Early the next morning, Izanami and Xiao left Komore Teahouse. The shinigami was in disguise as they left the city. She led the way through the Byakko Plain and Chinju Forest.

On a cliffside overlooking the eastern shore of Narukami Island, two yumemiru trees stood tall. Izanami shedded the haori and unwound her hair from around her ears. Her eyes focused on the island located a few miles off the coast.

Xiao saw the island and wondered how they were going to cross the ocean. "How will we cross?"

"Simple." Izanami walked between the two trees. A translucent bridge with pink yumemiru leaves appeared as she stepped off the ledge. She turned to Xiao with a smile. "It's time I showed you my home."

The yaksha stepped onto the bridge, amazed at its beauty. He walked beside the shinigami and crossed the ocean. He admired the beauty of the island nation and the mysteries it kept tucked away.

After a lengthy walk, the couple arrived on Kami Island. It was much smaller compared to Narukami, but it was the perfect size to house a grand shrine. However, the beautiful shrine that once stood mighty now was in shambles. The flourishing trees that surrounded the temple were bare, the trunks burnt from scorching flames.

Izanami stared sorrowfully at her shrine. Slowly, she ascended of what remained of the stairwell leading up to the entrance. She stepped over the sliding doors that were knocked from their sockets and stood at the entrance. Turning around, she faced Xiao. "Welcome to Kami Shrine. I wish you could've seen what it looked like before it was destroyed."

"Can it be repaired?" The adeptus asked, walking up the staircase to stand beside her.

"With time and care, it can be restored. Alas, it is impossible with the current state of Inazuma. It would be difficult to procure the materials necessary without attracting the Shogunate's attention."

"I see..."

"But there is still one place no one can destroy." Izanami took Xiao's hand and escorted him into the shrine. They were blinded by a flash of light before arriving in the world held within the tarnished temple.

Xiao was in awe as they arrived in the spiritual world. The beautiful temple located atop the floating island took his breath away.

Izanami giggled at his reaction. "As I said, this world is perfect and home to an imperfect being. Such beauty and peace is wasted on me."

"Nonsense," Xiao denied her claims. "You are the only one worthy of this world."

She wanted to say he was just being nice, but he wasn't one to preach sweet lies to make someone feel better. He was an honest person, which is one of the many reasons why she loved him. A faint blush painted her cheeks. As she was trying to come up with a response, three of her disciples met them on the bridge.

"Lady Izanami!" The three disciples chanted. The foxes leapt onto their master, tackling her to the ground.

Izanami grunted when her back hit the wooden panels of the bridge. She groaned, eyes staring up at the trio who knocked her down. "You three seem to be doing just fine."

"We've missed you!" The sapphire-furred fox wailed.

"It's been two years!" The scarlet-furred fox shrieked.

"Where have you been?!" The golden-furred fox demanded with a sniffle.

"I'm sorry for worrying you all." Izanami sat up with the three foxes piled up in her lap. She petted them with a gentle smile. "You won't believe what I've been through." She then proceeded to tell the foxes about her time in Liyue and the various people she's met. Once she got to the part where Xiao and she were now lovers, she gestured to him.

"I have heard tales of the adepti. Their power rivals that of a shinigami," the sapphire-furred fox stated. "But never did I imagine an adeptus would travel to Inazuma let alone fall in love with Lady Izanami."

Xiao didn't say anything. All he could manage was to glance between the foxes with a perplexed expression.

Izanami saw this and realized her mistake. "Sorry, I forgot to introduce the triplets. This is Machi," she said, gesturing to the scarlet fox. "This is Michi," she pointed to the sapphire-furred fox. "And finally, we have Mochi," she nodded towards the golden fox. "You could say they're the misfits of the shrine."

"We are not misfits!" The triplets remarked.

The shinigami laughed. "I'm just pulling your tails." She gathered them in her arms and got to her feet. "How about the three of you show Xiao around while I speak to Kaname?"

"Of course!" The trio harmonized.

"Kaname is resting in his usual place," Mochi said. Please take your time, Lady Izanami."

"Leave Xiao to us!" Machi giggled.

"Yeah!" Michi cheered. "We'll take good care of him!"

Izanami gave Xiao a kiss on the cheek before leaving him in the care of the triplets. She walked across the bridge and entered the forest located behind the shrine. She found a black-furred fox sitting on a boulder, gazing out towards the moon. She stood beside the large rock and gently spoke to her disciple. "Thank you for protecting this place in my absence, Kaname. You, Konomi, and the triplets have even kept the lost souls in check."

"I'm afraid we can no longer keep them at bay," he sighed, exhausted. "Your timing is perfect, my lady."

"I will return to my duties as shinigami. Before I do, I want to apologize."

Kaname chuckled. "Apologize for what? Saving yourself and finding happiness? You owe nobody an apology. What the Raiden Shogun has done to slander your name is incomprehensible. You are one of many innocent people caught in her web of destruction."

"My apology is for leaving all the heavy lifting to you and the other disciples."

Kaname scoffed, "What nonsense. It is our job as your disciples to help you. Forget the apologies and tell me of your new life in Liyue. You must give me all the juicy details."

