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Sometimes, when Qiqi went herb gathering, she got lost.
It wasn’t anything she worried about. Qiqi had her travel route written and described down to every mountain crevice she had ever seen, and direction in her notebook had her ordered to know how to proceed. When she got lost, she would walk around, until she got to a place she had recognized - and found her way back to Bubu Pharmacy.
But sometimes, Qiqi got distracted - finding even rarer flowers at Liyue’s slopes and mountains, her original order of herb gathering overrules everything else.
That’s how Qiqi found herself scaling mountains in Nantianmen, trying to reach one more purple bloom of violetgrass. Her heart didn’t beat and she didn’t feel pain of aching muscles. but Qiqi’s hands were still ones of a human, of a child.
Small, bony hands were not ones that were meant to climb up rocky cliffs. Her grip was firm, but when Qiqi reached the smoother part of the rock formation - her short hands could not help her reach safety. Before she realized it, she fell back into the chasm below.
Qiqi didn’t fear pain, but she knew consequences. Death was beyond her, but the humane feeling of wanting to escape it remained. Qiqi didn’t want to feel it again.
At that moment, Qiqi was scared.
She expected to meet the rock hard ground, vaguely able to imagine the impact of her body against it. She’ll survive, but she'll still inevitably break. Qiqi closed her eyes. She waited, and waited, but…
Instead of the earth, she had met an incredibly forceful, yet light as a feather wind. She had never known wind that strong, nor did she realize how simple wind could carry her. She couldn’t open her eyes - the breeze was too strong - but some kind of warmth touched her back and made her stand - and Qiqi felt ground underneath her again.
When Qiqi finally opened her eyes, she was standing on a rock formation, Qingxin flowers all around it. She blinked - it was much higher than she had been before… Shifting her weight between her feet to get a grasp on balance again, she looked down, just to cement it all as real - and she saw that in front of her, laid one plucked violetgrass.
Qiqi picked it up. Truthfully, since the order she had given herself was to pick herbs and flowers, she should’ve been compelled to get back to it anyway… but she felt nothing.
She wondered what snapped her out of acting on that order.
But Qiqi didn’t think twice, and picked it up. She could now see recognizable trails back to Bubu Pharmacy, wooden bridges calling her.
She should probably hurry - she didn’t want the wind to sweep her off of her feet to a possible fall.
-
Ever since that day, Qiqi noticed when the wind blew too hard.
She was forgetful as one could be, but even dead muscles had some kind of memory.
Qiqi didn’t really understand when customers with colds came in. It was a routine for each of them to say days grew windy, and that’s how they caught their cold; it was so prevalent, Qiqi memorized Baizhu’s insincere ‘of course, it can’t be helped’ reply.
As far as Qiqi was concerned, it never grew windy in Liyue Harbor. Even at the docks, the wind could never compare to what true wind was like.
One day, Qiqi had met with hilichurls, and at the same time, with a howling wind.
Qiqi was busy picking berries when the hilichurls noticed her. She didn’t realize they were there up until the very moment she heard an arrow being shot towards her. Qiqi looked back to see it coming - but a sweeping wind came in, and made the arrow take a different course.
It was only then that Qiqi realized that wind could be so green.
Without much thinking, Qiqi had left her herb gathering duties, and went on to fight the Hilichurls. After all, that was what was written in her notebook - if attacked, you must defend yourself.
Qiqi ran up to their small camp, sword in hand.
But by the time she had arrived at the scene, they were all sprawled all over the road in front of her. Qiqi blinked - even the big mitachurl at the back was knocked out by the trees. And in front of them all stood…
A boy?
Green.
Said boy looked back, a sound as soft as a cloud escaping him. A flash of gold shined at her when their eyes met, and it reminded her of sunlight, but for once, she didn’t feel the warmth that usually accompanied it.
Qiqi didn’t like the sun, and more than often, wanted it gone; but with another flash of green, the boy disappeared, and for once, Qiqi wondered why the sunlight couldn’t remain for longer.
-
Qiqi didn’t remember faces, but surprisingly enough, she still remembered colors.
Green and gold when the winds blow, Qiqi wrote herself in her notebook, trying to keep the pieces together, should she see that boy again. It was cryptic, but somehow, it was enough for Qiqi. She didn’t know why, but the colors were familiar.
Familiar, from long, long ago.
She wasn’t sure why, but therefore - chose to ask Baizhu. He was the one that found her, after all. Maybe he had a clue.
“Well, you always understood descriptions of flowers and herbs perfectly fine. It’s no surprise you’d recognize colors, Qiqi,” Baizhu told her, hand ruffling her hair. Qiqi frowned. That wasn’t what she meant.
She shook her head at Baizhu, trying again. “But I remember… a person. A person, with those colors.”
Baizhu’s eyebrows furrowed in thought. There was something indiscernible in those eyes. “You mean, you think you can vaguely remember a person with those colors?”
Qiqi nodded, but was soon to speak again. “Qiqi sees him, sometimes, while herb gathering.”
