I often slip under the radar. Too often. I know. :')
I am grateful that you are still here waiting, and that is why I am really sorry to say, for those who follow me for the BTS ffs, that I have no more inspiration. I listen to them and read ffs, yes, of course, but not like before.
It is destabilizing from a certain point of view, but I can't do much about it.
They will always and still remain a part of my world though. I cannot let go of them that easily, it's impossible to do ahahah
I will not delete anything, my ffs are gonna stay here for you to read again if you want to.
And if you unfollow me, that's okay, I undestand.
No offense taken ahahah
I wish you all the best, thanks again for everything ❤️❤️
Summary: the creator just wanted to find her missing best friend in that parallel world connected to their game, but was not aware that the Anemo Archon himself would have an unwanted perception for her and the return home with her friend.
Pairings: yandere!Venti x fem!OC (no physical description, it's up to your liking)
Warnings: fluff, angst, noncon kissing, venti on the dark side
Word count: 8.9k+
THIS IS KIND OF A “SEQUEL” OF THE “UNWANTED INSIGHT” WANDERER FF
FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF SOME PARTS OF THIS FF, YOU CAN READ THE PREQUEL
𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐋 (𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐅)
“The disappearance of the young woman Xu Shi Han, creator of one of the most popular gacha and virtual game Genshin Impact, is still shrouded in mystery. She was last spotted inside her workplace, but no one has since seen her agai–”
The wall mounted flat TV screen of the company rest room went black, interrupting the report on the local news.
She ruefully threw the remote control onto the table before sitting down on the sofa in front of the latter, inhaling deeply to calm the anger and sadness that were taking over.
The other two friends seated at the table facing each other pretended nothing had happened, now customary for them to witness these sudden outbursts whenever the missing of their companion and co-founder was broadcast again.
“Everyone is talking about her as if she had died!” She blurted out restlessly.
“We don’t know,” said the young man to her right, taking a sip of his hot chocolate, sadness filling his eyes.
“Bingo, Ren! We don’t know. So they shouldn’t just give up!”
“Yinuo.” The tone of reprimand, but still with gentle undertones, made her shift her gaze to the young woman to her left. “It’s just one of the logical thoughts one can have. But we don’t really think she’s dead. We know she isn’t.”
She hung her head down, mortified, “Sorry, Maylin.”
Maylin gave her a gentle smile and got up to sit beside her and hug her.
“We will find another way. We will do more research and bring her back.”
Yinuo placed her hands on one of her arms, closing her eyes and nodding as a response.
It had been a week since Shi Han left.
She had informed them that she would dig up the error causing this connection between the game and the parallel world, but they did not believe she would completely disappear for days. And they did not know if this would continue.
Their hypothesis was that she was trapped, something had gone wrong and prevented her from returning.
It was the only rational explanation.
She would never leave her work, friends, family – her life – to stay in an undiscovered place mistically linked to her creation.
Therefore, her first reaction was to attempt an entry into that same world, but was obstructed by Ren and Maylin.
Looking inside and skimming the surfaces of the three-dimensional-cable machine, she searched for some clue to help her figure out how to reach her friend, but someone beat her to it.
“Are you out of your mind?!” Ren roared in anger and panic, taking her out of there with Maylin’s help.
Just outside it, she broke free from their grasps, a grimace of rebellion evident on her face.
“Please, Yinuo, we’re oblivious to what this machine can cause now. Don’t do something stupid.” Meylin pleaded with her, hands joined and eyes glistening with tears that wanted to come out.
Ren pointed to the room, “Shi Han’s office is off limits. Don’t come here anymore.”
She could comprehend their apprehension. They didn’t want her to disappear as well.
Nevertheless, she couldn’t sit idly by.
They were just high shool kids when their first meeting occurred, with a common dream and perpetual hurdles.
They were friends, they worked themselves to the bone to climb to the top.
And now, one of them was in danger, yet they would not even lift a finger.
She could not accept it. Never.
And that was why she had gone against their pleas and reproaches and was again in Shi Han's office at night.
Her VR headset held with one hand and her big cross-body straw bag over her shoulder so she could put the virtual device inside and avoid questions about it – if she succeeded.
She had checked the inside of the machine many times, but there was nothing, not even some hidden buttons.
If there was nothing there, then it just had to be activated, enter it and use the VR.
After turning on the pc, she pressed some keys on the keyboard and a black screen with green-colored codes appeared. Another key and the three dimensional-capable machine was ready with a hissing sound.
She exhaled, her body slightly trembling from the fear, “Here I come, Shi Han.”
She positioned herself at the center of the invention, the sliding door closing behind her, and put over her head her VR.
Since Shi Han had never specified to them how she had been teleported to that world, she was basically doing everything haphazardly.
Jumping, moving steps, stomping her feet, in vain.
VR was the last hope. The tap on the side button initiated bright colors that blinded her vision and she no longer felt the floor beneath her feet.
It was an instant before she had support underneath her again.
She took off her VR and the bright blue sky almost blinded her.
Trees and grass were all around her, birds were chirping, the wind was rising lightly and there was a pleasant silence.
She basked in them for a few seconds before she was interrupted by strange grunts behind her.
The fright and surprise when she turned to take a look made her release a scream.
Bare-chested and bare-footed, a large mane covering most of their head. Two elongated ears sticking out of their mane, wearing a loincloth while their arms and legs were wrapped in bandages.
It was a fucking Hilichurl!
She had a hilichurl in front of her!
With a torch and was going to charge in!
“What the fuck?!”
She began to run, every so often a glance behind her to see if it was still following her, and to her misfortune it was.
She clutched the device to herself to avoid breaking it in any way and huffed out a frustrated grunt, her breath shortening from the rush.
“A safer place to teleport to wouldn't do, would it?!”
After running past a tree, she had not realized the slope hidden by bushes and various plants and ended up losing her balance.
She was ready to roll down it, but felt an arm around her stomach, a hand on her hip and the loss of contact with the ground, which she saw moving further and further away from her.
It was then that she noticed that she was up in the air with a slight swirl of wind supporting her. She turned her head just enough to get a glimpse of the doer of the action.
Fair skin, aqua green eyes, short black-ish blue hair with twin braids that fade into aqua blue.
The gasp was sharp and loud.
The Anemo Archon himself, Venti, was in profile before her as he disposed of the Hilichurl with a gust of wind created with his free hand.
He was staring at it running away before setting his gaze on her, his hair waving in the wind.
Venti was there.
In the flesh.
He was real.
And he was now showing her a killer smile.
“The bad hilichurl has gone away, no more troubles your way,” he rhymed as the whirlwind slowly dissipated with their descent, releasing her after making sure she touched the ground.
Even his voice was a melodious symphony.
“Thank you.”
It almost sounded like a whisper for how enchanted she still was with him there.
“This part of the mountain is teeming with hilichurls,” he apprised, placing a hand on his hip. “I would say that the choice of landing location was not the wisest.”
“Oh, well,” she blinked, slipping her VR into the bag. “I didn't have much of a... choice.”
Brow wrinkled and perplexity were putting it mildly after rewinding in her mind those two specific words said by him.
Had she misheard? Landing location?
She raised her head and observed his expression.
The sides of his mouth upward, eyes sparkling, a gleam in them that she did not know how to interpret.
However, she hoped it was not what she was imagining.
He hummed, casting a brief glance around as he nodded his head.
After that he pulled his attention back to her.
“Then you should have better understood the functionality of that device before operating it, you would have avoided this little unwanted trip.”
Yinuo almost choked on her own saliva, eyes widening in shock.
Venti just chuckled and lifted his arm down to his side before snapping his fingers.
She couldn’t think straight, “Wait, what…?!”
And another whirlwind blocked her vision, making her shield her face with her hands because of how strong it was. The next moment it vanished and she lowered her arms, having the city of Mondstadt before her, the bridge an invitation to enter it.
Had she just been teleported with the power of Venti here?
Venti stretched out his arms wide by both sides, the same twinkle she had noticed moments before never disappearing, “Welcome to Teyvat, and welcome to Mondstadt, outsider.”
Her mouth was practically falling off and a soft squeal escaped from it.
She might have even cried, since she had been discovered by one of the archons.
She hated it when what she assumed turned out to be true.
Instinctively, her hands drifted to the bag storing the VR, “Oh, shit.”
Venti let out a whistle, enjoying her reaction.
He took a few steps to reach her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, their faces inches apart, “Apparently someone here needs a couple of drinks to release tension. I know just the place for that!”
“Wait, drinks? As in alcohol?” Glancing up at the sky, seeing how it was still in the prime of its solar hours, she shook her head several times, even more dumbfounded by the request, “But it’s morning!”
“It’s never enough.”
She looked at him again, deadpan this time.
She had really forgotten he was the alcoholic Anemo Archon and bard.
Any place with a drinking opportunity was heaven for him. He seemed obsessed with pushing his brain into total oblivion – even though he could not get drunk.
And seeing him almost binge drinking was not on her bucket list.
She was aware that she was showing a worried and slightly nauseated expression as they sat at the tavern table with Venti guzzling another cup of liquor all in one go and her first drink instead still untouched in her hands.
“Where does all that go... I wonder,” she mumbled before taking a sip. “How did you know I was there?”
He placed the cup on the table, his elbow on the surface of it and his hand under his chin, “I could sense your presence.”
Yinuo breathed in, “That means you had also sensed my friend’s when she came here. Am I right?”
“You are, and I still do.”
A glint of hope lit up in her as she placed her drink on the table, hands still around it, “If you still do, can you even tell me where she is?”
“Although I can sense her, I am unable to reveal her exact whereabouts to you,” he denied with a tilt of his head to the side and Yinuo deflated like a pierced balloon. “Amplifying my senses did not assist the same. My involvement is allowed up to a certain point.” He stared at his empty cup, “My theory was solidified when I tried to slightly channel my power into you to suppress you.”
She stiffened, her eyes wide at the confession said so bluntly, “You did what? To whom?!”
Suppress? Channeling? There wasn't that ability of his power in the game, they had never included it!
Could there had been additions because of the same world but still with an alternate reality? Like understanding the language of Mondstadt when she should not even speak it and have a conversation with the Archon of the region itself?
An advantage of those who created the game? The wonders of a parallel world?
He focused his attention back on her, “You can't blame me. A foreign presence making herself known without warning. Understanding whether she is a threat or not to my region is my duty as an Archon.”
She sniffed and wrinkled her nose, reluctantly aware that his reasoning didn’t make a dent, “Yeah. Fair enough.”
“But...” He raised his finger and pointed it at her a few seconds later, “The closer I get to you, the greater the perception of you.”
“Almost like a radar,” she pondered this information, a pensive look on her face, her eyes fixed on an unspecified point in front of her. "If you follow the possible direction that is released by that feeling, you can reach the target. So the farther it is, the less you know where it is.” She looked up at him, “That's why you didn't mobilize to unearth the source of that foreign energy: she wasn't in your sensory field. It was too faint, so the thought that she was in the terrorium of another Archon was spontaneous. And if she had in any way undermined the tranquility of Teyvat, you Archons would have joined force together to bring her down.”
Silence took over after her words, Yinuo's determined and confident expression filling Venti's heart with a feeling of pride and amusement at seeing her so buoyant at having guessed the workings of his power.
The ends of his mouth widened into a smile to confirm her theory, “Bingo!”
She smiled back, taking a long sip of her drink.
“Now let's hear, what leads two foreign individuals here?”
She let out a sigh, the cup in her hands, “Where we come from, the technology has advanced so far that we can travel through time – under strict agreement of our government – and make games realistic and experience them firsthand.” And there was a gesture of her chin toward her bag on the table, “The device in there is a VR, it precisely allows you to be a participant just by plugging it into the game you decide.” She resumed looking at him, “You have the same names, backstories, cities, everything from the game that we created. We wanted to make it more enjoyable by adding the realistic experience. It was all being tested, but something went wrong. Apparently we created an alternate world – yours – but it is connected to our game in some way. Events were intertwined that were not supposed to exist. As a result, Shi Han decided to come here to find the binder of the two worlds, but she never returned.” Sadness could be seen in her eyes. “I just want to take her home.”
Venti didn't say anything, he was just observing her.
“I know you don't believe me, yet I have no motive to lie. A lie like this is bound to be considered heresy or of a person who is completely out of her mind. And I'm not.”
Venti chuckled, “It's a deal then.”
“What?” she let out almost instantly, caught off guard, and he shrugged.
“You just want to find your friend. My aid can facilitate the task.”
“I thought you wouldn't believe my explanation.”
“There are many things we don't see, but it doesn't mean they're not there, outsider.”
He emphasized the last word and Yinuo gave him a half-smile. Relief washed over her, nerves relaxing.
He got up, hands placed on the table, “Time to travel, for we need a search to unravel.”
Her lips parted in a smile that showed all her teeth, dimples on both sides appeared, her cheeks had taken on a slightly scarlet hue, and her eyes had become gleaming gems under the tavern light.
Venti couldn’t help but gawk affected.
“A heartfelt thank you.” She inhaled, full of hope. She also stood up, hand held out for a handshake, which he accepted. “Nice to meet you, I’m Wang Yinuo. So to start with, I need a piece of paper and a charcoal.”
If someone had told her that one day she would end up in her own game, looking for her best friend, and that she would get help from her favorite character to do so, she would surely have laughed in their face.
Even with all their futuristic living, the possibility of it happening would never have crossed anyone's mind.
To have made such a discovery was to reach the apex of technological advancement. It did, however, entail risks that she did not want to wish anyone to endure.
Like drawing the face of a loved one who disappeared from your world and chained in another to show it to the inhabitants of the Teyvat regions.
The charcoal was light on the paper for the finishing touches of the portrait, the scenery around them no longer a tavern but the grass and trees of the nearby mountains, sitting on a small ledge of rocks and birds chirping close by.
She could detect Venti's attentive gaze on what she was doing, probably following the way her hand added something and almost gave life to the face on the paper.
Shi Han would do the same thing. She would say that the way she was immersed in shaping her fantasy was magic. And shewould reply that it was just love for her talent put into action.
“It’s so realistic that it almost seems to move. Some would say you used magic to make it so.”
It had been said lightly, but the admiration and wonder she had picked up from his voice caused a tender smile to grace her face.
It was also a victory, for also Venti, the Anemo Archon himself, had been struck by her magic.
“I love my art, and I want it to convey the same feeling to others.” Her hand stopped and she inspected her handiwork, “After all, I am also responsible for the character designs of our game,” Her gaze drifted to him, “and you were my first masterpiece. My studio has all the walls covered by your drawings. I wished for you to be perfect. And here you are, in all your glory.”
Venti was once again dazzled by the expressive and sincere way in which she had addressed him, the discovery that he was her first creation an added touch to the event.
He felt as if he were afflicted by a spell of bewitchment.
A giggle came out of him, “As my token of appreciation, then,” he began, standing up and extending a hand toward her, “this creation will lead you to find less eye-catching clothes before we set out.”
She accepted the offer and grasped his hand, holding the paper and charcoal with the other free, now finding herself face to face as she gave him a confused look.
“Set out? Aren't you going to use one of your whirlwinds to make it quicker?”
“I never said the journey would be easy.”
She blinked, brows frowning in annoyance, “You ugly piece of-“
“Oplà!”
A shriek came out spontaneously as the wind lifted her into the air, remaining anchored only by his hand that had never left hers.
Yinuo tried not to lose patience in witnessing his amused look once again.
“I'm seriously beginning to think you enjoy annoying me!” she raised her tone of voice to be heard over the sound of the wind.
“Oh,” he tilted his head to the side, almost pouting, “What thoughts lead you to such a conclusion?”
“Put me down right now, you brat!”
He flashed her a mischievous smirk, carrying out her order.
In fact, in the days of traveling that followed, any situation was appropriate to pull even unkind words out of her mouth.
She was right: he had fun annoying her.
A sudden gust of wind while she was showing the drawing around, looking over her shoulder at the portrait and giving her quick glances, causing her to lose her balance with a slight movement of his finger to raise some breeze at foot level.
Many actions also led her to chase him – when no one was around so as not to disturb or attract attention – but he ended up cheating by misusing his powers to look down on her from above in the air.
However, he had never lost sight of their goal.
There was no increase in her friend's presence; it was faint, too far away. That detail had not gone unnoticed that was causing sadness and silent moments from the young woman.
His little squabbles were also a way to distract her, and Yinuo apparently noticed.
“Thank you,” she spoke beside him after moments of stillness as she warmed her hands before the campfire, earning his focus. “I know you're doing all these things to cheer me up. I haven't been the best travel companion,” she exhaled, “but Shi Han is an important part of my life, and I can't stay completely calm when it comes to her.”
“You do love her.”
“Oh, you don’t know how much I do…” The tenderness with which she had confirmed it was tangible. “First meeting at the age of sixteen. Very young and full of dreams. Not that it is so different now,” she recounted as she peered at the scarlet flames. “My drawing had flown and she had taken it. Her words were 'Wow! This is magnificent! You are a marvel!' And we had clicked right away. Soon after that Maylin and Ren had joined. They too were very taken with my drawings. They had told me, ‘You should show them to everyone! It's really a waste to leave them for your eyes only!’ Since then we experienced ups and downs to achieve our goal of bringing our creations to light, we had never given up. And we were rewarded…” Her eyes flicked up at him, showing a longing smile. “With your company, our game… and perhaps you, and this world.”
She darted a quick glance around before pulling him back into her sight and letting the sounds of nature accompany the hush that descended upon them.
The crickets chirping, the fire crackling, and its light dancing in her eyes as it played dark and bright hues on her skin.
She was glowing even during the night.
