Fortunes Untold
Jul. 26th, 2016 10:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
write_my_dreamsTItle: Fortunes Untold
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
write_my_dreams
Beta:faewitchkins
Pairings: Kei x Yo-ka, Tatsuya x Shoya
Genre: AU, supernatural
Warning: Implications of death
Disclaimer: The members of DIAURA belong to themselves and their record label. I own the plot, story, and the writing only.
Rating: PG
Chapter(s): 1/1
Summary: Seeking inspiration for their upcoming collection, Tatsuya convinces a skeptical Shoya to visit a fortuneteller with him.
Author's Comment: For the![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
jrockyaoi 2016 Summer Contest. I used "Enigma" by DIAURA for my inspiration. I almost used Blind Message, but Enigma gave me ideas first. A huge thank you to faewitchkins for looking this over me, helping me with parts I was stuck at, and giving me advice.
Yo-ka’s stomach felt like it was tying itself into knots. Morning had already faded into afternoon with no sign of the woman or the young couple he dreaded. He didn’t know if he should be relieved by this or not. It was always difficult to face customers with bleak futures. Ever since he’d opened his shop and started doing readings for others, snatches of their futures raced through his dreams at night. Some were positive while others negative. Marriage, a promotion, a new baby. Dreams becoming reality. Such customers had already been in earlier so now he could only wait for the tragedies. Death, illness, heartbreak.
“You’re going to have some interesting customers this afternoon,” Kei announced as he walked down the stairs.
Yo-ka turned to face his lover. Kei rarely took interest in the customers. He was content to remain upstairs in the apartment while Yo-ka read their futures. For him to be down here… this wasn’t a good sign. “Will I?”
“You will. But you know that already, don’t you?”
“I do.” Yo-ka bit his lip. He still didn’t know what to say to the woman or the couple. Death was always painful to predict. As was deciding whether or not he should tell the doomed customer. He’d learned the hard way that some couldn’t handle his predictions, others ignored him or called him a liar, and some became angry. “Two of them will die this year unless they change their paths.”
Kei sat down on Yo-ka’s table, careful not to disturb the crystal ball or the deck of tarot cards. “You can do nothing for the woman. She chose her path and she will walk on it until it and her life end.” He hooked his legs behind Yo-ka’s back to draw him closer. If one didn’t know he was a reaper, he could easily be mistaken for a gothic model. Slender, beautiful, and he had the right look with his clouded left eye that some mistook for a contact lens or blindness. Through that eye, Kei could see the souls of everyone before him.
Don’t get distracted. “What about the couple?” Yo-ka lowered his veil when Kei leaned in. “Are you going to tell me anything about them?”
“One is skeptical while his lover will believe your predictions.” Kei slid his fingers into Yo-ka’s black and blonde hair, pulling him in for a brief kiss. “The skeptic would do well to listen to you. Don’t lie to them, little seer.”
“I don’t lie!” Yo-ka protested. He did his best to be honest with his customers. Sometimes he omitted certain details or glossed over events, but he tried to never outright lie to them.
“No, you just don’t give them the full story,” Kei said dryly. “Which in a way is lying.” He kissed Yo-ka again to silence his complaint then pulled his hood up over his hair. “The couple will be here soon. Raise your veil so that you can retain your mysterious fortune teller image.”
A plane flying into a turbulent snow storm. Yo-ka forced the image down and took a shaky breath. Calm. Control. No one’s future was set in stone, and not all of his predictions came true. He exhaled as he replaced the veil. Calm… he was calm. “I’d be a sexy fortuneteller if you had your way.” He could tease his lover. Yo-ka thought of the thigh flaunting shorts, garters, and corset top that Kei had tried to get him to wear yesterday. “Trust me to wind up with a perverted reaper.”
Kei snorted. “No one wanted to be out in that rainstorm so I thought we could have some fun inside. And if you think I’m a perverted reaper, just imagine if you’d had Tsuzuku waiting to collect your soul. He would not have shown you the same consideration I did.”
Yo-ka shuddered. “I’m glad I had you.” He looked towards the door, assuming Kei would retreat upstairs as he usually did. To his surprise—and alarm— his lover lingered. “Kei?”
“I want to see them.”
Would Kei collect their souls? Yo-ka watched his lover, how his gaze was fixed on the door. As much as he wanted to believe that the couple would make it to the next year unscathed, the odds were against them when a reaper took interest.
* * *
“Shoya, look!” Tatsuya grabbed his hand and stopped him in his tracks. “A fortuneteller. Let’s go in! We haven’t gotten our fortunes read since we went to Kyoto last year.”
Shoya grimaced. “You’re serious? You know all these psychics and fortunetellers are fakes. Their only ‘power’ is conning people out of their money.” He would never understand his lover’s fascination with fortunetellers and divination in general.
“Not all of them are!” Tatsuya insisted.
Shoya rolled his eyes. “Fine, maybe this one is the real deal.” And the sun was purple. “Why do you want to get our fortunes told? We’re doing well right now. We have a collection to present next season and that could open some doors for us.” A lot was riding on this collection so he should be more considerate of his lover’s increased interest in shrine or temple visits and superstition.
“We’ve talked about doing an occult theme to break into new markets. Wouldn’t this be the perfect inspiration?”
Shoya sighed. Tatsuya did have a good point there. “It’s just going to be some old woman trying hard to look mystical. If you really want to look for inspiration, we can do so with other methods. Movies, music, mythology…” he trailed off when Tatsuya fixed him with the adorable, wide-eyed pleading look that was Shoya’s greatest weakness and Tatsuya’s greatest weapon against him. “Fine! You’re on cooking duty for the rest of the week though.”
Tatsuya laughed. “You act like that’s a punishment. We all know I’m the better cook.” He tugged Shoya to the shop and opened the door.
The fortuneteller was not, in fact, an old woman. It was difficult to make out his features since he wore a hooded black cloak and a lace veil that covered everything but his eyes, but those were young eyes beneath the shadow and liner. Around their age. The costume was clearly designed to make him look mystical and ethereal. The fortuneteller’s cloak fluttered behind him when he rose from his chair and bowed, showing off muscular arms and a chest hugging tank top. He had a good body under that cloak—not that Shoya was looking. He wondered about the black gloves going up to the fortuneteller’s elbows. All part of the costume.