Baizhu’s eyes narrowed once again. “Qiqi, is someone trying to approach you when you are out of the Harbor?”
Qiqi waited a second, thinking about it. She shook her head. “Qiqi only sees him from afar. Sometimes, Qiqi blinks and he’s gone.”
Baizhu looked puzzled, hand on his cheek as he tried to think of something. Qiqi could already tell that he failed.
“Sounds to me like you have an imaginary friend,” Herbalist Gui suddenly interrupted them. Both Qiqi and Baizhu looked back at him. “I used to have one as a kid, too. Awfully hard to win hide and seek against them, isn’t it?”
Qiqi brought a finger to her lips. Was the green boy playing hide and seek?
“It’s a fine conclusion, Gui, but if it isn’t an imaginary friend…” Baizhu started to say, but stopped. Qiqi tilted her head at him.
“Of course, precautions are important, but honestly, it sounds like she’s speaking about you. Green and gold is not a combination often seen in Liyue. Perhaps she finally started to remember her boss’ face.” Gui suggested, and Baizhu quickly turned to Qiqi.
“Qiqi, from what you remember, does he look like me?” He asked her, a smidge of hope in his eyes.
Qiqi looked at Baizhu closely, examining. His hair was green, and his eyes were golden. She tried to remember.. Did she see Baizhu? Those were the right colors, but…
Qiqi blanked out.
“...I don’t know.”
She didn’t say no, but it still didn’t feel exactly right. Baizhu brought his hand around her, sighing as he embraced her. “If you end up remembering my face, you have to tell me, alright?”
His hands felt like vines, too tight around her. Even as she nodded, she knew it wasn’t the gust of wind she felt outside of the city, but at least, she had an idea of what to do now if the winds blow again.
-
On one particular expedition to find horsetails, Qiqi went as far as Wangshu Inn to find them.
Usually, the area was rather safe. There were plenty of travelers and adventurers passing by, clearing it periodically of monsters, so it wasn’t surprising, but there was also something about how Wangshu Inn stood so tall, as if it was a fort in the midst of nowhere.
Qiqi went about through the shallow waters, gathering the horsetails and looking for other materials on the way. The most common one she had gathered was without a doubt the sweet flower, and she had seen several bunched up together not so far away.
She ran up to them, ready to pick them up, when she felt a gust of wind behind.
Qiqi remembered. Green.
And when she looked back, it was completed. Gold.
She turned completely to him, and he was surprised - but Qiqi had practiced this in her head, and she had written herself an order; a question to ask should she the wind blow green. “...Are we playing hide and seek?”
The boy in front of her blinked. He was quiet for a few seconds, before he stepped a few steps forward, by the sweet flowers she was about to pick. He grabbed it, squeezing it hard in his hand, and yanked it up.
“No, but this thing is.”
What came to view was a cryo whopperflower, which the boy tossed away. Without a moment to spare, it ran away from the green boy. Qiqi had poor memory, but for some reason, each time they had met, it was memorable.
And Qiqi remembered - he protected her a lot.
Why?
He looked as if he was about to turn to leave, so Qiqi ran up to him, holding onto his leg pant. “Are you my imaginary friend? Qiqi doesn’t want to forget.”
The boy looked at her, and his golden eyes took in sadness and grief that were so familiar, Qiqi felt as if she was on death’s door seeing it.
“It’s better if you forget,” He answered, and disappeared in a gust of green.
Qiqi didn’t want to. If Qiqi had a friend, she wanted to protect him, too.
-
One day, when Qiqi and Baizhu were going down the docks, they were ambushed.
“Qiqi!!” an unhinged, fiery voice had called her from behind. Qiqi immediately went on the defensive. If there was one face she could always remember, if there was a voice she could always remember, it was Hu Tao.
Qiqi hid behind Baizhu’s leg, scowling at the teenager in front of them. Qiqi didn’t necessarily need Baizhu for protection - more than often, it was the other way around - but Baizhu usually made sure Hu Tao couldn’t get to her, and that was what she needed at the moment.
“Is it really necessary to make all this ruckus, Director? It’s a bit too early in the morning, don’t you think?” Baizhu asked her. Hu Tao huffed at him.
“All things come in due time, Mr. Baizhu. I haven’t seen Qiqi in so long, though - it was way overdue!” Hu Tao walked around him, trying to get to her, but Qiqi ran circles around Baizhu to get away, up until the very moment Baizhu picked her up in his arms, stepping away.
“I’m not sure if my dear Qiqi agrees with you.”
Qiqi nodded at that. “Qiqi isn’t going in a coffin.”
Hu Tao looked down and slouched as she sulked, her hat nearly falling off of her head. “No, no! I don’t want to put you in a coffin! I could make you a lovely one, of course - but I just want to apologize..” Hu Tao tried. Baizhu shook his head.
“You’d have to try harder if you want to make amends, Director. I had to protect her from you for quite a while,” Baizhu answered, a small grin on his face. Hu Tao scowled at him.
