Work Text:
Io was 6 when Ryuu first showed up.
The boy had calmly been playing by himself in what he considered a proper distance from the rest of his schoolmates, but apparently had not been distant enough, as a particularly dislikable group of boys neared him with cruel smirks on their faces.
“I told you he had purple eyes!” Io winced at the harshness of their tone.
“His face is so girlie too!” Another one snickered. Io's lip trembled as he fought the tears that were pricking at his eyes.
“S-stop it!” He yelled, standing up from where he had been playing alone. “Go away!”
“No, you go away! Pretty boy.” The head of the group sneered, pushing the small boy and making him almost fall back. Fearful, he began to run, tears definitely falling now. He could hear their laughs as he ran away, looking for a distant corner to hide in.
Why are people so cruel?
He leaned against a wall and slid to the ground, wrapping his arms around his legs and burring his face against his knees.
Io always tried so hard not to bother the other kids: He stayed away from them, stayed alone, too afraid to even near the other children who he sometimes thought would’ve probably not minded his company. His fear made it hard to near anyone in general. He didn’t trust people; people betrayed.
The boy sobbed against the soft fabric of his pants. If only he could find a person who wouldn’t judge him for his looks, who would play with him and be with him and wouldn’t ever hurt him… That thought drifted away as soon as it came, leaving him buried in the remaining sadness.
“Why are you crying?”
Startled, Io looked up towards the source of the unfamiliar voice. His eyes immediately were caught by a pair of soft brown ones that reminded him of hot chocolate in winter.
Io blinked in surprise before leaning back a bit and fully taking in the boy before him. He had soft pink hair that reached to his shoulders. Despite this, he wore a fiery expression that made him a tad intimidating, but strangely alluring too. His hands were on his hips and he seemed to be waiting for a response from Io.
“I-I… the other boys… they make fun of me because I look like a girl.”
Ryuu watched him for a second before shrugging.
“So what?" Io’s eyes widened at his words. Ryuu gave him a confident grin. “All that means is you’re pretty! Who cares what those boys think?”
Io blushed lightly before looking down.
“I…”
“What about me?”
Io blinked.
“What?”
“I look girlie too! What do you think of me?” The blush on his face increased tenfold.
“You’re pretty…” That seemed to surprise Ryuu. He blushed as well and his posture relaxed slightly, releasing a little giggle.
“Of course!” He answered easily, sitting down next to Io with a bright smile. “That’s what I think of you too! So cheer up and let’s go do something fun!” Io whipped the tears off his eyes and nodded with a smile. They got up and ran back to the playground, practically running into the group of mean boys.
“I thought we told you to leave!” One of them said with a hint of surprise, since usually Io would stay away after talking him down.
Ryuu stood behind the boy and gave Io a thumbs up, which filled him with courage.
“I don’t care!” He said confidently, shocking the boys around him. He stepped around them with a laugh and followed Ryuu to a large climbing game made of rope. They spent the rest of the day playing together, mindless of the rest of the world.
That was also the day Io went from ‘pretty boy’ to ‘weird kid who talks to himself’.
Io didn’t think it strange when Ryuu went home with him; it seemed natural, right. He didn’t notice the way the car seat didn’t sink under his weight, or even before, when they had been crawling over ropes, how they didn’t move when he moved.
"Seriously, though! That bird was scary! It was so fat!" Ryuu said defensively, Io laughing at the comment. His mother, who was driving, moved her mirror to look at her son.
“What’s so funny, dear?” The boy looked up and smiled.
“It’s Ryuu! He’s so funny!” Ms. Naruko frowned as she looked at the lone reflection of her son, no one sitting at his side.
“I don’t remember there being a Ryuu in your classroom.”
“He’s right here, mama!” The woman froze for a second before sighing as understanding flooded her. A soft smile formed on her lips.
“Is that so.” Ryuu watched her with concern for a moment before looking back at Io. “Is he nice?” Io nodded happily, making Ryuu smile again. “Then that’s good.”
“He’s my friend.” Io said shyly but happily. Ms. Naruko blinked, realizing it was the first time she had heard this about anyone. It saddened her to think that her son had no friends and therefore his mind had had to compensate. Ryuu, on the other hand, brightened greatly.
“And don’t you ever doubt that!” He joked. Io brightened too.
