A/n: I don't think I mentioned this before, but I only planned on this story to be on the shorter side. It'll probably have around 15-20 chapters (minus the prologue). There will be a book dedicated to a "what if" scenario which will include Izanami and Thoma. I am also working on an Albedo x OC story. Hope you all enjoy this next chapter! Love you all!!!
~✨Celestial✨~
•••••••••••••••••••

Xiao appeared out of thin air, standing between Izanami and Childe. He aimed his jade spear at the redhead, eyes narrowed in a sharp glare. "I vowed never to harm mortals, but I will not stand idly by while you harm her."

The shinigami was perplexed at seeing him standing before her. "Xiao, I thought..." Her voice trailed off.

Childe was even more confused than her. He wasn't aware of who Xiao was and didn't say a word. What he could tell was how strong the adeptus was. Lowering his daggers, he eyed the seemingly younger boy.

Xiao's glare only sharpened when the redhead said nothing. "Be gone, harbinger."

The girl's brows knitted together. "Harbinger...?"

Childe chuckled lightly. "Sounds like you don't know much about the Fatui, girly."

"I know enough to not trust them," she spat. "But I never expected you to be one of the eleven harbingers."

"Not even my name gave it away?"

"Like I said, I don't trust the Fatui. I couldn't care less if you were a harbinger or a new recruit."

Childe sighed dejectedly. "Well, the fun's gone. There's no point in me hanging around. You two have fun without me." He casually left as if nothing happened.

Seeing the harbinger was gone, Xiao dispersed his spear. "The Fatui..."

"He also happens to be a close friend of Zhongli's," Izanami informed him.

The adeptus was more than flabbergasted at the revelation. "Morax would never..."

"I thought the same, but it is possible he's acquainted with Childe simply because of aligning interests." Ridding herself of her twin fans, she glanced in the direction the redhead vanished. "Still, it's none of my business who Zhongli keeps as company. My respect for him hasn't lessened."

Xiao turned to face her. He examined her for any injuries. "Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm okay," she replied, placing her hands on her hips. "Where did you come from?"

"I returned to the inn a few hours ago. You weren't there and I decided to wait for your return. I saw the battle from the balcony," he answered. "You left Liyue."

She blinked in shock. "How did...?" She shook her head and stopped herself from asking. "You know what? Never mind. I'm convinced you are able to track me wherever I go."

"It is true," Xiao stated.

"Wait, what?"

"The darkness that binds our souls carries the same weight and resonate identical wavelengths. It is because of that I am able to sense your presence and determine how far apart we are."

"Well that's news to me..." She mumbled. "I can't sense you. How come?"

"I do not know the answer to that."

She tapped her index finger against her chin in thought. "Hmm, I wonder if it has to do with the nature of our darknesses. Although different, they are similar and my own has greatly decreased your karmic debt by being absorbed in me. There must be something unique about your karmic debt, or maybe it has something to do with your vision."

"My vision?"

"Those with anemo visions seem to be more in tune with nature. Perhaps it's because of the wind itself. Many legends claim the wind itself connects all elements. With your connection to the wind, that could be why you're able to find me." She folded her arms with a tilt of her head. "Now I'm kinda jealous."

"What is there to be envious of?" He inquired.

"I wish I could sense people like you and travel the winds. It would make traveling much easier."

Xiao took her hand in his, a minuscule smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You are stranger than humans sometimes."

"What-?!"

Before she could retort, the adeptus teleported them to Wangshu Inn. They stood in the middle of the shinigami's room.

Izanami, after Xiao released her hand, walked over to the window to close it. She gazed out at the sun just as it dipped behind the horizon. It was a beautiful view, but the cold chill that accompanied the night nipped at her skin. Closing the window, she sighed. "What a day..." The moment she turned away from the window, she was startled to find the adeptus standing directly in front of her. She went to complain about how he surprised her for the umteenth time, but her lips were promptly sealed with a fervent kiss. Grabbing the front of his shirt, she kept herself from falling because of the shock that surged through her body as a result of the sudden kiss.

Xiao didn't break the kiss for a second. He stepped closer, forcing Izanami to slowly back up. When her back collided with the wall, he deepened the kiss. He was thinking about backing off, but the thought left him the second she kissed back. One of his hands rested on her hip while the other pressed against the wall beside her head.

Izanami's hands released the front of his shirt. She trailed her fingers up his torso and neck before entangling them into his dark teal locks. She could feel his body relax from her gentle touch and kissed back with the same intensity.

A few minutes ticked by before the two separated.

Xiao pulled her away from the wall and into his arms with a content sigh. "Two days felt like eternity..."

She smiled with a soft giggle. "I missed you too, Xiao." Her fingers untangled from his hair to hug him back. "So, how'd it go with the other adepti?"

