like the wind that flows through your hair

𝚇𝙸. 𝙸 𝚆𝙸𝙻𝙻 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝚃𝙴𝙲𝚃 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙵𝚁𝙾𝙼 𝙼𝚈 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺𝙽𝙴𝚂𝚂

"Ayato, can you make me a sandwich?" Ayaka appeared in the kitchen where her brother was pouring his morning coffee. The servants usually cooked in the Estate, but she knew Ayato's culinary skills were on another level.

"Only if you call me Onii-chan and say pretty please." The Hydro user grinned like a fox.

"Ano... Onii-chan, pretty pwease~" (｡-人-｡)

Ayato peered down at his pouting sibling with a doting smile on his face. "A little louder. I didn't hear you, Ayaka."

The white heron princess averted her lake blue eyes begrudgingly and mumbled, "Come on, Nii-san, you've only just returned from overseas and you're already teasing me."

Ayato poked her adorable puffy cheeks with his finger, deflating them gently. He retrieved a ceramic plate along with two slices of whole grain bread, fresh veggies, and slices of her favorite meats. "You are keeping tabs on me. Did you miss me that much, Imouto?"

Ayaka sat down on the olive green seat cushion at their cozy breakfast nook. She leaned her cheek on her hand as she gazed across at Ayato's busy figure at the counter. "Hai, I did, Aniki. It is so nice to have you back. It feels like forever every time."

After toasting the bread and prepping it with ham and prosciutto, Ayato flipped the chef's knife in the air like a pro and began to slice the veggies. He pitted a fresh avocado and added it on top of the cold cuts. He then switched knives and applied the spicy mayo sparingly. Finally, he cut the sandwich in half neatly and garnished the top with parmesan cheese. He placed the finished plate before his little sister with a beaming smile. "You say the sweetest things when you are hungry, Imouto-chan. Eat up."

The princess' eyes sparkled as the Commissioner placed the decadent sandwich before her, clasping her hands cheerfully. She glanced up at him innocently. "Where is my juice, Nii-san?" At Ayato's incredulous stare, she chuckled goodnaturedly behind her small hand. It has always been that, out of everyone in Inazuma, only Ayato was the one around whom she could let her guard down. He gave her the rare chance to feel like a little girl that could lean on her pillar of fortitude. She took a big bite of the sandwich. The explosion of flavor made her taste buds dance. "Oishi~ Thank you, Onii-san, this is amazing. You know my favorite tastes well," she exclaimed.

Ayato rested his chin on his hands as he watched her chew happily. "It seems that you have lost a bit of weight in my absence. I should throttle Thoma for this."

When she overheard his observant comment, she almost choked. Of course she couldn't get past her brother. Little did he know, her condition was due to several upsetting incidents recently. Smiling reassuringly, she shook her head. "It's not Thoma's fault. He has been very supportive. It has been a little stressful, but I am handling it. I know you have been working incredibly hard too."

At his sister's request, Ayato had dutifully poured a glass of chilled pomegranate juice for her, resting it on a bamboo beverage coaster. He rather enjoyed a rare opportunity to spoil her, but he was taken aback by her worrisome mention of "handling it." Although he had left Inazuma a few months prior on business, as the doting big brother that he was, he had left strict instructions with his loyal Shuumatsuban to protect his beloved sister at all costs. However, several disturbing reports were made to him discreetly, and one in particular rattled him to the core. He needed to ascertain the truth from Ayaka even if it would be painful to accept.

Retrieving a napkin, Ayato leaned forward to wipe the spicy mayo from the corner of her lips. His ultramarine eyes met hers innocently, and an indiscernible spark flashed past them before vanishing as if it were never there. As he gently dabbed her soiled mouth, he noted casually, "You seem different. You are more at ease with the opposite sex. Before I left Inazuma, you were a ball of nerves. If I didn't know better, I would have surmised that you had gotten yourself a lover in my absence." His tone was teasing, but his countenance did not display any playfulness. Instead, his impenetrable smile belied darker waves. "But knowing my sweet and pure little sister whom I absolutely adore, this could not be the case. Right, Imouto-chan?"

When Ayato dabbed the corner of her mouth with the napkin, for a brief moment Ayaka thought his hand lingered for a moment longer than necessary by her silky lips as their eyes accidentally met. She instantly brushed it away as her imagination. As she reached for her refreshing pomegranate sparkling juice, she overheard her brother's shrewd inquiry which made her falter. What shocked her was not the question itself, but rather its tone that carried a disappointed edge which she had never heard from him before and did not understand. She retracted her hand and met Ayato's alluring ocean blue eyes that were just a shade darker than hers by nature, rendering them handsomely mysterious. She contemplated for a while on her answer; somehow, the hydro wielder's intense gaze made her dread her next words. "Onii-sama... I thought you knew already. Did my letter get lost in the mail? I have been seeing Zhongli, formerly known as Morax, the Geo Archon."

"What riveting news," Ayato replied, finally breaking eye contact. His sister could tell that he was trying to be enthusiastic, but it was almost forced. The Commissioner stood and collected the dirty napkins calmly, tossing it in the trash. He stared out the kitchen window at the quaint courtyard with a wistful smile away from his sibling's line of sight. Although his chest suddenly felt tight, and inexplicable, foreign emotions assaulted him uncontrollably, he suppressed them forcefully. "Yes, dear sister. It seems your message was lost unfortunately. Still, I am overjoyed that you have finally found someone who is worthy of your affections. Rex Lapis. Congratulations."

He turned around with a beaming smile plastered on his face. "I am suddenly craving some boba tea. I am going to head to Komore Teahouse." He snatched up his designer jacket and slipped it on smoothly. "Don't wait for me. I might stay awhile. See you later, Imouto-chan."

The white heron princess scrutinized her brother's stiff smile that seemed frozen on his face. It would have fooled anyone except her. "Wait, Aya–" Unfortunately, her cryptic brother had already made his swift exit. Inexplicably hurt by his peculiar reaction, she sighed as she glanced at her half-eaten sandwich. She had suddenly lost her appetite. Why was he so upset? Did I do something wrong? She mused inwardly as she stared outside at the meadow.

It was with a heavy heart that Ayato left the Kamisato Estate that afternoon. He felt a strange pang in his chest every time he recalled his sibling's angelic face and lively eyes as she spoke of the former archon. He knew his adverse reaction to the news was unreasonable. He could not understand it nor control it. He sighed and made a detour toward the beautiful meadow across the courtyard. He felt like he would go crazy every time he closed his eyes, so focusing on the sunlit blossoms relaxed him somehow. As he sat on the bench near their childhood swing, Ayato confronted his harsh reality now. One which he could never say out loud to anyone. The answer to his sick question all these years was finally answered. He was a disgrace to his ancestors and to the Kamisato Clan. 

It was time to bury his disgusting and perverse fantasy. Forever.