Janus
by springfieldofcherryblossoms/umi-sen-yama-sen
She had a few encounters with the head of the Kamisato household. After what happened on Inazuma and how she aided the people and their clan against Raiden Shogun's massive abuse of authority regarding the Vision Hunt and Sakoku Decree, it was inevitable that the said head would express his heartfelt gratitude in person, no matter how long it took.
Lumine could still remember the first time she met him, on Amakane island, near Murakami's joint Takoyaki food stall— resting behind a sakura tree with paper bags beside him. She initially thought he was just a nice, simple random good-looking Inazuman guy with whom she shared food and stories as they watched the sun rise; however, several days later, she just found out that the man she met on that island was none other than Ayaka's older brother, Kamisato Ayato.
Ayaka was confused at first when she and her brother were exchanging playful banters at their first official meeting. She even posed a question as to whether they met each other prior to the meeting, but before she could answer her truthfully, Ayato only discreetly winked at her with a shh gesture with his index finger. Albeit confused by the said gesture, that was the first time she lied to her friend as she shook her head and denied that they weren't.
Ayato in question was only pleased, smiling handsomely in front of her as he passed his deepest gratitude by pouring her a cup of warm tea. Now that she could look at his face without a straw hat obscuring it (just like the last time), Lumine felt like swimming in those striking iris-colored eyes of his. His eyes were soft yet dark, slightly duller in shade (that it awfully reminded her of Tartaglia's) but to her it was still beautiful all the same.
Everytime she looked at it, it felt like it was sucking her in within the depths, bewitching her of its mysteriousness that it secretly possessed.
The third time she saw him was when she and Paimon were waiting for Ayaka on the Kamisato estate, as usual the said head was all warm smiles to her as he greeted them both in the hall; even calling her name in the most fondest tone, which caused the servants to turn their heads to look at them both in stupefaction.
That made her feel extremely embarrassed, but Ayato didn't seem bothered by it. In fact, he continued to act mildly carefree with her (like they were good old friends), even inquiring about her day and even inviting both of them for dinner; despite the fact that she was ready to decline the offer, but Paimon being Paimon, only agreed immediately without her say in the matter thus sealing the deal in stone.
The fourth time was when she was trying to search for some onikabuto near Kamisato estate late at night. It was an impromptu hoarding of said beetles because she needed them to craft a treasure compass exclusively for Inazuma. She was about to beat up some evil looking ochimushas guarding a certain spot, but before she could do the honors— someonetotally beat her to it.
And it was none other than Kamisato Ayato, again.
Albeit surprised by the sudden turn of events that night, Lumine could only stare and admire the newcomer with bated breath. With a dignified stance and a beautiful sword in hand, swirls of water began to appear out of nowhere— creating an almost exact replica of his as there were two of him singlehandedly slashed the enemies in multiple angles at such speed that she couldn't even catch up with her eyes.
She remembered Ayaka said once that her brother was really strong, that he could pass as a one-man army if push came to shove. Thoma even mentioned that his name was enough to evoke some fear in a few old soldiers, and he was very well-respected among Inazuman warriors.
Gorou even mentioned that the Kamisato head had mentored a few of his high-level soldiers in the resistance, and that all of them were taught to wield different weapons, other than katana and naginata.
And as she watched him gracefully defeating his enemies in a span of ten seconds, Lumine was left rooted in her spot, starstruck. That simple show of power was the real testament to his skill, even the way he used his hydro element was pretty flawless and deadly. She saw how his element cut through the ghastly creatures, stunning them to oblivion when he and his hydro replica commenced their joint attacks— slashing them mercilessly without preamble.
And those eyes of his.
After a final wail from the ochimushas, they burst into black wisps as they dispersed into thin air. Ayato turned around to look at her and she couldn't help but stare at him in silence. His once dreamy eyes were gone, replaced by a chilly gaze enough to intimidate someone in a battlefield.
It was so bright that it almost seemed like it was glowing in the dark. His iris-hued pairs were downright cold, serious, and totally inscrutable. As she tried to continue to divulge in the depths of it, there was nothing she could see in there but only ripples on the surface. But she was certain that amidst the mystery that lay behind those enigmatic eyes— there lies a secret that she inwardly desired to uncover.
Lumine was not a stranger to those. Ayato had the same aura as Tartaglia's, both evasive and mellow.
And there was no way she would mistake that daring glow in his eyes— beckoning her to divulge more in order to solve the mystery of one Kamisato Ayato.
To discover what he hid beneath those dreamy, stormy eyes; underneath the warm smiles and perfect countenance he wore on a daily basis.
Since that day, she was convinced enough that there was something in there.
And that leaves her to figure out what it entails.
The fifth time was when she fell asleep on their estate, Ayaka was nowhere to be found and Paimon was also asleep beside her. She dreamt about something nasty again, another repeat of how that unknown god separated her from her brother. Her nightmares varied these days— from people of Teyvat betraying her, even the Archons, her friends; or about how she was fighting a losing battle in which every people that she knew was being sacrificed as a result of her previous failures; or how she dreamt about drowning in a pool of blood where her brother was nowhere to be found no matter how much she cried his name.
It was a mess. Her mind was literally a mess, and it had been causing her a lot of anxiety over the last few days.
Even when she was sleeping, her senses were as sharp as a blade, and she could feel a foreign presence creeping closer to her. Lumine was a notoriously light sleeper, and her sharp survival instincts kicked in before she could process what she was about to do. Her hands suddenly sprung out and she propelled her body towards the stranger, body slamming him on the torso with such force that would make anyone temporarily winded for a few moments.
Lumine straddled her target into submission, even her hands were on his neck and her thighs were tightly secured around his waist. She was obviously shaking, her heart racing so fast from the adrenaline and the nightmares that she had to endure. She was disoriented and overwhelmed, and she could feel a wave of sensory overload approaching.
And when she felt a large hand squeezing her thigh, Lumine couldn't stop the unbidden shiver from crawling through her spine; it almost made her whine, because that simple touch had helped her distinguish between what was fake and what was real. And after a few moments of trying to calm herself and finding some comfort in that smooth caress on her flesh, the once blurry image of the person beneath her began to gradually conjure— and the face of a submissive Kamisato head greeted her; with his eyes were on hers, probing and….simply inviting.
The shocking sight had made her panicked. Lumine fumbled and was about to unglue herself and offer a thousands of apologies to him but Ayato only squeezed her thigh almost warningly, stopping her from running away as his other hand suddenly shot out, grabbing the back of her head and swiftly pulling her to his arms.
She couldn't stop the surprised squeak from escaping out of her lips.
"Don't," he said softly as he pulled her close to him, burying her to himself which made Lumine relax and mildly enjoy the warm comfort of his arms. "Stay."
