《How it all started》

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Two years ago...

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The moon shone brightly as brisk wind whipped through the air. Two figures hastily ran through the trees, trying to remain undetected.

(Y/n) stumble along behind her guard, holding on to her black cloak that hid her entire body. She had never been outside her clan's manor before. Her footsteps were uncertain, trying her best to navigate the unfamiliar terrain.

On the other hand, her guard was familiar with the path, with a lantern in hand. His rapid footsteps caused his platinum blonde hair tied into a ponytail to bounce. (Y/n) could feel her heart beats fast in her chest. Her thoughts were confused. A jumbled mess.

Her parents recently just had died. Her being too young to lead the clan, the title of head was passed down to her father's only living sibling, her Aunt Kyoko.

(Y/n) was quite confused. She didn't know where her guard was taking her. He barged into her room in such a hurry just as she was going to sleep.

"Please pack up all of your nessesary belongings! We don't have enough time!"

Despite her confusion, (Y/n) decided to do so. But with him gently telling her to hurry up, she decided to pack up her satchel with mora. Her guard who she knew for almost a year now, took her hands and began leading her to the window.

Which leads to where she was now. She trust her guard. He was nothing but kind to her.

Staring at her father in confusion, she then noticed a young boy who was a bit older than she was, holding a sword that was sheath on his side. He was standing right besides the older man, who unlike her stoic father, he has a gentle yet calm look on his face while he stare back. "Father? Who is this person?"

"This is Kaedehara Kazuha." Her father grunted. Motioning towards the boy who bowed in return. "He'll be your personal guard from now on."

"I will be with you from now on, (L/n)-sama." Kazuha said. "I shall protect you with all of my capabilities."

Kazuha was as silent as a rock. That was (Y/n) first thought of him as soon as he began his job. He rarely spoke around her and only if she asked him a question. (Y/n) tried her best to make him comfortable around her, soon she saw his real personality. Kazuha was a person who occasionally likes to speak a lot at times, if only she was around. He also enjoys penning haikus in which she like listening to. Kazuha's voice was really gentle to which she was glad she was able to hear everyday.

Soon, they became close friends. (Y/n) soon found out more about him. Kazuha was born in a clan of samurais but lost their fortune by the time Kazuha was about to inherite them.

But Kazuha saw this opportunity to become a wandering traveller. (Y/n) was always eager to hear his stories since she never really ventured outside the manor. She was a sheltered child.

Since she was lost in thoughts, (Y/n) didn't see a tree root sticking from the ground. The heiress yelped and groaned in pain. Hearing her pain, Kazuha draws to a halt, and turned back to her. He was very cautious and tense.

"(Y/n)-sama, are you alright?" Kazuha asked. Hastily helping her stand back up. "I'm sorry but we have to keep moving."

"But where to exactly?" (Y/n) asked. She was still confused of the whole sudden turn of events.

"I promise to tell you later, but please we have to go now." And with that Kazuha started running. As soon as he did, arrows rain from where they were just standing on a moment ago.

By now, (Y/n) was terrified. It seems that someone wanted to take her life. She finally understand why. She was being assasinated. Kazuha was doing his duty as her guard by protecting her.

Kazuha then pushed her into a hollowed tree, before going inside along with her. Multiple rapid footsteps was soon heard.

"Quick! Find her!"

"The lady said to bring her corpse back."

"We have to do something about that samurai first. As long as he's alive, killing her will be harder!"

The footstep soon passed. (Y/n) was beyond terrified. Tears began to fall from her eyes. Who would do such thing?

Her blurry eyes landed on Kazuha who was holding her close to him. He was quiet for a moment as if making sure that her persuers aren't close by anymore. His ruby like orbs met with her teary ones. His sharp gaze softened and He then reaches out to take her hand.

"It's your aunt." Kazuha finally said. This made (Y/n)'s heart dropped. Her last and only family? Why would Aunt Kyoko do this? She was usually so kind so (Y/n) least expected her to send out some men to assasinate her.

"It is not your fault." He added. The conviction in his voice took her by suprised. Kazuha seems very determined. "None of these are your fault. You are innocent. All of these are to be blame to your aunt."

