaksha from liyue’s hair, Ei wouldn’t have been able to tell who she was looking at.

It was nice. Ei was quite happy that he was getting along well with the young adeptus and becoming aquatinted with him, so she set the drawing aside to look at the next one. She was not anticipating what she saw next in the slightest.

It was extremely poorly drawn, but Ei could still decipher that it was Kunikuzushi fighting a giant snake. A snake that looked a bit too similar to Orobashi.

Ei’s face turned into one of deep concern. How did he know what Orobashi had looked like? Ei didn’t remember giving him that much of her knowledge..

She looked at the last piece of paper in fear, and her stomach dropped.

It was a drawing of her, Makoto, Yae and Kunikuzushi holding hands and looking happy. Like a family.

Ei felt…sad.

She wished that Kunikuzushi did not have to live a life without Makoto by their sides, and she wished that Kunikuzushi would not have discovered her already so quickly into his early months of living.

It was clear that he was able to access much more than Ei intended him to. He knew about Orobashi, and he was aware of Makoto’s existence and passing. It was not an overstretch to assume that he also probably knew of the calamity which took her life as well.

She knelt down next to Kunikuzushi to look at him resting, because seeing him at peace never failed to ease Ei’s worries whenever she felt troubled.

If only she had been more aware of Makoto’s whereabouts, she could have gone in her stead, and they would have come back to Inazuma victorious. And even if she did fall in battle, it would have been better for Inazuma and her people if it were Makoto that survived. She was always more understanding than herself.

Maybe she would have even been a better mother to her son..

“Makoto.. "

Beelzebuld uttered her name into the silence, a soft hand resting against Kunikuzushi’s cheek with gentle care as to not wake him up from his slumber.

The sound of footsteps making their way to the room broke Ei out of her regretful trance. She hadn’t taken notice that it already had passed the time Miko usually returned back to them.

The door gently slid of open to reveal the cunning kitsune with a soft smile on her face. But it soon broke and changed into a look of concern as she saw her lover sitting on the ground with a mournful expression.

Ei calmly placed the drawings down onto her lap and let out a deep sigh of exhaustion before raising her head to look up at Yae.

Just this morning Ei seemed to be happier than ever, smiling, laughing and loving. But now, that happiness Yae had seen was replaced by a look of uncertainty, regret and grief.

Without saying a word, she quietly closed the door behind her, taking note of her sons slumber, and quietly made her way over to Ei. Upon when she arrived by her side she settled down close to her and placed a hand on top of hers to show that she was there.

It was only then that she took notice of the drawing on Ei’s lap. Her face distorting into a worried one as she put two and two together. She turned to look at her lover once again, who was now harbouring fresh, hot tears in her eyes.

Without a word being said, Yae pulled the archon close to her and Ei allowed herself to bury her face into the crook of Miko’s neck, a short and quiet sob escaping her quivering lips.

Yae rested a hand on the back of her head and another gently rubbing circles into her back, deciding that it would be best if she waited for Ei to speak before telling her anything.

“Miko.. It should have been me, not her. She would have governed Inazuma more accordingly, and she would have cared for Kunikuzushi with such understanding that I could never give him." She whispered pitifully as she gripped her lover’s clothing.

“I just can’t understand it. Why did she go, …and not me?"

Yae’s heart shattered into a million pieces when she heard Ei’s voice crack while she confessed her inner thoughts. She was glad that Ei still tried to keep her voice down, neither of the two would have wanted Kunikuzushi to see them in such a vulnerable state.

“Ei.. don’t say such things, you and I both know that none of it is true. If you weren’t here, then we wouldn’t ever had been able to have Kunikuzushi in the first place." She comforted her with hushed whispers.

“Kunikuzushi doesn’t want Makoto as his mother, he wants you. And I think we have been doing an amazing job at raising him together.

You’re not going through any of this alone Ei. We are a family now, that means you can rely on us to help you fill in the gaps that Makoto used to before."

That’s right, Ei had a family now. A family that she loved and cherished.

People that she would wake up to everyday.

People that she could seek comfort in, even if Makoto was not here to sit by her side whenever she was troubled.

She was happy to be woken up everyday by the loud patter of Kunikuzushi’s feet making contact with the wooden floors, and she was happy to eat Miko’s breakfast every morning with her family close by her side.

Makoto wouldn’t be happy if she heard Ei saying these things, she would be happy that Ei was happy, even without her being there.

Ei said nothing. She just nodded and let her lover hold her close until her tears would eventually come to an end and all the grief that was lingering on her body would melt away and be replaced by the feeling of being cared for by her family.

Chapter Text

The night was peaceful, and the city was at rest. The wildlife had returned to their nests, and the once buzzing streets were mostly empty, with everyone going back to their places of slumber.

The residents of tenshukaku were no exception. Even the divine needed rest at some point to carry out their duties to their fullest potential, that was a saying that the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine used to coax her loved ones into resting, and it would work on most occasions. That was how they managed to find themselves cuddling peacefully on most nights.

Nevertheless, tonight was no different from the others. At least, that was what Miko had presumed. She certainly had not been expecting to be shaken awake in the deadly hours of the morning.

She tried to brush it off, but after a few seconds the shaking only grew more frantic. The Kitsune moaned in annoyance and slowly began forcing her eyes open to see who dared to interrupt her beauty sleep.

Kunikuzushi’s shadowed figure was leaning above her, his face tear stained with panic ridden all over it. Yae blinked a few times before completely registering what she had just seen and furrowing her brows in worry. This was the first time Kunikuzushi had woken any of them up late at night like this, if something was wrong it must definitely be serious.

She lifted a hand to rest upon his cheek and soothingly wiped below his eyes. “Sweetheart, what’s the matter?"

The distressed boy leaned into the touch, a bit hesitant to respond because he was afraid of what her reaction would be. Yae frowned at his hesitation, but still hummed in encouragement for him to reply.

“I …something happened because of me." He chocked out. Yae looked at him in confusion, wondering what he could have possibly meant by that, but it was only then that she had registered how damp the bedsheets had felt.

Oh..

Her face dropped, and with it Kunikuzushi’s heart. Yae did not know what to think, or why they had not inquired about this earlier. They had never actually seen Kunikuzushi use the restroom, both of them assumed that he would go there at times where he was not with them, just like how they had assumed that he even knew when to use the restroom.

But they had thought wrong. And due to their disregards, Yae had now found herself in this predicament. With a weeping Kunikuzushi and wet bedsheet.

Yae knew that no matter how ….surprised she was, she had to attempt to remain calm. The last thing she had wanted to do was make him feel bad for doing something he simply could not control yet. She needed to guide him like a mother would to their untrained toddler.

Yae brushed off the disgust she felt and sat up in the bed, now placing both hands on her sons cheeks while he sobbed. “Kuni, don’t worry you’re fine okay? Why don’t you come with me and I’ll help you clean yourself up." She soothed him quietly. The puppet nodded wordlessly and rested himself on his mom’s chest, earning him an embrace in response.

Yae got off the bed, Kunikuzushi following closely behind her while clutching her hand desperately. And so with light footsteps, the two made their way to the bathroom in a comfortable silence.

Yae was confused as to how he knew how to wield a blade, but not how to know when to use the bathroom. Though Yae did not remember them teaching him that, he was also Ei’s first prototype that was originally not supposed to consume food or beverages of any kind.

The Guuji slid the doors open, allowing herself and her son to enter before closing the door and turning on the lights in the room. Kunikuzushi squinted his eyes at the sudden brightness, in which Yae scoff and lightly tapped on his head in response.

She herself was also extremely tired and drained, she did not have the energy to clean up her son.

“Kuni dear, undress yourself and sit down on the toilet while I start a bath for you." She tiredly commanded. Kunikuzushi nodded in response and began doing as he was told while his mom started up a warm bath from him.

Once she had began letting the water run, she turned to check on Kunikuzushi. She saw that he was patiently waiting for her without his clothes on, sniffling quietly to himself on the toilet seat.

“Hush now, what just happened was an extremely normal thing." She comforted him as she stood up and made her way to where he was seated. Kunikuzushi looked up in confusion before frowning and looking down again in discomfort.

“Im sorry mom.."

The Guuji sighed and shook her head with a smile. “I told you everything will be fine. Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"

The puppet thought for a moment, before nodding and rested a hand on his stomach. Yae looked at him in worry before nodding and placing a kiss on his forehead.

“I’m sorry baby, why don’t I make you something to help it feel better."

———-

After leaving Kunikuzushi in the water, the Guuji left the bathroom to make him some sencha tea to soothe his stomach ache.

She tiredly stirred the cup while staring at her reflection in the green liquid. She had went to sleep extremely late last night because she was preparing the report she would give to Kunikuzushi once he would arrive to check on the sacred Sakura tree sometime from now.

Not only three hours after she had fallen asleep, she was awoken by her son, who had apparently just wet the bed.

“It’s too late for this.."

“Miko? Is everything alright?" The sudden voice made the Guuji jump in surprise. Had she been so tired that she failed to notice Ei making her way torwards the Kitchen?

The archon rested a hand on her shoulder in concern. She had woken up due to the uncomfortable feeling of damp sheets against her clothing, then she noticed that both Kunikuzushi and Yae were not present in the bed with her.

She had gotten up to look for Kunikuzushi first, whom she had found submerged in a bath. He told her that Yae went to make him something to drink, and that was how she found herself here, worriedly looking at her lover who seemed to be exerting herself.

Yae sighed and nodded. “Kunikuzushi peed on the bed. I think he has a stomach ache, so now I’m brewing him some tea." Ei looked at her in surprise, was it even possible for him to develop a stomach ache?

But those thoughts were quickly put on hold. Miko needed a break, and it would very foolish of her to simply rest while her lover takes care of their son. Ei gently took the tea out of Yae’s hands and kissed her cheek.

“Do not worry. Leave Kunikuzushi to me. You can go sleep."

Yae did not even attempt to fight back. She gave her a short kiss on the lips before hurriedly making her way to the room that was originally supposed to be Kunikuzushi’s. Ei smiled to herself before turning her gaze torwards the cup of tea in her hands.

She began making her way to the bathroom, using one free hand to slide the door open and enter. There was Kunikuzushi with half of his face submerged into the water, gazing at nothing in particular; he seemed to be deep in thought.

Ei placed the cup near the bath before gently shaking Kunikuzushi to grab his attention. He blinked once, then took note of his mother’s presence in the room and immediately smiled. Ei offered him the tea, which he took eagerly and began taking small sips from.

The two remained in a calming silence. Kunikuzushi seemed deep in thought while Ei was wondering why it had taken so long to for him to …relieve himself. And also, was he still feeling his stomach pain now?

Although it would be a bit odd to ask, Ei was worried for him. She would immediately begin looking into it so that she can provide as solution to why his body was behaving.

“Kunikuzushi, are you feeling alright now?" Ei worriedly inquired.

Kunikuzushi nodded slowly, “Yes, my stomach feels better now." Ei sighed in relief, but she still was not satisfied. Why this had only happened now, and not any other time in the past? Was there something that might have triggered it?

“Do you think that something happened that made your body behave this way?" Ei shared her thoughts with him. Kunikuzushi remained silent for some time again, but that was fine. A mother must always be patient with their child.

“It was a dream I had just witnessed. It left a bad feeling in my stomach, and when I woke up i felt wet." He explained briefly, not wanting to relive the moment through the details.

Ei felt saddened to hear that. He must have dreamt of something that made him anxious, which triggered these unfortunate reactions in response.

He seemed uncomfortable so the archon did not push him on what exactly he had witnessed in the dream, but the fact remains that he was troubled. Ei wanted to offer him her comfort, to let him know that she would always be here to hold him after every bad dream that he would witness, because she loved him.

She hoped that she could tell him something, anything that would give him a sense of relief, but the archon herself also has not come to terms with her own emotions. This made offering reassurance very difficult.

She hesitantly caressed his cheek, opening her mouth to speak before closing it again in uncertainty.

“I will not inquire anymore about your dream, but I want you to always remember that I love you. And I will always be here with you, if you need somebody to confide in or even if you are seeking for comfort."

The room was silent, and Ei was sure that she had somehow said something wrong, but that was until the puppet hesitantly buried his face into his mothers lap, his body shaking as he allowed himself to cry out and onto the fabric.

Ei did not push him off, nor did she gaze at him in disgust. Instead, she rested a hand on his back, rubbing it gently in a comforting manner to let him know that she was there with him.

“Shh my child…everything will be alright."

Chapter Text

“Kunikuzushi. You need to wear your shoes, you can not be walking outside barefoot."

“Why not."

“You will get hurt, not all the Inazuma ground is as flat as here in tenshukaku."

”But Mama lets me go outside without shoes." Ei would have to speak to Yae Miko about her parenting methods once they return from their endeavours today.

The time when Kunikuzushi would be beginning his first duties as the Shogun had finally arrived, and Kunikuzushi was ecstatic.

He had been constantly keeping his parents awake at night due to this new chapter in his life, maintaining his parent’s attention on him because he simply would not rest until he had tired himself out with all the rambling he had been doing.

Although Ei was very happy that he was eager to take on this responsibility, she was still uncertain of the idea of letting her son handle this role. It’s not that she did not trust his judgment, she just felt worried that something would happen to him as they were outside the tenshukaku.

After lightly bickering back and forth about whether or not he should wear shoes, Ei and Kunikuzushi, with sandals on, set off from tenshukaku grounds and on the route to their first destination.

Kunikuzushi was simply supposed to check on the Sacred Sakura tree and have a meeting with the Head of the Kamisato clan to give him the required information on what their clan administrates. It was not much, but Kunikuzushi was satisfied. He was still enthusiastic just by the thought of going outside.

The walk would be a long and complicated one, it was a wonder how Miko had managed to walk such a distance to and from tenshukaku every day.

They would need to travel through a path that passed over steam and through Chinju forest. It was very fortunate that she had forced Kunikuzushi to wear that footwear.

The trip to the shrine was quite eventful. The people that crowded the Inazuma city streets were delighted to see that both of their Shoguns were outside tenshukaku today, and some of them even stopped the two for a bit of friendly chatter.

Ei often forgot that her people were used to seeing Makoto around, who would usually interact with the people of Inazuma more than she would. So whenever they would stop her for a friendly greeting or a cup of tea, she would often end up leaving them worried if she was sick or running a fever.

But now that Kunikuzushi was present, their attention would often divert to him instead of her. And because her love for Kunikuzushi was currently one of the main things occupying her mind, Ei suddenly would have no trouble holding up a decent conversation with them.

Ei would have been disappointed in Kunikuzushi for wasting so much time already, but it was mainly her fault as well due to the fact that she would be the one to get carried away interacting with her people.

After they finally left Inazuma city, they had to cross two streams of water before making it to Chinju forest. Although Kunikuzushi was captivated by the beautiful scenery, he had to remind himself that he was here on work terms and work terms alone. He would not want his mother to assume that he was not serious about this.

But, eventually after climbing up the large flight of stairs, finally they arrived at the beautiful and well-kept sacred grounds.

Upon arrival, they were greeted by Yae Miko resting both her arms on her hips with a face distorted into one of disappointment. After the sheer amount of times where she would arise in the early hours of the morning to provide them with food, and still arrive at the Shrine in time, they rewarded her by arriving an hour late.

“And what took you two so long?" The kitsune asked with thinning patience. Kunikuzushi gave her a nonchalant shrug while Ei shook her head to dismiss the question. “That is the least of your worries Lady Yae."

Kunikuzushi nodded in agreement and folded his arms with a playful sense of authority. “She is correct. I’m here to inquire about the Sacred Sakura tree."

Although they were all supposed to keep it professional outside tenshukaku grounds, Yae still felt a tad bit hurt that she was not able to behave freely with her family in public. If she was, she would have pulled Kunikuzushi’s ear off already.

Miko flushed down the urge to retort and pinched the bridge of her nose to relieve herself of the pooling stress that was flooding through her body. The shrine maidens on duty tried their best to mind their own business, but there was no doubt that they would be discussing this event through hushed whispers later this evening.

“.. Right, almighty Shogun. If you would follow me, I will direct you to the grounds where the roots are located. I will fill you in on the way there."

Kunikuzushi nodded in approval, giving Yae Miko permission to go and pick up the documents which he needed to view. Not that he understood much of it.

The shrine maidens took this as an opportunity to catch up with the two. Quickly excusing themselves with small smiles on their faces upon her return.

The Guuji sighed once she saw that they had once again decorated Kunikuzushi with Sakura petals in his hair. The only difference this time was that even Ei was in possession of a handful of Sakura petals. She seemed quite stunned though, Miko tried her best not to smile at the view.

Once Kunikuzushi had taken a look at the important papers, the three made their way back down the flight of stairs, the people who happened to pass by them bowing down in respect or attempting not to stare for too long at Kunikuzushi’s hair.

As they made their way down the flight of stairs, the Guuji began explaining the basic details about the sacred Sakura tree and the role that the prominent Kitsune clan, Hakushin, played throughout history.

“Members of the Hakushin clan have been caring for the Sacred Sakura for many years now. We have been trusted with the life of this tree and have been passing down the role of Guuji of the shrine to many generations for quite some time now until the title was gifted to me."

Kunikuzushi hummed in understanding, but if he was completely honest, he was a bit lost. The Sacred Sakura had not been present before the cataclysm, right? So how had they been taking care of it beforehand?

He would have asked his mother, but he wasn’t even supposed to know about that or the cataclysm yet.

Ei hummed in agreement. “The Sacred Sakura has been in their care for centuries, keeping the tree healthy is not as easy as it may seem." She warned him.

The kitsune playfully smirked at Kunikuzushi, a hand whisking over to cover her mouth. “That is true, and when the time for a new carer arrives maybe you’ll be the next Guuji?"

She was merely joking. Although Kunikuzushi would be a more than worthy candidate, even if he was not a kitsune. He was still technically also a member of the Hakushin clan, just not by blood. Miko also had plans to teach him how the job of a Guuji was carried out.

Kunikuzushi rolled his eyes at her comment. “But I’m not a fox."

“You do not need to be of Hakushin blood, or a Youkai to become a Guuji, as long as you are in the clan, you may carry out its duties." Ei corrected her son with a light tone.

“Your mother is right. Just think about it; Lord Guuji Kunikuzushi."

Kunikuzushi was glad that nobody was around to witness his mom's poor attempt at humour.

.
.
.

The roots were in great condition as per usual. They were healthy and still growing, which was a good sign of course. Kunikuzushi was beginning to think that maybe he had not been given any of the more challenging duties.

They had just checked on the last remaining root, so now it was about time for them to head off to the Kamisato Estate.

“Since everything is all alright here, we should be going now," Kunikuzushi announced. He was surprisingly fitting into the role of Shogun very smoothly, Ei felt somewhat proud of him for doing so well on his first day.

Miko clapped her hands together and smiled., of course, she was not just going to simply let them go. “Before you go there’s just one last thing you forgot."

Ei and Kunikuzushi both had the same look of confusion on their faces, which was so adorable that the Kitsune could not hold herself back.

She gave Ei a small and short kiss on the lips then cupped Kunikuzushi’s cheeks and littered his face with multiple butterfly kisses. Ei tried to maintain her composure while Kunikuzushi on the other hand was whining in annoyance, his face heating up by the second from embarrassment.

Kunikuzushi began attempting to wipe off the light cherry lipstick stains that his mom had most likely left on his skin. “Mama... you’re being embarrassing.." Miko only scoffed and faced away from him. Kunikuzushi was behaving as if it had been long ago since she had woken up to him accidentally peeing on the bed.

“Alright alright, you better get going then."

Yae Miko waved them off as they took off on the path that would lead to the Kamisato residence.

She continued to watch them walk away into the distance, and when they were nowhere in sight the Guuji began turning to go back to the Grand Narukami Shrine. But then she stopped in his tracks once she made a shocking realisation.

Their son had probably told his parents about how Kunikuzushi had saved them some time back, and they were most likely going to use this meeting as an opportunity to thank him.

That would not be a problem, that is, if Ei was aware of the fact that Kunikuzushi had gone outside the city gates without any supervision.

Miko groaned quietly to herself. She had only been at the shrine for three hours now, disappearing once again would surely cause even more suspicion to arise. But if she did not go and sort out this problem now, Ei would get upset at Kunikuzushi and the consequences would be fatal. Perhaps not that serious, but still.

Without giving it much thought, Miko swiftly changed into her feline form, which she had not used in quite some time now, and began sprinting to the Kamisato Residence in an attempt to arrive there before them.

Her duties at the Grand Narukami Shrine could wait.

—————-

As Kunikuzushi and Ei approached the estate gates, the older of the two attempting to pluck out any remaining flower petals from her son's hair, they could hear a bit of commotion taking place in the Kamisato estate. Upon arrival, the two were greeted with the tense faces of the current leaders of the Kamisato clan.

Kunikuzushi shrugged it off as normal human behaviour, he was not well acquainted with emotions just yet. But Ei was not so easily swayed, she could tell that they were not at ease. But why?

“Greeting Almighty Shoguns. We are pleased to have your company in the estate." The male head of the clan greeted as both he and his wife bowed down in respect.

Kunikuzushi smiled slightly in return while Ei gave them an acknowledging nod. “We’re both glad to be here as well."

“Do be at ease. Kunikuzushi will be the one handling matters here. I am merely observing how things unfold, pay me no mind." She tried to ease them.

They nodded in understanding and proceeded to lead the two divine beings into the establishment, all while a small pink fox trailed behind them with great secrecy.

You see, the true reason they were distressed was not because of the presence of their deities, but rather it was the event that had unfolded just mere seconds before Ei and Kunikuzushi had arrived at the estate that caused all the turmoil.

They were waiting by the entrance when they were greeted by none other than Lady Guuji Yae of the Grand Narukami Shrine.

They didn’t even get the chance to properly greet her before she told them not not speak of the events that had unfolded when Kunikuzushi protected their son some time back. Before they could inquire as to why she was asking this, the Guuji had told them that Ei and Kunikuzushi would be arriving soon and quickly hid somewhere out of sight.

The two were taken by surprise. They weren’t expecting a visit from the Grand Narukami Shrine, and this was a rather strange request. Kunikuzushi and Ei arrived just seconds after Yae had hidden herself, they didn’t have much time to compose themselves.

Despite the suddenness of the situation, they did try to remain composed as they led the two visitors to the Kamisato estate’s meeting room. Once they had all settled down on the ground the three of them began discussing more serious matters.

“The Kamisato clan has been present for centuries. Our bloodline has ties to elemental magic in the past, and hence most of our clan techniques also include it. We have also taken up martial arts from our ancestors in the past." Mr Kamisato briefly shed some light on their clan’s history.

Mrs Kamisato smiled proudly. “We are in charge of the Yashiro commission and have been for many years now. We specialise in managing things such as shrines, festivals and other cultural events.

However, that is not all we oversee. We prepared a document for you that explains our assistance to you in more depth" She silently nodded her head at their housekeeper to retrieve the already prepared documents.

“Those documents also include the official document signed by your mother all those years ago." The male head of the clan added light-heartedly. Kunikuzushi smiled warmly and nodded, watching as their housekeeper returned empty-handed to whisper something inside Mrs Kamisato's ear.

Her eyes widened while everybody watched her in growing concern as she nodded and worriedly turned her attention to her husband.

“It seems that there has been an issue with the documents, but don’t fret, we will quickly handle it."

Ei and Kunikuzushi both shared a look of suspicion, silently conveying their thought to each other simply by looking at each other's expressions.

The puppet pursed his lips. “Is something the matter? I would not mind helping." The puppet offered as he normally would in times of distress. Ei said nothing, opting to just cross her arms and observe how the situation would unfold.

Mrs Kamisato did not want to drag the Shogun into this, but if he had offered then surely it would be improper of her to decline his offer, so she sighed and nodded in agreement.

“You are very kind, almighty Shogun. It seems that the documents we had previously spoken of are now nowhere to be seen…" She explained disheartenedly.

Kunikuzushi hummed in understanding as he went deep in thought. They needed a way to locate it somehow, but how would they be able to do so?

His mind wandered off to the day when his mom had found him resting under that tree outside of Inazuma City. On their return back home, she had explained to him that she was able to find him because of the elemental traces that he left behind wherever he went.

Everything with elemental energy left traces that could be made visible with elemental sight. Those documents most likely were sealed with a sort of elemental seal, so tracing them with elemental sight could also be a possibility.

“Earlier, you mentioned that your clan has deep roots in elemental magic. Were the documents in your possession also sealed with similar methods?" The two looked at him in confusion before responding. “Yes, but why do you inquire if I may?" Mrs Kamisato asked.

“Elemental vision might lead us to the place where the documents are. It wouldn’t hurt to give it a try?"

———

Yae had been listening to the proceedings from outside of the room, just to make sure that they had remained true to their word when she saw the Kamisato estate housekeeper exit the room only to come back a few moments later in a hurry.

She quickly discovered what the situation was, and she knew that the outcome of this would likely lead to something Ei would not let Kunikuzushi do, and if such a thing did happen, Kunikuzushi would not be allowed outside of the tenshukaku due to his mother’s protective nature.

Yae did not want something like that to happen on her watch, so she composed a simple plan as to how she would get to the documents before they did to see if there was any opposing threat or not. It was basic, and once she was done she could finally return to the Grand Narukami Shrine.

Yae did not see any problems with it, and so she put her plan into play. Immediately, she turned on her elemental vision and began following the newly visible trail to its endpoint.

She was quickly able to follow the marks to a path on the main road that led to the Chinju Forest. Yae thought that the perpetrators would have traveled a bit further by now, but she saw that they were casually stopped somewhere along the road, arguing over something.

“Just unlock it! You’re a vision bearer, are you not?!" One man screamed at the other that was seemingly apart of their group. The man that was being yelled at defensively crossed his arms. “Well I am! But I don’t specialise in elemental seals so how would I know!?"

“How are we going to sell this thing if we don’t even know what’s in it?!"

“Oh you won’t be selling anything."

They all turned to see a pink haired kitsune walking torwards them, her arms crossed to her chest.

The leader, and most vocal out of the group, glared at her in annoyance and took a battle stance, with everybody in the group soon following suit. “Who do you think you are?! You don’t know who you’re messing with!"

“If I were you, I would hand over the documents now before things get ugly." She suggested with a cold tone. Some of the people hesitantly backed away, but the rest remained a firm force. What a pity, she truly did think that she wouldn’t have to try doing so much.

Yae did not have time for chit chat, Kunikuzushi and his group would be arriving soon now. And so she summoned a mirage of a huge alluring, yet intimidating pink fox, that appeared behind her figure. "Unless you wish for today to be your last, I suggest that you hand over the documents now."

Their ring leader tried to seem unbothered by the new addition, but once he had noticed that the rest of his crew had already flew the scene, he clicked his tongue and threw the documents at her before running away.

The Guuji caught them in her hands with no issues hand placed the important papers gently onto the ground. She did not have much time left either, so once she checked if the documents were unscathed, she quickly slipped away without a trace.

——-

The documents were surprisingly located rather quickly, just along the path to Chinju Forest. Although they were all concerned with how they had found their way there, Mrs Kamisato urged them all to just be thankful they were found in the first place.

The rest of the day went accordingly, and left Ei feeling very satisfied with Kunikuzushi’s performance. So much so that she later bought some tri-coloured dango for the rest of them to share as a sort of reward.

And so once all of them had arrived home, Ei brewed some tea to accompany them as they celebrated the very fortunate outcome of Kunikuzushi’s first day acting as the Shogun in the tea room.

“The proceedings went quite well Kunikuzushi. I told you that you would do an outstanding job." Kunikuzushi relished in the praise, smiling as he took a bite of his dango.

“Thank you mother. And thanks for believing in me."

Ei smiled as well in return, before directing her attention to her lover who had her head rested tiredly on the table.

“Miko? Why aren’t you eating your dango?" The kitsune only hummed tiredly in response.

This would be the final time she would be seen scurrying all around Inazuma to save her son’s duties.

Chapter Text

Time flies by quicker when you are in the presence of people you love.

Days like minutes, and weeks pass by like the time it takes for the sun to set.

Without realising it, soon it had almost been a year since Kunikuzushi awoke in this world. Months worth of memories were made, and not a single one would be forgotten by the puppet, no, they all found their place somewhere deep in his consciousness.

The day of Kunikuzushi’s birthday was fast approaching, and such an event would not go by without a grand celebration, both Ei and Miko made sure of that.

The preparations would be challenging to complete, but soon with the combined work of the determination of the citizens of Inazuma, everything would soon fall into place.

———

“Hm… this one really does not compliment your eyes Kuni Kuni, try this instead."

The puppet sighed as his mom handed him yet another traditional Kimono to try on.

Today marked the day that Kunikuzushi was created, and he was not thrilled. It was not anything personal per se, he simply just did not understand the concept of birthdays and why they were celebrated, especially for somebody like himself. Why were they celebrating his birthday if he was never even birthed in the first place?

In the early hours of the morning, he had been awoken by his mother giving him a warm ‘birthday hug’ before disappearing to do something that he was not informed about, and his mom telling him that they must go to the Grand Narukami Shrine to prepare him for the day. He did not even get the chance to say goodbye to his mother because she was already nowhere to be seen.

If the day was as important as people made it seem, why wasn’t she staying with him? Nonetheless, he was tired. So tired in fact, that his mom had carried him all the way to the Grand Narukami Shrine. She only complied because it was his birthday.

Immediately when he had gotten there, he was taken to a room where his mom, along with some other Shrine maidens, began getting to work on preparing him for the events of that day.

They had been taking their time with applying some light makeup on his face and helping him choose which Kimono he would want to wear. Yae had also forced him to choose some shoes to wear despite his protests, and his hair was combed through until it was silky smooth. Though they did not have to do much, Ei always took her time caring for it.

Kunikuzushi was overall not enjoying it, causing him to make it a bit harder for them to work with him. He would smidge his lip gloss or kick off his shoes, but stop immediately once he received a harsh glare from his mom. She was always more strict than his mother whenever the time came for it.

But still, his attempts were useless. After four hours of preparations, he was finally finished. He looked stunning, simple but beautiful. Yae smiled brightly once she saw the finished look. “My Kuni you look so beautiful. Oh how the days go by.. "

They were just the two of them in a room usually preserved for eating meals. Miko thought that although Kunikuzushi was a bit hard to work with, he deserved a large number of his favourite treats to be served to him just because in the end he still complied with it all.

The boy who had just entered the room remained with the same frown on his face. In fact, now he had deepened it more upon seeing his mom sitting by the table. He would not be easily bribed by deserts.

“Do you like the way you look?" She asked him. Kunikuzushi wasn’t wearing anything heavy upon his own personal request. Just a dark kimono with red and white lining, the underfabric of the kimono a deep shade of purple. He also was forced to wear a black neck vest inside, just in case his kimono slipped like the way it usually did.

Overall, he felt pretty in it. But he was not going to admit that to his mom, so he turned his head to the side stubbornly, not responding to her question. If Yae Miko stood a little bit closer, she would be able to feel the heat radiating off his face.

The kitsune shook her head at his behaviour, already anticipating that he would be angry at her once he was done getting prepared. She arose from her seat and strides over to where her son was standing, pulling him in for a hug.

“Aw… okay I'm sorry alright? You’re all done now and I won’t pester you anymore. Let’s just enjoy a meal together."

He leaned into the touch, his frown lessening only a little before giving in to her requests. “Okay, mama.. "

Miko smiled a kissed his head lightly before leading him to the table and sitting him down gently. Kunikuzushi was not sure if this was happening because she cared about him or because she did not want him messing up his hair by sitting on it.

The Guuji sat down as well, giving Kunikuzushi the permission he needed to begin eating his dango. It was relatively silent after that. The puppet ate food while his mom watched him with a solemn look on her face.

It had been a year, yet she still felt as if it was only yesterday when she and Ei welcomed Kunikuzushi with a warm embrace. He was growing, mentally at least. Even after everything that she’s seen him do, Miko will only ever see Kunikuzushi as the fragile boy who failed to pronounce her name properly.

She lifted a finger to wipe under her eye, Kunikuzushi staring at her in confusion. The kitsune sighed dramatically at his expression. “Oh Kuni, you’re growing too fast.. can’t a mother reminisce over her son just for a second before he grows even more."

The puppet lowered his eyelids at her. She was just being dramatic, he hadn’t changed a single bit in Kunikuzushi’s opinion. His facial expression was enough for Yae to get that he was not impressed. Miko sighed at that, but still smiled and rested her head on her palm.

“Alright alright, enough. Are you excited for tonight’s event?"

He was not, to simply put it. He didn’t even know what would be happening, all he knew was that he had signed some documents from the Yashiro commission that had authorised it. He did not know what to expect, but whatever it was he just hoped that it would involve something that would cheer him up.

He shrugged, taking a sip of his milk in the process. “I do not know what to be excited for."

“Well, everyone will be there to celebrate with you. Birthdays only come once a year Kuni." The Kitsune lectured him lightly. She had been reminding him of this fact for over a week now but no matter how many times she tried explaining it, he still saw no importance in it.

When she saw him still carrying the same unimpressed look, she folded her arms in defeat. “You are just as stubborn as your mother.. "

A knock could be heard before the door was gently slid open by one of the shrine maidens that served the shrine. She peaked her head into the room and gasped lightly once she saw that she had disturbed their quiet time together. “My apologies Lady Guuji, almighty Shogun. Am I disturbing?"

Kunikuzushi shook his head while Miko smiled. “No no, you aren’t. Is there something you need?" The shrine maiden smiled shyly to herself and dipped her head in respect before allowing herself in the room. Some other maidens could be heard whispering excitedly outside, and Kunikuzushi pouted in confusion.

“We would like to pick fortune slips with you for your birthday, if that is alright with you, Shogun." She asked. Miko smiled in amusement, already knowing about this because she had heard them talking about it for a week now. It was cute how excited they were over something as mundane as fortune slips that would not even come true.

Neither Kunikuzushi nor the maidens got the chance to pick out their fortune slips despite how frequently they were at the Grand Narukami Shrine. That’s why when Kunikuzushi heard the proposal, he immediately turned to his mom, silently asking for her approval.

The Guuji sighed, nodding and waving her hand to dismiss them. Kunikuzushi thanked her before scurrying off with them, gently closing the door on their way out.

.
.
.

Everybody excitedly picked up a slip for the box, waiting until all of them had one before they counted down the seconds till their paper would be unravelled.

They told Kunikuzushi that this would be a special fortune because it was being opened on his birthday. The idea excited him, so once they had all counted down to zero he gently pulled his open, making sure not to tear it.

But what he read next only made his eyes squint in confusion.

‘You were destined for more, but watch as you lose it all right before your very own eyes.‘

"…huh?"

“What did you get Shogun?" One of them asked him.

He slowly revealed the paper for all of them to see, causing some to furrow their brows in confusion or gasp.

“I don’t remember writing that. My apologies sir, please, do not take it to heart."

He smiled and nodded, turning his attention to the others who were celebrated over their good fortune.
Even though he did not get a good one, it didn’t matter.

After all, It was merely a fortune.

He scrunched up the fortune and joined in on his people's celebrations.

———

The room he was in was dark. The only light he could see was coming from the small gap in the doors in front of him, and the only sound he could hear was the sound of his mother speaking to the crowd from the balcony which he was soon going to be joining her on.

Once he had returned to the tenshukaku, his mom had told him what would happen after that point.

He was to wait with his mom for up to an hour, then she and his mother would leave him alone in the room that leads to the balcony, where he would have to wait some more until his mother was done speaking to the crowd before he could make his appearance.

This was all so sudden, but he still obliged. And now as the doors were opened, letting in the blinding lights that were so bright that Kunikuzushi had to close his eyes while he stepped forward, he didn’t know what to expect, but he was truly blown away by the breathtaking view.

The orange hues of the setting sun, the beautifully decorated city, and his people cheering upon catching sight of him. And his mother, smiling at him with love and adoration clouding her vision.

It was all so much, too much. He hadn’t even taken notice of the small droplets forming in the corner of his eyes.

Ei wiped the tears from his eyes, motioning with the other to the crowd of people awaiting his words of wisdom. “Go on Kunikuzushi,
our people are gathered here today for you, so speak to them."

For me.

He nodded and turned his attention to them, a wild smile plastered across his face.

“Thank you. Words can not express how much I love you all. Although I only came into this world a year ago, you all made me feel welcomed and loved. The bonds that I forged with you all, large or small, will always be remembered by my heart. Truly, I am honoured to have your faith instilled within me, and I can promise you that forever how long eternal holds, I vow to protect our people’s freedom and honour those who came before me."

He paused, gathering up the overwhelming rush of passion he felt in that very moment.

" I... I wish that all of you will enjoy yourselves to the fullest today!" He placed a hand on his heart, the buzzing feeling in his chest growing the more he took in the sight.

The sounds of the crowds cheering echoed across the city, an eternal voice echoing to him his promise to them. In that very moment, Kunikuzushi vowed to himself that he would fulfill his purpose. He swore to protect his people, no matter the cost it came with.

People began screaming and cheering, some not even knowing why they were doing so but it just felt right. They only ceased once again Ei lifted her head and cleared her throat.

“The time is upon us, and I hereby declare that today shall be celebrated for eternity as the Tenno Tanjobi, my son’s birthday. Now, let us all rejoice, for today is a day that will not be forgotten throughout history." The cheers grew, and Kunikuzushi couldn’t help but feel like he wanted to go celebrate with all of them like he was one of their own.

The puppet stepped off the balcony, a platform of electroforming underneath his feet with each step that he took downwards. Ei soon followed, and when they both arrived on the ground their people began shouting their praises to them.

———

Kunikuzushi had been allowed to wander the city under the conditions that he returns to the spot where they parted ways by 7 pm to continue the rest of the festival.

He was grateful, and he allowed himself to spend the evening accepting food from stands, receiving fans from kind people as tokens of their appreciation and playing games with the children and elderly.

For the children, he played peek-a-boo with them in the same way that his mom used to with him, and with the elderly, he would tell them stories from his mothers memory, leaving them satisfied by the end of each tale.

But, as the sky grew darker and all the beautiful lights were being shown out brightly on full display, lighting up the city in the process, Miko came to tell Kunikuzushi that they had to go back to complete the festival.

She was a tad bit disappointed when she noticed that his shoes were nowhere in sight, but she let it go past her due to the fact that it was his birthday that day.

Once they had arrived, Kunikuzushi was surprised to see that the crowd from earlier had reformed again, the people splitting to make an opening for them as the two passed through. In front of the crowd, there was his mother, waiting for them. She smiled when she caught sight of her family.

Once Kunikuzushi had reached her side, he began to question what was happening now. “Mother, why is everyone here?" He questioned, to which she replied, “Some people have prepared some gifts for you Kunikuzushi, they want to give them to you now." She motioned to the multiple people who were waiting in anticipation.

Kunikuzushi made an ‘oh’ sound as he watched the heads of the Kaedehara clan and their daughter Yuu walking to him, the little girl holding something behind her back.

They bowed in respect when they reached him, the mother lightly nudging her child to encourage her to speak. Said child nodded and turned to Kunikuzushi with a smile on her face.

“Happy birthday Mr Shogun! As a thank you again for finding my sword, I asked my father to make you a very special gift for your birthday! I hope you like it because now we are matching!"

She revealed the item she was holding behind her back and brought it forward for her deity to view.

It was a long blade with trails of purple emblemed into its dark steel, a symbol of electro carefully carved to replace the guard that would normally be there on a normal sword. It was evident how much time and thought had gone into the forging of this blade, Kunikuzushi made sure to pick it up
with extra care.

He smiled at the family in front of him. “It really is beautiful… would you mind if I tried it out a bit?" The family shook their heads while Ei and Miko shared a look of uncertainty. But, the Guuji shrugged it off as Kunikuzushi had already begun making his way a bit ahead where it was more spacious.

The crowd watched in silence as Kunikuzushi surveyed the blade close to his eye, taking in all of its features and flaws. He closed his eyes as tried to work deeper into the weapon, in an attempt to find the elements he needed to establish a deeper connection with it.

And once he had found said elements, all the passion, thoughts and emotion that were forged into this piece of steel, he allowed his body to embrace and translate in the weapon’s stead.

He raised the weapon out in front of him as if he were threatening the people with it, but then slowly began pulling it inwards as his body moved lightly, dragging the sword along with him gracefully as he went on.

He moved softly, like a beautiful lotus afloat in a clear pond. That was the image the sword had presented to him, and that must have been what its creator had envisioned as they forged it.

The crowd was completely bewitched, taken aback by how alluring he shifted. The way he moved was as if he were communicating something to them, something they couldn’t understand but in a way they could. Some couldn’t help but hum a soft tune to accompany his dance, others soon following suit.

The people sang, and their deity danced. He danced for it was the only way he could express. He danced to thank his people. He danced for all those people who gave their lives in the cataclysm, just so that the next generations could now gather around together and witness him.

And lastly, he began slowing down his movements to end his performance, bowing down to his people as if saying thank you. Thank you for accepting him into your hearts

And thank you Makoto, for staying by his mother's side for as long as she could.

Once he raised himself once more, everybody began clapping their hands and shouting out their applause to the performance. But, Kunikuzushi’s eyes caught sight of a group of three making their way to the front, that didn’t seem to be wearing the average Inazuman clothing.

“I didn’t know we would be getting a free performance! Did you enjoy it, Xiao?"

“It was very.. pleasing."

“This is only free because Ei and Miko were kind enough to invite us Barbatos, do not take it as a free excuse to get drunk."

The three were none other than Morax, Barbatos and Xiao.

Kunikuzushi had already met the two from Liyue, but this would be his first time seeing the anemo archon in person. He watched as his parents walked over and stood beside him to greet the newcomers, the rest of the civilians whispering amongst themselves in confusion.

“The V.I.P. guests have finally arrived? I was beginning to think you would never come." Miko greeted. Ei frowned at her comment, “We are delighted to see that you have accepted our Invitation, but I’m even more happy to see that you decided to come as well Barbatos." She was also glad that he had not shown up in his usual revealing garments.

The god of freedom smiled widely at them. “The pleasure is all mine. This is the least I could do after I failed to make it to your first event. I still can’t believe you have a son, and he looks almost exactly like you!" He turned to look at Kunikuzushi, the puppet bowing lightly once he noticed.

“Ah no need to be so formal, my name’s Barbatos." He squished the puppet's cheeks in the process. Kunikuzushi squinted his eyes and squirmed in annoyance. Barbatos reminded him of his mom just a little too much. “I’m Kunikuzushi, it’s nice to meet you."

“Kunikuzushi, I’ve heard a lot about you from Xiao!" The yaksha frowned and looked away in embarrassment. He had just talked briefly about the boy when he and Barbatos were spending some time together since he had woken from his slumber.

It was sudden, but he was awoken by the cries of his loved ones yearning for him to come back to their side, even only for a brief moment. And so he travelled to Liyue to reunite with them only for a few weeks. It was then that he was informed of Kunikuzushi and his upcoming birthday.

Morax smiled and took out a bouquet of glaze lilies, handing them to Kunikuzushi. “Happy birthday Kunikuzushi. These are glaze lilies, a flower that can only be found in Liyue. These ones are exceptionally hard to gather, the flowers only bloom when y—" Before he could go on with his rant, Barbatos chipped in to give his gift as well.

“Morax don’t speak to him for so long, he needs to accept my gift too! A bottle of Mondstat’s famous Dandelions wine!" He took out the bottle and handed it to the puppet, but Ei took it before her son could even think of getting his hands on the bottle. 

“Kunikuzushi does not drink wine Barbatos. But, we can sit down and share this amongst ourselves later."

He sighed at that, but still nodded in understanding, he also was a bit weary of allowing Xiao to take any alcohol despite his age.

Miko cleared her throat, her hands motioning to the crowd that was staring at them in confusion, still none daring to interrupt their exchange. “Shoguns, are you not going to introduce our honourable guest to your people?" Ei internally placed a palm on her face. How could she have forgotten?

Ei sighed and turned to face her people once again. “Forgive me for not considering you all sooner… These guests are the geo and anemo archons, Barbatos and Rex Lapis. Along with a yaksha from liyue, Adeptus Xiao. They are here to join our celebration."

They all bowed in respect, others whispering in amazement, or shouting out their greetings, directing all of their attention on them.

Xiao pinched his eyebrows in discomfort. He did not think it was wise for him to be in the presence of humans, and he never liked crowded areas. All the attention did not make him feel good.

Kunikuzushi luckily took notice of his discomfort, already assuming that he would not be a fan of attention drawn toward himself, so he lightly tapped on his mom's clothing.

Miko turned to him, humming in acknowledgement. “Can me and Xiao go somewhere more secluded?" Xiao stared at him in disbelief, how had he known that he was not feeling comfortable? The kitsune furrowed her eyebrows, but soon realised what his intentions were and sighed.

“If that’s alright with Xiao, just make sure you come back in time for the fireworks." Kunikuzushi nodded happily, giving his mother the weapon before turning to Xiao with a look of anticipation. He didn’t say anything, he instead allowed the puppet to pull him away from the crowd. He would much rather be wherever he was being led to anyway.

Ei looked at Miko with uncertainty, still forgetting to speak to her about her parenting methods. "But Miko, what about the other gifts?"

“Don’t worry Ei, they can give them to him tomorrow, let him enjoy his birthday. I think we should use this time to catch up with each other.." The anemo archon cheered to that, while Ei and Morax shared unimpressed glances.

———

The stars shone beautifully in the night sky, with the calming breeze gently brushing against their skin as Kunikuzushi led them both to a more secluded area situated a bit farther away from the commotion, on a cliff by the outskirts of Inazuma city.

The sounds of the people celebrating were blurred into the background as the two settled down onto the soft grass. The silence was still hanging in the air, not because they were too afraid to speak, but rather because they both enjoyed taking in the peaceful surroundings.

Xiao rested an arm on his propped-up knee as his eyes slowly drifted over to the puppet beside him. That dance he had performed left his skin with goosebumps that only returned once he saw him again. It was very alluring in the Yaksha’s eyes, the way he had managed to interpret that weapon so easily.

It was yet another strange thing about Kunikuzushi that Xiao simply would not be able to grasp, leaving him the same way he felt after his father tried explaining something complex to him. Everything about the puppet was so strange in Xiao’s eyes. Though unlike the way he usually drew himself away from things he could not understand, when it came to Kunikuzushi he only found himself wanting to understand him more. Maybe, he just had not known Kunikuzushi well enough to ask about his strange behaviours.

“Thank you for that." Kunikuzushi quirked a brow in confusion before realising he was referring to earlier before. He didn’t mind, he seemed like the type to keep to himself, it was sad to see him in a state of discomfort. “It’s alright, you don’t seem like the type that enjoys crowded areas."

Xiao turned to stare into the distance. “You are right. But it is not safe for humans to be in my presence for too long, my karma will easily drive them to insanity." He explained it to the puppet. Said puppet tilted his head slightly at the foreign word, “What is Karma?"

Xiao nearly forgot that Kunikuzushi was not aware of the things that took place outside of Inazuma. He had never tried explaining the concept to anyone, nor did he speak about himself to others, but because Kunikuzushi was different per se, he would allow it this once.

“It’s the corrupted forces and wills left by deceased gods. I must rid Liyue of it, but In return, I must pay off my debt by suffering the weight it holds. It is not good for humans to get into contact with Karma, it could drive them to madness."

The boy was taken aback, not expecting the Adeptus to be such an important factor in the progression of Liyue, but still, he nodded in understanding.

“Why do you carry out that duty?" His curious nature got the best of him just like it did most of the time.

Xiao did not mind, “Because I am a weapon for war that is now in Morax’s care. I made a contract with him many millennial ago, so now I aid him in the protection of his land."

He will always be a weapon. His father’s weapon. That factor alone is the only way Xiao feels Morax will love him. This is why he must endure all of the suffering and pain that comes with the title of the vigilant yaksha, because in the end as long as his father is proud of him, that is all that matters.

Xiao’s way of perceiving things never failed to confuse Kunikuzushi. If he had been putting his life at risk constantly to protect his nation, why would he compare himself to a weapon in the end?

He sighed and directed his attention to the fan in his hands. His mom had always told him that everybody thinks differently than others, but surely Xiao’s way of seeing things must be harmful.

They spent the rest of their time enjoying each other's company, Kunikuzushi’s voice being the one occupying the silence as he spoke about the stars in the sky, the experiences he had since they last saw each other or the books that he read in his free time.

Xiao would speak as well sometimes, adding some stories of his own here or there, but most of the time he would be listening with interest in whatever Kunikuzushi was rambling on about.

However, at some point, his mind began to wander back to Kunikuzushi’s dance from earlier. It was strange, how engrossed he was as he watched Kunikuzushi’s body move in sync with the weapon, as if his body had no weight. The way had managed to move in a rhythm with the world around him, was a mystery.

How could somebody with little to no connection to the world somehow find a way to be perfectly in sync with it?

Xiao was forcibly pulled out of his thoughts by Kunikuzushi calling out his name in confusion. It seems that he had begun to notice that his mind was somewhere else at the moment. “Xiao? Is something the matter?"

The Adeptus shook his head, “No. I was just thinking of something."

“What were you thinking about?"

Xiao stayed silent for a moment or two, thinking about his response before replying honestly. “...your dance, I enjoyed it. It was very alluring." He admitted honestly. Kunikuzushi smiled at the compliment, knowing that it was not easy to achieve verbal acknowledgement from the yaksha.

The puppet turned his body to face Xiao. “Thank you, but truthfully you should be praising the sword and not me." The only thing he had done was interpret the picture that the weapon was showing him.

Xiao shook his head in disagreement, turning to face Kunikuzushi as well. “Weapons do not deserve praise for simply carrying out their purpose. It is the person wielding the weapon that deserves all the recognition." He said another statement that Kunikuzushi failed to understand the logic of.

“But you have been protecting Liyue for centuries, suffering just to ensure its safety. You are the one who did all of those things, so doesn’t that mean that you are the one who deserves the praise?"

Xiao was at a loss for words for a moment, trying to find a suitable response to prove his point, but deep inside his heart, he knew that what Kunikuzushi had just said was true.

“...no. Morax is the one that found a way to use me for good."

Kunikuzushi sighed in understanding, already coming to terms with the fact that he and Xiao had very different perspectives.

Xiao was much more than that, Kunikuzushi just wished that he could see that about himself.

“I think you are worth more than that. Every weapon comes with its own complex story. But you, Xiao. I think you are far more captivating than a fine blade."

Xiao felt a prickling warm sensation rise to his ears at the comment, letting out a dissatisfied sound while turning away. Kunikuzushi couldn’t help but laugh at his behaviour.

After that, the both of them decided to continue the rest of their time in silence.

It was only after some time that Xiao remembered something important he had forgotten to do.

It was his gift for Kunikuzushi, a crystal core. It took quite some time to reach due to his height, but he managed to capture one at least.

He took it out of his pocket and tapped on Kunikuzushi’s shoulder. Handing it to him once he had turned to face him. “Here. This is a crystal core I picked for your birthday, I thought it would look nice if you put it in your hair."

Kunikuzushi smiled smugly and took this as an opportunity to tease the Adeptus. “You say that you are a weapon, but would a weapon go through the trouble of catching a crystal core to give as a birthday gift?" Xiao narrowed his eyes at him, and Kunikuzushi took that as his warning sign to stop embarrassing him for the night.

Kunikuzushi was beginning to pick up traits from his parents, Xiao only hoped that he would not be a teasing menace like Yae Miko

“Alright, I’ll stop. Thank you, though I’m not sure how to wear it. Could you put it on?" Xiao nodded, taking the crystal in hand and moving to fix it into his hair in the same way Morax would to him when he was still a young Adeptus.

Kunikuzushi sat patiently waiting, and once Xiao was done the Adeptus leaned back to see if he had managed to place it properly.

He looked nice in his opinion. Xiao was about to comment on it but the sound of Barbatos’s voice calling out for them prevented him from doing so.

Xiao stood up immediately, Kunikuzushi following suit as he let him lead the both of them to wherever Barbatos had found himself.

They found him wandering around with a wine glass occupying his hands, looking lost. He was sent to go bring Kunikuzushi and Xiao back in time for the fireworks, but he only realised he didn’t know where they were after he had already left. It had been a while since he had visited this nation, he couldn’t help but get lost.

Luckily, Xiao and Kunikuzushi managed to find him rather quickly.

He immediately noticed the crystal core in Kunikuzushi’s hair and turned to give Xiao a weird look. But, because he felt like being noble, he decided to turn a blind eye and not mention it at all.

“I finally found you two! The fireworks are about to start so we better hurry back." He warned while beginning to speed up his pace. Xiao and Kunikuzushi nodded and began following him from behind.

When they arrived at the area where all the crowds were gathered, excitedly waiting for the fireworks, they were handed some sparklers (mini fireworks on sticks) to hold in their hands while they waited.

They reunited with their families once again, Kunikuzushi excitedly waving his sparkler around while Ei warned him to not handle it so carelessly, while Xiao remained nonchalant as he listened to whatever his father was speaking about.

People began counting down the seconds and then burst into screams when the fire lit off and exploded into numerous colours and symbols in the sky.

Xiao, Kunikuzushi, Ei and Miko all admired the view in awe while Barbatos sneakily initiated a kiss with Morax while nobody was looking. The geo archon would normally be upset if Barbatos were to do this, but tonight he made an exception as he smiled back into the kiss.

That night was very important, for it will be one that will be celebrated throughout Inazuma for centuries. So now, with everybody gathered around to watch the beautiful lights lit the sky in flames, Kunikuzushi finally realised why birthdays were so important.

At that moment, everything felt so at peace. Ei just wished that they could all spend more of their days like this.

But alas, all good things must come to an end at some point.

Chapter Text

200 years had flown by like lightening it's inevitable contact with the earth. And 200 years worth of memories were made, some sad, others happy. Kunikuzushi saw some of his trusted friends perish, but he also made just as many loyal new friends along the way. Well, as loyal as a human being could be.

The only friend that truly did stay by his side was the adeptus from Liyue, the one who he could always confide in, the Vigilant yaksha. The two were still fairly close, always meeting whenever they could or spending many nights under the stars with each other. Kunikuzushi was happy the he at least has one friend that would not be leaving anytime in the future.

What Kunikuzushi was glad for the most, was that he had his loved ones by his side throughout all of his experiences. His mothers, he would forever be grateful for everything they have done to raise him into to being he was today.

He was trained well in each and every aspects of the battlefield, by both of his parents. And by the time he was 170 years old he mastered Raiden Ei's ultimate technique; The muso no hitotachi. Although he still did not favour using the sword, Kunikuzushi considered that feat one of his best, because his mother was so proud of him for doing so after.

But besides that, Kunikuzushi had by now adapted to the role of Shogun perfectly. Fit for his purpose, and able to protect Inazuma by his hand alone. He was no longer the fragile boy that could barely hold a hot tea cup without his mothers assistance. Well, maybe he still was. But that does not hinder the fact that he no longer was as fragile as he was once before.

Yae Miko and Kunikuzushi both wished that Ei would finally realise that. But, alas, some things may never change.. whether or not those things were harmful to the people around them, that is for you to decide for yourself.

Inazuma grew, and the people grew along with it. Their minds were beginning to wander, and they were soon allowing themselves to be more open minded towards the world around them. This was a good thing, but sometimes this could lead to issues just like the very prominent crisis they were facing right now.

