I do not own Genshin Impact.
-
Two Birds Met in the Snow
It is around 3 in the morning before the birds crow, and the sun still nestles between the mountains as a tall figure jogs across the white-covered street, searching for the place, searching for the one.
At last, when he arrives, he takes out his short white hoodie to reveal a young face with light blue hair, long and wild to the sides, and flung back at the top, uncovering his pale skin and ice-blue cat slit eyes. The figure fiddles with a white tassel by his belt underneath his dark navy shirt, too slim for any to wear this time of year.
Chongyun breathes in the frigid cold air, and sighs out his thoughts, letting them ride along with the mist. He reaches into his white pant's pocket and slips out a piece of paper.
Dear Chongyun,
How many moons has it been?
I had heard that the Mei Hua blooms beautifully this time of year.
If you have some time off from your duties, come meet me at our usual place… ;)
From your favorite Swordsmaster, Xingqiu
Chongyun read all those last few sentences multiple times. Our usual spot. Our usual spot. He tucks the note back neatly into its place and takes a couple of crunching steps forward. Right in the middle of the pale-lited park is the Mei tree, still standing, bare branches outstretched amidst the skyscrapers and concrete streets engulfing the landscape. It's a miracle that the plum tree's still here, as if protected by the embrace of the gentle white snow. If he squints at the hill of the tree, he can almost trace out the footprints of a young boy from a far distant past, joined together by a partner pair of trails.
—
When was it?
The first time he met his dear friend…
—
T'was when the moon shone brightly, cold and unyielding, as its minion winds howled, ravaging the land and burying all life beneath its frost.
The same white figure, though much smaller, swept through the streets, embracing the cold. Chongyun ran and his long, curled hair rustled against his ears, echoing screams of those he left behind.
Once arriving at that same tree, towering over him, he crouched behind the bushes of the overabundant undergrowth. The park was once a forest, yet bygone to time, and perhaps like everything back then, seemed much more wild. He plodded around the Mei tree to investigate. Once satisfied, he set up his gears and went to work.
He readied his talisman papers as the winds whispered again. He'll never see ghosts, they said. They don't exist, they said. He'll show them. He clutched his paper tighter. He'll show them!
Chongyun ran around and plastered the sacred words upon every tree, only for them to fall off. He beat the gongs and sounded the drums, only to scare away the birds. He set off firecrackers and danced the exorcism dance, only to tire himself. Yet with every failed attempt, he would brush it off and try again. The candle of the night floated carelessly across the horizon and the wind kept blowing, ignorant to the pursuit of men. No ghost showed up. Finally, bit by bit, the tortoise of winter snuffed out any amber of passion that once burned his body, and Chongyun sagged under the weight of his thoughts.
Leaning against the warm Mei tree, he hugged his own knees tighter. Perhaps his family was right after all.
He was the only one in their generation who would ever believe in apparitions. He was destined to constantly burn in his own body of no cure. He would, no matter how much he trained in the arts of exorcism, be useless.
He sniffed as he heard their laughter, and tried to brush them away, but like his other attempts, too meager.
Chongyun prayed to the Archons, if anyone would understand him.
…
Suddenly, a voice shouted from behind.
"Boo!"
Chongyun yelped and fell backward for a moment then realized, the ghost finally showed up! He fumbled for his bag. He was armed and ready. Slapping its forehead with his the talisman paper, he sprayed some holy water and chanted his motto,
"Heart be pure, evil be erased, mind be purged, world be…"
Drat, he forgot those last lines again. The ghost, a boy his age with badly cut navy hair, laughs at him.
"An exorcist? Who knew?"
How dare he!
"Fr-from whence you came!" Chongyun shouted.
He swung his (fake) exorcist sword as hard as he could, but the spirit was fast! It moved side to side with ease and managed to equip a nearby stick. Their wooden weapons clashed. To Chongyun's sturdy swings, the ghost flowed with cunning speed. Whilst he missed all, the ghost landed him blow after blow of but a teasing slap to the side or a swipe on his leg. The thought that this was mere play to the ghost frustrated him even more. He leaped with an elegant twirl and entered a slam, but the ghost tossed up white snow into his eyes, knocking him off course. He fell flat on his face. Ashamed of his own undoing and tired from this fight and previous rituals, he could only flip over and wait for the final blow.
The worst came, as the ghost simply stood and… laughed? Chongyun peeled his eyes open and saw the ghost collapsing.
"Can you please at least make it quick and dignified?"
The other boy also laughed that off.
"Thanks my sire, for I have suppressed myself of my torment for quite awhile. Finally got to release them out today."
The ghost shared his hand in sportsmanship and Chongyun reluctantly accepted it. The hand was soft, and warm?
"You-you're…?"
"A fellow human indeed." The other giggled, annoying Chongyun. "See? I'm quite real." The navy boy raised his hand to the sun, which Chongyun realized was now out above the blue. The world all-around seemed to warm up as life returned. Birds chirped in the distance, and the surging wind died to a breeze, revealing the once dead branches, now harboring small blossoms of hope, in shades of pink, red, and white.
