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The story is told once more amidst the gossip of the city.
A story of two people falling in love.
Cute misunderstandings, passing flutters of affection. The heart beats faster each day, the red binds of fate tightening with each beautiful moment.
Some may deny, others may pine.
Nonetheless, those who persevere build up to the penultimate moment.
Wherein one finally gives in to their heart and confesses their love.
Ultimately, their love is reciprocated, as a new happily ever after is born.
To most, this would be the ideal scenario.
But they would be wrong .
In a couple there is a clear and distinct hierarchy! One in which one has more power over the other! This is the truth by which all things comply!
That of the winner and the loser !
They who hold more dominion over their partner!
In this regard, losing is absolutely not an option!
As the cherry blossoms flow in the breeze, amidst two certain individuals gazing upon the city of Inazuma from the Grand Narukami Shrine, this truth has been drilled into both of their proud, wry brains!
In this battlefield, only one can lose! The one who folds first and confesses!
“A beautiful day, is it not, Lord Kamisato?”
The instigator is Yae Miko, the graceful kitsune who oversees the Shrine, giggling lightly with an elegant smile on her face as she turns her head to face her companion.
A perfectly average everyday greeting, nothing in particular to pick apart. Yet, it serves its purpose well, to kick this game of theirs into motion once more, as they have many times over.
Besides, it wasn’t much of a lie, she would know very well. The sun was shining overhead, its tender warmth only suppressed by the shadows of the cherry blossoms overhead. A most wonderful day if she said so herself.
The man standing beside her, leaning both his arms on the balcony of the shrine hums in return, a quaint and reserved smile on his own face, betraying nothing beneath his contentment.
“Beautiful… yes, indeed. The atmosphere of the Shrine on a sunny day is like no other. My compliments to your lovely shrine maidens for maintaining this beautiful mountaintop.” The head of the Yashiro Commission sighed as he stared up into the sky, watching the pink sakura petals scatter into the winds.
The pink-haired shrine maiden beside him tilted her head to the side, a curious brow on her face arching upwards at Kamisato’s choice of reply.
“ The shrine maidens, eh? ”
Yae Miko was many things. A fool was absolutely, definitely not one of them. She knew Kamisato Ayato far too well to dismiss anything the rascal said as a mere, careless accident. He was too sly for that, as much as she hated to admit it.
She would vehemently deny it, she would turn her nose up and scoff at every notion of it, but she had watched the brat grow from a wide-eyed boy into the confident, composed man standing beside her today. She knew for a fact that his mind’s sharpness had the capability to match her own.
Not that he was her equal. Of course not. She laughed inwardly.
After all, he did not have the decades upon decades of experience that she did, which gave her an undeniable advantage. An advantage she never let slip her mind.
“I’ll pass it along. I’m sure my lovely girls will be elated to hear such praise from the esteemed Lord Kamisato. I can imagine the gossip now, “Kamisato Ayato of the Yashiro Commission, flirting with shrine maidens!” Oh, the things they would say…” Yae giggled with a hand to her chin, her smile unflinching and calm.
Ayato was coming on a little strong with that reply. He’d mentioned the shrine maidens to elicit a reaction out of her, by suddenly shifting the topic of conversation to that of a third party, one that she could associate with and acknowledged well.
It was no secret that the shrine maidens gossiped about Ayato, especially with his visits to the Sacred Sakura every now and again. They’d whisper amidst excited giggles, wondering exactly what she had with him that would prompt him to break from his busy schedule.
Secondly, her rebuttal. It seemed like a mild tease on the surface, but Ayato was no fool either. It was a dare to keep up his risky offensive. A jab at his “type”. All things considered, she herself was also a shrine maiden, the one to oversee them all here at the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Thus, for this rumor to spread would add to the implication that he harbored an interest vaguely in her direction. An inch that would grow into towering mountains with time should he not clear the water.
Lastly, she knew he had that image to uphold, of mystique and calm, collected pride. He wouldn’t risk compromising that, and she knew that well. The boy was too damn proud for his own good, and she’d milk that for all it was worth.
Victory would belong to Yae Miko.
“I’d imagine so. Especially after that dinner I have scheduled for tonight.”
Ayato watched with smug satisfaction as Yae’s face finally shifted to one he hadn’t seen this entire day so far. Her smile dropped for a second as her eyes widened a centimeter in diameter. A sight he would treasure in his memory for the rest of his life.
A memoir of his triumph over the esteemed Guuji Yae.
He was no idiot, and what an idiot he would be to underestimate this fox’s slyness. He was playing this game with a woman with centuries under her belt, a yokai with every bit as much pride as her intuition. He knew this was no easy task, that he was barely a fledgling compared to her years.