".....Why?.." (Y/n) manage to croak out. Kazuha furrowed his eyebrows in worry. He clearly wasn't please to see tears falling from his usual happy lady. "....Aunt Kyoko...Why s-she would do this?"

"I have only overheard this but, inorder to have fully control over your clan's fortune. She must eliminate the heiress....Which is you..." Kazuha finally told her. He seems to be calm despite the situation but his eyes said other wise. Swirling with emotions that (Y/n) couldn't decypher. She only knows and sees his determination. "I will get you out of here, (Y/n)-sama. I promise you that. She will not lay her hands even on a single hair of yours as long as I draw my blade."

"Kazuha....." (Y/n) was lost for words. This was no longer a talk between a noble and their guard. It was different. Something she can't really understand.

She doesn't know how much she mean to the samurai.

"Where are we going?" The thirtheen years old finally asked after a moment, focusing on the present instead of the past. By now, the pair began to run to the direction that Kazuha was leading.

"For your safety I suggest that it will be safer for you to travelling by sea. A ship will  be taking you to Liyue. You can live there without any fear or worry."

Liyue.

"Wait. Are you not coming with me?!" (Y/n) asked. Disbelief was heard from her tone after realizing what her guard meant. "Kazuha, my aunt will kill you if you stayed. You are helping me escape, but I will not leave without you!"

(Y/n) felt her heart sinking. Everything was happening so quickly, it was falling upon her all at once. She didn't want any of these even though she do want to leave her household. But not like this way.

Kazuha is also risking his life for her. Who knows what her aunt will do to him once she manage to catch him. She didn't want to leave Inazuma, atleast not without her only dear friend.

(Y/n) then felt, the ground shifts from hard stone to sand beneath her. The smell of the salty sea was suddenly all around her. She could even hear the crash of waves.

Kazuha continued to lead her along behind him, once and a while, casting an anxious glance over her. The sea seems to have taken on a new density as clouds began blowing up over the horizon. There was gonna be a storm soon which was very risky if anyone plans to sail through it.

(Y/n) was nervous. She then glance at the platinum blonde who seems to be strangely calm. But if it wasn't for how tightly he was clutching her hand, she wouldn't know that he wasn't that nervous too at all.

The pair were now feet from the shore. Kazuha then grip on to (Y/n)'s hand tightens painfully, and pushed her behind him, successfully her trapping between his body and the cresting waves. Sea water sprayed mists on to (Y/n)'s ankles.

"Kazuha, what-" Thats when she heard them heard them. The distance shouts of her persuers' boots marching in tandem on the beach, shouts which turned to gibberish on the wind. They were still far away, but they were approaching fast.

"(Y/n)-sama..." Kazuha called her. "Please run. From beyond that giant boulders, lies the ship. I already told an aquaintance of mine about your situation. She already know what to do."

Tears began to fall from the younger girl's eyes. Instantly understanding what was he going to do. "Kazuha.... Please no..."

Kazuha continued as if (Y/n) had never spoken up. "Beidou-neesan is waiting on the other side. With her, you will have safe passage to Liyue."

"Pleass Kazuha, please no!" By now (Y/n) could barely see from the waterfall like tears that was rapidly falling to her cheeks, as her voice breaks choking upon her own words she continues. "Please, come with me. You said Liyue is safe right? Then we don't have to worry! Please come with me!"

(Y/n) didn't want to be separated with him. Kazuha had already threw his life in danger from the moment he helped her out of the manor. Kazuha is someone very important to her.

"Please, Kazuha... Stay with me. Y-you promised that you would never leave me.....Right?"

The older male infront of her looked physically pained as he moved his body away from her. Tears began to fall again from (Y/n)'s already damp eyes due to his actions. But she then stared at him in disbelief when his warm yet cooler hands reach up and held her face, swiping away at the tears that was forming from the corner of her eyes. Kazuha gave her a pained and sorrowful look as he then rest his forehead against hers. Something which suprised her since he never done something like this before.

"You're still fairly young to understand.... But I will find you." Kazuha promised, the words were as soft as a breeze. "No matter where you are in this world, I promise you that I will come and find you again."

