#kataomci

that smell. it’s new. regardless, bodies that cross and decide to rummage around in his area have become a nuisance. especially to take care of said situation. but, it was hard to deter from the scent and instead, he instinctively starts to follow it.

When he saw the listings for a vaguely familiar apartment building, despite the other, more appealing advertisements presented to him, it felt right for Masamune to take it. The building itself was a little run down, possibly in need of several crucial repairs, but it was comfortably affordable. More importantly, reminded him of the building he lived in with his mother when he was small. It was a humble reminder of where he came from, the times when he felt like he was at his lowest, as he proceeded toward a brighter future.

A strange feeling lingered in his chest as he dropped one of the last few boxes of his stuff off in his room, chalked up to nervous excitement for whatever awaited him down the road. Things had been looking up recently- he’s been quickly working up the ranks at his job, his partnership with Midori was as strong as ever, their skills allowing them to join Agartha to grow even more- and signing off on his new home seemed to cement it all in, forcing him to look at the accomplishments he’s made over the past he could never quite let go of.

Now all that’s left was to greet his neighbors, hoping to liven the place and give it a more welcoming feeling after getting to know the tenants. He pressed the doorbell, head tilting at the lack of sound, and pressed it a few more times. When the door slowly creaked open, his heart picked up the pace as Masamune focused on the sliver of a pale face peeking through the crack he allowed to open. “Sorry, the doorbell didn’t seem to be ringing, but I guess it was ringing inside...?” he paused and cleared his throat, “I’m Matsuoka Masamune and I just moved in next-”

The door swung open violently and Masamune saw stars burst and blind his vision as he stumbled back and onto the floor. Stranger still, his heart was beating double time in his ears, a sudden adrenaline rush- or the blow to his head- causing dizziness to swirl as he pressed a palm to his forehead to quell it. So focused on not overturning his stomach, he barely caught the end bits of what his neighbor was saying. “Huh? Tohru...?” Dropping his hand, he glanced up to look at his face properly.

Oh. For a moment, everything quieted. He recognized that face, without a doubt, and he wanted to laugh at how generous life was being to reunite him with his best friend from childhood. But then relief flooded through him like a dam broke open- relief, happiness, hope, longing- the wave of emotions threatened to drown him. He could recognize what he, himself, felt. But there was an overwhelming excess that was foreign, an independent force that twined separately with his own. What grounded him was his deafening heartbeat- the sound of two separate hearts beating as one. “Yukki, it’s you...” he meant to ask for confirmation, but his voice was breathless as his head struggled to catch up with the sudden information.

A red string, as sturdy and tough as the thickest rope, manifested and tied their souls together. Not seen but felt, as a bond, like they were meant to be. Masamune vaguely knew what it meant, struggled to comprehend that it had happened to them. For a moment, he couldn’t breathe as the implications rushed in a panic to greet him.

   Another odd job. Honestly, he was just thankful for the work. If it meant he got to eat tonight, he’d do almost anything.

Rei turns to look over the back of the couch to see if Izaya is still seated at his desk. How long has he been staring at that computer screen doing god knows what. She’s itching to go do something. Being cooped up inside all day is starting to make her feel restless.