Imagine married BQ with LBH having to go settle some kind of portal situation that came up in the demon realm
And SQQ misses his husband quite a lot, and reminisces with SQH about the old days when he first knew of LBH's existence
And then the system issues a new plotline! SQQ has no idea what is going on but he's walking around like a zombie bc the stupid system says its an NTR plot!
Is this when LBH finally gets tired of being with just one simple old man and starts to create his harem? What will SQQ do? Didn't he say he wouldn't accept LBH being with anyone else?!
And then LBH comees back...
With a version off him pre-transmigration
SQQ isn't sure whether to laugh or cry, he just wants to tear the system a new one!!!!
Word Count: 2.3k
Media Credits: me lol (also, this is s1 ep1)
Cautions: angst coming through// mentions of threats (half hearted), alcohol, & drugs
《did i write this purely on 2 words my friend texted me...maybe | angst comedy>>> 》
You were going to kill him. You were actually considering annihilating his existence off the face of the earth. If he got drunk, then you could be sympathetic but here your idiotic boyfriend was, high off his ass. More like, sleeping the high off. When he shouldn't be, by a long shot.
After agreeing to let him ease his way out of using substances, you had to grudgingly let him use those plastic cancer sticks. Only to find out his maliciously persistent nitwit of a "friend" came over when you were working a busy week. With a fucking stash.
After a good beating of Trevor to the brink of death, you were going to murder your boyfriend. Who, with a stroke of luck, wasn't wrapped around another woman at the moment. He was fully clothed. Well, clothed enough.
Lying down on his stomach, face hanging off the couch, his bare back flashing your eyes. You'd usually be drooling all over the sight if you weren't so livid. With fire set in mind, you kick the couch near his face.
His body jolts awake, puzzled from the sudden wake that he just kept looking everywhere but you. Until he felt an unbearable chill, in which he turned around and faced you: arms crossed, towering over him. You stare at him, expectant.
“Michael.” In a deadpan tone, you call out his name, awaiting the absolute bullshit you know will spew from his lips. You could see him visibly shiver. You can't tell if it's from the illicit substance, from being shirtless, or understanding the gravitational pull of the situation he was in.
Either way, none of those choices were heading to a good place. He turned around, clearly having flashbacks and struggling to keep himself up. “Babe, hold on- it's not what it seems-” he tries to explain, clutching his hands on the hem of your clothes, trying to stabilize himself.
“So you're telling me you didn't do the thing you promised me that you wouldn't even look at, and invited that fuckwad into our place-,” you say, pointing to the guest room where the person you were talking about lied. On the ground, bruised.
“So you're telling me you didn't ignore my calls and messages all night while doing the thing you swore you could at least rid from your vicinity and not try to find a fix.”
No amount of genuine excuse could save him at the moment. You knew that old habits die hard, and getting slowly obsessed and addicted to something was harmful so you were taking it slow. But it had been almost 5 months since he was even near that kind of drug yet he hesitated none.
All the hard work he's done for half the year, down the drain.
“Listen, baby, it was an honest mistake!” His voice raised to high decimals, trying his best to explain himself. “I know I probably shouldn't have let Trevor, but he was going through a rough patch and I just wanted to comfort a long time friend!”
Hearing him ramble on about this being a “one time thing” and a “comfort tool” to bring peace to his supposed friend was pushing the actual reason you were angry to the side. He wasn't even taking accountability.
“Mike, do you or do you not remember our first talk about you using this?” This was more of a rhetorical question than anything, you knew he would remember. Not only that, you know that he would never have forgotten. Whether he wanted to or not.
“You promised me that you’d separate yourself from bad crowds and try your best, for yourself. For me. For Edith!” It seemed you had struck a chord, hearing the name of his grandmother reveal itself from your mouth. He looked up, slightly strained glossy eyes, eye bags visible as ever.
He looked so haggard to the point you felt the anger subsiding, but you couldn’t hide the bitter taste in your mouth. After some succeeding amount of time passes between the both of you, you sigh and sit on the edge of the coffee table, across from him. Taking his hands into yours and locking eyes, you watch as he slowly calms down.
“Mikey,” you begin, using familiarity to ease him into the talk about this terrible aftermath. You watch his tense shoulders fall, his body finally relaxing, continuously looking deep into your eyes as reassurance. “I know how harsh I sounded but I really want the best for you. I want to live a life with you by my side, healthy and having something going for yourself.”
With the start, you both sat in each other’s presence and had a genuine conversation, acknowledging that Mike’s decision making wasn’t the best one. He was book smart, but his street smarts were getting him tangled with things he’ll regret. You just wanted him to be safe and healthy.
He was going to get through this, with you, together. A team is better than a solo play. No matter how much money you’d have to spend on making him feel better, you were ready to give it all up. For love.
❣
Love, in fact, does not prevail. Nothing your mother taught you could have given you a heads up for such a disastrous fortune. It started with a chaotic work schedule, driving you to push yourself and working overtime for a week and a half straight. Nevertheless, you thought it'd be fine if you were to recharge yourself by contacting the one you loved the most.
But…your boyfriend was barely keeping up a conversation, the messages were slowly becoming hours apart. At first you were grateful he was responding at all, the times you could call were only at the worst hours of the day and you barely were able to see him when work was piling up.
And then, two days went by where you heard not a single thing from him. Paranoid that something had happened to him while he was alone in his apartment, you asked for a half day and rushed to his place. Dangerously swerving through lanes on the highway, you frantically park before rushing inside the building.
Dashing up the stairs while rummaging through your bag for the spare keys you had, you halted when you found the familiar door number and dropped to the ground, trying to find the keys.
Distressed by not being able to quickly find it, you grew more delirious pulling something out that sounds like the keys just to be disappointed it wasn’t.
Prepared to overturn the contents of your entire bag on the ground, you hear a click, causing your entity to pause in action. After so, you hear a jingle of keys before the door before you swung open. Standing on the other side of the door frame was your boyfriend, in a suit.
“Mike- what, what’s going on?” Unable to form any coherent words, he gets startled to find you on the floor, disheveled with your bag in your hands, raised as you were about to empty it out on the ground. Obviously, at first glance, he looked fine. Marvelous even, wearing a suit that made him look like a businessman.
“What happened?!” His initial confusion turned into worry, leaning down to help you up, bringing you inside. Kicking the door closed, he sits you on the couch, fidgeting with a loss of what to do now. Letting the silence carry on as you begin to collect your thoughts, you finally speak up, getting what you need to say in order.
“Where are you going?” It was a simple question, starting at the most important thing at the moment. The answer would be either extremely bad or celebratorily good, no in-between. He was dressed up and near the door was a small stack of papers.
“Oh right! I haven’t gotten around to telling you because I wanted to accomplish a win for myself first, to show you that I can do it. Work, I’m going to work.” There was a trail of hesitation between his last few words but you pushed it aside. Work? He did it!