With a clear head, Chongyun noticed the rising sun reflected in the other's eyes, pure and true like amber.
"How fortunate, the storm has passed." The other brushed away a lock of hair behind his ear and closed his book. "And now, we shall bid farewell." He started to skip away, but Chongyun grabbed his arm.
"I'm sorry for the humiliation earlier. How would I ever reimburse you?"
Those amber eyes widened a little, then rested into a polite, well-practiced grin. "That was nothing. Pardon me for my rudeness. We haven't introduced ourselves! I'm Xingqiu. You are?"
"Chongyun."
"And what were you doing back there, exorcizing spirits?"
"Yes! It's my family tradition, though it has long fallen into disuse… Your sword skills, they're quite impressive. Where have you learned it from?"
"Oh, that? Where should we start?…" The other's eyes sparkled.
Whatever conserved demeanor the swordmaster held before got thrown away and stories rushed forward. His lecture on Guhua martial arts stretched into chivalry and justice, into a conversation about ghosts and demons, and finally to an exchange of how they came about to this place.
Xingqiu admitted that he was running away from home, too (which Chongyun would later learn to be the famous business family of the Feiyun Commerce Company). He was apparently enjoying his "moments of solitude" out with his book and planned to return soon when the storm came. Probably not the wisest decision, but he hid under the tree. Right then, a certain exorcist decided to banish some ghost around there.
"Now that I've shared my story, you must reciprocate."
Chongyun didn't know what coerced him, but he, too, shared his story, and more. Of why he was here, of his family, and of his condition.
"So you're here to literally cool off ?"
"Basically, yeah."
"That's so cool- I mean, awe inspiring!"
The seeds of their hearts form cracks, and in their place, a bond would take root throughout the future years. They enjoyed each other's company under the blooming Mei Hua blossoms until the world above darkened and lanterns lit up the curtain of the night.
"Look," Xingqiu pointed to the sky, "They're releasing the Xiao Lanterns!"
Chongyun followed his gaze. The flickering lamps danced through the sky like a thousand fireflies. The occasional playful breeze would lift the pink Mei Hua petals to join their symphony over the moon-lit stage.
"It sure is beautiful," he breathed and the other nodded.
"This may not be the first time I watched this, but my liege, it is the best one. The sky, the tree, the wind, all harmonious as one. Such a lovely sight."
"You've got a way with words."
"'A weaver of verses who draws from an ocean of expression…' That's the reputation I aspire to. Father would be out of his minds if he discovered I used my talents for anything other than the business's favor. You faced first-hand what it would be like."
"I'm sure he would find it amusing. Your sword skills though…"
" He introduced me to this noble path, and for that, I'm grateful. Say, we have known too much of each other's secrets. I say we must become sworn siblings! A contract as important as one's life."
"Right here?"
"Yes. No time is better! Just follow my lead." Xingqiu took into his bag and ripped out notebook papers for drawn ox offerings. He made Chongyun cupped their hands and poured some water into them.
"From this day forward," Xingqiu said solemnly in front of the Mei tree.
"From this day forward," Chongyun repeated.
"We shall join forces for a common purpose."
"We shall join forces for a common purpose."
The wind whispered to Chongyun, and naturally, they said together, "and come to each other's aid in times of crisis."
—
An older, more mature one of the pair of boys walks away from the tree so that no more memories can come to him. He shakes his head. Of course, the tree is empty, why shouldn't it? Chongyun has come early to… survey. Xingqiu will come when it's time. He promised.
Who Stirs Budding Leaves
The sun peeks above the concrete buildings like a shy maiden as Chongyun, seeing no reason to stay any longer, shuffles away from the park.
His mind wanders up beyond the clouds and his two feet carry him down the gray, bricked slopes. Drawn by the clammers and the longings of warmth, he finds himself again when in the middle of a market.
Why here? Of all places? Chongyun thinks as the passion of the vendors and their equally eager patents strides through and fro by him. The cold wind wanes by the sheer heat of the spices, fighting up to his nose, and he coughs. It's not much about the physical torments that bother him, but the little things they represented; little children holding books from his favorite bookshop he used to be dragged to, the view of the harbor they used to play, the restaurants that they had visited… He feels a flare in his chest, telling him he mustn't stay here no longer.
He forces his eyes down and his two feet forward. Left and right, left and right, some more and he'll reach the border…
But something, a reflection on the frozen puddle of water, seizes his eyes. He tugs himself away, but the deed was done. The thought claws at his head and begs him to follow. Groaning at his weak will, he meanders after the calling.
An old lady stands behind the counter. On her make-shift table lay various souvenirs carefully placed.
Among them, a bookmark, embedded with amber, smiles at him, similar to a friend he had…
—
How could he not see them before? Those grinning amber eyes said it all.
—
"Are you ready?"
