Nervously fidgeting with his sleeves, Kunikuzushi can't help but gaze outside of the window of his room, immediately seeing the lights coming from the city that is closely approaching as the ship prepares to dock.
He can feel the way his artificial heart beats within his chest, thumping so loudly. He must be nervous... but why?
Is it because it's the first time he'll be travelling?
Or perhaps it's because he's in such an enclosed space with the electro archon.
Or maybe it's because you had told him that you'll be waiting for him as soon as he arrives...
Nevertheless, Kunikuzushi tries to calm himself down. Taking deep breaths, he eases his grip on his clothes.
Looking over at his mother who is just about finished with fixing her own clothes, he timidly asks for permission to wait by the deck, saying that he wishes to get some fresh air before they arrive to which she nonchalantly lets him go.
Darting out of the room, he zooms past Yae Miko who's just about to enter the room and onto the deck where he can now fully see the entirety of the harbour of Liyue. The water glistening with the lamps that are just now starting to be lit. It makes him gape at the pretty scene before him.
You live in such a beautiful country... it suits you, in a way.
Just one look at the sight before him and it already makes him feel warm inside.
Without much thought, he gets sucked into sightseeing. Trying to point out as many differences between Liyue and Inazuma which distracts him enough to not realise that they're about to dock any second now.
"Kunikuzushi, fix your clothing." Beelzebul suddenly appears before him, her hand putting pressure on his shoulder which makes him freeze on his spot.
Smoothing out his yukata, Kunikuzushi mutters a soft apology as he walks behind his mother and Yae Miko who are now preparing themselves as the ship has finally made it to the harbour.
As the platform is being lowered, he can't help but take a peek from behind, trying to see where you are but all he can see is the geo archon who's disguised as a nobleman, his hands behind his back like usual.
You must be right behind him as well.
Taking a deep breath, he follows the two taller women as they head down, tuning out their conversation with the male archon as he desperately tries to get to your side.
Giving the geo archon a bow, Kunikuzushi can't help but let a smile occupy his lips as the three finally decide to walk off to somewhere private which finally lets him get a glimpse of you.
To say that he was surprised was an understatement.
It feels like he can't take his eyes off of you.
You're merely standing there in front of him, your usual stoic face on display and yet, the lights behind you makes you look far more ethereal than usual.
Like Celestia is right behind you...
The smile that you offer him makes him unable to breathe, hands grasping the cloth of his yukata, eyes raking your body, taking in the different outfit that you had on. Taking in your presence...
Oh how breathtaking you look right now.
You have more armour on, less colourful than your usual attire and yet, he can sense it in the air, you are far more comfortable now than you ever were before.
Like you're more at home. More at ease.
He likes seeing you like this.
Likes seeing your horns too... it's the first time he's seen it. In fact, he has never heard it before in any of the songs and stories about you...
If he wasn't a puppet, he would've been suffocated already for he has forgotten how to breathe. The mere sight of you puts him to his knees.
How long has he known you thinking that you were already beautiful, not knowing that that was nothing compared to you now.
"Kunikuzushi, I'm glad that you could make it." Your voice brings him out of his stupor, hand gently placed on his as you guide him away from the pier. "You look quite shocked, I take it that you like Liyue?"
Looking straight at you, a blush forms on his cheeks, unable to take how the lights from the lamps are illuminating you.
He can't even remember what the beautiful scene of Liyue looked like compared to you.
You're the view that he came to Liyue for...
Clearing his throat, Kunikuzushi looks down at his sleeves, fingers fiddling with a small box hidden within as he nods, now conscious of his gift for you. "Oh yes, I... I quite like Liyue. No wonder you love it so much."
At the compliment towards your beloved country, you can't help but smile.
Gently tugging on Kunikuzushi's hand, you lead him somewhere less crowded where the two of you can watch the festival in peace. "Well, it's not just Liyue. I hold a lot of respect and adoration for the people who live in Liyue. If not for them, I won't have a reason to live. I do what I can for them." You preach as the two of you sit on a rock by a small hill overlooking the city.
