“Youre just, just wasting time!”
⍣ ೋ Summary⍣ ೋ: You’ve always been a rather peculiar person. As a child you could do and see things that others just couldn’t. On top of that, you knew things about others that you weren’t supposed to. When you turned 28 you took a chance calling the number on a tacky flyer. That’s how you became a long standing employee at Spirits and Such Consultation Office. With such accepting friends, it’s easy to be open about your powers. All but one. And it;s especially hard to manage when it lets you see into the mind of your boss–Reigen Arataka…who also happens to be your crush. Today you take on a particularly interesting job at a summer oceanside festival! And to top it off, it’s just you and Reigen! Little do you know the
Tags: Sfw, Romance, reader, gender neutral! Reader, esper! reader, reader can also read minds, but no one else knows that, post 7th division arc, Reader knows Reigen is a fraud, Fluff (I think?), Hurt/comfort, miscommunication trope, kinda slow, very overdramatic, workplace romance, Frequent POV swaps towards the middle/end (signaled with a — )
And if I said this was my contribution to the Reigen4tumblrsexyman propaganda then what
(Also this is my first one shot so I hope this isn’t too bad lmfao)
WC:~ 13.1k (13,161)
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–3 weeks earlier–
The memory is still fresh in your mind even as the days pass over and age it. Walking down the street one morning, biting away at your nails as you silently panicked over your unemployment. All the years spent in school to get a degree and you couldn’t find a job to match. The ghost of the unpaid bills on your kitchen table followed close behind you. You were in a phrase “down on your luck” Then, as you sat down at a cafe to recollect yourself over a coffee, you saw it. The tacky flyer for a ‘Spirits and Such Consultation Office” taped onto a pole. You rolled your eyes despite getting up and ripping the flyer from its spot. A few days later you found yourself in an office drowned by the smell of incense and cigarettes. You can’t lie you were judging. There was one man and a random kid sitting in the corner with a floating booger behind him, staring at you. But you got the job with zero problems and with time (and trauma) you got used to your coworkers and the occasional new additions.
You coworkers are a welcoming bunch. It’s easy to open up to them about things. (Though, you try to keep the most adult of your problems away from the children.) They know most of what there is to know about you, minus the fact that you can read minds on top of being able to interact with the supernatural. It's an ability you keep to yourself seeing that you can’t turn it off. There's nothing more awkward than knowing someone can hear your inner voice. Like regular voices you can tune them out. But after more than a few months on the job, you’re not sure this is a secret you can ever reveal to your friends. Especially not your boss, who against either of your wills (but not to your dismay) is ever consumed by ideas of you. It’s hard to tune out a comment about yourself, especially when it comes from a guy you like. Each day he enters the office in that classic grey suit of his. He sits down and pulls a cigarette from his pocket, ready to start a day of work.
But instead of thinking about what to eat for dinner or something he saw on TV the previous night, he’s thinking about you. Your outfit, your hair, the way you smiled, a funny joke you told–just you. He’s doing his best to keep to himself really. Too many times during the day do you hear his inner self berate him for being too brazen even if he’s nowhere near it. It makes you nervous sometimes knowing his eyes are always on you. There’s also a thrill to it. You’re sure he’d feel the same if he could read your thoughts. You look at him too when you think he doesn’t notice. You imagine him when he’s not there and hum sweet tunes to yourself while you imagine a nice day out with him. Sometimes he catches you blushing at him when he hasn’t said anything. You laugh watching him question if you can hear his thoughts. How on the nose is that, huh?
Yet it’s all in vain, because neither of you have made a move. Too scared to ruin the delicate workplace relationship you two maintain. Too scared to scare you off, too scared to have to leave. There's little gain in little courage, but where’s courage supposed to be found? “Time could tell you that much” you’d tell yourselves “and what's all there is in the world but time?”
Now, you sit on the couch eating and looking through internet rumors and pleas for help on exorcism subreddits. The room is full and lively. Fans hum loudly around the room, working overtime to compensate for the extra bodies. The summer heat creeps through the walls to melt you alive with a quickness. Serizawa, a jittery fellow from the super evil organization, works through small packets of paperwork at the table across from you. Mob, the kid you met when you first came here, is sitting attentively listening to his friend Tome talk enthusiastically about the science behind all sorts of other worldly phenomena. You’re not sure how she keeps ending up here. Sometimes she shows up before you do and you get here early…arent kids supposed to do reckless things during summer break…by themselves? You’re not sure anymore but at least the extra company is nice.
“Alright gang, good news!”
Your boss, Reigen Arataka, enters the office with an excited expression. His suit jacket is under one arm and bags are in the other. The two of you lock eyes for a second when the door clicks shut behind him. No more than a second, but you feel your heart flutter all 1000 milliseconds. You hear Reigen's inner voice chirp something before quieting. He greets you first with a nod. Then the room settles down to listen and he starts.
“I’ve been doing some snooping around–”
“You mean shopping..?”
You point to the bags full of random stuff hanging around his arms. Reigns hand flies to his chin, the other points to the window overlooking the street.
“If by shopping you mean shopping for ultra important information on spirits plaguing salt city then yes, I was shopping.”
“Shopping as in for junk and solid color sweaters.”
You say plainly.
“Hey there's nothing wrong with a good solid color sweater, they're versatile.”
He retorts.
“Yeah for old men.”
Tome adds on. Reigen places a hand on his hip.
“I should start charging you for loitering here or something.”
Serizawa raises his hand to interrupt.
“So what about that job Reigen?”
“Oh yes, that, well there's this festival in a few weeks by the beach. There's rumors going around that the place’s haunted and I got in contact with the organizers on my quest for research.”
“And?”
You lean on the couch arm. You watch Reigen load up a response and a pose to match. Without realizing you observe a few other things too. Like how loose his pink tie is, or how nice he looks without that grey suit jacket to hide his figure. You wonder if it’s hot enough to cause mirages in the office because you swear you can see his chest under his shirt. Good thing there's no HR
“And we’ve been hired to check–give their reputation a nice cleanse.”
“Well when is it?”
You ask.
“June 29th, so about 3 weeks from now.”
“Mob won't be able to work then.”
Tome interjects resolutely, placing a hand on Mob's shoulder
“Oh and you must be his manager.”
Reigen crosses his arms, awaiting Tome’s excuse as to why his best child laborer–you mean employee–you mean pupil, can’t come into work.
“Mob is coming with me and the others to a few other events. Yknow to celebrate the summer as friends.”
“He’s got perfectly fine friends here.”
“You’re a 30 year old man.”
Mob turns away to hide his amusement.
“Im 29 thank you very much”
”I can’t go either Arataka..”
Serizawa smiles awkwardly. Reigen turns his body towards him.
“You too Serizawa? C’mon!”
“Sorry I have to help my mom move some things, she’s getting older.”
Reigen lowers his head in admission and mutters.
“Well I guess I can't fault you for that.”
Defeated, he looks over at you.
“Are you busy during that time too?”
You take a second to think just to mess with him. His inner voice pipes up again.
“C.mon please say no.”
Ough.
“No not really, it’s nothing I have to skip work for.”
He sighs, relieved that he doesn't have to miss out on a good job or that he doesn't have to miss out on time with you.
“So then you’ll accompany me?”
“Sure Reigen.”
You hear that familiar little chirp again from inner Reigen. He affirms you with a smile, then turns around to bother Tome.
—Present Day–
And that is how you ended up here. Standing outside the entrance of a bustling festival full of cheer and sweaty teenagers right as the sun begins to retire for the night.
“Well [ L. Name] looks like it’s just us today. Whaddya say we go enjoy ourselves for a bit?”
Reigen's eyes light up at the sight of festival food and rigged stand games. You hide your surprise, who knew he was a sucker for festivities?
“Won’t it be better if we start looking for the spirit now? Surely it’ll be busiest during the commotion.”
You motion towards the shining lights and careless faces in the crowd. Reigen pretends to contemplate. You know he doesn’t actually know the answer, so you watch, silently amused by the facade.
