Diluc Ragnvindr
I let out a sigh while closing the book...
"What the fuck..." I mutter under my breath while remembering what I had read in the book.
'Hanahaki disease? Unrequited love? And this is all connected to Khaenri'ah?' My head was full of more questions then answers, but at least finally I knew what this diseases' name was.
Sighing once more, I get up and place all the other books back in their places, while taking the one I had just read.
Leaving the forbidden library with the book in hand, I walk to Lisa.
She smirks, "Well, well Master Diluc did you find out what you were looking for?
I nod, "Yes I did," I hand her the book, "Is it possible to borrow this book?" I say with a serious voice.
Lisa's face instantly lost all mischievous intent and she crosses her arms with a now serious expression.
"Master Diluc, this book is from the forbidden section of the library...the Acting Grandmaster would kill me if I were to let you borrow the book and let you leave with it..." She whispers a bit exasperated.
I whisper back unwavering, "I know, but I really need to read this book more. I promise I will keep it safe and that no one will have their hands on it, do not worry."
Lisa stares at me with a calm yet serious expression, after a bit she exhales a sigh, "I will trust you then, you can borrow it for three days. I cannot give you too much time with it, I expect it back by then, are we in agreement?"
I nod and she writes the books name and my name by the title and hands me the book.
"I will return this back to you in three days Lisa, Thank you." I give her a small smile.
Lisa relaxes, "You are welcome. Now, Diluc,"
I look back at her, and she gives me a small smile, "You will talk to Kaeya right?"
Sighing, I mutter, "I...will try..." saying that I leave the library.
Heading out of the Headquaters of The Knights of Favonious, I heave the 100th sigh that afternoon.
Walking away from the building I start organizing my thoughts.
'So...I have this so called "Hanahaki Disease" and this so-called disease will kill because I have a one sided love towards a Khaenri'ahn, which in my case, I have a one sided love for...Kaeya...'
I feel my cheeks redden and instantly I also start to feel a slight tickle in my throat.
I try clearing my throat, trying to get of that uncomfortable sensation. It doesn't work, just makes it worse. I just start violently coughing and coughing.
Tears come to my eyes for how hard I was coughing and this foreign object felt stuck. I started to slightly panic and I run to a back alley. Away from the public eye as I started to notice some concerned eyes upon my me.
I say a hurried, "I'm fine..." before running away.
Finally reaching the alley from the force of the coughs I fell to the ground.
'Fuck! Is this another petal?! No way is it this big?!'
Coughing, coughing, and coughing. The object does not budge. 'It...hurts!...'
Finally after what felt like centuries, I cough out what felt stuck. My body reeling from tremors, my breath labored and ragged. My throat raw and sore, and my eyes were wet from the tears that were forced because of the coughs.
Composing myself, I open my teary eyes and I focus on object on the gornd.
Immediately the blood in my body turns cold, frigid.
On the ground was a single, blood-stained, calla lily.
A full fucking grown Calla Lily flower...
Feeling lightheaded, I tried to get up and I place my hands on the wall beside me. I started to gag, which was not helping my raw sore throat.
After a few, I calm down. My body composes itself and I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Fearing that I would start another coughing fit.
Sigh...
'Everytime I think of him, I get even more closer to my demise huh...'
Looking towards the ground, I pick up the flower along with the book I had unceremoniously thrown on the ground. I wince.
'Hopefully the book isn't damaged in any way...'
I lean against the wall and I organize my thoughts while I recall the contents of the book.
"This disease comes from another curse that Celestia put on the people of the fallen civilization of Khaenri'ah. Any Khaenri'ahn that falls in a one sided love with another Khaenri'ahn or with a foreigner can get this disease.
As well a person that isn't Khaenri'ahn that falls in love with one (a Khaenri'ahn) can have this disease. The Khaenri'ahn will have the worse effects of the symptoms of Hanahaki. Their symptoms are more accelerated and severe because of the punishment that was put on these people.