“Mike! Are you serious, that’s awesome!” Colliding yourself into him, you engulf him into a tight hug, heart leaping for joy in your chest. He’s cleaned himself up and found what looks to be a stable job. Or so you thought before you took in what he said. Work?
“Where are you working?” You didn’t think it was possible, but you couldn’t hide your excitement. It seemed he was taking a day job, which meant it was serious and would keep him busy.
“Uh- Pearson Law Firm, it's a recent hire kind of thing. I haven’t gone in for my first day yet.” A law firm, a big one at that. You couldn’t believe your ears, grinning ear to ear.
“For what? What’s the position,” you were so proud, countless options passing through your mind but one.
The one that didn’t come to mind somehow found its way out his mouth as he whispered his job position, your body frozen. Silence fell, uncomfortably at that. Gently ungluing yourself from him, you turn your head to face him.
“A…what- did you just say ‘an associate’, as in, you work with the legal team?” You couldn’t believe your ears, there was no way that was possible. He couldn’t possibly be serious, this must be a weird prank. That’s what you thought until you looked at his unwavering eyes. Oh, he wasn’t joking.
“Mike, you didn’t even go to LAW SCHOOL, what do you mean you're an associate?!” He was getting himself into another mess, your gut was screaming to straighten him out before he got into deep with whatever plot he was scheming with. “How did you even get this position, don’t tell me you threaten someone.”
His head turns so fast he could have injured himself, clamping both his hands on either of your arms. “I may be desperate, but not enough to do such a thing. Besides this all started cause-” he stopped midway, biting his bottom lip and turning away. Now your face fell with a mix of anguish and displeasure.
“Because of what, explain it to me so I can understand. All of it, from the beginning.”
He lets out a sigh, releasing his grip on your arms and falling back into his previous seating, burying his face into the palm of his hands. An unsettling feeling begins to creep up your spine, you were still unconsciously holding his broken promise at the front of your mind. It’s only been a couple of months since then, but it doesn’t mean he isn’t incapable of it once again.
And so he explains, from 2 weeks prior, where he went to visit Edith, got caught in Trevor’s plan, to the point where he flew all the way to Massachusetts to visit Harvard Law, and now has come back to prepare for his “first day.”
No amount of logic could help your brain fully wrap around the entire story, you even having to push him to speak multiple times throughout the story when he stopped to prevent himself from giving you any information. But one thing for sure, you were beyond frustrated and he was a fool.
“That’s fraud!! Not only is this a crime but this is a felony, you moron! This won’t end in a simple fine Michael, you could possibly face jail time! And not only that, but you needed quick cash so you decided to work for TREVOR, of all people?! Mic-” you paused, giving yourself a breather.
You could not accept that things had gotten thus far already. He didn’t speak a word of this to you, he hadn’t even hinted he was struggling once. ‘Does he deem me so untrustworthy that he can’t even say that he’s struggling, not even that he needs help,’ your thought raced.
This wasn’t the first time he’s done things behind your back, and it somehow felt it wouldn’t be the last. You were going to lose your mind if he goes no contact again only for new bullshit to arise in the ranks. You leave him alone and he goes off fucking things up- again.
You both sat in the grieving, dull quietness of the apartment. A decision had to be made, before the both of you got hurt. You loved him, wholeheartedly, so much so to give your heart. But if he was going to act like this, you’d rather barricade it so that no one could have the knowledge to grab it.
You couldn’t keep doing this to yourself anymore. No amount of advice could help if he wasn’t going to take it. If being busy is all it takes for him to turn his attention to things he shouldn’t, then you would keep him entertained as much as possible. But someone needed to be a responsible adult, and babying him isn’t the way.
“We need a break from this Mike, from us.” His eyes widened to the point of no return and you could tell he wanted to grab you again so you stood up, towering over him. Your knees were weak and your face hung low.
As much as it hurt to think of doing it, saying it felt as if someone reached in your chest and had a chokehold on your cardiac muscle. Feeling your eyes prick with the waters of sadden worries and fear of regretting your decision, you grabbed your shit and shuffled out the apartment.
Scrambling to leave the building, you unlock your car and hop in the seat, throwing your things to the seat across from you. This was the worst possible outcome of the day. And you still had to return to work. The facets began to leak, until it slowly burst open like a dam built with faulty equipment. You felt like shit.
All the hard work to make this work, washed down with your worries and sorrows.
Can some pls write a fix where Chuuya and Dazai start dating after SB and whatever reason Chuuya breaks things off. So when Oda dies Dazai doesn't hesitate to leave to the PM, since his only anchors to the organization are either dead or don't want anything to do with him(as far as we know, I leave the reason as to why Chuuya broke things up to whoever writes this. So long as the reason isn't Dazai cheating) he leaves the same way as in canon.
When we get to the beginning of the show/manga timeline Dazai is still grieving and heart broken but has found a healthy family dynamic with the ADA(featuring twice divorced cat dad Fukuzawa, protective baddas big sister Yosano, childishly over protective big brother Ranpo, exasperated younger brothers Kunikida and Atsushi, weird but protective younger siblings Tanizakis, adorable baby siblings Kenji and Kyouka, with Haruno and Katai being the siblings in law Poe joins later) and is thriving.
When soukoku reunite its with Chuuya attempting to make things right with Dazai and explain why he broke up with him but Dazai wants nothing to do with him outside of saving Yokohama. So now Chuuya is trying to make things right and find a way to get Dazai's new family to like him, except Dazai is stubborn so the fic is a healthy mix of comedy and angst.
Featuring the Akutagawa siblings being the children of divorce.
The way home
Huxiao week 2023 | July 9th - Reincarnation
✿ 4k+ words
✿ Tags: Reincarnation but it’s funny, angst / FULL comfort
✿ Featuring: Xiao’s comedic suffering, Hu Tao being Hu Tao
Every day was like the one before, a blend of the same three duties Xiao carried out for the sake of Liyue. That was his life, until he rescued a mysterious Mini Seelie.
“My head is not your nest.”
“Squeak!”
“It matters not if you like it.”
"Squeak...?"
"Not even if you pout."
“Yaa!”
Xiao stepped to the side with practiced agility, the hilichurl’s club making contact with the ground he previously stood on seconds later. As the monster pondered over the failures of its attack, he didn’t hesitate to drive his spear through the goblin-like creature.
He had no prayers to offer the hilichurl, as its lifeless body came to lie on the ground in a pool of its own blood. A tool for extermination had no time for remorse, nor should he be feeling any guilt towards a monster which attempted to take his life.
Tonight’s moon was particularly luminous, casting boundless shadows, which twisted, danced and covered the whole land of Liyue. The air felt as though it was at an impasse with the world, for not even a breeze could be felt.
