Inside Angel's Share, Venti and Izanami sat at the front counter. She was listening to the ambiance of the tavern while the Anemo Archon chatted with the bar tender. Feeling a hand on her back, she realized Venti was introducing herself to the redhead behind the counter. "This is Izanami!"

The man, named Diluc, folded his arms across his chest as he gazed at the girl. "So you're the one he keeps talking about."

Izanami cocked her head to side, ears following the motion. "Venti talks about me?"

"A lot, actually."

"Has he told you everything?"

"Pretty much."

"Venti!" She hissed, glaring at the bard. "You can't just tell everybody who I am! What if someone overhears you?"

"Sorry, sorry. I know I sometimes get carried away," the archon replied. "But you'll forgive me after this. We'd like to order that special new shipment you just got in."

"You're the one who asked me to get it," Diluc stated.

"H-Hey, it was supposed to be a secret!"

"Secret?" Izanami questioned.

Venti's cheeks turned slightly red. "I may have asked for a special shipment from Inazuma."

"Special shipment...?"

Diluc kneeled down behind the counter. He revealed a tokurri and two ochokos he had stored underneath the counter. Izanami gaped at the sight of the small cups and bottle that reminded her of home. "Is this...sake?"

"Yep!" Venti grinned.

Diluc filled a single ochoko with sake and slid it towards Izanami. She carefully took the small cup and sipped at the alcohol. A gentle, refreshing flavor of lavender melon spreads across her tongue. Her ears perked up and her tail wagged at the taste she loved. She licked her lips with a smile. She gulped down the rest of the liquid.

Venti laughed happily at her merriment. "Glad you like it, Nami~!"

"I never expected to have sake outside of Inazuma. How did you get ahold of this?" The shinigami asked the redhead.

"You can get your hands on almost anything if you know the right people," Diluc answered, pouring her another round of sake. She thanked him before sipping on her second cup of alcohol. Venti, who excused himself, went to talk to one of the bar patrons. Seeing the bard was gone, Diluc took the chance to speak with the girl. "How do you know the bard?"

Izanami lowered the ochoko. "I met Venti a little over a year ago. I was visiting Mondstadt to help the Adventurers' Guild and we wound up working together. After completing the commission, he gave me a tour of the city and treated me to a meal. At his request, I spent a few more days in Mondstadt and we got to know each other pretty well during that time."

"He can be persistent when he wants to," Diluc sighed. "And in regards to your secret, I've got no reason to tell anyone."

"Thank you, Diluc. Even after two years, I'm still scared the Raiden Shogun will learn of my survival and send her army to drag me back to Inazuma. That is the reason why I haven't met too many people I have been able to trust with my secret. Only a few people know who I am and why I left my home."

"Not many talk about Inazuma. Even less know what's truly happening there, but tons of people were talking about how a death spirit was reaping innocent souls." Diluc saw the girl's ears flatten against the top of her head as her smile vanished. He could see the melancholy in her golden eyes. From her expression and the way Venti admired her, he was more than convinced the rumors were just that--rumors. "Clearly those rumors weren't true. They were just baseless slander."

A faint smile returned to her face, but her ears remained pressed against the top of her head. "I'd be lying if I said I was surprised. The Raiden Shogun fed lies to her people just to bring me down. It was because of those rumors my own worshippers turned their backs to me. Then again, is hasn't all been bad. I've met some amazing, kind people I would've never met if I remained in Inazuma."

Diluc smirked. "Glad to know there's a bright side."

As Diluc and Izanami continued their conversation, Venti eventually stumbled back over to the bar. Thanks to a few patrons, the bard had gotten his hands on some strong alcohol and was now tipsy. He stopped a few inches behind the shinigami, hypnotized by her swishing tail. With a goofy grin, he walked up behind her and tightly hugged her tail. Cackling, he buried his red face into her fur. "So soft~!"

Izanami feels a chill creep down her spine from the sensation of her tail being grabbed. Her body tensed with a shudder. Turning around as if she was a rusted gear in need of oil, she eyed the culprit with a slight eye twitch. "Venti..."

The anemo archon continued to giggle like a drunk maniac. "Ehe, I wanna use it as a pillow! Please let me borrow your tail, Nami~!"

"It's not detachable!" She hissed.

Diluc took it upon himself to deal with the drunk bard. He emerged from behind the counter and pried the archon off the shinigami's tail by the back of his collar. "It's about time you left, freeloader."

"I'm not leaving wihtou my sweet Izanami!"

"Let the lady enjoy her drink without you bothering her."

Diluc tossed Venti out of Angel's Share before returning to behind the counter. He watched the girl pour herself another cup of sake. "Don't tell me you're a drunkard too."

She snorted with laughter. "No. This is actually the first time I've had alcohol since I left Inazuma. Even back home, I only drank alcohol if one of my worshippers brought some to the temple."