It is dangerous for an Khaenri'ahn to fall in love at risk of this love disease. It is very deadly.
Now, a person that has unrequited love for a Khaenri'ahn can also have hanahaki, but their symptoms aren't as severe, it is more subtle, but still deadly if not cured soon.
The only way to get yourself rid of this disease is by two options: To have the flowers surgically removed from inside, cutting off the source; or by confessing to the person you are having hanahaki for. Both of these options have risks though.
1. By surgically removing the flowers the hanahaki will be removed, but along with it all your memories and emotions of the person that caused the hanahaki will be erased. You will not remember anything of that person, nor the feelings that you had with that person.
2. If you go to confess and the person you have hanahaki towards rejects you the flowers with the vines will grow fully inside you at a rapid rate and will kill you instantaneously. You will not feel any pain, but your organs would've been punctured by all the thorns of the flowers. And as you are dead the flower of your beloved comes out of your mouth immediately apprent that you died of this disease...
. . .
Regaining myself, I shudder as I remember all this. I leave the alley with the book in one hand and the bloody flower in the other. Passing a trash bin I throw the bloody reminder of my deadly affections.
'Would Kaeya know anything about this since he is Khaenri'ahn? I can lie to him if he asks why I am asking, but I really need to know more.'
With a resolute nod, I head towards Kaeya's apartment.
. . .
Arriving at his apartment, I hesitate a little before I knock on his door.
1 minute passes, 2 minutes pass, and it is deathly silent.
I frown, 'is he out? Asleep?' I try again, "Kaeya, it is me, Diluc. Can we...talk?"
More silence follows, until I hear hurried footsteps and after a bit the door opens and I see Kaeya.
Shock goes through me. Kaeya looked worse for wear. His hair not brushed as he usually had it, under his eyes were eyebags meaning he wasn't sleeping; and what mostly made me concerned was how pale and ghastly he looked.
"Diluc...?" I hear Kaeya say and that gets me out of my concerned stupor.
"Ah, sorry I was...distracted, is it alright if I come in...?" I direct my hand towards the door and Kaeya smiles softly while he opens the door wider to let me in.
"Come in come in, I just didn't expect the elusive Master Diluc to come directly to my abode for a talk." He chuckles and I blush slightly but opt to stay silent as I enter.
As Kaeya closes the door he starts to talk in his flamboyent tone. "So Master Diluc what was so important tha-"
I interrupt him as I get closer to him and I grab his face gingerly in my palms as I say with a concerned tone, "Kaeya...are you okay? You look...sorry for the lack of decorum, you look like shit. Your pale and you look raggad, are you sick?" I start to look around Kaeya's body for any external wounds.
Kaeya's eye had widened, as I then placed my forehead against his to check his temperature.
"..." Kaeya was still in shock I could tell. I let go of his face gently.
"Kaeya?" I call out to him, and immediately as I did he starts coughing, violently.
"Kaeya?!" I yell as the force of the coughs forced him to fall to the floor, I hurriedly go to the kitchen to get him a glass of water.
As I return to the living room I hear Kaeya gasping for air as he had stopped coughing and as I get closer, upon inspecting what he was carrying in his hand I paled...
A single bloody lamp grass flower with its stem. I dropped the glass of water I had in my hand. Dropping right next to Kaeya I turn him towards me, he was panting and gasping.
My ears were ringing and I ask.
"Kaeya...you have Hanahaki?!"
NekoAyane: OMG, I am sorry sorry that this literally has taken a year. Life happened and I again lost motivation. Tbh, I didn't really know what to do to continue this story, but I had a dream and believe it or not I got inspired to continue this thankfully. So, here you are! I am working on Chapter 7, and hopefully I can get it done before I start Uni this fall.
Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter! Please let me know if there are any errors, as well there will be some stuff that isnt canon! (I at the moment am writing this on my phone as I am outside fishing with my family. :3)