“No.”
He looks up thoughtfully,
“Im not sensing any strong energy from this place. So I think it’s safe to say we have some time to enjoy ourselves.”
Reigen was ever so slightly wrong. There was a presence in the area–faint from where you were standing but there nonetheless. You opened your mouth to question him but decided against it. What's the worst that could happen?
“Ok then, if you say so.”
You shrug your shoulders, and off you two go. You stick with Reigen, worried he’ll walk into danger if you’re not there. For someone who proclaims to be the best psychic of the 21st century you’ve only ever seen him win rock paper scissors on his own. So safe to say you're cautious. As you two walk past the various stands, Reigen makes the sneakiest effort to walk close to you. Not uncomfortably so, but enough to make his hand graze yours through his pocket when he leans a little too far to the left. Not close enough to reach out and hold but close enough to smell your signature scent among the others floating around. Yet not close enough to glance over and compliment it. Or perhaps the gap between himself and his nerve is far greater than the gap between you two. Or maybe he needs to focus on the job instead of how bad he wants to kiss his coworker.
This is a work affair. Not a date. That's what he thinks each time he catches himself admiring how the lanterns cast warm shadows on your face. Oh but he can't help it! You shine so much brighter than any torch or light around him–than any star in the sky tonight–he can’t help but glance over at you. It's dramatic, but so is he. So much so that he’s almost sweating in his suit. The suit which he insisted on wearing to keep the professional vibe of the trip. He told you to dress professionally too, but you weren’t about to leave the house in a dress shirt for a hot summer festival. And he's grateful you didn’t. The job was quickly being swept to the back of his mind. He feels like a kid again hanging out with you without any of his colleagues around.
You try not to stare at him as he circles between excitement and professionalism. He argues with himself for a short 30 seconds. Then you see a glint in his eye as professionalism loses the argument. Oh god, now what? Do you let him drag you around and make you flush for an hour or find a distraction. Is it too soon to let him see you buttered up? You can't say it wouldn’t make you feel special…no! Not today! You don't know enough about each other–he's a con man who pays kids in broccoli seeds!...but you could get to know him either way couldn’t you…no [L. Name]! Reigen gears up a pose, ready to suggest something, but you beat him to the punch.
“Should we get some food first?”
You look over at the long lines of people awaiting their greasy, sopping snacks. In line you notice a young pair. They’re standing painfully close to each other but not making eye contact. The boy clutches his wallet in one hand. In his mind he’s praying his parents gave him enough money. The girl looks towards the ground, wondering if her makeup is melting or if her deodorant is still working. They both have cute golden necklaces with initials on them, presumably each other. It's a scene that makes you smile.
“Nah, all those foods are bad for you.”
Reigen waves off the idea, calling you back to attention.
“Since when do you care about healthy eating?”
You raise a brow, recalling all the times you’ve walked into the office to see him drowning in fries. Reigen ignores your remark. Instead he makes a bee line towards the game section. You feel a tear roll off your cheek as you race past the food carts to keep up. While pushing past the heaps of people you feel like you're being watched. You turn around to meet the eyes stalking you only to see nothing. Then, when you turn back Reigen is escaping your reach. There's not enough time to worry about whatever's behind you, so you push forward.
Finally, when your hand reaches his shoulder and you pull yourself close again, you notice where you’re standing. Reigen steps forward and hands a bill to the vendor at the counter. The exhausted teenager hands him 3 balls and points to the cups ahead.
“Watch and learn [L. Name] the art of ping pong toss!”
Reigen rolls up his sleeves then holds the ball carefully in his hand, keeping it firm between his palm and fingers so he can propel it into the cup of his choosing. He holds his breath and narrows his eyes as he does faux math in his head. Your eyes swap between the way his modestly toned forearms look and the focused expression on his face. Reigen has a habit of breathing as if he’s smoking cigarettes when he’s fixated on something. Inhale, pause, then exhale as if he’s passing thin smoke between his soft (sometimes chapped) lips. It keeps him steady under pressure. And right now he feels the weight of it under your stare.
“If I propel the ball at a speed of..wait how to you calculate speed–god I wish I paid attention in math class..well maybe if i turn it into terms of money–no thats not going to work I’ll just confuse myself–c’mon Arataka [L. Name] is watching.”
What exactly are you supposed to be learning again? Reigen gets butterflies hearing you chuckle at him. Swiftly he puts away his shyness and straightens up. A big sign with neon letters spelling “Fake it till you make it Arataka!” light up in his head and he tosses the ball. You shift your weight to the other side. Reigen holds his breath. The ball bounces once over a cup…over another..then it circles the rim of one smack dab in the center! Reigen turns to you, chest puffed and proud.
“You see [L, Name] true technique comes from confidence! As an experienced cup pong player it’s only natural that I get it on my first try–”
“Want to try again?”
The teenager, who quite frankly became invisible several minutes ago, speaks up. Reigen freezes. Like a toy on a rusty spin he turns around in a lagged fashion. You can practically hear the metallic scrape as his face turns away from you and toward the vendor.
“Huh?”
“You didn’t make it. You have two more balls though, give it another go!”
You cover your breathless “Oh” with your hand. You shouldn't make fun! He’s trying! You hear the teenager pity him in his head. “Jesus dude, talk about embarrassing.” He’s cringing out his skin at your boss's failed attempt to wow you.
“Hm, well, second time's the charm isn't it [L. Name]?”
Reigen picks up another ball. He throws it a little differently this time. Another fail.
He glares at the kid. The look in his eyes calls out
“C’mon dude give me a hand! Help me out!”
And the kid just purses his lips together as if to respond “You’re on your own dude.”
Reigen's inner voice commands that he avoid your gaze. With one last chance he picks up the last ping pong ball.
“Reigen you can do this. Greatest ping pong toss player of the 21st century you can do it!”
That's another habit of his–calling himself by his last name when he really needs that encouragement. You take it as a sign to cheer him on.
“You can do it! Third time's the charm!”
You clap your hands together.
Reigen bites his tongue, he can do it. He throws the ball. It bounces thrice then towards a cup at the far end of the table. You grip Reigen's shoulder in anticipation. Like the first time it circles the cup and comes to a slow stop. It trembles, teetering the edge. Just as it's about to fall in, and your grip tightens, and Reigen feels his teeth dig into his flesh, Dimple appears.
“Dimple??”
You whisper. Dimple gives you a deviant smirk before blowing the ball off the edge of the cup onto the floor with a short huff. Reigen's teeth cage the strained whimper that beats behind them. Knowing he can’t make a scene, Dimple sticks his tongue out, turns around, slaps his own ass, and then flies off. What a jerk. Reigen takes a deep breath.
“Aw whatever, ping pong toss never won anyone an award anyway.”
He waves off the stand, trying to be nonchalant. But the bitter “Dimple you!!!” echoing in his head tells you he cares more than he wants to admit.
“Lets go [L. Name]”
Without realizing he’s taken your hand and is leading you away from the stand. Your first instinct is to pull away. But you stop. You stare at the way his hand warps over yours, and you let your hand fall limp and be guided–wait warps? You squint at your hands. The longer you look the fuzzier they appear. You look up, then around the venue, and the blurriness is slowly creeping in every direction.
“Maybe I’m just over exerting myself..”
You think. It would make sense, the combination of everything could be too much. Reigen's mind is a mess, so you tune it out for a moment. Once you do you feel it again. Those eyes. This time they're stronger than last time. They're picking you apart–trying to take something you don’t have. The feeling fades for the second time, and Reigen has you standing at another game.Your body sways unsteadily with every step Reigen pulls out of you. You're getting lightheaded, but from what? You haven't drunk anything yet. This happens over and over again for another hour. Now the two of you are at the edge of the event area.
The ocean waves roar loudly at the shore. They rock fiercely under the moon's pull, or so it seems. Reigen’s voice is becoming overwhelmingly loud for whatever reason. It’s giving you a headache. The carnival lights and smell of food are suddenly making you nauseous. You start to stumble over yourself and those eyes come back, except this time you don't look toward them. Reigen is a little above himself. When he notices how far you two have wandered across the festival he starts to think.
