Kunikuzushi X Reader - Blog Posts

⠀𐔌 . ⋮ balsam flowers and plum blossoms .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱

ʚ general! scaramocuche x fem, courtesan! reader ɞ

synopsis: having been forced to leave his clan temporarily, kunikuzushi assists the heir apparent of liyue in a upcoming border conflict. while there, like a balsam flower blooming in the early fall's frost, your rosy lips and dusty rouge eye make-up draws him in. in a game of go, the unbeatable inazuman tactician finally tastes defeat at your hands.

genres: romance, mild smut, slight angst.

rating: mature, 18+ (mdni).

content warnings: indirect mentions of war, implied smut, mentions of pleasure houses (but reader doesn't really partake), unclear timeskips.

reader specifications: reader is detailed to wear red eyeshadow and red lipstick, it's also noted that reader has long enough hair to pin back.reader is also called 'xiyue' but it is merely an alias.

word count: 2.79k

author's note: this fic is heavily inspired by fengxian and lakan from the apothecary diaries and reader's make-up and attire is based off of fengxian's ( ⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝)

‎‧₊ ─ masterlist .ᐟ ༘

Scaramouche’s eyes linger on the letter sent from his mother, the current head of the Raiden clan and he’s too irritated to roll his eyes at her nagging. 

“Throwing me out to accomplish big feats for the glory of the clan,” He sarcastically snarls. “My ass.”

Shaking his head, he tosses the piece of parchment into the fireplace in his temporary office Xiao had provided him, opening the balcony doors before he gazes at Liyue’s bustling streets. 

“General Scaramouche,” Heizou Shikanoin remarks from the other side as the said man’s eyes flit over to his direction.

“Enter.”

“Blessings to the moon of the Inazuman empire,” Heizou murmurs the greeting addressed to the heir apparent of Inazuma.

Handing the general the documents, Scaramouche simply skims over its contents, removing the unimportant ones before waving his hand dismissively. 

Recalling a certain albino haired man, Heizou puts in, “Y’know, I heard of a courtesan that’s unbeaten in Go.”

He inwardly grins as he catches the glimmer of curiosity in Scaramouche’s dark blue eyes. 

“Unbeaten, huh?” Scaramouche simpers haughtily, placing the documents down, interest blooming within him.

“Where?”

“The Yuanfen House in the Red-Light District,” Scaramouche’s nose crinkles ever so slightly before he’s motioning Heizou to the door.

As they make their way to the aforementioned district beneath the starry night of Liyue, Scaramouche can’t help but question, “Who mentioned this to you?”

It's at his words does Heizou chuckle, “Who else besides Kazuha? He’s mentioned repeatedly about how you’re such a shut-in.” Scaramouche glares at his friend causing Heizou to burst out laughing.

┊ ੈ✩‧₊*°࿐ྂ。

After speaking to the Yuanfen owner, Lihua, the detective motions Scaramouche to a table at the upper levels of the pleasure house.

“Who am I to meet?” It’s a simple and blunt question as he seats himself, his indigo eyes landing on the Go board placed on the table.

Heizou stands at the sidelines, a little ways away from his lord. “The Balsam Flower Maiden of the Yuanfen House, Xiyue is what the owner called her.” His answer is satisfactory as Scaramouche recalls the meaning of each character.

Joyous, rare. He shakes his head as he sets up his black Go stones, rolling them in his palm as he waits for his opponent.

Before long, he hears the rustle of silk fabrics and the soft chimes of metal and beaded hair pins but Scaramouche doesn’t bother looking up.

“You first.” He mutters absentmindedly, fingers tapping quietly against the table.

Scaramouches eyes move from the wide Yuanfen House doors exposing the people walking by to the Go board. He hears a soft hum and more people crowd around him and the courtesan.

It was bound to stir attention: the unbeaten courtesan of the Yuanfen House and the formidable Inazuman tactician and general exchangig calculated blows in a game of Go.

As the courtesan places her white Go stone on the board, a hint of a soft red hue catches his eyes.

Without skipping a beat, Scaramouche is quick to place his own stone, his twilight blue eyes latching on the courtesan’s red tinted nails.

