Chapter Text
Third Rule of Djinn Vessels:
…until it is set free.
Eijun doesn't know how to react, eyes flickering back and forth between Kuramochi and Wakana. Miyuki turns halfway to look at Kuramochi, a crease between his eyebrows.
"What is she talking about?"
"I don't know. That criminal must have done something to her!" Kuramochi points at the old man, worried gaze directed at Wakana. She narrows her eyes at him.
"You're the criminal here! I don't even know that man." she spits, struggling even harder to get free when Kuramochi starts to move towards her. "Don't come any closer!"
He stills, shooting a helpless look at Miyuki and Eijun. Miyuki doesn’t move, still staring at Kuramochi in a somewhat calculating way while Eijun takes a step toward Wakana.
“Wakana, I know Kuramochi’s a violent jerk most of the time but he’s actually a good person!” Eijun grinds out. He ignores Wakana and Kuramochi’s surprised faces; he doesn’t like admitting it but it’s the truth. Wakana is being unreasonable, especially since it’s obvious this man kidnapped her and probably hit her over the head to make her as confused as she is. But Wakana just shakes her head violently before he’s even finished talking.
“I know he is – but that’s not him! It’s -”
Kuramochi whirls and stomps right up to the old man, glaring at him. Miyuki reaches out a hand for him as he passes him by but pulls back at the last moment, hesitant.
Wakana’s ludicrous accusation, without any proof, shouldn’t be stirring doubts within Kazuya, but the wrongness he can sense radiating off of Ochiai is similar to something he can perceive Youichi, now that he concentrates. If it is him, he corrects himself silently. He can only watch as his ‘friend’ confronts the old man, too conflicted to move.
“What did you do?” Kuramochi shouts. Eijun’s jaw almost drops to the floor when he actually grabs hold of Ochiai’s collar. Judging by the situation and the man’s unimpressed expression, he has to be dangerous! How can Kuramochi just do that so easily? “You asshole, it’s not enough that you actually turned my friend into a djinn but now you’re also twisting people’s minds?”
“Stop lying – where’s Youichi? What have you done to him?” Wakana calls out furiously, worry shining through underneath. Kuramochi stiffens and lets go of Ochiai, turning to face Wakana.
“Wakana, it’s me! I don’t –“ he starts, desperate, but a cough interrupts him. Ochiai smooths out his collar.
“Now, now, I know you love being dramatic but it’s time to stop hiding, don't you think?” he casually says, sounding completely at ease.
Kazuya’s suspicion turns into shocked dread when Youichi doesn’t respond with the expected growl of disgust but an easy smile. It looks oily and far too slick and draws a corresponding one out of the old man.
It makes Kazuya shudder.
“Alright, you got me. It was good fun while it lasted though, no?”
And then Youichi simply walks away.
He turns his back on Kazuya and Sawamura, who can only watch in stunned disbelief, and doesn’t even look back. The only time he does is once he stands directly beside Ochiai and faces them head-on. The bastard is wearing a small, but self-satisfied smirk, stroking his little goatee while Youichi’s smile widens, showing off glistening white teeth.
“You couldn’t have picked that one?” Ochiai asks offhandedly, eyes sweeping Kazuya once more. The way those beady eyes wander over him makes him want to recoil in disgust. But it also makes Kazuya want to retort to the offending, dismissive manner which Ochiai uses to address them. “He would have made a better vessel.”
Youichi rolls his eyes and, for just a moment, Kazuya thinks he can recognise a familiar spark in them – one he, as he guiltily admits, has been responsible for far too often, recently. Something like hurt and anger. But then Youichi speaks and it’s a bored tone, bordering on annoyance and completely different from what his friend is usually like.
“You know how it works. One speaks the enchantment, the other gets enchanted. Can’t go against the rules of magic.” he replies, wriggling his fingers for emphasis on the last word.
All the while, Eijun has watched all this with wide eyes, mouth hanging open in shock. Suddenly, he seems to regain his ability to move, pointing straight at Kuramochi.
“How – how could you? You’re our friend!” he cries, outraged and betrayed. He doesn’t even flinch when Miyuki reaches up a hand to drag his arm down.
“Idiot, that’s not Kuramochi!” he hisses into his ear. It’s a testament to just how thoroughly this has shaken Eijun that doesn’t even notice how close Miyuki is. In fact, what Miyuki said barely even registers. Eijun turns his head sideways, eyes wide and a bit glassy.
“What do you mean?” he asks, voice too quiet and a bit coarse. His gaze slides sideways. “Who else can it be?”
It looks like Kuramochi, it sounds like him. It has to be him, despite what Wakana said.
Right?
Kuramochi cocks an eyebrow, a devious smirk on his face.
“I played my part that well, huh?” he asks rhetorically. Eijun opens his mouth to answer, back to glaring, but he already continues talking. “Of course I did.”
“What part?” Eijun asks, just getting more confused by the minute. “You’re Kuramochi…aren’t you?”
Kuramochi rolls his eyes.
“Damn, you really are dense. If I could feel guilt, I’d tell my conscience to rest easy since me beating you up probably didn’t damage your brain like I thought it might have.”
“Hey!”
“No.” Kuramochi answers, ignoring Eijun’s shout. He lifts his hand to inspect his nails, not even looking at him. “I’m not Kuramochi Youichi.”
Sawamura looks flabbergasted, jaw dropping. Kazuya doesn’t blame him though his slowness still has the power to irritate him even now.
“What? But who…?”
“A demon.” Wakana unexpectedly answers, drawing most of the old storage room’s occupants’ attention to her. Keeping her chin high, she holds Youichi’s gaze firmly, even when he winks at her and mockingly blows her a kiss. “More specifically, a Sin.”
“A sin?” Sawamura echoes, the reply throwing up more questions instead of answers, but Kazuya’s eyes narrow as he remembers what else is on the photocopied pages still crumpled in his hand. Something about Ochiai and that bottle, about djinns and trapped demons. Something about demon possession and the origin of demons.
And something about a ritual to do with the demons called Sins.
“When the charm made me a djinn…made me go into the bottle…something came out of it, didn’t it?” Kazuya asks slowly. Youichi’s gaze flits over to him, his smirk widening as their eyes lock. He can feel Sawamura staring at him again too, the intensity of it burning into the side of his head. “What was in the bottle?”
“Ah, you really are the smart one, aren’t you?” Youichi laughs, a depreciating sound. To Ochiai he adds, “I hate it when you’re right.”
Youichi, or at least the creature using Youichi’s appearance, sweeps into a low bow and grins up at Kazuya. The dread in his stomach coils and turns into something cold and hard at his next words.
“Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Pride, the most powerful and last of the Sins who were trapped in that ugly thing.” Pride grins even wider at the shock on Sawamura’s face and straightens up. “Thanks for a friend as dumb as this one. It was really getting boring in there, all by myself. Speaking of which.”
Pride holds out a hand toward Ochiai, obviously waiting for something.
“Tch.” Ochiai reaches into his coat, drawing out a thin, black box but takes it back when Pride reaches for it. The Sin scowls at him. “Not yet. Patience.”
Pride looks like he wants to protest, distorting Youichi’s face into an unrecognisable mask of suppressed rage – but then nods grudgingly, stepping back a bit when Ochiai turns to the front. Glancing at Kazuya again, his gaze doesn’t linger but heads straight for Sawamura.
“You, boy.” he says, assessing him from head to toe. A short silence follows during which Ochiai does nothing but Eijun still feels offended somehow. “Give me your djinn.”
Eijun blinks, Miyuki is frozen next to him, stunned. Then –
“Haaahh??”
“I told you he would be too dumb to get it.” Pride drawls, sauntering over to Wakana and crouching down beside her. She cowers away from his touch when he reaches out for a strand of her hair. Then he tugs, sharply. Wakana clamps her mouth shut but her eyes tear up from the pain.
“Let go of her!” Eijun bellows, panicked and enraged as he tries to storm past Ochiai, freezing the next moment when Wakana is suddenly standing. Pride is behind her, holding her in a loose embrace. Eijun’s eyes are fixed on his hand at her throat, specifically what it’s holding - the glinting blade of an undoubtedly sharp knife. Pride cocks his head, smiling at him innocently.
“You’re moving too fast.” Ochiai tells him without turning around. His gaze is directed at Kazuya but still he can’t tell what colour his eyes are. All he can see in them is a sort of simmering fire, too low to identify and chilling him to the core. “But I suppose impatience is the downfall of your arrogance.”
Pride bares his teeth at Ochiai’s back.
“Like that’s new! Just get on with it, will you?”
If Ochiai seemed like the type of person to roll his eyes, Kazuya is sure he would have but he doesn’t and so he can’t do anything but keep enduring the eye contact between them. He’s starting to feel numb from the cold those eyes seem to be injecting right into his soul.
“Let me explain it more clearly, then.” Ochiai starts, holding Kazuya’s gaze for a moment longer before focusing on Sawamura. Kazuya almost slumps in relief but Ochiai’s next words have him tensing all over. “Hand over your ownership of the djinn to me. Or refuse to do so and the girl gets killed.”
