"There is nothing here" said Arlecchino suspiciously.
"How can you say that? There are no empty places, they are only filled with nothingness"
Arlecchino's murderous aura escalated to the point birds started fleeing.
"Okay, okay. Look over there, you should be able to see the sea" Kenshin pointed in a certain direction.
"That's a wall" said Arlecchino with a dark face.
"Huh, sorry, I came here following my memory. I know the place, but I can't mark the sea after all. Well, you should be able to see the sea from somewhere near right?" asked Kenshin in an apologetic tone.
"Yes, 200 meters to the left. Now speak, why should I keep you alive?" Arlecchino couldn't care less about the sea right now.
"In the first place, you will get caught, there is a squad of ninjas nearby. They can't hear us, but they saw us coming here together, and believe me, there is a very angry fox looking at us from the top of the shrine, wondering about the blood in my neck" Kenshin replied casually.
Arlecchino, despite all the training she had to keep her poker face on, couldn't help but look at the Shrine in surprise but she couldn't see anything. That didn't reassure her in the least, as the Fatui already knew about the existence of the powerful youkai and the familiar of the Electro Archon.
"And second, I can help you. I'm pretty awesome" Kenshin raised his hand with his fingers making a victory gesture.
Arlecchino fell silent, knowing that there was no choice here.
"Ah, ah, stop there. I can guarantee you that no matter what your choice is, she won't harm you. Of course, you can't kill me or she will go berserk, but you can choose to leave, and I will keep your secret. Or, what I hope you choose, stay here and let me help" said Kenshin when he felt her resignation.
"Before choosing, I need to know why are you so insistent on helping me" replied Arlecchino with a sharp voice. Now that her facade had been torn, she was showing how she really felt, and she was full of anger.
"Of course, because of your soul. A shining soul of pure red, symbolizing how much anger you have, and forged through countless challenges and obstacles. And even despite all these difficulties, the soul is still as pure as it was the day you were born, not a single fracture or deformation. To understand what I'm saying you would need to be able to see what I normally see, but I can tell you that I admire you for your strength" Kenshin explained trying to show his sincerity. "Of course, you can trust me over time and ask me for something easy this time".
Kenshin didn't trust Arlecchino one bit. She was still a Harbinger, and no one reached those ranks without dirtying their hands, it was a fact.
So while he didn't trust her, she was a necessary presence for Inazuma for now, and he wanted to make sure everything was going well with the pretty fucking suspicious Fatuis. He could slowly get to trust her, but most of all he needed her to trust him.
And her soul was beautiful.
Arlecchino fell silent upon hearing that. That was true, she couldn't understand what was so beautiful about her soul, as she knew that she was full of hate towards the system that killed all her friends and discarded their corpses in the cold ravine outside the orphanage, but only when they weren't sent towards the labs of the mad doctor, Dottore, who used corpses and alive children alike to his nefarious ends.
She wanted revenge for them and wanted to make a place where no children would need to live through that again, and she was prepared for a plan spanning decades.
But now with this weird boy's help, she may be able to accelerate the plan.
"What was that book about?" she asked once she regained her calm demeanour. That book had made even the Tsaritsa herself scared, and that may help her develop a new weapon against her.
She wasn't planning to kill her, but should the need arise, she would need to be ready.
"All I knew about souls. How to seal, manipulate them and even strengthen them" replied Kenshin honestly. He was willing to tell her the basics or things only he could do, as the Contract with Morax was still active.
"Why was the Tsaritsa scared when reading your book then? While I admit that all that sounds amazing, and I will only realize how important those things are after mulling it over for a while, it doesn't seem enough" complained Arlecchino with a pensive expression. Every second that passed let her understand more about Kenshin's ability, and only now did she understand why he was as important as a Gnosis.
"Because there were some things written in that book that I shouldn't have, and I won't tell you about them because they will only be harmful to you. And also because I promised Morax and Barbatos I wouldn't" said Kenshin with a sigh. "If it helps you, even Morax, one if not the old being in this world had no idea of that before I told him, and he also looked very scared".
