We Will Be Reunited

Chapter 1: A Letter To My Children

Hu Tao always knew she was different.

She was different in so many ways. She had a different view of death than others, not least of which because she was part of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's family business. Her grandfather having passed down the responsibility to her and then entrusting her to carry his own rites out.

But a secret she would take to the grave was that she had another reason to look at death differently. And that was that she had died before.

Prior to being born Hu Tao, mistress of Wangsheng, tormentor of Qiqi and bane of all things undead, she was once another person in another world.

A world so different to this one, filled with light and splendor. And filled with exquisite lies used to convey a false love.

In that world, she was Hoshino Ai, actress, model, idol, and mother. She was a wonderfully blessed woman. Her two children were her whole world, and she had been so happy with them.

But now, having been reborn into Teyvat, she had no clue how to proceed other than to lie again. To be the best liar that she could.

This is the story of Hu Tao, transmigrating idol of Teyvat, and mother of the Star children of Tokyo.

—---

Aqua, Ruby, I wonder what you're doing now.

It's been almost another twenty years since I last saw you.

There are so many things I still want to say to you both. But now I can't say.

But that's why I keep this diary locked away, a place to write my thoughts, my hopes, my prayers.

This world still seems so different from what Tokyo was like.

The people are so nice, but the world is darker here.

At least in our world the darkness was hidden behind a facade, cloaked in a sugar coating meant to make it appealing.

Here the darkness is suffocating, and so harsh that many times you see someone you met yesterday dead within the next.

I manage the Funeral Parlor's activity, but even with mister Zhongli's help (who I suspect is more than he seems) it still overwhelms me sometimes.

I know what I'm doing is helpful, and it's been a blessing to continue doing things to help people move on after death.

But I miss you both so much.

The other day, I saw a shooting star and thought of that night when we watched the stars together. How I pointed out the north star to you both.

I hope that you were able to find another guiding light after I left.

I pray that you're happy. That you're doing well. That someday we will meet again.

Until then, I will continue to keep watch. Hoping you both come back to me.

Loving you always, from another world...

Mama

—

On a beach near a cliff, a young blonde girl wakes, her eyes a bright gold. For a moment, a star appears in its pupil, burning bright white. It immediately flashes out of existence as a small fairy floats in from of her.

"Ru - I, I mean Lumine! You're awake! Are you ready to head out? We've been waiting for you. It's been almost a week since we saved Dvalin, so if we want to make it to Liyue in time for the Rite of Descension we should go soon!"

Lumine was quizzical, "Paimon, what were you going to call me before? Ru?"

"Oh! Hehe, umm. Sometimes Paimon hears you talking to someone named Aqua in your sleep, and one time you said something about not being the Ruby he used to know. I didn't mean to pry, but honestly Ruby sounds like a beautiful name! So I kinda slipped and said it out loud, hehe."

"Ruby? Hmm. Sounds familiar. Ruby... Maybe I knew someone by that name before? After all, I've lost quite a lot of my memories during my travels with Aether. Maybe it was an alias I used?"

Lumine slowly got to her feet, looking around as she got packed for the trip. " Either way, we shouldn't take too long! Maybe we can meet some new people in Liyue who can help us find big brother!"

And with that, the destiny became clear for a family once separated. As the world itself seemed to say....

We Will Be Reunited