Episode 6: Coalescence


As the rays of the morning sun shone down the alleys of Liyue Harbor, the paths of three individuals were parting once again.

"Goodbye, Master Diluc. I wish you well, and I hope I was helpful to you."

"You were a huge help, Sucrose. Thanks for everything, and I'm sorry."

"Well then, guess it's about time, huh?" a third voice joined in.

Kaeya Alberich stood outside the inn, his bag thrown over his right shoulder. Sucrose stood beside him, holding her hands together in front of her politely. The unusual pair was preparing for the long journey ahead, a journey that Diluc would not be joining them for.

"Yeah, it is," Diluc replied to the blue-haired man pointedly.

"Now now, no need for hostility," Kaeya replied in a lazy tone.

Diluc shook his head before looking down. When he looked back up, his right hand was stretched out towards the flashy man before him.

"Thanks," he muttered.

Kaeya stood still for a second, before returning Diluc's handshake firmly. He nodded with a half smile, then turned towards the amber-colored road home.


Opening Theme: FELT - START


Diluc had chosen to remain in Liyue for the time being. After the events of the previous night, he was left with no leads to further pursue Diona's captors, and a feeling of frustration overtook him. He feared that it had been too long since her capture, and the likelihood of finding her alive was decreasing rapidly. Hell, the Skirmisher could have even been lying when he said that she was still alive somewhere. Nothing was certain anymore.

At this point, it almost seemed logical to return to Mond, but there was still something Diluc had to do. He had to visit a certain someone and clear the air. There was no way he could leave their relationship on its current ambiguous note.

Well, I know where to find her, at least, he thought to himself.

And if all else failed, he had a secret weapon.


The first signs of spring were starting to arrive in Liyue Harbor. Cherry blossom trees had begun to bud, their tiny sprouts preparing to reveal their true beauty. Under the shining midday sun, a young man stood outside of the headquarters of the Liyue Qixing. His appearance gathered more than a few looks of suspicion, as he paced back and forth, deep in thought. At last, he made up his mind and entered through the large front door.

Once inside, he saw none other than the Secretary of the Qixing, dozing off behind the reception desk.

"Hello, Ganyu," Diluc greeted her in a gentlemanly fashion.

"Oh, hello sir, er… Mr. Rag… uh…" Ganyu struggled like a small animal caught in a snare.

"Just call me Diluc."

"Right… hello Diluc. Is there anything I can do for you?" she said, finally starting to resemble an actual secretary.

"Yes, I was wondering if Keqing was free right now?"

"Oh, umm… I'm afraid she's quite busy today," Ganyu said, looking away from Diluc.

"I see," said Diluc, unsurprised.

He had expected this from her. It had only been a few days since the incident, and though deep down he had hoped things would just go back to normal with them, he couldn't blame her for keeping her distance. It looked like it was time to break out the big guns.

"Alright, can you give her a message for me then?" Diluc spoke up again, handing Ganyu a small piece of paper.

"Yes, though I don't know when she'll be taking a break."

"That's perfectly fine. Thanks a lot, Ganyu."

"You're most welcome."

After this pleasant exchange, Diluc left the building. All he could do now was wait, and trust that Ganyu would come through.

With nothing else to do, Diluc decided to take a stroll around the city. He felt strangely refreshed today, finally starting to forget the cursed memories from a few nights before. His meandering path eventually led him by a few stalls selling small knick-knacks. On a whim, he wandered over to one and began browsing the products on display.

On the table were loads of various small gift items: pretty stones, carved wooden figurines, masks for children, and cheap jewelry. It was a typical selection of items designed to be sold to tourists.

As he perused the items, something caught his eye. It was a small necklace, sparkling in the sunlight. It had a chain of (probably fake) silver, but it was the amulet attached that had drawn his attention. It was a tiny purple gem, cut into the shape of a diamond.

"Excuse me, mam. How much for this?" Diluc spoke to the lady behind the stall, who was lazily reclining in a chair, peeling an apple.

"Hmm, let me see now. I believe that one is 2000 Mora," she answered in a crackly voice.

"I'll take it," Diluc said, quickly handing over the money.

"Many thanks," the lady said as she put the money away.

