Breaking up with Them - Ayaka x Male!Reader
A/N: A bit Dark Days-y. Enjoy! CW: Nothing.
“Then, we got a report that another fetch was sighted in the city.”
Ayaka whispers confidentially, staring up at the night sky as she leans against the cold, stone wall of the Kamisato Estate. The air around her is cool, but the voice behind the wall brings a warmth to her heart, so comfortingly familiar.
You whisper, putting your mouth close to a small hole in the wall. “I've heard about it. It spooked a woman, right?”
Your lover nods, though out of your view. “Yes, that's right. But she wasn't hurt, thank the Shogun. The little Bake-Danuki didn't mean any harm, after all.”
A chuckle. “Mischievous cuties, aren't they?”
She smiles, lowering her head to keep it from showing. Just being here this late at night was risky enough. But she had a plan, clutched right in her hand. Some sort of astrological scribbles and diagrams she bought from a foreign astrologer - she didn't understand what they were for or how to decipher them, but fortunately, nobody else did either. It was a good excuse in case one of the staff noticed her, talking to herself against the outer wall. ‘I was just analysing the night sky’, she would claim while you scurried away into the darkness.
Her brother already found out about her heart's longings for the common folk when he noticed you being a bit too friendly with her. You were ousted, but Ayato did not publicly declare the reason for your termination - for your own safety. If the news that the princess mingled romantically with a peasant, the reputation of the Kamisato clan would be tarnished. In Inazuma, there was hardly any flexibility or room for tolerance amongst the obstinate higher class, one the siblings had to put up with. Ayaka knew that her brother would bless her marriage if he could - you were a kind and loyal person, after all. But he couldn't ignore the consequences and put her up for ostracism and scrutiny, to be pelted with dishonouring accusations.
But her heart longed for you, and yours longed for her. You weren't allowed to enter the estate again, so the only way was to meet here, way back on the estate grounds with a thick wall separating you. It was too tall to climb so the guard did not patrol much here, and if he did, you could easily hear him approach before he turned the corner and climb down the rocky shelf to safety, out of view. Ayaka would then sneak back into her quarters, away from any suspicions.
“I wish you were there.” She sighs, groping the scroll in her hands. “There were many Yokai, all of those that still interact with humanity. And even some more.”
She turns her head slightly, peeking through the hole to see your smiling face. “Some sort of sentient staff came up to us, you know? Miko relegated it to one of her shrine maidens, of course, as it could not speak yet.”
Your eyes meet with her silver gaze, warm against the harsh ocean winds whipping your back. “Typical, I say. Since it could not speak, I bet she found it boring.”
You hear a hum from the other end. “Yes, I'm sure she would love to tease it. But alas, she could not. So she gave it away, and I saw the Traveler walking around with it.”
“I suppose it found a good home, though knowing him, he'll likely just hit things with it.”
Ayaka covers her mouth with her hand to stifle a laugh. Footsteps. “I bet, dear!”
You smile at her adorable attempt. If only you could see her face, see her mouth turn up at your words, her eyes closing and her delicate, royal hand, courtly holding the chuckle in. If only…
A sigh escapes your lips. You lift your hand up and stick your pinky finger through the small hole.
“Can we… hold fingers for a while?” You ask, your voice almost pleading.
“Of course, love.”
You soon feel her middle finger touch yours. It's small. So lovably small. Like the girl herself, you think. You will never forget that one time when you hugged her. Your arms enveloped her entire frame, her cheek rested on your chest, feminine hands holding onto your back for comfort. Footsteps. You treasure that memory just as much as you treasured that moment. She felt safe, by her own admission. She didn't feel alone. She felt in love.
Pulling out your fingers, you both look through the opening. Your eyes meet.
For the briefest of moments.
“Got you!”
Ayaka jumps as she sees an armour-clad fist slam against your head. Her eyes open wide, hands immediately finding her mouth to stop the gasp from getting out. She watches in horror as your body hits the ground, quickly curling up as you receive a powerful kick to the stomach. You cough as the familiar, uniformed figure of Hirano towers over you, holding you at spearpoint.
“What were you thinking, huh!? Spying on the Kamisato Clan! How long were you here, fleabag? Why are you here?”
You refuse to answer, instead looking at Ayaka through the opening. You notice the silver glint of tears and panic mixing in her eyes. A sharp sting of pain shoots through your chest as Hirano strikes you with the butt of his weapon.
“Answer me! I'll have you hanged, whoever you are, I swear by the Shogun!” The guard shouts at you, his tone striking fear into your heart. He was right, after all. That was most likely what awaited you.
You stay silent, covering your head with your hands. The guard groans and stomps on you with all his might, making you whine in pain. “Help me! I need backup behind the estate! I've caught a spy!”
On the other side of the wall, Ayaka’s heart beats fast, so fast that she feels like it will tear apart any moment. You've been had, you've been had and you will be killed. They will torture you and they will execute you. They will boil you alive, crucify you or throw you into the sea with stones tied to your ankles because of her. No. No. No! She bites her fingers, chewing on them in stress as her mind flips through the options. She can't attack Hirano, she can't admit she loves you… Then what can she do!?
She gasps. Yes!
“Hirano, sta-” Ayaka can't finish her command as a big hand clasps over her mouth. She squeals in panic, desperately wiggling to break free and save you. But a familiar voice reaches her ears.
“What are you doing, sister?!” Ayato hisses, still silencing Ayaka with his hand. He can't let her utter a word more - things are bad already as-is. The man's ears stake out for any reactions from beyond the wall.
“Huh?” The guard says, making Ayato furrow his brow. Ayaka’s desperate resistance slows to a halt, the tension in her body palpable. “Hello? Is anybody there? Lord Ayato? Lady Ayaka?”
“Shh. Stay quiet.” He whispers to his younger sister, the girl nodding and squeezing her teary eyes shut, afraid of what will happen next.
“Hirano! Stand down! I'm a m-” Your voice is kicked shut, but the older sibling lets out a sigh of relief. You think quickly, that's good.
Without a word more, Ayato walks backwards, pulling his sibling away from the wall with him. The situation has been saved, as much as it could have been, but he can't risk it. His heart clenches at the image of Ayaka, desperately dashing over the wall to save you. He knows how much she values you, but he needs to handle the situation properly.
A moment later, Ayaka is sat down on the estate stairs. Ayato kneels down to her eye level, but Ayaka refuses to look him in the eyes. She sobs softly, hands clutching her dress in resigned despair.
There are a million things he wants to say. His anger wants him to ask her why. Why would she be stupid enough to risk herself and you this way? Why would she love you in the first place? He wants to tell her: ‘congratulations, you've got him killed’, but the sight of his darling sister, breaking down in horror at likely just this thought, stops the words from sounding out and reason quickly makes its way back to his mind.
It's love. Love is stupid and reckless by design.
“I'll… Do what I can, Ayaka.”
He embraces her, letting her bury herself in his shoulder, muting her heartbreaking sobs. Ayato’s hand goes up to her hair, stroking it in an attempt to comfort her.
“I promise.”
Thanks for reading.