"At least I don't have to worry about you freeloading like a certain bard."

"Is Venti really that bad?"

"You don't know the half of it."

Izanami continued to chat with Diluc until she finished the sake. She had done most of the talking, which made her feel like she was pestering him. "Sorry for talking your ears off. It's nice to talk to a friendly face every once in a while."

"Friendly is a term not many people would call me. Actually, you're the first to call me that." Diluc leaned against the counter behind him. "You're the friendly one here. Never expected a death spirit to be so cordial."

"Just because I deal with the dead doesn't mean I'm cold and emotionless."

"Like the say, "never judge a book by its cover.""

"I should start counting how many sayings humans have..."

She thankd him for the sake and left the tavern to search for Venti. Fortunately, she didn't have to look far. The archon was slumped over in a chair at one of the outside tables. The shinigami examined him, only to discover he was fast asleep. She poked his red cheek, earning a snort in response. By the sound she thought she had woken him up, but he was still asleep. She didn't want to wake him and backed away from him. Smiling, she thanked him for the surprise before deciding to take a stroll around Mondstadt.

By the time evening rolled around, Izanami was ready to rest. In the fountain plaza, she sat on a bench. She swung her legs in a childish manner while gazing at the fountain. She listened to the trickling water and drowned out the buzz of various conversations transpiring around her.

Eventually, she drowned out all the noises of the city. She stared at the water's surface while her mind thought about Xiao. She wondered how his meeting with the other adepti was going and when she would get to see him again. The month was creeping by quicker than she thought and her return to Inazuma was approaching. She wanted him to return soon so she could spend more time with him before they're separated for what could be years. She wanted to cling to the hope Zhongli would alter Xiao's contract to allow him to accompany her to Inazuma, but there was a small voice haunting her subconsciousness that told her it was never going to happen.

"Izanami!"

The shinigami's head snapped up just in time to see Venti running towards her. She stood up, only to be knocked off her feet when he tackled her in an attempt to hug her. Smelling the alcohol on his breath, she winced. "Who gave you more to drink?"

He smiled innocently, but his flushed cheeks were enough to display his intoxicated state. "Oh, some nice gentleman who happens to be my number one fan." He then gasped and hugged her tighter. "Can I be your number one fan, Nami?"

"I think someone already owns that title."

Venti sobered up slightly. He was shocked at her reply. "Who?"

She was embarrassed to confess she had a boyfriend. "U-Uh, he's my p-partner."

"Partner? Like a companion or a lover?" He eagerly pried.

"L-Let's go with the latter."

He dramatically gasped. "You have a boyfriend and never told me?!"

"Could we not announce to the entire city I'm in a relationship?"

Venti lowered his voice. "Wh-When did this happen?"

"Maybe about a week ago?"

"Who is it? Do I know them?"

"No idea."

"Then tell me! Big brother Venti wants to make sure they're worthy of you!"

"I am 300 years older than you..." She gently pushed him away. "A-Anyway, you don't need to do anything. It's thanks to him I'm still alive."

"I still want to meet him..." He grumbled.

"No way."

He pouted like a child. "Why not?"

"B-Because!"

"Because why?"

"You like to poke your nose into the affairs of others when you get too curious. I would like to have a nice relationship without needing it to be evaluated by Lord Barbatos himself." She got off the ground, brushing off her kimono dress. "Can we please talk about something else?"

Venti got to his feet beside her. "Like what?"

"You've been asking me tons of questions ever since we got to Mondstadt. Now it's my turn. How have you been? I heard what happened to Dvalin and was concerned about you."

"All's well that ends well!" Venti smiled. "Thanks to the traveler, Dvalin's back to normal. Since then, I've been wandering around in search of inspiration for a new melody, and I think I just found it!"

"Really? What is it?"

"You, of course! Spending time with you has really gotten the creative juices flowing and I believe I have a masterpiece in the works."

She smiled back at him. "Whenever you finish, I want to be the first one to hear it."

He giddily grinned. "Of course! I have to earn the Izanami seal-of-approval before I play it for anyone else."

The shinigami then remembered what Zhongli once told her. It was because of Venti Xiao wasn't consumed by madness. "There's one more thing I want to thank you for, Venti."

"What's that?"

"You once saved the person I love with your music. Thank you for saving him."

Venti was more curious than ever to learn who this person was, but he respected her privacy. "Music really can save lives, huh...?"

"You'd be surpised how many it saves. You might not realize it, but your playing has saved lives. When I first met you and heard you play, I overheard a woman mention how your melody saved her from drowning in sorrow. Music truly can be mystical."

The archon wasn't sure how to respond. He was silent, clinging to her words with a gentle smile. It brought him joy to know his music was able to save lives. He never thought twice about how his music affected people, but now he was overjoyed to hear his playing resonated deeply with others on an emotional level. It swayed their hearts and eased their pain. His cheeks were turning red, but not because of how buzzed he was. "You should be my muse! I know I could compose breathtaking pieces with you as my inspiration."