Once home, the two boys got out of the car and ran into the house. Io wanted to go upstairs and play, but his mother forced him to stay and have lunch. Both boys took a seat, chatting animatedly. The door to the house was heard as it was being opened. Ms. Naruko quickly left the kitchen to alert her husband of Io’s newly acquired companion. Io’s father nodded in resignation, saying it was normal for kids and that it would wear off.
“Hello, son.” He greeted casually. Io smiled and said hi from his chair. He was about to finish his conversation with Ryuu, when he realized his father was nearing the chair the boy was on.
“Wait!” He called out, freezing the man’s hand as he reached for the chair. “Ryuu is sitting there!” His father stuttered for a moment before clearing his throat.
“Oh, really?” The pink haired boy blushed before looking away.
“It’s ok, Io, I’ll sit somewhere else.” He murmured, standing and moving away. Io opened his mouth to argue, but his father spoke.
“Can you ask him to sit somewhere else, please.”
“He already did.” Io muttered, crossing his arms. His father moved the chair freely now and sat down. Io scowled at how unaffected he seemed.
“That wasn’t polite, dad!” His mother had entered the room with their food and had heard what had happened. Smiling at Io’s manners, she nodded.
“You’re right, love. What if we set a chair for him here?” She placed one next to Io. “Would you like that?” Ryuu nodded excitedly, and Io brightened.
“Ok!” So Ryuu took his seat next to Io, crossing his legs and leaning forward happily as he waited for his friend to finish his lunch. Io didn’t think it was weird that Ryuu did not eat. In his room, Io showed Ryuu all of his favorite toys and they played pretend till bedtime.
“What about Ryuu?” Io insisted when his mother came to tell him to sleep. “Can you get him a futon?” The woman thought that would be too much.
“You wouldn’t mind sharing the bed, would you?” Both boys brightened at the thought. They fell asleep facing each other, the blanket covering Ryuu but not touching him. In that moment, Io almost forgot what it was to feel lonely.
In the following days, Io realized no one else could see Ryuu, but to him it seemed more a fault on everyone else’s part than on the pink haired’s.
Although it was hard for Io to trust other people, Ryuu was different. Ryuu was warm and completely genuine: someone who would never betray him. He was everything Io could've ever asked for in a person (literally).
At his school, there were also a few kids who had ‘friends’ of their own, and who Ryuu could see but he decided not to mention to Io. As Io grew, so did Ryuu. At age 7, Ryuu was one of the only two that were left.
The pink haired couldn’t help the heaviness that would flood him at that thought.Those other kids didn’t seem to remember their old friends at all. He didn’t want to lose Io.
It was during a test, where Ryuu had decided to let Io focus in peace, that Ryuu finally neared that other person who was like himself. He bit his lip as he neared him, unsure of what to say. The boy watched him with little interest.
“H-hey…” Ryuu finally said with a weak wave. The boy stayed quiet, staring at the door of the room they had both left. “U-um, I-“
“I know what you want.” He murmured. Ryuu jumped in surprise, considering not even he really knew what he wanted. “You want to know what happened to the others.”
Ryuu hesitated before nodding quietly.
The boy sighed, finally facing him.
“They’ve disappeared.”
“What do you mean?” The boy leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms.
“Since you’re Naruko’s, and he's number one in the class, I’m sure you can’t be a complete idiot.” Ryuu was about to argue, when the other looked him right in the eye. “You remember when you came into existence?”
“Io was sad…” He muttered.
“Yes, he needed you. Wanted you. We are born from these feelings, but as they fade, so do we.” Ryuu was hurt by this. Of course Io would always want him! They were friends, best friends, right? "I wont ask what happened, since it's none of my business, but I'm thinking it's probably an interesting story considering how pink you are." Ryuu blushed lightly, but then an echo of the first words Io ever said to him crossed his mind.
they make fun of me because I look like a girl...
He needed me to look like this... Ryuu mused in a daze.
“My kid is forgetting me…” The boy suddenly said, snapping Ryuu out of his thoughts. His heart sinked, and he slowly sat next to the other.
“How do you know?”
“They stop talking to you. It’s like you’re transparent: A moment you are there but the next they’re thinking about something else, busy with something else.” He sighed, sitting up. “It’s ok, thought. It means he’s growing. It had to happen at some point.”
“…It does?” Ryuu asked sadly, letting his forehead fall against his knees. The boy watched him.