She had to admit that his pleasant masculine scent surprisingly comforted her. She couldn't help but cuddle up to him, inhaling his scent and nosing his neck. Ayato did not seem to mind her clinginess, as he only rubbed her back comfortingly while his other hand continued to rub circles on her thigh.
"It seems like you were having a nightmare, so I just thought of waking you up." He said and continued, "I'm so sorry, Lumine, I might have surprised you so badly. My apologies."
Now that she was no longer panic-stricken in his arms, she sighed in response and slumped even further; oddly comforted by his simple ministrations. "No... I should be the one to apologize. My body just acted on its own, I thought someone was going to attack me in my sleep." she explained.
Ayato hummed as his hand changed course, he gently patted the back of her head and continued to do this until he replied. "It's understandable. It's my fault for scaring you out just like that." He then chuckled softly in her ear which made her shiver inwardly, "I'll have to remind myself not to rouse you in your sleep whenever you're having a nightmare. But seriously, what can I do to help?"
Help? What does he mean?
"Help? No, seriously, you really don't have to eep—" She suddenly yelped when his bare fingers gently pushed on the exposed part of her back, massaging it with the use of his pads.
"Hm, your back is all stiff," he noted clinically as he continued to poke and prod on her exposed shoulder blades, "This is not good. Let's crack it."
She blinked, dumbfounded. "Eh? Crack? N-no, it's fine. It's not hindering me in any way."
"Traveler, I assure you, I'm capable of relieving this one. Just leave it to me." He reassured her.
"B-but—" she stammered.
He snaked both of his arms around her waist and he suddenly sat, bringing her body along with him. Lumine, though surprised, could only grip on the soft material of his ridiculously thin yukata and clung to his lean body. She doesn't want to think about how absolutely compromising the position was, but she just couldn't simply ignore the manly bulge below her— snuggling on her bottom like it belonged there.
Lumine couldn't stop the blush from spreading across her cheeks. The position was downright risqué and intimate. It didn't help that he didn't seem to mind how perfectly their bodies melded with each other, as if they were two snakes intertwined who could never separate.
She could feel her heart racing as if she were running a mile nonstop. He was too close, and his enticing scent was almost overpowering her senses. That pleasant aroma of sakura blooms, combined with his natural masculine fragrance, was simply irresistible, making her feel unbelievably hot all over.
Why does he smell so damn good?
She took a deep breath and mentally counted from one to three. Lumine slightly pulled her body away and muttered, "Ayato, I don't think this is..."
"Hm?" He only hummed in question, but his arms remained securely wrapped all around her lithe waist. Ayato's breath was hitting the side of her face, and she could feel his eyes on her, making her feel even more awkward due to their close proximity.
She had to unlatch herself, or else she would go crazy. She really, really would go crazy.
But before she could even try, her attempt to unlatch herself had been the absolute opposite when she slipped and accidentally ground her bottom against his crotch.
As a result, Ayato let out an undeniably sexy groan under his breath near her ear, which sent pleasurable signals through her body until it all went south— all the way to the pits of her stomach and to her groin.
Completely red-faced, Lumine couldn't stop the surprised yelp as she tightly clung to his shoulders; her hands were clutching on the cloth, so hard— that she was certain she had rumpled it at some point because of her never-ending tight grip.
(In addition to that, her eyes couldn't stop themselves from peeking through the large gaps of his slightly unkempt yukata. Because of her fumbling hands, she absolutely exposed the creamy expanse of his shoulders; even exposing his well-defined clavicles.)
Lumine didn't dare to move anymore in his lap, because if she did, her bottom would simply brush against his stimulated crotch— which she was desperately trying to avoid, a lot.
"I-I-I'm so sorry!" She apologized, chagrined beyond belief, wherein it earned her a gentle squeeze of his large hands on her hips.
Lumine wanted to disappear and erase her very existence. She was so embarrassed that she felt like she was going to combust in Kamisato Ayato's glorious lap at any given moment.
It didn't even help that the man in question only let out a breathy chuckle. His tone was downright playful when he posed a murmured question.
"For what?" he asked.
She could only bite the side of her cheek to stop herself from screaming. He was doing it on purpose. He was trying to play dumb. He was obviously teasing her.
Was the position really okay?
"I don't know... That must hurt," she muttered awkwardly, referring to his prominent bulge that she was sitting on.
"Please don't mind it. It doesn't bother me at all."
Lies, she almost wanted to retort in response. Not when Lumine could feel him hardening beneath her, where the massive urge to ground her hips on him almost drove her to nuts.
(But she knew that she couldn't.)
After a few moments of silence between them, Ayato finally made a move as he circled her waist with his arms— pulling her even further to his chest.
She bit her lower lip to stifle her moan. His crotch made contact with her bottom once more, and she just thought that her bloomers were too thin against his yukata. Lumine could feel the shape of him in her butt; it was curved, large and warm—
"Please take a deep breath, alright? I will try to be quick." He reassured her kindly, "Relax."
She nodded as she took a deep breath while burying her face on the crook of his neck, with her arms secured around his torso; gripping his yukata for dear life.
"In a count of three, release your breath."
He locked his arms around her back and started counting from one to three, and when she did as he instructed, Ayato suddenly squeezed her body with the use of his strong arms, earning a satisfying pop and—
Crack
— an unbidden moan coming from her.
Ayato continued to squeeze her stiff joints, especially on her mid-back; as well as rubbing her exposed shoulder blades, gently kneading the stiff muscles in there.
"Again," he mumbled to her ear breathily and Lumine could only groan in relief.
In every squeeze, not only her bottom was making in contact with his prominent bulge— but also her sensitive nether regions. Lumine couldn't stop squirming in his lap for more friction. The feeling was just electrifying, so maddening and addictive.
"Ah—!" she moaned as another pop from her stiff back graced her ears, "—nngh!"
He chuckled as he rubbed her back in a slow up and down motion, as well as lightly massaging it with the use of his digits. The gesture only made her clung to his frame as she let out a soft whine.
"You're making enthralling noises, sweet tsubaki."
Unbidden, the mere mention of that vexing nickname he gave her the first time they met only made her grind her hips even harder on his.
Ayato let out a low groan, his hands tight on her waist as he drew her closer to his lap— making their groins more in contact with each other.
They moaned in unison.
"Another one?" he asked in a whisper, a little breathless.
"Please," she rasped in response, "Lower."
He did as she requested and circled his arms around her hips, but this time he focused on the lower part of her back (in which her lumbar) and squeezed again. This time, a loud pop resonated in the room along with her satisfied moan. Ayato still continued to make a few squeeze here and there, until their hips were beginning to have a mind of their own and started slowly gyrating on each other.
She had no idea what was going on with them at that time, but Lumine was simply drunk from the pleasure she was having. She couldn't think, even though she felt like she had forgotten something important— not when her sensitive nether region was hitting and rubbing on his obvious hard-on deliciously, despite the clothing barriers that separated them.