Sawamura lets out a hoarse shout. Kazuya can’t help but reflexively look over at Pride who smirks at him, pressing the blade against Wakana’s skin until a bead of blood appears. She gasps in surprise and pain, drawing Sawamura’s attention.
“Don’t -!” he starts, beginning to move. Kazuya steps in front of him before he can even try to run over. Sawamura tries to push him aside but Kazuya isn’t budging.
“Youichi would never hurt anyone, least of all the people he values.” he states, not looking away from Pride’s face, so like his friend’s but with a mismatched expression of cruelty displayed on it. Something seems to flicker in the depth of his eyes and Kazuya can just about stop his triumph from showing. So Youichi is still somewhere in there. “The Youichi I know, my friend, would rather die himself than harm another living being without good reason.”
“Is that so?” Pride’s voice sounds deceptively soft, his grasp on Wakana loosening. Then he lets go completely, shoving her aside without remorse – and the blade finds itself set against his own skin. His grin is a little unhinged as it’s flashed at Kazuya. He stiffens, jaw set as he can’t do anything but watch. If he makes one wrong move, who knows what could happen? “How about I give him just enough awareness that he knows exactly what’s happening while I slit his throat?”
“Pride.” Ochiai still sounds as passive as ever but there’s a note of impatience in his voice. “I was under the impression you brought the girl here for a reason.”
“I did.” Pride replies, a little petulantly, and earning an icy glare from Ochiai.
Kazuya isn’t paying attention; he suddenly has to remember before they met up earlier that day at the library. How long has Youichi been possessed for?
Why would Wakana message a boy she only recently met instead of her best friend to say she’s sick?
How strange is it for her to leave the house without any form of contact? And why would she lie about that?
“You kidnapped her?” Sawamura asks, shocked and angry, voicing Kazuya’s conclusion. “Why? She has nothing to do with this!”
“Hmm, I suppose she doesn’t.” Pride concedes, humming as he turns his eyes toward the ceiling and taps his chin. The blade draws a thin trail of blood at the movement but he doesn’t seem to notice. Then he grins, looking at Ochiai. “Well, you see, originally I wanted to use her to get dumbo over there to cave. But, you know,” his eyes flicker over to Kazuya for an instant and his grin goes impossibly wide, “I think I might have a better idea.”
Ochiai stares at him with an unfathomable look on his face, holding Pride’s gaze before his mouth curls up at the side in a nearly invisible smile. It’s terrifying.
“Hmm, very well.” he agrees to whatever silent agreement they just reached. Meeting Kazuya and Sawamura’s gazes head-on, both suitably confused and scared, his smile becomes a little wider. “This is my last offer.”
Eijun can barely hear what the old man is saying above the unnaturally loud sound of blood rushing in his ears but once the words reach him, his heart stops and everything is much too quiet, much too clear.
“Give me ownership of your djinn. Or the one you know as Kuramochi Youichi will die, leaving Pride to take possession of that girl.”
A stunned silence follows Ochiai’s declaration. He doesn’t move, waiting for a rejection or acceptance. Wakana stares at him in shock and then up at Pride. The Sin bursts out into cackling laughter at the emerging expressions of hopelessness and fear on Miyuki and Eijun’s faces.
“So, guys, what will it be, huh? Hand over the djinn and save your friend’s life? Or kill both of them if you refuse?”
“That’s not a fair deal!” Eijun finds his voice, cracking halfway through the sentence. He looks over at Wakana, seeing how scared she is before turning an angry glare on Ochiai. When he steps past Miyuki to confront him, he isn’t stopped. “Why do you want a djinn so bad? He can’t even fulfil any wishes, trust me, I’ve tried!”
Pride actually rolls his eyes at his question, rolling his shoulders and briefly lifting the blade a bit before resting it back on his throat.
“Why would anyone want a djinn, you fucking moron?” he rhetorically asks. “To make their wishes come true, duh!”
“But I just said – wishing doesn’t work!” Eijun yells, bordering on hysterical. The blood in his veins feels like it’s freezing from the chilling grin he gets from Pride.
“It does if you know how.”
Throughout this exchange, Kazuya has stayed silent as his mind races through what possibilities they have here.
They can run – but that’s an option he throws out as soon as it comes up. There’s no way he can leave anyone behind, even if Youichi is kind of a dumbass.
But there’s only one other option – two, if one counts both choices given to them. Neither of them have a perfect outcome, but the best case scenario is the only thing they can aim for now, if they want even just a small chance of coming out of this alive.
Even if it means Kazuya can save everyone but himself.
He raises his head, not surprised to find Pride smirking at him.
“You know what I mean, don’t you? Djinn?”
Kazuya doesn’t nod but he doesn’t look away either, doesn’t even blink.
“Eijun.” Kazuya calls Sawamura. Neither notice the sudden change in address; it’s not important. “It’s okay. Do it.”
Eijun stares at Miyuki in disbelief, inching closer to clutch his arm.
“What do you mean, it’s okay? These guys are psychos! Who knows what they’ll do?”
“Do you want Youichi and Wakana to die?” he immediately counters, impatient, as he turns to look at him. Eijun gulps, shaking his head. Miyuki’s voice softens. “Then do it. Make your wish.”
“Oh no, this won’t do.”
Both Miyuki and Eijun turn to Ochiai at the sudden interruption, surprised. He’s stroking his goatee and shaking his head.
“A wish may be powerful – but an exchange of ownership requires consent, true consent. And that is something objects, like jinn, cannot give.” Ignoring Miyuki’s stunned and Eijun’s indignant expressions, he holds out a hand toward Eijun. He looks straight into his eyes and Eijun suddenly can’t move. “Do you willingly give me your djinn?”
Eijun first instinct is to flip him the bird and run, to just grab Miyuki and leave this place as fast as they can. But he knows he can’t. He can’t leave Wakana behind or Kuramochi possessed by that asshole of a demon. He can’t leave these crazies with his best friend who will probably, no scratch that, who will kill her. He can’t do any of that without at least trying to fight back.
Even if fighting back looks like giving up right now. It can buy them time until they can come up with something else.
Eijun can feel Miyuki’s gaze burning into the side of his face. He gulps, glancing over at him. Miyuki’s eyes are wide, his face pale – but he gives him a small nod, the hint of a smirk. For the first time, seeing that doesn’t make him want to strangle Miyuki. It fills him with courage.
Facing Ochiai again, Eijun glares at him even as he takes the few steps needed in order to reach for the offered hand. His other is still loosely grasping at Miyuki, slipping downward until it’s in Miyuki’s. Eijun inhales sharply as his hand is squeezed in encouragement and he squares his shoulders, boldly returning Ochiai’s intense stare.
“I willingly give you my djinn.”
Ochiai’s dark eyes flash and he shows a brief smile. It sends a chill down his spine and a sort of primal fear through the rest of his body, making him stiffen. Eijun abruptly lets go of his hand, looking over at Miyuki beside him.
Almost immediately, Kazuya’s body feels like it’s getting lighter, shedding some invisible chain he wasn’t even aware of before another, much heavier weight replaces it and shackles him to the ground. His knees almost buckle underneath the sudden burden. It feels like Eijun holding on to him is the only thing keeping him upright.
The chain tenses and straightens out, pulling on Kazuya mercilessly until he starts to move. His teeth clench as he forces his body to take one step after another towards Ochiai. He can feel a sense of panic emerging from within him when Eijun’s hand lets go of his.
“Now, that wasn’t too difficult, was it?” the old man asks Eijun, a self-satisfied smile on his face. Pride finally lowers the blade but his grin is still there.
“Finally.” he sighs in an over-dramatic manner, answering Eijun’s glare with a wide grin. “Took ya long enough.”
“What do you want?” Kazuya asks impatiently once the chain lets him stop moving. He’s much too close to Ochiai for comfort. The old man raises an eyebrow at him before retrieving the box from earlier. Flipping the lid open, Kazuya is presented with six glass orbs, each a different shade of grey. The colour swirls instead of staying constant, as if they are alive instead of mere objects.
“These are Sins.” Ochiai explains as Pride saunters over. “My first wish is this – fuse all of these with him.” He indicates the Sin behind him grinning at Kazuya. He tenses, reminded of that ritual in the book. If he remembers right, and he’s sure he does, this is going to have disastrous consequences.
“What if I don’t do it?”
“What if I kill your friend?” Pride casually replies with a question, raising his blade once again. Kazuya pales.
“Do it! He can’t kill Kuramochi!” Eijun calls out, shooting a panicked glance at Pride. The Sin smirks.
“Aw, I didn’t know you cared for him that much.”
“Eijun, if I do this, we don’t know what will happen –“ Kazuya starts to protest, just as unwilling, if not more, than Eijun to let Youichi die. But what will happen after?