“Wow I’m having such a good time with them, I wonder if–”
“Can you be quiet for a second?”
You mutter, forgetting that Reigen hasn't said anything aloud.
“Huh?”
A bead of sweat races down his temple?
“Have I been thinking outloud this entire time??”
Great now he’s panicking. His inner voice isn’t quieting down, instead it’s picking up in volume to berate himself like usual. You pull your hand away from his and begin to walk off. Reigen stays behind dumbfounded.
“Damn it I must’ve crossed a line somewhere..”
This he does say out loud. You catch it, barley, and turn around to drag him with you.
“No, just come on.”
You say half mindedly. This time he notices your hands locking together, and the realization hits him that you two were holding hands before too. He fumbles over his words until he stops entirely. His heart drops to his gut, and for a moment the adrenaline keeps his mind silent. You two rush to the shore. You’re kicking up sand on the way. Reigen stumbles trying to keep it off his nice dress shoes and out his socks. The fresh sea air calms your nausea and gives a moment to compose yourself.
“Do you feel that?”
You ask in a hushed tone.
“Feel what? The spirit? No, no I don't.”
He follows up with a scoff.
“It must be too weak for me to pick up on.”
You fight the urge to tell him to quit the bullshit, but you don't, you just nod.
“Its here. It's watching us, and it’s following close behind. ”
Reigens confident stance slumps.
“Woah you're sure? Well where is it?”
He hunches down to follow your lead and whisper.
“I don’t know, but it’s trying to wait me out.”
“Us.”
He corrects.
“Sure man.”
The two of you stare at each other for a second in silence. Your eyes dart side to side, trying to catch the spirit while it thinks you're occupied. You try to listen closely without picking up on the inner voices around you. Your heart beats rapidly in your chest. You need it to slow but it wont. Reigen doesn't make a comment on the fact that he’s close enough to inhale the air you're exhaling. The chatter of the festival doesn’t foresee lessening. So you stand there. Onlookers point at you and Reigen judgmentally.
“What the hell are they doing?”
They snicker amongst themselves before disappearing into the background. A minute passes, then two. Your vision is going back to normal alongside your heart beat. The hairs on the back of your neck lay down. And as grateful as you are, something tells you that shouldn't be happening.
Reigen breaks the ice with a curious “uh”
Your eyes meet his with a seriousness. His handsome face, much more clear now that your vision is back, makes you stutter.
“Its–The spirit is gone again.”
“What??”
He backs up then falls back in again.
“What do you mean gone? Where could it have gone?”
He raises a hand over both of your mouths to cover his loud whispering.
“We need to lure it back out again.”
You put a hand on your chin. How do you lure a spirit you don't understand? You look to Reigen for a suggestion.
“Well, uh-give me a second to work my genius..”
“Who are you kidding? You don’t know a thing about what's going on!”
His inner mind snaps. You poke his forehead with your index finger. It’s a silent reprimand to his inner mind. However you follow it up with.
“You’ve got to have something in there, you always do.”
Reigen's heart squeezes. Of course you think that, but right now he’s kind of at a loss. He can't outwit something he can’t see. Despite that, he closes his eyes and searches for the solution you know he has tucked away. Reigen’s hands get clammy, he’s not coming up with anything. Just then you hear someone scream on the steps leading to the beach.
A teenage girl runs to the steps in a frenzy. Everyone looks around confused as she trips down the concrete stairs and kicks up sand in a sprint to the water. Reigen shoots up.
“What the?”
The girl keeps progressing into the water. She doesn't pay mind to it clogging up her throat, or the waves that are ripping her feet from under her. All the people watching her don't move an inch to help her. They just stand there. Reigen grits his teeth.
“Oh come on!.”
He thinks before running after her. You follow suit, keeping an eye for the stubborn spirit. Reigen runs into the water, soaking his clothing and getting salt in his eyes. You come shortly after. With Reigen's arms hooked under her shoulders and your hands lifting her feet, you two drag her toward dry land. The girl is kicking frantically. She screams profanities and chokes
“Let me go! You’re in my way!”
Her pupils get big like saucers. Her face wrinkles with fear as she shakes her head and yanks her limbs to and fro.
“In your way to do what? Drown yourself??”
You shout but she won’t answer.
“She’s freaking hysterical!”
Reigen remarks. You two look to each other for instructions. Reigen’s disheveled hair, your slight shivering from the cold water communicate a loss. Your eyes dart from Reigen to the girl, who’s still wildly fighting in your hands. Can you drop her? Will she run back? Then a lightbulb lights up in your head as you two reach the dry sand.
“Reigen, the rumor, what does it say?”
“Oh yeah! It’s some ghost..”
He waves his hand around from his head to his chin to his lip and back.
“He–it, comes only during the festival–”
“Duh Reigen! Something more specific!”
Your knees buckle and almost drop under your (and the girls) weight. Reigen snaps his fingers.
“Its a very jealous ghost born that targets pairs-”
A boy runs out obviously distressed. He pushes past the unmoving crowd screaming for someone named “Moemi”. The girl perks up when she hears him call out and scowls. Angrily she mutters
“Stay the hell away from me you bastard.”
You take note of the necklace she’s wearing, it's an initial that's certainly not hers. Immediately you remember the two kids at the food stand.
“Couples I assume.”
You wave the boy over.
“Hey over here!”
His head whips side to side, looking for your voice, but he can't seem to find it. You call again
“Over here!”
The boy runs in the direction of your voice until he abruptly face-plants into the sand. Moemi gains sudden strength and breaks free of your guy’s hold. However by the time her feet try to push off the ground, she’s also knocked unconscious. Reigen takes a step back.
“What kind of ghost is this”
His pitch matches how terrified he is. Your ideas whittle down to one.
“Arataka, I know what we need to do.”
He’s taken aback hearing you use his first name. That's the second time you’ve done it tonight.
“What?”
He’s full attention now.
“Well the spirit targets couples right?”
“Yeah..”
Oh god no.
“We have to act in love. I felt funny earlier–dissoriented. The spirit must have been trying to feel me out and then swapped targets once I didn’t meet it’s criteria.”
You point to the two unconscious bodies on the beach. Reigen starts to feel hot despite his soaked clothing. To be frank you don’t want to either, you don’t feel ready at all.
“We have to Arataka.”
You avoid using his last name on purpose.
“Theres got to be another way [L. Name]--”
“[F. Name], Arataka. Call me by my first name.”
Reigen's stomach churns. He can’t believe he has to do this. He feels lightheaded too, maybe he’ll faint and wake up in his bed. His inner voice barks at him.
“Now is not the time to panic, idiot! Just do it.”
Those familiar lights beam in his head again. “Fake it till you make it.”..yeah. Reigen fixes his posture and holds a hand out to you.
“Okay. Fine, [F. Name].”
You bite the inside of your cheek. UGH.
“Let's go, we have to direct the spirit before those kids wake up.”
This time you interlock your fingers with his when you take his hand.
“Come on.”
Reigen drops his suit jacket on the sandy floor and picks up his pace to follow you. As soon as you two step back into the festival square the activity starts up again. The heat from the food stands and crashing bodies in the congested strip kept you from feeling too cold. You lead Reigen to a food vendor.
“I’ve noticed a lot of couples getting this, let's share it.”
You point to what is essentially a giant heart shaped cheese stick. Reigen dusts sand off his face.
“I was about to say the same thing [Name] good thinking!”
You roll your eyes. A few moments later your turn to order comes up. You open your mouth to order but Reigen beats you to the punch. Though he quickly regrets it when he has to read the name off the menu.
“One..ooey gooey cheesey heart melter..please”
The worker inside nods. You two stand on the other side of the truck to wait for your food.
“Do you really think this will work?”
Reigen asks, opening his side for you to move into.
“If we do it up right it will.”
