Work Text:
I can't help the pessimism. Each moment, every lasting second feels like an entire lifetime worth of moments but at the same time like not a single second has gone by at all.
He is so beautiful.
He consumes my every thought.
The chilly October chill blew through the air but, of course, Touya didn't feel a thing. His bare feet were nothing but a collection of energy from whatever spirited form that his ghost took on. He followed Keigo down the street, watching his surroundings carefully.
He wasn't sure if he should watch behind or in front of him. The ground or the sky- some part of Touya thought that it didn't matter what he did, something was going to end up hurting Keigo.
It seemed almost as if it had been getting worse.
As if there were more and more bad things happening to him. More frequently… worse.
Touya sighed without any breath and pushed a tree branch out of the way, preventing it from smacking Keigo in the face. Maybe the guy was completely clueless as he was cursed with bad luck.
He wanted to do everything he possibly could to protect him. Touya jogged in front of Keigo and walked backwards, gazing at the men.
Kyio, Daisuke, Keigo and Haru.
Keigo walked a couple feet behind them and Touya wondered if he was told to do so or if he did it of his own accord. He frowned.
"Hey," Touya said softly, wishing not for the first time that he could feel Keigo next to him. He was so, incredibly beautiful. "Don't you have any idea how much you worry me," he said, reaching his hand out before letting it drop by his side.
"Are we almost there?" the man, Haru asked, nudging Kyio's shoulder.
"Chill out, it's only a couple more blocks," Kyio said, looking back briefly before straightening his gaze forward again. He didn't let it linger and Keigo stared at the ground in front of him.
"It's cold and Ayaka keeps fucking texting me to come back," he complained, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Then tell her to buzz off," Daisuke said, rolling his eyes, "you sister needs to learn to be apart from you."
"Oh, shut it," Haru said, "you've already graduated, and you've come back to be around Kyio."
Daisuke shot him a look, "I didn't just come back for Kyio," he said, looking behind him at Keigo but the blonde was still looking at the ground. Touya continued to push branches out of the way.
"You're going to keep getting those cuts on your face if you do not look up," Touya said, pulling at a leaf and letting it fall from his fingertips.
Haru let out a small scoff and crossed his arms over his chest, "I don't see why we need to get these stupid candles anyway, I want no part of this… séance."
"Excuse me?" Touya said, stepping in front of Haru but the man stepped through him, shivering as he went. Touya stared at Keigo, "séance?"
"It wasn't my idea," Kyio said, punching Daisuke's arm lightly, "I don't get this man's obsession with the dead, but it is all hallow's eve. It'll be fun."
"Don’t know if fun is the word I'd use," Keigo muttered, scratching the back of his head. Haru turned to look at him with a smile on his face.
"Oh, come on Takami, you're not afraid of a little ghost, are you?" he laughed and Keigo rolled his eyes.
"With my luck we'll end up summoning a fucking demon or something," he huffed, pulling his wings tight into his back.
"You believe in that shit?" Haru asked and Keigo shrugged, smiling softly.
"I dunno."
"Oh, oh!" Haru laughed throwing his head back, "maybe we'll talk with your dead-" Daisuke punched his arm hard, shoving him over.
"Don't." Daisuke warned but the small smile that had been on Keigo's face disappeared.
Keigo looked behind him, shivering gently.
"I'm sorry," Touya said, sighing, "If I could be there… I'd make you smile forever."
"hey," Kyio whispered, turning back to Keigo, "don't listen to him, it'll be fun, yeah?"
Keigo met his eyes and nodded once, "sure," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets. Touya kicked a rock off the sidewalk preventing Keigo from stepping on it.
"hey," Kyio said again, slowing his pace to walk next to Keigo, "uh," he glanced toward his brother who gave him a look before turning away, "I'm… sorry about everything."
Keigo looked down the street, watching the cars speed past, he shrugged. "Don't worry about it," he said, shifting his gaze to Kyio's eyes, "we both made mistakes."
Kyio nodded, scratching his arm, "I know, I know but I never wanted to… make this weird."
"Nothing is weird," Keigo said but even Touya could see the lie on his lips. Not that he was looking.
He was.
Not that he was imagining.
He was.
"Kei," Kyio sighed, "we've always been… close friends, right?"
