Disclaimer: I do not own Genshin Impact or any of its characters. The world of Teyvat and all of its residents are property of miHoYo. I'm just someone who likes to play the game.
A/N: Xiao is finally introduced to the story, but first, there is a funeral held for Kaeya and to see how Jean copes with the loss of another friend. Another cameo appearance, but that's about it.
Enjoy the story!
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A Delivery For a Yaksha
Kaeya's funeral is held in winter.
Though it hardly ever snowed in Mondstadt, it had that day, as if to remind everyone as to why they were there. Even with the snow being light, it could have been a blizzard and Jean wouldn't have really cared. All she did was sit through the funeral in silence, her head bowed as she tried to keep herself from crying again.
Shame filled her mind as she thought back to how she had wailed in Huffman's arms, making a fool of herself in front of her subordinates. Her mother would have been ashamed of her, the strict woman that she was. She tried I keep her cool, but she felt like she was one second from snapping again.
She didn't even know how she had gotten through her eulogy.
Had she looked as bad as she felt? Did she even give a speech? Or had she just stood there silently? Had she been crying hysterically and just hadn't noticed? Looking up at the empty coffin, she felt her jaw and fists clench as several emotions welled up inside of her.
There wasn't even a body to bury.
Kaeya was probably being experimented on at this very moment. She almost jumped when she felt a hand take hers into its own. Looking over to the side, she was met with the sight of Lisa giving her a sympathetic smile as she scooted closer. Realizing what she was offering, Jean felt her eyes tear up as she buried her face in her friend's shoulder and she began to shake with barely suppressed sobs.
Lisa only tightened her grip on her hand.
After everything was over, all they could do was watch as the empty casket was lowered into the plot behind the cathedral and buried. Long after everyone had left and the sun had set, Jean and Lisa stayed there, the librarian not wanting to leave her friend alone just yet.
Jean could have sworn she saw something green move out of the corner of her eye.
The night was cool as Zhongli walked into Bubu Pharmacy.
Thankfully, his suspicion was right about who was manning the store for the night. Qiqi perked up at the sight of him, her neck having to crane backward to look at his face. Zhongli would be lying if he said it wasn't an endearing sight.
"Mr. Zhongli. . . welcome to Bubu Pharmacy." The zombie looked half asleep as always, but at least she looked genuinely happy to see him. She remembered his name this time as well.
"Are you here to buy any medicine," she asks. "Do you have a prescription?"
Zhongli couldn't help but chuckle.
"Actually, I'm here for a delivery that needs to be sent to Wangshu Inn. Preferably today."
The girl tilts her head to the side in curiosity.
"What would you like delivered?"
"I personally made some special medicine for a friend who has taken up residence there." He sat the paper bag on the counter to prove his point.
It wasn't very large and was on the smaller side. It made the young girl curious as to what kind of medicine it was. It was also at that moment that Kaeya came from the back of the store, well fitted in his new uniform. He appeared to have been listening when his eye immediately zone in on the bag before lifting his gaze to Zhongli's.
"Is your friend. . . hurting?" he asks softly.
The Archon could sense the concern in the boy's lethargic voice, the boy worried for the stranger he doesn't know. He truly was a kind child even without his memories. Or maybe it was his lack of memories that helped him be kind now, the weariness that had been in his eyes that day nowhere in sight. That relieved the Adeptus as much as it saddened him.
His thoughts turned to his last remaining Yaksha, the young Adeptus with a temperament far different from the two before him. He worried about how their encounter would go. Sadly, he couldn't tell him about his retirement or the whole plane would be blown before it started.
He didn't want to think about how the young Yaksha would react when inevitably had to take his death. But right now, he needed to focus on delivering this medicine, seeing as he must have run out of his last batch by now. Not that the child would ever ask for more. Maybe it would even be good for him if he introduced him to these two.
"Would the two of you please make sure this medicine arrives for him today?"
The two zombies nodded and answered in unison.
"We will, sir."
Without any further delay, the two come out from behind the counter. Kaeya had made sure to grab his foraging bag before coming out of the back (never know when they could come across some more herbs) and Qiqi was quick to grab the bag from the counter with one hand while grabbing Kaeya's hand with the other. With all of their things packed, the two begin to walk towards the entryway before Zhongli's voice stopped them.
"Will candy be a good enough payment? I'm afraid I don't have any mora."
He made a mental note to have the Funeral Parlor pay for the actual mora to Baizhu later.
The two turn around and hold out their hands expectantly. The consultant reaches into his pocket and pulls out two candies that were given to him by Hu Tao as a joke. With a little Adepti energy, it should be strong enough for them to taste it. The children deserved the treat. They certainly accepted the treat eagerly, Qiqi immediately popping hers into her mouth while Kaeya placed his into his pocket for later.
