Wither naught, precious one
Author: pickles_pick
Chapter: Oneshot
Genre: Angst, fantasy, a teeny bit fluff.
Pairing: Byo/Rui, hints of Kazuki/Manabu
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Uhm...none?
Disclaimer: No, I don't own any of them except for the story idea.
Synopsis: If you wish to save a life, will you dance with the devil to do so?
Written for obscure_jfic august prompt challenge, no 04: Devil.
Also dedicated to silveryxdark, hope you enjoy it!! ^^
“You would do it?” he barely registered the words in his head. “You would agree to be my mate, on the condition that I bring him back to life?”
He looked down at his friend, whose lifeblood was flowing away…flowing, spreading…
And his memories hazily flowed back…
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A dark shadow that had abruptly fallen in front of him stopped him right in his tracks. Pushing back his headphones, he knelt down and lifted the dead bird as gently as he could.
A bitter smile crossed his face.
“Just like the others. Anything that has come into contact with me always dies shortly. I’m sorry you had to die this way though, little bird. May you find peace wherever you are now.”
Cradling the bird, he made his way home, heart heavy.
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“Rui? What are you doing?” Rui looked up from where he had just buried the bird in his garden to his puzzled roommate, who was blinking curiously at the lump of soil as he walked up to where Rui was. Rui smiled tightly. “Another one.”
Understanding dawned upon the other man’s face. “It’s not really your fault, you know.” The smaller man knelt next to him, murmuring a silent prayer before turning to his friend. “It just coincidental that…all these things always happen to you.”
“Thanks Bu, but…I’ve already come to terms with it. That the aura of misfortune hangs around me. First it was the plant that you bought, then the puppy, our friends getting hurt and…now this bird.” Rui buried his face into his palms. “It’s little wonder my parents abandoned me right after they gave birth to me. Maybe they knew I was a jinx.” He winced in pain as the other man gave him a hard knock onto the head. “Ouch, Bu!”
“Don’t say that!” the pale-skinned man said angrily. “No one wants to be born like that. Furthermore, if you keep thinking you’re unlucky, then I’m living proof that you haven’t rubbed off your unluckiness onto me!” Manabu stood up and glared down at his friend. “From the time we’ve been rooming together for almost 4 years or so, nothing has happened to me!”
Rui blinked. Manabu had a point. Everyone else around him got hurt, but only Manabu never got hurt. “…why, though?” he unconsciously murmured out loud. Manabu raised an eyebrow.
“So you want me to get hurt?” Manabu deadpanned at him. Rui blinked his eyes in surprise. “No, of course not! I mean…I just…well, just always stay safe okay?”
Manabu chuckled. “Will do.”
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Dinner, and several games later where their scores were tied again, Rui called it a day and had fallen asleep almost immediately once he hit the pillow. Smiling softly, Manabu closed the door and headed down back to the garden, where he glowered at the lump of soil that was the bird’s grave. “Alright, Jin, cut it out. What message does Byo want to give me this time?”
“Sharp as always, Bu-chan chan~~” Manabu let out a sigh as the lump vibrated and an orb flew out of it, where it materialized into a human form. “How did you know it was me?”
Manabu folded his arms over his chest, shivering slightly as a strong breeze blew by. “Only you would attract Rui’s attention, whereas Kazuki, that idiot would- WOAH!”
Manabu flailed as said person threw himself onto the petite man. “I heard my name! I knew you missed me much, Bubu!” Jumping off Manabu, he spun the smaller man around and cupped his face. “Now come, let’s kiss-”
“Like hell we will!” Manabu gave the other man a light slap across the face. “Ouch! That was mean, Bu! But that’s alright, they say that when you love someone, sometimes a little hit is necessary!” Manabu facepalmed as he turned to Jin. “Why did he tag along…”
Jin shrugged. “Well he misses you. Coz you’re the one whom he marked.”
Manabu crossed his arms over his chest again. “Well I don’t.”
A sobbing sound caught their attention, where Kazuki had huddled into a corner of the fence and was now weeping. “Bu-chan doesn’t miss me! How can that be? Why?”
Rolling his eyes, Manabu turned to Jin once more. “So, what does Byo want this time? Because if he wants to speed up his plans, I have an idea already.”
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“Ahhhh---- Ruisu is gonna kill me-----“ Rui whined. “Bu, why did ya take so long??” He glared at the other man askance, said person shrugging. “Alarm didn’t go off~”
“I’m going to get you a new one soon.” Rui grumbled as he stared up impatiently at the traffic light, willing it to change soon. “I feel like your mom if we weren’t already best friends.” Manabu laughed and poked his friend. “Best of the bestest friends.”
