Story#3: To be worthy.
Part#2 To be worthy to you.
Note: Thanks everyone for your patience, this chapter is kinds of complex to me so it took a lot of time to fix this…It should be readable now.
Please enjoy the second part of this story :).
1 day after Aether suddenly left…
Only 2 days till the main event.
Keqing didn't able to sleep yesterday… She was thinking about where did Aether go and what she said to him…Now she's feeling like she has done something bad to him.
She ran to her office as fast as she could to see was there any news about him and waited for the whole morning… and the result was none...She's getting impatient more than ever…
Ningguang's office…in the afternoon…
"What should I do now…This is all my fault…" Keqing is almost going to cry now.
"Calm down, Keqing…crying is not helping us now…we will form a group to find him" Ningguang said to her.
"That silly's head was gone away huh? Ugh this idiot…no wonder he wasn't home yesterday…" Paimon suddenly came out of nowhere.
Everyone in the room cried of happiness to see his friend showed up… a ray of hope started to light up.
"So, did you know where did he go yesterday?" Keqing quickly asked her.
"No, but I think I know where he is. We have a special way to locate our own…although it's not shows the accurate position but at least we know where he's around" Paimon showed the map to them and it show "Qingyun Peak"
"I think I know where exactly he goes in that place, Let's do this!" Keqing urged them.
"Let's me use the teleportation…but I can only take you all to the nearest Statue of the Seven" Paimon said
"It's fine. That place is not far from there either…" Ningguang said as she called Ganyu, Hutao, Yanfei, Xingqui, Chongyun, Qiqi, Xiangling, Xinyan... and a Millelith group" then she continued: "And we will go too…the more the better right? He's our friend after all"
"Thank you all" Keqing said as the group teleported to "Qingyun Peak"
Qingyun Peak…
The group has arrived but it seems like they weren't in the area of the Statue of the Seven.
"We've arrived in Qingyun Peak but we are only at the entrance. I guess we will have to walk now…" Paimon said
Where's the luck when we need them…
Without hesitate, Keqing started to find him as soon as possible, she ran as fast as she could and shouted out his name repeatedly…
"Let's not wasting time then" Ningguang said as the group moved up.
6 hours after the search… the evening has come to Liyue
In a small floating island called "Dwelling in the Clouds", a highest place in Liyue and a good place to chill out… Is a place where the golden hair boy Traveller and the purple hair girl usually stay in here and share their talking after work, and a secret place to have a date without noticed by the other…well except a certain fairy that keeps flying around him.
Aether didn't know why he choose this place to stay alone for the whole day… he has no clue where should he goes after what was happened yesterday. Leaving Keqing without saying anything make himself feel so wrong but he also didn't know why he did that either…
"Why did I do that? What is this feeling at that time…I'm feel like a loser now" he told to himself while facepalmed.
Drowning with so many questions without any answers … he's feeling so lost in himself and hopeless.
And there's someone is approaching him.
"Aren't you suppose to prepare for the event?" A tall man with dark brown hair was standing next to him.
Aether looked up and saw…Zhongli…
He became even more confused after this…
"What are you doing here?" Aether asked with his weakly voice.
"Just enjoying the wind…this place is used to be one of my favorite spots…until a certain couple took this place as their own" Zhongli chuckled.
"What a funny joke Zhongli" he tried to make a laugh.
Zhongli's looking at Aether and realizing is not Aether he sees as usual, this Aether somehow is like losing his way, desperated…
"Is there something wrong, Aether?" Zhongli asked
"I'm not sure about myself anymore…"
Then Aether told to Zhongli the whole story… although he wasn't sure about should he talks to him or not but he told him anyways…
After Zhongli heard his story and thinking for a while, he realized what was happened.
"So…You are unsure about your worthiness to her or not?" Zhongli asked
"I'm feeling so hopeless…I can't manage a nation, I don't know much about paper work, I don't even know how the country work…I can't help her about those…and to be worse she's keep talking about you…" Aether said, he feeling like an idiot now…
Zhongli didn't say anything but let out a small laugh for a moment…then he continued: "Sorry, I thought it was something more serious…"
"Yeah, I'm feeling so silly right now but I don't know why I did act like that… I really want to let it out but I just can't"
"In short…you're afraid and jealous…" Zhongli said to Aether.
Those words may short and simple but straight to the point and pierce through Aether's mind…To be honest not so many couple realize something like that.
Aether then tried to memorialize when he was at Yujing Terrace Square with Keqing. After connected all the informations…he's realizing about it now…his face is now reddening more than ever.