You reassure him and follow his signal. Without a word you take his arm and snake it around your shoulder. You look around for the eyes again in vain. When your food comes out you hold it by the stick firmly between your thumb and index.
“You bite one side and I’ll bite the other.”
Reigen nods. Before you take a bite you pause. In a soft, loving tone you remind him.
“Don’t forget to smile.”
You two bite the opposing halves and drag them as far as the cheese will let it, laughing a bit when the cheese droops towards the floor.
“Perfect!”
You exclaim. Reigen collects the cheese in seconds and shoves it in his mouth. He’s all for the job but he can't waste money! It’s a messy affair that you stand in utter shock to behold. He slurps a string of cheese into his mouth then stops. He stiffens up. That was probably really gross. You cover your mouth and say
“Ew”
Into your hands. Yet your eyes narrow to accommodate your smile.
“Hey I can’t afford to waste money on carnival food!”
He proclaims, stuffing the remaining food into his mouth.
“I can see that.”
You let another laugh slip. Inner Reigen mutters a soft “Cute..” then fades into the backchatter. The hair on the back of your neck raises again. Immediately you close the distance between you and him. You use one hand to keep his face pointed at you and the other to keep his hand on your side
“It’s working”
You mouth. Reigen's shoulders fall back. Like a machine you watch him reset and fall into character. Inner Reigen becomes confident, edging him on. You grab his hand again and walk away from the truck.
“We should play some games.”
You motion towards the section ahead.
“Which ones?”
“Any!”
- -
The two of you start on a spree. One game turns to three which turns to seven. Reigen is shocked by how competitive you are. You’ve won almost every game you’ve challenged him to–all but rock paper scissors of course. The spirit's effects start taking hold of you again and the thrill of success is pushing you into them. The real couples around you have better luck than him. Reigen searches for games he thinks he can win at. The fair is closing soon though and the options are dwindling.
“Hey, let's try that one.”
A girl to the right of him clings to her boyfriend as she points to a game ahead of them. It's a strength based game with a mallet and bell. The game is framed beautifully by the lantern glow. “Heaven sent.” Reigen thinks. The neon sign in his head buzzes and his hold around your hand tightens.
“Arataka?”
You tap him. When he meets your attention he’s got an excited look in his eye much different from the careful one from before. Strangely though, your vision starts to uncloud. You dismiss it as being flippant. Surely it would raise in intensity once he wins you something. Eventually, he brings you to a game booth. You worry a little that he’s biting more than he can chew. He doesn't exactly weight lift.
“Are you sure..?”
You point to the heavy mallet next to the plate at the base of the long meter. The bell at the very top swings dauntingly at him. Reigen scoffs.
“Watch and learn Darli–[Name]”
Your vision fuzzies at that. Reigen chokes on his word. “Not too far” his conscience warns. You’re right though–What was he thinking? Reigen is strong, sure, but the mallet is making even guys heavier than him struggle.
The two of you are 6th in line. He looks around for something to help him out. An equalizer of sorts.. As couples laugh and tease one another, four sticky fingered kids run around unattended. You divert your attention to the other couples around you. While you come up with more things to do after this, Reigen calls the kids over. The four kids, no older than 12, circle around the small wad of cash that he flashes them. He whispers something to them, they nod to each other then to him, and once his turn comes up, the kids go wild.
The group splits into pairs. One pair distracts the vendor, pulling at his lanyard and screaming loudly for his attention. The other runs through and around the people behind you. Called back by the sudden commotion you watch Reigen jump onto the plate.
“DISTRACTION AND ACTION KICK!!”
Inner Reigen shouts as he makes contact. A voice, similar to dimples for some reason, explains the tacky move. The metal piece shoots into the bell. The ring vibrates off the metal and comes down with a loud “Tink!” The second the metal hits the bell, the spirit's effect disappears. You grit your teeth. The kids scurry off once they see their job is done. Reigen swiftly steps off the plate and heaves the mallet off the ground. The vendor turns around to see Reige holding the mallet…and you angrily dragging him away by the wet collar of his shirt.
“[Name] Whats wrong!?’
Reigen pries your hand off his collar and holds it close. His excitement dims out as your expression settles.
“What..?”
He rests a hand on the back of his neck. You don't respond. You can’t. Before you can even pull the words from your chest, you're convincing yourself to back down.
“Who cares if he cheats, we’re acting. Don't get too immersed.” “Its not getting too immersed, he’s messing up the plan!” Reigen holds the prize up to you. A big plush from the top shelf. You push it back into his chest. That familiar gut wrenching rush consumes Reigen again. Immediately he lets the plush fall to the ground and holds his hands to his side.
“[Name]..?”
You sigh. Embarrassment grips your throat, keeping your explanation sealed tight inside you. Reigen jumps to explain. Instead a flimsy lie flops out his mouth.
“I thought it’d help if I won something.”
He sounds bitter where he doesn't mean to. You raise a brow.
“Did you?”
Your tone slices his confident act in half.
“Yeah”
He scoffs
“I mean you said to act–I mean that's what I’m doing!”
“By cheating? The spirit–”
Reigen cuts you off before you can explain. He’s hardly thinking as he does, leaving you nothing to follow as he speaks.
“What’s it matter how? You’re getting too caught up in the act [Name]”
“Thats not the point Reigen!”
You grit your teeth.
“Look, the act doesn’t have to be genuine, it just has to be convincing. Lets just forget about this…”
He searched for the word, knowing good and well it’ll end poorly.
“Outburst. And go back to what we were doing.”
He plays up that smirk of his, the one he pulls when making deals–when he’s conning people. He reaches his hand back out for you to grab, and you slap it away.
Reigen’s smirk falters.
“Fine, be like that! When you find a new way to control the spirit you let me know.”
His tongue is sharp and passive aggressive.
“You’re idea of helping is fucking up the plan! You sound so sure of yourself but you don't even know what you’re doing do you?”
You poke him in his chest over and over.
“I’m trying to get our crap together for the job you wanted, Arataka. You.”
You’re berating him but deep down you’re berating yourself. How could you get wrapped up in the fantasy to the point of being this worked up.
“Hey it was your idea to pretend to be a couple, I’m just playing the part.”
He puts distance between the two of you. You feel so unreasonably angry you want to scream–to rip his face off. You huff and throw your head back in disbelief. Something inside you tells you, you shouldn't be this angry. It's out of character. But is it for Reigen? Maybe this is who he really is. But what is he supposed to be right now? You overwhelm yourself trying to break down your own logic and his at the same time. Reigen gets tired of waiting and storms off to the front of the venue.
“Let me know when you’re composed.”
—-
Just like that he leaves you standing far behind to watch him fade into the crowd. You throw the prizes you won from the other games onto the ground. Your breath is heavy as you stare at the scattered items. The inner voices around you become too much–theyre pushing you out of your own head. They pile atop one another until they become indistinct from a jumbled mess of sound. All but one. Amongst the loud yammer of the festival the voice of a guy is clear. His voice is soothing and warm.
“It’ll be okay my dear, you don't need him.”
The voice feels like a steady hand on your back.
“I understand how you feel..you don’t have to peril any longer.”
It calls. It's so welcoming. So enticing. The hand pushes you forward towards the voice and you follow after it with a longing in your heart. The waves from the beach get louder, instead of intimidating roaring, they slush around quietly. The chatter from the festival dies out. Slowly it gets more and more distant as the hand pulls you away. Finally you find yourself at the shoreline. The salty air soothes you. Your head feels weighed down. You let it hang atop your shoulders as your eyelids fall half over your eyes.
“You didn’t deserve that.”
The voice questions.
“Huh..?”
Your lips barely part to answer. The voice manifests seemingly from the ocean, though, for some reason you don’t pay any attention to that.
“He let his insecurity get the better of him, and look what it caused.”
The man attached to the voice pulls you in for a hug. It was cold and wet. It makes you shiver but still, you don’t pull back.
“Love is such a prickly thing. One minute you feel completely guided by them, and the next they leave you in the dust. Isn’t that right?”