Keigo watching the sky, pulling his wings in tighter. "I think so," he replied, Touya watching him carefully. Unable to take his eyes off of his beautiful face. He wasn't staring…
He was.
"And I love you terribly, as a friend and-" he shook his head, "I shouldn't have kissed you then. I never planned to it's just…"
"I get it," Keigo said, "and I love you too, but it's always been as…" he met Kyio's eyes with sorrow watering in them, "as a friend."
"Can we forget it all happened?" Kyio asked.
"Probably not," Keigo sighed then smiled softly, "but we can try," he held out his hand and Kyio took it, smiling brightly.
"Thanks," he whispered, "you've always been… way too good for any of us."
Keigo shrugged and looked up at the sky, Touya reached for him before pulling his hand back. He never wanted so badly in his life to be able to touch again. To feel and be felt.
"Look," Keigo said softly and despite himself, despite not being spoke to, Touya looked up, "it's snowing." Small white flakes fell from the clouded sky and Touya watched as Kyio took off his large jacket and handed it to Keigo.
"So your wings don't get cold," he said and Keigo smiled.
"Thank you," he said quietly, pulling it around himself and tucking his wings tight into the warm cloth.
"I hate winter," Touya said more to himself than anyone else, but he looked at Keigo. He was never looking at anyone else. "But the snow… it is beautiful. You know my hair is white, though if I could change it maybe I would. I think black would suit me, no?" Touya smiled, "sometimes I wonder what I would do if I was still alive. Who I would have become. It's impossible to know, I know but… I can't help but wonder, it's all I have the time for. Keigo," Touya said, "if you could hear me, would you listen?"
"Here!" Haru called suddenly, his hood pulled over his vibrant red hair, he stopped in front of a shop and held open the door, "get your candles and let's get back, it's freezing out here."
"You have a lava quirk, Haru, don't be an idiot," Kyio said, rolling his eyes. Keigo smiled softly and Touya couldn't stop looking. He followed the group into the store.
Several candles were lit around the store and Touya was glad that Keigo's wings were kept safe in Kyio's jacket (though he wished Keigo was wearing his jacket) and unable to catch fire. He'd have to watch out for low hanging decorations though.
"Stop being a dick," Daisuke muttered, going straight towards a wall filled with candles of all kinds of shapes and sizes. He started looking at them, picking up a few pieces before setting them back down.
Haru leaned against a wall, but Touya followed Keigo as he walked with Kyio through the aisles. Keigo gazed at the small bottles and jars filled with herbs and oils. As they walked Keigo paused in front of a small ring, embedded with dark red stones on a silver band. He reached up to touch it before pulling his hand back and looking away.
"You like that?" Kyio asked and Keigo shrugged.
"It’s alright," he said but Touya didn't fail to notice this lingering gaze having to tear it away.
"You should get it," he said but Keigo shook his head.
"I don't have the money," he said quietly.
Kyio frowned, "I can get it for you," he said and Touya glared.
"No, that's alright," Keigo said, "probably wouldn't wear it anyway. Or I'd lose it… or it'd get stolen," he said, shaking his head again.
Kyio hummed in disagreement but moved on. Touya sighed, and bent gaze at the ring. He touched it gently, wondering if he took it if anything would happen. It wasn't right to steal but… well, he was dead and there wasn't really anything that anyone could do to a ghost.
Still, Touya lingered.
The red of the stone glinted in the light of the candles, flickering and Touya knew that Keigo just had to have it. He'd look so beautiful wearing it.
"Take it," someone whispered and Touya startled.
A woman with long dark hair smiled up at him, she spoke softly.
"You can see me?" Touya asked though the answer was obvious.
"Most witches can," she replied, observing something on the shelf as to not appear she was talking to herself. Though the other had scattered throughout the store.
"So… that soulmate lady is a…"
"Witch?" the woman asked and then smiled sweetly, nodding, "yes. Come, we can speak more freely in the back."
Touya glanced at the purple curtain that led to the back of the store and followed the woman through. There wasn't anything she could do to a ghost… right?
He phased through the curtain, not shifting it even slightly as he walked through. Touya glanced back and frowned… when had he learned to control when he touched things and when he didn't?
"You are a new spirit," the woman said.
Touya looked around; the back was filled with boxes and books. So many books. "I- I guess so," Touya said, "I died a couple years ago."
"I see," she said softly, "I've found apologizing does no good for the dead so I will not bother, can I ask your name?"
