Chapter Text
Thoma couldn't help but think that you and Ayato were for each other. You both wore that same smirk that held a glint of 'I know something you don't' hidden beneath a mask of kindness. From the moment you got off that boat he knew you were going to cause trouble; he just didn't realize that it was possible for someone to be worse than Ayato.
For being your betrothed, the head of the Kamisato clan was surprisingly calm about the fact that you had been missing for just under a week. Your guards couldn't find you, everyone Thoma knew hadn't seen you, and even the Shuumatsuban didn't have a clue on your whereabouts. Three days in, Ayato had to spill the beans because his housekeeper was about to organize a search party to scour the entirety of Inazuma.
“Haven't you heard of hide and seek?”
“My lord?” Thoma paused in the middle of explaining his plan to find you.
“It wouldn't be fair to have someone join in the middle.” Ayato smiled down at his paperwork.
“You mean to say...” The smile turned into a chuckle and the poor Kamisato housekeeper gasped. “You know where she is?!”
“No,” the commissioner finally looked up, taking the conversation seriously. “I know she's hiding, but I don't know where.” He held up a hand to show he wasn't done speaking. “I trust that she is capable of handling herself, and that she wouldn't put herself in danger for a simple bet.”
“A bet?!” Thoma has been frustrated with Ayato's antics before, but this was further than he expected him to go.
“She told me she used to sneak out of her family house and claimed she could even outsmart all of my efforts.” Ayato sighed and gave a groan as he stood and stretched. “The bet has already been won, all that is left is to wait for her return.”
What if you didn't return, Thoma wanted to ask, but he knew better. You seemed content at the Kamisato estate, but it was impossible to forget the fact that you hadn't even known of Ayato's existence until a few months ago. The Sakoku decree had been lifted, and there had been a flood of people, culture, technology, and letters. Including one from your parents. Well-off merchants from Liyue that—without knowing anything about Inazuman politics—had sent letters to marry you off.
Ayato had invited you to visit, but after a month it had been announced that you would be staying and the wedding in a year—less than a few weeks at this point. Something had happened. Something Thoma would never be privy to, but he knew his friend, and he knew the two of you had come to some agreement. You had come off the boat with a smile, but the concern on your face was just barely concealed. Now? Now you were confident enough to travel all the way to--
“Watatsumi island?! What do you mean you went to Watatsumi island?”
“I went to Watatsumi island,” you calmly responded, “what part is confusing you?”
Not only had you escaped and stayed hidden for a week; you had visited four of the islands that made up Inazuma, and the first bit of information the Shuumatsuban reported was of you being seen drinking tea with the island's priestess. And that had been only an hour before Thoma opened your room to clean up and found you sitting there reading as though you had never left.
“I told Ayato I was going. There was no need to be worried,” you gave that smile that told the housekeeper you were playing with him, but there was nothing he could do about it. He was so shocked, that he didn't stop you when you took the sheets out of his arms to place them on your desk while you peeled the old sheets off your bed. Only when you were gently placing the laundry in his still-open arms did Thoma seem to catch up with was happening. His hands closed around the sheets, and he hugged them to his chest while sending you a pout that had you hiding a smile behind your hand.
“Why didn't you tell me?” You laughed and he pouted more. It was the same light, almost artificial laugh you gave at parties when you were trying to make other lords and ladies smile with you. He'd only heard you give a genuine laugh once through Ayaka's door, and he envied her for the level of trust you had in her.
“We both know you would have thrown a fit.”
“No!” He tried to argue, but you laughed again, this one so close to being real, he could almost hear it.
“You're right,” you agreed with a nod and innocent smile. “Of course, you would simply attempt to follow me.” Poor Thoma wanted to argue, but he knew from experience that anything he said would only make things worse. Feeling—only slightly—bad for teasing him, you traded the smirk for a smile very few got to see. “I would have invited you, but then I wouldn't have wanted to come back.”
Why did you have to say that. He knew you were only playing with him, but when you made him seem like the most important person in your life it was impossible to keep himself from wishing he was. Obviously, Ayato held your heart; all of Inazuma could see how close the two of you were whether it was at a festival or on the streets of the city. Thoma just trailed behind you. Maybe if he was lucky, you would grace him with a secret little smile meant only for him when you caught his eye. The problem was that his eyes never strayed from you, but your gaze rarely landed on him.
“I should go wash these. I'm glad you're back my lady,” he sent you a winning smile, his eyes closed so he couldn't see the fraction of a second where your smile dropped at his formality. Quickly, you schooled your expression back into the fake smile you had practiced all your life before he could notice your disappointment.
As he started down the hall, you called after him. “Thank you Thoma!”
It felt wrong to string him along like you had, but at the same time, your words had been true. If Thoma had come with you to Watatsumi, you gladly would have followed him anywhere, whether that would be staying on the island, or coming back to the Kamisato estate. Ayato trusted his retainer, and you wished you could do the same, but you were still hesitant to spill secrets. At home, you had quickly learned that trusting others was the easiest path to failure; both your lessons and personal experience taught you that. The secret you wanted to share would get you far more than a slap on the wrist if it got out, however.
Ayato had a lover. And she was not you. He had made you aware of this before he invited you to Inazuma, and had been clear that you would not be welcome if you were only going to make a mess of his relationship. You met her very early on, and had done your best to befriend her, and though she had been resistant to your efforts, she had eventually grown to like you. So you, Ayato, and his real love, Miyuki, came to an agreement.
You and Ayato would get married, and as far as the rest of Inazuma was concerned, that would be that. At least for some time, his relationship with Miyuki would remain secret, that way your parents would be satisfied that you were out of the house, and Ayato wouldn't have to deal with the others in the Yashiro commission not approving of his wife. For all intents and purposes, you were the ideal partner for the job; polite, well bred, and you had several years of experience dealing with nobles from varying countries, which would no doubt help with relations as Inazuma opened up further.
Having seen the devious grin on your and Ayato's face, she wanted no part in the finer details of how you two would pull off the act, but so far it had been working. You both worked so well together that several diplomats had skipped right over 'betrothed' and begun calling you both husband and wife well before the wedding. Besides the three of you, only Ayaka and the head of the Shuumatsuban were aware of the lie. Your parents were thrilled, sending your things over the next day, almost as if they had been packing since you left. Getting away from them and living a rather luxurious life was more than you could have asked for. There was nothing for you to complain about. Rationally, this was the best possible outcome. So why were you crying in the safety of your room?