"I'd love to be your muse, but there's someone who needs me more. I promised to stay by his side," she gingerly spoke, eyes casted to the sky. The sunset projected its dazzling red, orange, and yellow rays across the sky like a beautiful canvas. Even though she was looking at the sky, all she could see was the person she loves with her entire being. "I hope our future together is bright."

"I hope so too, Nami," Venti softly replied. "If there's anything I can do to help ensure your happiness with him, please tell me. After what you've gone through, you deserve happiness."

"Thank you, Venti. I appreciate it."

With that, Izanami was taken back to Liyue by Venti. They parted ways, both wishing they could've spent more time together. Perhaps in the future they could.

The snowy-haired girl entered Dihua Marsh. She saw Wangshu Inn in the distance and followed the road. She slowed down her pace to enjoy the setting sun. While walking, she wondered how Yae Miko was doing. She was another acquaintance of Izanami's. Like her, she was a fox but shared no other commonalities. Yae wasn't a being born from shadows meant to travel between the land of the living and the afterlife to escort lost souls. She was a beautiful woman who possessed grand powers and is an old friend of Zhongli and the Raiden Shogun. While she flourished in the light, Izanami bloomed in the darkness. If Yae saw fit, she could annihilate the shinigami. However, it seemed that was not the case. Yae adored Izanami as if she were her little sister. They were both foxes wearing human skins.

Izanami was torn from her thoughts by the sound of shuffling footsteps. Stopping in the middle of the road, she blinked in surprise at seeing who she crossed paths with. "Childe...?" The redhead waved and smiled, but she sensed something malicious behind the gesture. She took a few steps back as he approached.

"You're...Izanami, right?" He asked. "Sorry, I'm not the best at remembering names."

"Yes, I am. What brings you to Dihua Marsh? You kinda look lost."

"I may be a little lost," he cackled. "Did I mention I'm bad with directions, too?"

The shinigami still sensed something malicious regardless of his cheery, playful demeanor but refused to point it out. "When I first came to Liyue, I got lost plenty of times. It took me a while to learn my way around."

"You know, I was shocked to see the infamous Izanami of Inazuma in Liyue," Childe said. Izanami's eyes widen in horror as the redhead was finally showing his true colors. "You're the shinigami who was reaping the souls of innocent people for fun. No wonder the Raiden Shogun wants you dead. Some members of the Fatui who do business in Inazuma were talking about you after they returned. No one expected you to survive the storm, but you actually did! No one in Liyue would recognize you as a shinigami so you thought you were safe. Did you really think that would work?"

Izanami's fingers flexed. She prepared herself  just in case Childe would attack. "I knew I would be safe for some time, but I was prepared for the moment someone would recognize me. I'm well aware of the Fatui who work as envoys between Liyue and Inazuma. Of course I never dismissed the possibility of the Fatui recognizing me and informing the Raiden Shogun of my survival. Nonetheless, I wasn't too worried since very few have seen me in the flesh regardless of what form. Then again, the Fatui have ways to uncover the information they need." She took up a fighting stance, her golden eyes glowering at the redhead. "Is your plan to report my survival to the Raiden Shogun?"

"I honestly could care less about who you are or what you've done. It's not like my hands are the cleanest, either. But I can't say the same for my comrades. Some of them have loose lips and won't hesitate to inform the Raiden Shogun of your survival." Childe held out his hands, summoning two daggers forged from water. "Still, there's no way I'm passing up the opportunity to fight against a death spirit. Rumor has it you're pretty strong. I could use a good opponent like you to hone my skills."

She scoffed. "So you fell for those baseless rumors too..." Conjuring her fans, she held them up. The sharp metal tips were set ablaze by her azure flames. Her eyes drifted to the hydro vision attached to Childe's hip. She was at an elemental disadvantage, but there was still a chance she could come out on top.

Childe was quick to act. With his hydro daggers, he closed the distance between him and the shinigami. He swung them wildly in an attempt to slash at her, but she was nimble and dodged each strike.

Izanami continued to evade. She wanted to understand how Childe moved before she attempted to attack. She evaluated each and every movement of his body, learning his moves and the holes in his defense. Once she got a read on him, she attacked. She got a few hits in, but it wasn't enough. She was forced on the defense as his moves changed.

Childe leapt back with an annoyed expression. He was frustrated with her constant dodging, tempted to use the Foul Legacy transformation to get the upper hand. Refusing to put the strain on his body, he gripped his hydro daggers tightly. He charged at her again, but his attack was stop mid-swing when his daggers clashed with a jade spear. Shocked, he backed away to see who intervened.

Izanami lowered her fans, gaping at the sight of who stood between her and Childe. "Xiao?"