Chongyun tapped on Xingqiu's shoulder, startling the other. Xingqiu was reading under the Mei tree, alone. His face lightened up.
"I thought you'd never ask."
—
It was around a year and a couple months since they first met, and the growing shade under the Mei tree quickly became their favorite. Like the surrounding forest, it had shaken the white dust away, along with its flowers, to give way for small sprouting leaves.
Under the tree, they continued to exchange stories about each other, such as discovering they had enrolled in the same class but never talked. ("You're too famous," why would you ever notice me? Chongyun thought and Xingqiu laughed, "Well, I thought you're quiet." "I-I would've said the same for you!")
—
"Chongyun, you have to believe me… It wasn't me who laid traps inside that haunted house!" Xingqiu pleaded to his dear friend, all beaten and scratched up.
"What? It's not haunted?" Xingqiu finished applying the bandages on Chongyun's arm and moved to the other side. "Well… I, uh, couldn't have known that, could I?"
The exorcist sat there, face red.
"It's the fourth time this week… my yang energy probably scared them away again," Chongyun groaned, putting his head in his hand, but winced at the wound.
His reliable friend sat beside him, patting his back.
"How 'bout this, I'll treat you with some cold noodles at the best restaurant in town. What do you say?"
Chongyun smirked a bit, but still averted his eyes.
"And we'll order some Qingxin popsicles, sweetened. I owe you one this time." That caught the other's attention.
—
Smacked right in the middle of the clambering market ways, they arrived at a small open-air restaurant. There was no door, so the two freely entered into the heated atmosphere, brimmed with freshly-made food aroma.
At once, a tall man, face red from his days in the kitchen, rushed out to see them. "Welcome to Wanmin Restaurant! How may I help you, my lord?"
"Please, keep the formalities," Xingqiu replied. "We're all friends here. The usual for one, cold noodles for another, and as many sweetened Qingxin popsicles as you can muster please."
The cook went to work and the friends seated themselves on the counter. After Chongyun climbed up the high counter chair and wiped his sweat, he asked Xingqiu,
"You know him?"
"The chef? Oh, that's Chef Mao. My family usually eats bland dishes, but once or twice, our guest invited him over and I got a taste. I was hooked."
When their dishes arrived, Xingqiu dove in while his friend glared at his plate.
"Go on," Xingqiu urged, mouth full of crystal shrimps. "It's called 'cold' noodles for a reason."
Chongyun picks up his chopstick and nibs up a strand of noodle. His friends watched on curiously as the former blew at the food a couple of times before consuming it. The noodles are cold for one! And delightfully fresh, too, Chongyun thought. It's nice and springy. He quickly slurps up the sweet delicacy all in one go and sighs out in satisfaction.
The friends would return again the next day, and the other, and another. Soon, Wanmin restaurant became a part of their routine. Once or twice, Chongyun did feel a pair of eyes staring at him, but he ignored the intuition.
One day, things went a little differently.
When their lunches were served, Chongyun looked around and greeted the chef as usual, "Thank you Chef…?"
In front of Chongyun was a girl his age with buns of dark blue hair, an orange shirt, and huge red bows. She was accompanied by a fat orange tabby. Her eyes lit with fire.
"Just call me Xiangling! I'm Chef Mao's daughter. Are you Xingqiu's new friend? My father told me a lot about you! What do you like to eat? Would you like more spice?"
"Um, uh, nice to meet you…"
"Thank you Xiangling, please let our friend have some rest. He's been through a rough day."
"Alright, enjoy your dishes! I added a tiny bit of twist, just for you."
The little chef had served him his cold noodles, and a side of rice balls. How nice of her, Chongyun thought. But when he bit into it, a slow burn crawled up his tongue. Under the tender white covering, red stuffings poured out.
—
Chongyun woke up the next day in his own bed with no memory of that afternoon, but he heard the story later a bit from Xingqiu and the whole from Xiangling. His body went cold like Dragonspine.
Apparently, after that dreadful bite, he had burst out laughing maniacally. Then, he jumped onto the reception desk and shouted, "Everything's on me tonight!" — never mind that he did not actually have any money on him.
He began to chat with the customers at other tables as if they were old pals, bragging to them of how incredible his family's exorcist arts were, never forgetting to taste other people's dishes on the tables before he left.
Lastly, he claimed to have sensed an evil spirit in Wanmin Restaurant. This he did not find, but he did slap a charm on Xiangling's forehead and chased her around with his (fake) sword until he fainted (years later, Xingqiu would admit to have "gently knocked him" in the head). Xingqiu had to bring the latter home and covered all the payments.
Chongyun dropped to his knees and pressed his head on the floor, apologizing profoundly to the girl. He also noted in his head to clear his payments with Xingqiu later. With her bright, sunny smile, Xiangling refused his apologies.
"It's totally fine! It's actually partly my fault… A chef should know the needs of a customer after all, even if peculiar."
She gave him a box of Wanmin Restaurant's special boiled fish, no Jueyun Chilis, and promised to be a "perfectly normal, boring dish."