Pride raises his eyebrows at the two of them in turn, drawing the blade across his neck to leave a shallow cut behind. Blood wells up, more than expected, but the demon grins as Kazuya draws in a sharp breath and Eijun gasps.
“Imagine how much more it’ll be next time.”
After shooting another look at Eijun which is answered with a timid nod, Kazuya looks Ochiai straight in the eye and nods too. Ochiai almost smiles.
“What an obedient djinn. Then, I wish for all Sins to fuse together.”
A short silence follows during which Eijun crosses his fingers behind his back, hoping that Ochiai’s luck with wishes is as bad as his own, hoping that this is just another empty wish which won’t come true.
1…2…3…4…
He can already feel relief welling up inside him because nothing has happened yet. He grins at Ochiai giddily.
“See, I told you –“
“As you wish, master.”
Eijun’s attention snaps back to Miyuki, mouth still partially open as his vision goes hazy
***
“As you wish, master.” Kazuya says, the answering key to the wish coming out from between clenched teeth and drenched in helpless anger. It only increases, joined by fear, as the orbs flow from their solid form into dark grey fog, joining together in one great cloud, like a small storm, before rushing for Pride. The Sin welcomes it with open arms, opening his mouth impossibly wide to suck in the dark mist.
Kazuya wishes he could look away but the sight which follows is too unbelievable to do so. He can only hope his friend doesn’t feel any pain.
It looks like every cliche straight out of a horror movie must be based on some kind of truth because Pride’s appearance changes enough not to resemble Youichi anymore in the slightest. It’s still his face but it’s obvious now, what with the pitch-black eyes and sharp, pointed teeth revealed by a too wide grin, that Pride isn’t human. The nails on his hand elongate and thicken into short claws. Kazuya wouldn’t be surprised if he started growing a tail and horns too or if a pair of wings would burst out from his back.
Eijun pales as he watches Pride’s transformation – is it even ‘Pride’ anymore?
“Finally.” the demon groans, rotating his shoulders once the fog has done its work. His voice still sounds the same but different at the same time, as if layered with many others. He shoots a grin at Ochiai and then sticks out his tongue at Eijun who recoils. It’s forked, flicking out like a snake’s. “I knew pretending to be your friend would get me what I want.”
“Djinn.” Ochiai completely ignores the demon as he addresses Kazuya and forces him to look away. Ochiai’s face remains carefully disinterested as he vaguely gestures at Eijun, “I wish for you to kill him.”
Kazuya stares at him as Eijun’s attention snaps toward them.
“What?” he manages to ask after a few drawn out seconds. His gaze flickers over to Eijun. Eijun who looks scared, truly scared for the first time since they’ve met – of him. It makes something in his chest clench uncomfortably, like his heart is being squeezed by an invisible hand. “Why?”
Ochiai doesn’t answer, eyes glinting. The demon growls impatiently.
“Just do it.” he hisses, turning halfway to make a grab for Wakana. Despite having gone ignored for a little while, she’s obviously not been forgotten. She tries to get away from the demon’s clawed hands without success but it doesn’t stop her from struggling against his hold on her. Then she abruptly stills because those claws are far too close to her neck for comfort. If she wasn’t being threatened to death, she’d laugh at their lack of creativity. “Or she dies.”
“It’s that ownership thing –“ Wakana answers Kazuya’s question, ignoring how the demon jerks her once, hard. She coughs but keeps going with Kazuya listening intently though it’s not his attention she’s seeking. Her gaze is focused on Eijun imploringly, willing him to understand what she’s saying. She doesn’t know if she’ll be of help much longer, even if she doubts they’ll kill her as long as they need to control Kazuya and Eijun. “You didn’t use all your wishes – you still have –“
“Shut up!” the demon shakes her roughly enough for her head to rattle back and forth. She winces in pain when the back of it connects to with the wall beside them. She slumps, limp like a ragdoll. The demon stops, holding on to her a moment before dropping her with a shrug. Eijun gasps when she falls to the ground, only stopped from rushing over by an unsettling smile from the demon. “Oops. Really, you humans are so fragile. Gotta work on that.”
“Make sure she’s still alive.” Ochiai orders the demon, his voice not quite so calm anymore. “She unexpectedly turned out to be useful – you better not have killed her while she still has some value.”
The demon shoots Ochiai a nasty glare but obeys, crouching down to check her pulse carefully. When he looks up, he nods, once. Then his gaze slides over to Eijun before it finally lands on Kazuya. Sharp teeth are revealed by a threatening grin.
“So? Gonna do it?” he asks, claws extended as they graze Wakana’s neck. Eijun gives a strangled yell, focused on his friend crumpled on the ground. Kazuya is looking at her too, deep in thought.
What did she just say? Something about wishes – Eijun’s wishes –
Kazuya’s eyes widen in realisation and he almost laughs in relief. There might be a way to get out of this after all!
“Eijun, I’m sorry.” Miyuki’s prolonged answer catches Eijun off-guard. The demon’s grin widens as Eijun looks up at Miyuki with wide eyes. Miyuki is looking directly at him, his expression resembling one he’s watched from afar for the past week. It’s full of calculation though there’s urgency there too. It’s completely mismatched with his words and regretful tone. “Wakana is right about wishes – I have to obey.”
Eijun is confused. That’s not what she said, was it? Hadn’t it been something about -?
“I’m sorry.” Kazuya repeats, watching Eijun’s face twist in confusion as he tries to piece it together. Good. At least he got the idiot to think. “I hope you can still wish me well.”
Eijun narrows his eyes at Miyuki, more confused than ever. That bastard isn’t making any sense! What the hell is he saying?
“Djinn.” Ochiai interrupts their staring contest, showing signs of impatience. The demon readies his claws with a clicking noise as he clacks them together as a reminder. “I wish for you to kill your former Master. Will you obey?”
Kazuya holds Eijun’s gaze for a moment longer. He doesn’t see any recognition in his eyes and it’s making his hopelessness and fear return. He doesn’t want to do this. He can’t do this. Why does he have to?
“Why? Why make me kill him?” he asks out loud. A shallow cut appears on Wakana’s throat and he hastily adds, even if just to buy some time, “I will! Just – why not you? Or him?”
At first, Ochiai looks like he isn’t going to answer, but then he inclines his head thoughtfully.
“It’s a test.” he finally says, stroking his goatee once again. “You’ll be doing a lot more killing until I use up my third wish – even if you don’t want to. This is just an assessment of how willing you are, since this gives you an illusion of control.”
While Ochiai blathers on about his reasons for wanting Eijun dead, his thoughts are racing as he tries to decipher the riddle that asshole gave him. Who plays games at a time like this??
Something about Wakana…wishes…what did she say…
‘You didn’t use all your wishes – you still have –‘
And then Miyuki…
‘ I have to obey…I hope you can still wish me well.’
Eijun’s eyes widen as it suddenly makes sense. He wants to tell Miyuki that he solved it and also that the jerk should be clearer next time – but he can’t say anything because Miyuki has just finished a phrase. It echoes in his ears like a nightmare.
“As you wish, master.” Kazuya says the words as slowly as he can, dragging out each syllable while keeping one eye on Eijun.
Please, please, let the idiot be smart for once.
“How long does it take you to say four words?” the demon gripes, standing once Kazuya has finally finished. He grins gleefully, crossing his arms as he watches Kazuya’s shocked expression when his body seems to start moving on his own accord. “Damn, this will be fun to watch.”
“It’s not supposed to be fun.” Ochiai tells him calmly, watching just as intently.
Kazuya can’t stop himself from turning around and making his way over to Eijun – all his muscles have clenched up and are forcing him to move against his will. It hurts, almost as much as seeing the terror in Eijun’s eyes. He wishes he could say something, apologise, just tell him outright to voice a wish – but even as he tries to pry his jaw apart, it stays locked and sends a shooting pain through it. He doesn’t even know how he’s supposed to do this, even though the wish seems to, a deep black poison spreading through his veins.
Please, please, please, pleasepleasePLEASEJUSTWISH –
Eijun’s fear grows with every step Miyuki takes toward him. He can’t make his brain work despite the riddle’s solution he just found out, despite knowing it can save him and everyone else –
His eyes lock with Kazuya’s and he can see his own fear mirrored in them. It’s absurd how calm it suddenly makes him feel – not enough to slow his racing heartbeat or the cold sweat trickling down his back – but enough to form one clear thought, one clear sentence, one wish.
“I wish for you to defeat that old man and his demon!”
Kazuya could cry with relief at feeling his muscles loosen. There’s still tension there, still the newest wish – but he’s back in control of himself, mostly. He can even grin down at Eijun as he gives his full agreement to a wish he hoped to hear.
“As you wish, master.”
Kazuya feels light as he turns back around to face Ochiai and the demon. He has no idea how he’s supposed to do that, just like before, but the wish feels strong and glowing inside him. If it’s this wish, he can do anything.
***
When Aotsuki wakes, she’s instantly sure that she isn’t in that dingy storage room anymore. She actually isn’t in any place she recognises – everything is white and foggy, obscuring everything.
