A/N: Sorry, this is short. Site broke again -cloudflare errors- and I lost what I was writing.
...I'm back.
Been a bit, hasn't it?
We've had the service for my uncle...and I'm here. I don't know what else to say.
I've since redownloaded Genshin again -took me weeks!- got it working on a new console, and am working my way back through Sumeru and the like. I'll be going away for a week or so come the end of October. Might get back early, might not. I need some time to clear my head. I've been trying to shake my uncle's death off, but I just can't. I want to get over it, I do, I want to stop feeling sad, but I just can't. Don't even get me started on the what-ifs, the helplessness, the rage...
In other news...depression's starting to hit reeeeaaaal hard these days.
Sometimes I wonder why I do anything at all. I can't claim to understand what's going wrong with my head.
I don't even know why! One moment I'm fine, then my mood craters for a few hours, then I'm back again for a bit, and the cycle repeats. Its rather annoying; as though I've become a prisoner in my own mind sometimes. Sure, what's one more mental problem on the pile. Not like I don't have enough, what with already being this old. Feels like every day is a battle sometimes. But when I go to the docs, they say oh no, you're fine, you're just tired. HA!
Writing helps fend it off the worst of it times, but when I come back to myself, its still there. Waiting for me.Alright, I've kept you waiting long enough, methinks. Lets get the gears moving!
As ever, I own no references, memes, or themes.
They're tributes to legends far greater than I.
Hope this chapter makes you smile.
Trying to fight down the urge to make a Yaksha fic...
Spoilers for Genshin 2.7 onward. I'll let you guess when this takes place...
"It is rare for a Yaksha to find repose for their soul; rarer still for them to leave a life of slaughter behind.
Maybe the world will never be free of disaster. But there is good in the world too.
After all, even the darkest hearts have room for those they cherish.
We created you. Summoned you. Made you.
Now its your turn to choose.
Live your lives."
~?
Hush
"...I appreciate it."
"Don't mention it. What're friends for?"
Rex Lapis hid a small smile behind his sleeve. "Many things, but I hadn't thought babysitting one of them."
His old friend didn't immediately answer to that effect, he just pressed a finger to his lips. "Shhh...not so loud. I finally got your darn brats down for their naps...
Children, hmmm. He supposed these little ones still were.
Naruto Uzumaki, Mighty Shogun of Inazuma and Electro Archon, fixed him with a steadfast stare as he sprawled in his chair.
The reason for his immobility soon became apparent; one had but to shine a candle on him to reveal the five children sprawled across his body.
A feisty little redheaded child with violet eyes lay nestled in one arm, while a horned girl with dark hair, wicked blue claws and striking blue orbs snuggled down in the other. The third was boy who looked not unlike Rex Lapis himself, sprawled atop his head. The Electro Archon looked positively harassed all told, even with a fourth four-armed youth clinging to his chest like a spider monkey. It didn't help that the fifth had all but laid claim to his legs; which meant he wouldn't be getting up anytime soon. Truly, it was a miracle that he'd managed to appease them all.
He let his gaze pass over them fondly, daring to pat their heads, one by one.
Indarias, Yaksha of Pyro.
Bonanus, Yaksha of Hydro.
Menogias, Yaksha of Geo.
Bosacius, Yaksha of Electro.
And last but not least, Alatus, Yaksha of Anemo, who would someday be known as Xiao.
These were monsters meant to slay demons. Or they would be, when they were older and properly came into their powers. They would be heroes. Saviors. Conquerors. More would come in their wake, but these five were truly the first. For now, they were unruly and somewhat spoiled children, destined to grow into fine warriors.
Liyue was still holding strong. Let them be little a little while longer.
After all they did so love their uncle Naruto more than anything.
Under his watchful eye Yakshas-his children-would be safe.
They would not go mad. They would not lose themselves to fear. They would not turn on one another in a frenzy of karma. They would not die alone deep beneath the earth, unable to remember even their names...where had that last thought come from? His mind tended to wander these days it seemed.
Brushing such concerning foresight aside, the monarch of Liyue shook his head.
...they made quite the mess, it seems." The entity who would one day call himself Zhongli smiled softly. "They didn't cause you too much trouble now, did they?"
"Just a little." Naruto made a pinching motion with one hand. Belatedly, he realized that they'd drawn on his face with ink, the little scamps. "They're good kids, just gotta keep 'em occupied."
Zhongli let his placid gaze rake over the clearing, taking in the burnt grass, tattered trees, an overturned cooking pot, and the faint smell of smoke. He'd been wise to take the little ones outside. They would've caused all kinds of chaos had they stayed indoors.
"You and Guizhong owe me for this by the way."
"Hmm?" he looked back to his fellow Archon, dearly wishing he could take a picture of this moment. "I beg your pardon?"
"You heard me." his old adversary-turned-ally granted him a merry grin. "You're babysitting our kids the next time the wives and I wanna go out."
A daunting prospect indeed. Little demigods could be quite energetic, and Naruto had more children than he did these days. Guizhong would be delighted of course, she adored children no matter their form. After all, she loved the Yaksha as if they were own. And she'd taken quite the liking to little Yelan and Ganyu...
Still, the idea of that many miscreants calling over him made his brain tremble. "I'm certain Barbatos would do in a pinch...
Naruto cocked a blond brow at him. "Do you really want to entrust Venti with children?"
He tried to rally under that steadfast gaze. "But surely the others-
Naruto's eyebrow climbed higher still.
.
..
...fair enough."
Naruto palmed his face. "Honestly that bard bastard was supposed to help me but he ran off at the first sign of trouble."
The Geo Archon made a bemused noise. "I shall have a word with him."
"Please do. Preferably after I shave him bald."
Zhongli snorted into a fist. "Naruto, no."
"Naruto, yes! I will have vengeance!"
His stomach growled, cutting his diatribe mercifully short.
...just as soon as I get something to eat."
"You must be hungry." Zhongi walked past him and retrieved the upturned cooking pot, placing it atop the fire once more. "I'll make you some Adeptus' Temptation." Guizhong had drilled the recipe into him, and while she might be away with Cloud Retainer at the moment, always kept some ingredients on hand. As such it was a trifling matter to fill the pot with them and get to work. "Here. Its the least I can do."
The blond sniffed once, caught the aroma, and went still where he lay. "I wouldn't do that, if I were you."
Zhongli already had a fire going, but nevertheless looked his way. "Whyever not?"
"Because," Naruto made a smug noise, "You'll wake the kids up."
The Geo Archon tensed too late, realizing the ramifications of his actions, but unable to take them back. Sure enough, his little Yaksha-to-be were beginning to stir. It was like flicking a switch; one by one the scent of the delectable dish began to rouse them from their deep slumber. Slowly at first, but increasing clarity.
And once they did...
"Oooh, what's that yummy smell?!"
"Papa's back! Lets play!"
"No! I wanna spar!"
"Tag! You're it!"
"Foood...
Naruto shrugged once shoulder, wearing a rueful grin. "Tried to warn ya."
Chaos descended upon the two of them as only children could.
But it was an adorable chaos indeed.
A/N: Aaaaand scene.
Protect the little Yaksha. That is all.
As ever, the Embers rule still persists. If folks don't like this? Poof! Gone!
Awaaaaay to the void it goes. Gone once and for all. Forever. Completely. That's no joke.
So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter! Really, they do! I'm literally working every day now, so I have less and less time to write. Daily updates might...slow down for a bit, but I know that would upset a lot of people. Its just hard with two jobs.
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.
No previews this time. I'm exhausted, tired, and ready to fall asleep.
R&R~!