“My name is Yo-ka. You’re one of the couples I saw.”
Tatsuya opened his mouth to speak only to close it when another man stepped into view. Unlike Yo-ka, he looked like he’d stepped out of the pages of a Sex Pot Revenge catalogue in his dark shirt, pants, and collar. There was something… off about him. Something wrong. When their eyes met, Shoya felt like he’d been doused with a bucket of cold water. He swallowed, unable to break eye contact. One of the man’s eyes was gray while the other was a clouded white that seemed to pierce through to his very soul.
“Kei,” Yo-ka admonished.
Kei looked towards him. Shoya no longer felt paralyzed and he immediately grabbed Tatsuya’s hand. He squeezed it tightly, some animal instinct warning him to flee. To get as far away from Kei as he possibly could before something terrible happened.
“They’re the interesting couple I told you about,” Kei said. He walked around behind Yo-ka’s chair and directed his gaze towards the designers. “Sit. You’ll want to hear what he has to tell you.”
Shoya swallowed. “Who are you?” he squeezed Tatsuya’s hand again for support.
“Are you okay?” Tatsuya whispered.
“I… don’t know,” Shoya whispered back. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this afraid. His heart was racing, his hands were clammy, and his flight instincts had yet to fade.
“Kei is my lover and business partner just as you two are partners and lovers,” Yo-ka explained. He fixed Kei with a look. “You were just going upstairs, weren’t you?”
Kei kissed Yo-ka’s forehead. “I was. Don’t let your skepticism blind you, Shoya. Yo-ka is one of the most powerful seers I’ve come across.” He brushed his hand down the fortuneteller’s arm then walked away.
“How did he know your name?” Tatsuya asked.
Shoya took a shaky breath. With Kei gone, his fear was fading. “He must’ve seen us in a magazine.” The Vicious, as he’d told Tatsuya, was doing well. They’d featured in Kera last month and some of their designs were cropping up in more stores. Kei’s clothing made it clear he was interested in fashion so he had surely seen their name and designs or heard of them somewhere else. As for Yo-ka knowing they were a couple, that was mere deduction. They’d entered the shop hand in hand. Deductions weren’t freaky or mystical. Shoya walked over to the table and let go of Tatsuya’s hand so he could sit down across from Yo-ka and his crystal ball. He’d get his “fortune” told to appease his lover and prove to himself that he wasn’t afraid of Kei. It’d been a bizarre reaction and nothing more. Once Shoya left the shop, he could put Kei and his eerie eyes out of his mind forever along with this fortunetelling business.
Tatsuya still looked a little worried about him, but he sat down next to Shoya without further questions.
Yo-ka studied them for a moment. “You’re fashion designers.” He swept the deck of tarot cards up and placed them in his lap. Well, this would at least be something new. Shoya had been an unwilling participant in tarot readings before. Never a crystal ball though.
“Yes,” Tatsuya agreed before Shoya could stop him. “We would like to know our futures for the next year, Yo-ka-san. Shoya and I are presenting our newest collection in a few months so we took a walk to get inspired and come up with ideas. We’ve considered doing an occult theme.” He paused so he could admire Yo-ka’s shop. To his credit, neither it nor he were as cliché as Shoya had expected. The walls weren’t painted black or draped in gauzy scarves. Instead they were white with gold trim reminiscent of a royal palace. Black velvet curtains were drawn to let the light in and the ceiling was black with varying constellations painted upon it along with the phases of the moon in a circle above Yo-ka’s head. It was actually quite beautiful. Behind the fortuneteller was a staircase leading to what Shoya assumed was his apartment as Kei had gone up it. At the wall to Yo-ka’s left was a bookshelf with another on his opposite side. One housed books and crystals while the other held candles, decks of tarot cards, and herbs. Shoya didn’t believe in psychics and fortunetellers, but he could find easily inspiration in Yo-ka’s shop.
“I would advise you not to include Ouija boards in your collection.”
Tatsuya laughed. “We’ve seen too many American horror movies to even consider it.” He nudged Shoya. “Why don’t you start first?”
“I can read your fortunes together if you prefer.” Yo-ka waited for Tatsuya’s confirmation before he removed his gloves. “I’ll need to touch your hands before I can begin.”
Tatsuya promptly offered his while Shoya was reluctant. Why did Yo-ka have to touch his hand? So he could pretend to have a flash of “inspiration” and start spouting off educated guesses? “Shoya,” his lover hissed, kicking him beneath the table.
Holding back a sigh, Shoya laid his hand on the table. “Why do you need to touch our hands?”
“It’s how I am able to read my customers’ futures. Once I’ve touched your hands, I lay mine on the base of the crystal. It amplifies my energy and makes it easier for me to read your paths while I study the crystal.”
Tatsuya nodded. “Is that why you wear gloves?”
Yo-ka glanced at his pair. “Yes. Without them, I have no barrier against other energies and imprints. It’s an ability I’ve grown accustomed to in spite of its difficulties.” He exhaled slowly then reached out to lay his hands over theirs. Shoya watched him wince in response to touching his hand. All for dramatics of course. Though why wasn’t he flinching from Tatsuya’s touch? Because Tatsuya believed and Shoya didn’t? Or did he do this to everyone who came to his shop. Yo-ka pulled his hands back and closed his eyes, inhaling and exhaling four times before opening his eyes and laying his hands on his crystal ball. He was quiet as he gazed into the ball, looking at something that neither could see. To Shoya, it was a regular old crystal ball. It wasn’t levitating, there were no mystical-looking clouds or symbols appearing in it. Compared to the movies it was pretty boring.
“What do you see?” Tatsuya asked. He reached for Shoya’s hand and curled their fingers together, practically radiating nervous energy.
“I see success and happiness for the both of you these next months. You love each other dearly, and that is why you are able to mix business and pleasure so well. Your dreams will come to fruition this year. If all goes well when you present your collection, you could have a shop in Harajuku as early as next year.”
Tatsuya’s eyes widened. “Our own shop in Harajuku?” He squeezed Shoya’s hand and smiled. “We’ve been dreaming of that for years.”
