Title: Till Death do we Part
Chapter: 2/?
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: Here's the second chapter~! ^.^ Thank you guys for all the wonderful comments, ILUSM!!! You guys really know how to brighten my day ^.^ As my friend KyonDae pointed out, I tried posting this earlier but my word document sort of died on me... *sigh* BTW, she's posting up the first chapter to her own fic soon, Anything but Ordinary, so please check it out~!
Trailer ||
Chapter One Chapter Two:
“I don’t care what you say; I’m not leaving you to study all day for a test you know you can ace with both eyes closed and half your brain missing. Now get out that door and get some fresh air for a change!”
That was the event of the morning; KiBum’s older brother KangIn forcefully ejecting KiBum from their house. Standing on the doorstep, KiBum looked over his shoulder at the door as he heard KangIn lock it, before giving a long-suffering sigh and walking down the steps. Sure, he knew studying was pointless when everyone accused him of eating the textbook as it was, but a little extra practice wouldn’t kill him. KangIn would say differently though.
KiBum and his brother were as different as fire and ice. KiBum was the soft-spoken boy with the catching smile and an intelligence that could give Einstein himself a run for his money. Despite being at the top of his class and in no danger of losing that status anytime soon, he could forever be found in his room day in, day out, studying. KangIn, whose real name was YoungWoon but didn’t let anyone call him that without getting their head knocked off, was loud and blunt, and spent more time out with his friends than actually at school. In a way though they balanced each other out; KiBum made sure KangIn studied enough to keep him from failing, and in return KangIn took it upon himself to make sure KiBum wasn’t locked up in his room all day, using any means necessary. Apparently kicking him out of the house was one of them.
Walking down the street, KiBum decided to pay YeSung a visit. They were best friends, but YeSung hung out more with the other kids at school and left KiBum to study. Not that he didn’t assist KangIn in dragging him out of his study-bubble every now and then. But he understood KiBum’s perfectionist attitude, which came from having such strict parents and an older brother who refused to follow their wishes, and let KiBum do whatever he wanted.
Watching the clouds above drift lazily across the sky, KiBum turned a corner towards YeSung’s house. As he did so, a shiver went down his spine, and he glanced behind him, sensing someone watching him. But there was no one there; the only other people on the streets was an old lady walking her dog and a young male his age, both looking the other way. Frowning a little and scolding himself for being paranoid, he turned around and kept walking.
YeSung’s house was a good ten-minute walk from his own, but it was a nice day so KiBum didn’t mind. Walking up the steps, he rang the doorbell once, then slipped his hands into his pockets and hummed softly, waiting for someone to answer.
The door opened with a click, and KiBum smiled at his friend. “Ah, KiBum! KangIn kicked you out again, didn’t he?” YeSung joked. “That’s the only time you come see me anymore.”
KiBum grinned. “You know that’s not true,” He objected, as YeSung let him in. He was surprised to see someone else there with his friend. The shorter male met KiBum’s curious gaze, then blushed and bowed slightly.
“Oh, don’t do that, KiBum’s younger than you are,” YeSung said loftily. “KiBum, you remember Kim RyeoWook, right? He moved in just a street down.”
KiBum looked at said boy again. True, there had been a new student in his class last week. But he hadn’t known Yesung knew him. They were in different classes. “So, how do you know YeSung?” He inquired, not being rude, just curious.
“I was lost at school last week,” RyeoWook said quietly. “YeSung sshi helped me find my classes.”
“Aish, don’t be so formal,” YeSung grumbled. He looked at KiBum. “I’ve been trying to get him to talk to me informally all day. It just doesn’t seem to stick.”
“I like him already,” KiBum chuckled. “Though you really don’t need to use such language for a dork like YeSung.”
Yesung nodded in agreement, then ten seconds later seemed to do a double-take. “Yah, what did just you call me?” KiBum pointed at YeSung. “Case and point,” he said simply. RyeoWook laughed softly as Yesung tried to swipe at KiBum’s head, missed, and hit his hand against the doorframe.
KiBum spent some time with YeSung and RyeoWook. He’d missed this; just hanging out without any real plan or notion of what they were going to do next, just talking about anything and everything. RyeoWook showed them both the lyrics he’d written, then YeSung amused them with his attempt to sing them. It wasn’t that he had a bad voice, actually he was a very gifted singer, but the words and flow fit better with RyeoWook’s high voice than Yesung’s deep one. YeSung told the new student of KiBum’s acting talent, and before he knew it he was dragged into playing a game of charades that left them all on the floor laughing.
Time flew, and when KiBum next looked up it was dark outside. He would have to get back home soon, and though he was sure KangIn would cover for him if he was late, he didn’t want to push his brothers limit. Saying his goodbyes, he left YeSung’s house and started back home.
Walking at an easy pace, KiBum shivered again. It was that feeling again. He looked around, and noticed the same male from before, standing a little while off. He was looking in the other direction, but KiBum was suspicious. So he started on a longer route to his house, keeping his pace the same. Two minutes later, he stopped and bent to tie a shoelace, glancing behind himself as he did.
The guy was following him. Creepy. He was looking at KiBum now, but he didn’t speak or give any notion he knew KiBum was staring at him. Annoyed, KiBum turned and walked off again, a bit faster than before. Though he listened as hard as he could, there were no footsteps. Even so, he knew that the stranger was still following.
Eventually, three-quarters of the way to his house, he became annoyed and turned around, marching right up to the stranger. The other blinked, then looked behind himself, then back at KiBum. He was a bit taller than KiBum was, with messy brown hair and large chocolate-brown eyes.
