Hey there! Some quick thoughts or whatever I think Zenless story wise is at its best right now, loved the Silver Anby story and the epilogue chapter.
If I had to rank characters based off of how much I enjoyed their involvement
Harin (Soldier 11) 8/10
Anby 10/10
Trigger 9/10
Lycon 10/10
Hugo 11/10 (Goat)
Vivian 11/10 (Goat)
Ellen 6/10 (She doesn't really do much sadly.)
Siblings 8/10
Season 2 is setting up to be a banger so let's hope they pull through!
Enjoy the chapter and as always stay safe and stay blessed! - 🌹
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Lumina Square
Yanagi's POV:
A Shopping district at the heart of New Eridu, having the highest quality in all businesses available. Each corner holding premiere shops and stalls all competing for today's profit, the beauty of capitalism.
Yanagi found the public parking space where it always ways, tucked away on the far side corner near the river and the long highway to Port Elpis. Turning right into the full lot, she scanned for a spot before finding one and sliding her small vehicle between a large van and a luxury sports car.
"Should be 3,000 right?" She whispered to herself remembering the Dennies required for the 3 hours of parking time. She walked up to the green machine and paid for her spot.
A white and green ticket that read "Toll Paid 6:45-10:00 PM" was printed out through the slot at the bottom. Grabbing the ticket and returning to her car Yanagi slid the ticket through her windshield wipers ensuring the "PAID" symbol was easily visible.
Yanagi walked out of the lot with emphasis passing by a large crowd with little trouble. She internally praised herself for switching into casual wear, there was nothing wrong with having fans but sometimes they were a bit TOO much.
Down the riverside Yanagi found her target, a white and light blue stand surrounded by people. To the right was a large vertical sign with a dragon cooling around a blue cherry blossom flower. The name of the stall display vertically with white lettering surrounded by branches.
Dragons Garden
Yanagi thought the name was cute, but then sighed when she realized her business was going to take way longer that she had previously thought.
She looked towards the main area of the Dragons Garden stall and made eye contact with the owner. Their gazes locked for a moment before a sudden look of recognition flashed onto his face. He gave her a small smile and beckoned her towards his stall before returning to the fryer and finishing up a patrons order.
Resigned to her fate Yanagi went to stand in line with everyone else. Who would have thought that this cheeky snack stall owner was a S ranked Agent of the H.I.A?
Definitely not her.
Kuma's POV:
Kuma was in the middle of his average sales day when Yanagi arrived. Make some pastries here, sweet and savory dish there nothing out of the ordinary. He even started a "Breakfast Dinner" special that was selling like hot cakes out there that day.
Right in the middle of finishing his 308th order was when he spotted the deputy chief of H.S.O Section Six, her strawberry pink hair standing out in the sea of people crowding his stall. He could tell by her posture and clothing that she wanted to be inconspicuous, trying to avoid being swarmed by fans.
"Oh this is gonna be hilarious" Kuma thought already forming a plan in his mind. He waved her over and grabbed the funnel cake out of the fryer. Topping it with the powdered sugar and chocolate drizzle as requested he placed it in a special Dragons Garden box closing the lid and handing it to the patron along with a few brown napkins.
"Thank you for coming enjoy your day!" Kuma said to her, smiling and waving as she walked off with her food. This cycle would continue for the next few minutes, order received and order fuffiled. Exchanging thanks and wishing each other a great day.
Kuma's smile was radiant and contagious, giving off a warmth and charm of a young man doing what he loved and having fun.
Yanagi's POV:
Yanagi felt like she was staring directly into the sun when she reached the counter. Which couldn't have made any sense when said sun was setting behind her, yet Kuma's smile behind the counter had it's own rays as he spoke with full enthusiasm.
"Miss Yanagi of Section Six? What a pleasant surprise, how many I take your order." She nearly jumped out of her skin when he said this, her mind going into panic mode quickly she could feel the gazes of people behind her. Whispers of surprise and recognition grew louder as the people realized it was indeed deputy chief Yanagi in the flesh.
Some patriots began getting up and surrounding her, asking her question about a variety of things all completely random and unrelated. One after another they rushed to hear from their idol completely overwhelming the lady.
"Alright alright everyone, give the woman some space. This is a snack vendor not a Q&A stall, the girls here to eat y'all." Kuma said exasperated, and as it was getting out of hand it stopped just like that.
Many patrons walking back to their seats quickly and quietly, there were a few grumbles from some of the fans but they were quickly silenced by a knock upside the head from a friend or another customer.
