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As Mona observes Minacious Isle from the top of the Observatory, she can't help but be enamored by the starry skies. She never would've thought that a simple vacation to a faraway island isolated from Teyvat would allow her to look at a night sky she had always dreamed of seeing.
Not helping a smile reach her lips, a light chuckle to no one in particular. She can't help but feel happy, euphoric even.
But something felt missing or rather someone.
As much as Mona enjoys her own company, she can't help but want to share this quiet night with a certain wanderer who joined them on this vacation. A certain wanderer from Inazuma with a red streak in his locks and the most gentle ruby red gaze she had ever laid her eyes upon.
The nights where he had accompanied her under the reason of protection and security albeit she had read her scryglass multiple times without ever having the need to. His comfortable silence and earnest gaze at the stars when she had stolen glances from time to time. The moments where they exchanged words, finding out the many things in common that they had.
She adored the way he would listen to her, his attention never lacking and earnestly attentive to every word she spoke.
It felt great to have met and crossed paths with Kaedehara Kazuha, the quiet and patient samurai who had gone through so much but came out even stronger.
Mona sighed in disappointment, it would be weird to ask Kazuha to watch the stars with her. Not when they haven't known each other for long, no maybe stargazing with him would come some other time.
"Forget it, it's not like you to think like this." Mona scolded herself, she had always been fine alone so why is she suddenly acting like this ever since she had spent time with him? Slapping some sense into herself, she huffed out and continued to gaze out at the stars that provided her peaceful comfort.
That is until a gush of wind rings out and the very wanderer she had been wanting to see the stars with appears. Dishelleved and looking very handsomely attractive under the moonlight.
Mona caught herself, the red rushing all the way to her ears as she and Kazuha caught each other's eyes. The samurai gleefully waves at her as he walks closer to her side with a bit of a jump in his steps unexpectedly making Mona laugh at how energetic he is right now.
"What's got you in such a happy mood?" Mona asked as Kazuha stood by her side. The samurai couldn't give her a straight answer but instead shows her a bunch of starlight coalescence.
"I found these and just collected them out of the blue," Kazuha replied, looking off to the side and seeing a Luxurious Chest locked behind a puzzle. "The puzzles on your island have been surprisingly fun to do. I even got locked in a prison that came out of nowhere but as you can see, I am free."
"Wait, Kazuha you mean to tell me you've been exploring and collecting treasure on my island?" Mona said with a playful smirk as she crossed her arms on her chest. She was shaking her head, connecting the dots as to why Kazuha looked so disheveled and energetic.
"Yes, did I also mention how you have the most brilliant island out of us?" Kazuha mentioned so casually with a childish grin on his face that Mona just didn't know what to say next. Absolutely no words as to how this man could casually say compliments. "I have explored Fischl and Xinyan's islands but with yours, I find myself stopping to gaze up at the stars constantly."
"But then again I found myself thinking whilst watching the stars without you." Kazuha gazed up at the stars, a slight grin on his lips and not noticing Mona's full attention on him, biting her lip in anticipation at his every word. "It felt empty without you telling me all about them."
Kazuha chuckled as he gestured with his head for Mona to follow him. Inserting the eight pieces of starlight coalescence into the device, unlocking the chest, and giving Mona the rewards for the taking.
"Are you sure? You're the one who opened it."
"I am very sure, I'll take the common and exquisite chests. You'll take the precious and luxurious chests."
Mona appreciated Kazuha's kind gesture, noticing the way he spoke so gently and his eyes forming into crescents every time he smiled. Opening the chest, its treasures overflowed as another starlight coalescence came out urging them to follow it.
They watched as it flew up into the skies, bewildered as to how they were supposed to follow it.
"Please excuse me," Kazuha showed Mona a soft smile, gently grabbing the astrologist's waist and legs. Mona could sense no malicious intentions and didn't mind his touch, what she didn't see is Kazuha running towards the edge of the Observatory and jumping off.
Mona shouted in fear, holding on to his neck. Never did she expect Kazuha to jump off much less drag her along. Not being able to teleport nor cloak herself into the water, she closed her eyes shut and just wished for the best.
Hearing a gust of wind come together and something opening as the feeling of a slowed descent embraces her senses. Landing on an invisible bridge illuminated by the starry skies, she could hear Kazuha chuckle and his hands holding hers, helping her find her balance again.
"I'm sorry for the abrupt hold I did, I hope you can forgive me." Mona could only watch in astonishment as Kazuha places his hand on his chest and bowed for her forgiveness. "I am also sorry for suddenly jumping towards the invisible bridge without any warning."
