[One-shot] In his eyes.
Title: In his eyes.
Author: crazy_otaku911
Pairing: Keito/Yamada feat. Hikaru and Takaki
Rating: PG
Summary: It's been five years since Keito died and he's still got some big decisions to make. Someone he left behind isn't making it any easier (or maybe it's that meddlesome idiot from Hell. Who knows, really.)
Disclaimer: This work is purely fiction.
Warnings: Minor language, mentions of death/dying.
A/N: Written for Cycle 6 of jentfic_remix. Orignal was Miss You by dreamweavernyx. I had a ton of fun writing this, even if it turned a completely different direction than intended! Created with the help of ‘Beethoven’s Last Night’ by Trans-Siberian Orchestra and a few too many sleepless nights. Thank you, shimizumiki for the last minute beta-ing. ^^
It was a cool night, the soft breeze threading through Keito’s hair, trying to tug him away. You don’t belong here, it whispered, and he knew he didn’t. But he was here anyway.
Yamada sat by his side, staring up at the stars, and Keito wanted nothing more than to reach out and touch his shoulder; just a small touch to remind himself that Yamada was still real. He tried.
(There was something ironic with the fact that Keito’s hand passing through Yamada’s shoulder just proved that Yamada was still real.)
Sighing, Keito pulled away, getting to his feet. The sadness that hung heavy in the air, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it. He’d lost that ability years and years ago and no amount of desperation was going to change that.
“You know,” a voice whispered in his ear. Keito stiffened, refusing to turn around as hands rested on his shoulders, lips murmuring into his ear. “You could have him back.”
Keito marveled that he’d called the Devil’s attention to himself as he pulled away, turning to face the demigod. “Isn’t that the wrong way around?” he asked.
The Devil laughed, shrugging lightly and smiling with crooked teeth. “You know how it is. None of us mess with Death. It gets all tricky and nasty and he doesn’t like it one bit. But~,” and the Devil slanted a grin at him. “I could give you him.”
Keito regarded the Devil through narrowed eyes. He’d never actually seen the Devil before (‘Trickster’, some still insisted on calling him by his proper name, but most didn’t bother.) He’d met Death, obviously, and some of the others, but he’d only heard stories about this particular demigod. “And what do you get?” he asked in return, trying to keep his voice up - even as his heart jumped its way into his throat.
“Ack!” The Devil threw his hands up, as if admitting defeat. “I see my reputation has preceded me.”
Keito just smiled dryly, moving to rest against his grave stone, waiting patiently.
Circling him slightly, the Devil chuckled. “What if I don’t want anything?”
Snorting, Keito crossed his arms. “Your reputation has preceded you,” he reminded him. “Try again.”
“Maybe I’m telling the truth,” the Devil replied, smiling with what would have been innocence, but there was a glint in his eye that told Keito better.
Tales of Trickster were never spoken in hushed reverence; they were more fitting for lively conversation at gatherings. Colorful stories painted a clear picture to Keito of this demigod and he knew that the Devil would never do anything unless he benefited from it.
“What do you want?”
“Call me curious,” the Devil said easily, still circling Keito. “You were the rich kid that everyone wanted to be. You had endless opportunities, the brightest future anyone could hope for… and yet you left it all behind for him?” The Devil paused to gesture to Yamada.
“I didn’t give it all up.” It was Keito’s turn to laugh, warm and affectionate as he turned to look at Yamada as well. “And it was stupid, how things were back then. Ryousuke didn’t even understand who he was.”
“Wasn’t he content with his life before you started filling his head with ideas?” the Devil inquired, quirking an eyebrow.
Keito tilted his head, a strange smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “I suppose that’s one way to put it… He was different though. I had always seen that. Nobody else could but me… but I knew that he could have been so much more than what he was settling for.”
“And now you’re gone,” the Devil continued. “And he’s left all alone, missing you.”
Silence stretched between them and the Devil murmured: “You know he’d say yes in a heartbeat.”
Keito looked away, staring down at the midnight grass and away from eyes that pried into his thoughts. Yamada would say yes, if given a chance, that he knew already. The steady visits and the million whispered ‘I miss you’s were a sharp reminder of that.
