Anyone's Ghost (Part 3 of 3)
Title: Anyone's Ghost (Part 3 of 3)
Pairing: Sooseop
Rating: PG
Summary: Third and final part. Kiseop's a ghost, Soohyun's kind of still depressed but it's all okay in the end.
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft star-shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
Mary Elizabeth Frye
Kiseop as a ghost is decidedly very much like Kiseop as a human. He looks just the same, retains all his memories, and wakes in the same place his body is, namely six feet under. He wanders up to the surface and stares at his gravesite for a bit. Soon, it becomes too morbid and Kiseop sets off to find Soohyun. Their old apartment is empty and Kiseop picks up from the neighbors' gossip that Soohyun has moved to a smaller apartment, on the opposite side of the city. "He didn't want to be reminded of his lover," they whispered. "Poor dear died of some unknown disease." Kiseop shakes his head at the unpleasant reminder of his current, deceased, state. Floating over to Soohyun's new apartment, he sees him curled up in bed, crying softly. He wants so desperately to help but he can't do anything. Out of instinct, Kiseop reaches out a hand to try and comfort Soohyun. It passes straight through him. However it seems Soohyun can feel it somewhat. He flinches, as if he has been shocked. However a quick glance around tells him there is nothing there and Soohyun falls into a deep, dreamless sleep. Over the next few days, Kiseop learns that Soohyun hasn't coped very well with his death. Yes, Soohyun goes to work but that's very nearly the only time he sets foot outside the apartment. Aside from necessities, he doesn't go out.
Determined, Kiseop tries to get Soohyun to act more normally. He shoos stray cats near the apartment because he knows Soohyun has a soft spot for them. That plan fails because none of the cats condescend to stay. He realizes one day that Soohyun does actually notice his presence. When Kiseop's in the house, Soohyun continually sends odd glances his way. To test it out Kiseop waves a little and when Soohyun starts, he figures that he must be somewhat visible but obviously not completely, as seeing Kiseop's ghost would have probably caused a flood of tears from Soohyun. Kiseop tries to talk but sadly, Soohyun can't hear anything. Kiseop the ghost is eventually accepted as part of Soohyun's daily life. They learn no one else can see Kiseop as demonstrated when Hoon comes over one day. Despite floating literally inside Hoon's body, there is no reaction. It makes Soohyun crack up for the first time in a while though, so Kiseop supposes it’s not entirely wasted effort.
Over the next few weeks, Kiseop hangs around the apartment, not doing much. However after seeing Soohyun cry himself to sleep one too many times, he's had all he can take. Small things begin randomly appearing around the apartment, a bright tulip here, empty staffs waiting for music to be composed on them. Bit by bit, Soohyun begins to go back to normal. He starts singing songs other than sad love songs, begins to compose again. An entertainment company is holding auditions and Soohyun trains hard to try for his life's dream. Kiseop is with him every step of the way, though Soohyun may not notice it. On audition day, Kiseop leaves out the last photo he'd ever developed. It's the two of them, watching the cherry blossoms, smiling carelessly. When Soohyun sees it, he starts, then folds it up and places it in his breast pocket. Before walking into the audition room, he pats it just once. Two weeks later, he gets a call. He's in.
A year later and it's his debut stage with a song he had composed about the love of his life. Singing his heart out, he sees in the crowd the faint blur that indicates that the ghost he is so familiar with is there. However, this time it seems to be getting clearer. As he holds out the final note of his song, the blur resolves itself into a well-remembered figure. For a second, Kiseop is there in the crowd, cheering with the rest of the audience. Ghost Kiseop sees the flash of recognition in Soohyun's eyes and his face melts into a beautiful smile. Everyone attributes the tears streaming down Soohyun's face to the high from debuting but in reality, it's for Kiseop. When he gets back to his dressing room, Kiseop is waiting for him, pride and affection clear on his face. "I'm sorry," Soohyun whispers. "All that time and I never realized it was you." Kiseop merely shakes his head. He gestures around him to indicate that for him, seeing Soohyun achieve his dreams is more than enough. In death, as in life, Soohyun understands. They've never really needed words anyways. Kiseop fades away, his goal completed and as much as he may want to stay, he figures there's no need for him anymore. Soohyun is never really sure if it was all a product of his imagination but he likes to believe it was true. He never quite falls in love with anyone or anything to that extent again, not even music. But he carries on, living to keep the memory of Kiseop alive.
Soohyun dies a peaceful, natural death. When he opens his eyes, it's to a smiling, youthful Kiseop. "Took you long enough," Kiseop teases. Soohyun simply smiles and together, they turn to take one last long walk.
A/N: I'm sorry if this is like kind of cracky. I didn't want to stay in sad mode any longer... Now that the angst fest is over, onwards to crack and fluff(I hope).