Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The red maple leaves looked like blood splattered among the ink like fabric of the night sky.  The smell - bitter, metallic - permeated the air, filling it to an extent one could taste it on their tongue if they so much as breathed.  

His eyes stared up at the stars, the sound of ringing in his ears fading more and more with each passing second.  And though the breeze that swept through the forest was warm, everything else was so, so very cold.  

The body would be dead soon - there was no changing that.  There was too much blood, on the grass and flowers, against the tree.  Lungs screamed, the heart slowed, and the mind was settling.  And as the body lost its strength, head falling back against the stump that supported it, its last act of defiance was to look up. 

Up at the stars, up at the expanse of the life beyond them.  Perhaps, it thought, I will become one of those stars.  Perhaps that is where we go when we die, up to the night sky.  And…I can keep watch…

Perhaps…

“Now, if we go back to talking about pulsations, we must revisit the absorption line.  Here is your Intensity, and then your Wavelength.  It looks something like this - if you can forgive my terrible artistic skills.”

It was hard to follow along with the professor, even with the work projected onto the white wall of the lecture hall.  Try as he might, Yuto Matsumoto struggled to focus.  Rainfall on slick black tarmac outside filled the air with a loud, cacophonous drone that drowned out any and all thought.  The storm hadn’t stopped for almost 3 days; typhoon season was in full swing.  The air was thick with humidity, making it dreadful inside the room stuffed to the brim with pulsing, living bodies.  

Yuto had long since shed the hoodie he had worn to keep his hair dry on the walk to the university campus.  Left in a simple white shirt, he could still feel the sweat running down his back.  A few students around him used spare bundles of paper as makeshift fans, some tried to tough it out.  Even their professor at the front paused after drawing his example, pulling away from the projector and loosening his tie just a little more, before putting pen back to the cellophane to finish drawing.  Yuto copied it as best as he could with one hand - he had to use the other to wipe the sweat from his brow.  

It was close enough, he supposed.

“There are a particular set of wavelengths that are absorbed.  If the whole star is moving because there is a planet around it, what happens when it gets redshifted?”  It wasn’t a question meant to be answered by the class.  Instead, the professor reached down and plucked up the red pen.  “The whole thing will move to the right, to the longer wave lengths.  In the end, you will get something like this.  It will shift back and forth.  However, pulsation will get you something different.”

“Psst.” 

The noise came to Yuto’s right, drawing his attention from drawing the circle in his notebook.  His eyes met those of the person sitting next to him - a beautiful young woman, with black hair and piercing hazel eyes.   Leaned over the way she was, it was easy to see the curve of her neck, accented by the way her t-shirt hung ever so slightly off the shoulder.  Instantly, Yuto felt his cheeks alight, lips parting in a bright smile.  “Can I help you?”  He whispered, though his tone still offered a bit of a tease.  

“I don’t know, maybe.”   She gave a pretty little smile.  “Do you understand what he’s talking about?  I feel like I can’t follow along today.”

“A little.”  He admitted, sheepishly.  Normally, he was able to keep track of everything the teacher was saying with little to no problem, but…  “Hard to stay awake in this heat.”

“I know.”  Her little whine was cute, and he let out a soft chuckle as she practically collapsed against the desk.  Her arms stretched out and Yuto’s eyes traced along the line of her silhouette, down to the fingers.  He liked the way she held her pen, still twirling it, even in her exhaustion.  Her skin had a slight glitter to it, catching in the fluorescent overhead.  

It wasn’t the first time he had thought of her as pretty.

“Hey, your name is Yuto, right?  Yuto Matsumoto?”  

“Ah, that’s right. And your name is Rei Tamura.”

Her smile grew even more, her cheeks turning a dark shade of red.  “Then it looks like we already know each other.”

“Looks like.”

“Guess we’re not strangers then.”

“I suppose not.”

“That’s good.”  She sat up, nodding once.  “So I won’t feel so weird asking if you want to hang out after class today.  It’s not weird for people who aren’t strangers to hang out.”

“No, it’s not.”  Ah.  How smooth.  Yuto couldn’t help the wide grin that spread across his face.  He had to give it to her, Rei was brave and forward.  He liked that.  He liked best when people simply said what was on their mind rather than dance around the subject.  He nodded, not having to think about it any further.  “I’d like that.”

“Excuse me.”  

Both students jolted, turning to face the front of the class.  It seemed all eyes were on them, a chorus of muffled laughter letting loose once the offenders realized they were caught.  The professor crossed his arms, brow raised.  “Mr. Matsumoto, since you seem to find Miss Tamura so much more engaging than planetary transits, why don’t you come up here and finish up this equation for us.  Perhaps that will get your mind back on track.”  

The two glanced at each other, both grinning and turning red like a pair of idiots.  Rei couldn’t help but mouth out the word ‘sorry’, to which Yuto waved her off.  

“No worries,” he whispered.  

“Poor little human…”

Was this it?  Had death finally come to claim him?  He couldn’t lift his head, eyes staring unblinkingly at the moon, so he was unable to see who had come to take him away from the mortal plane.  Certainly his life had faded, but his soul lingered and only needed someone able to pick him up.

