Work Text:
"An Extra Pumpkin or Two"
By: Miracle Shining
PAIRING: Aizawa Shouta/Yamada Hizashi
RATING: G
SUMMARY: Banshee Hizashi wants to prep for some special visitors and gets a surprise one in return.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: A HUGE Thank You to RIVARS Studios for once again allowing me to use a piece of her artwork and base a story after it. It's so fun to do! I will list her professional Twitter account at the end of this piece!
*****
It was just turning into late evening when wispy torn cloth moved and swayed through the chilly Autumnal breeze. The moonlight glimmered down on skin that was almost a shade too white and long hair that faded from rich dark elm leaves to sunshine kissed light yellow. A set of emerald green eyes gazed through a broken paned window into the woods that rested just beyond a cobbled, aged foot path.
It had been many years that Hizashi had resided in the tiny collapsing cottage on the outskirts of a bustling village. He didn't quite remember how he got there but somehow through his wanderings over the rivers and streams that connected the expansive valleys and hills together, he had found the small place.
Of course, when he had first came, the original owner had gotten the wrong idea about him visiting. With a loud scream, she gathered up her children and fled.
It had made Hizashi so sad that he cried for what felt like an eternity or longer. He some times heard the villagers whisper as they walked a little too deep in the woods and a little too close to his "new" home that the Banshee was trying to lure them with the sound of his tears.
But that wasn't true at all.
Hizashi didn't want to hurt the people. In fact, he had hoped that maybe there would be some friendly ones because he had been so terribly lonely after traveling so far and not really having a place to call his own.
But the days turned to into weeks which turned into months and then morphed steadily into years. His cottage became riddled with holes and creaking boards. However, it was a kind of comfort. He had a different group of friends move in with him.
He still wasn't too fond of the spiders that lived in the cobweb filled corners but he had made enough peace with them that as long as they caught the other creepy crawlies, he would let them stay.
Twenty years ago, a little wisp of a cat appeared on his doorstep. She was as white and see through as any tiny ghost creature and floated right up to him. Hizashi had laughed after all this time as she danced and purred around his head before drifting down into his waiting arms. He called her Milky because she resembled the liquid like light of the star dotted sky.
Ten years later, a black shape moved around the corners of the Banshee's home. Hizashi had drifted into the main living space to see it crawling up the wall, gliding across the ceiling and then proceeding to drop nearly on top of his head. It took him a few moments to realize it was a cat shape. When it fully solidified now resting on his shoulder, it was the most midnight color with eyes that shone like diamonds. Hizashi named him Shadow.
Then three years ago something unusual happened. It was only two days before All Hallow's Eve and he was preparing for the one time a year when he could go out and venture into the nearby village freely and go unnoticed.
He had heard their voices and drifted to the nearly crooked door that was barely holding on by it's final joint.
A purple haired young man was walking down the path, a little girl with sparkling silver hair sitting on his shoulders.
To see unaccompanied children walking down the old path with no adults as night closed in was as much as shock to Hizashi as it would have been to anyone else.
He had crouched down and floated over to the cracked window to get a better look but still not be seen.
"Hitoshi, what's that?" the little girl had asked pointing at the broken down cottage.
"Ah, that's the Banshee's home, Eri." the young man explained.
"What's a Banshee?"
"It's a ghost that's usually very sad because of something that happened to it when it was alive. Great Grandma used to tell me about the one out here. She said despite what the town said, the Banshee was actually very harmless. She even thought he might have been lonely."
"He?"
"In least Great Grandma thought it was a he."
"That's so sad." the little girl replied. "Oh, oh, let's do something nice for him!"
"Like what?"
"Um, oh I know!"
Hizashi blinked as he saw the child dig around in her skirt pocket before pulling out something small in her hand.
"It's all I have but I hope he likes it!"
"I think he will, Eri. Here, let's go leave it for him."
The teenager approached the doorway with absolutely no fear before setting down his tiny sibling. The silver haired girl placed it on the front step and then flashed a blinding bright smile at the damaged door.
"Mister Banshee, I hope you like the gift! Hitoshi and I will come back before every Hallow's Eve and leave something for you so you don't feel lonely any more!"
With that, the child held up her arms to be lifted up and the elder hoisted her up on his shoulders. Hizashi watched with his wide green eyes as the duo turned and headed back up the path and disappeared.
