Chapter Text
Soulmate markings, colloquially called ‘soulmarks’, were a relatively new thing. Some lovesick Dezashin made a foolish wish some odd 400 years ago; for humanity, be able to find and reach out to their destined partner. That wish manifested itself by connecting two souls together (romantic or not) and whatever was written on one person’s skin would appear on their soulmate. People could write love letters or create beautiful art for their destined.
It was both romantic and disgusting in equal measure.
For Ace, the soulmarks were a nuisance at best. At worst, it was a curse for both him and whoever his unfortunate soulmate was.
Admittedly, Ace was intrigued by the concept. How did fate select a 'soulmate'? Who was the person he was connected to? What were they like?
Could they accept Ace for everything that he was?
Ace was Kamen Rider Geats. Someone who was constantly facing danger during his endless pursuit to reunite with his mother.
If he was suppose to love the person fate decided to be his soulmate, then Ace knew he could not put them in danger. His whole existence was marked with tragedy, and it would be unfair to drag them into his mess.
He did had half a mind to wish away the soulmark system with one of his entries in the Desire Grand Prix. However, it was seeing how the soulmarkings brought other people happiness, the ability to feel connected and loved despite the distance, that always stopped him from doing so.
And so, Ace continued searching for his mother and running from his soulmate throughout his various lives.
It was the 21st century and Ukiyo Ace knew from a young age he (unfortunately) had a soulmate in this life.
He also knew, he should not interact.
At the age of five, child-like drawings from colorful markers were scribbled across Ace’s skin. There was no rhyme or reason, as all kids’ pictures were, but the art was full of life and wonder. He would often receive a giant brown blotch with horns and legs; perhaps it was an image of a deer?
Regardless, Ace never sent back any artwork.
When Ace got a little older, his soulmate started to write. It was simple words and phrases, the characters strokes inconsistent and full of misspellings. Phrases like “Hi”,“I’m ____”, and “I like meat, you?” would be scribbled on his arms. While the soulmarkings could connect people, they did censored major identifying information. Less it ruin the fun or cause a serious crime to occur. The DGP put some thought into things at least. Or perhaps it was for entertainment, watching humans run around in search for love like fools.
Even with the protection of anonymity, Ace never responded.
As Ace reached early adolescents, his soulmate started to ask questions. Questions like: “Who are you?”, “Are you out there?”, and “Do you even care?” That last question pained Ace the most. His soulmate seemed to desperately yearn for some form of connection with him. It was this time that Ace was tempted to reach back out the most. He had to remind himself that he was doing this because he cared. Even if Ace did not know who the stranger was on the other side, he cared simply because they existed and deserved to be happy. It was just poor luck that they had Ace as their soulmate.
Ace left all those questions unanswered.
By the time Ace reached high-school, his soulmate must have given up. His skin was blank. There were no more questions, messages, or artwork left on his skin. Selfishly, Ace missed hearing from his soulmate. Not that he was in any position to complain. He was the one who refuse to respond after all. This was a tragedy of his own making. In his tireless quest to reunited with his mother, Ace knew his twisted fate would only end in death. And he could not put his soulmate in danger. He refused to.
Ace could only hope that his soulmate was doing well and could live a long, peaceful, normal life without him.
“Why are you even playing?” a broody teenager, Sumida Kanto, scoffed. “Shouldn’t you be out spending daddy’s money?”
Ace looked up from his new Zombie buckle he won from Michinaga. He looked over to where Na-Go was to watch the scene before him play out. The first round of the DGP had just finished, and it seems like there was already tension between some of the new riders.
Despite Da-Paan’s ridicule, Neon did not seem discouraged. She seemed to take it in stride.
“Because there are things money can’t buy.” Neon said wistfully.
“What did you wish for?” Keiwa asked, his curiosity piqued.
“A world where I can meet my soulmate!” Neon declared with her arms spread wide.
“What about your soulmarkings?” Ace pipped in, furrowing his eyebrows.