You think over what the voice says. It’s right, you felt so fuzzy, so overtaken, Reigen was quite literally guiding through the blurry vision and light headedness. And worst of all, you didn’t mind feeling so off the ground as long as he was the one holding your hand. But it wasn’t real. And yet it doesn’t hurt any less.
—
Reigen leans against the gate opening up to the venue. A cigarette sits snug between his fingers as he pulls it from his lips. His clothes have just started to dry off a little. His hair is stiffening into a messy state from the salt in the sea water. His inner voice fades back into his head as the smoke lingers in his lungs. When he exhales, the wall between him and his voice crumbles and it comes into full earshot.
“What were you thinking? How could you leave them alone like that?”
He takes another puff.
“You completely ruined the mood, so much for trying to impress them.”
Then another.
“You are a total loser.. Don't expect them to come to work tomorrow.”
Reigen tosses the burning stick onto the ground and stomps it out. He places a hand onto his head pensively.
“Thats not true, [Name] isn’t that dramatic. It’s not my fault. I was just trying to follow the plan.”
No response. His own mind doesn’t entertain the thought. His face shifts into a peeved scowl. But who's it directed to when there's no one there? The festival decreases in size the longer he stands there. Reigen kicks rocks away with his feet until there aren't any left.
“This is dumb”
He lets his head fall to the side. Maybe they picked a job bigger than the two of them could handle. Ready to call it in, Reigen starts back in the direction of the beach, hoping to find you. The walk was long. He feels like shit. Already his side feels empty without you nudging into it. His hand was colder without yours keeping it warm.
“Ugh this sucks.”
He pauses in his tracks.
“I don’t even know what I’m sorry for.”
He runs his hands over his face. He planned to apologize but for what? He cheated, so what? How was he supposed to know that the spirit would disappear if he did that? The guilt is eating at him. It urges him to reflect on what he did, but he isn’t clear on what he needed to reflect on. All he knows is that he upset you, and that’s enough to make his heart ache. So he keeps walking, but when he sees you what will he say? What will you allow him to say?
—
The voice continues to coddle you in its embrace.
“You trusted him today didn’t you..I understand, I did once too.”
It sympathises with you. You don't know whether to shake your head no or not. You did trust him. But only to follow instructions. You don’t answer. You try to look at the one talking to you, but your eyes won't bring themselves above the ground.
You mutter something along the lines of
“What do you mean?”
And the voice cups its freezing hands around your face.
“To give your heart away, I did it too. And I ended up just as heartbroken as you are now.”
Your heart tells you to agree with it. But you know better. Reigen wasn’t purposely trying to hurt you.
“No..”
You mumble.
“No?”
The voice tries to sound curious, but it's off, too much of itself. You shake your head.
“He didn’t do it on purpose.”
“You don't know that.”
It cooes.
“I do…I do, he said so.”
You close your eyes, trying to remember.
“No…If he did then why would you be so upset, hm? Why would you feel so down?”
It tries to reason with you. The world gets darker the longer you listen to the smooth voice. Your limbs feel numb under the pressure.
“No, not outloud, in his head.”
He didn’t hurt you on purpose. He was irrational–childish sure but not malicious. His inner self spoke louder than he did when he was standing next to you.
“If it didn’t come out his mouth then he didn’t say it. He thought it, but didn’t think you were worthy enough to know.”
Insists the voice. You start to agree. He didn't say it outloud…he didn’t tell you himself did he? You feel yourself start to fall forward when the realization hits you. You can’t hear the inner voice of the man speaking to you. You pause–hold your breath and listen in, but there's nothing. Your head pounds with a headache.
“There’s no need to overthink it, my love. Just let me help.”
Its sweet tone warps into a scratchy commanding one. You reach for the hand on your cheek and try to grasp it.
“That’s not fair.”
Without any friction, it slides through and your nails poke your palm.
“He doesn’t know at all how I feel. How would he?..”
You try again to pry the hand off.
“Dont be ridiculous, anyone could figure it out if they tried.”
The voice is grainer now. It mixes with the oncoming sound of the ocean and loses its smooth touch. Your eyelids lighten and raise slightly.
“Let me go.”
You order. Your head isn’t as heavy anymore. You strain trying to lift it up.
“Stay here [Name], you’ll be happier here. Understood.”
“No I wont.”
“You won’t feel any better out there.”
“I won’t know unless I try.”
You raise your head up fully. Your eyes open wide and you're hit with the harsh chill of sea water. The tide pulls your feet from under you and you slip into the water.
“[Name]!”
You hear a familiar voice call you from behind.
“[Name]! What are you doing!?”
Reigen jumps off the steps onto the beach and runs toward you. The spirit reveals itself to you underwater. A face in a perpetual frown, with the body of mangled man holds you down by the waist. You kick and grab at the figure in front of you in total vain. Lower and lower you sink, until a firm hand yanks you above the surface.
“[Name] snap out of it!”
Water emerges from your lungs in a series of coughs. Reigen holds you close as he desperately retreats to the shore. The spirit follows gathering water into its form until the sandy edge stops it.
“Arataka!”
You place a hand on his cheek to check if it's really him. His inner voice is clear as your vision. It runs back and forth frantically questioning your safety until it focuses on the way your eyes gloss over looking at him. The spirit lets out a high pitched shriek that shakes the ground. You grab a handful of sand and clench it in your fist. The sand becomes surrounded by a colored energy. It hardens like rock and as you draw your arm back to throw, it sharpens around the edges.
“Shut up!”
You hurl the ball at the spirit and it shatters against it. The shards fly clean through the water, but the spirit doesn’t relent.
“You could do that all along?”
Reigen exclaims. You snap back, not ready for another argument after almost drowning.
“What was I going to do with this before? I can’t fight what I can’t see!”
You hesitate at your own words. ‘You can’t respond to what you can’t see.’
The spirit calls out to you one, then twice, until it realizes it can't reach you and switches to Reigen.
“You think you can trust them? They know more about you than you think they do Arataka”
The spirit mocks your voice with a real ditzy tone when saying his name.
“Yeah we talk a lot so what!?”
He rolls his eyes. Why would that bother him?! The spirit lets out a bellowing laugh.
“No you idiot. They knew more than you tell them outloud, go on [Name] tell him!’
You freeze. Reigen puts a hand on his hip.
“I know what you’re hinting at and I’m not buying it. [Name] Isn’t some telepathic spy or something.”
Except you are. You feel your body tighten up. You create another sharp heap of energy packed sand and throw it forward. Nothing happens. The spirit continues to taunt you.
“Don’t be dishonest!”
The spirit wheezes and hisses in satisfaction. You can't form a response. What can you say? “Yeah I’ve been reading your mind ever since I’ve arrived and known about your feelings for me–oh and I’ve been reading everyone else's mind too.”
You feel like throwing up. Reigen notices your body hunch over. The spirit continues to laugh, pushing again for the truth.
“[Name], you don't have to say anything you’re not ready to! I promise it’s fine!”
But it's not fine. Reigen reaches out. With both hands he forces you to look at him.
“I mean it [Name]! I’ll wait. Just focus on beating this guy–come on!”
You search his face for something to anchor yourself. Something to bring you down. You see the sincerity in his eyes–it's tangible yet it sits just shy of your grasp. Reigen scrambles over what to do. In the heat of the moment he slaps his hands over your ears. The pop in your eardrums stuns you a bit (ouch), and muffles the spirit's voice.
He doesn’t say anything after. He allows you to scour his face. You watch the way he breathes. Just like he’s smoking a cigarette. He’s focused on something–you. Reigen doesn’t look anywhere else but your eyes, not for a second. You can hear his inner mind run through things to say to you and berate itself for the lack of good options. He can’t stop himself from worrying, but in all that panic you can still hear him. Reigen’s hands have a warmth that radiates in waves over your face. One that allows you to close your eyes and breathe. When you open them the spirit is whipping wildly in the background, stretching far onto the shore and then falling back after barely reaching you. You recognize the pattern in your peripheral vision, and the lightbulb flickers.