He felt like he was on fire, his body temperature had suddenly risen.
A rumble. Slow, low. Then it quickened.
The more the eyes saw, the faster the heart pumped.
It sang pleasant and modest, impatience taking hold in the long run; narrating a desire in the grip of the beginning.
Oh, what a melody...
"But next time, please, let's look for an inn!"
Her plea snapped that string of notes firmly tied to him by the heart.
Venti scanned the area, finding the mountainous dragonspine covered in white mantle behind them, a couple of meters away, and the green below them, as a contrast, a delightful night view.
He tilted his head, “What problem can this place cause?”
“I need a bed, not just a blanket and a hard ground. And a bath to relax.”
“Oh,” a playuful grin tugged at his lips as he leaned sideways toward her, “that's where this stench is coming from.”
Her mouth almost fell off and she gave him a gentle push with the palm of her hand, laughing together.
Her friends’ eyes shone ecstatically at the drawing they saw on the coffee table, making her heart flutter, refugees in her room for outside opinion about the character she had in mind.
“It's beautiful!” exclaimed Maylin.
“I love it!” added Shi Han.
“What's the name?” Ren asked.
The sides of her lips went upward, sitting on her heels on the floor with her finger pointed at the figure of interest.
She inhaled, filled with joy, “Guys... this is Venti.”
He opened his eyes wide after closing them for a few moments, arms folded.
It was a cocoon of cozy and soothing warmth that was starting to embrace his heart and mind.
And unintended reaction to her proximity.
Witty, affable, a beauty.
And it had become an unconditional reflex to follow any action, observe any expression, and listen to Yinuo's every word.
She could affect your mood and cause a whirlwind of emotions.
Sometimes he believed he was extremely childish in the way he behaved with her, a total opposite person.
He couldn’t resist.
And he was not the only one to face this effect.
Tourists, locals, travelers; anyone who spent even a modicum of time with Yinuo did not want to part ways.
An infectious positivity.
So contagious that he yearned to drag her away from anyone and hide her in an isolated place.
And when he saw her stoop down to pick up the ball that had rolled at her feet, giving it back to its little rightful owner with a sweet smile, he did.
Taking her by the hand, he had her get up and began walking through the streets of the city of Inazuma on which they had set foot a little earlier.
Yinuo frowned slightly, puzzled by his behaviour, “What’s the matter? Have you sensed her? Is she here?”
“Unfortunately, no.”
“So where are going?” She stared at the back of his head.
“In search of an inn,” he explained, eyes focused on a stall to their right selling flowers. The sides of his lips turned upward, “The sun will set in a few hours, and I do recall by now someone's need for more than a blanket and hard ground.”
“Oh, right. But do you think we will meet the Electro Archon?”
“Her in person or the puppet?”
“Both? I mean, we're in her territory.”
“Don’t fret. You are no threat," he reminded her, the fingers of his free hand reaching into the small mora pouch at his hip to pull out a few coins, “You are with me. She won't take you down, I won't let her.”
He had stopped at the stall, pointed to a red rose and put pennies on the counter while the woman behind it reached for the desired object, Yinuo still not paying attention to what he was doing.
“Oh. That… escalated quickly.”
Having it now between his fingers, he spun around and offered it to Yinuo, catching her off guard. She shifted her gaze between him and the rose, another glance at him before blinking and letting out a soft chuckle.
“To what do I owe this kind gift?” She smiled, her fingertips gently touching its stem as she held the petals under her nose to smell its fragrance.
“Couldn't it be a simple gift?”
“Is it?” His thumb brushed the back of her hand still joined with his, eyeing how the petals now caressed her lips. “It's not a trick to then do something to annoy me, right?”
His gaze flicked up to her and shook his head, “A simple, innocent gift.”
“I’m not buying it.”
“Ah, busted!” He upraised their linked hands, “My reward is to stay like this until we find an inn.”
“It’s a rather unxpected request,” she blinked. “Romantic and clingy? I never noted this feature on your character profile. This world really has something more.” she mumbled to herself, confused, still being heard by the person in question.
He moved a little closer, “You learn new things every day, as in a workday.”
She scrunched up her nose.
“If you’re searching for a inn to stay overnight,” the stall woman interjected, her right arm out to the side to point on a distant spot, “there’s one a few steps away from here, to the right.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” Yinuo expressed her thanks with a bow of her head and a smile.
The lady smiled back, “No problem. Helping a lovely couple like you is a pleasure.”
Yinuo tried not to chuckle at the joke as she dragged along a Venti who was definitely piqued by those words.
“By the looks of it, we give the impression of a couple in love, eh?”
“It seems so,” she couldn’t help but laugh.
He pressed himself closer to her, the arms of their intertwined hands against each other, “Not a bad idea.”
She snorted, amused, “Quite funny, Venti.”
This time, Venti blinked, more than once, blindsided by his human name being called for the first time.
Barbatos, Anemo Archon, but never Venti.
If Barbatos sounded sweet and gentle, Venti was a breath of fresh air, fragrant and entrancing.
His heart was whispering impatiently.
An electrical change in the air around them was sensed, and he shifted his gaze ahead to one of the buildings' rooftops.
Her purple eyes were watching them, especially Yinuo. Cautious, ready in defense, but not with her weapon in view.
She was aware that the outsider was no real danger.
Her attention shifted, and there was an insight in that stare exchanged between them.
Venti smiled, looking away as he kept walking with Yinuo, who was engrossed in rambling about Inazuma's beauty.
With a light friction of electricity, creating an almost imperceptible lightning bolt, Raiden Ei vanished.
“Your obsession with tragic stories worries me a little, you know?” confessed her best friend, lying on the sofa in her study.
Yinuo frowned slightly as she carried on drawing on her drawing board, “It's not an obsession, Shi Han, it's a strategy.”
“For what?”
She stood up, taking what was necessary to hang the paper on the wall. After that she began to look for a blank spot.
“Often, pain and despair create another self in you,” she explained, taking the scissors and clear tape. “One that is less vulnerable, more likely to survive and not lose heart.” The paper was attached and she stood staring at yet another drawings of Venti with a sweet smile, “I want to make them stronger,” she looked at Shi Han, “so they don't die inside.”
His hand was quick in grasping what had rested on his forehead, hearing a startled gasp.
His eyes opened and was graced by Yinuo’s face looking down at him.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. There was an earthworm walking on your forehead and I wanted to remove it without scaring you.”
Taking a better look, what he had caught was her wrist and between her fingers that little being wriggling to free itself.
“Nah, my fault.”
He let go of his grip and sat down on the ground on which he had previously been lying, observing the city of Liyue below them.
Legs outstreched, upper body slightly backward, arms at both sides to support him.
“You seemed to be dreaming of something beautiful: you were smiling,” she pointed out as she let go of the earthworm and then brought her knees to her chest to rest her forearms on them.
Venti eyed her. The breeze tousled her hair, her eyes were curious and her smile kind.
As she of those dreams.
Dreams that pictured flashes of the lives of the creators of this world, especially Yinuo.
Days in which he witnessed in his sleep her difficulties, the joys of success, the warmth of her friends' company, her love for the game, for those in it, her love for him.
Her favorite one.
His heart was in the searing flames of that strong feeling of belonging and being cherished.
“I would say so. Something wonderful.”
“I'm glad at least one of us is in a good mood. I can't complain much though, since I have the chance to enjoy these scenarios live. An impossible thing.” She chuckled, ”You said you sense her presence slightly stronger, that means she is not here.” She let out a long sigh, her empty gaze now fixed in front of her, “We checked Mondstatd, Inazuma, Liyue. Any information about her would have been more helpful to us, but no one has seen her. How is this possible? It means she has not passed through these regions and the only option is Sumeru.”
“Fontaine, Natlan, or Snezhnaya.”
The rapid way her head snapped back to him made the Archon think he saw it coming off.
“What?! There are the regions yet to come out in the game itself?!” she had almost yelled in sheer bewilderment. “This world is similar but not identical indeed. How many different things are there that I have yet to discover?”
She blinked a few times, setting her gaze back on the city as Venti shrugged, almost laughing at her reaction.
Until he saw her squinting her eyes to get a better look at something that had caught her attention – better to say someone.
“I could be wrong, after all, this little mountain is very high and quite far away. The sun is even setting. But...” her finger pinpointed what she wanted to show, “I see someone dressed in black and brown. That's Zhongli, isn't it?”
Venti followed the lead, and there was the figure mentioned – whose aura he had already detected but decided to ignore – walking through the center of the town.
“He probably knows I’m here. You said I'm not a threat after making sure of that. So how would he know? I'm quite surprised also that I didn't even catch a glimpse of the Electro Archon.”
He got to his feet and put a hand on his hip, looking down at her, “I told you I wouldn't let anyone tear you down, didn’t I?”
“So you're going to talk to him?” she was quite confused. “When did you do it before with Beelzebub instead? And it wouldn't hurt to meet with them either, they might even help us!”
“Aw, am I not enough for you?” he pretended to sulk.
Yinuo huffed, smiling, “You're getting more clingy, I see. Since you're on the way, bring one- no!” she put up the index and middle fingers, “Four bottles of the strongest alcohol here! Need to get drunk and stargazing.” She urged him with a movement of her hand, “Chop, chop!”
“At your service, my lady.”
There it was with a slight bow before he disappeared, carried away by the wind, leaving Yinuo as she shook his head.
And the order had been carried out, quickly and serenely, before he ran into that someone he had given no thought to outside the store.
Arms crossed, amber eyes serious, thoughts expressed like an open book on his face.
Venti tilted his head to the side.
Interest in who was an anomaly was dutiful, an obligation, but also a curiosity.
A force that drew them to want to know more than the mere possibility of a loose cannon ready to explode.
A strange event and impossible to stop.
Did the fact that the creator herself was here give vital nymph for deep connection? It could have been.
A strong connection, but with hiccups because of hierarchy. He could not hurt her, not even a scratch, if it was with the intention of making her disappear. Yet he could interact and involve her.
The fact that he was probably not the only one to feel this, though, did not sit well with him at all.
He moved one step, then another, until he walked past him with a smile gracing his face and a few words of reassurance
“Don't fret, don't fret, for she's not a threat.”
It was annoying.
A reddish-colored glint suddenly appeared in the Anemo Archon's eyes, the smile now slightly sinister, but completely unaware of the change.
Except for Zhongli, who sensed the slight switch in his aura before perceiving its normal course again, being puzzled by it.
However, he did not follow him.
Venti expected that, more so when he was told that everything was under control and there was already an Archon to take care of the situation.
Having additional Archons following a case was not always a good outcome.
In that one, Venti didn’t want anybody with them.
“Finally!” Yinuo cheered as she took two of the bottles.
“Will I really see you drunk?”
“Oh, sweetheart…” her gaze flicked up at him with a smirk, unaware of the unwitting somersault of the Archon's heart at that endearment. “Totally wasted!”
She was of her word.
After lighting the fire, they had begun drinking amid the notes of Venti’s lyre and Yinuo dancing and spinning around.
She seemed to be in a world of her own, laughing now and then and raising her bottle to the sky, even singing words of a language he did not understand.
It was an undearing sight.
“Dance with me! Use the wind to make the lyre play!” she slurred with little balance in her legs, extending her free hand to get him up.
A gasp of surprise escaped her mouth as soon as she felt herself give way, but with a movement of his hand the wind let her down slowly on the ground, ending face-first on his chest.
She laughed out loud, the sound muffled by the fabric on which she had fallen. She settled better beside him with his help, taking a long breath to calm herself.
“Sorry, i’m so clumsy!”
“Nah. Just wasted.”
She clicked her tongue, index finger and thumb simulating a gun and a gunshot with a raise of her eyebrows, “You’re right!” She rocked from side to side, her cheeks red and her gaze fixed on the starry sky. “I’m so over the moon and so miserable!”
“Oh, really?” he placed his instrument on his other side. “A very big contrast of emotions, don’t you think so?”
“Miserable because I can’t still find my fest friend,” she pointed at herself, “but I’m so overjoyed I can see this!” the hand with the bottle made a wide gesture toward their surroundings before directing itself at him, “I can see you! Are you even real? Is this all a dream?” She covered her mouth with her free hand, almost like a maniac, “I’m having a crisis!”
“I’m real enough, you can touch me, it’s not a bluff.” He tilted his head.
She did so, fingers gingerly grasping a cheek as if it were porcelain before resting her palm on it, feeling its warmth.
The aqua green of his irises was colorful under the firelight, a sea so clear and pure she could reflect in it.
And she smiled, teeth exposed. A candid one, highlighted even more by her intoxicated state. Her eyes almost half-closed and dimples on the sides of her lips as the final work.
He was staggered, mind empty, mouth agape.
“To witness your creations become real is something magical. And in such a majestic sort of way. You are perfection. This world is perfection.” She spoke slowly, slightly more normal, as if to etch those words into her memory.
His reaction was spontaneous.
“Why don't you stay here then?”
Yinuohummed, taking a sip from the bottle, her back going slightly backward from her lack of balance, “Sounds interesting, but I can't. I can visit, though! I have the VR!” the hand with the bottle emphasized the last part by pointing at the object of interest in the bag spread out on the ground in front of them. “But why do you ask? I thought you would hate me.”
She frowned, mystified, her hand still on his cheek.
“Why should I?”
“Because your story is filled with death, loneliness, mourning,” she explained, sadness now present on her face, setting the bottle down and now covering his other cheek with that hand. “You've had a tough past. Doesn't meeting the one who practically ruined your life make you furious? Vengeful?”
They did not utter a word after that, only the crackling of fire could be heard.
Her logic had no errors. If a fictional character found out that he was such, told by the same person who gave him form, he would either have a breakdown, a crisis of existence, or not believe it.
He, now that he was paying attention, had not had one of those reaction, perhaps distrust, but nothing more.
In fact, it was not normal. A hunch that it was true because, apparently, they were connected? Sixth sense between fictional character and creator?
She was not a bad person; she was the sweetest, kindest, gentlest person he had had the pleasure of having in his life.
He had seen it.
“I’m so sorry.” She squeezed his cheeks, bringing her face closer to his. “I have no excuses, but I didn’t do that to harm you. I just wanted to-“
“Strengthening my personality and making me more powerful.”
A spontaneous smile broke out in his eyes wide with amazement.
“How do you know?”
“I saw it. In my dreams.”
“That can happen too?! It's creepy and cool at the same time!”
Venti chuckled.
“Thank you for making me stronger.”
Yinuo leaned her forehead against his, closing her eyes. And he almost stiffened at such unexpected closeness.
“And I am ecstatic to have made you stronger. I hope it's the same for others.”
“I’m sure it is.” His was a whisper, his gaze fixed on her.
A few moments later, he saw her slowly descend to the side, thus resting her head in the crook of his neck, her breathing steady and deep.
She had fallen asleep.
Instead, his heart sang insistently among those same notes that had become more numerous and endless.
He exhaled deeply, remaining silent until a self-conscious giggle came out of him restlessly.
He looked down at Yinuo, his hand trailing through her hair for gentle caresses.
The same reddish sparkle emerged for a fraction of a millisecond in his eyes.
“This is getting dangerous, my darling.”
She did not have to know though. That night of confessions she had even forgotten was a plus.
Sumeru was the final destination, as Shi Han's presence had increased in intensity. She was around them now, they just had to chase her.
Yinuo would continue the end of the adventure in ignorance, confident that she would find her best friend and they would return to their homeland together.
She would have touched the sky with one finger.
Who was he to disintegrate an unreachable dream?
“Are you one hundred percent sure?” she asked him as she looked around, having arrived in Sumeru City. “You said it's more persistent here in the city, right?”
“I did say that.” He rested a hand on his hip.
She began to take deep breaths, nervousness taking over as her heart did not stop those accelerated beats.
She would finally see Shi Han again! She was going to embrace her, holding her so tightly that she would run out of air!
She felt her eyes glaze over and her throat dry as she scanned every single face looking for her's.
“Where are you, Shi Han? Where are you?” she whispered anxiously.
A pressure on her shoulder made her turn and Venti tightened his grip on it to calm her.
A grin tugged at his lips and raised his other arm, gaze and finger on a spot in the distance.
She followed the direction and was assailed by relief and happiness.
People were passing by, almost hiding her, but she would have recognized her among a thousand ones.
Shi Han was there walking out of a tavern, dressed in Sumeru's clothes, and a neutral expression.
Without a second thought she began to run, leaving Venti alone to witness the scene.
His smile grew wider as he sensed another aura similar to his, but he did not give her the slightest attention.
“Is this was you really want?” the Dendro Archon inquired by his side, receiving no reply. “To deprive her of her freedom? To go against that of which you are the very embodiment?”
“Are you threatening me?”
His gaze was on her, who remained mute at the dominance and madness channeled by his eyes, which had begun to have a mixture of acqua green and red.
She saw him shift his attention behind her and did the same, noticing Hikaru searching the crowd for the one he had imprisoned in a world where she did not belong.
The Anemo Archon walked past her, heading toward the Wanderer.
“Hello there!” Venti called him, and Hikaru stared at him diffidently. “Would you like a little mutually beneficial favor?” Hikaru raised an eyebrow, arms folded. “It's about your other half. And mine.”
This led Hikaru's gaze to darken.
Carefully observing the place before reporting to Yinuo where the person she was looking for was, and noticing the young man in front of him kissing that young woman before parting, had been a brilliant idea.
Oh, what a beautiful melody was coming out!
To which Nahida could do nothing but watch helplessly.
“This... is a nefarious tragedy.”
For Shi Han and the new girl, whom Nahida was aware would never be able to return to their home.