The Kamisato head was no longer squeezing her now completely healed back, but his grip around her waist was so tight that it seemed like he didn't plan to let go of her just yet.
They were simply embracing intimately in the silent room. Lumine was definitely out of breath due to the stimulation, meanwhile Ayato...
When she peered down at him, he was already looking at her with those stormy eyes of his again.
Those beautiful mysterious eyes that seemed to hold a lot of secrets within.
Lumine had to force herself not to shiver under his scorching gaze, but Ayato only leaned closer to her— his face upwards with his chin as well as the half of his face snuggling on her bosom. She couldn't look away from his scrutiny, it was trying to suck her in, to the murky depths of his almost bright eyes.
Those mysterious eyes were almost calling her. Telling her to take a plunge in the darkness to find whatever she was in need of searching for—
—about the enshrouding mystery of the man beneath her, behind that kind face of one Kamisato Ayato.
They continued to stare like this for a few moments until a single knock on the shoji doors broke the intense spell between them. Thoma was calling out from behind the doors, and when she heard the smooth drag of sliding wood, Lumine unlatched herself from Ayato, and he automatically released her.
Before Thoma could walk in and see them both looking disheveled, Ayato had quickly arranged his yukata more presentable and she did also the same with her clothes in haste.
"Waka-sama, I am sorry for bothering you tonight, but ojou-sama informed me that Lumine was—" He paused in his speech as he noticed both of them, "Oh hello, Lumine. I was about to fetch you tonight, I am glad you are awake."
"Hi, Thoma.." She greeted him awkwardly.
He blinked as he checked her face, "Are you alright? You looked flushed all over."
"I-I'm fine," Lumine said, shaking her sleeping companion as she avoided his concerned gaze, "It's nothing."
"Well..." he trailed off as he continued, "Both of you are looking unusually red on the face. Did something happen? Or that—oh,"
She couldn't stop her cheeks from reddening again.
"Thoma," Ayato's voice almost made her ramrod straight in her position, "Please don't fret about it. Everything is fine."
"...I'm sorry, but I really have to go. Thoma, I'm going first. See you!"
"Huh? Ah, wait, that's not what—"
She scooped the confused and drowsy Paimon in her arms and immediately bolted out of the room.
She might have been able to avoid being caught in Ayato's gaze at the last moment, but there was no way she had been able to control her hidden desires for him the entire time.
Now that she was no longer inebriated with lust, she found herself being chagrined by the wanton behavior she showed Ayato amidst a back cracking session.
She didn't think she still had the confidence to present herself again in front of the Kamisato head. That behavior she did earlier was totally unwarranted, downright risqué and very forward. They were far from in a relationship, and they were only mere acquaintances in arms.
But dry humping to each other, really? Ayato even wordlessly encouraged her. It almost doesn't make sense to her.
And not only that, but she had just manhandled the aforementioned Yashiro Commissioner in his own estate because she was unable to distinguish between dream and reality.
Lumine was literally on her wits end. While recalling what happened between her and Ayato in that room shocked her beyond belief, she still couldn't ignore the pent-up desires she had for that man, and her desire to unroot the lurking secret behind those enigmatic eyes.
Just everything about him was simply difficult to ignore.
Not even the undeniable wetness she felt down there in her bloomers, which he had undoubtedly caused.
Lumine had been avoiding the Kamisato estate for weeks. If the others had noticed her absolute aversion towards the estate, no one bothered to question it— especially Thoma and Ayaka (even though it was obvious to them that something was going on with her somehow).
While she was at it, she made sure to keep herself busy most of the time so that she wouldn't think about that accident or anything related to Ayaka's older brother. It just happened that Tsuyuko called for her in Watatsumi as well— asking for another help in opening the entrance to Enkanomiya. She stayed in that place for another couple of weeks to explore the underground region, and she was certain that it was the most eventful yet stressful two months of her life.
(But at least, she was successful in forgetting about a certain Yashiro Commissioner.)
And when she completed her expedition in Enkanomiya, she almost forgot that she had to visit Liyue for its upcoming Moonchase festival. But before she could leave the region for the meantime, she paid a visit to Kokomi to relay a message (just in case someone was looking for her whereabouts). Lumine informed her that she was returning to Liyue and would have to stay there for a few days or weeks, to which the Divine Priestess only agreed to act as a messenger for her, and she then wished for her safe travels and return.
She and Paimon had both enjoyed their time in Liyue; she wouldn't admit it out loud, but she had missed the lively region as well as seeing her friends after so many months. She enjoyed watching the massive fireworks display with Keqing and the others, she even enjoyed spending time with Shenhe and Xiao, and she enjoyed trying new Liyue dishes (more like, Paimon had enjoyed it more and couldn't stop raving about it that it nearly hurt her ears).
And before she had to leave the land of contracts to return back to Inazuma, she made a quick detour to Mondstadt to pick some bunches of fresh sunsettias and apples, as well as dandelion seeds for a certain Mondstadter liquor shop owner in Ritou. It was a commission of sorts she posted (which pays a lot of mora) that Lumine took on at the last minute in Liyue to deliver it back to Inazuma.
So, when she returned to Kamisato estate to meet Ayaka after three months of avoiding the place, she was greeted by the unusual bustling activity within the mansion. Lumine could see many servants all over the place, some head maids barking orders left and right, and she had to admit that it was quite disorderly to see them buzzing around like bees, switching to different places every minute.
"The people here seem to be working harder than usual," Paimon commented with a curious tilt of her head. "I wonder what's going on?"
She could only shrug in response.
Curious, she went to a closer servant who was busy changing gardening pots.
"Hello… I'm sorry for disturbing you, but what's going on?" she asked.
The female servant only perked up when she saw her, "Oh! Miss Traveler, it's you! It's been too long!"
She laughed momentarily and waved a hand, "I just came back from Liyue."
"Is it because of the festival?" Lumine nodded, "I'm jealous. I have always wanted to visit Liyue to experience it myself."
"I'm sure you will soon."
"Well, I really hope so." The servant sighed, "What brings you both here? If you're looking for Ayaka-sama, I'm afraid she's busy helping the others in the commission."
"Eh? What's going on anyway?" Paimon flew closer to them, "The mansion looks busier than usual. Is there an event going on? Like preparing for someone's birthday…. or her brother's probably?"
"Ah, no," she shook her head as she leaned forward to whisper, "what I heard from the head servants is that an important figure from overseas is coming tomorrow."
"Overseas?" Lumine parroted in question.
The servant nodded, "Yes. Fontaine to be exact."
Paimon hummed, "No wonder everyone is pretty gung-ho early in the morning. It could be someone very special."
"I'm still new to the estate, so I wouldn't know what they looked like, I'm sorry. But according to Thoma-senpai, it's a family that specializes in trading businesses in Fontaine, and I heard the previous Kamisato lord was close friends with them."
