Did I just take a ton of the community's memes and turn them into a fluffy, feelsy romcom with some angst and psychological trauma sprinkled in?
Yes. Yes, I did.
Special things to my wife for editing this story.
Please Stay
Kamisato Ayaka took pride in her grace and dignity.
From a young age, she had been trained to be the leader of the Yashiro Commission. Yes, the responsibility would likely fall to her brother, Ayato, but one had to prepare for emergencies. Their parents' fate had proved that.
So, she practiced discipline through the art of the sword, studied Inazuma's history and culture through fine works of literature, and guaranteed that her poise would remain unbroken.
Yet there she was, lying face down on her bed, screaming into a pillow out of sheer humiliation.
She kicked her feet, hid under the blankets, and whined like a schoolgirl, all because of a boy.
Ayaka had never had friends. Her social standing didn't allow it. As such, she was understandably nervous and awkward around the opposite sex, but this?
This was humiliating.
She heard someone rapping on the side of her door. "May I come in?" Ayato asked.
Ayaka wrapped the sides of her pillow over her ears. "Go away," she said, inwardly cringing as soon as she said it. She lifted her head a few inches off the pillow and looked at Ayato with bloodshot eyes. "I-I am sorry, Brother. Such disgraceful behavior shall not happen again."
She expected to be reprimanded, but Ayato did no such thing. He sat down at the edge of her bed and waited for around thirty seconds before speaking. "Can I get you anything?" he asked softly. "Thoma brews an excellent cup of boba tea."
"I must decline," Ayaka said quietly. "I am not in the mood to eat or drink right now."
"Then how about we spar?"
Despite her situation, the corners of Ayaka's lips twitched upwards. A spar would be lovely.
Okay, maybe a spar wasn't the best idea.
Ayato was the head of the Shuumatsuban, so he was always honing his combat capabilities. He had recently developed the ability to create a localized rainstorm of sorts, dousing all enemies in pure hydro energy.
Ayaka, on the other hand, froze things.
Spouting hasty apologies to Ayato, Ayaka rushed to grab Thoma, but she didn't even make it out of the clearing in which she and Ayato were sparring. With the sound of shattering glass, Ayato broke free of his icy prison, his ever-present, confident grin not shaken in the slightest.
A dozen mirages surrounded Ayaka, all moving towards her. Thinking quickly, Ayaka dashed into the ground, appearing behind what her instincts told her was the real Ayato. She shot her fan into the air, creating an icy field, knocking him out of his attack. Dashing again, she cut through his defenses and held a cryo-infused blade to his neck.
"Yield."
In lieu of responding, Ayato slowly clapped. "As awe-inspiring as ever," he said sincerely. "Mother would be proud of the fine woman that you are becoming—no, that you have always been."
Ayaka averted her eyes, blushing at the praise. "My apologies for freezing you," she said demurely. "Were it not for such lowly tactics, you surely would have won."
Ayato shook his head. "Nonsense. A victory is a victory." He moved to a nearby bench and sat down, signaling for her to do the same. "Now that you are calmer, would you like to tell me what is wrong?"
Ayaka had just been getting comfortable next to him, but she froze at his question. "Not particularly," she mumbled. "Please do not take it personally."
"I do not," he assured her. "Nonetheless, as your brother, it is my duty to ensure your well-being, and that includes your happiness."
She smiled softly. "Thank you, but this is something that I must handle on my own. I made a mistake, and I must live with the consequences."
He hummed. "I see. If I may be so bold, does this have something to do with that blonde traveler?"
Ayaka's smile fell. Her composure vanished. Tears formed in her eyes.
"I said he's like a little brother!" she wailed. "Now he'll never love me!"
"…Ah. Oh, dear."
Ayato rubbed the back of his neck and gave a sheepish smile. Just hearing that was enough to make him lose his composure, too.
"S-surely it's not that bad," he said quickly. "The traveler could have misinterpreted."
Ayaka covered her rapidly reddening face with her hands. "I then said that he's welcome any time because he's like family."
"Maybe he's into that kind of stuff," Ayato said weakly. It didn't comfort Ayaka in the slightest. He sighed. "Do you remember how we used to take etiquette lessons together?"
Ayaka peered at him through her fingertips. "Y-yes? But what does that—" Her eyes widened. "No. No, no, no! It is bad enough that my brother knows about my boy problems!"
"Your brother as in the traveler, or…"
Ayaka made a strangled sound coming from the back of her throat. "Under no circumstances will I take courting lessons alongside you!"
Ayato shrugged his shoulders. "Suit yourself. Ah, such a shame. I was looking forward to helping you in your endeavors."
He stood up slowly, hiding a grin as he felt Ayaka grip his sleeve.
"You'd help me?"
"Of course," Ayato said smoothly. "Anything to make my little sister happy."
Ayaka embraced him, burrowing her face into his chest. Ayato's grin turned into a smirk.
Phase One of his plan was finally complete.
Courting lessons were useless.
Ayaka and Ayato sat in the foyer, grumbling about how old-fashioned their traditions were.
"Eternity is silly," Ayato said with as much vehemence as his etiquette training would allow. "Surely, such inane, old-fashioned traditions are not necessary?"
"Why must the umbrella be purple?" Ayaka groaned. "Why not silver? Or yellow? And why must I dance around him three times before reciting a poem?"
"You don't have to," Ayato said sternly.
"But—"
"As the head of the Yashiro Commission, I hereby declare that courting is stupid. Instead, you shall train in the art of seduction."
Ayaka's face burst into flames. She sputtered incoherent protests until Ayato gave in.
"Fine," he said sharply. It delayed his plans, but it didn't ruin them. "It seems that I will be forced…to make you moe."
Many would argue that Ayaka's kind, meek demeanor was already moe, but Ayato—er, Ayaka—wanted to guarantee that Aether would fall head over heels for Ayaka.
Ayato would turn Ayaka into the most adorable, most moe, most irresistible girl in all of Teyvat.
A few days later, Aether and Paimon received a letter inviting them to the Komore Teahouse.
"Ooh, this is from Ayaka," Paimon said, bouncing around in the air. "I know that someone's been wanting to see her."
Aether gently traced the elegant cursive, smiling as he did so. It immediately turned into a frown as he remembered how they had parted.
"You're really important to me, Aether…th-that is to say, like a little brother!"
And then, after repeating that he was like family, she had run away, leaving a dumbfounded Aether behind.
Paimon, of course, hadn't understood that it had bothered him. When she had asked why Aether was suddenly taking on a lot of extra bounties, he had a simple explanation.
"It's a good distraction."
"That makes sense to Paimon," she had said. "It must be really frustrating to not get any closer to finding your sister."
Aether had paused. "Er, yes. My sister. That's who I'm thinking of."
The fact that it was somewhat true—in a terrible, convoluted sense—made it even worse.
Aether had lived for eons, visiting countless worlds and meeting thousands of people. Not one had made his heart pound like Ayaka had.
Now, she was inviting him to what was presumably a "family gathering."
Paimon floated in front of his face, bringing him out of his thoughts. "Is something wrong?" she asked. "If you need a hug, Paimon can give one."
Aether pretended to think. "A hug sounds nice, but I'm currently a bit too worried about our lack of food. I might need to—"
"If this is an 'Emergency Food' joke, then you can forget about Paimon's offer!"
Aether grinned, snatched Paimon out of the air, and hugged her. "I'm always down for a Paimon Hug," he said warmly. "Now, let's get to the teahouse. I wonder what Ayaka wants to meet about?"
Whatever he was expecting, it wasn't this.
Ayaka was standing alone in the foyer, looking exactly as he remembered her, except she was wearing cat ears. Her entire body trembled, as she reached up loose, shaking hands to her face.
"…Nyan?"
Silence.
Aether sighed. "Ayaka, what are you doing?"
Her hands dropped loosely to her sides. "Being moe," she muttered dejectedly. "Is it not to your liking?"
"I don't know how to react," he admitted. "You're usually so graceful and composed."
"Am I not cute like this?" she asked, blushing from his praise.
"You're always cute," he said before freezing, realizing what he had just said. "S-sorry, that was completely inappropriate!"
"No, it's fine!" Ayaka said, barely holding herself together. "It's quite a relief."
