Chapter Text
It seems that just as everyone has heard of Ayaka, Kamisato Ayato is also known by everyone on the island. And Thoma, being the Chief Retainer of the Kamisato Clan, was of course no exception. It seems that both siblings have a lot on their shoulders, but he worries - Ayaka is right here, in front of him, drinking her tea with a little smile but Ayato was probably whisked away to Inazuma City the moment he’d set foot in the estate. Ayaka is right where Thoma can see her, where he can see if she’s feeling stressed or down, but Ayato…Thoma’s barely caught any glimpse of him in the last week. And the week before. Really, it’s starting to get out of hand, because the last time him or Ayaka have seen the man was probably four days ago when he had to travel to Ritou, and the last time any of them had held a proper conversation was probably just a bit over three weeks ago. So really, it’s getting way out of hand.
The first time Thoma had met Ayoto would’ve been a few months ago. He’d already risen up the ranks in the Yashiro Commission, coming to gain his current one as the Chief Retainer of the Kamisato Clan. They, him and Ayaka, had been sitting down for tea at the Komodo Teahouse, discussing over matters with, of course, Taroumaru by their side. They’d been in discussion about some firework shipment to Liyue when Thoma had heard the sound of the doors opening, and the shiba inu beside him began barking joyfully. Thoma had gone out to see who had come in, carrying Taroumaru in his arms. He’d come face to face with someone he’d never seen before.
“He likes you,” the stranger says, looking at the dog in Thoma’s arms. “I think he’ll end up liking you more than me now.” The stranger smiles and Thoma is frozen in his spot. He has blue eyes, a bright cornflower, and even lighter blue hair which reminds Thoma of snow. The stranger is around the same height as him, with a thin frame, and a soft smile painting his lips. He has a blade strapped to his side, and he’s dressed in loose silk clothing, a mix between cobalt, sapphire, and white, with azure sleeves. He’s - well he’s pretty , soft eyes looking at Taroumaru, and a little laugh as the dog licks his hand.
And it all clicks place into Thoma’s head. “Ah. You’re Ayaka’s older brother.” Kamisato Ayato. The resemblance is a bit…uncanny, to say the least. Their eyes are the same, and maybe Ayato’s are a lighter shade, but they still have the same kindness and patience shining in them. Their hair is the same colour, a light icy blue bordering on white, that reminds Thoma of snow and ice. And it’s the way they hold themselves too, tall, proud, but no trace of arrogance or superiority.
“That I am. And I assume you’re the new Chief Retainer? The soldiers have said that you’re rather exceptional with a polearm. Perhaps we could spar one day. Thank you for looking after my sister.” Ayato looks a little sheepish at the way his thoughts are going in random directions, but Thoma finds it adorable . “I was told that you as well as Ayaka were here.”
“That we are.” Thoma collects himself, giving Ayato his usual smile. “You came at the right time. My name is Thoma.” He adds the last part as an afterthought because he’s just realized they hadn’t been introduced themselves, and, well, the snowy haired man following him is his superior, after all.
“I’m sure you know this already, but I am Kamisato Ayato. Please just call me Ayato,” Ayato says. Thoma nods, grinning, and begins to walk to where Ayaka was. He ducks underneath the curtain, Ayato doing the same, and they enter the room to find Ayaka still sitting, patiently waiting for their arrival.
“Brother!” She leaps to her feet as soon as Ayato steps into the room. Thoma makes sure to give them some space, watching as they embraced each other tightly. They must’ve been close when they had been children. But now they rarely see each other. Sad.
“Ayato’s back?” Thoma stares at Hirano, taking a moment to process the information. That…can’t be right. “He was due for a meeting at Narukami Shrine was he not?”
“Personal circumstances. Or at least that’s what the messenger told me.” Hirano is clearly as uncomfortable with the situation as Thoma is. Because for Ayato to return, to miss something that was planned for him, to miss a meeting with Guuji Yae , is troubling. It means that something has to have happened, something big , something concerning .