“I’ve talked to my soulmate plenty,” Neon said as she rolled up her sleeve. Her arms were covered in messages. Ace could only imaging that there was even more scattered across her skin. Neon looked down at her arm, reading one of the many messages left with a gentle fondness. “But I haven’t been able to meet them yet. I want a world where we can talk face to face.”
“You’re risking your life for that?” Kanto rolled his eyes. He could not bear Na-Go’s sunny disposition any further and stormed out.
“It’s my wish, I can do whatever I want!” Neon puffed her cheeks, watching as the other left. She turned to Keiwa, a smile from ear to ear quickly appeared on her face. “Speaking of soulmarkings, what about you, Keiwa?”
“Eh?” Keiwa flushed, embarrassed by the sudden attention."I do have some..."
"Can I see?" Neon urged, rushing to sit beside Keiwa to see his soulmarks.
Keiwa lifted the sleeve of his jacket. Scribbled along his arm were a number of messages like: "You got this!" "I forgot to buy milk!" "Don't watch the next episode without me!"
“They're from my older sister, Sara, is mine,” Keiwa sheepishly admitted.
“I'm jealous!" Neon squealed. "I would love it if I had a sister like that as my soulmate."
Ace watched the scene unfold with a gentle smile. Even if he refused to reach out to his own soulmate, it was always nice to watch others keep connected to theirs.
“Do you have any Ace?” Keiwa asked.
Ace looked up when he heard his name called by Tycoon. Of course, this was where the conversation would lead. Both Keiwa and Neon seemed very curious about Geats, especially since he saved them during the last iteration of the DGP. Ace cursed inwardly, taking care not to show it on his face. Normally, Ace would love the attention. But for this topic, he could do without it.
At least he was a clever fox, he could easily lie his way out of this predicament.
“Not right now but,” Ace paused as he brought his fingers to his mouth for a dramatic effect. “My soulmate and I do exchange heartfelt words once every fortnight. Alas, as the Star of Stars of Stars, I must be careful. Less I put them in danger.”
Some truth sprinkled in with his lies, as are the ingredients that all good lies are made out of.
“Ooh,” both Keiwa and Neon echoed in amazement.
Success.
“What about you Buffa?” Ace asked, attempting to get the attention off of him.
“Hah?” Michinaga looked up from his seat. He was studying the water buckle with distain and was not paying attention to the larger group.
“Do you send waxing poetry under the moonlight to your soulmate?” Ace teased, waggling his eyebrows.
Michinaga scoffed, rolling his eyes. He refused to respond to that question.
“Maybe they draw artwork to each other?” Keiwa suggested.
“Or maybe they talk in code!” Neon ventured.
Michinaga let out a frustrated noise. “You’re all ridiculous.”
Buffa clicked his tongue to let everyone know of his disgust before walking out of the salon. It was silent after Michinaga’s rushed departure. The jovial atmosphere amongst competitors gone.
“Well, that’s one way to get rid of the moody ones,” Ace quipped to break the tension.
“Ace!” Neon admonished. Despite her tone, Ace could see that she was holding back a laugh.
Ace shrugged nonchalantly, giving Tycoon and Na-Go a cheeky grin.
“Am I wrong?”
Every time Ace plays in the Desire Grand Prix, he never intends to make friends. He prefers to keep himself at a distance. Less he grows attach and they hold him back or worst, stab him in the back. And yet every time he played, Ace could not help himself and form connections with others.
Of course, he refused to go easy on them
It proved that he was human. Despite his strange 2,000 years in the making existence, Ace was still human.
Tycoon, a young idealistic and jobless man who was still trying to find his way in the world. He was so naive, Ace had to play a few tricks to teach him better. Regardless, Keiwa maintained his bright optimism in the face of everything.
Na-Go, a popular cheery internet star who was the sole heir to the Kurama Conglomerate. She could have the world at her fingertips, and yet Neon chose to fight for her dreams in the DGP.
And then there was Buffa, a moody construction worker with a chip on his shoulder. He did not like anyone in particular, but he seemed to hate Geats the most. Despite that, Ace could sense that there was more to Michinaga than that, or perhaps Ace just found it fun to annoy the bull.
Both, the answer was both.