She’s good. He muses, eyeing her abrupt and unexpected moves. But she’s a mere frog in a well.

Soon, he immerses himself in the match, finding himself entertained by her moves and playing style.

But that amusement is quickly shut down as his eyes assess the board. Murmurs from the audience fill his ears much to his annoyance.

I lost. Scaramouche thinks simply, but as he looks at the board further, he realizes he was corner masterfully, having utterly beaten him.

When was the last time I lost this badly? He questions, pursing his lips in mild indignation.

Letting out a quiet sigh, his indigo eyes finally look up and he meets beautiful e/c eyes that seem to sparkle.

With a rosy hue dusted on the outer corners of your eyes and red painted lips, Scaramouche finds himself frozen—captivated almost.

Eyes defiant, and like the smell of the balsam flower that surrounds you, your resinous eyes held a sweet gaze.

Swallowing thickly, Scaramouche composes himself as he gestures for another match of Go, not only captivated by your beauty but your way with the game as well.

┊ ੈ✩‧₊*°࿐ྂ。

Nights thereafter, Scaramouche always finds himself at the doors of the Yuanfen House, consistently buying all your time for the night, barring any man from seeing you.

He ignores Heizou’s smug grin and Kazuha’s faint smile, choosing your company over theirs, finding the silence between you comfortable and serene, the faint smell of balsam flowers sticking to you sweet and addicting.

Game after game, many nights since he’s first fought you in the game of Go, was he able to finally learn of your true name.

Y/n.

Scaramuche finds it pleasant and sweet, rolling off his tongue like honey easily compared to the name Lihua had bestowed upon you—Xiyue.

But as night bleeds into day and day into night, he gradually gets to know you as you do with him. Soon he learns of your past, how you were born in the pleasure house you now serve.

Regardless of such an odd environment to raise a child in, you muse how Lihua was kind enough to provide an education for you and allow you to retain your purity.

Scaramouche hums, placing his dark stone on the board before his eyes flit over to gaze at you.

Pools of indigo trace your face, studying how your long lashes flutter against the apples of your cheeks, eyes dusted with a red hue, lips tinted south rouge as the rosy plum blossom flower painted on your forehead seems to highlight your beauty even more.

As beautiful as a balsam flower. He finds the thought at the very forefront of his mind.

Your eyes flicker up, meeting his and he spares the board a glance before looking up at you once more, meeting your gaze.

Scaramouche finds himself breathless at the sight of you before him, at your beauty and your intelligence, having bested him once more in Go.

“Scara?” You hum softly and he revels in how your voice seems sweeter when calling for him.

Like a clockwork, his true name tumbles from his lips as his eyes trace your lips. “Kuni.”

“Hm?”

“Kunikuzushi is my real name.” He states simply before collecting your white stones and placing them in your bowl, collecting his soon after.

You smile endearingly as your cheeks redden subtley and he finds himself speechless, the words on his tongue suddenly dying. “Well then, shall we play another game of Go, Kuni?”

His heart aches at how sweetly you say his name and like the fumbling, lovesick fool he is, he nods silently, not trusting his words.

┊ ੈ✩‧₊*°࿐ྂ。

Despite the looming threat of the border conflict plaguing Xiao and Liyue, Scaramouche is quick to finish his paperwork, assigning Inazuman soldiers to the forefront of Liyue’s west border to help aid the young heir.

Yet regardless of the stress and tension between the higher-ups, Kunikuzushi keeps visiting you night after night, buying you for the entire night.

He feels a swell of pride as he catches your eyes twinkle brightly when you see him enter your chambers.

“Miss me?” Kunikuzushi teases, a smug grin on his face as you bite back a smile.

“Says the man who repeatedly buys me out night after night.” You retort as you eye the Go board he places on your table.

“Go? Aren’t you tired of me beating you?”

“Hah?” Kunikuzushi snaps, his words having no heat as all as he resists the urge to grin. “Just you watch, love.”

You smile shyly and his heart skips a beat. “Bring it on, Kuni.” You chime playfully as your fingers place your white stone on the board.

