Chapter Text
“Ayaka,” Yoimiya began, glancing around nervously. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
Ayaka glanced at her, forcing a smile. “It needs to be done.”
“If it needs to be done,” Yoimiya said carefully, “then why are we hiding in the bushes like we’re kazuha hiding from the Raiden Shogun.”
“Because,” she said slowly, “if Thoma catches us, he’s going to use that broom to beat us.”
Yoimiya frowned. “Are we talking about the same housekeeper? The one that personally baked you a cake for your birthday, waits on you day and night, and goes to the end of the earth to make sure you’re happy.”
She shuddered, last night’s nightmare still lingering in the back of her mind. “Yes.”
The blonde shifted a little on her heels, parting the leaves of the shrub they’d hidden behind. “Well, here he comes…with the broom. Poor thing looks like it might just snap on its own. How old IS that thing?”
“I think it might be cursed with immortality,” Ayaka said seriously. “My mother used to use it to chase the beetles Ayato would bring home out of the house. I guess she passed it onto Thoma when she died.”
“Oh gosh, now I’m going to feel really bad for doing this,” Yoimiya groaned. “It probably means a lot to him!”
Ayaka shook her head vigorously. “No, you don’t understand. We NEED to get rid of it. It’s cursed, truly.”
“Alright, alright, if you say so. I’ve never seen you so upset! Wait, did something really happen with the broom? You said Thoma would beat us-”
Ayaka shushed her, peering through the gaps in the dark green leaves. Thoma was stretching as he stood calmly in the courtyard, the evil broom right beside him. They watched as he yawned, looking around.
Suddenly, four sharp bangs sliced through the sleepy morning. Thoma startled, looking up at the sky in time to spot the bright red fireworks Yoimiya had planted outside on the beach only an hour before.
As planned, Thoma rushed off to investigate, abandoning the broom. Ayaka was surprised he didn’t take it with him, considering how he’d wielded it in the dream. He was probably more formidable with it than his polearm.
Once he was gone, Yoimiya sighed, glancing warily at Ayaka. “Okay, let’s get this over with then.”
Without standing, Yoimiya laced an arrow through her bow and took aim. A split second later, she released it and Ayaka watched as the broom erupted into flickering flames.
“I’m out of here!” Yoimiya said, standing. “Be careful! If you need a place to hide, well, you know where to come!”
Ayaka murmured her thanks, but she was enthralled by the dance of the flames as they ate away at the broom. Her mother’s broom. Thoma’s broom. Fuck that broom. If she could have set it on fire herself, she would have. If she could have watched it burn a thousand more times, she would have done that, too.
She kept hidden, watching as Thoma eventually returned and let out a startled cry. He raced forward, trying to put the fire out, but it was no use. She watched as he lifted up the charred remains of the broom. It was mere ash in his hands.
She stood, approaching calmly. “Thoma, is everything alright? I thought I saw a fire.”
“Oh, Ayaka,” Thoma said mournfully, with wide eyes that were brimming with tears. “I don’t even know how this happened. I- Your mother’s broom…it’s ruined.”
She made a show of looking down at the remains, trying to force a little sadness into her face and voice, even as she wept with glee inwardly. “Oh, it’s fine, Thoma. It was just a broom.”
He sniffled, looking back down at it. “Right,” he whispered. “Just a broom.”
“You still have the duster,” she said gently.
Thoma nodded, jaw set. “I’ll just have to get a new one. Maybe…” He sniffled. “Maybe I’ll get a metal one so that it doesn’t burn as easily.”
“No!!” she shouted, grabbing him by the shoulders. He looked up, startled, the broom falling to the ground. “No,” she tried again, more gently. “I’ll…I’ll get you a new one. You shouldn’t have to pay for it.”
“Oh, thank you, my Lady!” Thoma said, patting her hands which were still clutching his shoulders. “It could never replace this one, though,” he added with a sigh.
“Oh, of course not,” she said hollowly. He was never getting a new broom, not that he needed to know that. “Come, I’ll help you clean it up. Then, you can tell me what kind of broom you’d like.”
Thoma nodded, smiling wobbly up at her. “Was Yoimiya here? I thought I saw fireworks- that’s why I left the broom out here.”
“Nope,” she said, ushering to his feet. “Come on, let’s go.”
“Ayaka-”
“Oh, look, brother’s home, let’s go have lunch.”