Chapter Text
It is even more crowded lately in the heavens. It is a given, of course. One only experiences a pairing every century, and weddings are even more beloved amongst the divine, where a wedding is a valid reason for a feast, and a feast a valid reason for drinking.
Even the moon seems excited. The glow of it, and its inhabitants are glowing in their full glory, sitting radiantly in its spot. Who would not be, when their mysterious lord has finally torn his gaze from his garden and finally back to his strings?
The palace maidens float through the hallways, carrying back pruning shears, endless pots, mountains of shining leaves. And then, they carry in bundles of crimson string, floating and prancing around the curtains, seemingly taking its new environment. The endless shelves of scrolls. The empty spools lying next to old bannisters. The clouds and the stars that blend together with the darkness of night. The maidens as they pass by the pristine stone pillars, the only sign of their existence are their giggles and the fluttering of their billowing sleeves.
One figure stands alone amongst his endless array of bushes, nursing his teacup as he gazes down on the earth. The balcony on the moon terrace is a place one rarely enters, heavenly or otherwise. Setting his cup down and pouring another for his esteemed guest, he beckons Horikawa forward.
The glow of the crescent in his eyes seems more welcoming than one expects of the old man of the moon. Watching from his solitary seat, pruning his endlessly growing trees, and enticing far too many mortals with his gaze.
"Welcome to the moon palace. I congratulate you on your fated match."
Mikazuki Munechika holds up the red string to his hands.
The murmuring around the balcony breaks into resounding gasps.
The stars have listened. The gods have approved.
A fated match! One that happens every millennium! The one that is written by fate itself, and spun personally by the man of the moon!
Horikawa feels his heart pounding, demanding for... He remembers the years at the heaven gates waiting excitedly for his brothers' matches. The anticipation. The curiosity. The eager impatience. Then, the first meetings, the training and watching their faces morph into ones of delight.
He remembers waiting for his own one, staring up at the moon during his lonely patrols around the earth, and how he'll receive his so late. (If he even gets one.) He remembers late nights with Kanesada on how his partner would look like, as temporary distractions from civil wars and uprisings. He remembers apologising to his mysterious partner every year for taking so long.
But most importantly, Horikawa remembers, and wants to, love.
There is a decorum in his steps as he forces himself to walk, not skip, towards Mikazuki.
The red string of fate seems to notice his presence, and it bounds towards him every bit of excitement Horikawa feels inside his chest, replicated by the string's movements. Even the glow of the moon seems kinder
Thank you, Horikawa concentrates with the passion of his strongest fires. Please wait just a little longer.
===
Being a messenger seems like a laborious job. A messenger of heaven even more. A kirin is said to be the most powerful beast in the heavens, being divine protectors and symbols of morality and justice. Fearsome and majestic, the kirin are symbols and appear during the birth or death of a wise leader.
But, history books and shrine priests also forget to mention: it gets lonely sometimes. How does one please a god when it has everything? It has been centuries since he has been born, and Horikawa knows of satisfaction. He knows of pride, and boredom, and how it brings down entire dynasties and countries.
Sometimes, he can’t help but to shake off the feeling that some company would be nice. Something in the way a lover can, the ones humans speak of in their stories and what the court deities whisper of during their weekly meetings. A soulmate was something even rarer, one that
Evading marriage proposals had been easy with the busy task of bringing peace to the heavens. It had been convenient to throw around for the last century. Now though, as the revolution in the skies and earth has ended, he’s not sure how long he can run away from another shrine god.
Because, what should be next on the agenda after achieving nationwide peace multiple times with your best friend? Marriage, of course!
So, explain to one exasperated Horikawa Kunihiro, why he’s comforting said best friend about his own marriage?
“They have to treat you right! I mean it! You’re almost a god, but, if they’re evil I’m damn well going to use my emperor privileges to destroy them! What’s going to stop me!” Kanesada yells right at his face,
Technically, no one will. Maybe the human spirits will, with much conviction.
"How can you take this so easily?"
Kanesada looks up from when he's trying his best to dislocate Horikawa's shoulders and asks that with the sincerity of a friend instead of just an emperor.
How do you describe four hundred years of waiting and existence to an emperor born of the stars?
("Are you disappointed?"
When Mikazuki had asked for a private audience away from the curious crowd, he wasn't expecting the separate information. Neither had he expected his soulmate to be a kyonshi. It wasn't unheard of, but it would be risky to say in a crowd unused to them.