"It…it is?"
Ayaka sighed and tore off her headband, tossing it to the other side of the room. Her hair fell out of her ponytail, framing her face. "I wanted to apologize," she said, meeting his eyes. "I let my inexperience and anxiety rule my actions, so I said something that I did not mean."
"The brother thing?" Aether asked hopefully.
"The brother thing," Ayaka confirmed. "Are…are you still upset?"
"Oh, I'm all good," he said, trying his best to seem indifferent. "I received over a million mora in bounties."
She furrowed her eyebrows. "If I may be so bold, what does that have to do with anything?"
"More than you'd think," Aether said drily.
They stood in a semi-awkward silence for a moment. Ayaka cleared her throat. "Oh, y-yes! Tea! You are my guest, and this is a tea house, so…would you like some tea?"
Now, Aether wasn't a tea aficionado like Zhongli, but he also wasn't in any hurry to leave. "I'll take a Misty Garden," he said.
Ayaka paled slightly. She excused herself and went to the kitchen, stopping in front of Tauromaru.
"I need backup," she said in a hurried, hushed tone.
Tauromaru barked and jumped off the counter, returning with Ayato.
"You have done well," Ayato said with a serious expression. "The Traveler has let his guard down. Now's your chance to seduce him."
"We are not having this conversation again," Ayaka hissed. "How do I make a Misty Garden?"
Ayato's face went blank. "I'm sorry?"
"A Misty Garden. Apparently, it's a kind of tea?"
"I have memorized over three hundred tea recipes, and I have not heard of that one."
"…Then we figure out the recipe."
Without waiting for a response, Ayaka rummaged through the cabinets, pulling out all the ingredients that could be associated with tea.
"Milk. Mint. Fizzy water. Cocoa. Caramel. Lemon. Anything else?"
"Not that I can think of," said Ayato.
Ayaka hummed and began to work. "It's called a 'Misty Garden.' Judging by the title, there isn't any milk, cocoa, or caramel. Fizzy water is a maybe—possibly the 'Misty' side. The 'Garden' is either lemon or mint, but simply tea and lemon make Tart Brilliance…"
Within two minutes, Ayaka had crafted a Misty Garden, made of two parts tea, one part lemon, one part mint, and one part fizzy water. She held it in front of Ayato, quite proud of herself.
"He'll love it," Ayato said with a smile. "Now, go seduce—"
"No."
Sticking her tongue out at her ridiculous brother, Ayaka made her way out of the room, but she didn't make it back to the foyer. Thoma appeared and blocked her with an uncharacteristically serious expression on his face.
"With all due respect, Ayaka, please don't give that…that concoction to Aether."
Ayaka's confidence fled. "Ah…I made it wrong, didn't I?"
"It's not your fault," Thoma soothed. "You've only learned how to make Inazuman recipes, not foreign ones."
Ayaka nodded slowly, though she didn't feel much better. "Thoma, do you know how to make it?"
"Of course," he said, putting his fist to his chest and making his voice sound far grander than usual. "Misty Gardens are a Mondstat specialty! They are integral to our culture! Trust in me, and I will make you the greatest tea that you have ever had!"
With a beaming smile, Thoma went into the kitchen, put three tea leaves into a cup, filled it with water, and handed it to Ayaka.
She took it gingerly. "This is…a Mondstat specialty?" she asked, peering nervously at the dried leaves floating in the lukewarm water.
"Yep!" Thoma said proudly, putting his hands on his hips. "One sip of that, and Aether will love you for sure."
Ayaka glared at Ayato, who was looking away and whistling to himself. "You dragged Thoma into this, too?!"
Ayato held his hands up in a placating gesture. "I just want what's best for my little sister."
Ayaka was tempted to argue, but she didn't want to keep Aether waiting. Then again…
She grimaced, as she looked upon the so-called "tea." She didn't want to insult Thoma's homeland, but surely, they had better beverages than this?
She entered the foyer on shaky legs. Aether and Paimon were arguing about something, but Ayaka couldn't hear it over her heart pounding in her ears. She could see it now: she'd give him the tea, he'd look at it, then he'd run away and never return, and she'd be miserable for the rest of her life.
"H-here you go," she squeaked. "I hope it is to your liking."
'He's going to hate it please don't hate it please don't leave—'
"This is incredible!"
'Please don't…wait, what did he just say?'
Aether held the tea up to his shining eyes, his mouth agape. "This is the best Misty Garden that I've ever had." He held it up to Paimon. "It's not just me, right?"
Paimon leaned her head forward and took a sip. "Mhm! Master Diluc could learn something from you, Ayaka!"
One thing was for sure: Thoma would be getting a very generous raise.
Ayaka breathed a huge sigh of relief, pressing a hand against her heaving chest. "I'm glad," she said, smiling widely. She felt no small amount of pleasure when Aether seemingly admired it. "Would you like to stay a bit longer?"
"Yes!"
"No!"
Aether and Paimon glared at each other. Aether crossed his arms. "There's nothing wrong with staying for a while."
Paimon also crossed her arms, looking at him with as much malice as possible. "It's Sunday night," she reminded him. "Your resin is full, and you still haven't fought your weekly bosses."
"I already beat Childe," Aether snapped.
"What about Dvalin, Azdaha, Andrius—"
"I have enough materials from them!"
"You should still fight them! You need to use your resin!"
Their glares intensified, neither willing to budge.
"Can't I just make some condensed resin and come back?"
"That's for domains and leylines, not weeklies!"
"I'd rather do leylines than fight Azdaha again!"
Paimon wagged a finger in Aether's face. "You're forgetting something," she said smugly. "Weekly bosses drop billets."
Aether's breath hitched. He stole a glance at Ayaka, who was watching them awkwardly. Focusing on Paimon, he breathlessly asked, "Sword billets?"
Paimon smirked, reveling in her victory. "You just need one more, remember?"
Aether sighed and hung his head. Turning to Ayaka, he said, "I'm sorry, but I have to go."
Ayaka smiled softly. "It's okay. I remember you telling me about 'weeklies.' You are truly brave, repeatedly facing these monstrosities all on your lonesome."
Paimon choked on air, covering a laugh with her hand. "Y-yeah! That's totally what happens!"
"Quiet, Paimon!" Aether hissed.
"We definitely don't just hire Hu Tao to one-shot them all!"
Aether dove to grab Paimon, but she vanished in a shower of stars. He ran a hand through his hair. "Just ignore her," he told Ayaka. "I mean…yeah, for a while, I had some friends help me out, but I've grown strong enough that I can usually fight them on my own."
She laid a hand on his arm, causing him to jump. She had a cryo vision, yet both of them were unbearably warm.
"It must be wonderful having so many people that want to help you," she said sincerely. "You've captured the hearts of many, it seems."
'But I only want yours,' he thought, inwardly wincing at how corny that sounded.
He cleared his throat. "I'll, uh, see you around?"
"You're always welcome here and in my ro—my home," she said, wincing at her slip. "Come back soon, Aether."
The lamps at the teahouse did not provide much light, but anyone could easily see how red both of them were.
The moment that Aether left, Ayaka let out a breath that she didn't realize she was holding. "That went well," she said to herself. The butterflies in her stomach danced, yet she had no interest in quelling them.
Maybe she still had a chance.
She headed back into the kitchen where Ayato and Thoma were waiting impatiently.
"Did he like the tea?"
"Why did he leave?"
The two men frowned at each other, clearly wondering why the other didn't have the same priorities.
"He loved the tea," Ayaka assured Thoma.
"Then where is he?" Ayato asked.
"Fighting a series of grand battles," Ayaka said wistfully, cupping her heart with both hands and closing her eyes. "I can see it now: swinging his sword in an elegant arc, wielding the elements with mastery seen only in the archons, intimidating the enemy with a mighty cry of—"
"Damn it, I forgot a shield!"
Aether dove out of the way, narrowly avoiding one of Azdaha's lightning strikes. Every second, he felt his life force fading, as the mere memory of the Earth Dragon beat him to a pulp.
He stabbed his sword into the ground, pushing himself up on wobbly legs. He glared at Azdaha with all the hate that he could muster.
"You…you took everything from me."
