Till Death do we Part
Title: Till Death do we Part
Chapter: 13/14
Pairings: KiHae (Main), KyuMin, YeWook, KangTeuk
Rating: PG-16
Warning: Character Death
Summary: The one thing Lee DongHae hadn't expected to happen that Sunday morning was to die. But that is exactly what happened, and now because of a 'lingering regret', he can't pass on fully. What regret is this? A long-suffering crush on a boy who didn't even know he existed; Kim KiBum. So he is given one week on earth as a ghost to fulfill this regret... Or heaven might not even be an option for him anymore. But with KiBum the only one who can see him, and an experienced ghost hunter on his tail, can he even make the deadline?
A/N: Another long chapter. This was so much fail X.X; I can't write intense scenes to save my life... *bangsheadondesk*
Trailer || Chapter One || Chapter Two || Chapter Three || Chapter Four || Chapter Five || Chapter Six || Chapter Seven || Chapter Eight || Chapter Nine || Chapter Ten || Chapter Eleven || Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen:
“You DIDN’T ANSWER HIM???” KiBum had never seen KangIn so frustrated before. The older of the two let out a strangled shout, ready to throw something at his idiotic brother. LeeTeuk just watched from the bed, knees drawn up to his chest as he thought about the situation. It was Saturday morning, DongHae was nowhere to be found, and KiBum had finally told his brother and his unofficial ‘boyfriend’ that he had once again broken the poor ghosts heart without meaning to. KangIn couldn’t believe that KiBum could be so dense; of course the one time in his life he had to act like a moron, it was now, when it seemed to matter the most.
“He left before I could!” KiBum retorted hotly, getting tired of being yelled at. He was worried sick about DongHae, and wanted one last chance to make things right. But it didn’t look like he was going to get his wish. LeeTeuk was staying quiet on the ghosts location, frowning to himself each time KiBum asked.
“LeeTeuk, please!” KiBum pleaded. He had to apologize to DongHae, to tell him he did love him. But he didn’t know where to look. LeeTeuk kept his gaze focused straight ahead and didn’t answer. About to turn and leave to find the ghost himself, KiBum stopped when LeeTeuk finally spoke. “It’s strange… I can’t seem to pick up on his aura anywhere.”
The two human brothers looked back at the Spirit Guide, whose eyes were hazed over slightly as he used whatever sixth sense he possessed to find his charge. “Something’s wrong,” He murmured. “There’s so much tension in the air all of a sudden.” KiBum and KangIn exchanged glances; neither of them could sense anything amiss. “What do you mean?” KangIn asked, sitting beside the eldest.
“I mean, there’s something terribly off. Not only can I not sense DongHae, I can’t seem to sense… Well, anything. It’s like… When you’re in a concert or something, and things are so loud that you can’t pinpoint any one sound in particular, it sounds all mashed together and messed up…” He shook his head slightly to try and clear it. “I don’t get it. I can’t even reach ChangMin or JaeJoong, and that’s never happened before.”
“What would be causing such a disturbance?” KiBum wondered, turning to face them again.
“Don’t ask me,” KangIn shrugged. “I’m no expert. But if we can’t find DongHae that way, how are we-“
“What the hell!” LeeTeuk suddenly jumped to his feet, startling KangIn so much he fell of the bed and KiBum jumped a few inches off the ground. “What now?” KiBum asked, watched the Spirit Guide warily.
“Something changed.” LeeTeuk looked around quickly. “I can sense them now. But there’s something else too… Something big is coming this way. It might already be here.”
“You do realize you’re not making any sense?” KangIn complained, but shivers ran through his body, as a feeling of insecurity washed over both humans. Wordlessly, LeeTeuk left the room, the two others following quickly. Neither of them argued with the Spirit Guide, unable to stop the feeling that something, somewhere, had gone terribly, terribly wrong.
*****
“How do I know if he’s really there?” EunHyuk asked, frowning as he looked around the field at the edge of town. YeSung and RyeoWook looked at each other, the older shrugging slightly. DongHae watched them all, distracting himself from what had happened yesterday with the knowledge that EunHyuk was aware of his situation, and had gotten YeWooks help in trying to contact his ghostly best friend.
“It’s… Hard to explain,” RyeoWook said nervously, looking at his boyfriend for help. But YeSung couldn’t sense spirits at all, so the boy was left to explain by himself, even though his own ability was minimal. “It’s like a feeling, just a feeling you get when there’s one nearby. Like a shiver, or, or…”
“SungMin sneezes,” YeSung put in helpfully, but EunHyuk just gave him a blank look, and the elder shut up again.
“But how are you so sure he’s here with us?” EunHyuk asked RyeoWook, who smiled shakily. “A feeling. It feels like DongHae hyung here, like last time I was around his spirit. I’m sure it’s him. Try talking to him, EunHyuk hyung.”
“I look weird talking to thin air,” EunHyuk said, but did as he was told. Straightening, he looked out into thin air, taking a deep breath. “DongHae, can you hear me?”
“Of course I can,” DongHae said, resisting the temptation to roll his eyes. EunHyuk wouldn’t be able to hear his reply anyways. But RyeoWook perked up. “He said something,” The shorter male whispered. “DongHae hyung said something, I nearly heard it. Did you guys?” YeSung shook his head as usual, but EunHyuk was looking confused, gazing around the area. “DongHae?” He tried again.
