Risk It All For You (Thoma x Ayato)

Chapter 11: Something More?

It was now the last event until Ayato had to make his final choice. For the final event he would give a tour of the Kamisato Estate and host a small dinner afterwards. Everything he had been working for was now coming to an end and he had never felt more nervous in his entire life.

Everyone gathered at the entrance to the estate and waited for Ayato's orders.

"Good morning, welcome to the final event, I am thankful you all have stayed throughout everything. Now let's begin" Ayato announced.

He was more careless with what he was doing because he had only one goal in mind for the day. Ayato began leading the guests throughout the estate, he secretly hoped he would run into Thoma during the tour but he didn't see him once.

Ayato was slightly disappointed he hadn't seen Thoma but continued on. Eventually the tour came to an end and it was time for dinner. Ayato had all his workers prepare for a large feast. It was during this feast where Ayato finally had seen Thoma, he had been assisting all day and hadn't had any time to rest.

Thoma passed out dishes to all the guests, he avoided making eye contact with Ayato, he seemed to be uncomfortable the closer he got to him. Ayato knew he had to speak to him soon.

"Thank you again Ayato for hosting this event, it's been a pleasure spending time with you" Kujou Sara said.

"I'm glad you enjoyed, now get some rest. Tomorrow is the big day" Ayato replied.

The last remaining guests left and now it was Ayaka and Ayato.

"Well it is time" Ayato said.

"Time for what?" Ayaka asked.

"I need you to find Thoma and tell him to meet me outside" Ayato replied.

"Oh ok" Ayaka said.

She rushed back inside. Ayato paced around the garden, the air was cold but in a comforting way. Soon Ayato heard the door open and turned around. Thoma slowly made his way over to Ayato.

"Thank you for coming out here Thoma" Ayato said.

Thoma didn't respond, he only gave a nod.

"I have a few things I want to tell you" Ayato said.

Ayato waited for a moment to see if Thoma had anything to say. After he took a deep breathe and began his apology.

"Thoma, I'm so sorry. Everything you heard that night wasn't true, I said it out of anger and confusion, I never wanted to hurt you. You aren't just a housekeeper to me, you're more" Ayato said, "Right after I said those things I immediately regretted it, and knowing you heard me hurts more than anything else in the world. Please, forgive me"

Thoma stood there in silence for a moment, he was visibly holding back tears. Suddenly he ran up to Ayato and hugged him and began to cry.

"Are you serious? Was it all a lie?" Thoma asked.

"Of course, I never meant to say those things. Never would I ever say it again" Ayato replied as he hugged Thoma back.

They stayed like this for a minute before Ayato pulled away. Thoma had relaxed more now.

"There's something else I need to tell you" Ayato said, "I need to tell you the truth."

Ayato hesitated for a moment trying to calm his nervous, he couldn't back down now. He had to tell him or forever suffer.

"Thoma, since the first day we met we have done nothing but strengthen our friendship. I have never had a bond like ours" Ayato stated, "having you by my side opened my eyes to a new world. Every moment we shared were the best moments of my life, I can't even begin thinking what I would do without you"

Thoma began to cry again, but this time it was silent as he stood in shock.

"Spending a lifetime with you would be the best thing to happen to me, I would love nothing more" He continued, "I think I realize why I had so much trouble trying to find love. No matter how many times I would speak the candidates, nothing would spark between us."

Ayato began to think back on every moment he had with Thoma, every moment sparked so much joy in him, began to cry happy tears.

"I could never fall in love with one of them, because I have already fallen in love" Ayato said.

Ayato then got down to one knee and pulled out a box. He opened it to reveal a beautiful ring.

"Thoma, I ask you, would you complete me and have a lifetime of happiness together by marrying me?" Ayato said.

In that moment it seemed like Thoma's emotions exploded, so many feelings were taking over him. He struggled to think of what to say, but he knew what he had to do.

"Ayato, I'm so sorry, I can't I, just can't" Thoma said.

He bursted out into more tears.

"What do you mean? Why not?" Ayato asked.

"You don't deserve this, I can never be the one to marry someone as great as you" Thoma replied.

He dropped down to his knees. Ayato scooted closer to him and held his face so they were looking eye to eye.

"Thoma you don't understand, nothing matter to me anymore. All I care for is you, I would risk it all just to be with you for life" Ayato said.

Thoma was shaking and continued to cry. He then pushed Ayato's hand away and staggered back up.

"No Ayato, you don't understand. I can't let you do this, I'm so sorry, it's just not meant to be" Thoma said.

After that he ran away, leaving the estate and escaping into the city. Ayato stayed on his knees as he processed what had happened. Suddenly he bursted into tears, he had never cried like this before. He fell to the floor and continued to cry into the ground. Ayaka heard the noise and came outside to check what had happened.

"Ayato? What's wrong?" Ayaka asked in a concerned tone.

Ayato slowed down his cries and eventually stopped. He slowly rose up from the ground, a blank stare on his face.

"Ayato? Are you ok? What happened?" Ayaka asked, she was beginning to get scared.

"I want to sleep" Ayato said, "sleep for a long time."

"Where's Thoma?" She asked.

"Take me inside please, that's all I ask for" Ayato replied.

Ayaka looked around. Thoma was nowhere in sight. She helped Ayato back to his feet and brought him back inside.

"Ayaka" He said.

"Yes? What is it?" She questioned.

"I know who I want to marry, I'm ready for tomorrow" He responded.

Those were the last words he said for the night. Ayaka tried to question him more but she didn't get a single reponses, her questions seemed to cause him pain. She quietly assisted him and helped him get to bed.

She thought to herself, how could he start the day with so much cheer and end it with despair. All he seemed like now, was a husk of the man he once was.