Was Mikazuki trying to save his face or trying to prevent another revolution? To test the character of a kirin?
Horikawa stares ahead at the tiny marble of earth from the balcony. The cloud weaver will be upset if he stepped into the atmosphere too early.
They both take that as a resounding no. There is no hardship when you’ve waited for a century.)
This is why they get along. Kane-san lets him take his time, because the emperor has so much he wants to learn. Horikawa is reminded, in turn, that he has to say what he feels instead of lingering in the solitary like all his ancestors were cursed to do so.
"I'll always be your assistant." is what he settles for instead.
“Don’t get all emotional on me!” Kanesada quips, while his face nearly crumbles. “I’m just… so happy for you. You’ve waited a long time for today and I don’t wish to see you hurt anymore! Please just go and be happy with him, and I’ll defend the both of you to my best ability.”
There are many more words left unsaid between them.
===
Kashuu Kiyomitsu is reasonably convinced that the heavens had made a mistake. This, he thinks, is the true pinnacle of a romantic comedy, the ones that Midare loves to read and talk about on the rare chance. Except, most plays involve human lovers, not undead ones.
(Then, again, he thinks his own revival is a mistake. Human flesh should turn into bone the way it is supposed to: ugly and scattering. Terrifying. The redness of flesh should leave its skin, leaving a ghastly pale colour. It is proof of its lack of breath, or heart, or anything that makes it remotely human. The putrid stench of the riverbed that haunts him on the darkest days—
There are things in this world you can’t change. One of them is that he’s one rotten thing. Knowing that doesn’t stop Kashuu from trying anyway.)
It is the only thing that can explain the procession outside the shop at the most inhumane of hours. It is also the only thing that can explain why the procession is from the heavens, by the tell tale signs of And lastly, as well as most importantly, it is the only thing that can save everyone from Yasasuda’s wrath.
The moment seems to go by in a daze. It’ll probably sink in at a later hour, one to make fun of and pass it off as a combined hallucination.
That is, until the messenger pulls out the scroll, passes it to a growling Yasasuda with no sense of fear, and unloads all of its chariots. Then drives away, all under the span of a minute.
The harsh screaming of Yasusada would have woken him up, if he wasn’t distracted by the alarming amount of packages left on their doorstep. Did they save some undercover emperor, by any chance?
“KASHUU! There’s a fated pair!” Yasusada clings onto his shoulders and shakes him abruptly, as if it’ll make the information go in faster.
He thinks he replies with a good amount of grace and happiness like a good friend should.
“Congratulations! Someone will finally deal with your temper!”
“No, Kashuu! I’m saying that it’s for YOU! You’re fated with a Kirin!”
The combined shrieks of the two wake up the village rooster. It then (rudely!) crows.
That is the last straw that sends him fainting to the floor.
===
The apothecary is right in the cross section of the bustling town.
This town is small and so unfamiliar for a Kirin, but it contains the whole lifespan of a human. There are shops aligned and squeezed against each other along the streets, and their curtains whip against the doorposts. The children are running past each other on the crowded pavements, escaping from their caretakers in a fit of giggles. Businessmen trying to sell their goods exasperated from haggling cooks, women balancing in their delicate shoes talking to the tailors and a lone poet struggling for a composition against the noise of the market.
Horikawa cannot stop turning around, stumbling into narrow walkways and narrowly avoiding pedestrians. Carts push around lacquered woodblocks he's never seen in his lifespan and there are couples hidden under cherry blossom trees. Further off and separate to them lies a secluded area, where the only people he sees are peeking out from their boats or rushing across the dilapidated bridge.
The faces of the men scare him. They seem to warn him.
Kanesada taps him gently, rousing his attention. This is it. This is a first meeting, and he strangely feels more worried for this moment than the time he was presented to the previous emperor.
Calling out their names, they pull aside the curtains and meet the company of two bedraggled figures by the counter.
===
Kashuu's first impression is that Horikawa Kunihiro should not be allowed to look like that when he's a literal god.
His face screams adorable and out of a novel, but he carries himself with the grace of one that has known centuries passed and that legends are written about him. He stands with a firm yet confident gait, and his fashion is... Not that bad.
He also cannot stop staring. His eyes have been turning around to every cranny (and now Kashuu feels even more self conscious and wonders if he should have scrubbed the pots harder)
The kirin's gaze falls on him and he swears he can feel his non-existent heart beat in his chest.