“Looks like the work of bandits.  How terrible.” 

The voice was soft and beautiful.  Feminine and fine.  For a moment, his vision was blocked by his own reflection.  Dark brown eyes, dark hair, tanned skin from working in the fields all day.  Though he was once handsome, his face was bruised, bloodied.  You could hardly see anything through all the red and swollen skin.  

Whatever the woman was doing, it was over with quickly.  The reflection of himself disappeared as he was once again face to face with the full moon.  “Still alive it seems.  For now.”

All was quiet, save for the soft rustling of the grass as the figure settled down beside him.  He felt the weight of her body against his, the way her arms wrapped around him.  The embrace felt almost…romantic.  “If only I could keep you.  You’re still so warm.  I could gobble you up.”

A demon then.  How terrible of luck to damn him with not only he and his entire family being slaughtered, but now he must be eaten too.  Despite the gentle way she touched his skin, whispered sweet little nothings in his ear, he still knew what was to become of him.  

“Tell me, my little human.”  Her voice was desperate, like a lover trying to keep her man in her bed for just a moment longer.  “What do you desire?  More than anything?”

What did he desire?  Well, if he was being honest, not dying would be at the top of his list.  He was still young, unmarried with no kids of his own.  He wanted to grow old, to see young children that called him papa, to know a woman’s love.  To see his younger siblings grow old and start families of their own.  

But they were all gone.  Dead to the bandits that killed him.  Save for one…

Ah, yes…that would be his wish.  

Though, now that his soul knew what it wanted, he found himself too weak to articulate it.  His lips were dry, his tongue heavy, his lungs could no longer pull any air.  But still he could feel the demon’s eyes on him.  Could feel the way she stared at him.  It let out a huff of frustration.  “I see…let me just…”

Something wet and warm and long entered his ear.  He could feel it wiggling, digging deeper and deeper.  And though it hurt - almost more than any other injury he had sustained that night - his body could not find the strength nor will to scream, let alone fight back.  He simply sat as whatever it was lapped at his brain, digging deep into it.   Perhaps he could twitch a finger, jolt a muscle, but that was all.

“Aaaaaaaah,”  The demon hissed, her nails digging into his skin.  Whatever was in his ear slipped out - and just before he thought it was all said and done, it ran along his cheek, lapping up the blood.  “I see.”  

One afternoon spent at a coffee shop turned into dinner at the end of the week.  That dinner turned into a study session over the weekend.  By the following Monday, Yuto and Rei could barely stop texting each other.  She always had her phone on her.  He thought hers was quite cute:  she had decorated it with a few stickers and a monkey charm that dangled with her first name spelled in English.  The little guy was grinning, wearing a pair of sunglasses and smoothing back its yellow mohawk.  He thought it was the one of the most endearing things in the world that she ensured he was kept clean with a little cloth she kept in her purse.  

“Very obviously, he cares about his appearance,”  Rei said, very matter-of-factly.  

“It’s a good thing then that he was chosen by someone who gets that.”  Yuto laughed.  

To call them dates would be too fast for Yuto’s tastes.  He had dated before, of course.  He was a handsome man - soft, warm brown hair, gentle green eyes, a calm smile.  But too many times had he rushed into something, only to get burned in the end.  They didn’t work out, she was actually interested in someone else.  He only had a few girlfriends, but the fact that he was even talking to Rei about plans and futures, obviously nothing had ever worked out.

They had discussed it, under the stars on Yuto’s porch.    He wanted to make sure the two of them were on the same page in regards to where they stood.  She agreed to take things slow.  They both weren’t looking for anything too serious, just someone to spend time with and enjoy the college life.  

Yuto knew Rei would be someone his family liked.  She was sweet, kind, good in school, and knew what she wanted.  She was taking astronomy class mostly for fun - her friends had taken it as well and she wished to join them.  “How lucky for me that you were also taking the class.”

Her real desire was to be a science teacher.  She loved kids and wanted to mold the youth of tomorrow.  It was a noble cause - much better than what Yuto wanted to do.  She had asked what his dreams and aspirations were, why he was taking such complicated classes.  His workload seemed to be never ending.  She wanted to know why he was doing it.  But - in addition - she wanted to know if his career was compatible with her visions for her own future.  

“Don’t laugh,”  He pleaded, burying his face in his hands.  It wasn’t like he could use the blankets, since that was the only thing offering him any semblance of decency.  

Already, Rei was beaming.  She rested her chin on his shoulder, her body covering his as they cuddled in his bed.  “I make no promises.”

After a bit more teasing and soft little kisses, Yuto finally relented.  “I want to be an astronaut.”

Rei did - in fact - laugh.  But, she also kissed his face all over as she gushed about how cute it was that he had such a big dream.  

But it was true - ever since Yuto was a child, he loved the stars.  He would burn out countless lightbulbs on his little constellation projectors, beg for an astronaut suit, and read every book about space and planets and galaxies that he could get his hands on.  How amazing was it?  To know that there was so much more than just what they knew on earth.  He often wondered what it would be like.  To have everything be entirely weightless, lost among the stars.  Where everything else back on earth was just…something else.  Detached and distant.  