“The rumor Arataka."
You break the silence.
“The rumor said something about a lover being drowned in this ocean–”
You bolt forward as soon as you process the thought.
“W-wait a second [name], What are you doing?”
Reigen grabs your arm. Your brow crooks upward as to ask what he thinks he’s doing.
“The ocean.”
“I just saved you from drowning less than 1o minutes ago–”
“Then you can save me again if I don’t come up.”
You interrupt. Reigen looks you up and down. Can he? He goes on jobs like this all the time, risking his life in all sorts of weird ways. But this time he’s scared for more than himself. More than his student and his friends. He wants to tell you something–get what’s important off his chest before he lets you go out there. He’s not sure you’ll die but when you dip under the surface how can he be sure he can pull you out. Without powers at that. The worry jams his voice box. But he shakes the hesitance away anyway and says in a breath.
“It’s dangerous.”
He says it to you but he might mean it for himself more. It’s dangerous. Dangerous for a lot more reasons than the one in front of him that’s for sure. You hold his chin steady. The ocean thrashes behind you, counting you down. Five.. Your eyes graze over his lips then back to the sea. Four.. You place a hand on his chest to close the distance. Three…You feel his heart beat vibrate behind his ribcage from the pad of your pinky finger to your palm. You hold onto the feeling as you make your decision. Two…he starts to speak, to form a question or tell you to be safe but you sprint into the ocean before he can finish. You don't bother letting it get to one before you let the water wash over you. Reigen stands behind, watching your back dip into the sea, and he tells himself you’ll be back. Even if he doesn’t know how much he believes it.
—
Once you disappear, Reigen tightens up. The spirit growls lowly.
“You think I’m going to just–let your lover leap into me? What a load of shit!”
The spirit's voice is vile now. His words slip through like sputtering bile on words like “lover” and “shit.” Reigen stands tall in front of the watery “man” in front of him.
“You know spirit I’m willing to make a wager with you.”
The spirit jiggles with delight.
“A wager?”
“If you can beat me in a game of rock paper scissors, you can keep them, and I won't send any of my exorcist buddies to take you out.”
Reigen offers his hand to shake. The last time he bluffed someone this hard he had a gun in his pockets. He still has the gun but he's not too sure bullets would work on something without any vital organs..
“Rock p-p-paper scissors?”
It sputters again, flinging water across the beach in large spit-like drops. Reigen hardly shields his disgust.
“If I beat you more times than you beat me in rock paper scissors for 10 minutes, you’ll let us go and promise to leave this festival site for good.”
The spirit takes a smaller form, evidently accepting the offer.
“You won't even claim them as your lover, you're more dishonest-t-t than I thought-t-t”
Reigen steps up to start.
“You should focus less on people's personal lives and more on your speech impediment.”
“Ooo touchy touchy!”
The spirit teases.
“You should follow your own advice ya phoney–oh and I hope your friend or whatever they are knows how to hold their b-b-breath. It’s a long way down for a place as dark as the night ocean. I can only control a small section of this water, if they get lost inside me and ‘accidentally’ get pushed out…well I can't quite say where they'll end up.”
He says mockingly. Reigen grits his teeth.
“Yeah well I guess you better hope they do if you wanna win our bet”
Reigen draws his hand back in a fist. The spirit morphs into a giant hand and follows suit.
Rock, paper scissors–Reigen plays paper. The spirit, rock.
—
The ocean calms a little below the waves. After diving a few feet you don't bother keeping your eyes open, you just swim with the hope of hitting something. There's an uncharacteristic swirl in the spirits faux body compared to the rest of the ocean. You hold your hand out to feel for the water's turn and that's what tells you which direction to sink in. You fall quietly, there isn’t noise in the water. That is until a calm voice calls out to you.
“Hello?”
The voice asks curiously. This voice is young–far younger than you. You’d like to call back, but you need the air in your lungs. The voice seems to assume as much because it continues despite your nonresponse.
“You shouldn’t be down here…I’d rather if you didn’t..”
You kick your feet a little to propel yourself.
“Well that’s not exactly an option for me, is it now?”
You think sarcastically, yet the spirit bites back.
“I didn’t ask you to invade my beach with your weird ‘something’”
“Maybe you shouldn’t be dragging people into the ocean then.”
You tilt to the left into the drag.
“Oh, so you don’t understand.”
The voice grumbles before abruptly stopping. Right on que the waters roughness picks up. You fight the urge to gasp in shock. ‘You don't understand’ repeats over and over as you thrash around. Understand what?
—
“Rock, paper scissors–Yeah!”
Reigen finished the 10th round with a win. The spirit becomes restless. It won one round out of 10 so far. Reigen starts to lean back. This is his territory now.
“How do you keep doing that!”
The spirit pouts. Reigen strikes a flashy pose
“A master never reveals his secrets my friend–erh enemy.”
The spirit spits a wad of seat water at him and narrowly misses.
“Hey watch where you aim that!”
Reigen darts to the side, almost tripping over the side of his feet.
“I’ve got some questions for you, conman,”
“Conman is a little harsh, I’d prefer to call myself a businessman.”
Reigen hardly pays attention to the insult, he’s heard it so many times before. He reels his hand back for another round. He’s keeping tally on the sand in all directions, just in case the spirit gets mad and decides to wipe one away.
“Well you’re certainly no psychic.”
The spirit follows suit, throwing out scissors, which is beaten by Reigen’s rock.
“Hey are you even trying?”
He asks derisively.
“Shut up.”
Reigen rolls his eyes.
“What a soreee loser.”
The spirit ignores him and asks his question instead.
“Why did you come to the festival with that person?”
Reigen draws his hand back again.
“To take care of the spirit terrorizing the venue of course–you.”
His response is short and matter-a-fact.
“It didn’t look like that..I was watching”
“Yeah I know, hey that's a pretty creepy thing to do to people yknow you must be some sick brand of pervert.”
Reigen waves an accusing finger at him..after beating him with scissors. The spirit scoffs.
“Eugh grow up. I watch to decide who’s worthy.”
Reigen shifts in his spot in the sand. What the hell is that supposed to mean?
—
Your lungs flex and unflex in an attempt to breathe. You tell yourself to stay calm, but the burn intensifies at a quickening pace. Then you hit sand. The thrashing stops as your entire body falls like a leaf on the floor. Air or at least the sensation of air, fills your lungs.
“You and I aren’t so different, I could see you with him...in the festival.”
The voice intensifies. There isn’t any animosity within this one like the voice on the surface.
“What do you mean?”
You grab at the sandy bottom and pull yourself around. You’ve found yourself in the center of a bubble of sorts. The water caves at a point, still interacting with everything but what's in the very middle. It drags your feet upward but isn’t strong enough to take you away. And it doesn’t invade past your feet. You use your forearms to bring yourself out of the water wall so you can sit and face the spirit.
“Love is a silly thing isn’t it? I know you know what it feels like, I showed it to you earlier. But it comes at a price.”
You shift from pulling to digging.
“So that was you? Making me feel all airey? Are you why I was angry earlier too?”
You ask, not really expecting an honest answer. You call it sarcasm on your hand but you really just don’t feel like confessing your feelings to a ghost.
“All I did was show you what you would’ve seen later on.”
It was.
”Humans like you are unappreciative of that feeling. You take more than what you deserve and give too little in return”
A white light makes you blink despite your eyes being closed, and on instinct you open them. In front of you is a man sitting with one knee to his chest and the other splayed next to him. His form is what you expected. A young man with a meek appearance. The water bubbles around him. His transparent form reveals a small golden piece of jewelry floating in his center. The light illuminates your surroundings. You pull yourself in front of the body and stand still. Something compels you to listen rather than fight. Maybe it’s because you don’t know if you’ll still be able to breathe if you fight him, or perhaps Mob’s empathetic attitude is rubbing off on you. The spirit doesn't acknowledge you next to him. He just continues on.
“Not being able to look past yourselves for one another.”