"I'm…jealousing of something then…" Aether's covering his face in embarrassment…he's trying to hide his emotion but only for a few minutes then…
Aether bursted out a laugh…but he's feeling much better now. Letting something out that keep sticking in your mind for a long time is feels so great…
"Is jealous bad?" Aether still curious about this.
"It's also a way of expressing your feeling to other…It's can be good or bad depending on the situation …" Then Zhongli continued "This is your first time so it might be a little too much but you can still fix it"
"But…I..."
"Everyone have their own times…I may have governed the nation for thousands of years, knowing a lot of things but I'm not suited for this new Liyue anymore…all I can do now is watching Liyue growing strong…The only thing she interested in Rex Lapis is simply wants to learn the past to build the future of Liyue…now I am only just a memory"
Zhongli continued: "But you are different, you are the one who brought the new Liyue to her and the people, you are her new rising and guiding star, you inspired her lots, you are her dream and her desire…and finally you're the person she wants to stay with…She will need you more than me"
After the talk from Zhongli, Aether has become more cleared and more confident about himself. He realized what he did hurt his friends and his girlfriend so much…He finally decided to go back to fix it and he's ready to take any consequences from them.
"Thank you for helping me understand about myself" Aether said
"I used to know a woman a long time ago… she was my best friend before…and she was gone in the battle…I was unable to save her…After that the only thing I'm caring about now is Liyue and nothing more…" Zhongli then looked at Aether "And I don't want you to do the same of my own mistake again"
Zhongli heard a sound came from downhill … he looked down and saw some people are looking for Aether.
"Aether! Where are you?" a voice came from a sick worried purple hair girl, she has been calling non-stop for him since the search started. She's very tiring right now but she still tried to look for him.
"Seem like they are worrying about you, Aether … you should come down there. Especially that purple hair girl, she has been calling your name for a long time. We will meet again". Zhongli told Aether.
"Thanks again" Aether waved Zhongli then glided down.
Keqing is down there, she has gone through the forest after the forest, climbed a lot of hills and defeated a lot of enemies just to find him… She got a lot of bruised, cuts, scratches and her hair also got completely messed up. She is breathing heavier; her face is getting paled but she's still calling his name. She afraid if she can't find him now, he might go to another place … or another world …never seeing him again.
"Aether…where are you…please… answer me…" Her voice getting weaker…
"You'll fall unconscious if you keep doing this … you need to take a break..."Paimon tried to stop Keqing but seem like it's no use.
"NO!" I must find him or I will…regret for the rest of my life!" Keqing screamed, her voice is cracked like going to cry now…
But then she heard a sound of someone has just landed from the hill in front of her, she looked up and saw a trace of golden light was heading down the hill. She used all of her strength left to rush to that place. She's praying that will be the person she has been looking for…
And her pray has been answered…
When Keqing reached the place where the light landed, she saw the golden hair boy was standing there. She keeps looking at that person to make sure that's not an illusion.
As for Aether, after he has landed from the hill, he heard a walking sound of someone is approaching to him, he saw the purple hair girl with a lot of wounds and bruised. His golden eyes are looking at her teary amethyst eyes to realize what was happened when he suddenly left.
Both of them run to each other as fast as they can. After they've finally met, then …
"SLAP!" A strong slap came from Keqing to his face but Aether knew that would happen anyways so he just stood there and took it…
"THAT… FOR SUDDENLY LEAVING ME!" Keqing shouted.
"I'm sorry" Aether still frozen in place and don't know what to do or say what next to her. He's feeling so guilty right now…
After that a sudden hug came from her, he feels his cloth is completely wet to know how much she had cried and of course he hugged her back…
"Please don't do that again … And I'm sorry too… I shouldn't had said too much about it" Her soft voice whispered to his ear, she getting weaker now.
Aether took Keqing and started to carry her, she then fell asleep peacefully on his back as everyone came to him and check both of them. They were glad to know both Aether and Keqing are alright…only Keqing was feeling exhausted…no serious injury.
"You are in so much trouble young man, now you going to take responsibility to her…" Yanfei sighed but still happy so see both of them still ok.
"Next time don't just suddenly leave like that…you're my special customer you know" HuTao said with her funny voice, try to cheer the group up.
"Sorry for making everyone worry about me" Aether said.
"Hmph! Do you know how much trouble you've caused for just 1 day…I didn't even have anything to eat and I had to borrow some Mora to buy food!" Paimon complained Aether as she used her hand to pull out his hair.
"Ouch…Alright, alright…I will treat you a special meal then" Aether tried to calm down the fairy.
"As long as you're still fine, it's ok…you don't need to think too much…we are your friend after all" Ganyu said.