Even if the innocent young woman learned of it, she could have done nothing but be just ecstatic to be in Shi Han's arms – who was shocked and terrified instead – before the misdeed struck her as well.
“I missed you so much! I'm so glad you're okay!” her voice was cracked as she tightened her grip.
“Y-Yinuo...? What are you doing here?!” she detached from her by holding her by the shoulders, trying to keep her tone under her breath before taking her to a less crowded and more hidden place. “I told you guys not to touch that machine!”
Yinuo's face distorted in confusion and sadness, “You disappeared! You never came back! I couldn't just sit on my hands!” She grabbed her bag, bringing it forward to show it to her, “Now with my VR and yours we can-“ The words died in her throat as she noticed that she did not have it with her. “Where is yours? Did you lose it? Did they steal it from you?”
“The Wanderer destroyed it. He knows everything.” she spilled with glossy eyes, leaving her stunned. “Remember when you found me completely distraught?” Yinuo nodded and Shi Han dropped her arms. “The longer we are here, the more what happened intrudes into the minds of those we are closest to. Into their minds,” she referred with a wide gesture of her arm to those who now walked oblivious through the city. “Hikaru started to remember and completely lost his mind, denying me my only way out of this world.”
“How the fuck is this possible?!”
“I don’t fucking know! It just happened!”
“We can find another way.”
“There isn’t,” she contradicted her through clenched teeth.
“With Venti I had no problem at all! He was the one who accompanied me here by sensing your presence! He has no memory of us or anything we did of the game!”
Before Shi Han could retort, a strong whirlwind enveloped Yinuo, who tried desperately not to lose the bag, but it was slipped off smoothly, ending up in the hands of the doer.
Yinuo winced at the appearance of Hikaru.
His eyes were looking at the bag, “That's where you were.”
She took a step back, her body beginning to shake. As a result, Shi Han stretched an arm out to the side, guiding her best friend behind herself.
She exhaled, “Can’t talk with my best friend?”
“Not if that best friend…” his gaze flicked up at them, “… tries to take you away from me.”
Yinuo remained motionless, eyes only seeming to play ping pong because of how many times they fell on Shi Han and Hiraku.
Being a live witness to a character turning into a total possessive, obsessive maniac was not at all on her list of experiences.
Yanderes scared the shit out of her.
“This is a particular shitty situation.”
She voiced her thoughts and the so-called yandere looked daggers at her, causing her mouth to press into a thin line.
“Give her bag back. She’s not staying here. She can’t do shit. We don’t have visions.”
Shi Han was desperate.
She endured his every whim, sweet words, gentle touches. They were like chains to keep her grounded.
An illusory captivity.
She would not put Yinuo through the same, hopelessly locked up here.
At least she had to flee.
He did not look away from the one who had become an obstacle, and that began to agitate her.
Because she knew he would not let her get away with it.
And when she saw him smile – dark, malevolent – she knew there was nothing she could do.
The bag was thrown forcefully to the ground, Yinuo's desperate, distraught scream in his wake as she tried to run up to him to stop his actions, but was blocked by her. His foot striking several times to disintegrate the object inside.
“You piece of shit! You fucking maniac!”
Yinuo's insults slid like butter, not even a little nicked.
With a motion of his hand he created another vortex that separated the two in the air, Shi Han ending up with his arms wrapped around her waist while Yinuo between Venti's.
When Shi Han looked up, before the two vanished in a gust of wind, she heard her best friend's shriek of denial, but what stayed engraved in her mind was the Anemo Archon's cheeky smile and a glimpse of the irises that had a hint of scarlet.
She could hear her breathing and her heartbeat. Her lower lip trembled.
That son of a bitch had snitched where they had been hiding by following their presence and having her jailer help him.
“Let’s go home, mmh?” Hikaru whispered in her ear.
Yinuo was deadly wrong.
Venti knew more than she imagined.
And he was certainly basking in his success, holding tightly to himself a Yinuo with tears running down her cheeks
“I don’t undestand what is happening!” she held up her head with her hands. “I- We can’t go back! We’re trapped!”
Venti turned her around to face him, his thumbs clearing her trails of tears, his hands cupping her face.
“It's all right. You are not alone. I'm here with you.” He received no response except one confused look. “What is it?”
“Your eyes...” she frowned, “They're almost red.”
“Is that so?”
“You don't have red eyes.”
It was then that she noticed the scenery filled with trees and greenery.
She moved away from him, taking a look around, thus causing his hands to hover midair before bringing his arms back to his sides slowly.
“Why are we in Mondstadt?” she asked him restlessly, shifting her gaze back to him. “Why did you not help us?” She began to gesticulate, “You’re an Archon: you might as well have put him in his place and teleported Shi Han here too.”
A longer look was all she needed to connect the dots. To connect that it was deliberate.
The tilt of his head and the guileless smile made it all the more revolting.
“You didn’t tell him to destroy my VR, did you?”
Venti hummed, “Yes?” a tilt of his head to the other side. “No?” another one to the other. “Maybe so?” he adjusted his head.
“Why?” she almost sobbed. “You had no reason to do that.”
“I have every reason,” he moved one step forward, causing her to move one step back. “You stir up every emotion in me.” Another step forward and another backward. “And I can’t let you go.” His hand rose, palm facing her only to move quickly toward him and create enough wind to push her off her feet and into his arms as she let out a scream. “I cannot let go of the one who made me stronger.”
Reality sank in, recalling Shi Han's words about memories.
Terror now invaded her body, and the abyss pulled her down as she witnessed those shining teal eyes dissolve into an almost dark red color.
She shook her head in disbelief.
She was even more shaken when his twin braids came to the same end.
It had taken on the contrast of aqua green.
And this appearance reminded her of corrupted Venti.
It was a concept, fan theories! It shouldn't be here!
This world was more dangerous than it seemed.
If his is indeed corruption, it is a consequence of his current actions. He was destroying himself by going against his own ideals, but he didn't care.
She knew he didn't care because corruption was also taking over his body in the form of blood-red lines that looked like prominent veins on his neck.
He had warped into a dangerous obsessive Archon that she could never oppose.
Even if she wanted to break free, she was branded for life by his sixth perceptive sense of her, the link between creation and creator.
Venti moved a hand to the back of her neck before kissing her. He bit her lip, making her gasp and giving access to her mouth.
His tongue caressed hers, confident, bold, tangling them together before letting go, nibbling at her lips and giving her a gentle peck to let her breath.
He smiled.
She lost hope.
An insistent perception, reinforced now by his control over her and what she made him feel.
An unwanted perception that had cost her her life and the harmony of it.
Not only hers, but also those on the other side, gloomy and hurting as they watched that infernal machine in Shi Han's studio, having gone through days of hell after the disappearance of another one of their close friends ended up on the news.
Yinuo's parents went to them, demanding an explanation, if they knew where he was. But, as they had answered Shi Han's parents, they said they did not know.
What could they have said? That they had ended up somewhere in the game? And after that? Involve the authorities who would bring the S.T.C.C.O with them?
What if it got worse? If it became a political issue? If they had used it for personal gain? There were too many issues that I didn't know how to handle.
One thing was certain: they should not have started this virtual project.
“That thing is cursed.” Maylin sobbed, a hand covering her mouth. “What are we gonna do now?”
“We can’t do nothing.” Ren grudgedly admitted, giving her a gentle squeeze on the shoulder to try to comfort her. “If we do, it’s going to take us too. We can only lock this room. And wait.”
Ainwen is not my real name, but you may call me that.
My works are yandere centered and may contain explicit sexual and gore content, but I do not condone any kind of extreme and disturbing behavior presented in my stories.
If you're not comfortable with this kind of stories, do not read them.
English is not my first language, so I apologize for any grammatical errors and typos.
Hope your journey here is enjoyable and lasting.✨
𝐎 𝐍 𝐄 - 𝐒 𝐇 𝐎 𝐓 𝐒:
➟ TO NEVER COME BACK; (10/4/2025)
a journal, a game and a spell. Nothing in common, but if you mix them together you may never come back.
Summary: a journal, a game and a spell. Nothing in common, but if you mix them together you may never come back.
Pairings: yandere!Mr. Scarletella x paranormal sensitive!fem!OC (you can think of her as Y/N)
Genre: paranormal!au, supernatural!au
A/N: sorry if my Latin is not good, it has been so long since I last studied it
The room was dark. The only source of light was candles arranged in a circle around the young woman sitting cross-legged on the floor.
She mumbled words from the book in her hands repeatedly, then huffed in frustration after every unsuccessful attempt of pronunciation.
The air became heavy, the small flames of the candles danced slightly as if driven by a sudden wind.
It was approaching her, silent and unscrupulous.
It rested on her shoulder and she let out a startled cry at that unexpected touch, wincing in place.
She turned around and brought a hand to her racing heart, noticing her with the outstretched hand that she had decided to use as an instrument of terror.
“For fuck's sake, Yua! You scared the shit out of me!”
“What are you doing, Ichika? At 3 in the morning?” she inquired with a resigned sigh and crossed arms, one foot tapping on the ground.
“Oh. Well...” Ichika got up, closing the book with a smile, “just a few researches.”
Yua groaned, completely aware of what type of researches she was talking about. Seriously, it was getting annoying.
She pinched the bridge of her nose, the eyeglasses going up in the process, “Ichika Okamoto, keep going with your bullshit and I'll kick you out of this house.”
She pouted, “Hey! I'm your favorite cousin, you can't do this to me!”
“First, it’s my house. Second, this is not your first time disturbing my sleep. Third, Laura had to call me to stop you. Again.”
“Oh, come on, Laura! Give me a break!” her cousin complained as she looked around, her arms falling to her sides. “I just wanted to see if this book works! You didn’t need to snitch on me!”
“Was it required the use of candles like you're doing a ritual to try that book?” she pointed at the incriminating objects on the floor, a deadpan expression making way on her face.
An innocent blink was her first reply, “It's just for the vibes. The atmosphere.”
Yua saw her hands gesturing around the room and, after a few seconds of silence, clicked her tongue.
Her posture did not change at all, on the contrary, she began to tap her foot again before a sigh left her lips.
“I'm sleepy, in a couple of more hours there's work. Both for you and me. Go to bed, we'll talk after work.”
Ichika nodded with a salute, “Aye, captain!”
Yua just snorted a chuckle. Her gaze rested on her right, feeling a chill on her own arm. The dark figure channeled through her the way it was feeling, and Yua bowed her head slightly in gratitude.
“Thank you, Laura.”
A warm sensation and a giggle was the ghost's response.
“What is she doing?”
“Laughing at you.”
Ichika grimaced, “Snitcher of a ghost.”
Yua sensed Laura’s presence near her cousin, and after a strong push, the book in her hand hit the ground, causing Ichika to grunt.
“Seriously?!”
Yua chuckled.
“Miss Okamoto! Miss Okamoto!”
Yua had just left the door of her workplace when she heard herself being called. She turned around and noticed a young man smiling at her before joining his palms together.
“Thank you so much! Your advice was a great help!”
“I’m glad to hear that, Mr. Itou.” She bowed her head, “I hope you don't get entangled with such scams anymore.”
“I won’t! Thank you again!”
She gave him a smile and resumed her walk toward the awaiting car, sensing the driver's amused gaze on her.
She expected her offhand comment as soon as she got into the car, and it did not take long to come.
“Asked you out this time?” A reproachful look was the answer to that question, and Ichika shrugged as she set off, “What? I didn’t say anything bad. He’s single.”
“He was the husband of a patient. Who died six months ago.”
“If he hadn’t believed in the supernatural, he would have probably seen your advice to help him with his wife’s unfinished business as a flirtatious intent.”
She rolled her eyes, “Why so interested in my love life? Think about your own love life instead. As soon as they find out you have a passion for the supernatural and the paranormal they run for the hills. Not a single one lingers at least a little.” She grinned, “Oh! And when they know that your cousin senses and sees shadows of dead people? Uuuuh!”
Ichika let out a humph, turning right after stopping at a red light.
Yua just chuckled under her breath, knowing that this was a weakness of hers.
“I haven’t find the right one yet, that’s all.”
“If you say so. By the way,” she looked at her, “are you still trying that book?”
“Key word: trying.” She pouted, “It’s in latin, I can’t understand shit.”
Yua frowned, “Latin? All in latin?”
“Yeah. All in latin. It’s frustrating.”
A strange feeling came over when she saw her eyes light up and a smile spread on her face. Ichika gazed at her for a moment before looking back at the road.
She hoped it was not what she thought.
“You know latin, don't you?”
Yua inhaled before she grunted.
Yes, that was what she thought.
“Seriously?”
Ichika stepped on the brake at the red light and used this opportunity to look at her with puppy eyes and pouting lips.
They stood still, silence the only companion, until Yua eventually relented, dropping dead weight onto the seat and turning her head to the other side.
Her cousin's chuckle made her sigh. She was still unable to say no, not with that cute face in front of her.
“So? What does it say?”
She snorted a laugh at her feet bouncing up and down as she clapped her hands together, the swivel chair bouncing with each of her movements, and her computer turning on.
She turned another page of the book, crossing one leg over the other, ready for her disappointed reaction.
“Instructions.”
Ichika blinked, immobilized, “What?”
“Instructions on how to love someone, care for them, never take them for granted, and how to be loved back.” She looked up at her, “It’s more of a journal than a book of spells.”
“I was excited for nothing.” Ichika dropped her shoulders, then fell back onto the chair and clicked on one of the many icons on her desktop.
“But where did you find it?”
“In a secret compartment of the last drawer of the bedside table. Are you sure it's not yours, Laura? It looks as old as you.”
A breath of whispered words filled with disdain reached her ears and Yua let out a whistle of surprise.
“She didn't like it.”
Laura was a foreigner who had lived in this apartment thirty years before. Since her death from a slip in the bathroom that caused her to hit her head, she had remained to haunt it and prevent anyone from buying it.
Until Yua came along.
Yua understood her sadness and grief of losing her life at only twenty-five years old.
And Laura was aware of her sensitivity regarding the spiritual and non-corporeal world.
Or surely it was a matter of sympathy. She just liked Yua.
Consequently, she had decided to let her in and live with her.
She left the 90s style that adorned the place, both as a favor to Laura and for her own personal taste. She didn't mind it at all.
She had not expected, however, that a year later Ichika would also be there. Nor had Yua herself actually expected it.
They had always been close since childhood, especially because of Yua's sixth sense and Ichika's love of things not of this world. She was the only one who stood by her side along with her father.
The fun part about living with a slightly grumpy ghost and a bubbly cousin were the sisterly squabbles they had.
Like now.
“I didn't say anything untrue, though.” A slight pain in her scalp led her to touch the injured part, “Ouch! Not the hair!”
Yua tried to hold back the smile and laughter that was slipping out of her.
Her eyes landed on the screen showing the main screen of a game – Homichiper, the one she was always talking about in the last few days – and she wrinkled her nose at realizing what she wanted to do with the journal.
She stood up from the edge of the bed and approached Ichika, placing the journal on the desk.
“Don't tell me you wanted to dig up spells to make a fictional character in this game real.”
Ichika found her mouth hanging open as an unconditional reflex, taken aback by being caught.
She closed it again shortly after before shrugging, “Well... the game is good. Fantastic! And the characters are superb!”
“I know, you've already told me about it.”
“You should try it.”
“I will.” She looked at the journal, picked it up again and waved it in the air. “And this one is confiscated.”
Ichika sulked, “Why?!”
Yua gestured at the object between her fingers.
“You can't even read it!”
“Fair.”
The rain tapping on the window panes, the soft light in the room and the darkness outside created the right atmosphere for playing.
Taking a sip of her juice from the straw, she read the writing that appeared on the screen of another ending she had reached: Scarlet End.
She could understand the reason behind Ichika’s fondness for this game.
The gloomy atmosphere, an unfamiliar language that you had to try to figure out, different characters you don't know whether to trust or not, even ourselves.
It had ended up on her list of favorite games.
She opened the page of all the saves made and clicked on the one of Mr. Scarletella. The background music started along with the appearance of the red background and him with the umbrella in the center of it.
In the list of her favorite characters was him instead.
She was a reader of dark novels, knowing that there was such a character made her quite happy.
He was definitely the stalker, probably also a yandere. They went hand in hand, actually.
She almost snorted a laugh at her own thoughts, sucking on the straw for another sip before setting the glass tumbler down. In doing so, she felt her hand brush with something, and glanced at what it was.
The journal was still there. She didn’t know what to do with it. Put it in a shelf of her books? Maybe. It could have become a collector's item.
Grasping it between her fingers, she inspected it more closely.
It was black leather, with embossed bramble thorns that framed both the spine and the journal boards only to intertwine in the center to form a heart.
She didn't even know how to fully describe it.
She opened it to take another look and a slight warmth spread throughout the right side of her body, letting her know that Laura had leaned forward to do the same.
“Are you sure it's not yours?” She looked at her, “It was in your drawer.”
The silhouette shaping her head shook from side to side, denying that item belonged to her, or rather, disclaiming any memory of it.
“You don't remember it at all?”
A shrug and then another shake.
“It probably wasn't that important to you then,” she noted, giving a quick reading to the pages she was flipping through. “Or it's not–” a blink was the reaction to the words that were now before her eyes, causing her to freeze slightly before going on. “–really yours. To cherish and behold throughout eternity…” she translated. “Is this a love spell or something?”
There were other sentences below preceded by the colon next to the one she had just spoken, and at that moment she decided to become the cat who was being killed by curiosity by reading the text.
“Te voco, nam praesentiam tuam desidero. Ostende mihi ipsum, ut me capias et nunquam respicias.” She mentally gave herself a pat on the shoulder as she smiled at Laura. “I’m still pretty good with my pronunciation.”