How could he get EunHyuk to notice he was there? Remembering when he’d watched the other write his eulogy, DongHae walked up to him and carefully embraced his best friend, trying not to go through him.
EunHyuk stiffened, as a warm feeling flowed through him, one he had always associated with DongHae’s presence when he’d been alive. “Hae?” He whispered. The warmth intensified, and he smiled, tears prickling the inside of his eyes. “DongHae, it really is you…”
“It is,” DongHae whispered, trying not to cry himself, if ghosts could cry. “I’m right here, Hyukkie. I miss you, but I want you too keep living, okay? For me. We’ll be together again one day. Best friends forever.” While he knew EunHyuk couldn’t hear him, the boy in his arms seemed to sense what he was trying to say anyways, tears flowing openly down his cheeks.
Suddenly, something shifted in the back of DongHae’s mind; unease ran through his body, and EunHyuk seemed to sense it too, because he frowned through the tears. “DongHae, what’s wrong?” RyeoWook looked around, shivering constantly as YeSung sent his boyfriend worried glances. “It feels cold,” RyeoWook whispered. “It’s the same temperature for me,” YeSung put in.
DongHae pulled away from EunHyuk, turning to look in the direction the sudden feeling was coming from. Something was different. Something was near, and it wasn’t good. Looking over his shoulder at the three humans, he made up his mind and ran in the direction of that faint feeling, wanting to know what had happened.
“DongHae’s gone,” RyeoWook said, noting the warm presence leave. But that cold feeling was still there. “It’s odd… I wasn’t able to feel it so clearly before…” RyeoWook continued, starting to walk in the same direction DongHae had gone. “Where are you going?” YeSung asked, alarmed in the sudden change of attitude that he couldn’t sense.
RyeoWook didn’t answer, but EunHyuk followed him, leaving YeSung no choice but to follow as well.
*****
“So this is where you and ChangMin used to hang out?” SungMin looked around from their perch on the top of the hill just outside the city boundaries. “It’s pretty calm here.” A smile was sent KyuHyun’s way, who returned it.
“Are you sure you’re okay with all this?” KyuHyun asked, knowing it was a lot to take in at once. SungMin pouted cutely at him. “I said I was fine, so I’m fine,” He replied. “Stop worrying about me so much. You’re the one who I find out has some sort of double life and actually chases invisible people for a living,” He said teasingly, making KyuHyun chuckle. “I know, its odd.”
“But I’m okay with it. Just promise me next time to take me along with you.”
KyuHyun looked up at SungMin, shocked “Why?”
“Because I want to be able to help. And someone’s gotta stop you from going trigger-happy, from how RyeoWook and YeSung were describing it.” SungMin laughed softly, as KyuHyun shook his head hard. “No way. It’s too dangerous.”
“Then I’m going even more.” SungMin crawled over to where KyuHyun was lying on his back, hovering over him to block out the sun. “Cause I have to make sure you come back in one piece, or ChangMin will have my head.” He grinned down at the younger male, who sighed in defeat. Then he lowered himself to peck KyuHyun lightly on the lips, startling the other. “W-What?”
“Kyunnie, you can be so slow sometimes,” SungMin said, rolling his eyes as he sat back. “If I actually waited for you to kiss me yourself, I’d be waiting years, so I just decided to do it myself.” Then he fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. “But of course, if you don’t like me that way, then I suppose it’s about to get really awkward, isn’t it?”
KyuHyun sat up, looking into the others large eyes. “SungMin…”
Something shifted in the air. SungMin sneezed. “Sorry,” He said, rubbing his nose sheepishly. “Way to kill a moment, huh?” Then he noticed KyuHyun wasn’t looking at him anymore. “Kyu?”
Something was amiss. The same time SungMin had sneezed, he’d felt something come and go, shivers running down his spine. “One minute, SungMin,” KyuHyun murmured, standing up and looking around. He didn’t sense it anymore. SungMin stood up beside him. “What’s wrong?” The older male asked, then sneezed again.
Then, quite suddenly, SungMin wasn’t beside him anymore.
“SungMin!” KyuHyun exclaimed, looking around in panic. How could the boy just vanish into thin air? A dark presence loomed in the corner of his mind, and he pulled out his gun, releasing the safety. Someone, or something, was here.
“K-KyuH-hyun-“ Came a choked gasp. KyuHyun turned around, and froze. SungMin’s feet dangled a foot off the ground, the boy trying to claw at something around his neck as he fought to be free. There was a semi-transparent figure behind him, holding him up off the ground and watching with satisfaction as the boy slowly suffocated in his grip. “K… K-Kyu….”
“Let him go!” KyuHyun yelled, fear racing through him. It was a poltergeist; the dark red eyes staring at him was a dead giveaway. Not DongHae, that was clear… The other boys soul had been much more pleasant than this, even when ticked at KyuHyun for nearly shooting KiBum. Nor was it the same ghost who had killed ChangMin. But it didn’t matter who it was; it was hurting SungMin.
