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Rascal.
Typically, that was a name you give an unruly child.
In fairness, that was when the nickname began.
Ayato had known Guiji Yae in some degree his entire life. He had to, given the strong ties the two organizations held.
When his father passed, and he had received his vision,he wrote a plan that night.
He had to make powerful allies. No matter the cost.
Guiji Yae was one of them, one of the most influential. For better or worse.
To anyone who knew the two, the similarities were obvious. Yet, the Kitsune detested him.
Ayato would always claim not to know the reason. Play on his own believable naivety.
In truth, he suspected she didn't like he became a reflection of her she could no longer manipulate.
He was close to the same level as her, and Ayato could only assume that made her annoyed. She rather enjoyed preying on those who can't defend themselves against her.
He could. He would talk the talk and walk the walk.
This has slowly morphed their, in his mind, exploitative relationship, into an unwilling but necessary partnership.
He had use to her. That was the only reason he had survived with many of his partnerships. He was well aware of that.
Mutually assured destruction would be how he thinks of his other relationships. Both have enough to lose where they play civil.
Yae was the only exception, while Ayato knew more about her than more others, the information was not anything that would destroy her.
That wasn't a problem, until she wanted something from him.
When Ayato heard her speaking to a frazzled Thoma at the gateway to the estate, he knew it wasn't going to be good.
She rarely left the mountain unless she was doing work for the publishing house or visiting the Shogun. She had never been to the estate before. At least, not in Ayato's lifetime.
He was leaning over the railing, looking over Inazuma City, when he sighed and walked to stand beside Thoma.
The pink haired woman smirked at him "Commissioner. Just the man in here to see, though I do love our chats, maid"
Ah, that characteristic superiority complex. How charming.
He forced a small smile and bowed "Guiji Yae, what a pleasant surprise-"
"Enough with the formalities Ayato, let's chat"
She grabbed his arm, petting it as you would a snippy lap dog, and pulled him back to the railing.
Ayato tensed. He wasn't great with touch. She of course knew that.
He separated himself from her and leaned on the railing again, watching the storm clouds beginning to brew.
"What is the topic of this impromptu meeting then? You know I have a rather packed schedule." He tapped the metal.
She chuckled as he leaned her back against the bar and crossed her arms "What am I interrupting?"
"Just paperwork."
"Mhmm. You do paperwork in your training clothes now?" Her eyes looked over the casual but clean blue yukata. Not the commissioner outfit for a meeting, yet not his house clothes.
"Thoma is attending to my laundry today" Ayato was quick with his response.
Miko smirked "You are quite a good liar you know. I'm glad you haven't completely abandoned my lessons."
The Commissioner tensed with a roll of his eyes "If you are so confident I'm lying then feel free to tell me what I was going to do"
"Well, go off to see that street Oni, of course."
Ayato's eyes finally turned to meet hers. He tried to act confused, a chuckle leaving his lips, "Who?"
She laughed in his face "My my, what a cold response from someone he thinks of as a close friend."
Ayato readjusted his jaw as he looked up and laughed back. He ran his fingers through his bangs as he spoke "fine. Don't understand what the matter has to do with you."
She touched his arm again, causing him to take a step back away from her. She pouted, "I just came here to tell you he won't be able to attend."
Ayato's forced sly smile dropped in an instant. A decades worth of carefully sculpted composure fell off his face and to the kitsune, he resembled the same scared child she helped at a price.
"Oh dear, don't stress too much, don't want your heart to give out like your father's, hmm?"
Another low blow, but Ayato could hardly care. He straightened to gain some height on her "What did you do?"
She held up a finger "I didn't do anything without his permission. You see, I was having a rather nice meal when he came up to me and insisted that the chair I was in belonged to him. I stood my ground, of course. He wanted to challenge me for it. I agreed"
Ayato's mouth started to hang open as his eyes narrowed in possible outcomes of such an encounter. He thought of the man's beaten from the Tengu General and thought the worse "Mi-Guiji Yae, I will only ask once more. What did you do to him?"