Something seems to be moving, silhouettes shifting inside the thick mist.
“Where am I?” she wonders aloud, murmuring to herself and not expecting an answer which is why she nearly jumps when she gets one.
Where I found you.
Good thing she isn’t standing. Thinking about it, Aotsuki doesn’t even know exactly what she’s doing, standing, sitting, lying down – maybe simply ‘being’?
“Who are you?”
A soul.
That’s more confusing than enlightening, Wakana finds. She can feel an unrest shining through the fog, unsettling her and filling her with a sense of urgency. She should be doing something, helping someone – but who? Why?
Your friends. I found you when you passed out. I hope you don’t mind me being here.
“I don’t even know who you are. And your answers aren’t very helpful.”
My name is Kindness. I’m here to help although not by answering your questions.
“Doing a great job of that.” Wakana says, sounding snappish. But the voice’s previous statement rings a bell…helping her friends…Eijun! Memories come rushing back, accompanied by muffled humming. “You came to help? Me?”
All of you. If you’ll let me.
Aotsuki has no idea who this voice is – ‘Kindness’ doesn’t really tell her anything and neither does the reply ‘a soul’. But as the memories settle into place, her sense of urgency increases as well as her knowledge that they do need help. After all, Kazuya and Eijun are pretty much cornered, even if they understood what she told them. That book turned out more useful than she thought, after all.
“That would be greatly appreciated.” she says with as much sincerity as she can muster. The fog suddenly becomes clearer, a dull ache in the back of her head appearing. The humming starts to sound like distinct noises. “What did you say you are again?”
A Virtue.
Aotsuki opens her eyes, the noises separating into voices cutting across one another as the fog disappears completely.
***
“What the fu –“ Kazuya breaks off, eyes wide as Ochiai slumps onto the ground, out like a light. Eijun stands behind him, a certain bottle raised high in his hands. They both stare at each other for a second. “Did you seriously just knock him out with that?”
“Uh. I think so?” Eijun lowers the bottle, scratching at the back of his neck. He glares at Kazuya’s unimpressed look. “As if you were doing any better! You just started slapping the crap out of him!”
Kazuya sputters.
“Yeah, well –“
“Are you two done discussing your piss-poor strategy plans?” the demon asks, sounding decidedly bored. He grins, black eyes lighting up in excitement at their attention on him. “Come on, then. You might have knocked him out but this body is young. Give it all you got.”
Hearing the demon refer to Youichi’s body that way makes Kazuya hesitate. What if he hurts him? The demon rolls his eyes.
“Come on!” he tells him aggressively, swiping at him with his claws and grinning again when Kazuya barely manages to dodge it. “Better lose that conscience! It’ll bother you more than be useful to you in the long run!”
Eijun watches Kazuya dodge blow after blow, growing more annoyed with each one.
“Hey, I thought you’d do some cool magic trick – blow them up or something! Not have childish slapping fights!” he yells out at some point. Kazuya spares him a glower before avoiding another swipe aimed at his head.
“If you think you can do better, go ahead!”
Like he isn’t disappointed himself! He would have thought being a djinn would actually have some perks instead of just – this. He can feel his anger growing, anger directed at Eijun but mostly at himself for being so useless. How can he protect anyone like this, even if he can supposedly fulfil wishes, if has no idea what to do?
“Kazuya!” Eijun suddenly calls out, staring at him, gaping. His hands are fluttering at him as his mouth flaps open and closed without making a sound.
“What?” Kazuya snaps, more than just annoyed as he whirls around and stalks toward him, ignoring the demon he left mid-motion, stunned. “What the hell is it?”
“Your hands are glowing.”
“What?” Kazuya glances down at his hands, then up again. “What do you mean, ‘my – “ Hang on. He breaks off abruptly, raising his them – “They’re glowing! What -!”
“I told you!” Eijun crows, jumping up and down excitedly. He points behind Kazuya. “Go kick his ass!”
There’s a short pause during which Kazuya stares at his hands and then the demon.
"How do I do that?"
"I don't know! You're the genie!"
Loud laughter interrupts what has become a prelude to familiar squabbling. The demon patiently stands aside as he keeps cackling.
"Just when I thought my fun was about to start - you guys really have no clue. But I guess I knew that already, having been around you idiots for long enough."
"H-hey!" Eijun takes a step toward him but stops when Kazuya grabs his arm. He shakes his head at him, disbelieving.
"Are you crazy? He's going to kill you!"
"If I wanted either of you dead, you would be by now." the demon adds in casually, baring sharp teeth at their glares. His lips pull up at the corners. "I don't want to kill you. Well, not yet."
Eijun bristles, standing tall and chin raised high.
"D-don't underestimate us!"
Kazuya drops his head into his hands at the short silence followed by the demon's guffaws.
"Are you serious? You think two brats like you actually have a chance of defeating me?" he wheezes between laughs, doubling over. He wipes away tears, straightening up. Despite Youichi's small height, he manages to look intimidating, towering. "Let me tell you something. I've existed for as long as humans have. I've caused destruction more times than you can count - history only caught the tip of the iceberg. I've made kingdoms and empires fall because I was bored." He pauses, dark eyes somehow taking on a glow as he grins widely. Eijun stands frozen, gulping audibly. If only he didn't have such a big mouth! Kazuya's hand around his wrist tightens. "Do you really think you're still alive because of what you can do?"
"Chaos." Even the demon stills, his grin stiffening, at the sound of Wakana's voice. Both Eijun and Kazuya can only gape as she steps up in front them, covertly placing herself between the boys and the demon. She tilts her head to the side, smiling mildly. "It's been a long time."
The demon - Chaos? - stares down at her. Kazuya kind of wants to laugh at how shocked he looks - it must be hysterics taking over.
"Kana, what are you doing?? He's dangerous and you're hurt!" Eijun tugs at her arm, wanting to get her away from the demon, but immediately lets go when she turns her head to smile at him in reassurance.
She looks like Wakana... but at the same time she doesn't. There's something about her eyes...and that smile. And Wakana would have hit him by now.
Eijun swallows.
"You're not Wakana, are you?"
She shakes her head, looking back at the demon still incapable of speaking though he does look increasingly furious - even a bit scared. Kazuya blinks. What could possibly be powerful enough to scare someone like him?
"No. But I promise she's safe, here." not-Wakana touches the area above her heart.
"Quit talking and do what you came for!" Chaos suddenly erupts, looking like he wants to punch someone. Kazuya wonders why he doesn't; of course he doesn't want Wakana, or her body, to be harmed, but it does make a good target. But when not-Wakana takes a step toward him, the demon shrinks into himself. She reaches out a hand, causing him to hiss, "Don't touch me!"
She does, ignoring his words, and at the sound of the demon's pained grunt and something sizzling, Kazuya suddenly understands. As he stares at the burn mark in the form of a slender hand on the side of Youichi's face, he feels sorry for his friend but also absurdly grateful.
"What are you?" Kazuya asks, awed. He's starting to suspect - after all, there is a limited number of things that seem to be able to stand against what originates from the bad in humans - so he isn't as surprised as he should be when she smiles at him knowingly.
"A virtue. But you knew that already, didn't you?"
"I said, quit the small talk!" Chaos snarls. One of his arms come swinging forward, the claws catching on the virtue's arm. Eijun cries out in alarm at the blood appearing, only Kazuya locking him into place.
But the demon doesn't look triumphant and she doesn't even look pained, the injury healed just moments later. In contrast, the demon's wound is still there, though to Kazuya's dread, it already looks a little better than it did before, more like a few days old than fresh.
"You're more powerful than I remember, Kindness." Chaos tells her, standing back a little. The virtue smiles again but Eijun thinks he can see a bit of Wakana in it. It doesn't look friendly as much as it scares him, and apparently it does the demon too.
"And you're weaker than I remember." she says, smile turning softer. “This girl is strong, as is the boy you’re using.”
Kazuya and Eijun exchange confused looks. What are they talking about?
“Bullshit.” Chaos spits. “If he’s so strong how come you, just by yourself, did this?” He points at the burned skin on his face. Kindness smiles again.
“I never said he was strong in a way that helps you.”
It’s a simple sentence but it makes Chaos freeze. He lets out a loud roar and knocks the virtue aside. Eijun and Kazuya make as if to come to her aid but she coughs, holding up a hand and with a warning in her eyes.
“Think about it, Chaos. What made you pick the boy? Why was it so easy for you to possess him?”
The demon narrows his eyes, jaw clenching. He obviously knows the answer to her questions.
“I don’t get it.” Eijun whispers beside Kazuya.
It sounds so out of place and normal, it’s surreal to hear it here.
Kazuya doesn’t exactly understand either, but the wheels in his head are spinning, trying to make sense of it.
Why is Wakana the reason the virtue is strong?
Why is Youichi the reason the demon isn’t?
Why was it easy for the demon to take over Youichi?
The wheels spin and spin, uselessly, coming to no conclusion. It frustrates Kazuya because it feels like it’s waiting, sitting there, just out of reach on the edge of his mind.