There was something in the atmosphere, something charged with possibilities unknown. Although Xiao possessed not the gift of foresight, even he could sense tonight would be different to every other night; whether this was a good omen or not, it still remained to be seen.
“Yaaa!” cried a hilichurl, clumsily swinging its flaming club left and right. Its desperate battlecry echoed in the devastated camp, not a single warrior was left to answer its call.
Xiao brought down his spear with merciless precision, bestowing a swift and painless death upon the lone survivor. For creatures who had lost both intellect and spirituality, an act of mercy was rarely seen as a helping hand; rather, it could only be seen as a cruel continuation of one’s own suffering.
Once insanity knocked at the door, death was the only answer to give.
“They show no sign of having been touched by corruption and yet...” The rowdiness of this particular camp had little to do with the ancient corruption, of this Xiao was sure; however, what else could cause them to be so disruptive?
An unexpected rattling sound caught Xiao’s attention, breaking his conviction of having dealt with the whole of the camp’s monsters. A feeling akin to annoyance contorted his features into a scowl, pursuing a hidden enemy never brought favorable results.
“Come out.”
The sound ceased for the duration of a heartbeat before picking up once again, more desperate than when it first appeared. Not an enemy, perhaps these hilichurls had only recently caught a prey and they saw his sudden appearance in their camp as a hindrance; animals—as well as humans—tended to become rather aggressive when someone stood between them and their hard-earned dinner.
Xiao took his time in finding the source of the sound, after all, for all he knew, it could still be an enemy, waiting for the opportune time to strike at him. Returning injured to the inn was not an option.
“What is this?”
A wooden chest stood by itself at the center of the biggest hut in the camp. The noise that had taken him this far into the camp was, unmistakably, coming from it. As Xiao stood before it, he couldn’t help but feel wary by the chest’s existence — hilichurls were not known for keeping their prey in chests.
Firmly holding his spear in one hand, Xiao opened the chest. Although faced with the unknown, his heart was strangely at peace for once, as though his earlier cautiousness was a residual effect of being at constant war with the world. He was no stranger to this feeling of serenity—for a certain vivacious soul had taught him to appreciate its flavor—however it had been many years since he had last tasted it and he couldn’t fathom how it could be surfacing now, while opening this box full of possibilities.
I understand now, this chest is the reason…
That which was meant to occur tonight, the reason for the restlessness of the earth and the quietness of the wind, was occurring at this particular juncture in time, between the unknown and the known of the contents of the chest.
“Kyuu!”
Xiao went momentarily blind as his vision was obscured by something jumping out of the chest and attacking his face with unprecedented speed, not even his time-honed reflexes could protect him from his assailant.
When he grabbed onto the impertinent and fearless enemy to pry it away from his face, his hand touched something squashy and warm, a feeling like what he would imagine touching pyro slimes barehanded would feel like.
The impertinent being came off without much resistance, rather, it squealed excitedly as though there could be nothing more amusing in the world.
“Silence,” Xiao ordered, inspecting the insolent blob. It quieted down with a hiccup, its form stilling as though conscious of what was being expected of it. Although more than a bit miffed by its peculiar behavior, Xiao examined the creature carefully.
The little blob was as big as Xiao’s palm and as round as the moon, with what appeared to be ears or horns protruding from its body — which only consisted of a see-through head and one luminous eye. Its appearance reminded Xiao of the infant Seelie he once saw floating beside the Traveler. If he remembered correctly the Traveler referred to it as a “mini Seelie”, a being with no particular abilities of its own.
A part of him wondered what those hilichurls could possibly gain from eating this tiny blob—there were more nutritious meals out there—while another part, not as insignificant as he would like, became lost in reminiscences of the years gone. To begin with, Xiao wasn’t one who took the time to dwell in happenings of the past, as he would inevitably long for a life he could no longer live; however, there were times in which even someone like him could become prey to the sweet whisperings of memories.
The Traveler he knew, a courageous soul with more bravery than there were stars in the sky, had long since met with their sibling and taken off to some distant galaxy. He couldn’t fault them for making such a choice, rather he would paint himself a hypocrite if he made such an accusation — he chose love over solitude himself.
As though making up its own mind of ending this inspection, the blob once again attacked Xiao’s face, squeaking up a storm.
Xiao growled in displeasure, the little one possessed strength far greater than its size and he wasn’t about to be pushed back by its insistent pounding. He wasn’t an unmovable mountain, but he was also no pushover, no matter how much he allowed others to continue commenting on his lack of height.
“Cease this attack at once.”
The little blob screeched—it sounded angry enough to be called thus—before attacking his face once more. Xiao was no blob-whisperer, he couldn’t understand the first thing about this little one but something told him the rascal wasn’t happy with his interpretation of its exuberant gesture.
“Is this… not an attack?”
It gave a clockwise twirl before squeaking something cheerful and affirmative and, again, went back to “attacking” his face. Too curious to resist, Xiao set back and observed the blob, perhaps there was more to this particular action than met the eye.
Now that he paid close attention, Xiao could see the motion for what it was: the little one was rubbing their faces together, with far too much enthusiasm than the action warranted for but, it was a harmless rub nonetheless. And, Xiao snorted at his own insensibility, every now and then the blob made small squeaky noises, like those made by overly cheerful kids when they were kissing their mother’s cheeks.
“Are you thanking me?”
It gave a twirl and a squeak, an answer which he now knew to be the blob’s way of saying: “Yes!”
Xiao nodded at the response, too amused to do anything else. He picked up his spear and stood up, however enjoyable his time with the blob was, all meetings in this world were bound to end in departure. Furthermore, he had his duty to go back to.
“You are free,” he said to the little one, knowing full well it was capable of understanding him — although he ignored the how's and the why’s. Xiao watched as its single radiant eye narrowed, as though the blob knew how to glare, before it twirled its body counterclockwise, screeching as it went. He took it for the “NO!” it stood for.
As much as he was beginning to think this little red blob couldn’t possibly be the bad omen his sixth sense had warned him about, its current stubborn behavior was quickly making him change his mind.
“Go.”
Xiao tried switching to a more stern approach, perhaps the blob mistook him for a good-hearted person. For as much as he had come to accept that he was no mere tool for massacre, his hands were irrevocably tainted with the blood of Liyue’s enemies and no amount of excuses, no matter how well thought-out, could ever change this fact.
The blob twirled again and again, vigorously affirming its negative answer at being told to go. On its final twirl, the little one unexpectedly launched itself at Xiao and nestled in his hair, squeaking and cooing as it did so.
“No,” Xiao was just as firm in his disapproval, his hands reaching for the blob to pull it free from his hair. When his hands closed in on the rascal—its squashy body reminding him how easily he could end its life—instead of resisting, the little one broke down into tiny gurgles, like peals of mischievous laughter.