Shoya returned the grin for his lover’s sake. He still didn’t buy Yo-ka’s predictions. Tatsuya had blabbed about their upcoming collection so it wasn’t difficult for the fortuneteller to provide plausible options. If the collection was a hit, they could get enough recognition to open a permanent store.
“What should we be doing now?” Tatsuya asked.
“Designing. Both of you are creative and passionate. Don’t let doubts get in your way,” Yo-ka said. “The occult collection is different from what you are creating now. It will alienate some of your customers, but it will attract new ones. Trust your designs and each other. I see opportunities coming for the two of you in October.”
Tatsuya nodded. “That’s when we present our collection.”
“An occult collection would do well in that month. As I said, you could have your own shop as soon as next year but I see other opportunities coming to you. A collaboration, a partnership…” Yo-ka trailed off as he gazed at the crystal.
Collaborations or partnerships with who? This was too vague.
Tatsuya squeezed Shoya’s hand. “We’re a little worried about this collection,” he confessed. “It is really different from the types of clothing we normally sell. But we wanted to challenge ourselves and do something completely different. We’ll still include some of our normal pieces in with the line.”
“In order for your collection to succeed you must put aside your doubts. Embrace this collection. If your customers do protest, don’t apologize for it. Brands need change in order to thrive.”
Tatsuya frowned at Shoya when he remained silent. Well what was he supposed to do? Chime in? He didn’t want to be rude to Yo-ka even though he didn’t believe in him and thought this was a waste of money. He gave his lover a helpless shrug. Tatsuya knew what he did and didn’t believe. He couldn’t force Shoya to share his enthusiasm for fortunetellers.
Yo-ka had more to tell them, but Shoya stopped paying attention when the awful feeling of being drenched in cold water returned. He understood why when Kei came down the stairs. He inclined his head in greeting but didn’t say anything. Yo-ka didn’t acknowledge him either. Kei set a basket of black candles down on the bookshelf then retreated into another room. Shoya stared after him, hating how his heart was racing again. Why did this man unsettle him so? He wasn’t about to murder them for their money while Yo-ka distracted them with a fortune, was he? Clearly Shoya had been watching too many crime shows.
His gaze returned to his lover after a not so subtle elbow to the ribs. “Do you see us showcasing abroad?”
“Doors will open for you after October,” Yo-ka replied. He tilted his head at the crystal. “Though I feel that Paris could be in your future.”
Tatsuya looked like he was going to swoon. “Showcasing in Paris?” His voice hit a higher octave than normal. Flushing, he cleared his throat. “Sorry. It’s, ah, been a dream of mine for a long time.”
“It could easily come true.” Yo-ka took his hands off the crystal ball. “I don’t know if either of you believe in soul mates, but Shoya is yours and you are his. You balance each other out as much as you complete each other. So long as you are together, there is great happiness in store for the both of you. You are each other’s inspiration as well as motivation.”
Shoya didn’t need a fortuneteller to say that. He already knew it. He’d been enchanted with Tatsuya the moment he met him at the festival—and not just because he had his yukata open to show off his chest. Their first date had been everything he’d ever wanted. Shoya’s mother had complained that he was moving too fast, but he hadn’t listened. There was something about Tatsuya that had always felt right. Yo-ka saying they were soul mates was one prediction he could believe.
“Thank you.” Tatsuya squeezed Shoya’s hand. “Is there anything else we should know?”
Yo-ka hesitated before shaking his head. “No, there’s nothing.”
Shoya would’ve asked why he’d hesitated if Kei hadn’t walked by again. His fear of the man unnerved him. What was going on? Shoya wanted to leave the shop as soon as they paid Yo-ka for the reading, but Tatsuya insisted on staying. He bought a black candle, a white one, and a blue one then a pack of tarot cards, four crystals, and some herbs. It was a good thing The Vicious was doing well otherwise today’s lunch followed by this visit would’ve had them eating cup ramen for a week.
Tatsuya was just loading everything into a shopping bag when his phone rang. “Excuse me.” He walked outside to take the call, leaving Shoya alone with Yo-ka… and with Kei. Fuck. The icy feeling returned whenever their eyes met. Be polite. Tell him goodbye and then you can leave. You don’t have to come back here ever again.
“Thank you for the reading.” Shoya bowed his head and turned to go.
“Wait,” Yo-ka called.
Shoya reluctantly paused. Don't look back. Don’t look at Kei. “What?”
Yo-ka wrung his gloves between his hands. “On… On November 9th, don’t go out. Stay at home with Tatsuya.”
Shoya frowned as he turned. “Why?” November was eight months away. Why would Yo-ka give him a dramatic warning now?
“Just don’t.”
“Listen well,” Kei murmured. A chill went down Shoya’s spine as their eyes met. His hands began to shake and he pushed them into his coat pockets to conceal their tremor.
“Thank you for the, um, warning. I… I won’t go out.” Shoya didn’t dare look at Kei again. His gaze landed on Yo-ka, the fortuneteller still clutching his gloves. “I better get back to Tatsuya.” He mumbled a quick goodbye then rushed out of the shop to meet his lover. The moment he was outside and away from Kei, he felt better. Lighter. And a little silly for being so spooked by the man. Had the atmosphere of the shop gotten to him? He hadn’t smelled any smoke, but Yo-ka or Kei could’ve been burning herbs that either relaxed or aggravated those seeking their fortunes.
“Hey,” Tatsuya said. He pocketed his phone and went over to cradle Shoya’s face in his hands. “Are you alright? You’re really pale.” He frowned as he studied his lover.
“I’m fine,” Shoya said.
“You sure? You were acting weird inside.”
Shoya closed his eyes as Kei’s face flashed across his mind. “Something spooked me. I don’t know what, but it’s okay now. Who was that on the phone?” he hoped Tatsuya wouldn’t notice the blatant subject change.
“Your mom. She wanted to know if there was anything we’d like her to bring for her visit next weekend.” Tatsuya took Shoya’s hand. “What do you mean something spooked you? Did Yo-ka say anything else to you? Wait, was it Kei? You seemed… I don’t know, creeped out by him.”