However, he was not one to lie and allow a challenge like this to get the better of him. He wouldn’t indulge Yae, who yearned to watch him squirm. Not while he retained his dignity and everything she could not hold against him. He had a duty to his late parents, to be strong and to uphold the honor of the Kamisato clan.
Thus, he stood his ground. He wore his mask, allowing none but his dear sister to see him with his walls down. He kept those walls especially high for the kitsune before him, and before long, he’d caught her interest.
Thus, they trade words and do battle. Each day they meet is a new field they play on, each comment and sentence spoke to each other a clash of blades in this duel of the minds. Each side, back and forth, none giving any quarter.
Neither would dare admit defeat, neither would accept any less than complete dominance.
Finally, he seized his opportunity as Yae gave her confused reply to his statement.
“How strange, I wasn’t aware you had a full day off-” Yae pondered aloud as Ayato smirked wryly, sighing.
Yae knew that Ayato was an extremely busy man. As head of the Yashiro Commission and of the Shuumatsuban, he had a lot of responsibility to shoulder for his age, so it was surprising he made time for anything that didn’t require his immediate attention or strongly pique his interest.
“Why, yes I did. My dear sister agreed to handle my duties for the day, allowing me to clear my schedule for a special dinner invitation.” Ayato chuckled with that everlasting smile, a mask he honed for years at his station, not budging to any force that might dare break it.
“And who might I ask, sent you that invitation? It’d be easier for me to imagine you dating that Arataki boy, with all those onikabuto matches you two fool around with.” Yae laughed.
Ayato hummed in response. Itto was always one to fool around and throw responsibility to the wind for fun’s sake, and having a piece of that was more than often welcome to his hectic life. However, that wasn’t the case. Not this time.
“Ah, yes. But nothing of the sort this time around. I was approached by Kano Nana just the other day, when she invited me out for dinner. With all the effort and courage she went through to ask, how could I not accept?” Ayato sighed with a smile on his face, as Yae’s expression twisted into confusion.
“How strange of her to keep this from me… How have I not heard of this until now?” Yae asked, slightly annoyed. Ayato grinned as his advantage gained more and more ground.
“Oh, Guuji Yae. You should know more than anyone that we all have our secrets and private lives, no matter how close you are to them. Besides, how else am I supposed to pass the time waiting for you to get ready when I come here? I’d find Sayu in a flash whenever she asked.” Ayato continued to bear that smug grin of his, Yae’s calm smile boring holes through his skull as she buried a storm of curses aimed at his blatant rebellion against her.
Still, she couldn’t rebut against that. She took pride in all she did, and her appearance was no exception. Despite that, she was not one to twiddle her thumbs and accept defeat. In war, one could not afford to let their guard down.
“Ara~? Had I known you went through the trouble of waiting for me, all you had to do was tell me, my dear boy. That being said, I’m afraid I can’t simply allow you to fool around with my shrine maidens, not without my approval.” Yae asserted, her smile never leaving her face. The moment she let her mask slip, she had already lost her ground, and she couldn’t afford to.
She aims for a professional standpoint. After all, she is Kano’s senior in the Grand Shrine, therefore, she claims her weight and approaches the situation from a view that leaves herself out of the equation, while also prodding at his mention of her. Any edge can reach a mile if stretched to the limit, so she makes use of any and all she can grasp.
“Why is that? If I’m not mistaken, she’s a dear friend of yours. Who are you to dictate whether she can invite me out to dinner of her own accord? All I’m doing is accepting a kind gesture. Is it unlike me to take her up on her offer as a gentleman, like I do when I visit you?” Ayato continued to press his defense, planting his feet in the ground with an unshakable stance. Surrender no quarter, not to her.
Yae pauses for a brief moment as turbulent thoughts swirl in her mind. It’s true. Kano was a close friend of hers, and if she was the one to ask him out, then she couldn’t in good honesty forbid this arrangement from happening. Even if she were happy for Kano to summon the courage to ask the Yashiro rascal out to dinner, she was irked to the core for even suggesting the notion that he’d found a way to gain a leg up on her without even approaching her directly.
“Could it be… is there another reason why you’d rather I not accept this invitation? I’m sure Kano would be disappointed to hear her friend disapproves of her decision… If that’s the case, then I’m certain she deserves an explanation, wouldn’t you say?”
Taking something that she treasured dearly. Daring to suggest she wasn’t the only reason he bothered to break from his absurd work ethic and climb every bloody step to the top of this mountain. To top it all off, he had the audacity to take advantage of Kano’s invitation to mess with her! All with a shit-eating grin on his face!
Her smile was an iron mask, yet her fluffy ears continued to twitch in annoyance at Ayato’s smug, arrogant face. A face that tormented her ceaselessly. This man was the bane of her existence, and yet…
She laughed.
From her lips, she let out a melodious, glorious laugh that shone like the sun shining above them. It was moments like this that Yae Miko could truly feel the adrenaline flowing through her veins. A spar of the tongue and of wits, and she would never lose. Especially not to this squirt of all people.