Diluc held the necklace, letting the chain stretch out and flop as the little amethyst caught the rays of the sun. He could tell that everything about it was cheap, but for some reason, he liked it. It reminded him of another precious gemstone that he had grown quite fond of. He slipped the necklace into his jacket pocket, then made his way back to the inn.


Later that evening, he left the inn once again, making his way toward a very important appointment. He wasn't sure if the other party would hold up their end of the bargain, but at the very least, he would uphold his. He headed to the nearby pond, which was filled with countless lily pads, then made his way to the covered overlook nearby.

He leaned against the railing, staring at the fish swimming aimlessly below, as he waited for her.

As night fell, the floating lanterns in the pond began to glow. To his surprise, as the promised time arrived, he heard the thumping of heels on the wooden boards of the overlook. He looked up, and his heart stirred at the familiar sight of purple twin tails.

"Yo," he greeted her casually.

"Good evening," she replied politely.

"I have to be honest, I'm surprised you showed up."

"I wouldn't ignore an appointment, it isn't in my nature," she replied, huffing.

"Even a one-sided appointment like this?"

"Yes… as long as it's with someone important," she replied, looking down and to the side bashfully.

Diluc couldn't believe how cute she looked. He had expected the confident, all-business Keqing to show up tonight, but this wasn't her. It was something so much more special. He smiled as his heart grew warm.

"I wouldn't have called you out like this if it wasn't important," he picked up. "I know how busy you are."

"Yeah… so why did you want to meet me?"

"I simply needed to clear things up. I couldn't leave Liyue before then."

Keqing looked up at him with eyes full of expectation as he began his speech.

"I know my apologies are getting old by now, but I'm sorry you had to see that the other night. I'm probably not the man you thought I was, Keqing. There's a lot you don't know about me. I understand if you'd prefer to keep your distance from me from now on, but I'd like to tell you something first."

"Okay…" Keqing affirmed as he reached a break.

"I think, perhaps, all this time I've been trying to make up for something. I tried to enact my own justice, even though no one even asked for it. And now, I showed you a side of me that I never wanted you to see. I don't think I'll ever get rid of this guilt."

Diluc's monologue continued, as he poured out his feelings to the girl in front of him. Keqing waited patiently, listening to every word, then responded.

"I don't understand, why do you feel so guilty…?" she trailed off softly, realizing that she probably shouldn't have asked that.

Diluc was silent. Keqing spoke up again, gently urging him to continue.

"I can't understand your feelings if you don't explain them to me. I want to know, Diluc."

"Several years ago, I was in the Knights of Favonius. And I… lost my father. He died… right in front of my eyes," Diluc responded with his head hung low.

He just couldn't bring himself to tell her the whole story just yet.

"I… I'm so sorry, I didn't know… So that's what happened…" Keqing said, her face showing her emotion.

Diluc couldn't help but feel a bit touched by Keqing's kindness. He continued on.

"That still doesn't excuse my actions, though. I shouldn't have lost control like that, especially in front of you."

Keqing's eyes started to glaze over with liquid emotion as he reminded her of that awful night.

"You… really scared me back then, you know? I felt like I didn't know who you were anymore, and that… mixed with my other feelings… just…"

"I understand. I was the one in the wrong," he spoke up reassuringly.

"But you've been suffering so much all this time, haven't you? I didn't even notice, I was so caught up in my silly fantasies…" Keqing began to tear up in frustration.

"It's okay, don't cry, Keqing. I'll take the blame for everything."

Diluc whispered to her, trying to show how much of a gentleman he was. But in response, she raised her voice, cutting through the front he was trying to put up, and forgetting that anyone else was present but the two of them.

"How could I not cry… It's so frustrating! I've fallen in love with you, but I ignored your feelings all this time!"

Diluc had not been prepared for that confession. His eyebrows shot up, and he stared at the girl in front of him, glancing from one amethyst eye to the other, as if searching for something. He found her glistening eyes to be deeply sincere.

She was holding back sobs now, as she looked down, clenching her fists as he had seen her do several times before. He was beginning to understand what that posture meant. It was now or never.

Diluc stepped forward, enveloping the crying girl in a warm embrace. Her eyes went wide, then closed, and her small arms wrapped around his back in return.

"Sniff… I don't get it… why do I feel this way? We haven't even known each other for very long… yet I'm so happy right now…" Keqing blubbered between sniffles and choked sobs.