But who could blame Ace? It was all too easy to rile the bull up, and his reactions were always entertaining to watch. When Ace learned that Buffa was once again offered entry in the next DGP, he knew he had to mess with Michinaga.
Ace got a kick seeing the look on Michinaga’s face as stared in awe at the Star of Stars of Stars standing before him. Buffa was completely obvious to their history, and Ace could only imagine the endless fun he could have by keeping this one-sided secret. But he was also excited to see the look on Michinaga’s face when the truth was revealed.
Unfortunately, Ace could not have it both ways. And Tsumuri would not let the former play out. But until all was revealed, Geats would wring out all the amusement he could.
Giving Mihcinaga a devilish grin, he spun around and landed with a flashy pose. A rose in hand out towards the bull.
“Would you like an autograph?” the fox asked with a wink.
It looked almost as if Michinaga would have gladly accepted the offer, but Tsumuri interrupted by pushing Ace aside. Geats pouted as his fun was being cut short. He could not fault her though, his sister was doing her job after all. Still, while the other two were distracted with each other, he could not pass up the chance to tease Buffa further.
Crouching down with pen in hand, Ace pulled Michinaga’s loose shirt taunt to sign it.
“Geats!” Michinaga hissed, slapping Ace’s hand away.
Some ink marked the back of his left hand as his swiped past. It was fine, Ace had just finished anyways. Ace snickered to himself, proud of his little prank.
“I don’t want your autograph!”
Michinaga tried to wipe away the ink. It was futile, the damage was done and now Buffa had a signed shirt from Ukiyo Ace, the Star of Stars of Stars.
“That’s not what you said earlier,” Ace teased as he capped his pen.
Michinaga scoffed, giving up on trying to salvage his shirt. “Why are you here with Tsumuri anyways?”
“I’m just watching my sister work.”
He attempted to place his left hand on Tsumuri’s shoulder. The navigator quickly stepped aside to avoid the touch. Ace looked at Tsumuri aghast. How could his own family act so coldly to him?
Well, he understood why, but it was still fun to act like he was hurt.
When he looked over to Tsumuri, Ace noticed that his left hand had a familiar ink mark on it.
He felt his stomach drop.
Ace knew that the ink mark was not there moments before and the timing was all too convenient. Quickly he slid his left hand into his pocket, hoping that no one else noticed. Tsumuri was focused on her job and Michinaga seemed focused on the DGP. It seemed like Ace was in the clear for now.
“Well, see you later Buffa.” Ace patted Michinaga’s back with his right hand. As he walked past the other, he took one last look at Michinaga’s left hand to double check his growing suspicion.
It was a match.
Ace felt his pulse race as he tried to process this new discovery. It did not seem real. He attempted to make small talk with Tsumuri, but his mind kept trailing back to Michinaga and the ink mark on their hands.
Once he was alone, Ace took another glance at his hand. The soulmark on his left hand burned with a phantom pain. He glared down at it, hoping that it was just a trick of the mind or that it would somehow go away. The thought of knowing who his soulmate was caused a sense of unease to settle in the back of his mind.
Ace had spent several lifetimes trying to avoid knowing who his soulmate was to protect them from the DGP, the Jyamato, and Geats. Now he was facing the very real possibility that his soulmate was right in front of him, competing in the DGP alongside him. This was the very thing that he was trying to avoid.
Perhaps it was all just a coincidence, and Ace was just jumping to conclusions?
Ace could only hope that was the case.
Despite having a very likely candidate for his soulmate, Ace vowed that it would not change things. He still had his mission to reunite with his mother. He could not get distracted.
Although it was a difficult promise to keep, especially when Michinaga was right there.
A friendly pat on the back.
A few teasing pokes here and there.
A brush of the shoulders if they stood close enough.
Ace tried to pass off all the casual touches as his usual antics. Same old Geats picking on Buffa. People would get suspicious if he stopped acting like that!
Ace knew deep down that he was allowing himself to indulge more than he probably should. It was fine. He was not crossing any lines and no one was getting hurt. It was just a little secret only Ace knew, and he would never reveal it.