The two friends walked out of the restaurant and rested under the Mei tree. Xingqiu inspected his friend. Chongyun's usual icy face was laden with gloom.
"What's the matter? Is the taste not to your liking?"
"Nothing's wrong with it… More like something's wrong with me…"
Xingqiu looked at him with an incredulous face and Chongyun slightly regretted exposing himself like that, yet his darn mouth kept talking.
"I kept on working harder and harder, but when will I finally catch the ghosts? I made myself a fool back there. What if next time, I scare away more than ghosts?"
Xingqiu put his hand in his jacket pocket and drew out something.
"Have you ever thought that if you can't banish them, join them?"
"What do you mean-"
Xingqiu grabbed his friend's hand and tucked something inside. A small red packet. A gift, for him? Chongyun rubbed them in disbelief. If he was dreaming, he never wanted to wake up.
"You did nothing wrong…?"
His friend's cheeks pinked.
"I thought that, with your yang energy repealing all spirits, why not try to find a ghost that is immune to you… and befriend it instead?"
Chongyun tried his best not to burst out of joy.
"Ahem, this gift is–a separate occasion! It is merely coincidental to Xiangling's apology-"
Chongyun might have accidentally dove into a hug.
"No, no, you did everything right. Thank you."
Xingqiu, though thoroughly confused, accepted, and embraced tighter.
What Xingqiu gifted was a small white tassel, meticulously woven by hand into a neat little square. Chongyun wears it to this day.
It would be many moons later that the favor was returned, with lots of sweat and tears and a very dirt-covered but very proud Chongyun, waving in his hand a piece of amber he had found from a trip into the mountains. On the other hand, a wrapped golden tassel he made.
He grasped the soft slender hands of his friend and shoved the presents in.
"It matches your eyes," Chongyun managed to whisper out of his beating heart. He could've sworn his friend's cheeks redden. Xingqiu, head empty of all the usual eloquent speech, only nodded. And he beamed. The brightest Chongyun has ever seen, as beautiful as the sun rising on the day they met.
—
Chongyun must have stared at the amber bookmark for too long, for the shopkeeper lady notices,
"This bookmark is of fine quality amber cut straight from Mt. Hulao. Wise choice indeed."
"It's, uh, nothing. Just reminded me of someone."
He quickly pays the price and the lady wraps the bookmark in a neat red bag before handing it to him.
"Is this for a loved one? I'm sure she's very fortunate to have you."
Chongyun blushes all over and walks rapidly away. In his hurry, he bumps into a passerby.
"I'm so sorry! Are you alright?"
"Yep, I should be the one to apologize—O-ya~, is that you, Chongyun?"
Chongyun squints to see a girl in a dark hat, red scarf, and a brown coat. She wears on her face a mischievous grin. Standing on her toes, she wraps one of her arms around him.
"Yo, still have that face of ice I see."
He smiles. Something's never changed.
'Don't call me that, Hu. Or should I say, Director Hu?"
"Hmpf, that's right. By the way, me and Xinyan's going to Xiangling's. Care to join?"
"They're both back already? Sure." He answers and patiently follows the skipping girl.
And Thrills, Songs Sun' Free
"Welcome to Wanmin restaurant!"
The signature call greets them after the door jingling bells ring. The loud chatter of jovial customers drowns the cold from outside. As far as Chongyun's concerned, there is no need for any heater.
"Ohmigosh, hi! You're all here!" A bubbly cook waves at them behind the counter. Taking off her apron, she leaves the kitchen and scurries to them.
Hu Tao embraces the cook, "Welcome back, Xiangling! There's always enough coffins for everyone. Here's some discount, just for you."
"Hehe, maybe next time." Xiangling breaks from the hug and claps her hand. "Ah, it's good to see you all! A gathering like this deserves a celebration. Today's on the house!"
With that, all the restaurant cheers and the two friends sneak in for a seat in front of the counter. Hu Tao hops on the leather while Chongyun crouches to reach it.
Xiangling brings out her notepad. "So, the usual?"
"Steamed fish with a side of prawn dumplings!"
"A cold noodle please."
"I'll sure keep them normal this time." She winks and the others laugh in understanding.
The cook goes back to work and the friends catch up on their favorite dishes and on their history. Chongyun scans the faces of his friend happily talking together.
—
The only quiet one in his fiery friends, it's a wonder he had met them at all.
—
"Move a little closer!"
Xiangling shouted and Chongyun shuffled around, partially blinded by the bucket of a mountain of plums that Xiangling threw at him from the Mei tree.
"Is-isn't this enough?" He cries and another plum drops itself into the pile. The avid reader, sitting behind the tree, simply watches them in entertainment.
Now they were in middle school and the Mei tree friends grew to three. After the incident, Xiangling became a warming sunshine to the group, inviting them to eat at her restaurant often, and Xingqiu made it his promise to taste every dish beforehand. Still, the book-lover occasionally lets some spicy dishes slip now and then, intentionally. Chongyun would reminisce about those stories another time.
