GAMBIT - Vinsmoke Ichiji x Reader

12 - Please No

"You look like ass."

I didn't even have the energy to give Yonji a decent scowl, my lips barely even twitching downwards.
"Thank you so much, Yonji. Really. That's a lovely thing to say. You're such a charmer." I replied flatly, irking a little as I watched him chew a bite of his breakfast; a turkey leg, with an open mouth.

Normally, I would have questioned why he was following me down to the village, but this time it kind of made sense. Four nights ago I had tried to tell my parents about what I had seen out in the forest, but the Vinsmokes had yet again been several steps ahead of me.

There had, of course, been a sudden fire in that part of the forest, which had oh so conveniently destroyed any evidence that could have helped me to get them out of my country and out of my life.

On top of that, the sudden pain that had struck me when I had openly rejected Ichiji hadn't gone away. It was duller now, but still constant, like an unhealed wound that throbbed along with my pulse. Ichiji had not made any attempt at approaching me since that night. Actually, he had removed himself from the palace altogether. Something about a task needing to be completed on Germa.

"I know I am." Yonji spoke around a mouthful of white meat, chunky spittle jumping from his parted lips. "Why are we going into the village anyway? You're a princess. It smells like pig shit down there, and it's boring."

If I had had hackles, they would have been standing on end. Throwing the youngest Vinsmoke a glare, I took a big step to the side so we wouldn't be so close together.
"There is no we. You're the one that started following me around like a stalker. Besides, I prefer the smell of pig shit to the stench you and your brothers are filling my home with day in and day out."

Even in the open air I can smell you too strongly...

At the very least I could appreciate the fact that Yonji was the brother that was tailing me. If it had been Niji then I would have likely been in real danger. Whilst Yonji was crude, and annoying, at least he wasn't as violent, if I chose to forget the time when he had squeezed that poor hare to death when we were children.

"It's boring at the palace, too. This whole place is boring. How have you not died of boredom? All you seem to do is climb trees, mingle with poor people and whine." If I wasn't dealing with so much pain I likely would have turned around and smacked him upside the head, but I just couldn't be bothered.

It's fine. Ignore him. Pity him, even. He only has a half functional braincell. It's sad.

"Look, can you just behave? Please?" I heaved a sigh as we entered the village, our boots crunching in near unison against the dirt underfoot. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a small bag of coins, shoving them against his broad chest. "Here. Go buy something from the bakery. Stuff your mouth so full you can't talk."

Shrugging his shoulders, Yonji thankfully complied, parting from my side and wandering off towards where the quaint little bakery stood further into the village. I immediately set off to start my sleuthing. I hadn't heard a peep from Corbin for almost a week now, and I was getting worried.

He has to be around somewhere...

Approaching the small animal yard, I spied Laoise, so I sidled up to lean against the fence.
"Hey, is your brother around?" I asked, watching her hold back a goat kid with her hand so it wouldn't headbutt her into the feeding trough.

"Hmm? Oh, hey. Haven't seen him for a few days. He's probably around somewhere though." She hummed, glancing over her shoulder to me. "Wait, he hasn't been sneaking to your room? What a dick. Dump his ass."