"Too young to understand, huh...?" (Y/n) smiled sadly, leaning on slightly towards the warmth of his hand as she slowly raised hers against his. "Then I'll grow up. Would that make me understand once you come to find me?"

Her question was left unanswered when the two heard the shouts of her persuers draw near. Kazuha's gaze hardened as he tore himself away from her. Looking toward the direction the yells were heard.

"(Y/n), go now!" With a little hesistation, she began to sprint towards the direction where Kazuha told her to run. Getting near, she could already see the boat that he mentioned.

A woman saw her from afar. Seemingly already familar of the young girl, she gave her a wave to come closer. A gush of wind flew pass her, looking back to where her beloved guard was, he was already fighting her persuers with ease, once and a while, using his anemo abilities.

"I hope to see you again, Kazuha..." (Y/n) whispered and ran towards to where the woman was.

"So you're the girl, Kazuha was telling me about, huh?" The tall woman said, pushing the girl towards her ship. "I'm Beidou. I'd love to chat but now not the time!"

The young girl stumbled on deck as the captain began to bark orders. Some of the men after her manage to get on shore only to see the ship moving away.

They were finally heading towards Liyue.

(Y/n) walked towards the edge and leaned, ignoring the voices of the crew on board. A tear fell from her puffy eyes. She left a close friend behind. Beidou noticed her saddened form and walked towards her. Somehow wanting to give even a little comfort towards the frail girl.

"He personally came to me when I first dock on this region." Beidou started making the girl look at her. She slightly smiled knowing that she caught (Y/n)'s attention. "He care about you so much, he wouldn't want to see you this upset."

"Yeah...But..."

"Listen kid. There's no use to dwell in the past. What happened is already done. My only advice is to move forward and used the past as an example to get stronger." Beidou cut her off. "I see a potential warrior in you. Too bad you're on the meek side."

Beidou then walked away, without bothering to look at her. Her words echoed through the girl's mind.

The older woman was right. She has to moved from the past. (Y/n) clenched her fists. Even though, she couldn't help herself but feel slightly remorseful. Not towards anyone but towards herself.

She was still weak. Even after training herself to the bone with a polearm. Her clan had been polearm users for centuries and she wanted to follow that. But her father never really wanted a daughter. He wanted to have a son to continue the (L/n) legacy. He considered her weak and helpless, in which she tried to prove she wasn't by mastering the polearm.

Her father wasn't phased by her sudden will to train, thinking that she wanted protection, he hired Kazuha to protect her.

'Kazuha....'

She put him in danger. Someone who wasn't suppose to be apart of her family's feud. She should have tried hard enough to pick herself up, maybe she could be strong enough to face her aunt.

"Set sail for Liyue!" Beidou's booming voice was heard through out the entire ship. Her men began to run around the ship, doing things that they were told.

"You can live there without any fear or worry."

(Y/n) remembered Kazuha's words. Maybe in Liyue, she could learn how to live by herself. To survive. She could finally see the outside world that she was longing to see for so long. To feel the freedom that she always wished to have.

But...

"Why problems like this can't be resolved peacefully?" (Y/n) whispered to the wind. "Why can't I just be free without any feud? Why do sacrifices have to be made?"

She hate fighting. To hurt someone is the last thing that she wanted to do. Why can't she just talk things out with her aunt? She doesn't want to be the head of her clan. All she wanted was to see the world that what she read in books. She didn't want her life to live like this. Constantly hiding from the clutches of her Aunt Kyoko.

She want to travel freely with Kazuha.

As she was wallowing in her own self pity, something hit her head. Looking at the source she was shock to see the same vision she saw dangling on her guard's clothing.

"An anemo vision...." Picking up the vision in awe she began to wonder. Did the anemo archon heard her? Did he saw her worthy to hold a vision?

It was all too sudden. It was too good to be true.

A small light began to flicker into (Y/n)'s dark world. She could use this as a start for her new life. She will work hard to achieve her goals. She'll try to get stronger. She'll try to grow up. That's what she promised to Kazuha.

She'll begin her new life once she set foot on Liyue.

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The picture drawn above is how I imagined your Inazuma outfit be. And it will remain the same during the flashback chapters as the story goes on.