“Think about it~,” the Devil crooned, and this time Keito found himself closing his eyes, letting the other’s voice wash over him. “Nothing would ever keep the two of you apart. Never. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“Such a romantic, I never knew.”
Keito’s eyes snapped open as a voice, rich as a nebula, broke into their conversation. Fate stood nearby, eyes shining with the cosmos, smiling gently. Keito knew this demigod, having met him the same day he’d been greeted by Death.
He wasn’t sure if he was happy to see him or not.
Fate was a higher demigod than Trickster, but even more unpredictable by nature. He had seemed kind and demure when he’d plucked Keito’s last breath from him, but Keito had seen much more unfortunate tales spun by Fate’s fingertips.
But as it were, the Devil wasn’t that happy to see him either. “Fuck off, why don’t you.”
Fate casually gave him the finger before moving closer to Keito. “Well, Okamoto-kun… It’s nice to see you again.”
“… Hi,” Keito replied cautiously, unsure if he was supposed to do something else in greeting. Handshakes were not for the afterlife. “Err… What are you doing here?”
Confusion was perhaps the foremost emotion in his heart, Yamada almost completely forgotten as he sat mere feet away from their little gathering. Almost, except Keito couldn’t help but glance over and wonder why their mis-meeting warranted the appearance of, not one, but two demigods.
“Waiting,” Fate answered simply, settling himself on the grass.
The Devil glowered at Fate for a moment before turning back to Keito. “As I was saying before we were interrupted-“
“Why do you even care?” Keito cut him off, frowning. “Like you said, he’s a small town boy and I’m my father’s son. I’m dead already, what could you possible want with bringing him… bringing him here too?”
An ache flared up within his chest as he finished that sentence and he knew how much he wanted it. They’d been young and foolish, all those years ago, but they’d also been in love. A love that Keito had never let go of and that he knew Yamada hadn’t either. The silent graveyard around them bore testimony to that.
“Don’t think about that,” the Devil dismissed with a wave of his hand. “Think about it, Okamoto-kun~. About everything you used to have.”
Keito’s mind swayed, following after the Devil’s words and he found himself thinking about Yamada.
*
”Ne,” Yamada laughed, sprawling half on Keito, half on the summer-warmed grass. “You know, you’re like… a star.”
Keito rolled his eyes, draping an arm over the other, despite the heat of the day. “I’m not that popular, really.”
Yamada quickly shook his head. “No, no, I didn’t mean it like that. I mean… you’re like a star.” He nodded up the sky, to the sun, even.
Smiling despite his confusion, Keito pressed a kiss to Yamada’s forehead. “Dunno what you’re trying to say… But thanks.”
*
Two years too late and Yamada finally told Keito what he’d meant. It had been raining that day and Keito had just wanted Yamada to go home. Death, he was sure, was catching when it was so frigid in the graveyard. “Keito, you were always a star…” Yamada was crying and it was the most heartbreaking thing Keito had ever seen, helpless to comfort the other. “You were always there to guide me in the right direction and you were everything I needed when I was down or sad or anything.”
The boy swiped at his tears, though they were quickly replaced with raindrops and fresh tears. “And… You still are, Keito. I… All I have are the memories, but I’ll do whatever I can… I’ll make you proud of me.”
Yamada went silent and when he spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper. “But the clouds are out, Keito… I can’t… I can’t see you right now. I don’t know what to do.”
I’m right here, Keito wanted to tell him, feeling his own tears fall. I’ll never leave you.
But he kept it inside, because he knew that even if he said it, Yamada would never understand.
*
The ache had turned into searing pain in his chest and Keito blinked back the ghosts of a tear.
“You could have that all back,” the Devil whispered again and instead sounding like a jeer, his words felt warm. Keito wanted it so bad, but the small ‘yes’ in his heart didn’t feel right.
“And what are you doing here?” he didn’t answer the Devil, didn’t even look at him again. He turned to Fate, feeling a wave of inexplicable anger. He wanted Yamada, missed him with all he was, but somehow it didn’t feel right and he hated that. It was more than just the Devil, Trickster, pulling a rabbit out of a hat, he wanted to understand everything.