“I’ll check on him,” Thoma sighs, and dismisses Hirano. Ayaka was out doing work, so that leaves him to find Ayato. His mind is moving faster than the rest of his thoughts can keep up as he walks down the halls, already coming up with new conspiracies before he’s had time to finish the other ones. But all of them are burning with the same question: why is Ayato back so soon ? They’re all filled with the same fear and worry, and Thoma feels himself begin to run through the estate, tripping past shrine maidens in an effort to get to Ayato’s room as soon as he possibly can. Could it have been poison, perhaps? Something a bit slower acting? No, that wouldn’t be possible. This is Kamisato Ayato , and the only ones who’d actually resort to such underhanded tactics would be the pirates outcast onto the shores. Even then, there was nothing Ayato’s death would give them, so that was out of the equation. So then…
“Ayato!” Thoma doesn’t bother to knock, instead opting to just throw open the door to Ayato’s room. The bed is empty, sheets still neat and clean. Thoma glances to the side and sure enough, Ayato’s there, by his desk, writing furiously with a pen. He doesn’t even seem to notice the intrusion.
He’s thinner, Thoma realizes. Ayato was always lean and lanky, but now he just looks...thin, unhealthily so. He’s slumped over his desk, and Thoma can see the exhaustion in his body, the way he can barely keep his head up and the way his writing grows slower and sloppier (though it still looked nice). His eyes are put out and dull, and Ayato just looks exhausted. He definitely hasn’t been eaten properly.
So it was as Thoma thought, then. Probably a mix of stress, not eating, and exhaustion on Ayato’s end which probably had lead to him passing out, which is why he was sent back. He’d have to notify Ayaka soon, but for now, he’s more focused on trying to drag Ayato away from his desk and back into his bed. “All this work is unhealthy for you, you know.” No response. The elder Kamisato only continues scribbling notes down furiously, and Thoma catches glimpses of ‘ shrine maiden training ’ and ‘ more troops have fallen ’, and even ‘Kaedehara Kazuha ’. All topics with significance to the Yashiro Commission, but what has even more significance is Ayato getting off his chair and resting properly for once. “Look, you need rest. And I am forcing you to get back into your bed whether you like it or not.”
“There are things that need to be done, Thoma,” Ayato snaps, scowling. “What happened was already a major inconvenience. I best make sure not to fall behind on anything else.” He slaps away Thoma’s arm. Or tries to at least, because Thoma catches the weak attempt. Perhaps Ayato was more exhausted than he’d thought. Usually, he’d be able to beat Thoma no matter how they sparred - polarms, swords, or hand to hand.
“And it’ll be even more of an inconvenience if you were to faint at your table in the middle of doing work,” Thoma shoots back, frowning. “You’’re already not in the right mind. It’s better for you to get rest now so you don’t have to recheck all your work later.”
The only thing Ayato was stubborn about was his work. He’d always insisted on getting it done, on taking on more than he could handle alone. But he’d never complained, just getting on with it. And Thoma - Thoma’s just had to watch as he gets sent out for more and more meetings, as he grows frailer and frailer, as his eyes become duller and duller. Ayaka had confided in him not too long ago about her worries for her brother, and Thoma had listened. He sees them now, in the way Ayato holds himself, not confident or proud, but rather robotic and exhausted.
“The Yashori Commission won’t crumble if you choose to rest for a few days. So sleep, Ayato,” Thoma says, gentler this time. The man lets out a long sigh, but finally obliges. And it’s only a few steps to his bed but Ayato is already crumbling, shakily walking one step at a time. It makes Thoma wonder just how long this - Ayato neglecting his health for the sake of work - had been going on. For far too long, obviously. And he scowls, watching as Ayato falls asleep almost as soon as he hits the sheets, still in his formal clothing. He’s denied himself of rest for far too long.
“Sleep well,” Thoma murmurs, walking out and closing the door behind him. “Is there a messenger anywhere? I have something urgent to tell Lady Ayaka.”