“Don’t travel too far, Space Cowboy,”  Rei whispered, resting her head on his chest.  “I won’t be able to bring you back down to earth.”

And though he didn’t say anything, Yuto wondered if that would be so bad.  Being lost out among the stars, body pressed into nothing.  Would it be so terrible?  But he kept quiet; instead, he wrapped his arms around her and huffed a soft laugh.  “I’ll be careful.”

The demon withdrew, pulling away from his body entirely.  The moon shifted, growing bigger before disappearing entirely.  His head fell back, the support gone as the creature lifted him up.  “I cannot save you, my love.”  She said, “But I can do something just as great…”

Something just as great?  What could be greater?  Did she have a way to allow him to live?  Did she know of a healer?  Someone who could ensure he stayed alive to fulfill his wish?  It was possible, demons knew a great and many things. 

He didn’t know how long they walked.  He had long suspected he should have died - perhaps he had.  At some point.  His heart ceased beating, his ears stopped ringing.  The only thing that broke up the sight of trees, shrubs and darkness was a quick flash of red.  His eyes had lost focus, his ears struggled to pick up noises, but he could have swore the demon holding him hissed something as they walked by.  

“Here we are…”  The demon sighed.  She sounded so excited.  So pleased with herself.   But he couldn’t turn his head, couldn’t take in their surroundings.  He didn’t know where in the world she could have taken him.  Not until he caught her whisper, certainly to herself:

“The well.”

It had been a month.  A month since Rei had asked Yuto to hang out after class.  A month where they had laughed until they cried, stayed up late talking on the phone, watched movies, went to an aquarium, and kissed on the last train.  Though Yuto wasn’t sure when the best time to introduce a girl you liked to your parents was appropriate, it seemed life had other plans for him in the form of a ripped cotton skirt. 

Rei had a beautiful dark blue laced skirt that Yuto had mentioned one time that he liked.  He liked that he could see her ankles just barely peeking out when she walked, adding a bit of allure to it all.  She liked to wear it with a cute white cami with lace trim and he also noted that he liked how her shoulders looked.  And once she knew that it was an outfit he liked, she wore it whenever she could.  And on a coffee date to a park, the unspeakable happened as she was getting up from the bench.  With a gasp, Rei called out:

“The lace ripped!”

Yuto inspected the damage the moment they got back to her apartment.  From the way the tear was lined up, it looked like some of the lace gathering had gotten caught on a screw from the bench, ripping it awkwardly from one embroidered flower to another.  Her face broke his heart when he gave her the news, watching as her eyes turned a soft pink as she began to cry.  

“You love that skirt.”

While Yuto knew how to fix it, the materials weren’t something he had access to.  The lace would require different shades of blue he didn’t have on hand and while he was very good at mending, it was hard to do it without the right materials.  So, he offered the next best thing…

The Matsumoto family were tailors and launderers by trade.  Their home sat just behind the tailor shop that had been there since his great grandfather was just a baby.  A family trade, rooted in tradition.  Yuto knew that if anyone could fix Rei’s skirt, it was his father.  His hands could mend anything, fix any piece of torn fabric.  So, on a day they would be in the area, he told her to bring the skirt with her so they could get it fixed.

Yuto’s mother emerged from the depths of the home.  Even from the corner of his eye, he could see the shock on Rei’s face once she saw her.  His mother was not Japanese - she was, in fact, French.  And while Yuto did take after his father in the aspects of height, build and eye shape, he took after his mother in all other ways.  Her nose was his,  her soft brown hair matched his perfectly, and the green of her eyes was like looking in a mirror.  Rei had just enough time to whisper to him, “No wonder you’re so pretty” before his mother got too close.

“Hey!”  She called out, waving slightly.  “You must be Rei.  It’s nice to meet you.”  

“Oh, yes.”  Rei recovered quickly, bowing slightly and taking the hand offered to her.  

“We’ve heard so much about you, we were so excited to hear you two were stopping by for a visit.”  

The living room, which was directly off from the foyer, was where Mrs. Matsumoto left them.  Rei, overcome with curiosity, began immediately looking around.  She twisted her body this way and that, eyes wide with wonder at the pictures scattered about.  Graduations, family vacations, trips back to the French town where his mother grew up, and the magnitude of competitions throughout the years both he and his brother had won. 

“Is that you?”  Rei asked, pointing to one just above the shrine dedicated to Yuto’s grandmother.  It was of a younger Yuto - at about 16 - posing with a trophy and his old coach.

He leaned around her, looking closely.  “Ah, yeah.”  He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.  “I did boxing in Junior High and High School.”

“Oh,”  Rei grinned.  “That explains the muscles.”

She reached out and playfully pinched his tricep.  Swatting at her hand gently, Yuto turned a soft shade of pink.  “I don’t do it much anymore.  Too busy.  I still jog though and go to the gym.  That’s about it.”