"I don't know, there's so many things I don't know… but I feel the same way," Diluc said, laying bare his budding feelings for her.

To emphasize his words, he wrapped her up in an even tighter embrace, as if he was afraid she would disappear if he let her go. For the first time, he felt in vivid detail how small her body was: her narrow shoulders, her tiny back and waist… it made him want to protect her at all costs.

The two were lost in a world of warmth and sentiment for a while, until at last, they reluctantly drew back from their hug. Her eyes immediately met his, like they had so many times before… then they closed.

In the quiet of the night, amidst the soft glow of lanterns floating on the still water below, their lips touched.

Their first kiss was a clumsy one, as Keqing brushed her lips against his in an inexperienced, yet heartfelt gesture of love. Soon, they repeated that motion, deepening the kiss as their lips locked. Somehow, they fit together perfectly.

Diluc's right hand cupped Keqing's cheek as the convening of their lips continued, and Keqing's hands tenderly embraced Diluc's broad shoulders from behind. At last, though neither was willing, they separated.

Keqing's eyes were teary. Her face was flushed, as though an artist had gently, carefully detailed her cheeks in scarlet with the finest brush. She gasped for breath, completely out of sorts. As she stood there, looking like a priceless treasure, Diluc felt a rush of sentiment overtake him.

There was no doubt about it, this was most definitely love.


Some time later, the newly-formed couple sat on a bench overlooking the harbor. For hours, they had talked. About their past, about their hurts and desires, and about the future. They held nothing back, speaking earnestly to one another with no fear of judgment or rejection. They laughed, Keqing cried, and they found warmth in each other's arms as the night grew chilly. At last, they decided that it was time to go home.

"It's cold…" Keqing shivered as their bodies separated for the first time in hours.

"Yeah, I'll walk you home," Diluc said, offering her his hand.

She gladly took it, and the two set off into the night.

"So, how busy are you going to be this weekend?" Diluc spoke up.

"I'm always 100% busy," she chuckled. "Why?"

"Ah, what a shame. I guess our date will have to wait until I return to Liyue," he laughed in reply.

Keqing smiled tenderly, then replied.

"For you, I can make time."


Two days later, one red-haired gentleman stood in the entrance area of a familiar inn. He looked quite different from his normal, vaguely threatening look. Even the lady behind the counter had done a double-take when she first saw him, quickly striking up a conversation with the dashing man.

However, his efforts were for the sake of only one girl.

The door of the inn opened, and a beautiful young lady stepped inside. Her lovely dress sparkled, just like it had that night a few weeks ago. Now it almost felt like an eternity since the night that their faces glowed, lit by fireworks. So much had changed between the two of them since then, but her beauty had certainly not. She gawked at him with wonder-filled eyes as she noticed what he was wearing.

His classy suit was equal parts black and white. His long coat was white as snow, while his vest and undershirt were different shades of black. A fancy tie hung around his neck, and a golden, winged pin shone on his jacket lapel. His trousers were black, matching his vest. He looked every bit of the distinguished gentleman he was to those back home in Mond.

"You look great, Diluc," Keqing said, smiling.

From his experiences with her, Keqing had two modes. #1: upbeat and brimming with confidence, and #2: slightly sad and contemplative. It seemed that #1 had shown up tonight. He smiled at that thought before replying.

"You look way better."

Her smile grew brighter, until it far outshined the lights hanging from the inn's ceiling.

"Come on then, let's go!" she insisted excitedly.

"No need to rush, my lady, the night is still young," he spoke in a grandiose manner. "And our destination isn't far, anyway."

He reached out his strong hand, and Keqing met him half way with her petite one. Then, they were off. Their destination: Liuli Pavilion, just across the street.

They made their way inside, being led to a table by a waitress who introduced herself as Licai. After taking their seats, the two gave their orders, then sat back, enjoying the atmosphere of the restaurant.

"I didn't think an outsider like you would understand the merits of this place," Keqing spoke up, teasing him.

"Hey now, I did my research," Diluc laughed. "It was for your sake, after all."

Keqing's cheeks blushed slightly as she smiled at the kindness of the man across from her.

The restaurant was bustling. Indeed, it had been a miracle that Diluc had managed to get a reservation at all. It felt like someone was watching out for him, things were going so well.