The poltergeist laughed harshly. “You want him back?” It roared, and tossed SungMin at KyuHyun. Both fell to the ground with shouts of surprise, SungMin on top of the ghost hunter. “SungMin, SungMin, are you alright?” KyuHyun panted, sitting up and checking the older males neck to make sure it hadn’t been broken. SungMin blinked, up at him, dazed. “I’m… I’m fine…” He whispered, voice rough and sore after nearly being strangled.
KyuHyun stood up; the poltergeist had vanished. “Stay here,” He told SungMin, moving off the hill. Hopefully the ghost would follow him and leave SungMin alone. He didn’t want SungMin to be hurt… He didn’t want to lose someone else the way he had lost ChangMin. He could still feel SungMin’s lips against his own, and he swore he was going to protect the boy he loved, even if he meant breaking his promise to ChangMin to not shoot any more ghosts.
The air moving behind him was the only warning he had. Darting to one side, he barely got out of the way before the ghost reappeared, the tall reeds where he had been standing reduced to ashes from the spirits fury. KyuHyun pulled out his spiral darts; he couldn’t hope to shoot the ghost if he couldn’t slow it down first. Taking careful aim, he was startled when the ghost vanished again.
Not even a moment later, it reappeared, and KyuHyun was knocked to the ground, gasping as the breath was knocked out of his body. He fired the spiral dart, but it was lost among the reeds as the ghost darted away and returned for the attack. KyuHyun rolled away and managed to protect his face, but small cuts appeared along his arms and legs, stinging as small drops of blood ran down his skin. This ghost wasn’t looking to just beat him up, like DongHae had. This one was aiming to kill, in the most painful way possible; slowly.
Leaping to his feet, KyuHyun fired another dart, missing by inches as the ghost bowled the poor human over yet again. KyuHyun found himself underneath the creature, red eyes glaring into his as burning hands found their way around his throat.
“HEY! Over here!” KyuHyun’s heart nearly stopped. SungMin was standing again, waving his arms around frantically to try and distract the invisible menace that had knocked KyuHyun around. “Come get me, I’m over here!”
“SungMin, don’t!” KyuHyun yelled, but the ghost had already released him, and vanished. KyuHyun got up, ignoring the pain, and ran towards the boy walking down the hill. But he didn’t make it there fast enough.
*****
DongHae skidded to a stop, looking around. He could have sworn the feeling had come from here. A large hill was up ahead, and he approached it, thinking to take a look from higher ground.
A scream tore through the air, making the ghost freeze in his tracks. It had come from the other side of the hill. At first DongHae wasn’t sure what to do, but then he heard a familiar voice from the same direction. “SUNGMIN!” Hearing that name, and the voice it came from, he sprinted up the hill as fast as he could.
The sight on the other side was devastating. The tall reeds looked like they’d been blown about, several patches missing completely with ash as the only remains. Wind blew through the area, unnaturally strong. And at the base of the hill, holding the blood-covered body of DongHae’s cousin, was KyuHyun, his gun forgotten beside him.
“SungMin, please, d-don’t die!” KyuHyun stammered, wiping the blood off the older males face. His shirt was soaked with the red liquid, the skin underneath torn and seeping more blood even as KyuHyun desperately tried to stop the flow. SungMin coughed, opening his eyes and looking up at KyuHyun. A small smile appeared on his lips. “You’re… Alright…”
“You idiot, why did you get his attention for?” KyuHyun asked past the tears threatening to fall. “You’re only human!” His vision blurred as SungMin closed his eyes. “SungMin! SungMin, don’t close your eyes! Stay with me!” He frantically tried to stop the blood leaving the boys body.
DongHae stared at them, heart pounding in his ears. A low chuckle got his attention, his gaze slowly lifting to the spirit watching, a heartless smirk on his lips. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” That harsh voice rasped. “Such love.” Crimson red eyes narrowed. “It’s sickening.” The poltergeist raised one arm, turning his gaze to KyuHyun, who had his back to him.
“You did all this?” DongHae whispered, hardly able to breathe. The air roared in his ears, as he remembered SungMin on the day he died, crying and ready to pulverize the poor medic who’d had to tell him DongHae was already gone. Remembering how happy SungMin always was, and comparing him with the dying boy in KyuHyuns arms. Seeing KyuHyun fall apart, losing someone important to him for the second time. DongHae clenched his hands into fists, the roaring steadily growing louder as the unknown poltergeist moved to end the two young lives.
He was intercepted by a gust of wind, one that wasn’t his own creation. Looking around, the rogue poltergeist returning his gaze to the ghost boy who’d came upon the scene, two pairs of dark red eyes meeting before DongHae vanished.
The poltergeist barely managed to raise his arms to defend himself before DongHae reappeared right in front of him, lashing out with fists and feet in uncoordinated anger. The rogue was more experienced in fighting than his younger counterpart, and fended off the blows before returning with some of his own, knocking DongHae across the field. But Hae returned to try again, and the poltergeists attention was effectively caught, the two humans at the base of the hill forgotten temporarily.
KyuHyun ignored the fight, trying to keep SungMin alive. The older males face was steadily growing paler, his breathing faint and unsteady. No, this couldn’t be happening. He couldn’t lose SungMin the same way he’d lost ChangMin. Tears fell down the ghost hunters cheeks as he used torn pieces of his shirt to apply pressure to the wound in SungMin’s chest, but no matter what he did, the blood didn’t stop flowing. He was losing him.