Thankfully Michinaga did not seem to notice any shift in Ace’s behavior, nor did anyone else for that matter. It was just the typical fox teasing the bull. And that was fine by Ace.
Privately, Ace reflected on how Michinaga made a pretty good match for him. Maybe the universe knew what it was doing. Matching Ace with someone to tease endlessly. Who’s reactions Ace would never get tired of. And enough stubborn fortitude to put up with Ace’s antics. While Michinaga was a bit rough around the edges, there was a sincere kindness and thoughtfulness to him too. It was just hidden behind the walls he put up.
Michinaga being impossibility attractive was a plus too.
As long as things continued on like this, then perhaps knowing his soulmate was not the ill-fated omen Ace feared it to be.
“P.S. Do NOT write on your skin.”
That was the last note Ace found around his room in the morning. He was confused about what was happening. He could not trust his family? He needed to head towards danger? Somehow meet up with these masked heroes of justice and touch one of their belts? It all seemed too strange to be real.
He had to have written everything down for a reason. Ace just had to trust his past self.
It was only when Ace was holding a dying man in his arms that all of his questions were answered. When he touched the other’s Desire Driver, all the memories of the DGP locked away came flood back in.
“Was it all a lie?” Michinaga asked, his voice hoarse and breath labored.
Ace turned his head to look down at Buffa. His body was already starting to glitch out in a familiar red static. Ace clenched his jaw, the taste of bile lingering in the back of his throat. There was a nauseating sense of dread washing over him.
Ace’s fears were becoming reality; his soulmate was dying.
The logical side of Ace’s mind knew that this was not his fault. He had taken all the proper precautions. That this was not because Michinaga was Ace’s supposed soulmate. It was because Buffa was a player in the DGP, and therefore vulnerable to all the dangers that came with that.
Yet, Ace could only think of what he could have done to save the other man. If only he had arrived just a little bit sooner. Or worked towards getting Buffa eliminated earlier. There had to have been something he could have done.
Ace’s shoulders dropped. There was nothing he could do now for Buffa, all he could do was be there for Michinaga in his final moments.
“Give me something…” Michinaga pleaded, his breath labored. His eyes were glassy with tears he refused to shed. Even in the face of death, Buffa was a stubborn bull. “… something to believe in, please…”
Ace felt a sharp stabbing pain his chest.
Michinaga’s body yielded and shattered into oblivion. Ace swallowed heavily. He only had a moment to mourn his fallen rival and supposed soulmate.
As he stood up, Ace’s body felt heavy and slow. He could feel the weight of Michinaga’s Desire Driver, heavy with the weight of the other’s expectations. Utilized his wish to always be Kamen Rider Geats, Ace transformed. Steeling himself against the threat before him, Geats went into battle.
After all, he still had a wish 2,000 years in the making to fulfill.
At least now, Ace would not have to worry about any soulmate of his getting mixed up into his mess.
Life goes on, and Ace keeps fighting.
Perhaps he should have been grieving more. His supposed soulmate did die after all. If he was anyone else, he probably would have been more affected. But Ace was familiar enough with death and loss to not be discouraged by it. Besides, it was not as if he was particularly close with Buffa. Even if destiny declared them soulmates, they were a far cry from star-cross lovers.
Michinaga was just a momentary distraction for Ace..
Life goes on and things return to as normal as they can get.
Despite everything Ace tells himself, when Buffa comes back from the dead, Ace is thrown in for a loop. He seems darker, more twisted than he was before and now he was playing on the Jyamato’s side. It had only been a few weeks, and yet it seemed as if Michinaga had changed completely.
“Is this what you wanted?” Ace questioned, his voice coming out with more bite than he intended.
Geats grabbed Michinaga by the labels of the jacket, forcing the other man to look at him properly. How could Buffa play along with the Jyamato Grand Prix? The number of innocent civilians’ lives that were caught in the cross fire? The friends he was betraying?
Ace tried to search for the answers to his questions in Michinaga’s eyes.
“What happened to you?” Ace asked, his voice cracking at the end.