Her ears heard a slight static noise with the music playing out of tune which put her on her toes. She realized it was the computer's speakers that seemed to have a little trouble in their regular operation.
She huffed, "Great, I guess. Now the computer also wants to scare the shit out of me.”
She placed the journal back on her desk as she tried to get out of the game, but it did not seem to work.
Suddenly a loud bass echoed in her eardrums and she covered her ears with her hands to muffle it, wrinkling her brow in pain.
Her pupils constricted in witnessing the continuous fading and blending of colors on the screen with flickering black and white backgrounds. A play of light and shadow that was making her head spin and skip heartbeats.
Everything was glitching.
Until it became completely dark, only the outside lights slightly allowing her to see, the rain louder than before.
Looking around, she tried to calm her raging heart and breathe normally.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake! That's the third time in a month!”
From Ichika's high-pitched irritated voice and the silence that was previously filled by the switched-on hair dryer that she heard muffled because of her closed door, she could deduce that there was a power outage.
Yua heaved a sigh of relief.
“The hair dryer died on me! I bought it a few days ago!”
“You’ll have to buy another one then!” she replied, trying to turn on the computer but to no avail.
Great, it was completely screwed.
She flopped back in her chair, releasing a frustrated grunt, “And my pc died on me too.”
“I’m gonna sue them!”
“You wish!” she snorted, getting up to open the door.
A shiver down her spine, a lump in her throat and goose bumps all over her body pinned her hand on the handle.
Her eyes drifted to her right. A bolt of lightning that struck nearby lit up the room and, a couple of meters away, revealed a shadow.
Something was there. An unfamiliar presence. It was not Laura.
The shape, the silhouette, was strange. She couldn't see it well. It was fuzzy, not fully formed.
She couldn't move.
“The power is back!”
She gasped, blinking uncontrollably and her body slightly shaking.
“Damn it, Ichika!” she blurted out in a startled whisper.
When she drew her gaze back to the shadow, it was gone.
Dinner was ready, there was a silence that may have been pleasant for Ichika, but for Yua it was not.
She tapped her finger on the table rhythmically, not taking her eyes off the blurry shadow that had been in the house since yesterday.
This time, however, part of its shadow was missing. It was shaping itself more.
The only reason for its intrusion here was because of that diary.
It remained motionless, making no sound.
It was doing just that.
It could be a good or bad sign depending on its intentions.
“By the way, have you seen Laura?” Ichika inquired, eating another forkful. “She hasn’t played any tricks on me in a while. Is she sick?”
Yua gestured with her chin behind her, “It’s probably because of that Shadow.”
“A Shadow? An intruder?!” she turned her head for a split second to take a look before shifting her attention back to her cousin, “There’s another Shadow here?!”
“The journal. I read it.”
She deadpanned, ”Are you stupid?”
“Hey, I’m older! Don’t insult me!” She adjusted her eyeglasses, feeling offended.
“An older doing things a younger one would do. A regression of intellect, I would say. You solve the problem, I won’t get involved,” she pointed at Yua before herself. “But just to know… what did you read?”
Yua wrinkled up her nose, her eyes elsewhere.
“Yua. What did you read?”
“A love spell.”
Ichika's mouth seemed to have fallen off because of how open it was.
“Dammit, cousin! You practically summoned a ghost to be your lover! You’re really stupid!”
“Ok, I got it. I’m stupid,” she agreed with her, hands in midair going back and forth to gesture for her to stop. “Now I just need to figure out whether he will do damage or not. So far he doesn't seem to want anything but to stare at me as if I were a succulent freshly baked cake.”
The shadow's silhouette had fully developed. Some aspects of it had shown that he was a man, such as his shoulders and chest –which she had seen in profile as he had moved from behind Ichika to walk around the table and approach her.
“A he? The spell gave you a man.” Ichika whistled.
“And he’s right next to me now.”
A shiver shook Ichika all over, “Uh, yikes.”
She observed with slight fear how Yua had her gaze fixed on a spot high in the air. Way up high. The man had to be a fucking giant.
"Is he… that tall?"
She nodded," He is."
“I’m concerned now.”
Silence surrounded them.
Yua knew he was watching her, sensing his intense gaze.
She was also aware that she had made a mistake in reading that spell, it had definitely awakened and confused him by the situation.
The only solution for the moment was to treat him kindly and maybe figure out how to send him back.
“Hi. I'm so sorry if I startled you by calling you here.” He tilted his head to the side at her words. “Welcome to this house.”
She streched out her hand with a smile and waited for an answer.
She saw the shape of his head go straight back before lowering in the direction of her hand. He then touched it with his, but not for a shake.
He had grasped it for a caress with his fingers, enveloping it with his warmth.
It was still okay, it was a good sign.
It was a good sign indeed.
He was kind. He helped them search for items they couldn't remember where they were, he respected their privacy, he wasn't out of line at all.
He was very friendly as well. If Ichika wanted to ask something about him the answers were always there without any brute manner – although most of the time they were a shrug because he probably didn't remember much like Laura.
His name especially, so they decided to call him by his favorite color – under his request – and he was now Red.
With her the situation was different though. Even too much so.
After a couple of days, he was not just helping out of kindness, he seemed completely devoted in whatever she did or said.
A puppy who did not want to leave his owner for a second.
Infatuated and happy.
Like now as he lay on her bed in a fetal position facing her, the pillow wrapped around his arms.
Another thing she had noticed was that the power he possessed to be able to touch and even hold objects to himself had gradually manifested during the days he was now here. It seemed as if the more he had contact with this earthly world, the more he could be a part of it even if in a not very vivid form.
She laughed softly, “On my bed again? Do you like it that much?”
She saw him clutch the pillow tighter to himself with Ichika's amused laughter in the background as she walked behind her down the hallway, holding the basket of dirty laundry.
“It's your scent on the blankets that he likes.”
She almost choked on her own saliva and turned her head to look at her, surprised, “Ichika!”
“Well, think about it!” She watched her enter the bathroom. “You always find him there when you come back. He probably stays there from the time you leave.”
She rolled her eyes, grabbing the door handle to close it, “I'll close the door so I can hear less of your perverted bullshit.”
“It's logical thinking, not kinky bullshit!”
The door was closed and nothing more was heard.
“Excuse her. Sometimes she talks nonsense.” A whisper of words reached her ears as she approached the ghost, but she flashed him an apologetic smile, “Sorry, I still cannot understand what you are saying. Your language is completely foreign to me.”
She sat on the edge of the bed, crossing one leg over the other.
The language barrier was one of the problems between them. Unfortunately, this aspect had remained unchanged. However, he seemed to understand her. She did not know how, perhaps he interpreted the situations that took place around him or had lived here and learned the language.
She frowned upon noticing that he had his head under the pillow.
"Why are you hiding your face? Is something wrong?" it was then that she realized his reaction. “Are you blushing because of what Ichika said?” He tried to hide more, causing her to gape in astonishment. “Oh my God, you’re adorable! So you really like my scent? It's okay,” She grabbed the pillow to pull it away from him, thus being able to see his shadowy face, conveying gentleness and calm with her tone of voice. “I won't get mad.”
It was possibly a way to feel less nervous. Some scents helped relax the senses – even if they were of people’s; it was not something to be ashamed of.
She laughed at herself inwardly. She was psychoanalyzing a ghost again. She had to stop involving her work in personal matters, but if it served the purpose of returning back him whom she had brought here against his will, so be it.
The issue was that she could no longer find the journal. She had searched every nook and cranny of the apartment.
It was gone, vanished.
She asked Red if he had seen it, but nothing. Laura, on the other hand, gave no signs of response other than her gaze fixed on the shadow man as always.
Therefore, her hands were tied.
But she would not stop looking for it. It would pop up again sooner or later.
In the meantime she was doing research using the new computer – this time a laptop – even though the results on the Internet did not lead to much.
This was to be expected.
Another murmur of words and she brought her attention back to Red, now no longer in the fetal position but seated.
He was not saying sentences, but repeating her name. He had probably seen her lost in thought and was trying to bring her back.
“What is it, Red?”
His arm had reached out, bringing the palm of his hand to graze her cheek before settling down completely and caressing it.
Then it slid toward the nape of her neck, applying gentle pressure to bring her closer to him as his other arm passed around her waist.
She thus ended up slightly falling forward, her face close to his while in a tight embrace.
He rubbed his cheek against hers before stopping and remaining still.
She blinked, completely taken aback. She did not know how to react. It was certainly a peculiar situation.
Yes, we could say that. Obviously.
She had not gone into a state of confusion at all.
Recovering herself, she shook off her surprise and patted his arm lightly to reassure him.
“Don’t worry, everythng is fine. I’ll find a way to bring you back, even without the journal.”
She did not notice the ghost's sudden change in mood. The sudden millisecond change in appearance where eyes with completely narrowed pupils were shown staring at her and then at the door before returning to the emptiness of the shadow.
Laura, sensing that she had been caught in the act behind that object that separated them only by being closed, gasped and then retreated like a terrified puppy to her hideout.
“I feel kind of sad to have to kick him out,” Yua sighed, walking through the streets with Ichika by her side.
Her cousin looked at her sideways as soon as she uttered those words.
“He’s a ghost.”
“But he’s such a cutie patootie!” she cooed.
“He’s a ghost,” Ichika repeated, this time slowly to articulate the statement. “You can’t do much with him.”
Yua pouted, crossing her arms, “We can be friends. Just a thought.”
“Strongly convinced that he wants to be something else, given the way he won't shake off you.”
“I’m a safe place for him. He’s here because of me.”
“And that's why you're going to make him go back to where he came from.” She reminded her, taking her by the arm and resting her temple against hers. “Maybe he wants it, too. And Laura is terrified to death of him. Joke aside.” Ichika lifted her head from hers to glance at her, sadness filling her eyes, “I don't know what it's caused by. Perhaps something with her death, or phobia of men... but she doesn't talk anymore, she doesn't make herself heard. And I miss her jokes. We have tried in every way to involve her, but as long as Red is there, we will not get results. She’s part of the family now, and I want my family to stick togther.”
She was right.
They had known Laura for years now – Yua for five and Ichika for four.
Estranging her feelings was not respectful.
“I will.”
Yua’s determined expression made Ichika smile, “Well, now I'm going. The German is waiting for me.”
“Another one of the dating apps?”
“Recently moved here!” A mischievous smile appeared on her face, “And he's a handsome stud, too.”
Yua laughed, “You’re unbelievable!”
“I see my daddy and you see yours.”
She enacted a gag reflex, disgusted by the implication, “Don’t you dare ever again!”
Ichika chuckled and planted a kiss on her cheek before releasing her arm and walking away.
Yua just shook her head, trying not to laugh.
Cold, eerie, heavy air.
Footsteps echoed in the silent apartment and in Laura's ears, still hiding under the bed in her room years before.
It was pressing, suffocating as if someone wanted to deprive you of oxygen.
It spewed fire, ice, a mixture of emotions.
Red's shadowy feet stopped in front of the bedroom doors facing each other, thus entering her field of vision only one side of him –from the calf to the shoe.
He glanced in the direction of her hiding place before returning to stare at the front door at the end of the hall.
It opened effortlessly.
“That rascal of a cousin of yours might as well have joined us for dinner. Men to have fun with certainly don't run away,” her father grumpily muttered, cutting another piece of his steak.
Yua nodded in amusement, doing the same with hers, “Oh, yes, she could have. If someone didn't lecture her every time she was seen...”
He chewed on that piece of meat, “Guilty.”
“Don't worry, Grumpy, you'll see her next time. You are her favorite uncle, after all,” she pointed at him with her fork before putting it into her mouth to eat her food.
“I hope so. I must give her another earful.”
They both laughed.
It had been at least two weeks since she had seen her father. It seemed like an eternity had passed for her, for her father certainly a millennium.
The deep bond they shared expanded feeling of belonging. His unconditional love was her fundamental pillar for moving forward, in addition to Ichika's.
His perseverance in defending his daughter who was being mocked, humiliated and estranged because she had sensitive capabilities was what added more admiration on her part for the man who was broken but struggled without relenting.
The ruined marriage did not turn him against her, did not blame her for anything - even if it had been because of those abilities.
His mother did not want a monster and decided she wanted nothing to do with them.
Yua could understand, but up to a point.
She noticed her father's soft gaze and smiled at him, “What is it, dad?”
“I can’t believe you’re thirty-one. It feels like yesterday you were my little baby.”
Nostalgia was perceptible in his voice, his eyes shining excitedly.
“You used to run all over the house yelling ‘Daddy, Daddy, come here or I'll kick you in the booty!’” he imitated her naughty little girl voice, making her giggle. “And your mother recording the whole thing…”
No one spoke after this for a while.
“It seems she remarried and has a ten-year-old son.”
Yua inhaled, metabolizing the news, “She didn't abandon him. Apparently she had the normal family she always desired.”
“It seems so…”
Yua felt a weight on her chest at seeing him down and stretched her arm toward him on the table, moving her fingers to invite him to grab it. He did so.
“Dad, I’m okay.”
The tone was firm and gentle, without wavering.
“She’s still your mother. If her abandonment hurt me, it surely hurt you, her daughter.”
“Yeah, she is my mother. Someone gave birth to me, yes. Biologically speaking, she is my mother. But nothing more, nothing less. You stayed and continue to stay. You are the only one I care about.”
She gave his hand a stronger squeeze to reinforce the value of her words and he almost cried.
“Oh, dad, don’t cry, please.”
“I’m so happy…” he choked.
“You’re a big softie.”
Her smile faltered as her eyes lingered in the distance behind her father.
It had begun to rain, but what caught her off guard was the shadow lurking near a streetlight that illuminated the street.
Tall, with a silhouette above his head that gave shape to an umbrella.
Red was there.
It was out of the house.
And she could feel his gaze on her. Penetrating, pressing, blazing.
He seemed to be trembling, raging, impatient, on the edge.
Her heart almost gave out.
The lights outside and in the restaurant began to flicker. Crazy and uncontrolled.
People watched in confusion, motionless in their seats.
Until the restaurant glasses around them exploded, leading Yua, her father and other customers to cover their heads.
Some pieces ending up inside and others outside.
Panic increased.
She was shaking like a leaf, her legs almost ceasing to work when she got up to see how her father was doing.
“Are you okay, dad?!”
He soothed her with a caress on her arm, "Yes, yes. I'm fine."
She breathed a sigh of relief before shifting her gaze back outside, but Red was gone.
Her lips quivered.
“I’ll drive you home, dad. I have a problem to solve.”
After bringing her father home, she was now standing at the apartment door as she alerted Ichika of the situation on the phone. The cousin was petrified by the news and told that she would return immediately and not to do anything crazy until she arrived and found a solution together.
But Yua did not listen to her; she could not. Her father could seriously injure himself with that stunt.
She didn't even know he could get out and was so powerful that he could destroy a restaurant!
It had been her mistake to let her guard down.
The apartment was quiet, so quiet that she shuddered.
She went straight to her room, because she knew he was there.
She took a few steps to enter and turn the light on.
He was standing in the center of the room, waiting for her as he always did when she came home from work.
A lump formed in her throat and she swallowed, “Why did you do that? You didn't have to. My father was there, and other people too. Did you want to kill them all? Was that a warning?”
He whispered words, but did not understand them. She didn't understand and was frustrated about it. Why didn't she understand what she was saying?! What language was that?!
What was she supposed to do?
She was breathing rapidly, agitated, afraid.
She saw him move one step, then another. He could hear the rumble of shoes touching the floor.
And this terrified her not a little, for she had ever heard anything belonging to the shadows make any noise.
His hand grasped hers at an extreme speed, forcing her to gasp and wriggle to free it.
Her eyes were becoming glossy, not wanting to be at his mercy.
“No, let go of me! I said let go!”
A dull noise reached her ears and she looked down. In front of her was the journal she had been searching so hard for just a few inches from Red's shoes.
She was out of breath, her lungs constricting and her mind in turmoil.
He had never intended to leave; he had only made her believe it.
Her attention was drawn to the shadowy silhouette leaning against the wall to her right. It was the umbrella she had seen earlier held by him.
On instinct she reacted.
Her leg came up to strike him in the shin, causing him to bend slightly in pain, before she grabbed the umbrella and struck a blow with it to free herself from his grip.
But what she had not heard, was that before she put her hand on the object, a voice had shouted not to do so.
“I told you not to touch it.”
A woman voice said in a choked whimper, and she half-turned around taken aback.
A red-haired, teary-eyed, trembling young woman was behind her. She did not know what she looked like, but she recognized her voice.
This time it was clearer, not a whisper mixed with the wind.
“Laura…? Your… Your voice… You’re… not a shadow anymore. I can see see you.”
Another tear ran down Laura’s cheek, “Why did you not listen to me…? I told you he was the one who took the journal.”
Realization struck Yua like a lightening.
Her body shook violently, teardrops rolling down her face.
“Oh, my God…!”
She looked in front of her again, but what she saw left her even more bewildered.
She was now holding a red umbrella.
It was not shadowy, but red.
It was red.
She looked up and her mouth opened, but with no sound to come out of it.
There was no shadow. There was red hair, grayish skin, black eyes, a turtleneck sweater, an ankle-length red coat and formal shoes.
No shadow, no Red.
But Mr. Scarletella.
Her head began to deny this possibility, shaking it repeatedly.
She sobbed, “No way… No way… Mr.Scarletella doesn’t exist. He’s fictional.”
For an interminable amount of time, Mr.Scarletella’s eyes stared at the hand that gingerly held his umbrella.