Moonlight slide over Fate’s skin as he plucked a blade of grass from the ground. “I’m everywhere, Okamoto-kun… Why shouldn’t I be here?”
“Is… is he supposed to…?” Keito asked, a wave of desperation in his voice. “Is that why you’re here? Because I’m going to say yes?”
“Such a smart boy,” the Devil chuckled but the look Keito sent him was withering.
When he looked back at the second demigod present, Fate looked thoughtful, rubbing the blade of grass between his fingertips. “I’m not the creator of your fates, Okamoto-kun,” he replied after all went silent. “I merely execute them.”
“Is that all you have to say?” Keito asked, voice shaking slightly. They all knew how much he wanted it, Keito wasn’t so stupid to think they couldn’t see into his heart, into whatever was left of his soul.
“Why are you fighting it?” The Devil smiled eagerly. “We could do it. Say the word and I will. Keito, he wants it too.”
Yamada.
Keito looked back again, at where Yamada was curled up on the grass, gazing up at the stars. Five years had turned him into a handsome young adult - though really, he’d been a handsome teenager too - confident and strong… sad, but all the same, he had something in his eye that Keito couldn’t quite pick out.
“I don’t create your fates,” Fate murmured again and Keito realized what he saw in Yamada’s eyes.
The Future.
“No,” he rasped, and it felt like he was ripping his heart out, saying those words. They were so complete, so final. He turned to the Devil and there was fire in his eyes. “No,” he repeated, louder and stronger, as he denounced any right he had to Yamada’s life and its course. “Never.”
The Devil gave Fate a disgusted look, clearly fuming. “Bastard, you knew!” he hissed. Fate merely smiled and shrugged. The Devil turned back to Keito, continuing on. “You’ll regret that for the rest of eternity, Okamoto Keito. It will haunt you.”
Keito met his eyes unflinchingly. Somehow he couldn’t bring himself to care, he felt so proud of himself right then.
Giving them both an irritated look, the Devil took his leave, one last snarl leaving his lips. With a burst of flame, he vanished, the night air warming as it washed over those who remained.
“Such a dramatic,” Fate sighed, letting the blade of grass fall from his fingers.
All was silent if not for the crickets chirping somewhere on the hill, the moon beaming down on them, Keito’s breath still not fully reaching his lungs.
“You did well, Okamoto-kun,” Fate said, a real smile on his lips, one that dazzled like the stars above. He grasped Keito’s shoulder, squeezing. “Very well.”
Keito felt dazed but he nodded, tentatively returning the smile. “What… what would have happened? If I had said yes?”
Fate stepped away, that thoughtful look on his face again. “I don’t deal with what ifs, Okamoto-kun,” he replied, starting to walk away. He paused though, and turned back. “But I think Time would have both of you in misery.” The demigod smiled in small victory. “I am not to be cheated of my right.”
“I thought you didn’t…?” Keito blinked.
Fate shrugged, spreading his hands apart. “I can lie if I want to.” He laughed as Keito spluttered. “It was a choice you needed to make on your own, all the same. And if you’ll excuse me, I have things to do… as do you.”
Without another word, Fate vanished, the breezes whispering him a farewell.
Slowly, Keito returned to where Yamada was preparing to leave.
“I guess I’ll go home,” Yamada was saying, looking reluctant and morose as he brushed himself off. “And I’ll probably dream of you again tonight. Is this some kind of sign? I can feel you with me, and I still see you… I guess this means that you’re still by my side.”
Keito smiled, he couldn’t help it. “I’ll always be by your side,” he told Yamada, even if he knew the other boy couldn’t hear him. “Until you don’t need me… and then I’ll be by your side because you want me there.”
Yamada nodded, as if he had heard, as if he understood, before slowly walking away.
Moonlight danced around Keito, all alone now, and he glanced up at the sky, contemplative. “Being up in the sky would leave me too far away,” he told himself with a shrug before he faded away, leaving the crickets and the moon to weave their own symphonies in the night.
____________________________________________________
A/N: omoikkiri accused me of having a thing for angels/demons after I pitched the idea to her, I SWEAR, I DON'T DO THIS SHIT INTENTIONALLY T_T. But I liked it. x: Especially Takaki's part in the whole story. *biasbiasbias* A cuter first draft exists over here.