There was a rebellion against the Shogunate on Seirai Island. This resulted in war, that had been going at a steady pace for quite sometime now. That was until the shogunate had received the unfortunate news that there had been an unknown force that had wiped out most if not all of their troops on the Island.

This put a large amount of pressure on the Shogunate for their next move, which meant that there was much tension over how to proceed. This sparked many disputes, because they all believed in different solutions that went against the other's beliefs.

Ei was firmly set on simply eradicating the threat to eternity,  quickly and efficiently. Miko was insistent on allowing Kunikuzushi to go out on the front lines and aid them himself, he was more than capable and it was their better alternative. That is what Kunikuzushi wished to do as well, he did not want to simply resolve the issue with a quick murder.

Ei thought differently. By no means would Kunikuzushi be stepping foot outside of the Narukami island. It would be simpler in her terms if she just went there herself and ended the threat by blade and her blade alone. It was a shame how her own family was going against the principles she raised their nation with.

They often engaged in heated discussions about this topic that would leave everybody with sour moods and a bitter taste in their mouths. This moment was yet another one of those times where the three of them were gathered around in their tea room and discussing what to do next.

There was a heavy silence. They all knew that something needed to be said, and yet they were still all weary of the response they might receive. Yae had decided that she had seen enough, and her point was to be made by all means necessary.

"Ei. Don't you think it is about time you and Kunikuzushi finalise your decision? It's been two days now, the army needs an answer." Miko asked, but she already knew the response she would be getting. After all, they have been going back and forth over this for many hours now. Ei took a light sip of her tea, placing it gently back down on the table before responding to her lover.

"We already do have our response." She said, but Miko narrowed her eyes slightly at her response. She knew that wasn't true, not entirely true at least. Because as far as she knew, Kunikuzushi never agreed to his mothers suggestion.

"Well it certainly isn't a combined decision if only one of you has agreed. Kunikuzushi has a say in the matter aswell." Said boy was sitting with a disheartened expression on his face. They had been having this argument for too long now, if they do not act soon then it might even be too late to come to a conclusion.

He didn't enjoy seeing his parents fight, nobody did. He could only hope that something happens to end this cycle, or else he might just decide to give into his mother's demands for the sake of Inazuma, even if he himself felt as if it were incorrect.

"I am well aware of that, but I think that this is a decision that has no other options except from one, to eliminate the threat to eternity. There is no need for pointless discussion." Miko sighed lightly and also took a sip of her own tea. This discussion would go on for hours at the slow pace that they were going at.

They were desperate for solutions, so much so that they were even taking suggestions from the public. Kunikuzushi had to be the one doing the speaking with their people today, and seeing that his parents were going to be arguing once more, this was the perfect opportunity to leave them be. Their fighting only made him feel more sad.

Kunikuzushi coughed lightly to attract their attention. "I have to go speak to the citizens now. Am I excused?" Ei frowned at his excuse to leave them, but still nodded in approval. "Alright. I hope all goes well." Miko permitted. The puppet nodded and gave both of his mothers a chaste kiss on the cheek before fully rising from his seat and leaving the room quickly and quietly.

He took his time as he made his way to the empty space up in the tenshukaku where he and his mother would usually speak to the people from. A throne room of sorts. That was where he would be meeting a civilian by the name of which he had forgotten.

As he passed through the halls, he allowed himself to remises about life. His life.

Delicate hands traced over the walls of the tenshukaku. Somethings do never change. Like his dislike of footwear, or his habits of siting on his hair. But, almost everything around him was also changing at a fast pace, so fast that he almost could not catch up. He often feels like he can not keep up with the pace that their world was going at.

Before he even realised it, he was already seated on the throne as an assistant ushered in a man that dressed as if he was from a rural area, most likely not from Inazuma city. Regardless, he bowed in respect and Kunikuzushi gave him a nod of acknowledgment.

"What is your name? You do not seem to be familiar with Inazuma city, or am I wrong?" He didn't mean to be rude, he was just naturally curious and had a habit of asking many questions. The man did not seem too fazed though, instead he nodded.

"My name is Kama your greatness, and yes I don't know much about these parts, it's my first ah, time being so far away from home."

First time away from home? He must have traveled far to get here. Whatever he had to say Kunikuzushi promised that he would try and put it to good use. "Alright Kama, I hope the people here are treating you well. Please, be at ease and state your business here."

Kama nodded and cleared his throat. Now that he was before the almighty Shoguns divine gaze, he couldn't help but feel so small. People had always spoke of their fear of being in the position he was currently in. He only hoped he wouldn't mess up in a way. "I may have an idea of what is happening on Seirai Island, and I think it is related to Tsurumi island. I myself am from there, and after I left I noticed some strange phenomenas take place. I am sure that it is in someway related to what happened on Seirai Island, your greatness."

Kunikuzushi's eyebrows raised. This certainly was not what he was expecting Now this piqued the male's Interest.

Tsurumi Island. The only Island in Inazuma of which he personally thought was inhabited due to it's poor living conditions. But he was wrong. Apparently, there was a whole civilisation present on it? "Is that so? Why do you think it has anything to do with Seirai Island?" He asked as he curiously began to study the man.

Kama gulped as he felt the higher authorities eyes scan every inch of him. Attempting to push the feelings aside, he continued. "It's the islanders and their beliefs. If I may shed more light your greatness, the people of Tsurumi island can not see past the fog, nor can they see in it. We would use the feathers of our deity, the Thunderbird, to light up areas and allow us to see again. We have been worshiping this bird for many years, and by doing that we would sacrifice people, mostly children, as an offering to it for safety in the village.

A few days before I left, some years back, and after I decided to flee from the Island I noticed a heavy storm coming from it. In conclusion, I think the situation on Seirai island is in a way related to the Thunderbird. I highly recommend going to Tsurumi Island for further investigation."

This was not something he expected to hear at all, but he felt as if this was the biggest lead that he would ever receive in this entire process. He wanted to act quickly, and he would.

With a kind smile Kunikuzushi said, "..I trust you and your word. I will personally investigate the Island. Shall we discuss the travelling process?"

Whether his mother agreed to it or not.

——-

The three were situated in Ei's bedroom. Ei combing through her sons hair, while Miko read a book to herself. This was one of the rare moments they had, when they could all be together like this to enjoy each other's company. If only they didn't waste it arguing over the same issue over and over again.

Kunikuzushi liked it when his mother would brush his hair, but this time it felt different. Something was weighing her mind, and it was a tiny secret that she often used this as a way to temporarily distract herself from her worries.

The boy did not know whether to speak, or not. But luckily, Miko broke the silence for him, just like she usually would. "Kuni dear, we forgot to ask how the meeting with the civilians went? Did they suggest anything interesting?" She asked without looking away from her book.

Kunikuzushi played with his fingers slightly, nervous for the turn that the conversation would take. "Yes. I thought it was interesting, so much so that I didn't take anymore suggestions after it."  Ei raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Hm? Well then do tell us"

There was no way his mother would agree with his plan. His only hope was that his mom would see the sense in it, and hopefully agree with him. He continued to tug at his fingers once more. He just did not want them to all fight anymore.

"A man named Kama has come to a conclusion, that the threat is somehow related to Tsurumi island and it's inhabitants. He proposed that I should go further investigate it, he is willing to take me there." He did not say the full picture, that was all the needed to know.

"A civilisation on Tsurumi island? That's the first I've ever heard of that."

"Me as well. I told him that I would personally investigate it myself before we do anything."

Ei had to admit that she also noticed the strange things happening on Tsurumi island for the passed year or three, so that man certainly was not lying. But that was all the more reason to not allow Kunikuzushi to go.

"And whom gave you the permission to go?" Ei asked with narrowed brows. Miko put down her book. "Well, I'll allow it. I see no reason not to?" Ei frowned. Yae did have the permission to do that, she was also his mother.

"Miko."

"Did I say something wrong Ei."

There was a dangerous silence in the room as Ei and Miko held eye contact with each other. Ei gave in and decided to break away from it with a heavy sigh escaping her lips. She had been sighing far too many times today.

"Kuni baby, mama and your mother need to talk about something important. Why don't you go eat the food I left you?" That was not a question, it was more of a demand. Kunikuzushi knew very well by now what that meant, so he silently nodded with a sad look on his face and excused himself from the room, leaving the two to reassume with their discussion.

The silence went on for a moment or two, before Ei decided to speak up first. "Kunikuzushi is too fragile, he simply can not go there. We do not even know much about Tsurumi island. If there is a power there that is capable of pushing back an entire army, what more one person?" She was only driven by worry, but could you really blame a mother for being scared for her son?

Yes, you could. Because at some point, you will have to realise that although you are caring for your son, you are also preventing him from growing up to become somebody you need not to worry about, his own person with his own experiences. That was Miko's reasoning.

She sat besides her, leaving a large space in between them. "I do understand your point darling, but I think that Kunikuzushi is stronger than an entire army or two, which means he is more than capable of standing his own guard. Whatever lays waiting for him, it most likely will not be a threat to him."

She had a good argument, and Ei knew that she was right, but she still wasn't persuaded. It all just was just too much of a risk, she wouldn't be able to rest without Kunikuzushi sleeping peacefully by her side. He would be all alone, unprotected.

She didn't want him to leave her too. What would she do with herself if she allowed that to happen? "But Miko. Anything could happen, Kunikuzushi isn't even supposed to have fighting being a part of his duty." At this point she had no valid reason to oppose other than the fact that she was scared.

Miko has had enough. It had been more than 300 years. She had taught Kunikuzushi how to fight, and even taught him how to split mountains, yet Ei still doubted in his abilities. She was still being haunted by her. And now she was about to make the same decisions she had made all those years ago that resulted in her death.

"You see Ei, that's the problem with you. You're just making the same mistake you and her made, and we both know how that ended up." She spat with venom laced in her tone.

Ei's eyes widened in shock, and Miko's hand went over her mouth in suprise from what she had just said. Beelzebulb's face fell as she processed what her lover had just told her.

The silence was loud and unbearable after that. That was not what Miko was trying to do, she just wanted her to understand, but she had let her anger and frustration get the better of her.

The kitsune hesitantly sat down by her lovers side, interlocking their fingers together and giving hers a warm squeeze. Ei squeezed back weakly in response. "..im sorry sweetheart.. I.. I just wanted you to understand that before it's too late."

Ei sighed, but it came out more broken than she intended it to. "I know.."
She didn't blame her, she blamed herself for not realising what she had been doing unconsciously, because Miko was right. That was how she died, because of her protectiveness.

Miko’s heart broke when she realised Ei was probably blaming herself for everything now. That's not what she wanted, she just wanted her to understand.

She laid her head on her shoulder and slowly traced stars onto the back of her hand. "Do you remember the day Kunikuzushi was revealed to the public? The day he made a promise to Inazuma?" Ei nodded, resting her head on Miko's aswell.

Miko continued. "He promised that he would protect us at all costs. He didn't even know
those people so well, and yet he made that promise. Not because he loved us deeply, but because you loved us. And since you loved us, he loved us too.

..what I'm saying is, he sees you as the person he aspires to be, which means he also wants to protect Inazuma and become stronger, just like you. How can he do these things if you keep preventing him all because you're too worried to let him go?" She reasoned with her.

It was quiet once again, until Miko heard a choked sob coming from Ei and immediately she caved. Hearing somebody as strong-willed and unwavering as raiden Ei, the archon that had split Islands, cry. That just broke her heart and left her speechless. If Ei was sad, Miko was sad too.

A firm squeeze was what Miko gave in response. 'Shh, I am here with you.' She may also not want to admit it, but she was scared too. So so scared. But she had to be strong,  for the both of them.

For their son.

——

The cold night air brushed against their faces gently. The breeze was quite strong, after all, they were standing by a vast bed of water.

The strange man, Kama, was just rechecking if everything was set, giving the family enough time to bid their goodbyes with heavy hearts. They would see eachother again soon, but that did not change the fact that Kunikuzushi would be venturing off into the unknown on his own.

Ei was beginning to regret allowing all of this to proceed. The only thing keeping her level headed at the moment was her lovers hand firmly squeezing hers. Reassurance and worry. Her hand was trembling. A very rare sight to see from Yae Miko.

It was only the four of them present at the docks that night, where the family would be waving off one of their own in a matter of minutes. Kunikuzushi was going to investigate Tsurumi Island upon request, and hopefully when he would return he would also hold the answer to the mysterious force that pushed back their troops.

He held his large straw hat on his head as the wind attempted to blow away the soft white and purple fabric of his clothing, Ei hugging her deep purple veil close to her in an attempt to shield herself from the anemo archon's wind. It was quiet as they waited for Kama to finish up. They should have been using the time to communicate before he was due to leave. None of them thought of that in the moment though, instead they were all mostly occupied by their inner concerns.

Kama tightened the last rope before straightening up and letting out a tired sigh. His work was done and now they could proceed to the mysterious Island. "Everything is all set here, are we ready to go his Exellency?" He inquired patiently.

The puppet nodded at him, his eyes still locked onto his parents. "Okay, just give us a moment please" Kama nodded and walked a reasonable distance to give them all their privacy.

The three stood in silence, taking their time to appreciate the calm before the storm. None of them wanted to leave, not even the puppet that requested to do so. They were over exaggerating, Kunikuzushi would inspect Tsurumi island and then he would return back to Inazuma with a mind full of good news. Yes, but if that was so then why were they hesitating?

It was Miko that broke the silence, just as she always would in moments like this. As much as it pained her to say goodbye, this was for the well-being of their people. "Alright Kuni, remember to be safe and not to charge into battle without having a plan first." She lectured him, but it was obvious she was not actually upset.

"Maybe you could avoid fighting all together, not all battles need to have blades crossed." Ei added on. Kunikuzushi sighed, but still nodded in understanding. "Don't worry, I'll be safe and I will always think rationally." He promised genuinely. Ei mummers a small 'that's good' before the silence returned once again.

Kunikuzushi sighed. "Alright, I'll be heading off now."

"Wait!.."

The puppet turned to look at his mother expectantly, but also with eyes full of hope. Ei gently slid off her veil and draped it over Kunikuzushi's hat, hesitating before finally letting go of him. "Please, just be safe as you go on."

He held the hem of the cloth tightly in his hands, nodding at her with determination. "I promise I will make both you and our people proud."

And that was it. The boat had set off, and Ei and Miko watched as their son disappeared into the distance, only hoping, praying, that this would not be a decision that they would all grow to regret.

Chapter Text

The entire trip was remotely silent, mostly because Kama did not look like the talkative type.

Kunikuzushi would ask him about his life on the Island, but the responses he got were dull. If he didn’t know any better he would have thought that he never even lived there at all.

As time went on, Kunikuzushi could see the Island slowly grow larger in the distance. It seemed to have this mysterious mist around it, certainly that would make living there almost impossible, even with the light that they use right?

Kunikuzushi continued musing to himself until he felt the boat come to a slow stop. He felt his clothes beginning to become wet and took into account that it was raining, luckily it was a tame one so he would still be able to find shelter easily. He didn't like being wet.

Kama shuddered in the cold, but still set aside his oars and turned to face Kunikuzushi. "We have arrived."

The puppet unconsciously gripped onto his veil even tighter than before. He could only wish that his parents could be here with him..

He sighed and strategically exited the boat, carefully not to step on any of Kama’s belongings. He himself did not bring anything apart from his weapons and a change of clothing that he had stored away, he did not wish to bring too much with him.

Once he had fully got off and lightly brushed himself off, he turned to speak to Kama. "Can we meet again tomorrow at the same time here?" He proposed, taking note that it was currently sometime in the evening. Kama nodded in agreement after considering it for a moment or two. They both had no idea if he would be done early or not, so it would be best if they could try meeting up everyday at the very least.

"Alright. Please be safe,..  and also, if you meet a boy named Ruu, please tell him that I'm alright." A rather sweet request. Kunikuzushi had no intentions of not carrying it out. "Don't worry, I will." He promised with a smile on his face.

Kama said his thanks before they parted ways, and so Kunikuzushi was now alone on the strange Island of which he had to investigate. He did a quick scan of his surroundings, taking into account the large archway in the distance with an interesting design and a statue of her situated just a few meters away from him. It was a bit difficult to see due to the combined work of the mist and rain, but as long as he finds the villagers soon he would be fine.

Actually, there was not much mist in the surrounding area he was in. It seemed like it only grew heavy once you began adventuring deeper into the Island.

His hat had been resting on his back when his mother gave him her veil, but now that the fabric was damp he quickly wrapped it around his shoulders and put the hat on instead in attempt to shield him from the rain. After the quick change, he put his thoughts aside and began walking torwards the first thing he saw.

He walked into the archway, and almost immediately he did so the mist grew thicker, so thick that he had to create a ball of electro to serve as his guide. If he had not done so, he surely would have gotten lost in the fog, and he feared for what would happen to him then.

He could not dwell on that thought fortunately, because through the rain he could hear the sound of a child crying in the distance. Before he was able to think about how to proceed, his feet had already began following the sound to it's source despite the fact that it was difficult to navigate his way.

He traversed for a small period of time, or what he thought was a small period of time. He did not know, but at some point he followed the cries to a destroyed ruin of some sort, and right under the shade of one of the fallen rubble there he saw a young boy, curled up into a tight ball and crying.

Kunikuzushi frowned when he noticed the young child cry, because seeing children sad made him feel sad as well. He slowly and carefully began walking to him as to not scare the child away, but Kunikuzushi was sure that he wouldn’t even be able to sense his presence due to his mental state.

Once he reached close enough to speak to the boy, he knelt down and crawled under the shade to sit next to him, their sides squished together due to the small space available.

The boy did not seem to acknowledge his presence there at all. His body was shaking, yet Kunikuzushi was not sure that it was caused by the cold or how heavy he was crying. Whatever the reason was it did not matter, he was more concerned by the fact that there was a child out crying all alone in the rain.

"Hello young one, why are you crying?"

He wasn't exactly expecting a reply, but the child surprised him by chocking on a sob before responding. "Again..I-I.. I messed.. I messed the cycle again.." he stuttered out as he spoke through his sobs. Kunikuzushi had to strain his ears in order to hear what he said though, it was quite difficult due to the rain.

"Cycle? Are you alright?" Kunikuzushi could not make any sense of what the boy had said, it sounded like nonsense to him. But that would not stop him from comforting the poor child.

"Please Kapatcir..!" The boy resumed muttering to himself again in a panicked state like frenzy, leaving Kunikuzushi with the impression that he would not be getting anymore information from him anytime soon.

He didn't know what to do, this child was confusing him by crying without communicating the reason as to why. It was understandable though, because when he was younger he could recall doing the same thing as well, crying without telling his mama or mother why. But they always had a way to soothe him in the end, whether that was making him tea or holding him until he calmed down.

Call it a mother's touch if you will, but maybe that's what this child needed right now. But he did not have the necessities to brew tea and he thought that hugging him while he was soaked would make him ill. If that was the case then, what could he do?

Kunikuzushi sighed and rested his back against the structure, ignoring how uncomfortable his position made him feel.

The rain, the noise it was producing and the way the wind passed through the area, it reminded him of a tune he was very familiar with. A song that played once every year on his birthday, the sound his people made with him each tenno tanjobi. Nature here sounded so sickeningly similar to it, and Kunikuzushi wondered if maybe it was all in his head and he had already began growing home sick.

Still, he liked the warm feeling it gave him, and so he let himself dwell in the past just a bit longer by revisiting the melody once again, humming it quietly to himself and perhaps to the boy as well, if he listened.

He did listen.

And the longer he listened, the more he felt a wave of calmness, solitude, wash over him gently. His eyes were drooping, and before he even realized it his cries grew to a stop and his head felt heavy, heavy enough to land right on the comfortable lap of the puppet.

Kunikuzushi smiled when he saw him asleep. He carefully took off his veil, making sure not to wake him up, and draped it over the mysterious boy like a blanket. And once he had checked around for any signs of danger, he also fell asleep to the sound of nature's nostalgic melody.

——

The feeling of somebody moving around was what Kunikuzushi woke up to. His eyes slowly blinking open only to be met with a pair of black eyes staring back at him.

"You're an outlander aren’t you?"

Kunikuzushi's brows furrowed in confusion. At least he was sure the child was alright now, but outlander? Taking into consideration the information Kama had told him, he guessed this would make sense.

He straightened up, the mysterious boy backing away to give him space in the process. Now that the rain had stopped, Kunikuzushi took the time to properly analyze the boy in front of him, only just now noticing his hat that almost reminded him of his own.

"My name is Kunikuzushi, I will not dwell on the details because I'm unsure if you will know what I'm talking about, but yes you could consider me an outlander. Are you alright now?" He asked in concern now that he fully remembered the situation he has found him in.

The boy first crawled out of small space they were huddled up in, Kunikuzushi also following in pursuit while he spoke.

Once they both got out, the boy smiled and hid his hands behind his back bashfully. "Yes, thank you for staying with me yesterday. My name's Ruu!" The mysterious boy named Ruu introduced himself as he cleaned the dirt off of himself. He seemed so bright, almost as if he was not crying less than 9 hours ago.

Kunikuzushi also dusted himself off. Now that he was in calm state of mind, he could ask him about the things he was muttering about yesterday. Though he would have to approach it differently, parents always say never speak to strangers. "Ruu, how old are you? Why were you all alone without your parents?"

Ruu tilted his head in confusion, swinging his body side to side due to his sudden burst of energy. "Years old? I'm sorry I don't understand.."

The puppets eyes widened. Was this Island so shut off from society that even the way they count things was different? "How many years have gone by since you first opened your eyes?"

Ruu frowned and looked at his feet. "Im sorry but.. I don't remember. It gets tiring counting all the times thunder strikes.." He looked so dejected, Kunikuzushi almost felt bad for asking him that simple question.

Ruu perked up again suddenly, making Kunikuzushi feel slightly better now knowing that he was back to his usual demeanor. "You asked me where my parents were? Well my dad is at the ceremonial site right now! Kapatcir would be pleased when she sees we have a special guest!"

Kapatcir, another name he remembered him muttering to himself while he was crying yesterday. "Kapaticr? If you don’t mind me asking, who is that?"

He only smiled at him. "She's my friend! Now follow me we have to meet up with Ipe and Makiri!" And then he was already skipping away ahead of him before he could say anything else in response.

Kunikuzushi picked up his mother's veil that Ruu must have left for him when he woke up, draping it over his head and checking again to make sure his hat was secured on his back before sighing and following after the boy. He was his only lead for now, he would just have to trust in him.

——

This place was strange.

It was almost as if he was not real here, because none of the people here ever spoke to him, except from Ruu. He tried communicating with them, but they would only ignore him or speak like he wasn't even next to them. He still could listen in on their conversations, but nothing else apart of that. After some time, when he brought his concerns up to Ruu, but he only looked at him as if he had spoken in a foreign language and told him to stop being so silly.

And after all of the strange phenomena and behavior he had been surrounded with, he went to the same location where Kama and him agreed to meet up the day before, but Kama strangely never showed up, even after he waited for what he thought was a large amount of time.

That was strange as well, and now considering the circumstances of his situation he felt like it was highly possible that the same man might have set him up in a way.. He tried to not think of it that way, what was done was already done now, trap or no trap.

Kunikuzushi agreed to help Ruu and his fellow villagers sort out any requirements of the ceremony in an attempt to try and gain his trust, because it was obvious that every time he would ask the mysterious boy a question he would either deflect it or ignore it all together. He was the only person he could ask about all of his inquiries, and also there was something about the boy that made Kunikuzushi pity him for a reason unknown to himself.

Ruu refused to go and rest with the other villagers, including his father who was the priest. Instead he choose to stay with Kunikuzushi for as long as he would let him. Kunikuzushi was very surprised when he asked if he could stay with him. Another strange thing was that this child never ate or drank anything. He was beginning to consider the possibility that Ruu was a puppet like himself as well.

The two were seated by the sea shore as Kunikuzushi listened to Ruu talk fondly of the people in his tribe,
but overtime the two settled into a comfortable silence. Kunikuzushi thought Ruu must have tired himself out, but he was wrong because he asked yet another unusual question.

"Kunikuzushi, you said you came from beyond the fog, right? Well.. could you tell me what it's like out there?"

Kunikuzushi's eyes widened slightly in surprise. He almost forgot that these people had never actually left the Island before. It was a wonder how Ruu was so accepting of him when he arrived because surely it must be strange when a person emerges from the mist.

But seriously, his question also caught him off guard because Kunikuzushi had never actually left the Narukami island before till now. The thing he knew about the outside world was the stories he heard and the parts he relived through his mothers memories.

"If I am being honest, I do not know the answer to that myself either.." He trailed off with embarrassment laced in his voice. It would be quite embarrassing if Ruu knew of his status and learnt this about him. The shorter boy only made a sigh of understanding.

Though he wouldn't want to lower his spirits only because he was inexperienced in adventuring. The stories his uncles would tell him surely would be enough to settle his expectations. "My mother doesn't think it would be best for me to leave my city, but I have still heard of stories about the world." He told Ruu.

He wasn't looking at the boy, but he could almost feel the positivity and hope radiating off of his body. "Really? My family also doesn't want me to leave, they say everyone that leaves will die outside of the fog.. can you tell me what you heard it's like?" His heart swelled when he realized how similar the two of them actually were. It always felt nice knowing that somebody else also shared the same experiences as you.

He pursed his lips and thought of some interesting things to tell him. "Well, there's many other different nations with different people that have their own God's and beliefs. Mountains that are so high up you can almost see the whole of teyvat from them, and even mushrooms that can speak" Maybe he should not have said that last part, but when he turned to look at Ruu he saw that he was already looking at him with something in his eyes; pure spark of childish wonder.

"..and you won't die once you go outside the fog?" A question he would never expect to hear from a young child like him, just what type of information had his community been feeding this boy?

But he looked so genuine and serious, Kunikuzushi couldn't help but laugh a little. Ruu's eyes widened slightly in confusion. "No. You'll become even happier than you were before. You get to watch the stars, try different things, and talk to many different people with their own stories to tell."

Ruu visibly relaxed when he heard him say that. Maybe it was because he now felt like he could leave the Island, or maybe it was because he now felt at ease knowing that his friends that left by sea were more likely safe. It wasn't his place to ask though, so he allowed the comfortable silence to take over.

After sometime of enjoying eachothers company again, Ruu broke the silence once more.

"I want to go see the outside world someday."

Kunikuzushi smiled sadly at him, pity filling up his heart at the child’s wish, because he remembered also thinking the very same thing many years ago. "Don't worry, I promise that one day you will see the outside world."

Ruu smiled back brightly at him, determination now evident in his eyes as he spoke. "Well.. I want us to see the outside world together, and then we can convince everyone else to leave too. Kapatcir can take us!"

Kunikuzushi simply hummed in agreement.

Kapatcir, the thunder bird, this entire civilization along with Kama, and finally Ruu.

Whatever was taking place on this Island, Kunikuzushi couldn't help but feel that it was far greater of a danger than what he had originally anticipated. There was something wrong going on here, but even if he tried to simply leave the Island and go back home empty handed, he'd never forgive himself for letting these people struggle on their own.

This was his problem as well now, but how would he solve this matter if his only source was not being honest with him?

"Let’s get back to the others, Ruu."

Chapter Text

As part of the preparations, it was custom on Tsurumi Island to offer the feathers of the Thunderbird to trees knows as 'perches', and that was what Kunikuzushi and Ruu had been prioritizing for their part in helping everybody with the ceremony.

The feathers of the Thunderbird were quite difficult to find, and it often took a large amount of time before they finished offering them all to one single perch. It took roughly a day for him and Ruu to finish one tree, so it took them both three days before they finally finished with all the perches. Actually, he was not even sure of how many days had gone by, the mist hid the sky so well that all he would be able to see were the same gray clouds every time he awoke.

The amount of times he fell asleep, that was how he counted each day that went by. So far it had only been three days he presumed.

On the fourth day, after they had finished double checking on all of the perches, a suggestion made by Ruu, Kunikuzushi told his friend to take a bath while he went back to the ceremonial site and waited for him. He told Ruu that they would meet there once he had finished bathing, and then they would complete the final part of the ceremony together with everyone else. Kunikuzushi still was not aware of what exactly that would be.

The puppet arrived at the site and sat down on the ground. He carefully took out all of his sewing materials that he found, including the unfinished doll that he was sewing as a gift for Ruu. It was a doll of himself that he planned on gifting to the boy when he had to leave the Island. It was still missing a leg and some minor details, but it still did look like him.

Kunikuzushi was seated near Ruu’s father and another male. He was hoping that they would discuss the next part of the ceremony, that was the whole reason he chose to be near the two.

Mata, the one in charge of the ceremony, seemed to be troubled. He rested a hand on his chin as he spoke to a young man by the name of Chise.

"Eminent Priest, Ruu is yet to arrive.." the young man told Ruu's father. The elder frowned slightly in response.

"Today is the final day, it's okay to let him wander around for a bit longer. It must be terrifying for a young child like him to have his life ended at such a young age.." Kunikuzushi's brows furrowed deeply at the response, unconsciously dropping the unfinished doll he was sewing to the ground.

Chise rested a palm on his forehead, "But the great Thunderbird has already arrived at Mt Kana!"

"..Is that so? Time truly has reached it's limit. Nonetheless, Go look for him, you know where he usually goes. Don't stress Chise, this is the only child that the great Thunderbird has favored, this ceremony will surely go well.."

And suddenly everything felt so clear to him now. The human sacrifice that Kama spoke of, the reason Ruu must have not wanted to go back to the village. It was all because they were going to sacrifice Ruu to their deity, Thunderbird.

Who even was this so called deity, and what authority did they possess to think that they could simply end other peoples lives?

These people simply could not do that, right? Ruu was only a child— they couldn't just kill him as a sacrifice. He doesn't deserve to die so soon, he still has so much more to experience — so much more to learn.

Kunikuzushi saw Chise beginning to walk outside of the site to find Ruu, and immediately he got up, feeling panicked. What if they found Ruu?

"Wait— there has to be another way to sacrifice to your God! It doesn't have to be Ruu, he's only a child!" Kunikuzushi tried reasoning with the male, but Chise only kept walking as if he hadn't ever spoken. Like he was not there.

In desperation, he turned to Ruu's father, the priest. He seemed to at least sympathize with Ruu, so Kunikuzushi thought that maybe he would at the very least try to understand his point of view. Try to listen to him.

"He still has so much more to learn and see, why would you wish to continue this ceremony, is he not your only son?"

But the priest only sighed and walked away to attend to his own means.

Kunikuzushi watched in disbelief. What was happening? Why weren’t they listening to him? "Why aren't you responding to me!? Do you really not care about him at all?

Why.. why would you want to sacrifice the life of an innocent child like this?!" Nobody answered him.

The puppet had felt many emotions in that moment, but mainly he felt pain, shock, anger and desperation.

Pain because it hurt knowing that somebody you care for, your friend, was about to be killed.

Shock because he could not believe that there were human beings out there that could sacrifice the life of innocent children for something worthless in return.

Anger, because how could they even consider such a thing. And the feeling only grew when he realised that this was not even the first time they had sacrificed another life for something in exchange.

And finally, desperation. To save his people. To help those soldiers fighting on Seirai Island. To do anything in his power to save Ruu so that they could both see the outside world together.

He was more than willing to do whatever it took, even if it meant halting the ceremony by force.

Kunikuzushi clenched his fists as he looked at the people that were preparing to begin the ceremony, trying his best to calm down because some of them could possibly not even want to have Ruu sacrificed. He would not hurt them, but he would use another method to stall them for a long while.

"Alright, have it your way then. But by all means will I make sure that this ceremony does not take place."

——-

His plan was a simple one: damage the three perches.

Kunikuzushi felt a bit sad now that he was destroying all of his and Ruu's combined hard work, but he presumed that it would be but a small sacrifice in order to save his friend. If there were no healthy perches, then the ceremony could not continue. That was the outcome he wished he was going to receive in response.

With one blow, he swiftly finished with the final perch, making sure to not damage it too severely but just enough to hopefully attract the attention of the Thunderbird. If Kunikuzushi was able to meet them, then he would attempt to reason with the creature at the very least. His only hope was that the deity did not behave as strangely as it’s followers.

He fled from Shinkoro peak after he had finished doing what he came to do and began making his way to the ceremonial site once more. Nothing out of the ordinary was taking place so far, but he was not sure whether that was a good sign or a bad one.

When he arrived at the site, he finally saw true the extent of what he had done.

The cloud were distorted into a deep red, and a series of unsynchronized bolts of lightning shook the ground around him in quick flashes. Kunikuzushi felt panic arise in his chest when he noticed there were no signs of human life in the area, it was almost as if everybody else had all just disappeared. The only thing that still remained there in it’s place was the doll he had been sewing for Ruu earlier.

Multiple strikes of lightning narrowly missed him as he rushed forward amidst the chaos to try and retrieve the doll. He didn't care if he got hit, he was sure that he would be able to survive a few of them, so he calmly knelt down next to the doll and gently took it into his shaking hands.

The moisture built up in his eyes as he shook his head, trying to convince himself that Ruu was alive and nothing had happened yet. But if that was so, then where was everybody else? Why wasn't Ruu here?

There could be explanations for those two, they could all just possibly be somewhere else now, but the thing was, they weren't anywhere else. Because Kunikuzushi could almost feel that there was nobody on this Island, but how would he know? He felt like he was slowly growing insane with each day he stayed here.

He brought the doll close to his heart in pain. But suddenly he felt pain shoot through his entire body like fire. He flinched back harshly and dropped the doll as a result.

Kunikuzushi tugged at his hair. He usual was not even affected lightning, but this one made him feel like his head was slowly tearing itself apart. A cry of pain ripped itself out of his throat, and before he could regard what was happening to him, the world began to grow darker and darker by the second..

"I'm sorry... Ruu"

———

The Thunderbird gazed down upon the Island covered in fog that she was long now familiar with as she returned back to her nest at the top of the mountain. There were humans, boars, squirrels, and many other animals that she could see, but she paid them all no mind as she settled down into her abode.

The humans were strange fur less creatures indeed. They would collect her fallen feathers and gather them at fixated intervals, or sometimes they would leave the blood of another at the doorstep of her nest. Maybe they did so because she possessed the ability to disperse the fog, the bird did not know. But as long as they let her be, she did not care.

While she was resting, she heard the sound of a beautiful melody through the rain, one that was far different from the war cries of the boar and the choruses of fish. It was a clear song, and a moving one too..

The Thunderbird was truly moved by this tune, and so she decided to follow the sound to its source. And when she had arrived, she saw a tiny human, all on his own in the rain as he continued to sing to the world around him. She gently landed infront of the human, startling him quite a bit.

"What an interesting tune. Tell me, tiny human. Do you not fear the lightning or the storm?"

The boy smiled at the bird. "The adults in the village all say that children like me could calm the lightning and turn the storms into timely rain. I'm sorry if I disturbed you, I was too embarrassed to sing at the village, so I came here to practice! Do you like it? Hehe.."

"I have been alive since long before you humans learnt to build fires by using log. I have heard the songs of the trees, the strains of the cloud and rain, and the melodies sung by the green flying dragon of the far north. I have heard every choruses of fish and rabbit and worm as I descended upon the land. But your song is special. It is different from that of the boar, the fish or the squirrels."

"..you're speaking all funny, I don't get it.. but I guess it means you like my song?"

"I do not know. I only know that I have never heard it before."

"Well then, i shall sing you another tune — when you come again with the thunder and rain!"

"Your lives are fragile and puny, perhaps you shall have already turned to dust by the time I remember this matter. But if you have not, then you shall sing for me again."

"Everything you say is so complicated.. oh yes! My name's Ruu! What's your? Everyone in the village just calls you the Thunderbird, but surely you must have a name right?"

"A name?"

"Well, that is.. What should I call you? I mean if I want to sing for you again, and I call out to you, what should I call out?"

The bird pondered for a moment, "I do not know. She gave me a name many years ago, but I have forgotten it."

"Hmm I'll give you a name then! My dad.. I mean Granpa Mata taught me some scripts today, so I'll name you after them! How about..Kanna Kapatcir then?"

"..Ridiculous. Still, it matters not too me."

"Well, I have to go back to the village now! Until we meet again Kapatcir!"

"Until we meet again, Ruu."

And so the two parted ways with a new bond being formed between them. Kanna Kapatcir would eagerly await to listen to the tiny humans singing once more.

. . .

The Thunderbirds cries and curses pierced through the sky as she made her way to Seirai Island in a mad rampage.

"..since you allowed this one and only song to flow in blood into the earth.. then until I, Kanna Kapatcir, hear that human... Ruu's song once more, may these lands fall under an eternal catastrophe.."

And so the bird grieved in her new nest located in Amakumo peak in Seirai Island, whilst the Island where she had once lived in was engulfed by a red fog which destroyed many things and ended the life of every living being present. And then, the cycle would repeat, and the series of events would take place again and again,

And it would remain that way for all eternity.

——-

“...ni…zush..”

"..we have to go...ake up!"

"I know I said mean things about you, but I’m sorry! Please just wake up! Don't leave me too.."

Kunikuzushi struggled to open up his eyes. He felt so much torment, specifically in his head, just what had happened?

When Ruu noticed that Kunikuzushi was awake now, he immediately felt his eyes sting due to the new batch of tears that were about to escape from him. Kunikuzushi sat up slightly, not at all prepared for the bone crushing hug that Ruu had given him immediately after. He would have almost fell if he wasn't careful.

They were still at the ceremonial site, and lightning was still going on a rampage throughout the entire Island. It wasn't safe for the two of them to be there, they had to leave soon.

Ruu was getting his tears all over Kunikuzushi’s clothes, "I was so worried, I tried to drag you out of the way but the lightning scared me and—" he was rambling now. Kunikuzushi could barely make out what he was saying. He was just glad that Ruu was.. present in their current moment.

The puppet stood up quickly with the boy in his arms. "Shh.. it's okay, I am still here. We can talk later alright? First we need to get out of the way of the lightning." He soothed him. Ruu nodded into his chest and the puppet took that as his confirmation to arise so that they could escape before it was too late.

.
.
.

Kunikuzushi soothed Ruu the entire walk to Mt Kana. He felt like it would be safe to go there since it was so high up.

While he walked, he began to remember what had happened before he woke up. When he got struck by lightning and passed out, he saw something. It was almost like a dream that he mistakenly witnessed through the eyes of the Thunderbird, or should he say Kanna Kapatcir, Ruu's friend.

He saw everything he needed to know, and now he was beginning to piece together the truth of this Island, that it was a place that was stuck in a constant loop, which was always destined to end with the destruction of the Island. But Ruu, for some reason was not affected by the cycle, and while Kapatcir fled to Seirai Island thinking that Ruu was gone forever, said boy was still 'alive' and reliving the cycle over and over again for many years now.

But why did Ruu wish to continue the ceremony even though he knows it means he would have to die?

It was so strange how the Thunderbirds memories were shared with him. Was it due to the lightning? Or because he destroyed the perches? He was not sure, but he was glad that he even saw them to begin with. Now he has an idea of the reason why there was that unknown force that pushed back all of their troops.

It could have possibly been due to one of the people participating in the war disturbing the bird in a way. And just from seeing the way she thought, Kunikuzushi could tell that she was one whom preferred solitude.

The two had finally arrived at the peak of Mt Kana, Kunikuzushi putting Ruu down before allowing himself to rest. His head still ached, but the pain fortunately was milder than before.

Ruu looked around the beautiful place in awe before snapping out of his trance to confront Kunikuzushi. He looked very upset now, almost like he was not crying a few minutes earlier.

"Why did you do that Kunikuzushi? I thought you wanted to help me?" He sounded heartbroken, but Kunikuzushi didn't know the reason why he would be upset over something like this.

"Ruu, it was for your own safety. They wanted to sacrifice you to the Thunderbird"

Kunikuzushi could see the tears welling up in Ruu's eyes. His lips quivering as he spoke.

"Yes, and then the ceremony would be complete and Kapatcir will come back, a-and everyone will go back to normal and stop ignoring me! If you were my friend you would have helped me!" He tried to wipe his tears away but his eyes wouldn't listen to him and only kept shedding even more tears than before.

He looked so tired and desperate. A child like him should not have to bear such depressing emotions, not at such a young age. "Ruu.. that's not the way to stop all of this. Kapatcir doesn't want you to be sacrificed to her, she only wishes to hear you sing again."

Ruu hiccuped and sniffled, giving up on trying to stop himself. What was the point anyway, Kunikuzushi's comforting tone only made him cry even more. "H-how would you know whether that is true or not? You've never met her!" He chocked out.

Kunikuzushi had already thought about him asking that question, and he felt like it would be best if Ruu did not know the full details of what he saw. He was still mentally a child despite how much time had passed by, and no child should be aware of such tragedy.

He gently pulled Ruu into his lap for a warm embrace. The boy responded immediately, hugging back and resting his head on the puppets chest.

"Please.. trust me okay? She just wants to hear you sing again, and then everything will stop and things will become better again. We'll go talk to her, and then she'll end the cycle and we can go see the outside world together." He comforted him with such a sweet tone. The tone that Ruu's mother would use whenever he l scraped his knee while out playing.

Ruu had began to calm down a bit more once he heard Kunikuzushi’s words, the occasional hiccup or sniffle here or there. He looked at the doll of Kunikuzushi that he found at the ceremonial site, his grip on the male loosening slightly.

".. It gets lonely here. Nobody can hear me or see me, and anything I try do to stop the cycle from repeating never works." He admitted, finally being honest with Kunikuzushi. The puppet smiled and took off Ruu's hat so that he could properly run his fingers through the boy’s dark hair, encouraging him to continue speaking.

"I don't want to be alone anymore Kunikuzushi. I just want everything to go back to the way it used to be.." Ruu sounded so vulnerable, so tired. It wasn't fair that he was forced to suffer like this. Kunikuzushi just wished that he could give the world to him.

The puppet planted a soft kiss on his head and squeezed him tightly, "shh... It will all be over soon okay? We'll both go talk to Kapatcir together, I know where she is. Then you'll sing for her just like you promised." He tried raising his spirits, but the truth was he himself didn't know whether things would get better after this.

Ruu pouted, "..I tried leaving the Island many times before already, but every time I do I always wake up back here." He explained.

Kunikuzushi furowed his eyebrows in worry. How would he be able to make sure that Ruu was going to be safe on his own while he was gone?

He let out a defeated sigh. He would just have to trust that Ruu would be able to hide and keep safe on his own here. "It's okay. I'll just go talk to her myself, then we'll both come back for you." Kunikuzushi reassured him. Ruu only shook his head and looked down sadly.

"But.. I don't want to be alone.."

The puppet felt even sadder than he already was. What was he supposed to do now then?

He looked around and caught sight of the doll he had failed to finishing sewing for Ruu, outstretching his arm to pick it up and wave it animatedly in front of the boys face.

"You're not alone. I will always be by your side, see?" The doll 'spoke' to Ruu. Said boy seemed to brighten up, recieving the doll from Kunikuzushi and holding it close to his chest.

They stayed silent for a few moments before Ruu felt like he was okay with breaking their contact and moving away from him. "Okay, I trust you. Please hurry back!" He said cheerfully.

Kunikuzushi got up and dusted himself off, putting his veil back over his head.

"I will, I promise."

——

The trip to Seirai Island really was certainly a complicated one.

Kunikuzushi had no boat, so he had to attempt to cross the sea by foot alone. It did not drain him too much, in fact the fresh air and beautiful sky helped slowly ebb away at the drilling ache in his head. On the other hand, it was very annoying whenever he almost forgot to form a platform of electro underneath his feet and almost fell into the water.

But all the struggle truly was worth it, because he had successfully arrived at Seirai Island.

He had never been here before, but it looked like there weren't many people active on the land. Also, there didn't seem to be any signs that could indicate that there was an ongoing war taking place. There were no troops or military boats either. Did he miss something that had caused them to change locations?

Whatever happened, he would have to inquire about it later. At this moment his main goal was to talk to Kapatcir, quickly.

It was quite obvious where the birds nest was. The floating peak in the sky wasn't something one could easily miss. And so he began his trek up to the peak using the various rocks that led to it.

Upon his arrival at the doorstep of the peak, it seemed that the bird had already known that he would be coming, and archons she did not look very happy to see him.

"You mortals must learn to not step foot within territory that does not belong to them." The almighty bird of Thunder was already emitting sparks of electricity around herself. Kunikuzushi made sure to be on his guard now as he proceeded, just in case of an attack.

"I apologize for coming here uninvited—" but before he could complete his sentence, the bird had already sent large transparent wall of electricity in his direction. He quickly bolted out of the way to evade them, but the bird stubbornly almost sent him flying by aiming deadly slices of electro his way.

"I do not care for your meaningless apology, leave here at once or face the consequences!" Kunikuzushi summonded his sword just in time to block her next advance, jumping back in frustration.
He did not intend to begin fighting her, because not all disputes could be solved by the crossing of blades.

She moved so viciously, and each charge she made was obviously driven by pure rage and hatred for mankind. Kunikuzushi did not fight back, he only wanted to talk to her after all. But the longer it went on the more he felt as if maybe blades did have to be crossed just this once to allow them to reach a final verdict.

The puppet narrowly avoided another one of her thick lightning slashes. "I do not wish to fight you — I only wish to talk!" He spoke as his blade and her wing made contact. Kunikuzushi had made yet another successful attempt to block one of her violent attacks.

She was growing more angrier the more he countered her attacks. He was like a pesticide in her eyes, one that simply would not die. "Why speak when there is nothing to speak about, my instructions are simple, leave now."

Rings of electro began forming on the ground, giving the puppet no choice but to jump up and try to throw off Kapatcir by aiming directly for her eye. She moved out of the way, but it did distract her well enough for her to stop continuing with her attack.

Kunikuzushi landed rather harshly on his feet, taking a few steps back to distance themselves. He just couldn’t understand why she was attacking him, when he never even did something wrong? "Kanna Kapatcir, I am not your enemy!" He tried to reason with her.

She faltered for a moment, her posture calming down only slightly. Who was this.. entity, and where was he from?

He knew too much, far too much for her liking. "Answer me this,..how do you know of my name?" She growled.

"Your friend, Ruu. He is still on Tsurumi Island and your curse is only hurting him." Kunikuzushi told her in hopes that this information would make her stop fighting with him. She cared greatly for him, maybe his name would calm her mind, even if just slightly.

But he was wrong. His name coming out of the mouth of some strange imbecile who had no knowledge of what she had seen, of how she felt when she saw his blood in a cup right in front of her nest. He knew nothing.

Ruu is dead. She saw it with her very eyes.

Enraged, she made all of the area fall into the terrifying grasp of her divine power, electricity so dense that any mortal that breathed in the air would surely meet their end soon. "How dare you. First you step foot here and now you seal your fate by speaking imprudently about my familiar?!" Her voice thundered like the storms of Tsurumi Island, and with it carrying another vigorous attack that would send Kunikuzushi fighting for Ruu’s life yet again.

The fighting continued on, going back and forth as Kapatcir assaulted and Kunikuzushi evaded. It was a continuous cycle, a viscous dance between the almighty Shogun and his feathered foe. Ruu would not be happy if he saw that his two friends were fighting each other.

The Thunderbird bolted forward at the speed of light, coming into harsh contact with Kunikuzushi's blade when he met her attack with a calculated identical amount of force from his own.

Kunikuzushi took this as an opportunity to try talk to her again. He knew that inside Kapatcir wanted to believe what he was saying, wanted to believe that Ruu was going to sing for her again. He just needed to get through to her in some way.

So he took his chance, "Ruu, he only wishes to sing for you again!"

Kapatcir's posture visibly wavered when she had heard what he said this time, and Kunikuzushi took that opportunity to sidestep out of her way, causing her to harshly crash down onto the platform.

She looked like she had finally calmed down. His words had finally reached her, and now she felt an aching pain in her heart. Ruu was alive, and he still remembered their promise.

Kunikuzushi noticed her submissive state, and smiled sadly in her direction. He was about to step forward and speak to her when — so suddenly, a large beam of electricity hit Kapatcir’s form and caused her to let out a blood curdling cry of agony.

The light was so bright and hot that the puppet had to cover his eyes and look away to avoid getting hurt in any way himself.

And when the screaming had finally died out after lasting for a heartbreakingly long period of time, Kunikuzushi turned back to see somebody he did not expect to see in a place like this. His mother was standing right before the very place where the Thunderbird had just died, her back facing away from her.

And Kunikuzushi's eyes widened in both shock and horror, mouth gaping open as he tried to comprehend what he had just witnessed with his own two eyes.

"Mother..!?"

She turned her head back to look at Kunikuzushi with her familiar luminous eyes, but they were not looking at him in love or adoration

"I am not your mother."

Chapter Text

Being the victim of the God of Eternity’s fury was a position that many people feared. Because it was a known fact that said victims would never come back alive.

“What do you mean you could not find him? Was he not there waiting for you as he had said he would?" Kama would not dare to look her in the eyes. That would be an instant death wish if he even attempted.

They were in the throne room of the tenshukaku, where the mysterious man b the name of Kama was about to meet his end. He knew that the Shogun would not react well to his information, he did not even know why he had decided to come here and not run away instead in fear of persecution.

The room had an extremely high concentration of electro, and Kama found it harder to breathe with each second that he stayed inside there with his head bowed and his knees glued to the ground.

“Your greatness, I had arrived at our meeting point but he was not there. I had arrived earlier than the discussed time as well and once he did not show I promise that I tried my best to look for him. I sincerely apologise.." He explained once more. But that response was not enough to quench Ei’s anger.

She knew that this was a bad idea from the start. She knew that allowing Kunikuzushi to leave with a strange man whom claimed to be from an inhabited island was never going to end up well. And yet she still gave into Miko’s demands and let their son go off on his own.

Ei summoned her blade, and Kama could not help but tremble in fear of what would happen next. It did not matter how wisely he chose his next few words, every outcome would end with him meeting his end by the blade of the almighty shogun.

It was not even his fault. He did try and look for him, but the fog was thicker than he had remembered it being and he had to turn back otherwise he would lose his own life. That did not matter now. The Shogun did not seem to care how many times he tried to explain himself.

Ei’s mind was moving too fast for her to comprehend and her body moved on auto pilot, preparing to perform the Muso no hitotachi to end the life of this useless mortal being that was the cause of her son’s disappearance.

But then there was a knock on the large doors, and she had no choice but to stop what she was doing.

It was a solider from the tenryou commission, and she seemed very distressed. Ei quickly diverted her attention from Kama and turned to the newcomer.

She bowed as she spoke, “Almighty Shogun! I am sorry to interrupt but there is a problem with our troops from Seirai island. They are desperately requesting for their next course of action." She knew better than to question why there was a man on his knees before the throne.

Little did she know that she had actually saved that man’s life.

Ei sighed and dispersed her sword. She had almost forgotten about the true purpose of sending Kunikuzushi off into to unknown. It was to help the soldiers that were swept away from Seirai Island.

The situation was now dire. She knew that she could not hold a response for much longer. “I see. Alright, please give me some time and I will return with a response by this evening." She turned away and began heading towards the inner quarters of the tenshukaku, "You may keep this man in custody until I give any further orders."

She did not wait for a response, the solider would of course obey her demands without question. Kama was simply lucky that he had escaped without a scratch. Ei did not have time to deal with him though. She had to update Miko on Kunikuzushi’s disappearance.

Ei was trying her best not to panic, and she was failing miserably. She had already been losing sleep over the fact that Kunikuzushi was not here, and now she discovers that he is missing?

How would she be able to be at peace with herself being fully aware that she is the reason that her son is alone in this cruel world. How would she sleep at night knowing he could be a target for another person’s malicious intentions. She should have been more firm, maybe then she would not had let Miko convince her to indulge in her dissatisfactory parenting methods.

Ei slid open the door and was met with the site of Miko impatiently waiting for her to return. And when she noticed that she was in the room, she immediately turned to look at her in anticipation. Though her expression changed the moment her eyes met Ei’s worried expression. She could already feel the pit in her stomach.

“Ei? What is the matter?" She asked almost immediately the archon stepped into the room.

Ei didn’t make eye contact with her, she simply closed her eyes and rested a palm on her forehead. “Kunikuzushi. The man from Tsurumi Island claims that he was not on the island when he went to go and meet with him."

Miko looked scared for a second, but then changed back to her usual sly demeanour after she had comforted herself with the thought that Kunikuzushi was always prone to get lost in the past. He was fine, always was. "Kunikuzushi is missing? Is he sure he checked—?"

Ei snapped her eyes open to make eye contact with her lover, “Yes he is. I have already put that man in custody." She was serious, and it seemed that Miko had finally realised that this situation was not as simple as the others in the past that were similar.

Miko pursed her lips and furrowed her eyebrows. Kunikuzushi was lost? And it was her fault for convincing Ei to let him go. She couldn’t help but feel slightly airheaded now that she had relooked at how suspicious this situation was. But could you blame her for attempting to get her son some life experience outside of Narukami Island.

Well, it did not matter whose fault it was now. Kunikuzushi was lost and Ei probably attempted to end the life of their only lead. Honestly Miko thought that it was not the man’s fault for his disappearance. Anybody with at least some intellect would know not to kidnap the prince of Inazuma.

Miko shook her head with a frown. “Ei putting him in custody won’t solve anything. We don’t even know if it is his fault." She sympathised with him. But that response was not what the archon wanted to hear.

She could have prevented this from happening if she had just trusted in her own judgement and not let herself be swayed by Miko like she usually would. “Why were you so insistent on allowing him to leave?" She asked with a perturbed expression on her face.

The kitsune was by all means not the best parent in the world. Ei could recall multiple times where she would be completely careless with Kunikuzushi, leaving him alone or allowing him to wander off. And yet Ei still thought it would be okay to agree with this request.

Miko crossed her arms at the insult. She was a better parent than Ei that was for sure. At least she would allow Kunikuzushi to live like a normal boy would instead of keeping him away because she was too paranoid. She kept the thought at the back of her mind. “I obviously didn’t consider the possibility of him ending up lost because I trust in his abilities. Something you are surprisingly not capable of doing." She shot back at her.

Everybody makes mistakes, including immortal beings. Miko did not intend on getting Kunikuzushi lost, she simply wanted to get him out more. She only wanted the best for him.

Ei wants the best for him too, but what do you do when both you and your partner see the world through completely opposite perspectives?

“I do trust him," she placed her hand close to her aching heart, "but I at least considered all possibilities of letting him go and you should have done the same. Miko your parenting methods have always concerned me." It came off more like an insult rather than the constructive criticism.

The Guuji rolled her eyes. “What do you know about parenting? You just intended on keeping him inside the tenshukaku for eternity. A good parent allows their child to explore the world around them on their own."

“I just want him to be safe."

“No Ei, you don’t want him to end up in the same way Makoto did."

Ei was growing furious now. She always said that about her. It did not matter whether it was true or not, that one factor is the reason why she had let Kunikuzushi go in the first place. Her not wanting Kunikuzushi to end up like Makoto was just a way of stating that she also did not want him to die.

Kunikuzushi is frail. Ei still remembers how weak and fragile he felt when she held him in her arms for the first time. She promised that she would do anything to protect him. Even if it went against Miko’s own opinions.

Miko wouldn’t understand. She just could not comprehend the amount of fear Ei felt when she had heard that Kunikuzushi had gone missing. The archon felt so hopeless. All she wanted was to bring him back home. To prevent another situation like this from ever happening again.

