bakerstreet | the red string of fate

[m/f for shipping. open to crosscanon and assumed cr!]

{ Any organic or mostly organic beings for shipping. Sorry no Transformers or other entirely robotic persons. Open to crosscanon. Open to anime and manga spoilers through this week. Open to assumed cr with minor ooc discussion to establish the previous impression.}

[ When Mikoshiba wakes up, he's surprised to find himself in a hospital. He doesn't know how he ended up there or what hospital he's in, but he assumes he must be okay.

Until he tries asking someone what happened. He doesn't get an answer from the first person or the second one or the third, but it's when he steps into the hall and tries yelling down it that he realizes something is Very Wrong. A peek back into the room he originally exited proves that the bed is made up as if no one's been in it at all - there's nothing in the room, like it's ready and waiting for a patient to be placed in there.

He's in the middle of exiting the hospital, trying to figure out if he's just dreaming, when he realizes there's a red string tied to his finger. Mikoshiba comes to a stop outside and tries to shake it off then tries to untie it, but nothing works.

So, in the hopes that getting to the other end of it means he'll wake up and find out he's not dead - he really hopes he's not dead - he starts to follow it, not registering the fact that he's wandering down streets he's unfamiliar with because he's not at home. ]

{The first strange thing about his day is that Hiyori doesn't wake him by breaking his nose with her foot or sandal. Instead, she just kind of nudges at him and when he opens his eyes he'd swear he was dying if he didn't feel any different from the expression on her face.

You've got a string on your finger.

It's a bad omen, undoubtedly. The last string on his finger had led him to the threat of execution and the reality of exile. Hopefully, this one wouldn't be quite so damaging to him and his friends. At least with Aizen locked in the bottom of the Maggot's nest it was highly unlikely that they'd been reconnected. Shinji'd probably cut off his own finger if they had been.

He brushed off Lisa's quiet presence and Kensei's gruff offer of accompaniment and told them he'd scope out the situation if it wasn't too far off. It would give him time to think, anyway. There was no particular requirement for a red string that any shinigami had ever found. They could be between any beings, though it was near unheard of for any to be found on a hollow. The only thing they seemed to have in common was that both people would have a profound effect on each other. Shinji's not sure he wants to know what effect he had on Aizen, and anyone who knows anything knows about his hollowfication and exile thanks to Aizen's plans.

It would be nice if whoever had this red string attached to him would be someone kinder and more caring, or even a human he could ignore for the time being. He doesn't want the responsibility of having his life connected to someone else's, but if he has to deal with it he wants someone who will make his life better, not worse this time.

He wanders the roofs of the town following the faint downward trail of red across the city. When he was confident it stretched out of Karakura and into another town he kicked into shunpo and started traveling more quickly. It was a surprised to find the thread getting tighter and brighter in the same town he'd taken to crashing school festivals in. He'd have to text Mikoshiba-kun and see if he wanted to go dancing after graduation. Maybe Shinji would surprise him by bringing Lisa and Mashiro-chan along as their partners.

He drops to the sidewalk, careful to do it out of human sight and texts before he forgets, even as he follows the faint tug of the red string beginning to bounce. He was getting closer.}

[ Surprisingly enough, the string leads him back toward home and it isn't long before he starts to see familiar places. The string remains slack for a lot of his walk, but he notices that there's not any extra, as if whatever's on the other side is pulling and the string is shortening between himself and his destination.

Mikoshiba knows what the red string means - that he should find a person on the other end, someone he's fated to be with or near, at least. It's the kind of theme that shows up in his games sometimes and he finds himself leaning toward believing in destiny in that sense.

What he hopes is that the string is leading him to someone who's going to help him make sense of what's happening. No matter how much he tries to convince himself he's dreaming, it doesn't feel like a dream. Following the string is the only thing currently keeping him from completely losing it right in the middle of the sidewalk.

It isn't until he gets closer to his school that the string tightens and starts to get brighter - something he's not expecting. All he can think is that he's going to get to school and find himself attached to someone there, which makes sense, but he can't imagine who. He likes all of his friends, but he's not sure he sees any of them being able to help him like this.

When he reaches the gate, the string doesn't go inside. It continues on straight and around the next corner, down the block from the school, which Mikoshiba heads toward as the string starts to glow. ]

{Constantly scanning the environment for hollows and other spirits he'd rather avoid, Shinji feels the other end of his red string before he sees them. Their spirit pressure is obviously untrained, but its a placid presence surprisingly controlled enough not to attract the attention of anything dangerous. It takes him a second to convince himself not to rush. The way the thread pulls tighter as he nears the corner up ahead is just like the crescendo of a horror movie's score.