It was around the afternoon, and there were a couple of hours before the night summer school classes. Chongyun and Xingqiu would take this opportunity to meet at their usual spot, doing homework, practicing their martial arts, or plotting their next endeavor. Sadly, progress claimed that plot of land, and Chongyun watched the metal beasts tear through the trees ruthlessly. He hoped his one will escape their graze.
"Have you heard?" Xingqiu spoke to him from on top of the table, eyes still on his book. "About the 7 Mysteries of School. There's a lone guardian yaksha on the rooftop. If one offers him an Almond Tofu dish, he might grant you a wish."
"That sounds fun. What wish should we ask?"
Xingqiu smiled.
"We'll know when the time is right."
—
Up and above the rooftop, the sworn comrades searched the place for any signs of spirits. Though fruitless, they carried on their passion. They set up a picnic blanket and place a plate of fresh almond tofu box on it. Xingqiu lit some candles and they chanted a few words of prayer. They left and hid behind the rooftop door.
"Is this a little out of bounds? What if the teachers find us out?" Chongyun asks and his partner shakes his head.
"Of course not, dear Chongyun. We won't let them."
"Silly boys~ You won't find him that way. He's quite shy."
Another voice rang and Xingqiu jumped behind Chongyun. The two swiveled to find the source. A young girl with long timber brown hair in a twin-tail. Her googly eyes watched them intently. The offender cackled happily to the others' annoyance.
"Boo." She grinned.
"He? Who—you know the guardian spirit?" asked Xingqiu.
" Adeptus is a better title. Honestly, who comes to the rooftop in the middle of the day?" she chirped.
"Who are you anyways? What would you know about ghosts?" said Chongyun, offended.
"Oh, I know more than my looks let on," the girl replies, batting her scarlet eyes, with pupils eerily like white flowers.
"It's alright Chongyun. She'll find that plum blossoms again and smell good, the branches draw on the sky. Fish is kissing under waterstone, the stone indicates that spring is coming ."
Chongyun gasped. [Chongyun's translation: Let's not care about this countryside girl. She's uneducated and does not know what she's talking about.]
"Hoo, hoo~" The girl replies, " There perched two birds on a tree, one swooped down and caught a mouse, you see. In the mouse's mouth was a sprout, clinging to a seed, no doubt, so that little plant got to fly for free ."
[Chongyun's translation: What about you? Freeloader .]
Immediately, a rap battle commenced, and a crowd drizzled from everywhere, gathering around the trio. Xingqiu weaves out verses in his traditional, artistic bent, and the girl would reply with a free, wacky verse. Yet in that chaos, a deep well of wisdom dwelled.
Verse after verse they hurled on until at last, Xingqiu was at a loss for words. Baffled, he looked at his friend, Chongyun. His icy cold eyes widened, awed at the newcomers' talents, and a thin smile emerged. He clapped his hands. Seeing this, Xingqiu smiled and joined. The crowd followed. The winner was clear, and Xingqiu gave out his hand to her. The girl shook it and the crowd clapped louder.
"Nice poetry, my liege. I'm Xingqiu, a fellow weaver of verses. What shall I call you?"
"Hu Tao, the Versemonger of the darkest alleys! Hu as in 'HU put me in this coffin?' and Tao as in 'I can't geT OUt!' Hehe..."
And in the early summer bushes, a red butterfly perched on the Mei tree.
—
The doorbell rings again, bringing Chongyun back to the present. A familiar deep voice booms,
"The usual chef!"
"On it!"
Hu Tao turns to the voice's origin and beams. "Woah-hoh! Xinyan my girl~ How's the concert?"
Chongyun quickly hides his face from the girl with sharp golden eyes. On her olive face stretches out a wild smile. She chugged the chef's glass of water and flung her grisly dark hair behind her shoulders.
"Hoo-wee~ It went pretty great y'all! I've never seen so many who likes to rock 'n' roll like me! Oh hi there, Chongyun buddy! How are ya'll?"
Chongyun coughs harshly and she slaps his back.
"Thanks, I'm fine."
"Really? You seemed all heated up! Xiangling didn't put nothing in that did she?"
"I didn't! You guys…"
They all laugh and continue exchanging histories. Chongyun listened to them happily.
—
There were some things he's glad she didn't bring up.
—
T'was a very stormy day at the tormenting summer tutor school. The yellowish-gray clouds poured thunderous tears. The once serene stream beside the lot now crashed through the once lush forest, now rendered to mere stumps. Without the protective surrounding trees, the surging tides devoured them all, including the abandoned machines around the Mei tree. One could only see the rushing deep brown mud water for miles on end. Chongyun was grateful that he was dry under a roof.
Apparently, Chongyun and Xinqiu were in the same tutoring school as Hu Tao, who inserted herself permanently in their club. Chongyun sighed for the missing Xiangling, still busy traveling the region on one of her "gourmet trips" again.