Miko clearly relished in his panic. "I've missed this" she mumbled to herself and then started to walk in a circle around him "I didn't fight him, if that's your worry. I wouldn't want Oni blood ruining my robes. We decided on an eating contest. One he in fact won. 32 bowls of the finest Kitsune ramen"
Ayato watched her stalk around him like a hawk, his eyes only flicking to the ground at final words. Tofu. As much as he loved itto dearly, he was beyond frustrated with how his determination got used. It wasn't his fault. At least, not entirely.
She took his silence as a que to continue. "When he was on the ground, he kept asking for help. Saying he had to get to his 'bro'" she let out a venomous laugh "could you even imagine my surprise when your name muttered from his lips?" She tapped her paper fan against his lips with a patronizing wink.
Ayato had very good patience. He could sit through meetings of people screaming at each other and still remain composed. But now, one of the very few people in his life that he cared about was in potential danger.
His weakness.
His hand flew up and grabbed his wrist, yanking the fan away and glaring down at her.
She looked at his hand on his wrist and then back up "Oh, touching a nerve again? I was just here to let you know. Though, it's good to know my theory about your relationship is correct"
Ayato's face was still, as a soft chime of water played in his mind to keep himself from yelling at her about how she had no right to poison the love of his life. Instead, he took a professional tone, "you will never go near him again."
She shook her head "you really think you have that authority? I have some very juicy information. I can see it now. That's life magazine with you on the cover, the perfect Commissioner in love with some evil oni-"
"His name is itto and you would do well to use that name in your article." He let go of her wrist, pushing her back.
She rubbed the red skin there and shook her head "again, you have no power here. Now, onto what you can do to earn my silence-"
"No."
She narrowed her eyes, genuinely thrown off her game, "no?"
"Go and publish your article, In fact if your illustrator needs reference I would gladly pose." He walked forward towards her, leaning to the fox familiar taking her own step back. "I do not mind when you toy with me. My worth is my usefulness. I accepted that a long time ago. But I will not allow you to harm innocent civilians because of your own views. If I must be in the public spotlight in order to bring to light your hypocrisy, I will do so gladly." He then closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he spoke the last words with his own cold venom "I am not the same child you took under your wing with claims of compassion. You can't fool me. Now, You are going to leave. And you are never going to harm him again, or I promise you, I will find ways to bring you down."
Miko was quiet, meeting the others' eyes when he raised his hand. She then swiftly started walking.
Ayato spun on his heel to watch her go. Silence was something he had never seen from her. The only quiet moments he had witnessed was when he asked too many questions about the Shogun when he was young.
Without another word, she was gone.
He didn't allow himself to be confused. He rushed to Thoma and told him he was going to the doctors. He grabbed his wallet to pay for Itto's bills and headed out. Thoma didn't ask any questions, he knew when Ayato was not in the mood to talk.
Ayato walked into the doctors and saw Itto half dead on a cot. He rushed to his side and held his hand with both of his.
"Sorry I…I missed the game…" Itto slurred, his voice quiet and weak.
Ayato shook his head and kissed his forehead with a genuine smile "Oh dear, don't worry about that. I'm here now"
Itto nodded and smirked "I won…you should have been there…" he eyes closed and the smile slowly fell as loud snoring replaced his blissful voice.
Ayato stood when the doctor approached. The man narrowed his eyes but didn't ask why the commissioner was doing here. If he got curious Ayato knew he could simply pay him off.
Ayato pulled out his wallet "Thank you for helping him, how much does he owe you, I will cover it and any other future expenses"
The doctor smirked "No need. It's already paid off."
Ayato was confused, Itto would never have enough money to pay for this. "Oh?"
"Yes, the Guiji Yae is generously allowing the publishing house to pay for his expenses, you just missed her."
Meanwhile, a certain Kitsune was already climbing the stairs back up to her home at the shrine, her eyes hanging on the Tenshukaku as she breathed a soft, sad sigh she would only let out alone.