Azdaha, his mind torn asunder from erosion, could only answer with a roar.
Aether pulled his sword out of the ground and pointed it at Azdaha, channeling elemental energy to the tip of his weapon. "Don't you see? My life was perfect, and you destroyed it!"
With inhuman strength, he leapt over Azdaha's predictable attack and stabbed the dragon through the skull, impaling its brain and ending the nightmare.
Aether breathed heavily. "If you didn't exist, I could have lived that wonderful life for just a little longer…and I might have even held Ayaka's hand."
Paimon popped out of nowhere, looking at Aether in concern. "Maybe it's just Paimon, but Paimon thinks that you should wait a few years before taking a step like that."
Aether scoffed. "Nonsense. She touched my arm. Next thing you know, we're holding hands all day long."
"But that's so…so scandalous! What would your sister say?!"
Aether stiffened.
"My war with the Heavenly Principles will continue."
Aether stretched his face into a smile so wide, his cheeks burned. "Lumine's a softy. She'd say something like 'As long as onii-chan's happy, I'm happy.'"
"If you say so…"
Aether brushed Paimon off and revitalized the nearby leyline, grinning as he saw another Northlander Sword Billet. "That's four," he said. "Just need one more. Next week, for sure. Ah, such a shame that I'm all out of resin! I guess we have no choice but to—"
"Get a transient resin from the Serenitea Pot!" Paimon chirped.
Aether's grin withered and faded. "I used it on Tuesday," he said calmly.
"Nuh-uh! Paimon remembers you getting it last Tuesday!"
A vein throbbed in his forehead. If he had to do another weekly boss, he'd finish far too late for him to see Ayaka again that night, and…wow, he was sounding desperate, but could you blame him? If he went back tonight, she might actually hold his hand!
Paimon broke him out of his fantasies by chanting, pumping her fists up and down to the beat of her own words. "Week-ly boss! Week-ly boss! Week-ly boss!"
"All right, fine," Aether snapped. "I'll just speedrun it. Who's left?"
Paimon put her hand on her chin in thought. "Well, we fought Childe, Azdaha, Andrius, and Dvalin…looks like we just have Signora left."
"…Fuck."
Three hours later, he left the memory of Tenshukaku. He received some odd looks for his singed clothes, but at this time of night, only a few guards were out and about.
"She just. Kept. Teleporting." Aether pushed back his slick, sweaty hair. "Why can't that witch stay in one place?"
Paimon didn't answer. She was too busy getting excited about all of their loot.
The moon was full and bright, hanging high in the sky. Aether tightened his grip on his sword.
"I need to do another bounty," he said with steel in his voice.
"Another dream solvent, and—huh?" Paimon tilted her head at him. "Didn't we clear out every bounty in Inazuma?"
"Hm. Mondstat, then."
"Same issue. Liyue, too."
He scowled. "No matter. Whenever I'm sad or frustrated, there's always my favorite punching bag."
"This opportunity is quite hard to come by. Well then, amuse—"
A vortex of anemo whirled around Tartaglia, trapping him in place and cutting off his speech. He bent his knees, preparing to jump and attack from the air, but a massive rock fell on his head, knocking him unconscious. The whole fight took less than ten seconds.
Paimon appeared, looking wearily at Aether. "This is the fifth time that we've fought him tonight. Are…are you okay?"
Aether made a show of inspecting his fingernails. "Eh, I'm fine. Beating him up is just fun at this point."
The next morning, Aether sped through all of his weekly tasks, repeatedly telling Paimon that she won't have any more reasons to drag him away.
"What about the event?" she asked.
"One hundred percent complete," he said. "Conquered the Spiral Abyss, too."
"Didn't you give up halfway through Floor Eleven?"
He flicked his hand in her general direction. "Details, details."
They were strolling along Amakane Island, where he and Ayaka had attended the festival. It seemed that the Yashiro Commission was already setting up another one.
"Inazuma sure loves their festivals," Paimon noted. "D'ya think Ayaka will attend this one, too?"
Aether thought for a moment before nodding. "She said that she wants to live her life without regrets, and she'd probably regret not going." He paused. "I should ask her to go with me."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Paimon asked, though it didn't seem to be because of his choice of company.
Aether shrugged. "I don't see us going to Sumeru anytime soon. Besides, I want to stay around Inazuma for a while longer."
"Because of Ayaka," Paimon sang.
Aether let her think that. In truth, falling in love with a girl here was just a bonus.
He closed his eyes and breathed in the fresh air. The sun shone down from the heavens. The skies had been clear ever since the Sakoku Decree had been abolished. The soil was as fertile as ever. The people were cheerful and kind.
Aether and Lumine had been searching for a place just like this.
Sure, Mondstat was similar to what he had just described, and the wind was a bit nicer, and there were more plants, and everyone was free…
Okay, maybe it was because of Ayaka.
He smiled. If he concentrated hard enough, it was as if he could hear her voice.
"Aether? What are you doing here?"
Ah, what sweet, dulcet tones. How they melted his heart!
"Are…are you okay? Should I bring a healer? I hear that Lady Kokomi is in town for diplomatic relations."
Aether's brow furrowed. Why was a fish lady intruding upon his fantasies of Ayaka? Unless…
His eyes shot open. Ayaka was mere inches from his face, peering at him in concern. They both froze for a moment before jumping backward, muttering lame excuses and hasty apologies.
The entire time, Paimon looked on with her hands behind her back and a smirk on her face.
"H-hiya, Ayaka!" Aether yelped, berating himself as he did so. Rhyming was for poetry, not greetings!
"Hey there, Aether," said Ayaka, who winced just as hard.
"So, uh…"
"Um…"
"Will you go to the festival with me?" they asked at the same time.
"You are asking me?" Ayaka asked with wide eyes.
Aether nodded furiously. "I can't imagine going with anyone else."
The butterflies in Ayaka's stomach fluttered. She fanned her face. "It's hot out here, isn't it? Oh, I knew I should have worn something lighter!"
'You could just take off your shirt,' Aether thought, extremely grateful that he didn't say that out loud.
"Why not use your cryo vision?" he suggested.
"It's a bit too destructive," she admitted. "Maybe if I had something like a hydro vision…"
As if responding to her words, a drop of water fell on her head. Then another. Then, a downpour of rain smashed into the both of them, soaking them.
"Oh, drat!" Ayaka said, covering her head with her hands. "You wouldn't happen to have an umbrella, would you?"
Before Aether could respond, an umbrella flew out of nowhere and into Ayaka's arms. She blinked at it before mumbling something about a poem. Aether, too bewildered by the rapid course of events, just stood there, admiring her glistening face and shining hair.
"Beautiful," he mumbled.
She didn't hear him. Looking off to the bushes, she called out, "It'd be really nice to have a second umbrella."
Nothing happened.
"There are two of us, and the 'rain' is very cold, so a second umbrella would be lovely!"
A pinecone hit her in the face.
"Ow!" She rubbed her cheek, glaring at the bushes. Turning her attention back to Aether, she held out the umbrella. "Here. You can take it until the storm lets up."
Aether's eyes shot back up to her face—where they had absolutely never wavered from since the rain started, of course. "I'm sorry?"
Ayaka smiled a bit. "The umbrella. Do you want it?"
Aether shrugged. "I don't mind the rain. I used to sleep outside, anyway."
Ayaka gasped. "That's terrible!"
"It's okay. I live in a teapot now."
Ayaka gaped at him. On a whim, Aether reached out and gently closed her jaw with a single finger.
"Really, it's fine," he said, oddly proud of himself for his bold move. "You should come by sometime."
Ayaka blushed. Was he inviting her to his room? No, of course not. He said his home, not his room. Did he even have more than one room in a teapot?
She cleared her throat. "I will take you up on that offer," she said. "But please, just take the umbrella."
"How about we share?" he blurted.
It was an innocent suggestion, so he didn't understand why Ayaka's face turned even redder.
He understood fully once she opened the umbrella, revealing how narrow its brim was. She pressed against him, as he instinctively wrapped an arm around her waist, bringing her even closer.
"We shall attend the festival later tonight," she mumbled. "For now, let us warm up with a nice cup of tea."
