A/N: PLEASE READ THIS WOULD YOU KINDLY?
EDIT: More flames I see. Lovely.
Had a cheeky little fellow insult me in recently, saying I'm trash and that I should delete everything. Suppose I'm writing this as a response. I'm still continuing everything, despite what folks may think, but sure. Threats. Insults. That's nice.
As ever, we're still following the Ember's Rule here, folks.
If readers don't like this, it'll be deleted. Poof! Gone! Every bit of feedback helps. That's no joke. I simply can't write without it. That truth still holds true here. So by all means speak up! Make yourself heard!
Your feedback matters! I cannae write without them!
I really look forward to reading and chatting with you all after a long day working back to back shifts. What little downtime I have these dyas is often spent writing, and that really has a tendency to wear me out. On that note, I'll be creating a plot bin after this called Fragments of Teyvat, to prevent my Genshin stories from multiplying out of control.
Remember, this is a work of fiction. Lets just sit back and enjoy the story, eh?
Alright, then! I think I've kept you waiting long enough. Shall we begin?
As ever, I own no references, memes, or themes.
Now, then! Heeeeeere we go!
"Remember this. Before everything, before all things, I am a father, first and foremost.
There is nothing -NOTHING!- a parent wouldn't do for their children.
Why, a true Father would even go to war for them.
Heed my warning. Let the little ones be.
Or you'll be dealing with me."
~?
Father of Teyvat
Time's a funny thing in Teyvat.
At least it seems to be in my experience.
Its not that time moves slower in this world, its just that there's more to see. To experience.
Kurama and I have walked through the windswept hills of Mondstadt. We've climbed the cliffs of Liyue and shared a drink with a dragon. Our feet have tread the endless forests of Sumeru. We swam to the deepest depths of Fontaine and raced through the blasted plains of Natlan. We braved the wicked winter of Snezhnaya and emerged unscathed.
We settled in the stormy islands of Inazuma, started a family, and befriended a giant serpent. Not necessarily in that order.
In the end, life can go one of three ways when you fall into a world filled with so many gods and monsters.
You either die a hero, live long enough to see yourself become the villain...
...or perhaps...
...you might become...
...just a little bit of both.
I'm not one to brag but Kurama and I have...grown kinda comfortable here. We've had our share of battles, made allies and adversaries alike. In my experience its best to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Worked well enough for us before I fell into this world. Hasn't failed us thus far. Gods are pretty human once you get down to it. Just ask Morax. Nice fellow. A bit odd sometimes, but he seems alright. Now that I dwell on it, we haven't gone drinking with him in awhile...
So I ask you again; in a world where gods and monsters walk the earth unchecked, what do a Man and a Fox become?
Demons? Now why on Teyvat would we want that? A miserable pile of secrets? Not quite.
I suppose when you go wandering around the world, you make a name for yourself. People flock to you. Follow you. Look to you for guidance. Leadership isn't something given to you. Its something you earn. Kurama still hasn't quite found his answer in that regard. Me? I finally have. Well. Answers. Multiple. Suppose I should explain.
Y'see, when a man wanders the world of Teyvat... Sooner or later, for better or worse. He becomes a father.
Then a grandfather. Followed by a great-great-GREAT grandfather.
To how many, you ask? Heh. How many indeed...
(.0.0.0.)
A young girl crept into the kitchen.
Dappled morning sunlight spilled down on her from a nearby window as she tiptoed past the point of no return. She moved quickly, lithe little frame darting forward with a speed no human child should possess. Bright eyes flashed, narrow and intent, her goal fixed in her mind to the exclusion of all else.
Her objective was close now, so close she could almost taste it.
Her gaze rose to regard a bright orange jar set near the stove.
'Cookie jar sighted!'
Daddy always said it was naughty to have cookies before breakfast, but she'd been such a good girl lately; her and her sister both. Surely he wouldn't mind if she took just one. He'd never notice. If she was quick and fast and terribly clever she might even get away clean.
And besides, with her sibling playing lookout, there was no way he could sneak up on her this time.
.
..
...right?
With such sound logic in heart, the little sprite hopped up onto the counter, moving with all the grace of her birthright.
The child quickly looked left.
The she looked right.
Not a soul in sight.
Eyes like twin amethyst narrowed as she pursed her lips. From there she scuttled forward like a crab to claim her prize.
'Careful now...carefully...got it!'
In a single deft movement she snatched up the jar. Cradling it to her chest, she hopped back down. The weight of her prize nearly unbalanced the little seven-year-old for a moment, almost sent her tumbling to the floor, but she course-corrected quickly and plonked down with said prize in hand. Logic demanded she dispose of the evidence quickly, but childlike greed demanded she wait no longer.
Nimble fingers pried off the jar's lid.
A familiar aroma reached her nose. Mmm. The risk was well worth the reward. She inhaled once, allowing herself for the merest of moments before proceeding. savor it. She must be swift. Papa might come downstairs at any moment. He was quick as lightning when he wanted to be, and he'd already promised them a family day together.
Chocolate chip cookies really were the best.
Her hand stabbed down into the jar and closed around a particularly large one cookie. With great care she tugged it free, careful not to break it around the opening of the container. She was well rewarded for her patience and took a moment to appraise her hard won prize. He had baked them in the likeness of a fox last night. Heh. Daddy was silly.
She set it to her mouth and took a great big bite. Followed by another. And another. Now another still.
"Ahem."
Isn't it remarkable? How a single sound can freeze the blood?
"And just what do you think you're doing, young lady?"