“Don’t you love him?”
This sent a shock through his system, making him sit up with wide eyes.
“Of course I do!” It hit him how true those words were. Tears pricked at the corner of his eyes.“T-that’s why I don’t want him to forget me!”
“That’s why you should be happy if he forgets you.” The boy stated. “It’s what’s best for him. You want that, don’t you?” Io’s face crossed Ryuu’s mind, and the boy nodded tearfully.
I just want him to be happy.
For the rest of that day, Ryuu was uncharacteristically quiet.
“What’s wrong?” Io asked with concern. To him, Ryuu was so much like a synonym of happiness and energy that seeing him saddened genuinely frightened him.
“W-what?” Ryuu stuttered, surprised at being caught. He had really tried to pretend everything was ok. “What are you talking about! Come on, weren’t we going to watch that movie!?”
Ryuu forced the subject away, and Io’s childish mind was allowed to be reared. As the boy laughed at something that happened on the screen, Ryuu watched him with a fond smile.
“Io…”
“Hm?”
“I love you.”
“Me too.” He answered as if it was the most casual thing in the world. And from that day on, it was. They’d say it to each other before they went to sleep, when either of them was sad, and even while they played.
“I’ll save you!” Io called out as he punched a giant teddy bear, sending it flying against the wall.
“My hero!” Ryuu cheered. “I knew you'd save me!"
"Of course I would! I always will!" He answered with conviction. "I love you!"
As time went by, Ryuu never told Io of his fears, but something of them must have clung to Io because he began to dream of it. He would see Ryuu smiling at him, and then suddenly fade. Io would always call out and stretch his hand for him, but he was always out of reach.
Io woke up with a start, his eyes immediately taking in Ryuu’s sleeping form at his side with infinite relief. He watched the boy as he slept, and knew that there was absolutely no way that he was not real: they lived simply in different realities.
For a moment he intently listened to Ryuu’s slow and steady breaths, and was filled with a sudden determination.
I’ll find a way. He swore to him silently. I’ll make you part of this world.
As he closed his eyes, he thought about how he would hire the best scientist in the world to figure it all out.
But it’ll be expensive…
After that day, Io became obsessed with money. Ryuu didn't think much of it because it was kind of fun. Every day, Io would come up with a new business or some new plan to create profits.
"Today we're opening a lemonade stand outside the park!" Io would declare with determination, to which Ryuu would cheer. Together, they would search for cardboard boxes around the neighborhood and ask around in certain restaurants, and use them to make an improv stan in which they would sell hastily made lemonade
"That's too little sugar, Io!" Ryuu observed.
"There's not that much left, and if we run out I don't want mom to say we have to pay for it!" He went into deep thought for a moment, and Ryuu watched in childish awe, thinking he could almost see the engrains moving in his brain. He snapped his fingers. "I know! Let's add more ice! That way people will buy it for the coolness and not for the drink itself."
"That's our Io."
Although none of these little projects was particularly successful. No one would near the stan, and Io then had to fight his unconsciously remaining fear of people, having to near them and try to sell his product. Every time he felt nervous or scared, he would look at Ryuu and think of his goal, and that would give him a burst of courage which slowly molded into confidence.
A year went on this way: Io and Ryuu (better said, Io with Ryuu's company and occasional advise) walked dogs, made bracelets and accessories out of plants and sticks (Ryuu thought he looked particularly good with a flower crown, and Io couldn't help agree), asked around for bottles to recycle, looked for missing animals, sold Io's lunch packed from home (Ryuu got angry the only time Io did this and made him promise not to do it again), made pet rocks, looked for precious rocks in their backyard and in the school playground, tried opening an art gallery in a park,
It was not until Io was 8 that his father called him out on his activities.
"Son, the only true way of making money is through investments."
"Investments?" The boy blinked in surprise, perking up with interest.
"It's all very complicated, and it'll take a while for me to let you do anything with actual money, but if you're serious about learning..."
"I am!" His eyes shone with determination as he clenched his fists.
For Ryuu, I'll do anything!
The person in question was slightly worried about this new development. Ryuu didn't mention anything, seeing Io so excited, before going to sleep, at the prospect of learning something that would give him more money. The next day, Ryuu awoke to an empty bed. Confused, he made his way to the kitchen and found Io talking to his father and looking together at a computer screen. Io didn’t even notice him as he neared him, and Ryuu felt a pang of pain.