Shoya hesitated. If he repeated Yo-ka’s warning, Tatsuya would only worry. Half of him wanted to make plans for November 9th to prove to himself that fortunetellers weren’t real while the other half was more cautious. When a fortuneteller and his eerie eyed lover told you to do something… Maybe he should listen. “Yo-ka did have something to say. And Kei… I… I don't know what it is, but I got chills whenever our eyes met. I don’t understand why.” He squeezed Tatsuya’s hand, knowing he couldn’t lie to him. Not when he looked at him so earnestly. “Yo-ka told me to stay home on November 9th. He wouldn’t tell me why or what was going to happen if I didn’t, but Kei told me to listen to him.”
Tatsuya’s eyes widened. “November 9th? How did he look when he said it?”
Shoya recalled Yo-ka’s hesitance, how he’d wrung his gloves. “Nervous. It’s probably nothing though. It’s only March now so by the time November comes around we’ll have forgotten about it.” He didn’t know who he was trying to convince: his lover or himself.
“Well I won’t. We are going to stay in the apartment all day,” Tatsuya declared. “Even if I have to tie you up.”
That didn't sound like a bad way to spend the day.
* * *
Yo-ka sighed as he covered his crystal ball. He had faced the couple and warned Shoya of November 9th. He still had to encounter the woman and figure out how to tell her that unless she stopped smoking, she would be dead of a heart attack within four months. What had Kei told him before Tatsuya and Shoya walked in? That she’d chosen her path and would walk on it until it and her life ended? Maybe his lover was right and there truly was nothing Yo-ka could do for her.
He looked up when Kei pulled his hood back and smoothed down his hair. “Why did you warn Shoya? Tatsuya would’ve believed you if you told him to prevent Shoya from flying on November 9th. Yet, even knowing this, you told Shoya. A man who does not believe in you or your gifts. Pride will be his executioner unless he heeds your warning.”
Kei was right. Telling Tatsuya would’ve been the more logical decision. Not once during the reading did he look skeptical. As Shoya’s lover and soulmate, nothing would prevent him from keeping his lover away from the doomed plane. However, warning him when it was Shoya whose life was on the line had felt… wrong. Yo-ka couldn’t bring himself to do it. “I told Shoya because he was afraid of you. He tensed and grew pale whenever he saw you. Customers who face Death before the year’s end always have similar reactions to your presence.”
“They become aware of Death when they see me. They don’t realize that their own mortality is staring back at them, but it frightens them.” Kei mirrored his actions from earlier by sitting down on the edge of the table. He pulled Yo-ka’s veil down and brushed his bangs back. “I told you not to lie to those men, little seer.” He pressed a finger to Yo-ka’s lips when he opened his mouth to protest. “I know what you’re going to say. You’ll insist that omissions aren’t the same thing as lies. They are one and the same even though our opinions on this matter differ.”
Yo-ka sighed again. “How did I lie to them then?”
“You warned Shoya not to leave on November 9th, but you didn’t give him a reason why. Even though I felt your pain when you read their fortunes.” Kei ran his fingers through Yo-ka’s hair. “Don’t lie to me, Yo-chan. You saw Tatsuya’s future. You saw how bleak it is if he doesn’t have Shoya in it.”
“I saw,” Yo-ka admitted. He curled his fingers around Kei’s shirt. “I thought Shoya should know since he’s the one who’ll die in the plane crash. And yes, I do know that losing him will destroy Tatsuya.” He would continue to design to honor his lover’s memory and the dream they’d shared. However, he would turn to alcohol to cope with his despair over Shoya’s death. In five years he’d be dead. Some would blame alcohol. Yo-ka knew it was heartache. “Why wasn’t Tatsuya afraid of you?”
“Because the date and method of Tatsuya’s death are determined by the choices Shoya makes this year.” Kei pulled him into an embrace. “You should have warned them so you could save yourself from the pain you put yourself through whenever you see deaths. What’s done is done, Yo-chan. Take a breath, exhale, and leave their futures behind you. You did what you could. Now you must focus on your life and yourself.”
Yo-ka obeyed then slumped against his lover. How had he ever lived without Kei? “If you were in my place, would you have told them during the reading that Shoya would die in a plane crash?”
Kei stroked his hair. “You’re human, Yo-ka. I’m a reaper. We have different views on death and how it should be handled. If I were in your place, I would have informed the two of them that Shoya will die should he fly on the 9th and that Tatsuya won’t live much longer. Though that would be bending the rules.” He grasped Yo-ka’s shoulders to push him out to arms length and look him in the eye. “Something that I will only ever do for you, little seer.” He claimed Yo-ka’s lips in a soft kiss. “Enough of them and their turbulent futures. Close the shop while I go make you some tea to help you relax.”
Yo-ka caught his hand before he could leave. “Thank you. I… I think I’ll go meditate.” He needed to clear his mind and his energy so he could let go of this couple. All he could do now was hope that Shoya would heed his warnings.
Notes
1) Kei is wearing the outfit he wore for DIAURA's collaboration with Sex Pot Revenge. Here and here.
2) "The Vicious" is Shoya's brand which is mostly casual/comfortable shirts and snarky t-shirts.
3) The first few times I watched Enigma, I was so spellbound by Yo-ka but once I started paying attention to the rest of the band I thought Kei would make a perfect reaper. Once I finish up some other projects I'll write a prequel for how a reaper came to be in love with a fortuneteller.
4) For anyone interested in Yo-ka's ability, it's called psychometry. I figured I'd come up with an interesting reason for that boy's glove fetish.
Author:
write_my_dreamsBeta:
faewitchkinsPairings: Kei x Yo-ka, Tatsuya x Shoya
Genre: AU, supernatural
Warning: Implications of death
Disclaimer: The members of DIAURA belong to themselves and their record label. I own the plot, story, and the writing only.
Rating: PG
Chapter(s): 1/1
Summary: Seeking inspiration for their upcoming collection, Tatsuya convinces a skeptical Shoya to visit a fortuneteller with him.
