When The Sakura Bloom Chp. 1
Hi Guys! Itās been a while since I set up this blog an life has honestly just been a whirlwind khfbvkjeb. Covid happened, I got into my dream uni, then work, mental health and familt stuff happened - itās definitely been wild lol. I had an idea in my head for a while about a Thoma x reader smur one shot, but kinda thoughĀ āHey, this would work better in a fanficā. And soooo I present my first multichapter fanfic! Itās a Best Friends slowburn Thoma x reader wherein you are best friends and takes place before, during, and after the Vision hunt decree! Itās being crossposted on AO3 (https://archiveofourown.org/works/37369651/chapters/93252001). Constructive criticism is more than welcomed, so please feel free to let me know your thoughts! <3 I still need to update my fandom list ngl, but if any of you have any requests, please feel free to send me an ask while theyāre open and Iāll work on them alongside this fanfic! I hope youāre all having an amazing time, and remember my dmās are always open for you guys <3Ā
Whenever you were asked by Inazumans what you missed most about Mondstadt, or when curious children asked you what life was like outside of Inazuma, your mind would go blank. You werenāt offended, of course. It was only natural for them to notice you werenāt a native, and many of them longed to hear of the outside world, especially after the Sakoku Decree was put into place. Itās just that there truly was nothing you could tell them. A few months before you were born, your mother and father moved to Inazuma, leaving everything they knew behind. Your father was a trader, and, seeing a high demand for imported goods in Inazuma, knew it simply wasnāt an opportunity that he could pass up if he were to support his new, slowly growing family. Thus, you were born less than four months after your parentsā arrival in Inazuma. Its blooming sakura trees, local delicacies and its rich history was all you had ever known. Of course, you had heard tales of Varka, The Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, and of the Anemo Archon, as well as tales of your mother and fathers adventures throughout Mondstadt (including an expedition that hadnāt gone exactly to plan in Dragonspine). These tales, to you, were those of wonder and intrigue, picturing each one in your head with the vivid descriptions your mother had given you of Windrise, Starfell Valley, and so on. Sometimes, in your dreams, you could see yourself in the same places your mother and father told you of, taking special care to note down every detail of your surroundings, and writing them down in a dream journal you kept beside your bed. Each morning, you would eagerly write down your adventures, and show them to your parents, who would read your journal all too eagerly, reminiscing of their days back home.Ā
While your parents believed it to be important that you knew of your Mondstadt roots, they also recognized the need for you to know the history and culture of your current home in Inazuma. One such lesson of Inazuman culture was a trip to the Grand Narukami Shrine with your mother. While you complained and moaned all the way up the mountain to said Shrine, when you finally reached your destination, your mother had a feeling you would never utter a single complaint of the journey again. Your mother, hand gently holding your own smaller one, tried to pull you along, but you could do nothing more but stand in awe, a starstruck look on your face. You had never seen anything like the shrine before, let alone a sakura tree the sheer size of the Sacred Sakura. Your mother softly laughed to herself, before bending down to your level. āI know, my beloved,ā she began, āI had the same reaction when I first ventured up here while you were still growing inside of me.ā Your mother smiled, reminiscing. āI decided right then and there that when you were here, I would take you here too.ā She smiled sweetly, while tucking some stray hairs from your face softly. Your mother decided it would be best to let you have a look around yourself rather than give you her own tour, you would be safe enough with all the shrine maidens around. Besides, she knew you wouldnāt run too far away from her. It was best just to let you take in everything your own way. It was then that you found your life calling. The other Shrine Maidens insisted to visitors that they would be able to explore the entirety of the shrine in a short while, after the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine had completed one of many rites at the shrine - an exorcism to be specific. Of course, you being, well, you, decided anyway to continue your exploration of the shrine, quickly hiding around a corner once you caught sight of the Pinkette. By the way she moved you could instantly tell she was someone of importance, it was almost as if she had centuries of experience under her belt. Your eyes quickly moved around, falling upon a branch from one of the many trees surrounding the shrine. Carefully picking it up, you found yourself mimicking her, trying to follow her fluid movements down to a T. It wasnāt until she turned upon completing the exorcism, her eyes meeting your own, that you quickly hid into a corner, not even daring to take a breath let alone look back. āOhoho⦠And what do we have here~?ā You heard behind you. āIf.. If I canāt see them, they canāt see me!ā you exclaimed to yourself, squeezing your eyes shut and wishing with all your might, that you may disappear into thin air, almost convincing yourself that the childish strategy might work. This only made the head shrine maiden let out a hearty laugh. āWell arenāt you a little cutie~ Thereās no need to be embarrassed, if anything itās quite flattering to have a young lady such as yourself try to mimic me! Goodness knows the rest of the girls out there donāt have the guts to even be in my immediate surroundings during events such as this, colour me impressed!āshe continued, softly holding your shoulder and turning you around, only to burst out laughing at your face, concentrating too hard on shutting your eyes and being quiet, it sort of looked like you had sucked on something sour like a lemon. After wiping tears of laughter away, Yae smiled softly at you. āSay, if you really are so interested in being my little stunt double, why donāt I teach you how to perform the rite properly, hmm?ā
And thus, weekly lessons soon began at the Grand Narukami Shrine, these soon turned into lessons twice a week, to five days a week, to suddenly your entire life. It wasnāt that you complained, however. You loved performing your duties at the shrine. You loved spending time with your fellow shrine maidens and you loved being Yae Mikoās second lady alongside Kaede (although this was purely because of the hopeless crush Kaede had on Yae and Yaeās playful flirtations towards Kaede). Your life was happy, peaceful, and full of joy. You didnāt think you could ask for anything more. Your parents were happy and healthy, their business booming, you were constantly learning and growing at the Shrine and your fellow Shrine Maidens were life sisters to you, it was as if your life was so amazing, it was right out of a novel, not wanting for anything.Ā
And then, a young man washed up unconscious on the Ritou shore. A young,Ā blond man, around the same age as you. You had no idea how much your life would change after this encounter, whether it be for better, or worse.
I hope you guys enjoyed this - and sorry again there isnāt much action! I promise next chapter things will begin to build up! As mentioned bfore concrit is much appreciated, and I want to thank my friends Kodes and Shifty for beta reading for me - yāall are the best! Iām writing chapter 2 as we speak, and Iāll hopefully have it up this weekend for yāall! Ad Astra Abyssosque <3