Work Text:
"What would you say for a little competition?" Lumine looks at Ayato, her golden eyes gleaming in shock as he repeats the question.
It's still hard to believe that she's actually about to spend more time with someone as busy as the Yashiro Commissioner himself. She does not complain about it at all even though the traveler's plans for today were slightly different at first.
Lumine was supposed to play with Itto right now. They had planned it some time ago, but when she came to his place the sight of the young master greeted her instead of the oni. Lumine still isn't sure how it's possible that they both happened to agree to fight at the same time, however both boys swear that it's an accident that they met here in his place.
What's even more shocking is the fact that when Itto saw Ayato here with Lumine, he decided that it's better if he leaves them alone so they can play and spend some time together.
"Hmmm... Why not. Not everyday you have a chance to beat the young master himself." she answers softly after thinking about it for a moment and looks at him with a soft yet slightly daring smile.
"Well, what about we make a little bet then?" he asks and Lumine can notice his eyes sparkling with some hidden emotions, but she can't quite place a finger on what exactly it is. "If you win, I'll grant your wish, no matter what it is. However, if I'm the winner of our competition today... well, you might find out soon."
The traveler wants to argue at his words stating that she will be the one who loses today, but she only lets out a sigh. Damned Ayato and his teasing. She will show him who wins.
Adrenaline rushes through her veins as she answers him. "Alright, I agree." Their hands meet in agreement and Lumine's golden eyes focus on his blue ones, burning as fiercely as hers.
Lumine knew from the start that Ayato is very determined and skilled at everything he does, but as it happens, she's as unyielding as he is and she doesn't plan to give up easily.
To be honest, she's never been playing with onikabutos before, but that doesn't stop her from being confident. Itto taught her a thing or two about onikabuto fights before and now she's thanking him silently in her thoughts, because otherwise, she wouldn't even know what it takes to win one. But now that she has some skills from practicing with Itto for fun and watching others play and also some knowledge, she feels like someone more equal to Kamisato Ayato. Who knows, she might even have a chance to win against him.
What could possibly go wrong?
Well, apparently everything.
She has not only failed miserably, but also has to do whatever Ayato wants her to. To be honest, it wouldn't be that bad if only the boy wasn't so mysterious about the latter. No matter how many times she asked him about what his wish she ought to fulfill is, he remained silent and kept on telling her that he'll tell her about it later.
A shiver runs down her spine at the memory of Ayato leaning closer and whispering into her ear to meet him alone tonight.
All day her thoughts were filled with that strange request. She's been wondering all the time what exactly he wants from her, but all her questions remained unsolved and all she knew was the curiosity that filled her mind.
After a few long hours that felt like an eternity, Lumine is finally walking towards the Kamisato household. With every step she takes, she feels herself getting more frustrated and she isn't exactly sure why. Gods, why is he making a big fuss out of this stupid bet?
Ayato is always unpredictable like that though and Lumine knows she should probably be more careful when it comes to him and his trickery, but she can't help but fail. It's too hard not to be pulled into his mysterious and magnetic aura. It's too hard not to fall for someone like him.
The first thing she notices after reaching the estate is the young master himself standing there and waiting for her. Their gazes meet for a fleeting moment and shiver runs down her spine at how tense the air in between them seems to be in this moment. Lumine finds herself becoming even more nervous right now that he's around. Yet, she tries her best not to show it as they greet each other and walk to a more quiet private place away from the guards.
Much to her surprise, Ayato doesn't say anything when they stop on a cliff next to the seaside. Instead, he remains quiet while looking at how the moonlight reflects in the cold sea.
"Okay, so what do you want me to do here since you won?" her voice is calm and a little hesitant as she's still not sure what the boy has on his mind. "You can just say it and we'll get over with it already."
He doesn't answer her and Lumine can't help but wonder if anything is wrong. Ayato doesn't enjoy going out much, that's true, but he's always been talking quite a lot with her even though he's a rather secretive person. So why is he acting so differently tonight?
She takes a step closer towards him, trying to search for an answer.
"Kamisato Ayato. Why did you even bring me here if you don't want to talk to me?" her voice sounds firm and the look in her eyes is fierce, daring him to say something.
"Alright, alright, I'll say it." he answers after a short moment while glancing at her.
A heavy sigh escapes his lips. He can't run away from this now, can he?
All the feelings that have been hidden somewhere deep within his heart are now choking him, fear mixed with adrenaline running in his veins.
It's kinda ironic how he - the youngest and one of the most successful commissioners in the whole land of Inazuma - is afraid in a situation like this. If any of his ninjas saw him like this, they probably would not believe in what they witnessed. Usually he's giving out assasination orders without any sign of hesitation as if it's nothing and now he's standing there, not sure if the girl in front of him likes him back.
But alas, how could he be confident when it comes to confessing his feelings toward Lumine? Ayato has never had time for a serious relationship that he wants to have with someone special, he has never had time for love. Well, even right now he still doesn't really have it. And yet, it was still impossible for him not to be pulled to the girl as if he's bewitched.