“Screw the rules,” Came a voice beside him, and a pair of semi-transparent hands appeared in KyuHyun’s field of vision, aiding him in stopping the flow of blood. KyuHyun looked up, to see ChangMin beside him, frowning in concentration. “I don’t know healing yet, I’m not that strong. But if we can just stop the blood, he might be able to… LeeTeuk!”
LeeTeuk, KangIn and KiBum froze in their tracks, taking in the scene in front of them. DongHae was engaged in a fight with the unknown rogue poltergeist, and neither seemed to have the upper hand, taking turns blasting each other across the field and destroying the tall reeds around them. LeeTeuk had to hurriedly put out a small fire starting nearby. Hearing his name being called, the older Spirit Guide looked up and stared at the three figures at the base of the hill. “Oh no…” He whispered, running up to them to see ChangMin and KyuHyun working together to keep SungMin alive. But the boy wasn’t going to last much longer.
“LeeTeuk, you’ve been doing this for nearly half a millennia, you must know how to heal!” ChangMin exclaimed, flustered as he tried to stop the blood despite the fact that his hands kept going right through SungMin’s body when he lost his concentration. LeeTeuk wavered, knowing it was against the rules to interfere in a humans death, but seeing as the situation was caused by a spirit and the look of agony on KyuHyun’s face, his motherly instinct won over his logic and he knelt beside them. White fire spread from his fingertips to cover the injury, trying to close it before more blood was lost.
KiBum watched the fight, frozen in spot as he watched DongHae being knocked about by the older poltergeist. He had to do something; the rogue ghost was getting the upper hand, and DongHae was tiring. Looking around desperately, he saw KyuHyun’s gun lying in the tall grass next to its owner. Hesitating for a fraction of a second, a loud gasp of pain from DongHae firmed his decision and he walked towards the small group at the base of the hill. KangIn watched his brother. “Where are you going?” He shouted to be heard over the roaring wind the two ghosts were creating.
At the same time, RyeoWook, YeSung and EunHyuk appeared at the top of the hill. “It’s coming from here…” RyeoWook trailed off, seeing the other humans in the area but not the ghosts, though he could sense them clearly. “What’s going on?” YeSung started, but EunHyuk suddenly took off, running down the hill. “SungMin!” He crouched beside them, nearly occupying the same space as ChangMin if the Spirit Guide hadn’t moved. “What happened to him???” KyuHyun, the only other one EunHyuk could see, couldn’t respond through the lump in his throat as he watched the two spirits try to save SungMin.
About to follow him down the hill, YeWook was knocked over by two conflicting gusts of wind, YeSung falling back down the opposite side of the hill and out of sight. RyeoWook tumbled down the same side as the others with a shout of surprise, wincing as he landed awkwardly on one arm and sprained his wrist.
KiBum noted all this, but didn’t stop walking until he had picked up the gun from KyuHyuns side, who didn’t even notice it was gone. The safety was still off, and it was loaded with one of the bullets KiBum knew now would send a ghost straight to the Void. Looking back at the two fighting ghosts, he took aim, then stopped. They were too close together; he couldn’t tell where to aim. He might hit DongHae instead at this rate.
KangIn came up beside him, seeing what he was going to do. “You have to get closer,” He said, pulling his younger brother closer to the fight raging. Standing beside him, the older noticed something strange. While the two ghosts fought, a strange rip in the air seemed to appear in between them, glowing blue in his vision. KangIn felt pulled towards it, but it kept disappearing when the ghosts went too far away from each other. “Aim for the rip in the air,” KangIn told his brother.
“The what?” KiBum asked, staring at the two poltergeists and trying to find a way to avoid shooting DongHae as well. “That blue mark!” KangIn said hurriedly, but KiBum gave him a blank look. “KangIn, this isn’t the time for you to be seeing things!” The younger brother replied angrily.
Confused, KangIn stared at the tear in the air, until movement in the corner of his eye got his attention. Turning his head, he met charcoal black eyes from across the field. “Y…” He fell silent as the man he’d met years ago, the one who’d called himself YoungWoong, nodded at him and vanished.
Was this what he meant when he said KangIn could see things KiBum couldn’t?
Making up his mind, he reached out and wrapped his fingers around the base of the gun, overlapping KiBums. “W-what are you doing?” KiBum exclaimed.
“Just trust me on this!” KangIn said, adjusting KiBums aim to where he knew the rip would appear next time the ghosts clashed. “When I say so, shoot.”
“How do you know-“
“I just do, okay? For once in your life, let me help you!” The two exchanged glances, KiBums uncertain. Finally he nodded, returning his gaze to the battle as KangIn’s grip around his hand tightened.
EunHyuk stood up, seeing RyeoWook favoring his wrist. “Are you okay?” He shouted, feeling helpless as he didn’t understand what was going on. He knew he couldn’t help SungMin, and looking at the boys pale face made him remember when DongHae had died. Starting to walk over to RyeoWook, to help him, he felt the wind whip by suddenly and knock his feet out from under him. Falling, something hard hit his head, and everything went dark.
The wind roared as the two ghosts leapt at each other again. In KangIn’s vision, a jagged line of blue nearly blinded him.