"All the more reason for me to know it" replied Arlecchino in her calm voice, but a hint of greed could be gleaned. Of course, Kenshin saw this clearly.
"You still don't understand. Do you see my eyes?" asked Kenshin, looking at Arlecchino's face and opening his eyes for the first time since he saw this girl.
Kenhin's eyes were the same they had been since that day years ago when he lost his sight, a deep purple with golden particles moving in them. During these years, the scarce golden particles had increased in number, and now their dance in Kenshin's eyes made a mesmerizing spectacle.
'What beautiful eyes he has' Arlecchino thought, fascinated by the ever-moving particles that were dancing over the beautiful purple background.
"Thank you for that, you are the first person to voice it, but people usually like them" Kenshin said with a smug smirk. "But you should know that I was able to see normally, just like you do. I peeked into something I shouldn't have seen and I lost my sight. Even looking directly at the Shogun and Morax's eyes didn't faze me, and yet, look at me now".
Arlecchino took a deep breath. Whatever this Kenshin saw, it was far, far stronger than Morax and the Shogun, and consequently, the Tsaritsa. But she knew Kenshin wouldn't budge on this.
"Then how can you help me?" she asked. If Kenshin wasn't going to tell her anything, what could he do?
"If you have problems, or face something related to curses and souls you don't understand, call for me and I will help, I'm the best in those areas. Of course, I will refuse if you don't give me a good reason to reveal those things, I won't help you do the shady shit you guys usually do. I don't dare to try to strengthen your soul without being sure it won't harm any of us, but maybe I can help you with this" Kenshin had a mischievous smirk while slowly moving his hand toward Arlecchino's back, as to not scare her.
Arlecchino saw this but didn't react, from what she knew Kenshin's physical ability was almost null, and if he wanted to harm her, he could have done it in that room where the Shogun would protect him.
Kenshin's hand touched Arlecchino's Vision, situated in her upper back, and with his other hand, he touched Arlecchino's forehead. Instantly, Arlecchino's Vision stopped glowing, and Kenshin took it, giving it to Arlecchino's stretched hand.
"Here you are, you are now Visionless" he smirked, proud of a job well done, and happy Arlecchino trusted him enough for this, but he also knew it was because
she didn't have enough time to think about everything he could do.
If Arlecchino knew that with that slight touch, he could have obliterated her soul, well, Kenshin would be in 10 places at the same time by now, or maybe even more if the flames in Arlecchino's soul erupted.
Arlecchino looked at the now dim Vision in her hand with a blank face but wasn't worried as she had already checked that her ability to wield her Elemental Power was still there. She didn't say anything and pocketed the Vision, not showing any kind of surprise.
"Come on, it is something amazing. You can use Elemental Power now without relying on Celestia, you could have felt at least a bit of surprise" complained Kenshin with a pout.
"If you are going to help me, this is the least you should be able to do" said Arlecchino, tacitly accepting Kenshin's help in her plan to take revenge.
"Well, yes, but still" Kenshin said looking at the sky. He could sense Yae's worry and anger, but the fox would need to wait, as there was a charming lady next to him who required his attention.
"Is that everything?" asked Arlecchino in her calm tone.
"You are pissing me off now. You have by your side the person who knows the most in this world about curses and souls, is able to seal almost anything and can sever your connection to whatever thing is that is sending your information to Celestia, and you are still asking for more?" Kenshin said in an indignant voice.
"Hmm, if you put it like that, it indeed is a bit ungrateful on my part" Arlecchino acknowledged. She still didn't know very well what she could do with Kenshin's ability, but she was sure there were many things, some of them extremely useful. She only needed some time to think and mull about this.
"Hmm" Kenshin nodded in approval. He was awesome after all.
"If this is an exchange, what do I need to do?" asked Arlecchino looking at Kenshin's eyes, noting how beautiful they were once again, not ashamed at having accidentally revealed her feelings before.
"One thing, you need to write a letter weekly" said Kenshin raising a finger.
"Impossible" replied succinctly Arlecchino.
"Yes, I know there will be some times when you are on a mission or your letters could be intercepted. But you just need to write them at the earliest time possible, no exceptions. If you can send a letter to me asking for information or with a request, you can send me one about other things" Kenshin insisted on this.