If he remembers it.
Zhongli hands a piece of paper to the physically older zombie with their destination and the name of the recipient on it. The words were written in an elegant script that had a strange feeling of power and beauty to it.
Wangshu Inn, Xiao.
With a final nod, the two zombies set off to make their delivery. It wasn't until they were out of sight that Zhongli realized that the trip was likely to take a while and that the two might not be back today.
Who was going to run the store?
It took a few hours, but the two zombies eventually found their way to the inn, a giant building built into an even bigger and majestic tree. The two were completely in awe at the sight, not used to seeing a tree so large that it could hold such a structure. The idle chatter of the people is enough to snap them back to the present and Kaeya takes a look at the slip once again.
Wangshu Inn, Xiao.
There was no mention of what room he would be in or what floor he would be on. After a moment of contemplation, the two decide to just take the elevator up. If they went inside, maybe they would run into this Xiao or at least someone who knew him.
The ride itself didn't take very long and neither Kaeya nor Qiqi notice the people in the elevator giving them a wide berth. Once they reach their floor, the two step out and were greeted by a path leading around the tree and into the building. Qiqi made a sound of amazement as she looked over the edge of the platform, looking over the marsh below. Kaeya also found himself almost breathless at the sight.
Somewhere in his mind, the vague image of a river came to mind with beautiful flowers along the riverbank. The trees were covered in leaves that were in a variety of colors, but he found himself focusing on the ones covered in red. Something about the color red just made him feel conflicting feelings of calm and sadness.
Qiqi was quick to notice his change in mood and grabbed his hand, gently tugging it towards the entryway into the inn. Kaeya didn't resist as he let the younger lead the way.
After walking down a flight of stairs that lead into a foyer, they are greeted by a woman standing behind the front desk. It's Qiqi who breaks the silence.
"Who are you," she asks innocently.
"I'm Verr Goldet," the woman answers somewhat cheerfully. She certainly looked nice enough. "My husband – Huai'an – run this inn."
"We have a delivery for someone named Xiao," Kaeya says. Qiqi holds the bag up as if to confirm his words.
Verr looks surprised at first and looks at the two with a look of concern on her face.
"Well, Xiao is very picky about who he shows himself to. The most likely place to find him would be on the roof."
"Thank you very much," Kaeya says with a quick bow.
He and Qiqi turn to leave for the balcony, leaving a bewildered Verr behind.
Looking around, Kaeya notices that the few people around were whispering amongst themselves, though he ignores the glances that some of them throw their way. The lady had said that Xiao was picky about who he spent time with, so there was no way he was down here.
That's when an idea struck the teen and he turned his gaze to the roof.
If Xiao preferred solitude, then. . .
Pulling Qiqi closer by their still joined hands, he picked her up into a princess carry. Crouching to the ground, he was quick to calculate the amount of force he would need to clear the jump and – with barely a grunt – launched himself into the air, quickly clearing the distance between the balcony and the roof.
Just as they land with a small thump, a startling noise gains their attention.
The two of them look up to spot a young figure further up in the branches of the tree. Their face was covered in a scary-looking mask and they were hunched in a defensive stance, hostility oozing from them. Kaeya almost put Qiqi down to summon his sword – wondering if he was wrong about the patient being up here – when Qiqi holds up the bag, not looking the least bit frightened.
"Delivery."
The person lowers their polearm as their head cocked to the side, clearly puzzled by her nonchalance. The disappearance of the hostility caused Kaeya to also untense his muscles.
Leaping nimbly into the air, the stranger landed in front of him in a crouch before rising, the polearm still in one hand – probably in caution, Kaeya thought to himself. Kaeya can only guess that they must be nervous – like a startled feral cat.
"What are you doing here," the stranger asked – a boy, going by his voice.
"Delivery," the little zombie said.
"Why would you be delivering something here?"
"Medicine for Xiao."
Finally, the mask disappears, revealing the face of a young man with large golden eyes. The pupils were slitted like a cat's and Kaeya's curiosity was peaked. At least he wasn't the only one with odd pupils.
"What could you possibly have for me?"
It's at that moment that it registers that this was their patient and recipient. Walking within arms distance, Kaeya let Qiqi hold the bag out to him, and – apprehensively – the Yaksha takes it. Opening the bag causes his eyes to marginally widen when he notices the medicine inside.
"Where did you two get this?" he demanded, his voice not quite hostile and more in disbelief. However, his question seems to stump the two zombies. The two seem to try to remember who asked them to make the delivery, but both came up short.