The couple conversed as they waited for their food, which came sooner than expected.

"Your meals, sir and madam. Can I do anything else for you?"

"No, thanks," Diluc replied.

"Understood, then please enjoy," Licai said, taking a small bow.

Diluc watched her leave, impressed.

"This place really is classy," he mused, then dug into his meal.

The two ate in comfortable silence, enjoying the stimulation of their taste buds. The food was absolutely delicious. Diluc looked around at the other customers as he savored his meal. They all seemed to be equally enjoying their experience. Nearby, a brown-haired man sat with a table of foreign-looking companions, sounding quite drunk and disorderly. Diluc shook his head, then turned back to Keqing.

She was daintily eating her side dish (a plate of Golden Shrimp Balls), her absolutely flawless manners on full display. Diluc had found out fairly early on that this girl was from a noble family, and tonight it showed. She was the very picture of elegance and grace.

Keqing looked up from her meal, and caught him staring. She gave him a gentle smile, and kept eating. Diluc smiled as well, feeling incredibly fortunate to have this woman by his side.

After partaking of their meal to the fullest, the two left Liuli Pavilion. They wandered the lantern-lit streets of Liyue Harbor for a while, doing nothing particularly special. Despite that, to them every moment felt like a scene from a perfectly-written romantic novel, no matter how commonplace it might have looked to others.

They visited booths, laughing as they tried on silly-looking masks. They watched as a street vendor demonstrated his geode-cracking abilities, and were awed by the beautiful gems concealed within the average-looking stones. They even wandered among the docks, listening to the sound of gently-lapping waves as the moon glittered on the surface of the sea like a thousand tiny diamonds. All the while, their hands never separated for long. Their fingers entwined, confirming the unquestionable truth of their feelings.

As the dream-like night floated on, the two young lovers held on desperately to the hands of time, trying to slow them down, if even just by a few seconds. But, like everything in the ephemeral world, this night had to end. As the clock neared midnight, after treading every corner of Liyue Harbor, they found themselves back where the evening started: in front of the inn.

Keqing looked up at Diluc, and he looked down at her. The distance in their height did nothing to prevent their eyes from locking tightly.

"I had so much fun tonight," she whispered tenderly, as the two held both of their hands together amidst the cool early spring night's breeze.

"Me too," Diluc muttered in a low voice.

"I don't want it to end…" she whispered again, in an even fainter voice.

Diluc didn't have an answer for that. However, Keqing had more to say. She lowered her head, placing it on Diluc's chest, and wrapped her slim arms around him.

"I don't want to go home tonight," she breathed out. "Can I have that much, please?"

Her pleading eyes felt like they were sucking his soul from his body. There was no way he ever could have said no.

"As you wish," he whispered in her cold ear.

His hands traced the length of her arms, eventually meeting her hands again, grasping her thin fingers tightly. He led her inside the inn, past the rather annoyed-looking receptionist, and up the stairs to his home away from home.

He entered the room, with her following rather awkwardly behind him. As the door shut, he began to take off his jacket, prompting Keqing to blush furiously.

"Eh?" he queried, looking at her embarrassed face in surprise.

"N-Nothing! Don't worry about it!" she spluttered.

He shook his head wryly, and continued to make himself more comfortable. He had suspected that this girl was weak to lewdness, but this was too much. It looked like their night together would be more wholesome than he had first expected.

"Make yourself at home," he gestured.

"Alright…" she said, quiet as a mouse.

She took off her shoes, and made her way over to a chair near the bed like a thief performing a robbery. Diluc raised an eyebrow at this, but said nothing.

For a while, the two sat in increasingly awkward silence. Keqing sat with her head down, checking out the incredibly interesting rug on the floor for a bit too long. At last, though, she seemed to reach some sort of conclusion, and stood.

Diluc was sitting in a nearby chair, reading. He looked up with a questioning look on his face.

"I'm getting sleepy," she said to him.

"Yeah, me too. Want to call it a night?"

"Yes, but this dress…" she trailed off awkwardly.

Diluc picked up her meaning. Or at least, he thought he did.

"Just take it off then?" he said, as if it was the most obvious conclusion in the world.