Author: crazy_otaku911
Pairing: Keito/Yamada feat. Hikaru and Takaki
Rating: PG
Summary: It's been five years since Keito died and he's still got some big decisions to make. Someone he left behind isn't making it any easier (or maybe it's that meddlesome idiot from Hell. Who knows, really.)
Disclaimer: This work is purely fiction.
Warnings: Minor language, mentions of death/dying.
A/N: Written for Cycle 6 of jentfic_remix. Orignal was Miss You by dreamweavernyx. I had a ton of fun writing this, even if it turned a completely different direction than intended! Created with the help of ‘Beethoven’s Last Night’ by Trans-Siberian Orchestra and a few too many sleepless nights. Thank you, shimizumiki for the last minute beta-ing. ^^
It was a cool night, the soft breeze threading through Keito’s hair, trying to tug him away. You don’t belong here, it whispered, and he knew he didn’t. But he was here anyway.
Yamada sat by his side, staring up at the stars, and Keito wanted nothing more than to reach out and touch his shoulder; just a small touch to remind himself that Yamada was still real. He tried.
(There was something ironic with the fact that Keito’s hand passing through Yamada’s shoulder just proved that Yamada was still real.)
Sighing, Keito pulled away, getting to his feet. The sadness that hung heavy in the air, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it. He’d lost that ability years and years ago and no amount of desperation was going to change that.
“You know,” a voice whispered in his ear. Keito stiffened, refusing to turn around as hands rested on his shoulders, lips murmuring into his ear. “You could have him back.”
Keito marveled that he’d called the Devil’s attention to himself as he pulled away, turning to face the demigod. “Isn’t that the wrong way around?” he asked.
The Devil laughed, shrugging lightly and smiling with crooked teeth. “You know how it is. None of us mess with Death. It gets all tricky and nasty and he doesn’t like it one bit. But~,” and the Devil slanted a grin at him. “I could give you him.”
Keito regarded the Devil through narrowed eyes. He’d never actually seen the Devil before (‘Trickster’, some still insisted on calling him by his proper name, but most didn’t bother.) He’d met Death, obviously, and some of the others, but he’d only heard stories about this particular demigod. “And what do you get?” he asked in return, trying to keep his voice up - even as his heart jumped its way into his throat.
“Ack!” The Devil threw his hands up, as if admitting defeat. “I see my reputation has preceded me.”
Keito just smiled dryly, moving to rest against his grave stone, waiting patiently.
Circling him slightly, the Devil chuckled. “What if I don’t want anything?”
Snorting, Keito crossed his arms. “Your reputation has preceded you,” he reminded him. “Try again.”
“Maybe I’m telling the truth,” the Devil replied, smiling with what would have been innocence, but there was a glint in his eye that told Keito better.
Tales of Trickster were never spoken in hushed reverence; they were more fitting for lively conversation at gatherings. Colorful stories painted a clear picture to Keito of this demigod and he knew that the Devil would never do anything unless he benefited from it.
“What do you want?”
“Call me curious,” the Devil said easily, still circling Keito. “You were the rich kid that everyone wanted to be. You had endless opportunities, the brightest future anyone could hope for… and yet you left it all behind for him?” The Devil paused to gesture to Yamada.
“I didn’t give it all up.” It was Keito’s turn to laugh, warm and affectionate as he turned to look at Yamada as well. “And it was stupid, how things were back then. Ryousuke didn’t even understand who he was.”
“Wasn’t he content with his life before you started filling his head with ideas?” the Devil inquired, quirking an eyebrow.
Keito tilted his head, a strange smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “I suppose that’s one way to put it… He was different though. I had always seen that. Nobody else could but me… but I knew that he could have been so much more than what he was settling for.”
“And now you’re gone,” the Devil continued. “And he’s left all alone, missing you.”
Silence stretched between them and the Devil murmured: “You know he’d say yes in a heartbeat.”
Keito looked away, staring down at the midnight grass and away from eyes that pried into his thoughts. Yamada would say yes, if given a chance, that he knew already. The steady visits and the million whispered ‘I miss you’s were a sharp reminder of that.
