๐ง - There was that crushing thought those first few days of just why something like this had to happen. Everything before then had been perfect -right? Or just about as perfect as Kazuichi could ever remember having it been. Heโd finally started to get used to the feeling of safety that came with Hopeโs Peak, surrounded by friends heย felt wouldnโt just throw him to the wolves at every turn.ย Heโd also changed. Becoming someone gentler than he was once was, more level-headed and happier. It was no exaggeration to say he owed a great deal of that to the boy that had been so cruelly snatched away.ย
He was in a blind panic at first, even after heโd just stood there uselessly as the army came to take his soul mate away. He thought heโd been gone for good - unconscionable even by Miu when heโd spent the rest of the day an emotional, sobbing wreck.ย
Of course, Hideaki did callโฆeventually. Must have a been a few hours after the fact, but it sure felt like an entirety. Though it did give him the confirmation that his soul mate was alive - it was one of only a few times heโd ever get that confirmation; hearing his spirit dwindle away every time. Sounding more nervous, frightened. God knew what was happening to him out thereโฆ.and try as he might to function normally, he just couldnโt find himself to. Suffocating on this undeserved sense of guilt for letting him get taken away from here, his sensitive heart made sure heโd succumb to emotional breakdowns, crying himself to sleep - feeling as though trying to forget about what Hideaki was going through would somehow make things worse. Still, he refused to let himself succumb to that feeling of emptiness he knew wanted to follow; holding onto that hope that he would come back. Heโd occupy his mind with his projects, going through the process of constructing music boxes and other various items by hand from scratch to have something for when he came back.
He didnโt think much of the three knocks on the door when they happened - thinking it was probably Vivian or Hajime trying to coax him into eating with the others instead of staying held up in his room. He couldnโt really have prepared himself for who it was - and tears filled the brim of his eyes, starting to spill over almost immediately as a wave of relief unlike anything heโd ever felt before washed over him.
โHโฆhideaki-kunโฆโHis voice shook just as badly as the rest of his body did as he looked up to the taller boy, surprised he managed to form words at all with everything that was going through his head right now. He wanted to hold onto him and never let him go again, but he pulled back back his hand with a twitch just in time.ย
โCan Iโฆ.can I give you a hugโฆ?โย
And when he saw his face, the way Kazuichiโs magenta eyes bubbled up with tears and the corners of his mouth quivered with the onset of crying... Hideaki knew for certain he had made the right decision. Strategy never failed, even in the face of anxiety. Hideaki felt his heartbeat quicken as he watched Kazuichi step closer, and saw the hand reaching for him.ย
Instinct, the beast in the shadows that he could never break from, made him flinch. The involuntary jerk of his body away from a potential threat, forever paranoid from years of only receiving pain, pulling him back from Kazuichi. It hurt him more than he imagined it would Kazuichi - the latter knew of his troubles and accepted it. Kazuichi saw past his frail fears and still accepted him, and so the strategist fought against instinct.ย
Without warning, Hideaki felt his hand bolt out to grab the receding hand of Kazuichiโs, pulling it back once more. The touch, though instinct set off alarm bells at the connection, he needed it. He wanted it. To feel warm again. To feel... Loved again. Though he lacked strength to pull the mechanic to him, he used the motion to bring himself forward instead. The strategistโs other arm reached out, wrapping around Kazuichi. Embracing him for the first time in what felt like forever.ย
Was just hugging him right away enough of an answer? Hideaki hoped so. His fingers curled a little, gripping the fabric of Kazuichiโs boilersuit, before one went higher. Tentative, but winding itself into the soft pink strands of his hair. Warm. Safe. Familiar. Heโd missed this so much, missed him so much.ย
โKazuichi-kun.. I.. I..โย
Now his own tears prevent him from talking, emotion wells up and Hideaki bursts into loud sobs. A mishmash of relief, worry, joy and overwhelming guilt at leaving him behind so long. Heโd tried to maintain composure - but was there even any point? They both had seen each other as sobbing messes before, this time it seemed would be no different. And Hideaki didnโt mind, he didnโt care.ย
He had his soulmate back in his arms.ย
โI.. I promise Iโm never leaving again!โ
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