Touya met her eyes, an odd shade of gray… almost silver. "Touya," he said.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Paige. Paige Whitmore and that woman you speak of, the uh, soulmate lady, my sister Dalia Whitmore."
"Sister," Touya whispered, "oh."
"Indeed, may I assume one of those young men is yours?"
Touya looked at her face, shocked. How could she know? How could she possibly know? "I, uh,"
"The blonde one, isn't it? The one with the wings?"
Touya swallowed hard and lowered his head, "so it is true. Soulmates are real?"
Paige smile softly, "of course they are real sweetie, our spirits are all connected somehow. Some more than other. Some more intensely and completely than others."
"Is he cursed?" Touya asked suddenly, meeting Paige's eyes. A sad looked passed over them.
She sighed, "I'm afraid so," she whispered.
"How?" Touya demanded, "w-why?" his eyes widened in shock, "did I… did I die because of his curse?"
Paige looked to the ground, and held out her hand, opening her palm. The ring was laying in it. "Take it," Paige said, "it's enchanted so that no one else will see you are holding it."
Touya took it but he didn't let his question remain ignored. "Answer me," he said, closing his fist around the ring and…
"Yes." Paige said, "let me explain. It's not his fault, nor is there anything to be done about it. The curse was placed so much longer ago than anyone would be able to remember. I do not know the whole story, only the one who placed it would know but by it's very nature it is irreversible. Bad luck… it is near impossible to break. Your death, Touya, was part of his curse because those with bad luck… aren’t ever supposed to find their soulmate."
Touya held back a cry, he didn't want to believe it. He almost didn't. "You're saying that if I- if I had still been alive, if I had never died, we would have met?"
"Yes."
Touya left. He pushed past the curtain; it billowed as he went through as if he was a gust of wind. Keigo was at the front with the others, waiting for someone to check them out. Paige came through and smiled at them, asking if they found everything alright but Touya didn't want to stick around and listen. He didn't want to think about what could have been.
It was all crashing down around him.
His reality.
Keigo's truth.
If Touya could cry, he would have.
"Thank you," one of the men in the group said, Touya didn't wait around. He phased through the building, out into the snow. His bare feet left no footprints and his nonexistent heart ached in his chest.
I always thought that I was the one being punished. Now, I guess it was never me at all. I don't know how to feel. Does some unknown force really have so much control over our lives that a single curse of bad luck means a life is taken. My life.
Am I to go so far as to wonder… was my quirk incompatibility some fated plan to eventually lead to my death just to increase the bad luck of my soulmate who wasn't even yet born?
Was I truly destined to never amount to anything?
Whatever folds or bends of the magnetism in the universe that decide this, hardly makes it fair. Should my family and myself suffer for so long for something that was nobody fault.
If there was a way to curse fate, surely, I would. Perhaps it can take on my dear Keigo's curse. I wonder how fate would like that.
I have no felt such anger before, not even while I was alive.
It is consuming me. I almost… fell my fire again.
But of course, I cannot. I do not.
I am the victim of a curse that was not even my own. But then, if Keigo must bear it and we are bound, does that mean that I too, am to bear the curse. I supposed I already have.
I have already been suffering.
"Just put your fingertips of the thing already," Haru complained as Kyio lit up the candles with his quirk. Touya watched carefully as his fire was completely controlled. He was angry still, but it was not at Keigo's fault.
Touya did not blame him.
"It's called a planchette," Daisuke sighed, flicking off the lights and sitting down next to Kyio. Touya hovered behind Keigo, watching him carefully.
"You look beautiful in this light," Touya said softly. He could almost feel the weight of the ring in his hand. He held it carefully, afraid that at any moment it would slip from his grip.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just put two fingers on the edge," Daisuke said, demonstrating with the tips of his pointer and middle finger. Haru rolled his eyes but did it anyway. Kyio was next and then Keigo when Kyio nudged his leg. Keigo rolled his eyes like Haru but also chewed on his lip.
It did nothing to hide his nervousness.
"Is this really a good idea?" Keigo asked, looking up at Daisuke.
"Of course, we have nothing better to do," he answered.
"We could be watching a movie," Keigo said, glancing at Kyio, "or doing homework?"
"Absolutely not," Haru interrupted, "I'll do this if it gets us out of homework."