Yanagi breathed a sign of relief as the people began to chatter like normal as if the situation didn't happen at all. She raised an eyebrow in confusion at the compliance and looked back at the young man who looked on at the crowd in mock annoyance.
Shaking his head he turned his attention back to her and smiled again.
"Apologies for that, must be rough since your a celebrity and all." He said while looking at her.
"As if that wasn't your fault to begin with" Yanagi clearly wasn't amused as she adjusted her glasses with her ring finger.
"I have no clue what your talking about though" He said leaning on the counter, chin resting on his palm as he smirked unfazed by her mock anger.
The young man quickly changed the subject and raised his arm, diverting her attention to the menu hanging on a sign next to him.
"So what will it be?" He asked while she looked over the menu.
The menu was divided into several sections each having carrying labels and price ranges. Snacks, Desserts, Pastries, Drinks and Shakes were all offered. Not a single item was over 350 Dennies, rather cheap for such high quality.
"I guess that's why he's so respected" Yanagi mused. Remembering the few fans who were smacked by other customers for being difficult. She could understand too, not many places had this high quality food for those prices.
Her eyes eventually settled on a cream cheese fudge brownie for just 250 dennies, Kuma followed her gaze to the item and smiled brightly
"Ah those are a favorite of mine to make, one second" he said as he turned back into the stall towards the display freezer. He found the treat being displayed along its brethren and grabbed the freshest one, wrapping it in parchment paper and placing it on a disposable food tray.
He then handed her the blue and white tray as she passed him the dennies. She smiled and decided that now was a good time to talk about "that".
"Just so you know, this wasn't a casual visit" Yanagi announced, her gaze changing from the content to serious as she eyed the young man. A sharp stare that made even the strongest of foes waver.
To Kuma's credit once again he completed unfazed, even seemingly amused at her actions.
"Yeah honestly I expected that, I just hope it's not what I think it's for anyway." The man before her sighed and closed his eyes before continuing.
"I'd appreciate if you could hold off until I close up for the day. I usually pack everything up by 9, hopefully that works with you?" He asked pleadingly giving her a look that showed a man who desperately couldn't give up on any sales.
"It's not problem actually, I'll be waiting here when you finish we can talk then." Nodding approvingly Yanagi found herself at an empty table quietly munching on the brownie she purchased.
The fudgey texture of the brownie and the smooth texture of the cream cheese left her in awe. Savoring every bite as Yanagi read through several documents she had on hand. Before she knew it the hours had passed Lumina Square by in a blur.
3rd Person POV:
As the moon rested fully above the bank Dragons Garden rested at the last of the customers had dissipated. Some even staying by to help Kuma close down the shop a quick but tedious process that he appreciated all help for.
The young man grabbed his car keys and left the closed down stall. Twirling them in his fingers as he hummed a quiet tune walking up to the lady who was totally not dosing off at one of the many Lumina Square seating areas.
He reached out to touch her shoulder before catching himself, seemingly deciding against jolting the woman awake. He couldn't have been all that sure she didn't somehow have that fusion Polearm Katana she wielded quite well.
"Dreaming of days without paperwork?" He questioned at a medium volume. Yanagi slowly returned to the land of the living as she yawned regally. Covering her mouth with her hand and searching for the glasses she placed in the table. Retaining her sight and cognitive functionality she became acutely aware of the stack of cardboard containers sitting in front of her.
Both parties froze at the realization Yanagi because she couldn't believe she had bought and eaten so many brownies, and Kuma because in the rush of patrons he served the very recognizable lady returning to buy the same snack over and over again never registered until now.
'Well Damm, that girl can eat.' Kuma though both amused and slightly surprised. Of course he also took the time to crack a joke at the poor girls expense.
"Maybe for future reference you can place a custom order?" He said smugly. Yanagi didn't dignify him with a response however. Instead she swiped the stack of trays and quickly made her way over the recycling bin.
The trays made a loud THUD as she dropped them in all at once and she flinched. Tushiguro Yanagi of all people flinched at that noise of all things.
'Deputy Chief by the way' a voice sounded in Kuma's head. He internally told it to be quiet and waited for Yanagi's slow embarrassed return. Her gaze once again landed on him stern, hard and this time deathly. Kuma this time was self aware enough to act accordingly.
"I saw nothing" he said, dramatically zipping his lips with a hand gesture for confirmation. This got a nod and a pat on the shoulder from the Deputy chief in question.