“I hope you don’t mind,”  Mrs. Matsumoto’s voice called just as she rounded the corner back into the living room.  In her hands was a tray with a tea pot, three tea cups, and some lemons.  “We only have earl gray.  Your father is having to switch to decaf - doctor’s orders.”

The three talked for a time about everything, though it was mostly Rei and Mrs. Matsumoto who did the talking while Yuto simply sipped his tea and listened.  Rei asked how his mother came to Japan and Mrs. Matsumoto explained that before his father took over the tailoring and laundry business, he had done some work at fashion shows over seas.  She was a model during one of the shows and when she saw him, she couldn’t help but fall in love.  After much chasing, they got married and she relocated to start a family.  His mother asked about Rei’s plans for the future and she explained that she wanted to teach High School Science since her mother and father were both teachers.

When his father came in, he was quiet - in his usual fashion.  He simply took the skirt from Rei, which she had kept in an old shopping bag, and looked over the damage.  It would be a simple fix and since it was for a friend of Yuto’s:  “No charge.”  And that was that.  He disappeared once more into the shop out front.  

By the time dinner was ready, Mr. Matsumoto returned with the mended skirt.  It was starting to get dark outside, which meant - 

“Are you sure you can’t stay for dinner?”  

“No, we need to head out.”  Yuto lifted the black bag he had left by the door.  It was a hiking pack, stuffed to the brim.  “If we have any hope of getting to a good spot, we need to head out now.”

“Keita should be home soon.  You know he’ll want to see you.”  His mother frowned, brow creasing as she looked her oldest son over.  

Yuto knew that look.  Mother wanted to say something, but refused to do so unless he asked her first.  It was a tactic she had used since he moved out to get him to stay just a few minutes longer, chat his ear off just a bit more.  He couldn’t fault her for it, he supposed.  Wasn’t it a mother’s job to love her child to the point of heartbreak?

“How’s he doing?”  Yuto asked. 

“Fine.  His grades are doing good, but we’re…having a bit of an issue.”

Rei blinked and looked at Yuto - a little surprised his mother would have this conversation with a stranger around. Yuto however, wasn’t phased, and asked instead,  “What kind of issue?  Is he alright?”

As if right on cue, the front door slammed open.  Rei jumped, his mother just sighed and sipped her tea, and Yuto sat up just a bit straighter.  He could hear the sound of grumbling, of shoes hitting the wall, and the footsteps rapidly rushing by.   A flash of movement was all the viewers saw, making a beeline for the stairs.  

“Keita.”  His mother called out, “Your brother and his friend are here.”

That didn’t stop the mass.  What anyone could only presume to be the young Keita Matsumoto rushed upstairs and slammed the door once he reached his room.  Rei turned to look at Yuto, who simply looked at her.  He knew she was looking to him for some sort of guidance, but he had none to give.  So he turned to the only person he could think of who might be able to help.  

“...is that the issue?”

“Mm,”  Mrs. Matsumoto nodded, “He’s been like that for a few months now.  Ever since this school year started.  But no matter what, he won’t tell us what’s wrong.  Just gets mad and runs away when we bring it up.”

That wasn’t at all like Keita and it made Yuto uneasy.  His brother, though loud and somewhat obnoxious, would never outright be rude.  He would have stopped and greeted them, even if for a moment.  He frowned, looking to the woman by his side.  “Do you…mind if we wait just a bit longer?  I’d like to talk to him.”

Rei’s eyes practically sparkled.  She shook her head, eagerly.  “No, it’s alright.  I can’t wait here.”  

It had been quite the while since Yuto had stepped foot upstairs.  It wasn’t his home anymore, no matter how he recognized the walls.  No matter how his face littered the pictures hung up.  And while he was quite certain he had invaded someone else’s space, he tried not to let it bother him.  Things change - it was the one thing that never changed.  

“Keita?”  Yuto kept his voice low, just before knocking twice on the door.  “It’s Yuto.”

There was a long pause before a muffled and rather agitated response came.  “I know it’s you.”

“Well if you know it’s me, you should let me in.”  

“I don’t want to.”

“Why not?”

Silence was the response, though Yuto was sure it was because his brother was considering the answer.  He smiled when he heard feet hit the hardwood floor and get closer.  One green eye peered through the crack, staring up at him.  Yuto offered a warm smile and tilted his head.  “So is that a yes, I can come in?”

Keita had never been able to refuse his brother - that didn’t mean he didn’t try.  He frowned, looked away.  He waged a silent war with himself, letting out a low noise of frustration.  In the end, he lost.  With a huff, he turned away, leaving the door open.  Yuto didn’t need any further invitation and slipped inside. 

The room was spotless - their mother would allow for no other way.  Yuto looked around, eyes scanning everything just to ensure it wasn’t out of place and couldn’t offer him any hints about what might be going on.  Nothing jumped out, not a piece of paper on the desk or article of clothing.  The posters on the wall had remained the same, the gear in the corner as it always had been.  It looked no different than it was 3 years ago when Yuto moved out:  the normal room of a young boy interested in soccer and baseball.

