Persuading

"Allen!" When Allen returned to the Kamisato State just as they finished burying Asahi's remains, he was greeted by Ayaka who haven't already finished her obligations at the funeral, she didn't doubt for a second, running towards Allen.

"Ayaka" Allen opened his arms and Ayaka threw herself to him, burying her head on his chest as tears started falling from her eyes.

"You worked hard. Let it go" Allen patted Ayaka's back while warmly embracing her. The funeral had finished, there was no need to stop her emotions, all of them exploding into an incontrollable cry. However, it didn't last long as the pressure and tiredness of not sleeping over these days took a hold of her, quickly falling sleep in Allen's arms.

"I will bring her to her room to rest" Allen said as he turned towards Ayato who saw their interchange.

Ayato didn't really like Allen, but it wasn't anything too personal as he would hate any men that approached her little sister, being a hard siscon.

Over this year, he had observed Allen attentively and while he seemed older than his age and had his twisted moments, he was sure that he cared for Ayaka and was able to cheer her, so he really didn't stop their relationship as he was one of Ayaka's few friends.

But even so, Ayato never liked the two being alone, making sure that there was someone looking after them if he wasn't able, much more being alone in her room. However, this time Ayato let them go, nodding at Allen.

Ayato also needed to rest after this exhausting time and Ayaka needed someone to relay and pass this difficult moment, cheering up. Ayato had been unable to become one, so he was letting Allen try it.

With Ayato's permission, Allen took Ayaka, lifting her like a princess and carrying her to her room, carefully laying her on her bed.

While Ayaka slept, Allen stood next to her, taking her hand and warmly trying to calm down as she whimpered and cried for her father. It wasn't until late night that Ayaka finally opened her eyes.

"Do you feel better?" Allen asked carefully.

"Allen..." Ayaka sniffed and cleaned her tears "Sorry to have shown this unsightly side. I shouldn't-"

"Stop, Ayaka" Allen quickly stopped her, taking a handkerchief and cleaning her face "There's no need to keep it for yourself. You can rely on me."

"Mm" Ayaka caressed Allen's hand.

"I knew that dad would die shortly" Ayaka said with a serious tone "I tried to make it in my mind, putting a strong face as I prepared for it. But in the end..." tears poured from her eyes "Why I am feeling like that?! I knew it! I accepted! But I can't! Mum, dad, why are you gone?" she said weakly.

"Emotions are not so easy" Allen said with a profound look in his eyes "Being unable to control them is what makes us humans."

"Departures are difficult and impossible to surpass in a day, but that only makes our relations more important" Allen said profoundly "Mourn them, be sad. It's okay. It's normal. But please" Allen took Ayaka's hands "Don't drown in that sorrow. Rest, eat, live... don't abandon yourself in it."

"Finally, remember that happy moments with them, treasure them. Not as something that would never repeat, but as something dearly, as something that had made you who are you today, and as proof that you can smile again like that."

"Thanks, Allen" Ayaka showed a light smile. It wasn't one of happiness, of course, she was too sad for that, but it was proof that she was making the effort to continue forward, making Allen sure that she would be fine in the future.

"Allen, two days ago my father called me to his room" Ayaka explained "I was worried as it had been long since he called me, most of his days being bedridden without moving. However, I saw him fine."

"He asked about my every day, about how everything was going while smiling warmly while listening to me. We even played a game of chess. His smile turned brighter when I talked about you and Sayu." She pondered sadly "I thought that he was recovering, that I will be able to present my friends to him and that our time as family will return. But..." She made a downcast expression, tears again surging from her eyes. "He died that night, leaving us alone. If I knew, I would have been able to say much more, say goodbye and not only talk about me"

'He must have been aware of his near end' Allen deducted and shook his head "That showed how important you were for him. He used his last strength not to finish clan matters, but to pass the last of his time with you. He didn't want to pass his last days with pity and sadness. He wanted to simply pass a normal day with you. It might seem trivial, but I am sure it was the most important of the world for him. He loved you, Ayaka."

"Yes!" Ayaka cleaned her tears and breathed loudly, a pure smile appearing on her face. Her last moments with her dad, she would treasure dearly. A simple day that they would have wanted it would last forever.

