toremainbehind | [Just wanna stay alive]

[Just wanna stay alive]

[It was just an ordinary day.

He was just working at his uncle's bar as usual, cleaning the glasses and maintaining the orders for delivery. He's given up on trying to kick Mikoto out when he comes over right after school, well aware how his best friend likes to come and sleep on the couch before opening hours start.

On the radio, he idly listens to another report on a famous couple after discovering they were soul mates, and he scoffs softly to himself.

Soul mates.

It's rare to find them in their world, but when found, it's suddenly as if the whole world changes. People make such a big fuss about it, and it slowly grates on his nerves.

Mikoto himself was unimpressed.

He accompanies his friend, though, when he receives a call about Mikoto's 'stalker' being in the hospital, curious as to who this person is to be so determined to go after the grumpy redhead. He waits for Mikoto go in first before following him.]

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Ah, no...Kind of? My father isn't home often.

[He technically doesn't live alone...but he kind of does, since that man is gone so frequently. But he's not really going to get into that when he can look at the books and puzzles instead.

It doesn't even matter that he isn't really interested in some of them; he's going to be really interested soon, most likely.]

They look interesting! [Maybe they'll spark a hobby apart from mountain climbing and picking herbs to make pathetic salads with.]

[Izumo looks like he wants to pry, but he won't.

Family matters aren't issues he'd want to address unless really important.]

Do they? [Ranging from simple romance novels to mystery, and puzzles like sudoku and basic puzzles, Izumo just thought it'd be enough to help Totsuka power through.]

How much longer until you can go home?

[They'll have to be addressed someday, but not for now. Maybe not until they figure out the soul mate thing or his father dies. One or the other...]

Yeah! I don't think I've read any of them or done these puzzles before.

[He's honestly excited to look through these, smiling as he reaches over to grab one.

Oh. That. He tilts his head.]

I think they said that I'll be able to go home as soon as I can walk with a crutch. But I think they also said something about needing to talk to my parents about continued treatment?

[He'd probably be able to go home today, if his father showed up. Maybe he could ask if they'd let him substitute someone else...or maybe he just needs to prove that he'd be reliable enough to remember everything on his own. He is just fourteen, but he can remember to take medicine and things...]

[Only question is how to address this soul mate business without having it sound awkward?

He smiles slightly at the excitement on totsuka's face before it gradually faded as he listens about his father.]

You don't sound too keen on the idea.

[And frankly, neither does he.

He's never even run into this father of totsuka's, so it makes him concerned as to whether or not this man really loves Totsuka as much as he should.

Izumo would offer, but then again, he's not sure if he can be counted on as reliable.]

[By being Tatara and having no shame, clearly.

He shrugs, looking at the book he'd grabbed--it's one of the romance ones.]

I'm not sure where he is, and I don't think being home alone with a broken arm and leg would be a great idea.

[It's not like his father is a bad man, just...probably wasn't suited for being a father, for all he adopted Tatara when he and his wife had found him.

Wait, what if...?

Tatara leans forward, smiling again. It might be a weird idea but--]

Do you think they'd let you help? Since they make such a big deal about soul mates.

[Tatara and shame don't go together at all, really.]

No, it's not. You need someone to be with you.

[Even Izumo has his uncle to help, and Mikoto, whenever his friend felt like it.

But he blinks when Totsuka leans forward, a bit taken back when he voices the questions.]

Well...it's a possibility. I'd feel better if I can keep an eye on you, at least. [He ponders a bit.]

I'll try asking your doctor if it's okay for me to take care of you.

[Yeah, shame is for people who aren't him. Embarrassment on the other hand, that is something he knows.]

Then it's definitely safer to be with Kusanagi-san! Even when father's back, he doesn't stay for over a month most of the time.

[And Tatara thinks it'll probably take more than a month for his arm and leg to heal completely. Though, as soon as his arm is better everything will be easier.

Which might mean that he's staying with Izumo for a while, but...they'll definitely get to know each other, if that's the case.

If the doctor gives it the okay, anyway.]

...Wouldn't it be just easier to move in?

[There's a brief pause as he considers what he just said.]

Just so that itd be easier to keep an eye on you.

[At this rate, Totsuka might as well move in. It'll certainly help ease Izumo's nerves better.

Izumo's not going to complain; he's got no reason to, anyway.]

Let me ask the doctor then and get the okay.

[...they're really bad at this "let's see how this thing goes" business. Second day and they're seriously considering moving in with each other--because that's better than letting Tatara go back to the empty house with broken bones.

Tatara rubs at the side of his face.]

If you're okay with that. [Not that he thinks he'd have said it if he wasn't okay with it, but... He's okay with it as long as Kusanagi-san is, and no one ever said communication wasn't important.]

I think there's a pager button in here somewhere, if you don't want to talk to him alone.

[Right now, it appears to be more like 'let's wing this'.

Whoever said too fast was too fast?]

I certainly don't mind.

[Izumo certainly doesn't have anything against it.

But he nods, and starts looking for the pager.]

[Neither of them are uncomfortable with it, so they just go for it. It's not a bad way of going about it, but hopefully they'll actually get along when they're living together.

After a short time of watching Kusanagi-san look around, Tatara lets go of the book and reaches out to the table next to him.]

You'd think they'd leave it where I can reach it... [It's on the table, but they apparently thought his arms were longer than they are.]

[Getting along is the important part; though the soul mate thing might influence their decisions a little more should they start living together. It's not a healthy way to go about it, but it'll work for now.