His smile grew, reaching almost halfway across his face. His irises had widened, almost under the influence of some drug. They shone with a light of their own-
He was enthusiastic, euphoric.
And Yua realized she was doomed.
“I’m so sorry, Yua,” Laura cried, as a mental breakdown and hopelessness took over.
She shook her head, “It’s not your fault, Laura. It’s mine. I’m just paying the consequences. Turn around, don’t look.”
Laura did not.
The presence of that fictional character became more and more menancing, the contact of the shoes with the floor making that echoing noise again.
The tip of the umbrella now touched his covered stomach, but within seconds, the situation had been flipped.
One of his arms had pulled her to himself, no longer allowing her her feet to be in contact with the floor, while his other hand rested on hers, holding together the umbrella now opened by him.
And it was at that moment that the words of her father came back to mind, when one day she could no longer deal with ghosts.
"Honey, if you see something that you feel you can't overpower, don't let it get to you. If you do, you won't come back."
She snorted, sad and tired, feeling cheated by life.
“I guess I won’t come back, dad.”
A desperate whisper.
And the next scene was a frightened Ichika running around the apartment looking for her cousin, shouting even Laura’s name to know what happened.
But everything was empty, and the only thing she saw were the light on in Yua’s room and the journal on the floor.
She collapsed to the ground, a desperate cry that did not stop echoing in that house that would never be the same again.
Ainwen is not my real name, but you may call me that.
My works are yandere centered and may contain explicit sexual and gore content, but I do not condone any kind of extreme and disturbing behavior presented in my stories.
If you're not comfortable with this kind of stories, do not read them.
English is not my first language, so I apologize for any grammatical errors and typos.
Hope your journey here is enjoyable and lasting✨
𝐎 𝐍 𝐄 - 𝐒 𝐇 𝐎 𝐓 𝐒:
➟ UNWANTED INSIGHT; (8/10/2023)
the creator just wanted to find the reason for that system error, but she had only brought with her an unwanted insight into the game itself, causing a dangerous and unexpected collapse within him.
𝐎 𝐍 𝐄 - 𝐒 𝐇 𝐎 𝐓 𝐒:
➟ UNWANTED PERCEPTION; (6/05/2025)
the creator just wanted to find her missing best friend in that parallel world connected to their game, but was not aware that the Anemo Archon himself would have an unwanted perception for her and the return home with her friend.
Summary: the creator just wanted to find the reason for that system error, but she had brought with her an unwanted insight into the game itself, causing a dangerous and unexpected collapse within him.
Pairings: yandere!Scaramouche/Wanderer x fem!OC (no physical description, it's up to your liking)
Warnings: jealous!wanderer, fluff, angst, d^aths (no blood tho), wanderer losing his mind, noncon kissing.
SUMERU ARCHON QUEST SPOILERS
I STARTED WRITING THIS BEFORE THE FONTAINE RELEASE, SO IT'S NOT PRESENT
THE WANDERER'S NAME IS THE ONE I CHOOSE (IT MEANS "LIGHT", "RADIANCE")
Word count: 12k+
A hand gently, lightly brushing his hair. The humming of a sweet, soothing tune tickling his ears. A smile, a face, a calm voice and muffled words.
His eyes struggled to focus.
Everything was blurry, but he could catch those details of the one who was tenderly lulling him.
She was moving her lips, she was talking. but he did not understand. He was still groggy. Nevertheless, he sensed it.
It was home.
“Here, your food.”
He snapped his eyes open, staring at the bowl in front of him before looking up at the arm holding the item and finally at the person sitting to his left on a medium tree trunk.
The Wanderer saw her give him a surprised look, blinking.
“Oh, sorry, did you fall asleep?”
He let out a grunt, almost snatching the bowl out of her hand and spilling out its contents, causing her to gasp slightly.
“My, how grumpy,” she snickered amusedly. “It seems like I'm putting you through torture. You can't call me a bad cook, big hat guy.”
He took the spoon between his fingers, sighing annoyed at the way he had been called for the thousandth time, “Quit with that name.”
“I would if I had a real name to call you by,” she shrugged with a smirk on her face, the spoon playing with the food in the bowl. “But since you won't tell me, I had to give you one. It suits you, doesn't it?”
Her eyes were fixed on his hat at that question, and the Wanderer preferred to ignore it, causing her to put on a feigned pout.
She took a bite of her lunch, "Is this how you treat your travel companion?"
“You are not.”
“But we are traveling together to Sumeru!”
“You have decided to join. Without my consent,” he reminded her, his gaze now on her.
“You didn't refuse though.”
This time her sullen face was genuine.
He stared at her without arguing back, the impulse to leave her there on the spot taking over. However it dissipated shortly after the lively gleam in her eyes struck him.
Again.
“Stop talking and eat up. We need to get back on the road.”
He brought his gaze back to the food, but he could feel the young woman's victorious smile.
She was truly a whirlwind in perpetual motion. She got into constant trouble between hilichurls, treasure hoarders, and even fatui.
It was better to call her a loose cannon.
That was just how he had met her several days before, though the hilarious part was that the hoarders were running away from her.
And he even ended up in the middle of their battle when those bandits had tried to use him as a shield.
It had been a scene comical enough to almost make him sneer.
And that was when she proclaimed herself as his travel companion, since they had to go the same way.
“Have you gone freaking nuts?” he blurted out with crossed arms.
She blinked before putting on a huge smile, “Why not?”
“I could kill you too.”
“You don't seem like a bad guy at all, hat guy," she shook her head, stretching her hand toward him and eyes twinkling like stars. “I'm Clara. No last name, just Clara. It’s a pleasure to meet you!”
And he had let her come with him.
He felt a kind of force drawing him toward the young woman. He could not respond in any other way to her gestures and words than with indulgence.
And it irked him that it was no problem for him.
Those eyes on him now accentuated the annoyance he had been feeling for the past few days.
As a result, he put into action what he thought whenever he was stared at intensely by her before continuing on his journey.
A movement of his hand was enough to create a vortex that surrounded the young woman and carried her away from him.
The gasp of surprise and words of displeasure never failed to be heard.
But she always managed to return and take him wherever she wanted to go.
Such as booking a room at an inn for the night.
“Using your element to get rid of me is completely pointless. You are perfectly aware that I'd be back on my feet in no time,” Clara sneered at him, sitting on the windowsill with one leg toward her chest as he lay on the bed far from the open window.
“And you acknowledge the fact that I could harm you with that.”
She giggled in response, and he saw that particular glint in her eyes again that if he could lose his breath, it would have happened by now. The smile that followed it made the picture even more vivid.
“You would have already done what you had to do, Hikaru.”
He frowned, astonishment at hearing that name, “What?”
“Oh. Calling you big hat guy all the time doesn't seem appropriate, and since you won't tell me your name, I decided to give you a real one. Why?” She brought her arm on her knee before resting her chin on it. “You don't like it?”
“Why that name?”
This time, the smile she showed him was a sweet one, devoid of any malice.
“Because you remind me of how a person can emanate their own light, and head towards the end,” she explained in a soft voice, her face now turned up to the night sky. “Like a bright star high in the sky.”
Silence filled the room.
The Wanderer did not know what to answer, and he did not want to answer. The name said so lightly, but with meaning, was the same one the traveler had given him.
It was so strange.
“Although... these stars and this sky seem to have something wrong with them.”
The Wanderer sat on the edge of the bed, confused by the sudden change of subject, “Wrong how?”
He watched carefully as her expression became thoughtful, almost serious, absorbed in finding an explanation.
“It's as if ... you want to go one way, but you are pushed in another. Determined to follow that set thought of yours, but it gets diverted, and you don't know whether to continue or not. A false sense of control. A purpose-built hope.”
She went back to look at him. And the feeling he got from it was totally different.
She seemed to be observing him, seeking something deep within him. Like an astrologist reading your future.
“Well, it's probably just my mindless reasoning," she shrugged, her facial features softening. “I'm going to go to sleep now. Good night, Hikaru.”
And as she got up and headed for her bed, that feeling vanished along with her no longer being in his line of sight.
He lay back down again, confused for the umpteenth time by their interactions. There was definitely a double meaning in what she had said, and he even began to believe that it had some connection to the reason for her journey to Sumeru.
And at that point, after days and nights together, he was wondering: what was she looking for?
Everything was dark, he could see nothing. He could only hear murmurs and noises.
But then there was a gentle touch, his hair being tousled by her hand.
All went quiet, and a faint, sweet chuckle echoed in that darkness before making way for a soft, muffled voice.
He felt it. Deafening and overpowering. That strange feeling.
“You're such a good boy.”
Like it was home.
He snapped his eyes open, and the first thing he saw was Clara’s surprised and slightly worried face.
“Is everything all right?”
Disoriented, he tried to grasp the situation. One of her hands was at the side of his head, while the other was in his. He couldn’t blink.
And Clara, surely noticing his inquisitive look, was quick to explain.
“I saw you stirring in your sleep. I thought you were having a nightmare so I tried to wake you up, but you grabbed my hand,” she showed him their intertwined hands. “Then I tried to soothe you with caresses and reassuring words. And it worked.”
She gave him a smile, but he said nothing. He only stared at her.
Clara tilted her head slightly to the side at that reaction, not understanding what else he wanted to know. Or he probably didn't believe what she had told him.
She did not give it much thought.
When Clara felt his grip loosen, she gently freed her hand from his, standing up.
“I brought your breakfast. It’s on the bedside table. Eat with no rush, I’m going downstairs.”
And she walked on, closing the door behind her.
The Wanderer sat at the edge of the bed and sighed deeply, his eyes going to the tray with his breakfast mentioned by Clara.
He had been experiencing those moments for days now. It was beyond annoying.
Dreams that showed scenarios that then affected him emotionally and psychologically when he woke up. Not just any scenes, but of himself in situations that seemed familiar despite the fact that he had never actually experienced them.
Memories.
It was also strange and impossible. Because he was a puppet. He could not sleep, consequently neither could he dream. However, he was doing both, and he was unaware of how he was doing it.
What was he to expect now? That he would no longer have to pretend that he had to eat?
Of one thing he was sure though. It had all started after the arrival of the one he was now watching chatting and giggling with an inn employee outside the inn after leaving the room.
He sensed it. That greater force pushing him back toward her.
Uncontrollable and domineering.
And another emotion mixed with it. An emotion so strong that he wanted to rip off the head of that young man standing too much close to her.
Instead, he moved closer, catching their attention, and with a movement of his fingers, he made a vortex appear around the young woman that dragged her away from the guy, leaving both of them stunned and confused.
And after throwing a glance that made the unfortunate man shudder, he went behind the whirlwind with Clara rolling her eyes.
He just sneered, feeling a little better. Clara huffed after being released far from the inn, adjusting her disheveled clothes and walking toward the direction they had come from.
Knowing her intentions, he stepped in front of her and before she could even open her mouth to argue, he revealed the object of interest and threw it at her, watching as she tried hard not to drop it.
“Your bag,” he informed her, putting a hand on his hip.
She just shot him a glare, her eyes almost twitching.
“What am I surprised about? Your social skills certainly can't improve in a snap of the fingers,” she muttered displeased, fixing her shoulder bag over one shoulder and checking the contents for possible breakage. “Be more careful when holding other people’s things! And stop frightening people for no reason at all! Poor guy was praying that he wouldn't end up in pieces.”
He did not speak, resuming his walk as if he had heard nothing.
“Ignoring my words, are you?” she gave up, going after him.
“Just a little while and we will arrive at our destination,” was what he communicated instead.
He suddenly felt himself grabbed by the arm, almost causing him to lose his balance, and caught her radiant face a few inches away from his.
He could tell he had had a heart attack at this.
“Really?! Finally! Then we must hurry, I can’t wait to get there!”
He frowned, trying to break free from her grasp, but was taken aback by her sudden jerk forward before she started running and dragging him with her.
She was too enthusiastic for his liking, a child in an adult's body. Hopping here and there like a rabbit with a goofy smile and sparkling eyes through the streets of Sumeru.
He felt like a nanny and couldn't say he was pleased about it.
“Sumeru is just as it was portrayed to me. I love it!”
“Your elation over a city is quite childlike. I could swear I'm dealing with a child.”
She hopped in front of him, stopping him in his tracks and puffing out her cheeks, “And you’re too edgy and grumpy for my liking. Change your mood when you’re with me. I won’t tolerate a gloomy atmosphere.”
“You’re such a-“
“Cute, lovable, little person? I am, thanks for noticing that, Hikaru.”
She stuck out her tongue at him before a smile spread across her face, and he grimaced at what he called her antics. Realizing the presence of the god of wisdom coming toward them with her lips upward instead made him roll his eyes.
“I take great pleasure in seeing that you have finally found yourself a friend.”
That sweet, little voice made Clara turn around, and was taken aback as soon as she saw who was before her.
The Wanderer placed one hand on his hip, shaking his head at her words, “You shouldn’t.”
Nahida slightly giggled, shifting her focus on the young woman by his side, conscious of how she struggled to conceal her astonishment and nervousness in her presence.
“I’m- I’m honored to make your acquaintance, Dendro Archon! I’m… I’m Clara!”
“Very delighted to meet you, Clara.” She almost cooed at her reaction. “I’m hoping he’s not causing you any distress.”
She gesticulated, eyes wide open, “Oh! Of course, he isn’t! Our traveling proceeded smoothly! Not one person was the victim of his aggressive look or word!”
The Wanderer gave her a look and Clara pressed her lips together after the gaffe she had made.
The little Archon cocked her head to the side, entertained by their interaction. But the most interesting behavior was that of the former balladeer, somehow influenced by the young woman to be more calm and condescending.
“You seem to get along pretty well.”
The duo looked at her, baffled. Before they could comment, the clatter of rapidly approaching wheels against the ground alerted the young man.
His hand was quick to rest on her hip, bringing her closer to himself and thus preventing her from being run over by the wooden cart.
The man carrying it apologized several times under Hikaru’s grim gaze, and Clara and Nahida’s surprised eyes before going on his way.
Clara thanked him and, moving slightly away from him, turned to Nahida with a curious look, “There is a lot of movement around. Is there any celebration going on?”
“A festival. Would you like to partecipate?”
Her eyes sparkled, “Can I really?”
“There is no prohibition on this,” Nahida giggled. “Everyone is welcome. With Hikaru's company, it will be easier to integrate.”
“Excuse me?” his eyebrow shot up.
“She’s not familiar with Sumeru. Consequently, someone who is should be her guide.”
It wasn't the beaming face and the implied order of the Dendro Archon, it was Clara's eyes filled with expectation and eagerness to witness a common joy that dragged him through the stalls ― one of which she had almost ended up being scammed and if it hadn't been for her stopping him, he would have probably literally blown up every one of his pieces for sale and the seller himself ― and ultimately among the people moving to the beat of the music.
But he had stood on the sidelines, leaning against a tree and watching as she laughed and got involved with the locals. On her head the hat she had snatched from him.
He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her.
Her face that showed eyes like sparkling gems filled with life, red cheeks, and lips fully spread in a joyful smile.
She was some sort of flower in the midst of the desert. You found it strange that it was there and at the same time you thought it was wonderful to see it there.
It led you to get closer and stand there admiring it. To cup your hands at its sides and hide it from any intruder.
A sight that you wanted only yours to witness.
And the way he was thinking irked him.
His ears sensed a shift in the air, and Hikaru was able to quickly catch the hat Clara had thrown at him with one hand.
“Guess you’re not fond of festivals. Or should I say people in general?” she remarked, moving to his side and placing her elbow on his shoulder. “Oh, look! I can touch your shoulder even like this!” she added in mock surprise.
He didn't speak, but Clara saw him raise his arm slightly and form a small swirl of air from his hand. She stepped back just far enough not to be blown away with her hands in surrender ― although she didn't think he would really do that.
She tried not to laugh, but it was impossible.
And it was in that instant that Hikaru saw all around her become blurred and overlaid by an environment all too familiar to him. Her clothes replaced by others and her laughter accentuated.
It echoed in his ears. Overbearing, piercing.
It mixed with the muffled music and chatter in the background of the festival.
A desperate cry broke in, words overlapping each other. Distorted and almost inaudible.
His head began to ache, his eyes squinted, and an annoying ringing thrummed in his ears.
And it became more and more unbearable.
He wanted it to stop. It fucking hurt.
“Please! Please, don’t leave me!”
“Are you all right?”
The suffering vanished as soon as her hands touched his cheeks, bringing him back to the present.
“It's better if you reach a quieter place. Or maybe go straight to bed. It's pretty late, I'd say.”
He didn’t utter a word, completely disoriented by this event. And with no hesitation, he agreed with her suggestion, leaving that chaotic place under Clara’s attentive eyes.
She crossed her arms pensively.
“I assume that your research is not bearing fruit, given the way the situation is somewhat out of control.”
Clara looked at the Dendro Archon beside her, blinking away the fear from her eyes and with a hand on her chest the near heart attack she had from her sudden arrival.
“Don’t ever do that again if you do not wish for my death!” She exhaled, “I cannot ask such questions without having at least a phase of knowledge and trust between us. It will just take a little longer because of his wariness. Nothing is out of control. What gave you this impression?”
Nahida didn’t look away from the crowd and Clara followed suit, “Is this the first time he has shown himself like that?”
Realizing that she was referring to how Hikaru had grabbed his head with one hand and his face had distorted in pain, Clara cocked her head to the side, not sure how to respond.
“I think it is. Although he had a pretty awful nightmare last night. He wouldn't stop squirming and at one point wouldn't even let go of my hand. The situation is indeed quite strange.” She shook her head, crossing her arms again, “He should not experience this kind of thing; he is a puppet. Still, seeing him trying to hide it is very amusing.”