In return, he was graced with a full view of… Keqing's pouting face. She disgruntledly stared at him with narrowed eyes, and after a long delay, she finally answered him.

"Hmph. Fine."

Without another word, and without even asking him to turn around, Keqing reached behind her, undoing a clasp that kept her classy dress in place. She clipped her thumbs under the sides of it, and slowly lowered it, looking away from Diluc the whole time with cheeks ablaze.

He watched intently as the sparkling fabric made its exit, slowly revealing more of her pale body. The top was first, eventually falling enough to reveal that a frilly black strapless bra was covering her breasts. It dropped further, allowing her slim waist and cute navel to be clearly seen. As the final act, her dress slipped past the fabric of her matching black panties, slightly pulling them askew on the way by, and finally dropped to the floor.

As the credits rolled, she picked up the dress, shuffling over to the closet, where she hung it up for safe keeping. Then, she turned around, finally addressing the crimson-haired elephant in the room.

"What's so interesting? Never seen a woman in her underwear?" she said with mock confidence, but she almost stuttered when she said "underwear".

"No, I have actually. I've seen way more than that, to be quite honest."

"T-Then stop staring already! You're making me nervous!" she yelped, dropping the cool act already.

Diluc smiled and shook his head. She headed over to the bed quickly, jumping under the covers. She pulled them up as high as she could, then reclined against the pillows. Only her head peeked out, looking like a mouse in its hole.

They were silent for a while, before Diluc got up to blow out the candle. He then headed for the bed, where Keqing awaited him. As he lifted the covers to get under them, she pulled them back down.

"Hey now. How am I supposed to sleep like this?"

"S-Sorry," she muttered, letting go of the sheets.

Diluc slipped under them, lying down beside Keqing. He fluffed the pillow, then turned to the side, giving her plenty of room.

"Good night, Keqing," he whispered.

"Y-Yeah… Good night Diluc."

After that, silence enveloped the room. Diluc's mind was going crazy, despite his calm outward appearance. He had somehow managed to remain the perfect gentleman throughout that exchange, but now he couldn't stop thinking about Keqing's beautiful body… and how close it was.

After a bit, though, his questionable thoughts were interrupted by an unexpected sound.

"Hey…" her tiny voice rang out like a bell.

"Hm?"

"Can you hold me?"

At that, Diluc turned over and sat up against the backboard of the bed.

"Huh?" he said flatly.

"I said I want you to hug me," she replied again with a mix of nervousness and defiance.

Diluc was getting serious mixed signals from this woman. But her eyes, sparkling in the dim moonlit room, were sincere. So much so that he had to look away, or risk getting sucked in. At last, he spoke.

"Alright."

He raised his right arm, making a little nest for her at his side. She snuggled up to him quickly, without hesitation, placing her head on his chest. As she wrapped her arms around him, he draped his right arm around her, and joined it with his left in a comfortable, intimate embrace.

The two just stayed like that for a while. The boundaries that separated them as people began to become vague, and their human instincts became hard to ignore. The comforting lavender scent of Keqing's hair tickled his nose. Her soft breathing was the only sound he could hear in the quiet room. That is, until her voice interrupted the silence.

"…If you go back to Mond, this might be the last night we get to spend together for a while. I… I don't want to have any regrets…"

She laid bare her true feelings as she lifted her head from his chest, meeting his eyes with fervor.

"Diluc… I really love you. So much…" she whispered tenderly.

Her face was incredibly close to his. He could feel her hot breath as she proclaimed her love to him, and it lit a fire within his chest. He chose not to respond with words, but with actions, and drew her lips to his in a deep kiss.

As they made out like teenagers in love, both of their hands started to drift to various places. Diluc cupped her soft cheek, then stroked her pretty hair. Eventually, his hand found its way down the small of her back, resting just above her buttocks. Meanwhile, her hands perched on his chest, using his firm muscles as a stand so their lips wouldn't have to separate.

They finally parted, drawing back. A tiny string of their saliva traced the lonely gap that had once been connected. Keqing immediately sat back on the bed, pushing the covers to the foot of it. And to Diluc's surprise, she reached behind her, unfastening her bra. With a small snap, it came undone, and she let it fall to the bed.

In an instant, her lovely breasts were exposed to him. They were perfectly-shaped, medium sized ones, with small, velvety-pink nipples marking the summit of each.

