𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 • k. ayato

41

☄. *. ⋆

[Y/N] let out a sigh as the nurses finished bandaging her arms, and neck up. Those were the places that sustained the most injuries, and while the divine priestess had healed her, the sensation left by the burns was still there, and her skin was left feeling sensitive. It would take some time for the sensitivity to go back to how it was before. [Y/N] supposed Asahi had given all he had into that one attack.

"Thank you. You may go now," she said to the nurses.

The few women quickly bowed their heads, and left the room, leaving [Y/N] alone with the Yashiro Commissioner. Once they did so, she felt a comforting presence by her side as Ayato sat beside the woman.

Intertwining his fingers with hers, Ayato spoke, "Does it hurt a lot?"

The woman rested her head against Ayato's shoulder, "A bit, I suppose. It's fine, though. The priestess herself healed me."

Ayato hummed, "Indeed. It was kind of her to come on such short notice once again. I'll make sure to send her a thank-you gift later."

"Yeah, good idea," she said quietly, closing her eyes. It had been an exhausting day, full of worry, doubt, and even the potential of death, and yet it was not over. How she wished she could lay asleep for at least a week.

With a little smile, Ayato brought her in closer, embracing her as best as he could without shifting her too much. It was incredibly nice to be able to hold her, alive and well, instead of her corpse which for a minute, he thought he'd have to.

Kissing her temple, he spoke, "I'm proud of you. You did well."

The woman smiled in acknowledgement. She couldn't tell whether she was happy or sad; and she thought that if she could make a wish, it would be that nothing would ever change, and everything would stay like this forever. But noticing the solemn tone of Ayato's voice, she knew that the Raiden Shogun would not be so merciful. She got to stay alive thanks to winning the duel, but she'll still get punished for all the wretched deeds she has done throughout her lifetime, and Ayato knew this very well as well.

For a split second, she cursed her family name. If she had been born into a normal family, she would have never turned out like this, but at the same time, if she hadn't been born as a Kamiyama, she would have never gotten to marry Ayato like this either.

She couldn't tell whether she hated or treasured her family name.

There was no point in figuring it out either. She cannot change the past, and somewhere within, she also agreed that she should be punished for what she had done. But she also feared that very same punishment which was awaiting her. She dreaded coming out of this room and meeting the Raiden Shogun to hear her sentence. She dreaded opening her eyes.

Ayato stroked the woman's hair, "Guuji Yae did say that she would talk to the Shogun... she said she would help you out."

[Y/N] sighed once more, "There's only so much that she can do. To the Shogun, this nation is her greatest priority. Even the Guuji could not sway the almighty Shogun's judgement."

Ayato could not deny that. After all, they were talking about the same God who would do anything to achieve her ideal of Eternity. That very same peaceful eternity was threatened by the incidents that took place because of the Kamiyama clan.

Suddenly, the tranquillity of the room was disturbed by the doors being opened. Through them, came Yae Miko with a little smile coating her face. The kitsune shut the door behind her just as quickly as she opened them, and stepped forward.