Their partners have also stopped conversation, he realises a bit too late. They're looking at him because they're expecting him to speak.
"I'm Kashuu Kiyomitsu, the apothecary assistant. I'll be in your care."
"I'm Horikawa Kunihiro! I'm really glad to see you!"
Just his luck that he sounds just as pure as he looks.
This is too out of Kashuu's element. How is one supposed to handle that you're fated to be soulmates? What if they can't get along? Must they get married? What about his job? He convinced himself that the procession wasn't real and he could take his time to process it, until he was dragged out of bed by Yasusada to "tidy up and stop pacing!"
They bow to each other— and this is it. As far as their first impressions, a simple greeting across a tatami mat and their small little shop.
Of course, fate won't let them go so easily.
When Horikawa gets up with the elegance of a newborn deer, he stumbles from getting up from his squatting position, stretches his arms out to balance and—
instinctively ends up reaching for Kashuu when he falls.
Except, both of them forgot the memo that a dead body should not be near any fire source, much less a mythical one.
The room is dead silent when Kashuu's wrist, bone and flesh, drops off where it was originally situated at birth.
At the very least, he thinks, he's glad it didn't incinerate into ash.
===
When he was born a kirin all those years back, turning into a glorified stove wasn’t on any of his career pathways.
How did he get here again? Horikawa has been prepared for every moment in his life, and is looking forward to less. Just how, did he mess up so badly?
("I'm so so sorry!" Grovelling, Horikawa bows so low he sees the floor to an exasperated Kashuu who's now sticking what's left of his hand into cold water, and the separate hand is trying to flex its fingers in the bucket next to it.
He tries to say more, but does repeating the fact that his own mythical fire burnt his soulmate's own hand off count as flaunting or mocking?
"It's ok! Really! Man... my wrist was feeling a little bit sore anyways." Kashuu drags out the "sore" in a matter of fact way that both scares and impresses Horikawa.
"Please!" Horikawa looks up from his position, blood rushing to his human body, "If there's anything I can help you do!"
Kashuu's mischievous smile, he later learns, is not a good omen. But it is cute.)
This explains their position now, at least. He's controlling the fire under the pot of... concoctions. He's watched Kashuu make it from scratch, adding ingredients like dried orange peels, some dried herbs and roots.
He’s currently rummaging through the compartments of the big shelf against the wall, pulling out even more plants Horikawa has never seen. Kashuu’s jaw is clenched as he furrows his brow while glancing into each cupboard before switching to another. In the end, he only pulls a few bunches out, placing them into a mesh bag before slamming them shut.
It’s visible to him that Kashuu is so nervous. The atmosphere is awkward, silence only broken by the gentle stirring of the pot and the opening of shelves.
Oh well, Horikawa thinks. It’s better to address the elephant in the room now.
“This must come as a surprise to you. I'm terribly sorry.”
Kashuu jumps a little, banging the shelf door close. He spins around, and his eyes reveal doubt while he crosses his arms defensively.
“Kashuu-san, I know the marriage thing is still strange to you. I know soulmates are such a rare concept. Please, let me explain anything you need to know! I won’t rush anything onto you! If you ever feel disgusted or offended by what has happened, I’ll gladly take responsibility and leave!” Horikawa sits up from his position, launching into a deep bow again.
“Ah, wait wait, don’t bow again please! Hey, I’ll hear you out! I know what soulmates are, I just haven’t… exactly wrapped my head around the idea of having one. Being married wasn’t in my goals either, but let’s just try friendship first!” Kashuu rushes over to his side
This puzzles Horikawa. Does the mortal world not believe in matches? Mikazuki was sure to send them invitations every time. He still has much to learn.
Kashuu pulls out the mesh bag he was hiding behind his back.
“Now, how about some tea?”
===
Yasusada finds Kashuu once Horikawa has been grilled.
“Do you want to talk about it?” He asks gently, sliding a cup of tea across the table.
He shakes his head, frowning when he takes his cup.
Three. Two. One—
“I just don’t get it! How is he so calm about everything? My whole existence isn’t even possible in the first place, so why would I choose to listen to a red string? Why would a god even choose to come all the way to this dingy town? And he’s so nice about it! I feel terrible! He volunteered to be my assistant, Yasusada? I’m making a god control fire! To burn medicine! I’m the-”
He slumps dramatically across the table after he’s done, bringing his fist down into a thump. Yasusada patiently strokes his back. He also makes a note to make Kashuu pay for the table if he catches a single scratch.