“Mom told you then?”

“No.”  Yuto shut the door.  He didn’t speak again until he was settled in the desk chair, facing his brother as he lay flat on the bed.  “She doesn’t know what’s going on.”

“Yeah right.”

“No, really.  She wouldn’t tell me a thing.  Just that you were having…uhm, issues.”

“UGH!”  Keita threw his head back before shoving it under the pillow.  “She said that!?  Why does she have to make it sound so bad!?”

“Probably because she’s worried.  You know how she gets.  She needs to know what’s going on otherwise she just fills in the details.  And it’s always the worst case scenario.”

“Hmph.”

Yuto rested his head in his hand, legs crossed.  “...do you want to talk about it?”

“No.”

“Okay.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Alright.”

Keita still hadn’t removed his head from under the pillow.  They sat quietly, the only sound was the ticking of the alarm clock on the nightstand.  His feet shuffled slightly, before an eye peeked out from the shadows.  “Who’s that girl with you?”  Keita asked. 

“Her name is Rei.”

“...is she your girlfriend?”

“No.  We’re just talking right now.”  

Yuto didn’t have to see his brother’s face to know it was disgruntled.  “You’re just talking but you brought her to meet mom and dad?”

“Her skirt ripped.  I couldn’t fix it so I brought it here.”

“Oh.”

“Why?”

“...”  Back into the safety of darkness his brother went.  Yuto tried his best not to laugh, and instead waited patiently.  He tried to keep himself from glancing out the window to the deep amber sky.  It was getting later and later by the minute.  And yet here he was, discussing his love life with his brother…

Ah.

“Is it a girl?”

Keita’s body tensed.  His fingers curled into the red fabric of his pillow case before he finally pulled himself out.  He sat up, sighing.  “I mean...yeah, kind of.”

It always was.  Yuto remembered being Keita’s age.  You couldn’t tell him anything about nothing, but when it came to girls?  He knew that he liked them pretty and sweet but lacked the confidence to do much about it.  It was a hard time, of that he knew.  And he was a bit more outgoing than Keita was so he couldn’t even begin to imagine the struggle his brother was having.

“Her name…”  Keita swallowed, before looking at his brother.  “Her name is Kagome.  She’s in my class and…well…”  He bit his lip before looking down at his hands.  “She’s really pretty.  And really nice.  We sit beside each other sometimes and she asks me for notes and stuff.”

“Wow, that’s kind of big.”  Keita glared at his brother, though Yuto held up his hands.  He was being serious.  “So you guys are friends?”

“I mean, not exactly?  We talk sometimes.  She has her own friend group, I have my own.  And then there’s…”

Yuto leaned forward, eyes earnest.  “...there’s what?”

Keita shot up from the bed and stomped towards the window.  “And then there’s Hojo.”

“Hojo?  Who’s Hojo?”

“Another guy from school!!”

“...and we don’t like Hojo?”

“No!”  Keita whipped around, throwing his arms out.  “No, we don’t like Hojo!”

“Okay, we hate Hojo.”

“Yes!”

“Why?”

“...cause…”  Keita frowned, dragging his fingers through his hair before groaning.  “He’s always giving her gifts and stuff!  See, Kagome is kind of sickly-”

“Oh, that’s sad.”

“Right?  So, I thought I could do some things to help out?  Like making extra notes or bringing medicine to school?  But I can’t get to her before he does!  It’s so obvious he likes her too!  And he’s really handsome and I just know she’s going to like him before me!”

Oh, so that’s what this was all about:  a girl and a rival.  It took everything in Yuto not to smile at his brother, though judging by the way Keita’s shoulders dropped and his face twisted, he knew he wasn’t doing a good job.  So he gave up the charade and just started laughing quietly.  “It’s not funny!”  His brother's indignation knew no bounds.  “She’s going to like him more, they’re going to hang out, and then they’re gonna get married!”

“I think you’re missing a few steps, Keita.”

“Well it doesn’t matter because that’s what’s going to happen!”

It was hard not to smile, though he did truly feel his brother’s pain.  He had a girl he liked when he was in Junior High too.  He knew what it was like to sit from afar and just…panic that someone else would swoop in and there would be no chance to get to know them better.  To see if it could go anywhere.  And as he looked at his brother’s crestfallen expression, he couldn’t help but want to fix it.  

“Have you tried asking her to hang out?  Just the two of you?”

The question caused Keita to flinch.  “...no.”  He admitted after a moment.  “...anytime I talk to her, my tongue feels really big in my mouth and I just…get nervous.  I’ve even tried writing her a note, but I can’t bring myself to slip it into her locker.  I don’t know if she’ll even get it - she’s never really at school.”

“Really?”  

“Yeah, cause she gets sick a lot.”

“It’s that bad?”

“Yeah.”

“Whoa.  Is it…serious?”

“I don’t think so?  Just like…normal stuff I guess.”  

“Maybe you could give it to one of her friends?”

“What if they read it?”  