“NOW!”
BANG!
Chapter: 13/14
Pairings: KiHae (Main), KyuMin, YeWook, KangTeuk
Rating: PG-16
Warning: Character Death
Summary: The one thing Lee DongHae hadn't expected to happen that Sunday morning was to die. But that is exactly what happened, and now because of a 'lingering regret', he can't pass on fully. What regret is this? A long-suffering crush on a boy who didn't even know he existed; Kim KiBum. So he is given one week on earth as a ghost to fulfill this regret... Or heaven might not even be an option for him anymore. But with KiBum the only one who can see him, and an experienced ghost hunter on his tail, can he even make the deadline?
A/N: Another long chapter. This was so much fail X.X; I can't write intense scenes to save my life... *bangsheadondesk*
Trailer || Chapter One || Chapter Two || Chapter Three || Chapter Four || Chapter Five || Chapter Six || Chapter Seven || Chapter Eight || Chapter Nine || Chapter Ten || Chapter Eleven || Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen:
“You DIDN’T ANSWER HIM???” KiBum had never seen KangIn so frustrated before. The older of the two let out a strangled shout, ready to throw something at his idiotic brother. LeeTeuk just watched from the bed, knees drawn up to his chest as he thought about the situation. It was Saturday morning, DongHae was nowhere to be found, and KiBum had finally told his brother and his unofficial ‘boyfriend’ that he had once again broken the poor ghosts heart without meaning to. KangIn couldn’t believe that KiBum could be so dense; of course the one time in his life he had to act like a moron, it was now, when it seemed to matter the most.
“He left before I could!” KiBum retorted hotly, getting tired of being yelled at. He was worried sick about DongHae, and wanted one last chance to make things right. But it didn’t look like he was going to get his wish. LeeTeuk was staying quiet on the ghosts location, frowning to himself each time KiBum asked.
“LeeTeuk, please!” KiBum pleaded. He had to apologize to DongHae, to tell him he did love him. But he didn’t know where to look. LeeTeuk kept his gaze focused straight ahead and didn’t answer. About to turn and leave to find the ghost himself, KiBum stopped when LeeTeuk finally spoke. “It’s strange… I can’t seem to pick up on his aura anywhere.”
The two human brothers looked back at the Spirit Guide, whose eyes were hazed over slightly as he used whatever sixth sense he possessed to find his charge. “Something’s wrong,” He murmured. “There’s so much tension in the air all of a sudden.” KiBum and KangIn exchanged glances; neither of them could sense anything amiss. “What do you mean?” KangIn asked, sitting beside the eldest.
“I mean, there’s something terribly off. Not only can I not sense DongHae, I can’t seem to sense… Well, anything. It’s like… When you’re in a concert or something, and things are so loud that you can’t pinpoint any one sound in particular, it sounds all mashed together and messed up…” He shook his head slightly to try and clear it. “I don’t get it. I can’t even reach ChangMin or JaeJoong, and that’s never happened before.”
“What would be causing such a disturbance?” KiBum wondered, turning to face them again.
“Don’t ask me,” KangIn shrugged. “I’m no expert. But if we can’t find DongHae that way, how are we-“
“What the hell!” LeeTeuk suddenly jumped to his feet, startling KangIn so much he fell of the bed and KiBum jumped a few inches off the ground. “What now?” KiBum asked, watched the Spirit Guide warily.
“Something changed.” LeeTeuk looked around quickly. “I can sense them now. But there’s something else too… Something big is coming this way. It might already be here.”
“You do realize you’re not making any sense?” KangIn complained, but shivers ran through his body, as a feeling of insecurity washed over both humans. Wordlessly, LeeTeuk left the room, the two others following quickly. Neither of them argued with the Spirit Guide, unable to stop the feeling that something, somewhere, had gone terribly, terribly wrong.
*****
“How do I know if he’s really there?” EunHyuk asked, frowning as he looked around the field at the edge of town. YeSung and RyeoWook looked at each other, the older shrugging slightly. DongHae watched them all, distracting himself from what had happened yesterday with the knowledge that EunHyuk was aware of his situation, and had gotten YeWooks help in trying to contact his ghostly best friend.
“It’s… Hard to explain,” RyeoWook said nervously, looking at his boyfriend for help. But YeSung couldn’t sense spirits at all, so the boy was left to explain by himself, even though his own ability was minimal. “It’s like a feeling, just a feeling you get when there’s one nearby. Like a shiver, or, or…”
“SungMin sneezes,” YeSung put in helpfully, but EunHyuk just gave him a blank look, and the elder shut up again.
“But how are you so sure he’s here with us?” EunHyuk asked RyeoWook, who smiled shakily. “A feeling. It feels like DongHae hyung here, like last time I was around his spirit. I’m sure it’s him. Try talking to him, EunHyuk hyung.”
“I look weird talking to thin air,” EunHyuk said, but did as he was told. Straightening, he looked out into thin air, taking a deep breath. “DongHae, can you hear me?”
“Of course I can,” DongHae said, resisting the temptation to roll his eyes. EunHyuk wouldn’t be able to hear his reply anyways. But RyeoWook perked up. “He said something,” The shorter male whispered. “DongHae hyung said something, I nearly heard it. Did you guys?” YeSung shook his head as usual, but EunHyuk was looking confused, gazing around the area. “DongHae?” He tried again.
