last one from me for now- 24/58, kaito and hanataro? 😀

anonymous

(24: Soulmate AU, 58: Accidental Eavesdropping)

Hanataro absently rubbed at the swirling mark around his lower left arm, still not used to the quiet thrum of another’s soul so close to his own. It had only recently appeared, indication that his soulmate was young, was a newborn soul, and that… that scared him.

(Him, soulmate to a newborn soul?)

(Did… did that mean he was a newborn soul as well?)

(But new souls were special!)

(He couldn’t be one…)

He bit his lip and used the spark of pain to shove aside his doubts; now wasn’t the time to sink into his thoughts. He needed to check on Kaito, needed to assure himself that their friendship wasn’t going to change because of this.

(He’d thought himself forever unmarked, thought it safe to fall in love with his best friend, thought that maybe Kaito was starting to reciprocate, and now…)

(Kaito had seen his soulmark and fled like the gates of hell were rising up to capture him.)

Hanataro paused at the door to the common room, hearing someone talking and wondering if he wanted to intrude; Kaito wouldn’t appreciate being cornered in public, and if he was busy then… then Hanataro could talk with him later. It wasn’t a big deal.

“Feeling any better?” Urahara’s voice filtered through the half-open door.

“Y-yes? No? I… don’t know,” Kaito answered sulkily. “I don’t know what to do…”

Urahara hummed and the breath caught in Hanataro’s throat. He was under no illusion that Urahara was unaware of his presence; his signature wasn’t loud but it certainly wasn’t hidden either. Kaito… Kaito would know too, except he sounded too twisted up to be entirely aware of everyone around him, especially since he tended to label Hanataro as safe.

“Well, you could talk with him about it,” Urahara suggested.

“But… but… how am I supposed to explain… any of this?”

“Well, you could start with putting his mind at ease. Unless you’re going to stay clothed at all times from now on?”

(Stay clothed…?)

(No, surely Urahara wasn’t implying…)

(Kaito was his soulmate?)

Kaito growled, the sound tinged with fear that made Hanataro’s heart clench, and said, “What, just… just walk up to him and say ‘I didn’t used to have a soulmate but then I touched something I shouldn’t have and now my soul is different so surprise! I think we’re soulmates now!’ That’ll certainly go over well!”

(Wait, what?)

“Well, why not? Did he seem bothered by it?” Urahara asked.

Silence stretched until Hanataro thought Kaito wouldn’t answer, until he thought he’d just walk in or slink away or… or something, anything to break the uncomfortable pause.

“I don’t know…” Kaito finally answered, voice barely loud enough for Hanataro to catch. “I… I couldn’t… I saw it and I just… what if he doesn’t like me like that! What if… what if he was happier without one?”

“Oh, Kaito-kun…” Movement came, likely Urahara pulling Kaito into a hug, and then Urahara said, “Soulmates don’t have to be romantic, no matter all the lore about them. They’re just your greatest love, and if that love is platonic, it’s still love. Like Yoruichi, Tessai, and I. We’re not interested in anything physical with each other, but we’re still soulmates.”

“But…”

“Why don’t you ask him?” Urahara asked, then raised his voice and called out, “Right, Hanataro-kun?”

Hanataro twitched and slipped into the room, pausing at the sight of Kaito curled up in Urahara’s lap, looking more miserable than Hanataro had ever seen. “U-uhm… s-sorry f-for eavesdropping, Kaito-san…” he murmured as he stepped closer and sank into seiza right in front of the couch. “But, uhm… if… if Kaito-san is my soulmate, then… then I’m happy.”

Kaito blinked at him, then slowly, cautiously, reached out to grip Hanataro’s hand. The motion pushed his sleeve up, revealing the same swirling mark around his left arm and–

Hanataro leaned forward. Glanced up at Kaito for permission, then reached out to brush his fingers against Kaito’s mark, against the mark covering Kaito’s scar where his arm had been severed and oh, oh that made so much sense now that he saw it.

(Kaito’s old life had ended at that point, when his friend fell and everything changed for him.)

(What better place to mark this new change than there?)

“Kaito-san is my soulmate,” Hanataro breathed, barely able to believe how lucky he was but certain that he needed to show his appreciation. Kaito’s hesitance hurt, like he was sure that Hanataro would turn away from him because of this, but… but it was okay. They’d get through this and Hanataro would convince his friend that they were still okay.

A tiny, soft smile curled at the corners of Kaito’s mouth as he ducked his head, the tips of his ears turning red. “Y-yeah… “

“I’d w-want no one else,” Hanataro said with as much confidence as he could muster.

Kaito’s blush only deepened. “M-me neither.”

Hanataro smiled. Moved to lean against the couch. Tucked Kaito’s arm against his chest.

Settled in to bask in his newfound soulmate’s presence.

(Perfection.)