┊ ੈ✩‧₊*°࿐ྂ。

Coming from the Jade palace after discussing battle plans and preparations with Xiao, Kunikuzushi’s keen ears catch wind of your price hiking up steadily.

Choosing to brush off such things, he tosses the bag of mora on the counter before making his way to your chambers, his feet carrying him along the familiar path.

Entering, he sees you painting your nails with balsam flower paste. Your eyes catch his and he knows his own soften exponentially.

He’s unfamiliar and clumsy with such longing blooming in his chest and so, he turns to one of the few things he’s keenly familiar with.

“Go?”

You smile but he catches that it doesn’t quite reach your eyes.

┊ ੈ✩‧₊*°࿐ྂ。

As your game continues, Kunikuzushi eyes you softly and he’s beginning to understand that there’s something amiss simmering in your eyes.

He’s quick to place his stone after you had just done so, but your hand lingers, fingers caressing his before you’re lacing your hand with his. Kunikuzushi’s eyes quickly snap to yours and he’s taken off guard with the raw emotions swirling through them.

Swallowing thickly, he tugs you towards him, his lips descending on yours—sweet and desperate—as your fingers tangle themselves in his midnight blue locks.

Kunikuzushi quickly loses himself in your lips, your touch, your taste as he finds himself addicted, yearning for more. Your hands tug at his clothes as his own slide your silken garments off your shoulders, his hands easily plucking out your hair pins before they wander all over your body, squeezing gently.

Pulling away for air, you pant hotly against his lips. And before he knows it, his hand cups the nape of your neck, bringing your lips against his once more.

┊ ੈ✩‧₊*°࿐ྂ。

Kunikuzushi kisses your lips, pulling back as he gazes at you, his heart clenching at the sad, glossy look in your eyes.

He hovers over you, yet with his hands interlaced pinning your own to the silken sheets, Kunikuzushi squeezes your hands three times.

A message, a reminder, an unspoke phrase he’s yet to say.

“What’s with the faraway gaze in your eyes?” He murmurs softly as your lips tremble.

“My price is hiking up and Lihua is tempted to sell me.” It’s a broken whisper and Kunikuzushi dives down gently, kissing your lips hard as his knee settles between your bare thighs, your hands squeezing his.

“Don’t think of them while I’m here with you,” His words are breathy against your lips as he moves his hand to gently hold the nape of your neck, his other hand hooking behind your knee as he raises your leg.

“You’re mine, Y/n, and I won’t let any bastard have you.” His words are quiet but you can catch the underlying heat lining his words.

Your heart feels full as you gaze at the alluring man hovering above you. Pursing your lips in nervousness, you cup his face with your newly freed hands, forcing his dark indigo eyes to fly to yours.

Pulling him closer, your noses nuzzle against each other as your lips ghost over his. Your hand trails to his back, fingers gently tracing his spine as your thumb caresses his cheek.

Beautiful. You think to yourself.

He shudders at your motions and his dark blue eyes seem to become more half-lidded, pooling with lust and longing.

“I love you, Kuni.” You confess quietly, breath glossing over his lips and before you know it, he’s slamming them against your lips as you tangle your hand in his dark tresses.

He’s everywhere; his scent and touch driving you insane, dizzying yet so addicting.

Reluctantly pulling away for air, Kunikuzushi’s eyes seem dazed and drunken-like as he attempts to catch his composure. But with you, bare and ready for him beneath him, he finds it hard to focus.

His heart swells as it feels like it’s overflowing with warmth. He gazes at you sweetly as he thumbs the edge of your kiss-bitten lips, the look in his eyes tugging at your heart.

Kunikuzushi loses himself in your heat as your eyes close in pleasure. His hand gently squeezes yours once, twice—thrice.

“I love you,” He kisses you as you wrap your arms around his neck. “I am yours, Y/n.”

He murmurs against your lips, utterly addicted. “Always.”

┊ ੈ✩‧₊*°࿐ྂ。

Kunikuzushi wakes up in the dead of night, his eyes tracing your serene features as he pulls you flush against him, his heart thrumming at the feeling of your bare skin against his.

His fingers gently trace the slope of your cheek before his hand cups your cheek. Your eyes sleepily flutter open and the look on his face sends your heart racing.

