"Zhongli—" Xiao called out, but was rudely interrupted by Venti who slapped Zhongli's head.

"You old man! We were searching for you!"

Xiao grabbed the back of Venti's collar yanking him away from Zhongli, who stared blankly at the two in slight confusion.

"You were looking for me?"

"Well duh!" Venti rolled his eyes, as he was released by Xiao. And spread out the wrinkles on his clothes.

"I apologize. But it appears that I may have found where Y/N has disappeared to." He stepped to the side, to show them the small portal like void. And Venti squat down to its height and stared immensely at it.

Xiao, who was perplexed, glanced at Venti to see his reaction. And looked at Zhongli who didn't seem to have any reaction, seemingly obvious that he had already observed it.

Xiao squat down as well, and stared at it.

Was it something dangerous? It didn't seem to be much of a threat, most likely just some decorative thing out in the mist and open.

"Venti, or I will not be able to enter the space. Considering you must possess such powers. And I believe you, Xiao would be the best choice." Zhongli gestured.

"What? Why?" Venti asked a little offended that he technically called him weak.

Zhongli turned his head to look at the shorter male.

"Don't give me that look! Say something!" Venti whined again, seeing Zhongli look slightly annoyed. He didn't have much patience left, now did he?

"Xiao, is a better choice. I think he would hold more of a resistance against Dolos' effect. Trust my word on this."

Venti opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out of it, so he closed his mouth that was agape. Then tilted his head.

Xiao just stared at the two, not sure if he has a say in it. Though he didn't complain, to the request. More like he wanted to do this. If he sees Y/N, surely, he would understand his personal mental questions, and find the answers.

He wasn't oblivious to the feeling of remorse emerging through his body. As well as the feeling of wanting to save the person from whatever hell space they were being captured in. Though what would he do if he sees them? It would be rude to ask, 'Who are you', to them if he doesn't get his memories back of them.

"Will you do it, Xiao?" Zhongli asked.

Xiao contemplated. But he definitely felt the need to do this.

"I will."

Zhongli held a fond smile, partially proud. And relieved Xiao was willing.

"Wait— what is Xiao supposed to do? Like, just hop on in?" Venti intercepted, lightly pulling on Zhongli's ponytail. Making Zhongli lean backwards slightly, and earning an annoyed glare from (pee paw.)

Xiao didn't feel like stopping them, he was too tired to, and didn't quite feel the need to care.

Zhongli swatted Venti's hand away from his hair, and the bard cradled his hand that was dusted red on his pale baby skin, with his bottom lip stuck out in a painful pout.

"I was just curious!" Venti reasoned back.

"He just has to enter the void. And he should be able to do everything just fine in there." Zhongli huffed, crossing his arms.

Xiao raised another eyebrow at them.

Zhongli stared in his eyes, asking if he was ready to go. To which he responded with a nod of his head, as he tilted his chin down, and back up.

Xiao went to touch the void, and hesitated.

He heard a light scoff from Venti behind him, then felt a foot kick his back, as he was shoved right into the void. Making Xiao land on the dark ground his back— facing the floor. He knew that was Venti, most likely. Xiao opened his eyes to try and glare at him, but all he saw was darkness replacing the foggy area he had been in previously.

Taking a glance around the place, all he found, was a never ending place. You couldn't see the ends of wherever he was.

And wherever he was, he didn't like it. It reminded him of his nightmares, and the binds that kept him distanced from the others, the karmic debt that would be a double-edged sword. Not necessarily used to help him fight, but it would still make him suffer to a great degree that he could not withstand sooner or later.

The place was eerily quiet.

He hated the silence, especially in a place like this.

He felt pressure on his back. Not physical pressure, merely a pressure that was casted on himself, to find the woman he yearns to meet.

Xiao, slightly stumbled on himself as he tried to pry himself off of the ground beneath him. Then walked towards a block of a dark mist.

The mist was most likely solid. And was meant for absolutely nothing. It held no purpose of being put there in such an empty space.

There were crumbled structures in some places. It was like a dungeon filled with dead things, that wouldn't dare move— or look at anyone.

What was he supposed to do in such a place?