Aether couldn't form a proper response. He was pretty sure that his brain had short-circuited.
This was way better than hand-holding.
As they crossed the shallow stream and walked through Inazuma City, Aether remained so focused on Ayaka, he didn't even notice that the rain was localized entirely around the two of them.
Aether sat in one of the sectioned-off rooms in the Komore Teahouse, a warm blanket around his shoulders and a piping-hot cup of tea held in both hands. Ayaka was in a similar position, and she even elected to try a Misty Garden.
"This makes no sense," she said, peering at the wilted, floating tea leaves in her cup. "Under no circumstances should tea this plain be so…refreshing."
Aether chuckled. "The people of Mondstat have learned how to take pleasure in the simple things," he explained. "Countries like Inazuma and Liyue are so focused on traditions, so the people there can't imagine doing things a different way."
Ayaka couldn't bring herself to disagree. Inazuma's ideology was "Eternity," though it seemed to resemble stagnation more than anything else.
"That may be true," she said softly, "but still, this is just leaves in water. It should be subpar at best."
"You're missing crucial information," Aether said solemnly, "Every cup of Misty Garden…is blessed by Barbatos himself."
Ayaka looked at her tea reverently. "This was blessed by an archon?"
Aether's serious expression crumbled. "I'm just kidding. Even if Venti weren't so lazy, I doubt he'd go within a thousand paces of a non-alcoholic beverage."
She had no clue what he was talking about, but the way that he said it made her giggle. "You've met so many interesting people," she said, her eyes shining as she looked at him. "Can you tell me about some of them?"
"I'd love to," he said. After a brief hesitation, he asked, "If it's uncomfortable for you, you can say no, but…"
'I'll do anything you want,' she thought, immediately berating herself for her eagerness. Ayato's encouragement was getting to her.
"…can you tell me what it was like growing up in Inazuma?"
Ayaka felt strangely disappointed, but she also thought that it was sweet. "I'd love to," she said, smiling fondly, "but you first."
Aether set down his tea and leaned back on his elbows. "Well, Mondstat has its fair share of interesting people. There's Diluc, who basically has a monopoly on the wine industry but hates drinking wine; there's Razor, who was raised by wolves; there's Klee, a child who has a penchant for explosions…"
"Like Yoimiya's fireworks?" Ayaka asked, tilting her head.
"Not quite," said Aether. "Yoimiya hasn't blown up mountains just for fun."
Ayaka paled. Maybe the Shogun had been right to close Inazuma off.
She shook her head to clear it. "They all sound lovely," she said, mentally adding, "except for the last one."
"They're certainly a fun bunch," he said before sobering. "But…there's more to my journey than just meeting people."
"Mhm. I've heard tales of your feats."
"Yeah, yeah," he said dismissively. "Fought a dragon and a Fatui Harbinger, to name a couple. The clout helps, but…I don't know. It's not really important."
Ayaka didn't know how anyone could think that. "What do you mean, 'not important'?"
"I'm not saying it wasn't helpful or that I regret it," he said quickly. "I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. It's just…that was only physical strength. You do it, patch yourself up, and do it again the next day."
She pursed her lips. "You don't give yourself enough credit," she said with as much heat as her etiquette training would allow. "You're a hero, Aether."
"I'm just in the right place at the right time."
"You've saved millions of lives, yet you've asked for nothing but putting up a few missing posters for your sister."
He averted his eyes. "That's the thing," he said quietly. He rubbed his hand on his leg, bunching up the fabric of his pants. "She's not…"
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Ayaka reached out and grabbed his free hand, intertwining their fingers. Aether looked at it in surprise, as some of the tension left his shoulders.
"You don't have to tell me everything," she said, meeting his eyes, "but I want to help. Let me in, Aether, and we will find her…together."
"Ayaka…"
His heart swelled with warmth. The sincerity in her eyes was too much.
"I've never told anyone this before," he said. "Paimon was there, but…I don't think she realizes that it still hurts."
Ayaka squeezed his hand and waited patiently.
He shut his eyes, as images sped through his mind's eye.
"Don't try to stop me. Don't try to stop the Abyss."
He gathered his courage and looked at Ayaka. "Lumine is lost…but she isn't missing. She's the leader of the Abyss Order."
Ayaka gasped, but she quickly composed herself. Her gaze hardened. "Then it is up to us to save her."
Aether's eyes widened. It was true that Paimon was his constant companion, but now, at that moment…
For the first time in many, many years, he felt like he wasn't alone.
Their faces were so close together. The slightest movement and she'd know how much he cared for her. Shutting his eyes and taking a chance, he—
"Traveler! Traveleeer!"
Aether and Ayaka split apart, scattering to the edges of the room, both looking anywhere but at each other. Paimon knocked down the door and flew into the room, completely oblivious to what had almost happened.
"There's a precious chest in the back room!" she squealed. "That's five primogems! Five whole primogems! Do you know what that means?!
Aether glared at the floor, ignoring Paimon. She kept talking.
"We now have enough primogems for a wish!"
"A, um, a what?" Ayaka asked meekly.
Aether grumbled and stood up. "You see, Paimon," he began, using as much venom as possible, "has this conspiracy theory. If we throw a certain number of primogems into the archway at Musk Reef in Mondstat, we'll find a weapon."
"It works flawlessly," Paimon said proudly.
"All we find are Debate Clubs and Bells!"
"That's still finding something, isn't it?"
Aether clenched his fists. Without a word, he vanished, reappearing ten seconds later. Scowling, he threw a light-blue book at Paimon's face.
"Enjoy your Magic Guide," he spat.
Paimon rubbed the side of her head. "A weapon is a weapon," she said grumpily. "Besides, we also get stardust and starglitter, don't we?"
"That just gives us more wishes, meaning more Debate Clubs!" He covered his face with his hands and adopted a softer tone. "Sorry for yelling. I know you're just trying to help."
Paimon huffed. "At least Paimon's generosity is being recognized…"
"You're too good for me, Paimon. And Ayaka—"
"No need to apologize," Ayaka said, standing up. She covered her face with her fan. "I had a wonderful time. Please excuse me while I prepare for the festival. I will await your arrival at the Kamisato Estate."
With that, she darted out of the room so fast, Aether wondered if she were hiding an anemo vision somewhere.
'Did I ruin everything?' he wondered. His gut twisted and clenched, as the events of the last few minutes played over and over in his mind. 'Is she upset because of Paimon or because I tried to kiss her?'
It was probably the latter, but at least she didn't hate him. She still wanted to be his friend and go to the festival with him. Wait, what if she was just being nice? What if she was angry at him, and she was just acting kind out of habit?
…He really should have stuck to hand-holding.
Paimon flew up to Aether's eye level. "Is something wrong?" she asked, finally reading the room.
"It's nothing," he said, deflating. "I just need to distract myself until tonight."
Paimon smirked. "Paimon knows exactly how to cheer you up."
"This opportunity is quite hard to come by. Well then, amuse me."
A bolt of lightning struck Childe in the face. Aether followed it up with a punch to the gut.
"Not bad," Childe said. "You've learned a trick or two."
Once again, Aether dropped a massive rock on Childe's head, ending the fight instantly.
He dusted his hands off. "Ahh, that felt good." He looked over at Paimon. "Again?"
"Again!"
Meanwhile, back at the Komore Teahouse, a cloaked figure hid in the shadows. His lips curled downwards with contempt, as he thought of what had just occurred.
He gripped the hilt of his blade, but he did not draw it. His plans had almost come to fruition, but that damn pixie had ruined it.
He was the head of the Shuumatsuban. He did not take such things lying down. If there was a will, there was a way, and he needed to reach his goal to ensure the survival of his family.
With a swish of his cloak, Ayato fled into the night, preparing to enact his backup plan. He would take his best ninja…
…and make Paimon "disappear."
Aether anxiously waited outside of the Kamisato Estate, ignoring the stares from the guards. He fiddled with his kimono, not used to wearing clothes like this.
Paimon flew all around him, adjusting fabric as she went. She pulled back and grinned, looking him up and down. "It's perfect," she said, giving a chef's kiss.
"What, me in this outfit or you adjusting it?"