"Good Boy" she said at Kuma's left. The man side eyed her before stating off handedly.
"You saying that specifically is a fetish for some people". A wack comment meant to throw her off even more, and it worked if only for a moment. Yanagi took it like a champ and shook her head.
Kuma noted the lack of surprise noting that little nugget of information down in his brain for future reference. Essentially, he was going to tease the fuck out of Yanagi for as long as possible, it was in his nature to do so.
"Oh let's stop by my place to talk, I'll cook dinner since it's pretty late." He stated looking at her.
"Sure" Yanagi responded and they walked together toward the parking lot just a bit away from their standing spot.
(A/N Bro threw up a prayer and it went in 😭)
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Kuma's Residence
Yanagi POV:
How the hell did she end up in this situation? She had just approached Kuma to offer him a job at Section Six. Nice, simple easy but no she had to get roped into going to his god dammed house.
She was just following his whims without even a question. He'll go upstairs and she'll follow like an obedient little-
'Woah that was crazy, let's back it up a little.'
To say that Yanagi was lost would be an understatement. After gaining her bearings she began to contemplate making up an excuse and leaving. Maybe say something came up and it was urgent? Get a phone number and come back tomorrow simple right.
Her entire thought process was halted when Kuma returned from the kitchen with two plates of food. Grilled Chicken Parm on top of creamy pasta and a side of golden brown fries.
Yanagi watched as Kuma sat down and cut open his chicken, the melted cheese flowing down the steaming white meat as he took a bite. He sighed in contentment and placed the doors down with a proud smile on his face.
"Yeah I do this shit for real" she heard him mutter to himself.
'Oh whatever' She had decided to forgo her reservations and just enjoy the more than likely delicious meal presented to her. Yanagi didn't regret it as the flavors burst with every bite and in minutes both hers and Kuma's plates were completely cleaned.
Neutral POV:
"So, let's hear it" Kuma stated, sitting up and looking at Yanagi with his full attention on her. Yanagi met his gaze as she sat up as well, initially she had her whole pitch mapped out. Yet with everything she had experienced within the past 6 hours with this man had thrown her for quite the loop, thus she decided to be way more direct in her approach.
"Let me be clear we want to hire you, or more accurately the chief wants you in section 6". Yanagi stated plain and simply.
"Why, where did this come about?" Kuma asked, tilting his head in confusion.
Yanagi chuckled at his question, now in control of the situation for once.
"When our mission and your investigators Hollow Zero test collided. I'm sure you remember fighting alongside the chief against Nineveh." She responded, Kuma had a quick flash of understanding before suspicion.
"How did you know it was me? I thought the H.I.A had all of stuff classified" he grumbled annoyed.
"I'm a former intelligence operative, it's not hard to work around that stuff you know?" Yanagi replied.
"On top of the benefits H.A.N.D can offer you the salary you get will be worth your while." She continued sliding a folder towards Kuma, the young man placing it on the side table to his right.
Opening the folder he saw his Agent files along with a contract. The stapled papers stamped with the Section Six insignia, which gave the stack almost double the weight it had in his hands. Kuma's mental gears started to turn as he read over the details page by page.
'25,000 Dennies an hour over 6 days no overtime though that's expected with the clause of emergency calls being counted as such. It's perfect deal all things considered which is concerning.'
As he got to the last page he saw something written down at the bottom of the page, the realization of what it was catching his interest.
'So she wasn't dressing this up then, now this complicates it even more.' At the bottom of the last page was a signature printed in black ink.
𝐻𝑜𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓂𝒾 𝑀𝒾𝓎𝒶𝒷𝒾
With a heavy sigh that spoke a thousand words Kuma reorganized the contract and sat it back down to his right. Looking back up at Yanagi who was trying to give him space to read the details. Though she wasn't keeping her eyes off him, but he assumed it was a habit she picked up as a former intelligence officer.
"I really appreciate this offer, truly I do but at this current point in time I just don't see myself being able to accept." Kuma stated solemnly folding his hands together in his lap as he met Yanagi's gaze again.
Yanagi raised a brow but nodded in understanding.
"I see, then I guess I should take my leave then as it's getting quite late."
Rising from her seat with a sigh of regret at her failed pitch she began to walk out. Just before reaching the door however she stopped and spoke to Kuma once more.
"Personally I suggest you reconsider, you'd be continuing to make that mistake if you don't." She stated.