Slowly he let himself melt through the wall and looked down.
Sitting on his ancient step was a small piece of candy.
Since then, for the following two years, Hizashi had started to make sure that his cottage looked cozy and welcoming for anyone who may want to stop by. And more and more of them had started too.
Children began to come and visit leaving little trinkets and gifts.
In return, Hizashi had started displaying fresh pumpkins from a private garden of his located much further in the deep woods. Any of them could come and help themselves to the gourds. Even some of the parents came with them, the rumor of the Kind Banshee starting to banish the old belief about him.
But he always looked forward most to seeing the purple haired teen and his silver haired small sister.
Now with Milky and Shadow following him, he wheeled his handcart slowly down the rocky dirt path toward the pumpkin patch that he tended with such care.
Tonight the children would be coming looking for them and hopefully tonight he would see his two favorites before they grew too old to visit him any more.
The wheels creaked down the route until Hizashi stopped at the clearing. Little flickers of Will-o-Wisp lights illuminated the small area.
The Banshee went right to work filtering through the oranges and greens finding the best ones that he had. He found three of exceptional size and beauty. They would be perfect for the front of the cottage.
"Milky? Shadow? It's time for us to go!" Hizashi called out.
While he waited for this two spirit cats, he didn't hear or notice movement in his cart.
The two kitties floated and slid until they were on both sides of Hizashi. He went to lift up the handles of the cart but glanced back to make sure everything was secure.
"Let's see, one, two, three pumpkins and one Mummy. Perfect." Hizashi thought to himself. "Wait, one Mummy?"
Sitting in the cart right between his pumpkins was a raven messy haired man covered in loose fitting white bandages, a tattered gray shirt and set of pants covering up some of the areas of his body. He blinked his tired ebony eyes at the Banshee.
"H-h-hello..." Hizashi stuttered out, unsure what to make of the other's sudden appearance.
"Hello." came a deep, quiet voice.
"Um, what... What are you doing in my cart?"
"I was sleepy and it looked comfortable."
"O-o-oh."
"And I like your spirit cats."
Hizashi watched as Milky drifted in wisps around the Mummy's head and Shadow's form danced in long stretched out shapes while making a distant purring noise.
"Thank you..." Hizashi whispered.
"Where are you going?" the Mummy inquired.
"Back to my home. To deliver these pumpkins."
"Why?"
"Because some children will be waiting for them."
"Aren't they afraid of you?"
"They used to be but they aren't very much any more."
"Can I come with you?"
Hizashi blinked as he looked at the Mummy still sitting in the back of his cart.
"I guess so. Uh, what's your name?"
"I think it's Shouta. I'm pretty sure it still is. I haven't been awake in a very long time."
Hizashi gave a little nod. He had heard rumors when he was a young wandering Spectre that some times Mummies didn't remember who they were because they slept for so many years at a time.
"Well, we had better go. I need to get these pumpkins back."
Shouta gave a small nod and then pulled something out of his torn shirt. It took only Hizashi a moment to realize that the Mummy had a piece of candy. A lollipop that he popped into this mouth.
"Do all Mummies eat sweets?"
"I don't think so. I found it on the ground when I was wandering around. I think I scared someone and they dropped it. It had a bit of dirt on it but sugar is still sugar."
Something about the deadpan way Shouta delivered the little speech caused laughter to bubble up in Hizashi's throat. He couldn't help the giggle that escaped him, the sound like distant bells chiming. Shouta just gave him a small smile around his treat.
The Banshee hoisted up the cart, his chains around his body rattling softly and he began to pull his pumpkins and one Mummy down the path once again.
Shouta watched him curiously before speaking softly again.
"I know they say Banshees wail and weep. But you seem pretty content."
"I used to be sad all the time. But that changed when I got Milky and then later Shadow. Then a teenage boy and his little sister started to visit and I started to feel happier."
"Your laugh is so pretty." Shouta stated. "I bet you sing pretty too."
Hizashi wasn't sure after all these years how a compliment could make his ghostly white skin blush but he was sure his cheeks were turning a shade of white darker than the rest of him.
"I... I haven't sang in a long time." Hizashi returned as he continued to pull the cart.
"Can you sing me something?" Shouta asked.
"I... I guess I could."