Paimon let out an "Ehe" and vanished into…wherever she went to when she ditched him. Aether liked to imagine that she was actually a spy for the Abyss, and her job was to inform Lumine of everything that he was doing, and she just wasn't allowed to tell him. Call him crazy, but it was kind of like having a line of communication between himself and his sister.
'…Okay, that's just sad.'
Imagine being so cut off from your only family, you had to pretend that your little pixie companion was a double agent working for the enemy.
"Aether? Is that you?"
He was taken out of his thoughts by Ayaka's soft voice. He turned to say hi to her, but his brain ended up short-circuiting.
Again.
Ayaka wasn't in her usual armor but a flowing, traditional kimono. The pattern was reminiscent of the one that her mother had wanted to wear but had never had the chance to do so.
"You look amazing," he said. A few moments later, he realized that she had said the same thing to him.
"I thought you didn't want to wear Inazuman traditional clothing," she said, her eyes bright as she looked him up and down.
"It's a special occasion," he said airily, secretly reveling in the attention that she was giving him. He flashed her a grin. "Shall we go?"
She gave him a playful smile. "Are you not going to offer me your arm, oh Honorary Knight of Mondstat?"
He played along and bowed at the waist. "If you insist, Heiress of the Kamisato Clan." Then, after a moment of silence, "Wait, you're not mad at me?"
She tilted her head in confusion. "Why would I be upset?"
"Because I…you know…"
She walked up to him and grabbed his hand, the same way she had mere hours before. "Do you remember the last festival that we attended?"
"I could never forget," he said, not pointing out that it had only been a few weeks.
"For a long time, my only friend was Thoma, and that was different. He kept himself somewhat distant. But you? I opened my heart to you, and today, you did the same for me." She smiled at him, making his legs weak. "You made me happy, Aether. I will never forget that moment for as long as I live."
Aether wasn't sure if that made him feel better or worse.
On the one hand, she had reassured him, and she may or may not have confirmed his suspicions that she thought of him as more than a friend.
That happiness was squished down, for the moment that he turned away—the moment he closed his eyes—she would be gone. Cold. Distant.
No matter how much they claimed to care, everyone left Aether. It was only a matter of time before Ayaka did, too.
Ayaka seemed to sense his shift in mood. "What troubles you?" she asked, rubbing the back of his hand with her thumb.
He plastered his most convincing smile onto his face. "It's nothing," he said. "Let's just enjoy ourselves, all right?"
She studied him for a moment. "Remember what I told you," she said quietly. "We'll save your sister together…if you want me around, that is."
'I'll always want you around.'
He gulped. "A-and what about after?"
"I have my hopes, but ultimately, the decision is yours, traveler."
As he looked at her and felt his heart pounding in his chest, he realized that he already knew what he wanted.
The problem is…would Lumine agree?
"I don't know where I'll be at the end of my journey," he admitted. "Teyvat itself might be completely different from the one that we're in right now."
Ayaka squeezed his hand. He felt her encouragement rush through him.
"If it were up to me…I'd stay with you."
Ayaka's eyes widened before she schooled her expression. "But?"
He sighed and faced her, grabbing each of her hands in his. "Would you run away with me?"
"Wh-what?!"
"I'm not saying I'm considering that," he said quickly. "It's the concept. To be with someone like me means that you might be giving up your way of life. Could you really do that?"
Ayaka didn't even need to think about it. "Of course," she whispered, "and I would never regret that choice."
He wanted to believe her, but he couldn't.
He was a friend whom she cared about and maybe had a slight crush on. She didn't feel nearly as strongly as he did. Due to her inexperience, she simply thought that "friendship" was equivalent to "following you to the ends of the universe."
Of course, that was simply Aether's perspective. He wasn't well-versed in the art of understanding women.
He had no idea that he was driving her mad.
'How can he not see that I would fight Celestia itself if it meant spending my life with him?'
How odd that a man and a woman could stand right beside each other yet not have a clue what the other was feeling.
But that was the future that they were worried about. Right then, they were just a boy and a girl, trying to go on a date.
"We'll talk about this later," he said, putting on a smile. "After all, the festival isn't going to go on all night."
She hummed. "Yes, let's—oh! I almost forgot!" She dashed inside, coming back a few moments later with two kitsune masks. "It's tradition," she explained.
"You mean you don't want to make a scene," he said drily, but he didn't mind. He affixed it to his face.
"I have one for Paimon, too," said Ayaka, holding up a pint-sized mask. "I didn't want her to feel left out."
"That's sweet of you," Aether said, taking the mask. "Hey, Paimon?"
No answer.
"That's strange," he muttered. "Usually, she comes right away. Paimon? Paimon!"
Nothing.
Aether began to fidget. "Something's wrong," he said fervently. "She wouldn't—she promised—"
'She promised she'd never leave me.'
But that was before Aether had yelled at her.
Paimon was gone because of him.
Ayaka laid a hand on his arm. "She's probably at the festival," she soothed. "Remember all the food that was there last time?"
Aether took a deep breath, trying to calm his rising heart rate. "You're right," he said evenly. "That scatter-brained mascot probably just forgot to tell me that she was going on ahead to eat."
Paimon was most certainly not eating at the festival.
Well, she had tried to, and she had certainly forgotten to tell Aether. She had reached out to grab some Tri-Colored Dango when suddenly, a bag was placed on her head, and she was taken to who-knows-where.
"Let Paimon out! Paimon won't take any more food, Paimon swears!"
Her kidnapper didn't answer. They increased in speed, making Paimon scream as she was pulled along across a bumpy trial.
"Please, Paimon is sorry! Paimon—uwaaah!"
With a mighty crash, Paimon toppled to the ground, rolling over and over until she fell out of the bag and hit her head against a tree.
Dizzy and disoriented, she sat up and rubbed her head. "That's it. Paimon is never eating ever again," she vowed. "…Until Paimon gets hungry again, of course."
She looked around, trying to figure out where her assailant was. The moment she heard a noise, she darted behind the tree, peeking her head out when she felt that it was safe. However, all that she saw was a pile of leaves.
…A child-sized, snoring pile of leaves.
"Sayu? Is that you?"
Sayu stretched her arms and yawned, cracking an eye open. "Pretend you're kidnapped for another few minutes, please and thank you. I just…want…to sleep…"
True to her word, Sayu was out like a light the second she finished her sentence.
Paimon tentatively floated over and poked Sayu's cheek a few times.
"What is it?" Sayu asked, still half-asleep. "I won't grow any taller if you keep waking me up?"
"Um…why did you kidnap me?"
Sayu rolled her eyes. "I didn't. This is a pretend kidnapping."
Paimon gestured around the unknown clearing. "Seems pretty real to Paimon."
Sayu sighed, pushed herself off the ground, and stretched. She pointed behind Paimon. "The festival's right there."
"Ah. Um, okay? …Huh?!"
Sayu looked to be on the verge of falling asleep again. "You're not in any danger," she said slowly, as if the details of the pretend kidnapping were completely obvious. "The Boss just wanted you out of the way for the evening."
"'The Boss'? Who's that?"
"So just pretend you're sleeping," Sayu said, ignoring Paimon's question. "I might…join you…"
She immediately collapsed and fell asleep. A moment later, she stood up.
"Oh…wait…my job isn't done…I'll sleep after…"
Without saying goodbye, she rolled away, kicking up dust and leaves in her wake.
"Bye?" Paimon said, looking around the clearing warily. She could indeed see the festival from here, and she didn't want to anger the leader of the Shuumatsuban, but she didn't want Aether to worry too much. Maybe Sayu's last task was to tell Aether that Paimon was okay?
Speaking of that, why was Paimon "fake kidnapped"? And who would want her "out of the way"?
She huffed and stomped her feet in the air. "This is stupid! Paimon doesn't wanna sit around for no reason!"
She began to fly forward but was stopped short by a glimmering, blue sword held at her neck.
"I wouldn't move if I were you," a masculine voice said smoothly.
Paimon gulped and stayed as still as possible. "Wh-who are you?" she asked, trying not to cry. "Paimon isn't tasty! Don't eat Paimon!"
Her assailant blinked. "Why would I—oh, for archon's sake, this is pointless." He sheathed his sword and stepped out into the light. "Kamisato Ayato, at your service. It is about time we meet face to face."