His heart froze in place as he was reminded of the longing he felt for a similar, familiar sound. Xiao used to happily suffer through pranks and nonsensical jokes just to hear that beloved sound, he would forgive and forget for it.
“You may come with.”
The rascal answered with a squeal.
❀❁❀⋆❀❁❀⋆❀❁❀⋆❀❁❀
Concerned over his little companion’s well-being if he teleported, Xiao had no other choice but to enter the inn through the front door, like a common man. The inn was void of its usual chatter, so he passed unnoticed by the few souls still lingering around the terrace.
“Sir Xiao!” shouted Jin’hui, her blonde hair moving every which way as she bounced behind the counter in an attempt to catch Xiao’s attention. Calling his name would have sufficed.
The genetic transmission of traits from parent to child and child to grandchild could be said to capture only the most superficial of traits since, apart from her blonde hair and her ability to keep everyone off his business, Verr Goldet’s granddaughter—Jin’hui—shared no other traits with her grandmother. The woman couldn’t seem to apply the same concept of keeping off his business to herself like she did with others.
He acknowledged her presence with a nod but, other than that, he continued on to his room as though she wasn’t in the middle of furiously beckoning him to stand at the counter and chat about his night.
“How was your night?” Xiao should have known better, nothing could stop this woman from putting her nose where it wasn’t needed. “Oh my, oh my! That’s a very cute hat!”
Xiao halted in his steps as the little blob in his head gave a satisfied squeak, as if to answer the flattering comment it was given. He grabbed onto its squashy body and gave it a good shake, waking it up from its blissful nap. “It is not a hat,” he said, more to the little one than to Jin’hui.
“Then, it’s a little bird and your hair is its nest.”
The little one broke free from his hold and squealed uncomfortably loud.
“No,” Xiao repeated, firmly grabbing onto the blob with both hands. He would not be walking around with a blob on his head, the fierce image that commanded respect as Conqueror of Demons would be no more. “My hair shall not be your nest.”
The rascal hiccupped in protest.
❀❁❀⋆❀❁❀⋆❀❁❀⋆❀❁❀
As hesitant as Xiao was to welcome the little rascal into his life—for all meetings must come to an end, and such was the inevitable fate of all those who chose to tread the path of life beside a yaksha—the transition between no-blob-life to blob-on-board-life was flawless and effortless. The little one behaved as though it belonged in his life, as though it was meant to be in his life.
“It’s time to get going.”
Xiao was ready to start his day even before the sun rays had time to touch the tops of the mountains, while his days ended once the moon was gone. Few were the people who could keep with such a tight schedule, however, his little rascal was energetic from sunrise to sunrise.
The little one squealed and twirled, safely nestling itself on Xiao’s head.
“My head is not your nest.”
“Squeak!”
“It matters not if you like it.”
Although Xiao couldn’t see its reaction, he could feel as the little one rolled uncontrollably on his head, pulling at his hair to hide itself, whining with tiny squeaks as it did so. If Xiao were to name this particular behavior, he would be calling it “pouting”.
The blob was pouting and his heart felt heavy at the thought of having been the one to cause such a reaction.
“You may continue,” he said, a stern tone roughing his voice. “However, tomorrow this shall be no more.”
Both knew those were just empty words, as they would be having this same discussion tomorrow, and tomorrow’s tomorrow, and every day after that. Xiao was incapable of standing his ground with the little one, and the little one was content to use this weakness at every turn.
“Squeal!”
“No, you are not cute.”
❀❁❀⋆❀❁❀⋆❀❁❀⋆❀❁❀
“Mmm,” mumbled Baoyan as he hurriedly placed the almond tofu on the table and disappeared into the kitchen once again. His fearful appearance had little to do with Xiao himself, and more to do with the poor name his mother had given him. True to his name, he was a person of thin words.
Xiao spared the poor soul the polite words he had come to give on certain occasions, for he sympathized with the inability to keep up with idle chat. He had discovered how to best show his appreciation for the service he was given, and that was by polishing off what he was served, although, today he wasn’t in the mood for eating.
The little rascal, whose preferred position during meals was on the table, rolled around the plate of almond tofu at an alarming speed. Had the little one possessed the gift of a mouth, Xiao would have been more than happy to give up his meal to it.
“Stop it.”
It squeaked back at him with indignation and far too much temper for a thing that was only head and ears — or horns, Xiao had yet to expose the true identity of the protrusions the little one had.
“I am not hungry.”
Xiao sighed as the little one began to make a loud shrilling sound, a heartfelt cry that broke his own in half. As concerning as it might sound, this was a behavior Xiao had come to expect whenever he refused to eat his meals. For one so small, his little one carried a boundlessly kind heart.
“Sorry,” he whispered, gathering the sobbing blob into his hands. Its light dimmed and brightened with its hiccups, creating quite an amusing lights show for Xiao. “I will try to do better.”
His little one gave a quiet squeal before it flew atop his head, nuzzling itself there and promptly falling asleep as though Xiao had sworn to eat the whole dish. In spite of the fact that he couldn’t recall having made such a promise when he spoke, Xiao picked up his spoon.
“You are too much like her…” he grumbled as he brought the first spoonful to his mouth. Baoyan’s almond tofu bore the same taste of sweet dreams as Yanxiao’s; however, there were times in which Xiao couldn’t bring himself to enjoy this particular taste on his tongue.
Today was such a day, a day in which he was reminded of her, Hu Tao.
It wasn’t so much the dish as it was the memory of her that choked him up with such force he saw his karmic debt as being a lesser demon. The very first and the very last dish he received from Hu Tao was almond tofu, it was a sweet torture to his senses when he had to eat this dish while thinking of someone who was no longer with him. She had chosen to dedicate her human life to him and yet, he had greedily begged her for more time. He had tarnished their last memory together, thrown the life they had lived together into question, committed the one sin he could never recover from.
And now, his little one’s giggles of joy and squeaks of disapproval were constantly reminding him of her. Even the way it manipulated him into doing its every command was the same, and what was he to do when he loathed and loved that resemblance?
“Perhaps, eating will ease my heart.”
❀❁❀⋆❀❁❀⋆❀❁❀⋆❀❁❀
Wangshu Inn provided two different bathhouses for their guests, one for male guests and one for female guests. Located adjacent to each other, both bathhouses boasted a breathtaking view of Jueyun Karst.
“Sir Xiao!” called Jin’hui, waving an enthusiastic hand in his direction. Xiao didn’t bother to wave back, however he did stop to acknowledge her greeting. “The bathhouse is empty at the moment!”
Xiao nodded, turning in the direction of the bathhouse. Millenia of massacre had taught him how to keep from spilling blood on himself, however, one little blob didn’t have the same amount of experience nor care to keep itself clean.