“W-what are you doing?” He asked, once his father left for a glass of water.
“I’m learning about stocks.” Io said without looking away from his screen.
“O-oh…” Ryuu didn't even ask what that was. He thought he had heard of them before but was suddenly not in the mood to learn more. He stood there for a moment simply watching his friend, his Io, the single person he lived for. As he looked at Io's intense face of concentration and interest, he couldn't help give a sad and defeated smile as he felt he was finally looking at what would take his best friend away from him.
Feeling terribly numb, Ryuu was about to go back to Io's room and maybe go back to sleep (definitely not cry himself to sleep, nope) when the green haired boy suddenly looked at him.
"Why are you standing there?" He nudged Ryuu's usual chair next to him with a soft smirk. "Tell me about your dream from last night. You were talking and being really noisy." Ryuu scowled with a blush.
"I was not!"
Io chuckled as he looked back at his laptop. Ryuu couldn't help laugh as well as a fervent wave of relief washed over him, forming a knot in his throat. He took the few steps necessary to reach Io's side.
After a dramatic story of romance and courage at which Io rolled his eyes many times, they fell into a companionate silence as Ryuu watched Io work.
"Io?"
"Hm?"
"I love you." Ryuu murmured happily, leaning his head against his hugged knees.
"And I you."
As Io grew up, he never denied the existence of Ryuu to his parents. He never pretended to not see him, but he did try to have Ryuu do most of the talking in their presence for the sake of curtesy.
"Have I ever told you what Ryuu looks like?" Io asked out of nowhere one lazy weekend when they were all just sitting together at the living room. Ryuu blinked in surprise at the idea, and tilted his head in curiosity to see how the naruko's would react (he guiltily sometimes thought of them as mom and dad).
It was immediately evident that the question made the adults slightly uncomfortable, but they humored their child nonetheless (be it out of resignation or maybe even a tad of curiosity).
"No, I don't suppose so." Io's father muttered with a slightly raised eyebrow.
"What does he look like, dear?" Ms. Naruko asked gently. Io look up instead of looking at Ryuu for some reason, which made the boy raise an eyebrow as well. A fond smile formed on Io's face.
"He has pretty pink hair that doesn't grow for some reason, but it's ok because it's perfect. His eyes are brown and really nice to look at, cause they're really warm and bright. And his smile is really contagious, and it makes it hard to stay mad at him even though he can be a little hot headed." Ryuu couldn't even bring himself to disagree with that statement since he was too busy blushing. Io's eyes were closed now, and you could tell that images of Ryuu were all he was seeing. "It's also really hard to stay sad because of that. I just really like his smile."
There was a lasting silence following this, as Ryuu looked away blushing terribly and with his heart beating tenfold the usual speed, and as Io's parents stared at the boy in shock for a moment before staring at each other in shock.
After a moment, Io opened his eyes and went back to his laptop without minding any of the people in the room. Ryuu would've tackled him to the ground in frustration and in a ridiculously huge need to get that calm and collected look off his face.
This, of course, if he could touch Io.
The silence continued for a long time, before Mr. Naruko's voice broke it with a slight stutter.
"S-so pink hair, huh?"
For starting from such a young age, Io became an expert at stock investment and exchange. By age 13 he managed pretty much all of his family's stocks and was allowed to have some for himself and keep his earning in a personal account. It would be no exaggeration to say that he was a teenager with a small fortune.
But it was not enough, Io was convinced.
"You haven't even used any of your savings." Ryuu finally said one day, unable to ignore that fact which had been bothering him for years. When he was little he liked to picture his friend as one of those powerful awesome dragons that like to pile up treasure and gold and would just sink their big scale covered bodies in it in pure bliss. It seemed such an awe worthy image at the time, but now it was one of greed and selfishness- both qualities that he refused to assimilate to his best friend. "Why do you get so worked up about money?"
It seemed kind of ridiculous for him to ask this, since this had been a characteristic of Io's for many years now and it was something Ryuu was used to and was even fond of, questioning it was like asking why the sky why blue. But at the same time, it felt like something so basic that the fact that he didn't know it also bothered him greatly.
Io stopped what he was doing and looked at Ryuu for a second in slight shock. Io thought of telling him; his crazy dream, his far fetched ambition, which somehow didn't feel far fetched at all for him but as something that needed to and would be done. He would make sure of it.