Author's Comment: For the
jrockyaoi 2016 Summer Contest. I used "Enigma" by DIAURA for my inspiration. I almost used Blind Message, but Enigma gave me ideas first. A huge thank you to faewitchkins for looking this over me, helping me with parts I was stuck at, and giving me advice.Yo-ka’s stomach felt like it was tying itself into knots. Morning had already faded into afternoon with no sign of the woman or the young couple he dreaded. He didn’t know if he should be relieved by this or not. It was always difficult to face customers with bleak futures. Ever since he’d opened his shop and started doing readings for others, snatches of their futures raced through his dreams at night. Some were positive while others negative. Marriage, a promotion, a new baby. Dreams becoming reality. Such customers had already been in earlier so now he could only wait for the tragedies. Death, illness, heartbreak.
“You’re going to have some interesting customers this afternoon,” Kei announced as he walked down the stairs.
Yo-ka turned to face his lover. Kei rarely took interest in the customers. He was content to remain upstairs in the apartment while Yo-ka read their futures. For him to be down here… this wasn’t a good sign. “Will I?”
“You will. But you know that already, don’t you?”
“I do.” Yo-ka bit his lip. He still didn’t know what to say to the woman or the couple. Death was always painful to predict. As was deciding whether or not he should tell the doomed customer. He’d learned the hard way that some couldn’t handle his predictions, others ignored him or called him a liar, and some became angry. “Two of them will die this year unless they change their paths.”
Kei sat down on Yo-ka’s table, careful not to disturb the crystal ball or the deck of tarot cards. “You can do nothing for the woman. She chose her path and she will walk on it until it and her life end.” He hooked his legs behind Yo-ka’s back to draw him closer. If one didn’t know he was a reaper, he could easily be mistaken for a gothic model. Slender, beautiful, and he had the right look with his clouded left eye that some mistook for a contact lens or blindness. Through that eye, Kei could see the souls of everyone before him.
Don’t get distracted. “What about the couple?” Yo-ka lowered his veil when Kei leaned in. “Are you going to tell me anything about them?”
“One is skeptical while his lover will believe your predictions.” Kei slid his fingers into Yo-ka’s black and blonde hair, pulling him in for a brief kiss. “The skeptic would do well to listen to you. Don’t lie to them, little seer.”
“I don’t lie!” Yo-ka protested. He did his best to be honest with his customers. Sometimes he omitted certain details or glossed over events, but he tried to never outright lie to them.
“No, you just don’t give them the full story,” Kei said dryly. “Which in a way is lying.” He kissed Yo-ka again to silence his complaint then pulled his hood up over his hair. “The couple will be here soon. Raise your veil so that you can retain your mysterious fortune teller image.”
A plane flying into a turbulent snow storm. Yo-ka forced the image down and took a shaky breath. Calm. Control. No one’s future was set in stone, and not all of his predictions came true. He exhaled as he replaced the veil. Calm… he was calm. “I’d be a sexy fortuneteller if you had your way.” He could tease his lover. Yo-ka thought of the thigh flaunting shorts, garters, and corset top that Kei had tried to get him to wear yesterday. “Trust me to wind up with a perverted reaper.”
Kei snorted. “No one wanted to be out in that rainstorm so I thought we could have some fun inside. And if you think I’m a perverted reaper, just imagine if you’d had Tsuzuku waiting to collect your soul. He would not have shown you the same consideration I did.”
Yo-ka shuddered. “I’m glad I had you.” He looked towards the door, assuming Kei would retreat upstairs as he usually did. To his surprise—and alarm— his lover lingered. “Kei?”
“I want to see them.”
Would Kei collect their souls? Yo-ka watched his lover, how his gaze was fixed on the door. As much as he wanted to believe that the couple would make it to the next year unscathed, the odds were against them when a reaper took interest.
* * *
“Shoya, look!” Tatsuya grabbed his hand and stopped him in his tracks. “A fortuneteller. Let’s go in! We haven’t gotten our fortunes read since we went to Kyoto last year.”
Shoya grimaced. “You’re serious? You know all these psychics and fortunetellers are fakes. Their only ‘power’ is conning people out of their money.” He would never understand his lover’s fascination with fortunetellers and divination in general.
“Not all of them are!” Tatsuya insisted.
Shoya rolled his eyes. “Fine, maybe this one is the real deal.” And the sun was purple. “Why do you want to get our fortunes told? We’re doing well right now. We have a collection to present next season and that could open some doors for us.” A lot was riding on this collection so he should be more considerate of his lover’s increased interest in shrine or temple visits and superstition.
“We’ve talked about doing an occult theme to break into new markets. Wouldn’t this be the perfect inspiration?”
Shoya sighed. Tatsuya did have a good point there. “It’s just going to be some old woman trying hard to look mystical. If you really want to look for inspiration, we can do so with other methods. Movies, music, mythology…” he trailed off when Tatsuya fixed him with the adorable, wide-eyed pleading look that was Shoya’s greatest weakness and Tatsuya’s greatest weapon against him. “Fine! You’re on cooking duty for the rest of the week though.”
Tatsuya laughed. “You act like that’s a punishment. We all know I’m the better cook.” He tugged Shoya to the shop and opened the door.
The fortuneteller was not, in fact, an old woman. It was difficult to make out his features since he wore a hooded black cloak and a lace veil that covered everything but his eyes, but those were young eyes beneath the shadow and liner. Around their age. The costume was clearly designed to make him look mystical and ethereal. The fortuneteller’s cloak fluttered behind him when he rose from his chair and bowed, showing off muscular arms and a chest hugging tank top. He had a good body under that cloak—not that Shoya was looking. He wondered about the black gloves going up to the fortuneteller’s elbows. All part of the costume.
“My name is Yo-ka. You’re one of the couples I saw.”
Tatsuya opened his mouth to speak only to close it when another man stepped into view. Unlike Yo-ka, he looked like he’d stepped out of the pages of a Sex Pot Revenge catalogue in his dark shirt, pants, and collar. There was something… off about him. Something wrong. When their eyes met, Shoya felt like he’d been doused with a bucket of cold water. He swallowed, unable to break eye contact. One of the man’s eyes was gray while the other was a clouded white that seemed to pierce through to his very soul.
“Kei,” Yo-ka admonished.
Kei looked towards him. Shoya no longer felt paralyzed and he immediately grabbed Tatsuya’s hand. He squeezed it tightly, some animal instinct warning him to flee. To get as far away from Kei as he possibly could before something terrible happened.