"We will be making our move against the Qixing soon. For now, we wait."

Izanami tightened her arms around Xiao. "The month is quickly passing us by and my time in Liyue is coming to an end. I do hope the turmoil dies down before I must leave."

"I must speak with Morax to renegotiate the terms of my contract. I swore not to only protect Liyue but you as well. There must be a way for me to accompany you to Inazuma without breaking my contract."

"Zhongli has been busying himself with the Rite of Parting recently, but perhaps he is willing to put aside some time to talk to us."

The adeptus rested his chin on her shoulder. "Tomorrow we will speak with him."

━━━━━━━━༺❀༻━━━━━━━━

Early the next morning, Izanami was waiting for Xiao on the southern bridge. She sat on the wooden railing, swinging her legs back and forth. She pulled out the chaos circuit she retrieved from the ruin guard yesterday. She forgot to sell it yesterday and inform Katheryne of the completed commission.

Holding up the chaos circuit, she watched it glint in the sun. She wondered why the Fatui were in need of chaos curuits. Then again, they were always scheming and in need of any materials they could get their hands on.

Looking away from the chaos curcuit, Izanami saw Xiao approaching. She stuffed the item back into her obi and hopped off the railing. "Ready to go?"

He nodded. "Yes."

The duo traveled to Liyue Harbor and searched for Zhongli. They checked the docks, Third-Round Knockout, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and the marketplace. They even searched the Wanwen Bookhouse for the ex-archon, but they couldn't find him anywhere. The only thing they could assume was he wasn't in the city.

Izanami tried to think of what Zhongli needed for the Rite of Parting. She mentally went through a checklist of all the things an adeptal memorial service required. The only possble thing he needed that wasn't suitable to find in the city was glaze lilies. Snapping her fingers, she smirked. "I think I know where we can find Zhongli." She grabbed Xiao's hand and dragged him out of Liyue Harbor. Safely outside the city, she decided to be the one to take them.

Transforming into her nine-tailed form, the shinigami allowed Xiao to climb on to her back. This would be the first time he's ridden on her back. It also happened to be the first time he's seen her fox form in two years. Even though he had seen the mighty beast before, he was still in awe. He admired and adored her nine-tailed form but never told her. Grasping the fur along the base of her neck, he held on tightly as she took off. His dark, teal locks were swept back, blowing in the breeze. Looking around, he noticed she was heading in the direction of Dihua Marsh. He wondered why they were going there when they had only left a couple hours ago. In the end, he decided to not question her and trusted her judgement.

Stopping at a sandy bank along the lake flowing through Dihua Marsh, Xiao remained seated on Izanami's back. His golden eyes scanned the area for Zhongli. He found the ex-archon not too far from their current position. He informed the fox and they headed over to the man. The adeptus dismounted the beast and walked over to him. Izanami followed suit after reverting back to her human form.

"Morax," Xiao called out one of many names the former Geo Archon went by.

"To what do I owe the surprise?" Zhongli asked.

"Our contract." Xiao refused to beat around the bush. He wouldn't sugarcoat his request since it was too important to him. "Is there room for renegotiation?"

"Renegotiation?" The ex-archon parroted. "What are you hoping to accomplish with renegotiation?"

"There is something I must do, but the terms of our contract prevent me from doing it. I wish to renegotiate the terms of the contract."

"Oh?" He hummed in curiosity. "What is this "something" you mention? Would it happen to involve Izanami?"

"Yes," the adeptus replied. "All I ask is another term to be added to our contract; a term that will allow me to accompany her to Inazuma."

Zhongli cupped his chin with his index finger and thumb. He never had anyone renegotiate a contract let alone add a term. "Such a term would cause a contradiction. I'm afraid the contract will remain as is. I hope you will forgive me."

"Please, Morax." Xiao was never one to beg, especially with an archon, but Izanami was important to him. He didn't want her to return to Inazuma without him because it was dangerous and he didn't want to be without her. In the end, it was a selfish request. "Inazuma is too dangerous for her to return alone. I trust no one but myself to protect her."

Zhongli was utterly shocked. This was the first time he's heard Xiao be selfish, and it wasn't for him but for Izanami. "This is quite the surprise. Never did I think I would hear a selfish request from you. Regardless, the contract remains unchanged."

"But...!"

Suddenly, Xiao could no longer sense Izanami's presence behind him. He turned around to see she was gone. "Nami?"

The ex-archon didn't see the shinigami leave, but he knew he was the reason why she fled. He was wounded for hurting her. Never did he want to upset her.

Without a word, Xiao took off. He easily tracked Izanami through Dihua Marsh and the Guili Plains. He found her in the ruins atop a cliff that overlooked the Luhua Pool. She was sitting on top of one of the stone columns, hugging her knees to her chest. He couldn't see her face due to it being hidden by her knees.

