Chapter Text
Kamisato Ayato was one of the busiest people in all of Inazuma. Meetings to attend. Festivals to plan. Paperwork to Sign.
Someone in his position knows very little about free time. Any semblance of a personal life was quite rare indeed, and something he had to schedule well in advance.
So it was quite preposterous how he found himself in Liyue.
He got an invitation. Not from the Tianquan, or even from some affluent merchant.
But from the 'Esteemed Arataki Gang'.
Ayato knew Itto fairly well. They had a…complicated relationship. Itto had no idea how important he was, and Ayato used him as a way to escape that importance. Itto would call them friends, or more likely 'bros". Ayato would call them a symbiotic relationship. Not foreign enough to still be passing acquaintances, but nowhere near the trust necessary for Ayato to consider him a companion.
Itto was Ayato's guilty pleasure. He would schedule times to go into Hanamizaka in commoner clothing with a hood. There he would greet the Oni and do whatever Itto wished that day, beetle fights, card games, slightly too competitive wrestling matches. He even jumped off a waterfall once. All things he wouldn't be caught dead doing anywhere else with anyone else. Itto was the exception to all Inazuma's rules. It was also fairly easy to slip away if they did catch attention, since the guards usually had their sole focus on him.
In the romantic realm is was more complicated. They weren't dating, and never would, Ayato had already made that clear. However; there were occasions we're their wrestling matches…escalated. Or their drinking contests lead them to waking up on the grass half clothed the next day. Or in Ayato's more sympathetic moments, Itto holding his hand as they walked the trails.
Some(mainly Itto's deputy, Kuki Shinobu) would argue Ayato should feel bad. Say that the Commissioner was simply using Itto like some chew toy. Ayato would argue their relationship was a mutual one.
It's an entanglement that led him to receive this invitation from a rather perplexed Thoma.
Hey Ayato!
Hope you are doing good bro!! Listen, Shinobu is graduating in Liyue soon and I am planning the biggest and best festival you have ever seen!!!!! I know you are busy, but you said you liked festivals and thought maybe you'd want some new scenery.
So the Arataki Gang formally invites you to jam out with us! but if you're busy, no biggie.
Hope you see you there, you would make it even more awesome,
Arataki "Numero Ono" Itto
Leader of the Arataki Gang
Ayato should have just brushed off such an absurd offer.
And yet, here he was, walking the streets of Liyue Harbor. He managed to find the rundown inn out of the city walls Itto's letter directed him to. There he found the usual suspects loafing around the main entryway; Genta, Mamoru, and Akira.
Akira saw him walking in and whistled as he stood, "Ayato! You actually showed up!"
Ayato smirked and nodded his head, "Indeed, glad to see you all." He wasn't in his usual disguise, electing to wear his formal outfit just in case he did happen to run into anyone of importance.
These three members also had no idea who he was beyond 'Itto's Guy'. The only member that did know his true identity was Shinobu. Luckily for him, she has so far stuck to her word and not said anything.
Mamoru walked over to the nobleman "You ready to get your drum on bro?! It's gonna be insane, we even managed to get this chick to play for us, does something called rock and roll? Genta what was her name again?"
"Xinyan I think, but don't hold it against me if I'm wrong." The third member called out from his comfortable chair.
Ayato nodded politely, his smirk turning into a fake smile "That all sounds excellent, say, where is Itto?"
The three looked at eachother and shrugged.
Ayato narrowed his eyes "You all have no idea where he is?"
Akira spoke up, "Have you ever actually tired to keep tabs on him? He will disappear right in front of ya. Last thing he told us was he was doing something in the mountains with Shinobu."
The mountains of Liyue? The land of the fearsome adepti? That oni shouldn't be in such a place. Ayato doubted he understood the danger.
"Ah. I think I will try my best to locate them then. Thank you all, see you later" Ayato turned on his heel and flew open the doors to quickly get back out into the streets.
There were benefits to being in a city where no one knows you. He could get away with a lot more. He started asking around town. He wasn't desperate. Of course not. Why would he care so such about some Oni? He just wanted to ensure a citizen of inazuma's safety. That's all.
Obviously Itto's presence caused a bit of stir, and he was able to hear bits and pieces through asking the locals.
After asking a gaurd in the central food area, he heard a deep voice call out behind him.
"A large man with horns hailing from Inazuma, you say?"
Ayato turned to see an older gentleman seated at a large restaurant in the center of the plaza. The man wore deep browns, and his eyes were a stunning orange and gold.
Ayato's tone shifted back into his formal presentation. He bowed and nodded "Yes. He's a travel companion of mine. He left with another one of my friends and I haven't heard of where he was headed."
The man's eyes were like weathered Down rock, layers of stories suspended within. He nodded and gestured to the seat across from him, "I believe I know who you are looking for."
Ayato quickly sat down, his face wearing his trademarked small smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I appreciate your assistance, Mr..?"
"Zhongli." The man poured the commissioner a cup of tea.
Ayato took it graciously, "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Zhongli. I am" he thought for a moment "You may call me simply Ayato."
Zhongli smirked down at his glass, not even hiding the fact he knew Ayato was acting. "I saw this man and this woman you were looking for on my walk. They were having a rather heated discussion with a few members of the Millelith"
Ayato's face fell into annoyance. Again? Itto really just can't stay away from the law' can he? "Ah. Was he arrested?"
Zhongli shook his head "No, a legal consultant came by and gave those Millelith a comprehensive breakdown of the laws regarding foreigners and they let him go."
Ayato sighed in relief, he had a feeling Liyue's prisons would have had a much higher price tag to get him out. "Great news. Did you see where they went to after?"
Zhongli hummed, his eyes meeting Ayato's again and something about the stare made Ayato's hair on the back of his neck stand up. "They followed the Consultant to the west. That man was rather insistent that he had a debt to repay."
Ayato narrowed his eyes, "West as in Sumeru?"
"I didn't follow them, but if I had to guess, I would say just before"
Ayato's face dropped for a moment, a glimpse of genuine panic before the mask went right back up to professional, "The Chasm, isn't it called?"
Zhongli crossed his arms, "Indeed, if you really are trying to catch up to them. I would start now. That place may be open to an extent, but it is a dangerous place for even the most experienced of miners."
Ayato gulped and got back to his feet "Thank you. I very much appreciate the help, Mr. Zhongli" he set the teacup down and turned to leave
"One more thing, Commissioner Kamisato."
Ayato froze in place, his head slowly turning to meet the puzzling man's eyes,
"Liyue is the land of Gods and monsters, and magic runs rampant. Keep your wits about you."