"You'll have to do it eventually," Kyio said and Haru glared at him.
"Don't say such horrible things Kyio, you'll turn ugly," Haru said.
Daisuke laughed under his breath, "so you find him attractive?" he asked, suggestively.
Haru's cheeks burned pink, and he stared down at the board, "no, I mean more ugly. Ugh, just get on with it."
Kyio glanced up briefly at Keigo, but Keigo's eyes were trained on the intricate lettering on the Ouija board. "Hey," Keigo said softly, "where'd you get this?" he asked, "I've never seen it before."
"Oh," Kyio said, "uh, just found it in this old box," he said and if Keigo could tell he was lying he didn't call him out on it. Of course, Touya could tell immediately.
Keigo hummed but didn't say anything else.
"Let's go, let's go," Haru whined, "I don’t want to be here all night, the girls are making cookies in the kitchen."
Daisuke rolled his eyes, "alright chill out, we have to welcome good spirits in."
"How the hell do we do that?" Haru demanded.
"Yeah ah, how do we make sure not to summon a demon?" Keigo asked and Touya laughed.
"You're adorable," he whispered, kneeling in the space between Daisuke and Keigo.
"Relax Kei," Kyio said softly, "you're not going to attract a demon."
"You never know," Keigo said, pinching his brows together.
"Well, if we do, it's a good thing we're doing this in your room Takami," Haru said and Keigo frowned.
"I knew there was a reason," he said but his tone was light. Touya was glad- it seemed as if Keigo was truly having a good time. And well, it appeared as if Haru didn't share his sister's desire to torment Keigo.
"Guys come on, move the planchette around the board a few times in a circle," Daisuke said.
Kyio frowned, "I thought we weren't supposed to move it."
"We have to get it warmed up," Daisuke said.
Kyio laughed under his breath, "whatever you say Suke."
The young men moved the planchette around the board in a circle three time. Keigo, Kyio and Haru looked up at Daisuke for their next move.
"Keep your intentions positive," Daisuke said, then, "are there any spirits around us that would like to speak? We welcome those of good intention to communicate with us tonight," he said. "We welcome you into this space."
The men looked down at the planchette and it was still.
Haru scoffed, "see, I told you it's all fake."
Touya reached his hand forward… he could talk to them.
Fuck- he could talk to Keigo!
Immediately, he settled his hand over the planchette and dragged it over to the YES at the top right of the board. Keigo pulled his hands off.
"That's not funny," he said in a rush, "don't do that," he said, glaring at Haru.
"I didn't move it!" Haru exclaimed.
"Yeah right!"
"I didn't," Haru grumbled.
Keigo looked to Kyio but he only shook his head.
"Come on put your fingers back on," Daisuke said.
"Are you messing with me?" Keigo asked.
Daisuke frowned, "of course not, Kei."
Keigo sighed and put his fingers back on lightly, barely touching at all.
"I'll ask another question," he said looking to Keigo for confirmation. The blonde nodded.
"I'm not trying to scare you," Touya said softly, "maybe it's selfish but I want you to know I'm here."
"Okay um, thank you for being here spirit, are you an angel?"
Touya waited a moment before moving the planchette.
NO.
"A… spirit guide?"
NO.
Daisuke frowned and looked to the other. Haru's face was pinched together, Kyio's was neutral and Keigo chewed on his lip. His wings were pulled tight into his back.
"Did you… ever live on earth as a human?" Daisuke asked.
Touya paused, looking over at Keigo, "I won't tell them anything about you," Touya said softly, "or who I am to you."
YES.
Daisuke's eyes lit up, "Okay! Thank you, uh, are you somebody that any of us knew when you were alive?"
"Suke!" Kyio exclaimed, "come on, this is getting ridiculous, we know you're moving it."
"I'm not I swear!" Daisuke fired back, "please trust me, come on, you think with all the quirks that no one could become a ghost?"
Kyio frowned and looked over and Keigo, "Kei?"
Keigo chewed on his lip, "I mean… there's no harm, right? Especially if he is moving it."
"I'm not!"
Touya moved his hand.
NO
All eyes snapped to the planchette, as it circled the word. Silence filled the room, heartbeats thundering.
"Okay, how about this, one of us pulls our hand off once and ask a question. Then we'll see if anyone it is moving it," Haru said, swallowing hard. The color on his face had drained slightly as he looked around the circle.