Seeing her like that, Allen smiled, but quickly stopped doing it as there were more serious things to do. There was no time.

"Ayaka" Allen's eyes darkened "Have you thought about what would you do now?"

"What are you referring?" Ayaka asked confused.

"Wouldn't be good to travel?" Allen explained "Visit some places, looking over the world. See how different people are. Wouldn't it be great?"

"Yes" Ayaka nodded "I passed all my life here and I would like to travel. Seeing the open world."

"The world surely is immense."

"Yes, I would really like to see it someday. We could go..." Ayaka looked shyly at Allen "together in the future."

"Why in the future?" Allen stood up "Why not now? This is the perfect moment, a change of environment would be great for you, stopping you to think about sorrowful things. We can go together. To Liyue, always full of activity, lights and people as it could be expected from the trade hub. Or we could go to Mondstadt, calm, tranquil and with clear air. There's also Sumeru full of color, the leafy jungle and the infinite desert..."

Allen offered his hand to Ayaka "Wouldn't it be great? We can go everywhere..."

Ayaka looked at Allen's hand while thinking about it, traveling over the world with Allen...

Ayaka was about to take his hand, but stopped just an inch before it, her last day with his father passing over her mind with Allen's words of treasuring them. Finally, the image of his brother appeared.

"I can't" Ayaka shook her head, backing up her hand, leaving Allen's hand standing. "I can't leave everything to brother, he needs someone to help him. I can't go now, but maybe in the future when everything is better..."

"Ayaka" Allen interjected "If your brother were to also leave, would you also stay here?"

"If brother leaves?" Ayaka blinked in surprise and shook her head "He won't do it, he cares a lot for the clan. But if he left, I don't know if I would be able to continue it."

"Ayaka" Allen said coldly as his eyes darkened, chilling Ayaka "Did you really think that you are able to help your brother?"

"O-of course" Ayaka nodded a little frightened by Allen's change in mood "If I put all my effort."

"Effort? Hm!" Allen started laughing "Hahaha. Effort alone is useless. Manners, experience, intelligence, strength... You not only lack in everything, but you have absolutely no talent in them, average being the most that you would ever reach."

"Being of help? Ha!" Allen mocked "You will be nothing than a hindrance! A weakness of your brother that could easily become his doom!"

"Allen, why are you saying this?" Ayaka asked teary, starting to cry with the harsh words.

"Why? Because I'm already fed up!" Allen shouted angrily "Do you think that wanting to help is enough? No. That not even your decision, you are simply a coward unable to make a choice of her own, following your brother as you are scared of leaving his protection. With such a conviction, did you really think that you will be able to be some help? Ha?! Don't make me laugh!"

"STOP!" Ayaka shouted with tears "Stop! Stop! Stop!"

"The truth hurt, no?" Allen grinned "How easy is to be a little girl, without needing to think about the world, simply leaching others while being protected by them."

"I-I'm not like that!" Ayaka cried. "Please, stop!" She said teary, her voice lowering.

'I'm really an hidrance' dark thoughts appeared over Ayaka's mind 'Would I really be able to help brother? Maybe he is better without me.'

"Why would I?!" Allen shouted "How could you be able to help anyone with such a meager conviction?"

'Conviction?' this word resounded over Ayaka's mind 'Did I really have the resolution?' Image of her childhood appeared, her time with her parents and brother, all of them together happy. Her parents, always helping each other.

"You are useles-" "STOP!" "Paf!" Ayaka stood up and slapped Allen's cheek. "I might be lacking now, but I will make sure not to, I will put my every effort into it. It doesn't matter how much dangerous it could become, I will put my life in line. I will make sure to help brother!" She shouted with clear and decided eyes that seemed unbreakable.

"I have to say that you have some guts" Allen said while caressing his hit cheek"But, words have very little weight." Allen crouched over the floor, taking two sheathed swords that were previous prepared "Are you able to back up those words with actions?" Allen grinned, throwing one of them at Ayaka.

Allen drew the sword, the cold metal sparking under the light as he pointed at Ayaka "Show me your resolution!"