You notice his form scrunch up despite having no facial features. That sentence makes you cringe.
“Thats a little dramatic isn't it?”
Sure he cheated on a game, and it hurt a bit, but you know it’s not that serious. The spirit raises its head toward the surface.
“I had someone I cared about. We knew everything about each other, or at least I thought we did. But that kind of naivety is for fools.”
“Is that where the ring is from?”
You point to the gold piece. The spirit reaches inside himself and pulls it out. The gold shimmers in his hand.
“From the love of my life.”
You sense where the conversation is going. You can’t count how many ghosts you’ve met that have been killed in crimes of betrayal and passion.
“Just because someone you trusted killed you–”
“I didn’t say they did.”
The spirit sounds offended that you would make that assumption. You took a step back.
“I missed my chance.”
You tilted your head to the side.
“I knew them so well I figured I had time to wait….it was foolish.”
—
Reigen drew another tally for his score.
“20 to 1”
His announcement goes ignored. The giant hand shakes again and throws a paper making their 3rd tie.
“How long have we been at it..[Name] sure is taking a while.”
Reigen thinks, trying to hide his worry by taking an extra second to mark the sand. He tries to guess how long it's been, it feels closer to 5 or 6 minutes. The fist curves as a crevice between two fingers to make a crooked smile.
“Hey, do you think your partner has died yet? Maybe they’ve been swept away by the current.”
The water shakes and echoes a grimy chuckle.
“Don’t try any of your mind games on me. Psychology games don’t work on me.”
“You’re too s-serious, loosen up a little! You don’t have to impress me, I’m not your f-ffake date.”
The water jiggles again before erupting into laughter.
“Hey what did I say about–ugh forget it.”
Reigen's face soures. The spirit keeps laughing mockingly at him. Reigen looks to the side and places a hand in front of his mouth.
“You’ve got one ugly laugh..”
He speaks more than loud enough for the spirit to hear. Again, his jab is ignored. With a long wheeze the spirit says
“You’re like a bad magician, you know that? Always got an act for something even though we can the air holes in your hat!”
Reigen falls back dramatically.
“Can you stop with the cyptics please my god!”
The fist grows tall and looms over Reigen. It maintains its smile as it swallows him its shadow.
“You’ve been trying to play a character ever since you got here, but I bet that partner of yours can see right through it. I know I can, and I can’t even read your mind.”
Reigen hardly catches that. Can read his mind? He thinks over it while the fist stares at him.
“If [name] could read my mind I’d know wouldn’t I? I mean there would be signs. Plus they would tell me wouldn't they?”
The spirit slides back and draws for another go. The two shake their hands–rock, paper, scissors-
Would Reigen?
And they throw.
“I know how spirits like you work, I’m not buying anything you say about my coworker so just quit it.”
The spirit spits out a splintered piece of wood with a gurgle and draws a line on his side of the sand. 20-2.
“Fine, have it your way–woahhoho!”
The first suddenly slinks back to the middle of the water. Something at its core has captured its attention. Reigen chases after it.
“Hey where do you think you’re going?! We’re not done yet!”
—
“You manipulate people's feelings and make them turn on each other because you regret not confessing your feelings? What kind of logic is that”
You can’t hide your disgust.
“I prefer to think of it as saving people. They spend their time playing fool with each other, eventually it’ll crash down anyway. The sea is a peaceful way to go. They’ll come to appreciate it.”
“So to you it’s better to die than to live and learn?”
You watch the spirits light flutter.
“Tell me is the inside of you water or air?”
He doesn't respond but you continue anyway.
“It’s air isn’t it. You keep the ring there to prevent corrosion, don't you?”
You ask sternly. The light flutters again, recognizing your question even if the spirit itself doesn't.
“It seems like you’re not doing any better dead than you are alive.”
“No, I’m not. But the world could do with less people like us.”
His response is curt. The water suddenly inches in and sucks your foot in..
“No wait! You don’t have to do this!”
The water's pull intensifies. Sand packs under your fingernails and balls in your fist as you’re dragged from the center. You take the opportunity to surround the sand in energy and throw it towards the ring. The ball narrowly hits and knocks the ring onto the sandy floor. Covered in your energy, the ring chases after you once you’re sucked away fully. The voice fades away into the water’s murmur. Before you can try and swim towards the surface, you feel something wrap around your foot and fling you towards the sky.
—
Reigen watches the form flop around like one of those car dealer balloons. His eyes widen as he watches you shoot out of the water like a torpedo.
“The-cough- The ring!”
The sea water shreds your throat. Reigen pivots side to side
“What ring–Woah!”
You do several cartwheels as you hurl into him like a shuriken. Reigen scrambles before assuming a volleyball player position. Reigen stiffens his body to brace for the impact. He looks up to align himself below you and spots a tiny object shimmering past him. Then you crash into and the both of you skid on the sand.
“What the hell was that supposed to do??”
You jolt back up, a little weak on your feet but you’re fine.
“No time to explain we should run!”
Reigen takes your arm and starts bolting down the beach.
“No we can't! We have to get the ring, it's the object the spirit is tied to!”
You’re following suit without even realizing. Reigen points up at the sky, the shiny object is still airborne.
“You mean that thing over there?”
The spirit is chasing after you too, moving closer and farther with the tide. It's screaming at you as it fights to catch up. You look back in search of the illuminated man that's surely hiding somewhere inside its body but he’s not there. The ring lands somewhere in the sand before you two can catch it. Once it does the spirit loses form again.
“It’s probably heading that way”
You motion towards a spot another 50 feet down. Reigen huffs.
“Ok, sure, I was on the track team in middle school.”
“I’ve got a better idea.”
You take another heap of sand and press it against Reigen's back.
“Go get that ring Arataka.”
“[name] what are you-HEY!”
And blast him forward. Not enough to get him all the way there in one blow but with enough speed to get him half way. You have to leave it to him one more time. While Riegen propels away you turn back and sprint up those concrete stairs. When you make it up you immediately make a bee line to the game section.
“Something heavy, something heavy.”
You zigzag through the desolate venue until you spot it.
“Bingo.”
—
Reigns body bends back against the heap of sand and flings forward once it comes to an abrupt stop. He stumbles over his legs mid run and almost eats sand, but he keeps pushing. The spirit disappears and appears as a hump in the water. Reigen drops to his knees once he makes it to the spot.
“Cmon, cmon where is it?”
He throws sand behind him, digging for the ring underneath. One spot comes up empty, then the next. The spirit catches up in no time.
“Don’t touch that you bastard!”
Its voice is unlike any it’s worn before. It’s distorted and creaky. The tide comes in fiercely in an attempt to grab him. The ghost slams the ground and spits water toward Reigen. The water floods the holes he’s making and makes wet, sink-ey sand everywhere. Not to mention it gets all over him. The spirit forms into one long lanky finger and attempts to squash him.
“Hey, cut that out!”
Reigen rolls to the other side. The ghost tries again…and again, trapping Riegen in a constant loop of rolling side to side.
“[Name] hurry back”
His inner voice is sobbing as the thrashing makes him nauseous.
—
You jump down the stairs, mallet in hand. You can see the ghost farther down and using the same tactic from before, fling yourself in that direction. The mallet flies out of your hand and ahead of you, almost smashing into Reigen's head. His girlish shrill echoes out. You make it over there shortly after.
“Hey! Spirit! Looking for this?”
You pull a gold ring from your pocket and hold it up to the finger. The ghost pauses and says with a growl
“Hand it over.”
You wave the ring in front of it.
“You want it? Go fetch then!”
And throw it as far as you can in the opposite direction. The ghost doesn't think twice before shooting after it. Reigen looks up at you in confusion for a second.
“Keep looking!”
You drop down to help him look. Then it clicks. A phoney! Reigen goes back to digging. It's the longest 20 seconds of your lives. You pull out several things before touching the ring. A necklace, a bottle cap, a concerningly burned spoon. The junk creates a pile behind you. Then you find it. The shiny ring!
“Quick Arataka the mallet!”