"Fine by me," Daisuke said.
"Okay," Keigo said and Kyio agreed. "You first Haru," he said.
Haru pulled his fingers back, "um, are you a man or woman?" he asked.
M.A.N.
"Okay, so you know it's not me," Haru said, "Kyio you next," he said and Kyio took his fingers off while Haru put his back on. "You have to ask one now," he said.
"Okay, okay… uh, are we bothering you?" Kyio asked.
"Seriously dude? That's such a lame one," Haru muttered.
"It can't hurt!" Kyio exclaimed.
NO
"See, it's not me," Kyio said, putting his fingers back on. "Suke, you're turn."
"Yeah, yeah," Daisuke said, pulling away, "Do you have a connection to anyone in this room?"
Touya pulled away. He couldn't reveal anything about his connection to Keigo… that information was for Keigo alone. He didn't move the planchette.
"See!" Haru exclaimed, "it was him," he glared.
Daisuke frowned, "wait, but I wasn't, I swear I wasn't! Maybe the ghost just didn't like that question. I'll aske another. How old are you?"
1.8.
Touya moved the planchette over the two numbers.
"I told you I wasn't," Daisuke said, putting his fingers back on. They all looked to Keigo who pulled his off.
"As if I'd mess with this freaky thing," Keigo mumbled but set his hands in his lap anyway.
"Ask a question," Haru said.
"I'm thinking," Keigo said back, then after a several seconds pause, "when did you die?"
"Brutal question Kei," Kyio asked and Keigo shrugged.
Touya paused, hovering his hand before moving.
- Y.E.A.R.S A.G.O.
Keigo's breath caught in his chest, "so… none of us are moving it."
"I guess not," Kyio said.
"This is freaky," Haru muttered.
"Are you scared?" Keigo teased, a smirk forming on his lips.
YES.
The men jumped, not expecting an answer from the board.
"Scared…" Daisuke whispered, "the ghost is scared."
Keigo put his fingers back on the planchette. "Scared of what?" Keigo asked and weight pressed down on Touya.
Keigo wanted to talk to him.
B.E.I.N.G. A.L.O.N.E.
Kyio sat up straighter, "are you alone?"
YES.
"H-how did you die?" Keigo asked, whispering.
F.
I.
R.
E.
"This is such bullshit, two of you are in on this!" Haru exclaimed, shaking his head, "if there is really a ghost in here, you'll give us a sign. Do something in the room!"
Touya rolled his eyes and pinched his fingers over the candle. He felt no heat, but the flame was snuffed out.
"Oh, come on Kyio, you can control fire I know that was you," Haru exclaimed.
"It wasn't!"
"Fine, all of you take your hands off, I'll do this myself." Haru said.
"I don’t think that's a good idea," Daisuke said, "we're supposed to have at least two on at a time."
"Fuck that, all three of you are messing with me," Haru said.
"We're not," Keigo whispered, staring at the candle that Kyio had already relit. They pulled their fingers off anyway.
Haru stared intensely at the planchette and spoke, "are you real?"
"Don't disrespect him Haru," Daisuke said but Haru only glared.
YES.
"Look it moved with only your fingers on it," Keigo said, "it's not us."
Haru pulled away and stood, "I'm out of here, I don't want whatever fucking demon you brought here Takami, absolutely not." He opened the door and left, letting the wooden door slamming close.
"It's not a demon," Kyio said, "are you a demon?"
NO
"What the fuck," Keigo said, sliding back from the board, "no one was touching it."
"oh… my bad," Touya said, cringing, "were you guys supposed to be?"
"That can't be a good sign," Kyio said, looking to Daisuke, "maybe we should stop this… the ghost shouldn't have that much control, should it?"
"I- I don't know, maybe we should say goodbye," Daisuke said but there was sorrow in his voice.
W.A.I.T
Touya moved over the letters, he wasn't done talking to Keigo. He'd barely even begun. But no one was touching it again.
"Okay, that's enough," Kyio said, "let's say goodbye."
Daisuke sighed, "yeah, we should. Put your fingers back on, we'll go around the goodbye three times."
They began to move it, but Touya grabbed on, yanking it across the board.
P.L.E.A.S.E.
"That's not funny!" Kyio snapped.