Miko watched as Ei’s body relaxed from its tense position. She seemed to have an entire mood shift now that she observed her head towards the door.

“..we both do not have time for petty arguments. I am going to assist the army on the front lines. You should go search for Kunikuzushi yourself in the meantime." That seemed to be less of a request and more of an order. She tried to think of what was going through the archon’s mind, but it was almost like she had a blank slate in there.

Ei did not even wait for her to respond, she was already gone with the door closed behind her.

And Yae Miko stared at her own feet in silence, letting out a long sigh as she allowed herself to sink down to the floor and fully comprehend the words that were exchanged between her and Ei.

Kunikuzushi would come back. He always does.

…

The Shogunate returned Victorious, but Yae Miko came back red eyed and drowning in defeat. The Island truly was surrounded by so much fog that it was a wonder how Kunikuzushi had even entered deep enough to get lost.

And so whilst Inazuma city was celebrating the victory over the rebelling force, Miko and Ei were grieving in silence.

Kunikuzushi had disappeared. And people were soon noticing that he had been missing for quite some time. The two parents agreed on telling the people that he had gone on a long expedition, because back then they both still had hope that he was still alive.

Ei began closing herself off in the tenshukaku, and Miko returned back to her life at the Grand Narukami shrine. The two rarely ever got in contact because Ei always claimed to be working in something that required her attention.

Ei would continue to leave her grief unattended to, and Miko would live the next years of her life knowing that it was her fault for her son’s death. The people would sometimes be curious, but who could they ask when their archon only came outside in rare occasions.

Then three years had passed. three years spent without the beloved prince of Inazuma. Three years spent creating a new puppet. And three years since Yae and Miko spoke to each other physically.

Then three turned into five years.

And five into seven

And seven, into eight

———

You would never replace me, would you mother?

———

It was a bad decision from the start.

I should have listened to Miko, she was right all along.

Why did he have to leave, just like Makoto had?

These were the thoughts that plagued her mind all those years where she would isolate herself within the tenshukaku.

She thought the idea of a puppet, a child— was a foolish one. One that would interfere with the path of eternity. But then there she was, creating another one.

But this one, it would be different.

She spent hours, days, years perfecting each and every aspect of it. Meticulously preparing every single detail, to make sure than this new puppet, would be more able. More suited for the title of ‘Guardian of Eternity’.

And when she had finished, it was perfect. But, perfection comes at a cost. And that cost was the body of a god, her own body that she would use to make a puppet able to resist erosion, one that would protect eternity for as long as Celestia let them live.

One that would not make the same mistakes she had

And on the day she had completed it, she wasted no time in entering her consciousness, the plane of Euthymia, and there she mediated.

She did not let herself think, because each moment she spent resting was one where she would feel deep sorrow, for her son.

——-

She had something I could never have. The ability to not feel emotions. She is perfect, because she is not me.

——

It had been long since Ei had walked up the stairs to the Grand Narukami Shrine, but she wished that she had decided against walking there on her own.

Each step she took was another reminder of the past replayed in her head, and each citizen that was bold enough to ask the Shogun how their prince’s expedition was going would be met with a cold, grief filled response. She wished she didn’t step out of the Plane of Euthymia, but the matter she was here to discuss needed Ei in person.

Morax had sent her a letter, asking her if he and Xiao could come and visit because it had been quite some time since they last met, and Xiao wanted to see Kunikuzushi in person.

Ei invited them to come if they wished to, but she did not know what to tell them. That was why she was here, to see Yae Miko.

They had left things at a bitter point, but it was alright. She would understand her situation still.

Ei walked into the shrine, already causing much chatter among others and multiple stares directed towards her direction. She paid them no mind, she only wished to do what she needed to do and leave.

“Oh to who do I owe the pleasure? Greetings, Almighty Shogun." Her tone sounded as cunning as ever, and if Ei had not known her for many years then she would have believed that she was just acting the way she normally was. Except she was not. Ei could tell she grimaced slightly when she had arrived.

She was slowly losing everything important to her, what if the geo archon decides to leave her as well?

She cleared her throat. Friends, just like lovers, are a distraction in her pursuit of eternity.

“May we talk somewhere private?" Ei requested. Miko lifted her brow in confusion, but still who was she to refuse a request from the almighty Shogun. With a curt nod, she responded to her request. Ei felt at ease now that the possibility of her refusing was eradicated.

“Alright, follow me please." Miko said as she began walking into the shrine, expecting Ei to follow.

Ei did as she was told, and the two entered within the shrines inner quarters without a word being said. Kunikuzushi used to be here many times during his life, and yet the Guuji did not show any signs of grief while passing through the same halls he had passed through.

Maybe it could be because she had already gotten over her grief, Ei didn’t get the chance to dwell on the matter. The two had arrived in a room that only had a chabudai in the centre of it.

Miko sighed and put her hands on her hips. Seeing Ei pained her, and knowing that she could not do much to stop her from destroying herself because of grief was even deeper of a wound. Ei also hurt her, but she could never stay mad at her.

Ei seemed different. Her body simply felt like something had changed in it, something rather large.

“Well? What is the matter Ei?" The Guuji asks, sparing the formalities. Even if it has been some time since they had last seen each other. Miko was not even sure of what their relationship status was now.

The archon though, had not changed at all since then. Not physically, at least. "I apologise for coming on such short notice, the situation is simply too dire." Miko raised a brow in response.

That brings her to the true reason she came, "The archon of the nation of Liyue, Morax. He and his son are coming to visit. But they are expecting to see.. they are expecting to see Kunikuzushi as well." Ei chocked his name out of her throat, her voice wavering only slightly towards the end.

Miko wanted to both frown and laugh at the same time. She produced an airy laugh instead. She would frown at Ei for not even being able to say Kunikuzushi without almost breaking down, but she herself was not any better.

Sometimes she would simply stare at places where Kunikuzushi had once been, places where they made so many memories. She unconsciously would avoid certain rooms, and often masked how she truly felt with a teasing smile. The thought that would keep her going, is the theory that Kunikuzushi was actually alive. But that wasn’t true, she was only lying to herself and that brought more sadness.

Yae smiled teasingly and shook her head at the archon. “Morax is a friend, is he not? There is nothing stopping you from just telling him the truth. He might even be able to offer his assistance." Ei narrowed her eyes at the last sentence. What was she trying to imply?

But, she had a point. Ei never felt herself feeling at a loss whenever she asked the Kitsune for advice. And he was indeed her friend, and friends tell each other the truth. "I see… , thank you for your advice." Ei knew that it would be hard to talk about Kunikuzushi, but this was something she had to do. She had never actually told anybody that he was gone. It’s almost like she refused to say it out loud because she still could not believe it.

Miko sighed and smiled that teasing smile of hers. She couldn’t end the conversation just yet, not without teasing Ei at least. "It’s not a problem, really. I find it quite funny how you always come to me for advice despite all the time we spend apart.” Her smile fell slightly, "though I must say, you feel very different Ei."

Yae Miko. As attentive and observant as ever. She had almost forgot to tell her about her puppet, though she was bound to find out sooner or later anyway. But, it did not matter whether she told her or not. She knows that whatever she was doing was what is best for her people.

“Yes, your suspicions are correct. I developed a new puppet to govern Inazuma. One that is able to withstand erosion. The reason I may seem slightly off is because I had to use my own body to give the puppet her own consciousness.”

One that would not go down the same path Kunikuzushi did was left unsaid.

Miko, as predicted, looked at her with sadness in her eyes.

She was doing it again, trying to avoid her issues with self-isolation. This explained what Ei had been up to for the past years. This puppet, it was a bad idea. Anything could happen. Ei can’t just keep on creating living beings whenever she is grieving.

This was a terrible idea. And yet, Miko didn’t say a thing about it. The last thing she wanted was yet another argument that would drift them apart. She still loved Ei, but that doesn’t mean she will not warn her at least.

Miko let her arms cross over her chest, and Ei knew that she was about to receive criticism of her ways of proceeding. “I don’t know if it’s my place to say this, but I love you Ei. You are my friend, and much more beyond that title. But, as somebody that loves you, I’m worried that you might end up locking yourself away to avoid your problems instead of confronting them. "

Ei’s eyes softened and her gaze shifted to the outside passed the clear window. She was not grieving. She was not running away. She was just doing what she should have done much earlier. Doing her part in the promise she made to her people. That was the only way. This is the only way.

She was the omnipotent God of Eternity. The one whom promised a dream to her subjects. The one that helped nurture this Nation into the one it is today. She was.. the Guardian of Eternity that would not let any factors get in her way.

And yet despite all of these titles, she would always be a mother that wants nothing more than to see her son. To caress his cheek while he cries. To hold his hand as she shows him something new. To watch him rest in the comfort of her warm and tender embrace.

She wished that they could go back to the way it used to be

There are so many things she wished for

Ei looked back at Miko with a pinch of sadness in her eyes. "I… I love you too Miko. And you should know that there is no need to confront anything, for those very same ‘problems’ are simply enemies of eternity."

"I will do what’s best to reach the promise I made to my people, so you have nothing to worry for." She finished, leaving Miko internally grimacing at how unhealthy and bad this situation was going to be.

Ei would sooner or later realise the mistake she was making. But that is okay, because Miko would always be waiting for her with open arms.

The archon turned away from her lover and relaxed a bit from her tense position. She did not want to stay here any longer, she had other things to attend to.

"If that is all, I shall take my leave. I will see you again, Miko." Ei said her farewell as she quietly left the room.

She should have listened back then.

She should listen now.

——

I think you are far more captivating than a fine blade

——

Time is worth nothing in the eyes pf the adepti; that was what Xiao would tell himself whenever he had to wait to get a response from his friend, Kunikuzushi.

Sometimes their letters would take three weeks to be delivered, sometimes a month or two, but Xiao was patient. And to him those same weeks would go by like days. He could wait a year. Two even. But 8 years without seeing or hearing from one of the few remaining people he still had in his life was something he could not tolerate.

The boy would not admit it aloud, but he was unconsciously missing his friend so terribly. He could live without speaking to him, that’s what he thought. But at the back of his mind there was always the thought of him lingering.

Morax was not aware of this. Not until just a few weeks ago when he accidentally stumbled upon Xiao rereading Kunikuzushi’s letters with a miserable expression showcasing itself on his face.

It was then that he realised how long it had been since he had seen his dear friends as well, Ei and her wife. Time truly does go by quickly. He wasted no more time in sending a message to Ei asking if they could come and visit again.

Once she had agreed, Morax told Xiao about it, and he visibly seemed to brighten up at his words. He claimed that he was only going because he wanted to be sure that Rex Lapis was going to be alright, and not because of a certain prince of Inazuma.

The trip to the foreign nation felt longer than usual, but he was willing to wait if it meant seeing his close friend once more. Besides, it was calming listening to his father reminisce about life.

When they had arrived, as expected there was the electro archon waiting for the two in front of the tenshukaku. But as strange as it was, Kunikuzushi was not with her as well. Neither was Yae Miko. That was strange, the two would always set aside some time for their friends whenever they came.

Once Morax and Xiao landed, the lord of geo smiled at his friend in greeting, but she gave a rather downcast smile back in response. He knew of that smile all too well, and it never meant any good.

“Hello Morax, Xiao. It has been a while hasn’t it? It is always good to see you both in good shape." Ei greeted once they had reached where she was standing.

Morax nodded in agreement. A few years without seeing another archon was normal, even a century was nothing in the eyes of a God. He thinks that he visits Ei quite frequently actually. “Yes it has. I am glad we finally get a chance to meet again. Also I apologise for Xiao’s quiet behaviour. It seems that he can’t wait to see his friend again."

The young adeptus tensed once his name was brought up, his face heating up slightly at Morax’s embarrassing comment. Was he so easy to read? Kunikuzushi was distracting him too much for his liking. He just wished he could see him and return back to Liyue.

Ei did not seem to smile at the joke like she usually would. Something truly was upsetting her today, but what? “Well, why don’t you both come inside for some tea? I have an important matter to discuss with you both."

Morax and Xiao shared confused glances with each other, but still they both agreed and followed her into the tenshukaku.

The short walk was strangely silent. Usually the geo archon would have already reached through half of his stories by now, but this was not like all the other times. Now did not seem like the time to crack a joke or two.

Xiao did not notice that he was already seated down with Ei asking him a minuscule question concerning his tea. He responded with a nod despite not even catching what she had asked. It seems that he was too busy searching for Kunikuzushi that he failed to notice the depressing atmosphere that the room was engulfed in.

Once they had all settled, Morax looked at Ei with a deep concern. Ei. " I have known you for many centuries now, it is quite easy to decipher that something is bothering you."

Ei sighed and clenched her hand into a fist. She knew that she would have to tell them eventually. It is just that she does not want to relive what happened. She did not want to remind herself of how she had lost everything she had once again.

“..You are correct. Honestly, I cannot even think of a way to say this." She responded honestly, and now this time Xiao began paying attention. Even he was growing anxious now.

Ei didn’t even know how she could tell them. She didn’t know how to tell them that Kunikuzushi has been missing for 8 years now. She didn’t know why she always says missing when she knows for sure that he is most likely dead.

"Kunikuzushi..." Ei closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, even though she knew she did not need to. It was a reflex to sigh whenever she felt emotional.

"We do not know where he is. It is almost as if, he has vanished from the face of teyvat. But it has been so long since then and, he is likely dead now.." Ei didn’t like the aching feeling in her chest that she got after she had spoken up about it.

Unfortunately, she was not the only person in the room then that felt that way.

Xiao’s eyes turned wide in shock and disbelief. He could not even attempt to comprehend what she had just announced. So he simply stared at his palms in a state of silent lament as the two Gods continued to converse.

Morax watched with growing sadness as Ei tried her best to continue explaining the situation. He rested a comforting hand on top of her own, and she produced a small smile at the kind gesture.

“The reason why Miko isn’t here as well is because me and her got into a significant amount of disputes in the past, after he had left us. She would send me the occasional book once in a while, but I was often too busy working on my new puppet that I did not have time to read them.”

Morax frowned deeply once she had finished. He had also lost many people in the past, but he had never experienced the raw emotions that a parent would receive once they realise that their child is dead. Even thinking about the thought of losing Xiao was enough to give him goosebumps.

He was at a loss for words. So he thought about his response for some time before finally deciding on how to proceed. “..Ei. I am deeply sorry to hear that. Although Kunikuzushi may not be with us, I am sure that wherever he is now the world is treating him as kindly as he had been it. If you ever need a friend to confide in, please do not refrain from asking me for assistance." Morax offered her a shoulder to lean on. Telling her that she was not alone.

Ei felt a small sense of comfort hearing that from a friend. Almost comforting enough to make her eyes gloss over. She smiled at him reassuringly. “..I will consider your offer Morax. Thank you."

Morax nodded in understanding, but suddenly his face changed into a more serious one. She had mentioned earlier that she was making yet another puppet, and he couldn’t help but worry that if she was not careful Celestia would catch notice of this and his friend might end up like the ancient civilisation that they had first encountered each other at.

He never agreed with the way she would make countless prototypes in the past. His hope was that the birth of Kunikuzushi would make her realise that it was time to stop practicing the forbidden arts. But, his desires were not met.

“Ei, you had mentioned that you were working on another puppet. Please, do exercise caution. The path you are taking might only lead to destruction." After all, creating new beings with powers like that of the divine is the same thing that led khaenri'ah to its demise.

The message was received, but it would be best if nothing more was said afterwards. Morax was the wisest among the seven, and Ei took his advice as something worth considering.

Shortly after the friendly words of advice, Morax and Xiao left the tenshukaku. And Ei returned back to the forever empty plane of Euthymia to meditate.

A few days later, Miko received an interesting eye opening letter from the lord of Geo. In it, he asked her to try her best to take care of Ei and stay by her side no matter the circumstances. Saying that grief is a powerful emotion and if not dealt with correctly could lead to something very unpleasant. Miko appreciated the act of kindness. It reminded her of how much she truly did care for Ei.

And so, Inazuma had no choice but to try and move on. Tales of the prince of Inazuma and the yearly Tenno Tanjobi were the only things that kept Kunikuzushi’s name alive.
The Shogun would not make appearances then like she used to before. Many people just assumed that she was still sad by him still being on his expedition. They would send her flowers and sympathise with her, not knowing the true effect of their actions.

It was alright. A few decades without a prince was something that could be understood. But soon 10 years became 40 years, and 40 years slowly turned into almost a century.

Almost a century without Kunikuzushi. Time that was spent under the rule of the Raiden Shogun with strict rules and unchanging ideals.

By now, the son of Beelzebuld, Kunikuzushi, and the electro gnosis almost ceased to exist entirely.

That was what the Raiden Shogun thought at least. She was very bemused as to how the power of the gnosis could suddenly be felt, alive and present on Seirai Island.

Chapter Text

‘I am not your mother.’

Words that Kunikuzushi never thought he would ever hear, not from her at least. He would have preferred to hear them from somebody else. Anybody but his mother.

So now as he stared back at her in disbelief, his widened eyes reaching her fierce, stern gaze, he didn’t know how to react. She had just killed— she killed an innocent being. She had ruined his chances of saving Ruu. But why?

His body and chest ached, pounding like his entire being was under maintenance. I am not your mother? Kunikuzushi shook his head in disbelief.

“Mother, w-what do you mean? Why are you here when I had told you that I would be able to handle this on my own?” Kunikuzushi felt a turmoil of emotions over flowing through his body, itching to be set free. He could slowly feel the anger seeping through his mechanical parts. He didn’t like this feeling. Not one bit.

His mothers expression did not change, almost as if she were completely unaffected by his words. Ei(?) stepped forward. Kunikuzushi stepped back.

“I am not your mother. Do not make me repeat that once more. I am here to retrieve you. To replace you. To put it simply; you are weak and no longer needed." She responded bluntly. Her words stung like knives dug into his back, burning him in places that he had never been hurt in before. It hurt so much, especially coming from her.

Replaced? Weak? What was going on?

Now that he had thought about it, the world outside did seem different in a way that he could not exactly pin point. What had he missed? Why was she saying these things to him?

“What has happened to my mother? She would never say these things." Kunikuzushi said while he kept his guard. There was no possibility that this was his mother, that’s what he told himself to help soothe the ever growing ache he was feeling. This had to be some kind of manifestation, a sick joke.

“You say that, but she has created me based on her own thoughts, ideals, and laws." She drew nearer by the second. This was the second time in his life that he been in fear of losing his life by the hands of his own mother..?

There was no way that this person was Ei. She loved him. She cared for him. She had told him that he was perfect in her eyes, that she did not regret having him. She would never do the kind of things that this thing has done.

Kunikuzushi didn’t understand. He just couldn’t understand any of it. She was his mother, right? She had been the one to comfort him at the darkest hours, and kiss his wounds whenever he would weep. So why was she, or whatever this was, telling him these things?

He stepped back once more, clenching his sword tightly. His throat burned as he spoke the next few words.

“Who.. are you then?”

She had reached within close enough to see his shaking figure, looking at him in disappointment and disgust.

The fear he felt was one that he had forgotten long ago. One that he never truly thought he would experience. It was not the fear of the power that this entity had that shook his core, no, it was the fact that this thing was his mother.

His mother walking torwards him.

His mother looking at him in disappointment. As if he were a failed experiment.

Finally, she had spoken.

“I am everything that you are not. I am, the guardian of eternity.”

Kunikuzushi wanted to question what that had meant, or why she was even here, but before he could comprehend his surroundings he suddenly felt like his body had been lifted off the ground. Or rather, the ground had disappeared and all around him was bright colours that blinded his eyes. His body felt tingly, and he wanted to scream for help.

Then, he fell to the ground rather harshly, and before he could recover there was yet another thing that lifted him up and collided with his own body. This embrace that he was in did not hurt him. Actually, it was rather comforting. He could recognise this feeling even if he had lost all of his senses.

This was his mothers embrace. His real mothers embrace. He couldn’t help the uncontrollable flow of tears that had began escaping his eyes. The boy hugged her back with just as much enthusiasm. After all, it had felt like it has been years since she had last hugged his mother.

Kunikuzushi was sobbing, and Ei did not stop herself from crying as well. The iron grip that she had on him was strong enough to tear his clothes apart, and the way her body shook as she weeped only made Kunikuzushi shed even more tears.

And so the two wept in eachothers arms. They cried, and comforted each other until, with time, they had both gradually calmed down. Kunikuzushi with his ear over his mothers soft beating heart while she held the very much alive boy protectively in her arms.

Kunikuzushi finally felt calm enough to inquire about what was going on around him. Why everything felt different and why there was a person that looked exactly like her roaming teyvat, and lastly where they were. Well, he could identify this place as a plane of consciousnesses, but what were they doing in here?

His head hurt simply from thinking about all of this. “Mother?"

She responded in a heartbeat, affection filled voice humming in recognition. “Yes my son?"

Kunikuzushi’s grip on her tightened, exposing his vulnerability. He didn’t know why he felt so scared to continue his question.

“There was a woman whom resembled you almost perfectly, and she had managed to get in between the investigation. Speaking of which, where did all of our ships go? I did not see any on Serai Island."

He could almost feel that he had chosen the wrong questions to ask, judging from the way her posture suddenly tensed. That never happens. His mother would never react in this way.

The boy hesitantly released himself from the embrace. He noticed how distressed she seemed without him in her arms. He was confused? Was this his mother?

Ei placed her hands neatly on her lap. She seemed to be struggling to find a response. Kunikuzushi patiently waited.

“Kunikuzushi, that war was put to an end by me and the shogunate many years ago. Your disappearance.. it greatly affected all of Inazuma." She had finally said, leaving the boy very confused.

“..But it had simply been less than five days since I had left”

The silence that overcame the empty space they were in was simply unbearable. Ei looked at Kunikuzushi with her usual non expressive look, and Kunikuzushi felt desperation and another heated feeling boiling over in his chest.

“I had found the answer mother." He croaked out as he gripped his clothing, "The source of the force on Seirai, it was just a few seconds away from being resolved. But then that— the entity pretending to be you got in the way of it all. Mother there was a thre—"

Ei silenced him immediately with a movement of the hand, leaving Kunikuzushi with the impression that he had upset her in some way.

He hadn’t. She was simply.. collecting her thoughts.

“The Shoguns actions were my decision and mine alone. After all, I had created her with the intention of making decisions that were like mine; with the thought of eternity and the good of Inazuma in mind. It was made to perfect all of the features in your system that had influenced your disappearance.

There is no need to worry about that threat any longer. The shogun will now be responsible for handling matters such as that." She had said in hope of bringing him a sense of comfort. But still even after all her years of caring for him, she would never understand how to meet his needs properly.

Kunikuzushi’s vision blurred as he tried to take in all of that information. That entity.. was created by his mother to do what he could not. It did not even take less than a week for him to be. What was wrong with him? All he had done was do what was best for Inazuma, just like she had taught him to.

Blinking back the dampness in his eyes as to not seem weak, he spoke. “The shogun..? Mother I am failing to understand. What did I do wrong for you to create another to fur-fill my purpose? I did what I was asked to, did I not?"

“You have no reason to be concerned, those are but miniscule questions. You are safe now, and never again will you be separated from my side."

She went back into her earlier position, with her legs crossed in the air as she prepared to reassume her meditation. Kunikuzushi did not know what to do.

Everything he did, he did for his mother. He cared about Inazuma, but he went through all this trouble simply to prove to her that he was not weak. That he was worthy enough to protect her too.

And yet despite everything, here he was, in a realm of consciousness where he had just been replaced by the one he loved.

He had so desperately wanted to be worthy of her attention, of her praise once again. He was ashamed to admit it, but he could not survive without seeing his mother smile at him.

He was so desperate

“M-mother.. why are you doing this! I was so close, I could have save—"

So, so so desperate.

“The Shogun has informed Yae Miko of your presence. She will be waiting for you. Afterwards, I will come and inform you of what will become of you."

.
.
.

Kunikuzushi slowly blinked his eyes to try and adjust to the bright light surrounding his vision. He could only just barely make out the purple eyes examining him.

Once he had finally obtained his vision, the Guuji in front of hims eyes visibly relaxed, but soon they turned from affectionate to angry. He could barely register the hug he was being pulled into. But before he could submit himself into the comforting warmth a sharp sting erupted on his cheek, then followed by a rather harsh smack on the forehead.

Kunikuzushi hissed in pain. Miko smiled in content before beginning to gently rub on the spots she had hit him on earlier.

He was so confused, he did not even know why he was being punished. But, at this point he had already come to terms with the fact that everything was not the way it used to be when he had first left.

She chocked on a sob, and the sound made Kunikuzushi’s heart break. He had never seen or heard his mom cry.

“Kunikuzushi you insolent fool." She whispered into the crook of his neck. Kunikuzushi hugged her back just as tightly, letting his tears from earlier be released from his own captivity.

Mikos sobs shook the both of them and her cries echoed across the room. She was whispering things like ‘I’m so sorry’ and ‘never leave me again.’ Kunikuzushi never was the one to comfort his parents, but he tried his best to bring her to a calming peace by rubbing deep circles into her back and telling her that he was okay. That he had always been safe.

Kunikuzushi still was not sure for how long he had been gone. All he knew was that he had been gone for so long that much change has taken place. For his own mom who had always been the emotional support for their family, to be weeping in his arms like this. Whatever had happened must have been something major.

Though, he was also very scared. Scared that his mom would shun him out in the same way his mother had after holding him just like this. He did not know what to think anymore. He had lived his life knowing that his parents loved him dearly, and would never replace him or do anything to hurt him. And now that it had turned out to be a lie, a fake promise made for reasons he was yet to comprehend, he did not know if his mom would be any different.

The thought scared Kunikuzushi, and he pulled away from the embrace to hug his own figure. Miko didn’t stop him from leaving, but this was certainly out of character for the ever so touch hungry prince of Inazuma. But, she tried to wipe her make up back to its former glory instead of asking him why he had retreated so suddenly. The action gave them both enough time to compose themselves.

Minutes later, the two were seated opposite eachother on a chabudai, with hot steaming sweet tea in hand and a warm blanket draped delicately across the males shoulders. The silence was relaxing, but sooner or later they would have to address the elephant in the room.

It was Miko that spoke first.

“So, mind explaining where you have been for the past century?" she had asked him simply. No urgency in her tone, but a response was expected soon. Kunikuzushi swallowed dryly and looked at his tea. He wanted to ask her what she had meant by a century, but his own questions would be answered shortly after he answered hers anyway.

So, he explained everything that had happened to him. From when he departed, to when he met the ‘shogun’, and finally what had happened in his mothers realm of consciousness. He told her about Ruu, the thunder bird tribe, Kapatcir, and how all of this had taken place in the span of roughly five days. He was very thankful that she had listened to him carefully throughout his entire explanation instead of laughing at his unbelievable story.

And in return, once he had concluded, Yae Miko had also began to inform him of all of the major events that had taken place after his sudden disappearance.

It was definitely not easy to tell him what had happened. Some information was more light hearted than other, but it was a challenge to delicately inform him about how her and Ei would only rarely communicate. But, he seemed to take it rather well. Or that was what the Kitsune had seen from his reaction anyway.

By the end of it all, both of them were left with aching hearts and lukewarm tea.

Miko looked at Kunikuzushi worriedly. He hasn’t taken even a single sip of his tea, which was normally his favourite, just like his mothers. It was natural to be at war with your own mind after all of the things that he had experienced so far, and the grip on his cup showed that he was thinking about something unpleasant.

Miko took a well calculated guess for what she would say to him next.

Outstretching a hand to press against his, she comfortingly rubbed his knuckles with care.

“She did not mean to hurt you. Ei loves you, and she only wants you to be safe Kunikuzushi.” Her unusually gentle voice reached his
ears.

He held her hand as well, trying his best to believe that what she was saying was true even if her actions were not aligning with her intentions.

“But if that is true, then why did she feel the need to create another puppet that seemingly is everything I am not and more. If she loves me then why is she making me feel like I am not loved?"

His voice sounded weak and full of sorrow. Miko didn’t like to see him in this way, and all because of Ei and her stubborn ways of thinking. She was unknowingly hurting their son instead of protecting him.

She sighed and frowned at him. “Your mother isn’t the best and handling her own emotions. When your aunt Mako—"

Kunikuzushi’s anger spilt over just when he had heard her say his aunts name once again. “It is always about aunt Makoto! If she was incapable of caring for another beings feelings because of her sisters death then why did she bring me into this world?! Simply to try and get over her own grief? It has always been about her and how she’s still grieving, but what about me? Has she ever stopped to consider that she needed to mature so that she could raise me?"

Miko was..speechless. Well truly, what could she say? He had every right to think that way, and Ei’s decisions certainly were not the best. But they both were misunderstanding each other. Yae feared that if things continued to progress this way, the two will only end up hurting themselves.

The Guuji could only squeeze his hand in response. It gave Kunikuzushi some comfort, but he still felt hurt. It wasn’t fair, she did not even attempt to try and listen to him. Infact she had wasted no time in replacing him, instead of waiting for him just like she should have done.

He hated it. He hated how only she could make decisions that would apparently be for the best for them and Inazuma.

He hated.. how weak he was. How he would never be able to prove to her that he was stronger than she thought he was. To prove that he could protect himself now.

A knock on the door broke Kunikuzushi out of his daze, and when the door slid open without even waiting for an answer from the people inside of it Kunikuzushi knew who had just entered the room.

It was.. his mother. Miko gave him a comforting squeeze to reassure him that everything was going to be okay. She knew that Ei would ask for her to leave while she discusses things with him. She could only hope that they will not end up saying something that they would both live to regret.

Ei entered the room and turned to look at the Guuji seated with their son.

“Miko—"

She sighed and arose from her seat, “Yes I know I know, I was just about to leave. I wouldn’t want to interfere with the shogunates important matters." She had said with the slightest hint of poison in her tone.

Even at the darkest times the Kitsune would always find a way to be a teasing menace. Ei watched her leave with a neutral expression on her face.

Once she had left them alone, Ei looked at Kunikuzushi and the two most likely cold cups of tea on the table. Not regarding how downcast and repelling Kunikuzushi looked, Ei sat down in place of where Miko once was.

The silence was suffocating, at least for Kunikuzushi it was. Ei did not seem affected in the slightest. This upset him. It showed how she did not care about how she had hurt him with her new ‘shogun’.

But at the same time, it also made him feel weak. How he was deteriorating in the silence while she was unchanging and unmoving. It just proved how right the shogun truly was.

What scared him the most though, was that her thoughts were built based off his mothers ideals. Did that mean that what she said was what his mother had thought as well?

Ei broke the uncomfortable silence after watching Kunikuzushi shuffle slightly in his seat for a large period of time.

“I would never want an incident like this to ever repeat Kunikuzushi. Hence forth I have decided to give your demanding responsibilities to the Shogun while you are to remain within the safety of the tenshukaku."

She paused to think about something for a moment. "I have taken into consideration that your mom might be against this, but that shall be a discussion for later. As of now, you shall not leave the safety of these walls for as long as eternity remains." She concluded. There was no room for discussion in her tone. Kunikuzushi knew that was a command, and not an offer.

But still as he stares at her, he wonders why. What made her think that choosing to lock him away forever would be the best decision after he had supposedly wandered away for a century.

He clenched his robes tightly. “Mother, why won’t you try and see things from my perspective? I have only just left for five days, and you have already taken that time to replace me and lock me away?"

Ei gazed at her teacup in consideration. She wanted to see things from his own perspective, she truly did if that would make her son feel better, but she simply could not do so.

“To you it may have been five days.." she inhaled an uncharacteristic shaky breath, “but to me and the rest of Inazuma, it was almost a century. I thought that you were dead Kunikuzushi. The thought of you leaving as well had scared me so much that I do not think I will ever be able to let you go again."

But he didn’t need her to protect him, not anymore. He wished that she could trust him as much as he had trusted her. “But I am more than capable of taking care of myself. I do not require some one else to do everything I had been doing in my stead." Kunikuzushi expressed, hoping that Ei would understand what he was trying to say.

Ei shook her head. She was not one to be swayed whenever she had made a decision. She knew that what she was doing was for the best. That this was the only way to prevent further tragedy from taking place. In order to prevent herself from making the same mistakes she once had that had led to the death of her other half. Of her sister.

“Kunikuzushi this is for the best. Please do not try and resist."

But Kunikuzushi was not having it. Time and time again she had made decisions based on what she thought was best. He was sure that she never even for a fleeting moment stopped to consider what the other people around her wanted. What her citizens were saying.

The only thing she truly did care about was Makoto. That was why he was created, to fill in her place. If she did care, then she would not have done everything she had up to this point.

Kunikuzushi was not one to be angry, especially not at his mother, but now the unnamed burning feeling in his chest had made itself known, and the only correct name to describe it with was pure anger.

“You only make decisions with yourself in mind, and not anybody else. You are making it seem that it was all due to my mistake, when you have a tendency of being too late to save your loved ones.

You only wish to store me away so that I do not end up like aunt Makoto!"

Maybe he should not have mentioned her, or any of her other past friends, because the tension in the room had become almost thick enough to suffocate a family of hilichurls.

Ei’s posture snapped, and her eyes became a devilish purple. And for a fleeting moment, Kunikuzushi feared that he was about to lose his life.

"You do not have a single clue about how I felt Kunikuzushi. You will never understand the pain I was in when she died. I felt the same despair when you had left me too. Both of these situations have only reminded me that those who are able to be swayed so easily by their emotions will quickly perish."

"So if I wish to keep you safe, I have to lock you away from the world. I understand that you are upset,
Makoto would be too, but if I want to avoid another situation like that from taking place ever again, you must allow for this to happen." She concluded coldly.

Kunikuzushi could only stare in shock as the woman that had raised him, that was supposed to love and protect him, had just stripped him of his freedom as if he was nothing but a puppet under the control of the puppeteer. He didn’t understand what he had did wrong for her to simply discard of him like he was nothing at all.

He felt the wet, warm liquid travel down his cheeks, but this time there were no soft, pale hands to wipe away his pitiful tears. Now, there was only an archon looking down on her creation. That’s what Kunikuzushi saw. That’s most likely what she saw too.

Ei continued to watch as her son cried, frowning and shaking her head. An action that Kunikuzushi mistook for dissatisfaction.

“And your tears, they will always be a reminder that you will not be able to survive without me by your side. Kunikuzushi this is not a request, it is a command.” This was what would be best for him. And so, she arose gracefully from her seat, and began heading over to the door. Unmoved and unhinged, even when another was slowly breaking down in front of her she would still remain solid. That was the archon that had made him.

But where was the mother that had comforted him during his day of birth? What made her so sure, that he was created in her sisters image. Kunikuzushi would not die, he was strong enough to protect himself, that’s what Ei had taught him to be, right?

So why, why now after everything is she walking away from him?

In a last attempt at piecing his heart back together, he had said these words.

“I.. I am not Makoto."

He was a fool to think that his pitiful cry would change anything, because the omnipresent god simply responded with,

“Yes, but you and her act like one and the same being. Yet another mistake I had made when creating you."

And then with one last glance, she had left him and Kunikuzushi was left alone. To think about what had just happened. To wonder where he went wrong, why she was acting this way.

He drew his knees up to his chest, and from there he cried.

Chapter Text

The prince of Inazuma had returned to his people at last, but his homecoming was the only good news that would be celebrated that day. The shogun had announced that he was seemingly ‘off duty’ and would not be returning for anything, not even the Tenno Tanjobi which would eventually cease to exist.

Life was.. very depressing after that. The day meant to be celebrating the return of a prince was now spent in a rather downcast atmosphere. Well, it was mostly the elders that had the opportunity to see Kunikuzushi and speak to him that were sad. The others who had only heard of him in the form of stories were not as upset though, maybe the idea of such an appealing person only gracing them with their presence only once affected them, but still, it was not a good day for the citizens of Inazuma.

Ei and Yae Miko had been ‘discussing’ her sudden decision for about two days already, but it was more of them bickering back and forth for quite a long time.

Kunikuzushi was already showing signs of mental decline, and the sight of his parents arguing only made him spiral down even quicker. By day three, when Kunikuzushi had begun isolating himself within his room, they both had ultimately decided that it would be best if they argued somewhere else away from him.

Kunikuzushi was worrying Miko so much. The boy that once hated the idea of having to reside in a room without anybody by his side, had now locked himself away in his room and was unresponsive whenever anybody came to inquire if he was alright.

He was no longer eating, drinking, or bathing, his favorite among the three. It was making Miko go mad, the idea that she did not know how he was doing — what he was doing even. She didn't know how to get through to him.

So she began to think. Thinking of particular things that would help coax him out. Then sometime while she was drinking her tea, she remembered his friend from Liyue whom he would always hang around with before, or whenever he got the chance to really. Morax’s son, Xiao.

Miko had forgotten to tell them that Kunikuzushi was found, alive. She felt slight guilt for not doing so because she and Morax would occasionally send letters, writing about how things were holding up.

Miko was caught off guard when she learned that Xiao didn't respond well at all to his friend's disappearance and was behaving similarly to the way Kunikuzushi was now. Thankfully he had gradually gotten over it with time, that was what Morax was telling her in the most recent letter.

But it would take quite some time for a letter to be received and Miko needed them here as soon as possible, so she sent him a finch with a neat note briefly explaining what had happened and inviting them over tied to its leg and hoped that would be enough. She hadn't told Ei about what she had done.

Why?

Well, if Ei felt the need to keep important secrets from her in their ‘relationship’, why couldn't she do the same hm?

Miko smiled devilishly as she watched the bird fly into the horizon. The other shrine maidens watched her with concerned glances and empathetic expressions.

Well, most of them assumed that she was the one taking Kunikuzushi’s new status the hardest. They were so close before, it was only natural that they had come to that conclusion. If only they knew what was happening behind closed doors...

———

Kunikuzushi wondered for how long he had been in this position, sat on the floor of his bedroom, staring at nothing in particular. He was probably looking at something, but he wouldn't know if he actually was. His mind had been able to cloud his senses if that made any sense.

Or maybe he could see— hear everything and he was simply overreacting and pretending not to.

Pretending not to hear his mom's desperate begging for him to open the door. He would never go against his mom. But then why didn't he go and open the door the first time she had told him to?

The truth of the matter was, he just could not. His body and heart felt heavy, too heavy for him to move. It was like all of his strength had gone to his mind. That must mean that he was weak though, because his mind wasn't even strong enough to not let itself fall prey to his emotions.

He didn't know why he was so bothered, his mother had not said anything particularly bad to him. She simply told the truth, but now here he was tearing himself apart because he didn't want to accept her judgment.

He didn't want to accept that she thought he wasn't good enough.

Gradually, the thought of his mother was one that made him tug at his clothing. He disliked wearing the kimonos that she had chosen for him in the past. He unconsciously began straying away from the library his mother would often read inside. He even began storing away anything that smelled like her usual lavender scent, including a vase of lavenders he had broken out of frustration.

And one day, her name didn’t make him smile anymore.

Would he be good enough one day? Would he ever be good enough? Would he be good enough if he was more like the shogun? If he had no emotions? Would he be good enough if he was Makoto herself?

A knock. Kunikuzushi was sure he heard a knock.

Unknowingly, he smiled to himself. See mother? I am not completely useless. I heard something. Are you happy with me?

Maybe in another life she would have rewarded him with a loving smile..

He didn't respond to the knock. The servants already knew his answer, he did not know why they still bothered knocking on his door. If it was his mom... He didn't know.

And briefly, even if only for a fleeting moment, he considered the possibility of the person being his mother, but the thought left as soon as it came. She had made it clear that she wanted nothing more to do with him.

The knock came again. His eyes drifted to the door this time. But this time a voice accompanied it.

“Kunikuzushi, it's Xiao. Are…you in there?"

His eyes widened, and whatever trance he was in was broken simply by hearing the adeptus’ voice. Kunikuzushi could not believe that he had almost forgotten about his dearest friend.

He felt a small warmth brew in his body, and it gave him the energy to raise his hand and shoot a bolt of electro that had broken his makeshift lock. He hoped that was enough of a sign for Xiao to come in.

The Adeptus knew him well. So he wasn't too surprised when he heard the door open and felt him carefully step into the room. He stopped moving after he had closed the door behind him, and for a brief moment, Kunikuzushi wondered if he was looking at him in longing or disgust.

Kunikuzushi had been avoiding his hygiene, and he could not even tell if he was properly dressed or not. How long he had been sitting there for.

In reality, on the first day he had locked himself away in his room, he remembered desperately  clawing his robes, his mother's robes, off of his body. And failing in the process due to how perfectly it had been secured. Surely after all the tossing and moving he had somehow undid it? The state of his clothing was the least of his concerns now.

His eyes shifted to look at Xiao. He didn't want to seem rude by ignoring him, he thought that Xiao didn't deserve that. But he hadn't spoken in a long time, his throat was dry and itchy from not drinking anything he was offered, even though he didn't necessarily require it. He was too used to the lavish life of being given tea made by his mothers loving hand. How pathetic he was.

Kunikuzushi and Xiao made eye contact, and he wasn't looking at him in disgust or longing like he had originally thought. Instead, his face was graced with a frown and a soft look. Kunikuzushi hadn't seen him like that before, he didn't know what to make of it.

Xiao began moving again, and this time he had sat down some spaces in front of him.

He could feel that he was looking at him, but kunikuzushi’s gaze was directed toward the ground. He thought that he wouldn't be the one to speak first, but his mind betrayed him.

“You said that you were made to be used by Morax right?" he didn't like how raspy his voice sounded.

Xiao’s eyes met with Kunikuzushi’s, and they looked clouded. He didn’t like it.

“Yes?"

“Now what would you do if one day he replaced you and never spoke to you again?"

"…."

Xiao was stunned, it showed in his expression as well. That was a question that he wasn’t expecting to hear.

Xiao must’ve kept quiet for a while now, because Kunikuzushi furrowed his eyebrows, and the next thing he knew he had crawled over to him and grabbed his arm in a panicked frenzy, almost like he was about to bite him, but the slight irritation vanished when—

“What would you do if you were me Xiao!? Tell me!" Kunikuzushi shouted at him, begging him almost.

When Xiao looked into his eyes, the cloudiness before had been chased away by the dampness of his eyes and he looked so desperate. Desperate for something that Xiao knew he couldn’t give him.

He knew of Kunikuzushi’s situation, but he didn’t know the answer to his question. Because honestly what would he do if Morax had done the same thing to him? Would he accept it and live the rest of his life mourning from a distance, or would he fight to prove to him that he wasn’t weak?

Xiao looked at Kunikuzushi with sympathy, and for the first time since they had met, he pulled the other male in for an embrace.

Kunikuzushi didn't resist at all, he basically threw his body into the Adeptus. He didn't cry, he had no tears left for that function, instead, he only laid his head sadly on his shoulder.

“I’m here," he whispers. “You can speak to me or not, but I am here.”

Xiao is awkward, to say the least, but his intentions were pure as he rubbed the others bareback in an act of comfort, and all these actions alone make Kunikuzushi feel so vulnerable in his arms. He didn’t know whether he liked it or not.

Xiao was only replicating the actions Rex lapis had once used to soothe him when he was in a similar state.

He was not one to comfort another, Kunikuzushi was well aware of this fact and truthfully was not expecting more from the male apart from this act of affection. The last thing he expected was for him to speak more than he already did.

“Many millennials ago, during the archon war, I was enslaved by a merciless god whom would force me to slaughter and do their bidding." He revealed so suddenly.

Kunikuzushi’s ears perked even in his somber state, because Xiao never spoke about his past or how he felt. Xiao was showing his own vulnerability for Kunikuzushi to see and inspect with open ears and glassy eyes.

Kunikuzushi assumed it to also be a rather sensitive topic for him. The opportunity to hear him speak about himself was not one that Kunikuzushi would not listen to, and Xiao was taking that currently to his advantage.

“The cruel acts and punishments I would have to go through often made me feel like I was hallowed, a lost cause even. But the feeling that often hurt the greatest was the one that arose whenever the thought of my parents crossed my mind." Xiao closed his eyes as he remembered the thoughts that would constantly plague his mind every single day.

Kunikuzushi stayed silent. Xiao took that as his confirmation to simply carry on. “I would often think about Morax, whether I was even worthy enough to be in his presence for all of those years before. The god had convinced me that I was a disgrace. I thought that I was worthless. I felt.. lost." he sighed the last part.

Kunikuzushi’s heart ached at that, but he also felt a familiar feeling of understanding. Of relatability to when he was describing. He too feels lost. He also was convinced that he could no longer do any good now.

And this feeling was so strong. It is like a poison that caresses your heart and takes away your ability to find happiness in things that you usually would love the most. He wondered how Xiao had ever managed to get over this heavy feeling in his chest.

“That was a pain that I had experienced that I had hoped to not experience once more. But the feeling did eventually return when I had learned of your disappearance."

Kunikuzushi’s body tensed when he heard that, failing to register whether he loathed him for that or not. But a part of him was happy. Happy that Xiao had cared about him and missed him that much, and was now here when he felt at his lowest, helping him.

He was torn between how to react. But, it seems like Xiao was alright with doing all of the speaking for them. Though he was sure that he wouldn't be speaking of his past anymore.

“Kunikuzushi." He didn't like the way his body released its tension so quickly.

"Times like this where you feel like the world has abandoned you, like the one thing you truly depended on the most fails you, does not mean it is the end.

I.. care about you. It hurts me to see you in this state, and I know that it is hurting you as well. I am aware that Raiden Ei is someone whom you hold with high regard, but remember that there are many other people like me, Morax, and Yae Miko that care about you and are willing to stay by your side." willing to never abandon you was the unspoken meaning, but Kunikuzushi understood it.

The male remained silent. The most movement he even showed was his clenched fingers with nails threatening to break the layer between his artificial skin and his bare core.

Xiao was not convinced that his message was received, even though he did try his best to replicate how Rex Lapis had comforted him when he had discovered how he was using fighting as a way to take his mind off of his grief.

He carefully pulled the male off to face him with his hands dug firmly onto his shoulders, giving Kunikuzushi no option but to stare directly at him. His dull eyes which before had been like a clouded haze, now shined with a spark of hope. A desperation to believe that what he was saying was what he should think.

"You are not worth whatever your mother says you are. You are Kunikuzushi first, and the electro archons son, her creation, second."

Morax didn’t tell him that, that came from him as his friend. Kunikuzushi’s heart felt like it had fireworks set off inside of it. Because he was right.

Xiao was the first person to not try and excuse his mother's actions. He was the first to tell him that she did not get to decide what or where he was. He hated himself for still struggling to believe him even after he had spoken so much for him, but Kunikuzushi still just could not understand.

“Why did she feel the need to replace me?" He asked Xiao a question that he was sure the immortal would not know the answer to. He wasn’t expecting for him to even respond at all. But Xiao scoffed and scrunched his nose.

“You can never be replaced, especially not by her. No offense but she did not have a pleasant personality. She was very disrespectful." It was clear that she had offended Morax in some way and Xiao was now upset. He often got mad if anyone spoke against the archon even in the slightest, and how mad he would get always made Kunikuzushi giggle.

The corners of his mouth began upturning out of his own will. Then he attempted to stop the air bubbling in his chest from escaping, but suddenly he snorted and he finally gave up on trying to suppress his laughter. Xiao had something that made him feel a little more alive and far less lost. For that, he would forever be grateful.

The staff passing by the room were definitely surprised to hear joyful laughter coming from the prince's bedroom, but the shock quickly turned into joy as others ran to spread the news that their prince was alright.

Xiao’s eyes widened like a shocked cat, and that only made Kunikuzushi laugh more. In the end, Xiao simply smiled and scoffed at the site, silently commenting a remark under his breath before he gave in and began chuckling as well. His laughter was contagious.

And so the two laughed, and once they finished laughing Kunikuzushi made sure to hug him once more as a thank you and apology for having Xiao witness him in his disheveled state. The Adeptus did not mind. They both spent the rest of the hour chatting while clearing up the room and helping Kunikuzushi fix his clothing and other necessities.

It was during that conversation that it fully settled in that it had been over ninety five years since he had left. The ceremony he had to do some days early also confirmed it all, but this really did prove to him that everybody was telling the truth. He was rather sad that he had missed all of that development, and certainly more due to his current predicament, but he knew there were many more years to come where he would hopefully make up for all the missed time.

On a brighter note, Kunikuzushi told Xiao about the friend he met on the Island whom he basically became a guardian to. Xiao listened with interest to the entire story he told, simply being glad that after everything Kunikuzushi was fine and slowly reverting to his old tendencies.

The yaksha only hoped that he would have remembered the advice that he had given today and took it with him he spoke to the new puppet shogun, lest something like before takes place once again.

———

Xiao was right, everyone was happy to see him when he had finally come out of his bedroom. His mom had showered him in apologetic kisses and scolding, and Morax too had given him an almost crushing embrace. He was surprised to say the least, but he tried his best to hug back with just as much force.

The four of them sat and chatted together for a long while, and Kunikuzushi learned that the two older had been discussing with Ei to at the very least let them all visit Kunikuzushi when they wished to. She had allowed it, only because Miko was being stubborn and she did not want to upset Morax.

That was all good, but Kunikuzushi was still ‘grounded’ for eternity.

It wasn’t that much of an issue, and as the days went by he had managed to come to a minor routine of how he would spend his time. Kunikuzushi had made it a habit to simply avoid crossing paths with the shogun. He often made sure that he was on the other side of the estate from wherever she was, though she often just sat in the throne room so at some point he simply forgot she ever existed in the first place.

He tried to pretend that she didn’t exist, but the was exceptionally hard when there were things that reminded him of her everywhere he went. He was at least happy that his mom made an effort to not remind him of her, but there were rare occasions when she would bring him something sweet to share with her and he would have to try his best to stomach it until he could excuse himself to the bathroom because to try exert it from of his body.

But that was alright, he was two weeks in and doing alright.

To pass the time, his mother has begun making him engage in various learning activities including learning new languages. He is currently learning the tongue spoken in liyue. When Miko asked her why he choose that one first, he refused to shed any more light.

But besides that, he was also often keen to be seen on the training grounds, tirelessly working his body until he was sure he felt improvement. He told himself that it was because he wanted to be strong enough to someday protect his citizens, but deep inside he knew that it was so that maybe one day his mother would notice how much he was working for her.

Kunikuzushi narrowed his eyebrows and hit the training dummy with a bit more force than he was supposed to. He scrubbed the earlier thought out of his mind. He didn’t want her to be the reason for his — anything.

He tried to release the tension building in his body by watching the smoke float out from the dummy he had just hit. He hoped that his mom would be free soon to help him train as she had promised.

Kunikuzushi’s eyes snapped open the moment he realized that there was another presence, watching him with an intense gaze. He knew who that was. And he was sure that she knew that he was fully aware of her presence.

She didn’t make any move to go forward, so Kunikuzushi didn’t turn around to speak to face her either. The last time she had spoken to him was on Seirai Island, and that could not even be considered a conversation.

“How are you feeling." she stated. She didn’t ask, nor did she sound like she cared about her own question.

Kunikuzushi wondered what was the real reason she was here if she did not even want to see him. He took in a deep breath to cool himself internally before replying.

“What might I have done for you to feel the need to meet me?" He talked like he didn’t care, but inside he was trembling. The only thought that plagued his mind was the constant reminder that whatever this puppet thought, whatever she did, it was all from his mother's perspective.

Her eyes lowered, and for a fleeting moment, she remained silent. Kunikuzushi was sure that she had noticed how shaken he was. He really didn’t want to seem weak in front of her. Anyone but her.

“Beelzebub has instructed me to check the state you are currently in." She finally responded. Kunikuzushi was not impressed by the answer. It wasn’t what he wanted to hear. He didn’t know what he wanted to hear but it was far from that.

But he did know. He hoped that she would tell him she still loved him.

“If she truly needs to know then she will come to find me herself." This is what he said in response before he summoned something else to attack the training dummy, this time completely destroying it in the process.

Maybe she thought he did that because he wanted to catch the attention of a god, or maybe the act made her scoff in disappointment. Kunikuzushi wouldn't know, for he could not see her face. He didn’t want to.

Her voice still haunts him some nights.

“Training so tirelessly like that will not make you great." She spoke after a long time of watching him harass all of the equipment.

Kunikuzushi punched a training dummy in irritation and it only recoiled back to hit him just as hard, making him fall to the ground pathetically.

He said, “I do not want to be great, I want to be loved."

A rather disgusting site that the puppet had showcased for the shogun to look at, and she felt that maybe if she did have a heart she would have taken pity on him.

But she did not, because emotions like the ones he was always displaying are what get in the way of eternity.

She walked closer to his figure on the floor, looking down upon him with those dissatisfied eyes that Kunikuzushi had nightmares about every night. He for some reason could not bring himself to turn away from her gaze. His mother was so beautiful, but she was also deathly poisonous at the same time.

"You see this is why she did not choose you. Because you get too carried away by your own emotions and crave for things that a shogun does not need. You are a failed attempt at a puppet. "

And she said it so simply, like it was common sense.

Kunikuzushi stared at her.

This was his fault. There was nothing more humiliating to him than his own desires, and he had somehow managed to tell her one of them. This reaction was expected. The wetness rolling down his cheeks was expected too, but he was sure that he felt droplets of water fall from above and onto his skin.

Why did he always find himself crying at his mother's meer image? He hated how pathetic it made him look, yet he couldn’t control it. Gods he had tried to, he practically begged his eyes to not abandon him like his mother did, but they didn’t listen. They never even gave him a warning.

What was the matter with him? Was he the problem? He was, but how could he fix himself without his mother and mama by his side?

What was he worth when they were not with him? Without them, he was nothing. Without his mother, he would be nothing. Kunikuzushi stared at the sky and almost wanted to laugh at himself forever considering that he had worth. The only good he was for was his original purpose, his intended purpose, or keeping the gnosis inside of him. That was his only worth.

Kunikuzushi places a hand somberly on his chest, where his heart lay. The shogun caught site of this and shook her head very lightly he almost did not notice it.

“You are nothing. You will for ever be nothing and nothing you will be. There is nothing that can change that, Kunikuzushi."

Her footsteps were so quiet he barely heard her leave.

And there he was left alone again, in the rain with nothing but himself and the last reminder of his mother's love for him that was safely secured in his chest. His only sense of comfort from her. The only sign that she had once loved him enough to entrust him with the power of a God.

This time he cried again. But they were bitter tears. Bitter to match the torn expression on his face.

Bitter to match the emotion that was now tainting his once pure heart.

Chapter Text

“Remind me again why you requested that I bring you a book. I’m sure you have enough already."

Kunikuzushi frowned. “I have read every book I could get my hands on in the past decade Xiao. Thank you again for abiding by my request.” Xiao simply grunted in response.

For immortal beings, those who were created in such a way that the effects of time are not as grave as that of humans, years move by like months.

Given that factor, and the fact that he could not leave tenshukaku and has not seen the world outside for far too long now, time passed rather quickly. The same cycle of steps repeating over and over, only sometimes being graced with some company. But with what little company he had, oftentimes he would need to find other means to entertain himself. Reading, studying, or developing hobbies to pass the time.

As for the Shogun.. he would simply avoid her. They would argue, and those often did end with a heartbroken puppet, but Kunikuzushi came to realize that she did not care for him at all, so what was the point of even arguing with her?

