Fingers Crossed [Hiatus]

Drunk

Nothing feels right for Ayato ever since he stepped out from Tenshukaku.

He treads his way home with a tight grip on his sword's hilt with his crumpled expression. Instead of having just one drama, today Ayato encountered two of them. To make it even worse, he made himself disgracefully indebted with the Guuji of Grand Narukami Shrine. He can't believe himself of how he ignored the warning tugs in him, creating a scandal by following his lust instead of his brain. Ayato couldn't imagine how Ayaka and Thoma would react to this. No, he couldn't tell them. Not when he doesn't know what to do with Yae Miko and his uncharacteristic sudden attraction to her.

Wait, was it attraction? Ayato grits his jaw in frustration. Because if it was, he might be in deeper problem, which is himself.

The tranquil display of Kamisato Estate halts him from moving forward. Bright daylight and pleasant weather made it looks more suspiciously empty. Another knot uneasiness appears and Ayato swallows it down. Usually the guards would greet him from where he stands. Atleast, there should be a Shuumatshuban to tell him if anything has happened. Something is definitely wrong.

He walks in faster pace to enter the mansion and discovers that the house is empty. There are no signs of activity anywhere.

"Ayaka? Thoma?" His hand reached a sliding door and glides it open. The communal room meets him with silent greeting, successfully driving the Commissioner anxious.

What is going on? Ayato searches for a clue of anyone's whereabouts. A simple letter should've left behind by someone to tell Ayato where did they all go to. But it seems like they don't even remember about the Commissioner, who is now too confused to start looking outside.

"Lord Ayato, sir."

Ayato turns to see a rushing man entered the room with ragged breathing. From the way he dressed, the man is one of the Shuumatsuban's ninja. Although he comes with clean attire, the drips on his forehead could tell Ayato that he drains all his stamina to get here. He quickly kneels and controlled his laboured breath before he reports "Pardon my tardiness, sir. I have urgent conditions to tell."

"At ease, Hisashi. Time is all yours."

Hisashi gulps to hinder his faint tremble, but he fails as he announced the news "Sir Thoma, he... His vision has been confiscated by the Vision Hunt Decree."

Revelations rise from Ayato's mind. Firstly, this weekend is a pure chaotic mess. Secondly, the reason why Kujou and Hiiragi invited him to the royal bath was to ensure that Ayato won't mess with their plan. They never expect Ayato to side with them and had targeted Thoma all along. In a sense, they have begun to mess with people who are close to Ayato.

How quaint, the Commissioner pinched the bridge of his nose with irritated look. He is very capable of making them pay, but his virtues forbid him to do so. Revenge would be a waste of time and force. Ayato recomposed his priorities in a second before inquiring more information from Hisashi.

"Is my sister safe? What about the other residents?"

Hisashi gives a reassuring nod "They are safe, my Lord. As soon as we heard that Sir Thoma was captured, we immediately evacuated the mansion and Lady Ayaka. She is in Komore Teahouse now. I departed from the teahouse to inform you as soon as I saw Aether arriving. My intuitions says that he could be relied upon."

Ayato felt a relieve as the knot inside his stomach dispersed. It's a blessing now that he knows his sister is safe even this day has tossed him troubles non-stop.

"I'll be on my way to the teahouse then. Thank you for your reports, Hisashi."

"Of course, my Lord. I shall excuse myself now." Hisashi nods curtly before he left the house. Ayato swiftly puts down his belonging from the public bath on nearby table and takes a jar of tri-colored dango. If Thoma's vision is really gone by the time Ayato arrived, he hoped that these snacks could at least make him feel better.