“Well, at least I’m glad I found the right roommate.” Rui chuckled as he turned back to the traffic lights, seeing the cars already starting to slow down. “Oh, I guess it should be safe to cross! Let’s go Bu!” Rui shifted the package under his arm and ran across-
“Wait, Rui-!”
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He hadn’t seen the car, speeding like no other, and suddenly, he felt himself flying…
And he sees his best friend fly too.
But then gravity pulls them back down to earth, and faintly, he hears the sound of bones snapping and that sickeningly familiar reddish liquid that is flowing out from beneath where the pale-skinned man is lying, and he barely registers the sound of a scream that seems like his own.
And the watching devil grins.
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Time seemed to freeze in place.
He knew it.
Unconsciously, somewhere inside of him always knew that someday he would be responsible for whatever that would happen to Manabu.
So as he clutched his best friend close to him, tears flowing down like a river, he begged for a chance to bring his friend back to life.
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His plea is heard, but not by Angels.
Because from the time he was born, the devil had fallen in love, and had marked him as his.
And as a result of that mark he had brought the stench of Hell everywhere with him, and only until when he was 20 could the devil claim him for good.
The years fly past, and it is soon.
“Byo-san, you called for me?” he turns to the petite, pale-skinned man, who looks at him curiously. Although marked later then Rui, Manabu had agreed to follow Kazuki to Hell anyway…
Even though their relationship was fairly an indescribable one.
“I have a favor to ask of you. It is with regards to the child I choose long ago.”
Manabu’s eyes widen, and he smiles. “I know what must be done.”
“Then I’m counting on you.”
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“I can bring him back to life.” He looks up into the eyes of the most handsome man he’s ever met, but the aura that reeks off him frightens Rui. He clutches his best friend closer.
“I can save him. Bring him back to life and everything goes on as normal.” Rui’s eyes widen. “You can?” he whispers. “He won’t die? Manabu won’t die?”
The man smiles. “He won’t. He’ll breath, perfectly. Live perfectly. Laugh perfectly…anything that makes you humans live.”
“Then help him! Please save him! I don’t want him to die…he’s my only friend, please save him! I’ll do anything!” Rui begs the man, and the other man reaches out a hand and strokes his cheek.
“Such a pretty thing, but tears don’t suit you. I can save him…but on one condition.” The man stands up. “You have to be my mate.”
And for a moment Rui thinks he hears wrongly. “Mate? But angels don’t have children?”
“I’m no scion of heaven, dear boy.” The man growls, and suddenly; that frightening aura is back again. “I’m one of the rulers of the pits of Hell. And this boy’s soul is dangling right there, barely being held on before he falls in. I would advise you to make a quick decision.”
He does not need time to think.
Giving himself up to the Devil sounds a better option than having Manabu die…he cannot lose his only friend.
“But can I come back to see him?”
The man chuckles. “Of course you will, in a matter of years. Now, let’s go.” The man stretches out a hand, and Rui takes it…and pulls away.
“But you haven’t saved him!” he cries, reaching out to his friend…only to be pulled towards the devil himself, and devil or not, Rui blushes as soon as he realizes his close proximity to the dashing creature of Hell in front of him.
“I made a promise to you, and I won’t break it. Look.” And Rui turns, where he sees a cloaked man hover over Manabu’s prone form and holds him close.
“He is a trusted friend of mine, he will take care of Manabu. I promise to let you see him when he is ready for it.” Rui just nods, and sinks into the embrace.
Because Manabu will be alive, and that’s alright.
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“He’s gone.”
Manabu cracks one eye open. “He is?” the cloaked figure pushes his hood back to reveal Kazuki’s face. “Yeah, the scent of despair and resignation from your friend is fading fast, I suppose they would have entered the gates by now.”
Wincing in pain, Manabu sits up slowly, Kazuki supporting his back. “I feel bad I have to lie this way to Rui though…but…” Manabu stares up guilty into the sky, only to have Kazuki pull him into a kiss.
“Still, that idea that you came up with was dangerous.” Kazuki chided him when they broke apart. “I’ve waited 300 years for a suitable mate; I’m not going to lose you because Byo thought it was romantic to cause his mate some torture before marrying him. Don’t do that again, understood?”
Manabu nodded wordlessly. “But somehow…I think Rui will be very happy with Byo.” Pulling the man close to him again, Kazuki smiled. “I’m sure he will be. Now, let’s go home.”
And they fly off, time moves again, and the ground of the road is clean.
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A/N: Right, so the storyline is kinda vague but anyway...hope you enjoyed reading! I intended to leave this as a oneshot, although it seemed like it could end up into a chaptered fanfic...hmm~~ well, just enjoy reading! ^^