Chapter Text
Liyue was beautiful, it was a land of gorgeous scenery that Kazuha would spend all day looking at. He truly missed Inazuma, it was his home and all he had known but with the vision hunt decree in effect and Tomo's demise… Well, he had to leave. If he had stayed, he would have died or his vision would've been revoked. It was ideal for Kazuha to make his new home somewhere remote so he chose Qingce village. It was quiet and secluded, away from the bustling streets of Liyue Harbour. It was perfect.
Well, almost perfect.
He had to make his home a little outside of the village, not too far but enough that he had to make a journey down a mountain in order to purchase food and other essentials from the village. He was perfectly fine with being far off from the village, that didn't bother him. It was reason the villagers had for that decision that bothered him.
He's from Inazuma…
What if he's with the Shogun…
What if he tries to take away people's visions…
He might hurt the children…
Kazuha sighed as he remembered the harsh words spoken under hushed breaths. He didn't hold it against them, they clearly didn't understand the situation in Inazuma. He was a refugee, not a spy. He didn't address it, knowing the only way to gain their trust would be through good deeds and good behaviour.
He had been staying in Liyue for a weeks now, the mental wounds left behind from Inazuma still fresh on his mind. He wouldn't sleep well, every time he closed his eyes he'd see lightning flash across the darkness, he'd hear the clatter of a broken blade against stone, he'd see Tomo's body fall into his arms. And that would be enough to jolt Kazuha awake into another sleepless night.
He stood up from where he was seated on the cliff edge just outside his home. He needed to buy some seeds for his garden. He had decided to start growing his own vegetables and flowers, maybe start selling them in the village… That is assuming anyone would actually buy from him. The village had become used to his presence but they still didn't trust him fully.
He headed down the stony mountain path, it was narrow and steep so he held onto the side for stability. It would be easier to glide down, use his vision to keep him steady in the strong winds but he didn't want to startle the villagers.
The wind was blowing his hair into his face. Kazuha groaned in annoyance and pulled a hair tie out of his pocket. He tied his hair up at the back instead of his usual side ponytail. A side ponytail in the wind wouldn't have changed much.
He continued down the mountain path, he finally reached the village. He sighed in relief and took a moment to sit down. He hissed slightly at the pain in his thigh, he lift his kimono that he had reserved for garden work to inspect his bandaged thigh. He adjusted the bandages slightly.
The injury was just a reminder of what had happened in Inazuma. He sustained it while attempting to escape from the Shogun's men. A deep gash caused by a polearm, he even had to stitch it up himself while the man helping him fended off the soldiers. Not one of his best moments. If it hadn't been for him then Kazuha would never have escaped.
Who was this him?
The man that ensured Kazuha's escape from Inazuma. A Fatui harbinger. Kazuha was reluctant to trust him but he kept his word and safely escorted Kazuha onto a ship to take him to Liyue. The harbinger remained in Inazuma, he had told Kazuha his name and that he would come to Liyue to find him when he was done in Inazuma.
Kazuha only believed half of what that man said. He didn't truly trust him but he owed him his life.
He pushed the memories aside and stood up, fixing his kimono. He headed into the village and to the stall where he could buy seeds.
The owner of the stall was fond of Kazuha, an elderly man who had said that Kazuha reminded him of his grandson when they first met.
Kazuha wanted to be formal and polite by addressing the name by his surname but the elderly man had insisted that Kazuha refer to him as 'Gramps'
"Ah, young Kazuha. How are you this morning?"
Kazuha smiled. "I'm well, thank you. How are things with you, Gramps? Was your trip to Liyue Harbour enjoyable?"
Gramps chuckled. "It was amazing. Well, almost amazing. I had to listen to my son rambling on and on about how Liyue is still so dangerous even with the Yaksha gone. Nonsense I say. Liyue is perfectly safe."
That was a new one. Kazuha had never heard of anything like that before. Yaksha?
"The Yaksha?"
"Oh, dear boy, I keep forgetting you're not of Liyue. I suppose they didn't tell the stories of the Yaksha back in Inazuma."