“I haven’t changed,” Michinaga snarled, balling up the front of Ace’s shirt in his fist. “I am going to destroy all Kamen Riders, the Desire Grand Prix, and everything else involved in their messed-up games.”
The two men glared at the each other; Michinaga with nothing but contempt for Geats, and Ace with only bitter disappointment in Buffa.
“You’re being used by Beroba,” Ace tried to reason. Michinaga was a stubborn bull, but he could be reasoned with, or at least he used to be.
Michinaga snorted, rolling his eyes at Ace’s pitiful attempt to appeal to his better nature. He pushed Ace away. He had better things to do.
“I’m getting my wish granted. It doesn’t matter what I have to do to get it.”
Ace watched as Michinaga walked away. Ace could feel his fingernails dig into his flesh as he balled his hands into fists. He held himself back going after the other rider. Whether it was to drag him back to his side or to kick his ass, Ace was not quite sure which.
Despite their opposing allegiances, they did share one thing in common right now. Ace also had a wish he had to have granted too, regardless of the methods he had to use to obtain it.
And if Ace had to fight his soulmate to have it granted, then he would do it.
Ironically, it was not too long after Ace accepted the idea of fighting his soulmate, that he found himself fighting along-side him instead. While their motivations were still different, they both agreed that the DGP was the root cause of all of the pain and suffering they were experiencing.
An enemy of the enemy is a friend, or a tentative ally at least.
With that in mind, Geats and Buffa agreed on a temporary truce. If they were going up against the entirety of the DGP, they would need all the strength they could get. It would have been romantic if they were not up against such near impossible odds. There was a very real possibility that they could not win, and failure meant death.
Well, they could not face death on an empty stomach.
After picking up some ingredients for hotpot from a konbini, Ace made his way to Michinaga’s makeshift base of operations. It was a dingy abandoned warehouse. Not much in terms of amenities, but it served its purpose.
Ace saw Michinaga standing in front of a wooden plywood board with several crude animal drawling. It was not too far off from the artwork that decorated Ace’s skin from when he was a kid. Somethings never change.
With some quick inferring, Ace was able to surmise that those figures were supposed to represent all the remaining riders left in play.
“There’s one more player,” Ace spoke up, announcing his presence.
Buffa turned to look at him, eyebrows furrowing in an unspoken question. Placing the bag of groceries on the table, Ace took the ink marker from Michinaga. Walking over to the board, he sketched out a realistic picture of PunkJack’s helmet. After his masterpiece was finished, he took a step back to admire his work.
Ace grinned as he saw the look of surprise and awe on Michinaga’s face.
“You’re impressed, right?” Ace teased, capping the marker.
“Don’t get full of your-“ Michinaga cut himself off.
"Hmm?"
Ace furrowed his eyebrows, curious to the cause of Buffa's sudden behavior. Looking over at Michinaga, Ace saw that the other's eyes were laser focused on Ace’s hand. Ace looked down and saw that some ink had stained his fingertips. He could feel his stomach start to twist into itself.
Closing the gap between them in two steps, Michinaga grabbed Ace’s hand. Instinctually, Ace tried to pull his hand back, but Michinaga held on with a tight grip. Trailing his gaze over to Michinaga’s hand, Ace saw that the other rider had matching ink marks.
Damnit…
Maybe Ace could play it off as a coincidence. Afterall, how could Geats and Buffa be soulmates? They were bitter rivals that were constantly in opposition with each other.
Could he pretend to be surprised by the discovery as well? It’s not like Michinaga knew that Ace had known about their fated connection for months now. And Ace was a damn good actor after all.
Or maybe it was time to come clean? Drop all the pretense. Allow himself to be open and honest about everything. How Ace kept the fact that they were soulmates a secret for a while now. How he held himself back from reaching out as they were growing up as kids. How Ace was terrified of falling in love with someone, dragging them into a hopeless battle, and ultimately getting him killed.
Well, Buffa does have a habit of coming back from the dead at least, Ace thought to himself sarcastically.
Ace tried to swallow down the lump that was forming in the back of his throat. For once, Ace was unsure on what to say or do. The longer Michinaga stared at their hands, the more nauseous Ace felt.