“They’re the interesting couple I told you about,” Kei said. He walked around behind Yo-ka’s chair and directed his gaze towards the designers. “Sit. You’ll want to hear what he has to tell you.”
Shoya swallowed. “Who are you?” he squeezed Tatsuya’s hand again for support.
“Are you okay?” Tatsuya whispered.
“I… don’t know,” Shoya whispered back. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this afraid. His heart was racing, his hands were clammy, and his flight instincts had yet to fade.
“Kei is my lover and business partner just as you two are partners and lovers,” Yo-ka explained. He fixed Kei with a look. “You were just going upstairs, weren’t you?”
Kei kissed Yo-ka’s forehead. “I was. Don’t let your skepticism blind you, Shoya. Yo-ka is one of the most powerful seers I’ve come across.” He brushed his hand down the fortuneteller’s arm then walked away.
“How did he know your name?” Tatsuya asked.
Shoya took a shaky breath. With Kei gone, his fear was fading. “He must’ve seen us in a magazine.” The Vicious, as he’d told Tatsuya, was doing well. They’d featured in Kera last month and some of their designs were cropping up in more stores. Kei’s clothing made it clear he was interested in fashion so he had surely seen their name and designs or heard of them somewhere else. As for Yo-ka knowing they were a couple, that was mere deduction. They’d entered the shop hand in hand. Deductions weren’t freaky or mystical. Shoya walked over to the table and let go of Tatsuya’s hand so he could sit down across from Yo-ka and his crystal ball. He’d get his “fortune” told to appease his lover and prove to himself that he wasn’t afraid of Kei. It’d been a bizarre reaction and nothing more. Once Shoya left the shop, he could put Kei and his eerie eyes out of his mind forever along with this fortunetelling business.
Tatsuya still looked a little worried about him, but he sat down next to Shoya without further questions.
Yo-ka studied them for a moment. “You’re fashion designers.” He swept the deck of tarot cards up and placed them in his lap. Well, this would at least be something new. Shoya had been an unwilling participant in tarot readings before. Never a crystal ball though.
“Yes,” Tatsuya agreed before Shoya could stop him. “We would like to know our futures for the next year, Yo-ka-san. Shoya and I are presenting our newest collection in a few months so we took a walk to get inspired and come up with ideas. We’ve considered doing an occult theme.” He paused so he could admire Yo-ka’s shop. To his credit, neither it nor he were as cliché as Shoya had expected. The walls weren’t painted black or draped in gauzy scarves. Instead they were white with gold trim reminiscent of a royal palace. Black velvet curtains were drawn to let the light in and the ceiling was black with varying constellations painted upon it along with the phases of the moon in a circle above Yo-ka’s head. It was actually quite beautiful. Behind the fortuneteller was a staircase leading to what Shoya assumed was his apartment as Kei had gone up it. At the wall to Yo-ka’s left was a bookshelf with another on his opposite side. One housed books and crystals while the other held candles, decks of tarot cards, and herbs. Shoya didn’t believe in psychics and fortunetellers, but he could find easily inspiration in Yo-ka’s shop.
“I would advise you not to include Ouija boards in your collection.”
Tatsuya laughed. “We’ve seen too many American horror movies to even consider it.” He nudged Shoya. “Why don’t you start first?”
“I can read your fortunes together if you prefer.” Yo-ka waited for Tatsuya’s confirmation before he removed his gloves. “I’ll need to touch your hands before I can begin.”
Tatsuya promptly offered his while Shoya was reluctant. Why did Yo-ka have to touch his hand? So he could pretend to have a flash of “inspiration” and start spouting off educated guesses? “Shoya,” his lover hissed, kicking him beneath the table.
Holding back a sigh, Shoya laid his hand on the table. “Why do you need to touch our hands?”
“It’s how I am able to read my customers’ futures. Once I’ve touched your hands, I lay mine on the base of the crystal. It amplifies my energy and makes it easier for me to read your paths while I study the crystal.”
Tatsuya nodded. “Is that why you wear gloves?”
Yo-ka glanced at his pair. “Yes. Without them, I have no barrier against other energies and imprints. It’s an ability I’ve grown accustomed to in spite of its difficulties.” He exhaled slowly then reached out to lay his hands over theirs. Shoya watched him wince in response to touching his hand. All for dramatics of course. Though why wasn’t he flinching from Tatsuya’s touch? Because Tatsuya believed and Shoya didn’t? Or did he do this to everyone who came to his shop. Yo-ka pulled his hands back and closed his eyes, inhaling and exhaling four times before opening his eyes and laying his hands on his crystal ball. He was quiet as he gazed into the ball, looking at something that neither could see. To Shoya, it was a regular old crystal ball. It wasn’t levitating, there were no mystical-looking clouds or symbols appearing in it. Compared to the movies it was pretty boring.
“What do you see?” Tatsuya asked. He reached for Shoya’s hand and curled their fingers together, practically radiating nervous energy.
“I see success and happiness for the both of you these next months. You love each other dearly, and that is why you are able to mix business and pleasure so well. Your dreams will come to fruition this year. If all goes well when you present your collection, you could have a shop in Harajuku as early as next year.”
Tatsuya’s eyes widened. “Our own shop in Harajuku?” He squeezed Shoya’s hand and smiled. “We’ve been dreaming of that for years.”
Shoya returned the grin for his lover’s sake. He still didn’t buy Yo-ka’s predictions. Tatsuya had blabbed about their upcoming collection so it wasn’t difficult for the fortuneteller to provide plausible options. If the collection was a hit, they could get enough recognition to open a permanent store.
“What should we be doing now?” Tatsuya asked.
“Designing. Both of you are creative and passionate. Don’t let doubts get in your way,” Yo-ka said. “The occult collection is different from what you are creating now. It will alienate some of your customers, but it will attract new ones. Trust your designs and each other. I see opportunities coming for the two of you in October.”
Tatsuya nodded. “That’s when we present our collection.”
“An occult collection would do well in that month. As I said, you could have your own shop as soon as next year but I see other opportunities coming to you. A collaboration, a partnership…” Yo-ka trailed off as he gazed at the crystal.