Reigen looks at you, then the mallet.
“I can hardly lift that thing are you for real!?”
“Reigengrabthegoddamnmallet!”
Reigen stands up. Takes a breath and the lights in his head flick one again. This time the letters spell
“Dont fuck it up!”
Reigen grabs the mallet with both hands.
“Here goes nothing!”
And heaves it over his shoulder with a grunt. Then, with all his might he swings down. You hear it make impact, and roll the mallet over. It didn't break. The ring pressed into the sand, leaving a perfect indent in the shape of itself when you frantically ripped it from the ground. Of course it wouldn’t break on impressionable sand. You and Reigen share a look and apparently an idea because you both book it for the stairs again mallet in arms (with the help of your energy).
You reach your hands to propel you and him toward the stairs and nothing happens. You try again. Nothing. You swear you can hear your hands choke like a car engine.
“C’mon not now!”
You curse. Reigen glances back at you awkwardly smiling at him.
“Are those track legs coming in handy now?”
You joke, clearly out of breath.
“Not now!”
Reigen retorts, also clearly out of shape. The ghost yells in the distance, it must have felt you two trying to break the ring. Its words are incoherent now. All you can understand from the slew of profanities is “get back here!”
You two run faster than you have in your entire lives. Sand kicks up in your wake. The stairs near and you hardly touch them when you go up them for the umpteeth time.
“Hand it over!’
Reigen demands in an exasperated tone. You swing the mallet over to him, he throws the ring on the concrete, and slams the mallet down. The ring flattens between the metal and the ground.
“Nooo!”
The spirit cries. Turns into long lanky hands that claw and the sand before slinking into the oceana and becoming still. You and Reigen watch the spectacle silently. A few seconds pass, then a minute.
“Is it over..?”
You shuffle to the edge of the step. The mallet slides out of Reigen's hand with a thud.
“Maybe?”
Reigen stares down at the flattened ring.
“We better check though, to be safe.”
You can’t think of anything you want to do less. Still, you abandon the ring and walk towards the water. Mess is scattered everywhere. You and Reigen stay close as you two search. Without the bright lanterns it’s hard to spot, but the moonlight cast faintly on a figure.
“Uh hello?”
You call out. You can see the water through it–It's the spirit's core but without the blinding white light. You start to walk with a little less caution. The spirit doesn’t attack when it notices you’re close.
“So uh..you done now?”
You ask pensively. The spirit doesn’t say anything, the rough feeling of defeat lingers around him. You reach out to touch him, your first gentle interaction since meeting.
“Sorry we broke your ring. Even though you hurt a lot of people, I know it meant a lot to you.”
Reigen stands behind you piecing together the missing context. The spirit shakes his head.
“I don’t have any words of regret for you in that's what you’re looking for.”
Reigen’s brow twitches. The nerve of this spirit!
“God lets just get rid of it and go.”
He thinks, tapping his finger against his side impatiently. You stop yourself from responding and the spirit stares at you face to face, also, for the first time since meeting. Reigen mistakes its stare as being towards him and backs away.
“[Name] I think our job is done here, lets uh..lets call it in for the night.”
You nod. It might be better to end things here.
“Nothing but time [name]. Nothing but time..”
The spirit's voice wisp away along with his body as you leave him to wither where he stands. But his sarcastic cadence sticks with you after the sea sweeps what was left of him under its cold waters.
You and Reigen walk in without a word along the beach. You have to find Reigen's jacket which got tossed around somewhere. The silence is awkward and full of questions yet to be asked. What are you supposed to say after this? Reigen goes over the same question in his own head.
“Another job well done, huh?”
You chip the ice first. Reigen chuckles.
“Yeah. Not too happy about all the..everything, in my clothes. That’s one trip to the cleaners my wallet won’t forget.”
You hum.
“Well at least there's no water in your ears, I'm gonna be practically deaf after this.”
You kid back.
“You were pretty good out there. Say, how did you keep the spirit occupied for so long? I was underwater for a decent amount of time.”
Reigen perks up.
“Oh just a game of rock paper scissors.”
He says it so casually you almost don’t register it.
“Really?”
“You’re surprised? My dear [Name] No one can beat me at rock paper scissors.”
“I see that now, I guess I just didn’t expect the star of the paranormal world to be so clever.”
You say with a twinge of sarcasm. Reigen raises a brow at that.
“Well I guess we have a lot more to learn about each other huh?”
Your eyes widen a little. He says it like he looks forward to it. He does. Reigen catches what he says and coughs out a save.
“As uh, coworkers I mean.”
“No, it’s okay I know what you meant. Though uh, I wouldn’t mind getting to know each other a little more.:
You emphasize the word ‘more’ just enough. Reigen tells himself to focus on the jacket–not to misconstrue your words even though he has a hunch that you meant it exactly how it sounded.
The two of you lose your words soon after though. The tension resumes just as strong as when it left. Reigen walks a little farther ahead than you, finally finding his jacket. As he holds it up and beats the sand off of it, your conscience pokes at you.
“Ugh I should apologize for earlier, I totally snapped at him over nothing..”
You rub your arm remorsefully. Reigen isn’t much different.
“You should apologize for bringing the plan off course..”
Scolds his inner voice. You try to beat him to it, but you two just end up speaking at the same time.
“Oh uh, you first.”
Reigen offers. Damn his manners.
“Im sorry for snapping at you. There's no way you could’ve known how the spirit fully operated. I was wrong to act like you did..”
Reigen nods. He accepted your apology long before you thought to give him one. He waves it off.
“Ah it's nothing, I'm sorry for taking the plan left. And cheating on the game, I think I uh..“
He can’t believe he’s admitting it. He supposes the spirits' words influenced him more than thought.
“I wanted to impress you. I’m not really sure why–I mean I do, you’re great, but, uh–anyway”
He switches topics like his life depends on it.
“You don't have to worry about what the spirit says”
There's a tone of great importance in that, like it's the number one thing he wants you to take away from today.
“I don't expect you to share anything you’re not ready to…we all have our reasons for keeping secrets.”
You kick a rock out the sand. You clasp your hands around one another, they clam up in anticipation for what you’re about to do.
“Thanks, I don’t think it’ll be long before I am.”
As Reigen circles back to you, you reach your hand out towards his and grab it. Reigen can feel the blood rise to his face. He wants to jump out his skin. Or maybe he wants to hold your hand tighter, or pull you into his side. He can’t decide. So he settles for neither.
“You must be cold, from the water.”
He hands you his suit jacket without making eye contact. Being with you really does make him feel childish. You’re not exactly cold, nor sure his damp jacket will help you, but you take it anyway.
“Thank you Aratak—I mean Reigen... And you don’t have to worry about impressing me. I think you’re great too…as is.”
This time his name feels more intimate on your tongue. Reigen's flushed ears tell you it feels just as close hearing it. "I think you’re just fine as is.” Do you now? It warms his heart to hear that. Almost to the point of being overwhelming. Yet he doesn’t correct you. Or ever move your hand. As you two finally exit the cleared venue, he nudges you.
“What do you say we get some dinner? On me.”
“That’d be nice. Only if we get to go out again though, under different circumstances.”
You say calmly, leaning into his side just like you did earlier in the evening. You don’t have to look at Reigen to see that he’s smiling, you can hear it.
“I can arrange for that.”
“Hopefully soon?”
“Very.”
You’re sure you’ll come around to telling him about your extra power soon. But for now you decide to let things run from here, to take it one step at a time. Starting with falling asleep in the passenger seat of Reigen's car, hands interlinked and resting on the center counsel.
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this! I tried to avoid too much characterization but yknow it’s an x reader fic so 💀 I know my style now is wordy and maybe a little less fluid but i think that will improve the longer I write. So thank you for reading :)(reigen4tumblrsexyman 2026)
No I didn’t forget Reigens first name wasn’t Reigen why do you ask..pfft who would do something like that..def not me..🧍♀️
P.s- if you like this work, consider looking at my other works (linked here)!