“Oh, yeah, that would…be a problem.”   Yuto rubbed the back of his neck.  This was quite the issue, certainly.  And he could see why - for the past month or so - his brother seemed to be nothing but frustrated whenever it was brought up.  And no one wanted to talk to their parents about girl troubles?  That was asking for humiliation. 

“It’s whatever,”  Keita looked out his window with a forlorn sigh.  “I’ll be fine.  You can tell mom not to worry or nothing.”

What a brave little soldier.  Despite wanting to do something - anything - to help his brother, Yuto was drawing a blank on what to do.  It wasn’t like he could reach out and talk to the girl on Keita’s behalf.  If Keita couldn’t do it, there was no one else who could.  

“Hey…”  He paused, before reaching out and touching his brother’s shoulder.  “You got this.  No worries.”

The younger Matsumoto turned and looked to his brother, before sighing and shaking his head.  Though he smiled, it never quite reached his eyes.  “Yeah.”  Not wanting the affection any further, he pushed his brother away.  “Go on.  You got your hot date waiting outside.”

“Yeah, some hot date.”  He couldn’t help but snort.  “We’re heading out of town to do some schoolwork.”

It was such a funny thing, seeing the gears working behind someone’s eyes.  His brother stared at him for a long moment before turning to face him fully.  “Schoolwork?”

“Mmhm.  There’s going to be a meteor shower, so we need to find a good spot to observe it.”

“...”  For the first time that entire conversation, light shone in his brother’s eyes.  “What kind of good spot?”

“Well, it needs to be quiet, not a lot of people.  Good view of the sky.  Not so much light pollution so further out of the city.”

“I know a place then!”

A well?

Try as he might, he couldn’t move.  He was at the will of the demon who held him almost lovingly in her arms.  He had heard, sometimes, of brides lost coming to take unmarried men to the afterlife, to be wed and have children there.  Could it possibly be something of the sort?  Is this what he was fated to?  Those demon brides?

A warm hand reached out, and then another, and another, stroking his hair out of his face.  Every so often, there would be a pause.  Wet, soft lapping sounds would fill the air before he heard the creature sigh.  “It’s growing cold.  You are growing cold, my love.  Soon, you will depart from this world.  And…I’ll never get to see you again.”  The creature sounded like she could almost cry.

She must have started to kiss him.  His vision had gone black, his mouth covered.  And though it was only a little, he could taste something against his tongue.  It was too thick to be blood, but had that very familiar metallic taste, overpowering his own.  It was rotten, rancid and burned as it traveled down his throat and settled in his stomach.  

With little effort, she rested his body against something, letting it go limp.  When his head fell back, all he could see were vines and stones descending into darkness.  “Come back to me, my love.”

His body became weightless, free falling.  He wondered briefly if this is what birds felt when they took flight.  Was that what he was doing?  Taking flight? 

How wonderful.  

“I’m so sorry, but Kagome isn’t available to take any guests.  Or any paramours.”

Yuto couldn’t believe he had allowed himself to be talked into Keita’s harebrained scheme.  He had seen the desperation in his brother’s eyes when he pulled out the letter, shoved it into his hands, and pleaded - nearly dropping to his knees - for Yuto to drop it off.  

“Higurashi shrine is a perfect place to look at meteors!  It’s still in the city so you’ll have time to drop this off!”

Yuto might not have done it if Rei hadn’t suggested she go with him to the door.  She seemed entirely amused with the whole idea and had done her best not to laugh when Yuto had awkwardly explained himself.  “No, ma’am, I’m sure she’s not.  I um…I’m the older brother of a friend of hers.  He asked me to drop this off for her.”

The woman, who he assumed to be Kagome’s mother, lit up.  She took the letter with a bright noise, looking at the little red heart sealing it shut.  “Oh, I see!  I’ll be sure to give it to her.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”  Both he and Rei bowed at the waist.  “If it’s not too troublesome, though, I have another thing to ask.”

“Of course!”

“Well, my friend and I are students at the university and-”

“And you must be here to study!”  An older voice cut him off, footsteps quickly approaching.  An old man, short and broad, urged the younger woman aside.  He looked up at the pair with conviction.  “The Shrine?  You’re here to learn about the Shrine!  Well, you see it’s been in our family for centuries.”

“No, sir, I-”

“The Higurashi family has long since taken up the mantle, using our vast supernatural abilities to ward off demons and cleanse spirits.”

“Demons?”  Rei asked.

“Sir, I’m not-”

“And if you like, we do sell books and guides.  Our services are-”

“Sir, I’m so sorry.”  Yuto had to speak just a little louder to catch the man’s attention.  “I’m sorry, but ah…we’re not here for the shrine.”

The older man stared at him for a second before his expression shifted into a glare.  “Then what do you want!?”

“We’re actually astronomy students.  We’re hoping that we could perhaps find a spot to set up our telescope?  There’s going to be a meteor shower tonight and we were hoping we could watch it for a project we’re working on.”

“Oh!”  The woman of the house beamed, nodding.  Excited at the prospect of her home being used for such a thing, she eagerly agreed.  “Yes, that’s fine.  How exciting.”