"No, they didn't. Yokai and Oni, but not Yaksha." Kazuha giggled.
Gramps patted Kazuha's shoulder. "Why don't you join me for afternoon tea and I'll tell you the stories. I'll even throw in an extra order of seeds for your garden, free of charge!"
"Oh! Gramps, you don't have to-!"
"Hush, boy. I want to." Gramps winked and chuckled.
Kazuha smiled. Happy that at least someone in the village was openly kind to him. He nodded. "Alright. Tea?"
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Kazuha had not heeded the warnings. When Gramps told him the story of an enchanted teapot and a beast within he simply laughed and brushed it off as an old wives tale. But he was wrong, oh so very wrong. He should've taken his teatime talk with Gramps ten times more seriously than he had because if he had then be wouldn't be in this situation.
He had decided to explore more Liyue and had stumbled upon an abandoned temple, destroyed and weathered. A shrine in the centre with offerings surrounding it and one old, dusty looking teapot. He didn't even think twice before reaching out to touch it. And when he did, the world went black around him as he was rendered unconscious.
...
Kazuha slowly regained coherence, his head foggy and vision blurry. He groaned as he raised a hand to hold his head which at this point in time felt as if it was made of lead. "W-where..?" He blinked his vision into focus and looked around. He was surrounded by Liyuen mountainous landscapes and… floating islands? He was laying on the softest grass he'd ever felt in his life, surrounded by the most beautifully scented flowers he'd ever had the pleasure to smell.
He slowly sat up and looked around. Where was he? Wasn't he just in a temple? How did he get here? Wherever it was, it was gorgeous. But the feeling was eerie, there was a horrible sinking feeling in Kazuha's stomach as he slowly got to his feet. He felt as if something was watching him and it made him shiver.
"Hello-?" He barely managed to call out before a small weight knocked into the back of his legs, nearly sending him crashing to the ground if he hasn't been on guard already.
"Quiet mister! The beast will hear you!" A tiny voice sounded from his feet.
He looked down to see a little girl, maybe no older than six or seven years old, clutching tightly to his leg as her small form shook with terror.
"The beast? What are you-?" Kazuha began to ask her before a low and deep growl sounded from behind them. It was terrifying, the only word Kazuha could use to describe it was demonic. He quickly turned and kept the girl behind him.
He was brought face to face with the tallest creature he'd ever seen in his life. It was easily eight feet tall, maybe more. It's golden eyes pierced Kazuha's very soul. It's body looked almost mangled as it stood cloaked in shadow and thick feathers.
This was the beast he was warned of. The beast the little girl was scared of. Oh Archons, he was relalu in trouble now...
"You dare enter this realm. Foolish mortals." It spoke. It's voice was hoarse and low.
"P-please mister beast! I-I have to go home! M-my mama is gonna be worried-!" The little girl tried to plead as tears fell down her cheeks.
"You've seen me.. And know of my realm. I cannot allow either of you to leave." The beast proclaimed as his gaze moved to the child attempting to hide behind Kazuha's leg.
Kazuha decided to speak up. "Please... At least let her go. She's only a child. No one will believe her if she tells anyone of your realm." He hated the idea of this little girl's entire life being spent as a prisoner of this beast. She was so young, she deserved to live a life not be trapped until she dies.
The beast's sharp stare turned back to him. "You would have to stay if I let her go."
Kazuha nodded. "I realise that."
There was a moment of silence before the Beast made a slight grunting noise and waved his large claw in front of him. The child disappeared in a cloud of shadow.
Kazuha hated how he felt when that dark magic was so close to him. It felt so disturbing and unnatural.
So this was his fate now? To be trapped forever as this beast's prisoner or potential slave? Maybe it's dinner...
The beast gave one last growl before it disappeared.
It... was just going to leave him? Let him have free roam? Well... He assumed it was monitored free roam but it was still weird. Was he not going to be chained up or forced to serve him?
Kazuha still felt like he was being watched. 'Suppose I'll have to get use to that.' He thought to himself as he headed forward. He might as well explore a little...
Even if exploring was what got him into this mess in the first place...