Izanami climbed up the rock and sat beside him with a cackle. "You're not getting all the juicy details, only a few.

"Fine. I will settle for a few."

━━━━━━━━༺❀༻━━━━━━━━

Xiao was inside the shrine with the triplets. He sat on a cushion and watched the triplets chase each other around. He could feel the happiness radiating from them, but that wasn't the only thing he sensed. Like Izanami, the triplets radiated with darkness. It wasn't as strong as the shinigami's but it was there. He couldn't possibly mistaken it for anything else. The disciples performed the same duty as Izanami, but their workload was light compared to hers. That is why the darkness that tainted their souls was minuscle in comparison to hers.

Mochi grew tired of his siblings' game and laid down on the tatami mat beside the adeptus. "I hope we aren't too rowdy, Lord Xiao."

The yaksha's brows furrowed at the formality. Never had anyone called him "lord" before now. "Formalities are unnecessary."

"Apologies, Xiao. You are the first outsider Lady Izanami has allowed within the world of Kami Shrine. We never expected her to bring anyone, especially an adeptus." Mochi watched as his sisters ran in circles. "How has Lady Izanami been?"

Xiao, too, was watching the scarlet and golden foxes playfully running around. "The circumstances that brought us to Inazuma were undesirable, but Nami seems to be coping well."

The sapphire-colored fox looked over at him. "I believe that is thanks to you. It is a relief to know she wasn't alone. She is lucky to have you."

"I am the fortunate one." It had rolled off the tip of Xiao's tongue before he knew it. Nonetheless, he didn't regret it. It was the truth. He felt happy and honored to be loved by someone like Izanami.

Just then, Izanami arrived with Kaname. Neither one of them bothered to sit down. The shinigami glanced at the triplets and Xiao. "It is time I returned to my duty as shinigami."

"B-But you just returned!" Michi whined. She approached her master. "Won't you play with us first?"

She smiled apologetically down at her disciple and petted her head. "I'm sorry, Michi. I'll play with you once I'm done. You, your siblings, Konomi, and Kaname deserve a break. Now that I have returned, this realm is stable and you may finally rest."

"You promise?"

"Would I ever lie to you?"

"No..."

"Go rest, Michi."

The triplets left the main room amd headed to their respected bedrooms.

Kaname glanced at the shinigami. "Please be careful out there, my lady. The shogun has not yet noticed your return to Inazuma, but she will once you return to your duty."

"I will be careful," Izanami replied.

"She won't be alone," Xiao stated as he stood up. "I will accompany her."

"With you by her side, my concern will be assuaged," Kaname sighed.

The shinigami glared playfully at the black fox. "You don't trust me to be alone?"

"Come now, Lady Izanami. You know I trust you to perform your duty. It is the Tri-Commision and the Shogun's Army I do not trust. With Xiao by your side, I can relax knowing you are safe."

"It will be impossible to not let my presence go unnoticed, but I must do this for the sake of Inazuma."

"Do be careful, my lady."

Izanami departed from the spiritual world with Xiao by her side. They stepped out of the temple and returned to the mortal world. She was nervous and frightened, but she wouldn't let her emotions hinder her job. She gazed out toward Narukami Island with a turmoil of emotions swimming in her golden pools. "The time has finally come..."

"You are frightened and doubting your abilities," Xiao observed.

She laughed nervously. "So you can tell."

The adeptus closed the distance between them. He pressed his forehead against hers and gazed lovingly into her emotion-stricken eyes. "You have nothing to fear. I will be by your side the entire time."

A sigh of relief fell from her lips. His gentle yet strong words alleviated her fear. "Thank you, Xiao. I wouldn't ask for any other person to be by my side." A smile graced her face and she stole a kiss from his lips before taking his hand and escorting him across the translucent bridge.

Back on Narukami Island, Izanami transforms. Xiao mounted her back and she soon ran across all the islands that formed the nation of Inazuma. One by one, she gathered lost souls and escorted them to the afterlife. The very few malevolent souls they came across were easy to quell.

By the time all the lost souls and corrupted spirits were dealt with, it was past midnight. They found themselves back on Narukami Island near Araumi. Izanami was back in her human form, standing beside Xiao as they stared at the grand moon under the stone archway. A peaceful silence dwelled over them. Not even the chirping of crickets could ruin the blissful moment.

Izanami inhaled deeply before exhaling a heavy yet relaxing sigh. She had escorted a myriad of lost souls to the afterlife over the past twelve hours. The exhaustion was setting in from running across all of Inazuma. Her body slightly ached, but she did notice a difference. This was the first time she's performed her duty and didn't have to worry about the haunting thoughts of the souls plaguing her mind. Although tired, she felt relaxed and her mind was clear.

Wondering what had deflected the negativity of the souls, she snuck a glance at Xiao. A smile bloomed on her face when she connected the puzzle pieces. She sensed his karmic debt earlier, but she wasn't sure why it was festering. Now she knew. His corruption and the darkness tied to the lost souls cancelled each other out. They neither absorbed nor deflected each other. Unconsciously, she giggled.