"No no! It's fine!" Mona gushed at the thought of Kazuha holding her through the air. He truly is a very interesting person the more Mona gets to spend time with him. "There's absolutely nothing to worry about! I didn't mind it anyways now let's go follow that starlight!"
Kazuha smiled at his apology being accepted by Mona, his eyes scanning the area as both their gazes landed on the starlight at the same time.
The two looked at one other, words not needing to be exchanged as they followed the starlight to another luxurious chest that Kazuha gave to Mona. The starlight coalescence went forwards once more, now having another companion by its side.
Mona couldn't help but think of how she's chasing chests with a companion. It's a first for her to even have a traveling companion, most of the time she can just take care of herself and the problem singlehandedly.
As they opened the last luxurious chest, a bunch of starlight coalescence emerged and flew up to the sky. Giving them a sight to behold. Truly, the skies and stars are beautiful and no one is going to take that truth away from her.
"I was right, your island is quite a sight to behold." Kazuha chuckled as he stood closer to Mona, keenly aware of how close they are to each other. "And that stargazing truly is much more enjoyable with you."
"Th-thank you." Mona gulped at Kazuha's close proximity and sweet words, feeling her heart skip a beat and the heat rush to her ears. "I hope we'll have more chances to watch the skies together."
"Well, seeing that there is nothing I have to do at the moment." Kazuha sat down, patting the empty space beside him and gesturing to Mona if she could sit beside him. "Want to watch the skies together?"
Mona felt dizzier by the moment, she never expected Kazuha to stay for long on her island. After all, the boat Miitoboru did say something about a wanderer's heart being restless, constantly yearning for an adventure.
Shyly taking the empty space beside him and trying very hard not to get lost in his ruby red gaze like before. They watched in complete, comfortable silence at the night sky up above.
"Oh wait, I have an idea." Kazuha stood up and walked towards the edge, scaring Mona as to what he planned to do again. "Do you want to return to your mirage?"
"Are we jumping again or are we gliding down?"
"Do you want to jump?"
"You're crazy." Kazuha could only laugh as he let Mona glide down first to the entrance. The two enter it together and make their way throughout the mirage. Much to Mona's surprise, Kazuha really did figure out the puzzles in a flash, solving them all swiftly with the help of his Anemo Vision. Mona is amazed at how smart he is but then again, he was once nobility so this really shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Eventually, they reached the starry sky that Mona could've only seen in her dreams. The two sat down, talking and reminiscing about the time they spent on the islands. The mirages that they had traveled through. How a certain night raven's advances made the two of them laugh. How the Traveler asked them both to use their skills to jump over a door.
How a summer vacation became such a memorable experience for all of them.
"You said you could read the people's future. I'm curious about mine." Kazuha asked as he placed his arms behind his back and leaned on it. Gazing up at the purple starry skies with an innocent look on his face.
"If I read it, you may be dissatisfied." Mona glanced at him before returning her sights to the skies above. "Are you sure you want to know?"
"No, I'll let fate take me wherever it wants to take me." Kazuha locks his gaze with Mona, a small grin on his lips and a hopeful look in his eyes. "And I hope, we'll be able to meet again after this."
Mona giggled, slightly pushing him away from her but that only made Kazuha laugh playfully. From his airy laugh to his gentle gaze, Mona finds herself wanting to hear and see them more than once. "You are such a sweet talker, do you know that?"
"Really? I am?" Kazuha asked dumbfoundedly, an oblivious look on his face as he points a finger at himself.
Mona giggled as she leaned to rest her head on his shoulder. Feeling his arm wrap around her, engulfing her senses with the warmth and safety Kazuha seemingly brings along with him everywhere he goes. It's something Mona had quickly noticed on the nights Kazuha had accompanied her when she had done her divinations on the island.
"So Kazuha," Mona closes her eyes, a smug smile on her lips as she thought of asking him something absurd. It was her turn to fluster him after everything. "Thoughts on reviving the Kaedehara Clan?"
"No comment."
Mona looked up and sees Kazuha turn red as a tomato at her question, hiding his face behind his bandaged hand and not daring to look at her.
Mona chuckled as she enjoyed watching Kazuha get a taste of his own medicine. Snuggling closer in his arms as they gaze up at her starry night sky, happy to have had her wish granted by fate. She couldn't help smiling fondly at the man who had been on her mind 24/7.
Maybe sometime later, she could see if their fates could meet again.
As for Kazuha, if the stars are kind and destiny is listening. All he wants is for their fates to be intertwined from this moment on and forwards.