Wordlessly, Michinaga uncapped the marker again and drew a lopsided circle on the back of his hand. Moments later, an identical image appeared on Ace’s.
Ace winced as if he was in pain when the matching soulmark appeared on his skin.
Michinaga abruptly dropped Ace’s hand as if it was burning. Pressing his mouth into a thin line, he inhaled sharply through his nose. Buffa looked away as he processed this new information. Ace could practically see Michinaga recalling childhood memories where he wrote countless one-sided messages to a soulmate who never wrote back.
The image of a younger Michinaga waiting for a response from Ace sent a new wave of guilt to washed over the latter.
Perhaps it was time for Ace to stop being selfish. They were in too deep for Ace’s original intentions to still be relevant. Additionally, Michinaga deserved to know the truth.
“Mi-“
“You brought food?” Michinaga said with a raised voice. Drowning out anything Ace was attempting to say.
Ace looked over to the bag of food left on the table before returning his gaze to Michinaga’s back. His fingers twitch with the urge to reach out to the shorter man. There was a thousand different things Ace could have said in the moment; that he wanted to say. Clenching his hand into a fist, Ace held himself back.
Michinaga made his decision, they were going to ignore it. Ignorance was a bliss after all.
Ace felt both relieved and dishearten by the other’s choice. But it was Michinaga’s turn to set the pace. Besides, it was probably for the best they continued on as normal.
Ace swallowed a hard lump that had formed. “Yeah, I planned to cook us some hot pot.”
He tried to keep his tone light, trying to break the tension in the air by returning to their normal idle chat. Ace was impressed that his voice only cracked a little. Hopefully Michinaga would ignore that slip up too.
Michinaga turned around, facing the taller man once more. He was forcing his face to be expressionless, attempting to hide his thoughts. Michinaga had his jaw tightly clenched, his eyes were slightly red, and his breathing was forced.
Buffa was a terrible actor, but Ace choose to ignore that too.
Despite both Ace and Michinaga knowing the full truth, they never spoke on it. The DGP provided plenty of distraction to keep themselves busy. A greater purpose than a supposed soulmate or whatever they were.
The knowledge did bring them closer. Their precarious alliance had grown into a trusted partnership, at least out on the battle field. After countless times competing and fighting against each other, fighting along-side each other felt natural. They knew the other’s moves so well, and were able to cover for the other.
Geats and Buffa made a great team, and together they were able to destroy Archimedel.
“Good job,” Ace complimented as his suit faded away.
“Hmm…” Michinaga nodded his head as he also returned to his civilian attire.
The two stood side by side where they had just finished off Archimedel. They watched fires from their attacks flicker before slowly fade away.
“We make a good team.” Ace smiled, giving Michinaga a pat on the back. Michinaga scoffed, rolling his eyes at the other rider’s friendly small talk.
“I’m taking these,” Buffa said, picking up the bag of Core IDs that Archimedel had. He was still trying to win a game.
Michinaga walked away without saying anything else. Ace watched the shrinking silhouette with a gentle fondness. While Buffa refused to admit it, he was trying to help out in the only way he knew how.
It was when Michinaga did not know how to solve things was when Ace grew worried. Michinaga had unintentionally killed Sara, causing Keiwa to turn rouge and side with Beroba and Kekera. Tycoon seemed to be out for vengeance, and Buffa only knew how to pay the toll with blood.
It was one of many growing concerns Ace had on his mind. And in truth, he was not sure what the solution was. All he knew that this could not go on for long, and that they needed Keiwa back on their side. With Na-Go and Punkjack were out of commission, the only other Rider Geats could depend on was Buffa. And Michinaga was currently spending his days fighting, destroying any to all Jyamato threats. Even it meant innocent humans lives lost. Each life he took weighed heavy on Michinaga’s soul.
The endless battles had taken its toll on Buffa. These days, Michinaga would only pass through the salon to see where he needed to be next. They never exchange much in terms of pleasantries or banter.