He tried, he really tried to keep his distance, ignore her and move on as if nothing happened. Nevertheless, his heart didn't let him do as he pleased. When he tried to focus on his work while reading important papers and letters, he was unintentionally going from thinking about the commissioner's work to daydreaming about the traveler.
It's hard not to adore someone like Lumine. She's heroic, kind, gentle and breathtakingly beautiful... Ayato has been wondering what it would be like to call her his.
Even the night sky was making him think about her somehow since the stars' shine is as bright as her, especially when she's walking among the crowd of people and she smiles like a goddess from the heavens above. So every sleepless night, he ended up looking at the moon and thinking how it would be if Lumine was right now in his arms, how it would feel to hold her close and love her.
Once, during one of the dinners they had with Ayaka and Thoma, he caught himself looking at Lumine, stealing glances at her hands unintentionally. His attention was mostly on the ring finger as he found himself wondering how it would be like graced with gold.
That's when Ayato knew that it's too late for him to stop feeling and he has to do something. So he did. It started casually and smoothly with some simple things just like helping the traveler with commissions or inviting her to dinner more often. Their paths started to cross randomly and every little meeting was like an encounter of a shooting star - volatile and vibrant, and it only made him crave more of those sparkling moments.
And right now, he's standing there in front of her close enough to touch, to reach out to her and hold her in his arms just like he always wanted.
He doesn't dare to do this.
It's not the right time. Not yet.
There are moments when Ayato is a little tricky and mischievous, that's true, even when it comes to Raiden Shogun and tri-commission matters, he would sometimes do things that aren't necessarily something he should do. In a situation like this, however, when it's about his true intense feelings... It doesn't seem right to try to joke around.
It's enough that he already pulled some strings and may or may not make Itto leave them together all alone so he could spend more time with Lumine and finally try to confess as he planned.
Yet, now there's a creeping fear inside his mind, filling him with worries whether she feels the same towards him. He tries to shrug it off, but it's hard when he might be about to ruin their amity or - even worse - lose her.
"Ummm.." he starts slowly, his voice so quiet that it can be mistaken for a whisper of the wind. "I think that I might have actually developed some deep romantic feelings for you, Lumine. I didn't intend to do that, but oh well, it just happened so... yeah, that's it."
Words spill out of his mouth rapidly now, resembling his heartbeat. Unlike always, his eyes avoid hers now as Ayato is not sure what expression he'll see in them.
"But if you don't like me like that, it's totally okay because - why would you feel the same after all?" he chuckles, but there's a hint of sadness in the timbre of his voice. "So no pressure, don't worry about anything— actually, please forget what I've just said."
Lumine doesn't respond, staring at the boy and blinking slowly as silence fills the cold air between them for a second that feels like an eternity for ayato. He clears his throat, trying to gain back his posture. "Well, it's really late, so I probably should just get going. Forgive me for taking so much of your time, Lumine."
Slowly, he turns around and starts walking away with a heavy heart, not waiting any longer for an answer. Silence is some kind of response as well, isn't it? Maybe he shouldn't say it so suddenly, maybe she needs more time to think about everything before saying something back.
If there's anyone else who tries to steal her away from him, however.... Ayato isn't sure whether he'll be able to stop himself.
"Wait!" Lumine says suddenly, the sound of her voice makes Ayato stop. "Do you... Do you mean what you said?"
An inaudible sigh escapes his lips. "I wouldn't dare to say anything like this if I didn't mean it."
Silence fills the air between them once again and Ayato wants to walk away, but before he can disappear, Lumine grabs his hand. He turns around and sees her golden eyes sparkling illuminated by the moonlight. All he can see and feel is Lumine, and that he's on the cusp of trying to kiss her.
It's hard to catch a moment when she comes even closer to him, standing on her tiptoes to match his height a little bit. Ayato watches her in awe as she pulls him down by the collar of his shirt. He wants to ask her what she is doing but all his thoughts are left unsaid as Lumine puts her lips on his.
Her kisses are unexpected yet as sweet as her, soothing his heart and putting his mind at ease. His hands are on her waist, holding her close to himself as he continues to get lost in the heavenly pleasure he's been dreaming about for so long.
Ayato isn't sure for how long he stays like this - with Lumine in his arms, kissing her as if it's the only thing he ever wants to do - when she slowly pulls away. Her warmth still lingers on his skin, coaxing him to lean in once more. So he pulls her closer once more to kiss her under the moonlight, making all his dreams come true.
"The moon looks truly breathtaking tonight." he whispers, his voice firm as always yet so soft that it makes Lumine tremble. His eyes are focused on her flushed cheeks and parted red lips. She looks even more beautiful than before after he took her breath away with his kisses. "I actually planned to watch it together with you, but it seems that its beauty is insignificant when compared to you."
The girl raises her brow, slightly doubting his words, but her soft smile and the way her eyes sparkle tell Ayato that she enjoys all of it.
"And now.. I'm afraid that I'll never be able to take my eyes off you, Lumine." his knuckles brush tenderly against her cheek as he speaks before putting his lips on hers again.
At this moment, Ayato doesn't care about anything else but Lumine and the ray of happiness that burns brightly inside his heart. Every night he used to look at the sky and tell the stars about the girl he adores and tonight, the moon can see their love finally becoming real.