Ryuu... He thought as he watched the boy who watched him back blankly. He forced his train of thought to a halt and instead looked back at his computer screen.
"It's necessary to be prepared for whatever could happen in the future." Ryuu blinked at this, looking more lost than ever.
"So... you're saving up because you're paranoid there'll be an apocalypse or something?"
"Or something, yes."
"You're so weird." Io smirked at this without looking away from his laptop.
"Too bad, you still love me."
Ryuu rolled his eyes before giving a defeated sigh.
"Well at least this way I'll never be scared of you ending up as a hobo in the streets or without pension in old age." And Ryuu did not question it again, not noticing those lingering looks Io gave him for the rest of the day.
Ryuu... The boy couldn't help thinking that night once again as the pink haired went to sleep and there was no one to distract Io from his thoughts. He laid facing Ryuu, feeling so close to him yet so far. I want to touch you... hold you... kiss you...
Io's face blushed violently and he turned around, burring his face slightly against the pillow.
Kiss you?! He slowly lifted it and looked over his shoulder with hesitation. Ryuu gave a little snore, and Io couldn't help chuckle softly as he unconsciously started turning back around. Yeah... He thought, his heart settling down into a more peaceful yet potent beating. After all, I love you... more than anyone... Io fell asleep with a soft smile on his face.
At 16 he started to research, really research, possible candidates. Who were the top scientists in every field, which fields were relevant to the problem at hand, but how to know which field were and weren't relevant with such an unscientific problem!
Io hissed as he clutched at his hair in frustration for a second. Ryuu immediately caught sight of him worriedly.
"Did you fail an FX transaction? I'm sorry, we should go to that amusement park tonight to get your mind off things." The pink head offered. Io felt a tug of longing at the idea of spending a fun night with his best friend, but this had just made him realize all the work he truly had ahead of him.
"I don't think so, I really have to focus on this." Io said with slight regret. Ryuu tilted his head.
"Aw, really? It'll only be here today and tomorrow, though! And tomorrow is the family dinner so we've only got today!"
Io sighed with a smile at Ryuu's puppy dog expression.
"Fine, I'll just work extra hard the rest of the day till then."
"Yay!"
So Io went back to his work. He was doing quite well on his money honestly, very well. He would surely be able to hire very good scientists... but not all of them, not yet. And there was also the problem of convincing them to actually want to work on this...
The money will do the convincing. Io thought with certainty. That's why I need more.
"Oh, and the entrance is free!" Ryuu commented suddenly. "So it's a clear sign we should go!"
Io shook his head at Ryuu's logic, and at how ridiculous it was that a single comment could make him feel so fond.
"Look at that!" Ryuu pointed excitedly at the offered attraction.
"Star maze? What is that even?"
"Don't know! Let's check it out!" He ran excitedly towards it, making Io give a small jolt.
"Wait up!" He called out running, scaring a few people around him who had seen no one running away from him.
He reached the door to the entrance a step behind his friend.
"Ryu-" He began as he cached up, but his voice caught in his throat at the sight of small white lights blinking brightly all around them contrasting on the darkness, looking like a proper planetarium.
"Isn't it great!" Ryuu said happily, a grin so bright that Io thought it could have perfect place among all those stars. Io nodded.
"Very beautiful." He felt himself blush as the words left his mouth and his eyes were fixed on Ryuu. The other had already moved ahead excitedly.
"Come on! Let's explore this place!"
"Y-yeah."
Together they went around the maze, both admiring their surroundings and trying to figure out how to reach the exit. Io was easily able to discover the path, but Ryuu asked him to go slower for a moment.
"This would be such a great place for a date, huh?" Ryuu commented suddenly with a cheeky expression. Io's blush depended, but he knew for a fact that Ryuu would not be able to see it in the dark.
"I suppose so." How Io was able to keep his voice calm and collected, he would never know. They soon exited, and surprisingly got a prize for being able to find their way out the fastest (well, Io did). "And we were there for 20 minutes." He mused.
"People probably spend that time just looking for the exit, nevermind how long they just look at the star. We did both things at the same time aaaand you're pretty brilliant so of course we got out in no time!" Ryuu said cheerfully. Io forced himself to be unaffected by those words, his face completely visible now.
"So, what do you want to do now?"
They went to a few games which Io at first didn't want to go to since he knew they were all fixed to be impossible to win.