Hu Tao played with Xingqiu's golden tassel, ignoring the latter's glares.
"Let's find something fun to do…" She groaned. "Sitting around doing nothing is a fate worse than death." Hu Tao then leaned dramatically on Xingqiu, to which he politely pushed her away—much to Chongyun's relief.
"What deeds shall we undertake then? I have already finished the school library's meager collection" Xingqiu said.
"Well, my invisible friend whispered to me that our school has its very own "rocker"! Her name's Xinyan, and she's about to hold a concert in the meeting hall."
"Hm… sounds like a worthwhile detour. Right, dear Chongyun?" Xingqiu turned to his comrade and the stoic boy nodded. Inside, Chongyun desperately wanted to shake his head.
—
"Excuse me, sorry, excuse me!" Chongyun said as he squeezed himself through the crowd and claimed one of the plastic seats next to Xingqiu. Why the meeting hall was a separate building from the school he would never know, he thought as he and Xingqiu shook their foldable umbrellas and put them in their bags.
"A little too crowded for my liking," Xingqiu muttered, squinting at the musicians tuning in the front.
"Haven't you been to concerts before?"
"Yes and no. I would call Yun Jin's performance and opera stadium much more… refined ," Xingqiu answered and Chongyun chuckled.
The lights suddenly turned dark and the audience's chit-chat stopped. Chongyun smelled smoke and coughed. Suddenly, a loud badass guitar riff blared through the air and fire rocked the stage area. A girl with a bright red guitar appeared. The spotlight shone on her dark skin and hair, banded into two buns with sharp spikes, and those eagle eyes of gold glistened dangerously. She pushed the flimsy mic-stand in front of her away, dropped another guitar riff, and screamed.
The crow went berserk, pushing each other for the front, bumping into Xingqiu and Chongyun. Although the words barely registered, it appeared that she was singing . Chongyun could feel its passion crashing into his ears.
Thankfully, the song softened for the next few minutes. He looked up. A bright girl with a flowy twin-tail skipped onto the stage, in a street cap, brown tank top, and a short skirt. Hu Tao?
Xingqiu cheered and Chongyun caught a spark in his eyes, and his heart missed a beat. He didn't like that. Chongyun stood up.
"What are you doing?" Xingqiu caught his hand.
"What I needed to do." Chongyun shook the other's hand off and waded through the water of the humans, right to the source of the flames.
"Hu! what are you doing up there?!" but the lofty girl skipped to the other side, missing him. The scary guitarist answered instead.
"What? I can't hear you, over, the, music!" She accented each word on the beats of the drums.
Chongyun was ashamed but he couldn't take it anymore. He marched up to the stage and an innate fire seized him. He swiped the microphone from Hu Tao's hand. The music stuttered to a stop and he looked into the abyss of the audience. He could feel his cheeks heating up and his heart pumping like crazy.
"Uh… hello?" he whispered. Badum dum, crash! went the drummer behind him, passing it as a joke. The audience forced out a laugh.
Chongyun could feel his eyes blurry and wet, and his legs about to fall off. But when he met those amber eyes… Everything seemed clear.
He breathed in the cool, misty air and shouted something into the mic. What exactly, he had not known, but Chongyun could've sworn Xingqiu blushing underneath his book and the crowd roared in glee. No longer was his body his own, he let all his rage flow.
—
"We never would've gone for any other drummer!" Xinyan laughs and slaps Chongyun's shoulders. Oh Archons, they're bringing it up. "Thank Archons you came up that day!"
"That is… too kind of you." Chongyun says, stuffing his mouth with more cold noodles, so he'll have an excuse to stay shut.
"What did you say to Xingqiu though?" Xiangling wondered. "Was it…" Hu Tao shushed her, much to Chongyun's dismay. Even to this day, Chongyun didn't know what exactly he told Xingqiu that afternoon, and his friends held an iron grip over it.
A slow buzzing to his side disturbs their peace. He draws out his phone.
Meet Xingqiu.
Shoot! Chongyun stuffs his phone back, pays his part, and rushes out the door.
"What's the hurry?!" Hu Tao coos behind and Xiangling calls out.
"You forgot your noodles!"
—
Chongyun arrives, panting. He checks his watch. Right on time. He paces around the tree. No new footprints. He circles the park. No one's there. Could the clock be too slow? No, he checked it last night. He shouldn't have gone to the restaurant, or the markets, or maybe even here in the first place. No, it can't happen again. It couldn't. He wouldn't. Xingqiu promised.
Until the Wind Blows
The school bell rang, one of the last few. High school, the time of their lives, flew past to their final Moonchase Festival together. Chongyun and his friends held a feast at Xiangling's restaurant.
"You guys know where you'll go this summer?" Hu Tao asks.
"I'm waiting for a contact with some Natlan Colleges, I heard they love the heat," Xinyan says, imitating rocking her guitar.
"My father says he'll finally allow me to travel the world! Can you imagine?" Xiangling continues with glee.