"I'm not doing anything!" Daisuke fired back, he pulled the planchette back and circled the goodbye three time quickly. Touya backed away, the weight on his form pressing down heavily.
The planchette laid still on the board as the men pulled away.
"There," Daisuke said, "it's done."
"Are you sure?" Kyio asked and Daisuke nodded.
"That's all we have to do, now it can't move it anymore." Daisuke said.
"Yeah right," Touya muttered, "I could if I wanted to," he frowned and looked at Keigo whose wings were pulled so tightly into his back they were nearly flat. "Did I scare you?" he asked, "I'm sorry."
"Let's go watch a movie," Kyio said, standing, he helped Daisuke up and then held out his hand for Keigo.
The blonde shook his head, "actually… I think I'll go to sleep, I'm kinda tired."
"Oh, you're sure?" Kyio asked and Keigo nodded.
"Yeah, it's late. I'll put the board away… I have the box anyway."
"You knew?" Kyio asked sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.
"Of course, I did," Keigo said, "I'd looked inside of it the day after she gave it to me. I didn't use it, but I was curious."
"I'm sorry," Kyio said and Keigo only smiled.
"Don’t worry about it, at least we had some fun with it."
"I mean for… all of it. Taking you to that lady in the first place."
"I know," Keigo said, "it's alright, I'm over it."
"Yeah?" Kyio asked and Keigo nodded.
"Go watch a movie, I'll clean up," he said and only when Kyio nodded and left with Daisuke did Keigo stand up and lock his door. He sat back down and settled in front of the board, hovering his fingers over the planchette. "This might be stupid," Keigo said to himself, "but I have to know if this was real."
"You're going to do it by yourself?" Touya asked, sitting in front of Keigo, excitement racing through him. Did that mean Keigo still wanted to talk to him?
"Okay, Keigo," he said to himself, "it's not a demon… it said it's not a demon and why wouldn't I trust a ghost that said it's not a demon. Of course, if it was a demon, I doubt it would admit to it but hey, it's already been in my room-"
Touya moved the Planchette, not bothering to wait for Keigo to put his fingers on it.
N.O.T. A. D.E.M.O.N.
"Right," Keigo said, laughing but it shook with nervousness, "of course it doesn't need to be welcomed in. Gods, Daisuke's an idiot."
YES.
Keigo laughed and Touya smiled at the sound. He made Keigo laugh.
Gods what was that feeling in his (not) body.
What did he feel for the blonde?
"So… you're a ghost?"
YES.
"A nice one?" Keigo asked, leaning his back against his bed, still sitting on the floor. Touya kept moving the planchette.
T.H.I.N.K S.O.
"Well, at least you're honest. Okay um, and you're 18?"
YES.
Keigo's body relaxed slightly, "what's your name?"
Touya smiled.
T.O.U.Y.A.
"Touya," Keigo said and the Touya swore if he wasn't dead he would have died hearing his name come from Keigo's lips. "you didn't come from the hero commission then."
NO
"I didn't think so," Keigo pulled his knees to his chest, "you died in a fire." It wasn't a question but Touya answered it anyway.
NO
Keigo furrowed his brows, "but before you said that's how you died."
YES.
"I'm confused."
F.I.R.E. P.U.T. M.E. I.N. A. C.O.M.A.
"Oh," Keigo whispered, "you died in the coma…"
Touya nodded, forgetting that Keigo couldn't see him.
YES.
"I'm sorry."
N.O.T Y.O.U.R. F.A.U.L.T.
"I know but, we'll I've come close to death so many times I feel lucky that I've never actually died," Keigo said, frowning.
N.O.T. L.U.C.K.Y
"What?"
Y.O.U. A.R.E. N.O.T. L.U.C.K.Y
"Oh," Keigo laughed softly, "no, I guess I'm not… but how do you know?"
Touya didn't say anything for a second, hovering his hand over the planchette. There was no harm in letting him know.
K.E.E.P. Y.O.U. S.A.F.E.
Keigo stared at the board, "you keep me safe?"
YES.
"Why?"
S.T.A.Y. A.L.I.V.E.
"You want me to stay alive?"
YES.
Keigo chewed on his lip and stood, pacing a few times before sitting on the edge of his bed. "Why do you care?"
Touya looked at Keigo's face, did he want to tell the truth? Was it even right or would it cause him more pain.