He places his forehead against yours, noses nuzzling against each other as your eyes close. “I am to leave for the front lines.” Kunikuzushi whispers quietly as your hands interlace with his, squeezing gently in worry.

Squeezing your hand once, twice, thrice—a reassuring and unspoken signal for the words, i love you.

“Do not fret, love. For I will come back and you and I will leave this place,” Kunikuzushi kisses you softly. “Together.”

“Promise?”

He smiles, “Promise.”

Your fingertips trace his cheek softly as his own tilt your chin upwards, “Come back safely to me, Kuni.” You murmur, lips dancing against his.

Kunikuzushi deepens the kiss as your fingers tangle themselves in his indigo locks.

“Always.”

┊ ੈ✩‧₊*°࿐ྂ。

The border conflict had taken much longer than he'd anticipated, two months at best but when Kunikuzushi returns to the harbor, he disregards the paperwork and letters littering his office, missing the urgent letters you’ve sent him.

He’s held back from seeing you due to having to close up loose ends with Xiao but once he’s free, he quickly makes his way to the Yuanfen House.

But as Kunikuzushi nears the pleasure house, his ears catch onto news that sends a chill down his spine.

“Did you hear? Someone bought the Balsam Flower Maiden out from the Yuanfen House!”

“Xiyue? No way!”

His eyes widened and his heart beat seemed to echo harshly in his ears. “They beat out the down payment another customer had put in.”

Before he knows it, Kunikuzushi is grabbing the man by his collar, his indigo eyes thundering violently. “When is she being sold?” He snarls and the man pales from the intensity of Kunikuzushi’s eyes, his aura flickering with anger and power.

“T- Today.” Kunikuzushi harshly lets go of the man’s collar before he’s running quickly, his heart aching as panic floods his mind.

He curses himself for being stupid, not having been more careful especially when he knows your price is skyrocketing.

Kicking the door open, he’s demanding to see Lihua, the said woman regarding him with a glare of indifference. “She was bought out.” She states simply as if you were something to be easily disregarded.

His eyes thunder, anger flaring in him as lightning buzzes on his skin. The people within Liyue closest to the harbor’s waters swear they can hear thunder on the horizon.

“I don’t give a damn,” Kunikuzushi growls, fists balling and he doesn’t care to wince at the slight sting his skin radiates when his fingernails dig into his palms.

“I don’t care about the price. I’ll double it, triple it.” He sees the old hag’s eyes sparkle and he feels disgust rise in him. “I want her and only her.”

She smirks, sly and conniving. “She’s all yours.”

Disregarding her words, Kunikuzushi is quick to make his way to your chambers, relief and worry blooming in him.

Opening the doors, he’s greeted with the sweet and slightly spicy, resinous scent of balsam flowers and he finds himself calming down.

Your eyes fly to the door, landing on his figure and they widen in shock. “I’m sorry,” Kunikuzushi admits softly, swallowing harshly as he sees your eyes pool with relief and sadness. “I’m sorry for being so late.”

He isn’t able to say much as your arms are suddenly wrapping around his neck, your scent invading his senses as you bury your face in his shoulder.

Your touch is soothing, calming and in your embrace does he feel less war-torn and he thinks that peace may feel a lot like you.

Kunikuzushi is quick to wrap his arms around your waist as he allows himself to melt into your embrace, placing a kiss on your hairline. “I’m sorry for taking so long.” He apologizes once more and his arms tighten around your waist as he feels your body tremble.

You look up at him and his heart aches seeing unshed tears glaze your pretty eyes. “It’s okay, you’re here now.” You whisper shakily and he wishes he could turn back time to spare you such melancholy.

It’s quiet before you shakily exhale, “I thought I lost you in battle.” Your words are vulnerable and it sends a spike of pain in his chest that lingers.

“Forgive me, my love.” Kunikuzushi murmurs, kissing your lips delicately. “Battered and wrecked, I will always come to you first.”

He holds you closer, “For my heart is so full of you, I can hardly call it my own.”

© 2024 𝐌𝐘𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆-𝐈𝐕. do not copy, repost, share, or translate any of my works to tiktok, instagram, and/or any other websites/platforms.