The rascal struggled in his hands, fruitlessly squealing in an attempt to break free. Xiao tightened his hold, refusing to have one little blob continue muddying his hair and garments.
“You are dirty.”
“Squeak?!”
“Do not feign ignorance.”
It came as easy as breathing for the little rascal to manipulate Xiao into doing whatever it wanted—to the point where he was foolishly willing to forgive anything—however, this was one thing Xiao refused to compromise on. No amount of struggling and crying would make him yield.
“Squeal…” resigned to its fate, the little one stilled in his hands. It gave some occasional squeaks and squeals as he readied a wooden bucket with warm water and soap.
Xiao took off his gloves before he carefully lowered the little one into its personal bathtub. Unlike what he expected, the little one floated peacefully on the surface of the water and even underwent some scrubbing with minimal complaint.
“How well-behaved of you,” he said, jokingly knocking his knuckles against the rascal until it rolled over in the water a couple of times. It squeaked in response. “It was a compliment.”
It was once he had successfully solved the issue of his little dirty blob that Xiao noticed how filthy he himself was. His head had officially become a bird’s nest, with twigs and mud sticking out at odd angles. His white shirt was a disconcerting gray color, while his previously purple pants were now a sad black.
“You rascal.”
“Squeal!”
Xiao shook his head at the overly cheerful squeal he received, the rascal felt not one drop of remorse for what it did. It wasn’t rare for him to take baths, after all, cleansing both body and soul was a necessity in keeping his karma under control, however...
“Squeal~!”
At the mere hint of him taking his clothes off, the little rascal would go wild with squeals and twirls of delight, its phosphorescent light brightening to an almost uncomfortable degree. If he didn’t know any better, Xiao would think the little one was actually enjoying the situation — which was exactly what it was doing, and which was the reason why he never brought it to the bathhouse with him.
“You are one indecent little blob,” he commented, more to himself than to anything else; the blob was too lost in its own unrestrained squeals to pay attention to him. Taking this as the opportune time to carry on with his mission, Xiao swiftly rid himself of his clothes.
When the high-pitched squealing quieted down at last, Xiao was already clean of any muddy remnants and peacefully resting—accompanied by a bucket-full of water and blob—in the thermal waters of the outdoor bath.
“Squeak?!” the rascal twirled counterclockwise within the confines of the bucket, fuming and squeaking as it went. It clearly wasn’t pleased with the current situation, not that Xiao cared for its approval at this moment in time.
Xiao sighed, far too amused to sound appropriately tired as he wanted, “Indecent blob.”
“Squeak!”
❀❁❀⋆❀❁❀⋆❀❁❀⋆❀❁❀
Moonless nights were synonymous with increased monster activity, such nights were also synonymous with exhaustion for Xiao. More often than not his duty, although repetitive, would leave him with ample energy to savor a meal and keep watch over Liyue for the remaining time until the sun came out. This didn’t apply to nights like today.
Xiao struggled to keep himself upright as he made his way up the steps to his room. His bone-deep fatigue made a poor companion for the squealing blob on his head, who couldn’t keep itself out of trouble and yet insisted on following him into danger, adding more worries to his already strained mind.
For as much as he denied the notion that adepti slept like humans, his room was decorated with a spacious bed fit for two grown adults — something which he hadn’t initially approved of, but eventually conceded in favor of not discussing the issue again. It was on this very bed where he let his body fall at last.
His bubbly companion squeaked at the rough treatment, unkindly attaching itself to his head and pulling at his hair. Xiao supposed it was only fair considering he had almost squashed the blob when he laid down.
“I hadn’t meant to…” Squash you to death? Xiao wasn’t sure he could make himself utter such insensitive words. He was guilty of forgetting the blob on his head, but he had been so tired, he just couldn’t remember any good reason for why he couldn’t drop dead on the bed.
“Squeak!”
The little rascal gave a series of frustrated squeaks, much like how a mother would scold a child, before it settled against Xiao’s neck and began to purr — yes, like a cat. Disoriented by this sudden gesture, all Xiao could do was lay with his head at an uncomfortable angle and brave through his little one vibrating at maximum strength.
Its quivering, reminiscent of the great shows of power Rex Lapis carried out in the Archon War, had a strange somniferous effect on him. His eyes struggled to remain open, he may be exhausted but Xiao refused to surrender to the great call of nightmares.
“Little one—” he began but held his tongue as an annoyingly familiar and beloved song resounded within the room, awakening emotions he had come to accept as gone.
The little rascal squealed, its fiery red glow brightening the room much like the rays of the sun brightened the day. It twirled once, twice before it brushed part of itself on his lips, something like a silly kiss he had come to never expect again in this life.
“Of all things...”
Xiao snorted, happiness and confusion and shock, and many things all at once exploding inside his heart. The emotions of an entire lifetime threatened to spill over, to break free from inside him and taint the world with the colors of his love. Tears came unbidden — tears he had sworn he could no longer cry, as his body had been hollowed out to the point of insensibility, both by the karma he carried and the immeasurable misery and guilt he had felt at the passing of Hu Tao.
“I’m sorry…” he murmured, salty liquid spilling onto the Seelie as he gathered her into his hands and wept. Even though Hu Tao had been the one to teach him the importance of crying, as it cleansed the soul of sadness and gave the person an opportunity to express the suffering and pain they had been through, her death had robbed him of his tears.
She giggled, perhaps amused by his foolish thoughts and beliefs. As always, he couldn’t fault her for finding enjoyment in the situation, he had been foolish enough to condemn himself for something he had no control over: his heart. Even yaksha weren’t exempt from matters of the heart and, as much as they boasted a desire-free life, certain wants from heart were inevitable.
“I love you, still.”
Hu Tao squealed, glowing closer to pink than her usual red. To think she would be embarrassed by such words, Xiao was reassured by this innocent gesture of hers. She had returned to him, in an unexpected form but she had returned, when he had been certain she wouldn’t and he wasn’t foolish enough to turn his back on such a blessing.
“However, you are still not allowed to enter the bath with me.”
Rating: Teen and Up.
Pairing: Xiao x Aether
Warnings: Minor descriptions of blood and wounds, stubborn boys/men, Hu Tao intentionally being a menace(she has an end goal).
Notes: No Summary because I don't want to spoil the surprises lol. But Basically the Boys are both unwell and Hu Tao has a plan. Zhongli gets sent to Inazuma.
Wanghsu Inn, Liyue, Teyvat:
Xiao had had enough of this. It was hindering his ability to protect Liyue. It was hindering his ability to think. It was filling him with unnecessary panic and adrenaline at times where all he wanted to do was rest.
"It" was sunflowers.
Sunflowers that were growing inside of him, and coming out his mouth and nose.