O.N.E. O.F. U.S H.A.S. T.O.
"I- I don't get it, I never knew anyone named Touya. Why would some random ghost want to keep me alive?"
N.O.T R.A.N.D.O.M
Keigo shook his head, "what do you mean?"
F.A.T.E.
"Fate," Keigo whispered, and his eyes widened in realization. He shook his head, "no, no because Daisuke said she was a fake… they all said it was a joke."
NO
Keigo's wings flared, "you're him?"
YES.
"How do I know this isn't a trick?"
D.O.N.T K.N.O.W.
T.R.U.S.T. M.E.
"Next thing you're gonna say is that I have to say your name three times in a row," Keigo scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest.
NO
"I was joking."
YES.
Keigo groaned softly, "this cannot be real," he whispered to himself, Touya stood and sat on the bed next to Keigo. He laid his hand gently on Keigo's arm and immediately the blonde shivered and jumped up. Touya's hand went through him but of course, people could still feel his energy.
"Was that you?" he asked, Touya backed away, kneeling in front of the board again.
YES.
"Right, of course… this is too weird," he said, running a hand over his face.
S.O.R.R.Y.
Keigo didn't say anything.
L.E.A.V.E?
"No, no… you don't have to go, I wouldn't know even if I said yes but that's besides the point, so, you're really my soulmate?"
Touya hesitated, then,
YES.
"Great," Keigo sighed, sitting back down on his bed, "that's just great, just my luck."
B.A.D Touya spelled out, then, C.U.R.S.E.D
Keigo's breath caught, "I'm cursed?"
YES.
"How do you know?"
W.I.T.C.H. T.O.L.D. M.E.
"Right, because why wouldn't there be witches too. Ghost witches, is this fucking Halloweentown?" He fell onto his and then rolled onto his side.
NO
"Haha, it was a joke," Keigo grumbled.
YES.
"You're an infuriating ghost Touya," Keigo said but there was a smile playing on his lips.
NO
Keigo hummed, "okay, so a ghost told you that I was cursed and that you're my soulmate?"
YES.
"Huh, well, I'm not shocked about the curse thing, I pretty much figured that one out myself. Is there a way to break it?"
NO
"Ha! Just my luck again," Keigo said and then frowned, "just my luck I'd get a soulmate that was dead too, what are the odds."
Touya didn't move the planchette. He didn't speak or move despite knowing Keigo wouldn't hear or see him anyway.
Suddenly Keigo sat up, "low," he whispered, "the odds of that are low… Touya," Keigo choked out, "was it my fault?"
Touya didn't move.
Tears welled in Keigo's eyes as he stood and knelt in front of the board- unknowingly, in front of Touya, "Is it my fault you're dead Touya?"
NO
Touya set down the ring on the board, watching as Keigo looked at it and picked it up. "You were there… at the shop."
YES.
"You follow me around?"
YES.
"To keep me safe?"
YES.
"Even though it's my fault you're dead? Because of my curse?"
NO
NO
Touya lied, circling it twice.
Keigo shook his head, "I don't believe you," he whispered then, "where are you?" he asked.
I.N. F.R.O.N.T. O.F. Y.O.U
Again, Keigo's breath caught, and he swallowed hard, slipping the ring onto his finger before holding that hand up in the air. Touya lifted his own, hovering his hand an inch from Keigo's.
"Will you stay Touya? Will you stay around me?"
A.L.W.A.Y.S.
Touya moved his hand closer, a hair away from touching Keigo, from phasing through the blonde's hand.
"Can you feel it?" Keigo asked when Touya shifted his hand forward and went through Keigo's, sending shivers through his body again.
NO
"Oh," Keigo whispered, tears forming in his eyes again, "I wish you could."
YES.
Keigo smiled softly, a few tears falling down his cheeks, "I bet you're beautiful," he whispered and if Touya could cry, if he could breathe at all it all would have been taken away. "Touya," Keigo said gently.
YES.
"My ghost?"
YES.
"Can I know you?"
YES.
For the first time since dying I think I may be getting closer to feeling alive. There is something about Keigo, something so devastatingly beautiful. I can never take my eyes off of him.
Now he knows I exist.
Now he knows who I am; my name and he does not want me to go away. He wishes for me to stay.
I could never deny him though I fear this may end badly for us both.
Nothing good can come from a ghost falling in love with someone living.