Reader is certain Yuta is the perfect man for her. But when ghosts from his past come back to haunt them, she finds herself reevaluating their relationship, digging deeper and deeper until she isn’t sure what is true anymore.
“This is why people cry at the movies: because everybody’s doomed. No one in a movie can help themselves in any way. Their fate has already staked its claim on them from the moment they appear onscreen.” —John Darnielle
“ORESTES: This was always going to happen. She’s been dead since the beginning.” —Aeschylus, The Oresteia
Characters: Yuta, Female Reader
Genre: horror, angst, ghosts and spirits, mystery
Warnings: discussion of suicide (no graphic depiction), blood, gore, horror, major character death, unhappy ending (kinda), some brief and nongraphic sex scenes, emotional manipulation, mental health issues, murder, violence, emotional and physical abuse, um like spooky shit (japanese onryō myth!)
Rating: Mature; Teen & Up for the teaser
Length: around 15k; 850 for the teaser
Projected Release Date: Saturday, October 30th
i feel like it goes without saying, but please read the warnings. also, obviously this, like all my other works, does not represent how I actually see yuta. I’m just having fun. I hope you will, too.
ask if u wanna be on the taglist!
“[Y/N?]” The fortune-teller called from further within the shop, appearing around a corner. “Hello,” they said. “You may call me Aoi. This way, please.”
You followed them down a short hallway to a sitting room. There were beautiful, lush plants everywhere, and they gestured you to a few comfortable-looking armchairs arranged on one side of a small table, sweeping around the other side to sit in the chair opposite.
You picked the one in the middle, scooting it forward as best you could as they got settled. “Now,” they said. “What can I do for you today?”
“I’ve been having strange dreams,” you explained, feeling somewhat silly. “My mother is worried about me, so she told me to come… seek spiritual advice. She just wants to see how my future looks, I think.”
“Certainly. May I have your hand?” Aoi reached out with both of theirs; you extended your dominant hand, and they enveloped it in their own. Their touch was cool, their skin soft. “Ah,” they said after a moment. “You seem to be a very righteous person—worried about fairness, easily affected by injustices—which, given your line of work, unfortunately have not been scarce.” You were a little startled; it was true that you valued fairness and constantly worried over doing what was right. You liked to think it was how you kept yourself honest when you were surrounded by money-hungry crooks. Aoi blinked at you. “You work in a… fast-paced, male-dominated field, do you not?”
You smiled tentatively. “Yes,” you admitted. “Uh, I’m in finance.”
They nodded. “You should unlearn this. No one in your field values righteousness and virtue.” That’s true, you thought to yourself. Almost everyone in finance is corrupt as hell. “It will not serve you in your romantic life, either,” Aoi continued.
“How?” you asked, curious in spite of yourself.
“It may blind you,” they said simply. “Yes, your romantic life… will be passionate, but tumultuous.” A tremor ran through your body. You were sure Aoi felt it, but they did not comment. “This new love you’ve found—he will be the last love you will ever know.”
“I’m sorry?” you asked. To be fair, you had thought it before—that Yuta checked all your boxes—but you hadn’t wanted to get ahead of yourself. They’re just saying it, you thought to yourself. It doesn’t necessarily mean anything.
Aoi hummed to themself softly, then gasped and nearly dropped your hand. “I’m sorry,” they said quickly. “Your future is very… cloudy. I can’t see very far—only a few years ahead, and then… Nothing.”
It did make you tense up a little, though you tried to stay calm. “Ah,” you said with a nervous laugh. “Does that mean I’m going to die soon?”
Aoi narrowed their eyes, shaking their head slowly. “Maybe,” they said, which was not reassuring in the slightest. “Maybe not. Sometimes, it simply means there are so many moving pieces now that it’s difficult to tell.”
“Does it happen often—that you cannot see far into someone’s future?” You fought to keep derision and skepticism out of your tone.
Aoi must have detected it, anyway. Their eyes flashed. “No,” they said, somewhat sharply. “It is not common. I do not say this to scare you, or to try to scam you into coming back frequently for more readings or advice. I am simply telling you what I see.”
“Right,” you replied, feeling chastised somehow. “So… okay, then when will I know? Like, where does it cut off—if I do come back, when should I?”
Aoi was silent for a minute. “You will experience great turmoil within the next year. It will last for many months. You will be faced with a difficult decision.” Their voice had gained some odd quality to it that made you listen more intently. “You cannot play both sides. Make your choice quickly, and move on, one way or another. When the past no longer haunts you, when it walks free, your path will be set.”
They released your hand. “I—that’s it?” you asked.
“That’s all I can see,” Aoi replied.
Feeling shaken, you got to your feet. “Um—is there some kind of… protective, like, talisman or something that could help me?” You felt strange asking for it, but despite your own skepticism, you couldn’t help but worry about what was to come if Aoi was right.
But Aoi shook their head. “There is nothing I can sell you that can protect you from your future,” they said. “You are smart, strong of heart and of will. Those traits will be your best defense.”
“Right,” you said again, not sure how else to reply. They led you to the door. “Um, thank you.” You smiled politely at them as you reached for the handle.
“You’re welcome.” They did not return your smile; instead, they watched you with an intense sort of curiosity. It wasn’t until you got home that you realized they also looked a little sad.
