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Keiji has always lived alone, at first he lived quietly with the other members of the zodiac but too soon he realized he had to get away from them.
The dragon, a majestic creature full of powers, wise and intelligent, beautiful and frightening, harmonious and mythological, timeless.
It’s the dragon's curse, he can die, he is not immortal, but he is timeless, once he reaches adulthood he will remain so forever. When Keiji was born the previous dragon had only been dead for two days, everyone knew that a new successor would be born.
He grew up with the other members of the zodiac happy and carefree, time passed and he realized that there was something different in him, he did not age, he did not weaken, he felt more and more empowered as he saw life leave his friends.
He was the only creature of the zodiac who didn’t die, who didn’t age and this destroyed him, so he decided not to bond with anyone anymore, to remain alone and observe from afar; he thus became an almost legendary figure for the other members of the zodiac, they were almost afraid of him, over the centuries the legends had increased and different stories had been told, from the simplest story about the fact that he did not like company to the bloodiest one in which it was told that he was not allowed to get close to others because he had killed humans.
They didn't know what was true or not, what they did know is that they didn't have to get close to him.
Keiji saw five generations grow up and die, loneliness devoured him and often wondered if it was right to stay there and observe when he could end it, five hundred years is a long time, infinite if passed in solitude, sometimes he had tried to take his own life but then he thought to how his successor would have lived through his own pains and withdrew, he did not want anyone else to pay his own pains; he thus decided to become the last dragon of the zodiac.
...
Keiji was in the woods near his home when he heard some moans, curious approached keeping enough distance not to be seen.
A group of kids were in circles, presumably around something.
“We don't want you with us! Stay away!"
"You're cursed, we don't want bad luck!"
Keiji squinted at a small figure among the boys, a small ball of fur curled up and shivering, a white rabbit.
"B-but I didn't do anything wrong..." Said the rabbit trying to get closer to one of the boys, the tiger.
"Don't come near!" Said the tiger pushing the rabbit and making it overturn.
Keiji growled softly, no one heard him, what had that rabbit done that was so serious that it deserved such treatment?
When the rabbit looked up he saw in front of him the children tremble in terror, an immense shadow spread over him, when he looked up he saw him, he was immense and majestic, the green scales shone in the sunlight and the sapphire eyes sparkled as they watched the kids. The little rabbit was fascinated by that figure.
The kids ran away in terror and Keiji looked at them for a few seconds before moving his gaze to the rabbit.
"Are you okay?"
The rabbit didn't answer, he kept staring at Keiji with wide eyes.
Oh right.
Keiji resumed human form, a long tail remained visible like his horns, some green scales were on his shoulders, neck and part of his face.
"Are you okay?" said the dragon.
"You're beautiful." Those were the only words the rabbit managed to say.
Keiji would never have thought that that day would be the beginning of the end of his loneliness.
...
The little rabbit, Koutaro was his name, he explained to Keiji that everyone avoided him for his eyes, they were deep golden, they remembered the sun, everyone thought he was cursed for that color, all previous rabbits were born with red eyes, it had never happened before and Keiji could confirm, in five hundred years he had never seen a rabbit with golden eyes.
“KEIJI”
The familiar voice made the dragon turn towards the woods, he didn't take long to focus on Koutaro's figure, it seemed strange to him how ten years had already passed since that day and how that little shaking rabbit had become much taller and more muscular of him; Koutaro's ears pricked up happily as he jumped gleefully at Keiji holding him in a hug.
"I missed you Keiji!"
"Koutaro we hasn't seen each other for only three days."
"I know but there are too many!" He pouted.
Keiji smiled briefly before ushering Koutaro into the house; it had become a habit to have the rabbit around, he felt a little less alone. Winter was beginning so he knew very well that Koutaro would like a cup of hot chocolate; when he handed it to him, the rabbit's face widened into a beaming smile.
"Thanks Ji!"
Keiji smiled at him and sat up with a steaming cup of tea in his hand. These moments were pleasant.
"Hey Keiji, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure tell me."
"Why don't you get old?"
Keiji froze for a moment, placed the cup on the coffee table in front of him.
"Koutaro, don't you know the story of the dragon?" Koutaro shook his head.
"No one has ever told me anything, not that anyone talks to me besides you."
Keiji looked at the rabbit, he had lowered his ears slightly.
"You know .. The dragon is the only mythological creature in the zodiac, when he reaches adulthood he stops growing, but don't get it wrong, I'm not immortal, I can die like all of you, simply not of old age or disease."
"Oh.." He straightened his ears, his left one had the tip bent forward. "How old are you now Keiji?"
"I think I'm almost 530 years old."
"WOW YOU ARE SO OLD!"
Keiji raised an eyebrow at him and Koutaro turned completely red with embarrassment.
“No I- I didn't mean! Not old, you don't look old at all! You are as beautiful as when I met you! Ugh- Sorry- "
A slight blush spread over the dragon's cheeks, he was not at all accustomed to compliments, he swallowed and took the cup again to drink its contents.