How could he get EunHyuk to notice he was there? Remembering when he’d watched the other write his eulogy, DongHae walked up to him and carefully embraced his best friend, trying not to go through him.
EunHyuk stiffened, as a warm feeling flowed through him, one he had always associated with DongHae’s presence when he’d been alive. “Hae?” He whispered. The warmth intensified, and he smiled, tears prickling the inside of his eyes. “DongHae, it really is you…”
“It is,” DongHae whispered, trying not to cry himself, if ghosts could cry. “I’m right here, Hyukkie. I miss you, but I want you too keep living, okay? For me. We’ll be together again one day. Best friends forever.” While he knew EunHyuk couldn’t hear him, the boy in his arms seemed to sense what he was trying to say anyways, tears flowing openly down his cheeks.
Suddenly, something shifted in the back of DongHae’s mind; unease ran through his body, and EunHyuk seemed to sense it too, because he frowned through the tears. “DongHae, what’s wrong?” RyeoWook looked around, shivering constantly as YeSung sent his boyfriend worried glances. “It feels cold,” RyeoWook whispered. “It’s the same temperature for me,” YeSung put in.
DongHae pulled away from EunHyuk, turning to look in the direction the sudden feeling was coming from. Something was different. Something was near, and it wasn’t good. Looking over his shoulder at the three humans, he made up his mind and ran in the direction of that faint feeling, wanting to know what had happened.
“DongHae’s gone,” RyeoWook said, noting the warm presence leave. But that cold feeling was still there. “It’s odd… I wasn’t able to feel it so clearly before…” RyeoWook continued, starting to walk in the same direction DongHae had gone. “Where are you going?” YeSung asked, alarmed in the sudden change of attitude that he couldn’t sense.
RyeoWook didn’t answer, but EunHyuk followed him, leaving YeSung no choice but to follow as well.
*****
“So this is where you and ChangMin used to hang out?” SungMin looked around from their perch on the top of the hill just outside the city boundaries. “It’s pretty calm here.” A smile was sent KyuHyun’s way, who returned it.
“Are you sure you’re okay with all this?” KyuHyun asked, knowing it was a lot to take in at once. SungMin pouted cutely at him. “I said I was fine, so I’m fine,” He replied. “Stop worrying about me so much. You’re the one who I find out has some sort of double life and actually chases invisible people for a living,” He said teasingly, making KyuHyun chuckle. “I know, its odd.”
“But I’m okay with it. Just promise me next time to take me along with you.”
KyuHyun looked up at SungMin, shocked “Why?”
“Because I want to be able to help. And someone’s gotta stop you from going trigger-happy, from how RyeoWook and YeSung were describing it.” SungMin laughed softly, as KyuHyun shook his head hard. “No way. It’s too dangerous.”
“Then I’m going even more.” SungMin crawled over to where KyuHyun was lying on his back, hovering over him to block out the sun. “Cause I have to make sure you come back in one piece, or ChangMin will have my head.” He grinned down at the younger male, who sighed in defeat. Then he lowered himself to peck KyuHyun lightly on the lips, startling the other. “W-What?”
“Kyunnie, you can be so slow sometimes,” SungMin said, rolling his eyes as he sat back. “If I actually waited for you to kiss me yourself, I’d be waiting years, so I just decided to do it myself.” Then he fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. “But of course, if you don’t like me that way, then I suppose it’s about to get really awkward, isn’t it?”
KyuHyun sat up, looking into the others large eyes. “SungMin…”
Something shifted in the air. SungMin sneezed. “Sorry,” He said, rubbing his nose sheepishly. “Way to kill a moment, huh?” Then he noticed KyuHyun wasn’t looking at him anymore. “Kyu?”
Something was amiss. The same time SungMin had sneezed, he’d felt something come and go, shivers running down his spine. “One minute, SungMin,” KyuHyun murmured, standing up and looking around. He didn’t sense it anymore. SungMin stood up beside him. “What’s wrong?” The older male asked, then sneezed again.
Then, quite suddenly, SungMin wasn’t beside him anymore.
“SungMin!” KyuHyun exclaimed, looking around in panic. How could the boy just vanish into thin air? A dark presence loomed in the corner of his mind, and he pulled out his gun, releasing the safety. Someone, or something, was here.
“K-KyuH-hyun-“ Came a choked gasp. KyuHyun turned around, and froze. SungMin’s feet dangled a foot off the ground, the boy trying to claw at something around his neck as he fought to be free. There was a semi-transparent figure behind him, holding him up off the ground and watching with satisfaction as the boy slowly suffocated in his grip. “K… K-Kyu….”
“Let him go!” KyuHyun yelled, fear racing through him. It was a poltergeist; the dark red eyes staring at him was a dead giveaway. Not DongHae, that was clear… The other boys soul had been much more pleasant than this, even when ticked at KyuHyun for nearly shooting KiBum. Nor was it the same ghost who had killed ChangMin. But it didn’t matter who it was; it was hurting SungMin.