"Uh…" Paimon put a hand on her head. "Paimon doesn't think she has enough brain juice to figure out what's going on."
The corners of Ayato's lips twitched upwards. "I will explain everything if and only if you promise not to interrupt Ayaka and her companion until tomorrow morning at the earliest."
Paimon eyes Ayato warily. "Will Aether be okay without Paimon?"
"He is under the protection of the Kamisato Clan and the Shuumatsuban, myself included. He is safer now than he has ever been."
"That's…that's good." She averted her eyes. "And Ayaka will be with him?"
"That is the plan."
"But what about at night?" Paimon bit her lip and hugged herself. "If he wakes up and Paimon isn't there…"
Ayato's eyes softened. "If anyone can help a broken man after a nightmare, it is my kind-hearted sister. Trust me on that."
Paimon mulled it over for a bit before nodding. Sensing that the danger had passed, she glared at Ayato and put on the sassiest tone that she was capable of. "Now, why did you kidnap Paimon, you evil fiend?"
Ayato sighed and sat on a nearby log. "Well, for starters, I had Sayu take you because she's better at remaining undetected, and she's a lot faster than me."
Paimon nodded, stroking her chin in thought. "That makes sense…Wait, that still doesn't answer anything! Paimon will repeat: why did you kidnap Paimon?!"
Ayato smiled sadly. "I am afraid that does not have a simple answer. You see, this is not just about you or me or even Ayaka."
He raised his face to the stars, identifying the constellations that his father had shown him. He listened to the whispers of the forest, just as his mother would do.
"Let me tell you the story of the Kamisato Bloodline…and its impending demise."
Ayato traced the constellations with the tip of his finger, speaking as he did so. "I am the last male of the Kamisato Clan. I have no cousins nor uncles. As such, when my parents died, their estate fell into their hands as well as their legacy."
"You mean Ayaka?" Paimon asked, unsure where this was going.
Ayato nodded. "Exactly. Her health and happiness have been my responsibility for over a decade. She is everything to me." He clenched his fist. "I will let nothing bad happen to her, no matter what."
"You're a good brother," Paimon said with a smile, seemingly forgetting that she had been kidnapped.
Ayato averted his eyes. "As you may know, I am the head of the Shuumatsuban ninjas."
"Like Sayu?"
"Sayu is one of our…less deadly members. Most are elite warriors, killing you before you realize that they exist. I, myself, have been on a few missions with them, though I was clearly more fit to lead than act." He grimaced in remembrance. "In a particularly ferocious incident, much of my body was mutilated. If it weren't for our excellent healers, I would be dead, or at the very least, disfigured. Alas, I have recovered fully…except for one part of my body."
Paimon flew around him, checking to make sure that he had all of his arms and legs. She grabbed his limp hand and pushed apart his fingers, counting them. "Paimon can't find anything missing…"
He gently pushed her away. "My limbs are intact," he said, his face blank, "but after a particularly sadistic vagrant bested me in combat, I lost the ability to reproduce."
Paimon winced. "Oooh…That's rough, buddy."
"I cannot bring myself to disagree," he said with a hint of amusement. He sobered, as he continued his tale. "The other clans have noticed that I have not procured any heirs, and I've not accepted any suitors. As such, in the hopes of gaining more power and influence, they've sent suitors in Ayaka's direction. Of course, such requests must first go through me, and I have yet to find an acceptable candidate."
Was he overprotective? Perhaps, but he didn't want some snotty brat from the Kanjou Commission abusing his little sister. She deserved better.
…But he never found anyone good enough for her.
"The other clans took notice of this," he said, closing his eyes as he recalled what had happened. "In a desperate bid to take control of the Kamisato Clan, there have been numerous assassination attempts on myself and Ayaka."
Paimon gasped. "That's…that's terrible!"
"It certainly pushed me to take action," Ayato agreed. "I needed to find a suitor for Ayaka, and she needed to produce an heir. I couldn't bear to tell her, but luckily, a certain someone came and saved Inazuma from strife."
Paimon racked her brain for a moment. "Oh, you mean Aether! Sorry, we've saved so many places, Paimon kinda forgot Inazuma was one of them, ehe…"
"With those qualifications, does that not make him the perfect suitor for Ayaka?"
"Uh…" Paimon grabbed her head again. "Paimon is suddenly having trouble following along."
Placing his hands on his knees and sitting up straight, Ayato said, "Let me make this simple. Ayaka needs to produce an heir with Aether, or she will be killed."
"Oh, right, right…wait, WHAT?!"
"Is it not the best option?" Ayato asked. "The Kamisato Clan will live on, and Inazuma will not face the inevitable struggle that arises when a power vacuum is formed. Ayaka will have chosen someone whom she loves instead of a suitor who desires only her family name, and I have seen the way that Aether looks at her. This is a situation in which everyone wins."
Paimon was frustrated. She really, truly was.
…But she also couldn't fault Ayato's plan.
"Paimon just has one question," she said softly.
"Ask away," Ayato said calmly.
"Do you think that Aether will be happy? Ayaka, too?"
Ayato grinned. "Perhaps I should have recruited you, not kidnapped."
"Eh?"
"Do not worry, Paimon. I can assure you that both of them will be quite happy."
Biting her lip, Paimon looked off into the distance, trying to see what was happening at the festival.
"Paimon hopes so," she whispered. "As long as Aether's happy…that's all that Paimon wants."
Aether wanted to enjoy his date with Ayaka. He really did.
But that damned mascot was still nowhere to be found.
Ayaka jogged back to Aether, shaking her head slowly. "She's not on that side, either."
Aether ran a hand through his hair, nearly pulling at it. He had half a mind to rip off his mask and call for Paimon at the top of his lungs, but he couldn't do that to Ayaka. He knew the drastic shift in attitude that people had when she made a public appearance, and it made her uncomfortable.
But at that moment, Ayaka didn't seem to care.
She pulled off her mask and laid it on a nearby table. Cupping her hands around her mouth, she called out, "Paimon! Are you there, Paimon?"
Aether reached out and laid a hand on her arm. "What are you doing? I thought you'd want to keep a low profile."
Her eyes had a fire in them that most certainly hadn't been there when he had first met her.
"When Thoma was taken, what did I do?"
"You stayed back," Aether admitted, "but that was my idea. I didn't want you to ruin your standing within the Tri-Commission."
"If my friend was hurt because of my inaction, my political standing would be the least of my concerns." She placed her hand over his, letting him know that her frustration wasn't directed at him. "I've thought about that every day, and I've decided to never again stand idly by when a friend is in need."
"Ayaka…"
She looked around, grimacing as people pointed and stared at her. She shut her eyes, took a deep breath, and pressed on, projecting her voice. "Paimon? Where are you?"
'It's official. I'm in love with this girl.'
Filled with hope, Aether took off his own mask and joined in. "Paimon, if you don't get your butt out here, I'm feeding you to Xiangling!"
"It's okay, Paimon! We're not mad! We just want to make sure that you're safe!"
"Klee's gonna turn you into a Jumpty Dumpty if you don't come here right now!"
Just as Aether's anxiety was about to return in full force, he stumbled, having tripped on a particularly solid pile of leaves.
"What the—Sayu?! What are you doing here?"
The pile of leaves shifted and shook, revealing an extremely short girl. She yawned and stretched, cracking an eye open to look up at Aether and Ayaka.
"Oh…it's just you two…I'm supposed to deliver a message." She pushed herself off the ground, swaying with exhaustion. "Now, what was it…oh, yeah."
She cleared her throat and spoke in a monotone. "Paimon is safe. She ate a lot of food, so she fell asleep. We are watching over her at the Kamisato Estate. Please return for her in the morning. For now, please enjoy your time alone. If you tell them this verbatim, you will get two weeks vacation, and I will instruct the shrine maiden to not interrupt your naps."
After the first three or four lines, Aether sagged in relief. Ayaka, on the other hand, was not so high-strung.
"Sayu," she said calmly—too calmly. "A word, please."
Sayu crossed her arms and looked distinctly annoyed. "I did my job. Now, let me nap, so I can be as tall as you one day."