“I hate you!” the demon suddenly yells, not sounding like a demon at all, but much more like the body he’s possessing. He sounds like Youichi yelling at Wakana. It’s out of place and completely wrong, but the intonation of it plucks at a faint memory of Kazuya’s. Not a specific one but all the times Youichi has yelled that phrase at him.
But he never meant it.
Just like he doesn’t mean it now.
It strikes him like a bolt of lightning, only confirmed by the virtue’s soft smile and her answer to the demon’s exclamation.
“No, you don’t.”
Kazuya has to grin, full of relief and exhilaration. He grips Eijun’s hand, squeezing it to get his attention. His gaze snaps to him, eyes widening at his wide grin.
“I know what to do now.”
“Huh?” Eijun blinks, shaking himself out of his daze at the blinding smile on Kazuya’s face. He turns to face him properly, ignoring the demon’s descent into a temper tantrum. “What do you mean? What are you doing?”
At first it looks like Kazuya won’t answer, already looking away from him and at the demon instead. But then he glances back at him, his grin a bit more terrifying.
“What makes a Virtue strong and a Sin weak?”
And with that, he lets go of Eijun’s hand and joins the virtue’s side. They exchange nods while Eijun can only stare, open-mouthed. Then he glares at the back of their heads.
What the hell is it with that asshole and riddles?
***
“Finished being a coward?” the demon taunts Kazuya. He shrugs, returning the demon’s grin which causes him to falter a little.
“Just being a gentleman and helping out. A guy should have good manners in front of a girl, right? Especially the one he likes.”
There’s flicker of something in the demon’s eyes and Kazuya hopes he hasn’t made a mistake when his grin becomes more confident.
Come on, Youichi. You’re in there somewhere. Fight.
“Hm. And a friend shouldn’t try and put him down in front of her.” Chaos – or is it Youichi he’s allowing to come through? – retorts, smirking in self-satisfaction. He shifts into a fighting stance, clawed hands raised and an anticipating expression on his face. “Ready to settle this?”
Kazuya forces himself to smirk, to appear as confident as he can. He thinks of what he wants to achieve, of who he’s doing this for.
For Wakana, who got dragged into this mess without having anything to do with it, because despite all the teasing, they’ve somehow become friends over summer.
I’m sorry.
For Eijun…Sawamura, who is much too loud, much too brash and much too pushy – having somehow wormed himself into Kazuya’s life in the space of a week and already secured himself a place there when he wasn’t paying attention.
That brat.
For Youichi, who is still Kazuya’s friend, possibly the only one he has at Seido and most certainly the first true friendship he’s been able to form. Granted, most of the time their friendship consists of laughing at and throwing sarcastic remarks at each other, but they both know they can count on one another when they need it the most.
Like now. Come on.
The hazy white glow around Kazuya’s hands becomes brighter, lighting up and obscuring their source. He tightens them into fists.
“Go protect Eijun.” he tells Kindness. For a moment, she doesn’t move and he thinks he has to repeat himself. Opening his mouth, ready to do so impatiently, she inclines her head in a nod and steps backwards until she stands beside Eijun. Kazuya doesn’t look away from the grinning demon, eyebrows furrowed in concentration, but does acknowledge the move with a nod. He searches for a sign of his friend in the demon’s face but finds none. “Let’s do this.”
For a few tense moments, neither moves, but then the demon’s grin grows even wider and his hands suddenly emit transparent, black fog, flickering like fire.
“Oh, you have no idea how much this guy hates you right now.”
The casually spoken sentence catches Kazuya off-guard – certainly he must be lying. He knows Youichi and him don’t really see eye to eye, but hatred –
The demon lunges forward, taking advantage of his momentary inattention. It’s more by luck and then reflexively moving out of the way that Kazuya doesn’t get hit. But a second attack follows close after, just when he’s regained his balance. The demon’s shadow-shrouded hand catches him on the shoulder, claws tearing through cloth and skin.
Kazuya can’t help his shout of pain and surprise, jumping backward as he defensively holds up his fists. The demon stays where he is, even having the audacity to beckon him over to him.
“I thought you wanted a fight. Is that all you got?” he taunts, grinning at Kazuya’s glare. “Come on, hit me. Or are you scared of hurting your ‘friend’?”
Kazuya doesn’t answer, instead charging forward to try and pummel him into the ground, sending a silent apology toward Youichi. The demon only laughs at his attempts, dodging each and every one of his hits as he dances out of the way. Then Kazuya finally manages to hit the side of his face, a sickening crunch sounding. He freezes, staring at the demon with dread and anticipation.
The demon laughs, using one hand to set the dislocated jaw back into place with another loud cracking noise. The blooming bruise around the area disappears as Kazuya watches, eyes wide and mouth dropping in horror. The demon smirks, one of his claws coming out like a whip. It socks Kazuya right in the stomach and sends him right to ground, coughing and gasping.
“Stop!” Eijun can’t stop himself from calling out, watching the unfair fight unfold. He can’t just stand there and do nothing, even as he’s completely ignored and Kazuya staggers to his feet. Eijun takes a step forward, wanting to do something, anything, but a soft hand on his arm holds him back. He angrily looks to the side, ready to yell at whoever it is that’s taken over Wakana’s body but then she speaks.
“He’s right. Fighting won’t accomplish anything.”
If he could, Kazuya would stop and listen but the demon keeps aiming punches at him and it takes all of his well-honed reflexes to keep out of the way.
“Well, what am I supposed to do then?” he yells over his shoulder, jumping aside to avoid another hit.
“You know. You said it earlier – what makes a Virtue strong and a Sin weak?” she repeats. Eijun rolls her eyes at her, scowling at the riddle – is this really the time? – but Kazuya seems to understand, his movements slowing.
At least, Eijun thinks Kazuya understands that stupid riddle but then he keeps slowing down until he’s standing completely motionless. One punch later brings him back to the ground with a pained grunt, gasping for air. Eijun wants to run over but Kazuya manages to send him a look that clearly says ‘stay where you are’. So he does, even though he’s anxious and worried, only marginally relieved when Kazuya finally stands up again, swaying slightly.
“I’m not going to fight you.” Kazuya looks the demon right in the eye, trying to see through that infinite blackness. He shivers and takes a step toward him, gaze intent. The demon’s grin doesn’t waver.
“Really? Well, that’s no fun.” He experimentally swipes at Kazuya. He flinches but doesn’t retaliate or back away when the claw adds another cut to his arm. The demon raises one eyebrow, his confidence flickering for just a split second. “What, are you serious?”
Kazuya only nods, ignoring Eijun’s panicked warnings from behind him.
“I’m not going to fight you.” he repeats, taking another step. “You’re still my friend – Youichi. I know you’re still there. I know why the demon is here and looks like you. I know it’s my fault. But please – believe me when I say I’m sorry. I didn’t – “ he breaks off, frowning even as the demon falters and starts to look insecure. Pitch-black eyes are aimed at glowing-white hands, too close for comfort. Kazuya shakes his head, muttering as he takes another step forward. “Okay, no, I –”
I can’t believe you’re making me say this.
“ – I did know that what I was doing hurt you. I knew and I still did it – because I was worried. You’re my friend and I worry for you.”
Kazuya wants to cringe and grit his teeth at how embarrassing this is, especially in front of an audience. But it seems to be working because Youichi – really, Youichi, not the demon, Kazuya swears – is gaping at him, motionless. Granted, the pointed teeth, claws and black eyes are still there but his face doesn’t look quite so much like a stranger’s anymore even if it still looks demonic.
“My…friend?” Youichi asks, slow and a bit disbelieving. Kazuya gives a short nod.
“Yes. We’re friends. Right?”
Youichi stares at him for a second longer – before his face distorts into a snarl and the demon is back.
“No! Stay away!” He tries to go backward, away from Kazuya who steadily advances on him. He doesn’t get far, bumping into a wall. Growling, the demon takes another swing at Kazuya, but it’s completely uncalculated and misses by a wide margin. “He’s lying! Don’t listen to him – when has he ever helped you?”
“You’re the liar. You don’t know either of us.” Kazuya calmly says, taking one last step. “Youichi, you know me. I know you. We’re not nice people but we are friends. You know that. Don’t you?” The demon covers his ears, babbling as he tries not to listen but Kazuya reaches up for his wrists and pries them away. Upon skin contact, the demon’s hisses and dark smoke appears, but he doesn’t make a sound, lowering his head. Kazuya shakes him a little, more urgent, “Don’t you?”
“Kazuya. Get away.” Kazuya almost jumps – it’s clearly Youichi’s voice but it sounds like it costs him a lot of effort to speak. He’s starting to shake and when he looks up, his face is desperate. Dark veins start to spider along his skin. “Go!”
“Like we’re leaving you!” Eijun yells, catching them both by surprise. They’ve completely forgotten about him and Wakana. “Fight, Mochi! This isn’t the diamond, you can’t run here!””
