[5]
A small before.
as xiao woke up, he felt arms wrapped around his waist. it felt heavy, and little uncomfortable. after lying on the cold hard ground of the cave for hours, the left side of his body hurt.
he started to groan as his body ached.
he grabbed y/n's arm from his waist and got up. He looked down at her as he realized what was happening. Then looked back up and turned around. His face was filled with embarrassment.
______
The sun arose and dawn had hit. The clouds painted orange and yellow. Stars dissolved back into the faint pink sky. y/n stretched her arms and legs. Yawning to the cold wind that came into the cave.
As she opened her eyes, Xiao wasn't there.
"Xiao?" y/n said, still sleepy as her voice was subtly low.
She looked around and spotted him outside of the cave entrance sitting alone as he watched the sun go up. "It's quite enjoyable to see the sunrise. Though the fog is making it difficult to see." Xiao spoke.
y/n looked at him as his golden eyes focused on the solid yellow sun. "When did you wake up?"
"Hm. I guess around 6."
"6? You could've slept in a bit more."
"I knew if I slept, I'd continue to have those..awful dreams."
'Ah..' y/n thought as she thought back to last night.
Looking at her pocket watch, it was currently seven.
"I should've not brought that up actually. You'll be pitying me, correct?"
y/n didn't speak.
Xiao got up and pulled out his hand, awaiting for y/n to grab it. Xiao then spoke, "let's go back to the Wangshu Inn. After that--"
Xiao paused for a second. He averted his gaze, avoiding y/n's eyes.
"Let's part our ways." He finished.
Disappointed to realize that they might as well not see each other again after this, y/n had a lot on her mind. She felt herself frowning.
______
Walking back to the Wangshu Inn wasn't hard. Though it was a bit stressful with all the mud stuck onto their shoes since it rained the other night. "This is annoying.." Xiao muttered.
"I'm sure the mud will be out of our way soon." y/n responded back to Xiao who couldn't care less anymore since his shoes were already covered in mud.
As they both walked, y/n pondered about the other day. She remembered how Xiao said he had hesitated mid-way through the fight for her. Though, she didn't quite know why. The very thought of it made her cheeks feel hot.
"What are you thinking about?" Xiao spoke as she saw her cupping her cheeks together.
"Nothing.."
After an hour of walking, y/n and Xiao finally made it. y/n smiled and looked at xiao who only had a grumpy look on his face. y/n thought he'd be at least a tiny bit happier.
y/n's stomach grumbled and Xiao looked at her and then rolled his eyes. y/n couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
"You are truly helpless." He facepalmed in utter disappointment.
y/n would argue it was to be expected since she hasn't eaten a single bite today.
As the two walked into the Inn with their muddy shoes, the lady at the counter looked displeased. Xiao simply ignored it and went towards the kitchen. y/n on the other hand tried to apologize for both of their manners.
"You must be close to him." The lady said.
"Oh, I wouldn't say so.." y/n responded wondering how she got such an idea.
"Hah, he isn't the type of person to be fond with just anyone."
y/n glanced at Xiao then looked back the lady.
"Is there a reason why he isn't out going?"
"I don't know much about what he's been through. I don't recommending asking him either though." The lady replied with a smile.
"Alright then. Nevertheless, thanks for the info. Could I have your name?" y/n asked as she finally found someone who she could talk to casually.
"It's Verr Goldet! What about yours."
"y/n!" she responded back with the same energy.
"I'll be heading to the kitchen now." y/n said, she wouldn't want to keep Xiao waiting.
"Of course, eat something good. But the chef is a bit..how should I say this, intimidating, but he's a great cook and actually quite gentle when you get to know him!" Verr Goldet waved to her.
y/n walked down to the kitchen. And soon saw the chef who did look as intimidating as Verr Goldet had mentioned. But there was a soft aura radiating from him which felt reassuring.
"Hello.." y/n greeted with hesitation.
"What brings you here?" The chef questioned as he looked at her. For a moment, she felt judged.
"Could I use the kitchen for bit? I'd like to make something--." She asked.
"Can you cook?" The chef interrupted with such straightforwardness. But y/n planned to talk back with a quick response, hoping so it would
make her seem more competent. She thought that it would be nice to leave a good impression.
"I can."
"Then do so, I won't stop you." He said with a smirk that could probably uplift any down spirits.
"Could I also have your name?" y/n asked so she could remember it for the next time they encounter each other.
"It's Smiley Yanxiao."
y/n started cooking Mondstadt Hash browns. After journey to Mondstadt, she learned some delicious recipes and it was rewarding to finally be able to use them. The kitchen was filled with a variety of different ingredients too.
"Wait. I'm forgetting something. Xiao can't stomach these foods.." Y/N muttered.
y/n set aside the cooked hash browns and made Almond Tofu. Though she's never made Almond Tofu, it looked a bit unappetizing.
'Suspicious Almond Tofu?'
She picked up the plates and looked around for Xiao. He was waiting at a table.
"Heyy~." y/n sung a bit and then sat down. But however, Xiao didn't seem amused one bit.
She placed down the plates filled with food and then moved the plate with Almond Tofu to Xiao.
"Did you put something into it?" He asked, gazing at the Almond Tofu.
"Was that an insult.."
"Perhaps? But I'll eat it."
Y/N continued to eat her hash browns.
"It's rubbery." He randomly said.
"Rubbery..?"
"Did you not hear me."
Y/N scratched her head.
"I'll get one from Smiley Yanxiao." She said.
"No, it's fine." Xiao said.
"You just said it was-"
y/n paused, and watched him eat.
'It does..look weird in some way.'
____
The two finished eating. "Let's not see each other again." Xiao didn't hesitate to saying that this time.
"Right. That's what I promised you." y/n remembered. She wanted to sulk but maintained a neutral composure.
"Though, you may run into me outside of the Inn or in the balcony. I'm free to talk." Xiao said although he got a bit embarrassed, but y/n was thrilled to hear
that.
_____
y/n watched Xiao from the balcony. He seemed to be waiting for something. Hilichurls suddenly appeared again.
"Are fighting hilichurls his duty or something because that's all I really see him do.." y/n wondered as she laid her chin onto the palm of her arm. Her elbow was propped up steadily.
'Not just normal hillychurls, ones with a dark aura.' She thought again.
y/n noticed that whenever Xiao attacked, he releases a bit of a anemo. 'Could that be his vision?'
y/n remembered something. The five Yakshas, they defended Liyue, when the Archon War was still present.
'The Geo Yaksha, Electro Yaksha, and foremost Pyro Yaksha..they all passed away. The Hydro Yaksha had vanished. Though one Yaksha was still in the mortal world, fulfilling his duties. Known as the Conquerer of Demons, he stands below the moonlit sky.''
(might not be accurate)
y/n came to a sudden realization.
Remembering she had met Xiao under the moonlight, in a condition that he hinted that he had fought fiercely possibly moments before.
He always mentioned, "Mortals, humans..duties" And said things in a way that showed he wasn't interested to get along with anybody. The man who had an anemo vision wasn't interested in human affairs and culture either. Xiao could also be explained in this way.
And Yakshas..they don't have a a healthy past.
'But Xiao, A Yaksha? Is he the remaining Yaksha?'