KazuXiao

KazuXiao is the slash ship between Kaedehara Kazuha and Xiao from the Genshin Impact fandom.

Canon
Xiao is from Liyue, while Kazuha is from Inazuma. Given that Kazuha mostly hangs out in Liyue, it's possible that he met Xiao at some point; however, it's highly unlikely since Xiao doesn't interact with humans very often. The color schemes of their designs are somewhat opposite, Kazuha's being dominated by warm colors, and Xiao's by cool ones. Their lives have also been touched by loss: Xiao, who lost his fellow yakshas, and Kazuha, who lost his family and best friend. They are both mentioned as the last of their kind in the race / family.

Both are playable 5-star Anemo characters available in limited-time banners. Despite utilizing different weapons, they both share the distinct ability to maneuver in mid-air, and both utilize plunge combat. Kazuha's elemental skill allows him to lift himself up in the air before unleashing a powerful plunge attack. Xiao's burst increases his jumping ability to deal more plunge attack damage.

They also complement each other in exploration. Kazuha's utility passive decreases running stamina consumption, while Xiao's passive reduces climbing stamina. Kazuha's elemental skill allows him to jump in mid-air to make climbing/ reaching platforms easier, while Xiao's skill allows him to dash/ speed run across platforms. Having the Anemo Resonance further increases team movement speed.

Both characters are also seen to have an indomitable will. Xiao, despite his karmic debt, continues to serve his duty every day. He chooses to carry the pain without protest and isolates himself to not hurt others for thousands of years. Kazuha, on the other hand, went through many tribulations to awaken his friend's lost vision, and has a will so strong that he managed to trigger that vision along with his own to parry a strike from Raiden Shogun's Musou no Hitotachi.

In terms of their differences, one factor would be the contrast of their perspective towards their Archons. Xiao, having being saved by Morax from his enslavement, has developed an unwavering loyalty towards him and dedicated his life to protecting Liyue. As for Kazuha, having become a wanted criminal due to the Vision Hunt Decree and lost his dear friend, had caused him to hold resentment for Raiden Shogun and leave Inazuma.

Another factor is their personality. Even though both have introverted natures, their temperaments are different. On the surface, Xiao is intimidating and cold, whereas Kazuha is kind and carefree. However, as one gets to know them better, one would realize Xiao is much more fragile and kind than he seems to be. In contrast, Kazuha will not hesitate to become ruthless should anyone cross him, as he is seen to threaten Fei the Flyer with torture in order to trigger his friend's lost vision.

Fanon
KazuXiao is notably a rarepair within the Genshin fandom, however it is still a known one. There are currently over 380 works of the ship on ao3. Their main rival ships are XiaoVen and Xiaother, two of Xiao’s most popular ships. Others are KazuScara and TomoKazu, which are Kazuha’s most popular ships. The ship has a fan base in Twitter, where most of the content is. The ship most likely gained its shippers because of their dynamic, since Kazuha is so carefree, most fans think that it would be good for Xiao to have someone like Kazuha. Another reason could be because Kazuha has the kindness and patience that Xiao needs, and Xiao the feeling of security that Kazuha lacks. Both can also bond over the fact they've lost people in their lives.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

Trivia

 * The ship's signature emojis are 🍁👹. The maple leaf representing Kazuha and the oni representing Xiao's mask.
 * In an official interview with Kazuha's Japanese voice actor, Nobunaga Shimazaki, he chose Xiao as one of his favorite characters. He stated that he would be delighted to see people “line up” Kazuha and Xiao on the same party.
 * In the Japanese dub, Kazuha and Xiao share the line “風よ” (The wind) with a similar tone of voice. Xiao says the line when he uses the wind glider whereas Kazuha says the line when he performs his Elemental Skill.
 * Both Kazuha and Xiao are friends with Venti.
 * Both do not reside in their origin country (Xiao's speculated to be from Sumeru (Timestamp: 19:00 onwards) due to his dream eating capabilities)
 * Xiao and Kazuha's birthday art usually seems to revolve around Ginko and Maple leaves respectively.
 * Both have lost a friend with an electric vision and failed to save them.
 * Both are indebted to someone for saving them. Xiao to Zhongli, Kazuha to Beidou and Gorou.
 * Both have similar looking constellations (wing-shaped).
 * Both have appeared as one of the main characters in the collaboration art for Sweets Paradise (and in the same right spot).
 * Kazuha's TCG event card has the same pose as Xiao's TCG character card. Both cards are launched together in the 3.7 patch.
 * Kazuha has stumbled upon an Adepti dwelling during the Tuned to the World's Sounds Event, and has gotten hold of an Ancient Zither and played till it broke.
 * Kazuha usually loiters around Guyun Stone Forest due to the Alcor's ship being docked there. Xiao often patrols around that spot as mentioned by Zhongli during the 2022 Lantern Rite Festival (Day 4 - Post-Quest Dialogue).
 * Interestingly, Kazuha comes from a bladesmith family, and Xiao happens to have a voice line that says to view him as a weapon.
 * Kazuha's design is rumored to be based on Beta Xiao's design.
 * In the Bilibili's Fan Art Birthday Party 2022, Kazuha and Xiao can be seen running a cat cafe together at timestamps 5:30, 6:18, 52:45 and 1:49:36.

Variations

 * 4NEMO refers to the ship between the two, Aether and Venti
 * 5WIRL refers to the ship between the two, Aether, Venti and Shikanoin Heizou
 * 6REEZE refers to the ship between two, Aether, Venti, Shikanoin Heizou and Scaramouche
 * KazuXiaoVen refers to the ship between the two and Venti