"Ooh, family friends," Paimon bounced mid-air as she looked at the other servants scampering around the place arguing about what perfect curtains to put, "But isn't this a bit of a stretch, though? I could totally understand if they want to turn this estate upside down to clean it spotless, but what's up with the uhhh..." she eyed a couple of extravagant decorations piling on the side, "colorful decorations?"
"I actually don't know..."
"It's because of Lady Sylvie," A bulky looking samurai butted in with a whisper as he joined the conversation, it was none other than Hirotatsu. "On her previous visit, she mentioned about the estate being far too plain and gloomy in her taste, so that's why Ayato-sama ensured to put curtains the next time she visits."
Lady Sylvie?
She couldn't help but turn to Hirotatsu in question, "But why the curtains?"
Hirotatsu hummed in wonder as he crossed his arms, "I think it's because the lady is fond of the local draperies of Inazuma. I heard she deals with a lot of fabric businesses in Fontaine, so it's a way to impress her with the local fabrics of the region. Well, y'know—" he shrugged, "—advertising stuff for possible trading."
"But shouldn't that be the Kanjou Commission's job? They deal with customs, don't they?"
"Well, as you can see, her ladyship doesn't bother herself with the other commissions except for the Yashiro. I guess it's because she feels more at ease with the Kamisato clan than the others."
Nodding, she said. "I see."
"Oh my, are you talking about the important figure who's coming tomorrow?" Another person butted in the conversation and Lumine could only blink at the newcomer.
"Hiratsuka-san, good morning." Hirotatsu greeted her with a slight bow.
Hiratsuka, the staff member of the Yae Publishing House only chuckled with a wave of her hand, "I was about to book myself an appointment to Madarame, but I guess today is a busy day as well as tomorrow. So I guess I might inform Guuji-sama later about this sudden change of plans," she said as she continued, "So before I go, what's up? Let me join the chit chat."
"Ehehe, nothing really." Paimon said with a scratch of her cheek, "We're just asking about what's going on, until big guy Hirotatsu mentioned this important figure from Fontaine named 'Sylvie'who likes Inazuma curtains."
"It's Lady Sylvie who's coming? No wonder there's a lot of women servants who bemoan while doing their jobs." Hiratsuka turned to the young female servant, "Are you one of them too?"
Surprised, the servant could only shake her head. "N-no, of course not! I have a lover."
"Oh, that's good. That saves a lot of trouble, or heartbreak, I suppose."
Even though she felt like hesitating, Lumine couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean?"
"Ah, tomorrow's visitor is the lucky girl who gets to spend a lot of time with the Commissioner."
"Lucky girl? Why is that?" Her little companion asked curiously.
"As you can see, that noble lady from Fontaine is a sort of childhood friend of the Kamisato siblings; I heard that both families have a close bond, something about the previous Kamisato lord being close friends with the patriarch; or Lady Sylvie's father to be precise."
They continued to listen, and Hiratsuka followed. "Her ladyship is very close to both Kamisato siblings, and there was even a rumor circulating before that Ayato-sama was promised to marry Lady Sylvie..." She paused for a moment as she looked at her with a small frown, "but that was only a rumor. You don't have to worry."
"?" Lumine arched an eyebrow in question, perplexed by her sudden shift of tone. "Worry? Why should I?"
"Ayato-sama favored you greatly, didn't he? I even heard that he's kinda fond of you. He calls you by your name most of the time, and he doesn't call anybody by their first names— so that's a first! Not even Lady Sylvie, that's what I heard. So don't lose hope!" She grasped both of her hands and cheered her with fire burning in her eyes.
Confused beyond belief, Lumine could only stare at the woman, dumbfounded.
"I have also heard that he prefers a strong-willed woman who knows how to kick ass over a Nadeshiko-type, Miss Lumine. There are a lot of us rooting for you."
Huh? What is she talking about?
"Huh, uh, sorry—" she frowned in absolute confusion, "But what?"
"I guess that's enough, Hiratsuka-san." Hirotatsu sighed as he covered Lumine's ears with his large palms, "Don't shock her even more, please."
"Shock…? But I didn't…?" Hiratsuka released her hands and looked at him confusedly.
Paimon flew her way right in front of her, "Lumine, are you alright?"
Gently patting the samurai's hands off her ears in gratitude, she replied with a curt nod. "I am."
Just confused or overwhelmed; whichever between the two, she mused to herself.
"Then I guess we should go back here the day after tomorrow?" Paimon proposed.
"Seems like it," Lumine replied.
"Wait! I didn't weird you out, am I? Because if I am, I'm so sorry!" Hiratsuka apologized with a bow.
She shook her head and smiled, "No, you didn't. Don't apologize."
"I'll be mindful of my words next time, I promise!"
Hirotatsu sighed again as he gently pushed the woman out of the estate, "Shouldn't you be reporting to Guuji-sama right now?"
"Oh, yes! Definitely! Thanks for reminding me, Hirotatsu!" She chirped enthusiastically, "I almost forgot I have to see Kuroda before going to Guuji-sama. Miss Traveler and the little fellow, see you again!"
She immediately left the estate in haste.
"I hope she didn't make you feel uncomfortable, Miss Traveler. If she did, I have to say sorry on her behalf."
Lumine shook her head, "No, she didn't. I'm just confused about what she said, that's all. I literally have no idea what she meant by that."
"Now that she mentioned it, Ayato seems to prefer calling you by your name rather than your title."
"Not also you, Paimon." she sighed.
"Hehe, why? You've been avoiding this estate for months; of course, Paimon would notice! Something is going on with you two, isn't it?"
She had to bite her cheek discreetly to stop herself from feeling embarrassed, "No."
"You're avoiding my gaze, Lumine! You're not telling the truth!"
As she ignored Paimon's incessant blabber, she turned her head towards the samurai. "Thanks again."
The Yashiro Commission representative only hummed in response, "Anything for Hime-sama's friend."
Lumine smiled and offered him a nod, "We'll be leaving now. Let's see each other again soon."
"Yes, gladly. Please take care of yourselves, both of you." Hirotatsu bowed politely.
.
.
.
.
.
"I swear, you're acting differently after we fell asleep on the estate, and you still wouldn't tell me what happened?"
Lumine could only sigh exasperatedly.
As if she could tell her little companion that she and Ayato were both dry-humping each other next to her while she slept that night.
Certainly not.
"No, Paimon. Believe me, nothing happened, I assure you." She repeated the same thing again in a deadpan manner. Lumine had to admit, it almost felt like an endless chore to convince her nosy companion with everything— as always.
"You sure?"
"Yes, very sure."
"..." Paimon went silent for a moment, "Really really sure?"
Closing her eyes, she suddenly felt the need to massage her temples as she sighed once again, "Yes, Paimon."
"Hello there, Ayato! Good to see you once again! How are you doing?"