The Banshee tried to remember some old tunes but nothing came to mind. So instead he opted to simply sing a melody about the ancient trees and the secrets and joys they held inside. The notes lit up the whole area as the hidden Will-o-Wisps appeared once again, moving in delight to the harmonies bouncing off the old oaks. Milky and Shadow dashed to and fro in front of Hizashi and over the cart. Even the trees that he sang about began to sway in time, Autumn leaves falling in a dazzling flash of colors that sparkled in the vibrant moonlight.
By the time Hizashi had finished singing, they had reached his little broken down cottage. He turned to look at Shouta and was surprised to see him wiping his eyes swiftly with one of his bandaged hands.
"Are you okay, Shouta?"
"Yes! I mean, yes, I am." he murmured. "Just... it's been so many years since I heard something so beautiful."
Hizashi swallowed and looked shyly down at the ground, scuffing his off white old boot across the stone.
"....thank you."
"Where do you want these pumpkins?" the Mummy questioned as he stepped out of the cart.
"Just in the front of the doorway. The children come and gather them up. They some times leave little gifts then. They do it all the way through Hallow's Eve."
"That sounds nice."
Despite the bandages on Shouta's body, he easily lifted up the first pumpkin as if it weighed nothing and placed it on the ground. The second and third gourd followed. He dusted off his ancient hands and then turned to Hizashi.
"I like your home."
"Really?"
"All I have is an old coffin inside of a hidden room. It's dark and smelly and too quiet."
"You... you could stay here with me if you want? I... I haven't really had much company and it would be nice." Hizashi whispered.
Shouta tilted his head and then reached out his covered hand, offering it to Hizashi.
"I sleep a lot. I can't help it."
"That's okay, I don't sleep hardly at all. I can't help it either." Hizashi returned as he reached out and took the other's hand.
"We don't seem like we'd do very good together and yet..." Shouta began.
"...and yet..." Hizashi began to reply when his ears perked to oncoming sounds.
"Quick!" he gestured and pulled Shouta forward, almost forgetting that unlike him, Mummies couldn't walk through the door.
With some struggle, Shouta managed to squeeze through the broken panels and then crouched with Hizashi at the farthest dirty window. The two watched as a now older purple haired young man walked with a slightly taller silver haired little girl holding his hand.
"Hitoshi, look! The nice Banshee left us pumpkins again!"
"He did, Eri. Pick only one so that some of the other kids can come and visit."
The little girl giggled and chose the middle sized one. She then stopped and looked curiously at the distant window. Hizashi realized it and quickly pushed Shouta's head down while ducking himself.
"Hitoshi? I think I saw Mister Banshee and some other person."
"Maybe Mister Banshee has a friend that has come to visit."
"Oh I hope so! I don't want him to be lonely forever!" the younger stated.
The teenager picked up the pumpkin with one arm. The child dug around in her pocket and then left two small things on the step.
"Goodbye Mister Banshee and other Mister, I think! We'll be back to visit on All Hallow's Eve! Take care of each other!"
With that, the little girl gripped her older brother's free hand and they walked back down the path until they vanished out of sight.
Hizashi finally lifted his head again. Shouta grumbled at being squished down but rose up with the other. The Banshee drifted to the door and then phased through it. The Mummy followed behind, creaking the broken entry open and kneeling with Hizashi.
Sitting on the old steps were two small pieces of candy.
Hizashi smiled as he offered the candy to Shouta.
"I'm a Banshee so I can't eat these. But I want you to have them."
The raven haired other blinked his sleepy eyes and then barely smiled once again.
"The little girl said she didn't want you to be alone. So... Is it okay that I stay with you?"
Hizashi nodded.
"I'd like that. A lot."
Shouta sat down and unwrapped one of the small pieces of candy before tossing it in his mouth. Hizashi floated downwards and rested next to him. Without much thought, he laid his head on Shouta's shoulder. The Mummy opened his hand and took the Banshee's, lacing their fingers together. Milky and Shadow sat on either side of them, their sounds of contentment echoing through the quiet forest.
Hizashi closed his eyes. He had his two spirit cats. He had his pumpkin patch and his little broken down cottage. He had two children and more now coming to visit with no fear of him.
And now he had Shouta.
And Hizashi the once Sad Banshee was no more.
For he was truly, truly happy.
THE END!
FINAL NOTES: Please visit RIVARS Studios on Twitter at @RivarsStudio! You can follow me on Twitter at @MiracleShining8!