“Why are you following me?” KiBum asked sharply. The other didn’t look like trouble, but he prepared himself in case he was attacked. The stranger blinked again, mouth slightly open, looking behind himself again to see who KiBum was talking to, then back at KiBum with a look of confusion.
Then it seemed to dawn on him. “Are… Are you talking to me?” He stammered, a faint touch of red entering his cheeks. “Who else would I be talking to,” KiBum asked, annoyed. There was no one else here.
“You mean… You can see me? You can actually see me?” The others eyes sparkled. Okay, now KiBum was confused. “Of course?” Maybe this man had mental problems?
The man grinned outright. “I can’t believe it. But, no one else… LeeTeuk never said anything about this…” He was more or less talking to himself now. Impatiently, KiBum interrupted. “Why are you following me? Who are you?”
“Lee DongHae,” The man chirped, sounding way too cheerful. “And you’re Kim KiBum. I have something to tell you.”
KiBum looked at him suspiciously. “Tell me wha-“ He was caught off guard when the man suddenly grabbed his shoulders firmly, pulling the other male forward and kissing him full on the lips.
KiBum was in shock. For one, a guy was kissing him. KiBum wasn’t gay, or even bi. He was completely straight, though he had nothing against those who varied from the norm, unlike his parents who nearly disowned KangIn when he revealed his preference for men. Second, it wasn’t even someone he knew. Just some random man off the streets, who’d been following him for god-knows how long. Had he been waiting outside YeSung’s house too? Did he know where KiBum lived?
Pulling himself together, KiBum pushed away as hard as he could, breaking the sudden kiss. Panting, he stared up at the man DongHae. DongHae seemed at first disappointed, then he brightened with a smile.
“KiBummie ah, I love you!”
And then the other took off, darting around the corner and vanishing with a burst of speed that left KiBum dazed. He stood there for a long time, completely stunned by the sudden kiss and confession. Bringing one hand up to his lips, he shivered again, turning around and starting to walk slowly. That was… So strange. What had been the point of that? Who was DongHae?
*****
DongHae ran until he was sure KiBum wasn’t following, then stopped. Strange thing was, he could run all day and not get tired. Though he couldn’t say he was not miffed at his lack of flying abilities (He’d tried jumping from a building earlier. It was at times like this he was glad he was already dead), he wasn’t limited by exhaustion or speed anymore. He could run as fast as he wanted, for as long as he wanted. He could make it to the other end of Korea overnight!
“LeeTeuk? LeeTeuk, did you see that?” He called, sure the spirit-guide was listening. As he had done before, LeeTeuk appeared out of thin air beside him.
“I saw,” He murmured. “That was… Strange. No human should be able to see you, and yet, he could see, hear, and touch you. He didn’t even seem to realize what you were.”
“No, not that!” DongHae waved his arms around frantically. “I… I kissed him! He probably thinks I’m a freak now. Why did I do that?” He looked both overjoyed and dismayed, his hand returning to his lips again and again.
“Well… Ghosts are purely spiritual creatures, so emotions and instincts have more of an effect, even on new ghosts. You wanted to kiss him, so you did it, without worrying of the consequences. It’s a bit of a pain to control, I hear, and it only gets worse.”
DongHae sat on the ground, replaying that moment in his head. “That was so…” His smile vanished, as he realized something. “Wait… I told him how I feel, can’t I go to Heaven now?”
LeeTeuk blinked. “Good question.” He looked at DongHae, obviously seeing something about the ghost that only spirit-guides could see. “No, you can’t…”
“Why not?” DongHae asked, dismayed.
“Your regret still hasn’t been fulfilled. Something is still missing that’s preventing you from moving on. And it still seems to be around KiBum.” LeeTeuk tapped one foot against the ground, thinking. “You should try getting closer to him. Be his friend. He doesn’t seem to notice you’re a ghost, so that makes it that much easier. Be careful around others though. If KiBum realizes no one else can see you, you’re going to have some very awkward questions to answer. I wonder if he can see me too…” LeeTeuk trailed off into thought.
DongHae was worried. “What if he doesn’t want to talk to be because I kissed him? I don’t even think he’s gay.” He pulled on the edges of his sleeve, looking down at himself, still expecting to see blood stains and a gaping hole in his chest where he’d been shot. It had been a stray bullet, he’d heard someone say. The rival gangs had started a fight out of nowhere. DongHae remembered that much, he remembered hopping on his motorcycle and looking back at EunHyuk and SungMin beside him, his best friend starting to get his own motorcycle so they could get way before things got out of hand. SungMin had been about to climb on behind him, when there had been several gunshots. Three of them. At the third, pain had erupted in his chest, spreading like fire to the edges of his limbs in a matter of seconds. He’d heard SungMin shout his name as he fell from the bike, then slipped into darkness. A pointless death; he’d simply been standing in the wrong place at the wrong time. In a way though he was glad he’d told SungMin he’d drive. If SungMin had hopped onto the front of the bike, he’d be the one lying cold and unmoving on the pavement. SungMin had his whole life ahead of him, while DongHae had been someone who just floated on the breeze, wandering aimlessly. Between the two of them, DongHae felt SungMin deserved life more than he did.
“Don’t worry about that too much,” LeeTeuk said with a soft sigh. “It’ll go fine, just be careful to watch what you do. Don’t let instinct take over again.” DongHae nodded, looking up at the dark sky. A question then came to mind.
“LeeTeuk…”
“Yeah?”
“Is it possible to visit your own funeral?”