Chapter Text
The sun had long since set over a blank, basic suburb. Two boys lay awake in a bedroom, full of nervous energy. It was only minutes from midnight, marking the older boy’s 17th birthday.
“What do you think of soulmates, Kaoru?”
“Honestly, I don't think I believe that they can exist. I mean, it’s a tattoo. How can it know who I’m supposed to love forever? People change a lot after they turn 17. It doesn’t make sense.”
“Call me crazy, but it doesn’t sound like you’re very excited about this.”
Outside, the night stretched dark over the trees, kept at bay by a flimsy pane of glass and a small table lamp. It cast a dead yellow light over the bedroom, where mounds of pillows and quilts surrounded two teenage faces.
Kaoru sighed.
“Maybe I just don’t like the idea of something so big being planned by the universe. Or whatever.”
“Or maybe you’re just nervous.”
In response, Kaoru used a throw pillow the way it sounds like it’s meant to be used. He missed.
Kojiro laughed and retrieved the pillow from behind him.
“Kuromi is disappointed in you,” he claimed, showing off the character on the front of the pillow. “Look at how sad she is.”
“Kuromi doesn’t care. It was for a noble cause.” Kaoru reached for it back, but Kojiro pulled it closer.
“No way. You abandoned her.”
Kaoru frowned, grabbing another plush off the bed.
“No I did not, and now MyMelody is upset. Give her back.”
“Oh, right. How could I possibly separate them? They are soulmates, after all.”
“Plushies don’t have soulmates.”
“Oh, fine.” Kojiro tossed the pillow back.
Kaoru reached over his head to catch it, and his friend’s eyes widened,
“What?” He asked. “Is my form that bad?”
“No, that’s not- it’s- you might want to look at your arm.”
Kaoru’s sleeve had fallen when he’d reached for the throw, revealing a small tattoo that had not been there an hour ago.
The clock read 12:03 A.M.
He looked down, half in disbelief, at the small, inky masquerade eye mask now strikingly evident on his wrist.
“Oh.”