And now, at long last, in that very moment, Diluc reached the absolute farthest reaches of his limit.

He lunged forward, embracing her roughly as she fell back on the bed with a little squeak. His hands explored every inch of her body, leaving nothing untouched. He molded her breasts with his hands, feeling her racing heartbeat faintly through his fingers. He ran his hands down her smooth legs and back again, then hooked his fingers around the sides of her panties. In one swift motion, he removed them, exposing her womanhood.

She moaned softly as his fingers brushed against her most precious place. He found it to be exceptionally warm and wet. He smiled at her reassuringly, before leaning down to kiss her tummy. His kisses slowly ventured lower, and to her shock, they finally met her lower lips. They were soft, smooth, and incredibly pretty.

He kissed them again and again as Keqing's voice slowly leaked out more and more. His tongue explored her femininity until her cries of pleasure told him she was close to something incredible. Slipping one finger inside her, he reached for a very special place at the upper back wall of her depths, and gently caressed it with the utmost care. At the same time, his tongue danced on her clit eagerly, sending electric sparks of pleasure surging throughout her whole body. Finally, completely surrendering to it, she let the burning ecstasy of orgasm engulf her. Her vagina contracted tightly around his finger over and over, and her abs clenched as she gasped like a bitch in heat.

Keqing now lay fully naked before him, dazed. Her legs were splayed carelessly wide, she was breathing heavily, and her face was red. Her eyes were delightfully droopy and sensual, almost begging him to set sail into uncharted waters without delay.

Gathering her wits, she sat up on her knees, and reached for Diluc's shirt buttons. One by one, her slightly-shaking fingers undid them, then she pulled the whole thing off. He started to undo his pants, but she placed her hands on his, stopping him. Instead, she did everything herself, unzipping his pants and pulling them down. She was greeted by something rather large and hard staring back at her.

"This is…" she muttered to herself.

Instead of finishing that thought, she took it in her small hands. At first, she only gently grazed it, but as her confidence grew, she fully wrapped it with her fingers, making a slow back and forth motion. Her tongue darted out of her mouth, flicking against the tip every time she moved. Diluc was in heaven. Her simple, yet earnest service felt far better than any other sexual experience he had ever had.

Shit, this feels too good, he thought, feeling something approaching fast.

He reached down and cupped her cheek in his hand, prompting her to look up at him and stop. Taking his chance, he pushed her back down, kissing her more deeply than ever before. Their tongues flirted passionately with each other as Diluc positioned himself at the entrance to the final gate separating them from becoming one. He pulled back, taking in everything about her, his mind hyperaware of every single feminine detail of her body. He just couldn't wait any longer.

"I'm going to put it in," he said, in a voice that came out rougher than expected.

"Go ahead," she whispered in reply. "Make me yours… forever."

He rubbed his head up and down her slit, dousing himself with her juices, before slipping effortlessly into the soft entrance folds of her pussy. Then, in one swift thrust, he was all the way inside. She grimaced in pain at first, but fortunately the natural lubrication she had been producing was doing an admirable job. After sitting still for a few seconds, waiting for her to adjust, he began to move.

He gyrated his hips slowly at first, feeling out every corner of her inner world. Then, his hips began to move faster, and her voice took on a sweeter tone as his thumb toyed with her clit. Time after time, their hips met, slamming into each other with more strength each time. Soon, Keqing's cries of pleasure began to fill the room, combining with Diluc's infrequent grunts and the sound of bodily fluids in an obscene symphony. The final hurdle left far behind, nothing held them back from verifying their love.

Sweat flew, and a small stain appeared on the sheets as an indecent concoction of mixed fluids dribbled from Keqing's innermost parts. There was no other way of saying it: the two were copulating like animals.

As moonbeams faintly shone through the curtains of the room, two separate hearts became one; a pair that was as unlikely as they were perfect for each other. The overworked, lonely girl, and the bitter, cynical man melted together, forming something that in every way exceeded the sum of its parts.

Right now, nothing else mattered in the slightest. The entire world consisted only of them, the silent room, and the tender affection that fused them together. At that ephemeral moment in time, both of their hearts almost certainly shared the same wish: for that beautiful, kind world to last forever.


Ending Theme: FELT - you


Next:

Interlude: Ab Initio