"Does Qiqi remember?" Kaeya asks. The girl shakes her head, looking as confused as he was. looking down at his hand, Kaeya sees the slip of paper with the inn and Xiao's name on it and hands it to Xiao. The other looks skeptical at first, but his expression quickly changes to a stunned when he sees the handwriting, obviously recognizing it.
"Where did you get this?!" he demands again, his voice gaining a slight growl. He frowns when the taller zombie gives
"Where did you get this?!" he demands again, his voice gaining a slight growl. He frowns when the taller zombie starts to look frustrated, his eyes narrowing as if trying very hard to grasp at something that kept slipping away. Kaeya felt like his head was enshrouded on fog, a hazy figure just out of reach in mind that he couldn't make out. Letting out a grunt, he raised his hand to his hair and starts tugging at the long strands, ignoring the dull pain that comes with it.
Qiqi quickly realizes what's going on and reaches up to gently grab Kaeya's hand and pull it from his hair. She would need to help him learn to stop that.
"We have. . . a hard time remembering things," she tells the boy slowly, keeping a hold on Kaeya's hand as he attempts to tug on his hair again. "We forgot to. . . write down the customer's name."
Xiao starts to catch on and thankfully stops his interrogation as he looks at the physically older boy. He clearly looking distressed.
"Is he alright?" he asks, his earlier anger gone.
"Kaeya is still. . . getting used to being a Jiangshi," she explains. "Kaeya's memory. . . is worse than Qiqi's right now." She frowns at the thought. "He's still. . . not used to. . . not remembering anything, so. . . he gets frustrated quickly. He rarely becomes violent. . . though."
Xiao looks apprehensive, but she notices how his eyes soften marginally as if he somehow understood. Then he seems to visibly hesitate as if there was something he wanted to say something.
"Follow me," he finally says, gesturing towards the entryway to the inn. The two zombies silently follow the Yaksha inside and down the stairway until the three of them find themselves in the kitchen. He sees Smiley Yanxiao standing by the stove and looking over the inventory. The chef looks up at the noise and seems startled to see him, but a quick nod towards the door is all it takes for the man to go up the stairs and exit the room.
"Please have a seat."
After the two settle down at the table closest to the stairs, Xiao made his way to the stove. He can hear the child muttering something to the teenager, but he pays it no mind, focusing instead on his work. By the time he's done and makes his way back to the table, all signs of frustration have disappeared from Kaeya's being, his face having gone back to being completely stoic.
It was a little unnerving, but Xiao had seen far worse.
Carefully, the Yaksha set down three helpings of Special Almond Tofu. While he wasn't sure what they would have wanted, he had no other way to pay them for his medication. It wasn't like being an Adeptus was a title that generated any income since Adepti had no need for it.
Qiqi made a face when she noticed how warm it was, watching the steam rise from the bowl. Heat wasn't the best thing to expose a zombie to if they wanted to avoid certain side effects.
Kaeya, surprisingly, didn't hesitate. He took the bowl, ignoring the chopsticks, and carefully lowered his face just enough to start eating the food. Qiqi finds herself staring at him with the closest expression to awe that she can muster.
Xiao wonders what could possibly be so amazing about eating tofu.
"How. . . can Kaeya eat. . . that without. . . rotting?" she asks, sounding as if she had just met Rex Lapis in the flesh.
Xiao tenses next to her. He had completely forgotten about Jiangshi needing to worry about rigor mortis and rotting when it came to anything being too warm. They needed an almost constant supply of coldness to avoid being sent straight to Celestia. He's suddenly grateful that they both have Cryo Visions. He's thankfully brought out of his inner turmoil by the very people who put him in it.
"I just. . . use my Vision to. . . cool the food down," he says, almost looking bashful at having both of their attention. "I also. . . used it to. . . lower my body temperature some more."
Qiqi looks fascinated before also taking her own bowl into her hands. The Vision sitting on her hat starts to glow and Xiao watches as the steam from the food gradually disappeared. Looking pleased with herself, she also raises her bowl to her face – forgetting her chopsticks – and eats straight from her bowl.
Xiao feels a vein pulse in his head but decides not to say anything. He'll just have to teach them how to properly use them the next time they ate together.
'Wait,' he thought, his eyes widening in surprise.
'Next time?'
To Be Continued...
A/N: This draft was written on the 31st of July and was written immediately after The Lords of Geo and Anemo. I was kind of on a role and wanted to keep going while the idea was still in my head.
Just some softness between Xiao and the Jiangshi. It is OOC, since we all know Xiao would have been a lot more stubborn, but I figured that I just wanted to make him happy. These three will eventually become a trio, but that will be expanded on in another work. Sorry, no crazy out of control horses this time, just a medication delivery.
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