"Just refrain from Qingxin slime soup please," Xingqiu said.
"Or bomb-filled rice balls," Chongyun adds.
"What do you mean?!"
"How 'bout you, Chongyun?" Hu Tao cuts in. "Heard you got something fancy abroad." Everyone stared at him, especially Xingqiu. Chongyun had told them before that he had always wanted to pursue exorcism in Liyue. Darn Hu Tao for telling his little secret.
"Ahem, I was going to tell you guys later when the time's right."
"As they say, 'the best time to grow a tree was 50 years ago, but the next best date is today,'" Xingqiu voiced and Chongyun reddened.
"Ok… I, uh, got invited by Narukami University of Inazuma. My parents agreed that it would be a great opportunity for me and the family."
"Woah!" Xinyan says. "The one with the girlboss as headmaster?"
"That's so cool!" Xiangling joined.
"Oh, ugh, I'm so jealous. Everyone's going outside!"
The girls carried on the conversation when Xingqiu nudged Chongyun.
"Come. I've got to show you something."
Chongyun took the other's hand and left his seat.
"Where are you going? Yunjin is going to perform soon!" Chongyun heard Xiangling calling behind, but a red butterfly shushed her with a greasy smile.
The two came to their hill, standing under the lone Mei tree. The moon shone brightly against its paling leaves. Like the greenness that once glorified its leaves, the festive music and laughter faded against the concert of cicadas and the gentle breeze of the night.
Xinqiu stared at the huge autumn moon.
"Dear Yun…"
Chongyun looked at Xingqiu who was fiddling with his golden friendship tassel. "Yeah?"
"We've been friends since what," Xingqiu said, dropping his usual formal tone, "5 years old?"
"I can't really remember." Xingqiu always seemed to be by his side. Chongyun rubbed his white friendship tassel too. "Why are you asking?"
His friend went quiet for a while. He gulped and Xingqiu answered somberly,
"If I'm gone, you have to be okay, alright?"
"Of course I am, what are you saying?"
Xinqiu laughed, dryly.
"Nothing. Simply a curious itch of the mind—but the part about taking care of yourself is true."
Chongyun nodded and the pair stared out at the sea. The waves ebbed and flowed, one by one, on the shore and back again. The atmosphere was choking him, and Chongyun only managed a question,
"Are you leaving? The country I mean."
Xingqiu fiddled again.
"Promise me you'll come back." Chongyun's voice cracked, how embarrassing so. "At least visit once during Lanterns Rite."
Xingqiu's eyes fluttered. He couldn't look Chongyun in the eye.
"We made a contract. Words are worth more than mora."
Chongyun was going to ask why and what he meant, but Xingqiu looked left and right, then took out his earring. He placed it into Chongyun's hand.
"I will come back. I promise."
And like the fireworks, Chongyun's heart exploded.
—
The cold wind blew, constant, and unyielding. The orange autumn leaves fell one by one.
—
Chongyun was walking with the fiery girls to their meeting place when a black van drove down the corner. A ping scratched his heart and he stopped to stare. Across the street, a boy was waiting, with navy blue hair. He clutched in his hand a big piece of luggage.
Chongyun's legs moved before his mind. He dashed across the street, whizzing a few cars, to that boy. He yelled, waved his hands, anything to catch their attention. It did, the boy turned, but he was swept into the car.
The car roared and Chongyun lunged at it. He knocked on its windows. His friend was startled, mouthing something to him, to the driver, then back. What was it? The other shook his head, nodded his head, and mouthed again, but what was it?! What was it?! The cold, glassy surface rolled bit by bit under his hands, faster and faster. Chongyun started shuffling, jogging, and running.
His friend clung to the driver but the man shook his head. The boy could only press his face against the side window and bang on the translucent jail walls. Chongyun yelled out something and the other mouthed another thing in return. Soon, the black van's silhouette shrank, farther, and farther away, sinking into the setting sun, leaving Chongyun behind, panting, tiring, and crying in the dust.
A few days after Xingqiu left with his family for Snezhnaya, Xiangling followed after with her Teyvat gastronomy trip, and Xinyan embarked to Natlan. Finally, Chongyun flew to Inazuma, the land of the rising sun, leaving Hu Tao alone to carry on her grandpa's work at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
The moment Chongyun touched the foreign soil, the Sakoku Decree commenced. All their gates, his only way back home, back to the tree, back to their meeting place, shut off behind him. Should he had known, he would never, ever have left.
—
Now, the more matured Chongyun wants to reach out at that memory, to his navy-haired friend, to ask whether they could've made a different choice, to maybe run away together before that wind carried them far, far away. Yet, he only grasps the empty air that was once Xingqiu's presence, laughter, and warmth.
The Mei tree branches stood bare.
Relentlessly, the Seasons Flow
Chongyun repeats his steps. He wants to turn away. Away from this box of blocked-out feelings. Oh, how he wants to push and freeze them again like the way he froze on that evening in Inazuma. He wants to go out and stare at the calming seas. He wants this storm in his heart, as harsh as those the first time he met Xingqiu, to carry him away.