“I don’t recall asking you sorry, doctor,” She answered in a similar manner to Baizhu, and went on to mumble under her breath. “If she was under my wing I’d actually protect her…”
Protect. Green.. Gold.
“...Why would you protect Qiqi?” Qiqi suddenly asked. Both Baizhu and Hu Tao gave her surprised looks.
To Qiqi, the idea of being protected was strange. She might’ve looked like a child, but her body was that of a zombie. She was strong; she didn’t need anyone to protect her. So why does the green boy protect me?
He didn’t seem to want to be her friend, and yet…
“Ehh? Uhm..” Hu Tao seemed confused, scratching the back of her head, but Qiqi stared at her intently. “Arghh, it’s the first question you asked me, so I gotta answer it well, uhm…” She thought, until she figured it out, eyes lit up - and smashed a fist into her palm. “For me… I want to protect you, so I can apologize properly. The cycle of life is important, but I want to preserve the happiness of souls that want to be around, too.”
Qiqi thought about it.
To apologize?
“Sounds futile to me,” Baizhu answered for Qiqi, and Hu Tao seemed to be about ready to set him aflame on a pyre.
“As futile as it is to use a snake as a scarf!” Hu Tao answered back, and Baizhu brought his index finger in front of his lips, shushing her.
“Shh, Changsheng is during her brumation period. Let her have some winter sleep.”
Qiqi didn’t remember the rest of the conversation. They fought amongst themselves, but Qiqi was busy thinking about someone else.
Regretful golden eyes came to mind, and Qiqi wondered if the green boy was sorry too.
-
The next time Qiqi had met the green boy, it was in Liyue Harbor.
It was the Lantern Rite, and Qiqi saw the dark night sky filled with lanterns. The view from Bubu Pharmacy was pretty and quiet - secluded enough from the city and high enough for a full view of the festival lights.
Qiqi had made her own Xiao Lantern, but she couldn’t think of a wish to let it float with, so Baizhu suggested they should just keep it as a keepsake until they decide on one. Baizhu had already gone back to his room to rest, but Qiqi was still thinking.
She sat by the window. The cold wintry breeze grew stronger as the night grew darker, but as the wind blew past her, as the golden glow of the lanterns shined… colors came to her mind.
Green, gold.
She hadn’t seen him in a while. Or at least, she couldn’t recall a meeting. It bugged her - she still wanted to ask things. To say.
Gui might’ve called him imaginary, but Qiqi just knew him as her friend.
She took her lantern, and ran outside. Maybe if she wished with the lantern, he’d show up.
Qiqi was small, but she wanted her wish to reach high - so she went up to the rock formations by Yuehai pavilion. She thought that if she climbed on top of one of them, it would be a good spot to try… but when she did, she found out that place was occupied.
Her eyes widened.
“Green..” She said, and the boy turned around. The golden glow on his eyes cemented it, and Qiqi ran forward to him, standing right beside the edge he sat on.
The boy moved away from her, uncomfortable with her next to him. The sad expression in his eyes refused to leave her since that day, and its return to his face made some kind of memory in her to awaken.
That expression… it was familiar. It reminded her of the day she had gotten her vision; the day she had died.
It was a face she had known.
The green boy stood up, and seemed like he was about to flee again, but this time, Qiqi spoke before he could.
“I forgive you.”
He stopped in his place. Qiqi spoke again. “Thank you for protecting me. Qiqi forgives you,” she emphasised again, before grabbing onto his hand, just to make sure he’ll hear her out. “So please don’t be sad anymore.”
The green boy stared at her for a while, and slowly, the tense muscles of the hand she held loosened. Qiqi looked up at him, and although he shut his eyes tight, his face was serene, and for a moment - she saw a brief, barely noticeable smile.
When he opened his eyes again, there seemed to be one thing that also caught his eye.
“Your lantern.” Her lantern was tossed aside and beside them. She must’ve thrown it away when she ran up to him.
Qiqi picked it up. It was a bit crumpled, but still alright. She could still use it, she thought…
Until she realized she didn’t have anything to light it up with.
I forgot.
Qiqi frowned, and the greenboy tilted his head at her. “It can’t fly without fire…”
Qiqi didn’t like fire. It was too hot, and it made her feel like she was melting. But the green boy simply took the lantern, and with whirling, green swirls of wind, made it rise up to the sky.
It was much prettier than any fire they could’ve used.
“What’s your wish?” He asked her as she stared at the lantern flying away. Qiqi took a moment to think about it.
“..What’s your name?” She asked him. The green boy lifted an eyebrow, but still answered.
“Xiao.”
“Then.. Qiqi wants to be real friends with Xiao. Not imaginary.”
Xiao looked a bit flabbergasted, his eyebrows almost reaching his hairline. If nothing else, she certainly won’t forget this face. Xiao grumbled, thinking over it for a little while, but finally…
“Do as you wish.”
And he disappeared into the wind again, but that was alright. As she looked at her lantern flying away, riding the wind, she could tell - this was no imagination.
This was just her friend - and she’ll remember that.