"Not impossible! They'll just be more of a challenge!" Ryuu insisted, winking. "If we gave up every time something was challenging, we'd lose a lot!" They had been walking calmly but those words had made Io freeze in his pace. Ryuu stopped as he noticed Io was behind him. "Io?"
The boy clenched his fists and looked at him suddenly extremely determined, which startled Ryuu a little.
"You're right." He stated. "Nothing is impossible. We're doing this."
Ryuu blinked as Io began marching towards the nearest game and the pink head couldn't help wonder if they were still talking about park games.
After a very intense match of Io vs all the park game administrators, resulting in Io actually returning victorious with various low quality plushies, including a weird pink thing with a big black nose and buckteeth that the guy said was a wombat, but Ryuu has his doubts.
"Let's go to the ferris wheel now!" Ryuu offered. Io nodded and they happily walked in companionable silence.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ryuu caught sight of a couple happily holding hands. The boy's cheeks became tainted with red as he looked down at his own hand, and was unable to keep his eyes from looking then to Io's. He closed his eyes and willed that terrible desire to go away. It was nothing but torturous. They reached the ferris wheel, and Ryuu was able to distract himself with admiring its hight.
"Whoa, so high!" He said with awe. Io agreed, looking up along with him.
"I'm glad I'm not scared of heights." He said in a casual tone.
"Way to kill the mood."
The next pod neared the ground and a family exited it, chatting animatedly. Ryuu cheered before making his way in, Io following closely. The two of them sat on opposite sides, Ryuu immediately pressing himself against the glass in awe at the increasing hight and available view.
Io watched him as interestedly as Ryuu watched everything across the glass. He looked at the boy's hair, at the way it was held back by a pink hairband, remembering the way he had simply had that change when he turned 15 and that he had been so concerned about what Io would think. He had said it suited him very well, and the face of happiness Ryuu had made could've shut out the sun.
"This is so... amazing." Ryuu almost whispered, bringing Io back to the present. There was something wistful about his voice, which made Io frown.
"Are you ok?" He asked. He almost expected Ryuu to laugh at him and say that of course everything was great I mean I can see the house from here or maybe not but it definitely looks like our house, but instead he just looked on quietly. "...Ryuu?"
"I..." He began. "I'm just... so glad to be alive right now." Io immediately felt a pang of fear at this.
"What do you mean?" There was a moment of silence before Ryuu spoke.
"When we were younger... I was afraid to disappear." Io's eyes widened as he stared at Ryuu, who suddenly seemed unable to look away from the glass. "There were others like me at the school... but they all started disappearing one by one. And they told me that one day it would happen to me too... and I was scared, and sad, mostly sad." His fingers slid over the glass into a closed fist. "I was sad to think of not seeing you anymore, to not have you speak to me or even say my name... you'd forget me..."
"I would never." Ryuu tensed, finally turning back to face Io, who looked almost like he was trembling. "I would never let that happen..." He cursed at the sudden realization of the constant fear that Ryuu's life was for a long time. "W-why..." He muttered. "Why didn't you tell me? You didn't have to go through that alone." Ryuu smiled sadly at him.
"They told me it was what was best for you... for me to go..."
"No way!" Ryuu's eyes widened at the sudden outburst from Io. The boy was definitely shaking now, and Ryuu opened his mouth with a concerned comment at the tip of his tongue, but was unable to speak at the evident emotion on the usually composed face. "Y-you disappearing... how could that possible be good for me! It would be the most painful thing possible!" There was silence for a moment as they both just stared into each other's eyes.
"For me too." Ryuu said softly.
"No..." Io suddenly murmured. "You don't get it..." Ryuu blinked in surprise and sudden concern.
"Io?"
"You are absolutely vital to me... because I love you... you know this, but it's not just that... I don't just love you, Ryuu." He clenched his fist drastically. "I'm in love with you."
Ryuu just sat there in absolute shock for a moment as those words repeated over and over in his mind. Io stayed quiet as well, not daring to speak or even look away from his best friend. Suddenly tears pricked at the corners of Ryuu's eyes until they overflowed and slowly trailed down. Io's breath caught in his throat at the sight, and a palpable terror took over his heart.
"Ryuu-" He called out with panic, terrified of the idea of having hurt the person he most cared of, no, the only person who truly even mattered in his life.