She smiled, amused by the memory of him eating and sleeping like a normal human being.
Nahida hummed thoughtfully, “It may be a consequence of your closeness.”
Her gaze ended on her again, and Nahida did the same.
“You two share something deep,” she replied at her silent question. Something that both unites and changes you.”
“Like… a connection? Are you trying to say that because of this connection that we have,” she pointed at herself in a surprised manner. “I am instigating a change in him? He forgets everything if I get out of the game and then remember again if I go back in?”
“A deep connection. The more you feel, the more intriguing and dear is something or someone to you,” she clarified her hypothesis. “You must remember your effect on the people of this world. Your presence can be sensed by every single individual here. You are the creator. A powerful figure, more than us Archons. We are not fully aware of the influence of each of your actions. And I forewarned you of my inability to help you in such dangerous cases. What I see is total blackness; you are not part of this world. That’s why you have to be careful not to ruin the balance of Teyvat more than Dottore and Wanderer have discovered. Do it for the sake of all of us.”
Clara let out a sigh, and nodded.
Her voice was sweet and gentle, but the weight of the words spoken was not light.
The things that were taking form in this game were not supposed to occur. Having real interactions with people here was not an expected possibility, because it was a game.
A game that she herself had given shape to and was having huge success.
She was living in an era where technology was overdeveloped, it could very well be compared to a sci-fi movie. Time travel had been discovered, even flowing into parallel universes. Computers were no longer cumbersome but a small device that showed you in hologram what you wanted, like the keyboard and the mouse itself.
Being a video game producer, she had in mind a game that would bring back the old days, a gacha style of gaming that had gone out of fashion long centuries before, leaving only complete games to continue through time.
Thus, she had shared with her co-founders this idea of hers, which was accepted with some misgivings.
She did not have many expectations either, nevertheless people had liked it, taking her by surprise. Probably because this generation had never seen any, except in documentaries or such, and wanted to experience what it was like to live in an earlier era.
Some time after the game was released, she had thought of creating a more realistic alternative of it using VR headsets to engage even those who had felt no interest.
However, something had gone wrong, because she had experienced firsthand one of the scenes she had intended to include in the game that was still far from being added: the Tatarasuna Mistery. In which a mysterious disease had infected, killed many locals and scarred Hikaru to the core.
She hadn’t been an exception.
The crying, suffering, screams, desperation.
It had been too much to watch and had nearly given her a panic attack.
And she had done the only thing she believed was right: use her VR headset to get out of there. When she did, she was wearing the clothes of that world and had some small wounds on her feet from running on the ground barefoot in terror.
It was then that she realized she had created a parallel universe of that game. The game codes had been mixed up and incorporated by the three-dimensional-capable machine she had used as a technical test, bringing to life the scenarios that were still being designed.
This discovery was too dangerous to share; in fact, they decided never to talk about it again. The fright and concern her co-founders had felt after seeing her in that state had been enough to agree to keep quiet about the matter.
Unfortunately, a problem occurred when an event came out further on, in which Scaramouche, the sixth fatui harbinger, made his first appearance.
Some of the scenes were not what they were supposed to be. They had changed. Scaramouche should not have said that the sky was fake, a hoax. But they had let it go; it gave a sense of mystery and decided to go with the flow.
After that, Il Dottore said the same words. It was not a simple concidence. Her game had a reality on its own and was writing its own story. Even their employees were beginning to detect strange things.
She wanted to solve the issue, but she did not know whether destroying that universe would bring consequences in the game and be discovered by the S.T.C.C.O., the Spatio-Temporal Continuum Control Organization.
Wandering between worlds must be authorized by them to prevent ill-intentioned people from changing parts of history for selfish purposes, and if they did not show permission they could shut the company down.
Risking a life of progress was out of the question, consequently the only option was to look for a foothold in that same world and figure out how to fix it against the disagreement of her co-founder friends.
The only way she believed possible was to ask for help from the one who had wisdom and knowledge on her side, The Dendro Archon Lesser Lord Kusanali.
She smiled. Kind, welcoming. And a small movement of her head in a reverent greeting.
“Welcome, outsider.”
She was petrified of Nahida’s awareness of her. It showed her skill as the ruler of a region, but it was all the same frightening how her identity could be so easily discovered.
She found out later that not everyone could do that, only the archons, so she had breathed a sigh of relief, hoping, however, that she would not one day end up buried alive for all the pain they had felt because of her.
Her explanation of the events, where she came from and who she was, had left Nahida speechless. She had understood she was a foreigner, but not the significance of her presence there.
Everything about the young woman had some kind of wall blocking any outside access, and the reason she could not was precisely her provenance.
The Dendro Archon had then taken her to Hikaru while he was still Scaramouche, and the sight of him lying unconscious after the battle with the traveler had made quite an impression on her.
Everything here was real; you could talk to them, joke with them, touch them.
Remorse had made its way into her, and unconsciously she had approached and reassured him of his rebirth.
He was now Hikaru, the Wanderer.
She still had to find out what made him think everything was fake before releasing another region and archon quests, though it was proving quite difficult to do so.
She just had to try several times in different ways until he gave in.
That was why she had asked Nahida to send him on a trip and have them meet in the least forced way.
It would have taken her longer, but since in this universe time seemed to pass as it did in his game and unlike his world, she didn't mind.
The same could not be said of her indecision about whether or not to knock on the door of the room where Hikaru had decided to rest.
She could feel tension in the air. It was strange. And… intimidating.
Especially after talking to Nahida.
“Are you coming in or not? Don’t have any hands to open the door?”
She almost let out a scream at this sudden voice, a hand on her chest.
The way both of them made her almost die of a heart attack from a fright was really impressive.
Opening the door slightly, she let only her head pop out, almost shy, "I just wanted to know if you're feeling better."
“What do you think?” He articulated sharply, not even glancing at her.
“Well…” She entered the room, walking towards the bed where he was sitting and standing a short distance from him, “Is it a headache? Do you want me to fetch some medicine?”
“It’s not necessary. It will go away on its own.”
“Oh, good.”
Silence built between them.
Perhaps it had not been a good idea to visit him now, he was definitely not in the mood for small talk or anything else ― as he always was ― but she could not leave him alone.
“What’s your purpose here?”
After the initial moment of stupor, with a blink of her eyes, she could only say, “What?”
He looked at her, and almost took a step back because of how dull his eyes were.
“Sumeru probably has something to do with your traveling. What is it that you’re looking for?”
That was totally unexpected.
She thought she would have to work her way up to simply have a reply from him without creating suspicions. Even though it didn’t look like there wasn’t any from his intense gaze.
“Answers.”
He raised an eyebrow, a slight hint of amusement in his hollow eyes at her short response, “Answers. To what? The bright star high in the sky and the feeling of being controlled?”
He was definitely mocking her and the metaphor she used to express her opinion.
“Precisely that one.” She tilted her head to the side, “What do you think about it?”
“Everyone is controlled by someone one way or another. Willingly or unwillingly.”
“That makes sense. But how are you aware of that control? What signs do you see to come to that conclusion?”
“I don't know. Your instincts?”
She opened her mouth to retort, but closed it again, sighing slightly.
It was too good to be true. It was Hikaru they were talking about. The personality could not change.
She had a pang in her heart. She had given him that personality, like every character in the game. She had caused trauma and tragic experiences.
And that struck even deeper.
Everything in the palm of her hand, but as soon as something was out of control she wanted to fix it right away.
It was also a logical consequence of her work environment; she could leave nothing to chance.
The guilt still consumed her from the inside.
She realized only now how they had remained silent and with their eyes on each other.
He seemed to want to peer deep into her. To look for behavioral changes, for a weakness, to give certainty to doubts.
Or perhaps she was influenced by her own guilt.
It was suffocating.
Her hand moved, slowly, giving the puppet the choice to shrug it off, but he did not. It rested on his head and began to gently caress it.
“I’m sorry.”
It was a faint whisper, but a strange glint flashed through his eyes at it.
“For what?”
“I don’t know, just… I’m sorry.”
It had been spontaneous. She wanted to tell him, even though he did not understand the act.
And again, the same gaze as a few moments ago was on her. This time it was less oppressive and more… soft.
He reached for the arm of her hand still on his head and put it down, before pulling her close to him and resting his head on her stomach. His arms wrapping around her waist.
The word astonishment did not fully describe how she felt about this gesture.
It was completely out of character. Nonetheless, she had to remind herself that he was no longer a mere character in a game and that anyone who got an aloof, arrogant and conceited attitude could fall apart.
As a result, she encircled his head with her arms, attempting to convey comfort and reassurance.
She felt his grip on her waist tighten slightly, but was completely oblivious to the effect her words had on him… and the sudden change in his eyes hidden from her sight.
Thus, when he was standing at her heels the following days, it had her somewhat confused.
Scratch that. It was really confusing how calm and kind he had become to her.
It was likely due to that moment they shared together a few nights before, but the shift was…
Well, at least he had not completely changed; that would have been unsettling.
But she did not expect that he would even lie beside her on the grass, on a small slanted ledge of a hill, to watch the sunset together.
A bird flew in front of her and, following it with her eyes, she saw how it landed on Hikaru's head.
He sighed but did nothing to get it off.
It wasn't the first time this had happened; even if he tried to make it leave, he wouldn't succeed like he did with the others, and that made her laugh.
“They love you, huh?”
He didn't look at her, “Shut up.”
“Never.”
He raised his hand, ready to make her fly faster than a bird, but she surrendered by shaking hers.
“Oh, my! You should calm your horses! There's beautiful nature here contributing to a breathtaking view and you want to sweep it away? That's so cruel!”
“I eliminate possible contamination.”
She blinked, “Wait. Me?”
With his eyes now on her, he cocked an eyebrow matter-of-factly, “Who else? The bird? Is your brain a decoration by any chance?”
She snorted, sitting down on the grass, “Then you should avoid associating with a person who has her brain as a decoration. That way you can avoid becoming dumb yourself.”
She was about to get up, but Hikaru's hand putting her back down blocked her from doing so.
And without saying anything, she smiled, bringing her arms under her head again and closing her eyes. A slight smile took up the young man's lips; she would not find out though, for it disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
And after he did not know how long, heavy breathing of a sleeping person could be heard instead, and when he looked to his left, Clara was completely in dreamland.
Hikaru let out a small snort of disbelief at the scene.
The sound of stepping on grass behind him caught his attention.
“You like her company now, don't you?”
He sat up, watching the bird finally fly away, “She is bearable.”
Nahida giggled, “So bearable to follow her around, right?”
He reimaned silent as he got up and brushed off his clothes from the dirt, but didn't miss to give her a side-eye.
The little Dendro Archon observed as a small wind began to rise with a movement of his hand, lifting Clara into the air and carrying her directly into his arms; one below the crook of her knees and the other wrapping around her back. Her head drooping before resting on his chest.
With a nod toward her as a sign of goodbye, he jumped up into the air and flew away, leaving her alone.
Along with her worries.
She sighed slightly, “Seriously, I hope nothing happens.”
It could not be said that something was not wrong, as doubts had crept into Hikaru's mind anyway.
Such an answer as Clara's would have pleased no one; it was too vague.
That was why he had changed his attitude a bit, to get more informations.
Laying her on her bed, he took the bag off her shoulder without waking her and sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze drawn as always to her face.
He had a gut feeling of her being involved in those chaotic and confusing fragments of situations he was recalling, although there was a certain confidence ― which by now had wavered ― that he had never experienced them.
Getting closer was the best method to piece together those called fragments, but the more he did, the harder it was to detach and stay focused.
She was the one distracting him.
A few strands of her hair had fallen across her face, and his hand reached out to move them aside. After that he heaved a sigh, realizing that he had been staring at her for he did not know how long before he recovered from that strange state of daze.
He was definitely losing his mind.
He stood up and walked over to the chair placed by the door to put Clara's bag, which he still had in his hand, on it.
Before he could open the door a sudden noise stopped him. It had echoed in his mind, like a jingle.
Familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.
Another forgotten memory.
Looking behind him, he spotted the bag upturned on the ground with something out of it. It almost seemed to shimmer under the moonlight coming in through the open window.
And as soon as he took the fallen object in his hands his brows furrowed.
It was big, almost as big as half his head, and black. There was some kind of rope tied to the ends of it and eyes in the center of that small bizarre thing.
He recalled Clara’s exaggerated care for her bag, figuring now that it was most likely for this item and its possible fragility.
The more he stared at it, the more there was something tickling his mind.
And it turned into a deafening ringing that caused him to blink several times before he heard a muffled voice and saw blurred images of that same object and a young woman showing how to use it.
“Bring this to the back of your head, then this to the front.”
Like a puppet, he led that rope behind his head and the large part in front of his eyes. It fit like a glove.
“And press the button on the left side.”
He skimmed lightly for a prominent spot until he found it.
Through that device, a spiral of colors appeared before his eyes as the ground beneath his feet seemed to disappear into thin air before he felt it again.
Now he could only see white, and he quickly took that thing off, finding himself in a completely white and empy small room. A sliding metal door opened ahead of him and he hesitantly stepped out.
What he saw left him totally shocked.
There were pictures and drawings of a lot of people posted on the walls, but the ones he recognized immediately were Lesser Lord Kusanali, the Raiden Shogun, the traveler, their fellow flying being.
And himself. In all his forms.
To his left was a chair that had small wheels instead of feet and a kind of desk with another strange invention on it; there were almost transparent windows in which one showed a picture of flowers and writing in a small square while the other showed letters and symbols.
They were not part of the alphabet of the Teyvat language, so he could not tell which letters they were.
Next to them was yet another one with an almost mouse-like shape.
Attracted, he tried to press the arrow symbol pointing to the left located in the middle of that rectangular window, and a female voice suddenly boomed in the room.
She had used a welcoming tone, however, he did not understand what she had said except for a few words.
Xu Shi Han.
He was sure it was a name.
It was then that his gaze landed on a frame. A picture frame where Clara was smiling together with other people.
What was a picture of her doing here? Was he going insane?
Where the heck was he?
Raising his head, he looked out of that large window that gave a view of huge, long, light-filled buildings and the dark sky.
This made him come to a realization.
He was in another world.
He looked at the picture frame again.
Clara’s world.
She had gotten to Teyvat with that same machine that had taken him here.
He clutches on it still in his hand, overwhelmed by that discovery.
Then who was Xu Shi Han? A friend of hers? A workmate? Both?
Or was this all a hallucination?
Sudden sequences occupied his mind, almost causing him to lose his balance and grunt from the incessant pounding in his head.
He cast a glance at the device in his hand and decided to go back and ask the young woman for an explanation.
It was better to be direct this time, she might even have a solution for those headaches and disconnected memories.
It was beginning to irritate him.
However, as soon as he entered that white room again, put the object on and pressed the button, he had to grit his teeth and hold his head.
It felt like it was being hammered. Repeatedly and relentlessly.
A searing burning melting his brain until it reached his legs, which gave way under the weight of the pain.
There were voices.
It was unbearable!
Voices. Images.
He wanted it to stop!
Giggles. Cries. Screams.
Stop! Enough! No!
Please!
He inhaled deeply and his eyes were drawn to someone standing in front of him with their back to him.
Trees, plants and bushes began to dip into scenery.
Tilting his head to the side, curiosity crept in at the sight of that person dressed in clothes he had never seen before.
She had also removed something black and large from her head and was looking around. He could only see half of her face but wonder and excitement were visible on it despite standing slightly away from him.
Adjusting the basket full of harvested fruit on his hip, he moved a foot forward but found a small tree branch under it, alerting the young woman who spun around at the noise.
It was like being struck by a lightining. She was really beautiful.
“Oh, forgive me! I didn’t mean to frighten you!” he exclaimed in a soft voice, shaking his head. Confusion was visible in her features, and his fingers began to play with part of the rim of the basket, feeling shy, “Are you lost, by any chance?”
She let out a sigh, “I… think so. Am I on a island?”
Even her voice was melodious.
“You are. Kannazuka, more specifically in Tatarasuna.”
He saw her eyes widen and look at him intently, almost as if she wanted to see through him.
“What’s your name?”
“Oh! I’m Kabukimono, pleased to meet you!” he smiled, enthusiastic about making new acquaintances. “And you are?”
She seemed to have relaxed a little, smiling back at him, “Shi Han. The pleasure is all mine, Kabukimono.”
Technically it was not a lie, yet she was puzzled by the situation because it was not supposed to start that way.
Had she gotten the main settings wrong? A reversed scenario loading? She recalled checking several times before putting the machine into operation.
Glancing one more time at the trees, the bushes, with the chirping of the birds around and the sound of their shoes against the ground, the feeling of experiencing such a realistic sensory stimulus never ceased to charm her.
Her gaze fell on the puppet leading the way to the village after telling her that she could stay with them as long as she wanted. The shy but lively way he interacted with her turned the corner of her lips upward.
“We’re here!” he informed her, quickening his pace.
Chatter and laughter reached her ears, and she stepped out of the way in time to avoid being bumped by two children chasing each other.
She followed Kabukimono with her eyes as he walked over to this familiar young man with a red lock of hair to show him the basket of fruits, being repaid with a smile and probably words of praise.
After that, his attention switched to her, thus bringing the other to look at her as well, and she decided to approach for introductions. She then understood why he looked familiar; he was Niwa Hisahide, the one she would blame for the island tragedy in the game.
They appeared like real people. Having them face her really did have a strange effect.
She certainly could not say that they were fictitious characters and was trying out the game in virtual reality to attract more players, so she had opted for a simpler and quite believable explanation: she was traveling but had gotten lost and her possessions had been stolen.