“That’s alright.. I doubt that it would be something you are interested in though.” Xiao muttered before sitting down beside his friend to properly give him the book to skim through.

Morax was very delighted when Xiao had asked him for a book. He spent a considerable amount of time picking the best book that would interest them both despite Xiao’s protests. A book about the adepti and other traditions that stemmed from their protection was what he had chosen.

Kunikuzushi seemed to like the book. He would eagerly turn to the next page while pointing out things that had been fortunate enough to attract his attention. They were rather mundane questions that he would ask, like ‘what is that creature’ or ‘where were you when this happened?’ Xiao did not mind answering them, but if he were honest Rex Lapis would do much better here instead of him.

“‘Yet the Anemo Archon kept coming to visit, to explore Liyue Harbour. All sorts of strange questions on his lips. The Anemo Archon’s questions knew as little limits as the wine in his hands.’ That certainly does sound like him.”

“..Morax had told me about that as well. He would ask such absurd questions that I do not even want to recall." Xiao muttered, his usually blank face twitching at the remembrance of the carefree archon. They hadn’t seen each other for a long while now.

As if the puppet had free access to his thoughts, he said, “speaking of him, where is he? It has been a while yet he never visits."

Kunikuzushi noticed the way Xiao paused, looking troubled for a moment. The God of Wind was always a touchy subject with the Adeptus, Kunikuzushi internally cursed himself for not taking reading the situation properly.

“He heard the call of the wind and returned to his slumber a century or two ago," He curtly responds, "..I have not heard from him since."

Kunikuzushi’s face catches a frown, and he gives his friend a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry Xiao. He will return one day."

It’s not like he was not used to comforting Xiao, but most of the time when he rarely did in the past it would always involve Barbatos. Kunikuzushi knew they were connected, in some way, but he didn’t think it would be smart to tell Xiao his thoughts. After all, if there was something he had wanted him to know about Barbatos, he would have told him by now.

Xiao sighed, adjusting himself to look out of the open secluded, and extremely small outside space that came along with Kunikuzushi’s bedroom, attempting to.. collect his thoughts. It wasn’t the first time he had gone long without seeing him. He could not understand why he was often so bothered by his absence in his life.

“It’s alright. Barbatos is the God of freedom first and everything else second. Morax is saddened by his silence as well, but he had reminded me that we should not stop him from being free.” His raspy voice seemed even hoarser as he spoke.

Kunikuzushi also turned his gaze to the tiny tea yard as well, watching in silence as a small finch gently descended onto the mini Bonsai plant he received from the Kaedehara family. His gaze softened as he watched how freely the bird behaved.

“Freedom.. it is a rather complex thing isn’t it?"

Xiao turned to him this time, waiting for him to elaborate. "To go where you please and do whatever you desire. Don't you also wish that you were as free as him?" Kunikuzushi asked, turning to him with a longing expression.

Xiao wasn’t quite fond of that term. After all, it was because of freedom that Barbatos was not here. Xiao himself was not even free. He didn’t think that even if he was somehow freed from his contract, he would still have his Karmic debt which would one day drive him into madness. To be free, that’s not a thought that he entertains often.

“That's not easy to answer." He chooses to say.

Kunikuzushi sighed at the poor response. But still, the look of longing does not leave his face.

“If it were me, I would choose to wander all of Inazuma and soon all of teyvat. I wish to visit every island, and see what every small crèves of life looks like." His smile fell just a bit, "Of course, I still care about the people of Inazuma and wish to stay here, but my heart..” He places a hand on his chest, seeking comfort in the pulsating electro it gave off like he always did when he was faced with a problem.

Xiao nods, understanding what he meant. “It’s a difficult decision to make. When you have seen the world outside of these walls, maybe then you can make your decision." He replied without a second thought, only raising a brow when he saw the look of triumph on Kunikuzushi’s face.

“That’s right! I only need to see it first before I decide.."

He puts on his best thinking face, but the look he gives Xiao leaves the Adeptus shaking his head disapprovingly immediately.

“No."

Kunikuzushi groaned and bundled his already distraught hair in his hands. “But I might never be able to see the world outside after now. Please help me sneak out, even if only just for an hour."

Xiao crossed his arms and gave him an unimpressed look. “That is dangerous. Won’t the Shogun still be able to track you because of the gnosis? And somebody might notice you.”

Kunikuzushi ignored the way his body tensed at the mention of her name, and if Xiao noticed as well he did not point it out. “I could wear a kasa to shield my identity, and I am sure she won’t notice when I’m gone."

Xiao does not seem to be budging at all, still giving him those narrowed eyes that would send people begging on their knees for mercy. It was a stupid idea, with many flaws, but Kunikuzushi wanted to see Inazuma again. He longed to speak to somebody other than Xiao, the few servants that were allowed to see him, Morax, and his mom. Even if he would be able to leave just for five minutes. That could mean everything to somebody that has been isolated for 10 years.

“Please, do it for me?" Kunikuzushi pleaded once more with desperation laced in his tone.

Xiao knew that he should not agree to this. Rex Lapis would not support this idea, and he would be going against the rule that one chosen by Celestia had placed for everyone to follow.

But…

—————-

The soil felt like a strange touch to his skin. He flexed his body in his new surroundings, and even though he did not need to, he took in a large gasp of the air around him. Xiao watched him with ready eyes, waiting to see if he was okay. But then the puppet let out a smile. He was overjoyed.

They were far from the main island, far from the Shogun. It was Yashiori Island. He could tell by the clean cut that had separated the once-one land, done by his mother's blade. He himself had never been here before, so he couldn’t wait to begin exploring the new territory.

Xiao, who had decided to finally stand by his side, turned to him with a now calm expression. “Where do you want to go now?"

Kunikuzushi turned to point in the direction of a far village, ignoring the statue of the seven that blocked their view. “There. We don’t have to speak to them, but I want to see what the mortals are doing.” Xiao pressed his lips into a thin line, still never understanding his fixation on mortal life, but still, he only nodded and began walking. It was too late to turn back now.

Traversing with Kunikuzushi was.. a handful. He would stop at the sights of anything that intrigued his pure curiosity. From a strange contraption to a resting onkibuto that he would attempt to pick up before it ran from his gaze. It was not his fault, most of these things were such that he had only read about in books. But it certainly made things move slower.

But eventually, they did arrive a considerable distance from the village. There they both stopped to look at the view, taking in the fact that they had snuck out of tenshukaku in the first place.

Kunikuzushi watched the children in the distance playing amongst themselves, or the much older simply planting crops. A peaceful life that they lived, in coexistence with the birds that rested atop of roofs of their houses. He wondered what living a life like that would feel like. Going about your day with no particular purpose or worry in mind.

"It’s a beautiful site, isn’t it?"

Both of the two visibly tensed at the voice, coaxing a laugh out of the unknown person. When Kunikuzushi finally glanced at the newcomer, an old lady met his view, a small smile on her face.

“Don’t be so afraid now, I did not mean to disturb you. I was only heading back when I noticed a fairly odd pair. It’s not often when we get to see fellows like you two around here." She explained while the two calmed a bit. Kunikuzushi did. Xiao on the other hand seemed to still be troubled.

Kunikuzushi dipped his kasa, in both respects and in an attempt to conceal his identity. “Ah, sorry to disturb you. We were only passing by and.."

“Oh no no, that’s alright. You can stay for as long as you, please. In fact, I just came back with some ingredients for a stew. Why don’t you join us?"

Xiao stayed silent, but he glanced at Kunikuzushi only to find that he was already looking at him. They were communicating without words. Shortly after the shared moment, Kunikuzushi turned back to give a grateful smile.

“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, we wouldn’t mind. Thank you.” He bowed in respect. But the lady only shook her head. “Please rise, it’s not too much trouble at all. Follow me."

Noticing the load she was carrying, Xiao finally spoke up to offer a hand. “Do you require help carrying those?" He never favored contact, but it seemed that now he had no choice.

The lady gave a thankful smile as he took her things into his arms, and from there the three began to walk to the village, a calm atmosphere surrounding them this time.

“Where are the two of you from?” The elder asked as they walked into the village. Kunikuzushi and Xiao both tensed, sharing a look of panic. “My name is Kuni—.. kabuki…mono. And that is Xiao. I am from Narukami Island, but he resides in Liyue. He only came to visit." Kunikuzushi quickly recovered. Well, he technically did not lie entirely, but Xiao was left wondering how he has managed to come up with the name so quickly.

Brushing the hesitance off, the lady continued. “Oh? That is nice to know. What led the two of you to come here then?" Xiao answered this time, “he wished to see the other islands. I…. agreed to bring him." He sighed in defeat.

Kunikuzushi smiled at him, making Xiao glance away. The lady could only chuckle slightly in amusement. “Well, you know the saying; a happy wife, a happy life."

Both Kunikuzushi and Xiao stared at her in bewilderment, not even grasping enough time to understand or retort to what she had said before the sound of children began drawing closer to them, chasing away the tense atmosphere for an even tenser one.

They came rushing to them, screaming far too loudly than needed and startling the already disrupted Xiao in the process. Kunikuzushi couldn’t help but laugh at the face he made while looking at them. He looked like a cat again.

There were four kids in total. Two little girls and boys that couldn’t be over the age of 7. “Granny! She cheated on me! She's a cheater!" A boy said, with tears in his eyes.

“I already told you! I don’t want to be married to you, I want to have the baby with Mira!" The girl, one of the more lively ones among the four, retorted. Holding the hand of her friend tightly.

Kunikuzushi’s eyes widened in surprise. “How can one be betrothed to another at such a young age?" Xiao only narrowed his eyes at him while the ‘older’ among them all sighed tiredly.

“Now now, is this a good way to greet our guests?“ She scolded them, causing the four to hurriedly bow in respect.

Xiao frowned and shook his head, “..this is not necessary.”

Letting out sighs of relief, the children rose again only to be shot down once more by the elder's glare. “That still was not enough. Why don’t I trust you four to handle these newcomers while I go and prepare the stew?" Luckily the children did not notice how she gave Xiao and Kunikuzushi a look to interpret what she actually meant. ‘Watch them while I cook?’

Kunikuzushi smiled in her direction, and then at the children as they began to cheer and urge the two to follow them. Xiao carefully gave her the ingredients back before allowing himself to be pulled along with Kunikuzushi to a small wooden house.

It looked like a simple house with two rooms. The one they were in seemed to be a living room, that's what Kunikizushi thought anyway until he noticed the makeshift bed on the floor.

“Sorry for the mess! Shinji’s parents are never home so we always use his house for playing.” The vocal boy stated while looking at the other boy, Shinji, who was shuffling on his feet shyly. “This time we were playing family."

Before Kunikuzushi could comment on that, or the poor boys living conditions, the same social boy from earlier beat him to it. “No we know that, but you can only have a baby with one mommy and one daddy! But Alice doesn’t want to have a baby with me.." he frowned.

Alice blew raspberries at him, folding her hands and turning away. “I just don’t want to be married to you! Why can’t you just marry Shinji!"

“Because Shinji can’t have babies! It’s part of the game Alice stop being a wuss!"

Kunikuzushi furrowed his brows at the two as they bickered. He knows that not all mortals are gifted with elemental power, but couldn’t they still just make a child? He had learned of these things known as, carpenters that craft things like puppets as well. Couldn’t they go ask them for children?

His gaze turned to Xiao. His eyes were narrowed and he seemed to be thinking about something.

“I don’t see where the problem is. My father says he birthed me, why not do the same?”

The Kunikuzushi and the four kids all stared at the male, shocked and bewildered. Xiao only raised a brow at them, like he hadn’t said something that wasn’t anatomically possible. “What?”

The kids immediately brighten up after recovering from their shocked state, all of them looking like a brick had just been lifted off of their backs. Kunikuzushi on the other hand seemed to be taking a strangely long time to comprehend the new fact.

Alice scoffed at her now ex-husband. “See! You don't need me, Mao."

“Okay okay.." He sighed and bashfully turned to Shinji, who seemed to be eagerly waiting for him. ”Shinji do you want to have the baby with me..?”

He nodded quickly before taking out a small blanket that was wrapped as if it were a baby and cradling it in his arms. “Well, since we are in charge of you two, we get to choose what you can play as. So you guys have to be the grandparents!"

Xiao swallowed back a scoff as Kunikuzushi hesitantly smiled upon the demand. They could only hope that these children would not occupy too much of their time.

—————

They all played house for a large sum of time. It was not so unpleasant in Kunikuzushi's view. He felt as if Xiao played the role of a grandmother exceptionally well, even if he would forever continue to deny that he was capable of being ‘gentle’ while carrying the baby in his arms.

The end of their little ‘family’ was not the end of their unexpected playdate. By evening, the food had been finished so they all gathered outside the granny’s house and ate to their heart's contents. Well most of them did. Xiao preferred to sit on a rock some fair distance away and watch like he usually did.

As he sat there he began to think about many things, including the events of the day. He knew that they would have to return soon, but the look of pure enjoyment on Kunikuzushi’s face as he traded stories with the group was something that he rarely got to see anymore.

Xiao saw the way Kunikuzushi’s eyes crinkled as he smiled. He saw the way his Kasa, which was supposed to shield his identity, tilted as if it were on the verge of falling off of his head. The way he got along so easily with everyone like he had not been locked away from society for more than 10 years.

When Xiao looked at Kunikuzushi, he saw somebody that he would never be. Something that he would never be able to fully understand. And maybe that’s what made Xiao so attracted to him. He didn’t understand why when it came to Kunikuzushi, everything was different. He tended to avoid things that he did not quite understand. But Kunikuzushi…

Xiao would not hold his title as the conqueror of demons if he spent time even the slightest bit of time wrapped in his own thoughts. He also would not be worthy of being called an Adeptus if he failed to notice a mortal walking toward him and sitting down by his side. He noticed. Of course, he did.

They sat in silence for a long while. Xiao preferring to avoid meaningless conversation, reassumed watching the calm site in front of him. He was not expecting her to say anything, but...

“You should keep him. It’s rare to find any men like him in these times."

Xiao’s eyes widened in surprise and confusion. “..I beg your pardon?"

She smiled and glanced at him slightly. “Your lover, I mean. He is quite beautiful, isn’t he?”

And she spoke so confidently that he truly did not know how to respond to her. Misunderstands like these were one of the reasons why he refused to interact with mortals. They baffled him.

“He is. But you are mistaken. We… I am not in any sort of romantic relationship with him." Xiao curtly responded, eyes unconsciously looking away from the group in front of him. The lady seemed genuinely shocked, but she quickly recovered and chuckled.

“Oh? Forgive me for assuming. I only see the way you look at him, and he seems to be just as fond of you as well."

Xiao seemed to consider her words carefully. He did care for Kunikuzushi. He wouldn’t admit it, but he had grown quite fond of him over the years. Xiao was always happy while around the puppet, and he would be lying if he said he wasn’t on his mind much more than he would have liked him to be.

Kunikuzushi was the reason he smiled when there was nothing to smile about. He is Xiao’s favorite place to go whenever his mind searches for peace. And, he was the sweetest soul that he had ever seen. He even broke a few of his rules for him.

He felt something for him, something that he had only ever felt for his siblings. Or Rex Lapis. No, this feeling was different. Close to what he would have felt for the yakshas, but it wasn’t.

He had remained silent for far too long now because she spoke again. 

“Love can be a difficult thing to navigate. I remember when I first met the one I cared for, I also thought that he was nothing more than a friend. It was only when he was on his last breath that I realized what he truly meant to me."

Xiao’s first automatic response to that was, “My condolences.."

But she quickly waved a hand and turned to smile at the sky full of stars. “No no, that is not what I meant to say.

Take an old woman’s advice. You never truly realize how much somebody means to you until they are gone. Friends or more, you should hold him close to your heart my dear."

Xiao looked down at his hands, processing what she had told him. Love? But emotional relations like that would only be a burden to his contract.

“I may have love inside of me, but I don’t know how to use it. Love I mean." He muttered, not truly sure if he was even heard.

But when he looked back at Kunikuzushi, watching him shine in a way that was so humane because he learned something new, he felt warmth in his chest. He didn’t hate that feeling. But he wondered just when had he let himself end up this way.

Kunikuzushi made eye contact with him and immediately waved a free hand at him, his smile widening only by a small fraction. “Xiao! I learned how to roast a lavender melon! Please come over here and taste it?”

His eyes softened at the proposal, but he quickly turned to face the kind lady next to him, silently asking if he could leave. She nodded and gave him a sweet smile.

“Don’t worry about me, go spend some time with him."

Xiao nodded and looked back, rising from his spot before dusting himself off.

“…I’ll be there."

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Kunikuzushi and Xiao had spent the rest of their time in the company of the others, trading stories, dancing and only retelling the details of the day. It was a good day, but eventually, they did have to leave with heavy hearts and promising goodbyes.

Kunikuzushi had managed to convince Xiao to allow them to stay just a little while longer to watch the stars on top of Orobashi’s skull. Because of the view, he told him. Xiao wondered why he had agreed to his request, but still, they found themselves with their feet dangling off of the skull and the sky lighting up their vision.

And there, they talked. Well, Kunikuzushi spoke and Xiao listened, just like the way things usually were.

This time, Kunikuzushi spoke about the stars. He had read his fair share of books on astrology over the years, so he was now taking enjoyment in pointing out the multitude of different constellations in the sky. Xiao listened with interest, though he knew he would soon forget the information.

Kunikuzushi pointed at yet another couple of stars in the sky, tracing the shape of two fish over just six stars in a spiral. “That was one is called Dracaena Somnolenta. Or In simpler terms, Dragoness Slumber. They are like two fish swimming together.”

Kunikuzushi watched Xiao squint at what he was pointing at before finally giving up and closing his eyes. “I don’t understand how you saw two fish, yet alone a spiral." He huffed.

The boy smiled before turning his gaze back to the sky. “It’s not your fault, after all, I have spent countless nights looking at these constellations. The sky is so beautiful, it’s such a shame that it isn’t real."

The strange comment made Xiao quirk a brow in his direction. Kunikuzushi was always saying weird things, but this was by far the most unusual comment. “What do you mean by that?"

Kunikuzushi turned to look Xiao in his eyes, his face lacking anything even implying that he was not telling the truth.

“The stars, the sky, it is all empty, Xiao. It’s nothing but a gigantic hoax, a lie."

Xiao looked confused. Is the sky fake? He must admit that he did not spend much time looking at the night sky, but he did often notice that there was something strange about it.

“Are you proposing that Celestia is not real either?" Xiao chose to ask.

Kunikuzushi smiled sweetly at him, turning back to the floating palace in the sky.

“No, because if the gods don’t exist, who is laughing at us?"

Xiao turned back to stare at Celestia as well. He wondered just how many days Kunikuzushi had spent watching the stars just to discover that.

Well, he had a lot of free time. And he spent that time entertaining himself with whatever he could. He was still quite oblivious to the world around him. He was more like a curious child wandering on a battlefield.

Curiosity kills the cat, a saying once taught to Kunikuzushi when he would ask his mom things about teyvat. But she still told him anyway, and Kunikuzushi was then left confused and distraught. But even with all of these hidden truths he still found love in the world around him. Even when there was nothing to love about it.

Xiao would always tell Kunikuzushi that he was delicate and that he feared that one day the world would take advantage of his kindness.

Kunikuzushi then told him something strange in return. He told Xiao that he was the delicate one. That he was the one with the soul that resembled a soft flower in the pit of the abyss. It was strange, but strange was normal now. They always had a conversation like that. And when they weren’t, they were sitting in silence just like now.

That's what Kunikuzushi liked about Xiao. They didn’t even have to speak to each other yet they always said so much. Xiao showed him things that he would have never been able to see on his own. He cared about him, more than he should.

Even if they never saw each other for years on end, or if they would only communicate through letters. Xiao touched his life in ways that he never thought he would experiment with. He didn’t hate it. He loved it. He wanted him to come back every time he said goodbye.

He only wished that they could spend more time just sitting together, outside of tenshukaku, while having silent conversations that nobody understood but them.

Kunikuzushi opened his mouth to say something, but he closed it immediately after. He was contemplating what he was about to say before simply giving up and deciding to say what was on his mind.

“Xiao. It’s no secret that my mother would never allow me to go outside and into the world for years to come after this… so I want to experience as much as I can whenever I get the chance."

Xiao’s attention was now fully on him, patiently waiting for him to continue speaking. Kunikuzushi smiled at that before it fell slightly, troubled. “I want to experience it all, Xiao.

And… I want every new experience I have to be with you by my side. My first time flying, my first time venturing outside Inazuma… my first— everything. I want you to be the one to show me all of these things. Nobody else but you would feel right." Kunikuzushi confessed.

He knows what he was feeling. It was love. Yes, he felt so strongly from the other inside of his heart. But this was a different type of love than what he knew. Different from the love he felt for his own family or the one he people of Inazuma. It was merely a love that made him wish to be besides his friend and make him smile. He honestly preferred to not place a name on the unknown feeling. He only hoped that Xiao understood what he meant.

Xiao’s gaze softened. He did not do well with emotions, but he understood what Kunikuzushi was saying because he felt similar in a way.

He reached over to Kunikuzushi’s hand and hesitantly intertwined their fingers. The puppet squeezes his hand tightly, turning to return Xiao’s gaze with a soft looking smile of his own on his face.

At that moment Xiao looked so... uncharacteristically calm. The lights of the fake sky painted his skin like it was a canvas, and his lips were placed in a small smile despite the overbearing emotions he was feeling.

“I… I feel the same way I think. I also want to be with you for every new experience you may encounter. I want to be there for all of your firsts. No... I want to be the one to show you all of these new things." Xiao said, trying to say what he felt too.

Kunikuzushi seemed to understand what he meant because he chuckled softly at Xiao. “Let us start now then. Promise me that one day, any day, you’ll show it all to me?"

“I promise. I will."

“Then I will wait."

Tonight the stars seemed to shine so brightly. And Xiao realized that sometimes you really do fall into love with the most unexpected person at the most unexpected time.

Chapter Text

Other people would find it strange or unsettling to have a conversation with another that looked exactly like yourself. But what really was so strange about it? Those feelings were only harbored by mortals. There was no need for such disturbances in the pursuit for eternity.

That was why the Shogun was here, standing in front of her creator, Beelzebuld. Or more commonly known as Ei. She was meditating in the same position as the first time she had seen her.

She knew that the Shogun was here. She also knew why she was there, to begin with.

“You are aware that Kunikuzushi had broken one of your terms along with the Adeptus from Liyue a few hours ago." She finally said after a prolonged silence.

Ei did not seem phased at all, not even sparing a glance at her visitor. For some reason, that slightly irritated the Shogun.

“Yes, I am aware of that."

The Shogun narrowed her eyes only slightly. “What is the course of action then?"

Surprisingly, Ei seemed to be contemplating her response. She could tell by how the atmosphere darkened only a minuscule shade darker than it was before. She noticed that because that was simply how well she was created.

A few seconds later, Ei opened her eyes to look at her. “Leave him be. But next time I will not be so generous." She gave her first judgment. The Shogun immediately sensed a point of weakness. But, she was only her kagemusha, so she nodded and turned to leave.

Ei was clearly still feeling sympathy and care for the prototype. And those emotions were causing her to slightly derail from her original ideals. Nonetheless, perhaps she had something in mind.

It did not matter anyway. The prototype was only a distraction to her in her pursuit. She would realize that eventually.

———————-

“And that concludes today's lesson. You did extremely well Kuni sweetheart, I am very proud of you~!" Miko praised as she placed the sacred book away. Kunikuzushi beamed when she placed a sweet and savory kiss on his forehead as a reward.

His progress in learning the common tongue of Sumeru was slow but steady. It was quite difficult, but each time he received a kiss from his mom it all became worth it.

Kunikuzushi smiled back as well, fidgeting with his clothing due to his giddiness. “Thank you, mom! Do you have to go back now?” He asked hesitantly. Miko would only ever visit once a week. Her work was one thing, but Kunikuzushi had a tugging feeling in his heart that she didn’t particularly enjoy returning to tenshukaku so he never expected her to stay long, even if he was her son.

They rarely spent much time together, and that made Kunikuzushi feel disheartened. But she was trying to make it up to him nowadays, so the least he could do was appreciate the little time they had together.

Miko’s smile lessened slightly, now turning into a sad one. “Oh no dear, it’s been too long since I last sat down and talked to you over tea, hasn’t it? I think we deserve some family time." She smiled wider once she noticed the lift in Kunikuzushi’s own mood.

As if on cue, a maid knocked on the door, only entering when he heard a ‘come in’ to carefully trot inside and place two hot cups of tea.

Kunikuzushi stared at him in utter shock and confusion as he bowed and left the room as quickly as he came. This would be the first time that he had ever seen a maid that wasn’t from Inazuma serving in the tenshukaku.

He only snapped out of his bewildered state when he heard the small snickers coming from his mom. He turned to face her with a look that screamed confusion and demand of answers.

That face only made her laugh even more. “I know that look. You would give me the exact same expression when you were only a few days old. Oh how the centuries go by.." She dramatically sighed while holding her tea. Kunikuzushi only gave her the same narrowed look he always did when she started being so dramatic.

Miko giggles again, but this time she composes herself and urges Kunikuzushi to drink his tea. “Alright, I’ll explain. But honey drink your tea. It’s extra bitter, just the way you like it.”

Kunikuzushi sighs but still carefully takes the cup. Mumbling a small ‘okay’ he obeys and sips the tea gently. The flavour was rich and its aftertaste made him savour it even more. He reminds himself to later thank the maid for making the tea in this way, and to ask for the recipe.

The puppet expectantly looked at his mom, waiting for her to begin speaking. She caught on and decided to finally stop teasing him.

“I don’t think you’ve heard all the gossip, but lately Inazuma has been accepting more foreigners. The nation is certainly going through inevitable change, and it’s even begun to affect tenshukaku.” She explained comfortably. Oh Ei would not be happy to hear about this.

Kunikuzushi looked to encourage the kitsune to resume speaking. “What I'm saying is, tenshukaku is undergoing a ‘foreigners exchange’ program permitted by the Raiden Shogun herself. Currently, we only have a few of them working here to test the waters a bit." Miko had finally elaborated.

Kunikuzushi’s first thought was how did the Shogun allow something like this? It couldn’t be a mistake because as she said herself, those were not in her program. But then it could be that something was going to happen and she was preparing?Kunikuzushi would never know, and he didn’t like how he was so in the dark about it.

Kunikuzushi seemed satisfied now, humming in understanding. He had never met anyone that wasn’t from either Inazuma, Mondstat, or Liyue. Seeing more people would actually be a good thing for him. But again why would the Shogun agree to this?

Despite the confusion, the two soon settled into a calm atmosphere. A mother was tiredly complaining to her child about her work and said child was eagerly listening, growing more hooked as she went on.

But she did eventually have to leave, promising to return soon. What surprised him though is what she said before she disappeared.

“Oh, I almost forgot! Be more careful if you ever plan on sneaking out again Kuni. And try being more discreet next time."

Kunikuzushi looked with his mouth agape, making her laugh at him. “How long have you known…?"

“Well,.."

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Yae Miko and the lord of geo were seated comfortably by the highest balcony in tenshukaku, idly chatting about things as time went on. Xiao was visiting again, meaning Morax was as well, and the two had begun to form a close friendship as time went on.

“Kunikuzushi speaks the common tongue of Liyue exceptionally well Miko, you have been doing a good job raising him on your own." Morax commented as he finished eating some fried tofu.

Miko smiled smugly at the compliment. Kunikuzushi has been doing well, so well that he finished reading all the books in the library.

“Yes, but I’m sure speaking with Xiao also helped him learn more quickly." It was true, she sometimes heard them speaking together when they thought nobody was around.

Morax was just about to add on to that when suddenly he abruptly stopped, his brows furrowing. Miko looked at him confused when she also suddenly felt that something was wrong. Or perhaps someone.

She couldn’t sense Kunikuzushi’s elemental energy in tenshukaku anymore. Her heart immediately jumped, but Morax interrupted her rapid train of thoughts.

“Ah.. it seems that Xiao and Kunikuzushi have left for another Island." He said like it was the most casual thing.

“Oh.. well, I suppose this was expected. It’s normal for the youth to be rebellious.. I would have expected this behavior from Kunikuzushi maybe, but not Xiao."

Morax closed his eyes. “It’s not necessarily anything I am against, but I must admit I never expected this from him." He wasn’t upset, far from that really, he just was a bit surprised that he hadn’t asked him for permission first.

The two remained eating in silence for a minute, Morax carefully studying Miko’s face as she seemed deep in thought. “If you like, I could go and order Xiao to return them both?"

Miko blew on her tea lightly, using a free hand to wave him off dismissively. “No no, let them be. I’m alright with it."

Morax’s brows rose slightly in amusement. “Ah if that’s the case so be it. But, I can only hope that Xiao does not worry about his loyalty towards me afterward.."

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Kunikuzushi frowned as he listened to her story. “So.. you knew exactly when we left?"

Miko scoffed at his question. How would she consider herself a mother if she didn’t even know where her son was often? “I am your mom, so, of course I would know when my little baby sneaks out. You’re lucky it was me that found out though." She lectured him fondly.

Kunikuzushi could only look down guiltily, after all, he had been caught.

“Now now don’t be so sad, I didn’t say I was upset now did I?"

He immediately looked back at her, but by the time he did, she was already gone from his field of vision.

How had she known? Well, his mom was a very smart woman. It wasn’t a surprise that she knew he had left the moment he disappeared.

Kunikuzushi stood up with a smile. He really did admire his mom for everything that she has been doing ever since he was only a ‘child’ till now. Although she could be a tad bit more responsible, he loved her and was happy to at least have her by his side.

He let out an unnecessary sigh before gently cleaning up the tea that was left behind and picking up the tray, along with the book for later use. Kunikuzushi did not have to clean up, but it was good etiquette. And also because in the past when he didn’t his mom would pinch him.

He left the room with a pep in his step, feeling adrenaline rushing through his veins as he made his way to his bedroom. He wondered what this entire ‘change program’ was about, and again why the Shogun had permitted such a thing. Well, he of course did not mind, but he doubted that she would have allowed any of them near his quarters.

Maybe if he left again he would be able to see them, just from a distance, he thought as he carefully opened the door and placed the tray on a table. It was not like he would stray off ground, he would only be treading around the courtyard. He wasn’t breaking the rules, was he?

At this point in time, he truly had no reasonable reason to go back outside except for him simply getting a taste of what it was like and refusing to ever go back to being locked in these walks for eternity. But his mom didn’t disapprove of his actions, so he could go again. He simply did not care about what she thought anyways.

Kunikuzushi clenched his clothing and quickly walked a few steps to enter his miniature courtyard. The only thing blocking him from the outside was a long wall that he couldn’t successfully attempt to climb over. Not without a ladder at least.

All he needed to do was use electro to hoist him up a little, and so he did that. But just as he was about to successfully jump over he heard a quiet, but still audible, gasp.

Kunikuzushi’s neck snapped back so quickly that he was afraid he had broke something. Standing in his bedroom was a male servant with grey hair, brown eyes, and an uncommon beard for a man in Inazuma. Just by looking at him, Kunikuzushi could tell that he was not from here. Which must mean—

“My apologies, Shogun. I got lost on my way and I thought that this was the room I was stationed in." He bowed apologetically. “But, forgive me for prying of course, are you attempting to climb over that wall?"

Or in other words, are you trying to sneak away and disobey your mother's orders. Kunikuzushi looked like a wild boar that had just been discovered. His facial expressions always gave him away, he hated that about himself.

He jumped down, too busy panicking to mind the slight pain he felt in his leg from not landing properly. His mind was racing and he uncautiously reached to grip his clothing where his heart was, seeking its comfort.

The servant's eyes darted to his chest, but it was so quick that Kunikuzushi did not even notice. “No— I.. I was only.. "

The servant shook his head and lifted his hands to show that he wouldn’t do any harm. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell a single soul. It must get lonely staying inside all the time, I would try and escape as well." He sympathized with a frown.

Kunikuzushi felt himself beginning to relax after hearing those words. He was so glad that he would not get in trouble, but he also felt a feeling of warmth. None of the servants here had ever sympathized with him. Or maybe they did, but they didn’t voice it in front of him, or act on it.

He let out a shaky mimic of a mortal sigh. “Yes.. it does get unsettling after a long while.” He smiled as he finally let go of his chest. “Thank you for not going to tell anyone. I wouldn’t know what I would do if.. if my.. the Raiden Shogun found out.” He bowed in return to express his gratitude.

The servant only waved him off lightly, “no please, don’t bow down to a common folk like myself, this is the least I could do." Kunikuzushi rose but still looked a little unsure. He felt as if he owed him for doing this. To him, it may not be that big of an issue, but to Kunikuzushi it was.

“Is there anything I could at least do to make it up to you then? I truly am grateful.” He frowned. The unnamed man seemed to deeply consider it, and he was afraid that he would simply say no and be on his way.

He didn’t do that. Instead, he smiled gently and picked up a tray that he must’ve been carrying earlier. “Well if you insist, I wouldn’t mind sitting down with you for a cup of tea. I am still quite new to Inazuma and have an interest in its history. We could even discuss how the tenshukaku operates as I am still trying to understand that." He offered as he already began preparing the tea on the mini chabudai in the bedroom.

Kunikuzushi’s eyes widened in surprise. Even though he had already taken tea earlier with his mom, he didn’t mind. So he walked to the tea table with an appreciative smile. “Oh? I don’t mind. Thank you for having me." He sat down instinctively on the cushion opposite from him.

The Servant followed as well, and Kunikuzushi could now clearly tell that this man really was not from Inazuma. “It’s my pleasure really, I should be the one telling you that. Here, have a cup."

The puppet graciously took the hot substance, blowing on it gently before drinking the tea with closed eyes.

It tasted.. strange. He had never tasted tea like this one before. He didn’t dislike it, actually, he quite liked it because of its heavy bitterness. Maybe even too bitter.

Placing the cup down, he pondered his words carefully. All while his companion watched his movements very carefully. “It tastes different than what I am usually used to drinking." He finally decided after a long wait.

Drinking the tea as well, he nodded in understanding. “That is normal, in Fontaine we have our own traditional way of brewing tea so surely it would taste strange. Do you like it?" He eagerly asks Kunikuzushi.

The boy's eyes widen only slightly. “You are from Fontaine? This is my first time meeting somebody from there!" He explains before taking another sip. “And yes the tea is pleasurable. It’s a shame that I might not be able to drink it again." He frowns.

“That does not have to be the case."

Kunikuzushi sends him a puzzled look. The man simply places a hand on his chest to show his compassion.

“I feel sympathetic for you, dear Shogun. If you wouldn’t mind, I could begin assisting you to leave. I’ll even come with you to be sure you return safely. And I could also bring more tea. Would you be opposed to that?"

Kunikuzushi’s eyes softened, and his chest ached. He felt bad about disobeying her, but this was the same mother that had last spoken to him years ago. The woman that gave up on him and now he stopped existing in her world.

“That would be wonderful. I look forward to meeting you again then."

He gave the prince a soft smile, which he returned with one of his own. The servant suddenly looked at the time in the corner of the room and gasped. “Oh, would you look at the time. I have been here for a bit too long, people might get suspicious."

He began packing the tea set back onto the tray. Kunikuzushi moved quickly to help him, and finally, once they were done they both stood up to bid their farewells to each other.

The man from Fontaine bowed his head slightly in respect. “Thank you. I will see you soon, Shogun."

He nodded to him, smiling at his supposedly now new friend. “Thank you as well again…. Ah, I never did quite catch your name?"

“Oh?" He sounded surprised as he turned his head back to give him a kind smile.

“My name? You can call me Escher. It was a pleasure to meet you today, Almighty Shogun.”

———

The Shogun does not visit Ei often. She only rarely ever communicates with her, so it was unnatural to find her visiting her creator twice in almost 12 months. To many that may seem like a long time, but to her it felt like two days in a row. It shouldn’t be happening.

But Kunikuzushi would not seem to stop leaving tenshukaku, and that fox Yae Miko has been doing nothing to stop him. So strongly feels like a form of punishment is required, and that is why she was here today.

This time, she didn’t say anything. She remained silent because Ei knew why she was here, and she knew what she had to say. So she simply watched her with her expressionless face in prolonged silence.

“You care. But why?"

Ei’s eyes opened. “Pardon?"

She heard what she had spoken. She was only asking to be sure of what she said. The Shogun didn't hesitate to repeat herself once more. “If you hesitate to punish him for disturbing eternity, then you still care."

Ei closed her eyes once again and changed from her floating position to gracefully land on the ground. She folded her arms with a confounded expression on her face.

“I did not install a feature in you that requires you to point out my flaws."

Insecurity. The Shogun did not react to her words. “No, you did not. You created me to rule Inazuma in your stead with all your ideals in mind. And so I will ask you again, what do I do regarding Raiden Kunikuzushi."

Something in Ei’s eyes darkened. They both knew what was going through her mind, but no one said it out loud. She was hesitating, and her lips were trembling slightly like she was suddenly feeling the full extent of her own isolation.

Ei preferred to avoid thinking about that. It only disrupted her thought process while she was trying to concentrate on eternity and the good of Inazuma.

But even if that was so, then she should have no problem prescribing a punishment. Instead, she hesitates.

“Leave him. I... I will… think of something."

Emotions. Her word was final. The Shogun didn’t scowl in disappointment, nor did she show any signs of pity. The conversation was over. So she turned away and left Ei to think.

And when the Shogun returned to the throne room where she usually resides, it was quiet. That was exactly what she needed to ponder.

Raiden Ei is deflecting from her path of eternity due to that prototype whom she once called her own. Raiden Kunikuzushi. She knew that it would be inevitable for her to feel emotions, but the prototype was a disturbance. An enemy of eternity.

And any that stand between the god of Thunder and her pursuit for eternity must face the blade of the Almighty Shoguns Musou no hitotachi. Ei once said that, but time and time again she has proven that she is failing to carry out her own rule.

She would just have to carry out Ei’s judgment upon his actions on her own.

————

The forgotten prince and the servant from Fontaine’s meetings began becoming a common occurrence in the following months. In the beginning, it was once every two or so weeks, but soon they were seeing each other at least four times a week to walk about the deserted outskirts of Narukami Island.

The two would talk for hours after dark, speaking their minds or sharing secrets that were so low only they were able to hear them. And every time they met Escher would be kind enough to bring Kunikuzushi some tea that he made beforehand, leaving the puppet with a buzz in his veins and an urge to look forward to the next cup. When Kunikuzushi would tell him how addictive his recipe is, he would only smile and wave him off bashfully.

Escher was somebody that the forgotten prince could vent to, tell all of his thoughts or feelings to. The servant would listen to him carefully always, offering him advice or comforting him until he felt lighter without the burden of his own emotions.

Today was one of those days where Kunikuzushi had sought him out for solitude and they had once again escaped to sit by the cliffside and enjoy the sunset. During the walk there Kunikuzushi was, as usual, speaking about how hallow he felt sometimes, just at the thought of not having his heart, or the overwhelming feeling of sadness that he felt when he passed by his mother's bedroom.

Escher listened, and like always he did not go around telling anybody else what he was being told. By the time they reached their usual spot, which was now covered in snow due to it being winter, they had settled into a comfortable silence.

They sat down to as usual watch the sky and chat. Oddly, Escher seemed out of it today. Kunikuzushi noticed of course and gave him a worrying glance. “Is something wrong?"

Escher blinked and turned to him, smiling at him to ease his worries. “Oh no, I was just thinking.”

Kunikuzushi motioned for him to go on, so Escher looked into the distance in a trance. “The other day I caught a glimpse of your mother, and I was caught slightly off guard. You and her.. you look exactly the same."

Kunikuzushi frowned in dismay as he went on. “Her hair, your eyes, even the way you drink tea is almost the same. And if I squint.. I can almost see her when I see you."

His gaze turned downcast. “Oh.. really?"

Escher didn’t seem to notice as he hummed in response, “when I saw her, I saw you.”

He turned to Kunikuzushi cheerfully but when he was met with his disheartened expression he frowned. “Did I say anything wrong Raiden Kunikuzushi?" He had a palm sympathetically on his chest.

Kunikuzushi didn’t respond right away. He was trying to figure out just what exactly he was feeling. “I don’t want to be compared to somebody like her. Me and her are nothing alike under the surface. I am tired of people seeing us as one and the same." He explained.

Escher frowned and seemed genuinely apologetic. “Ah.. I apologize.." he said before they returned to silence.

Silence was normal for them. It meant time for Kunikuzushi to think. Think about anything, or usually his mother. He was upset that Escher had even compared him to her after what he had told the man about her. He wasn’t like her. He wasn’t anything like her. He didn’t even want to look like her.

He was lamenting silently to himself when Escher brought him out of his trance. He looked like he had an idea. Kunikuzushi could only throw a raised brow his way.

“Kunikuzushi. Let me ask you. What if I offer you something that could change your life forever?" Kunikuzushi’s eyes widened. That certainly was not what he was expecting to hear. But he nodded anyways, because he was right.

Escher grinned and looked at him with this glint in his eyes that he couldn’t translate. And then he said, “have you ever heard of the fatui?"

Kunikuzushi furrowed his brows. “The Tsaritsa and her snzehnyan diplomats? I have, but nothing good." Where was he heading with this?

The man scoffed at his answer, folding his arms in disagreement. “People always say that they are bad people, but believe me when I tell you that they are not. You will be loved and praised there, and the tsaritsa will not disappoint you."

“Really?"

“Yes. I know you for who you really are, and it would take a fool to not see your true potential. I can offer you a proposal."

Escher stood up to look in the direction of Snzehnya, a glint in his eyes as he smiled an unsettling smile. Kunikuzushi felt a sick feeling slightly washing over him while he looked up at his friend.

“I can give you the chance to become one of the eleven fatui Harbingers. The sixth seat is still vacant and I think you are just the one to fill up that space, no climbing the ranks needed“ Escher turned to face the prince who had a troubled expression on his face.

He leans down into his space, and holds his chin with rough hands, forcing them to look into each other's eyes. "You could become stronger, and once you achieve the power of that as one of the gods, you will finally prove your mother and all those who betrayed you wrong." He whispered with a faux kind expression. Kunikuzushi let out a confused mumble in response.

The fatui harbingers, the tsaritsa, and her snzhenyan diplomats. He knew little to nothing about the archons herself, but it was no secret that her 11 harbingers have power that could almost rival the divine themselves. Her ‘diplomats’ he had only seen a few times, and the reports he received in the past regarding them were not always so positive.

But, Inazuma is very close-minded still to foreigners. For all he knows those people might have only been trying to defend themselves. How would he know? He was never allowed to see them. He was never allowed to see anything that Ei or even his mom didn’t want him to see.

He whispered to him, “think about it. Why is the Shogun keeping you locked away from the outside world? Because she cares about you? Or is it because she knows what you truly are capable of?"

He had never even considered that to be a possibility, ever. Was he truly capable of more? But he always believed what she says, that was the way things went. If she loved him, she would have given him the freedom of doing as he pleased. And maybe there was a time when all he wanted to do was stay with her. And maybe that side of him which he had been neglecting was still begging him to simply obey, but he wouldn’t.

Because.. because he could make his own decisions. Ei had buried that Kunikuzushi 10 years ago, and now he was filled with so much hatred that he didn’t know what to do with it anymore. Revenge wasn’t something he had tasted before.

Escher was smiling at him, but it wasn’t the same smile he was used to seeing. Kunikuzushi could only stare with his mouth agape as he felt his friend slowly trace below his jaw, his fingers creeping farther below his neck before they easily made their way to his chest, placing a palm right where his heart was kept.

“It’s okay to leave. It is okay to abandon the ones who you used to love. Or rather, the ones who used to love you."

And Kunikuzushi felt fear when he looked down at where the hand was placed. He was panicking, because his hand was on his heart and his heart pulsed gently in his chest and he just wanted to escape this confrontation and bury himself in its warmth.

His body was heating, and each place Escher had touched before left behind a burning feeling that he didn’t like. And what he had said, that. Replaying it in his head, his entire being stuttered like a broken toy.

Escher was touching him, he didn’t like this touch at all, because he was scared. But he was saying all of these things, offering him an escape from this cruel fate he will have to suffer for eternity. Telling him to get revenge, to prove her wrong. And he never thought of that before.

He felt sick. He deserved more, what did he even do wrong to end up this way? Was he a toy in her eyes? All those questions, too many questions— he felt dizzy. He needed to think alone by himself.

Kunikuzushi finally gained the strength to gently tug away the hand in his clothing away, and thankfully Escher did not make it difficult for him. He only stared at Kunikuzushi with the same smile.

“I have to think about this, alone first." He manages to whisper, and it’s so so quiet he wonders how Escher heard him. Said man has returned back to his usual behavior now, frowning. “Okay, I understand. I’m sorry for pushing, why don’t you take the tea as my apology?”

Oh yes, the tea hadn’t been shared yet. But Kunikuzushi really just wanted to go and hide away in his bedroom. He stood up and waved his hands. “No thank you, I am quite full."

Escher's face seemed to darken, and he almost looked angry. “I insist. It will help you think." He holds the flask up for Kunikuzushi to take. And since he was so persistent, the puppet had no choice but to nod slightly and thank him before taking it and turning to head off.

Maybe if he stayed longer, he wouldn't have missed the way Escher grinned and took out a once full little glass vile from his pocket.

“It’s all going according to plan"

—————

The tea was tempting him to drink it, but all Kunikuzushi could do was stare into his reflection in it. It was cold. Just like all the tea he drank most of the time.

He was clutching his chest with a panicked expression, feeling himself slip away further and further with each passing moment he stared at his reflection. At her reflection.

The worst thing in the world is the moment when you first see your mother in yourself. And it’s not the kind, loving side that he saw. It was the qualities of her that she resented. He swore to himself that he would never do the kind of things that she has been doing.

He wasn’t like her. They may look the same but he would never be like her, like both of them. He was his own person yet, why was he following her orders like a desperate dog even after she had abandoned him?

He felt so, so lost. It hurt when he thought about leaving the place he once called home, but it stung when he remembers how hollow and empty this place home felt. Even with so many people in it he still felt alone and unloved by everyone.

He was just so angry. Angry at her for everything she had done to him. Anyone could treat him better than the way she did. Even the Fatui.

He needed to stand up for himself and be his own person. But how could he do that when he would never be able to let go? His heart was his only source of comfort. Even when some nights it overwhelmed his body and he would cry in pain because of it. It was the last reminder of his mother's love for him.

Kunikuzushi painfully detached himself from the gnosis to carefully take the cup of tea and blow over it uselessly. He brought it to his lips and drank the liquid slowly, slightly cringing at the taste. It was likely due to how cold it was...

Once he finished with it, he placed a hand on his skin to feel if he was still heating up. He was. But something like this never happened. It was making him feel slightly faint.

Kunikuzushi heard a knock at his door. Which was strange because nobody checked on him at night. He unstably arose from his seating position and headed over to the door, sliding it open to reveal another one of the servants that worked for him.

She bowed down. “Prince, the Almighty Shogun requests for an audience with you before the throne immediately."

Kunikuzushi clenched his fist in irritation, because what could she possibly want from him? His body felt weak and was begging to be put to rest. “Thank you for telling me. I will be there shortly." She nodded and went off to complete her other tasks.

Kunikuzushi closed the door to put his weight against it, eyes fluttering closed as he struggled to gather enough strength to compose himself. He didn’t know why he felt so much fatigue and stress in his body, but his personal desires would have to wait.

He opened his eyes to look at the mirror a few spaces away from him. He looked.. disheveled. Nothing like her proper and formal posture and presentation. He considered the idea of dressing better, but why should he care what she thinks anymore?

With a heavy mind, Kunikuzushi treaded out of his room and into the endless hallway that lead to the place he needed to go. His feet dragged against the floorboards in both annoyance and fatigue as he pondered why she wanted to speak with him. Did she know that he had been sneaking out? He would be surprised if she didn’t. He didn’t care either way.

He finally reached the doors, where two guards who immediately bowed before him and greeted him before opening the doors. He gave them a strained ‘thank you’ before heading inside to meet his replacement.

Kunikuzushi heard the doors shut behind him while he looked up and locked eyes with the Shogun, who was standing far away in front of him.

Kunikuzushi felt the former anger simmering in his stomach and the familiar wetness in his eyes resurface. He could never even look at her image without shedding tears. He couldn’t control that part of himself. But he pressed his lips in a thin line and ignored it.

She spoke in a way that left his mind dizzy, because it sounded exactly like his mother.

“Don’t you know that it is disrespectful to expose your crocodile tears before me?"

But she wasn’t the woman he grew to love. She was gone.

So with narrowed eyes, he asked, “what do you want from me."

And she gets straight to the point. “Do not play dumb, Raiden Kunikuzushi. You have been disrupting the course of eternity for months now. No longer will a blind eye be turned to your actions.”

Kunikuzushi panicked slightly, but that fire was quickly dampened and resurfaced anew with anger. How could she still think he cares about their oppressive rules? “I do not care about what you think of my actions. You can’t simply keep me locked away forever and expect me to obey you."

She blinked almost mechanically and then her eyes turned raw violet, with her hair emitting light that Kunikuzushi recognised almost immediately.

“Your rebellious behaviour still was not enough to draft Beelzebuls attention on you, if those were your intentions. Instead, I am here to lay punishment upon you.”

He stood his ground, “what punishment could possibly be worse than what you have already done?"

She outstretched a hand with her palm facing upwards. He looked at her confused for a moment.

“As per request from Raiden Ei, you are to return the gnosis."

Kunikuzushi’s face twisted into one of horror, shaking his head, speechless. No. She couldn’t..!

He stepped back helplessly and clenched his chest. The burning tears were already making their way down his face. Burning with pure rage.

“You can’t do that..! You… someone like you will never understand what it is like to be tossed out! The gnosis— it’s.. it’s the only reminder I have of mothers—"

She cut him off, “you are to return it. I was instructed to not use force, but If you do not obey I will." No empathy. She was heartless. If the gnosis would be taken away, would he be heartless like her too?

He will never be like her.

“First my freedom, and now my heart!?”

He wouldn’t.

She started walking toward him and he was backing away. It reminded him of that fateful day when his life came to an abrupt stop. He felt the same way he did then, scared. But this time his blood was simmering with rage. Anger that made his tears feel like boiling water across his cheeks. They felt the same as when Escher touched his skin. He hated it.

His body trembles as she drew closer, body flaking with electricity. She just kept getting closer and closer and closer. And he knew he couldn’t do anything at all.

“Stay away from me.. p-please..!"

With one fatal surge electro, her hand collided with his chest. Kunikuzushi’s eyes widened as he felt the weight of the gnosis painfully being pulles out of his chest. Twisting and tugging at the strings of his heart. It hurt so much that he was sobbing now, desperately clawing at her arm and incoherent pleas leaving his mouth. If it were a human, they wouldn’t have survived. He might have survived this once, but the light in his eyes did not.

She retracted her hand sharply, he fell to the ground like a lifeless object. And she witnessed the bright in his eyes painful disappear like a broken light.

That night something in Kunikuzushi broke so violently, he wondered if it was possible that no one had heard it.

He laid on the ground, vulnerable, and stared at nothing. The tears were still falling, but he didn’t try to stop them. He wasn’t whimpering or screaming. He wasn’t sending curses her way like he usually did. He was silenced.

And her? She was satisfied. She crouched down to look at him better. Now was even more satisfied.

Then, she spoke to him. “You are just jealous Kunikuzushi. Because she didn’t abandon me and toss me aside like the way she did with you."

And he didn’t respond.

If it wasn’t for the faint energy she still felt, she would have thought he was dead. But he wasn’t. So she continued to speak.

“Were you aware that your ‘friend’ from ‘Fontaine’ has been adding drugs into your tea since the very first cup you shared with him? Or that now because you have consumed his final dose, he would have waited for your body to fail you before kidnapping you at night. Did you know that Kunikuzushi?" She stared at him.

And he didn’t respond.

She rose again casting one final look his way. “I knew. And you would have known as well if you weren’t made the way you were." She turned away and began heading for the doors.

He wasn’t like her.

“Guards, no one is to enter this room for the next three days.”

He would never be his mother.

.
.
.
.

Who was to blame? Ei and the Shogun for hurting him. Or himself, for not being wise enough and letting them get away with the hurt?

Who else was there to blame for his sorry state but himself for allowing himself to fall so easily? Who else to blame but her, for creating something as useless as he was?

He was worrying his mom. She tried her best to comfort him when she found him, but he looked so lifeless. She told him that he always had her. That he could tell mama anything.

But he couldn’t. Because he didn’t know how to make her understand. He couldn’t make anyone understand what was happening inside of him. He could not even explain it to himself.

But he tried to tell her that he would be okay, to not disappoint her too. The look she gave him almost shattered him even more. He was lying. She knew that too.

Kunikuzushi almost never left his bedroom unless he needed to leave. He did not speak to anyone, and no one spoke to him. But while he walked past you like a ghost, he seemed to be almost dragging himself from place to place.

All he often did was cry, and cry and cry. Sometimes silently. Sometimes in a fit of rage. Sometimes screaming at nothing.

But when Kunikuzushi would cry in his bedroom, he more frequently called her mother. The word "Mother" is familiar and it hides a plea: Please look after me. Please stop yelling at me and stroke my head; please be on my side, whether I'm right or wrong. He never stopped calling her Mother.

He wanted to be loved so desperately that his fingers shook with it. He thought he was beautiful. He thought he was strong. Isn’t that what his mother was? What she wanted him to be?

Escher. He made Kunikuzushi even angrier. He was no different from his mother. But there was a fleeting thought at the back of his mind that wished that he had gone with him. The only thing he had left for him here was his mom, he was sure that everyone outside had even forgotten his existence.

Kunikuzushi truly felt lost. He felt so much that he didn’t even know what he was feeling. Hate or sadness? Or was it just jealousy? An unexplained rage?

But was his anger his own, or his mother's? Or from his mother's own creator? He didn’t know. He didn’t know anything because he was falling apart and because of that he felt useless. So useless that he couldn’t even try and keep up a conversation with his mom.

It’s not that one day he just woke up different. He had felt this feeling always there in the back of his mind. He tried to not let it consume him, but here he was; crying and screaming and cursing somebody like a melody on repeat.

Today, he lay in front of the door in the same position as yesterday when he returned from class with his mom. That’s what he did when he returned to his room. He would simply lay there until he was summoned. He didn’t know how long he had been laying there now.

He stares at the ceiling with a lacking expression. He tried to keep his mind blank because it hurt when he thought, but it never worked. He was unfortunate enough to glance at his miniature chabudai. Where he first sat with Escher.

Escher. He clenched his fists. Was that even his real name? Was he even from Fontaine?!

All he wanted was to take advantage of him. He didn’t care about him. He was just like his creator and the Shogun. He hated it. He hated them..!

Kunikuzushi’s hands reached over to harshly dig his palms into his eyes. And he screamed. He screamed and sobbed to try and drown out his thoughts. It wasn’t true. People still loved him.

He curled into himself and shook with chest-racking sobs. He didn’t care if he was heard. He didn’t care what Ei thought. He didn’t care about anything to do with her.

“I-..I don’t care about you…!"

He sounded like he was trying to convince himself that too.