Ayaka pursed her lips. It was really, really hard not to let Sayu off the hook, especially after inadvertently revealing something like that, but Ayaka needed to confirm something.
"Did Ayato put you up to his?" she asked lowly. The answer was obvious, but she needed to hear it from Sayu.
Sayu nodded and yawned at the same time. "Keeping that a secret wasn't a requirement, I don't think."
"It's always an implied requirement in the Shuumatsuban, but I'll let it pass," Ayaka said. "Now, is Paimon actually safe?"
"Does grumpy count as safe?"
Ayaka couldn't help but smile. "Yes, Sayu. Grumpy counts as safe."
She wasn't sure whether she wanted to smack her idiotic brother or thank him. She decided on both.
At least Paimon—and by extension, Aether—was okay.
She dismissed Sayu and made her way back to Aether, but she found herself hounded by people, asking if she was okay, telling her how great it was to see her, telling stories of her parents, and more. She found herself overwhelmed, but she put on a smile, addressing each person individually.
Ten minutes later, she was given a minute to breathe. Aether came up to her with an apologetic look on her face. "Sorry for ruining the festival for you."
She shook her head. "Nonsense. The night is still young." She glanced behind her at all the people. "Though somewhere a little quieter would be nice."
Aether thought for a moment. "Ayaka, do you trust me?"
"With my life," she said without hesitation.
"Then open this teapot."
"…I'm sorry, what did you just say?"
From behind his back, Aether pulled out a massive, orange teapot that was absolutely too large to be on his person.
"Paimon taught me how to store things in a pocket dimension," he said casually as if that wasn't a godlike ability. "Speaking of pocket dimensions, the adepti of Liyue are quite good at making them."
He held out his hand, saying, "Would you like to see where I live?"
She gingerly took it. "I'd love to," she said, still trying to process everything that she had heard. She supposed that it wasn't any more surprising than his sister leading the Abyss Order.
'When you love someone like Aether, you come to expect the unexpected.'
Squeezing her hand, he let go of the teapot, and it floated in the air. He opened the top of it.
The world shimmered. Ayaka felt a strange, pulling sensation near her navel, and they vanished.
When she opened her eyes, she realized that she most certainly was not in Inazuma anymore. If anything, it looked like a painting, except she was able to feel the sand beneath her feet, hear the waves crash onto the beach, and see the reds, oranges, and yellows of the sun dipping below the horizon. Before her very eyes, night fell, and a pastel moon hung high in the sky, bathing them in its light.
"Aether," she said breathlessly, "this is beautiful."
He wrapped an arm around her waist. "I worked hard for it," he said proudly. "Scavenged the entirety of Inazuma to get those one thousand electro sigils."
"Huh? What do electro sigils have to do with it?"
"You give twenty-five of them to the Sacred Sakura Tree, and a bunch of stuff comes out of it. Here, why don't you try it?"
He reached into his pockets and pulled out a dozen or so sigils, handing them to her. She gingerly took them, even though she felt that he would be able to put them to better use. However, giving them back felt like scorning a heartfelt gift.
"Thank you," she whispered, looking at the islands in the distance. She pointed to a strange building. "What is that?"
"That's a windmill," he answered. "They're from Mondstat."
"To think that other nations have such large structures…How did you manage to bring it here?"
Instead of answering with words, Aether pointed at the ground in front of him. A flower stall appeared out of nowhere. He grabbed a sakura bloom from the counter and handed it to her.
"This is my domain," he said. "It was a gift from the adepti—though I suppose you'd just call them 'gods.' These furnishings are more mental structures than physical, though, for the most part, you can still interact with them."
Ayaka wanted to respond, but she was doing her best not to squeal like a schoolgirl. "Th-thanks again," she squeaked, cringing at her inelegant tone.
"You're welcome," Aether said, amused. "Here, let me show you around."
The beach they were on had a replica of a market street and some buildings that were presumably from Liyue. Scattered about were some rocks, bushes, and trees; Ayaka got the distinct impression that they were all meticulously placed.
They stopped by a small farmhouse, where a variety of plants were flourishing. At Ayaka's questioning glance, Aether explained, "There's this pharmacist in Liyue named Qiqi. She has trouble getting violetgrass, so I grow them here."
"What about the plethora of Naku Weeds?"
Aether smiled sadly. "You can keep a secret, right?"
"Of course."
"The Naku Weeds aren't for me or Qiqi. I give them to Ninnguang and Beidou—" Ayaka gasped, recognizing the Tianquan's name as well as the legendary captain. "—and they pass along information on the Abyss Order."
Aether's face fell. "Those aren't the only shady deals that I've made with powerful figures. Not over Naku Weeds, specifically, but I've taken some…commissions from high-ranking members of the Knights of Favonius. Nothing too heinous, but they're dangerous tasks that need to stay out of the public eye. I've even taken secret bounties from the Shogun in exchange for everything that she knew about Khaenri'ah. And yet, I'm not a single step closer to finding Lumine." He laughed bitterly. "Do you still think I'm a hero, Ayaka?"
She put her hand on his cheek and forced him to look at her, putting aside her surprise for the moment. "You've risked your life to save someone you love. If anything, that makes you even more of a hero."
"…You're too good for me, Ayaka. One day, you'll wake up and realize that."
"One day, you'll wake up and realize how amazing you are," she retorted. "I'll remind you every day until you do."
Aether ducked his head, unsure what the proper response was. He decided to speak his mind. "I've never met someone as kind as you," he said. "People praise me, sure, but it all feels hollow. With you…I don't know. You see more of me, but you still want to be around me."
She gave him a comforting smile. "The more that I learn about you, the more that I want to spend time with you."
"…Here. Take this."
"Huh?" she asked at his sudden change of topic.
He pressed a thin, rectangular object into her hand. "It's called a Realm Dispatch," he explained. "Tap the center three times and say my name. You'll be able to enter the teapot from anywhere, even if I'm not in it."
Warmth spread through Ayaka, as she held physical proof of his trust in the palm of her hand. "Are you sure you want to give this to me?"
"Of course," he said. "I can make an unlimited amount of them, and quite easily, too."
"Ah," she said, trying not to feel disappointed. "If I may be so bold, how many have you given out?"
"Only one," he said. Ayaka's heart swelled, though she felt a bit selfish when it did. "There's a good friend of mine who doesn't have a place to sleep, so he stops by from time to time. You'd like him—he knows a lot about pretty much everything, and he's an amazing storyteller."
"I'd love to meet him," Ayaka said, bursting with emotion. She already knew that Aether trusted her, as he had opened his heart to her, but this felt different.
Perhaps she was letting her infatuation blind her, and this was nothing more than an open invitation, but she couldn't shake the feeling that this was something more.
Unlike the friend that he had mentioned, Ayaka had a home—a very nice one, at that. There was no dire need for her to be here, yet he had given her the key, nonetheless.
She held it to her chest, thanking him again.
"Of course," he said softly. "I'm not sure why I didn't give it to you earlier. I guess I just figured you wouldn't want it."
She almost laughed. "As if I haven't dreamed about a secret rendezvous in your ro—your home! Yes, sharing a pleasant cup of tea in your home."
Aether had a sudden coughing fit, as his face turned a brilliant red. "Er, yes. Same, actually. The tea part! Yeah, that!"
They looked at each other for a moment before bursting out laughing.
"What chivalrous thoughts, Honorary Knight," she teased.
"And I'm sure that your intentions are nothing but pure, princess."
She smiled coyly. "As I said, the night is still young. Who knows what will happen?" She put her hand on his elbow, her face as red as his. "Now, you were in the middle of showing me around, were you not?"
He led her through what he called an "adeptus gate" and up a long, winding path, revealing a massive complex that she had not seen from the bottom level. It looked like a mixture of Tenshukaku and the Kamisato Residence with a bit of the Tenryou Commission thrown in.
She walked slowly, as she looked around, admiring every inch of it. "This is incredible," she whispered. "You should add 'architecture' to your sizable skillset."
"It's not much," he muttered. "I just followed some blueprints."
"Even so, I can easily see the amount of time and dedication that you put into it." She ran her hand down the smooth, Aralia wood fence. "If I may ask, for what purpose did you build this?"