He calmly walked to one of the structures, as some had painted symbols of some kind.

Not sure what the symbols mean, he looked around to see if there were more.

He stepped backwards to get a full view of whatever he was looking at, then noticed it was like a puzzle piece that was common in some places in Liyue. If you stood still in a specific place, and try to connect the edges of the symbols together, it would glow a golden color.
But these were not gold, they were silver.

Xiao leaned to the side to try and connect the symbols. Once he had, a click sound had signaled him that he had done it correctly.

He shifted to look behind him, and saw he was somewhere else.

An actual dungeon.

This place had bars of metal, and in the shapes of a cage. Not allowing any space for anyone captured a slight chance to escape.

There were the same structures on each side of this long hallway. They were all strangely empty. The closer look he got, he noticed the bars were rusted, and didn't seem to be in good condition of use.

Xiao walked down the place, feeling uneasy with each pace he had. The halls echoing his footsteps.

When he turned the only corner, he was met with a larger cell.

Abruptly stopping, this one had someone in it.

Chains attached from the ceiling above, and from the floor. Latching onto the person's wrists, and ankle. Their hanfu draped over their tattered body. Their hair fell over their shoulders, as some locks of their hair had been draped over their face.

But you could tell who they were.

Xiao felt a stronger headache in his head. As if the memories were being forced back into his head. And yet again, he felt various emotions rush through him. He silently grunted to himself as he held his head in his palms, gripping onto his scalp almost pulling his hair in pain with his fingers.

(Play the music of you'd like)
"Y/N...." His voice cracked. Xiao let his hands fall to the side of his body.

He hadn't expected his voice to lose as he looked at the body that had black painting marks, that of ink. Used to write on paper.

He quickly scanned her body to see a few more marks on her bare legs. Her shoes were dirty. But it didn't look like she had been in here for far too long for her to die.

"Y/N!" Xiao rushed to the cells, and grabbed the bars, leaning forward, in an attempt to reach out to her. He was frustrated of the bars separating him from her.

He heard a grunt from her, as she shut her eyes more tighter. Her eyelids opened, and he was able to see those same e/c eyes. They looked hurt...

Y/N lifted her head, and her eyes widened seeing her beloved.

"Xiao...?! Get out, you have to leave—" He's never seen her so desperate, and her pleas, as such like this. Her chains clanged, as she was trying to lean forward and push him away from the danger that was closing up on him too, trying to engulf him in suffering.

Xiao didn't listen. Why would he? He was stubborn as her.

"No, I came to find you, not to lose you." Those words slipped right out of his lips, as he reached an arm out, opening his hands, a gesture to try and get her to freedom.

Y/N shook her head, as she leaned even more forward with a scared look—

She was scared for him.

Xiao gripped the bars tighter at her refusal. Clenching his jaw tighter, this time him in desperation.

"I'm not leaving until I get you out— neither until I get my hands on that unscrupulous being— that is a sorry excuse for a god."

Y/N felt her eyes widen even more. Should she accept his hand? Should she try and leave? The only reason why she hasn't made another attempt to escape and stay alive, was to keep Dolos busy. And to keep him from doing anything to Xiao. It was the last thing she would let him do— even if it cost her life.

"Xiao, I'm doing this for your own good. Leave." She turned her head away from his figure, to stop from seeing his hurt expression.

Xiao closed his hand again, nearly ripping his skin off from how strongly he had gripped the inside palm of his hand.

He wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Y/N— being here, is for my own good. Only you dying here wouldn't make me happy." His golden eyes that once shown under that one moon that one night, looked desperate. Just as desperate as she was.

Y/N refused, and denied to be engulfed in his warmth again. Even if she did, how was she going to escape these chains? The binds?

"Y/N... please. This is the only other thing I could plead you for. I can't have another die on me, I can't have anybody, especially you disappear!" Xiao's body was pressed against the rusting metal bars, wanting to just destroy them, and make his way over to her body. To hug her, to embrace her. To do anything in his power to protect her, because he wasn't able to do so before...

Y/N stared at him, trailing her eyes down at his stretched hand. Her eyes wavered, in trying to make a decision.