Lumine snapped her eyes and whipped her head really fast that she almost thought she had snapped a vein or two. Her golden eyes scanned the area, alarmed, for that familiar tall guy, but he was nowhere to be found.
Great. She had simply fallen for Paimon's petty prank.
Lumine felt like throwing someone into the electro-infested waters of Inazuma. Teyvat's best tour guide be damned.
"You fell for it!" Paimon screeched accusingly, "There's definitely going on between you and Ayato!"
"No! Stop making conclusions on your own!"
"I'm going to ask Thoma."
"You wouldn't dare!" She argued back, somewhat panicked. "Just— don't."
"Are you feeling uncomfortable talking about it?"
She turned her head as she avoided her inquisitive gaze.
"Even to Paimon?" she urged on.
"..."
Paimon floated all the way to her and hugged her head, "I'm just kidding, Lumi. Paimon understands it." she sighed, "That was very bad of me. I shouldn't force you to talk about it."
Yeah, you really shouldn't.
"Just let me ask this one thing..." Paimon started with a concerned look, "It's nothing bad, right?"
She felt like relaxing her tensed muscles and shook her head in response, "Nothing bad. We're good."
Paimon smiled, in which she smiled in return. Her little companion could be nosy at times, but she could be startlingly quick to understand as well. "I'm glad to hear that then! Just don't forget that Paimon is always here for you, okay? If you need someone to talk to, even with some heavy stuff, you can always count on me!"
"Thanks, Paimon."
"No biggie!" Paimon said enthusiastically as she clung to her neck from the back, "So, are we retiring for the day early?"
"That's what I'm planning to do. I'm tired from teleporting to different places."
Humming, Paimon replied. "Let's have a rest for the whole day then, you definitely need it. You'll do commissions again starting tomorrow."
She paused momentarily, "Ah, speaking of tomorrow, I have a commission at Ritou early in the morning."
"How early?"
"Very much so. At the crack of dawn."
Her little companion blanched, "That early?"
She laughed, "Yes."
Paimon groaned, "But I still want to sleep at that time of the day."
"Don't worry. I can handle it all on my own, Paimon. You can sleep tomorrow and wake up later as usual."
"...But that would seem so wrong."
"I assure you, it's fine with me. I can fend for myself, you know."
"If you say so…" She let out a big yawn, "Can we buy snacks before going back?"
"Sure."
As instructed from the commission note, Lumine came really early at Ritou with the fresh goods that were perfectly preserved from her special inventory. She went there at four in the morning, knocked on Karpillia's modest home, and waited for the liquor owner to open her doors for her.
When she saw her at her door, along with the Mondstadt goods in her arms secured inside a large cardboard box, Karpillia had almost burst into tears as she hugged her in absolute gratitude— saying she was a literal god sent from the heavens.
The thought only made Lumine scoff internally. She didn't despise the gods in general, but it just didn't sit well with her to think about being in cahoots with the gods, especially those connected to the heavens.
She took her time to help the liquor owner prepare for the day, even hauling a few boxes and wine barrels to Karpillia's storage room. She even helped her with the cleaning, as well as helping her prepare a couple of ingredients for her so-called liquor mix concoction. Everything that she did on that day was pretty simple and it didn't require a lot of effort. Karpillia was also chatty as well, which made her job a lot less boring. She talked a lot about men, and she could only listen in mild interest.
After an hour and a half, the sun began to rise in the sky like a massive beacon of light. Ritou was becoming increasingly crowded as a result of the influx of newcomers. Along with Karpillia's, nearby shops had opened, and she couldn't help but look around while waiting for the liquor owner to pay her commission.
"Lumine, there you go." Karpillia handed her a hefty sum of mora in a brown satchel, which she accepted without hesitation. "I still do not think it is enough for all the trouble I have caused you, but I am so grateful that you picked up my commission in Liyue. You have no idea how much you saved me and my business from collapsing in the next few weeks."
"You don't have to mention it. I'm just glad to help." she smiled in response.
The liquor owner shook her head, "Just in case you need a free drink, just come here in Ritou anytime, okay? My shop is always open for you."
Nodding, Lumine offered a polite bow. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Woah! Looks like the rumors are true! There's a fancy-looking ship over there!"
Blinking, she and Karpillia turned their heads towards the commotion.
"It's the Yashiro Commission! Looks like they're going to welcome the outsiders personally this time."
Yashiro Commission?
Now that she thought about it, she almost forgot about the important figure mentioned by Hirotatsu and Hiratsuka yesterday. Absolutely intrigued, Lumine walked closer to the commotion and listened.
"My sister is working on the Kamisato estate as a servant. I heard that the Commissioner's rumored to-be-wedded lover from overseas is also coming. She could be in that vessel right now, you see!"
Somehow, that certain sentence made her halt.
Are they lovers? Lumine couldn't help but muse to herself.
"Hey, that's not even true! Ayato-sama is not engaged at all! That was just a baseless rumor. I heard that their families were good old friends from before, which could pass through their children as well! Stop spreading lies, Moku."
"Hmmm, that's not what I've heard either. The Commissioner is perfectly single and he hasn't courted any women here in Inazuma. If he had, his loyal fanclub would of course spread the news about it. Nothing could escape the words of mouth of some people."
"Indeed, indeed."
"And also, he's still a little bit young to be wed, don't you think? Wasn't he only twenty-three or twenty-four?" A random woman in her mid-thirties butted in.
A couple of middle-aged fishermen chimed in with tired sighs.
"Don't forget that some of us married in our twenties, onee-san. Twenty-three or twenty-four doesn't make a difference if they want to be wedded at that age. It just simply means that romance is not at the forefront of his mind."
Some of them hummed in agreement.
"Seriously. Stop spreading baseless rumors about Ayato-sama. I can attest to the fact that he is mostly married to his job! He's not engaged or has a lover in any way! He is too busy to seek romance, I am telling you!" A familiar voice joined the fray as well, and she couldn't help but crane her head to find the owner of the said voice.
It was that young woman named Koharu who was working in the Kamisato estate.
"You work for the Yashiro, don't you?"
"Look look! I see the Yashiro Commissioner and his group of samurai approaching! And also, someone is about to get out of the ship!"
Because of that single sentence, the commotion in Ritou had multiplied tenfold, and a large number of curious town people began to crowd the place. Even silent bystanders joined the commotion as they moved closer to where they could see the port clearly. Lumine was about to join them when she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Traveler! Fancy seeing you here!" Koharu greeted her with a smile.
"Hello.."
"Are you here to see Lady Sylvie as well?"
"Oh, ah… Maybe?" Lumine replied awkwardly as she raised her satchel full of mora, "I was doing a commission nearby and it just happened that I am in the area as well. So I might as well watch it unfold, I guess."
"Then let's watch it together, Miss Lumine. I'm also waiting for a friend, so it would be nice to have you as my companion for the meantime." She offered kindly.