“Shut up, Noisymura!” Youichi bellows, clearly in control right now as the veins starts to recede. He looks about as mad as he usually does whenever Eijun shouts out some baked thought, but he seems to be grinning. Then he suddenly clutches his head, giving a hoarse shout of pain. “A-as if I’d let you win that easily –“
Kazuya watches with horror as the veins come back when he raises his head to look at him. The demon’s grin is back.
“Thought it was that simple, huh?”
Kazuya doesn’t want to pretend like he isn’t angry all of the sudden, doesn’t want to look calm and collected, confident – so he doesn’t.
Must be the idiot’s influence.
Kazuya’s jaw is set as he straightens up and glares at the demon.
“It is, you fucking douche.”
And then he goes in for the first hug he’s initiated in years, probably not quite as embarrassed as he should be and none too gentle, but he really doesn’t care at this point if he has to squeeze the demon out of Youichi.
Like before, dark smoke is emitted from every point of contact, the demon screaming into his ear and struggling, clawing at Kazuya but he holds on, clenching his teeth. The struggling slowly grows weaker and weaker, the dark fumes lightening until it all just – stops. Still, Kazuya doesn’t quite dare to let go just yet.
“Uh. Dude. You can. Let go now.” Youichi’s voice sounds muffled and a bit hoarse. Kazuya freezes for a second and then abruptly lets go to put some distance between them. “Thanks.”
Kazuya clears his throat, raising his eyebrows at Youichi.
“Just don’t be dumb enough to get yourself possessed again.”
Youichi tries to glare but grins instead. Unfortunately, it’s the unsettling kind, one that lets Kazuya knows he’s about to hear bad news. He narrows his eyes.
“You know, I’m never gonna let you forget that – the power of true friendship!” Youichi simpers,slurring his words a little as he sways back and forth, fluttering his eyelashes. Kazuya is about to retort something about how obviously the demon was mistaken and Youichi really is rotten through and through – when Youichi's eyes roll back into his head and he collapses on the ground.
Kazuya’s feeling of victory goes away about as quickly as it came.
“Oi! Wake up!”
He even slaps him across the face but all that does is make Youichi’s head roll from side to side. Kazuya didn’t just force himself to be way too honest and emotional for nothing. Eijun and the virtue are by his side in an instant.
“He’s fine, just unconscious.” she says, furrowing her eyebrows as she holds a glowing hand above his forehead. Looking up, she nods over at Ochiai’s prone form on the other side of the room. “We should deal with him next. Chaos won’t be a problem for a while.”
Kazuya nods, standing. He prefers not to ask how long this ‘while’ will last for.
“What do we do?”
“I won’t be doing anything. You will.” the virtue corrects him, falling in step beside him as they go over to Ochiai. “It’s your wish to fulfil.”
“You better not start hitting him again.” Eijun adds. Lifting his hands, he wriggles his fingers. “Just do that glow-y thing!”
Kazuya sends him a deadpan look, coming to a stop. They look down at Ochiai, laying on his back. He’s still out cold.
“Just how hard did you hit him?” Kazuya asks,crouching down. Eijun glares down at him, defensively crossing his arms.
“I don’t know! At least you won’t have to fight him too, right??”
Kazuya rolls his eyes and raises his hands, trying to reactivate that energy from earlier.
“Right.”
“You could be a bit more grateful, you know.” Eijun grumbles, sitting down. Kazuya’s mouth quirks upward in amusement at the pout he can hear in his voice. He closes his eyes in concentration.
“Shush.”
“Don’t tell me to shush!”
“That’s not going to work.” Kindness interrupts their impending bickering. Kazuya sighs and opens his eyes. Eijun gives her an impatient look.
“And why not?”
“Because he isn’t a demon.” the virtue explains, indicating Ochiai. “Demons, Sins specifically, live off of negative emotions, just like Virtues thrive off of positive ones. Using the opposite on each weakens us. But we’re not like you. We don’t have physical appearances and aren’t bound to one specific body.”
“So what?” Eijun asks, not getting it. “This old man is obviously the bad guy – I bet a hug would make him feel better…uh, Kazuya, you’re good at the hugging thing. I think I’ll punch him in the face if I get too close.”
Kazuya rolls his eyes, reaching over to cuff Eijun around the back of his head as he tries to inch away.
“I think I’m going to punch you.” he says dryly, grinning when Eijun yelps and glowers at him. “So, what do we do instead?”
The virtue doesn’t answer for a moment, scrutinising Ochiai intently, before she reaches out a hand and places it against his forehead. Her palm begins to glow, just like her eyes, causing another yelp from Eijun.
“What – “
Kazuya shushes him again, grinning wider at the scowl he gets.
“Stop shushing me, you damn tanuki! How would you like it if–!”
Kindness stops glowing but she leaves her hand on Ochiai’s forehead. Her expression, to Kazuya’s disbelief, shows no hostility but merely deep sympathy and pity.
“Don’t tell me you want us to let him go.” Kazuya, trying to sound calm. If it weren’t for this man he wouldn’t even be in this mess. “Because I’m not doing that.”
Eijun opens his mouth to say something but the virtue’s already shaking her head.
“No. He’s a danger, I won’t deny that. But he has a reason to behave the way he did. Terrible things have happened to him.”
Eijun huffs.
“That’s no excuse.” Pointing at him, he gripes, “He was going to have me killed!”
The glare aimed at Kazuya lets him know that Ochiai isn’t the only person Eijun’s blaming. He leans forward, flicking him across his forehead.
“You’re not dead, are you? Stop complaining.” he says, annoyed now as well. “If it hadn’t been for me telling you what to do, you would be, but you’re not.”
Eijun gapes.
“You call that telling me what to do? That was a riddle! And just when I was about to die too!” he seethes. “Time and place, you know!”
“Bind his powers.” the virtue interrupts Kazuya’s attempt at retorting. “And erase his memories.”
Kazuya freezes, processing her suggestion. Then he nods, surprised at the suggestion, but not against it. He isn’t planning on becoming a killer. Of course, Eijun looks confused again, screwing up his face.
“Why would you erase his memories?”
“So he doesn’t get any ideas and tries anything like this again, idiot.” Kazuya tries to sound patient.
“Wait, he has powers?” Eijun asks just when Kazuya’s done mentally preparing himself. He sighs.
“Do you not remember that photo? He still looks exactly the same. You think that’s normal?”
“Oh.”
Then there’s blessed silence and Kazuya can try to concentrate on what he has to do – except that he realises he has no idea. Clearing his throat, he turns to the virtue, about to ask her but she’s already reaching for one of his hands.
“Put your other hand on his forehead.” she says, doing the same. Kazuya hesitates slightly – he has no desire to touch any part of him – but then does as instructed. “Close your eyes and imagine yourself inside a dark cave.”
Eijun watches Kazuya do as he’s told, listening quietly while the virtue talks him through the process.
Soon, Kazuya’s breath calms down, evening out and for one bizarre moment, Eijun wonders if he’s asleep. Then he shakes his head at himself. Of course he isn’t.
His eyes drift across his face, lingering on Kazuya’s eyebrows, closed eyes, down his nose and lingering on his mouth. It’s slightly parted, quiet breath leaving and entering rhythmically. Eijun wonders if that’s what he looks like when he sleeps. He has to blink and sternly remind himself that that’s creepy and doesn’t matter when the thought that he won’t be able to find out anymore shoots across his mind.
Eijun sees a slight movement out of the corner of his mind, attention immediately snapping to its source. He stares down at a limp hand laying along the old man’s hand, watching it warily for a few seconds. It doesn’t move.
Relaxing, he looks up to find that Kazuya has opened his eyes, looking down at his still softly glowing palm in something like disbelief. Then he lifts his eyes to see Eijun looking at him and quirks up the corner of his mouth.
“What a summer, huh?”
Eijun gives him a wide-eyed stare, blinking once, before laughing.
“You can say that again!”
“You won’t be saying anything.”
Kazuya freezes, attention snapping down to Ochiai. The old man is staring at him, dark eyes seeming to suck in all the light. An uncharacteristically wide smirk is on his face, crazed and unhinged. Grabbing Kazuya’s wrist too fast for him to react, he pulls him down toward him.
Eijun’s warning is stuck in his throat, the glint of a blade only reflecting the dim lights for a split second before it sinks into Kazuya’s torso. The warning loosens and comes out as a scream when Kazuya slumps into himself, falling backward.
The dagger is still held in Ochiai’s hand, blood-stained and clattering to the ground when he loses consciousness once again.
Kazuya’s staring at the ceiling, not really seeing it. His stomach hurts, all his nerve endings zooming in on one spot, impossibly small for the amount of pain it holds. He can feel something wet and warm flowing from it and down his sides. It burns like fire, a stark contrast to the dagger’s ice.
He stabbed me.
“Kazuya!”
That bastard.