His door opened, but he didn’t care enough to check who it was who came in despite his lock. But then he felt something grab at his hair. What—

And his eyes shot open because he was being dragged harshly out. He whimpered and darted his eyes around to see who it was, but all he needed to see was that symbol at the back of her neck and he knew it was the Shogun.

He began thrashing and attempting to get out of her painful grip on the hair that she was dragging him by. It hurt. His chest hurt.

“Stop..! I hate you mother! I hate you more than anything!" He repeated over and over while struggling like a fish out of water. But she wasn’t budging at all. She wasn’t even reacting. Where was he going?!

His mind was clouded with anger, which quickly transformed into shock when he felt the slap of the cold air against his exposed skin.

She dragged him through the freezing snow and tossed him a few feet away like he was a trash bag. And he curled up and shivered and wailed like a kicked dog. Inazuma winters were always harsh.

She stood there before him, but he could barely see anything happening amidst the snow. She said something. She said..

“If you hate it here as much as you claim you do, then you have no place here."

She sounded angry. In response, he only curled up further as everything began seeping into a blur of purple swaying purple, bright pink, and a panicked voice mashing all into one.

He struggled to keep his eyes open, but he saw his mom rushing to his side while Ei watched them both. His mom's face was red and wet with tears. Her frightened tear-stained face was the last thing he saw before his eyes fluttered closed.

He felt himself being bundled close to her shaking figure. And he faintly leaned into her touch. Her breathing was ragged as she whispered, ‘my baby.. I’ll take you with me I promise. You won’t have to hurt here any longer.’

And he shook with her. All the while Beelzebuld stared at them with a wretched expression on her face.

“Oh my sweet heart..."

And so tonight, once more, the gods sink their teeth into his heart.

Chapter Text

 I am not my mother.

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I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. I am not my mother. 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Chapter Text

“It's like he’s a blank slate, he is only ever seen ghosting around the shrine sometimes."

“Really? That’s awful.. why is he here anyway?"

“Nobody knows, it’s classified information. But, he looks an awful lot like the Shogun, don’t you think?"

She laughed as they walked out of the shrine.

Kunikuzushi clenched his fist faintly as they left. They didn’t understand. They would never understand. He was never like her, and he never would be.

Life at the Grand Narukami Shrine had been a blank slate. He would rise in the morning to rarely walk around, or watch with no aim in mind. He walked like a toy without a purpose, and often he laid a limb in his new room like a puppet without a puppeteer.

On the rare occasion, he would be asked to come outside, he would do so. But then he would only stand and stare at nothing for hours on end until somebody inquired about him. After a while though, nobody seemed to disturb him during those times. It was like he wasn’t even alive anymore.

But truly, what was the point of doing anything anymore? What was the point of getting out of bed? What was the point of talking, eating? He moved because he had to. He moved to try and make his mom less worried for him.

But how could he do that when he felt so empty? He could pretend all he wanted, but she always knew. He could tell by the look she would give him when she looked at him. He hated it because it was all his fault

He usually would have far too much to say, but now silence was his favourite word. He pretends not to be bothered when he hears people whisper when they pass by, but it never works because his mind is constantly running too fast for him to catch up. He couldn’t blame them. Could he really blame anybody but himself?

It was odd to see a boy as pale as a ghost simply staring off into nothing. What was he doing? What was wrong with him? Wasn’t he the Raiden Shogun?

Sometimes, if you were to walk outside into the courtyard, you would be able to see the boy sitting all alone in the rain, hoping that maybe he would be able to drown himself in something other than his own thoughts.

He endured all the stares. He endured it all. He tried not to think about how painful his chest aches without something that he can’t have. He wanted so desperately to be loved, but that was the most disgusting truth that he didn’t want anybody to find out. Because he was loved. He was. That was what his mom would tell him at least.

Oh.., his mom.

How he loved to see her smile, even if only for a split second, but she never would. Maybe to others it seemed like she was, maybe to them nothing was wrong. But he knew. He knew what was really going on behind the teasing front she puts up for everybody, including him.

His mom is so brave and quiet he often forgets she’s suffering too.

Behind it all, behind all the sly or menacing actions, there was a woman. A woman who had lost the one she loved, and in the process her son as well. There was a woman that would spend hours watching her son sit outside in the rain, one that would try and coax a smile, a laugh, anything, out of her child, but receive silence in response.

There was a fragile woman, that would cry all the time when she thought nobody was looking. Trying her best to stay strong for him, for the both of them. But it would only get worse with each passing day, and time and time again she would find herself wondering where it all went wrong. Why she allowed everything to end up the way it did?

Yae Miko would see the way he never touched the food she brought. She would see him forget to take care of himself for days on end. She would see him constantly staring at his own reflection for hours sometimes even. It hurt to see your son spiral right in front of your eyes, and it hurt even more, knowing she couldn’t help him. But she tried to be strong for him, she really did try.

Once, there was a time when Kunikuzushi had passed by her quarters, and he had heard a sound that truly shattered his already fragile state. She was crying. His mama was crying... That’s when he truly realised the extent of his behavior. She was crying, and she never cried, and it was all his fault. He felt something in his chest ache and the longer he stayed, the worse it got.

He wanted her to stop, he couldn’t stand the sound. Him coming here was supposed to help them both forget and heal, but it only made everything worse. And it was all because of him.

Even though he swore to Celestia that he had felt far too empty to shed any more tears, he did. Because he couldn’t stand the sound. Her sobs were painful and hurt him in a way he never thought was possible after everything he had been through.

He would think still, about his mother. Constantly trying to figure out what he did wrong, or how he could fix it. He would replay the nights at Tsurumi island over and over in his brain. But the truth is that no child can save their mother.

Everything he was afraid of happening, happened. It’s funny how Celestia can strip you of your happiness so quickly. If only they never left him wondering how his emptiness could feel so heavy.

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The cold water trickled along his pale body. His hair stuck uncomfortably to his skin. He tries to ignore the urge to just stop moving and be limb by listening to the water as it reaches the ground. His mom wouldn’t like that. So he continues to aimlessly scrub at his skin.

His mom came to his room earlier. She found him staring at the full cup of tea she brought to him last night, in the same position she left him in. Emptily looking at his reflection in the cup. The only thing that reflected he was still living back then was the ever-so-rare clench of his hands.

She urged him to go shower while she went to get him some fresh clothing. He obliged. He didn’t want her to be sad anymore so he forced himself to step into the bath.

He stops and leaves the water behind him. He doesn’t care enough to dry his hair or wear a towel. He simply begins to walk to his dresser in the next room.

Kunikuzushi makes the mistake of letting his thoughts think freely. They whisper what he hasn’t been able to say. They tell him all that he fears.

They whisper in his ear; you are your mother.

You spent countless nights questioning why your life had turned to this, but you do not know that it is not your fault, but hers. You are your mother.

Every day you step out into the courtyard, and every day a new person compares you to her. Because you are her.

Why do you cry Kunikuzushi? Why do you spend much of your time staring into your own reflection?

Because it wasn’t his reflection.

Kunikuzushi did not know when he reached the mirror, but suddenly he was greeted with the long-awaited image, of his worst nightmare. The thing he dreaded the most. That one day he would look at himself and realise that he never even existed. He was just a fragment of her all along.

He laughed. He laughed once, then again, and soon he was laughing so hard it sounded delirious. Because how could he have been stupid enough to believe that he was actually worthy of love? Worthy to be treated like a person, when he wasn’t. He wasn’t even his own— he never even looked like his own.

Everyone was right. And he hated it. His skin itched and he was suddenly oh so aware of all of the markings on his body that signified that he wasn’t even real. His hair, his markings, his eyes — it never belonged to him!

He gasped and blinked furiously while looking at her in the mirror. She wouldn’t leave him alone. He just wanted her to go away but she wouldn’t. He stepped back and let out a wet sob.

“Go away..!"

His voice was so hoarse he couldn’t even understand himself. But his tears were blurring his vision and he could still see her. She just wasn’t going— she just wouldn’t leave him alone.

His mind wasn’t working and his movements were pathetic while he hurriedly rushed towards the dressing table to find something, anything to help her go away.

And then his eyes caught a glint of silver.

He picked up the scissors and stumbled back to find her in the mirror again. She was of course still there. Instead, now she seemed even more triumphant than before. He hated that.

She was happy, wasn’t she? That he was here, crying over seeing her in himself. Smiling because everything about himself reminded him of her. And he just couldn’t do it anymore. He was just her. He would never.. be her..!

Kunikuzushi could already feel the acid climbing up his throat the longer he stared. His hands grew restless, and his breathing quickened. Suddenly, the world around him seemed to grow dim, and his thoughts turned in on him. They told him he had no identity. As long as he could be connected to her, he would always be her.

He could feel his muscles tensing up, and his stomach churned with nausea. His vision blurred, and he struggled to keep his balance as the room spun around him. Every nerve in his body felt like it was on fire, and he was overwhelmed with a sense of impending doom.

He desperately tried to focus on his surroundings, on anything but her, but everything seemed to be moving too quickly, blurring together into her reflection in the mirror. His thoughts became disjointed, and he struggled to make sense of anything around him. He couldn’t do this anymore.

His hands trembled as he pulled at his long, unruly hair. Hair that once was groomed by a loving mother. Hair that he would use to remind himself that he was loved. That he was his mother's son. But now, now what purpose did it serve to him? To remind him of just how much he truly did resemble her.

In a fury of rage, he pulled at the long lock and immediately cut it short.

As the minutes ticked by, Kunikuzushi’s panic only intensified and his movements were becoming more jagged. He didn’t care about how he looked in the end— he just didn’t want to resemble her at all. His mind was consumed with images of disaster and failure, and he felt like he was drowning in a sea of familiarity and uncertainty. He could feel his body shaking uncontrollably as he continued to cut his hair, likely making it worse, and he knew that he was in the throes of an extremely aggressive meltdown.

For what felt like hours, Kunikuzushi was lost in a vortex of darkness and anxiety. His head was wracked with pain, and his mind was consumed with a sense of hopelessness.

Kunikuzushi stopped because at some point he could no longer feel any strands of hair to tug on. That was when he finally gained a grip on reality. His vision cleared slowly, and he was met with himself in the mirror again. His arms went limp at his side.

Kunikuzushi let out a broken cry filled with joy because he was there. He saw himself in the mirror. Not her. It was him. Only him.

He smiled at his now choppy, dismantled hair. But of course, the gods wouldn’t allow him to feel happy for even a moment. No, his eyes trailed down to his chest.

There he saw it. The mark that would forever remind him of the heart he once had. The mark that he once showed off with pride, was not staring back at him menacingly. It was laughing at him. It spoke to him.

It said; ‘why are you frowning at me? Your true enemy has been hiding at the nap of your neck all along.’

And he looked at it for a moment in confusion. His eyes slowly trailed over to his neck, hands pushing past the cutoff pieces to grip his shoulder and peer over it.

And there he saw it.

The symbol that could be used to identify one of the almighty Raiden Shogun’s own creations. The symbol that signified her own element. The symbol that she had too.

Day after day, she would brush through his hair and brush her fingers against that very same mark. And night after night he would see the very same one, only slightly different, on the shogun's nape. The feeling of hands brushing that mark was supposed to give him warmth.

But no. He touched it, and his eyes immediately hardened, choppy nails digging into the perfectly soft skin in rage.

That was it. He didn’t know when he did it, but at one moment his arms were limb, and then the next he was erratically plunging the former scissors into the back of his neck. He didn’t care about the pain— no, the only pain he felt was the one he received when he accidentally glanced in the mirror.

And for a split second, she was there again. And god he couldn’t handle it anymore. Wet arms collided with the mirror, and he kept on beating it and beating it until it inevitably cracked and crashed into the floor in multiple fragments.

Even then, he fell to his knees and cried, still trying to break the glass even further. He ignored the way the cuts stung like knives, or the feeling of glass digging into his artificial skin, he ignored everything but his own screams as he hit the glass harder, and harder.

He wouldn’t stop hurting himself. He could see his blood, he could feel it dripping down his spine or sliding down his shoulders. But he still didn’t stop. Not even when the pain was becoming unbearable. Not even when he heard a scream coming from the door to his left.

Even when he felt his mom begging him to stop while engulfing him in an embrace, he only turned to clawing at his chest in a desperate panic. Yae Miko was crying because of him again. He made his mom cry again.

Kunikuzushi suddenly went limb in her arms. Miko seemed to grow even more panicked now, shaking him and repeating his name like it was a sacred prayer. She was telling him to please keep his eyes open for her, but he couldn’t do that. The world was just becoming too dark.

He felt wet with blood and tears, and pain and ache attacked his senses constantly and he couldn’t hold himself together anymore. But in a last attempt to make things better, for her, he said,

“It’s… it’s okay. I’m sorry."

He closes his eyes,

“I'm… so. sorry."

Chapter Text

Where was he?

What was he?

What does he feel ?

Kunikuzushi saw darkness. Complete darkness. He couldn’t see, he couldn’t hear, he couldn’t use any of his senses. His body wasn’t cooperating with him. It asked him; what was the point of even trying to survive anymore?

He feels this underlying pain. But it wasn’t the good pain he felt when he jabbed his body to make his mother feel something — no this pain was different. It was the kind that would lean over your shoulder and remind you of how weak you truly are. He hated it because he couldn’t understand why he felt that way. He wasn’t a human, so why did he feel? Was he even alive? Is he even alive?

Am I alive?

Am I alive?

Am I alive?

Am I alive?

Am I alive?

Am I alive?

Am I alive?

Am I alive?

Am I alive?

Am I alive?

Am I alive?

Am I alive?

Am I—

Kunikuzushi .

…

No…

Kunikuzushi

No..

Kunkiku—

No! No … no no no—

"Kunikuzushi..?"

"NO!"

Ei flinched her hand back quickly in shock. Kunikuzushi was awake now, and he seemed to be crying in his sleep again. He was moving and tussling so much that Ei thought she would have to power him off to ensure he didn’t accidentally tear himself up even more and disturb her little progress on his wounds.

Kunikuzushi’s eyes darted around the room in a frenzy, and he saw that he was somewhere. Somewhere very familiar to him. Even if he was in a state of panic, he could still recognise the place of his birth. The room still felt the same. And it still smelled the same. And she .

She was here too. It was her, looking down on him just like she had in the past. And just like then, he cowered away from her in fear of what she might do to him.

She stared at him like she was reading the depths of her soul, translating him like a simple children’s book. He shivered. "D-don't.. don’t touch m-me.. " the poor prototype whimpered, the sound so broken, yet she still heard his plea. And her face was plain, but her brows were turned, giving him the illusion of sympathy. But he didn’t trust that look, he couldn’t even trust his own voice right now.

He watched as her hand raised forward, to touch him. But he wouldn’t let her. He struggled and squirmed, and moves away to the end of the uncomfortable working table until the point where he was almost falling off. He looked pathetic, and broken, but he was still hers.

Ei looked at her creation with a terrible, familiar ache in her chest. He looked so different. So shaken. So… heartbroken. Nothing like the bright long-haired boy she tries so desperately to protect. No, he was different now. She managed to do the exact opposite of what she wanted.

He… would come around sooner or later. It only takes common sense to realise that she had been right all along.

Instead, Ei carefully retracted her hand and watches him tremble like a leaf, caused by visible built-up emotion and tension. She took a moment to scan him, and her eyes landed on his now choppy and disgusting hair.

To be truthful, when Miko burst into her quarters it was the first thing she noticed. The kitsune did not say much, simply laying him down gently before spitting out a ‘fix what you started,’ and leaving her puzzled. She assumed she would come back for him. She always did when he was in Ei’s care.

Anyway, the hair looked matted and disheveled. And she frowned at the realisation that she would miss grooming his hair, it was a comforting action that she would use to keep a peaceful mind. It was her own business if she liked it because she would always brush Makoto’s hair.

“Oh.. your hair. I did enjoy grooming it. What happened to it?" She asked innocently. Like she was talking to a child.

Kunikuzushi grits his teeth. “Why does that even matter to you?! You care— you care more about yourself than you do about anybody else!" His voice was so raspy he couldn’t even make sense of what he had said himself. Ei observed it and made a mental note to fix that as well.

The boy seemed to burn under her gaze. He withered away from her like a dead flower and clutched clumps of his torn hair in his hands as if she was going to hit him. His hair felt wet with his blood. “S-stop looking at me! Don’t.. I don’t care about you, so… s-so leave me alone…”

It sounded like a pain-filled whimper to her ears. It hurt her heart. She didn’t have time for emotions like this. She didn’t have time to even try and understand what he truly meant.

I’m sorry.

Kunikuzushi’s body shook as she drew closer. “My sweet heart...," she looked at him with this sickening sympathetic frown, “if I could take away all the pain from your heart and put it into my own, maybe I would be able to empathise with you." Maybe she would understand why he reacted in this way. But although she created him to replace her, he acted and thought in a way that could never even be traced to her own behaviours.

I don’t understand you.

Kunikuzushi’s eyes swelled with hot angry tears. “You did this to me. This pain is all yours to blame for! You— you never take responsibility for anything!" He retorted. How could she utter such words to him after tossing him out like trash? And expect him to simply bend to her words and pretend she didn’t do anything.

But he just couldn’t understand. He would never be able to understand what he did wrong to make her abandon him. His jaw clenched in both fury and sorrow.

"Please… enlighten me, my creator. My almighty omnipresent Shogun, why am I still here If you can not use me?” Kunikuzushi dug his wet palms into his eyes in frustration, "Use me! Me! Only me! Not her..!"

Ei listened to him, the more he spoke the more she felt guilt and ache inside of her chest. He was so clouded by emotion that he could not even see the right way forward. That was why she was here, to guide him. “I know what is best for you, and what is best for Inazuma." Even if he thinks she’s being irrational.

The archon stepped closer to him, and he flinched back harshly in defense. “Leave me alone! You’re the reason I ended up in this way, you don’t know anything." He painfully choked out, his voice dying down slightly. But the intent was still there, she understood him. Or so she thought.

Ei walked even closer now. "That is the problem Kunikuzushi. You feel. You may think that I am the reason for your pain, but it’s not me. It’s you.” She took his hesitant and vulnerable state to her advantage and finally rested a hand over his shoulder, ghosting over his cold skin lightly.

It burned. It burned so much but he didn’t pull away, he couldn’t. With his eyes glazed over he asked, "But you created me in this way? You’re the one who did all of this to me." His voice croaked out as his teary eyes finally rose to look at her own. Her eyes that he recognised from whenever he looked in the mirror. But they had something else in them too. Maybe if things were different he would be able to know what it was.

Ei thumbed his cheek like he would break any moment, with a gentleness he forgot so long ago. "I know. I know what I did was wrong. You were.. a mistake. One of my greatest. Perhaps Miko was right, I was selfish. And maybe it would have been better for the both of us if I had never spared you in the beginning."

The silence that followed was heavy, not being able to withstand the weight of the truth. Kunikuzushi didn’t say anything in response. It hurt, oh gods it hurt so much to hear her say that. He thought that by now he would have been used to it, to everything she said to him. But he wasn’t, and she had just told him that he would be better off dead. Deep down, he knew that she was right. She always was. It was her truth, and her truth hurt him just like everything else she had to offer.

All kunikuzushi did, all that he could do, was lean into the touch like it was the only thing he had left. In a way, it was. It didn’t matter how angry he was, or how badly she would treat him. She could tear his limbs apart day by day and he would still relish in the caress of her hand on his cheek. Because that was just the way that things worked. Kunikuzushi would always forgive his mother. She would treat him like a toy, and he would smile bashfully when she even looked in his direction.

Because he was fragile on his own. He couldn’t survive without guidance. She said it herself. She knew.

“See? Did you get it all out of your system?" She spoke like she genuinely did care. Like she didn’t cause all of this. Like she was kissing her poor sons wound after an emotional outburst.

And he said nothing. He didn’t have the guts to even look her in the eyes. He felt emptiness. He felt something, something so strong and big and hot and overwhelming. But he also felt nothing at the same time. Like none of anything that he has ever experienced, or felt, even mattered anymore.

Did it matter if, at the end of the story, the puppet would else end up back in the hands of the puppeteer? Whom it resented so much, yet looked at with much more adoration.

Kunikuzushi’s body aches as he feels, and he tries to pull away. But the world felt so heavy on his shoulders, and he was being enveloped in a dark void of emptiness. He didn’t try to fight it back.

The last thing he saw was his mother rising to look at him briefly before turning her back on him and walking away. And maybe he did reach out for her, a desperate cry tearing away from his throat.

Ei watched him close his eyes and go limb on the table she was keeping him on, a sigh escaping her lips.

She looked at him with a distant, clouded look in her eyes. But soon she blinked and began to prepare the early damage he had inflicted upon himself.

“It’s all for you Kunikuzushi. I hope you will understand someday.."

.

.

.

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He woke up back in his bedroom in the Grand Narukami Shrine.

Kunikuzushi laid there still for a moment as all the memories from his brief time in tenshukaku played through his mind. But he didn’t curl up into a ball and cry when he realised that his mother doesn’t want him anymore.

He didn’t stare up at the ceiling while trying not to think of anything.

He didn’t begin breaking everything in his now freshly clean bedroom.

Instead, he got up from his position on the bed and stretched.

The puppet moved to weave his fingers through his hair, a thing he does really without much thought, and when his hair simply doesn’t exist past his chin he paused in confusion.

Kunikuzushi strolls over to his mirror, which looked as if it had never even been broken before, and stared at his reflection in the mirror. His hair, it was cut in a way he often saw noble women here wearing their hair, a hime cut almost. But only jaw length. It was.. different. It looked strange. It looked new.

For his and his mom’s sanity, he decides to not dwell on that train of thought any longer.

His eyes softened. Miko. She must have been so worried about him after what he did to himself. He needed to be with her. To apologise even if he knew it wouldn’t do anything.

Without realising where he was even going, his feet had led him outside of the bedroom and into the hallway in a calm yet panicked state. He rushed to her usual place of rest, the grand shrine’s back terrace.

There, the calming stream and Sakura tree petals could be seen if you sat just outside on the wooden surface. Luckily, that is where he found her. With her back facing him. He couldn’t see her face, but at the same time, he didn’t want to see what expression it would hold.

Kunikuzushi simply stood there, unmoving. She knew he was there, and he knew that she knew. Yet he didn’t move. Maybe he was scared, or guilty, but in the end, he ended up walking up to her side and seating himself next to her.

They sat in silence. It wasn’t awkward or tense, nor was it all too peaceful. It was just quiet. None of them needed to say anything, or maybe they were too scared to break the rare quiet moment between them without addressing the problems in their little family. He wouldn’t be able to tell, he was too afraid to look at her.

How could he when he stressed her out so much and chose to avoid her, even though he knew she was one of the only few people that genuinely loved him? His unmanaged emotions had led him to shut himself out from the world, rendering him unable to communicate with anyone including her, who didn’t give up on him after a few years and didn’t lose hope whenever she looked into his eyes.

Kunikuzushi had convinced himself that he was protecting his mama from his troubles by avoiding her, but in reality, he was causing her more pain. As he rested with his body seated right next to hers, he was suddenly so aware of the magnitude of his mistake and the hurt he had inflicted on his caregiver. It ached at just the mere thought of it.

Yae Miko placed a hand on top of his own, breaking him away from his spiraling. She held it gently, and he held hers in return. An act of comfort. The meaning was unknown, and maybe it would be better off if it was left that way.

The silence continued, both too afraid to break the comforting atmosphere with the weight of the past. Kunikuzushi could only stare as he watched a stray fox cuddling something up behind its fluffy tail. And when he watched even longer, he spotted the tinier fox nuzzled up comfortably underneath them.

She gave his hand another squeeze, and his gaze unwillingly turned his attention to her somber expression-painted face as she gazed at something he couldn’t see. Her face held an unusually small frown, and Kunikuzushi could only blame himself for being the cause of her sadness.

“I’m not asking for you to forgive her. I’m not asking you to forget what she did. I just want you to take a moment, to sit in the present."

His eyes widened slightly but immediately softened as his gaze faltered. If he didn’t direct his eyes to look at the ground, he would have seen how Yae Miko looked at him with nothing other than love and sadness in her eyes.

She rested a palm on his cheek, and he was forced to look up at her. That was the first time he heard her speak in a very, very long time. Her voice sounded uncharacteristically soft and fragile. He almost wished he didn’t look.

She thumbed his cheek and looked him in the eyes as she continued. “Even if you don’t need to, please. Let me put your mind to rest, even if it will only last a moment. Let me help you." She begged him.

It felt wrong.To be pleaded with like this because he couldn’t let go of his confusion. Of his hurt. His face twisted into one of deep sorrow, allowing his mom to pull him closer and bundle him securely in her arms. Kunikuzushi immediately buried his face in the crook of her neck, trying to shield the rest of the world apart from the two of them at this moment.

The kitsune held him tight and uses another hand to rhythmically rub the small of his back. In an act of comfort, understanding. He let all the tension in his body float away as he put all of his weight on her.

“Your peace is more important than finding out why things happened the way they did. Don’t let it go, just close your eyes."

It felt like somebody had finally poked a hole into his thick blindfold. And then he closed his eyes. He didn’t think. He didn’t cry. He only allowed himself to rely on somebody else.

And so now, with no one to seek comfort and understanding except themselves, the two held each other as if they would never get the chance to do it ever again.

Things were still wrong. The hurt and sadness was still there. But, for now, he allowed himself to forget.

And as he sat, shielded by his mom’s embrace, with tears streaming down his face, he realised that maybe she had been clinging too tightly to the memories of the past. She had been reliving those moments over and over again, never allowing herself to fully let go and move on. And deep down he knew that he would continue to do so for as long as he remembers. But at that moment, Kunikuzushi knew that it was time to stop fighting his battles alone. Or rather, was time to ignore the battle altogether.

He took in the familiar smell of his mama and resolved to live fully in the present, to cherish the moment he had now, and to not let his mother ruin the new memories he would one day look back on with fondness. Even if she wasn’t in them. It was a sad realization, but also a liberating one, and he knew that maybe it was time to start living life again.

Unfortunately, the weight of unresolved emotions from the past cannot be ignored indefinitely. They accumulate like water behind a dam, and eventually, the pressure becomes too great. The glass shatters, and the emotions come flooding out.

Chapter Text

It had been a long time since the puppet had come to terms with his new life. Almost a century. Time truly had gone by, because it would be turning 500 in only two decades now. It knew it wasn’t that old, but the milestone was still exciting to it. Or rather, it should be exciting.

He tried to pretend that everything was fine. He tried to forget, to accept his new life at the Shrine with his mom. He would take care of the Sakura trees. He would complete the rituals whenever he was asked to. He would gossip with the Shrine maidens and disperse immediately after they heard Miko approaching. The puppet would teach the children new games, and help them read their fortunes when they couldn’t understand it.

But it would never leave. The puppet would never forget. It could only live with it, pushing it to the very back corner of its mind where it couldn’t reach it. But it was always there. And in its restless dreams, it would always see her. Caressing his hair and allowing it to hear her sweet laughter. The puppet usually ignored those dreams.

On the bright side. His mom relatively was happy, and the people around him were happy. So he had to be happy with them, even if anger obscured his mind sometimes. He was more snappy and blunt than before, but that was something he couldn’t control about himself. It was ironic, how things started to only get worse. Not only with himself but with everyone and everything in general.

The puppet still remembers the day the vision hunt decree got put into place, soon followed by the Sakoku decree that made it impossible to leave or enter the nation without passing strict assessments carried out by the Kanjou commission.

Ever since then, Inazuma had been engulfed in chaos that quickly spread like a deadly disease. The puppet remembers when the civil war between the rebels on Watasumi island and the Shogunate began. When the Mikage furnace was found to be damaged, and halted the production of jade steel so many blacksmiths and such began losing their sources of income.

And he heard word that Orobashi’s seal had somehow been unleashed, meaning there was foul and unusual weather surrounding Yashiori Island. People lived there. Children, and their parents aswell, being misplaced due to the foul conditions. There was more, but the puppet was unaware. He wasn’t that much involved with the Shogunate and so he didn’t get access to that information. But what he was aware about, is that it was all somehow having to do with the Fatui, and their ‘diplomats’ that have only been growing more and more in presence each year within Inazuma. People outwardly didn’t say it, but their presence made them feel negatively.

Even when the Sakokou degree got put in place, they still somehow managed to infiltrate Narukami Island like a spreading infestation. It wasn’t surprising to the puppet, considering how foul and corrupt the authorities were nowadays. It was truly disgusting how selfish they were.

Not everybody was like that though. Some people actually fought for the right to use their visions. They rebelled for change. He saw them on occasion on the city streets, noticing the determination and ambition in their eyes, long since foreign to his own. It truly amazed him how humans could push through even in the worst possible situations. He wished he could have reacted the same.

Inazuma would never move forward with its people, he knew that. The new decrees prevented that and she knew exactly what she was doing. It hurt him to see them in so much pain.

What she was doing was immoral, but he applauded himself for thinking the Shogun had any morals to begin with. This wasn’t fair, he knew that inside she knew that too. But she still went on, seizing people’s visions for reasons unknown to himself and halting foreign influence. It was stupid really because the Fatui were still breathing down their necks and influencing the people immensely.

But the puppet chose to fight for them, for he couldn’t fight for himself. Helping smuggle people out of the country or delivering discreet supplies or assistance to the resistance on Watasumi island. The least he could do at least. People still respected him, and only a few knew of him as the Shogun’s son. He would usually find ways to use that to his advantage.

Today he was in Ritou.

The Yae publishing house was expecting a dispatch of books. Despite how difficult it was to get anything from the outside, Yae Miko still found ways to make it happen. It was illegal, that’s what he thought. The puppet headed over to the docks migration stop and quickly made sure to authorise them to leave Ritou for Inazuma City.

Then, he heard commotion.

Well, that was fairly normal nowadays, but still. It always meant no harm to pry a bit.

It was taking place around the higher part of the immigration station from where he was. Very few ever came to the island to begin with, and even fewer made it past their tight and unrealistic demands. Besides, people rarely ever came in. They akways went out. So it’s only natural he’s curious about this. The puppet makes his way over to the commotion without much trouble.

There, he saw a floating… thing, accompanied by a blonde foreigner. He also saw Thoma from the Yashiro commission there. The puppet didn’t know him personally, but he was a kind guy in his eyes, so he had no reason to assume anything was amiss. Yet he still went there just to see what they were doing anyway.

Immediately he began approaching Thoma turned to look at him, smiling cheerfully and placing a head on his chest, where his heart was, to express his respect and greeting.

“Your greatness! It’s nice to see you around here." He greeted once he slowed to a stop. He smiled back at Thoma, his eyes glancing around briefly to observe the two strange-looking people that were along with him. “Thank you, Thoma. I’m glad seem to be in good spirits," his eyes flickered, now fully trained onto the newcomers, “and hello to you too, strange travellers."

The two looked stunned for a moment, not expecting the high-status figure to acknowledge their presence at all. The small floating one cleared her throat and smiled nervously after a moment.

“Hello! Paimon’s Paimon and this is Aether! We’re here to.. here to um.." She stammered, making him raise a brow at her in confusion. The action only seemed to send her into more panic as she looked desperately at her blonde friend who immediately gained back his composure.

“We’re foreigners, here to look for.. partnership..." Aether covered, but it wasn’t much better than Paimon’s own lie. It made him give Thoma a knowing look, making the traveler turn away in bashfulness or embarrassment. Whichever it was, it still amused him.

Thoma waved his hands reassuringly at the two newcomers, chuckling softly. “It’s alright you can tell him the truth guys. His Excellency is a trusted friend and ally of mine, he wouldn’t get you into any trouble."

Paimon looked relieved. He absent-mindedly wonders about just what she was anyway. Was she the new device made in Fontaine? “Oh.. in that case, we’re really just here to look for his sister! We only just got passed the immigration system though, and it was already making Paimon feel dizzy.."

Family.

His gaze softened only slightly and his smile fell only for a split second. The other two didn’t seem to notice, but the blonde, Aether, did. Their eyes met for only a moment, and when the puppet looked into them he saw exhaust and maybe something else he couldn’t decipher. The bags underneath his eyes were already a sign, but he looked quite tired. Yae Milo always told him the eyes were the gateway to one’s soul, and if that was true then he couldn’t help but feel a slight connection to how he was feeling. He felt pity for him.

Their short-lived gazing came to an end as soon as Thoma spoke again cheerily. “Don’t worry Paimon! All you’ll have to do now is head to the immigration and trade department and you’ll be all set."

He grimaced. The process was long, boring, and unnecessary. They didn’t deserve to be put through all of that trouble. Especially with how corrupt and self-absorbed the general population of Ritou was known to be. It would be unfortunate to make them go through all that when he could just get them out without much trouble.

He shook his head, a hand reaching up to tip his large hat in respect. "There will be no need. I can handle them from here and take them to meet you at Komore teahouse if I’m assuming correctly. Don’t worry about any of that."

The three looked at him in surprise, Thoma especially because he knew how complex it was to get foreigners out of Ritou. “You’re too kind my excellency, are you sure that wouldn’t be too much trouble?" Thoma asked him again cautiously. He only nodded and huffed slightly in irritation.

“Yes, consider it to be a welcome gift to our newcomers."

The traveler and Paimon looked at Thoma with concern. Thoma only smiled sheepishly at them and shrugged. The puppet didn’t know why they were so reluctant to go with him. Especially the blonde one, he looked almost a bit skeptical. Was it something he said?

“If you insist…," he slowly turned to the foreigners and gave them a confident smile, "don’t worry, if there’s anybody you’ll be safe with, it’s with him. I’ll see you guys over at Komore Teahouse!" Thoma said his goodbye to the two, turning to nod separately at him before turning his heel and rushing off. He probably must be busy.

“Aw.. bye Thoma! See you soon!" Paimon waved him off sadly, watching him disappear into the distance before turning to the mysterious male they were left with. They all just stared at each other in silence, which soon grew stale and awkward.

He cleared his throat, “Shall we head off?"

“Oh, yea! Lead the way Mister!"

The three began walking forward, with him leading in front of them. Their situation was indeed quite sad, if it meant them travelling all the way here of all places in hopes of an answer. They He did feel sympathetic for them, or the one without the sister mostly. But he wasn’t so good at expressing himself much, not anymore at least.

The Paimon one was especially talkative. Only within the first seconds of their walking she already began expressing her concerns, which he found stupid and annoying. “Uhm.. not to be rude or anything, but how exactly do you plan on getting us out of Ritou?! Thoma said it’s hard to even get letters passed the security!" She expressed her valid concerns. That he did not see the need to be concerned in.

The traveler nodded and looked over at him curiously. “Are you a high-ranking official?”

He grimaced inwardly, not knowing what to say to them because even he didn’t know what place he was in anymore. “It’s… complicated. Just know that I’m important enough to get you in and out of places without much trouble." He quickly explained. Something told him this wouldn’t be the last time he had to butcher a response with them like that.

The two still shared skeptical glances, but his words did actually reassure them a bit. Not much though because the fact that they still didn’t know anything about him except for the fact that he was a high officer, yet he was leading them around, was still unnerving.

Paimon suddenly perked up. “Wait, then can you shed some more light on what’s going on here??"

He sighed again at the question, trying to figure out what to say. “I’m sure you already know enough, there’s nothing more to say," he replied curtly, a slight bite to his words not going unnoticed, “Inazuma’s border has been closed off to other nations and a vision hunt decree has been put in place to seize all visions within its borders. There is currently a civil war taking place and many people of Inazuma are losing their homes and their freedom, and corruption has become a new part of our culture.

It is a feat to even survive in this nation, so what more outlanders like yourselves?” He said, crossing his arms and raising a brow at them, more lightheartedly.

They both stopped walking. Paimon shrieked in fear, with Aether also looking slightly uneasy now. He turned to face them both fully and chuckled at their reactions, waving them off. “I apologize. You two will probably be alright. Well, you must be hungry right? Why don’t I treat you to some lunch before we go?" He proposed, his hands resting on his hips.

Paimon cheered, suddenly forgetting her unease and distrust from earlier and replacing it with hunger. “Paimon’s starting to like him already!” She clapped her hands. Aether only gave her a disappointed look.

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The three made their way to a nearby restaurant where they were quickly seated and allowed to order their meals. He personally didn’t order anything, which made Aether and Paimon look at him with confusion, but he quickly reassured them, claiming he had already eaten beforehand. They didn’t question him much after. Now they simply waited for their food while idly chatting,

“You said you were a high-ranking official right?" Paimon asked him. They still didn’t even know his name, or what exactly he was. All they knew was the Thoma said they could trust him. He nodded in response and his gaze turned to the floating creature.

“Yes, but why do you ask?" He asked back curiously, his hand neatly placed on his lap. Paimon looked excited, clapping her hands in victory. The traveler also seemed to be hopeful, looking at him along with Paimon.

“Well, we were kind of hoping you knew a way to get us to speak to the Raiden Shogun!”

As soon as her name escaped Paimon’s lips, his already faint smile blew away along with the wind, his gaze turning into one of irritation. He was having a good day so far, and yet once again it had to be ruined by her and the way she restlessly haunts him as if she wasn’t even alive.

“You would like to meet her?” He spoke after a few moments, his hands clenched and his voice mixed with slight discomfort. Or disdain. Whatever it was, it made the two look at him with a bit of surprise on their faces.

But how could he not react that way? Why would anybody try to smuggle their way into the nation just to see her of all people? She doesn’t even do anything that makes her worthy of other’s attention, or seem like a person to seek help.

“The almighty omnipresent Raiden shogun that sees all and knows all. The Narukami Ogosho whom reigns over the people with an iron fist, and an even colder heart. The guardian of eternity that sits up high and mighty in her tenshukaku and dictates all of Inazuma fiercely and refuses to listen to the opinions of her people, that is the type of person you want to speak to."

He stated while looking at the wood of their table. Aether and Paimon could only stare at him in both terror and remorse, feeling as if they asked the wrong question. The two shared a look, Paimon seemingly too terrified by his words to say anything. So the blonde put a palm on his chest and frowned. His voice was sympathetic but still firm and blunt.

“That’s tough and all… but we need try and talk to her, even if the chances are slim."

He only shook his head at Aethers words, tearing his indifferent gaze away from the Yumemiru wooden surface to look at them both with a sigh.

“..I apologise. I am not the person you wish to speak to concerning her in the slightest. And besides, most of the people she has encountered nowadays do not live to tell the tale.” He told them bluntly, not bothering to sugarcoat his bitter words. It seemed to dampen their spirits a large amount, making him sigh yet again in exasperation.

His gaze turned softer now as he tried to reassure them with a gentle smile. “Don’t worry. Life in general is full of unexpected and unexplainable tragedies. Who is to say you won’t encounter her at some point during your journey? You never know she is one that strikes you down when you least expect it… so maybe then you will get the chance to speak with her…

...that is if, of course, you make it out alive."

The puppet smirked at their terrified expressions, chuckling at the terror caused by his words. Paimon whined and stomped her feet at his sinister laughing.

"You said that all on purpose! Shame on you.."

.
.
.
.
.

The three soon left the restaurant, due to the puppet claiming that he had someplace to be soon and that they should preferably start heading towards the border between Ritou and Narukami island. So there they were, heading towards the border while idly chatting along the way.

He had to admit that the strange traveler was quite interesting. Paimon wouldn’t stop talking about all of his feats before they landed in Inazuma, and most, if not all, were quite intriguing and impressive. Though to him it also seemed almost like this traveler just brought even more turmoil wherever he went.

But still, people like the traveler truly did fascinate him. So he couldn’t help but listen to every word Paimon was spouting with peaked interest. He didn’t even notice they reached their destination until they were rudely interrupted by the voice of a soldier in charge of border control.

“Halt! Foreigners are not to leave or enter
Ritou without a traveling permit!"

The three stopped walking immediately, with the two foreigners looking startled and panickedly at him for his protection.

The puppet hardened his eyes in annoyance at the officer, looking at him with a look of raw disgust and irritation that sent the guy shivering. But he only sighed and waved him off. “Leave them be. These are some foreigners here on strictly business matters. I will be personally escorting them myself."

The officer shakes his head, gripping his spear (with fear?) and speaking with less authority than he had before now that the other had brutally broken his confidence. “Your greatness... it would be at the very least appropriate for us to see some of their document—" He tried to say, but he shut it immediately after he saw his gaze.

The higher authority immediately glared at him, looking at him like he was a worthless insignificant pest obscuring his vision. Because in reality, he was. What else do you call a soldier that dedicated their life to serving the Raiden Shogun, yet gives in to dirty mora provided by that wretched fatui? It only made him scowl at the puny solider even more.

“What are you implying?” He finally spoke in a tone that made the border control officer feel like a pest, quivering beneath its intensity. "Is it not already clear that this is a serious and authorised matter, if I ,myself am here to personally escort them?"

He watched as the soldier immediately bowed, even going as far as to get down on his knees and profusely apologising, likely for the safety of his job.The other only looked disgusted, huffing and looking away from the sight.

“No no.. that is not what I was implying at all. Forgive me I.. I… I-I don’t know what I am—"

“You clearly don’t." He sharply interrupted, before beginning to walk away from him. "Now, if you would excuse us."

Aether and Paimon were stuck in their spots, looking surprised as they watched the whole scene unfold. The traveler looked down at the soldier quivering on the ground, and then up at the other nearby authorities scurried to make way for them to pass through.

He looked up at the dark-haired male that was already ahead of them, his face distorting into one of an unexplainable emotion. While Paimon was still looking with her mouth agape at the guy on the ground.

Indigo looked back at them, quirking a brow expectantly. Aether and Paimon immediately shivered and began scrambling to catch up with him. After what they had just witnessed, neither of them wanted to be on his bad side.

.
.
.
.

Finally, they were outside of Ritou. Paimon took a deep breath of freedom, the stuffiness and depressing atmosphere really got to her. Aether felt the same, stretching his limbs with a proud smile on his face. The mysterious man watched them both with a small smile on his face.

“The smell of freedom!" Paimon cheered into the bright and sunny sky. “Well, as free as we’ll be for now..." Paimon commented, Aether nodding in agreement. It didn’t make much of a difference from when they were in Ritou, but it was still better. Though that immigration check was a close call. Just what type of authority did he have to pull something like that?

“Hey, wasn’t what you did a crime?? Abuse of power right?!"

He ignored her, simply acting like she didn’t speak in the first place. Instead, he dusted himself off and smiled. “Well, I wish you the best of luck on your journey. Komore teahouse is located in Inazuma city, it is not too hard to find so I assume you will be alright.” The mysterious figure announced, pointing off in the direction of Inazuma city for them.

Paimon huffed when he ignored her, but her irritation turned into some sadness when he announced that they would be going their separate ways now. “Aw, is it already time to say goodbye?”

Aether also looked a bit sad, but still as neutral as always. The male only hummed and shook his head, turning his gaze to the bright sky.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll cross paths at some point. But if you ever need me for anything, anything at all, you can just ask for me at the Grand Narukami Shrine.” He pointed in the opposite direction, at the large pink cherry blossom tree seated at the top of a mountain. Aether and Paimon nodded with gratitude.

The dark-haired male then looked satisfied, tipping his hat at them as a goodbye before gracefully turning away and beginning to walk in the direction of the wilderness. But before he could go too far, the blond traveler’s voice interrupted him.

“I hope we see you again." Aether called out before they could go their separate ways. He stopped and turned his head slightly, a small smile gracing his features as he glanced at them for a final time.

“Don’t worry, you’ll know where to find me. And I’ll know where to look."

The two travelers shared a look of confusion as they watched the mysterious man that helped them take his leave with his final ominous words.

Just like that, he was gone with the wind, walking into the wilderness until he was nothing but a speck in their vision.

Once he was out of their view, the puppet stopped and sighed heavily. It was unnecessary to do that in private, but it still did it anyways because it helped the puppet relax. Holding its hat, it looked up at the bright sky of Inazuma with a solemn expression on its face while it thought back to the earlier encounter.

Something aches within it as it thought of the encounter, but it chooses to not dwell and pretend the encounter wasn’t that important. Well, it certainly did hope that the traveler, Aether, could find his family. But it had other places to be at the moment and it couldn’t afford to wait any longer. It didn’t want to keep Kaedehara waiting.

The puppet began heading for the shores of Konta village, where he was supposed to meet his ally, and good friend, Kazuha. The trip from Watasumi Island wasn’t a pleasant one, and Kazuha took days a time to simply meet him here on the main island whenever he or the captain of the Crux fleet had the opportunity to stop by.

He usually would prefer to walk to their meeting place and take the time to enjoy the rare calm of his surroundings, but his earlier aid had taken quite a bit of his time. So, reluctantly, with the help of the power of electro, he quickly arrived at the shores of their scheduled location.

In a matter of seconds, he was soon walking underneath the shade of a large piece of land where he spotted Kazuha seated, peacefully blowing into a leaf before releasing it once he saw him approaching.

“My Shogun, we meet again old friend."

The puppet smiled at him, walking closer to him and matching Kazuha’s usual gentle smile with one of his own.

“Keadehara, it’s good to see you in good spirits."

“My Shogun?"

He turned to where the second voice came from, looking at Kazuha who just seemed to be arriving. He looked at him with haze, glancing at the spot where he had just seen Kazuha seating only a moment ago. Kazuha gained closer and stood underneath the shade with him.

“I apologise for keeping you waiting," he apologised while the other male looked up at the still bright sky with fever, which seemed to catch his friend's attention, “..are you alright? You seem distraught?"

He looked back and blinked, remaining silent for a bit before shaking his head and tilting up his hat to meet Kazuha’s gaze. “No... I’m alright. I just had to run a few extra errands beforehand and the heat left me slightly dizzy." He said, but the heat wasn’t really strong enough to make him dizzy. But Kazuha seemed to buy it anyway, so that’s all he cared about.

Kazuha smiled and sat down on the ground before chuckling, “It is quite hot today. Though I would have thought your hat would prevent such things." His friend teased softly, making him take off his large hat with an embarrassed huff and sit down along with him, his legged tucked in on the ground.

“Alright, you’ve poked fun at my fashion sense quite enough," He pouted, before his gaze slowly turned serious, "though you’re not one to talk either. But.. how is the resistance going? You went there before coming here, right?"

Keadehara Kazuha, the young master of the fallen Kaedehara clan which was once well known and respected in Inazuma for their bladesmith. They used to be a strong and prosperous clan, he should know, he still kept the blade his ancestors had crafted for him and occasionally used it. But by the time it was Kazuha’s turn to inherit the wealth and belongings, there was nothing left. He was soon homeless.

That was what brought the two to become closer actually. He knew of Kazuha and would spend time with him occasionally in the younger’s earlier years, even when he was only a toddler. But when Kazuha had nowhere to turn to, all his belongings having been taken away, he offered Kazuha a place to stay for a bit. And maybe it would have been permanent if it wasn’t for his drive for travel.

He thought he would never see him again after, but that was until he heard the news that Kazuha had stolen a vision from the shogun and become a wanted criminal. The rest was expected. He fled, and with the help of the resistance and the crux fleet, and now he only rarely comes back. This is the second time now. It was still a great risk for him to set foot on this land, yet he still came back. He was yet to understand Kazuhas reasoning.

“Her Excellency has documented a report for you. But, I wouldn’t mind telling you a few things as well." Kazuha smiled. But the smile fades into a serious expression within moments and he instinctively pays great attention to his next words.

"The Shogunate forces have been suffering a great deal. They’ve been having to evacuate their troops and such from Yashiori island and Kannazuka because of the whole Mikage furnace issue, so the resistance is at an advantage at the moment.

Though... I think you know about how Orobashi’s seal has broken. Well, the weather is so foul, that not only the Shogunates army are suffering but also the locals on Yashiori island. Many innocent people have died." He explained, his eyes slanting a bit to show his remorse. He couldn’t help the small frown that overturned his features.

“..Also, the Divine priestesses of Watasumi island do not believe that we will be able to hold out much longer if we do not have backup, even if the Shogunates forces are dwindling." He continued after a long while of silence. ".. but as for resources concerning food, do not worry. The resources you’ve been providing them, combined with the ones of their other sponsor is effective enough."

He furrowed his brows, “.. sponsor?"

“Yes. I'm sure you have heard of the ‘Fatui.’"

He visibly repels at the name. He was shocked, concerned even. Immediately a sense of dread settles upon him. He needed to go to Watasumi himself and see the extent of the damage, and also to warn the divine priestess of them. He wasn’t sure if she knew what they were doing here on Narukami, so it would be necessary if he warned her before it was too late.

He looked at his lap with a hardened expression, nodding in understanding. "I see…," he paused, "..are you going back to Watasumi Island anytime soon then?"

Kazuha didn’t seem to notice his reaction or panic. And if he did, he hid it well because he simply shook his head and stroked his chin with a pensive look. “No. I have to meet Captain Beidou soon and start going back, so I do apologise.. why if I may ask?"

He placed his hand back neatly on his lap. “I wanted to go back with you, but that is alright. I will send her excellency a message to notify her of my presence. I will be coming to discuss some things with her urgently."

Kazuha frowned more and opened his eyes once more. A look of curiosity yet remorse on his features. “Oh? I’m deeply sorry... I wish I could accompany you back. But I can assure you, everybody will be delighted by your presence." He praised him, making the older shake his head in disapproval. He didn’t think they liked him as much, because of the things the Raiden Shogun was doing.

“You think too highly of me Kaedehara." He simply put it. But Kazuha only smiled and crossed his arms.

“How can I not, after all, you’ve done for me? Besides, you are my Almighty Shogun. It’s only natural, isn’t it?"

The dark-haired gave him a poker face, unimpressed. Kazuha only chuckled a bit at his expression. The puppet could only sigh and cross his arms. It wouldn’t hurt to play along,

“Then, thank you. Even if you can be quite the pest sometimes, I am delighted to honour my most devoted believer." He teased back lightly, a smile gracing his face. Kazuha faintly chuckled at his words before the two dissolved into a calm and peaceful silence as they watched the sea.

He was deep in thought now, seemingly thinking about something. As Kazuha remained calmly seated, even taking out a leaf to begin blowing a tune with. That seemed to catch his attention, watching and listening to the tune with captured interest as he tapped his fingers unconsciously to the rhythm.

After a few more moments, Kazuha decided to break the silence eventually, allowing his leaf to float away with the wind. “..How is your day going by so far?" The fugitive asked politely.

He grimaced at the question, remembering the events of earlier that had occurred. Kazuha of course noticed his negative reaction, furrowing his brows slightly.

“It’s been alright. I stopped by Ritou today to get a new dispatch of novels for the Yae publishing house. And I met Thoma there as well. I presume you already know who was with him."

Kazuha’s eyes soften, and he now has a faint idea of what made his friend feel so unpleasant. But still, he says, “Ah, so you have met the traveler and Paimon?” He confirmed, receiving a nod in response that prompted him to continue. "They are friends of mine as well. If I remember correctly, Thoma agreed to help them get out of Ritou." He recalls with a smile, 

The older male perked up, “You have met the strange travelers already?"

“You have a habit of calling everybody that isn’t what you are used to strange… but yes. They are the ones I mentioned in the letter I sent before I got here."

His nose scrunched at the way he had gotten called out by Kazuha, simply frowning lightly. “Is that so… well I found them strange even then when you said they wanted to come to Inazuma despite what you told them. But today I found them even stranger than I did before." His hand unconsciously began clenching and unclenching.

Kazuha quirked a brow, his soft smile still at play as he prepared to listen. “Is that so? What happened for you to come to such a revelation?"

“I decided to save them the hassle and I invited them for lunch and escorted them out of Ritou, so I had quite some time to talk to them both. Of course, the topic of why they were here came to the surface."

Nothing more needed to be said. They both knew what he meant and why it was something not very pleasant for both of them to hear. And although Kazuha didn’t know the truth about the one in front of him, he at least knew that he and the Raiden Shogun were on terrible terms and that she had more or less abandoned him. If that made sense.

He thought so, at least. His friend was incredibly tight-lipped and ominous about it.

“I see.. and are you alright?" The samurai asked, barely over a whisper. His face looked to be one of concern.

He looked at him simply, staring blankly for a few moments, before crossing his arms.

"Why wouldn’t I be."

A statement, disguised as a question. His gaze hardened and he turned to the sea once more. He shook his head, turning to glance at Kazuha with a hint of anger in his features. Kazuha only looked back sadly at him, not saying anything in response.

He sighed and unclenched his fists. Kazuha did not deserve his malice. He shook his head and uncrossed his arms. “..I just thought it was rather idiotic to seek help from a worldwide known tyrant." He said with disdain.

Kazuha nodded, his eyes closed and stature calm as he couldn’t help but chuckle lightly at the comment. “I have to agree on that, even I was a bit surprised when I heard their reasoning." He agreed, respecting the silent agreement to not bring up the true reasoning behind the others displeasure.

"They may not be the sharpest tools in the shed, but I still think they’re brave for getting this far. But what most people don’t know is that braveness only rarely does not lead to tragedy." He said bitterly, turning his frown towards the vast ocean. Kazuha only hummed in response, turning to watch the view as well.

"That may be true, but there will always be those who dare to brave the lightenings glow.”

The silence that soon followed then was not unpleasant. But it was clear they both had a lot of things that say that were left unsaid. He looked solemn. For obvious reasons, in his opinion. He didn’t like thinking about the Raiden Shogun. He would prefer if he forgot her existence altogether. But that was hard to do in an environment where she is everywhere, even in himself.

He chuckled bitterly at himself. She truly was the all-seeing god she is proclaimed to be.

Kazuha didn’t seem bothered by his friends 
odd behaviour, in fact, he welcomed it. He took in a deep breath, his eyes closed and a pleasant smile on his face.

“…the wind sounds quite pleasant at this time of day, I think it is trying to speak to me."

He gave Kazuha a concerned glance, his nose scrunched in dismay. Even if he himself was a bit deranged, he was sure the travelling samurai was more deranged than he could ever aspire to be.

“…sure."

——————

The puppet managed to make it back to the Grand Narukami Shrine before it got too dark outside, just like Yae Miko told him to earlier that day. She wasn’t around when he came back though, so he quickly busied himself with a few tasks that had to be completed around the Shrine before he decided to go rest like he usually did.

Life was simple, consistent, and repetitive. It never changed, yet it overwhelmed him still oh so much. So, he took up hobbies to maintain himself, things he could do to cope. One of them in particular was the best and most productive way for him to release some tension, was fan dance.

It was practical, simple, and relieving. He did it whenever he felt troubled. So once again, in the stillness of the courtyard at the Grand Narukami Shrine, a delicate puppet dressed in dark traditional silk gracefully moves through the space with a sense of profound melancholy, a vibrant fan unfolded in his hand and trailing along with him like a wisp of wind controlled by slender fingers.

A mournful melody of its solitary hum fills the area as the puppet moves with a fragile grace, its feet barely grazing the ground, as though anchored by invisible chains of longing. And the puppet’s dance, usually a celebration of life and beauty, takes on a somber tone as if reflecting the weight of a heavy nonexistent heart.

As the dance reaches its final moments, the puppet’s energy wanes and a profound weariness settles upon its fragile form. Its movements slow, almost imperceptibly, until they come to a graceful halt. The fan rests at its side.

Gentle claps echo throughout the space, causing the puppets head to whip back fast enough that his hair slapped his face. Yae Miko made her way to him in all her glory, a soft smile on her face and a teasing well seasoned on her tongue.