Chongyun takes a step out of the park when a voice shouts from behind him,
"Boo!"
He yelps and throws mantra papers out of his bag on the stranger that hid behind the tree.
"Heart be pure, evil be erased, mind be purged, world be…" Chongyun releases his squeezing eyes and meets the other, glistening amber eyes. That short navy-hair and the stylish pants and a long jacket. Is this a dream? Did he hallucinate? If the other's a ghost, did he die?
The navy-haired man laughs at him. Oh how he missed those bells rustling in the wind.
"Silly Chongyun, I'm still as real as ever-"
Chongyun hugs Xingqiu as hard as he could, out of fear that the other would fizzle away the moment he lets go, and out of relief that he's here by him. He buries his nose in the other's hair and inhales the familiar, warm scent of dusty old books. The other returns the embrace and gently strokes Chongyun's hair; saying in silence, I am right here. Everything's okay. I will never leave you.
"I'm sorry," Chongyun says and his cold face of ice slowly shatters, "that I never contacted you after that day. My family, their business, especially when Inazuma closed, it's complicated, and I have tried, but I could've tried harder, I should've-"
Xingqiu releases his arms and squeezes both of Chongyun's shoulders.
"I should be the one who says all that. I didn't even say a proper goodbye! I'm sorry, but we're all here, and that's all that matters."
They embrace again, this time together, savoring the moment. They let their chests rise and fall to the other's heartbeat as their presence shields them from the cold, harsh breeze.
A long while later, Xingqiu speaks first,
"It's kinda getting hurt, you can let go now."
Chongyun blushes. "Oh! Ah, sorry."
The two friends, now united, stand awkwardly, yet eagerly, under the tree that they've met together.
"Hehe, you did keep my promise didn't you?" Xingqiu gestures to the slight throbbing in his arms from Chongyun's hug earlier, and Chongyun scratches the back of his neck in embarrassment.
"You kept yours, too. Have you eaten?"
"Not really, the flight's quite busy. You?"
"Yes! I met Xiangling, Hu Tao, and Xinyan on the way from the market and we ate at Wanmin's. If you stay long, I can offer a trip around the harbor."
"Haha, I would be honored.
"And is that my earring? You kept it all this time?"
"Of course. Oh! And I also found this for you." Chongyun brings out of his pockets a small red bag to Xingqiu.
"Ah, thank you, it's ok! You don't have to bring gifts. We're all friends here."
"Please take it. This's on me."
"T-Thank you then. What a shame, I do not have material gifts in turn."
"That's alright, just you here is enough."
The two stare into each other's eyes.
"O-ya, o-ya!"
A wild Hu Tao appears, along with Xiangling, and even Xinyan?
"You guys?"
"Oh com'on Xingqiu, don't tell me that you haven't told him," Hu Tao says, spinning her hat on her fingers. "Sheesh, you guys got as much fun as a log."
"Huh? H-How much have you heard— Xingqiu supposed to tell me what?"
"Did you forget?" Xingqiu grins. "It's Lantern Rite today."
The sky explodes and Chongyun watches as colors streak across the orange horizon into a thousand different shapes. Early fireworks.
"You know," Xingqiu sighs, "it wasn't easy to secure this park's deed. Thanks to Hu Tao's grandpa, Xiangling's father, and Xinyan fanclubs, we can save this view for ourselves."
Chongyun can feel his whole face, no, his whole body heating up again and he takes deep breaths.
"You-you guys. Come here!"
He envelopes everyone he can in a big hug.
Xingqiu's face reddens and Xiangling giggles. Xinyan howls a laughter and Hu Tao wears her snarkish grin ("Haha, daddy long arms," she says).
They all enter the city together and tour restaurant after restaurant ("Because you all probably have gotten tired of mine already!" Xiangling says. "It's just better to get a variety of tastes, how can we get tired of you?"). After, they go shopping until the world gets dark.
Grouping on the Yujing Terrace, Chongyun watches as the Xiao lanterns float into the sky. Even though the cold winds blow, throwing away the Mei Hua blossoms from its branches, Chongyun's heart is warm. He's glad that they're finally here, together. For a moment, he is sure that whatever time brings, he will have his friends, his family , stand by his side.
"Hello? Are you daydreaming? The rice cake's not gonna eat itself~"
Xingqiu splits his pastry out for his friend, and Chongyun scans his grinning amber-eyes.
"It's perfectly safe. I'm not going to ruin our first meeting in ages."
Chongyun rolls his eyes and happily accepts.
/ Two birds met in the snow,
Who stirs budding leaves.
And thrills, song sun' free.
Until the wind blows.
—
Relentlessly, the seasons flow.
And so they brought me to know
You. /
Crosspost from Ao3 in response to a prompt by Syrupness in the 4seasons_1location collection.
Cover image is the Genshin official art.
Check out the original Ao3 work for all the research notes~