“Think about it~,” the Devil crooned, and this time Keito found himself closing his eyes, letting the other’s voice wash over him. “Nothing would ever keep the two of you apart. Never. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“Such a romantic, I never knew.”
Keito’s eyes snapped open as a voice, rich as a nebula, broke into their conversation. Fate stood nearby, eyes shining with the cosmos, smiling gently. Keito knew this demigod, having met him the same day he’d been greeted by Death.
He wasn’t sure if he was happy to see him or not.
Fate was a higher demigod than Trickster, but even more unpredictable by nature. He had seemed kind and demure when he’d plucked Keito’s last breath from him, but Keito had seen much more unfortunate tales spun by Fate’s fingertips.
But as it were, the Devil wasn’t that happy to see him either. “Fuck off, why don’t you.”
Fate casually gave him the finger before moving closer to Keito. “Well, Okamoto-kun… It’s nice to see you again.”
“… Hi,” Keito replied cautiously, unsure if he was supposed to do something else in greeting. Handshakes were not for the afterlife. “Err… What are you doing here?”
Confusion was perhaps the foremost emotion in his heart, Yamada almost completely forgotten as he sat mere feet away from their little gathering. Almost, except Keito couldn’t help but glance over and wonder why their mis-meeting warranted the appearance of, not one, but two demigods.
“Waiting,” Fate answered simply, settling himself on the grass.
The Devil glowered at Fate for a moment before turning back to Keito. “As I was saying before we were interrupted-“
“Why do you even care?” Keito cut him off, frowning. “Like you said, he’s a small town boy and I’m my father’s son. I’m dead already, what could you possible want with bringing him… bringing him here too?”
An ache flared up within his chest as he finished that sentence and he knew how much he wanted it. They’d been young and foolish, all those years ago, but they’d also been in love. A love that Keito had never let go of and that he knew Yamada hadn’t either. The silent graveyard around them bore testimony to that.
“Don’t think about that,” the Devil dismissed with a wave of his hand. “Think about it, Okamoto-kun~. About everything you used to have.”
Keito’s mind swayed, following after the Devil’s words and he found himself thinking about Yamada.
*
”Ne,” Yamada laughed, sprawling half on Keito, half on the summer-warmed grass. “You know, you’re like… a star.”
Keito rolled his eyes, draping an arm over the other, despite the heat of the day. “I’m not that popular, really.”
Yamada quickly shook his head. “No, no, I didn’t mean it like that. I mean… you’re like a star.” He nodded up the sky, to the sun, even.
Smiling despite his confusion, Keito pressed a kiss to Yamada’s forehead. “Dunno what you’re trying to say… But thanks.”
*
Two years too late and Yamada finally told Keito what he’d meant. It had been raining that day and Keito had just wanted Yamada to go home. Death, he was sure, was catching when it was so frigid in the graveyard. “Keito, you were always a star…” Yamada was crying and it was the most heartbreaking thing Keito had ever seen, helpless to comfort the other. “You were always there to guide me in the right direction and you were everything I needed when I was down or sad or anything.”
The boy swiped at his tears, though they were quickly replaced with raindrops and fresh tears. “And… You still are, Keito. I… All I have are the memories, but I’ll do whatever I can… I’ll make you proud of me.”
Yamada went silent and when he spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper. “But the clouds are out, Keito… I can’t… I can’t see you right now. I don’t know what to do.”
I’m right here, Keito wanted to tell him, feeling his own tears fall. I’ll never leave you.
But he kept it inside, because he knew that even if he said it, Yamada would never understand.
*
The ache had turned into searing pain in his chest and Keito blinked back the ghosts of a tear.
“You could have that all back,” the Devil whispered again and instead sounding like a jeer, his words felt warm. Keito wanted it so bad, but the small ‘yes’ in his heart didn’t feel right.
“And what are you doing here?” he didn’t answer the Devil, didn’t even look at him again. He turned to Fate, feeling a wave of inexplicable anger. He wanted Yamada, missed him with all he was, but somehow it didn’t feel right and he hated that. It was more than just the Devil, Trickster, pulling a rabbit out of a hat, he wanted to understand everything.
Moonlight slide over Fate’s skin as he plucked a blade of grass from the ground. “I’m everywhere, Okamoto-kun… Why shouldn’t I be here?”