“Beautiful, well done Kuni. Such a performance is only to be expected from my son." She says once she finally came to a stop in front of him. Her son calmed down, rolling his eyes at her comment.

“Thank you, mom. How long have you been standing there for?" The boy asked, but Miko only smiled that teasing smile of hers, placing her hand on her hips. He frowned, but it was obvious she probably had been around the whole time.

“How was your day? You met with Keadehara right?" She asked instead, noticing how tense and distraught he seemed to be from the way he was dancing. Her son only nodded and retold her the events of his day, from meeting the travellers to his meet-up with Kazuha, and his return back. She listened through all of it attentively, her brows raised.

Miko’s lips upturned to a smile, her hand covering her mouth. “Oh my... some people are actually willing to smuggle themselves into Inazuma and risk their lives, just to see her?" She laughed. She couldn’t believe it. The boy nodded in confirmation with a displeased frown, still trying to understand the traveler’s reasoning.

“If she can’t listen to her own people, I don’t know what makes them so sure that she’ll listen to them. It’s absurd, they’re going to regret it." The boy said bitterly, a tight grip on his traditional silk as he spoke.

Miko noticed his bitterness and anger, having already been used to this behaviour coming from him by now, so she took his hand away from his clothes and held it. A tiny smile on her face. “Now now Kuni, maybe they might succeed. I’ve heard stories about that traveler. Telling of how they saved Mondstat all on their own, and of how they defeated a fatui harbinger and saved liyue from a resurrected corrupt god." She retells dramatically. Her son only glanced away in dismay.

".. to me, it seems like they just bring trouble wherever they go."

She laughed softly and let go of his hand to cross her arms, amused. “If that’s how you’d like to see it, then be my guest. But I think it would be an interesting change. I want to meet this traveler myself soon…"

“You would probably scare him away just like that poor Tanuki general on Watasumi island."

Yae Miko looked baffled for a moment, dramatically placing a hand on her chest to mimic pain and shock. He only snickered at her reaction, giving her a smirk. But before she could say anything, he cleared his throat and immediately diverted conversations.

"Mom, I’d like to ask for your permission for something. Can I travel to Watasumi Island early tomorrow? I have to meet with the divine priestess, and it is very important." He asked her, making Miko raise her brows. He never asked her to go anywhere, and she knew he didn’t necessarily need to ask. But she was still curious.

“What could be so important that you’d want to leave so quickly?" She asked with a raised brow. But he only looked down, remaining silent. Miko looked at him with concern, taking time to remember the events of his day before suddenly coming to a revelation.

“Ah, that other ‘sponsor’ of theirs." She clicked her tongue, now looking upset as well. "Those fatui diplomats probably aren’t up to any good, or if they are they probably have even worse ulterior motives. You and I both know how they’ve bypassed Ritou and infiltrated Narukami island. They already started fanning the fire on the Shogunate's end, and now you’re telling me they’re doing the same with the resistance? It truly is a tragedy that the divine priestess fell for such a trap."

The boy could only cross his arms and nod in agreement. "I am aware, exactly why I want to go there and speak to and see the damage done myself."

Miko thought for a few moments. It would be practical. He could observe the situation from the resistance’s end, and she could see from the shogunates. “Very well, I will organise something to help you get there. Just make sure to be safe and take care of yourself. Understood?"

The boy nodded again, his gaze softening in understanding. “Of course, thank you for letting me go." He thanked her with a soft smile. Miko only laughed, the earlier tension dissipating into a calm and light-hearted conversation.

“It’s no problem, really. In fact, you don’t have to ask me anymore. You’re old enough to be responsible for your actions, and you have been for quite a long while now. Just make sure that you authorise the dispatch of those books from liyue before you go. Were you that engrossed with the traveler, that you completely forgot to authorise them?" She teased. The youkai didn’t seem to be upset with the fact he forgot to do it, in fact, she seemed to be more amused by it.

Her son though, wasn’t amused. Or embarrassed or sorrowful. His face twisted into one of confusion. “I already did that when I went to Ritou, didn’t I?" He remembered doing it, so why was she saying he didn’t?

Miko raised a brow at him, waving off his lie like it was a fly in the air. That was the reason she had arrived late in the first place because she had to make arrangements with the trade association in Ritou for the delay. “It’s alright dear, I’m not upset. You should really be apologising to those poor liyuean traders that they accused of smuggling illegal substances. Anyway, I already settled everything so you can simply do it tomorrow."

“..no but, I made sure I did.." He muttered, but the kitsune was already making her way back inside.

“Come meet me for dinner soon, alright? I have your favourite bitter tea ready. You wouldn’t hurt your poor mama’s feelings by coming when it’s already cold, now would you?" She said with a sly smile, looking at him sweetly before disappearing inside.

It watches her leave, with its fan held weakly at its side. Then it turned its gaze to the stars in the sky. Staring at the same night sky it had been staring at for centuries. The same exact sky, that never seemed to change. The sky annoyed it.

Yet for some reason this time the night sky seemed so different

The night sky seemed so empty of stars, yet it claimed over and over again that it had memorised every single constellation because it never seemed to change. The sky never changed. So why did it look so blank now?

“The sky seems
so empty, tonight"

I know that I am not easy to love

I know that I wear my sadness so visibly that you have become ashamed of me

It’s too late to apologise now.

Chapter Text

.dǝɹɐǝddɐsᴉd ʇᴉ ,ʇno ʇᴉ ʞǝǝs oʇ dǝᴉɹʇ ǝɥ ǝɯᴉʇʎɹǝʌǝ ʇnq .ʇᴉ lǝǝɟ dlnoɔ ǝɥ dnɐ ɟɟo sɐʍ ʇɐɥʇ ƃnᴉɥʇǝɯoS .ƃnᴉɥʇǝɯos sɐʍ ǝɹǝɥ┴

??????

————-

The spear is a weapon most commonly used in Inazuman military weaponry. Having been taught the skill of defending oneself many years ago by the Narukami Ogosho, who was well seasoned with the weapon. And from then on, the skill was passed down from generation to generation.

Even those who had rebelled against her rule used the very same tactics she had put in place. It was ironic, really, how purely and utterly foolish people were.

How stupid he was.

Scaramouche could insult them for all eternity if he wanted to, but in actuality, he wasn’t much different from them himself. But he at least had the blessing of knowledge, gifted to him directly by the divine.

So now, as he handled the spear in hand, blocking and carefully manoeuvring to catch a resistance soldier off balance and promptly tipping his spear out of hand with his own weapon, he couldn’t help but feel discomfort with using the weapon. Even if its use was necessary in this case to help the others fight against her rule.

Scaramouche looked down at the Provisional Squad leader of Swordfish I, Ueno, whom he was giving battle advice to in provision of the other members of Swordfish I. Ueno fell to the ground on his back, but Scaramouche helped him up with one soft hand and a firm grip.

The man was actually laughing and smiling despite his own defeat, grinning from ear to ear like a fool. His fellow members clapped and reacted similarly as well. Scaramouche didn’t laugh or smile along with them, but he gave Ueno a firm nod. “You lasted much longer than before, Ueno. Whatever training you guys are all doing is clearly paying off."

Ueno grinned, coughing a bit, but scratching the back of his neck bashfully. “The advice you gave us has really made a difference, Lord Scaramouche. But I suppose we do have some other tricks up our sleeves, right guys?"

The others cheered loudly, clearly in high spirits. Some were firmly clasping the backs of their friends, while Scaramouche watched with mild interest.

“By next week, I’m sure we’ll be able to face the Raiden Shogun herself!"

They all spiralled into boisterous laughter at the shouted comment. Meanwhile, Scaramouche shook his head a bit bitterly at them. They got things they cherished ripped from their hands too, so why wasn’t he as driven and happy as they were?

Like a passing shadow in the setting sun, Scaramouche silently slipped away from the group he was aiding, mentally promising to return later and give them some more feedback. Though currently, he had to go clear away and clear his thoughts.

Scaramouche strolled away from their side of the shore and walked along the opposite path, watching the world live around him while he lamented his own primary thoughts.

He arrived on Watasumi early in the morning, immediately seeking the divine priestess out. But she wasn’t going to be present until later in the day due to some matters Scaramouche would likely press her to find out about. Anyway, it gave him some valuable time to study how things had changed since the last time he was there.

The troops seemed to be consistently encouraged and fuelled by their own ambition. Though he had to admit it, they were progressing fast. Oddly fast for people without visions or elementary power, in his own opinion. He didn’t think much of it at first, but it didn’t make sense, to him at least. He did actually come here to investigate, after all, so being sceptical wouldn’t do any harm.

But another strange thing to add on to that, Scaramouche thought as he watched some Fatui soldiers converse in the distance with a hardened gaze, was that the number of Fatui on Watasumi Islanders was growing in number. They are almost like a growing pest infestation that won’t go away. Always never hostile, and always up to no good.

Scaramouche spared a moment to electrocute all three of them, because they were stupidly standing on the water in the nation of electro, and soon followed with a bolt of lightning that did more damage than he had intended. He watched them suffer and convulse with a wide grin on his face, waiting for them to fall to the ground with a heavy thump before he could consider his next move.

He quickly got to work, using the time to get to their sides and begin searching their belongings for any clues, screwing pulses of electricity into their bodies once more if they showed any signs of movement. But in the end, all he managed to get was a map of where they were supposed to go after this, which seemed to be somewhere on Yashiroi Island. There is no other context.

He sighed harshly in frustration and shoved the map into his pocket, having been doing this for some time now. He stands up tall, glaring down at the fatui scum, before tugging him forward roughly by the mask and beginning to repeatedly kick one of the skirmishers head over and over again, simply because he had to let out some built-over tension somehow.

Just as he was about to kick his body one last time and leave, he heard the voice of someone familiar call him. It was clear, though, so he kicked the body away from him and headed up the shore in search of who it was.

“Lord Scaramouche, are you there?" A voice rang from behind him. He had to force himself to not flinch in surprise at the sudden intrusion and to not notice that someone was heading his way. Or behind him.

But he finally recognised the voice, at least.

Kazuha walked over and stood beside him, his usual gentle smile on his face. As Scaramouche looked at him, his hair gently caressing his face and all, he almost failed to believe he was the same man that was wanted by the Shogun herself and had all his titles and family stripped away from him. He wondered how he consistently looked so calm.

He also wondered how he failed to notice that Kazuha was coming behind him. But, no matter, he sighed and calmed his raging mind with a softened look. “You are getting too carried away with these allises, Keadehara." He said.

Kazuha only laughed lightly and crossed his arms. Looking at the water instead as they stood in silence. Kazuha was patient with him and his silence, not saying a word and simply enjoying the world around him. Scaramouche wanted to ask why he was here, but the words only kept dying in his throat.

Kazuha broke the silence as usual, turning to Scaramouche in order to speak with him properly. “I assume you heard about the vision hunt ceremony on Narukami Island.”

Scaramouche briefly wondered how Kazuha even came to know that while being at sea when it happened. But then he remembered that people here must have told him about it too, since he himself overheard the news on his way there. He nods. “Yes. I heard some people talk briefly about it." He admitted with a sigh.

Scaramouche continued, only sharing a dent of his true thoughts: “I knew those travellers would only bring more turmoil wherever they went. But getting Thoma to attempt to land a hit on the Shogun and steal a vision, all within a few hours?” He scoffs and looks pensive as he thumbs at a pebble he picked up in his hand. “I did not expect that. Not at all."

Kazuha let out a small breath of amusement, agreeing lightly nonetheless and smiling into the distance. “It’s true that they do always seem to appear where there is an issue. But that is not their fault now, is it?" He proposed, always so optimistic. Scaramouche placed his lips in a light frown, knowing Kazuha was probably right. He was always right in situations like these that Scaramouche just lacked the empathy to understand.

He just turned back to continue gazing into the water of the sea. He watched the water flow continuously as he thought about those travellers again. He couldn’t believe that a random stranger who wasn’t even of their culture had attracted her attention more than he did. It made him feel a tinge of negativity towards them. But there was also intrigue coming from the part of him that wasn’t completely blinded by rage.

He could see that they were really something special. And Scaramouche supposed that the traveller just had a way of attracting others like a magnet, to say that even someone like his friend Xiao, who preferred solitude, was close friends with him and the floating thing.

Scaramouche threw the pebble into the ocean, watching it skip and sink before tilting his hat and turning his heel in the direction of Divine Priestess headquarters. He supposed that Kazuha was the one who suggested they head there to meet his captain. But he didn’t really pay attention to the words and simply followed him along.

Scaramouche and Kazuha headed up to the priesthood in a calm silence before they came into view of the pearl-like abode. It brought a sense of tranquilly to him, and his eyes trailed as he looked at the figures in front of him.

The Divine Priestess, Kaida Ryouma, who was a leading officer in the resistance, a strong-built woman with an eyepatch who was likely captain Beidou, and Kazuha.

And, Kazuha.

Scaramouche's eyes glanced to his side, seeing no one there. Then back at Kazuha and Beidou with looks of disorientation. They looked like they had just arrived there.

He rubbed his head lightly, a look of displeasure not going unnoticed by the group as they looked at him with concern. It was uncharacteristic of him to look so bothered. The caption of the Crux spoke first.

“Hey, Lord Scaramouche, right? Are you holding up okay?" She asked coolly, with concern laced in her tone. Scaramouche slightly nodded at her, glancing at Kokomi and a slightly phased Kazuha, then back at Beidou to nod at her again, more confidently.

“Scaramouche is just fine. But I am alright. You are… Captain Beidou. If I remember correctly, Kazuha always wrote about you. I truly am thankful for what you have done." He said it with a bow to show his respect.

The captain waved him off. “Don’t worry, the kids been a delight. Really, no need to bow. I should be the one doing that, now that I think about it.” Beidou offered him a grin and a tiny saluting gesture with her fingers once he got up, confirming that she was the captain of the ship that Kazuha had been allowed to find solace on. He would need to thank her for that soon, properly, when the time was right. But right now, it seemed from the general and Kokomo’s demeanour that now was not the time for that.

The priestess cleared her throat. “I apologise for interrupting this reunion, but there is a problem on Yashiori island that requires our immediate assistance." She brought back their attention to the situation at hand. Scaramouche’s brows furrowed lightly as he listened on.

"The shogunate army is advancing, and it has come to our realisation that if we do not provide some form of backup, our troops will suffer greatly." She explained, the mood shifting and expressions growing more firm as she turned to Scaramouche, and furthermore detailed him on the issue.

”Thankfully, Captain Beidou and her fleet were nearby and had agreed to set course for the Island with the soldiers aid. Lord Scaramouche, I am humbly requesting that you join us aswell to go aid some extra assistance, if you are not already occupied."

Scaramouche gave a short nod. “I have nothing due at this moment in time, so I can be of assistance." It wasn’t like he had something better to do anyway, apart from investigate the whole fatui thing Kazuha had let him in on.

So, he agreed to leave with them and the group split off on the west shore as Kokomi explained that she would have to handle some other things prior along the way, so she would be going with a different route. Leaving Scaramouche to travel along with Beidou and Kazuha and the rest of the Crux Fleet.

Scaramouche quickly got on board the massive ship and Beidou almost immediately instructed to set course for the island. Prompting them all to begin moving in a balanced coordinated series where everyone, even the little children, had duties to fur-fill. Like a dance. It was beautiful to watch from where he was standing. But then again he also felt useless just standing there without doing anything.

He very quickly toke notice of where Kazuha was, standing by the dock and seemingly attempting to add some additional wind current with his vision to make the ship go faster. Scaramouche raised his brow, this having been the first time he saw anyone attempt to do that. So he walked over to his friend in hopes he could assist.

“Are you trying to make an extra wind current?" He asked, to which Kazuha humbly nodded his head with a weary smile. His actions still focused on the task at hand that was actually working fairly well, and he didn’t even know anything about ships. “Yes your greatness. Well, I’m trying, but this is as much as I am capable of."

Scaramouche ummed in understanding, though he knew Kazuha was capable of much more than that. But watching him struggle, or perhaps just watching him and doing nothing in response felt unproductive. Static danced on his finger tips before he flicked it into the wind Kazuha was conjuring with ease. Watching the elemental reaction take place.

In effect, the air molecules are heated up, coliding more frequently with eachother and in response the wind gets rougher and faster, pushing against the sail with greater force.

Kazuha viewed the rare elementary display with gratitude, offering Scaramouche a smile and a ‘thank you’ that was immediately reciprocated. But then after a few moments Kazuha’s smile lessened and he opened his mouth to inquire, but Beidou interrupted before he could say anything.

“Hey, I didn’t know that could happen. You have to teach me sometime!" She shouted over at Scaramouche, before waving them over by the wheel where she was standing.

The two shared a glance, before they walked up to where she was together. Another member was holding up a large map of Inazuma, supposedly for their navigation.

“Now,” she gazed at the island in the distance, before glancing back at them with a smirk, “you two know this place better than we do. So, what’s the best course of action huh?"

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Turns out, Scaramouche’s military knowledge paired with Kazuhas knowledge regarding the details of Yashiori Island made them be able to forge a pretty fair stealth strategy.

They were to wait until any physical altercations began taking place before the crux would charge into battle. Coincidentally, they encountered Kokomi on the way to the battle ground too, along with some more back up from Watasumi Island. She quickly agreed to the plan and made a few ajustements before they all could get into place.

“They all look like chess pieces from up here.." He mumbled quietly to himself as his eyes flickered too and from in order to see what was going on in full detail.

From where Scaramouche was hidden, atop a cliff nearby, to get a better view of the fight and see where or who exactly the strike down, he noticed a blond braid and a floating entity. So the traveller and Paimon had found their way here aswell?

Scaramouche chuckled and smirked to himself, charging some electro in specific areas in the sky as he watched the battle soon ensue. And upon Kokomi’s graceful arrival, the crux charged into battle, and Scaramouche promptly began manipulating lightning and altering its trajectory to hit the Shogunate army.

Just as Scaramouche had predicted, the increase in number and sudden weather made Kujou Sara scowl and wisely bark orders for the army to retreat. Leaving the resistance victorious and making Scaramouche sigh in light relief despite already expecting this outcome.

His eyes watched fondly as everyone cheered victoriously. Wide spread grins on their faces and firm arms picking up their injured comrades, even members of the Crux who were probably complete strangers to the others acting like they’ve known the resistance soldiers for years with embraces and heavy pats of encouragement. It was a touching sight, seeing everyone with such high spirits really made him feel as if there truly was hope in this war.

Scaramouche’s eyes trailed over to watch the Tanuki General pouncing onto Kazuha with a wagging tail, smiling softly at the reunion between the two. He supposed it had been a while since anyone from the resistance had seen Kazuha, judging from the way a few more of Kazuha's old friends joined in on the heap.

He softly shook his head and tucked down his hat, heading back down to join the celebrations. Maybe even go speak to Beidou, who was talking with the divine priestess.

Scaramouche received numerous cheers and praise from the others, likely in regard to his aid. But there was something strange that he noticed in a large number of the people that he was briefly interacting with.

They all looked oddly pale. Maybe even paler than he was. And he wasn’t even a living being. Some also looked skinnier, compared to the last time he saw them. Which might not be a big deal, but it was a bit concerning in his eyes. Considering that he had even seen some of these people when he passed by the military camp along the way to Watasumi, and they looked just fine then.

Now, don’t get him wrong; Scaramouche was no human biologist. Sure, he read a few books over his lifetime that were far from each other in specialty regarding humans, so it was much harder to string things together, but he read them. If you asked him how things like children were conceived, or maybe why some humans are taller than others, he might be able to answer. He wasn’t the most informed, though. But he was smart enough to know that getting stronger and showing signs of a clear illness so quickly of some kind was not normal to happen in less than 24 hours. And certainly, they shouldn’t be fighting in that condition.

Scaramouche decided now would be a good time to go talk to Kokomi about it too. Surely she would have noticed the signs by now. But as he was walking to her, he heard a voice calling out to him.

“Scaramouche!!"

The puppet's nose scrunched in confusion as he remembered that voice. The high-pitched, highly uncomfortable sound of that floating fairy. Paimon, who was making her way over to him with the traveller behind her, waved her hand enthusically. Aether didn’t look as energetic, but he still smiles at him, so he nods and smirks back with a sarcastic applause.

“Well. If it isn’t those who dared to brave the lightnings glow. Escaping off to Watasumi Island I see." He declared once they got close, his arms crossed with a look of amusement on his face. Paimon giggles and sways slightly behind the traveller.

“It was suuuper scary! I mean, I thought Aether almost died! But I knew he’d survive, right, Aether?" She asks, and the blond male merely nods enthusiastically. Making Scaramouche resist the urge to roughly roll his eyes.

“But of course," he praises himself with his hands on his hips before turning to Scaramouche with a lighthearted expression, “you were right, by the way. She really does strike when you least expect it."

He said those words with a hidden undertone beneath them. Scaramouche looked back at him only with what he hoped was a neutral gaze, but likely ended up looking more bothered and irritated. For a brief moment, he considered asking him what happened. What he saw or what she said. Maybe there was even a part of him that raged, because he couldn’t have been the one to get struck down by her.

His own thoughts sickened him, and he briefly broke out of his trance at the next whine from the white-haired Paimon. “We’re not even welcome on Narukami Island anymore... I don’t know how Kazuha does it; I hate being a wanted criminal!"

Aether gave her a pat on the back, meanwhile Scaramouche this time failed to fight back the rolling of his eyes at her whining. It was their faults and their faults alone for becoming criminals anyway. He scoffed and thought to speak, then decided to jab at them instead.

“Not only a week into your arrival, and you’re already wanted by the military, and managed to challenge the god of eternity. Honestly, I don’t know if I should run away or praise you for your stupidity." Scaramouche spoke with a bit of bite and sass that made Aether frown, slightly offended.

Paimon actually giggled bashfully, making Aether raise a brow as he watched his best friend sway around like a little kid and fumble about her words, unaware that the guy just called them both reckless morons. “Ehehe… well, I have been known for my intellectually impulsive behaviours." She clarified with smartness in her voice. Scaramouche gave her a quizzical look at her reaction, but brushed it off.

“I see…," he was really getting weirded out by her, "well, travelling from Inazuma city to Yashiori island likely was exhausting. Why don’t you come to Fort Fujitou? You can both get some rest there." Scaramouche offered, as it seemed as if everybody else was already beginning to head in that direction.

Aether nodded appreciatively, Paimon humming as well in agreement. They began walking in that direction as the conversation continued. “That would be nice. My back is killing me, I need to lie down anyway." The blond shared, making Paimon look at her friend with a look of concern, judging from her upturned brows.

“Your back?" She asked. Scaramouche watched quietly as Aether nodded and rubbed his back lightly. But it was what Aether said next that actually caught his attention.

“Yea. The Shogun struck me pretty hard when she transported me to that weird empty space." Aether clarified, making his friend make an ‘oh’ sound.

Scaramouche’s brows raised in genuine surprise, and without realising it, he asked in disbelief,

“You entered the Plane of Euthymia?"

There was a look of surprise, accompanied by silence. It was then Scaramouche realised just how strange and desperate he must’ve come off, making him curse himself in his mind. But how could he not? How could he not when tone and time again, this mysterious traveller kept doing things like this that he could never even try and even gain a glance. And yet he had known her for almost 500 years.

Aether replied a few moments later, “If you mean getting transported to a dark, empty plane with red skies, then yes. What was that place anyway?"

Red skies? Last time he went there, they were grey at best. But red?? Did that mean something??

“It’s complicated. Just think of it as the inside of the Raiden Shogun's mind." Scaramouche briefly replied with as little information as he could, his mind still preoccupied with the reason why the traveler was taken there. And why was the sky was supposedly red?

Paimon gasped, “You went in her mind?! That’s so cool! What did you see there?"

And the worst part was, he couldn’t even ask for more details. He already seemed suspicious enough as it was. Scaramouche didn’t want them to realise his ties to her.

“Just… a gate, and her in the middle. Nothing else." Aether dampened, immediately making Paimon whine in disappointment.

But still, he wanted to know why, so badly. He wanted to know why she was doing this. He wanted to know what the reasoning was behind all of her actions in the past few years. He wanted to understand why he couldn’t understand her anymore.

“Oh. Well, that’s kind of boring."

He was supposed to be her vessel, but he couldn’t even comprehend her way of thinking. It irked him to his core. He wished he could just become part of her mind. Be one with her. Be with her all the time, understand her way of thinking, and be there to listen to each and every one of her thoug—

“But Scaramouche, how do you know what that place is? Have you been there before too?"

Scaramouche escaped his relentless thoughts upon hearing Aether ask him that question. He pushed down the burning feeling in his throat when he saw the traveller look at him with confusion. Fist clenching and unclenching repeatedly over and over again, he replies.

“… you could say that. But anyway, I can help you with your lightning wounds. The sooner we get to camp, the better." He offered to take their minds off the subject of himself. It worked. He thinks. And the rest of the walk was spent in a conversation that Scaramouche didn’t bother being a part of.

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Paimon wasn’t tired at all and couldn’t bear seating down in the tent Aether was getting treated in, so she flew off upon hearing the word food exiting Beidous mouth, concerning a time for rest. Leaving Aether alone with Scaramouche to attend to his wounds.

It was quiet in the tent. Scaramouche relatively wasn’t a fan of silence. But it seemed like Aether was lost in thought. Or maybe, too busy watching his every movement with poor discreet. He didn’t know, and quite frankly did not care.

Scaramouche only continued with what he was doing, which was preparing a spell for healing. He wasn’t much help in the medical field, but Yae Miko did teach him a few basics. He assumed that it would be enough to heal some lightning damage; after all, many people came to the Grand Narukami Shrine who had been hit by lightning, and due to there only being the two of them as electro users, often it would be her or him helping with that. So, he would manage.

After a few more minutes of him preparing and the staring still persisting, he turned to look at him with a look of irritation. Face scrunched and all. “Are you just going to stare at me all day, or are you going to co-operate with me so I can actually help you?"

It seemed that snapped him out of it because he blinked and quickly sat better on the stool so he could access him better. “….sorry." He muttered. Scaramouche huffed and took his materials in hand, sitting on the stool behind Aether to begin surveying how bad the damage was.

His eyes trailed down to the exposed skin on his back, and there he could make out a few faint lines of lightning strike scars etched onto his sun tanned skin. He looked at them with a fleeting sense of sympathy in his eyes. Seeing how easily she hurt other people made him hate her even more.

“Take off your shirt." Scaramouche demanded, pausing a minute later to briefly consider if he came off too strong, judging from the concerned and weary side glance Aether gave him. But Scaramouche didn’t care enough to change his tone, so he only tapped his own arm impatiently while looking back at Aether. Raising a brow impatiently.

Aether eventually slipped his shirt off once seeing that Scaramouches patience was thinning, setting it aside on the table after. And this time it was Scaramouche's time to stare. Not because he had what should be considered a nicely toned build, but rather because of the scars.

His upper body was littered with various burn marks and healed gashes, and to top it all off, there was a lightning scar travelling down his spine and into small roots. Scaramouche, for some odd reason, couldn’t take his eyes off of it. It made him feel sad. Maybe.

“It must hurt to get hit by the Almighty Shogun like that." He looks up at Aether as the words leave his mouth without considering if the blonde would even like to answer him. He adds, "You should be proud, though. Not many live to tell the tale."

Aether didn’t seem to mind, Scaramouche thought. “Yea, but it wasn’t a very smart idea. I’m sure those scars are going to stay for a while. Besides the scars themselves, the aftermath left behind by them will probably hurt even more later." He told Scaramouche. He could only hummed in acknowledgment, a feeling somewhat of familiarity making itself known to him again.

He performed a small spell, one that would often be used on those who had been unfortunate enough to receive a quick strike in the wilderness. It was easy for him due to harbouring the power of electro, so he did what he needed to do and watched as electro seeped out of Aether's body and into his palms.

Aether looks bewildered at the exchange, his expression enough to make Scaramouche crack a smirk. But the smugness faded once he reminded himself of what really he was doing here.

It was strange. The traveller, he meant. He was strange. He didn’t mean to say it, but usually when he would encounter things that felt odd or he didn’t understand, he called them it. Anyway, Scaramouche could tell just by this exchange that something wasn’t right with him. Maybe that’s why she attempted to kill him. She would absolutely not like it if anything she deemed unknown or a threat intervened with her ‘eternity.’

“How do you use electro if you don’t have a vision?"

Scaramouche at first was confused about what he was talking about, but soon the feeling replaced itself with discomfort when he realised he was actually using electro in this purifying ritual.

He didn’t know what to say, so he decided to flip the coin on him as he began finishing up what he was doing.

“It’s odd when I do it." He flickered his eyes at the purple glow coating Aether's clothing, "but it’s perfectly normal when you do it." He said. His tone is not sounding more irked than nonchalant, but what can he do about it? He didn’t like whenever people nowadays questioned him for whatever small reason it may be.

Aether paused at the tone, glancing at himself with a pensive look of thought. “I’m not from Teyvat, so maybe that’s why. But I don’t know why I can use it." He shrugged, playing with his glove while glancing at him. “But what about you?"

Scaramouche bit his tongue as he was about to let out another snarky ‘Why do you care anyway?’, but stopped himself upon realising it was stupid to be so vile when asked a simple question. It’s not like he wouldn’t be curious as well if he were Aether. He was, after all, just as curious as he was once. But in cases like these, curiosity is not always a good thing.

He quietly took some pain relief body oils and oiled his hands as he lulled on a response. Ultimately, he decided to tell him,

“Im not going to answer that. But I will tell you this: curiosity kills the cat." Scaramouche said. Whether it was a warning or a statement, Aether didn’t know. What he did know, though, was that Scaramouche’s hands felt awfully cold and firm against his back. but oddly gentle at the same time.

The traveller smiles at him.

“Well, a cat has nine lives, right?"

Scaramouche’s eyes widened a bit, and his expression was much like that of a cat as well. Before it morphed into one of annoyance and bafflement. With a hand rubbing the medicine into the tenacious and wide-ranging scar along the foreigner's back, which looked like it would sting for a long time, he might add, he wondered how Aether could still make comments like that. Despite how many times he had already almost died.

He rolled his eyes and began to bandage up the wounds. "After your little encounter with the Shogun, I’m sure we can reduce that number to four." He seethed between his teeth and said, "Don't make me turn that into 3." He took amusement in the way Aether frowned, seemingly at a loss for a response.

The rest of their time was spent relatively silently afterwards. Scaramouche finished caring for the wound and told him to avoid straining his back too much for a few days. Though he knew Aether wouldn’t listen to him anyway.

Instead, now Scaramouche stepped outside the tent to gaze at the far distance. He had just finished up his task here in camp, so now wouldn’t be an odd time to complete his other task at hand, which was to investigate.

Prior to this event, Yae Miko sent that there was also some Fatui reported on Yashiroi Island, a little west to the coastline. It wouldn’t be bold to assume they were related to the ones dealing in the resistance, or even the ones that had that map he found earlier. So he was going to investigate, preferably right at that moment.

Scaramouche put on his kasa, tilting it up slightly to catch a glimpse at the grey weather with a frown, before beginning to head out of the campsite and into the wilderness.

He made it just outside before he heard some footsteps and two voices, the traveller and Paimon, calling after him. Again.

Scaramouches expression twisted into a scowl, not stopping to wait for them but instead walking slower and allowing the two to catch up to his pace.

They caught their breath upon arrival, actually why was Paimon exhausted? She did not even use her legs. Anyway, Scaramouche waits until a high toned voice speaks first to him. "Where are you going now Scaramouche? Shouldn’t you be back at camp?"

Scaramouche frowns, because they are the ones who should be in camp. Resting while they had the chance, and not following him around like little stray tanuki. “I just want to make sure there’s no shogunate or anything nearby. People are recovering in camp, so there should be no risk of threat." He explained.

Which, wasn’t a lie really. That was what he would be doing, but he would also be grabbed intel on the side. It would be easier to accomplish it on his own than together with these two as extra luggage.

They were going to offer help. “We can help!" Of course. Scaramouche sighed. He could go on a tangent about how they always end up in near death experiences because they keep offering their help, even when it’s not needed. But he kept his lips pressed together and didn’t say it aloud.

Instead he warned them. “It’s dangerous out here. There’s rouge samurai and ronin that could attack at any moment, and Aether, you shouldn’t be straining your body if you want to recover well." just like he had before. But of course they didn’t listen to him. They never did. And then they got surprised whenever they end up in deep rooted problems that are too big for them to handle.

“We can help!—" Of course. “Aether is really good at fighting people, and we were gonna need to explore the area anyway! Plus, Paimon is even better at keeping people company." She laughed nervously when Scaramouche gave her a quizzical look at the last sentence. Meanwhile, Aether looks at Paimon with unamusement.

Well, he ended up having to go with them anyway, primarily because they wouldn’t leave him alone. So now they were heading east of Fort Fujito, with Scaramouche walking silently and the two along with him chatting quietly to themselves. Quietly, because Scaramouche glared at them if their voices were even a decibel higher than a whisper.

It was getting annoying, though, hearing Paimon and Aether whispering so blatantly about him, as if he were not literally right in front of them. It’s not like he cared when people did, but something about it just made him annoyed. Especially with how they weren’t even ‘exploring the area’ like they said they would be doing.

When Paimon made some comment about using his hat as an umbrella, that’s when Scaramouche lost it and was about to blow off on them before he heard some voices in the distance.

“Stay down, and stay quiet." Scaramouche hissed sharply in a tone that made the two immediately shut up and crouch down; no questions asked. The reason he told them to do that was because the voices being heard turned out to be two Fatui skirmishers heading in the direction of a campsite they must’ve set up.

Scaramouche crouched down as well, taking off his hat and tuning into the conversation they were having.

“…we need a new dispatch of crystal marrow soon, but I’m getting tired of carrying those boxes all the way to the factory."

“Yea. But don’t worry, it will all pay off once we complete the mission and get promoted. All we need to do is help get this crystal marrow so they can keep supplying delusions. It’s as simple as that."

“I guess so. The Doctor is really smart for coming up with a plan like this. The sooner we help him kill off all those idiot soldiers in the resistance, the better."

Scaramouche’s face distorted into one of horror while the Fatui Skirmishers barked in sick and sinister laughter.

“All hail II Dottore!"

My darling,

you will never be unloved by me
even in my ignorance
you are well too tangled in my soul.

Chapter Text

"All hail II Dottore!"

Scaramouches eyes widened in shock and horror at their words. He couldn’t believe it. No, he didn’t know why he hadn’t suspected it sooner. He knew something was wrong ever since this entire decree ordeal had started.

Questions blazed through his mind, unaware of the confused looks he received from the traveller. How long have they been planning this? It probably didn’t even reach its end at the resistance. There must be some other ulterior motives, after all, that is always how the Fatui worked in public. Who was involved? Was she aware?

“Eh!? It’s the Fatui! Why are we crouched here then? let’s go show them who’s boss!" Paimon whisper-jeered to them, but the traveller didn’t move. Still observing Scaramouches sudden odd behaviour. He personally didn’t really hear anything strange, so he wondered what had caught his interest.

She knew. Oh, how foolish he is to assume she did not know. The thought caused Scaramouche to suddenly laugh aloud and drop his hat. Alerting the fatui soldiers in the process and immediately getting them all discovered. Paimon shrieked and hid. The traveller drew out his sword, preparing for battle.

The blonde had charged, and already beginning dealing with the two enemies without much of a word being said. Scaramouche was stuck in his spot. Chuckling with an expression of pure anger on his face as he thought of how absurd this all was becoming now. How truly bizarre...

Supply of Delusions? Crystal marrow? Factory? II Dottore? He must be one of the Fatui’s Harbingers. Once again, the Fatui is causing problems and she is just watching. He was so angry, he had so much on his mind, he couldn’t even think to—

The palm of his hand firmly made an impact with a large iron hammer, the ‘Clank’ sound of metal against metal making harsh contact confusing the electro skirmisher in the split second he was allowed coherent thought before the weapon was ripped out of his hands and cold fingers lethally embraced his neck. He took in a quick intake of air before a flash of purple and a blood-curdling scream escaped him. The sudden and brutal electro intake sent the skirmisher out of his miserly immediately. He fell before the short male.

Scaramouche hadn’t intended to kill. He turned sharply to look at the other but only saw that he must have struck him down by mistake as well. He only saw another charred lifeless form on the ground, and a clearly horrified-looking foreigner staring back at him. Paimon too, from the panicked gasp she emitted.

He didn’t mean to kill them. He needed them alive. But his temper got the best of him again. He was so brutal as well. He felt like a monster. They looked at him like he was.

“…what was that? Are you okay?" ‘You’re acting weird’ was left unsaid. Paimon flew closer to the two, coming out of hiding and agreeing with a nod.

“How did you do that??"

For some reason, it suddenly occurred to Scaramouche that the two of them hadn’t heard what he heard earlier due to the way they seemed unbothered, and for some reason that made him feel tense. He didn’t want to drag them into this at all. Also, he didn’t like that they just got here and they were already so deeply mangled up into Inazumas business. They shouldn’t know about this stuff. It doesn’t even concern them.

It is for the best. The traveller was not here to help them. He was here for his sister, something that it seemed like everyone kept forgetting, including himself. So with his better judgment, and a bitter taste on his tongue, he spoke. ”I am okay. But them…" He glanced down at the sizzling flesh, frowning at how fragile human bodies are to already be diminished after something like that, “…they aren’t."

The traveller looked at him oddly with a look of possible suspicion. Paimon was still looking terrified. “Paimon doesn’t want to be burnt! I mean— Paimon knows they’re fatui but…. that was totally brutal." Her voice reached his ears loudly and only kept increasing in volume. He scrunched his face up slightly.

His ears. They were ringing a bit. He had a lot to think about. He had a lot to do and he had a lot on his mind. He absolutely did not care about Paimons useless words, and he didn’t have enough of that patience left within him to throw himself out of the traveller's suspicion. He wasn’t suspicious. It was the traveller who was the suspicious one here.

“The fatui is our enemy. They deserve no sympathy." Scaramouche wiped his hand clean on his shorts, slipping back on his hat in a practised motion and glaring over at them harshly. Paimon whimpered and hid. The traveller only frowned at him like he was a deranged animal he wasn’t able to understand. Scaramouche didn’t like the way he was being looked at. Like he was trying to peel at his surface.

“You two should go back to camp. Perhaps join everyone else as they go back to Watasumi." I don’t care what you do now, just leave me alone. “It’s really not safe out here." He watched as Paimon furrowed her brows, likely about to interject.

But, thankfully, the traveller wasn’t so complicated. He nodded in understanding, waving and just easily tugging Paimon along with him by her ankle. He left so easily, he saved Scaramouche the trouble of making himself do it. The blonde must’ve been able to tell he was distraught right now.

He was. He was. It was like, his mind was falling slowly into despair already because he didn’t understand, even what a delusion was. It’s the Fatui. The Fatui are back at it again and he hates them for it. Why isn’t the Shogun doing anything? Isn’t this her job and not his?

He watched the two leave before his attention was drawn to the Fatui soldiers below him with fury pulsing through his ‘veins’. He lifted his right leg, before roughly kicking the skirmisher’s body. “Get up."

He was met with no response. Again, he kicked at him. Nothing. Tormenting him with the silence of his dead body that he was responsible for.

Scaramouche kicked again and again and again. And again and again. He wanted to yell. He wanted to curse at someone, the gods, mortals. The gods, for sitting o so high and mighty above everything else despite the weight of their sins that have an even greater weight than whatever punny humans, and their soft flesh bodies and ambitions had to offer.

He stopped attacking the corpse, seeing that it was doing nothing but making him feel more pathetic than he already was. The puppet frowned. Crouching down, he began searching their bodies for anything useful instead.

He didn’t understand why he behaved in the way that he did. He loved humans. He loved them, at some point, he even wanted to be them. He was fighting and doing all of this, for them. Despite how easily some of them give in to their desires, he understood that some of them weren’t like that. Like the people at the resistance.

He frowned more because now he was starting to doubt that. This thing with the delusions, it was clear as day to him what was going on. How else were they getting in humanely strong at such a fast rate with little practice? His hypothesis was this. The Fatui were supplying people with these ‘delusions’, probably made from illegally acquired crystal marrow, and they had a factory set up somewhere supplying them.

His search was useless and he found nothing because everything was burnt. He stood up, looking up at the greying clouds as he contemplated his next moves. It was important to take a moment to stop and remember what his goal was here, to begin with.

The puppet decided that it would be best if he first went to speak to the divine priestesses concerning this new ‘sponsor’ because the two still haven’t had the time to formally discuss yet as he intended previously. He would see what he would do from then on. Likely some investigation of some sort because truthfully he was not aware of what a ‘delusion’ did or much at all about it being made by the Fatui and having lethal side effects.

Besides, he also didn’t think it would just be a good idea to storm off and blindly infiltrate the factory. Not because he couldn’t on his own, but more because that would just be stupid and he’d probably end up causing more problems than they already had caused. The fatui are probably already suspicious and on guard with how many of their soldiers he kills daily.

Scaramouche tsk’d with annoyance, tilting his hat over his eyes and using the grass to wipe the red liquid on his shoes off before walking over to the shore to catch a boat to Watasumi.

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“Food supplies are the absolute top priority, period. We cannot afford any more losses." Kokomi sat opposite him on her desk. Her hands were firmly held together up to her chin in deep thought. “The supply you provide for us is something we are indeed grateful for, extremely. But, unfortunately, it is not enough on its own."

Scaramouche stared back at her. His lips held in a tight line as he heard her concerns. He responded curtly, “I have reason to believe this ‘sponsor’ is not as trustworthy as they may seem, and I would advise that you avoid usage of their items." Her eyes drifted to the side.

“I am well aware that we do not know the source of these goods—" she didn’t know who their sponsor was? "—but we have no reason to truly be suspicious. Nor are we in a position where we can refuse the help." Kokomi pointed out to him.

Scaramouche’s brows furrowed as he asked, “You don’t know who the sponsor is?"

She shook her head. A small frown at play on her lips. “No, unfortunately. We only received the goods, but there was no identification attached to it. No one knows who it is."

Scaramouche looked confused. Because he thought she knew. After all, that is what Kazuha said…

(…)

"… but as for resources concerning food, do not worry. The resources you’ve been providing them, combined with the ones of their other sponsor is effective enough."

He furrowed his brows, “… sponsor?"

“Yes. I'm sure you have heard of the ‘Fatui.’"

(…)

…that’s right, Kazuha told him the sponsor was the Fatui. But now here the leader of the resistance was, saying she doesn’t know who the sponsor is. No one knows.

His eyes tightened closed and he rubbed his forehead. He could feel his core heating too warm for his liking. And his head hurt.

He had been trying to ignore it, passing these instances off as nothing but an error, but for some reason, his memory seemed to be slipping through his fingers. He often remembered having conversations that never even happened. Who’s to say Kazuha did actually say that? How would he know?

What if the fatui from earlier: Was what they said ʳᵉᵃˡ either? The traveller and Paimon didn’t hear them, only he did. What if they never even said that at all?

ᵂᵃˢ ᵃⁿʸ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᶦˢ ᵉᵛᵉⁿ ʳᵉᵃˡˀ

“I apologise if I am mistaken, but do you know who they are, lord Scaramouche?"

Scaramouche made eye contact with her as she asked him that question with what seemed to be hope in her eyes. Scaramouche shifted his gaze away. He tilted his hat over his face slightly.

“I know just about nothing about them. But—" ᴴᵉ ᵈᶦᵈⁿ’ᵗ ᵗʳᵘˢᵗ ʰᶦˢ ᵒʷⁿ ᵐᵉᵐᵒʳʸ, ˢᵒᵐᵉᵗʰᶦⁿᵍ ʷᵃˢ ʷʳᵒⁿᵍ, “—have my suspicions. Please allow me to investigate this sponsor further." He insisted.

Kokomi noticed that he was very insistent on not trusting this sponsor, but in the state that they were in they needed all the support they could get. She did understand his concern though. So, she shifted over to her desk and promptly took out a few thin documents. Handing them to him.

“We have already been taking a few notes on them, so perhaps this could help you with your investigation." He took the papers gingerly and skimmed over the front page before glancing up at her with inquisitive indigo eyes as she continued. "There has been nothing really useful that we have taken note of. But it’s a start at least."

Scaramouche holds his lips in a tight line before he parts them to speak. “Thank you. I’ll come back within a week if I do find anything." He tells her with a light nod of his head. She nods back at him with a look of trust and respect. The higher superior could only store the paper away in the folds of his clothing.

He turned a foot and began to walk out of the room. His fingers pulled aside to open the doors before being met with a light yelp in startle and light blue eyes widening in his direction.

“Ah, my apologies for bumping into you, Lord Scaramouche." Gorou looked firm and saluted, despite the way his ears were pressed to his head. Scaramouche, who wasn’t affected by this, merely nodded with a hum in response. Shifting around a little with the general until they had switched positions with each other.

Scaramouche suddenly put two and two together, “is the Crux fleet still around?" He had to ask. Gorou looked a bit confused by the furrow of his brows, but the quick display was over as he remembered and nodded with a smile.

“Yes, they’re around. Kazuha and the others are in Bourou village. I think they’ll be sticking around for a few more days." Scaramouche nodded, straining his joints to offer a small, faint smile, before huffing and walking off in the direction of the exit.

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Three days, that’s how long Scaramouche spent watching and listening around the Yasihori island for even the slightest hint that his suspicions were not all based on pure delusion. Did he find anything useful? Yes. The fatui did seem to have some kind of top-secret operations involving imported crystal marrow. However, he hadn’t confirmed if much else of his hypothesis was true.

He really shot himself in the foot by killing various fatuus on Watasumi and expecting the Fatui to not alter their organisation on the islands in suspicion of his actions already. One person more bloodshed and he would jeopardise all his progress by making them even more discreet than they already were, which prevented him from figuring out a magnitude of things easily. He couldn’t confirm anything. Not even if there truly was a factory or that the Harbinger II Dottore was here. The constant thought that he was somewhere in Inazuma currently made his skin as if ants were crawling down his spine. Maybe he knew Escher.

His mind was all over the place. So much so that he often forgot why he was there in the first place, to investigate the resistance soldiers. Was it? The puppet was certain it had something to do with them.

Scaramouche found himself now at Fort Mumei. A small island of ruins that once, during the Archon War, was used as a supply transit. That was as much as he knew by default memory.

Anyway, he was there due to reports of disappearing supply carts that were not being delivered to Watasumi Island. According to what was stated in the documents the Divine priestess graciously lent to him, they were disappearing despite there being no threat. And that was suspicious enough to have Scaramouche already investigating in hopes that it would reveal something concerning the fatui.

He was crouched down and investigating some electro monuments he found when suddenly he heard the chirp of a finch fluttering his way and weightlessly settling on his hat. He swatted the bird offhandedly with his right hand, but the pesky animal came right back. This time having the audacity to rest on his shoulder.

Scaramouche sighed and looked at his shoulder, his gaze softening when he recognised the finch and saw the tiny scroll of letter tied to its leg. He smiled a little and brought a finger upward to nub the animal's fluffy chin.

He relished in the cooing sound it made before he stood up upon hearing some footsteps behind him. The bird fled his shoulder, and he turned in the direction of the sound. Straining his ears to listen. But he didn’t have to strain too much at all to hear the loud squeaky voice of Paimon reaching his ears.

He sighed, already preparing himself for confrontation. It was only a few seconds more before he heard a surprised gasp and footsteps drawing closer. So he crossed his arms and looked up to meet the newcomers.

“Huh. So we meet again."

The blonde traveller and flying companion stop a few feet before him. Smiles on their faces at the sight of Scaramouche. “Hey, Scaramouche! We didn’t expect to meet you here today." Paimon chirped. Her friend nodded in agreement.

”Well," Scaramouche gestured to themselves plainly, “we do have a habit of meeting in the unexpected places." He truthfully admitted while he took a moment to scan the two for any changes since the last time they met. At first glance, he didn’t see much of a difference. “Mind explaining why you’re here?"

The traveller raised a brow, about to ask him to explain first instead. But Paimon interrupted with a bashful giggle as she willingly exclaimed, “Well, you know us heroes. We recently got promoted as captains! Of the swordfish II division!" The blonde gave her an unimpressed look as she basically licked through the boot of the mysterious male in front of them once again.

The traveller only nodded in agreement afterwards though. His hands were placed on his hips as he added on. “Kokomi actually sent us to investigate this island. She said that supplies have been going missing with no trace left behind and she wanted us to investigate."

That was the same reason why he was there. But he did assume it was going to be similar due to just how strange it was for the travellers to end up here of all places. “What a coincidence. I’m here to investigate that same thing."

The traveller raised a brow at him for a second time now, likely suspicious. But Paimon only smiled widely. Not thinking anything of it at all. ”Wow, now that you’re here things are going to go by way more easier."

Scaramouche nodded his head and looked over at Aether. He didn’t care if the traveller was suspicious of him. Scaramouche just wanted to get things over with. Besides, that finch was still sitting on his hat. He probably looked stupid in his opinion.

He motioned to the electro monument behind him. ”I was just checking out these monuments. I assume there is a pattern of some kind to solve. Maybe that will help give us a hint." It was like he was spoon-feeding the answers into their mouths. The two seemed to agree with him immediately and soon they started getting to work.

It wasn’t a complicated puzzle. The fact that the traveller wielded electro also saved him from having to do much of his own work apart from subtly hinting at the solutions. The most complicated part of the whole ordeal was probably the Thunderhelm Lawachurl that spawned out of nowhere and began aggressively attacking them. The aggression seemed to be linked to the lingering tatarigami it seemed to be affected by. The odd creature even managed to scare away his mom’s messenger finch. He didn’t know how he would find the bird again.

But he left the traveller to deal with it just to get a chance to watch him in battle with fascination. Once he was done, Scaramouche and Paimon returned to his side.

“Guys! Did you see the purple stuff that thing was emitting? Paimons never seen a lawachurl like that before." She said with a troubled expression.

The traveller nodded in agreement as he disappeared his sword. "It seemed much more aggressive than the ones we’ve seen before." He added. Then the two turned to look at Scaramouche as if it was his cue to offer an explanation to them.

And actually, he was about to. That was until he heard coughing and the slow dragging of feet. They all heard it too because all three of them turned in the direction the sound was coming from.

“Teppei?? Is that you?" Paimon rudely exclaimed in surprise at his physical appearance. Though to be frank, even Scaramouche was not expecting what he saw.

Teppei looked oddly sick.

His hair was greying at the roots, his skin had wrinkles that showed unglamorous signs of age and he was coughing as if he was terminally ill, if he were to put it kindly. Even the sluggish way in which he was walking made Scaramouche recoil. He looked absolutely nothing like he had before when he saw the young soldier just a few days ago.

Scaramouche did not think that anyone in his condition should be anywhere but resting at home. Yet here he was, spear in hand as he waved at them. He attempted to bow down in acknowledgement at the dark-haired male but Scaramouche quickly shook his head and waved his hand to dismiss him.

“Greetings, Lord Scaramouche. Hey traveller," he coughs harshly into his fist before rasping out, "..and Paimon!"

The travellers and Scaramouche all seemed to have the same concerned expressions on their faces. Paimon tried to say something positive, but she was seemingly at a loss for words.

“Teppei! You seem…. Uhm…" She trailed off while scratching her head with furrowed brows. Aether only continued to stare until he had to clear his throat and speak up. Offering an uneasy smile.

“What brings you here? It’s a bit far from the main front."

Scaramouche observed the way the soldier behaved. He coughed into his sleeve before rubbing the back of his neck with slightly pruned fingers. It concerned him just how much older he looked compared to the last time he saw him.

Teppei finished coughing before sighing and dusting his pants off a bit. ”Aha, well I just got done delivering supplies from Watasumi Island to,” he coughs, “the main front, and I just thought I’d pass by to check for anything…" he coughs once more with more ferocity.
“…sus… suspicious."

Scaramouche unconsciously stepped away from the conversation in thought while he listened to it go on with a now even more concerned Paimon and Aether. “Well, we’re all here for the same thing too! We just finished dealing with the problem, so no worries. You shouldn’t stress yourself Teppei. ‘Cause to be honest…," she scanned him up and down with a look of dismay and worry, "you’re lookin’ kinda rough."

Scaramouche examined his features once more. Deciding that now would be a good time to investigate whether or not his hypothesis was correct. “You look pale and you are coughing. Are you perhaps ill?" He first asked.

Teppei cleared his throat as he seemed to have gotten all the hints they were throwing his way. Waving them all off. “Oh me? Well, I guess I picked up a cold from when I was out a sea, but apart from that, I feel perfectly fine! Climbing the ranks and…." Scaramouche watched as Teppei hacked a couple of times. Making mental highlight of it, "supporting the people of the resistance." He finished.

He didn’t believe much of what he said, apart from the climbing the ranks part. That he knew was true because he noticed just how fast Teppei was becoming stronger within the week. It wasn’t normal. Scaramouche was beginning to form an idea as to what was going on.

In real time he just pressed his lips into a thin line and nodded. “Alright. If you say so. But I wouldn’t recommend fighting until you have recovered. You’ll do more harm than good if you continue like this." Teppei scratched the back of his neck at the stern scolding. Only nodding in response.

"I appreciate your concern, but you have nothing to worry about. I’m fine! Really!"

The others did not look so convinced by his words and they ended up dwindling into an unsure but tense silence. Scaramouche observed as Paimon uncomfortably played with her sleeves. Thinking about the situation with a blank expression.

Paimon seemed to finally have broken and spoke up about what had been making her uncomfortable. "…Teppei, do you also feel weird here?"

Scaramouche raised a brow faintly at the question. He didn’t feel anything strange. He assumed they were talking about— “Uh yeah.." he paused to clear his throat before continuing to hoarsely speak, "My I can kind of feel what you’re feeling. But I just thought it was the lingering tartarigami. We are kind of close to Orobashi’s remains."

Aether's brows furrowed slightly in confusion at the terminology. Meanwhile Paimon audibly ‘huh’d with a pensive look before suddenly having a clue as to what Teppei meant.

“Wait.. you mean that big snake skeleton… what??" Paimon tilted her head in bafflement. Scaramouche watched as Teppei nodded in confirmation.

“Yea, Orobaxi. It was the g… the.." He coughed harshly into his arm before he took in a few ragged breaths. After that, he scratched his head sheepishly while turning to Scaramouche hopefully.

Scaramouche sighed as he was now expected to do the explaining. He took a moment to remember through his creator's memories who Orobashi was. Soon, his lips parted as he recalled it with distinctive detail.

“The Watasumi Omikami, or Orobaxi, was the guardian deity of the Watasumi Island ancestry. It was a silver-coloured, ancient dragon-like serpent that had gotten defeated by the Raiden Shogun right there on Yashiroi Island during the war against Watasumi, centuries ago.”

He paused for a moment before, almost mechanically, he turned his body north in the direction of the gorge on the neighbouring Island. His hand lifted to the point where it was exactly as he added on.

“You ever stopped to notice that gorge with the static like electricity? Well, that is where the Raiden Shogun used her weapon, Muso no Hitotachi, to slay the serpent with one singular strike." His hand slowly lowered and instead, he shifted his posture into one where he was crossing his arms while he concluded his brief trip down memory lane. "It had fallen, but as a result of this death, its power still lingers in the form of that purple-looking mist you saw on that lawachurl. Tatarigami.”

