Chapter Text
My love for you is like an ocean
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No, far too clique.
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You have left my heart churning
Have proven to me that people are not problems to be solved
I never thought I'd find myself yearning
But it seems my feelings for you have evolved
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Ayato huffed as he looked down at the paper. This was harder than his usual poetry work. Maybe because his standard work was rather artificial while this was meant to be from the heart. A heart that wasn't very good at opening up.
Itto was his only friend. Sure he had Thoma, but that was not really a friendship. It was a strange middle ground between family, coworker, and companion.
A friend implies much more equal footing. Itto is under no obligation to obey him or even interact with him.
Especially since he never asked Ayato about his career. That's part of what Ayato loved about Itto. How he only ever saw Ayato as Ayato, and never expected anything more from him. It was something that the Commissioner himself was unable to do.
He loved quite a lot about Itto.
His resilience was…astounding. The Oni was given a bad hand at birth that has yet to improve. Still, Itto would wear that dopey smile that made Ayato's face fill with blush every time they met up.
In some ways, Ayato used Itto to humble himself, as unhealthy as Ayaka tried to tell him that was. He couldn't help it. How were his struggles so troublesome when Itto faced such an absolutely horrendous childhood? And still faces similar treatment?
He was and still is beaten, disgraced, called titles Ayato wouldn't dare repeat, and discarded. The Yashiro Commission used to have a much bigger hand in that, but Ayato has tried his best to mitigate and lessen evil cleansing festivals.
Ayato's petty issues with his parents and the rival clans didn't hold a candle to Itto's Past.
Ayaka told him to not compare Trauma, that what Ayato has faced is still admirable.
Ayato didn't understand that. But, he rarely understood people emotionally when he wasn't attempting to manipulate them.
It was all fake. He knew he was truly a pretty shallow person. A sexually confusing manipulator, something he just took from Miko, or a staunch, stoic, pure commissioner, who rarely spoke with the people of his nation. Forever locked up in the estate.
Ayaka was much better suited to be the face anyways. She was better than him. And shielded from the dark side of his work.
He didn't need to be with the people.
Really.
He was fine.
Anyways, another useless side tracked train of thought.
He needed to take a walk. Clear his head.
He stood from his desk and walked off. He left the gates of the Kamisato estate and began his usually walk around the Forrest.
It was a serene place. It was where his saw his first and last snow, and where he met itto.
His daydreaming was interrupted by Itto laughing.
Oh. He was here.
Ayato turned his head. He grabbed the short poem from his pocket, a bright smile on his face from the loud cackle.
Then it fell.
Itto was with someone new. Someone ayato didn't know.
And the first thing Ayato saw was the horns and the paint.
Another Oni? A blue one?
Before Ayato had enough time to react, Itto had already saw him.
"Bro! Hey! Tak come on" Itto grabbed the other Oni's hand and dragged him towards the human on the path.
"This is Takuya, it's a long story, but he's an oni I'm helping out now!"
"Oh….Hello, Takuya"
Takuya. The Oni was scarred, and his eyes screamed damaged goods. That was seemingly the kind of being Itto was gravitated to. He had quite the effect on the broken ones.
"And this is my bro Ayato, I play games with him once and awhile" Itto put a hand on his hip as he explained with his typical brash casual energy.
Ayato felt…strange was the only word he had for it when he looked at them.
Itto always talked about how he wish he knew more Oni's. He wanted to help them, protect them, but also, he just wanted to feel less alone in a world that wasn't made for him. Ayato never blamed him for that. Everyone deserves to have someone who truely understands your struggles. He just thought…maybe he could have been that for Itto.
But of course, that was a ridiculous thought, wasn't it?
Takuya gave a wave. He clearly wasn't used to being around humans. He tugged on Itto's hand "Uh…nice to meet you? Itto, you said we have to look for the beetles before sunset" It sounded more like an excuse to not have the conversation, Especially since Oni's can see in the dark.
Itto blinked before laughing again "oh right! Sorry bro, gotta train the new guy ya know? I'll see you around though? Im kinda packed with the gang but I'm sure we can figure something out. See ya bro!"
Ayato gulped and nodded "I understand. Have fun.
Itto waved and then rushed back into the Forrest brush, the two Oni's eyes glowly faintly in the dim light of the soon setting sun.
"Hmm." Was the noise that left Ayato's throat. Another friend.
Itto had so many friends.
He was beginning to be too busy for Ayato with the addition of Shinobu and her work for the gang.
But…that's fine. He wasn't the most fun to be around anyways.
Itto would have a very boring life if all he did was hang out with Ayato, like they used to when they first met.
He put the poem back in his pocket and turned to walk back to the estate.
He shouldn't have taken a walk. He should be working.
Maybe he can give the poem to Itto another day … or maybe he shouldn't give it to Itto at all. Even if Itto felt something back, would he really be happy with Ayato? Would the life of a Commissioner ever be exciting enough for someone like Itto? Or would he just be settling?
He walked back into the walls of the estate and wiped something from his eye. Probably just some pollen from the Forrest.
He had to get back to work.