Needless to say, he was irritated. He didn't know where they were coming from or what sparked them, and it was beginning to really tick him off. He was always pulling flowers out after battles, or sneezing or coughing petals all over his favorite spots.
The only upside he could think of was that the flowers reminded him of Aether. Reminiscent of sunshine, but stronger than they looked.
He coughed again, and his brow furrowed in frustration. Even his Karmic-quelling medications had done nothing against the increasing amounts of flowers.
It was time to find Rex La- Zhongli. It was time to find Zhongli.
Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Liyue Harbor:
Xiao turned towards the door as it opened, his face impassive as Hu Tao jumped in surprise. He kneeled as Zhongli entered the room.
"Why are you in my office?" Hu Tao said, her voice a little higher than usual, but steady. Xiao did not miss how she'd summoned her own spear, but his focus was mainly on Zhongli. Mainly Zhongli's boots.
"Hello, Xiao. You really should have knocked, but what brings you here?" Zhongli asked, pulling Xiao up from the ground.
Xiao narrowed his eyes at Hu Tao, who was looking between the two of them. Zhongli waved his hand dismissively. "She's going to figure it out sooner or later, just explain your situation. Are you out of karmic relief medications?"
Xiao shook his head, and in doing so, irritated his throat, causing him to cough up yet another fragment of sunflower. "This. This is the problem. And it won't go away!"
Zhongli looked at the flower on the floor, while Hu Tao, for once, looked horrified.
"What the hell?" She said, drawing closer. "Is he okay? Why is he here? And who is he exactly?" She asked rapidly, circling both of them.
Zhongli answered her patiently. "This is Xiao, you could say he is a formal employee of mine. He still prefers to do his contractual obligation despite the contract having ended, but it keeps him satisfied. I suspect he came to see me for my expertise on his problem. As for whether he will be okay or not... Hm."
Zhongli asked Xiao, "Where are they coming from? Stomach? Lungs? Somewhere else?"
Xiao thought for a minute. "Lungs. I think."
Zhongli nodded, his eyes far away as he paced slowly. "How long have you been dealing with this? I do hope you've kept track at least."
Xiao scowled, but huffed out an answer, side-eyeing Hu Tao. "Eighteen days. And I'm not the one who's bad at keeping track of time."
Hu Tao snorted, but pulled a serious face a split second later. Zhongli started ticking something off on his fingers, counting quietly. "Eighteen... The day after Aether visited you again, correct?"
Xiao suddenly choked and coughed up another sunflower. Hu Tao jumped, then marched up and scolded Zhongli.
"I might deal in dead people, but you do not get to kill your former employee in my office! Take him outside if you must. Ay yi." She shook her finger at Zhongli, who was unfazed.
Xiao felt a slight burn in his cheeks during the commotion, but by the time Zhongli returned his attention to him, he'd cooled down. "Am I correct, Xiao?"
Xiao crossed his arms and looked away before answering, "Yes."
Zhongli nodded. "Seeing your reaction to my previous question, there is no need for me to ask you my last question. The answer is obviously yes."
"What? What question? I didn't say yes to anything except that that was the correct day!"
Zhongli turned to him. "My apologies. You have feelings for Aether, do you not?"
Xiao felt like maybe he'd been lit on fire. At the same time, he was coughing up more sunflowers. Hu Tao was hiding behind Zhongli now, but he could hear her giggling and he wasn't pleased. This wasn't a joke.
Zhongli continued on. "But Aether had just returned from Inazuma. His favorite flowers are these sunflowers, according to Lady Ningguang, and you, specifically, do not ever talk about your feelings."
Zhongli looked Xiao in the eyes. "I'm no doctor, but I'm fairly certain you've contracted the Inazuman disease of Hanahaki."
"Hanahaki?" Hu Tao asked in response. "Can't that kill someone?"
Zhongli sighed. "I am no expert, but I have read up on it. My understanding is that, while it can, it usually doesn't. Admitting to your feelings will usually clear the lungs of the flora. Even if the admittance isn't to the object of the feelings. If Xiao here just admitted right now that he had feelings for Aether, I'm fairly certain he would find his lungs much clearer in even a few hours." Zhongli pinched the bridge of his nose. "Unfortunately, he is stubborn, and somewhat old fashioned."
Hu Tao opened her mouth, but whatever she was about to say was shot down by a sudden rapping on the door.
"A customer!" She practically sang. rushing to the door. Xiao hid himself, using a bit of his anemo power to also hide the blood stained flowers.
"Hello, and welcome to- Traveler?"
Hu Tao was having some kind of day.
"Is Zhongli working today?" Aether asked.
Hu Tao sighed. "Yes, he's probably just inside. Zhongli, Aether wants to talk to you!"
"I am right here, there is no need to shout. Aether, why don't we take a walk around the harbor?"
Aether nodded, and followed Zhongli deeper into the city.
"What is it you wish to speak with me about?" Zhongli asked as the two approached Third-Round Knockout.
Aether fidgeted. "There's... I don't know. It's just.... ugh!"
Paimon swirled into existence and crossed her arms, frowning. "He's coughing up crystalflies, all day, everyday! Paimon can't even sleep! And then he gets moony and coughs up even more! And he refused to see a doctor about it! So Paimon pestered him until he came to see you!"
"Yeah." Aether pried his face out of his hands. "And I don't get moody! I just occasionally miss some of my friends and then it gets worse!"
"It's not just any friends! You're thinking of one specific person!" Paimon continued as the group sat down.
Zhongli listened intently to the argument between the two, carefully pulling the important information out of the contradictions. He hummed slightly as Paimon vanished again, and Aether slumped in his seat, exhaustion all over his face. He coughed a bit, irritation furrowing his brows when nothing came up.
"May I ask you a question?" Aether nodded and took a sip of water. Zhongli waited till the boy had swallowed, then asked. "Do you perhaps have feelings for Xiao?"
Waiting did nothing to alleviate Aether's sudden coughing fit. Paimon returned and flitted around Aether in worry, quickly catching the crystalfly that popped out, and either stashing it away or releasing it. Zhongli wasn't sure which.
Aether took a deep breath, and finally answered. "Xiao and I are just friends."
"He'll never admit to it," Paimon said sadly. "But why'd you ask him that? It doesn't make any sense to Paimon!"
Zhongli sighed. "I have been dealing with a very similar circumstance just this morning. Come back to the Parlor with me, I suspect I will need to pay a visit elsewhere in a short while."
Aether and Paimon looked at each other before Aether shrugged and followed Zhongli.
A short trip later...
"Hu Tao, we've returned."
"Oh good, because I think he's getting worse. But he won't tell me anything!" Hu Tao said, frustrated. "Oh hey, Aether. Are you done with my consultant, then?"
Aether shrugged. "I think so? I didn't get a straight answer."