“Kazuya!” Eijun calls out again, hating how choked he sounds. He angrily wipes at the tears flowing down his face. He grabs Kazuya’s hands, covered in too much blood, and pulls them away from the wound. He can’t suppress a loud sob at all that red, so dark it’s almost black. A small hand settles on his shoulder and it takes all the self-control Eijun has not to shake the virtue and yell. Wrenching his eyes away from the sickening sight, he looks at her, vision blurry. “Do something!”
“I can’t!” she says, eyes shiny and voice stricken. It sounds like Wakana. Her other hand reaches the wound on Kazuya’s stomach, shaking. “I’m sorry, I can’t -!”
“No! You’re lying!” Eijun lets go of Kazuya to grab hold of her shoulders. She lets him, unresisting. “You’re a virtue! You can do magic! Heal him!”
“Eijun.”
They both look over at Kazuya, Eijun at his side instantly. Kazuya’s much too pale but his eyes are focused. He even tries to smile, the jerk. No need to say it fails miserably.
“You still have a wish.”
Eijun stills.
“I…I know.”
“Use it.”
He nods, relieved there’s a solution after all, the wish already on his tongue – but then something gold, laying just a few meters away and glinting innocently in the light catches his eye. It looks harmless enough. It’s a bottle.
But it’s also a prison.
“You’re going to be a djinn.” Eijun realises out loud. Kazuya’s eyes flicker over to the bottle.
“Yeah.”
“But I was going to wish you free! I promised!”
Kazuya snorts, regretting it immediately when that small movement is enough to spread pain through his whole body.
Of course he doesn’t want to be djinn. Of course he wants to be human. But that promise was made when he still had a choice of what life he wants to live. Now he only has the option of living or dying.
“Well, you could do that and I’d still die. Or you can allow me to heal and live.”
Eijun stares at wound, starting to feel sick and then at Kazuya’s face. His smirk does nothing to hide the pain in his eyes.
“As djinn.” he states, voice hollow.
“As djinn.” Kazuya repeats, blinking when Eijun starts to swim in and out of focus.
“You’re going to live in a tiny bottle.”
“Goddammit, Eijun! Can we discuss this when I’m not bleeding to death?”
Both boys glare at each other, Eijun’s jaw set and eyes pink and shiny. Kazuya pretends not to notice. He shivers, feeling cold.
“H-hurry up, you moron. I’m dying here.”
The virtue clears her throat, offering Eijun her hand. He doesn’t take it, too busy staring at Kazuya and trying to think of something that won’t trap him inside that golden prison. Kindness takes one of Eijun’s hands, finally getting his attention. Opening his mouth to ask her what the hell she’s doing, he closes it again at her serious expression.
“I can’t heal him – but you can.”
Eijun blinks as Kazuya struggles to keep his eyes open and his ears to stop making him hear rushing noises.
“What?”
“We can heal – but it has to be based on true affection. We don’t have that, but we can use other’s affection to heal. The more fatal the wound, the stronger the affection has to be.” she explains, still holding out her hand. “That’s the only way I can help. Will you lend me yours for him?”
Affection?
The word rings in his ears, quieting the rushing in it as Kazuya manages to focus his eyes on Eijun.
For me?
Kazuya doesn’t feel quite so cold anymore though he does start shaking uncontrollably.
Eijun can feel his ears burning at Kazuya’s stare. He takes the virtue’s hand.
“Yes.”
She smiles, placing her free hand on Kazuya’s wound. He draws in a sharp breath at the contact, muscles tensing.
“Please concentrate. Think of all the affection you have and imagine it flowing from you into my hand.”
Kazuya’s still staring at him when Eijun closes his eyes to do just that. His cheeks heat up when he starts to go through the past week mentally, his thoughts lingering on glimpses, banter and teasing, on baseball and a hot beam of energy, on golden sunsets. On pupils so wide they nearly cover dark brown and soft eyelashes, on hot breath against his skin. On evenings spent together, on contented silence in a dark bedroom.
It feels warm and golden, like summer.
Kazuya can feel himself grow even more tired, his eyelids drooping but he forces himself to stay awake, too scared that he won’t wake up if he falls asleep now. Warmth is blooming on his stomach, taking the sting out of the burn. Soon, all that’s left is a pleasant buzzing which quickly turns into a less pleasant pricking sensation, like needles.
Eijun opens his eyes when the warmth flowing through him seems to stop. The glow emitted by the virtue’s hand fades, letting him see the wound. All that’s left is new skin, pink and rosy, surrounded by dry blood.
She stands, watching Kazuya slowly sit up, and smiles at the two of them when they look at her, completely awed.
“I must leave now.”
Eijun is on his feet in a secondl, gaping at her for a moment before pulling her in for a hug.
“Thank you! Thank you so much!” he tells her, barely finishing before he starts sobbing again. She doesn’t move, lifting a hand hesitantly before settling it on the back of his head.
Kazuya stands with a quiet groan, nodding at her in thanks which she returns. He doesn’t quite know how to react - everything happened much too fast just now. He nearly died, then got healed - ‘the Power of Love’ he can hear Youichi sing-song in his head, making him shake his head even as his face heats up. He finds his eyes wandering over to Eijun still crying on Kindness’s shoulder.
She closes her eyes, eyelids lit up red from the glow underneath, as a veil of light leaves through her mouth.
Wakana slumps against Eijun momentarily, then blinks against his shoulder. He steps back, staring at her with wide eyes.
“Are you okay? Did you pass out?”
Wakana doesn’t answer at first, surveying the scene and taking in Ochiai and Youichi still passed out in the corners. She nods absentmindedly in answer to Eijun’s question. Turning halfway toward Youichi when she catches sight of Miyuki, grinning in relief.
“You were right, this really was an exciting summer.”
Eijun looks at her in shock for a moment and then laughs. It surprises both Wakana and Kazuya, but he just can’t stop, even sinking to the ground as he laughs and laughs until he cries. Kazuya crouches down beside him, laying a hand on his shoulder as he can’t help but smile, affected by his laughter.
“So, I still owe you a wish and you owe me a promise.” he whispers into his ear.
Eijun wants to glare at Kazuya for that annoying smirk but he’s embarrassed to admit he’s more relieved than irritated to see it. Seeing Kazuya almost die just now makes him much more aware of how close and alive he is, makes him so incredibly grateful that’s he’s still here. It also makes Eijun realise that it doesn’t matter if Kazuya has to leave tomorrow. He’s still alive and as long as he is, they still have a chance of meeting. But he also can’t deny that it still makes him sad to know they won’t be able to see each other so easily anymore. No more banter, no more baseball, no more annoying smirks or almost kisses.
Eijun nods, all of this whirring in his head, and clears his throat.
“I wish for Miyuki Kazuya.”
Kazuya blinks, watching a stupid beaming grin settle on Eijun’s face. He’s looking straight at him, amber solely focused on Kazuya. Paired with the peculiarly formulated wish just now, it makes it hard for him to keep eye contact. He breaks it, clearing his throat.
“I think you forgot a part.” he says, cursing himself for sounding so hoarse and the stupid fluttering his stomach. The dagger couldn’t have killed that?
Eijun furrows his eyebrows, repeating what he just said mentally, and then goes red.
“Oh! Uh, um, I mean – I-I wish for Miyuki Kazuya to be free.” he stutters, studiously looking at the ground. Kazuya stays silent for a moment, assessing him, before reaching a conclusion. A small smile, soft and secret, lights up his eyes.
“As you wish, master.”
***
They leave Ochiai in the building as they leave, Eijun and Kazuya supporting Kuramochi’s weight while Wakana walks beside them. It’s a silent walk late at night but nothing really feels threatening, not the shadows or random noises. After all, they’ve all just lived through a waking nightmare.
Soon, too soon, they have to part ways, Kazuya and Youichi for their camp - though if they can get in is debatable. They could always try to bribe someone, maybe Furuya will help if Kazuya offers to catch for him - and Eijun and Wakana for home.
Noticing how Eijun and Kazuya keep stealing glances at each other when the other isn’t looking and the way Eijun is stalling letting go of Youichi, Wakana makes a decision for them. Opening her mouth to speak, she’s beaten to it by Youichi himself. He groans in an exaggerated manner, extricating himself from the two of them.
“God, are you two done making googly eyes each other? You make me sick.” Eijun flinches and Wakana raises a disapproving eyebrows at him - until he looks at her, suddenly blushing, as if he’s forgotten she’s there. He takes her by the elbows, avoiding looking at her, as he hastily adds, “Make up and kiss, guys. I’m tired and wanna go sleep.”
As brusque and obvious as Youichi can be, Kazuya can’t deny his sense of relief nor his increasing nervousness as being alone with Eijun when Youichi leads Wakana away. Eijun, on the other hand, keeps glaring after them with narrowed eyes. Kazuya supposes he can’t blame him but still - he only has this once chance since he probably will lose all courage if he doesn’t do this now. That is, if they ever meet again. Kazuya swallows.
“Oi.”