"We glad you're still safe… Keqing worried so much about you, she called your name all the time after you left…but now you're back…is all good now" Ningguang called everyone to gather then continued "Let's all go home…our home"
Within a flash, the group and Aether teleported back to the city safety and everyone headed home for a day. Only Aether continued to carry Keqing back to her home.
"I will leave her to you, Aether. Please take care of her…The main event will start in 2 days so take care of her well, ok?" Ningguang said as she left.
"Thanks, Ningguang, I will do my best"
Keqing's house.
Aether took Keqing to her room and called her assistant and for help. With his medical skill, she has finally recovered, all of her wounds were gone, but she's still tired and need to rest. Aether has stayed and helped her while treating the whole time.
"That's should do it… even I can't stand seeing a lot of wounds like this. She must be a really tough girl." Baizu said much to his surprise.
"Yes, she is" Aether nodded then continued …"She became like this is my fault…I hope she will forgive me"
"Don't worry, she will…" Baizu smiled… "My job here is done, the rest is up to you"
"Thank you for your help" Aether waved as Baizu left.
2 hours later…
Keqing woke up and saw herself in her own room, she then sensed something good was coming from the kitchen. After that a familiar person came out with some dishes on his hand.
"Oh, you awake? How do you feel right now? has treated all of the wounds on you and he said you will need something to eat too so I deiced to cook something" he said as he put some Golden Shrimp ball dishes on the table.
Keqing reach to the table and then saw the dishes, although is not as great as Xiangling but the food is still looking very well.
"I know I'm not a great chef but I've tried to learn a lot… hope you like it" Aether scratched his head.
"No, it's delicious" Keqing said as she ate a lot. "You should enjoy the meal with me too… you haven't eaten anything yet, right?".
Aether then joined the midnight meal with her… pretty much to his surprise, the foods he cooked were quite good so they enjoy them till the last one.
After they've done with the meal… Aether began to speak as he looked down.
"Sorry for acting like a kid in that time…I was so confused about myself and didn't know what to do…"
"It's ok…" Keqing came and leaned close to him and tried to cheer him up "Everyone make mistake sometimes…but the important is you know how to make it right"
She's then slowly pulling and hugging him from behind: "It's also my fault too… I was so attracting too much on it and didn't notice the other important matter…and it's you"
"So… are we even now?" Aether asked, still not sure about what he just said…
"Even…" Keqing said, smiled.
"The moment when I was thinking about it, my mind was twisted so much and I had lost my thought…I think I was…jealous" Aether said, tried to look away from her, hiding his flushed face.
Keqing giggled about what he said and continued to hug him tight: "I don't think that was bad…it was a brave admit of yourself…I understand about your felling to me now…"
"It was an embarrassment expression from me to you" Aether laughed about his silly stuff.
"I don't think so… I'm not sure about myself if I can ever do that…" then Keqing continued "Still my idea stays the same…I need to work harder so I can prove to myself that I can be better than him…But that's all about mere works only… and I can't do it without you…you're the reality of my dream" Keqing then took a deep breath:
- If I have to choose someone to stay with me for the rest of my life…I will choose you without thinking…
Unsure about what he has just heard…Aether turned his head and tried to ask her…
"What-…" But before he can finish his sentence, he was interrupted by Keqing.
She suddenly pulled his face close to her and closed her eyes as her lips was getting closer to him…Aether surprised about her action but still… he was doing the same as her naturally without needed to think.
And they melted to each other kiss, it was passion and deep enough to forget what's is happening around them as they don't need to know now.
This is the moment for both of them only and for them only…there is nothing to separate them now…
They were meant for each other…
The kiss only ends when they are out of breath. After that both of them staring on each other.
Aether then began to speak first: "So… am I worthy to be with you…?"
"You are more than worthy to me…I'm must be a lucky girl to have you with me…" Keqing smiled and keep looking at him…he is even more precious than her treasure she has ever known…
"Thanks, Keqing" Aether said then looked at the clock "It's late now…you should take a rest. You need to get prepare to the event"
"Are you sure you won't leave me like that again" Keqing asked him.
"I won't … I promise" Aether put his hand on his chest and the other on her shoulder.
"Then stay with me tonight… I don't want to see you disappear again" her softy voice flowed in.
Aether confused about her demand, he wants to say something but Keqing continued to say:
"Considering it as my punishment for you…"
He's lost now, he can't refuse her anymore…
"Alright then…" Aether nodded as he smiled at her…
"Thanks…" Keqing's feeling so happy right now.
And they enjoying the night together…with a lot of hugging and cuddling of course…
Part #2 Ended
Up next: Part #3: Trust
P/s: The final part will come soon…Stay tune all.