Then, like a dam, breaking, he rounds the corner and sees a familiar face topped with red hair, undeniably connected to him. The relief he feels is so profound it actually shows on his face before he can smother it back.

If its Mikoshiba, then Shinji probably definitely doesn't have to worry about betrayal.

Of course, the spiritual pressure, and the red string are both new and extreme obvious signs pointing to his friend's death. Human death, at least. It leaves Shinji wondering if it had been traumatic, if somehow a hollow had tracked their way to Mikoshiba and harmed him enough to put them in this situation.}

Well, I guess I don't have to keep worrying about finding you a graduation gift.

{It is an awful thing to say, but he has always been good at making an ass of himself.}

[ The closer he gets to the corner, to the other end of the string and the person on it, the more nervous he feels. What if it's something awful? Shinji's mentioned enough about less friendly spirits in passing that Mikoshiba's sure he doesn't want to run into one, much less find himself connected to one in some awful twist of fate.

It feels like his heart is in his throat - which he's not sure is possible in his current state - as the string pulls tighter and then... he finds himself at a dead stop, staring at a familiar face.

The result leaves him with an immediate sense of relief because it removes the potential nightmare factor of finding himself unable to escape something that will kill him. A second time, he realizes.

That's when it really sinks in. He's currently attached to a spirit. He can see the string, which he still can't seem to get off of his finger. No one else can see or hear him. And the last thing he remembers before waking up in the hospital is getting on the train to head home after shopping the day before. Or he assumes it was the day before. ]

I'm really dead. [ There's a brief pause and then: ] I'm really dead?!

{Shinji rubs the back of his head awkwardly. All signs pointed to Mikoshiba's recent demise except the lack of a chain of fate sticking out of his chest. Even if he was curious Shinji wasn't going to question that. The last thing he wanted was for one to appear and start eating away at his friend until he became a hollow or was sent off to Rukongai. }

Yeah. From what I can tell you definitely are.

{He pinches the red thread hanging between then between his thumb and forefinger and tugs on it a little bit. }

This definitely wouldn't have showed up if you still had a living human body.

Uh...my condolences?

[ He feels like he should be a lot more upset by this than he currently is, but the fact that he has someone who can see and talk to him is likely taking away a lot of it. If he'd run into his parents or friends from school first, he'd be much more put out by this than he currently is.

With the confirmation, he looks down at himself, patting his own chest over like he expects to find he's not solid to himself. The tug on the string regains his attention and he looks up at Shinji again. ]

Can you touch me?

[ This is an important concern for him currently. But his thoughts shift back to the thread as well. ]

How are we supposed to get that thing off anyway?

{It breaks Shinji's heart a little bit that Mikoshiba's first concern isn't how he died or revenge or even checking on a loved one, but a simple reassurance that he can still connect with other people. In response, he closes the distance between them and slings an arm around the teenager's shoulders.}

Yeah, you will be able to touch other spirits.

{The second question is a lot more complicated and Shinji isn't sure how much to tell. His only experience with a red string was fucking Sou-Chan who he thought he was going to be a mentor to and instead ended up a victim of. That betrayal, the depth of their feelings had shattered the red thread then. Shinji has no intention of harming Mikoshiba like that. He knows theoretically that better solutions exist, Mashiro and Kensei were proof, but his life didn't lend itself to happy endings. }

It's not a problem. No one can touch it except us and only stronger spirits will even be able to see it.

[ Those concerns will rise up at some point. Right now, Shinji is a welcome sight and distraction from the fallout that's bound to hit him. He'll want to see his family and friends and to find out how he actually ended up like this, but having Shinji here, able to see and touch him, is a relief that will inevitably help with the way he handles the rest of it.

The arm around his shoulders is enough to make Mikoshiba sigh as he relaxes against Shinji for a moment.

His eyebrows arch a little at the reassurance over the string and he lifts his hand to look at it again. watching how bright it seems to glow now that they're together. ]

This is a fate thing, isn't it? Are we soul mates or something?

{Shinji blinks. Most people he knows would sound more upset about being potential soul mates with him.}

That's one option, but really this red string just means we are going to change each others lives in a drastic way. It's the closest thing anyone's ever come to figuring them out.