The poltergeist laughed harshly. “You want him back?” It roared, and tossed SungMin at KyuHyun. Both fell to the ground with shouts of surprise, SungMin on top of the ghost hunter. “SungMin, SungMin, are you alright?” KyuHyun panted, sitting up and checking the older males neck to make sure it hadn’t been broken. SungMin blinked, up at him, dazed. “I’m… I’m fine…” He whispered, voice rough and sore after nearly being strangled.
KyuHyun stood up; the poltergeist had vanished. “Stay here,” He told SungMin, moving off the hill. Hopefully the ghost would follow him and leave SungMin alone. He didn’t want SungMin to be hurt… He didn’t want to lose someone else the way he had lost ChangMin. He could still feel SungMin’s lips against his own, and he swore he was going to protect the boy he loved, even if he meant breaking his promise to ChangMin to not shoot any more ghosts.
The air moving behind him was the only warning he had. Darting to one side, he barely got out of the way before the ghost reappeared, the tall reeds where he had been standing reduced to ashes from the spirits fury. KyuHyun pulled out his spiral darts; he couldn’t hope to shoot the ghost if he couldn’t slow it down first. Taking careful aim, he was startled when the ghost vanished again.
Not even a moment later, it reappeared, and KyuHyun was knocked to the ground, gasping as the breath was knocked out of his body. He fired the spiral dart, but it was lost among the reeds as the ghost darted away and returned for the attack. KyuHyun rolled away and managed to protect his face, but small cuts appeared along his arms and legs, stinging as small drops of blood ran down his skin. This ghost wasn’t looking to just beat him up, like DongHae had. This one was aiming to kill, in the most painful way possible; slowly.
Leaping to his feet, KyuHyun fired another dart, missing by inches as the ghost bowled the poor human over yet again. KyuHyun found himself underneath the creature, red eyes glaring into his as burning hands found their way around his throat.
“HEY! Over here!” KyuHyun’s heart nearly stopped. SungMin was standing again, waving his arms around frantically to try and distract the invisible menace that had knocked KyuHyun around. “Come get me, I’m over here!”
“SungMin, don’t!” KyuHyun yelled, but the ghost had already released him, and vanished. KyuHyun got up, ignoring the pain, and ran towards the boy walking down the hill. But he didn’t make it there fast enough.
*****
DongHae skidded to a stop, looking around. He could have sworn the feeling had come from here. A large hill was up ahead, and he approached it, thinking to take a look from higher ground.
A scream tore through the air, making the ghost freeze in his tracks. It had come from the other side of the hill. At first DongHae wasn’t sure what to do, but then he heard a familiar voice from the same direction. “SUNGMIN!” Hearing that name, and the voice it came from, he sprinted up the hill as fast as he could.
The sight on the other side was devastating. The tall reeds looked like they’d been blown about, several patches missing completely with ash as the only remains. Wind blew through the area, unnaturally strong. And at the base of the hill, holding the blood-covered body of DongHae’s cousin, was KyuHyun, his gun forgotten beside him.
“SungMin, please, d-don’t die!” KyuHyun stammered, wiping the blood off the older males face. His shirt was soaked with the red liquid, the skin underneath torn and seeping more blood even as KyuHyun desperately tried to stop the flow. SungMin coughed, opening his eyes and looking up at KyuHyun. A small smile appeared on his lips. “You’re… Alright…”
“You idiot, why did you get his attention for?” KyuHyun asked past the tears threatening to fall. “You’re only human!” His vision blurred as SungMin closed his eyes. “SungMin! SungMin, don’t close your eyes! Stay with me!” He frantically tried to stop the blood leaving the boys body.
DongHae stared at them, heart pounding in his ears. A low chuckle got his attention, his gaze slowly lifting to the spirit watching, a heartless smirk on his lips. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” That harsh voice rasped. “Such love.” Crimson red eyes narrowed. “It’s sickening.” The poltergeist raised one arm, turning his gaze to KyuHyun, who had his back to him.
“You did all this?” DongHae whispered, hardly able to breathe. The air roared in his ears, as he remembered SungMin on the day he died, crying and ready to pulverize the poor medic who’d had to tell him DongHae was already gone. Remembering how happy SungMin always was, and comparing him with the dying boy in KyuHyuns arms. Seeing KyuHyun fall apart, losing someone important to him for the second time. DongHae clenched his hands into fists, the roaring steadily growing louder as the unknown poltergeist moved to end the two young lives.
He was intercepted by a gust of wind, one that wasn’t his own creation. Looking around, the rogue poltergeist returning his gaze to the ghost boy who’d came upon the scene, two pairs of dark red eyes meeting before DongHae vanished.
The poltergeist barely managed to raise his arms to defend himself before DongHae reappeared right in front of him, lashing out with fists and feet in uncoordinated anger. The rogue was more experienced in fighting than his younger counterpart, and fended off the blows before returning with some of his own, knocking DongHae across the field. But Hae returned to try again, and the poltergeists attention was effectively caught, the two humans at the base of the hill forgotten temporarily.
KyuHyun ignored the fight, trying to keep SungMin alive. The older males face was steadily growing paler, his breathing faint and unsteady. No, this couldn’t be happening. He couldn’t lose SungMin the same way he’d lost ChangMin. Tears fell down the ghost hunters cheeks as he used torn pieces of his shirt to apply pressure to the wound in SungMin’s chest, but no matter what he did, the blood didn’t stop flowing. He was losing him.