Eijun’s attention snaps back to him like a rubber band and the mental pep talk he’s been giving himself suddenly dissolves into a mess of nerves. Kazuya clears his throat and looks at the ground so he doesn’t have too look at Eijun’s too wide eyes but he can feel them on him.
“Thanks for - for just now. Saving my life.”
Kazuya cringes internally at his words, how wooden and stupid they sound. That’s not what he wants to say! But what does he want to say to Eijun?
“When you wished me free - what you said before -”
“It was a mistake! I just misspoke.” Eijun laughs nervously, trying to hide his embarrassment. It doesn’t sound right and evidently Kazuya can hear it because he suddenly isn’t looking at the ground anymore but at him. Eijun stills.
“No. It wasn’t a mistake.” Kazuya can’t believe it’s him saying this, can’t believe Eijun is actually being quite for once and listening to him without a hint of a joke. He almost looks scared but Kazuya plows onward. If not now, they might never get this chance again, even if Kazuya’s feeling more and more exposed by the second. “You said - you wished for me.” He pauses, more embarrassed now that he said it but after a short and awkward silence, he forces himself to finish what he means. “ You could have had anything – wished for anything – and you wished for me.”
Just saying words as open as these makes Kazuya’s skin crawl with embarrassment and his stomach flutter much too violently. He must be getting sick, he tries to tell himself, but as a single word, an urgent question forces its way out of his mouth, he has to admit that that’s a lie.
“Why?”
Eijun can’t quite get himself to face Kazuya. It’s like he’s blinding, somehow, too bright to look at directly. His face feels too warm and he has half a mind to give a snappy retort, as it has become a habit around the boy-turned-djinn-turned-boy-again. But he can hear the sincerity in Kazuya’s voice and sense his discomfort, so Eijun forces himself to lift his eyes as much as he can – somewhere around the other boy’s collarbone area – to mumble his answer. He owes him that much, doesn’t he?
“Because I don’t want anything else.”
The quiet reply hangs between them, suspended and solid, stretching and taking up space in the thick silence.
Kazuya stares down at Eijun’s slightly bent head, eyes wide in disbelief. If he was annoyed at him before for not looking him in the eye, he is about twice as happy now that the younger is the doing the exact opposite. He can see red creeping up Eijun’s neck and feel his own ears warming in response to the hoped for, if unexpected, answer.
Unexpected, just the way Eijunis as Kazuya has learned, but also strangely relieving. The knot amidst all the butterflies gathering in his middle like a storm suddenly feels loose, light. He is just about able to bend his smile into a smirk, a teasing remark ready on his lips.
“Can I have a fourth wish?” Eijun once again takes the wind out of his sails.
Kazuya snorts.
“I’m not a djinn anymore and you only get three wishes anyhow. Which you’ve used up, by the way.” Kazuya tells Eijun in a tone that conveys how daft he thinks he is. There’s an undertone there, something he hasn’t noticed before but it doesn’t cause that niggling itch of irritation it usually does. Instead, it spreads something warm and pleasant through Eijun’s chest. Maybe Kazuya notices it as well because there’s light pink dusting his cheeks as he hastily adds, “And who says I’d grant you your wish anyway? Idiot.”
Kazuya doesn’t seem to be very convincing, going by Eijun’s growing smile. It lights up his whole face but especially his eyes, like…
…a rising sun and just as bright.
Kazuya wants to slap himself.
He’s never been so glad in his whole life that Youichi is way out of hearing range because he sure as hell would never hear the end of this.
Eijun can’t stop grinning as Kazuya progressively transforms into a walking traffic light, face going from bleached-by-bad-streetlamp-lighting to deep red in a matter of seconds. For the first time since they’ve met, Kazuya looks away first and Eijun almost laughs because is he pouting?
At that moment, he’s incredibly glad that Kazuya isn’t a djinn any longer. That way there’s no chance of him having supernatural powers like mind-reading and he can’t laugh at the unbidden thought shooting through Eijun’s head –
Cute!
Then again, he doesn’t know if Kazuya was able to do that before…he sure hopes not.
“What do you want, huh? If it’s something as stupid as repairing your shells again, I hate to tell you but it’s only going to be a shoddy job with hot glue this time – “ Kazuya isn’t even looking at Eijun as his mouth runs away with him. That moron must have done something to him because he doesn’t usually talk this much, especially not without thinking. Maybe stupidity really is contagious?
“Kazuya –“ Eijun tries to interrupt the waterfall of words spilling forth from Kazuya. His eyes have gone wide and his mouth is twitching in an effort not to laugh at the unusual sight, embarrassment for strange thoughts forgotten. “Hey –“
“ – and let me tell you, it’s going to look extra shitty because I’ll do that on purpose –“ Kazuya steamrolls right over Eijun, still avoiding looking at him. His face is blazing at this point and he doesn’t even know why. He almost doesn’t hear the annoyed sigh.
“Kazuya .” Eijun tries again. “Miyuki Kazuya, listen to me –“
“ – and – “
Kazuya abruptly stops talking, not because he has run out of words to say but because they are stuck in his throat, halted by surprise and no small amount of shock.
There’s a pair of warm lips against his, softer than expected and feather light. They do nothing but gently press against his for a few seconds before leaving again.
Kazuya blinks and reaches up to touch his mouth dazedly.
It’s tingling.
Eijun watches Kazuya’s gesture, growing a bit pink himself. He really needs to start thinking before he acts. But at least Kazuya’s quiet now. That is, until he opens his mouth again, eyes wide and stunned behind glasses. They’ve never been as transparent as they are now.
“Did you just – “
“Yeah, I just kissed you. And if you don’t let me finish talking, I’ll do it again.” Eijun threatens. He only realises that’s not exactly something to fear as much as it something to anticipate when Kazuya’s face starts to form a too familiar smirk. He hastily continues before the snark can start. “So, my fourth wish. Can we – can I – can I see you again?”
Kazuya’s smirk softens before he can stop it. His inner voice is telling him to wipe that disgustingly sappy expression off his face, he’s not Youichi for crying out loud – but he can’t seem to stop his mouth from forming a real smile or lock away the fondness in his eyes.
Eijun looks so unsure, biting his reddening lip as he can’t help but glance away from Kazuya every few seconds. So this time, Kazuya leans in first to press a chaste kiss against his mouth, if only to stop the abuse Eijun’s teeth are inflicting on it. It only lasts about as long as the first but when he pulls away, Eijun’s face is relaxed, lips parted slightly.
Making sure not to look away, even though Kazuya does blush a bit when he reaches down a hand to intertwine it with his, he nods, smiling softly.
“As you wish.”
***
“Remember, just because it’s a practice match with a public school doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take them lightly.” Rei warns once the team has gathered outside of the school bus. “There’s a reason Nagano High School has become a well-known name recently.”
“Treat them with the same respect and take them as seriously as you would any other school in Tokyo.” Kataoka adds, a bit unnecessarily in Kazuya’s opinion. He always takes a match, any match, seriously. This time won’t be any different.
The rest of the coach’s short speech gets tuned out as Kazuya absentmindedly checks his phone. He’s been doing that way too often lately and it annoys him but he can’t seem to control it.
He tries to ignore the wave of disappointment when the screen once again shows no notifications.
Youichi snorts quietly beside him, making him look up with a slight frown. His friend looks like he’s trying to form an annoyed expression but his amusement shines through. The result is a strange kind of constipated expression.
“What?” Kazuya hisses, glancing over the coach who is concluding his speech before turning on his heel to lead the team onto a field.
“Oh, nothing.” Youichi answers casually as they start to follow him. The ground feels unfamiliar underneath the soles of their shoes but the diamond that’s starting to come into view fills them with eager anticipation. “Nothing at all – you’re just totally whipped.”
Kazuya doesn’t glare but an eyebrow rises in amusement as he follows his friend’s movement of his hand. It quickly slips into his pocket to check his own phone before returning it with a disappointed look on his face.
“I could say the same thing to you.”
Youichi’s eyebrows twitch.
“You –“
He suddenly breaks off, expression caught between surprise and delight as he stares at the other end of the field they just entered. Intrigued, Kazuya follows his gaze – and is equally stunned.
“Wait – isn’t that –“
There, casually leaning against the railing of the dugout, stand none other than Wakana and Eijun.
And judging by the gigantic grins adorning both their faces, they’ve known they were coming and watched as they approached. Kazuya sees a familiar grin, wide, white and glinting, below bright amber.
Eijun brings up his hand to form a megaphone around his mouth and hollers.
“Miyuki Kazuya! We’ll win today and send your city-boy asses back to Tokyo!”
“Eijun! Stop!” Wakana hisses, pulling at his arms to try and reduce the spectacle he’s making out of them, causing both teams to stare back and forth between a startled Kazuya and smugly grinning Eijun. He’s completely unfazed by his friend trying to push him into the back of the dugout but she’s unable to keep herself from smiling widely either.
Once his brain has started to get over the shock of seeing Eijun here, in a practice match against Seidou of all places, Kazuya bares his teeth in a wide grin. He takes a deep breath and hollers right back.
“You wish!”