"Well, if you have me." Lumine smiled.
"Let us move somewhere where we can see the port clearly," Koharu suggested as she looked around. "Oh well, this could be difficult; the place is teeming with people, and I could even see Ayato-sama's small community of admirers nearby."
Blinking, she looked around the crowd, curious. "Eh, where?"
Sighing, she pointed to a group of women squealing near Vahid's shop. "I'm not really proud of them, but at least, they're not being too forceful. And I'm glad that they're not attacking you in some way."
"Attack me? Why would they do that?" Bewildered, she asked.
Koharu eyed her for a moment, pausing, but then she leaned forward to whisper. "There's a rumor that Ayato-sama favored you a lot, Miss Lumine. And y'know how simple gossip like that spreads like wildfire around Inazuma. His lordship's community of admirers are no exception as well, they would know instantly."
Lumine couldn't help the unbidden shiver that ran down her spine.
"However, given your reputation as a formidable woman, I doubt they will."
Several people, including Ayato's so-called admirers, had begun to make their way closer to the port.
"Well, it looks like we have no choice but to follow them to get closer, so we can see what is going on at the port," Koharu said with a hum.
"You're not short-sighted, are you?" she asked out of the blue.
"No, I'm not. Why?"
"Then we should go there," Lumine suggested, as she pointed next to Karpillia's shop where it was not so crowded with other curious bystanders. "We can still see what's going on if we make a stand in that spot."
"Good idea."
Both of them trotted all the way near Karpillia's shop and watched in silence. Lumine could even hear the hush whispers around them as they watched the scene unfold. All of the whispers were all about Ayato and the so-called wallflower coming from Fontaine.
She couldn't take her gaze away from Ayato's back in the distance. Even if he was dressed in a more expensive robe befitting a noble, she wouldn't be able to miss his soft, bright hair, which stood out like a beacon in the sea of black and purple that was his band of samurais.
As they stood there watching, a couple of foreign-looking armed people began to march out of the ship, and Lumine noticed a tall old man with a cane, followed by a classy-looking servant, and then...
A voluptuous woman appeared next, her rich chestnut hair billowing behind her in small waves. She was dressed in the most beautiful dress her eyes could possibly fall upon. A maroon puffy dress with a corset that accentuated her hourglass figure and a few white linings, ribbons, and laces on her open sleeves and skirt. Her face was lovely, mature, and aristocratic. She had soft eyes and a soft expression on her face as she smiled politely at the people.
She was undeniably attractive, Lumine had to admit. Somehow, she imagined that she and Ayato would be a perfect match because they were both individuals of higher standing, both equals in noble birth, and both attractive.
Even though the thought was unexpected, random, and innocuous—it did not sit well with her. It just made her sick to her stomach, and she felt like puking somewhere. Her stomach ached as a result of it.
Simply put, the thought just made her feel very uneasy.
"Is that the rumored long distance partner of Ayato-sama's? Isn't she pretty?"
"She is very pretty. Fontaine people are indeed beautiful, look at that clear, fair skin."
She was really tempted to leave the place, but her companion seemed so excited beside her that Koharu was unknowingly tugging at the side of her white dress to get her attention.
"Ayato-sama is smiling so handsomely. He looks so dashing as always! I don't think I could take it!" Koharu gushed excitedly to her, which made her blink out of surprise.
Her eyes felt like coming out from their sockets.
Don't tell me she's an avid Ayato fan too?
"Look at him, Miss Lumine! Isn't he so hot with his new outfit? Look at that!"
"A-ah," Stuttering beside her, she nodded albeit awkwardly, "Yes. H-he looks good, indeed."
"No! It's not just 'good'. He's perfect. Very perfect. Can't you see?!" Koharu continued to gush and Lumine almost cowered at her companion's utmost enthusiasm of declaring her point about Ayato's perfection— with many people side-glancing at her as if she had gone crazy in her spot.
She could even hear a soft chuckle coming from somewhere nearby. Perhaps amused by Koharu's obvious fangirling.
"Ahahaha," Lumine laughed awkwardly and bowed her head, embarrassed. "Koharu, please lower your voice down."
Who would have thought that Koharu was a closet fan of Ayato's?
"I could only admire Ayato-sama from afar. I don't really mind who he ends up with in the future, all I wanted for him was to be happy." Koharu sighed dreamily beside her.
"I had no idea you admired him so much," she remarked.
"Well, who wouldn't? The majority of the Kamisato estate's house servants owe him a lot, even me. We owe him our lives. Without his strong leadership and very kind character, I bet some of us would be crawling all over Inazuma, penniless, with nothing to eat let alone shelter to live in. His lordship saved us more than we could imagine. Even at such a young age, he gave us hope."
For a brief moment, she was deafeningly quiet as she processed everything in her head. Her gaze returned to Ayato's striking figure from afar, observing him.
"He's definitely an extraordinary man," Lumine stated genuinely, nodding.
"I am glad the esteemed outlander thinks so, too," Koharu grinned.
Lumine fell silent once more until Koharu started speaking again.
"To be honest, many people think of him as a man straight out of a fairy tale. He is a well-known character, who is talented, strong, handsome, and even intellectual. Whenever we see him, we can't help but admire him from afar. We don't really see his lordship in the flesh that much. This kind of scenario to see him walking in public is pretty rare for locals, so a lot of people wanted to see him up close."
"I could tell, which is not surprising given his status."
"It makes me wonder, Miss Lumine. What do you think about Ayato-sama?"
That made her pause somehow. "Pardon?"
"Do you admire him just like us as well?"
"Of course. Ayato is a great man with a high-standing."
"That's not what I meant," Koharu shook her head. "Women always think Ayato-sama is very beautiful, with a smile that could leave you floating in clouds for days; and he's just that kind and approachable. Do you think of him like that as well?"
"I…"
Did she also think of him that way? What she knew was that, while his smiles and very kind countenance could be beautiful to look at most of the time— it also unnerved her inwardly at times.
Right, it was those eyes of his. Even the underlying meaning of his gentle smiles.
"His eyes were always sucking me in, and I literally don't know why." Lumine suddenly blurted without noticing as she continued, "He interests me just as bad as the others. It seems like he holds a lot of secrets, and that's what intrigues me the most."
"..." Koharu only looked at her in silence.
"He may have a beautiful face and humble nature, but that's not what I think is important," she muttered as she hugged her other arm, "I just... want to unravel what's behind those looks and gentle smiles…"
A ball of enigma just like him really needs to be unraveled at the seams.
She just wanted to know who Kamisato Ayato was, without the perfect image he always kept up for the other people to see.
"That's really deep, Miss Traveler. I hope you find what you are looking for. Ayato-sama seems kinda impenetrable, if you ask me."
"Well, he really is." Lumine agreed with no hesitation.
Because he is undeniably impenetrable.