She had also immediately found a bag to put her VR headset in to avoid curious questions.
Kabukimono had already thrown a quizzical look at it, which was not supposed to happen, since it was not meant to be exposed to the eyes of the characters.
Even if there were inventions here, explaining the use of a VR headset could have involved complications in the game which she was not inclined to have.
Everything had to go smoothly, and her intent had been achieved.
She wore the local clothes, got along well with the villagers, and helped with whatever errands were available.
Still, Kabukimono's reluctant behavior around her had not escaped her notice.
Conversations were brief ― almost nonexistent ― and he would run off, yet he had been so friendly during the first meeting.
These interactions were odd; she did not remember including them as options. Actually, nothing was as she recollected setting them up.
As he was now with the elderly women who spoke to him as he smiled and listened eagerly.
“Don't worry. He had these reactions with us at first too,” Niwa's voice caught her attention as the young man walked up beside her with a hand on his hip. "He just needs some time, you'll see how he won't pull away again."
"But it's been days," she sighed. "And I'm not doing who knows what action to deserve this attitude again. I'm approaching in a gentle way."
He hummed thoughfully, “You are right about that. But... it may be that you are different.”
“Different?”
He smiled, “Sometimes we have different impressions of some people. Honestly speaking, yours leaves its mark, Shi Han. You release positive energy that relaxes and makes one feel at home. Apparently, your energy has a powerful effect on him and that makes him shy and clumsy.” Niwa chuckled at the dumbfounded face she had while he was talking, and shoved the sheath with the sword inside into her hands. “Now take this and hand it to him. He lost his previous sword and had asked me to forge another.”
Awakening from her initial astonishment, she tried to speak but he was already on his way.
So she huffed out a laugh and the only thing she said to him was a "thank you!" to which he responded with a shake of his hand.
She hadn't really noticed that he had a sword in his other hand, caught up as she was in the Kabukimono dilemma.
Niwa's confession had left her speechless. So much for the fictional character!
If they had told her that she would hear such a thing from a nonexistent person, she would have laughed in their faces.
Glancing at Kabukimono, she caught him staring at her before returning his eyes to the women who were walking away after the talk ended. She almost chuckled as she walked toward him to fulfill her errand.
“Hi. Here, from Niwa,” she spoke kindly, showing him the weapon he then took from her hands.
“Thank you,” it was almost a whisper.
“I heard you practice sword dance. It must be difficult.”
“Not very.”
“You put in a lot of effort, though”, she smiled. “This is not to be underestimated. Although I have never seen you dance, I know enough about this.”
He had not responded, he just looked at her. She seriously believed that she was hated at this point and that Niwa's words were just to reassure her.
"Would you like to... watch me?"
That caught her off guard, but she widened her smile, "I would love to!"
She hadn't really expected that! It was a really huge leap of progress!
It certainly had not been easy to ask her to see him dance, but she was really happy about it. And now that she was witnessing that dance, to say that he was talented was an understatement!
The smooth and accurate movements, the relaxed facial features, and the passion-filled eyes with which he performed the poses was nothing short of mesmerizing.
As a backdrop, the trees, the river and the light wind that had risen made it almost magical.
She couldn’t stop looking at him.
He was so immersed in it that he seemed to have forgotten her presence after ending his dance, so she applauded him, catching his attention.
"That was... magnificent. I don't know what else to say.”
His eyes drifted to the sword, playing with its hilt, “I’m honored to be complimented.”
Shi Han was completely taken hostage by the tenderness he had awakened in her, and without thinking about it she had mussed his long hair in an affectionate gesture.
Kabukimono had only blinked in surprise.
"Oh, forgive me!" she pulled away, raising her hands in surrender. "You were so sweet that I moved unintentionally. Please, don’t hate me!”
“Hate you? I would never!” he quickly shook his head, almost offended by that.
“Oh. I thought… you hated me.”
“Never! I’m just…” now he looked anywhere but at her, what was probably embarrassment invading him. “You are so beautiful and kind…”
She would have had an explosion of diabetes if he had not stopped!
How in the heck was he so, so sweet? He was a precious cinnamon roll!
“So it is not a disturbance if I request to see your dance again?”
“Absolutely not.”
“That’s a relief then. And… thank you for your compliments.”
The response she received was sparkling eyes and a toothy smile.
And the following days Kabukimono had left all shyness behind and kept staying close to her like a child trailing after his mother.
He would smile constantly, seek advice on even the smallest things, ask to pick fruits or just go for a walk together.
A total different character.
You could not look at him and not think of protecting him from any danger.
To think that he would change his personality after that tragic event that he would soon have to endure was really a shame, yet the story had to have footholds to continue.
Every action and reaction was calculated and giving them drastic plot changes could have consisted of inconsistencies in moving forward.
Messing up was not an option.
She was going to enjoy the course of events without a hitch.
And watching Kabukimono had become her favorite pastime; he was so adorable and innocent. Like now as he placed the firewood under the cauldron.
Surely he had noticed her fixed gaze on him, for she could see him playing with the sleeves of his robe.
“Asahi is late.”
She chuckled, “He wants to do it himself, as small as he is it will take him a while. He wants to be useful, like you.”
“He shouldn't tire himself though, since he's not very well.”
“I know, but let him do it. It's really cute to see him so hard-working.”
Asahi, the sick child who would add to Kabukimono's suffering when he would pass away.
He was already ill, that tragedy would take place sooner than later.
Another detail she did not remember at all was his name, because she had not given him one. He was just supposed to be an addition for the character that would become Scaramouche.
But if she dug her heels in over everything, she would start to get headaches, so it was best not to question and just comply.
“Water is here!” the small enthusiastic voice of Asahi caught their attention and they saw him almost trip and tip over the bucket full of water.
“That's too much water, Asahi!” Shi Han burst out laughing, helping him move closer to the fire.
“We still need it!”
“Yes, yes. Pour it slowly or you'll ruin the firewood.”
The teasing, the smiles, the chattering, the caresses. These heart-warming interactions had always fascinated Kabukimono.
Every human feeling and emotion captivated him.
There was something mysterious and inexplicable about the way they worked and manifested themselves.
However, the one who attracted him like a moth to a candle was Shi Han.
The manifestation of her emotions was a subtle but strong trait; the change of them could be sudden or slow.
He often found himself staring at her more than he should, completely invaded by a strange feeling that a puppet should not experience.
He had no heart; it was impossible.
Could it perhaps have been her aura? It was not to be ruled out. The villagers also felt at ease with her and almost considered her family.
“Is something wrong?” Shi Han's gentle voice and her face so close to his made him pull back a little from the sudden entry into his view. “I called you several times. Do you feel strange?”
“Oh, no. It’s just… You seem to feel so much happiness…”
“Are you not happy?” Asahi asked confused.
“I could, if I didn’t have…” Unconsciously, his hand went to his chest. “… a void here.”
“You mean, you wish you had a heart?” He nodded and heard Shi Han sigh, sitting next to him. “Mmh, have you ever heard this story before?” the question gained their attention as the child placed the bowl of food on the floor, “There once was a puppet soldier whose greatest wish was to be with a ballerina doll forever and ever. But the soldier didn’t have a heart and didn’t know where his feeling came from. One day, his owner didn’t want him anymore and threw him away into a fire. But even in the flames, his eyes never left the ballerina.” He smiled, ”The next day, the people found a tiny heart in the ashes left by the fire.”
He exhaled, sadness filling his voice, “Probably ashes in the shape of a heart, but that’s not a real heart.”
“Maybe. But what if…” He tilted his head to the side, “… hearts can be born from ashes?”
That would have changed things, but he was not sure.
“You don’t need a heart,” Shi Han spoke, grabbing his hand and slight sparks orerran his body. “The fact that you worry about being empty and that you might not reciprocate in the same way shows that you feel something.” A tender smile played on her lips, eyes looking at him with affection, “You are able to express emotions without it. You are more human that most people. Am I right, Asahi?”
“She is!” he had almost shouted it while nodding firmly.
Her face lit up, as if he had remembered something, “Oh! Asahi! Your handmade gift!”
The child made the same expression, got up and ran to a wooden box, pulling out a doll.
Kabukimono was quite confused.
After the child had gotten closer, he noticed the details of the object better. It was him. Its hair and clothing were the same as his, and it had what looked like a small tear under its eye.
“I'm aware that it didn't turn out that well, but I still wanted to give you a gift.”
He was at loss of words. He had a knot in his throat and his eyes were stinging.
He grabbed the doll and stared at it, a smile forming on his lips.
“Look, you’re smiling,” Shi Han rubbed his shoulder in a comforting way. “You’re happy, Mono.”
“Mono?”
She sucked the air through her teeth before grinning, “Kabukimono is too long. Mono is better.”
He smiled back, feeling shy again but with a tingling sensation.
He heard Asahi giggling, but a coughing fit struck him, bringing Shi Han to stroke his back and him to look at him worriedly.
“Everything is fine, just coughing.”
“You should still get back into bed. I’ll accompany you.”
He followed them with his gaze until they vanished into the other room and went back with his eyes on the doll. He touched its hair, its trim and stitching.
A gift made with affection.
A goal he did not think he could achieve. He thought people would not consider him; lacking a heart he might not feel empathy, or understand certain actions dictated by certain feelings. Consequently, causing estrangements on their part.
Yet they were friendly, loving, and hospitable. They treated him like a son, an older or younger brother, a friend. He felt loved and always wanted to be loved.
And very much loved by Shi Han.
It had become a permanent fixture. He did not want to do anything that could lead her to be bothered by his presence; he wanted to be praised.
More and more.
She had become the first person he spoke to as soon as the sun came out. A strong force continually pushed him toward her. And he did not mind.
Just being near her gave him warmth and love. He could sense it.
Like now, as the sound of the flowing river was heard, sitting at its bank and looking at the night sky.
It was better to say that he was watching her admire the stars.
“I love this view. I've never seen so many stars light up the night.”
“Where you come from there aren't many?”
She shook her head, “No. Let's just say they've… dimmed over time.”
“You will see them often by staying here then.”
She had opened her mouth, but had not spoken. This jolted him slightly and he began to feel a squeeze in his chest at that nonverbal response.
“Are you… leaving?”
Shi Han had definitely noticed the sudden change in mood, because she was hesitating, but she eventually nodded.
“I’m traveling, so… I’m moving all the time.” He turned his head to the other side and pulled his knees to his chest. “I also have to stay with my family. They definitely miss me. But this doesn’t me- wait, what’s wrong? Are you crying?”
Hearing her concerned voice gave him a sense of victory.
First she would sneak in and then decide to leave without thinking about what she had left behind? Without thinking about how he would feel? Was she really going to leave him? Why?
He didn't want to!
Her hand moved his shoulder slightly so she could look at him, but he resisted. He heard her calling him, but he did not answer.
He felt betrayed.
“Mono, please, listen to me!”
“I am.”
“You aren’t. You didn't hear a word I said because you’re still like this.”
He stood up abruptly and looked at her, taking steps back before halting and showing her bag in his hand.
Shi Han had widened her eyes, taken aback and confused by his action.
“Speak the truth. It has to do with that object you always carry in here with you, doesn't it? The way you take care of that thing has always intrigued me. You never show it to anyone, you keep it hidden and you seem obsessed with it.”
She let out a long sigh with her eyes closed, sensing the situation getting out of hand.
She was probably thinking that she would never have thought of such an overreaction on his part and that she didn't even know how they had gotten to this point.
He didn't know either. All he knew was that a trigger had been set off.
“It is because it’s an important object for me. It has an emotional value. It’s a gift.” She explained in a soft voice and stretched out her hands, “Come here, I’ll show you.”
He kept looking at her, stalling for a while until he gave up.
Shi Han reached into the bag and pulled out the object.
"Bring this behind your head," she had lifted that thing above her head and brought with one hand what looked like a strange rope behind it. “Then this to the front,” the large part went in front of her eyes. “And press the button on the left side,” her finger stayed on that specified spot but didn’t press down. “That’s it. But since I break a lot of things, and you know that, I don't use it much to avoid breaking it.” She took it off and smiled at him before putting that thing back in the bag and slung it over her shoulder. “Sorry if I startled you. I was going to talk to everybody about it these days. And I was telling you earlier that I would come back to visit anyway, and we may as well write to each other.”
He lowered his head, distress overtaking him.
Of course there were these options, but they were not like having her by his side all the time.
It was different.
“But I will not see you every day.” his voice had come out hoarse, as if he were tearing up.
“You can travel with me. And we can take Asahi with us, too. If you want, we can ask Niwa as well. I don't know if he would agree to travel, but it doesn't hurt to try.” He raised his head, stunned by the proposal. Shi Han cupped his cheeks, her fingers wiping away tears he did not know were coming out, “There, there, stop crying. Have you calmed down? Do you like my idea? No more sadness?”
He nodded, inhaling a deep breath to cool down.
This myriad of emotions were making him dizzy. And what she did next almost caused him to lose strength in his legs.
She giggled, tousled his hair and rested her lips on his forehead. After that, she hugged him. His face leaning against the crook of her neck, warm and soft skin touching.
“You’re such a good boy.”
Her fingers run through his hair, stroking gently and slowly.
He couldn’t think straight. He was over the moon.
He hugged back, tightening his grip as much as he could without hurting her.
It was like being wrapped in a cocoon of warmth, comfort and fondness. Safe from any danger, feeling special, and have no negative thoughts.
She was the last piece to complete his wish.
Like it was your home.
It felt like home.
He had attained peace. A feeling so wonderful that he wished it would last for eternity.
But against his every thought and will, that newly completed paradise was gone.
Black smoke had begun to surround them, and the villagers began to get sick. They were getting worse and worse, and no one knew how the heck to stop the disease.
And they were dying. They were dying and dying one by one. A chain reaction that had spread terror and despair. And the helplessness about the situation didn’t help.
Hence, he decided to ask for help from the one who had created him, the Electro Archon herself.
He did not want to leave Shi Han, Asahi and Niwa alone, but he had to do something.
When he arrived in Inazuma, no one would let him in to have an audience with the Archon. With tears in his eyes and desperation clouding his senses, he did not for a single moment stop asking about his creator, displaying the golden feather around his neck, left by her in his hands.
Even though Yae Miko appeared in Ei's place, he begged to save the villagers, on his knees, his hands grasping her clothes. Shepromised help, and he believed her.
After returning to Tatarasuna, he saw Shi Han standing outside the house in the distance.
“Shi Han! The shogunate will come here! Let’s inform Niwa and-“
Now close by, he could notice Shi Han's dull eyes and bare feet. A bad omen took hold of him and he ran toward Asahi's bedroom.
When he saw him, Asahi seemed to be asleep.
Deeply asleep.
He had a lump in his throat, his hands began to shake.
That was a joke, wasn’t it? Asahi was definitely joking. It was not the best moment to do that, but he was playing around.
For sure.
“Asahi, it’s not good time to play. You need to wake up. The… The shogunate is coming and…”
One touch and he suddenly pulled his hand away, as if electrocuted.
Asahi was cold to the touch. Too cold.
No. No! No! No! Please, no!
Why? Why was all this happening? What had they done wrong to undergo such a thing?
The child’s words crossed his mind and he smiled through the tears.
He was here. Asahi was still here. His heart was still here.
And without a second thought, the flames enveloped both him and the house. He waited, waited until he could see it, but there was nothing there.
No heart from the ashes but anger and sadness made an appearance.
He clenched his hands into fists, tears that would not stop falling, “How dare you die like this, and break your promise to me?” He sneered, “What a joke… It’s just ashes, nothing left but ashes.”
He lifted his head up, a deep sigh leaving him. He stayed like that for a while before walking out.
He still had his Shi Han. He needed her hugs and sweet words.
He needer her.
However, he did not expect to see her with that black object on her head, her hands still on each side of it.
Hesitantly, he spoke, “Shi Han?”
Their eyes met, and what hers conveyed made him even more desperate.
“What… are you doing?”
Shi Han gulped, lips quivering and voice shaking, “I’m sorry. I can’t do this.”
It was too much.
Tragedy was to come, but she did not imagine it so suddenly. She had not even had time to breathe. It was all going too fast, and witnessing it firsthand had never been in her plans. To see the life of someone you spend time with vanish before her eyes without being able to do anything to stop it was the most deplorable torture there was.
Waking up from the catatonic state with the smell of smoke from the flames Kabukimono had started burning the house in which she had memories was another pain.
She could not take it.
It was all too realistic; she did not even believe she was in her own game anymore. Maybe she was and there had been mistakes during the data transfer.
She didn’t care anymore. She wanted to get the fuck out.
If she had entered in the game with the VR, she could as well come out of it.
Fear was dominating her and she didn’t give a shit about anything or anybody else. She couldn’t.
She was doing what was right for her sanity. And she also felt so bad for that.
“What are you saying? I… I don’t get it.”
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I can’t stay here any longer.”
“Wait, wait! What do you mean? What are you trying to say? Where are you going? Where-“
Adjusting her VR, she pressed the button and everything was reduced into a spiral of colors. Seeing the familiar white room again, she collapsed on the floor, relief taking over her senses. Hearing her friends' and co-fonders’ voice put a definite end to that long moment.
But for Kabukomono had been an istant. A light and then nothing. She was gone.
His Shi Han was gone.
Where? Where had she gone? What had she done to make herself disappear? And why? So was it a lie? She did want to leave him?!
His head hammered incessantly, it felt like needles penetrating and pushing deep. His pupils constricted, a silent scream leaving his body, his hands clutching his head to try to stop the pain.
It hurt. It was unberable.
“Shi Han! Shi Han!” he sobbed. “Don’t go! Come back! Why are you doing this?! Please! Please, don’t leave me! Shi Han, please! Don’t leave me!”