“Don’t venture too far into the woods,”  The old man barked.  “And stay away from the storehouse.  It’s off limits to visitors.”

“Yes, sir.”  Once again, the pair bowed in thanks.  “Thank you for this opportunity.”

At once, the pair turned away, giggling to each other.  What luck that they were given permission to actually set up shop.  The place looked and sounded entirely empty - save for the people of the house.  Yuto would have to give Keita his thanks the moment they got back on that front, at the very least.

“Looks like this old shrine is our oyster,” Rei said, spreading her arms wide.  “Where should we set up?”

For a short while, the two explored the grounds, trying to find the perfect spot to set up their equipment and camp down until the show.  Though everywhere they went on the grounds, there was a structure that made it hard to get a good view.  Though Rei offered places they could sit and get something she deemed “better than nothing”, none were good enough for Yuto.  It needed to be perfect.

“I think it’s cute you did this.”  Rei stated, after the second round of trying to find the right spot.  

“Huh?”

“You went through all this trouble to drop off a letter for your brother.”

His cheeks tinged pink.  “He’s a good kid, just a little shy.”

“Kind of like you?”

That statement gave Yuto pause.  He stopped and looked at her, raising a brow.  “I’m not shy,”  he stated, defiantly. 

“Yuto, come on.”  She let out a laugh.  “It took you almost the entire year before we even talked to each other.  And you still haven’t officially asked me to be your girlfriend, even though I’ve met your parents.”

…oh.  That’s what she meant.  He…hadn’t expected this sort of conversation.  Not right then, after all.  They were there to study, not talk about the intricacies of their relationship.  Even if they had been, it wasn’t like Yuto had a good answer for her.  He thought they were moving at a fine pace:  they were going slow, still getting to know each other.  Yuto didn’t believe a person could truly know someone after just one month.  That was crazy.

But if Rei noticed his apprehension, she didn't mention it.  “I’m just saying, I like that about you.  You’re always so kind.”

“I try to be,”  He answered.  “I don’t see a point in being cruel when someone needs my help, family or otherwise.  There’s too much of that in the world already.”

“How very down to earth of you, Space Cowboy.”  

Yuto laughed, shaking his head.  “Well, if I’m going out to space, I want to make a good first impression on the aliens I’ll meet.  What will they think if the first human they interact with is a grade A jerk?”

“Mm,”  She narrowed her eyes.  “They’ll probably think, ‘at least he’s cute’.  That’s what I would think.”

He rolled his eyes, earning a laugh.  They fell quiet once more as they finished their second round.  Yuto could tell that Rei was getting frustrated at his indecision.  No matter what spot she pointed out, he could find something wrong with it.  Something that didn’t sit right.  He had to give her credit though - she was still trying to keep it cordial.  

“Do you think it’s the demons?”  She asked.  

“What?”

“The demons?”  She laced her fingers behind her back and stopped in front of him.  “Your body can sense them so it doesn’t want to stick around.”

Yuto huffed, shaking his head.  “Yeah, maybe.  Or the spirits.”

“Yuto, come on.”  She whined, “Just pick a spot.  They’re not going to get better a fourth time around.”  

He pursed his lips, eyes turning downcast in embarrassment.  He knew he was being silly, but…it really did feel like there was something off.  Like he was waiting for something.  Like each spot was telling him not yet.  It was too soon.  He didn’t know how to explain it in a way that Rei would understand and not make fun of.  

He realized that during the beginning of their third lap around the property that the feeling was getting almost strained - like a thread pulled taut and ready to snap.  Any amount of pressure and it would give.  It was hard, on edge and ready to break.  But he didn’t have any earthly idea why now, all of a sudden, he felt ready to run.  He opened his mouth before closing it once more.  “I know, it’s just-”

A soft thud caught their attention.  Both of their heads snapped, facing the same direction.  To their left was a tiny little shed - its wood dark brown with old, ancient looking blue tiles.  Sitting in front was a little sign on a post that held no writing.  

It was Rei that spoke first.  After a long, pregnant pause, she asked simply:  “What was that?”

The response was another thud, sharper this time - as if responding on its own.  It still sounded…distant.  Even behind the door and whatever else lay inside, Yuto could hear it almost as if it was in his chest.  He stood, frozen, fingers gripping the straps of the backpack tightly.  Another thud and Rei had jumped behind him.  “What is that!?”  She hissed.  

“I…I don’t know.”

The feeling grew stronger, almost like a voice, urging him towards the door.  It took everything in him not to respond to the call.  To not respond to the soft, gentle, melodious sound of a woman whispering out to her lover…

Wait…

“We should go get that old man.  Maybe it’s an animal.”

“Do you hear that?”  Yuto asked, turning to look at Rei.  

The poor girl looked absolutely terrified, shaking her head.  “No!  All I hear is creepy knocking.  Yuto, I want to go home.”

“There’s someone in there.”

“Well then let them be in there!  This isn’t a horror movie, we could get really hurt!”