"Ah, Yukino is already here." Koharu waved at a distance behind them and called out, "Yukinon! I'm here!"
"Haru! I almost thought you left me! You big devil!" Her friend marched up to them with large steps, fuming.
"Sorry about that. We just decided to join the ruckus to watch Ayato-sama's glory on the sidelines to curb our boredom, instead of staring above the maple trees." she replied cheekily.
"Yeah whatever. Let's get going or else we'll get scolded on the estate for taking much too long."
"Sure sure~" Koharu said with a wave, "Sorry, Miss Lumine. But we have to go now. Let's see each other again sometime if you visit the mansion."
Lumine waved back in return.
Now that she no longer felt like watching the whole scene until the end, she couldn't help but look at the bright skies and think of Paimon.
"I don't feel like taking another commission again," she mumbled to herself as she turned around and opened her satchel full of mora. "Well, this is already a lot, so I guess it's fine..."
She began to walk away from her spot as she closed the satchel, "I have to buy food."
"I had no idea you were so interested in me."
A voice so familiar had made her raise her head instantly the moment she heard it. Lumine was not imagining things this time. After three months of not seeing him up close, Kamisato Ayato was there in his full glory— leaning on the concrete wall, wearing the most generic navy blue yukata she laid her eyes upon, and a purple haori draped over his shoulders.
He was wearing a large straw hat again, which successfully concealed his bright hair as well as the half of his face.
"A-Ayato, why are you even here—" She couldn't help but blurt out, but she quickly closed her mouth as she whipped her head from side to side to see if there were any people who were looking at them and heard her accidental slip of his name.
Ayato eyed her under the huge hat and made a shh gesture with his index finger. He pushed himself from the wall and marched all the way to her.
Lumine was too surprised to even think about bolting out of the place— away from him.
"How...did you?" Absolutely dumbfounded, she could only look at the Ayato figure behind her— who was talking with the guests on the port, and then to the Ayato in front of her who was looking at her, totally amused.
There's two of him. Just what the hell is going on?
"Just a special trick up my sleeve," he mumbled as he leaned his head down closer to her, and Lumine couldn't help but blush under his scrutiny. "I haven't seen you in months. Are you avoiding me?"
She pointedly avoided his penetrating gaze and replied back with a deep intake of breath, "No," A lie so obvious that it almost felt like she scalded her tongue as she blurted it, "I was very busy, that's all."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
He took her wrist gently, and his warm touch completely caught her off guard.
"W-what—" Lumine started with a panicked look as he began pulling her away from the place, "What are you doing?"
"We're leaving, of course."
She tried to pull out her wrist, but Ayato only held her wrist much more firmly this time. "Aren't you going to meet them? They are your esteemed guests, right?"
Ayato hummed as he changed course with his hand and quickly took a hold of hers, intertwining it on his.
That simple gesture only turned her face bright red, and she could not even process what was going on in her head.
"Yes, they are indeed my important guests from Fontaine."
"Then you should be there!" She argued as she forced him to stop, "Wait, you're a fake, aren't you? Just wait until I kick your ass, I'm telling you. Let go of me this instant or I'll make you."
Amused, Ayato suddenly pulled her closer to him which made her yelp when their faces were only inches apart.
"Fake? As if a fake would know what happened that night, Miss Lumine." he said.
Her blush grew tenfold at the simple innuendo.
"Say," he looked at her intently under the hat and Lumine could only return the gesture with a red face as she peered up at him, "Do I have to recount everything that happened between us that night in the mansion? Because if it meant proving myself real right in front of you, I would gladly do so."
"B-but, if you're real…. Then who's that Ayato on the port? An imposter?"
He slightly leaned back as he checked his other self from afar, "He's a perfectly made clone of mine," he said and continued, "I made him and operated him to act and think just like me."
"Clone? Like your water clones?"
Ayato chuckled momentarily, "Are you really that surprised?"
"Yes!" she almost screeched in response, "Who wouldn't?"
The Commissioner tilted his head to the side and smiled eerily at her, which made her ramrod straight beside him.
He was at it again. That mysterious look and cunning smile that seemed to rob her of her capacity to think as always.
That magnetic pull of his beautiful yet shrewd-like countenance.
"I perfectly heard everything that you said earlier. Would you like to know about me and my secrets," He asked, his smile widening even more. "sweet tsubaki?"
.
.
.
.
"You're really weird," she muttered next to him as they sat on the back of a sakura tree near Murakami's second Takoyaki stand. They were on Amakane island again, snacking on some Taiyaki, Sakura Mochi and bubble tea.
It was not really the ideal breakfast for her opinion, but her carefree companion seemed really fond of his sweets.
Ayato was so busy sipping his bubble tea that it took him a few moments to respond, "Am I?"
"You are. You're consuming too much sweets so early in the morning."
He hummed as he took a bite of his mochi, "But it's appetizing."
"But too much sugar is very bad for your health," Lumine said, sipping her own drink. "Especially if you're consuming it on a daily basis."
"How did you know I am consuming sweets everyday?" Ayato asked with a curious look beside her.
"Huh? You do?" she looked back at him with a frown.
"Yes, I come here everyday in the morning to order myself a bubble tea and their fresh hot served Taiyaki. And Sakura Mochi too."
"Don't tell me that is your everyday breakfast?"
Blinking, he paused and nodded. "It is."
She winced visibly, "It's not even healthy.."
"Are you worried?"
"..." Lumine turned her head to the side, ignoring his gaze, "Ayaka will worry, Thoma too and the whole Yashiro Commission. Everyone will worry, of course."
"Really? Are you sure it's not you who's worried?" He smiled again in that cheeky smile of his, which made his iris-colored eyes crinkle in that perfect curve that irritated her beyond belief.
It was just too sly. Mysterious and so, so….
...attractive.
Lumine could only shake her head as she tried to disperse that random thought out of her mind.
"You're not going to finish that?" Ayato commented, his gaze fixed on the bitten mochi dessert in her hand.
She blinked, "It's too sweet."
"You don't want it anymore?"
"I'm already fine with the drink."
"Then, can I have it?"
"Sure," She said, offering him her mochi, but instead of taking it from her grasp, Ayato held her wrist steady and ate the sticky dessert out of her fingers. Lumine froze in place, her eyes as big as saucers, as his warm tongue wrapped around her two digits; he even licked the sticky residue of the mochi on her fingertips.
Her face colored once more, and Ayato appeared to be having a good time getting a rise out of her.
He smiled again.
He's definitely doing it on purpose, Lumine mused to herself. Men and their nonsensical mischief.
Ayato pulled a handkerchief under the folds of his yukata and gently wiped her wet, yet slightly sticky fingers.
"..." Lumine could only stare at the soft edges of his face as he silently wiped her fingers. She couldn't believe that the man sitting next to her was a man of higher standing. While he always appeared dignified and exuded a noble aura, he was also fairly normal to her as well.