"Ah, my apologies. It must have slipped my mind." Zhongli cleared his throat. "I suspect Aether is also dealing with hanahaki, although the fact that the object of his affections thinks crystalflies are flowers adds a tint of humor to the situation."
Aether paled. "Oh, archons. I've read about this. Oh, this is bad. I don't know the cure, and I don't know where I got it!"
"Inazuma, probably," Hu Tao said, casually inspecting her nail polish. "Paimon, do you think this is chipped?"
Paimon flounced angrily. 'Is this really the time?! Hanahaki is a serious disease! And you!" She pointed at Zhongli, who was halfway to the door. "Where are you going?! Why are you both so amused by his suffering?! If he dies he will never be a customer of Wangsheng!" Paimon declared.
"Aw, but I gave him coupons and everything," Hu Tao pouted.
Zhongli sighed. "I will return shortly with some people, from Inazuma, who have more expertise in this subject. Hu Tao, if you would see Aether somewhere safe, that would be appreciated." Zhongli left as Hu Tao gave a lazy salute.
"Bossy man. He acts like he's an archon sometimes."
Aether coughed, this time in an attempt to hide a laugh. Paimon looked pointedly away from the young director, probably also in an attempt to hide the amusement spreading over her face.
Hu Tao scuffed the floor for a moment, thinking furiously. 'If they're both suffering from hanahaki, and this Xiao guy got it after seeing Aether, maybe they're pining for each other. There's gotta be another factor, too, because if the affections being reciprocated were all that was necessary to heal the infection, then neither of them would be suffering. But Mister Zhongli said that Xiao was "stubborn", and while Aether is a good guy, he probably hasn't admitted to his feelings, because he's still looking for his sister. But maybe, I can do something about it!' A grin spread across her face, and she looked up.
Only to find Paimon in her face, waving her arms exasperatedly. "Hello? Earth to Hu Tao? Are you going to take him somewhere safe now?"
"Oh, yes, of course! I know exactly where to take him! Follow me, please!" Hu Tao tried to reign in the skip in her step, but failed, as she lead the two down the hallway to her office. "Here you go! No one but me, and occasionally Zhongli, is allowed in my office, usually. You should be plenty safe here!"
"Thank you," Aether said, coughing slightly. Hu Tao grinned brightly, then shut the door. Paimon, for some reason, had stayed on the other side of the door.
Aether gingerly sat in one of the chairs in the office. He looked around, and spotted a sunflower on the desk. On closer inspection, though, he saw that it was covered in something dark. He left it alone.
"Zhongli?"
Aether jumped out of his seat at the voice, and at the sight of Xiao coming up from behind Hu Tao's desk. They both started coughing, then exchanged matching concerned looks.
"Oh my archons, are you okay, Xiao?"
"Enough about me, what about you?"
"But your karmic debt?"
"I'm fine!"
"No you aren't!"
"Neither are you!"
Outside the office:
Hu Tao leaned closer to the door. Judging by the sudden explosion of noise coming from behind it, they'd discovered each other. Perfect.
"This is why Paimon stayed outside! Why are you eavesdropping?!"
Hu Tao turned and winked, before whispering, "Oh, hello, Paimon. I think you'll understand. You see, Aether isn't the only one suffering from hanahaki. A friend of Mister Zhongli's is too. His name is Xiao, and he's pining for Aether. And while I can't figure out everything about Mister Zhongli, I know, almost for certain, that Aether's being the same way. After all, what are the chances, right?" She sighed. "Besides, much as I go on about customers, having the Traveler pass away in my parlor would put a very big dent in both my mood and my reputation. Better to matchmake and delay it, right?"
Paimon was still frowning, but noticeably less so. "Hmmph. Just don't do anything else."
"Oh, don't worry, I won't. But," she paused, tapping her lip, "Just how is Mister Zhongli getting to Inazuma in a 'short time'?"
Paimon crossed her arms. "That's for Paimon to know, and you to not know."
Hu Tao pouted.
Inside the office:
Aether panicked over Xiao's head as the adeptus' body was wracked with coughs. He frantically looked around the room, then saw a pitcher of water on a sidebar. He grabbed a glass and poured out some water, adding some Qingxin flower extract to help sooth the throat.
As he set the glass down, Xiao coughed one last time, and with a sound akin to a cat with a furball, discarded... a sunflower.
"THAT CAME OUT OF YOU?!" Aether shrieked in panic.
Xiao looked at him in exasperated and exhausted fondness. "Yes."
Aether looked at it. "Huh." He sat down with a glass of his own water just a few moments later. He looked at Xiao resting his head and arms on the table. The sunflowers on the table drew his attention, and he saw Xiao was toying with one of the petals as he laid there. "I don't know if I ever told you that sunflowers were my favorite flowers," Aether said quietly over his cup.
Xiao stilled, then replied, "You never did, but I figured. It explains a lot."
Aether fidgeted, rotating the glass over a knot visible in the table. "What are yours?"
Xiao sighed, then pushed himself up. "Crystalflies."
Aether felt himself turning red, but along with the flush came the tickle in his throat. Still, he managed to quell it, at least for the moment. "What are you here for?" 'And why haven't you left?' Aether left unspoken.
"... I've been unwell, as you can see, so I came to see Re-" He cleared his throat, "Zhongli. He called it hanahaki, but then he and that girl got interrupted and distracted. So I've been here. Waiting."
"My bad." Aether whispered. "I've not been well, either, but I didn't know what the matter was, so Paimon told me to come talk to him as well." Aether laughed at the table. "Apparently it's also hanahaki. Except with less flowers and more...." He trailed off as the tickle built up again, and he coughed for minute. A crystalfly landed in his hand and he placed it on the table. "More of these."
Xiao frowned at the crystalfly on the table. "That is a flower."
"No it isn't."
"Yes, it is."
"Xiao. A crystalfly is a bug. Not a flower."
"But they're just as beautiful as flowers. Why on earth wouldn't they be?"
"Because they're bugs."
"Impossible. Bugs are not beautiful."
Aether just shook his head and let Xiao live in denial.
Time passed on in near silence, only broken by intermittent coughs. Which slowly grew less intermittent.
Finally, Aether couldn't take the silence anymore, and decided to ask a question that had been bothering him for a while.
"Who're your flowers for? I didn't think sunflowers were very common here."
Xiao drew his finger across the table. "Someone I met not too long ago. Someone who drew me out of my shell and brought more light into my difficult life." Xiao looked at Aether. "What about yours?"
Aether tugged on his braid. To tell or not to tell? Xiao was right there, but... could he afford getting distracted while looking for his sister? And then there was the matter of Xiao's own affections. It wasn't fair to Xiao if he was in love with someone else, now was it?
"I also met him recently. A lot kinder than he acts, but devoted to his work." Aether sighed. "I'm afraid. Of losing my first goal, and of distracting him, putting him in danger. More danger." Aether traced over the knot again. "He can take care of himself, but... I still worry."