"*Sigh*, I will send you a letter every time I need something from you" Arlecchino gave up with an exasperated sigh.
"No, that was not the deal. You send me a letter weekly, and I do you a favour. If I don't receive your letters for 2 weeks and I suddenly receive a petition, I will ignore it. You just need to write weekly and send them together with your request. If you aren't going to do it, I won't help you" Kenshin rejected Arlecchino's proposal instantly.
"What should I write then? My life is not that intriguing" noted Arlecchino, wondering how much shit she would need to invent to keep Kenshin satisfied without revealing too much. "I don't like to be tied, and your proposition is all about that".
"Whatever you want. If you want to complain about your boss, do it. If you want to vent because your coworkers are driving you mad, then write about it. How bad was your week, how good was your week, how did that ice cream taste how cold the climate is, whatever. You don't need to invent anything, because I don't want to find anything you are not willing to share. I think it's an extremely good deal with you" Kenshin said with a pointed look. "And if you don't like being tied, you can always refuse the deal. It's not like I'm forcing you to go and eat ice cream".
"I won't even bother asking about why are you satisfied with that, but I agree, there is no reason for me not to" Arlecchino sighed once again and nodded. Despite feeling excited at having such a hidden card, she didn't show a single hint of a smile.
"You know, if you are happy you can smile, I already know about it" said Kenshin with a teasing smirk. "Now you should leave because Yae's patience is reaching its end quickly".
Arlecchino didn't answer, but took a long look at Kenshin and left without looking back. After Kenshin wasn't able to sense her, which meant that she had left his radius of 500 meters, he spoke.
"Come out, I know you have been listening to everything we said. Even if I can't see all that sparky shit you can do, I can sense your anger every time she spoke" Kenshin said in an exasperated tone, and in a shower of sakura petals, Yae appeared with a frown.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" she said with a cold voice.
"I don't regret anything".
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In Liyue.
"Shenhe, Cloud Retainer, I came to visit" Guizhong said while unlocking the door and entering the Adeptus' abode.
"Guizhon, stop unlocking the door without asking first" a blue crane, Cloud Retainer, appeared in a bad mood.
"You are just angry I can break through your mechanisms" replied Guizhong with a teasing smirk. "It only shows that you know I'm better than you".
"You weren't like this in the past" Cloud Retainer grumbled. "Those years by that kid's side have left you with some side effects".
"What can I say? He is annoying and troublesome, but he knows how to have fun" Guizhong shrugged.
"Letter?" asked Shenhe arriving after jumping from another platform a hundred meters away.
She hadn't received a letter in months, and it was making her sad, but she knew Kenshin was having trouble, so she decided to wait.
If after waiting a while she still didn't receive any letters, she will wait to be taller and stronger before going to Inazuma to rescue him. He was a weakling after all.
"Yes, Kenshin finally could send a letter inside a potato" Guizhong replied with a smile seeing Shenhe's 'happy' face, but she was secretly worried about the contents. "Read it with us, we may see some hidden message in the letter".
Shenhe nodded seriously, and opened the letter with great care, treating it like a treasure. In the parchment, there were only 2 words.
'Fuck you'
"Master, what does 'fuck' mean?" asked a puzzled Shenhe.
"What?! That kid is going too far!" shouted an indignant Clour Retainer. "Guizhong, make him stop or I will make him. Shenhe, that crass word means something very bad, it's almost like hate".
"Cloud Retainer, don't manipulate Shenhe like that" Guizhong said wryly. While it was obviously not a good thing to write, 'fuck' was meant as an insult, and 'hate' was not even close to its intention.
But Shenhe trusted more her Master's words, mainly because they were convenient to her.
'Fuck (love) you'.
Shenhe grabbed happily the letter and ran to her room, where she cautiously put the letter with the other ones inside her box, hiding then the box under her bed.
With another treasure to take care of, Shenhe nodded happily, thinking about the weak boy who was sending all those beautiful letters to her fondly.
'Noooooooo!'.
Alter-Shenhe wasn't that happy, but under outer-Shenhe feelings, she couldn't help but be happy herself.