“Screw the rules,” Came a voice beside him, and a pair of semi-transparent hands appeared in KyuHyun’s field of vision, aiding him in stopping the flow of blood. KyuHyun looked up, to see ChangMin beside him, frowning in concentration. “I don’t know healing yet, I’m not that strong. But if we can just stop the blood, he might be able to… LeeTeuk!”
LeeTeuk, KangIn and KiBum froze in their tracks, taking in the scene in front of them. DongHae was engaged in a fight with the unknown rogue poltergeist, and neither seemed to have the upper hand, taking turns blasting each other across the field and destroying the tall reeds around them. LeeTeuk had to hurriedly put out a small fire starting nearby. Hearing his name being called, the older Spirit Guide looked up and stared at the three figures at the base of the hill. “Oh no…” He whispered, running up to them to see ChangMin and KyuHyun working together to keep SungMin alive. But the boy wasn’t going to last much longer.
“LeeTeuk, you’ve been doing this for nearly half a millennia, you must know how to heal!” ChangMin exclaimed, flustered as he tried to stop the blood despite the fact that his hands kept going right through SungMin’s body when he lost his concentration. LeeTeuk wavered, knowing it was against the rules to interfere in a humans death, but seeing as the situation was caused by a spirit and the look of agony on KyuHyun’s face, his motherly instinct won over his logic and he knelt beside them. White fire spread from his fingertips to cover the injury, trying to close it before more blood was lost.
KiBum watched the fight, frozen in spot as he watched DongHae being knocked about by the older poltergeist. He had to do something; the rogue ghost was getting the upper hand, and DongHae was tiring. Looking around desperately, he saw KyuHyun’s gun lying in the tall grass next to its owner. Hesitating for a fraction of a second, a loud gasp of pain from DongHae firmed his decision and he walked towards the small group at the base of the hill. KangIn watched his brother. “Where are you going?” He shouted to be heard over the roaring wind the two ghosts were creating.
At the same time, RyeoWook, YeSung and EunHyuk appeared at the top of the hill. “It’s coming from here…” RyeoWook trailed off, seeing the other humans in the area but not the ghosts, though he could sense them clearly. “What’s going on?” YeSung started, but EunHyuk suddenly took off, running down the hill. “SungMin!” He crouched beside them, nearly occupying the same space as ChangMin if the Spirit Guide hadn’t moved. “What happened to him???” KyuHyun, the only other one EunHyuk could see, couldn’t respond through the lump in his throat as he watched the two spirits try to save SungMin.
About to follow him down the hill, YeWook was knocked over by two conflicting gusts of wind, YeSung falling back down the opposite side of the hill and out of sight. RyeoWook tumbled down the same side as the others with a shout of surprise, wincing as he landed awkwardly on one arm and sprained his wrist.
KiBum noted all this, but didn’t stop walking until he had picked up the gun from KyuHyuns side, who didn’t even notice it was gone. The safety was still off, and it was loaded with one of the bullets KiBum knew now would send a ghost straight to the Void. Looking back at the two fighting ghosts, he took aim, then stopped. They were too close together; he couldn’t tell where to aim. He might hit DongHae instead at this rate.
KangIn came up beside him, seeing what he was going to do. “You have to get closer,” He said, pulling his younger brother closer to the fight raging. Standing beside him, the older noticed something strange. While the two ghosts fought, a strange rip in the air seemed to appear in between them, glowing blue in his vision. KangIn felt pulled towards it, but it kept disappearing when the ghosts went too far away from each other. “Aim for the rip in the air,” KangIn told his brother.
“The what?” KiBum asked, staring at the two poltergeists and trying to find a way to avoid shooting DongHae as well. “That blue mark!” KangIn said hurriedly, but KiBum gave him a blank look. “KangIn, this isn’t the time for you to be seeing things!” The younger brother replied angrily.
Confused, KangIn stared at the tear in the air, until movement in the corner of his eye got his attention. Turning his head, he met charcoal black eyes from across the field. “Y…” He fell silent as the man he’d met years ago, the one who’d called himself YoungWoong, nodded at him and vanished.
Was this what he meant when he said KangIn could see things KiBum couldn’t?
Making up his mind, he reached out and wrapped his fingers around the base of the gun, overlapping KiBums. “W-what are you doing?” KiBum exclaimed.
“Just trust me on this!” KangIn said, adjusting KiBums aim to where he knew the rip would appear next time the ghosts clashed. “When I say so, shoot.”
“How do you know-“
“I just do, okay? For once in your life, let me help you!” The two exchanged glances, KiBums uncertain. Finally he nodded, returning his gaze to the battle as KangIn’s grip around his hand tightened.
EunHyuk stood up, seeing RyeoWook favoring his wrist. “Are you okay?” He shouted, feeling helpless as he didn’t understand what was going on. He knew he couldn’t help SungMin, and looking at the boys pale face made him remember when DongHae had died. Starting to walk over to RyeoWook, to help him, he felt the wind whip by suddenly and knock his feet out from under him. Falling, something hard hit his head, and everything went dark.
The wind roared as the two ghosts leapt at each other again. In KangIn’s vision, a jagged line of blue nearly blinded him.
“NOW!”
BANG!