It doesn’t look like he’s been eating… Ace thought to himself as he glanced over to Michinaga. They just managed to see each other. Buffa looked tired and gaunt. Although, Ace could not recall the last time he has a full and proper meal either.
Ace’s mouth felt dry as he tried to say something. A joke did not seem to fit the times that they were in. Casual pleasantries felt like a waste. And Ace feared that any comforting words of concerns would be outright rejected.
As Ace tried to come up with words, it was too late. Michinaga had left the salon, out to fight another Jyamato. Ace was left alone. He took a deep sigh, looking down at the ground in self-pity.
He was a poor excuse for a deity, but he was also a man of action.
Grabbing a pen, he purposefully wrote out to Michinaga for the first time.
“Have you been eating well?”
The question might have been a bit stupid. The answer was obviously no. But it was the only thing that felt right in the moment.
Ace stared at his arm, waiting to see if there would be any response. It was only until his body urged him to exhale that he realized he was holding his breath. He felt light headed and dizzy. Ace blinked a few times, trying to see if a response would suddenly appear.
He could not bear standing around waiting for a response like some love sick teen. Ace had to do something to keep him distracted. He went out, fought Jyamato, and continued to make plans on what his next move was. Even after all was said and done, when Ace checked his arm for a response. His skin was blank save for the original message he sent hours prior.
Ace felt his stomach drop.
For years Ace was the one who refused to write back, purposefully ignoring the stranger on the other end. Now it seems as if it was his turn to be ignored. It was a lonely experience.
Ace scoffed at himself. Michinaga had spent years being ignored, and now here he was getting upset over being ignored just once.
It was the night before the final battle. Everyone had their role to play and Ace had stacked the deck into their favor. After tomorrow the DGP would be no more.
And neither would he.
It had to be done. Ace had to die. He had to become the God of Creation in full. There was no other way to victory. This was the only part of his plans he did not share with his allies. He was sure that they would refuse it, tell him that there had to be another way. And Ace was scared that he would give in and agree with them.
It was best that they were kept in the dark.
And it was because they were coming to the end, Ace figured that it would be best he spoke to Michinaga one last time. It would be the only chance they got.
“Buffa,” Ace walked over to the other rider, food already in hand as a peace offering.
It was close to one in the morning and they would need all the rest they could get for tomorrow’s battle. Still, he could not help himself and be selfish one more time.
“Geats.”
Michinaga gladly accepted the food the other brought; beef rice balls. The bull let out an amused snort before digging in. Ace sat down and ate his own food too. The two ate in peaceful comfortable silence under the illumination of the moon and stars. Under the cover of night, it felt like this moment could last forever.
He was going to miss these moments with Michinaga.
Ace felt his breath hitch at the sudden realization. His gaze trailed over to Michinaga, and he felt his pulse quicken at the sight. Michinaga was far too beautiful than he had a right to be. But it was more than just skin deep for Ace, it was everything that made up Michinaga too, his furry, his strength, his weakness. Azuma Michinaga was wonderful, simply because he was Azuma Michinaga.
When did this happen? When did Buffa stop being just another ally? And when did Michinaga start being someone important to Ace?
Maybe the universe knew what it was doing. Bringing Michinaga into his life like the raging bull that he was. How else could someone bulldoze all of Ace’s carefully placed walls?
Ace swallowed his last bit of food. His throat felt dry as his wondered if reincarnation was possible for others too. Was it possible that in every previous life, Ace was connected to Mcihinaga? If that they were soulmates in every lifetime? Could he had gotten more time with Michinaga?
Ace's heart lurched at the thought.
Ace let out a shaky breath, cursing himself for being a coward. Crushing the empty plastic wrapper in his hand, Ace bult up the courage to finally speak.
“Buffa, about our soulmarks-”
Michinaga held up his hand, gesturing to the other rider to stop.
“Save it,” Michinaga said pointedly. “I don’t want to talk about it, Geats.”
Ace felt a painful squeeze in his chest. His shoulders drop as he felt deflated by the other’s words.
“We can talk after we win,” Michinaga finished, looking up to meet Ace's eyes.
It would be too late then.