The melodic laughter caught Xiao's attention. "Why are you laughing?"

"Oh, nothing," she snickered.

"Liar," he blandly called out. He grabbed her cheeks and pulled at them with narrowed eyes.

Izanami only cackled. She grabbed his cheeks in return and mocked his actions.

He stopped tugging on her cheeks and grabbed her hands to stop her. "You are childish sometimes."

"You're the one who started it!"

"I intend to finish it as well."

The shinigami stuck her tongue out in a childish manner only to regret the opening she made for him.

Xiao stepped forward and sealed her lips with his. He didn't hesitate to plunge his tongue into her mouth and kiss her passionately. In the middle of the kiss, he placed his hands on her hips. Grabbing her tightly, he pushed her against the stone archway without breaking the kiss.

Izanami was surprised by the sudden kiss but reciprocated nonetheless. She wasn't bothered by the stone digging into her back and placed her hands on his chest. Her fingers crept up across his collarbone and came to rest by his neck.

Just as she was about to hook her arms around his neck, her ears twitched when she sensed a disturbance. Reluctantly, she pulled away from Xiao and glanced behind him. She spotted a large group heading straight for them. It was a mixture between the Fatui and the Shogun's Army. "They're here," she whispered to the adeptus.

Xiao didn't say a word. He simply stepped away from Izanami, summoned his spear, and spun around to face the approaching enemies.

Izanami followed suit, wielding her fans and preparing for the upcoming battle.

Among the vast number of the Fatui and the Shogun's Army, the yaksha recognized one of the faces—Baron. From his appearance, he figured the Shogunate ship survived the storm. He was hoping it would've sank to the bottom of the ocean.

As the two were surrounded, Baron stepped forward with a glower focused on Xiao. "Never did I think an adeptus would ally himself with a demon."

Xiao chose not to amuse the Fatui and kept his lips sealed.

Baron clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Damn Adepti..." He held up his firearm and aimed it at the yaksha. "I'll kill you first."

Before the man could pull the trigger, a figure leapt in between the opposing parties and disarmed him. A gust of wind knocked the enemies back as the person turned his attention to Xiao and Izanami.

At seeing who the person was, Izanami's eyes widen with a gasp. "Kazuha."

The samurai smiled at her. "It has been quite a while, Lady Izanami."

"My lady!" A female voice squeaked. Konomi, who was perched on Kazuha's shoulder, leapt off and ran towards her master. She jumped onto the shinigami with a cheerful smile. "I'm so glad you're okay!"

"As much as I love reunions, we must deal with the enemies first," Izanami said as the fox clung to the front of her kimono dress.

Konomi hopped off. "Master Kazuha and I shall help."

Kazuha and Xiao were the first to attack. Using their weapons and anemo visions, they didn't hold back as they attacked the assailants.

Izanami was surprised at how well Xiao was working alongside Kazuha, but she knew this wasn't the time to stare in awe. She and Konomi joined the battle, the disciple acting at their healer. Using her pyro vision, she teamed up with the boys and used their anemo to swell her azure flames. The enemies that weren't engulfed by the fire were cut down with her fans.

The trio and their fox companion were a force to be reckoned with. The Fatui and the Shogun's Army stood no chance against them. One by one, their number fell. When all was said and done, only Baron was left.

Xiao had made sure he was the last one standing so he could exact revenge for what he did to Izanami. He didn't care about going against his philosophy of not hurting mortals, especially since the Fatui and the Shogun's Army had hurt innocent people. They even dared to hurt the one person he cherished the most. He wouldn't let that go unpunished.

Unlike before, Xiao didn't hesitate. He struck down Baron before he could say anything. He lowered his spear once the man was gone, never to be seen or heard from again. His attention was drawn to the sound of a 'thud' behind him. Turning around, he saw Izanami had collapsed. He rushed to her side the same time as Konomi and Kazuha did. Carefully, he pulled her unconscious body into his arms. He combed the snowy locks that obscured her face to the side.

Konomi checked on her master and found no traces of any injuries. "I believe Lady Izanami has fainted from exhaustion. We should take her back to the spirit world so she can rest properly."

"I am surprised she was able to remain on her feet during the battle after completing her duty," Kazuha commented.

"It has been two years since Lady Izanami has performed her duty. It is no wonder she collapsed after working so hard on her first day back."

Xiao carefully scooped up Izanami's body in his arms. He held her tightly as he glanced down at her pale cheeks. "I will take her back."

"Let me be your escort. I know a safe route back to the shrine." Konomi stood up and took a few steps forward before stopping to face the samurai. "What will you do now, Master Kazuha?"

"I will seek out the rebels," he replied. "Do take care of Izanami." He sheathed his sword before departing with a calm, cool smile.

The fox gazed up at the adeptus. "Please, follow me."

Xiao trusted the disciple and followed her all the way back to the shrine on Kami Island.

By the time they arrived at the shrine and entered the spirit world, the sun had risen.

With directions from Konomi, Xiao found Izanami's room. He placed her down on the futon and remained by her side. He wouldn't move until she opened her eyes.