"Ah, d-damn." The boy whipped at his eyes with a shaky laugh. "I'm sorry."
Io felt his heart sink at those words. Yes, he had hurt his friend, and now his friend was afraid of hurting him. He definitely did not deserve Ryuu's tears, no one did.
"I'm sorry." He repeated, and Io felt it like a stab to the chest. "I'm just- I can't believe-" He was laughing again, but it was obvious he was just doing it not to cry. Io had never hated himself as much as he did in that moment. He had never wanted to hold Ryuu as bad and just kiss those tears away.
Ryuu looked at him, and some of the pain he was experiencing must have been evident because he suddenly blinked in something akin to disbelief.
"Io?... I feel the same."
Now the boy felt like he had been hit by a truck, an actual truck, the force of those words sending his mind flying so far that he was completely unable to form a single thought for a whole minute.
"Io?" Ryuu asked, whipping at his face some more, taking his own time to catch his breath.
"Y-you- h-how?" Io stuttered in absolute disbelief. Ryuu raised an eyebrow before releasing a genuine laugh that sounded so fresh in Io's ears that he thought he could also cry.
"How?" Ryuu muttered with a soft smile. "Io, you are the center of my life. You are literally the reason I exist, how could I not love you like that?"
They stared at each other intensely, wild heartbeats in synchronization.
"I wish I could kiss you." Io said suddenly. Ryuu smiled, a cute blush one his face.
"It's a dream enough for me to hear you say that."
In that moment wild thoughts go through both of their minds. Io wants to promise to him that he will touch him some day, kiss him some day, but he is afraid of how Ryuu will react. Secretly, he is afraid the boy will somehow say that it is impossible, but there is absolutely no way he would give up. Ryuu, on the other hand, thinks that Io does not deserve this- to love someone who he can't live a proper life with, can't even touch, whose existence isn't even truly acknowledged. It's crazy. It's wrong. It's impossible. But in that very moment, the affinity of their feelings is too much of a bliss to give up. He might never be able to.
It was when they turned 18 that Io finally told Ryuu.
He told him his terrible ambition, all the planing and researching, the reason he had been saving money so desperately.
Ryuu was, honestly, slightly horrified that Io had spent so many years and so much effort on him. Everything based on a childish dream that he simply continued to hold onto. But then again, wasn't he himself a childish dream that Io had continued to hold onto?
Ryuu didn't say anything about whether he believed in Io's project or not, but he did ask him something that Io didn't know if he's be able to go along with.
"Don't center your life around this, please." His voice was soft yet somehow painful to Io. "You have such a ridiculous potential, you could be anything, do anything, please." Io was silent at his words.
"How could this not be the center of my life, when you are?"
"I shouldn't be."
"I can't change that." Io murmured, eyes softening. "So I'm begging you: let me do this for you."
Ryuu couldn't do anything to change Io's mind, and the boy finally called over all the scientist he had contacted over the years. He rented a large installation where they could work and where they would be allowed to make any changes for machinery or anything they would require. It was obvious that most of them where only there for the money, but there were a few who were genuinely curious and interested in the subject and the possibility of its reality.
They all went to work immediately, trying to apply their different specialties into a single outcome.
"One of them has to work." Io declared. "Something has to work." Ryuu just watched silently.
Months went by with no result in sight. Io was not affected by this, stating that most research works took years to make a successful product. Ryuu suffered greatly, not at the lack of results but to see Io handle these results.
One night he couldn't handle it anymore, and he whispered to Io his fears.
"Io..." He tried hard to fight sobs. "Maybe... I'm just not real... Io...." The tears were leaking now and there wasn't any way to take them back. "You've already hoped for so many years, please... don't suffer any more..."
Those words were ice in Io's heart, but they still would not blunder his determination, because that determination was simply his love and that would never go away no matter what.
"You are real, Ryuu." He whispered warmly, wrapping around Ryuu like the most comforting of blankets. "You are simply... out of reach." He smiled. "But I'll never stop reaching out to you."
A year went by, a few scientists had been tempted to quiet, but the power of money is undoubtable. A few had actually grown passionate about the subject, especially when Io admitted he was in love with Ryuu (which happened when one of the scientist wanted a reason why this all mattered at all, and Io was feeling particularly frustrated).