"Don't worry, I'm not offended."
Koutaro sighed relieved, he said nothing more he just observed Keiji, he was right when he described him as beautiful, as a dragon he was majestic and as a human he was extremely fascinating, the rabbit could not take his eyes off him.
"Koutaro, you should stop visiting me, I don't have a good reputation and that doesn't help you socialize."
"Huh? I will not stop coming here! You're the most important person to me and they wouldn't talk to me anyway, remember? The curse." He smiled.
"Mmh." He would never admit it but Keiji was happy with the affection the rabbit felt for him, but he couldn't afford to get too attached to him, it would hurt to lose him.
They remained silent enjoying each other's presence.
...
When Keiji was summoned he was asked to take over the guardian job, he was supposed to protect the gates of their kingdom from evil spirits trying to enter.
It was a stormy night when he truly realized the fragility of life.
There had been an attack, Keiji was alone but he knew he could do it, he was alert and attentive to every movement of the enemy, he would not be easily attacked, he just had to keep them away until dawn.
An extraneous noise made him turn around.
"Keiji?"
“Koutaro? What are you doing here? Go away is dangerous!"
"Keiji I-"
It was a moment, one of the spirits threw himself on Koutaro wounding him, trying to absorb his vital energy; Keiji panicked, everything went black.
When he recovered the spirits had disappeared and the dawn was rising, he caught his breath and rested his gaze on the body of Koutaro lying on the ground, he was still breathing even if weakly.
"No no no no!" He rushed on him returning human and took him in his arms.
"Hey Kou wake up, don't joke!" He shook the rabbit which slowly opened his eyes.
"Ji .."
"Kou, thank goodness you're awake-" Koutaro placed a hand on Keiji's face.
"You are full of blood Ji...Are you injured?"
"You shouldn't worry about me!" Keiji growled almost in tears "Stupid I told you to go away because you're-"
"I'm sorry, I was worried, I was afraid of never seeing you again..." Koutaro groaned in pain, the wound in his abdomen was still bleeding. This time Keiji's tears came falling on Koutaro's face.
"Idiot."
The dragon made his crystal appear and brought him close to Bokuto.
"No Ji if you do..Your powers.."
"I don't care, you are more important."
Without the rabbit being able to reply, the dragon approached the crystal to Koutaro's body, merged with the rabbit, disappearing and knocking him unconscious.
...
When Koutaro woke up he was alone, there was no trace of Keiji's presence anywhere, he was only later told that the dragon had been turned away for using his powers to save a life by changing someone's fate.
Koutaro after the accident had gone to live in Keiji's old house, every day he hoped to see him again, he searched for him for twenty years without success.
He had just returned to the house when he heard an unusual noise, went to the source and saw him, Keiji was there, sitting on his old bed, heavy dark circles surrounded his magnificent blue eyes and a small smile adorned his lips.
"Ji..JI!" Koutaro ran to meet him and slammed on him holding him in a strong embrace. "You're back! You're finally here! " Keiji stroked his hair.
"I've never gone away, I've been watching you for all these years" Koutaro broke his embrace to look him in the eye.
"Why did you never show up, I looked for you so much-"
"I know, I'm sorry.." Keiji cupped the rabbit's face. "It doesn't matter anymore, I've come to say goodbye, I'm leaving Kou"
"Leaving? No! You can't leave me again! "
"Without powers my body is collapsing, I swear I wouldn't want to leave you but I can't-" He was interrupted by the sight of the gem in front of his eyes.
"I always carry this because i know you'll need it...But I think his powers are gone.."
Warm tears wet Keiji's face and Koutaro hastens to wipe them away.
"Kou...I've always wanted to die because loneliness devoured me, it's the first time I want to live but I'm not allowed anymore-"
Koutaro cupped Keiji's face and smiled at him as tears began to wet his face.
"Wherever you find yourself you'll always have me Ji." Koutaro connects his forehead with Keiji's.
"Thanks…" The dragon sighed before closing his eyes.
...
Keiji woke up and sat down, looked around confused, his breathing was irregular. He wiped his tears and felt something move beside him.
"Kaashi?" Akaashi turned to the figure and sighed in relief.
"What are you doing awake is still early..." Bokuto pulled Akaashi to himself making him lie down again in bed. "Are you okay?"
"Yes I just...It doesn't matter, it was just a dream."
"Mmh..." Bokuto replied still sleepy before placing a kiss on Akaashi's temple. "Okay Kaashi, sleep now tomorrow we have a match."
"Okay Bokuto, good night" Akaashi smiled at him before gently kissing his forehead; Bokuto had already fallen asleep again.
Akaashi thought back to the dream, it seemed so real.
You'll always have me Ji.
He did not understand the reason for that dream, but of one thing he was sure, he would always have Bokuto by his side. He hugged himself in his captain's arms, smiling and falling asleep again wrapped in the comforting warmth of Bokuto.