Xiao felt relief as he saw her infamous smirk—

"Fine." She shook her head with an exasperated sigh.

Xiao moved his eyes to the wooden door, and managed to pry it open by force with his kick. A few splinters flew, and fell to her feet.

Xiao rushed over to her, as he summoned his jade spear. The same one she had said, that suited him.

Using the sharpest part, of the blade, he managed to break the chain bindings. Her arms fell limp, as she fell forward.

Xiao used his body to support her from falling face first on the ground. Whilst wrapping a secure arm around her waist, gripping it tightly. He used his other arm to swing the spear down and break the chains attached to the floor.

Xiao dropped his weapon, and brought both of his arms around her limp body, hugging her gently. Closely to his body, as she chuckled and weakly pat his head, as she let her eyes rest, and feeling him shake with silent whimpers and tears streaming down his cheeks.

Xiao wiped them away as soon as he calmed down. And took a closer look at her bruised wrist and ankle.

"Can you stand?"

She shook her head.

"I can't feel my legs or my arms." She made a weak attempt at standing up, and fell immediately. And Xiao caught her.

"I'll carry you."

"What? You do—" She was shut up when he easily hoisted her up in his arms, his arms looped under the back of her knees, and holding her back securely.

Xiao raised a hot eyebrow at her silence. And looked down to see her pursed lips, and the red slowly taking over her entire face.

Xiao brought himself to release an amused chuckle, as he quickly left the cells without a second thought, very quickly.

"Okay, you're injured. What's with those bandages, Xiao?" She asked.

Xiao stopped for a moment, and swiftly removed the bandages around his head as his fluffy dark hair rustled from the sudden movement, showing her he had no need for them. And shoved them in her hands, as she held a confused look when she had them placed on her palms, while he continued to find a way out.

"Do you know how to leave this place?" Xiao asked her.

She looked at him, with slight worry.

"Someone from the other side of this place has to call upon your name. Your given name, that was given to you by someone you care about."
A/N: (Noragami reference)

"That's..."

"Or—" She held a hand up to stop him. "Or, you kill the one who controls the void." She stared into Xiao's eyes. But only found determined looks to kill. Yeah. Kill.

"I prefer the second choice." A new voice echoed through the empty space. The two moved their attention towards whoever was talking.

"Dolos..." Xiao and Y/N said with absolute hate.

Two think alike, no?

Dolos chuckled out of amusement. But they sounded more like laughs.

"Now, don't look at me like that. You may not feel the same—" He stopped to take a breath from laughing. "But I have been dying to meet you, young adeptus." Dolos opened his arms, to look welcoming. But to Xiao, they looked annoying, and threatening.

He gently placed Y/N down on the floor, keeping his glare on Dolos, bringing his spear back out.

Dolos stared at his hands that held his weapon, then back up at Xiao with that same smirk he had on like always.

"I'll kill you."

"You want to bet?" Dolos brought out his sword.

"How do I know you won't use dirty tricks, like a bastard?" Xiao sneered, with the same kind of venom from each word.

Dolos laughed again, which made him irritated.

"I won't, I assure you. This is a battle I want to fight. And potentially make you a slave of mine. I've told Xiwangmu, before. She knows."

Y/N saw Xiao's poor self, tense at the word 'slave.' How dare he.

"Dolos, I told you— you lay a finger on him and I'll end you!" Y/N yelled from behind Xiao, and he stuck a hand out to keep her from interfering.

"Y/N, you have to stay back." Xiao said quietly.

She knew. She knew she wasn't in any condition to talk cocky, and beat the shit out of Dolos. And it frustrated her, that she couldn't do it personally. But all she could do was sit still and look pretty... a phrase she hates the most.

Telling people to act useless.
(*scoff* "Frickin' Noobs." -a slap on titan Levi) A/N: (I'm so sorry)

Without another word, their fight began.

Honestly, she couldn't bring herself to take her eyes off of Xiao. She hasn't seen him fight at all as long as she has been living. She hadn't doubted that he would lose one bit, she had the most faith in him. More than Zhongli or Venti at the moment. Who knows what the two oldies were doing as these two were stuck in this never-ending cycle void of hell.