Humming to himself, Kunikuzushi can't help but stare at you once more. Unable to keep his eyes off of you. "Then... is there any way for me to be like them?"
Tilting your head to face him, you urge him to explain further.
"I... I want to be someone that you adore... is that possible?"
I want to be someone that you love... please.
Frozen in place, you're left staring at the boy before you, watching as he cowers into himself, trying to make himself look smaller.
How precious.
Sitting closer to him, you let out a sigh as you stare up at the dark sky, the stars lighting up the void before you.
"You're already someone that I adore, Kunikuzushi. There is no need for you to try so hard to impress me. I am forever proud of who you are."
You announce it as if you were reading something written on stone.
Something that will never change.
Like adoring him was something natural...
Suppressing his tears, Kunikuzushi gathers up his courage and takes out the box that he's been hiding in his sleeves ever since he got on the ship heading to Liyue.
For weeks, he spent hours working on it, trying to make it as beautiful as he can with his mediocre craftsmanship. He's been wanting to give this to you ever since he finished it but never got the right moment to do so. But now seems like the perfect time.
"(Y/N), thank you a lot."
Looking beside you, you're met with a bright smile from Kunikuzushi, the same smile that you first saw when you initially met him. Lips stretched just a tad bit, cheeks flushed and supple. Eyes glittering with his tears like the night sky before you.
The sight makes your body heat up, heart softening at the mere sight of him. You can't help but smile as well, as you gratefully accept the small box that he hands over to you. Muttering a silent thank you as your fingers brush against each other, the familiar spark between the two of you zooming under your skin as you carefully open the box, lips gaping a bit as you take out the accessory, the jade perfectly matching with the shade of the vine that wraps around your neck, holding up the mementos of the people that you've offered your heart to.
"I did say that I want to give you something to remember me by... sorry that it took so long for me to come up with something."
Unravelling the vine, you easily slot the magatama at the centre, the jade glittering beneath the night light as you hold it up for both of you to see. "It's beautiful, Kunikuzushi. I appreciate it a lot..." Connecting the vine back around your neck, you hold onto the magatama, a small smile on your lips as you look at the accessory, the jagged edges glinting.
It's far from perfect craftsmanship but it just makes it all the more precious for you.
It takes awhile for you to stop admiring the jewellery, but when you do, you're met with Kunikuzushi staring at you, the same sparkles on his eyes as his hand reaches out just a bit, as if scared of making contact with you.
Lightly taking his hand, you guide it to your horns where you noticed him staring from before.
"I tend to hide them from the humans whenever I do my patrols since they get scared when they see it... I'd rather not have them fear me." You explain, remembering the screams that the kids would make when they catch sight of you around their villages, the sound causing shivers to run down your spine. Or the way that their parents would usher them inside their houses, hoping that you wouldn't catch sight of them running away.
It's always been something that you keep in check, consciously hiding the horns lest they unconsciously grow out of your skull once more.
His hands trail down your horns then to your cheeks, a smile stretched on his lips. "You look beautiful with them... I'm sure the humans would think the same soon enough. One good look at you and they'll think the same as I do."
Unable to stop yourself, a few tears gather up on the corner of your eye, the feeling unfamiliar and yet, you don;t do anything to push it away. All you can feel is the warmth in your chest and on the skin that Kunikuzushi has touched.
Wiping the tears from your eyes, you try and change the conversation, pointing at the city where the people have started releasing their lanterns, the lights now heading straight up into the sky as you marvel at them. "Look Kunikuzushi, they've released the lanterns. They look beautiful..." You gasp out, memories being filled with the first time that you went home after the war with the lanterns guiding you and your army home into the heart of Liyue...
How bittersweet.
Being able to go home after the never ending war, warmth finally surrounding you with the cheers of the people and yet, all you could think about was your missing comrades having never returned from their escapades...
But now, that's all changed.
You now have someone who brings the same warmth as they did.
You still have your archon, Rex Lapis.
You still have your brother, Alatus.
You're not alone.
Not anymore, at least.
Looking up at the sky, a few more tears slip out as you reach a hand out towards the lanterns, unaware of Kunikuzushi's stare as he agrees with you.
"Beautiful, indeed..."