Kuma twitched before his eyes narrowed, the amber orbs calm but mere seconds from a drastic reaction. Yanagi caught the silent cue for her to explain realizing she crossed a line and fell back into her old habits.
"I apologize if I brought up anything you've buried but it's just something I've noticed. The chief caught it too way before I did but it doesn't matter. The way you carry yourself in battle, your composure against a Nineveh a ethereal beyond even the chief herself speaks of someone who's spent his entire life in battle. Better yet someone who's fought against something or someone unreachable and came out on top countless times."
Yanagi begun staring directly at the young man in front of her. Kuma forgoing hiding his anger at being read so easily.
"Add on the masked identity and strange abilities, you're hiding keeping whatever made you this way from interfering now that you have a semblance or normalcy."
She walked back over towards him and leaned forward matching Kuma eye for eye despite him sitting down still.
"Yet what if that monster you've left comes back, what if it's stronger?"
Seeing that he was actually listening to her words. She made sure her next words were from her heart now, not calculated or constructed to convince the enigma she had only slightly decoded.
"This is what Section Six understands, we don't fight on the front lines of the hollows to keep the status quo. We fight for the future of New Eridu. The belief that with each ethereal slain we get closer and closer to a world rid of hollows. That the children who grow up fearful of this looming disaster will one day be freed. To protect those we can for from what has hurt us in the past we carve the path towards the future with our own hands."
She paused letting the words sink into Kuma's head. Raising herself back up but not moving back at all she continued.
"Take this chance, stop running from what's haunting you and use this opportunity to protect what you love. You can count on each member of our team being with you for every step along the way. So take the first one for yourself."
Yanagi concluded, her speech punctuated by the silence that followed but she didn't expect an answer. Walking towards the door with finality she spoke to the contemplating young man one final time.
"Next wednesday at our headquarters. Me and cheif Miyabi will be there all day, come whenever you feel comfortable. I hope you'll accept our offer."
With that the pink haired beauty saw herself out the front door of Kuma's home. Leaving the young man with much to think about.
As her car's lights dimmed into the distant streets a faint light glowed from Kuma's back. Pink flames danced around his body before stop his head sat a fox. This fox had distinct pinkish red fur with 9 tails. The tips of the tails and its ears being stark white in contrast to it's cherry colored body. The fox hopped off Kuma's head onto the table before looking up at him. Speaking towards him with a high pitched feminine voice, it's eyes blue with flowered white irises trembling.
"How does she know so much? Nobody could have known about us, there's no way right?"
Kuma reached down and began to pat his vulpine companion head attempting to calm her down. He shook his head before speaking up.
"She doesn't know anything Maru. She made a guess, a good one at that."
He closed his eyes and breathed deeply before muttering a few sentences of finality.
"But there's one thing she's wrong about,"
"I'm not running away."
"It's not what happened before I'm worried about."
He looked down at the feather ornament at the end of his necklace, something he wears constantly. Clutching it with his left hand and squeezing tight, seemingly comforted by having it in his grasp.
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And cut!
Okay so that took way longer than I thought, but I'm more confident than I've ever been in a chapter I've written since I've started writing on this app.
To say it's been a long four years would be an understatement. I'm fucking graduating next Friday that's insane!
I have a few author notes for you guys as I'm sure you have questions on what's happening.
So for starters I understand that Yanagi towards the start was a little out of character, if I'm being honest that will happen from time to time as characters interact with Kuma.
He's not normal obviously so it takes a bit of time to get used to him.
Next I'd like to apologize for any inconsistencies. This first chapter spanned over 2 months of brainstorming writing and deleting before I settled on this version. Please point out any grammar, spelling or miscues in my writing.
Lastly note that Kuma at this point is an already established character in this universe I've brainstormed spanning multiple games (Hoyo or otherwise).
I'm essentially writing his journey from the halfway point and back. Setting up who Kuma will be before I write how he gets there.
TLDR: Taking the ideas of what I want for the MC before going into his long ass backstory and tying my head in a knot.
Don't be afraid to ask questions about that by the way, I know it's not typically for FF's that connect to be written this way.
Because of graduation next week I won't be able to write a full chapter but there will be an Interlude Chapter. I'll do multiple of these with 1 or 2 per arc called "Crystal Codex" each entry will be a flashback narrated by Kuma.
The entries won't be serious, or at least I don't think they will.
Yap sesh over. Thanks for reading and stay blessed as always - Rose 🌹