A twisted occurrence that would have its consequences.
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In Mondstadt.
Jean opened a letter with anxiousness.
She had been waiting with bated breath for this letter, as it would reveal how Kenshin felt after her mother Frederica fooled his parents, making them give the precious necklace to her.
But the letter didn't arrive, and she feared that in his anger, he had decided to cut ties with her.
And finally, the letter arrived.
'My dear Radiant Knight.
If my parents gave you that old necklace, then keep it. My parents are not that cunning or smart, but they are also not stupid. If they thought you should have it, I have no qualms about that'.
Jean exhaled, feeling that a huge weight was taken off her, and euphoric she could keep the necklace. Kenshin called it an 'old necklace', but he couldn't be unaware of what it meant right?
'No, there was no way he wouldn't. It was a family tradition after all' thought Jean, feeling bashful at Kenshin's acceptance. Didn't this mean he agreed to the betrothal?
'I see, I'm betrothed now' Jean suddenly realized what it meant.
She expected the day when she would find someone special to arrive, and she didn't know what she would feel when the moment that person agreed to marry her arrived. She thought she would feel anxious or nervous.
But all she felt was happiness, and a calm acceptance that now her life would be tied to Kenshin's. Before getting emotional, she decided to continue reading, she would cry later.
'I don't blame your mother for what she did, all your mother wanted was the best for you, I think, and I'm proud to see she chose our family. Of course, I will wait to meet her to decide what I think about her, but in any case, it shouldn't affect you or our relationship. I can't write a lot, I need to hide this letter in a lavender melon, but I hope you are well. I sent the second manuscript of the series, 'The Radiant Knight and the Greedy Witch', I hope you like it.
Best wishes, from the land of lightning, Kenshin'
Jean closed the letter, feeling excited about not being blamed for her mother's actions, and obviously happy at reading that the second volume of the novel inspired in her was going to come out soon.
"Ara ara, I wonder what this letter contains to make the stern face of our Acting Grandmaster light up like that. Let onee-san read it too" the seductive voice of a brown-haired woman with a purple attire and a witch's hat spoke from the door.
"No, Lisa, it's private" replied Jean while stowing the letter in her Vision.
"I wonder if it's about that guy I've heard a lot about, the Princess" Lisa laughed with a teasing smile.
"Don't call him that, he is more courageous than any person I've ever met" Jean said while remembering how he was able to smile even after losing his sight, not regretting anything.
"Ara, that's quite the statement" Lisa said in a surprised tone. "I will need to meet him, and soon, or I fear my cute Jean will get snatched".
Jean looked at her to reply, but she remembered something. They were betrothed after all, she had already been 'snatched'.
"Please tell me that my tired eyes are trying to fool me" said a disbelieving Lisa. "You are already married?".
"N-N-N-" Jean stuttered, trying to get the 'Not yet' out of her mouth, but she couldn't answer due to the embarrassment.
So she did what she usually did when her shame reached a threshold, she ran away, leaving behind a stunned Lisa.
"I-I need...I need..." Lisa started rapidly walking in circles, trying to find what was what her body needed right now. She froze for a second, finally understanding what her body was asking her to do.
"I need to tell everyone".
And that she did.
That night, there were fireworks in Mondstadt, wine flowing freely from the barrels saved for the years-long expedition to return, songs were sung and dances were danced.
A certain green bard was drinking like the most, not knowing what the celebration was for, there was free wine after all.
A couple of outsiders who came to Mondstadt from Inazuma were congratulated by everyone, as their son was now married to the Acting Grand Master. Yahiko and Mio felt relieved that they didn't misunderstand anything, now that their son agreed, everything was good, and they considered Jean as their daughter-in-law.
The possibility of all this being an error or a misunderstanding didn't cross their heads. There was no way the kind and smart people of Mondstadt would throw a big party like this without being sure of the actual facts right?
Unfortunately for them, people in Mondstadt would throw a party like this just because a hilichurl fell face-first.
As for the bride and now 'married' woman, she was in her bed with her head under her pillow, thinking about how to explain the misunderstanding to Lisa the next morning.