“I…”

The voice called out again.  He wasn’t sure how, but Yuto knew whatever it was was feeling pain.  Unimaginable, debilitating pain.  And…and fear.  Down to the core of its very soul.  

Whoever it was was dying.  

“Stay back.  I want to go check it out.”

“Yuto!?”  Rei grabbed hold of him, trying to keep him in place.  “No!  What if it’s-”

“I’ll be alright.  I promise.”  He held up his arm, flexing it with a grin.  “Muscles, remember?”

She didn’t look very convinced, glaring at him as he stepped closer to the little shed.  With trembling fingers and a soft grunt, he slid the door open.  He peered inside, trying to will his eyes to see past the darkness of the warehouse.  But, no matter how hard he tried, he saw nothing.  

“What is it?”

Rei’s voice caused him to yelp, nearly jumping out of her skin.  “Don’t sneak up on me like that!”

“Well what was it?!”

“I don’t know, I can’t see anything…”  He turned back around, “Could you grab the flashlight out of my bag.”  

Grumbling, Rei did as told.  She wasn’t at all happy to be doing this.  If she had it her way, they would be back at her house.  But instead, she was here, digging past the telescope parts, homework packs, and gas station goodies while lamenting the fact that they were probably going to die because the guy she was with was playing hero in a horror movie.  

Yuto turned the flashlight on the moment he could.  He scanned the light slowly, over the entire room before settling on what sat at the bottom.  A well.  It looked older than the entire structure that surrounded it, surrounded by dirt and…

“...are those-”

“It’s coming from inside the well.”

Yuto could feel her eyes on him as he continued inside.  He didn’t see the bones just as he didn’t see the danger.  All he could focus on was the voice that was ringing in his ears.  He turned, stopping on one of the steps, staring up at Rei in disbelief as she cowered behind the door.  “You really don’t hear it?”

“No!”  She hissed.  “Do you not see the bones?!”

“Bones?”  He turned and looked at the ground.  His blood ran cold.  She was right.  Bones - human bones - were scattered about.  Had they - inadvertently - stumbled upon a serial killer family?  Had they broken into a veritable crime scene?  Was the girl Keita had a crush on a part of a murder cult!?  Green eyes stared into the pits of a skull screaming silently back up at him.  Protruding from the dirt on either side were two heads, flanked by their rib cages, femurs, and finger bones…that…were… 

He sighed and shook his head, “They’re not bones.”  Yuto finished the trek down, picking up the fake hand and holding it up for Rei to see.  “They’re fake.  Finger bones don’t stay attached like this.”

“Oh my god…”  She couldn’t help but laugh.  With the tension finally broken, Rei moved out from the safety of the door.  “Why the heck do they have those!?”

“I’m not sure.  It must be for effect.  They want people to be scared of this place maybe?”  Yuto grinned and held up the ornament.  “Give me five.”

“Ugh, you’re so stupid.”

“I bet that voice we were hearing was some speaker or something.”  He glanced around, trying to find the offending piece of equipment.  When he couldn’t find it, he turned back to look at Rei, who was instead, staring at him.  She looked neither relieved or happy.  In fact, she looked annoyed.  “What?”

“Haha, look, the bones aren’t real either, so…”

“...uh…”  He glanced at the fake hand, giving it a wave.  “Yeah.  I know.”

“So you can stop trying to get me to think you heard a voice.”

“But…”  Yuto looked around, confused.  “I…did hear a voice.  Did you-”

…my…love…

“Wait…”  Yuto dropped the hand back onto the ground.  Rei gasped and let out a yell as he dragged the flashlight up across the wall, directly over her eyes.  He winced, “Sorry, just…I swear I hear someone.”

“Yuto!  It’s not funny anymore, let’s go home.”

“Rei, wait-”

“No, I’m not waiting!  I’m scared and creeped out and you’re acting-”

Her voice suddenly stopped, catching his attention.  He turned the light back onto her poised to ask her what was wrong.  

Yuto Matsumoto had never seen a person so afraid before.  Rei’s eyes were wide, face pale, expression twisted in terror.  Her hand lifted, her lips moving to call out something but all she could manage was a gasping, coughing sort of noise.  “Rei?”  

“Yuto!!  Behind you!!”  

Weightless.  That’s all he could think.  His mind knew something had grabbed him.  He knew something had wrapped its arms around him and lifted him off the ground.  He knew that it was pulling him back and towards the well.  He knew that Rei was screaming for him, shrieking at the top of her lungs.  And while he knew all these things, all his mind could focus on was that one word.  

Weightless. 

The room disappeared.  The ceiling came and went quickly after.  Then it was the wood and stone of the well, whizzing past.  No matter how desperately he tried to regain control of his body, it seemed useless.  Whoever held onto him had no desire to let go, even as everything slipped into darkness.  

“My love.”  It was that voice again, whispering in his ear.  The voice he had been hearing ever since they stepped close to that shed.  The voice that Rei hadn’t been able to hear.  It wrapped around his mind and burrowed deep, as if the tone itself had barbs.  “My love…you returned to me.  As I knew you would.  Just like he said.”