Beneath the soil (Kazuha x reader)

3 - Stowaway

I awoke with a start when my head banged against the suitcase. It seemed that the boat was enduring a rather chaotic storm. 
“What was that?” I froze when I heard the voice. I didn’t register when I woke up that there was someone else in the room. Instant panic hit me. I unzipped the suitcase slightly to get a look at the person.
It seemed to be a boy, his age similar to mine. Older, though. He wore something similar to wanderers I had met in Konda village, and a streak of red shone through his silvery hair. 
He was sitting on the edge of a chair, reading a book. I squinted and saw it was a poem book.
Stop looking. 
I needed to keep a low profile. But something about this boy interested me. I bit my lip when my vision clinked against my belt. The boy’s head whipped up this time, and he slowly put the book down. I’m doomed. 
He slowly crawled towards the bed and dragged out the suitcase which I am in.
“Why is this heavy?” He inquired aloud. Oh crap. Here it comes. He unzipped it to find me covering my face and waiting for a panic to begin.
“Woah!” He exclaimed, extremely surprised to find a girl hiding in his suitcase. I blinked in the light and quickly sat up, crashing my head against the bed.
“Sorry!” I cried, begging for him not to make a noise, but it was too late.
“Beidou?!” The boy cried, standing up and running out the door. Oh crap, crap, crap. I stood up quickly and tried to undo the window, but as I poked my head out, there was no land in sight. I was prepared to drown if it meant sparing being captured.
“Ahah, this must be our stowaway!” A woman barged in the room joyfully, as if finding an unwelcome visitor on her ship was a fun thing. She looked at me expectantly. 
“I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have gotten on here, please don’t hurt me!” I stuttered, begging inside. Instead of looking angry, she smiled gleefully. 
“Las, don’t get yourself tied in a knot! Stowaways are the thrill of adventure on this ship!” The woman loudly exclaimed. I looked up, very confused. Why was this woman so accepting of a criminal? I suppose I didn’t particularly look like trouble. 
The boy appeared behind her. I blinked.
“Captain Bediou!” The woman grinned, grabbing my hand and shaking it enthusiastically. I stuttered an introduction.
“Don’t look so nervous! By the way, this is Kaedehara Kazuha, an escaped wanderer from Inazuma, much like yourself!” Beidou pointed towards the boy. I went red as I looked towards his suitcase. 
“Uhm...sorry for hiding in your suitcase.” I stammered. He blinked then smiled.
“Your presence is something rather rare. I certainly did not expect to meet you. As the Captain has said, I am Kazuha.” He spoke poetically and quietly. I stared and looked at the ground. 
“Hey las, you wouldn’t happen to be the young girl who escaped from the Vision Hunt Decree, would you?” Beidou interrupted. I slowly nodded. Why does everyone know me? Beidou looked excited and rubbed her hands together.
“Great! Now I have two criminals on the ship, how exciting!” Beidou gleefully put in. 
“Two?” I asked, glancing towards Kazuha. 
“I too escaped from the clutches of the Vision Hunt Decree. May I ask, do you still possess your Vision?” Kazuha politely asked. I slowly brought out my geo vision and held it up. 
“Ah, Geo. Given for the persistence and hardworking attitude towards quite unpleasant situations.” Kazuha beamed. I frowned.
“Don’t mind Kazuha here, he’s a little too poetic, if you know what I mean. Anyways, why don’t you come up and meet the rest of the crew?” Beidou clapped, giving me no time to answer. She grabbed my arm and practically dragged me up the stairs. I expected to have to cover my eyes from the brightness of the sun, but instead I met dark clouds and rough waters. 
“The sea ain’t having much of a good day, huh?” Beidou cheerfully claimed, climbing up the wooden sails. 
“Likewise. The sea seems rather unpleasant.” Kazuha agreed. I peered around at the deck, mesmerized by the crew who seemed to be questioning my appearance. 
“Ahoy crew! Welcome (y/n), an escapee from the Vision Hunt Decree!” Beidou yells from the sails. There was sudden whispering. 
“Is it really her?” Someone yelled. I flinched when Kazuha tapped my shoulder.
“They’re all like this to begin with. But they’ll get used to you.” He assured me.
“Oh, I don’t intend to stay here. I need to get off at Liyue Harbour.” I stuttered. He smiled, slightly dazing me.
“I gathered that much. But try to enjoy your time here.” Kazuha winked and walked away. I felt lighter, somehow. I shook my head, trying to stop staring at the back of his head and returned to Beidou.
“Um...do I need to do anything?” I ask uncertainly, fiddling. She looked down.
“Know how to sail?” She yelled back down. 
“Definitely not.” I replied. She didn’t even look disappointed.
“Ofcourse. Go and ask Kazuha to show you to the West Sleeping Quarters. You can dump all your stuff in there.” Beidou said mischievously, and I felt slightly scared. Before I could ask anything else, she was gone. I didn’t even know where Kazuha was. 
Í wandered around the ship numbly for quite some time until I found myself outside of a room. It was labelled “Useless Books.” Beidou surely names all her rooms carelessly. So far I have come across “Tearoom used for alcohol” and “The scary cook kitchen”. I was careful not to go in that one.
I had a feeling Kazuha would be in the “Useless Books” room, seeing as he had a lot of books in his room. 
Sure enough, he was sitting on a couch reading a book. He didn’t look up when I entered.
“Kazuha?” I quietly asked. His head snapped up and gestured for me to sit next to him. Suspicious, I sat next to him.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” I huffed. I was surprised to hear him chuckle. 
“I assume Beidou sent you. The West Sleeping Quarters are two corridors to the left.” He glanced up at me. 
“What’re you reading?” I asked, generally interested. He sighed.
“‘The Day I Died.’” He miserably replied. I knew that book. I wonder why he was reading such a sad story.
“My old friend used to read it. I wanted to see why he liked it, but now I think it was just because he was depressed.” Kazuha explained. That's a bit sad.
“Do you visit your friend anytime?” 
His gaze suddenly lowered. He didn’t reply. He seemed hurt.
“Um...did I say something wrong?” I asked, confused. Kazuha swallowed hard.
“He died.” He sadly spoke. My face softened, and I felt quite guilty. Then I pieced something together.
“Mosou no Hitotachi…” I wondered aloud. I remember it clearly. I happened to be in the crowd when a wanderer challenged the Vision Hunt Decree. I watched as the wanderer was executed, and I remember how a stranger had jumped forward and snatched the vision before the Raiden Shogun stole it. 
“That was you?...” I quietly inquired. Kazuha nodded slowly, already back into being absorbed in his book.  
“I’m sorry…” I apologised. He looked surprised.
“No need. I should probably show you to your quarters.” He suddenly jumped up from the couch. I noticed an anemo vision hanging off his clothes. Strange. It was concerning how Barbatos seemed to give visions to depressed or hardworking people. 
He led me to his bedroom.
“Um…”
“Well, half your things are still in my suitcase. Why do you think I was leading you here?” He asked, smiling. I shook my head, relieved.
“No reason.” 
I gathered my things and tramped them halfway across the ship. Opening up the doors, I gasped. I did not expect guest quarters to be this luxurious. 
“Surprised, eh?” Kazuha grinned, letting me drop my stuff onto the floor. “Don’t worry about trashing the place though, you should see the state of Beidou’s bedroom.” Kazuha jokes. I smiled. “Right. I’ll be back to reading depressing books.” He turned around and was out of my sight before I could say a word.