{He stares a little at the point where the thread wraps around Mikoshiba's skin, trying to fend off old thoughts. And answer as objectively as possible.}

I have seen soul mates in the sense you mean, the romantic ones, but I have seen best friends, and siblings......enemies even.

{Then he's squeezing Mikoshiba's shoulders and turning him the way Shinji had come from.}

But I'm not that worried we'll be bad for each other.

[ Having Shinji as a soul mate isn't a terrible prospect. If anything, it's kind of interesting to consider how they met in that context. And when his mind isn't reeling, it'll probably be something he thinks about a lot more.

For now, though, he's listening to Shinji's explanation of the string before he's guided away from the way back toward his school and home. ]

I hope I don't change your life in a bad way.

[ No comment on how Shinji may change his, but it comes from the fact that Mikoshiba trusts him. He can't see Shinji doing anything to wrong him.

As they start to walk, Mikoshiba glances over his shoulder, steps slowing as the gravity of things starts to sink in. ]

Hey. Where am I supposed to go now? I... it's not like I can go home.

[ He swallows hard after saying it aloud, realizing just how true it is now. ]

{It's on the tip of Shinji's tongue to tell Mikoshiba that he can't possibly hurt him more than the first red string had, but even if his intentions would be good in saying it, that's a whole different kind of pressure to put on the thin connection between them. So, he holds his tongue.}

I'm sure you won't. You're a good guy after all.

{Belatedly, it occurs to Shinji that this might be his fault for exposing Mikoshiba repeatedly to his powerful presence. It wasn't like he had a Captain limiter on in the human world anymore, and even if he wasn't Ichigo leaking spiritual pressure all over town, he was still too strong to be spending extended amounts of time with humans.

As to where this strange new spirit could go....Shinji had no intention of letting him go on to the after life to forget everything and live out a shitty existence in Rukongai. Which left basically, Karakura.}

You're coming to Karakura with me. You can live with us, or with Urahara maybe if you'd rather.

[ Mikoshiba blinks, staring over at Shinji for a couple of seconds. Then, without a word, he turns and wraps his arms around him, pulling Shinji into a tight hug.

Because, while he doesn't want to leave his family and friends behind, he knows that staying will end badly for him in some way. And he's more than a little thankful to have someone who can help him. He's not sure what position he'd be in without Shinji, but having him here is probably the main reason Mikoshiba hasn't curled up in tears yet. ]

Thanks, Hirako-kun.

[ It takes a few more moments before he lets go, pulling a step back to give Shinji some space again, though he's pretty sure he doesn't mind the closeness. ]

I'd like to stay with you, if I've got a choice.

{It's one thing for Shinji to force his physical proximity on other people, but beyond violence or a clap on the shoulder, it's not all that often people initiate the gentler forms of affection on him. It takes him a moment or two to catch up and return the embrace awkwardly.}

It's no big deal. You'll be fine in our little warehouse of misfits. And it might be my fault a bit why you're in this situation, not the dead bit, but the still hanging around will all your memories part.

{He nods decisively and looks around.}

That's good. I didn't want to send you off to the shop anyway. This is the right way to the train station, yeah? Until we figure out if you can learn shunpo we've got to travel the human way.

How would it be your fault? Do people usually lose their memories when they die?

[ He doesn't take much notice of the awkwardness that comes with the hug, only that it seems to surprise Shinji. What he does notice is that it's incredibly surreal to mention dead people while knowing it's a category he falls into. It's just as surreal as knowing that, Shinji aside, he won't be seeing any of those he cares about anymore.

Mikoshiba nods, stepping forward to start leading the way toward the train station. ]

Yeah, it's this way. [ He looks back at Shinji as he walks, glancing at the thread still stretching between them. ] Can people see you all the time? Or is that something you can control?

My hanging around you, it might have allowed you to pick up some spiritual presence you wouldn't have developed by yourself, which leads to your current predicament.

{Shinji tucks his hands in his pockets and slopes along pulling even next to Mikoshiba's side.}

Generally one of two things happens when a human dies: 1) They go on to Soul Society, waking up there with no memories 2) They're chained to the place they died or a place of significance in their life until a shinigami comes to help them on their way, or they turn into a hollow.

{Mikoshiba had never been full of this many questions about the afterlife before, probably preferring ignorance in his fear, but Shinji found it a bit amusing all the excellent questions he had now.}

The only way people see us is if they've got spiritual pressure themselves, or if we're in a gigai. Gigai are basically enormous us-shaped figures we can take control of and walk around in. There are drawbacks to that though.