“He’s been alive for a few centuries more than you. He’s probably heard so many stories up there, and even waited for his own. I say you give both of you a little more time. Well, he did say he would be your friend first and foremost? He’s not rushing you into anything, and certainly won’t initiate anything!”
“And you can finally stop complaining about wanting some help. He’s more than willing to do that with you! Heck, I’ll even pay him extra if he’s willing to put up with your-”
Yasusada ducks to avoid the pillow thrown his way. Kashuu is also paying for that if a single thread breaks.
===
The next few months are better. The shop has been livelier with another person helping out (because Horikawa refuses payments and only accepts a room and food, that he doesn’t even use half the time). Kashuu has been warming up to Horikawa’s existence enough to try teasing him, only to be met with Horikawa’s innocence.
He’s too good! Simply too good at everything!
(This, in fact, is welcome by Yasusada. However, this is blasphemy to a Kashuu in denial. A petty one, in fact.)
He’s ready for any and every type of situation. From knowing how to fix a customer’s tear when she caught her dress on the rusty nail in the gate, (“I learnt how to sew when Kane-san always ripped his clothes after armour!”) and to reining in a wild horse when Namazou got a little too excited doing… something.
Impressive, sure, and they had a roaring time when Horikawa shared those stories over some wine, but Kashuu wants to know why it’s two times flashier when Horikawa does it. Maybe it’s the godly being knowing so much!
(“Kashuu, you can call it being charmed and wanting to know more about him. No, it doesn’t affect how you’re not trying to catch feelings, you’re just being mean.”
It’s easy to distract Midare with a new novel.)
The old ladies love him. Grannies come to the shop just to coo over him serving tea! He listens to their complaints, and even gives good advice on fashion. The children adore him. They come to the shop armed to the teeth with water balloons to play with, and Horikawa can calm them down enough to make them sit down and wait until their tasks are done!
(The last time Kashuu had tried to do that, the kid ended up dumping an entire bucket of water down his head. It had led to a wild goose hunt that lasted a whole day, and he’s certain every kid in the village has a vendetta against him now. It’s not his fault the kid got splashed back!)
Oh, what will Kashuu do with his patronage besmitten to someone else! The betrayal! Is he no longer cute enough? No way out than a healthy competition!
(“Stop whining about losing customers when Horikawa is right there. Go do your work!” Yasusada had smacked the back of his head half-heartedly.
Horikawa had immediately jumped to his defence and aid.
“No, no, it’s fine, Yasusada-san! Kashuu-san is tired from helping me! I’m his assistant, so I need to help him instead! Are you okay, Kashuu-san? Do you need water? Are you hurt?”
Kashuu looks away in fear to save his own skin. The medicine he was supposed to brew and pack is late because he was too busy trying to one up Horikawa in slicing dried up roots, which ended up in Horikawa admiring his skills and then they got distracted talking—)
His smiles are also, like, insanely pretty. In an objective way. It’s also bad for his mental state, because he can feel his certainly dead heart jump start every time Horikawa directs one at him.
(“It’s called starting to have feelings, Kashuu, have you tried admitting them instead of an unhealthy competition with said subject of affections?”
It’s easy to shut Namazou up once you sic his brothers on him. All of them.)
It’s not his fault Kashuu feels like exploding when Horikawa takes care of him! His chest feels all fluttery when Horikawa smiles with the radiance of a thousand suns, and how gentle he treats everyone, especially him, makes him feel a tiny bit bad for competing so much all the time.
That feeling also disappears every time that lady giggles when she sees Horikawa.
===
“Uhm, I don’t mean to sound rude, but how are you standing in the sun?” Horikawa questions with a stammer, trudging around the barren pathway.
Hip in hands, Kashuu yells from where he’s miles ahead. “Maybe I’ll tell you my secret, if you were actually next to me, huh?”
It’s funny to see Horikawa try to run. He looks a little like he’s galloping.
“So, funny thing you asked actually.” Kashuu starts when Horikawa finally nears, immediately starting off in his walk. “I’m fixed by the same thing that all spiritual yokai hold in their bodies. Your life force. Chi. The heavenly creatures, like you, are breaming from it at birth, while the normal way is to accumulate it. Foxes get theirs by praying for years, while zyonshi like me are supposed to suck it out from hosts.”