He wanted to scream. He wanted to run away and never look back. He wanted to live in this moment forever. To hold onto Michinaga and make up for lost time.
Ace wanted to live.
Instead of doing that, Ace forced a smile, nodding in agreement.
"Deal."
Ace gave Michinaga a pat on the shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. He could only hope that Michinaga could understand everything he was trying to say with that touch.
Ace cleared his throat before managing to say, “Good luck tomorrow.”
Buffa nodded, ignorant to Geat’s schemes. “My job is easy. You better bring your A-game, Geats.”
Ace licked his chapped lips before letting out a shaky laugh at Michinaga’s words.
“I always do,” he croaked out. “Sill…”
Ace could feel his eyes prick with tears as he held himself back from saying more. He had to leave. If he stayed any longer, he feared he would not be able to go through with his plan.
“Goodnight Michinaga.”
The said man gave Ace a strange look. They never addressed each other with their given names before.
“Good night… Ace,” Michinaga said slowly.
Gods his name sounded beautiful when Michinaga said it.
Ace quickly forced himself to leave.
It was all over.
Suel was dead. The grip that the DGP had over their world was fading. They had won and lived to tell the tale.
Ace stared at the faces of the people he was grateful to call his comrades and friends. They have all changed him for the better. Ace could only hope that they felt the same way, if only a fraction of the same amount.
He did not want to leave them, but he had to. Ace was no longer a human; he had ascended to a god. Memories of the DGP, the Jyamatos, and even Geats himself would soon be wiped from everyone’s memories.
It was the noble sacrifice Ace was choosing to make.
“What about your happiness?” Keiwa asked. He was confused as to why Ace had to sacrifice his humanity. They had won after all.
“You’re better off forgetting about me.”
Ace had said those words time and time again over the course of 2,000 years. But this was the first time it hurt to say it.
“We could never do that!” Neon insisted, a few tears starting to roll down her cheeks.
“Is this some kind of joke? Do you think you’re being clever?” Michinaga asked, a look of shock on his face. It seems like the bull finally understood what their late-night meeting was about.
Ace gave a bittersweet smile to his friends as he manifested in front of them.
“Of course,” he said while holding up his hand into a fox sign. “I am a fox after all.”
Ace took one last long look at his companions. His heart wretched in pain, but he had to put on a brave face. Gods should not show weakness in front of mortals.
He vowed that he would never forget them. Ten thousand years into the future, and Ace would still remember this moment, this feeling, these people.
A bright white light enveloped Ace. He had ascended fully into his divinity as God of Creation, leaving all ties of his mortal life behind.
Turns out, becoming a god was the easy part; cutting all ties was much more difficult.
Ace kept tabs on everyone as they went on with their normal peaceful lives. They even came to visit his shrine. Even if they had all forgotten who Ukiyo Ace was, there was an unbreakable bond that connected them all.
Keiwa was applying to be a police officer. Sara enjoyed her simple happy peaceful life with her brother. Neon continued on with her internet show and attempts to find her soulmate. Win was trying to make it as a rock-star. Daichi was working on reforming the Jyamatos. And Michinaga…
Ace stopped in front of a certain ema hanging along his shrine.
“I want to eat delicious meat with those closest to me.
-Azuma Michinaga”
Ace held the small wooden plaque with a gentle smile. It was just like Michinaga to make a wish like that.
Well, if that was his wish, then who was Ace as God of Creation to deny him?
Staring at the blank skin of his arm, Ace wondered if his soulmark would still work. How would things work out between a god and a human? Would Michinaga even want Ace back into his life?
Ace shook his head, pushing away the negative thoughts of doubt. He was done being a coward.
Picking up a pen, he began to write on his arm.
“Hi, it’s me.
Sorry for you know…
Have you been eating well?”
After he finished writing, Ace closed his eyes tight. Was it too much? Was it not enough? Would Michinaga even respond?
Peaking an eye open, Ace let out a gasp. He dropped the pen out of pure shock. Ace felt light headed as a laughter of relief bubbled out of his chest. His whole body seemed to buzz with excitement as he began to see a new message appear on his skin.
“About time, asshole.”