{Idly, one hand lifts out to touch the sword at his side, before slipping back into his pocket.}

So... does that mean nobody's going to come looking for me to try to send me to Soul Society? Or that I might become a hollow? You can keep me from becoming a hollow, right?

[ Most of his knowledge is vague at best since he's avoided asking things in the past. It's partly been thanks to his fear, and partly because he's never expected to have to deal with anything that's part of Shinji's world. But he does know that being a hollow isn't a good thing and that it's something he wants to avoid, even if it means the loss of his memories. ]

But I could see you. And touch you. ... please tell me people didn't think I was dancing with air at the festival.

[ Just the thought of it makes him groan to himself. ]

They won't be able to find you. Generally they get wind of spirits anchored in place by their chains of fate. You don't have one.

{The second question is a bit more complicated for Shinji who is, in fact, part hollow himself. He wouldn't wish that on Mikoshiba for anything.}

It doesn't look likely you'll become a hollow, Mikoshiba-kun, and if you were showing signs, I'd do whatever I could to stop the process. Hollowfication isn't a party.

{Shinji laughs.}

No, all the other times you've seen me I've had on my human suit. Otherwise you probably wouldn't have noticed me at all.

[ He visibly relaxes at the news that he won't be found and that he's unlikely to become a hollow.

They're nearing the train station as he looks Shinji over again, taking note of the sword he touched moments before and nodding slightly. ]

Oh. That makes sense. It would've been weird if you'd shown up around any school with a sword.

[ It's as they enter the station that Mikoshiba feels a sense of déjà vu, as if he's done this earlier in the day. And he's about to ask Shinji more questions when he spots a large memorial covering one of the walls, pictures and messages taped to the wall while flowers and stuffed animals are crowded around on the ground in front of it.

All it takes is a few steps toward it before he can see what it's for - a train accident about a week before - and he spots his own picture amidst around twenty others. He doesn't get close enough to read any of the large number of messages by his picture, instead turning back to Shinji. ]

There aren't any better ways to get to Karakura, are there?

Mhm, Sakanade's a classy lady, but school's not her cup of tea.

{Shinji follows when Mikoshiba heads towards the memorial and stops before he can get to it. It isn't hard to pick out the many pictures featuring red hair, though he doesn't quite get the presence of the volumes of shoujo manga included in the set up.

It's a shitty thing to come across, but Shinji's kind of glad it saves them the trouble of searching the news for information. It'll make it much easier to zero in on the details if Mikoshiba wants them later without having to wade through endless accounts of human tragedies looking for just the one he suffered.}

Ah, well I could carry you while I shunpo'd but you'd probably throw up afterwards, so that's up to you.

{He could understand not wanting to take the train after seeing this, though.}

[ The manga, he assumes, is from Nozaki or Sakura - people who know he also works on it. Even in death he remains oblivious to certain things.

It's an awful thing to come across - it makes him miss his friends and family and it serves as a final nail in the coffin, so to speak - but Mikoshiba's kind of thankful to have seen it. He knows, but it's nice to see proof of how people care and the impact he left on those around him. And it makes it easier not to want to seek out those he loves for the sake of seeing how they're moving on without him.

That's the kind of thing he assumes gets spirits stuck in places and he doesn't want to end up trapped where he has to watch everyone get over his death and seemingly forget about him.

Mikoshiba gives the train a little consideration before he moves to Shinji. ]

I'm okay with that. I don't want to test what'll come to mind if I get on the train.

[Am pretty much OTA, except for smut.]

(Prooooobably m/m for this one unless it's like a... platonic soulmates sort of thing?)

Edited 2015-04-23 22:21 (UTC)

( platonic soulmates preferred, or f/m but let's keep it as gen as possible with no smut )

the red string of fate

Yukimura Chizuru | Hakuouki

Hirako Shinji - Bleach - OTA

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Djem Ahmad | OC

Hazuki Nagisa \\ Free!

Alleyne - the Headless Horseman ♞ OC ♞ Prefer F/M

Anne Boleyn || The Tudors || Prefer F/M

Dejah Thoris || John Carter/A Princess of Mars || Prefer F/M

Daenerys Targaryen || Game of Thrones || Prefer F/M

kamala khan | marvel-616

Right - Ressha Sentai ToQger - OTA

Michael | Dominion | Ota

Usagi | Sailor Moon | M/F

Zelda | Twilight Princess

Tiz | Bravely Default

Kyoko Sasagawa | KHR! | OTA