Unchanged in his pace, Horikawa nearly stumbles in an attempt to catch up. “So how did it work? I can definitely sense no lingering souls on you. Does helping others as an apothecary assistant help you with Chi?”
“Well, it definitely helps, but I’m not helping others isn’t just for that sole reason. Yasusada is actually a yokai healer too, and he…surgically sewed my body to look… human. It made me look like I do now, with the added help of makeup. He actually gave me some of his Chi afterwards for me to survive, and so I won’t feel the urge to hunt a human down for it, as if pumping my veins full of pink liquid will make me any hungrier.”
Horikawa pales. “So, you mean that Yasusada started embalming your body to make you look human, while you are… alive?”
He makes teasing so fun. The red tinges Horikawa’s cheeks perfectly, and it’s the closest he looks to being embarrassed. Kashuu nods with a bit too much excitement.
“With needles? Taking out your blood?” With every syllable, Horikawa starts fading out a little bit more.
“Well, I remembered I stank, even with my slightly off receptors. It’s a very weird feeling, too. I can’t feel pain, so it was a little bit creepy when Yasusada poked my insides out to clear out my lungs! He’s the only reason why I can walk normally without my arms sticking out.”
Kashuu should really stop, before Horikawa looks like he’s going to meet the floor. He spins around in a bid to change the topic, until he realises Horikawa has stopped too.
“I’m glad you had someone to support you.”
For a second, Kashuu swears he feels his heart beating, and the words threaten to bring a smile to his face. Horikawa looks… ethereal in this lighting. Nevermind the sappy words, the way he stands and smiles is enough to send Kashuu back to death. Impending shame falls on him with how much Horikawa cares, but the point stands that Horikawa Kunihiro is dangerous for his still heart, and his resolve to stay neutral is crumbling every second the more he keeps this up.
“I know it’s not much, coming from someone who’s just appeared, but I too wish to be someone you can depend on.” Horikawa’s gaze becomes even more resolved, blue eyes focusing before softening in response.
Kashuu feels all eleven litres of embalming liquid flood to his face as a blush.
===
Remember when Kashuu had waxed poetry about Horikawa being perfect and too kind? He’s taking all of that back the moment he suggested going out to pick flowers. Yes, he also said that Kashuu didn’t need to accompany him, but the possibility that he’ll get lost again is too high, or he’ll be too kind to ignore a glaring scam, or get kidnapped! What’s Kashuu going to do without his trusted assistant?
Even if he’s halfway there, Kashuu still groans. Walking all the way to the fields in the middle of the summer heat? His makeup will melt off and the sticky perspiration will cling uncomfortably to his skin. Though, he can’t complain when it’s literally Horikawa’s first time seeing a flower field up close. Who knows what the gods are doing up there?
“Oh! I hate to be a trouble, Kashuu-san. You see, I can’t step on anything living…” All the colour drains out from Horikawa’s face when they both glance over to the lush fields, and Kashuu feels insanely guilty for even thinking about complaining in the first place.
Well, now is the opportunity to help his assistant! Oh, he’s taking this opportunity to gloat for the next month. And to finally see him flustered.
Kashuu instinctively bends down. “Jump up!” To his surprise, Horikawa immediately follows his orders, leading to a confused yell when Kashuu grips his thighs and lifts him up, which causes him to grip harder and shift Horikawa forward.
He feels a warmth next to his neck and looks down in panic.
“Uhm, Kashuu-san? I was going to offer to fly…” Red spreads across Horikawa’s face as he stammers into his neck. Kashuu feels all warm at the delicate blush across Horikawa’s face as his gaze flits around, and how he tries his best not to move or squirm on his back anyways.
Horikawa is so cognizant of him, and this should be even more embarrassing when he has probably noticed all the teasing and competing Kashuu has tried— it instead makes him even more appealing. How sweet is Horikawa if he's not even mad at Kashuu’s petty and confusing actions and plays around with him instead? He feels even more horrible at how he’s been treating him, and resolves to actually try to do better.
The entire trip is extremely awkward as both yokai drown in their own mortification. They have also yet to realise Kashuu has not set Horikawa down.
===
“His soul is so pure. I also think I really like him!” That’s what Horikawa sighs about the next time he sees Kanesada.
“You’ve only known him for four months.” Kanesada deadpans, scoffing into his tea.
“Remember Mustu-san? You’ve also only known that person for two days before you tried propo—”
Horikawa easily dodges away from the tea Kanesada is spitting out, and thumps his back a little too roughly.