Collaborations or partnerships with who? This was too vague.
Tatsuya squeezed Shoya’s hand. “We’re a little worried about this collection,” he confessed. “It is really different from the types of clothing we normally sell. But we wanted to challenge ourselves and do something completely different. We’ll still include some of our normal pieces in with the line.”
“In order for your collection to succeed you must put aside your doubts. Embrace this collection. If your customers do protest, don’t apologize for it. Brands need change in order to thrive.”
Tatsuya frowned at Shoya when he remained silent. Well what was he supposed to do? Chime in? He didn’t want to be rude to Yo-ka even though he didn’t believe in him and thought this was a waste of money. He gave his lover a helpless shrug. Tatsuya knew what he did and didn’t believe. He couldn’t force Shoya to share his enthusiasm for fortunetellers.
Yo-ka had more to tell them, but Shoya stopped paying attention when the awful feeling of being drenched in cold water returned. He understood why when Kei came down the stairs. He inclined his head in greeting but didn’t say anything. Yo-ka didn’t acknowledge him either. Kei set a basket of black candles down on the bookshelf then retreated into another room. Shoya stared after him, hating how his heart was racing again. Why did this man unsettle him so? He wasn’t about to murder them for their money while Yo-ka distracted them with a fortune, was he? Clearly Shoya had been watching too many crime shows.
His gaze returned to his lover after a not so subtle elbow to the ribs. “Do you see us showcasing abroad?”
“Doors will open for you after October,” Yo-ka replied. He tilted his head at the crystal. “Though I feel that Paris could be in your future.”
Tatsuya looked like he was going to swoon. “Showcasing in Paris?” His voice hit a higher octave than normal. Flushing, he cleared his throat. “Sorry. It’s, ah, been a dream of mine for a long time.”
“It could easily come true.” Yo-ka took his hands off the crystal ball. “I don’t know if either of you believe in soul mates, but Shoya is yours and you are his. You balance each other out as much as you complete each other. So long as you are together, there is great happiness in store for the both of you. You are each other’s inspiration as well as motivation.”
Shoya didn’t need a fortuneteller to say that. He already knew it. He’d been enchanted with Tatsuya the moment he met him at the festival—and not just because he had his yukata open to show off his chest. Their first date had been everything he’d ever wanted. Shoya’s mother had complained that he was moving too fast, but he hadn’t listened. There was something about Tatsuya that had always felt right. Yo-ka saying they were soul mates was one prediction he could believe.
“Thank you.” Tatsuya squeezed Shoya’s hand. “Is there anything else we should know?”
Yo-ka hesitated before shaking his head. “No, there’s nothing.”
Shoya would’ve asked why he’d hesitated if Kei hadn’t walked by again. His fear of the man unnerved him. What was going on? Shoya wanted to leave the shop as soon as they paid Yo-ka for the reading, but Tatsuya insisted on staying. He bought a black candle, a white one, and a blue one then a pack of tarot cards, four crystals, and some herbs. It was a good thing The Vicious was doing well otherwise today’s lunch followed by this visit would’ve had them eating cup ramen for a week.
Tatsuya was just loading everything into a shopping bag when his phone rang. “Excuse me.” He walked outside to take the call, leaving Shoya alone with Yo-ka… and with Kei. Fuck. The icy feeling returned whenever their eyes met. Be polite. Tell him goodbye and then you can leave. You don’t have to come back here ever again.
“Thank you for the reading.” Shoya bowed his head and turned to go.
“Wait,” Yo-ka called.
Shoya reluctantly paused. Don't look back. Don’t look at Kei. “What?”
Yo-ka wrung his gloves between his hands. “On… On November 9th, don’t go out. Stay at home with Tatsuya.”
Shoya frowned as he turned. “Why?” November was eight months away. Why would Yo-ka give him a dramatic warning now?
“Just don’t.”
“Listen well,” Kei murmured. A chill went down Shoya’s spine as their eyes met. His hands began to shake and he pushed them into his coat pockets to conceal their tremor.
“Thank you for the, um, warning. I… I won’t go out.” Shoya didn’t dare look at Kei again. His gaze landed on Yo-ka, the fortuneteller still clutching his gloves. “I better get back to Tatsuya.” He mumbled a quick goodbye then rushed out of the shop to meet his lover. The moment he was outside and away from Kei, he felt better. Lighter. And a little silly for being so spooked by the man. Had the atmosphere of the shop gotten to him? He hadn’t smelled any smoke, but Yo-ka or Kei could’ve been burning herbs that either relaxed or aggravated those seeking their fortunes.
“Hey,” Tatsuya said. He pocketed his phone and went over to cradle Shoya’s face in his hands. “Are you alright? You’re really pale.” He frowned as he studied his lover.
“I’m fine,” Shoya said.
“You sure? You were acting weird inside.”
Shoya closed his eyes as Kei’s face flashed across his mind. “Something spooked me. I don’t know what, but it’s okay now. Who was that on the phone?” he hoped Tatsuya wouldn’t notice the blatant subject change.
“Your mom. She wanted to know if there was anything we’d like her to bring for her visit next weekend.” Tatsuya took Shoya’s hand. “What do you mean something spooked you? Did Yo-ka say anything else to you? Wait, was it Kei? You seemed… I don’t know, creeped out by him.”
Shoya hesitated. If he repeated Yo-ka’s warning, Tatsuya would only worry. Half of him wanted to make plans for November 9th to prove to himself that fortunetellers weren’t real while the other half was more cautious. When a fortuneteller and his eerie eyed lover told you to do something… Maybe he should listen. “Yo-ka did have something to say. And Kei… I… I don't know what it is, but I got chills whenever our eyes met. I don’t understand why.” He squeezed Tatsuya’s hand, knowing he couldn’t lie to him. Not when he looked at him so earnestly. “Yo-ka told me to stay home on November 9th. He wouldn’t tell me why or what was going to happen if I didn’t, but Kei told me to listen to him.”
Tatsuya’s eyes widened. “November 9th? How did he look when he said it?”