Aether and Paimon marvelled in slight awe and surprise at the story and the sheer strength of which the Shogun wielded. Teppei smiled and contributed enthusiastically. “Rumour has it that she also lost something very dear to her in that war. It’s all foggy, so I can’t remember..." He rubbed his head slowly to recall how the saying went. Meanwhile, the three missed the subtle grimace nesting itself on Scaramouches soft features.

“So the shogunate and you guys on Watasumi must not like each other huh?" Paimon loudly pondered while turning to look at Teppei.

Teppei coughed into his fist and shook his head before placing a palm on his heart. “Don’t misunderstand me, our past disagreements have nothing to do with what is going on right now. I mean, back then, Orabaxi did some bad things and it more or less did deserve some punishment. But now, it’s the Shogun that’s turning against her own people. It’s only right that we have to stand up against her as well."

It’s only right that we have to stand up against her as well.

Scaramouche clenched his fists into balls. This was all so sick and twisted. Stand up against her? Through what? Obtaining power beyond their means and slowly killing themselves in the process all in the name of good? It was so pathetic. This idea of human ambition, so innocent, and yet these people were taking advantage of it. The Fatui.

The Fatui. He was almost certain now that it really was them. It all made sense. He was so sure this entire time, they were doing something behind the scenes. He was so sure.. he was so sure that…

“Traveller, Paimon. I have to go handle a few things. You two should make sure Teppei gets to Watasumi Island without straining himself any more than this."

The traveller gave him a strange look as he departed with no other word, and a finch settling on the brim of his hat.

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Chapter Text

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The puppet narrowed his eyes as he stood at the supposed location of where he had decided the delusion factory to be based on what he had choked out from some Fatui skirmishers and his calculation. It was a pile of rocks that he assumed he could break to reveal the entrance. It didn’t help that it was raining, and the lightning on Yashiori Island was not friendly. But it didn’t matter. How could he even spare a second thought to the rain, when he had just found out that he was right all along?

He took out the piece of heavy metal from beneath his robes. The touch was cold on his synthetic skin, but hot with the leftover ambition of its previous owner. It was called a ‘delusion’, according to the Watasumi soldier he had confiscated it from. And the strong sense of elemental energy and crystal marrow was apparently being emitted from the domain in front of him. The main ‘Delusion Factory’ branch of the Fatui in Inazuma.

A delusion seems to be an artificial vision-like object that was being supplied by the Fatui. Supposedly, they were even more powerful than visions. He knew little about it. However, as for how he had acquired it…

(….)

“Have you seen Kazuha?"

Another useless response Scaramouche received. He grits his teeth and nods before walking off to continue looking for the wanted samurai. He was sure that he’d find the other somewhere nearby. He shouldn’t be gone yet, so he continued walking forward while keeping an eye out.

Spotting a strip of red resting by a nearby house, he found the one he was looking for. Kazuha was seated there on the ground with a leaf dwindling between his fingers. He smiled up at Scaramouche. "Your grace, I could hear you looking for me?"

Scaramouche pursed his lips slightly in contemplation of what was about to happen. He nodded and spoke, "I need your help, urgently. I have a hypothesis, and I’m having trouble finding the right evidence that I need.” He spoke vaguely and directly. Kazuha furrowed his brows, but he stood up from his position.

"Oh? Is that so? Then how may I be of assistance to you?"

Scaramouche grazed his teeth along the bottom of his lip as he tried to word appropriately.

"I think that the soldiers are in possession of harmful enhancement weaponry that’s being supplied by the Fatui, and I wish to confirm whether it’s true or not. It is for the best that we find somebody that we may.."

he trailed off, before settling on the word,

"interrogate."

Kazuha stared at him in silence for a few long moments, a look of contemplation and thought gracing his features. He did, however, nod firmly and sigh.

"Well, I cannot assure you that people will be cooperative. However, I know of a few people we may choose to inquire with first. If I may lead the way.”

(….)

Kazuha was right. They were not cooperative until other means of manipulation had to be used. It was not like Scaramouche enjoyed hurting people, but there were some cases where that was simply what one must do to get what they want. It was slightly jarring to witness somebody as soft-spoken as Kazuha threaten people though.

The man knew no more than that it was obtained from their new sponsors that Scaramouche assumed to be the Fatui. Henceforth, here he was. Here to, essentially, destroy this facility and everything or one, inside of it.

Therefore with no real logical plan, and a gaping hole filled with burning hot hatred, he broke down the rocks before him and set foot into the facility.

The facility was dark, with a strange purple mist simply wafting through the air or coming from beneath the wooden floorboards and an overwhelming amount of power coming from the centre. There were also a few traps set in place as well, such as falling ceilings that he encountered when he walked into the first hallway. But they were armature and easily avoidable for someone who paid attention to their surroundings. Also, the place had a wide variety of crystal marrow in stock simply held in crates. The Kanjou commission was responsible for collecting crystal marrow for commerce, so he couldn’t help but assume that they were the ones providing the Fatui with all this. He made sure to make a note of that and bring it up further with Yae Miko once he settled this.

He didn’t have a chance to ponder on how disappointed she would be if she had known what he was planning on doing because he was attacked by some Fatui. This brought him to his next point of interest.

The facility was filled with Fatui, that much he expected. However, he saw no problem with this. It was what he had been doing for the past weeks alone anyway.

A crashing electro hammer was met with the rough palm of his hand, and the bullets from their guns were not as fast as the overwhelming wave of electro he would send pulsing through their fragile bodies. Once each one of the brief encounters was finished, he would stop to survey the surroundings.

From what he could see, there was a clear puzzle-ridden path he could follow to find the centre of the building and start from there, where the overwhelming majority of the energy he was feeling came from. But he decided that he wanted to be quick, so he found a ladder and began climbing it. Moving in the direction of the source.

The puppet climbed and jumped and killed whatever came before him. His sole purpose in his mind was to put an end to this, and a smaller part of him wondered why he was even going through all the energy when he was sure that soon the Divine priestess would send the traveller or someone else to come and do what he was doing.

But there was something within him that just wouldn’t let him turn away, perhaps the small spec of curiosity that still wouldn’t go away, or the thought that he’d meet that harbinger here, II Dottore. Or maybe even Escher. Regardless, it was too late to turn back on everything now. He had already dropped down into an open room filled with the gas in the rest of the facility.

He got up from his position and dusted himself off. It was as if almost they had sensed his presence because several Fatui members had emerged intending to fight him.

"Do not let them impede the work of the Harbingers.” They said.

He scoffed and slowly summoned his catalyst to quickly wrap this up. He didn’t like the fact that they were more than him and constantly took advantage of that, but still, he managed to eradicate them all quickly.

The puppet stopped for a moment when he thought he cleared them all out, but then he saw the large doors that he avoided coming inside with open to reveal a blonde head and a floating white companion. He didn’t expect to see them here already, and it seemed to him that they felt the same way.

Before he could even think of speaking, he saw the traveller's eyes widen and Paimon pointing behind him, so he quickly turned and materialised his sword to break the bullet from the second wave of Fatui that had shown up. He huffed as he glared at them for almost injuring him.

The traveller seemed to understand that he had just walked into a battle, so quickly he materialised his weapon and began helping defeat the Fatui that had appeared. It certainly did make things easier for the puppet, but he didn’t fail to notice how viciously the traveller fought this time around. He wondered why that was.

After defeating them and another mirror maiden, the puppet finally tucked away his weapon so that he could speak to the two newcomers. They stood before him, one huffing as the aftermath of battle while the other looked distraught.

Paimon opened her mouth, but the puppet immediately furrowed his brows and tugged the two behind him as he heard the sound of heavy footsteps and fabric clapping against fabric. The uneasy feeling he was getting came from that direction as somebody emerged from the purple gas.

"Well well, I was not expecting so many guests to arrive here. However, as the saying goes; the more the merrier."

The puppet's eyes widened slightly as he watched a man appear before them. He had short and curly pale blue hair, with a long white coat over a white dress shirt and a pink bow tie. A pinstriped vest underneath and dark pants. The man also had a black and white mask covering all of his face save his right cheek and half of his grin. The Fatui symbol proudly at the top left corner of this mask.

While he took all of this in, Paimon spoke up first. "Hey.. who are you? Are you another one of the Fatui Harbingers, like Signora and Childe?" She shouted.

The man laughed and raised his brows in a way that left the puppet feeling uncertainly pooled in his stomach. "I never knew that you two were acquainted with some of my fellow… colleagues. However, yes, you are indeed correct."

He paused to compose himself it seemed, before his gaze began lingering on them like a predator watching prey. "I must admit, I was very excited to meet you, traveller. Though I am acquainted with one of you already, so that makes things easier for me." The piercing red eyes stopped upon the puppet.

His first instinct was immediately to snarl in refusal at the accusation. He didn’t know what this Harbinger was saying. Immediately he responded, "I have never met you before."

The traveller kept his teeth clenched while he watched the harbinger fake pout at Scaramouche as if the words he spoke truly hurt his feelings. "Aww, don’t recognise me? But how could you forget your loyal companion Escher? After all, we were the closest companions in all of Teyvat at the time.

Isn’t that right, Kunikuzushi?"

Kunikuzushi’s pupils shrunk as his ears listened to the Harbringer drawl out each syllable of his name on his tongue. His body became stiffer as it finally dawned on him. It was so idiotic how he had not realised it almost immediately. This man, creature, it was him, wasn’t it?

"It’s you… !" He barely choked out. What were the odds that—

His hands went behind his back as he showed them half of his half-wide and sadistic grin. "My name is II Dottore, but you may refer to me as The Doctor. Number 2 of the Fatui Harbingers. Pleased to make your acquaintances, O Mighty traveller and the forgotten prince of Inazuma. My, what an audience."

II Dottore. He was the Harbinger who had betrayed his trust. And here was again, causing chaos and destruction among the people of Inazuma while mocking them as if all of this was a joke. He felt so angry. He didn’t even notice the looks of puzzlement on the traveller and Paimon’s faces.

"Forgotten prince of Inazuma? Kunikuzushi?" The traveller said something finally.

Paimon balled up her fists in irritation. "No, this is Scaramouche! Do you even know what you’re saying? First, you give delusions to the resistance, and now lie to our faces!" She yelled. Making him feel slightly guilty now.

II Dottore scoffed and shook his head. "Me? A liar? The true liar has been standing right beside you this entire time."

The puppet pressed his lips into a thin line, avoiding the hurtful gazes of the two travellers who looked at him with newfound uncertainty and hurt. He turned his gaze back to the Harbinger instead. "Stop avoiding the reason why we’re here. The delusions."

"Right… I think you’ve got the wrong idea. I know how it may seem to be, but in reality, I am simply following orders." Dottore spread out his arms in a laid-back motion with a widespread, crazed grin. "You really have gotten it all wrong. I’m not the big, bad bastard mastermind that orchestrated all of this. As much as I wished it was. So what are you standing there looking all angry for? Go get them."

He mocked them once again. It was hard to believe whether or not his words were even true. The puppet couldn’t help but feel even more anger at the way he was talking to them. The traveller must’ve felt the same way as him because he gritted his teeth and glared harshly at the Fatui. This caused II Dottore to laugh a small bit.

"Don’t look at me like that. You’re all getting so worked up over something so small. You’re nothing like what the stories have told, traveller. You’re getting weak."

Something small? This was small to him? Had he not seen all the pain and suffering these delusions were causing people. All the false hope being installed into people all because of these weapons. It infuriated him.

"How can you say that it’s small when innocent people have died because of you?" The puppet asked with a slightly sad tone of voice while the other shook his head at him.

"Oh sweet naive Kunikuzushi. You still have much to learn. Have you not realised, that human life is truly worthless?" The Harbinger tilted his head as he spoke. "They’re nothing but worthless beings that serve no use as anything else but as minions or test subjects. They are all weak and puny. Your friend was fated to die with or without delusions. The way I see it, your little friends should all be grateful we granted them the chance to furfill their ambitions."

The traveller parted his lips to speak up while his body trembled with anger at the words he was hearing. "The fatui is behind all of this, aren’t you?"

As expected, he nodded. The puppet felt his jaw tighten as he listened to the explanation provided that proved his worst-case scenario true. "Do you not realise how useful the vision hunt decree is to us? It took a lot of time and work to make it happen. It was in our best interest." He implored with a small scowl while he crossed his arms before smirking. "The good news is, it is all finally paying off. All the conflict and friction is creating a mass market for the fatui’s delusion production. Now all we had to do was let the promise of power draw in the weak…"

Paimon gasped loudly. "Wait… the fatui started the vision hunt decree?!" She said, almost like a shriek as her limbs scrunched closer together.

II Dottore’s smile widened as he mockingly leaned over as if to whisper to them. "I’ll let you in on a little secret. From the outside, Inazuma looks pretty impenetrable, but on the inside... it is a land of opportunity. With a little effort, we were able to break them down from within."

He stroked his chin as he looked up at the ceiling. Continuing to speak words that made the puppet's ears bleed. “Eternity stretches things out over a long time. But each moment within it becomes all the more fragile. That is something you should tell your mother for me."

The puppet felt those words slowly scrap against the back of his skin. Sending bolts of electricity dancing along his body and diffusing into his nerves. He didn’t like that. He didn’t like hearing that. He also didn’t like the looks the traveller gave him as II Dottore continued talking in ways that only upset them more.

"Take your little friend in the resistance, for example." He took out a pebble-sized piece of crystal marrow from his pocket. "There is absolutely nothing you can do now. He's a lost cause. Just like a failed experiment. Beautiful for a moment, then total destruction." II Dottore said as he toyed around with the crystal marrow within his grasp before tossing it off into the purple mist.

"Your friend is a prime example that proves my point. The more it takes from them, the more tightly they hold onto it. And the more incompetent they are, the more determined they are to fight it! It's such a farce, you have to see the funny side. Really!"

II Dottore started laughing. And laughing. And laughing. It pierced through his ears and made him shake his head while holding his ears closed as he tried. Tried to digest all the information he was being exposed to all at once. He felt so useless. All this had happened, and he had no clue that it was even going on until so very late on. The puppet felt like such a failure to the people. He felt so angry at himself.

"He is not incompetent!" The traveller drew out his sharp blade in quick motion. Paimon panicked upon seeing how upset and unstable he looked.

"Hey! Aether, calm down..."

The puppet watched in distraught as a purple mist began slowly rising and surrounding them all and Dottore started laughing loudly while his arms outstretched to the ceiling. Paimon started panicking and shaking the traveller while he seemed to lose his balance.

"That’s it! Just like that! Embrace the anger! Embrace it…!"

The puppet could feel his core overheating the longer he took the gas around him. He stopped breathing while he watched Aether slowly fall to his knees while clawing at his chest.

"No… what’s happening…!” Paimon began to sway as well. Dottore only continued laughing as he walked closer to them slowly.

"The wrath of the gods fills this factory, and it feeds on your Anger...”

The puppet helplessly watched as the two of his acquaintances fell limb to the ground and Dottore drew closer and closer to them. His entire body trembled with fury as he summoned his sword into his hands and stepped in front of them.

He felt it. That thick white and hot feeling clouded his mind while his vessels threatened to burst with the amount being bumped into them from trying to sustain all the heat building up within him. Dottores smile remained as he stopped a few feet away from him.

"You… you’re sick. I don’t understand why you would do the things that you’ve been doing. I don’t understand why you do anything." The puppet heaved out between gritted teeth while static danced around his trembling frame.

Dottore smirked at him as he responded. "You say that, but me and you are in that way the same then. Do you really understand why you have been doing what you have been doing so far?”

His pupils widened even more at the comparison. All he could think about was the audacity that he had to compare them as if they were alike. He hated being compared to others. He had been compared to others his entire life. II Dottore was a mass-murdering monster. The puppet wasn’t that.

“You and me… we are nothing alike. I would never do the kind of things that you’ve been doing!" He seethed between gritted teeth.

But the Harbinger didn’t seem to believe or take anything from what he said. All he did was coo at him and narrow his eyes.

“Aww… look at you. You used to be just a little chick, barely able to stray far from the nest. But, just how far away did you fall?"

That was it. Something inside of him had finally snapped upon hearing those words. He didn’t know what, but it scared him— "Shut up..! shut up! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!”

—so much hatred. Oh, and once he got his hands on him. Once he got his hands on him…. He would. He would...

His limbs trembling, barely able to grasp the fact that his fingers had dropped his sword despite the loud ‘CLANK’ of the steel hitting the ground. Blinded by purple haze and. Blinded by rage. He couldn’t. He couldn’t take it anymore. It was as if he wasn’t even acting on his own. He didn’t know when he had launched onto the figure before him so quickly and harshly that they both collided on the ground. The puppet was gripping at his clothes and clawing at his face with sharp nails—

And so suddenly his hands were coated blue as he mindlessly ripped apart at flesh. Even after glimpsing at the look of pure horror, he didn’t care. Like an animal devouring its prey, he ripped out the flesh and heard the sickening squelching of his internal organs and the snapping, and popping of his metal bones as he clawed at his insides.

Even after hearing the deafening screams, his own screams? It dug into the yielding flesh with primal fury. The straining stretch of wire and the metallic smell of liquid that imitates blood infiltrated his nostrils as blue oozed or sprayed out in all directions. Each rip made by its blood-slicked hands made it feel a sense of euphoria. Satisfaction. It was like the closest thing he would ever feel to human hot pleasure. It made it feel like throwing up.

The struggle stopped from below, and all that was heard was the sound of terror from what it had done. From what it was capable of. As it tore apart at the body spasming underneath it, it could not even be recognised as one anymore. It couldn’t stop. It couldn’t stop himself from ripping his fingers out with the incisors of its teeth. From gouging his eyes out with its own hands. From shedding thick, hot tears down its face.

As it did this, the creature sobbed at what it had done. It wailed like a mortal being as looked at its blue-coated hands. It couldn’t. It wasn’t like him. Or her. It wasn’t so cruel. It wasn’t. He wasn’t.

Kunikuzushi’s throat aches as he shrills loudly in agony, digging its hands into its face and pulling at the synthetic skin as if that would end its painful sorrow. Its head turning to the side with the slowness and visual of a rusty screw as its wide-eyed, twitching visage met with beautiful, shining purple horror-filled eyes. Looking at it like he was a monster. Her son. A sick and horrible monster infiltrating Mortalkind under the guise of a mortal shell. But he wasn’t horrible.

It wasn’t.

He wasn’t

H It e wasn’t.

    MONSTER                             He

wasn’t.

He wasn’t.                                                      

He wasn’t                 

He wasn’t                   He      wasn’t.

HE                           MONSTER          He wasn’       t

IT WA  SN’T

  WASN’T            
                        IT

H E WASN’T

HE WASN'T

    IT                      
  W     ASN’T.

HE          was                       n’t .

IT    IT IT     IT IT  IT  

IT                        W                                                        ASN’T.

hE WASN’T HE WASN’T   

Mother

Eat me and give life to me again

This time around I’ll make you proud

Chapter Text

The puppet opened his eyes in a panic.

His face felt cold as he sat somewhere in a place that looked like something he had seen vaguely before. His hands were placed delicately upon his lap and his mechanical joints neatly folded to accommodate his legs tucked underneath his body. It was cold, and yet so warm. Oddly comfort. But he didn’t feel a thing apart from fear. Sadness even.

He was burning up from the inside out. His throat throbs like something isn’t quite right. He wanted to moan and grapple in anguish like a man in true despair. Like a young boy who was suffering from unbearable pain. But his body ached not at all. It was his soul that screamed and clawed at the walls of his inner self.

There was nothing in this world apart from him, the tea set on the ground, and her. Yes. There was another in front of him. Except it wasn’t her. It was nothing at all. But when he looked at it, it looked like someone he felt like he knew.

She had skin as pale as the moon and a calm and loving presence that seemed to surround her. Her purple locs framed her eccentric face, a small section neatly combed into a hairpiece. She had light pink lips and a small mole underneath her left eye. She had a smile that only hinted at warmth. She had a face that seemed like his own.

He couldn’t help but study every single detail of her face meticulously as if it were a face he had never seen before. The way her carefully painted and fairly trimmed nails cupped at the teapot while her traditional garments ruffled with her careful movements. But she moved in a way that made even that exact movement look gentle. So gentle that it felt like just being near her alone would lull him into rest. Just looking at her would make his eyes fall closed and his inner turmoil subside.

"Ei, would you care to have some tea?"

He is startled by her voice. And he looks up, until he sees her eyes trained onto him and he is now aware that she is speaking to him. He gulps nothing, his gaze souring as he turns to look back down on his lap. He doesn’t respond to her.

Her eyes raise a little, looking at him for some time as if she was surprised before smiling once more and humming in response whilst passing him a cup of burning hot tea. He doesn’t know what to do. His hands only stretch outward and accept as she carefully presses a hot cup of tea into his hands.

She smiled at him and nods. Taking the time to begin pouring herself another cup.

"You look like you need it. Why so tense, Ei?"

Her question sends his lips slowly beginning to quiver. What is happening? Does she even see him—

Suddenly, in hot flashes of heat, he remembered what had happened before. All the people that he slaughtered. What he did to Dottore… that mechanically modelled being. Whatever it was. The disgusting things he did to his body with his teeth and flesh and consciousness. The sickening smell of metal suddenly spewed into his nose and his insides churned as he couldn’t get the texture of his inside parts off of his tongue. This wasn’t something that anyone with an identity would do. What he did was sick and twisted and disgusting.

His trembling hands gripped his shorts. He didn’t even deserve to cry over this. Why did he do it?

"I feel like a monster." He muttered in a broken voice. His frame trembling as his hands slowly reached up to cover his face. “I am not anyone who deserves to be referred to as anything else. I have served more as a weapon than I have been an individual."

Her gaze lingered on his trembling form with a soft look in her eyes. He didn’t know how she was going to react, even if she did know of what he had done. Could she see him at all even? Why was he here? He opens his mouth shakily.

"Destruction is all I have truly ever known. If I am not destroying the world around me, then I am destroying myself." Ei mutters as she grips her kimono to show her vulnerability.

Makoto observes her sister quietly for a moment. Sipping her tea as if to recollect her thoughts before speaking up.

"Is that not something that everyone, including the celestial bodies themselves, are capable of doing? So what makes you so much different?" The tea is set down on the table and Ei is trembling.

A hand reaches over and presses against her own. His own. "You are sad and hurt. And once you let those two sentiments stay for too long inside of you, you leak and leak until finally, you burst." Ei looks up from her hands.

Kunikuzushi’s vision clears out of his daze, slightly obscured due to the dampness of her eyes. To his surprise, he sees nothing but a light before him. Bright and beautiful, yet dim. He wonders in awe.

"But do not make the same mistake she did. Do not let your burdens get the better of you. Kunikuzushi, do what Ei could not do. Live for yourself and everybody else around you. Only then can you conquer your foes."

He opened his mouth, wanting to question all of this. But just as soon as this all happened, it all disappeared into nothing. He was alone again, and the light was gone.

Leaving behind a warm teacup in his hands.

.

.

.

.

.
.

"… healing on its own. Thank goodness for that."

A light huff and the sound of fabric being moved around him carefully reached his ears. His eyes squinted closed more.

"Maybe Ei is indeed able to learn from past experiences. After all, last time this happened…" The voice paused and silence followed after as if they were observing his face. Or letting the past hang in the air.

She spoke again, voice lighter. "You’re awake? Good… now repeat after me. One… two…."

All the memories of what happened, what he did. What he ate. What she saw him do. It was all too much for him all at once. What’s wrong wrong with him? His stomach churned and he felt the overwhelming urge to expel anything he had stored in his stomach cavity. He gasped an unnecessary amount of oxygen, gripping onto himself before scrambling nowhere to find somewhere to empty his pit.

Miko clocked this immediately and grabbed a bowl, yanking her son back by his collar and forcing his head into the bowl. Kunikuzushi immediately began lurching and throwing up whatever he consumed from the prior events.

"Shh… let it all out," she hummed and rubbed his back soothingly while he trembled. Coughing and wheezing like a broken machine, Kunikuzushi only saw white spasm in his vision as he emptied his stomach into this bowl.

His fingers trembled while he sniffled, not enjoying this feeling at all. But the comforting voice of his mom did help him quite a bit. Her soft tone guided him, "One… two… breath in," he shuddered while she took a deep breath in, "breath out. Come on, you can do it."

He mimicked her behaviour. Taking haggard breaths in, releasing them out with a cough to spare and receiving praise in response. After a few painful moments, his body heat massively decreased to its normal temperature. Once Miko stopped seeing him basically overheating, she rubbed his head.

"Good boy… do you feel better now?" She asked him while she took the sleeve of her dressing and used it sleeve to wipe the substances off his face. Kunikuzushi nodded and sniffled, leaning into her while he finally fluttered his blurry eyes open fully to meet her gaze.

"Good, good," she pulled away and helped him sit up again. Her brows raised in amusement and she folded her arms. "I thought for sure you had overdone it this time, yet you continue to amaze me. Not to say I am particularly happy that you deviated from our plan and attempted to cannibalise a Fatui Harbinger." But there was an underlying negativity under her tone.

Kunikuzushi stared back at her with a light frown gracing his features. He knew it was wrong and she saw it so there was no point trying to deny it. But he honestly did not know how to respond to such a situation. He didn’t know why he did it, in fact, he didn’t even see what he was doing. He remembered how it felt though. He didn’t like it. It felt so wrong.

He replies with his train of thought instead. He couldn’t get the fact that Dottore wasn’t human out of his head. To be fair, Kunikuzushi had no idea what a human should taste or feel like, but what he tasted at that moment surely was not flesh. That was metal. Dottore must be synthetic like him.

"I didn’t know Es… II Dottore was a synthetic being like me."

She shook her head. Very obviously feeling strongly but trying to withhold it. "Now is not the appropriate time to be pulling stunts like these Kunikuzushi. What you did was not only very reckless but also extremely dangerous. I don’t want you practising such destructive behaviour on anyone else, mortal or not. Do you understand me?"

He doesn’t flinch, though her words do hurt him. She was right. The only thing he could do was nod quietly and look down at his lap.

Yae Miko lightly narrows her eyes, a look of dismay on her face as she suppresses a sigh. He knows that usually means she did not like what he just said or did. She shakes her head to affirm this. "Kunikuzushi, you and that monster are nothing alike. Don’t even think of comparing yourself to somebody at his level of malice." The Guuji responds. Walking over to somewhere by the window.

Kunikuzushi frowned lightly, his mind already trailing back to the delusions and the Fatui’s plan. He opened his mouth to ask, but she beat him to it.

"You needn't worry. The leader of Watatsumi Island took some troops to clear the place out. She's also issued a strict ban on the use of Delusions across the whole army." She read his mind. Adding on, "With their stronghold exposed, I doubt The Doctor is stubborn enough to try and retaliate now on his colleagues' behalf despite what happened. It would be more trouble than it's worth."

His conflicted gaze watched as she leaned leisurely against the wall. He still had a lot of questions he wanted to ask her. But she waved her hand dismissively at him. "We will talk more about all of this once my plan begins to take place. I think that traveller should be waking up any moment now outside." That piques his interest. He didn’t remember another plan that involved the traveller. Also, where was he? He looks around.

"Plan?" Kunikuzushi asks her as he gets up slowly and follows her with a stumble to where she is looking. Only to see the traveller and Paimon passed out on the wooden floorboards. His eyes widened a bit. "What plan?"

It didn’t seem like there was anyone around the Shrine. Perhaps all the staff had been sent home. Kunikuzushi watched Miko hum in realisation. "Well, while you were busy playing cat and mouse, I managed to piece together a plan to use this mysterious traveller to save Inazuma. And her while we’re at it."

Kunikuzushi’s first reaction was surprise and dismay. Taken aback by the plot. She knew how he felt about using the traveller to solve issues he shouldn’t even be involved in this much. But it seemed like she suspected that he was thinking negatively of her plan and huffed lightly. "Now, before you get upset with me, listen dear. You know that she let him into her realm of Consciousness, yes?"

He nodded slowly, lips pressed to a thin line as he watched her continue. "And you know also that this is a marvelling feat on its own. She doesn’t just let anybody inside there. Which means…" She trailed off, looking at him expectantly to catch onto her thought process. Which was never easy.

He furrowed his brows faintly, but that is when he came to realise something. Why else would she let him into her realm unless

"…the traveller interested her. Is that it?" He asked with a sour expression.

The Guuji smiled at his thinking. Nodding and folding her arms. "Precisely. You may not like to hear it, but this traveller may stand a better chance at getting through to her than you or I ever could. If he could enter her realm of consciousness and interfere with her ‘eternity’, like he already did, then this gives a good window of opportunity for us to save her from herself."

Kunikuzushi listened carefully with a slightly downcast expression. His mom was so incredibly smart, but sometimes she said things he didn’t want to accept as correct. Yae
Miko turned to look away from him.

"I know your mother. She’s probably incredibly lonely, all alone with nothing but her thoughts for years. She must be practically wishing for this to happen too, even if she won’t admit it to herself."

There was an underlying tone of sadness in her words as if she was the one in Ei’s position. Kunikuzushi sometimes had to remind himself that he wasn’t the only one feeling down because of her. His mom has been around Ei even longer than he has. Her heart probably aches for her, even more than his maybe.

Setting aside his own feelings, he decided to take in her plan. However, there was a question that had been on his mind ever since she started talking. "How would he be able to have an audience with the Raiden Shogun again, which results in her using her sword to attack him? It is no easy feat, you know. Also, if it does happen, it could result in his death." It’s not like they could just randomly attack her either. Not with all the guards and such anyway.

The fox smiled playfully, back to her usual gleam of mischief as she turned to face him with her hands on her hips now, characteristically. "Don’t even worry about that. I have it all sorted out and will explain it sometime later. In fact, she should be arriving today."

Kunikuzushi gave her a concerned expression. "What do you mean by that? Who is coming?”

He was ignored and instead Miko peered outside the window to where the traveller and Paimon were beginning to stir a little outside. She smiled. "Oh look at that, our protagonists are awake." she turned around to face her son, who still looked a little worse for wear.

"Why don’t you brush up a little bit and change while I go talk to our guests? I left some tea for you on the table." Miko was already heading in the direction of the door before he could put much thought into her words. He simply nodded at her and decided to listen to her instructions.

The puppet moved, walking to a nearby full-length mirror to survey himself.

In the mirror, he saw himself. His face and hair were clean, free from any blue substance or grime. Or even make up for that matter. Even when he looked down at his nails, they were clean as well. His mom must’ve taken the time to clean him up once they got here, as indicated by the fact that he also was only wearing a robe instead of his usual attire.

The only indication of what had happened in that factory was the scratches and nail marks that were littered on his arms. Clear signs of struggle carried a deep sentiment of shame and guilt to his consciousness that made him feel like vomiting all over again.

They would heal on their own, he told himself. But he still couldn’t help but stray away from the mirror to a nearby box containing medical supplies. He sat down, took a roll of gauze, and began wrapping the material over his scars. He refused to dwell further on the comforting action.

Once he finished, he chose to drink his tea in silence before heading to his room to change back into his normal clothes. All the while he loses himself in thought.

There were many things on his mind. Kunikuzushi wondered what had happened after he fell unconscious in that factory. Did he kill II Dottore? But it couldn’t be so. Dottore said he was the second Harbinger, so he must’ve been stronger than that being he encountered. Was he also a puppet? He certainly was not human.

But surely, what he did was a provocative of war, or some sort of dispute between Inazuma and Snezhnaya. He thought as he began fixing on his own usual robes. Would this cause issues? But his mom did not seem to be concerned with that when they spoke. She must have done something to clean up his mess like she always did. He frowned, reminding himself to ask her what happened after all this blew over.

As Kunikuzushi put on his hat, which he debated on whether or not he should even wear, he thought of the traveller and Paimon. They were still talking to his mom outside. How would they feel once he came out to see them? After all, he did lie to them about his true identity from the moment they stepped foot on Inazuman soil.

They asked if he could get them to the Raiden Shogun. He could if he tried hard enough, but he said he didn’t. It would not have been a good feeling, knowing that the equivalent of the archon their seeking’s son was just walking around them. Perhaps they thought he was betraying them and the resistance.

He set his hat aside. He did not care about how they felt. He only did it all for his, and even their safety. But, if he was being honest with himself, he knew deep down that he did feel sorry for what he did to them. His gaze softened slightly and he made a promise to formally apologise once all of this was over.

He brushed over his fabric to make sure it was neat and went to his bedside to take his mirror and red liner brush, to do his eyeliner. After meticulously drawing on his make-up, powdering a bit of powder onto his face, and applying a light pink over his lips, he was done. Kunikuzushi headed outside to join in on the conversation.

The moment he stepped into view, the conversation slowed to a stop and the traveller and Paimon looked a little shocked. Miko smiled and clapped her hands. "My, what a coincidence. We were just speaking about you, dear." She smiled and gestured to the other two.

The two didn’t look too happy to see him though. The traveller especially narrowed his eyes to a glare and tensions began rising at a significant rate.

"What are you doing here Scaramouche, if that even is your real name!" Paimon starts. Her fists curled up as she shook like she was about to throw a tantrum.

Kunikuzushi gave her an unimpressed expression. Eyelids lowering slightly. "It is not my real name. I’m here for the same reason as you two."

A light gasp and an even more frustrated expression on her face. Even the traveller does not look to be quite happy about this casual admission. "You aren’t gonna fool us again so easily you know. Honestly, how could you? We were fighting against the enemy, only to find out the enemy’s successor was right by our side!"

Kunikuzushi narrowed her eyes a little at the words, but before he could respond he was interrupted by his mom. "Calm down now children. There seems to be a lot of confusion here."

"The truth is, we are on the same side." Yae Miko leisurely spoke with crossed arms as the attention was drawn to her.

Paimon gasped for the nth time now. It was beginning to annoy him. "You’re working with him? But isn’t he also the Shogun???"

"Just because she created me and I’m supposed to fill out that purpose, does not mean that I am automatically to agree with whatever she is doing." Kunikuzushi defended himself through clenched teeth upon hearing the accusation. It was stupid how little thought she put into her words.

Miko waved a hand at them dismissively. "Kunikuzushi isn’t really involved in the political system or anything like that anymore. For now, let’s just say he was ´laid off’ from work." She quoted the last phrase sarcastically in a way that made the boy roll his eyes.

The two still did not look content, clearly appearing more confused at that moment. Kunikuzushi understood their confusion. Many things did not make sense to him as well right now. Also, they didn’t provide them with a better exploration. But they had more important things to worry about.

“Listen, you may as ask all the questions you want once all of this is over. All you need to understand right now is that we are all allies in this." Miko began to explain it to them more clearly as if she were talking to children.
"You want to save the people of Inazuma from the Vision Hunt Decree? So do we. The only difference is that we’d rather like to save this nation and save Ei while we're at it."

She turned around to face Inazuma City. Specifically, tenshukaku with her usual expression. "The key is that the Plane of Euthymia represents Ei's inner world. Defeat her there and you may well have the chance to shake the Raiden Shogun's will."

The atmosphere calms. "So this is your plan to abolish the Vision Hunt Decree?" The traveller questions unsurely.

Paimon squints her eyes, uncertain. “Not by talking her out of it, or through an armed resistance, but by uh... hopping inside the Raiden Shogun's inner world?"

Kunikuzushi looked at Paimon and the traveller with faint annoyance at their scepticism. Brows creased he bites, "I do not see you two having any better ideas."

The traveller gave a rather shocked expression at the hostility, but it dampened to dismay at how quickly Paimon caved while shaking her head vigorously. "No no— the idea is perfect! Uh… get into her plane of Euthymia and give her a piece of our minds!"

Miko brought up a hand to laugh into it lightly. Sighing in amusement at the display. "You're a fast learner. In short, this is the last chance to get Inazuma back on track. Otherwise, an eternity of darkness awaits."

She let that sentence hang in the air. Although she said it light-heartedly, the true weight of those words sat ominously on their shoulders. Kunikuzushi pressed his lips into a thin line, considering the possibility that this plan failed. In truth, he truly lacked hope in wavering his mother’s view of things. If she would not even listen to him, what makes him think she would listen to a traveller who can challenge eternity?

…perhaps being put like that, the odds were more in the blonde's favour.

"I still have one other question... " The traveller spoke up and all three of them looked in his direction, "Why me?"

Kunikuzushi didn’t know what to say. He would have likely insulted him in a way because he too wondered the same thing. Why this blonde-haired traveller that just appeared out of nowhere and began poking into their business. But fortunately, his mom was there to do what she did best. Twist words. She turned back around to face them. "Don't you realize how special you are? Remember, the Plane of Euthymia is a space where only she is allowed to exist. The fact that you could appear there tells us one crucial thing: that you have piqued her interest.

Perhaps it's because... she has never seen an individual who is so unpredictable in the face of eternity." She shrugs ultimately. Leaving a completely awe-inspired Paimon and a slightly more willing traveller.

"Has no one else ever been in there?" The blonde asked again. Kunikuzushi knew that he had been there, although only centuries ago after Tsurumi Island and that incident. Although, it was brief— but he remembers it like it had lasted for hours.

Though, he glanced up at his mom, still and understood that she didn’t plan to tell them about that. So Kunikuzushi did what he had been doing quite a lot nowadays.

"No. No one has ever been there before." He lies to them.

Miko nodded in agreement and turned around. Sparing a glance over her shoulder. "Your existence is more than just an opportunity. It's the very key to all of this. To that I say... well done, child, you did not disappoint me after all." She smiled, and then she began walking towards the exiting stairs. “Come Kunikuzushi. We must go now."

Kunikuzushi looked visibly confused when she announced that they were leaving suddenly. But that didn’t stop him from moving his legs and following behind obediently. Meanwhile, Paimon jumped in confusion.

"Wait, you're leaving? Where are you going?"

"Anti-Raiden Shogun Training. I've prepared a special program, just for you. Come along now." She walks off.

The blonde gave Kunikuzushi a questioning look, but the dark-haired male only shrugged his shoulder back in response and turned, the fabric of his clothing following as he descended the stairs.

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"Uhm Miko… where is it?"

They arrived at the bottom of the grand Narukami Shrine, around Mt Yougou. There was no training course in sight unless the electro barrier in the centre of the wilderness was supposed to be it.

Kunikuzushi stood puzzled as well, looking over at his mom as she laughed at them for not being able to understand her intricate way of thinking. Then, once she had her giggle, she cleared her throat.

"Right in front of you." She turned to look to her right. The puppet stood there with a puzzled expression on his face as suddenly everyone was looking at him.

"Me?" He asked with furrowed brows.

Miko nods in agreement. Further adding to the confusion of everybody else. "That’s right. You see, I was going to go through the trouble of creating a mechanism that replicates Ei’s attacks. But then I thought why bother when we have the Shogun at home?”

Kunikuzushi felt slightly uncomfortable with the situation. It was not that he could not do it, but it was simply that he didn’t think he was of a comparison to a god. After all, he never got to truly fulfil his purpose as a god in her stead.

Also… he simply did not like performing in the same way she did. "I wish you consulted me before."

But Yae Miko only waved him off like it was not that big of a deal. "Oh don’t worry. I’m sure you still remember how she would move in battle from all the training you two did together. You will be fine." Her words did little to reassure him. He only crossed his arms and looked away.

Paimon looked puzzled before her eyes slowly began to widen in shock. "Wait, you want him…" she looks from the traveller to the puppet, " to fight… him?!"

The traveller also looked fairly concerned. His brows creased at the thought of attacking not only his ‘friend’, but also the son of the god herself. Also, he had seen a bit of what he was capable of. During the battle at Nazuchi Beach, Kokomi told him that it was Scaramouche who was responsible for the sudden lightning that helped scare off the Shogunate troops. Just imagining himself being the target made his stomach lurch.

"He is a bit rusty so it really shouldn’t be as trifling as fighting her as she is. But, I suspect he still should be as close to her as we may be able to get." The Guuji spoke while Kunikuzushi summoned his spear in a quick motion and held it by his side. Posture firm despite his internal conflict with having to fight like her.

The traveller looked at him with concern. The puppet could only respond with, "I will merely copy her display of techniques. You are not obliged to attack me as well." He was assuming that’s why the other was looking so concerned. But that was the least of their worries.

Before Paimon could interject once more, Miko clapped her hands and pointed to the elemental barrier she had created for them to spar in. "Now then, enough chit-chat. You two should start now." She glanced over at the traveller... "All you are required to do is avoid Kunikuzushi within the time limit. If you do relatively alright and don’t get hit more than a few times, you should be fine."

The blonde nodded lightly before looking over to Scaramouche who had already been heading into the barricade with a neutral expression. He stared for a moment before walking after him at a slightly quickened pace.

Upon entering, Kunikuzushi took place at the centre of the circle. Closing his eyes to simply reconnect with what exactly she would do. She was quick and efficient. She never moved much, and each strike she made was done with precision from the hold on her weapon to the weight on her feet. He took caution to remember this as Miko paused before she started the timer.

"Time starts— now!"

Fortunately for the traveller, he stood merely a few inches away from the upcoming bolts of pulsing electro that shot from seemingly nowhere inside the barrier. Kunikuzushi watched him scramble to get further away with a blank expression.

Indigo eyes followed the blonde like he was a rat scampering around his room. Not even two seconds after he reached the outer edges of the barrier, he swiftly appeared there and sliced his spear multiple times, allowing waves of electro to slice through the air. Effectively provoking a grunt and making the blonde fall to the ground.

Kunikuzushi brought his spear back to his side and looked down at the traveller as he got up with a wounded expression. He narrows his eyes lightly. "She is very fast and does not give more than a few seconds before she strikes again. Try regulating your stamina and maintaining a constant distance."

The blonde nods slightly as he gets up again. Dusting himself off and watching Kunikuzushi scan him for any injuries before he went back to his position. Gaze focused on the task at hand. Yae Miko sets the timer again.

This time, the traveller managed to avoid not only the first hit but the second and third strikes as well. Even when Kunikuzushi swiped his polearm and sent a sharp slice of electricity his way, he dodged it with great effort that left him a bit impressed. Yae Miko narrowed her eyes thoughtfully as Paimon shifted and covered her eyes in fear.

His movements slowed to a stop once more. Humming and settling the weapon back at his side as he took a moment to be patient. His frame began to circle the traveller like an animal stalking its prey. That’s how he often felt whenever he sparred with her back then. So meek, and weak.

Kunikuzushi’s grip tightened on his weapon and in a rush, he mapped the area beneath the traveller's feet once more and sent a multitude of electro around within the diameter he was in. He escaped. Kunikuzushi repeated the practised attack once again immediately after. He doesn’t manage to avoid that one, unfortunately.

It was a lengthy process just like Kunikuzushi thought. Although the blonde was smart and easy to adapt, he still attempted a few cheap tricks that wouldn’t really work with somebody like her. It didn’t matter if he somehow rose into the air or ran away. The puppet would catch him whenever he least expected it and he would groan in pain as he fell.

However, after the fifth round, he finally comes around and figures out ways to dodge the majority of the offences coming his way. He only got hit 3 times by the time the trial ended. Which was good. Kunikuzushi set aside his weapon with a more relaxed expression on his face while the traveller wiped his forehead in relief that it was all over.

"Well done, you did better than I expected." He praised as he walked over to where Miko and Paimon stood. Paimon smiled too excitedly and clapped.

"Phew! You made it out! I believed in you." The blonde rolled his eyes. But he set his hands on his hips and proudly said, "Well, it was only a little bit challenging."

Kunikuzushi lowered his eyelids at the words the blonde spoke proudly despite the amount the times he got hit by his ´anti-shogun training.’ He shook his head before hearing Paimon perk up.

"Hey by the way, how do you know so much about the Raiden Shogun? Is it because of Kunikuzushi??" She blurted. Yae Miko raised her brows and looked amused at the question. While Kunikuzushi clearly looks uncomfortable.

"Me? Well, perhaps it’s because I’m the electro archon’s servant. Her very, very, very close servant." She casually admits to the two with slightly lowered lids. Her emphasis on the very makes her son cringe to himself.

Unfortunately, Paimon was quite dense. Because despite how surprised her companion was, she scratched the back of her head. "What…?! Like… like how Dvalin is to Barbatos except… closer?" She asked cluelessly.

Kunikuzushi furrowed his brows. Though he supposed it was accurate enough to elicit a nod from Miko. "Exactly. Though, you don’t seem too persuaded. Maybe you’d be more inclined if I transformed into my true form right now." She is only teasing.

The traveller seems to be genuinely considering it though before he replies with a quick. "I would be." That immediately is responded with a questioning look from Kunikuzushi.

She laughs full-heartedly at his confidence, but she ultimately shakes her head. "In your dreams." She sighs afterwards. Lightly clearing her throat before she relaxed her posture. "More curious than my appearance is the fact that she and I don't see each other anymore, wouldn't you say?"

They all watched quietly as she looked in the direction of tenshukaku. Kunikuzushi flutters his gaze over briefly before he forces it back to his mom. " ‘A nation to last for all eternity’ is a dream that she and I both share. But I don't think that's the same thing as complete stasis. At some point, she started going down a path that became increasingly difficult for me to join her on."

His gaze fell and his fist tightened slightly in dismay at the tale he knew all too well. It always hurt to hear how she had been affected by her motives. But one thing he never fully grasped about his mom was that no matter what happened, she would always stay loyal to her. Even if it was hurting in a way.

Miko sighed and looked with her brows slightly raised. "You know, Ei never said goodbye to me before she stepped into the Plane of Euthymia. Perhaps it's just my wishful thinking, but I think she did this deliberately, as her way of keeping our relationship eternal." She speaks softly.

This felt like the most genuine expression he had witnessed from the Guuji, the traveller thought while he watched as she continued. "She did not say goodbye, nor did she behave as if anything was going to change. She simply never saw me again. By doing so, our relationship will forever remain how she left it… in her mind at least." She finished with an expression of great emotion.

There was a long beat of silence — what could one say after hearing something as depressing as that, the boy thought. But to his mild surprise, it was the blonde who extended his apologies first in a way.

"She has taken a rather one-sided view." He comments a palm raising to rest on his chest with a sincerity that makes him appear a bit more appealing to the puppet now.

Yae Miko only shrugs in response to the sentiment. More casually now. "Since we've embarked on two very different paths to eternity, I can either continue to maintain the status quo or do whatever it takes to bring her back on track, regardless of the cost..."

She takes a moment to pause before she looked over at them now. "I have chosen the latter because... if stubbornly isolating herself in the Plane of Euthymia is her idea of eternity..." her hands settle on her hips with slight confidence, "then my duty as her eternal familiar and partner is to drag her back out of her own head and into the real world."

She’s finished, and Kunikuzushi is actually touched. It was admirable to see such strong emotions of love and care, even if the receiver was not very grateful to her for it. Regardless, he silently commended her for admitting all that to strangers.

Paimon looked touched. "Aw, Miko... you sound like a really great friend."

"That doesn’t sound very friend-like to me…" The blonde muttered to himself and a ghost of a smile appeared on Kunikuzushi’s face, amused before their attention was once again brought back by the clap of her hands.

"Anyway, that's enough chit-chat. Time for Anti-Raiden Shogun Training Phase 2."

"There's a part 2!?" Paimon bristles, her companion a little bit on edge as well.

Back to his previous demeanour now that all prior emotions have reached the end of their wavelength. He snarls at them with a look of displeasure and disappointment. "Of course, there is a second part. If you thought that puny little show was enough to even land a single hit on the god who killed the serpent god Orobashi with the singular strike of her sword, you may have bitten off more than you can chew."

Paimon frowned at his rudeness. Opening her mouth to defend her friends. "Hey, don’t be so rude. This is hard for him you know??" The traveller looks over with a slight frown. Kunikuzushi huffs.

"If you think that was hard, I don’t think you’ll survive the real deal. Next time you see her, she will strike twice."

He tsked at them before walking back to position. If they had any complaints about it, they didn’t make it known to him.

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After completing the next three phases of her so-called ‘training’, they had both come to a similar conclusion. The traveller would not stand much of a chance at all against her. It was not that he was a bad fighter, no, he fought exceptionally well. Kunikuzushi could see how he defeated a Fatui Harbinger. However, he quickly came to realise that a good chunk of his accomplishments were achieved with some help or other.

To put it simply; he doubted he would last much longer than 46 seconds in her plane of Euthymia.

But there was no way she would make them go in there if she knew they could not match the strength of her blade. Yae Miko had been making frequent allusions to the traveller using the aid of the will of the people through the power of their captured visions. At least, that is what he thinks she meant when she said ‘In short, if everything goes according to plan, they may yet prove to be helpful.’ While talking about the helplessness of the resistance soldiers. Then again, she always played with her tongue. For all he knew, she could really just have been petty and insulting the soldiers.

Kunikuzushi sighed and crossed his arms tighter against his chest he once again stood in the centre of the Grand Narukami Shrine while Miko explained the plan to the two guinea pigs. Or rather, one guinea pig. He had no idea what the white one had to offer in aid.

"The Vision Hunt Decree was obviously devised as a means of manipulating the Shogun, the ones behind it knowing full well her susceptibility as a puppet with a single-minded focus on eternity." Yae Miko relayed to them while the other two listened intently.

Kunikuzushi sighed hotly at the reminder that the Fatui were exploiting her stupid views. The traveller nods his head and speaks up. "The Doctor confirmed this. The Fatui did it to create the demand for Delusions."

"Yes. This is the strongest piece of evidence we have to go on." Miko nodded in agreement at the sighs that they were following along, "Now, we also know that every aspect of the Vision Hunt Decree's promulgation and execution has been enthusiastically spearheaded by the Tenryou Commission from the outset."

Kunikuzushi glances away. Recalling what he heard from not only his mom but the head of the Yashiro commission a few weeks or so ago.
"That’s right. I’m sure you already heard, but every time the Yashiro Commission submitted a petition against the Vision Hunt Decree, the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions would veto it straight away with no negotiation." It was almost laughable how suspicious the other two were acting. How dense could his replacement be for failing to notice something so obvious in front of her eyes?

"The Tenryou Commission is working for the Fatui." The traveller states more so like a fact.

The Guuji nods and smiles a bit solemnly. "Both of the two. Yes. It's all too clear that both the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions are in some form of collusion with the Fatui."

"Tch, foolish humans, blinded by their greed," Kunikuzushi mutters with irritation on his face and his arms crossed. Despite how many times they discussed this, he still felt angry at how easily they were swayed. It is like their loyalty to the person who carved the base for their lineage meant nothing to them now. He grits his teeth.

Yae Miko nods. "Thus, the current situation is that our Fatui antagonist is still at large, has the two rogue Commissions wrapped around their finger, and is distributing Delusions from the shadows... Unfortunately, given that said antagonist is under the protection of two Commissions and the Raiden Shogun, we would be rather hard-pressed to track them down." She explained to them all.

A beat of silence. It appeared almost impossible to get anything done with the way she presented the situation. ‘How could they go against not only the two Commissions, but a god as well to get to the Fatui?’ That is likely what’s going through those heads of theirs. He thought while he watched their downward expressions.

As he expected, soon the traveller scratched his head in confusion. "So… what should we do?"

Miko laughed a little to herself and smiled cunningly. "It will be easier for us to start with someone from Inazuma. So my plan is... to incite rebellion in the Tenryou Commission."

Now that, even he didn’t know. He would have never guessed that’s what she wanted them to do in order to get an opening with the shogun again. He looked curiously at the youkai while the other two looked baffled

" Rebellion? What are you talking about? After everything you just said, it sounds like the Tenryou Commission has rebelled already!" Paimon exclaims. Miko only shakes her head and waves a finger at her.

"Now now… when I say rebellion, I don't mean betraying the Shogunate... I mean, inciting a certain someone to betray the Tenryou Commission. If we manage to convince her, I'm quite sure we'll be able to get you another audience with the Raiden Shogun."

‘A certain someone’..? His brows knit together in deep thought as he tried to piece together who she was talking about. Who would be able to be convinced to go against their own Commission in such a short time window that they had? He couldn’t pick apart any specific names. Besides; it would have to be someone important for them to be able to use that to lead them to the Shogun. Either that or somebody who would be livid at the idea that their superiors were betraying their god.

"Who is she??"

The traveller asks. It’s at that moment when it finally dawns on him who their victim would be. Who else would be willing to confront everything they ever knew just for the Raiden Shogun? He smirks a little bit and points a finger behind him.

"The woman coming right behind you."

"Don't move a muscle! You've got some nerve showing up here in the shrine when there's an active warrant for your arrest!" A voice erupts from behind them. It was none other than the Kujou Sara herself, accompanied by two fellow shogunate troops.

The traveller and Paimon shrieked in response and looked torn between hiding behind their current comrades and freezing in their positions as told. To their dismay, they ended up frozen anyway. The guards stopped a few feet away from them.

Paimon ended up moving and covering her head, to which the firm woman barked. “Don't even think about trying anything. Surrender now, you're coming with me to headquarters." She motioned to the blonde foreigner. "Seize him!"

Kunikuzushi released some steam within his core from the holes of his nostrils before he crossed his arms sternly at the tengu.
"Madame Kujou…" He warns. She had no grounds to arrest them on sacred property.

The attention is attracted to him and suddenly he is noticed. Or perhaps the Kujou was simply shocked she would refuse she arrest these criminals. "Your greatness…!" She trails, before looking at the guards and clenching her jaw. A sharp motion with her arm was carried out. "Uhm… all of you, outside!"

The guards seemed a bit hesitant to leave, confused. Kunikuzushi watched as they nodded and left before Kujou Sara immediately bowed to show her utmost respect. This elicits a honey-coated giggle from the Kitsune.

“Hehehe... You are the same as ever, Kujou Sara. No one can match you when it comes to loyalty to the Shogun, even if said Shogun is currently not in power." She stated before stroking her chin with a sharp fingernail.

Kujou Sara, or just Sara, huffs and turns her head. Being allowed to stand up straight once more, she placed a hand on her chest. "As a servant, loyalty to the Shogun is my duty. And as a warrior, I dedicate my life to following the way of the Shogun." Her gaze is flickering over Kunikuzushi with admiration. "Whether in power or not."

Said male only tsked quietly. As much as he appreciated the loyalty, it was blinding her. Also, he and the Raiden Shogun were on completely opposite sides. It would be impossible to worship both.

"She will one day seize your vision as well."

If Sara felt anything at the words, she didn’t let it show in front of her superior. "The Vision Hunt Decree is the Shogun's chosen course, and I shall not question it." Like a mind-controlled experiment, she showcases her loyalty once more.

Yae Miko sighs rather melodramatically at that senseless loyalty of hers. "It's tragic... such wholehearted devotion, rendered meaningless by circumstance." She smiled more as her eyes locked with the tengus, "I wonder… have you been kept in the dark? Or are you the only one left in the light?"

Kujou Sara looked dismayed at the words. Her expression is a bit perplexed clearly. Her body stiffened and she became rigid. "Lady Guuji, I need you to be direct. Tell me exactly what you mean." She more so demanded, kindly.

Kunikuzushi felt his arms cross before he looked to the kitsune as she finally decided to quit being so cryptic. "The Vision Hunt Decree is a trap. Part of a Fatui plot to bring Inazuma to its knees. And your masters, the Kujou Clan of the Tenryou Commission — they are the ones keeping the truth from reaching the Raiden Shogun." She drawls aloud.