The little girl absolutely froze, poised just shy of swallowing. Caught with her hand in the proverbial cookie jar. There was no greater shame than this. Maybe if she stood perfectly still, he wouldn't see her. Yes! In a fit of panic her young mind seized upon the notion. That was it! If she just didn't move, then surely he couldn't see her. She mustn't move. Mustn't turn around.
"Ei."
Meeep.
Faltering legs betrayed her and she whipped around, nearly smacking herself in the face with her own braid.
Father was a great big mountain of a man -at least to her!- clad in orange-on-black clothing over which he'd thrown a flowing red mantle. The golden mane of his hair was an absolute mess as always; his whiskered face marred with scars and eyepatch shielded his left eye besides. She knew it for a ruse, having seen what he hid beneath it. Even now his visible blue orb was fixed upon her with singular intensity. She'd not escape it.
"Well?" His brow drew down, betraying the faint smile on his lips. "What did I tell you about having sweets before breakfast?"
She warbled and broke. "It was all Makoto's idea!"
Father -Naruto!- quirked a brow. "Is that so?"
A brief pall of silence followed. And then.
.
..
...
"What?!" A distant yelp broke through it. "I did no such thing!"
The faint clamor of bare feet hammered down the hall for all of a moment; then her sibling came hurtling into the kitchen at breakneck speed. Face flushed, dark hair in disarray and violet eyes wide with shock, she looked even more out of sorts than Ei currently felt. Just as well. They were twins, after all.
And right now?
Her sister looked quite cross with her.
"How nice of you to join us, Makoto. My, my, such naughty girls." Father planted a hand on his hip. "Whatever will I tell your mother?"
Makoto stilled. Ei squeaked out a gasp beside her sister.
...nothing?"
"I see. Nothing." Their sire chortled softly as he drummed his fingers on the counter. "Hmm." he thumbed his chin. "I'm sure she'll understand."
Ei whimpered. She could picture it now. Mama would never punish them per se -she was much too kind for that- but then again, she didn't have to. There would be no need to raise her voice, or even ground them at that. She'd just give them the look. Ei could imagine it now.
"I'm not angry with you, dears. Just dissapointed. Oh, Naruto! Wherever did we go wrong with these girls...?"
Their surname Raiden descended from their mother, Minamoto Raikou...wife to the shogun of Inazuma. Mother was lovely, make no mistake, but she was a little odd at the best of times. It didn't help that she was often the sort to wander, leaving her husband busy with the task of maintaining the isles.
Not like father.
Yeah, mama was scary. Not like papa.
Legends said he wore a dozen different faces, lived countless different lives, but he always had time for them. Unlike mother, he was an army unto himself. Looking back, Ei still didn't much understand what a shadow clone jutsu was, but he'd promised to teach them someday all the same. Such was their birthright, after all. Still, father was looking at her and she must attend.
"What am I going to do with you two?"
Makoto tented her fingers. Ei mirrored the motion. "Let us have cookies?"
"Hmm." His brow furrowed. "A good father wouldn't let you ruin your appetite before breakfast.
"But a great daddy would!" Ei latched onto his leg before he could finish.
"Fine." he relented. "You can sneak a snack. But just this once.!"
Makoto held up a finger. "Pinky promise?"
He chortled a little. "Of course...
Dropping down to his haunches -and still towering over them for it- their sire held out a hand and crooked a pinky finger at them. Ei's gaze traced the digit, noting the scars there, too. She never knew where he'd gotten them and her resolve always faltered before she could bring herself to ask. She supposed it didn't matter.
"And remember," he winked as he held out that lone digit, "Its our little secret."
Together, the twins reached out and hooked their fingers with his in a grin.
The very moment they did, he swept them up into his arms.
Ei and Makoto yelped. "Daddy, no!"
"Daddy, yes!"
One day they would rule Inazuma in their Father's stead.
One day, the world would tremble at their names.
But that day was not this day.
A/N: Aaaaand cut!
So In The Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review, Would You Kindly? It keeps us all alive.
Without reviews, we wither and die. Sorry, but that's the truth.
Now then, we do hope you enjoy the previews. Read at your own risk, of course:
Why? Because next chapter, things start to get heavy. Once more! Read at your own risk! Big scenes ahead!
SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!
PLOT DETAILS AHOY!
YE BE WARNED!
(POTENTIAL Previews)
His hand descended in a swift chop. "Bad Chiyo! Apologize!"
The oni whimpered. "Sorry...
"Archon war? No. Not happening. Not on my watch!"
Kurama chortled softly. "I swear, I'll never get used to having a human body...also! Yae! Put that down!"
...hey now. Leave those two alone."
"You are not a god!"
"You'd be right about that." Naruto's head bobbed once, jaw casually resetting itself with a wretched pop. "But unlike you I never claimed to be anything more than what I was. Now c'mere, missy!" he crooked a clawed hand at her. "Lemme show ya what I think of yer heavenly principles!"
His fist cannoned out and his foe hurtled down through the clouds.
She was still flying when a rough palm closed around her face and sent her hurtling through a mountain.
"And stay down!" He shook a fist at there. "Or so help me, I'll finish what you started!"
A tiny red bomber raced through the streets of Mondstadt.
Woe to those who crossed her path; for this little scarlet streak waited for no one; those who didn't make way were summarily bowled over.
She ignored then. Gotta run. Gotta hurry.
"Grandpa's coming!"
Naruto pinched the brow of his nose.
"Its not what you did son, its who you did it to. I taught you better than that...now go apologize."
"Excuse me? You're joking, right?"
A blond brow rose.
"Lisa. Drop him."
"Boo...
R&R~!