Yae found herself deep in the heart of Inazuma City for once. The glow of an outdoor stage stood brightly against the darkness of the night. Yae approached the small crowd surrounding it, seeing a storyteller and a few actors onstage.

The storyteller said, "After a fierce battle, the samurai defeated the violent oni, and uh..." He paused. "Wait, is this the right script?"

Yae chuckled to herself. Come to think of it, the actor playing the oni onstage looked familiar. She wouldn't be surprised if the Arataki Gang had a part in this little mix-up.

The storyteller continued, "Uh, anyway... In the end, humans and oni overcame their differences. Ehh, and they all lived happily ever after. Ugh, what a circus."

The oni took off his mask and started laughing. It confirmed Yae's suspicions: it was indeed Arataki Itto. While he and his gang members boasted onstage, Yae scanned the crowds. She wondered how they might respond to such a brash move from a yokai.

Instead of finding onlookers' faces, her eyes landed on a silvery white ponytail, pinned up in the style that was distinctive of the Kamisato Clan. If the blonde-haired servant next to him wasn't enough of a clue, Yae could recognize the way Ayato carried himself anywhere. Confident, upright shoulders, but not posing with such regalness to draw the attention of the onlookers around him.

Yae walked up so she was standing next to him. Without taking her eyes from the stage, she said, "When I decided to visit the city for the evening, I wasn't expecting to find such high-quality entertainment for free."

She heard the rumble of Ayato's voice beside her. "When I decided to take a break from my duties, I wasn't expecting to find such pleasant company."

Yae chanced a glance at him. He was bathed in darkness, except for the golden glow from the stage that lit up his face. He was smiling almost smugly, as if he knew this event was going to happen before it did. As Yae recalled, he was a personal friend of Itto's. She asked, "Are you the one who orchestrated this?"

Ayato's gaze flicked down to hers for a second, and then he calmly glanced back to the stage. Yae took the queue to look at the chaos onstage as well. Ayato said, "No, but I am not averse to seeing such a sight. I was just telling Thoma that today has been most entertaining."

Speaking of which, it seemed that Thoma had already made himself scarce without her noticing.

Yae said, "What a pity. And here I thought you were the mastermind behind it all."

"For better or for worse, I am just an observer."

"I must say, it is rather disappointing to see that you don't have a hidden gift for the dramatics."

Yae noticed Ayato turn to face her from the corner of her eye, and his tone took on a laughing quality. "If you are wanting to have a play about yourself, all you need to do is ask. The Kamisato Clan has ample resources to put on a performance."

"Would you oversee the production?"

"Why, of course. I would be a disgraceful clan head if I offered you a play and didn't see to its creation myself."

Yae turned to him, letting her lids lower as she looked him in the eyes. She smiled in a private way that she was sure would make his heart race. "If you'd be watching me, I'd be more than willing."

It was only for a moment, but Ayato's eyes widened and his lips slightly parted. Yae wished to see whether she'd successfully put a blush on his cheeks, but his face was half bathed in darkness and half washed in golden light, so she couldn't tell.

Ayato quickly recovered, and his expression became a slight, easy smile. "You would make a stunning star of the show, no doubt."

This was why Yae always enjoyed speaking with Ayato; instead of turning into a blushing mess at her words, he returned the same kind of banter with nary a stutter.

"And why is that? My unending pools of charisma?"

Ayato chuckled. "That would be part of it, among other things."

Yae almost asked him to elaborate, but she kept silent. If she asked him that, it would open the possibility for it to go past this comfortable territory of vague flirtations and banter. That possibility was not one that Yae was quite ready to entertain. She hummed a vague sound of amusement and turned her attention to the stage.

There was the distant sound of rushing soldiers' footsteps. Soon enough, there was a group of Tenryou Commission soldiers onstage, surrounding Arataki Itto and his gang members with spears.

"The Tenryou Commission works quite quickly," Yae remarked.

Ayato replied, "It's a shame. I was hoping Itto wouldn't be brought back to the Police Station so quickly."

"I'm still surprised that you're so close with a troublemaker like him."

"Sometimes, it's nice to have a break from the monotony of running the clan."

Yae raised her eyebrows. Monotony would be the last word she'd use to describe the Shuumatsuban work that Ayato did, both officially and unofficially. "I didn't realize that spying and espionage were such boring tasks."

"Whatever do you mean? I'm only the one who gives the Shuumatsuban orders," Ayato said, but his eyes were dancing with mischief.

"Just as I am only the overseer of the Grand Narukami Shrine?"

"Precisely."

Onstage, Itto was getting put into handcuffs. Ayato said, "I should probably slip away before Itto spots me and calls me for help."

"Is Lord Kamisato too mighty to help out his oni friend?" Yae put a hand on his forearm and gently pulled him towards the back of the crowd.

As they weaved out of the crowd, Ayato said, "Nothing of the sort. However, I'll help him out through legal means, not by causing a minor war between the Tenryou and Yashiro Commissions."

When they were out of the crowd, Yae led him around a nearby building to ensure they wouldn't be spotted. With no ruckus around them and no light from the stage, it was suddenly difficult for Yae to focus on anything but Ayato.

When they came to a stop, Yae dropped her hand from Ayato's arm. Ayato said, "Also, I believe I told you before that you do not need to be so formal. Just 'Ayato' is fine."

"I'm not one to shy away from calling someone intimately, but it wouldn't be right if you were to still call me formally. If I called you Ayato, then would you call me Miko?"

"I could never, Guuji Yae."

"Well then, it looks like we're at the same impasse as before."

"Yes. However, with how pleasant my name sounds on your lips, I am a bit tempted to take your offer."

"Would you like me to call you that again, no strings attached?"

"I would, actually."

"In your dreams."

Ayato laughed, with less reserve than he usually did. "I knew that would be your answer."

It occurred to Yae that this would be the perfect moment to kiss him. She could imagine how easily he might melt in her arms. Their shared body warmth would be striking against the chill of the night for only a few seconds, and then Yae would walk away before Ayato regained his senses.

But Ayato wasn't just anyone, and Yae knew that such an action would mean more with him than it would with anyone else. Something between them would fundamentally change. And she wasn't ready to face that sort of consequence.

Yae said, "Well, this has been an interesting evening, but I'm afraid that I must get back to the shrine."

"Ah, certainly. Those middle-of-the-night duties must be in desperate need of your attention."

"Clever, but I need to prepare for a task first thing in the morning."

"Ah. Then I must bid you farewell." Yae thought that he almost sounded disappointed.

"And so you must. Good night, Lord Kamisato."

"Have a pleasant evening, Guuji Yae."

Yae turned around and walked away, towards the road to the shrine. When she was a short distance away, she chanced a glance backwards. Ayato was still watching her leave. She was too far to see his expression in the dark.

Ayato tilted his head in acknowledgement before turning around and walking away.

It would've been awkward if they had to walk in the same direction at the end there, lol.

Hope you enjoyed the fic!