Shoya recalled Yo-ka’s hesitance, how he’d wrung his gloves. “Nervous. It’s probably nothing though. It’s only March now so by the time November comes around we’ll have forgotten about it.” He didn’t know who he was trying to convince: his lover or himself.
“Well I won’t. We are going to stay in the apartment all day,” Tatsuya declared. “Even if I have to tie you up.”
That didn't sound like a bad way to spend the day.
* * *
Yo-ka sighed as he covered his crystal ball. He had faced the couple and warned Shoya of November 9th. He still had to encounter the woman and figure out how to tell her that unless she stopped smoking, she would be dead of a heart attack within four months. What had Kei told him before Tatsuya and Shoya walked in? That she’d chosen her path and would walk on it until it and her life ended? Maybe his lover was right and there truly was nothing Yo-ka could do for her.
He looked up when Kei pulled his hood back and smoothed down his hair. “Why did you warn Shoya? Tatsuya would’ve believed you if you told him to prevent Shoya from flying on November 9th. Yet, even knowing this, you told Shoya. A man who does not believe in you or your gifts. Pride will be his executioner unless he heeds your warning.”
Kei was right. Telling Tatsuya would’ve been the more logical decision. Not once during the reading did he look skeptical. As Shoya’s lover and soulmate, nothing would prevent him from keeping his lover away from the doomed plane. However, warning him when it was Shoya whose life was on the line had felt… wrong. Yo-ka couldn’t bring himself to do it. “I told Shoya because he was afraid of you. He tensed and grew pale whenever he saw you. Customers who face Death before the year’s end always have similar reactions to your presence.”
“They become aware of Death when they see me. They don’t realize that their own mortality is staring back at them, but it frightens them.” Kei mirrored his actions from earlier by sitting down on the edge of the table. He pulled Yo-ka’s veil down and brushed his bangs back. “I told you not to lie to those men, little seer.” He pressed a finger to Yo-ka’s lips when he opened his mouth to protest. “I know what you’re going to say. You’ll insist that omissions aren’t the same thing as lies. They are one and the same even though our opinions on this matter differ.”
Yo-ka sighed again. “How did I lie to them then?”
“You warned Shoya not to leave on November 9th, but you didn’t give him a reason why. Even though I felt your pain when you read their fortunes.” Kei ran his fingers through Yo-ka’s hair. “Don’t lie to me, Yo-chan. You saw Tatsuya’s future. You saw how bleak it is if he doesn’t have Shoya in it.”
“I saw,” Yo-ka admitted. He curled his fingers around Kei’s shirt. “I thought Shoya should know since he’s the one who’ll die in the plane crash. And yes, I do know that losing him will destroy Tatsuya.” He would continue to design to honor his lover’s memory and the dream they’d shared. However, he would turn to alcohol to cope with his despair over Shoya’s death. In five years he’d be dead. Some would blame alcohol. Yo-ka knew it was heartache. “Why wasn’t Tatsuya afraid of you?”
“Because the date and method of Tatsuya’s death are determined by the choices Shoya makes this year.” Kei pulled him into an embrace. “You should have warned them so you could save yourself from the pain you put yourself through whenever you see deaths. What’s done is done, Yo-chan. Take a breath, exhale, and leave their futures behind you. You did what you could. Now you must focus on your life and yourself.”
Yo-ka obeyed then slumped against his lover. How had he ever lived without Kei? “If you were in my place, would you have told them during the reading that Shoya would die in a plane crash?”
Kei stroked his hair. “You’re human, Yo-ka. I’m a reaper. We have different views on death and how it should be handled. If I were in your place, I would have informed the two of them that Shoya will die should he fly on the 9th and that Tatsuya won’t live much longer. Though that would be bending the rules.” He grasped Yo-ka’s shoulders to push him out to arms length and look him in the eye. “Something that I will only ever do for you, little seer.” He claimed Yo-ka’s lips in a soft kiss. “Enough of them and their turbulent futures. Close the shop while I go make you some tea to help you relax.”
Yo-ka caught his hand before he could leave. “Thank you. I… I think I’ll go meditate.” He needed to clear his mind and his energy so he could let go of this couple. All he could do now was hope that Shoya would heed his warnings.
Notes
1) Kei is wearing the outfit he wore for DIAURA's collaboration with Sex Pot Revenge. Here and here.
2) "The Vicious" is Shoya's brand which is mostly casual/comfortable shirts and snarky t-shirts.
3) The first few times I watched Enigma, I was so spellbound by Yo-ka but once I started paying attention to the rest of the band I thought Kei would make a perfect reaper. Once I finish up some other projects I'll write a prequel for how a reaper came to be in love with a fortuneteller.
4) For anyone interested in Yo-ka's ability, it's called psychometry. I figured I'd come up with an interesting reason for that boy's glove fetish.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2016-07-27 03:56 am (UTC)On a side note, am I the only person super distracted by how often the vocals are out of sync with the video on Enigma? Yo-ka's lip-syncing is off for almost the entire PV, and it's like fingernails on a chalk board to me!!
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Date: 2016-07-27 03:02 pm (UTC)Until you pointed it out I'd never noticed. Probably because that gorgeous little brat is wearing his veil for a lot of it.
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Date: 2016-07-27 04:27 am (UTC)Fascinating piece about love and future, and the differing views of the seer and reaper make for a nice contrast. Would love to read on how they met.
And the other two are so sweet, and yet the potential tragedy stops it from being saccharine. Good job!
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Date: 2016-07-27 03:06 pm (UTC)Kei has been pestering me to write his story ever since I came up with the idea. I do have another multi-chapter I'm working on now so I'd like to get more of that done first before I start in on a new series. But it'll happen. I'm looking forward to exploring these boys again.
Thank you!
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Date: 2016-07-27 09:09 pm (UTC)I've been wanting to write them as well, its hard to not want to after seeing pics like this!
https://d.wattpad.com/story_parts/119307175/images/13d41cc8b552d88e.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/dc/ba/b0/dcbab0e4a6125ef2a2a12dd8e3e39508.jpg
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Date: 2016-07-27 09:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-07-29 02:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-07-27 04:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-07-27 06:03 pm (UTC)Just what I needed... not lol. More ideas.
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Date: 2016-08-12 05:38 pm (UTC)<3