Shi Han exhaled, almost running out of air. After regaining oxygen, she sat on the edge of the bed and a sigh of relief left her lips.
She was in her room, probably after she fell asleep and was brought in.
That was terrifying.
Dreaming of those events was not really something she expected. She had had nightmares after returning from here, but they had faded after a few months.
Guilt was kicking in again.
She needed a glass of fresh water for her dry throat.
Movements alerted her and she got up, spotting Hikaru under the moonbeams picking up her bag and placing it on the chair.
“Oh, it’s you. Was it you who brought me here?”
“Did you think it was someone else?”
“I… never thought you would do that,” she giggled. “but thank you.”
He just hummed, “Your bag fell and this thing slipped,” he lifted one of his hand to show her VR, the other one on his hip. “Nothing broken, you can rest assured.”
She let out a sigh of relief, “Ah, thank God- Archons. It’s a precious item for me.”
She walked over, checking that nothing was really broken, and put it back in the bag, then holding the latter to herself and returning to the bed to place it on the nightstand.
She wanted to hit herself because she had almost made a stupid mistake. Here they were not thanking God but the Archons.
It had never happened before, but the air was imbued with something strange.
It was heavy, tense.
“Is something wrong? You look nervous, Shi Han.”
“Oh, it’s al-“
Her heart skipped a beat, turning pale. She turned around to look at him, searching for something in his eyes that suggested she had heard wrong.
She had certainly heard him wrong. A trick of her ears. He didn’t know her real name.
“What…?” it was almost inaudible and she saw him tilt his head to the side. “Oh, sorry, Hikaru. I thought- nothing, don’t worry,” she shook her head and gesticulated with her hands. “I really should sleep.”
“Hikaru was the best name you could have chosen. I really had an enlightenment in my life.” One step forward, one more, another, as he continued, “But giving it to me through the Traveler was not necessary. I would rather you had given it to me in person.”
He was there, close to her. Too close. She was petrified.
His irises seemed to glow in the dark. Threatening, smothering.
She did not know how or when, but she felt pressure on her arm, was pulled to the side, and the sound of something being broken echoed the room.
Her eyes settled on the nightstand, where her bag was no longer. Her lips began to tremble, her face to distort with fear, and her breathing became labored.
His foot was still on top of it, the VR inside shredded.
He knew. He knew her real name, about her.
Fuck! Fuck!
How was this possibile? How did he find out?! Did her presence really lead to this? She had been careful, avoiding anything that might spoil the plan. Really!
Realization kicked in and she stared at him, while his eyes had never left her and had watched her every facial change.
“You used my VR!”
“Is that what it is called? It is certainly a wonderful invention.” With his hand still holding her arm, he drew her to him, chests touching and faces a short distan apart. “It made me see your world. Our past.” She could feel his breath against her lips. “You don't know... how painful it was after you left me. Asahi, Niwa, you. I saw the darkness, and called your names. Yours especially.” His other arm went around her waist, pressing their bodies together as tightly as he could, ”I wanted your hugs, your caresses, your reassuring words. You were my support, my fixed thought. But after a while, I began to forget you, only you. Probably because you are connected to my world and can manipulate a few things. And I bet the stars and the sky are part of it, aren't they?”
She gulped, trying to push him away, but she couldn’t.
It was happening too fast, she couldn’t react. Her head was spinning, her pupils shaking.
“But I’m also aware of how what happened has worn you down. You tried to make things better, giving me a new rebirth.” He gave her a knowing lopsided smile, a sinister glint in his eyes, “Everything is okay, honey. Your suffering is coming to an end. You will be reborn with a new you. I promise.”
A flashback of her stroking his hair and humming a melody while he was in a coma popped into her mind. He had recited the same words she had said.
He had heard it all.
“I'm sure you didn't do it all by yourself. Someone helped you. But even knowing the current situation, Lesser Lord Kusanali did not act on it. I assume that no one can do anything if you are involved.” His hand left her arm, which fell dead weight, and moved towards her chin, cupping it, “Am I right, Clara?”
She coudn’t breathe.
Demanding, controlling, out of his mind.
“Am I right?”
She breathed out, “Yes.”
“It means no one can meddle between us. Is that correct again?”
“... Yes.”
His face lit up, a smile making her skin crawl.
He giggled, caressing her cheek. He placed his lips on her forehead, before cupping her cheeks and kissing her.
She was squeezing her eyes, paralyzed.
He nipped at her lip, causing her to flinch and taking advantage of this, he swept his tongue between her lips, tangling and tinkling their tongues together.
He broke the kiss, staring at her with eyes filled with confirmed madness.
And hugged her. Her face against the crook of his neck.
“You’re such a good girl.”
The paradox was paralytic and finding a way out erased.
She realized that she had taken Nahida's words lightly.
But what could she have known? How could she have known that he would behave this way? These were not excuses! She could not have foreseen this!
But unconsciously she had believed that she would not arouse suspicion. Foolishly she had gotten too close.
And she had brought disaster with her.
Memories had surfaced that should not be there.
An unwanted insight into something that should not have been there.
He was so attached to her that his affection had transcended time and space, outclassing that betrayal and seeing the positive side of her redemption toward him that would also be projected onto her game, having a close connection between parallel and video game realities.
But she was the culprit. She had decided to test the waters by prolonging her stay in a place that was beginning to seem strange to her.
Just a question: who plays Genshin impact? It's been a year and three months since I've started playing this game and I'm totally in love with it!
I would also love to write ffs about some characters, actually about one in particular eheh 🤭
But don't worry, I will continue to write BTS ffs, I just wanted you to know that if you notice a ff from another category, you know why. I hope it's not a problem for you guys. ☺️
Alright kids, listen up because @staff have pulled off a corker of a hot mess and have decided to add "Community Labels". I guess they've decided we can't be trusted to add our own warnings and people can't make sensible choices with what they engage with.
But why does it matter to me?
Tumblr have made labels AN OPT IN SITUATION which means every single blog here is automatically set to hide any triggering content
If you want to continue to be able to access and read fanfiction PLEASE go into your settings and click "show" on at least the "Mature" and "Sexual Themes" labels!!
ALSO IOS USERS: there's an extra fun "Hide additional content" bit just to really try and block us from any hopes of success. Make sure you opt out of that too otherwise I think content will be blocked on the mobile app!
Attached to this post are screenshots from my settings so you guys know what to look for. I could only find it on my desktop settings and not on the mobile app (for now at least)
[I feel like I should add I don't want to sound like I'm pressuring anyone... if you don't want to see certain content obviously keep it hidden and protect yourselves BUT this post is mainly targeted at the horny little gremlins I write for who will be suddenly deeply confused when their smut supply is cut off]
Which of the stories you've written is your favorite?
Oh, it's a bit difficult to answer, because each of them have something different 😖 but High and Filter, Deeply and unconditionally, and No evidence? Maybe? And Maledictum? (not finished yet, but well, I'm writing it 👁️👁️)
Summary: she just has to choose him, and he will be the filter that will illuminate the picture of her life.
Pairings: yandere lover!Jimin x married fem!OC (you can think of her as Y/N)
Genre: infidelity!au, yandere!au, smut
Disclaimer: this story is fictional, so each character is not as described in it. I do not own BTS or any K-pop group who will appear in this fiction.
Warnings: obsessive behaviour, manipulation, age gap (OC 7 years older), sad jimin :(, unprotected sex (OC is on pill), oral(f.), praise kink?, lovesick!jimin, sub!jimin?, mention of death character, OC is different :D
Word count: 1.9k+
A/N: i hope my smut scenes are not boring and repetitive to you :) I’m doing my best to try not to make them look the same, so forgive me if they do look that way x)
“You don’t know how much I’ve missed you,” Jimin whispered between their voracious kisses, his voice filled with longing as he pressed her bare body between his own and the bed after pulling her inside his apartment and bedroom.
“I missed you too, baby.” Her hands were busy playing with his soft hair while one hand of his was cupping one of her breasts. “You were on my mind every fucking minute.”
Summary: she just has to choose him, and he will be the filter that will illuminate the picture of her life.
Pairings: yandere lover!Jimin x married fem!OC (you can think of her as Y/N)
Genre: infidelity!au, yandere!au, smut
Disclaimer: this story is fictional, so each character is not as described in it.
Warnings: obsessive behaviour, manipulation, age gap (OC 7 years older), sad jimin :(, unprotected sex (OC is on pill), oral(f.), praise kink?, lovesick!jimin, sub!jimin?, mention of death character, OC is different :D
Word count: 1.9k+
A/N: i hope my smut scenes are not boring and repetitive to you :) I’m doing my best to try not to make them look the same, so forgive me if they do look that way x)
“You don’t know how much I’ve missed you,” Jimin whispered between their voracious kisses, his voice filled with longing as he pressed her bare body between his own and the bed after pulling her inside his apartment and bedroom.
“I missed you too, baby.” Her hands were busy playing with his soft hair while one hand of his was cupping one of her breasts. “You were on my mind every fucking minute.”
His eyes lit up, a bright smile adorning his face as he looked up at her, “Yeah? Even when you were with him?”
He took one of her nipple into his mouth and began taking turns between sucking and circling his tongue around it as the other breast was squeezed and massaged lightly, making her quiver with arousal and want.
His lips ended on hers again, taking her lower lip lightly between his teeth, staring, “When he was kissing you?”
The hand previously on her breast moved down, fingers reaching her folds and rubbing her clit.
She arched her back and spread her legs, a soft, brief moan escaping her lips.
“When he was touching you?” his hot breath now fanned the shell of her ear, lips brushing as he spoke.
Quickly he moved down her body and she whimpered at the loss of his touch, making him grin.
He wrapped her legs around his shoulders and dived in, his tongue twirling and licking until he could turn her into a moaning mess.
He pushed his fingers in and out of her, causing her to tug on his red locks and her toes to curl.
“Ah- Jimin- fuck-”
He stopped, pinching her clit and she wailed slightly, surprised but thrilled by that gesture.
He growled, “Look at me and answer my questions.”
Their eyes met, their erratic breaths filling the room, feeling at its best the yearning reflected in their obs and spreading it throughout their bodies.
“Yes, yes! When I’m with him, when he kisses me, touches me, fucks me-”
His kiss cut her off, a growl escaping his throat from the burning jealousy and possessiveness invading his chest and guiding his actions.
His fingers were again thrusting in and out of her, a dark glint in his eyes.
He hissed when he saw her smirk, gritting his teeth, “You love watching me like this, right? Making me feel second to him?”
She moaned, arching her back and running her fingers through his hair before pulling at it.
Her gaze darkened, a sinister grin and a mocking sparkle in her orbs coming into view, making him stop his movements and gulp, “Want to be second to none? Think you are worth it?” Her hand slid down and palmed his length, squeezing a few times and hearing him whine.
“Yes, yes! Ngh- I’m worth more than him!” His eyes were glistering, desperate to convey his love, more whimpers leaving his mouth at the feeling of her hand pumping his cock, “I can make you- ah- feel better! I can appreciate you better! I can fuck you better!”
“Then show me, baby boy. Fuck me raw better than him. ”
His brain stopped working, eyes wide, breath knocked out of his lungs and heart racing. But he did not let her tell him twice.
Wrapping her legs around his hips, he entered her without waiting for another second, stretching her out deliciously and making her gasp.
His eyes never left her face. Observing how drops of sweat would fall down her temples. How her eyes were shut and her mouth open from the pleasure he was giving her. How amazing and mind-blowing was to feel her bare for the first time. How their bodies were melding together while speeding up his pace.
“Noona- ngh- noona…”
“Shit- you’re so fucking good, baby. Fuck- Such a good boy, fucking me better than my husband.” Shivers ran down his entire body, euphoria taking over his mind at her words. “I’m gonna take you well, making you cum inside me.”
He hid his face in the crook of her neck, slamming into her once more, getting him in even deeper to hit her favorite spot.
She sobbed, clenching around his cock. Her arms went around his back and nails dug into his skin. His grunts and her moans turning them on even more.
“Yes, there- fuck- oh, my God! You’re so good- I’m- baby-“
He was shuddering, living for her praises and her.
“Ah- Noona, tell me you’re mine,” a shaky plea, looking at her, his thrusts erratic. “Tell me- Tell me I’m the only one, please. Noona-“
He was so close and he knew she was too, but he wanted to hear it. He craved for it.
“I’m yours, fucking yours, baby-“
He kissed her, their moans muffled by their lips. They shuddered as she tightened around him and he came inside her.
Jimin laid his head on her breasts while they both tried to catch their breaths, still inside her.
She smiled, a hand gently caressing his back up and down as the other played with his hair.
“This feels so nice…” He sighed dreamily, closing his eyes. “You and me.”
“I know. It’s perfect.”
He raised his head and smiled, “Like you. Perfect for me like I’m perfect for you.”
She gave him a peck, biting her bottom lip at his fluttering and sweet words that would make anyone fall at his feet.
And she giggled, pleasing his ears. But the ringtone customized for that obstacle between them ruined the mood.
His smile died when he felt her fingers tap his back to urge him to move and make her get up. Reluctantly he did so and watched her disappear from the room to the living room to get the bag he had thrown on the floor out of impatience to claim her.
The soft tone in which she began to speak to him made him grit his teeth and ball his hands into fists.
He knew she now had a sweet smile adorning her face, twisting a lock of hair around her finger. Blinking slowly with a focused expression on what he was telling her, occasionally humming when he spoke.
Little details he noticed when she was with him that he believed were meant only for him, but it turned out he had been wrong all along.
Lost in his own world, he had not been aware of her presence and her knowing gaze on him.
When she bent over to kiss him, he came back to reality. As soon as he saw her expression, he guessed what she wanted to tell him and his heart sank.
“I’m sorry. He came back early from his business trip and planned a dinner out for the two of us for tonight.”
He scoffed, sitting on the edge of the bed.
She pressed her lips into a thin line, a pang of sadness and guilt hitting her chest.
She knelt before him, cupping his face, “My baby, my love. We just have to wait.”
“Why not divorce now?”
“Just wait a little bit. The right time will come and we’ll get rid of him. I promise.” Their lips touched again and she smiled, “Shall we shower together? You made a mess down there. I think you need to change the sheets, too.”
Jimin smiled back, chuckling at her words, “I always make a mess between you and me, Yoora Noona.”
She smacked his arm and a laugh came out of both their mouths.
Jimin watched as she gathered her clothes and took a new pair of underwear from the wardrobe drawer he had emptied for her.
Same scene every time. The same scene that always made him feel the urge to screw it all up and take her away with him. And that made him realize that nothing would change.
A casual encounter that had taken place in an art gallery, where they had discussed what they perceived from the paintings hanging on the walls of it, had led to another series of meetings there and created between the two an understanding that he did not believe would blossom into love.
A love he had to hide under layers, filters of simple acquaintance.
An acquaintance with the same passion for art.
Did he seriously believe she would leave him? He was pathetic.
But he was also in love with a woman who truly made him feel alive, important, wanted.
Yet she was hiding him like a filter hiding imperfections in a photo.
But oh, he was not an imperfection. He was what she needed every day, the one who would change her life and fulfill her every wish.
She just had to pick and choose him.
Entrust herself to him and only him, and he would be the filter that would illuminate the picture of her life.
She was hesitating, though, because of that excuse of a husband.
And it was at that moment, as he was kissed by her and the front door was closed, leaving him alone one more time, that he decided to let out a side of himself that had begun to grow and destroy his sanity even more.
A side that had on its conscience the death of a married man, satisfied with how Yoora had returned into his arms after the news, talking about how it still shocked her – it was someone she had once loved, knowing he was gone had its own effect.
“The funeral will be in two days. I still can’t believe it.”
Jimin placed his lips on her forehead before rubbing his cheek against her head, pulling her closer under the blanket, “Try to sleep now, love. I’m here.”
Now it was all over. He could see her walking around the house at all hours, having a good morning and good night kiss, feeling her warmth and presence without fear of seeing her leave in a hurry.
They could be together in the open without any problems, no subterfuge, no imperfections masked by something else.
And he smiled at his thoughts, drifting off to sleep with the woman he loved.
As a result, he could not hear the happy humming fill the room as one of her hands gently brushed his face.
A sinister smile tugged at her lips, “See Jimin? All it took was the right moment. And getting rid of him was easy. You did really a good job.”
Yoora was ecstatic. It was better than she has expected.
When they had met, she had sensed something different about him. Something that had attracted her like a magnet to him.
And when she had gotten to know him more closely, her instinctive thought had been confirmed.
All it took was a little push and she would bring out his true self concealed by so many different filters. And there he was.
It had taken years, but she had finally succeeded. She thought he was her husband, but Jimin- oh, Jimin was on a whole other level.
The person her deceased mother had said she would find in due time. A person who would be someone different whenever he wanted, who would fulfill everything like a genie, placing her first as a priority.
Jimin was perfect.
They both disguised one part of them behind another that came out with the right person, complementing each other.
Like when you pick a filter, and a change would occur.
It could come out the way you want or go in a completely different direction. Maybe show more of what you didn’t want to show.
It would be a mess.
But it was not something to worry about. Using another filter to conceal the one put before was an everyday occurance, after all.
She just had to make sure she was careful not to expose more than she had to.
Now her mother would be happy. She had found the right one.
“Yes, yes! Ngh- I’m worth more than him!” His eyes were glistering, desperate to convey his love, more whimpers leaving his mouth at the feeling of her hand pumping his cock, “I can make you- ah- feel better! I can appreciate you better! I can fuck you better!”
“Then show me, baby boy. Fuck me raw better than him. ”