Kunikuzushi was torn between scoffing and frowning at the way Sara’s face fell upon hearing those words. Her expression was innocent and shocked. "You're saying the Kujou Clan... betrayed the Shogunate?" He almost felt sorry for the poor bird. It must’ve been hard to hear somebody accuse everything you’ve ever known as being false. His mom should have been more empathetic, he thinks.

Instead, the Guuji simply nodded and shrugged casually, "Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying." As if not actively conspiring against the Tri-Commision.

Sara's jaw tightens. She straightens her posture and her face is back to its previous firm professionalism. "Guuji Yae, your allegation is not only dangerous but ridiculous. The Tri-Commission has served the Shogun since ancient times and remains absolutely loyal to this day." The words she shared were almost predictable. Of course, she would not accept such a claim.

Still, he watched as she put a palm on her chest. Her voice softens slightly in tone. "Ever since I was adopted by the Kujou Clan, I have seen and heard nothing but pure devotion toward the Shogun. At every level of the Tenryou Commission — especially from the head of the clan, Kujou Takayuki.

He reveres the Musou no Hitotachi more than anyone. My own respect for the Shoguns pales in comparison to his. How could he ever even dream of acting against the Shogun? In fact, how could you emit such deception in front of his excellency himself?" She looks a bit distressed as she says the last part. Looking over at Kunikuzushi.

Kunikuzushi sighed and looked back with his usual expression. He still didn’t couldn’t wrap his mind around why she valued his opinion so much when his mo— she made it very clear he was not the Shogun anymore, nor was he needed, years ago.

Still, these were bold claims. He never really agreed to have her confront Kujou Sara out of the blue, she did not tell him that. However, he didn’t tell her that he planned on confronting the Doctor in his delusion factory either, so he supposed that makes them even.

"Three days..." her honey-coated voice cuts him out of his thoughts, "Come back here in three days, and I will show you the evidence." Sara looks over to Yae Miko.

Miko pulls her hands to rest on her hips. "As a Guuji, there's one thing I know very well: People believe whatever they want to believe. Some things you do not see, simply because you do not wish to look.

And so... it falls to me to place the truth before your eyes, in all its ugliness." She smiled rather confidently, despite the context of her words.

Now, Kunikuzushi gives a side glance over at the woman next to him. The traveller and Paimon followed and looked surprised as well, but more so in a relieved way as opposed to the questioning one he held.

But, it seemed like Sara had accepted that response. She relaxed slightly and her lips were no longer so tightly pressed together. "Hmph... three days?" She contemplated briefly before she looked firm once more. "I'll be here. But if I don't see any evidence, I will demand a formal apology for slandering the Kujou Clan, especially in front of his greatness. Also..."

Just as the two foreigners seemed to think they were off the hook, her hand pointed to the blonde of them and they jolted once more.

"...he will have to come with me."

To their own dissatisfaction, the Guuji clapped her hands with a bright smile plastered on her face. "Wonderful. Then I'll see you in three days. I look forward to it very much." Kunikuzushi recognised the tone of false cheeriness.

But he could only watch as his mom promptly shoos away her guest and prompts her to follow in the direction of her guards. Leaving him alone with the fearful-looking acquaintances of his.

He could already feel what they were itching to ask just by how they looked at each other, and then him. Ultimately it is the flying one who decides to bite the bullet and ask, "…she does have the evidence, right….?"

Kunikuzushi stared at them for a few long moments, before he shrugged his shoulders back. He honestly had no idea. "Don’t ask me. I have no idea what she meant by that." That didn’t help. Paimon only shrieks for the nth time and hides behind her blonde friend.

He supposed he should try to look a bit more affected by this. After all, they can’t get arrested. They needed the traveller in order to get to the plane of Euthaymia. However, his mom was not stupid. He was sure he had a plan already in mind. He only wished they would not be so stupid as to think she’d make such a promise and not stick to her word.

Miko came back soon after he finished his train of thought. She dusted her hands and smiled at all three of them. "That was quite the encounter, now wasn’t it? Nonetheless, everything is still going according to plan." She claims.

"But that was so scary! Paimon wasn’t expecting to run into Kujou Sara all the way here…" Paimon sighed and shakes her head before looking over at Miko with an expression of worry, "But uh… Miko, you mentioned evidence of the Tenryou Commission's betrayal. Is that all in hand and good to go, or...?"

Just as he expected, Yae Miko scoffed and brushed a hand over her smile. "Why are you always asking so many questions? Of course not. I just had to say something because I clearly wasn't convincing her."

"Of course, you’d say that…" She muttered while looking a bit dejected or disappointed. Whatever sentiment that was, Kunikuzushi shared it fully. He made eye contact with the traveller and they shared a look of unimpressed.

Miko looked a tad bit offended at all of them for looking so dejectedly at each other. She clears her throat. "As plans go, changing the deity's mind is a huge gamble to begin with. We can't expect to be in control of every last detail when we're facing off against a god, can we?"

She made a fair point. But, Kunikuzushi couldn’t help but express. "Okay, but what are we going to do though? We only have three days to provide her with this ‘evidence’ before she nips our catalysts away from us." He reminded. Not missing the way the traveller looks a bit offended at the words. Paimon only giggles away though.

"If we want to get our evidence, we're going to need some help," Miko speaks. Then, she turns her gaze to Kunikuzushi.

"However, you will not be joining us on this particular expedition. I need you to watch over the Shrine while I’m gone."

Kunikuzushi looks a bit surprised to hear that. His eyes widened a bit. He thought she had closed the Shrine for the day. Or perhaps it was temporary? But, still. There must be more truth to her words than she let on.

His eyes narrow slightly and he looks down. If he was to guess, she probably was benching him for that stunt he had pulled in the delusion factory. Maybe she thought he still needed time to sit down after what he had done and recollect himself. But he didn’t need to do that. He was fine.

"Hey now, I can practically hear your gears turning in that pretty little head of yours." Miko teased him out of his heavy thought before she offered him a genuine look of care. "You have done your part. Now, it is time for me to do mine."

His eyes searched hers with a pensive expression before he yielded. Shaking his head and relaxing his arms. "…fine. I’ll stay. Not like I had much of a choice in the matter." He muttered the last part. But she still seemed all the more satisfied because with that she turned away from him.

"Good. Now come with me children," the traveller and Paimon stop looking at Kunikuzushi to instead look over at Miko, "if we want to get ourselves this information, we must awaken the professional."

That is where he drones them out. If they said goodbye to him, he probably didn’t notice. Instead, he huffed and turned away. Walking back inside the Shrine vicinity to straighten himself out before the other shrine maidens would return from wherever they were. Perhaps his mom had told them to come in later instead of the usual early time. But in the meantime, he will wait.

The boards of polished Yumemiru wood felt cool against his skin as he padded through the halls of his home. Debating on whether to go to his bedroom or to enjoy the view outside in the back for a bit. His feet were already guiding him to the veranda out looking the ever-flowing stream of water and the dancing Sakura trees.

Without much thought, he plopped himself down on the wood in a practised motion. Hands shifting to his lap just like he always did. He briefly wondered who his mother was going to ask for help retrieving the so-called evidence, but for his own sanity, he discards the thought.

Instead, he deliberately inhaled through his nose, and out through his mouth. Observing the scenery before him quietly. Inviting the thoughts he had pushed to the back of his head to resurface and mingle with his strings.

His eyes narrowed. Dottore… what he had done to him. It was likely one of the most inhumane things he had ever managed to do. But, was it not prone for human beings to act upon impulse, do harm others irreversibly in the process?

Would he really get away with doing that, without facing any consequences? Why did he do that to him in the first place? Was it because he was being taunted? Or perhaps it was because of what he did to him in the past. How he had been easily taken advantage of due to his gullible behaviour of the past.

He gripped his pants and smirked. Huffing out a small laugh at himself.

The most bizarre thing to him was that he didn’t regret it at all.

Sure, the reality of it was a screeching pest in the corner of his mind that would one day scratch its way out of his eye sockets and into the world. But he didn’t care. Despite how wrong it felt to tear somebody else apart like that, it also felt oddly satisfying. To get revenge for the people and himself, let out all his white emotion.

He would do it again if he had to.

Now that he thinks about it, Dottore felt very easy to have been crushed like that. Too easy, for somebody with a seat as high as his in the Fatui Harbingers. He couldn’t help but come to the conclusion that that wasn’t really Il Dottore who he had damaged. But if it wasn’t him, then who was he? Or rather, where is the real one? Perhaps it is the same situation as him, where another puppet was created.

His grip tightens more as his thoughts are automatically driven to the Raiden Shogun, and her. And that voice who he had spoken to earlier. No… the voice was Makoto. And she wasn’t talking to him, he was talking to Ei.

His grip softens, and so does his face. That voice, it was so soft and light. Despite hearing it for the first time, he felt as if he had heard it so many times that it was engraved into his skin before. What he had witnessed felt like it was one of her memories. And yet at the end, Makoto spoke to him.

He didn’t understand if what he saw was even true, or if it was nothing but an illusion or an after-effect of all that purple mist in the delusion factory. Maybe even a dream. However, puppets could not dream. Usually when he was younger, what he would see in his ´dreams´ were merely his creator's memories. But he stopped having those at some point, or so he thought.

Those words that she spoke in the end were to him directly. That, he knew for sure. So he decided that whether it was an illusion or not, he would hold on tightly to the bit of comfort her words provided to him.

"But do not make the same mistake she did. Do not let your burdens get the better of you. Kunikuzushi, do what Ei could not do. Live for yourself and everybody else around you. Only then can you conquer your foes."

His eyes flutter closed and pulls his legs up to his chest. Resting the side of his head on his knees. The more he thought about it, the more he realised that all this time, he had been doing exactly what she had been doing all along. And now here he was, hurting other people because of the burdens that he carried because of her. Or because of him.

Sometimes, it felt more like she had created her pain into the manifestation of a puppet, and not for the possibility of godhood.

He decides then and there to make a promise to her. To not make the same mistakes that she did from now on. Maybe then would he figure out how to come to terms with all his anger.

My dear

Always remember,

my heart holds you when my arms cannot.

For as long as I continue to exist,

you will always be loved.

Chapter Text

Every minute.

His body rises carefully as he holds the traditional stick in his hand. Wafting it precisely through the air as his body moved to the rhythm of this ritual. He had done this all before. He was doing this all again. How much time would it take, before he was finally ready to face her again?

The shrine maidens followed along with him as he traced his steps in front of the Sacred Sakura tree. The people watched as he knelt before the great tree to place the incense by the roots of the soil. He lowers down his head, dark indigo obscuring his face in a silk halo. He prays.

It wouldn’t be long, he thought. Not too long, until she faces the consequences of her fear. The result of her Eternity. But is this what Eternity means to her? To have people dying. Suffering every day, because she is afraid of the unknown. Afraid, of betraying the heavenly principles, and stripping people away of their birth rights.

If this is Eternity, then he did not want to continue on like this. Not when it left everything in a tangled mess. Not when it hurt everyone. Including her.

He blows the petals in his sweet palm, and the tree shines brightly. People cheered, yet all he could do was stare. This isn’t what she wanted.

He bends his frame in respectful grace, turning away soon after in a careful, well-practised motion. And then the puppet walks off.

—————————

The puppet listens to Yae Miko as she explains the plan one more time to them. He watched as the leader of Watasumi Island asked him to lead their plans to attack Tenshukaku. He watched as Kujou Sara stormed off in a panicked frenzy to confront her caregivers.

That day, there was a particular feeling bubbling within his chest. He knew that the time had come for the people to rebel. It was only natural that things would spiral down like this. But he never thought that it would happen in this way, no not at all. The puppet had an inkling it was all because of that traveller. He found it so strange that every time he came into a nation, something so pivotal always seemed to happen. At least, he thought so.

Never mind, he had too much time to think. Still, he knew that his part to play in this conflict was coming soon. What he was going to do about it, he didn’t know. He had wept all the tears that he had been given, and now he had no choice but to face his problems.

Every second.

"If you wish to attack and have a shot at impacting her, you will need to come in from the front gate entrance," Kunikuzushi repeated what he was told to say. His mechanical hand dragged to point at the blueprint layout of Tenshukakus exterior.

"Strike from here. Do not bother with pushing forward. Focus on the battle in order to provide time for others to progress, and only once done should you traverse any further in assistance. The other Shogunate will make it extremely difficult to move on nonetheless. For that reason…"

His fingers drag to and fro. Everyone listens to his advice. He wondered, how could they trust him so blindly? The ‘Scaramouche’ they knew was related to the enemy. He could be leading them astray. In a way, he was. Strategically placing the pawns to allow his ace to take charge. It would be for their benefit. So, he made haste and told them all that he believed would assist. The troops were already planning on waging war upon the Shogun, so he had simply used it to his advantage.

He helped to train them more intensively and gave them information on what was the best time to arrive in order to have the greatest chances of meeting her. They trusted him easily.
But did he deserve it?

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One step at a time. Dignified. He walked along the streets of his supposed ‘shared dream’ with his creator. But this was not the nation that he had dreamed of. A heavy and gloomy sky, a city run by foreign rats that only wish to tarnish their precious soil more than anything. It is quite a shame that this is what things have ultimately come to. He could not help but mourn what had become of his home in silence.

He was heading over to the Yae Publishing house to meet Miko today, having just arrived back from another military meeting on Watasumi Island.

However, along his way, he crossed paths with a person of interest through a window. The general of the shogunate army, Kujou Sara, looked sickly as she ordered tea from a popular tea house. The puppet thought about it, thinking she likely needed somebody to talk to, so he briskly changed directions and entered the establishment with the faint chime of the door.

"Your Excellency? W… what are you doing here?" She sputters before she immediately palms her forehead with a presumably, embarrassed expression upon seeing the look he gave her. "Ah… what I meant to say… please forgive me. I do not know where my mind is."

"Good day to you as well, Madame Kujou.” He took a moment and glanced over at her tea, before saying, "Mind if I keep you company?"

Sara furiously shook her head. "No, please. I could never refuse. I’ll get your seat." He watched as fumbled to immediately shift over. Kunikuzushi just let her do as she pleased, and neatly sat himself at the warm seat next to hers. She must’ve been here a while.

He ordered a tea, and then he sat there next to her once the drink arrived. He looked at what she was taking and was surprised to see an empty bottle of sake and some warm tea. However, she immediately flushed with embarrassment and summoned the waiter to take away the alcohol. Kunikuzushi gazes at her tea, likely too warm to properly consume, for some time before looking at his tea as he patiently begins waiting for it to cool.

There was a long, seemingly tense silence before she spoke up first. The way her knuckles flushed as she gripped her chopsticks indicated to him that she was not feeling too comfortable at the moment. He wondered, was it because of what happened earlier?

"I do not understand. I… your Excellency, how can it possibly be that the chief is betraying our nation's trust? The Shogun’s trust, that the entire foundation of our history is based upon? I can not fathom such a radial thought." She managed to push out as she looked away from him with her lips pressed into a thin line.

He didn’t say anything. His knuckles lightly felt for his tea, and it was somehow still hot.

"If you tell me that it is true, I will believe your word without a second thought. Almighty Shogun, tell me it is not true. Please, give me guidance."

Her words echoed within him, deep to his core, and he sighed quietly as he observed his tea. His reflection reminded him of that very day he was humiliated in front of his creator. Begging her to tell him what to do, what to think. What to do with himself and his thoughts and the storm of troubles drowning him in a slow and painful death. He didn’t know what to do with himself back then.

But now, he realised that she did not deserve the right to dictate their opinions. Over what to do with themselves. For she herself was not all-knowing and was still subject to a biased misjudgment. It would not be right to ask him what she should do. Like she was nothing more than a puppet waiting to be strung along by her master. It made him sick.

He clenched his jaw. Hard. Pulling the tea to his lips and swallowing the burning hot liquid before he spoke up. "You should think for yourself, Kujou Sara. Let the truth be shown to you. Wait until there is evidence, and then form your own sustainable judgement."

"The times arriving now are pivotal, so I advise you to make the right decison." He downed the rest of his tea in one quick and fluid motion. Setting it aside and playing some few mora on the counter before he rose with the screech of his chair scraping against the wood of the establishment. "Do not blindly believe what I say, or what the Raiden Shogun is doing."

With those final words, he decided he did not want to stay anymore longer. So he silently turned and walked away without a word more. Leaving a stunned and conflicted woman behind her as she gaped at his back.

Sara was frozen for a long while before she sighed and slipped weakly into her seat. Lifting a hand to quietly order, "one cup of sake, please."

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Kunikuzushi witnesses as she stares at the evidence in shock. Her eyes were wide and her hands trembling as she asked if truly, what she saw was the truth. Yae Miko said she had no reason to fabricate false information. The general's face crumbled weakly.

She dropped the evidence, turned her heel, and then she ran. Kunikuzushi watched her with a slightly complicated expression. He crossed his arms tightly to his chest.

"Today marks an important day in the history of our nation, Kunikuzushi. Promise me to not forget what we discussed earlier. Even if things go south."

He looked up at her, but she was not looking at him. She was looking at Tenshukaku, a storm slowly grew larger around Inazuma city.

He clenched his fists tightly. He promised that he would always follow in her stead. But he had suffered long enough. They all had. It was time to show her that this ‘eternity’ she dreamed of was nothing but a sick joke.
A selfish lie.

(

"You want me to enter into her realm of consciousness while she attacks?" The traveller questioned, his expression troubled but nothing less than serious. It was only him, Kunikuzushi and Yae Miko standing in the empty Shrine. It felt taboo almost, plotting to bring a god to her knees.

Kunikuzushi observed seriously as Yae Miko nodded her head in approval. Her arms crossed tightly to her chest. "This is the only way that we can get an audience with her. If we miss this opportunity now, we might have well have lost Inazuma all together."

The traveller furrowed his brows in deep contemplation, considering the odds. He clenched his fists rightly. "Well… how do I assure that she won’t just kill me before I can do anything?" He questioned, a hint of worry in his tone.

Yae Miko turned her gaze to Kunikuzushi, who still appeared fairly distant. He finally blinked and clenched his jaw. Finally, he would prove to the Shogun that he was not just some useless liability waiting to be destroyed. He was ready to prove that he had more worth than just a weak prototype. That he did mean what he said when he promised to protect Inazuma.

"I’ll stall her for you externally. That should make things easier for you while you are inside." Kunikuzushi finally spoke up. Miko nodded on more.

She turned over to face the great Sakura tree. Reaching out to place a palm over the wood.

"You just focus on dealing with her. Don’t worry, he will be our last line of defence."

)

If this will go all according to plan; then they should have no issues. He knew that what they were doing banked too much on luck for his own liking, but what could he really say? If Yae Miko said now was the time for action, then he would act.

Scaramouche met the troops over at the docks of Inazuma city. He quickly told them the situation, that there was currently a dispute taking place within the area of Tenshukaku so the Shogunate forces would already be wilted temporarily. They all looked at him, driven with determination and listening intently as if this was the final calamity leading up to all the pain and losses they suffered along the way. He heard words proclaiming the revenge for the deceased. It was saddening how much of the world often his world revolved around her.

"I’ll follow your lead." He glanced at Gorou as the general spoke to him. Kunikuzushi nodded more firmly and slotted away his weapon sharply. Beginning to give directions on how to move down the path to encounter the least civilians.

Finally, after some patient navigation, they reached a point of contact with the Shogunate army readily waiting in front of the estate. Scaramouche assed the size, before ultimately giving the general a firm nod of the head.

Gorou nodded, his grip on his bow tightened fiercely as he addressed their soldiers. "For Inazuma!"

They all roared in determination as they charged for the estate. Kunikuzushi suspected they’d be tipped off the closer they got, but that was alright. They had enough to put up a fight long enough to get an audience with her.

"Just like we practiced! Everyone, enter your offending stations! Make room for the other to continue the pursuit!"

 "All who can, no turning back!" 

———

The orange hues of the setting sun, the beautifully decorated city, and his people cheering upon catching sight of him. And his mother, smiling at him with love and adoration clouding her vision.

It was all so much, too much. He hadn’t even taken notice of the small droplets forming in the corner of his eyes.

Ei wiped the tears from his eyes, motioning with the other to the crowd of people awaiting his words of wisdom. “Go on Kunikuzushi, our people are gathered here today for you, so speak to them."

For me.

He nodded and turned his attention to them, a wild smile plastered across his face. His eyes shone bright with happiness.

“Thank you. Words can not express how much I love you all. Although I only came into this world a year ago, you all made me feel welcomed and loved. The bonds that I forged with you all, large or small, will always be remembered by my heart. Truly, I am honoured to have your faith instilled within me, and I can promise you that forever how long eternal holds, I vow to protect our people’s freedom and honour those who came before me."

He paused, gathering up the overwhelming rush of passion he felt at that very moment.
" I... I wish that all of you will enjoy yourselves to the fullest today!" He placed a hand on his heart, the buzzing feeling in his chest growing the more he took in the sight.

The sounds of the crowds cheering echoed across the city, an eternal voice echoing to him his promise to them. At that very moment, Kunikuzushi vowed to himself that he would fulfil his purpose. He swore to protect his people, no matter the cost it came with.

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The archon stepped closer to him, and he flinched back harshly in defence. “Leave me alone! You’re the reason I ended up in this way, you don’t know anything." He painfully choked out, his voice dying down slightly. But the intent was still there, she understood him. Or so she thought.

Ei walked even closer now. "That is the problem Kunikuzushi. You feel. You may think that I am the reason for your pain, but it’s not me. It’s you.” She took his hesitant and vulnerable state to her advantage and finally rested a hand on his shoulder, ghosting over his cold skin lightly.

It burned. It burned so much but he didn’t pull away, he couldn’t. With his eyes glazed over he asked,

"But you created me in this way? You’re the one who did all of this to me." His voice croaked out as his teary eyes finally rose to look at her own. Her eyes that he recognised whenever he looked in the mirror. But they had something else in them too. Maybe if things were different he would be able to know what it was.

Ei thumbed his cheek like he would break any moment, with a gentleness he had forgotten so long ago. "I know. I know what I did was wrong. You were... a mistake. One of my greatest. Perhaps Miko was right, I was selfish. And maybe it would have been better for the both of us if I had never spared you in the beginning."

The silence that followed was heavy, not being able to withstand the weight of the truth. Kunikuzushi didn’t say anything in response.

———

And after all this torment, he realised that she was right. He was a mistake. He was a result of her own selfishness. This, all of this, was happening as a result of her selfishness. He thought and felt and dreamed like a living being could. He was not fit to be the emotionless ruler that she had intended for him to be. But that did not mean he was worth any less. It didn’t mean he should have to sit back and watch as she destroyed everything around them because she was afraid.

It didn’t matter if he was a mistake, an error in her judgment. He still made that promise to them, all those years ago. He was done hiding, being a coward who coiled behind his mother’s shadow. For the sake of the people’s ambitions, and for the sacrifices that came along with it, he would shake this eternity that Ei was imposing. Even if it was at the risk of his death. He would defend the people’s right to have their freedom.

Scaramouche pushed forward, his steps purposeful. Once he climbed up the steps, his brows furrowed upon what he saw first. Confusion.

The traveler? His eyes widened, but soon he halted upon sensing a strong disturbance in the air. He widened his eyes. Immediately he reached out with desperation,

"Wait! The Shogun! She—"

There wasn’t enough time to warn him before she quickly spilt through the air like a burst of lightning. The magnitude of her strength and power distorted their faces into ones of shock. Fear. His expression widened and his pupils shrank back into tiny specks of dust. She couldn’t. No, she couldn’t take any more away from him. She just couldn’t. Yet couldn’t move.

He was blown back slightly when out of the corner of his eye he saw a flash. And then, his eardrums thundered. A quick burst of electro erupted in front of his vision as a sword that was not his collided with the Shogun. In a split second, he grasps that it was Kazuha.

No no no no, this was not part of the plan. This wasn’t anywhere a part of the plan. But the prototype witnesses in awe and horror as the wandering samurai pushes back with all his might, with all his hopes and ambitions. It was like he was fighting for what he believed in. He looked brave.

Kazuha pushed back the Musou no Hitotachi, and even her face flickered with stun as he overpowered her with a force that sent her stumbling backwards uncharacteristically. An expression that would be comical if not for the circumstances. But then she quickly gained footing and charged straight for his core without hesitation.

The wanderer was able to block it with his blade in time, but it sent him flying back at a threatening speed. He dug his sword into the ground and stumbled back into the group. Kunikuzushi was coherent enough to hear Gorou shout Kazuhas name and rush over. But Scaramouche was watching that vision.

The once grey vision, a statement to the unfortunate and unforgiving ending of its previous owner, flickered with life. Even if just for a moment. But he saw the flash of electro. Was the human will strong enough to even defy the rules put in place by Celestia?

His fist clenched, he should not be afraid now, after so long of being scared. Not when he was supposed to protect everyone. He was supposed to protect Inazuma and his people. He made a promise.

Kunikuzushi utilised more of his energy in preparation for battle, letting his eyes glow as he hardened his gaze. He glanced over at Gorou, who nodded firmly.

"Everyone! Hold off the Shogunate at all costs! Attack!"

Kunikuzushi sprinted forward, summoning his sword in hand as he pushed off the ground with a wave of electro, quickly aiming for the Shogun. Just as they had suspected, the gates of Euthamiya opened and the traveller quickly disappeared just in time for Kunikuzushi to clash blades with his counterpart.

He managed to push her further back and away from all the fighting. Gritting his teeth and sliding on his feet as he held his ground. The Raiden Shogun looked at him with indifference, but he noticed that her eyes held everything different this time compared to when he last faced her in this way. Anger, surprise, bitterness. Emotion.

She gained her footing and withdrew her sword close again. Asserting a pose of what could only be described as power and dominance. Just like Ei. A long time ago, he would be afraid to even stand tall against her like this. He felt inferior. Weaker.

“You came back. However, you are on the side of our enemies." She said, regarding him with no familiarity. He scoffed, shaking his head. Of course, she would assume he would cower away from all of this like an obedient little dog. But he was his own person and he would fight for what he believed was right. He couldn’t just cower in fear when people even weaker than him still resisted.

He stood up straighter and looked back at her with firm determination. Eyes narrowing. "I will no longer watch as you tarnish our nation with your crude version of ‘eternity’. This is not the dream we promised to our people."

Kunikuzushi looked at the spear he gripped in his right hand. His face soured for a moment before with the flick of his wrist, he discarded the object.

"I am here to fight for our dream." He summoned his sword instead. The same enshrined and familiar blade that was gifted to him by the Kaedehara family on his very first birthday. His eyes closed before he opened them again with indigo eyes that glowed like lightning. "It all ends here, Raiden Shogun."

The other watched him with a contemplative expression. Then she nodded and swished around her sword to hold an offensive stance.

"You wish to make yourself my enemy? Very well. You will fall beneath my blade." Instead of summoning the Musou no Hitotachi, she raises her sword.

 "All which constitute a threat to eternity must be purged."

Chapter Text

When the puppet was first created, she faced her creator with the intent of accomplishing their goal, the pursuit and preservation of eternity.

It stood firmly opposite Ei with eyes that mirrored her own. It was a fragment of Ei, the side of her that wished for nothing more but to achieve an eternal existence of Inazuma. For its protection. Ei could tell just by looking at it that it would be a suitable vessel to possess a gnosis, to pursue her eternity of solitude for Inazuma. She was born without the capacity for a heart.

The Raiden Shogun was the fruit of her labour. The true being that would withstand erosion and carry her own forever. She did not cry. She did not speak. She was resilient. What she had wanted to create all those years again after calamity struck.

Her creator had given her very own physical being for her existence, to fulfil what her prototype could not. She was created, however, with palms that spoke of intense longing and sorrow. What is it that she longed for?

She summoned her Musou no Hitotachi almost immediately and prepared to strike it down upon her long-spent work, but at that very moment, the vessel slowly opened its weary eyes and the two made eye contact.

When Ei looked into her eyes, she saw her own fear and confusion. Like, she had not expected what she saw. The prototype looked at her, and she saw hurt and pain. Not the sense of achievement and accomplishment that she would have expected from the God of Eternity. She looked back at her without anything. When Ei saw it like this, there was something inside her that just shattered.

He would never be back. He was gone. This prototype was not something that required to be nursed and nurtured. She looked at her, and she saw her past.

Her hands summoned her sword before she could even comprehend the intense emotions she was feeling. The prototype caught sight of her glowing weapon, but it did not flinch. It was unmoving before the threat of defeat. Undeterred.

Ei dematerialised her sword and looked at her with a strange look in her eyes, a look similar to reluctance. Once again, she could not bring herself to discard her creation. Once again she fell subject to her own emotion.

She hardened her expression and crossed her arms. She will not make the same mistake thrice. So, she turned her back to it and gazed at the crimson sky. The puppet watched for some time as Ei left it in silence.

Ultimately, the God opened her mouth to speak words of command. Lacking any tone of affection or familiarity.

“You are the everlasting law of Inazuma, the guardian of eternity. You are the vessel of my being and a puppet who will govern in my stead. Your name shall be, the Raiden Shogun. Guardian of Eternity.

From now on, I will leave you the task of safeguarding the solitude of Inazuma and our people. You will be sure to rid this land of any who constitute a threat to eternity, without question while I remain in my state of eternal meditation."

The puppet blinked, but she mirrored Ei’s standing and crossed her arms. Humming with a nod.

"Very well. I will do my part, as long as you do yours. Raiden Ei."

Ei didn’t respond. She didn’t need to say anything. This puppet did not need to be taught. She knew everything already. The Shogun dismissed herself easily from her realm of consciousness.

It was at that moment that it knew that Ei likely would not stay true to her word. She had someone else inside of her heart. She looked at it with regret. Why? She was the perfect puppet.

Because she wasn’t Kunikuzushi.

She would not fail, not like the way her predecessors did.

——————

It came as no surprise to the Raiden Shogun that Yae Miko seemed to resist her. Once the Shrine Maiden first saw her, she immediately knew she was not Ei and demanded to see the god. She would have resisted more if not for the intensity at which she was demanding her. This was not the Guuji she remembered. She would never let her emotions get the better of her. That is what she thought, at least. However, it did not matter to her. She gave her what she wanted.

The pink-haired woman did not care to talk to her either after that. The prototype was not bothered by this. She was focused on her meaning of existence. Emotional beings like Yae Miko only clouded Ei’s judgement, she concluded once she travelled to the Plane of Euthamiya once more and took note of its declining state.

Time moved on in stillness. But she remained firm as the Guardian of Eternity. And then one day, there was a disturbance in the atmosphere, slightly far away. The pulsation of a gnosis. The signal of life that only one person bore before her.

It was a bit sudden when Raiden Ei ordered her to seek it out and retrieve it at all costs necessary. Once more, she did not hesitate.

"I am not your mother."

It made her feel doubt for a bit, that moment when she stood on Seirai island against her prototype. He was a weak hindrance, to put it bluntly. How could he have survived this long? Moreover, why was this the reason for the hostility towards her?

She would have killed it if not for the immediate order to allow him to enter the gates of Euthamiya. The tone was not the strong and powerful one she was used to hearing from Raiden Ei. It was the first time such strong emotion was addressed toward her, even indirectly.

But once again, she allowed it.

This prototype provoked her to think more than she normally should. She watched it cry very much upon the smallest revelations and was there to see him laugh and frown and smile and connect in a way that she never could. It was weak, especially for a supposed ‘god’. Yet people were still drawn to it. Why?

In truth, she would not have existed if he had not game first. She was the guardian of Eternity, a duality of Raiden Ei’s former determination. Yet, Raiden Ei would request her to go see him. She was concerned.

This concern bothered her. But she complied despite disagreeing.

The Shogun contemplated the very few words that her creator had spoken to her at birth. The short yet powerful interaction alluded to her counterpart's vulnerability and nativity. Unlike when the prototype was born, she was not greeted was warmth. Or maybe she was, for the split second in which her existence began, but then soon it was entirely all hard and cold again.

——————

The Raiden Shogun did not understand why her creator was so insistent on keeping the prototype alive. He acted like a child, refusing to cooperate when something happened that he did not agree with. He would throw childish tantrums, wreaking havoc in what was supposed to be the resilient temple that held the God of Eternity. Breaking his furniture, screaming. Acting disgustingly human.

She stood outside on the terrace, watching him sit in the rain like an abandoned doll. She crossed her arms, contemplating the view before her. It got more and more prominent, the fact that he truly was uselessly human. The Shogun once again wondered, why did Beelzebul care so much for this thing? He was essentially a liability in her eyes.

After all, it was not a question of whether she was better than him. She knew that she was. Yet, why? Why did it seem to conflict her to this extent, that it prevented her pursuit of an eternal nation for Inazuma? Was he that much of a threat to eternity?

She stared at him for quite some time in silence. Watching him sizzle in the rain. Ultimately she spoke up, her voice firm and resolute.

"You need to return inside now. This is for your benefit."

The prototype shuddered like she was hurting him. It never failed to complex her how he seemed to react this way whenever she spoke to him. Was it because she looked like Beelzebul?

He finally spat back weakly at her. Fingers digging into the palm of his hand. "I don’t want to. Leave me alone."

She knew he would make this more difficult than it needed to be. However, she could not simply depart, no matter how tempting it was to just rid of him. "It is cold out here. If you choose to stay out any longer, your joints surely will rust. That will require more maintenance." She persisted.

Her words were not out of concern for his well-being, but rather an annoyance at his stubbornness that persisted till now. She continued, her tone cold, "I have no patience for your foolish display of defiance. Come inside before the rain damages your useless mechanical body further."

"And why do you suddenly care huh? Why does it matter to you what I do?! You want to replace me, so let me rot here then!" He stumbled upward, his luxurious silk was disgustingly muddled and dishevelled. His hair appeared as if he had been attempting to rid himself of the soft strands. Matted.

Her eyes narrow with a hint of emotion. "Your destruction is of no consequence to me, but I will not allow you to tarnish our image with your shameful display of weakness." A dismissive wave of her hand followed. But she remained where she was.

Kunikuzushi laughed in disarray. Swaying and stumbling to face her, he clapped his hands. His eyes reflected her growing discontent. "Ohh, so now that matters to you huh? You probably think you have it all laid out for you, trying to do something for my own ‘well-being.’ " His nose scrunched.

"The truth is, it’s not going to work. It never will work on her." He said between greeted teeth, sombreness suddenly exploded into a rage that was once again directed at her. Pointing a finger at her as if in accusation. "When an emotionless wind-up doll like you starts being sympathetic I know I am doomed!"

The Shogun examined him with a complex expression. The only words she would bring herself to say were quiet.

"I am not a doll."

"You are! You’d do anything that she ordered you to, you would even kill yourself if she told you to wouldn’t you!?" He stepped closer, looking more violent.

She paused. Her will wavering slightly. Deterred by his careless voice of words. Why did it feel? Anything to her at all what he said?

"If it would benefit eternity—"

"Enough!" He marched up to her, hands trembling with rage and face distorted into an ugly, horrid expression. The Shogun didn’t understand why she did not attack him, her hands freezing mid-movement when he clutched the collar of her kimono tightly. Threateningly, even if she was stronger than her.

"I’m tired of hearing that word! You are a stupid puppet just like I thought! You’re just her unthinking emotionless puppet! I hate you! I hate you I hate you! I hate you!"

He roughly shoved her aside, causing her to stumble as her eyes widened. Watching him storm off shrieking in a stupor into tenshukaku. Her hands were still frozen in place where he had left them.
His words made her feel… odd. An ache within her core.

Doll?

"I hate her! I hate you Shogun! I hate everything!"

She was not a doll.

.

.

.

.
.

Those words he spoke to her that night, impacted her in a way she could not understand. Because since then, she began to view things in a different light. Before she always regarded him as an object in between her path of eternity that she simply could not get past. But now, she felt a new feeling breaking through to the surface wherever she regarded anything related to the prototype. Anger. Internal conflict.

She was not a doll. She was her own being with her own beliefs. She disagreed with her creator, but she still followed along with her demands. How could she not, as that was the entire purpose she was made for? That did not make her a doll. She did not care about Kunikuzushi, but she found her mind occasionally battling the morality of his words. She started to treat him unkindly on purpose. She hated him too.

And so on that fateful night, as she stood out in the cold for a brief moment and observed Kunikuzushi wailing like a child in the cold snow after he had been dragged there by her hand alone, she felt a wave of satisfaction. Her mind resisted as her creator desperately attempted to take over the physicality of her shell. She chose to finally eradicate him, despite Ei’s warning not to do so. An impulsive decision filled her frame with euphoria as she watched Yae Miko run over to save him.

As she was forcibly withdrawn into her rightful realm of consciousness a split second later, she willingly accepted it without any more resistance.

She silently observed the light dull from his eyes, she smiled a lingering sense of hope that he had finally shuffled off this mortal coil.

——————

And as she jutted forward and appeared to land her murdered attack on his being, he maintained his stance, heels firmly dug his into the ground. For he would be the last line of defence.

Chapter Text

The sky above Tenshukaku churned with fury, thick clouds swirling in a vortex of deep purple and jagged white. Thunder clapped, echoing through the city like a war drum, as rain fell in heavy sheets, hissing against the residual energy in the air. Kunikuzushi wondered if it was echoing her inner turmoil at the moment. After all, the storm was alive. Yet, despite the battle raging behind them, it was drawn to the two figures standing in its centre.

Kunikuzushi stood firm, blade glinting in the electric glow of the sky, his knuckles white against the well-crafted hilt. Across from him, the Shogun stood motionless, sword in hand, looking at him like he was the bane of her existence. The air between them crackled with raw, unrestrained Electro energy, the tension so thick it made the very ground tremble beneath them. He grits his teeth. He did not come so far, as to fall to his emotions once again.

“You should not exist.” Her voice cut through the rain, sharp and booming. For once, it did not sound like hers. “You were never meant to stand before me like this. Ei has allowed for this game to go on for far too long.”

A bitter smirk curled Kunikuzushi’s lips. He laughed. “And yet, here I am,” he said, tilting his head. “Funny, isn’t it? The puppet you were built to replace is the very same one who will bring your end. Shogun.”

The Shogun’s grip tightened on her sword. Her eyes narrowed and lit up bright purple with a hint of emotion. Anger. “I should have erased you the moment you strayed from your purpose.”

“Then do it,” Kunikuzushi taunted boldly, electricity crackling along the edge of his blade. “Or are you afraid I’ve finally become something beyond your control? I’ll tell you what you are. You are pathetic."

Her expression darkened. A single, sharp breath to soothe her core—then she moved.

Lightning cracked, and in a blink, she was upon him. Kunikuzushi barely brought his sword up in time as her blade came crashing down, the sheer force of it sending a tremor through his arms. Sparks exploded where steel met steel, a burst of violet light illuminating their locked forms.

Then she struck again. Faster. Stronger. Just like Ei, she gave her enemies no time to recover.

Kunikuzushi twisted, dodging the next slash by mere inches, feeling the hum of raw energy slicing through the air beside his cheek. He was so close to death. But he was done being afraid of such meaningless things. He countered with a precise thrust, aiming for her side, but she deflected it effortlessly, retaliating with a backhanded strike that sent him skidding across the wet stone roughly.

He barely caught himself, sliding into a crouch, breath coming fast as he felt his body overheating again. She was strong—overwhelmingly so—but he refused to yield. Not now. Not after all the pain and torment that she caused him. Today he promised that he would prove that he wasn’t just some weak puppet aching for more than he was meant to handle. He wasn’t just a weeping being waiting for his mother to hold him. He was something without her.

The Shogun was already advancing, relentless, sword raised to cut him down fatally. Kunikuzushi lunged forward, closing the distance in a burst of speed and electro, their blades clashing once more. Each impact sent waves of electricity surging through the battlefield, illuminating their faces—hers, a mask of cold and complex turmoil; his, alight with determination. She moved with a vicious need to end his existence for good. But he was still keeping up. Meeting each precise strike with one of his own.

Kunikuzushi’s grin widened. “Is this it?” he taunted, slipping past her defences to graze her shoulder with his blade. She deflects barely. “I thought the Almighty Shogun was supposed to be unbeatable. An emotionless wind u—"

Her response was immediate. With a furious burst of energy, she drove her palm against his chest, sending a surge of Electro straight through him. Right where the gnosis used to be. Straight for his heart. How could she be so cruel?

Pain ignited his nerves, searing through his body like fire, and he was airborne before he even realised what had happened. He crashed onto the stone with a grunt, rolling to a stop, purple-coated fingers digging into the rain-slicked ground.

The Shogun stalked toward him, each step deliberate, powerful. It reminded him of that night. That night she took everything away from him. “You are nothing,” she said, her voice colder than the storm around them. He flinched. “No matter how much you fight, how much you struggle, you will never be more than a discarded failure. Jealousy trashes in your veins."

Kunikuzushi coughed, tasting metal, but when he looked up to meet her, his grin hadn’t faded. If anything, it was sharper. Her eyes widened slightly in disbelief.

"Then why," he breathed, pushing his trembling frame to his feet, "do you look at me like you finally see me as a threat? I think… you’re the one who’s jealous of me."

For the first time, the Shogun hesitated. It was subtle—just a flicker of something in her eyes—but he saw it. He recognised that very same expression on her face. As if she was losing.

Something twisted inside him, a surge of something both triumphant and bitter. After all this time, after all the centuries of being cast aside, of hurting and bleeding, she was finally feeling the pain he felt. That raw and itchy feeling of jealousy that grew at the idea of being replaced. That ached at the thought of losing her.

Lightning flared around him, energy crackling along the length of his sword as he steadied himself, planting his feet. He could feel it—his strength, his power, the storm bending to his will as if Celestia themselves had chosen him.

With a sharp inhale, Kunikuzushi lunged forward, his blade crackling with raw, untamed energy. The Shogun met him head-on, lightning clashing against lightning as they collided once more, the storm howling in chorus with their battle.

It raged around them, the sky a writhing mass of dark clouds and streaks of golden lightning. The air smelled of ozone, sharp and electric, the energy so thick it was suffocating. It was choking him.

Kunikuzushi lunged, his blade singing through the rain-soaked air, aimed directly for the Shogun’s chest. Was that where the gnosis was?

She parried, twisting her blade at the last second, redirecting his momentum and sending him sliding across the courtyard. But he recovered faster this time, planting his foot against the slick stone and launching himself forward, his sword alive with searing arcs of violet light.

Their swords met again—clash after clash, strike after strike, neither giving an inch. Bitterness. Eagerness.

The force of their battle sent shockwaves rippling through the air, splitting the ground beneath them. Bolts of Electro lashed out wildly, striking the yielding walls of that sacred plain, the rooftops. He could only faintly hope that the others were alright.

But his mind was consumed too much to think about that. He didn’t want to think at all. He wanted to feel. Kunikuzushi could feel it now.

The thrill. The power. The satisfaction. The anger. The sheer exhilaration of going toe to toe with the one who had once taken everything he ever knew and loved. The one who tried to replace his position in his mothers heart. The one who tried to take away his heart. 

“Is this all you are?” he sneered, forcing her back with a sudden, aggressive strike. Their blades locked, electricity crackling in the space between their faces as his unyielding gaze met her conflicted one. “A hollow shell of a god? An unthinking puppet? You fight like you’re afraid of breaking.”

Her eyes flashed as she recognised those words. And without warning, she twisted, her knee slamming into his ribs with bone-crushing force. Kunikuzushi gasped, the impact stealing the air from his lungs. Pupils shrinking. He wasn’t prepared for what came after.

Faster than he could react, she reversed her grip on her sword, driving the hilt straight into his stomach, sending another jolt of Electro tearing through his body. His vision blurred for a moment, the pain sharp and all-consuming, he cried out in pain, but he refused to fall.

Not yet. Not after getting this far.

He gritted his bloodied teeth, his body screaming in desperate protest, and retaliated with a desperate, upward slash. She barely dodged, the tip of his blade slicing through the fabric of her sleeve, a thin line of purple beading along her forearm.

She stilled.

Kunikuzushi caught his breath, staring wide-eyed.

He had drawn blood.

For the first time since this all started, he had wounded her.

The Shogun slowly turned her head, gazing at the crimson streak against her pale skin. Her expression did not change—but the air around her did. It became heavier. Her body fluttered in deep protest at the same time. Was it because…

The storm above them roared in unison as she exhaled, the very atmosphere bowing beneath her will. Lightning surged to her sword, coating the blade in a blinding, almost divine radiance.

Kunikuzushi, still attempting to recover from her previous blow, looked up in pure horror. Was she trying to fucking kill him?!

Her next strike was merciless.

He dodged—but not fast enough.

The edge of her sword grazed his side, and agony bloomed instantly. His vision flashed white as he staggered back to a crouch, pain searing through his entire body. He clutched his side, fingers coming away wet with blood.

He bit back a curse, body thrumming with heat. She wasn’t holding back anymore. Was this what the wrath of a god felt like?

Kunikuzushi forced himself upright, swallowing the pain, forcing his breathing to steady. His slippery grip on his sword tightened, his own lightning flaring around him in defiance.

No matter how strong she was, he had already come this far. He would not fall now. Not after everything he promised to everyone.

With a snarl, he rushed forward once more, throwing himself into the storm, into the battle that would decide which of them walked away from Tenshukaku alive.

Their blades met in another clash of wills, a violent crescendo, lightning clashing against lightning. The rain had become a relentless downpour, soaking the battlefield, steam rising where droplets met the residual heat of their clashing electro energy.

Kunikuzushi’s chest rose and fell with every breath, his body alight with pain and exhilaration. He had never felt this alive. This broken. Never felt this powerful.

But as they fought, something was shifting. The Shogun faltered. Her movements were slight, oh so slightly, skewered by some other type of force within her.

It was subtle, almost imperceptible—her grip tightening around her sword, her stances shifting half a second too late. The precise, unyielding force that had defined her movements was beginning to crack.

Kunikuzushi’s eyes narrowed. She was distracted? For the first time since their battle began, she was slowing. He was confused for a moment before he suddenly reflected on the plan he spoke of with Yae Miko and the traveller.

They were actually fighting Ei inside the Plane of Euthymia. That was why the weather was so vicious. Miko meticulously planned that they would attack on both ends to make the battle easier for them. It was a reckless guess in the wind, but it was all they really had. After all, it was insane to think they would actually be able to defeat her. This was all just a desperate attempt to shake her will.

So she was fighting them inside there. And now the puppet was faltering. Turns out her hypothesis was right.

A slow, creeping instability in her movements, the briefest flickers of hesitation, the slightest delays in her strikes. The cold, unwavering precision of the Shogun was fracturing, the internal battle splintering her control.

It was the opening he needed.

He lunged, blade crackling with Electro as he met her head-on, raining down relentless blows. She blocked, deflected, parried—but each strike pushed her further back, her footing slipping against the rain-slicked stone.

“You feel it, don’t you?” Kunikuzushi hissed between strikes, his sword a blur of violet light. “Your precious eternity is crumbling right in front of you.”

The Shogun’s eyes burned with fury, but her silence betrayed the truth. She was losing control.

Kunikuzushi grinned, his blade slamming against hers in a violent clash, sending another shockwave rippling through the area. And then—

.

.

.
.

Kunikuzushi turned his gaze to the tiny tea yard as well, watching in silence as a small finch gently descended onto the mini Bonsai plant he received from the Kaedehara family. His gaze softened as he watched how freely the bird behaved.

“Freedom.. it is a rather complex thing isn’t it?"
Xiao turned to him this time, waiting for him to elaborate. "To go where you please and do whatever you desire. Don't you also wish that you were as free as him?" Kunikuzushi asked, turning to him with a longing expression.

Xiao wasn’t quite fond of that term. After all, it was because of freedom that Barbatos was not here. Xiao himself was not even free. He didn’t think that even if he was somehow freed from his contract, he would still have his Karmic debt which would one day drive him into madness. To be free, that’s not a thought that he entertains often.

“That's not easy to answer." He chooses to say.

Kunikuzushi sighed at the poor response. But still, the look of longing does not leave his face.

“If it were me, I would choose to wander all of Inazuma and soon all of teyvat. I wish to visit every island, and see what every small crèves of life looks like." His smile fell just a bit, "Of course, I still care about the people of Inazuma and wish to stay here, but my heart..” He places a hand on his chest, seeking comfort in the pulsating electro it gave off like he always did when he was faced with a problem.

.
.

.

He felt… strange. A pulse of warmth, foreign and unfamiliar, surged through his chest, cutting through the raw Electro energy crackling along the plains of his vessels. For a split second, the storm seemed to be still. He felt fresh and new.

Then a burst of wind roared to life around him. His breath hitched.

The sensation was overwhelming— like the wind itself had answered him, like the air had become a living force, wrapping around his body in an embrace both powerful and untamed.

Then, his widened gaze caught sight of it.

Floating beside him, glowing light still visible even through the obscuring storm, was a Vision. Not electro. Anemo.

The realisation hit him like a bolt of lightning, but there was no time to dwell on it. The newfound energy surged through him, colliding with the static charge already within him, twisting and fusing into something entirely new. The electro and anemo intertwine in a hauntingly beautiful storm. Kunikuzushi exhaled, feeling the power settle into his limbs. Then he pushed forward.

Faster than before, faster than even the Shogun could anticipate. He became moved not only by the lightning but by the wind itself, slipping through her defences like a gale, his sword now alight with a chaotic fusion of violet and emerald energy.

He struck. A devastating slash, infused with the raw force of the storm raging within him.

The Shogun raised her blade to block, but the power behind his strike was overwhelming. The moment their swords met, a massive shockwave erupted, sending arcs of lightning and gusts of wind howling through the battlefield.

She staggered—genuinely staggered. And then she was sent soaring.

The sheer force of his attack launched her backwards, her body colliding with the centre of the massive Statue of the Omnipresent God with a deafening crash. The very earth trembled upon impact.

Cracks splintered through the base of the statue, the once-imposing monument shuddering beneath the force. Lightning flickered erratically around the Shogun’s form as she struggled to rise, her grip on her sword faltering. He could only catch a glimpse of her before the whole structure began to crumble and fall atop her.

He shields his face from the debris and dust that cushioned out in response, listening to the sound of concrete hitting the ground with a defeating hammer. And finally, once it was done, Kunikuzushi stood amidst the aftermath, breath heavy, rain dripping from his hair. He looked down at his own hands, at the flickering mix of Anemo and Electro swirling at his bloodied fingertips.

For the first time, he felt something more than defiance. He felt like he owned something of his own. He felt like he had finally settled. He still stared wide-eyed at what he had done.

"When I said be the last line of defence, I didn’t mean kill her you know?"

A voice interrupted his train of thought. He looked back round to see his mom walking over to him with a sly smile while clapping her hands. Surveying the damage he had done.

He reached over to grasp his vision, the steel metal steaming under his touch. He let out a ragged breath as she reached over to ruffle his damp hair in praise.

"Congratulations on your new gift. We can talk all about it later. For now, I still need her to actually enter the Plane of Euthamiya. So, let’s hope your little gift didn’t kill her." She joked, walking ahead of him swiftly. He barely had the mind to begin staggering after her to where the broken pieces of the statue lay.

Once they reached the destruction, Kunikuzushi helped blow off some rocks despite his body’s protest. Stopping finally when they unearthed the broken and dismantled figure of the Raiden Shoguns body. Eyes a dull purple. But, she was alive at least.

Miko was quick to kneel down to press her palm to the Shogun's body and somehow emit a gateway that allowed traverse into the plane of Euthamiya. Leaving Kunikuzushi to stare down at the body of the defeated Raiden Shogun beneath him.

She looked hurt. There was a soft frown upon her delicate expression, bloodied with blood he wasn’t sure was his own. And her eyes, the once shimmering violet that pulsed with the dream of an eternal Inazuma, were now dull like a dampened candle. She looked vulnerable. Nothing was stopping him from killing her now.

But, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Even after all these years of pain, all the years of wishing he could dig his nails into the balls of her eyes, all the years of beating himself down over the existence of her very being, he still could not hurt her. Not because she looked like her, but because she looked like him. He looked at her broken expression, and all he saw was himself.

His fingers clenched around the coolness of his vision, and his sight blurred with tears. Finally, after everything, he had finally defeated her. He had finally proved that he wasn’t nothing, that he wasn’t a useless puppet with the burden of emotions. He finally proved that he was worth being just as strong and unshakable as she was. Yet, he didn’t feel satisfied at all. In fact, he only felt pain.

A drip of his tears fell to the ground as he trembled, and he reached up to wipe at his face. "I hate you. I hate you so much because when I look at you, all I can see is myself."

She looked at the sky and said nothing. Nothing at all. He hiccuped and clenched his fists tiredly. "You took everything away from me. You took my home, my happiness… you took away my heart. I wanted to choke you so hard that.. maybe then you’d feel a fraction of the pain you inflicted upon me."

His sword lifted, ready to deliver a fatal strike to her being. Waiting to finally satisfy the burning white rage that had made itself home within his chest. But, his grip trembled.

"… yet, even now, when I look at you. I don’t feel happy. I don’t feel satisfied. I don’t… I…" The metal cluttered onto the ground and his body soon followed. Weak and weary from all the stress he was under. He fell to his knees crying.

She stared at nothing. Gaze fixed on the air as listened to him sob next to her. Once his cries had dissipated into meaningless whimpers, she finally spoke to him.

“Even after all I know… even after how strong I was made to be… I still was not ready to defend eternity."

Kunikuzushi slowly lifted his head to meet her dirtied face. Her expression reflects one of his own. Failure. Sadness. Despair. But he couldn’t bring himself to feel bad for her. Not when even after everything, she was still thinking stupid nonsense like that.

"You’re still hung up on that?" He scoffed. Wiping his face and shaking his head in disbelief. He spoke up. "When will you realise that your version of eternity is impossible to achieve? It’s not right. An eternal nation… people grow. People change. That’s the whole point of living. People live, despite not knowing what will happen tomorrow."

Kunikuzushi shifted. Moving to sit down properly as his gaze drifted to one of the discarded visions on the ground next to him. He soured.

"You can’t just take people’s freedoms away and say you’re protecting them. That isn’t how it works. I’m sure she realised it too."

She remained quiet for a bit, and he wasn’t sure if his words had any impact on her at all. The Shogun ultimately sighed and finally turned her head to look at his face.
"… in the end, I never replaced you to begin with. You were always in her heart, before any of our interests. It made me hate it. It made me hate you.”

Her gaze was unfocused. Her hands faintly grasping at nothing as she grappled with her thoughts. Trembling slightly.

"I still believe, that I am not a doll. I'm not her puppet. I just… wanted her to…." She trailed off into silence.

Kunikuzushi watched her with an unreadable expression. He stared for a long time, before ultimately just huffing out a mix between a laugh and a sigh of exhaustion. His body fell back and hit the ground with a soft thud.

"In the end, we really aren’t that different from each other, huh."

He stared up at the storm above him expressionlessly. Soon, she followed his gaze and too watched the rain cascade upon them heavily.

They lay in silence for a long while. Not saying a single word to each other as they both relied on what had just happened. A few moments later, his eyes briefly caught sight of the glowing light rising from around them, where many others’ discarded visions were now beginning to shine with a brightness that made him squint. That must be Miko and the travellers doing, it seemed.

He could only watch with a faint feeling of relief and admiration. His eyes closed with a weak sigh as his injuries finally caught up to him. It seemed that the ambitions of the people really were a force to be reckoned with. Even enough to shake the will of a god as stubborn as Ei.