Ryuu did not voice his doubts again, and instead became a sort of motivational tornado. He would greatly cheer Io up whenever he was feeling down, and even regained his faith on a few of the more annoying scientist when they had reached a low point.
"If this were to work, imagine the look on their faces! At least keep them around for that!" He said once, making Io genuinely laugh for a few minutes straight.
Io's parents were aware of the goal of his project, and had decided not to comment on it. They had been concerned about him throughout the years as he grew up and hasn't let go of Ryuu, but since he was top in his class and quite financially successful they decided they had no right to tell him he was doing something wrong. Besides, he had moved out right after high school and that limited the opportunities for conflict and instead left the meeting days for more positive emotions.
It was another year before it happened.
But it did.
A nighttime call awoke them, Io reaching for his phone and Ryuu mumbling something about why the hell did you not turn it off before going to sleep. Io answered and listened for only a moment before slamming upright and yelling at Ryuu to get up.
"W-what? Io?" Ryuu asked, startled, his heart beginning to race.
"They have something." Io's voice trembled. "T-they're not certain, of course, b-but... in theory..." Ryuu's eyes widened and he practically threw himself out of bed.
They were silent all the way to the lab, too afraid to overwhelm the other with their own emotions. Only right before they stepped into the lab did Ryuu speak.
"I love you, no matter what happens."
Io took a deep breath and released it along with the tension in his body as he turned to Ryuu and gave him the most loving look he'd expressed in his life. They made their way to the circle of scientist, who were surrounding the 3 that had lead that particular project.
"Naruko, sir." One of them greeted with an obvious hint of excitement and nervousness.
"Everyone." He forced himself to greet. "Where is it?"
The head of the project smiled nervously and raised a spray bottle full of a transparent liquid.
"There's nothing left b-but to try it." He said, stretching his hand and offering it to Io. He stared at it for a moment before nodding stiffly and taking it.
"Ryuu." He called out to the boy, who seemed to be in a slight trance. Everyone around them fidgeted lightly, which they always did when they were forcefully reminded of the fact that there was supposedly and unseeable being among them. Io turned to face Ryuu and looked him right in the eye. "Just... stay still." It wasn't like Ryuu was about to run anywhere for any reason, but it was obvious Io just felt terribly anxious and in need to be in control of the situation, that included giving instructions to a procedure that he truly had no more control over.
They stared at each other for a moment longer, before Ryuu closed his eyes. Hand trembling, Io began to spray.
Ryuu felt... something fresh... cold... and then a bit of a sting...
Then he heard the unanimous gasps of the scientist around them. His eyes slammed open and met with Io's own wide ones. Everyone around them was either shocked still, cheering, or making nonsensical noises. Ryuu's mind could still not full process what that meant.
Then Io lifted a trembling hand and slowly neared it to his face.
He felt Io's skin against his own.
It burned him like nothing else ever had, not painfully, but warm and soft and absolutely heavenly. Ryuu sucked in a breath and slowly lifted his own shaking hand to meet with Io's, closing his eyes at the blissful feeling as he pressed it even closer against his cheek.
He felt tears begin to freely flow down his face, and was shocked by the sound of a sob right ahead of him as Ryuu opened his eyes and was met with a crying, smiling, Io. Ryuu's knees buckled at the sight, and they both slid to the ground and pressed close to each other, sobbing with whole hearted happiness. Some people around them were still yelling in disbelieve, but it was happy disbelieve, and absolutely everyone cheered when they pulled back and kissed for the first time.
Io looked in the mirror as he made the knot of his tie.
"Where are you going, all elegant like that?" He heard Ryuu's teasing voice behind him, quickly catching sight of him in the mirror. Io's heart would still skip a beat when that happened, at the fact that it could happen.
"I have another interview, apparently they want to convince me to write a book."
"And what would you call it? 'I married my imaginary friend'?" He neared Io's back and circled his waist with his arms, nuzzling his face against his neck. Io chuckled.
"They said something along the lines of 'the power of ambition', but I'll pitch that one in." He turned around and pressed Ryuu closer to him, their faces inches away. "What do you think they'll say?"
"It's a bit of a spoiler, maybe." Ryuu said, setting his arms around Io's, his husband's, neck. "Although we kinda were a worldwide news, so that might not worry them too much."
"I think it focuses on what's important." Io teased, lifting a hand to caress Ryuu's cheek. He then held his chin and tilted it up to meet him in a deep kiss.