“What’s this now, Lord Kamisato? My stance on the matter has not changed. I make it a priority to keep tabs on all my girls, and I’ll have a word with Kano about the matter. However, why is it that you’ve gotten so frisky all of a sudden? After all, one could merely postpone the reservation for later to a time that works for both of us. You and I both have the ability to do so, anyway. Fufufu~”
It was finally Ayato’s turn to flinch. He spearheaded a bold offense, targeting her deeply and to places that most wouldn’t dare to tread, but hadn’t expected Yae to hold her ground so resolutely and calmly, even more so to completely buy into his own narrative. Yae’s smug grin began to show, as Ayato could only watch.
“Didn’t you say so yourself? Kano and I are dear friends. She’ll understand completely, I’m certain of it. If you have any objections on the matter, then state them. I’m all ears.” Yae laughed as her fox ears twitched for emphasis.
Ayato sighed and planted his feet. He would not lose this battle, not when he was so close. “With my schedule, I cannot simply move the reservation to another time. It’s either tonight or an entire debacle to rearrange the time frames and figure out another available slot. Things on my end are not so simple either you see, Guuji Yae.”
Yae hums in reply, but remains steadfast, a glint of her fangs shining as she smiles. “That may be, so why are you so adamant on making this complicated on the end of our lovely shrine maidens? I believed you called yourself a gentleman?”
Ayato refuses to buckle and presses his sturdy defense. “I stand by my claims, and will not recant them. However, this is not simply a matter that will concern you, but the others involved in the process. Those at the restaurant. The Yashiro Commission and the Shuumatsuban, recoiling from my time lost. You may hold a high and vital position, but surely you understand none of this can afford to fall into chaos, my lady?”
Yae laughs as pure mischief surrounds her like an aura. “If that’s the case… why not find someone else to fill in the empty slot with you so it won’t go to waste? Surely you have someone else in mind? If Kano extended an invitation and you accepted, then surely she understands your stance towards her? Furthermore, I can fill her in on the entire debacle promptly. She’ll understand.”
Ayato blinks at her aggressive approach and pauses for a brief moment. “And who might be willing to do so? Are you offering… Yae?”
Suddenly, a wrench is thrown in the balance! A prod, in the guise of a question. Asking her directly if she is the one making the offer. A roundabout confession that demands the other admit their intentions first as confirmation! Yae can confirm, but Ayato will gain validation first instead of her! Yae can suggest someone else and keep her pride, but would destroy her entire approach in the process!
The breeze billows between the pair of them as the sakura petals flow into view and over the mountain peak. The sun seems to shine even brighter through the canopy of the cherry blossoms as Yae’s eyes shine in their light.
With a sly smile rises on her face as her finger caresses her chin.
“Fufufu~ Perhaps-”
“ONII-SAMA!”
Suddenly, the pair are snapped out of their mental game as a third voice suddenly interrupts the two of them.
Huffing exhausted breaths up the stairs to Grand Narukami Shrine with a sunny, pristine expression is none other than the Shirasagi Himegi herself, Kamisato Ayaka.
Ayato’s confident mask suddenly drops as sweat drips down his forehead, leaving Yae speechless as he turns around to stammer a confused greeting to his graceful sister.
“Ah! Sister! W-what brings you here? I thought you were busy at work!” Ayato laughs amidst stammers as Ayaka smiles innocently at him.
“I’ve done it all! All the work you sent me for the day! Also, what’s this I hear about your dinner reservation? Why didn’t you say so? You can treat the two of us to a night out! It’ll be a splendid dinner as brother and sister! It’s been so long!” Ayaka laughs as Ayato’s face can only blanche, his jaw hanging open as he watches his entire scheme fall apart in front of him, unable to object or say a thing in response.
Yae is equally at a loss for words. While surprised at the sudden unfolding of events, she couldn’t help but feel a mixture of emotions. While she was so close to making such a vital decision to end this war they had waged on each other, she couldn’t help but feel both relieved and annoyed that the choice was made for her.
“Well… have a good night, you two.” Yae sighs, her mask of a dignified smile returning as she waves the two siblings goodbye.
“My thanks, Guuji Yae! Let’s go home, onii-sama! I can’t wait for tonight!” Ayaka gleams in the sun as she drags Ayato down the stairs with her, the rascal unable to utter a word in defiance against his cheerful sister.
So the battle ends today with no victor to claim supremacy.
Yae stirs at the Grand Narukami Shrine, proceeding to rant feverishly at nobody in particular to vent emotions no man would ever see.
Ayato then indulged his beloved sister that night, treating her to a lovely dinner they would both treasure, despite his disappointment at near victory.
The battle may end, but the war for love will continue on and on.
Never stopping until one claims victory!