"And since you're like this, he must be oblivious to your affections?" Xiao rasped, a sign that another coughing fit was coming. Aether got up and poured him another glass of water.
"Maybe? I don't know if he even would enter a relationship, even if he knew." 'If you knew.'
"Maybe he would. Maybe if you told him, he would be willing to drop everything for you," Xiao said, before furiously coughing into his elbow.
Aether helped Xiao through it, waiting until the cough had passed before daring to speak again.
"What if there's a chance... That he's in love with someone else?" Aether said, quietly in the hopes that Xiao wouldn't hear him.
"For archon's sake, Aether, just tell him! Tell him, and let me die in peace! I would do anything for you to be happy! Tell this other man how you feel, and then I can move on in peace!" Xiao breathed heavier then, from both the cough, and the sudden outburst. He looked away. "Tell him, and let Liyue be rid of the Yakshas."
"No! Liyue can't lose the last Yaksha! And why would me telling him how I feel cause you to die?" Aether asked in a panic. "Or are those unconnected?"
Xiao buried his face in his arms. "I made a vow to never fall in love, and this is why. Useless, heart-rending, and more pain than necessary. Besides. They always die, anyway."
"Xiao, that doesn't answer my questions!" Aether said, sitting in the chair next to Xiao.
"Fine. Maybe the twist of the knife will hurt less." Xiao said bitterly, before facing Aether. "It's you. The flowers are for you, I have feelings for you, I am willing to die, for you. I hope you're happy." As he confessed, though, he felt his lungs clear up. He barely had time to puzzle over that, before Aether pulled him into a hug.
"This is most improper!" Xiao complained, trying to resist.
"You don't understand, Xiao. Silly yaksha. I think you're the only person in all of Teyvat who thinks crystalflies are flowers. You're my love, the object of my affections." As Aether spoke, he felt the itch in his throat, and the heaviness in his lungs lift and vanish.
Xiao felt his face warm, and he buried his face in Aether's neck. "But the kindness you see...."
"You're kinder than you think, Xiao. And more amazing, too. You're selfless, too." Aether pulled back and brushed Xiao's hair out of his face. "Is it any wonder I fell in love with you?"
Silence fell as the two pairs of golden eyes locked. Aether felt his face burn as he did so, but he reached up and cupped Xiao's cheek. He leaned forwards and asked, "May I kiss you?"
Xiao hesitated, then leaned forwards ever so slightly. "Yes, you may."
Aether closed the gap between them and captured Xiao's lips with his own. He pulled his chair closer to Xiao's, and tentatively laced one hand with Xiao's, placing his second hand in the adeptus' hair.
The door behind them flee open, and they broke apart. Their stunned gazes met those of Sanganomiya Kokomi, Raiden Ei, and Yae Miko.
"Um. Hello," Aether said, one hand still intertwined with one of Xiao's. "Did... Did Zhongli bring you all here?"
Hu Tao burst in between the three ladies. "YES AND I DON'T KNOW HOW HE DID IT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE IMPOSSIBLE!"
Zhongli chuckled from the hallway. "You'll figure it out someday."
"I demand you tell me now!" Hu Tao yelled playfully, pushing through the ladies again and launching herself into the hallway. Kokomi gracefully shut the door.
"My old friend mentioned that you two were ill with an Inazuman disease, but you seem to be in good health now," Ei said, confusion just barely coloring her words.
Yae Miko laughed smugly. "The little traveler finally opened up to his emotions, then! That's good, then, now we can simply call this a brief vacation."
Kokomi frowned. "We should still conduct a brief examination, Guuji Yae, to ensure that the Hanahaki is truly gone. And I will heal any remaining internal damages."
Miko sighed dramatically. "Well, if you insist, then. Open up, boys."
"Pardon?" Aether asked, as Xiao leaned away from the kitsune.
"Well, I need to be able to see your throats, don't I? We must make sure that there are no lingering flora. So, open up."
"Um.... Okay," Aether replied tentatively before opening his mouth for Miko's inspection.
"You seem to be all good, aside from one last petal, I think. That's normal, however. Now you, you must be Xiao."
Xiao narrowed his eyes at her. "Yes."
Miko raised an eyebrow. "Will you let me inspect you, just to ensure you're healthy now?"
Xiao scowled. "No. I'm an excellent judge of my body. I'm fine."
"Such stubbornness. As to be expected by the final Yaksha. Receiving help is fine and normal. Besides, I'm a shrine maiden, you can trust me." Miko smiled at him.
"I said no. If Aether is fine, then I am, too." Xiao glared at Miko. "Besides, I've never trusted kitsunes."
To Aether's surprise, Miko laughed at that. "Good point. But I won't do anything to you, not with your archon just outside, nor my archon right here."
Aether tapped Xiao's shoulder to draw his attention. "Just let her check, then it'll be over with and she'll leave you alone."
Xiao sighed. "Promise?"
"I'll make her if she doesn't."
Xiao nodded, then faced Miko, and reluctantly opened his mouth. Miko finished her examination quickly. "Yes, you're clear. Both of you."
As Miko stepped back, Kokomi took her place. "Now I'll just give you both a quick healing, and we'll be done here." She cast the spell, and both Aether and Xiao felt the difference in their lungs and airways.
"Thank you, Kokomi," Aether said, standing up and stretching. "Uh, I hope you don't find this rude, Raiden Ei, but... why are you here?"
Ei blinked. "Rex Lapis found me first. I directed him to Miko and Sanganomiya, and decided to follow along. Liyue has changed much."
Hu Tao burst through the doors. "HEY I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT REX LAPIS IS DEAD, I HELD HIS FUNERAL! Well. Actually, Zhongli did." Hu Tao tapped her chin. "Wait a second! HEY!"
Ei watched as Hu Tao scrabbled against the mysteriously and suddenly jammed door. "Does she... Not know?"
"She didn't, no." Xiao sighed. "But he knows she's bright and would piece it together eventually."
"LET ME OUT OF MY OFFICE, OLD MAN!" Hu Tao yelled as she banged on the door.
Aether couldn't contain the giggles that burst forth at the circumstances. Then he pulled Xiao closer, and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Pressing his lips against Xiao's ears, he whispered, "I love you."
Xiao flushed. "I love you, too."
Eventually, Zhongli opened the door, only to be tackled by Hu Tao, who began to pester him with questions. He promised to explain later, then invited everyone to Liuli pavilion for a meal.
Paimon was relieved to find that everything had worked out in the end, but later that night, as Aether was resting in a room at Wangshu Inn, a realization came over her.
"Oh, no, now Paimon'll never hear the end of it!"
Xiao bonked her head gently with the bottom of his spear. "Don't wake him."