They continued to talk about some random things as they watched the peaceful and beautiful scenery around them. It was partly windy as well and the sensation of it hitting her flesh was pretty comforting. With Ayato's chuckles and gentle voice joining the winds, Lumine thought that maybe she could go on like this everyday in the morning; especially in the silent comforts of the Amakane island, eating some sweets.
But, she quickly dismissed the thought. She was an outlander. There was no way she would tie herself to a particular place for a very long time, or permanently. She might enjoy spending time with her friends in Inazuma right now, but tomorrow, she could be to another place to embark on another one of her journeys once more.
It was a saddening truth, but it was how things were for her and her brother. No matter how much they enjoyed a particular place, there was no way they would let themselves be tied to that place.
"Shouldn't you be in the estate right now?"
"In a few minutes. Just let me savor this moment." Ayato said with a contented sigh beside her.
She only hummed in response.
"It's good not to be alone this time," he said as he continued, "I have been watching the scenery and eating my breakfast here by myself for months, so it's nice to have someone with me today."
"How long?"
"Since we first met. That was the first time I came to this place. I heard from Miss Takami that Murakami was planning to start up a small new bubble tea business here in Amakane; so that's why she told me that I should try it myself. As you can see, I'm pretty fond of these drinks. It just certainly reminded me of my childhood."
She listened in silence.
"After my parents died, the bubble tea business in Inazuma had been dropped instantly. My father was one of those who supported foreign goods, along with the incumbent Kanjou head at that time. But the Shogun back then suddenly rejected the circulation of foreign goods all throughout the region. She just thought that the booming business of foreign beverages could affect the other local shops here in Inazuma. She believed that Inazuman people should support the local goods, not the other way around; hence bubble teas were banned."
"While I do understand her concern for the region, I just think that people should be free to enjoy whatever they want in their lives— whether it may be from foreign or local."
"I think the same," Ayato smiled kindly, "But well, we couldn't ignore our ruler's wishes."
He stood in his position and simply patted his yukata to remove any dust that had clung to his clothes. After that, he extended his hand to hers, which she gratefully accepted silently.
"While I thoroughly enjoyed our small quality time together, I have to say sorry that I have to go soon."
Lumine shook her head, "Don't be. I was the one who encouraged you to go back, wasn't I?"
"Right," Ayato smiled as he put on his straw hat and quickly grabbed their trash. "Please wait for a second while I dispose of the trash."
As she waited for him to dispose of it, Lumine adjusted her skirt and did a simple stretch with her arms.
"Let's go?" He appeared once again and she only nodded as she trotted all the way beside him.
.
.
.
.
.
"I guess this is it," Lumine said as she came to a halt, and Ayato followed suit. "I am going this way," she said, pointing to the road that led to Inazuma city.
"Before we separate, could you please answer my question from earlier?"
Confused, she only turned her head at him. "Which one?"
"Are you avoiding me these past few months?"
Seemingly surprised, it took a few moments for Lumine to respond. "I told you that I am not. I was serious when I said I was busy."
"Really," he tipped his head to the side to look at her more clearly, "I'll believe that as for now. But you're not going to avoid me anymore, are you?"
"I told you, I'm not—"
"I know when people are telling me lies, Lumine." Ayato said and she suddenly felt an unbidden chill crawling through her spine the moment he uttered that simple sentence.
He leaned forward to her and mumbled the words near her jaw, "With the way you avoid my gaze most of the time, it is not difficult to suspect that you are hiding something from me."
Lumine was speechless.
"So, are you still going to avoid me after this?"
"N-no," she managed to reply, despite the fact that her throat felt as dry as a desert, "I won't."
"Truly?" He asked as he towered over her, his head bowed closer to her to catch her gaze. Lumine seemed to understand what he wanted, because she meekly turned her gaze to meet his.
She was definitely surprised by his chilly tone earlier that she felt nervous closer to him. She somehow felt like bolting out of the place, but she knew it wouldn't do her any good.
Somehow, Ayato could be really intimidating. Very so.
"I promise, I won't." she said, much firmer this time as she looked at him seriously.
The Kamisato head continued to stare at her for a moment, but he still didn't back away.
What's wrong with him? She could only muse to herself.
He then raised his gloved hand and tenderly caressed the side of her face with the back of his palm. The gesture only caused her to freeze in place, hyper aware of his touch gliding across her skin.
"If you are so interested in me, then you shouldn't avoid me, sweet tsubaki." Ayato said gently, but deep inside her, she wouldn't mistake that hint of underlying warning laced through his gentle tone.
"I-It won't happen again," she stammered.
"I'm pleased to hear that," he smiled at her, in those beautiful yet enigmatic eyes of his that seemed to glint under his hat. "I'll believe you."
Lumine really wanted to back herself away from him, but she was deeply rooted to her spot, like she was being caged.
"You should always come to me whenever you're free," Ayato said with a hum as he slightly backed away from her, much to her inward relief. "How could you unravel my so-called mystery if you wouldn't even come to me?"
"But that's impossible," Lumine said with a frown, her brows slightly wrinkling. "You're a very, very busy person. Then how could I even come to you?"
He crossed his arms as he regarded her, somewhat considering her words. "I admit your reason is valid."
She almost wanted to sigh, but she forced herself not to.
"But that doesn't mean I wouldn't be able to make some time for you—no matter how small—if I had to."
That only made her heart skip a beat. Lumine could feel her cheeks reddening again by his simple declaration.
"So, Lumine, will you?"
"I'll try..."
"That will not do," he said sternly this time, as he regarded her with a serious frown. "You sound like you're not even certain."
"I-I am!" She retorted, somewhat defensive.
"Then, are you still interested to know what I'm hiding?"
"Yes."
"Then you should be straightforward about it. You will not get anything unless you push yourself to see whatever you are looking for."
He really hit the nail on the head.
"I am even letting you figure out what is behind this gentle look and smiles, so what's holding you back?"
She looked at him this time and he was already looking her way. His eyes were gentle and his lips were smiling in that understanding way.
It was pulling her again.
"Now that I think about it, the next few days will be extremely difficult for me; with Lady Sylvie and Lord Damien staying in the mansion for a few days, I may not be able to sneak in even with the help of my clone, but…"
"...?" She looked at him in question.
"I'm pretty free at night. Especially in my room, if you don't mind, of course."
"That's…."
"How are you going to uncover my secrets if you're hesitating? You said you wouldn't avoid me anymore, didn't you?"
"..."
"Last question, will you now come to me?"
Even though his tone was gentle, his words didn't feel like a request to her ears.
"Or else you wouldn't be able to see what you are looking for," he finished, "Lumine."
Her golden eyes fluttered in slow beats as they met his iris-colored eyes in return, half-lidded.
"I understand.."
In fact, his words sounded more like a demand than a request.
"I will," she said.
And she was certain of it.