I almost cried when i finished the last chapter, but, as I want to write between posting chapters, I've started another book, which I'll post after posting the final chapter of this book. (64)

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walking slowly to aether's grave, xiao sighed. he hadn't been here since a year after the other died, and that was to apologize properly. flicking the ash off of the end of the cigerette, and stomping on it, he sat infront of the grave, criss cross applesauce.

he slowly breathed out the smoke of his cigarette, as he looked at the tombstone.

"xiao, cm'ere, i need help."

"lumine what the fuck?"

the blonde woman had reappeared from parking the car with wings that looked mechanical and yet looked natural all the same.

"help me please, they're stuck together."

sighing yet again, xiao stood and helped her seperate the wings.

----

"here's the keys, xiao. i'll be leaving here, i had asked you to come with to say your final goodbyes to both of us, and that i want you to be happy with the rest of the time you have in this universe."

"lumine, i-"

"shut it, take the keys, and go home."

"lumine."

"go, now. i can't risk taking you with me."

"fine."

"i'll tell whatever version of you ends up in the fixed universe everything, okay?"

"alright. bye."

"bye xiao."

----

xiao took his time walking to lumine's car, or his now, he guessed, and began a second cigarette.

leaning on the side of lumine's car, he exhaled, looking up at the sky.

moments later, though, he finally got into the car and began to leave and head home.

as he drove home, he ended up getting a call from zhongli.

"hi, xiao."

"hey?"

"lumine's not answering her phone, and i was going to ask how it's going."

"she's gone now. she's made me take her car and leave. i'm on my way home now."

"oh.. alright."

"she would've told you all, but i think she didn't want to drag it out."

"i understand. how far away from the house are you?"

"around an hour away. i'm going to stop at a gas station and get a drink."

"could you please get m-"

"i'll get you a fucking slushie."

"xiao."

"accept the slushie, dad."

as xiao finished his sentence, he hung up and pulled into the gas station.

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the best quote in this entire book, besides the 'did you blow up the fucking gas stove' one, is 'accept the slushie, dad.'