Aether shrugged. "I wanted to bring a bit of Inazuma into my home, but…I don't know. No matter how much I add, it always feels empty."
Ayaka nodded slowly. She had noticed, too.
This area—no, this entire realm—gave off an overwhelming sense of loneliness.
She opened her mouth to ask why he didn't just invite more people, but it wasn't too hard to figure out the answer.
Her hand slid down from its place on his arm to his hand. There was no need to upset him. Tonight, all she wanted to do was make him smile.
Aether seemed to be on the same wavelength as her. He took her to the edge of the cliff, where a bridge seemingly made of light and flowers appeared. Despite her trepidation, Ayaka trusted in Aether's encouraging smile and took a step, widening her eyes as her foot contacted something solid.
After making it across the bridge, they stopped by a set of trees that blocked their path. Aether glanced ahead nervously. He struggled with what to say before deciding to just show her, so he brushed aside the branches and leaves.
She gasped at the sight before her.
"Aether, is this…"
"Our first festival," he confirmed. Aside from the terrain being different, it was a perfect recreation.
She turned to him with shining eyes and her hands over her mouth. "Did you do this…for me?"
He placed his hand on the back of his head. "I know that the answer is supposed to be 'yes,'" he said sheepishly, "but I didn't think you'd ever see this. Honestly, this whole setup is for me."
He walked over and placed his hand on one of the stalls, his tone wistful. "It's tough, I guess. The fighting, the sheer scale of our conflict, knowing who leads the other side…Sometimes, it becomes too much." He ran his hand over the wood, turning back to smile at Ayaka. "That's when I come back here: to remember who I'm fighting for."
Before he knew it, she had run into his arms, and her unbelievably soft lips were on his. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her warm body close, asking himself if this was real.
After what felt like an eternity, Ayaka pulled back, breathless. Her thoughts raced, and she knew that she should say something, but only one thing fit.
"I love you, Aether."
Just like that, everything clicked into place.
Her mistakes, her blunders, her dreams, her nightmares, her deepest emotions, and her heart's desires…All were laid bare with that one sentence.
And Aether, despite not being from this world, had never been more in tune with anyone before that moment.
"I love you, Ayaka."
This time, he initiated the kiss, pulling her in and leaning against the market stall. Their inexperienced lips fumbled about, guided only by instinct, enthusiasm, and months of repressed emotions.
Not breaking the kiss, Aether reached to the side with his right arm, grasping at air until he found what he was looking for. Smiling against Ayaka's lips, he pulled a lever that was hidden on the side of the stall. Not willing to lose a moment of contact, he immediately brought his arm back, snaking it around her waist as lights and sound danced around them.
Ayaka pulled back with a gasp, gazing in awe at the night sky. "Are those Yoimiya's fireworks?" she asked breathlessly.
Aether laughed, his face as red as hers. "I said I'd never thought you'd be here, not that I haven't dreamed about it!"
Ayaka joined in his laughter, wiping away tears of joy. With a smile that was wider than any she had given before, she leaned in and whispered something in his ear. His eyes widened, and immediately after, both of them were running off into the night.
Mere minutes later, they crashed onto a bed, still breathing heavily from their frenzied dash. Ayaka reached for the hem of his shirt, stopping herself as soon as she touched it.
"Do you want this?" she asked breathlessly.
"More than anything," he answered, cupping her cheek and kissing her softly. "Do you?"
"With all my heart," she whispered. She wanted to say so much more—how much she loved him, how she would stay with him, how she would fight beside him, how they would work together to reach their happy ending—but none of that needed to be said right now.
She locked her lips to his, giving him all that she was, as the world fell away, leaving only the two of them.
An unknowable amount of time later, they collapsed beside each other, panting heavily. Despite breaking apart, they still clasped hands, unwilling to let go.
"Hey, Ayaka?"
"Hm?"
"Pinch me. I think I'm dreaming."
She giggled, leaning over and pressing a feather-light kiss on his cheek. "I've questioned that, myself," she admitted, drawing lazy circles on his chest. "I guess we'll have to see in the morning."
As if on cue, he yawned. He turned on his side and wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her hair. "I s'ppose we will," he murmured.
She smiled and nuzzled his neck, inhaling deeply. Within minutes, her breathing evened out, and Aether soon joined her.
For the first time in years, he slept without nightmares.
Aether woke up to the scent of sakura blooms. Silvery-white hair filled his vision, making him smile.
'She stayed…She actually stayed…'
He didn't realize that he was crying until Ayaka woke up and wiped his tears.
"It's okay," she whispered, though she was crying, too. The smile that she gave him was as brilliant as the sun peeking out over the horizon. "It was real. It was all real."
He kissed her again, caressing her smooth skin with his hands. To think that she was his and he was hers…
His future was filled with so many uncertainties, but he could at least be sure of her love.
He pulled back, keeping his forehead on hers. "I have something for you," he said quietly. "I was going to save it for your birthday, but I may as well give it to you early."
He reached under the bed and pulled out a long, thin box. With trembling hands, Ayaka removed the packaging to find one of the most beautiful swords that she had ever seen.
"It's an Amenoma Kageuchi with five refinements," Aether said. "It took months to gather all the sword billets, but…you're worth fighting for, Ayaka."
She ran her finger down the flat of the blade, admiring it. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Aether, I…I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been to make this. A simple 'thank you' cannot express how grateful I am."
His eyes sparkled mischievously. "I'll admit, back when I started collecting billets, I'd fantasize about you being so overcome with emotion, you'd kiss me."
She gingerly put the sword to the side before laying her arms around his neck. "I love you, Aether," she whispered, kissing him softly. "Thank you…for everything."
They stayed in bed for a little while longer, talking about what this meant for them, their journeys, their responsibilities, and their futures. Every possible avenue, uncomfortable to speak about or not, were discussed. At some points, they were so detailed in their verbal flowcharts, even Kokomi would be impressed.
But then, Ayaka brought up the one subject that both of them had been avoiding.
"What about your sister?"
What if she didn't approve? What if she decided to go elsewhere?
Who would Aether choose?
She let Aether ponder for a while, but it wasn't needed. He lit a nearby lamp, revealing his room to her for the first time.
It was simple, all things considered. A decently sized bedroom with a traditional Mondstat style, Ayaka could confidently describe it as "cozy."
He then pointed at the wall, and her jaw fell open.
Dozens of images—not quite pictures or paintings—lined the walls. There were some of Aether and Paimon in a variety of locations surrounded by people that Ayaka had never met, but what caught her eye were the sheer number of pictures of her.
Their first meeting. The festival. Her fan dance. The largest image, in the center of it all, was their first kiss.
"I call them 'Lingering Moments,'" Aether explained. "They seem to be taken from my memories, but unlike the other furnishings, I can't control them. Still, you could probably guess what causes them to appear."
Ayaka nodded. It also wasn't hard to figure out why there were so many of her, though it felt presumptuous to say. Instead, she gulped and asked another question, fully prepared to get up and comfort him if need be.
Coincidentally, it was the exact same question that she had asked before.
"What about your sister?"
To her surprise, Aether grinned wryly. He walked over to the dresser and opened the cabinet, reaching inside and pulling out a dusty photo frame.
"It always goes back here," he said, chuckling darkly. "The wall was once mostly her, but after our last meeting…Well, I guess we all have some skeletons in our closet."
Ayaka gingerly took the image. Tears pooled in her eyes as she looked at it.
"Oh, Aether…"
On one side were Aether and Paimon, horrorstruck expressions on their faces, as he clasped his sword in shaking hands. On the other side was a massive figure, clearly an agent of the Abyss…bowing to a blonde woman with a remarkable resemblance to Aether.
He took the picture back and flicked his wrist, tossing it into the dresser. "The Lumine that I grew up with is a total softy. She'd say, 'As long as onii-chan is happy, I'm happy.' On the other hand, if our journey is over and we come back with the woman in the picture…" He sat back on the bed and took Ayaka's hand in both of his. "In both cases, I end up with you."
Ayaka wasn't sure how much longer they sat there, talking about everything and nothing, but by the end of it, she felt distinctly more confident and surer of herself.
There were no more questions. She knew where her story would end, and she couldn't be happier with it.
She would be by his side, and that was all that mattered.