Dolos dodged Xiao's strike as he jabbed his spear towards his face.

"You're not half bad, Xiao."

"Do not, call me Xiao. You are not obliged to call me my name, you prick." Xiao growled, menacingly.

Xiao cursing somebody? That was quite new, Y/N thought.

"Oh? Then what shall I call you? Adeptus-boy?"

"I could care less, whatever you call me. You won't be able to say anything once I send you to hell." Xiao said again, as he swiped his spear in three directions, and on the third strike, Dolos used his sword to stop it from hurting him. He pushed his spear off of his sword and ran at Xiao slashing at him with every chance he got.

But he's never seen Xiao fight, or know anything about him. So how could he ever predict his moves? That was a certain win for the adeptus. He has a lead. Though, Xiao doesn't know how Dolos fights either.

Y/N searched the place, slightly staggering and trying to keep her balance while standing up. The paint markings started to fade, allowing her to feel her legs and arms, and move. She open and closed her hands to adjust to the feeling.

As Xiao managed to strike Dolos, by piercing his abdomen with his spear, it weakened the void.

Y/N then again, felt her powers start to come back to her. She felt like there was something in her arms, urging her to move. Urging her again to plunge into the battlefield. But that
just sounded like and idiotic plan inside of her head.

Xiao was relentless, and merciless. Leaving no room for Dolos to even take a breather. There was no way Xiao would let this man even have a slight opening to regain his posture. He decided against using his other powers, thinking he didn't have a need to, as Dolos hadn't used his own.

A fight of force, and manpower.

And the end of the devil, was brought by the hands of a shower of millions of bright stars. Something some people wish to see, but not to be killed.

—2 years later—

"Okay... so like— am I invited to your wedding?" Venti pried at the girl, as she and Xiao sat at her table drinking tea this time. Along with Zhongli who calmly sat next to them.

"Venti, how many times do I have to tell you? It's not exactly a whole party like wedding. I'm only inviting a few people to celebrate. That's all." Y/N sighed, as she glanced at the gold band around her left, ring finger.

"Oh... do I still get free wine?"

"Venti. Do you ever stop thinking about wine?" Zhongli spoke up this time, eyeing the younger god with a look of disappointment.

"OF COURSE NOT! WINE IS THE HEART AND SOUL OF MONDSTADT!"

"You're too loud, Venti..." Xiao sighed rubbing his temples, as his own gold band, that would glisten into the light. The warmth of that large star that would bathe Liyue in its sunlight. Like always.

Zhongli shook his head as he sipped his tea again.

"I hope I was able to find a suitable ring for the two of you." Zhongli said again.

"Oh! It's great actually. I really like the small noctilucous jade that was on the ring." Y/N smiled warmly at her sworn brother. Who nodded with a smile as well.

"I appreciate your help, Mr. Zhongli." Xiao thanked the old man, while slipping an arm around the girl's waist.

"Oh come on! Stop thanking HIM. Could you try and appreciate my existence???" Venti slammed his fist on the table, while his hat almost slipped off of his small head.

"Venti, quiet down." They all requested of the small bard.

"We're already going to pay you two 3ft bottles of Liyue's special wine in return for you to play a few songs on your special lyre." Xiao explained, to him as he calmed down with a huff, and sat back down.

"Of course, Venti. We appreciate your existence very much, don't worry." Y/N laughed.

"Ha. Ha. Funny." Venti sarcastically laughed, while flailing his arms around.

"I think we should take our leave." Zhongli got up, while setting the cup of tea down.

Ming and the others had not been found, and were most likely taken by Dolos before, into his void while she didn't know. And they may not even be alive anymore... which is a tragedy. She has graves in the mountain, with specific names for each person.

The two became newly weds on her mountain.

They did not have an official wedding, with vows, and dresses. But of a simple 4 words. And the only thing you need when committing your life to be bound forever with someone, is love, compassion, and the commitment. And all of that can be answered with a simple,

"Will you marry me?"

In Xiao's case, he has asked for her to stay together with him for as long as they can live.

They are no longer adeptis, they are no longer obliged to Rex Lapis' contract any longer.

The two are happy. Of course,