“Is… is he supposed to…?” Keito asked, a wave of desperation in his voice. “Is that why you’re here? Because I’m going to say yes?”
“Such a smart boy,” the Devil chuckled but the look Keito sent him was withering.
When he looked back at the second demigod present, Fate looked thoughtful, rubbing the blade of grass between his fingertips. “I’m not the creator of your fates, Okamoto-kun,” he replied after all went silent. “I merely execute them.”
“Is that all you have to say?” Keito asked, voice shaking slightly. They all knew how much he wanted it, Keito wasn’t so stupid to think they couldn’t see into his heart, into whatever was left of his soul.
“Why are you fighting it?” The Devil smiled eagerly. “We could do it. Say the word and I will. Keito, he wants it too.”
Yamada.
Keito looked back again, at where Yamada was curled up on the grass, gazing up at the stars. Five years had turned him into a handsome young adult - though really, he’d been a handsome teenager too - confident and strong… sad, but all the same, he had something in his eye that Keito couldn’t quite pick out.
“I don’t create your fates,” Fate murmured again and Keito realized what he saw in Yamada’s eyes.
The Future.
“No,” he rasped, and it felt like he was ripping his heart out, saying those words. They were so complete, so final. He turned to the Devil and there was fire in his eyes. “No,” he repeated, louder and stronger, as he denounced any right he had to Yamada’s life and its course. “Never.”
The Devil gave Fate a disgusted look, clearly fuming. “Bastard, you knew!” he hissed. Fate merely smiled and shrugged. The Devil turned back to Keito, continuing on. “You’ll regret that for the rest of eternity, Okamoto Keito. It will haunt you.”
Keito met his eyes unflinchingly. Somehow he couldn’t bring himself to care, he felt so proud of himself right then.
Giving them both an irritated look, the Devil took his leave, one last snarl leaving his lips. With a burst of flame, he vanished, the night air warming as it washed over those who remained.
“Such a dramatic,” Fate sighed, letting the blade of grass fall from his fingers.
All was silent if not for the crickets chirping somewhere on the hill, the moon beaming down on them, Keito’s breath still not fully reaching his lungs.
“You did well, Okamoto-kun,” Fate said, a real smile on his lips, one that dazzled like the stars above. He grasped Keito’s shoulder, squeezing. “Very well.”
Keito felt dazed but he nodded, tentatively returning the smile. “What… what would have happened? If I had said yes?”
Fate stepped away, that thoughtful look on his face again. “I don’t deal with what ifs, Okamoto-kun,” he replied, starting to walk away. He paused though, and turned back. “But I think Time would have both of you in misery.” The demigod smiled in small victory. “I am not to be cheated of my right.”
“I thought you didn’t…?” Keito blinked.
Fate shrugged, spreading his hands apart. “I can lie if I want to.” He laughed as Keito spluttered. “It was a choice you needed to make on your own, all the same. And if you’ll excuse me, I have things to do… as do you.”
Without another word, Fate vanished, the breezes whispering him a farewell.
Slowly, Keito returned to where Yamada was preparing to leave.
“I guess I’ll go home,” Yamada was saying, looking reluctant and morose as he brushed himself off. “And I’ll probably dream of you again tonight. Is this some kind of sign? I can feel you with me, and I still see you… I guess this means that you’re still by my side.”
Keito smiled, he couldn’t help it. “I’ll always be by your side,” he told Yamada, even if he knew the other boy couldn’t hear him. “Until you don’t need me… and then I’ll be by your side because you want me there.”
Yamada nodded, as if he had heard, as if he understood, before slowly walking away.
Moonlight danced around Keito, all alone now, and he glanced up at the sky, contemplative. “Being up in the sky would leave me too far away,” he told himself with a shrug before he faded away, leaving the crickets and the moon to weave their own symphonies in the night.
____________________________________________________
A/N: omoikkiri accused me of having a thing for angels/demons after I pitched the idea to her, I SWEAR, I DON'T DO THIS SHIT INTENTIONALLY T_T. But I liked it. x: Especially Takaki's part in the whole story. *biasbiasbias* A cuter first draft exists over here.