As quick as the wind, he appeared on top of the column. He went to call out to her but stopped when hearing her sniffle. Clenching and unclenching his fists, he silently sat beside her. He continued to listen to her feeble sniffles, wondering what he could do. He outstretched his arms towards her, but they froze midair. He mentally cursed himself for hesitating before wrapping his arms around her trembling shoulders. He pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on her head. "Nami..." He whispered her name.

She released her knees and leaned against him, wiping her tears. "Sorry for being a crybaby."

"There is no need to apologize." He closed his eyes, hugging her tighter. "I won't give up and neither should you. I will convince Morax to change my contract. For now, I will take you back to the inn." He released her and stood up before scooping her up into his arms. He teleported them back to the inn and directly into Izanami's room.

Gently, he laid her down on the bed. He wasn't sure what to do next until Izanami yanked him onto the bed. A choked gasp slipped from him as he fell onto the bed and caught himself just before he fell on top of the shinigami. Now hovering above her, he looked down and met her gaze with a sigh. "You can be reckless at times."

Izanami's tears were now dry. She had stopped crying after Xiao told her he wouldn't give up. "So can you. Remember the time we were fighting hilichurls near Cuijue Slope and you pushed yourself too far?"

He groaned at the memory. He remembered how he exhausted himself to the brink and collapsed. He lost consciousness and Izanami carried him back to Wangshu Inn. "Don't remind me..."

She reached up to poke his cheek, smiling. "That was a few months after we met and the first time you let me take care of you even after regaining consciousness. I felt that moment was the true turning point of our relationship."

Seeing her gentle smile, Xiao felt his body relax. "You're smiling again. Good. I do not know what to do when you cry."

"You being here is enough." She pushed her upper body up by leveraging her elbows. Placing a chaste kiss on his lips, she was satisfied and lowered herself back onto the bed.

Adjusting their positions, Xiao laid beside Izanami. She curled into his side with her head resting on his chest. He lifted his hand, twirling a few strands of ivory around his finger as he played with her hair. He didn't notice she fell asleep until she stopped fiddling with his necklace. It had taken him a while to get used to her touch and closeness, but now he couldn't get enough of it. He enjoyed her touch and found it difficult to not touch her in return. He would often find himself reaching out to touch her unconsciously. Of course, he'd stop himself most of the time. Nonetheless, that has changed. Ever since their first kiss, he wanted to touch her more. Moments like this were the ones he cherished the most.

Xiao ceased twirling her hair around his finger. He twisted his fingers into her snowy, crimson locks and raked them through. What he noticed about her hair was its softness. It was almost as soft as her ears and tail. Without him realizing, his hand found its way up to one of her ears. He unconsciously stroked her ear repeatedly.

The moment he noticed was when Izanami snuggled closer into his side while still fast asleep. She nudged her cheek and nose against his chest with a faint, content sigh.

The adeptus' hand froze. Peering down, he saw his hand resting against her ear. He thought about retracting it but decided not to. Instead, he wondered what would happen if he continued stroking her ear. He moved his hand to the base of her ear and scratched. With every stroke of his fingers, her ear twitched. He didn't stop until her ears flattened against the top of her head. Lifting his hand, he felt Izanami adjust.

She was wide awake. She turned her head to rest her chin on his chest and gaze up at him with a pout. "Are you done, or do you want to continue?"

"My apologies. I did not mean to disturb you. It's just..."

She raised a brow. "Just what?"

"I find joy in touching your ears."

Her ears sprung up. "You really don't hide anything, do you? Not that I'm complaining, though. Your honesty is one of the reasons why I love you. Never have I met someone as honest as you."

"My honesty only stems to you," Xiao replied. "You are the only one I feel comfortable around to speak my true feelings. It is easy to speak the truth around someone you cherish deeply."

She smiled from ear to ear. Pushing herself up, she crawled over Xiao and straddled his waist. Her tail flopped to the side and curled against his torso. She enjoyed the flabbergasted expression that formed on his face at her actions. Giggling, she said, "I feel honored to know the true feelings of the great Conquerer of Demons. With someone who holds such a mighty title, you'd think they'd be a stone cold person who lacks any emotions. But you're full of them, Xiao. All you needed was to be taught how to express them."

"It is because of you I am able to express and comprehend various emotions. Although, I do still lack knowledge. I do hope you'll continue to teach me, Nami."

"Of course I will. I'll keep being your teacher and teach you so many more emotions and human customs. And once you convince Zhongli to modify your contract, I can take you to Inazuma and show you the customs of my homeland. That is, if you want to."

Xiao was happy to hear how confident she was in him being able to alter his contract. He placed his hands on her hips, squeezing them gently. "I do."