The Phoenix's Clipped Wings | Kaedehara Kazuha

Chapter 25

Sorry if Kazuha seems a bit OOC in this chapter but it had to be done

—

"Guardian Phoenix-"

"Phoenix would be fine, please."

"But-"

"I insist. Just think of me as a common person."

"A-alright."

Paimon watches from behind a pillar, her eyes set on Phoenix who speaks with one of the crew members and she listens in.

Without her knowing, Kazuha snuck behind her and cleared his throat, catching her by surprise as she lets out a terrified screech.

"Gah!?"

She turns around to see him standing angrily there's his arms crossed as he waits for an explanation.

"What are you doing spying on [Y/n]?"

Paimon sweats as she pokes her fingers together, "ehe~"

Kazuha sighs.

And this goes on for the whole day, and it's literally been a day since they departed from Liyue Harbor and Kazuha is getting silently getting frustrating at seeing that Paimon is always spying on [Y/n].

He was sure [Y/n] was going to say something about this but she didn't, instead, it seems like she didn't mind if the floating child was watching her.

He wanted to speak in private with her but with Paimon always close, he couldn't quite do it. Until an idea popped in his head, something to signal to Paimon to give them private space.

With a plan in set, he walks to [Y/n] who was looking up at the stars as Sora sleeps in her arms peaceful. She had said nothing to him and he didn't push it, he knew it would take some time for her to get used to having him by her side after all these years. Seeing that she was used to be alone and only with Sora.

With sake in hand, he carefully walks over to her and takes notice that no one else was on top and his minds thinks back to Beidou who asked him where he was going with the alcohol as she gives him a smirk.

"Kazuha?" [Y/n]'s voice brings him back and he looks up to see her staring down at him. "I brought us some sake to drink."

He walks to her and sits down, placing the tray on the ground and pours a drink for them both.

Seeing that she was still standing, he reaches out for her hand and gestures her to sit opposite from him.

With a small neutral smile on her lips, she accepts the small cup of sake as he held up for her to take. Carefully sitting down, she takes off the red haori and puts it beside her.

Kazuha seems to take notice of the fed haori as he takes a sip of the alcohol, his eyes widen at the sight of the familiar clothing.

"That's-"

"...." She adverts her eyes as she places a hand on it, she doesn't say anything and he figures that she may be uncomfortable talking about the subject.

He clears this throat and pours himself another drink.

A silence erupts between them as [Y/n] runs her fingers through Sora's fur. She smiles slightly at this before she finishes her drink.

"Oh no, that's enough for me. I don't really drink since I'm not in the position to do so." She says as Kazuha offers to pour another drink but he stops.

He sighs at this, "although we haven't been together this whole time, don't you think it's time to drop that title you were given? You're [Y/n] of the [L/n] clan not Phoenix."

[Y/n] looks over to him, an unreadable expression on her face, "That title alone is the only thing left of my teacher, the last thing I could at least do is bring honor to that name for her." She stands up, a bit frustrated at hearing this from Kazuha. She didn't expect him to say something like this but he did not know what the name 'Phoenix' means to her.

"You can continue calling by my old name but for now, I'll be going by Phoenix."

Kazuha stands up after her, he felt guilty that he made her upset. He didn't that this name is important to her.

"Wait, I'm sorry." He grabs ahold of her wrist and she flinches at this and tries to pull her hand away but he doesn't let go.

Panic starts to grow in her, her minds wonders back to a memory that disturbs her.

"Let's just sit down and catch up, alright? I'm sorry for bringing this up." He lets go and she's hesitent but does so anyways.

Meanwhile, after an hour, Paimon watches from a distance and she makes sure neither of the couple can notice her.

She watches with eyes widen as saucers as the scene unfold in front of her, her face grows red. As she watches as Kazuha pins Phoenix down, his face a few inches from hers as they speak between themselves.

Paimon covers her eyes as the couple share a kiss, her face growing redder than a tomato as it starts to get heated between the pair.

"Ekkwk!?" Paimon flies away, her hands on her face as she keeps saying apologies, "Paimon is sorry for interrupting!?"

Back with the pair, Kazuha pulls away and chuckles, [Y/n] doing the same. "I was wondering when she would stop spying on me."

She looks up at Kazuha who is already looking down at her.

"Oh? So you noticed?"

"Oh course, what kind of deity would I be if I can't sense something as small as that." She chuckles and her cheeks begin to turn red and she notices that Kazuha had yet to get off her.

"You know," Kazuha says in a shaky voice, catching her off guard as she sees tears starting to forming in his ruby eyes. "...there's a lot of things I regret not doing and one of them was being able to tell you what you meant to me."

She frowns at this and caresses his face tenderly, as tears start to fall. Although she feels like getting emotional at seeing someone like Kazuha start crying, she keeps it in, wanting to be stronger for him.

"I love you so much, [Y/n]." He confessions as both their face flush red and their eyes meet.

"You're the only one I have left that reminds of me of how my life was." He whispers as she brings him down for a hug.

Wrapping her arms around him, she runs her finger through his hair as she listens to his quiet sobs and he clings to her as if she would disappear if he would to let go.

"You've changed so much that it frightens me a bit to know that you were only a few feet away from me and I didn't realize it."

Hugging him close, [Y/n] closes her eyes to prevent her tears to fall from hearing his ramblings.

"It's alright now Kazuha, I'm not ever leaving you again. I promise." She says, her eyes open to see that Kazuha was no longer moving but rather he fell asleep in her embrace.

"I love you too, Kazuha."

'Speaking lies will only get more people hurt, Phoenix.'

'But speaking the truth will only hurt more, Sentience.'