His eyes shift over to the table, and he immediately reached over to get it.

At least he's tall enough.

Without another word, he pages the doctor, waiting for the man to come in.]

[Not exactly the best decision, but better than the other option at the moment. They'll keep dealing with things as they come.

It's not like Tatara really knows any other way of living.

And then Kusanagi-san pages the doctor and he thinks back as to why and--]

Do they have a test or something to prove soul mates? Or do they just take people's word for it?

[He never really payed attention to that, and now it's...kind of important, he thinks.]

[At this rate, it'll end up being their motto.

He blinks, almost reeling back.]

I'm...actually not sure. I've never paid attention to it before.

[Only a slight alteration from "things'll work out somehow" even!

Tatara laughs slightly, still smiling even though they have no idea what's going to happen when the doctor actually gets here.]

Guess we'll find out then. If there is a test, I just hope it doesn't hurt too badly.

[Izumo merely nods, his fingers tapping against the edge of the bed.

It takes a few more minutes before the doctor finally arrives, a smile on his face.

Izumo informs him about the decision, about how it would be possible for Totsuka to go home with them since they share a soul bond. At the news, the doctor explains to them about how they will conduct the soul tests. It wouldn't be anything invasive, just a simple test to see how closely tied together their souls would be.

At the confused expression on Izumo's face, the doctor goes further in-depth by saying he'll hook them both up into machines.]

[He listens intently to the explanation but--hook them up into machines? To see how closely tied their souls are or will become?

That sounds like something out of a weird scifi novel and it's interesting, just also strange. And he doesn't really like the idea that a machine and a doctor can tell him that, but well...it's not invasive apparently. And it'll let him leave the hospital. That's as good as he's going to get, really.]

Kusanagi-san? [Are you still okay with this?]

[The idea of being hooked up to a machine doesn't sound the least bit appealing to him.

Couldn't there be another way to figure out how close their souls are? But he knows what he's feeling, and it's connected to Totsuka somehow.

He doesn't look entirely enthused, but he sighs all the same.]

Well, let's give it a try.

[It really, really doesn't sound appealing, but he supposes he'd do many unappealing things if it'd get him out of this hospital.

Tatara smiles at him, incredibly grateful. He knows what the test will say if it's really simple because there's no way anyone who just met him would care about him this much if there wasn't something weird going on.

He turns to face the doctor.]

So is there anything we should or shouldn't do while we wait?

[Since he thinks there would be a wait, even if it's just the wait to get the machines in this room. He's not sure how willing they are to let him go around the hospital with a crutch if they don't have to.]

[If it wasn't for the bond, Izumo might think Totsuka's just another kid just asking for trouble, no need for such emotional attachments so quick.

He listens to the doctor explaining to them that there's not much they can do while they wait, other than stay close together. It's been advised to start a little physical contact while he prepares everything before having them hooked up into the machines, which were in another room.

Izumo gives a nod of understanding, shifting a bit as the doctor checks over Totsuka one more time before he excuses himself from the room.]

Well, what do you think?

[Just another kid without much of anything, nothing unusual about that. Except maybe that his smiles are less of the fake-coping kind and more actually genuine.

Tatara tilts his head to the side, offering a hand to Kusanagi-san with a smile.]

It sounds weird. But it's fine. Kinda interesting, even. [It shouldn't hurt or anything, it's just...weird. People caring is weird, this is just. Extra Weird. What does testing how close souls are even mean really? Really weird.]

What about you?

[He gives Totsuka a look, one that almost resembles exasperation, but it's a fond kind of exasperation.

Even so, Izumo reaches over to take his hand.]

Interesting?

[He blinks, once, twice, and then he shrugs.]

It'd be an interesting thing to tell Mikoto.

Interesting! I never really payed attention, but I don't think the figuring-out part is the part people usually focus on in stories and things. That makes it already more interesting than those stories!

[Yay, they're holding hands! He's not sure he's ever going to be over being able to initiate contact with a person without really having to verbally ask. It's only been what, two days? But it still gives him a little shock when Kusanagi-san actually takes his hand instead of just leaving it with that exasperated look.]

Oh, we should tell King, shouldn't we... [HADN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THAT. Well, there's only two people to tell then--King and his father, whenever he gets back and realizes Tatara isn't home.]

I'm sure you can write about this one day. [Or not, depending on how private of a person Totsuka is.

Holding hands feels natural to Izumo when it comes to Totsuka, which is odd in itself. He's never been the touchy person, preferring not to even hold hands with anyone. Mikoto's enough, anyway, since Izumo has to tend to his injuries sometimes when the redhead decides to get into more brawls.

It makes him wonder how he should even tell his best friend.]

We should. He probably wouldn't even care, though. [Or he might, but won't voice his concerns. Mikoto was never the type of person to meddle in other people's business, anyway.]

Ah, but then I'd be taking away something from this part to others. Maybe only for friends if they ask.

[...It's not likely to be written though. Just an oddly acted out sequence. Perfect introduction to Homralings: "Kusanagi-san and I met when I was in the hospital! And then we realized we were soul mates and...Well, you see how that turned out".

Why think more right now on why it feels comfortable? It does, and well, he has a feeling things'll work out somehow. He's kinda looking forward to it this time.

He laughs, grinning at Izumo.]

Should we just go up to him holding hands and see what he does? [He would've said "what he says" but he's nothing if not oddly honest--he doesn't think King'll actually say anything substantial about it. Maybe they'd get an odd look and a comment about Izumo being four years older, maybe just the look.]

We could say it after.

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