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thekuroiookami · 8 years ago

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The Sun that Embraces the Moon (Aomine x Reader) - Part 5 FINAL

The flickering shadows under a lamp coalesced into Kuroko’s slim form, startling some of the seated gods. Akashi merely slid his formidable stare in the direction of the shadow spirit.

“Well?”

Kuroko nodded in confirmation, mouth tight with tension. “Liu-san has been missing for several weeks now.”

The dragon god closed his eyes for a moment. When he turned back to the others, his face was impassive, though an aura of barely restrained menace hovered beneath the surface. Midorima was the first to speak.

“Do you have answers, Ryuujin? I for one would like to know just who has been trying to disrupt my peace.”

Akashi steepled his fingers with a slight smile. “Then let me tell you a story. One that very few know the truth of.”

A little more than four centuries ago, two children were born to the Hinata clan. Twins. The girl was born with the mark of the sun on her forehead and it was clear what fate had in store for her. The girl’s grandmother was the sun goddess back then.

“She will be Amaterasu,” said her grandmother. And so the girl was brought up to be just that.

The boy was a different story. For one thing, he had ashen hair, something no one had ever seen in the sun clan. For another, he couldn’t summon any of the sun’s heat, no matter how hard he tried. His grandmother had no use for a boy that couldn’t fight, no more than she had any use for his mother, who could not be Amaterasu. So the boy was left to himself, with only his kind-hearted mother for company.

The brother and the sister rarely saw each other, growing up to be very different in their natures. The girl became strong, proud, a weapon, hiding her loneliness under a mask of politeness. The boy became violent, destructive, lashing out to protect the only person he had. They both secretly envied each other for the things they could not have.

Then, two hundred years ago, in a particularly aggressive encounter with a beast, the boy discovered what he could do. Why he did not have a drop of sunlight in his veins. And when his grandmother found out, she was not pleased. The boy’s mother took the brunt of her fury.

“You have brought dishonour to our family,” she seethed. “That creature is living proof. The bastard child of a shapeshifter. Worse, he is an aberration of magic. You will pay the price for this betrayal.”

The twins’ mother paid with her life. When the boy found out, he went mad with grief. In his inconsolable sorrow and rage, he killed the grandmother and the clan was forced to banish him to the mountains. The girl wept for the mother she never knew and the brother she would never have. And the boy became a warped, twisted being, sinking further into the darkness.

Kagami frowned in concentration when Akashi finished narrating. “So you’re saying _____-san had a brother none of us knew about?”

“Has,” corrected Akashi. “Haizaki is the one causing the chaos. He still harbours a strong grudge against his sister.”

Lightning danced from Hayama’s fingers as he drummed them on the table. “What was so wrong with a shapeshifter that the mother needed to be punished?”

“That is a good question, Raijin.” Himuro raised an eyebrow at Akashi. “Considering that the current sun goddess has a fox guarding her.”

“I presume you are referring to Kise being half-kitsune. The fact is that the Hinata clan itself does not object to demigods. One reason the grandmother behaved as she did is that she was simply a cruel woman. By the time she died, most of the clan did not like her.”

Momoi nodded her assent. “I remember her reign of terror. I do not know if it was the war that made her that way, but she craved power above all.”

Akashi inclined his head in acknowledgement. “You are correct, Uzume. The other reason is that Haizaki is no ordinary shapeshifter. He is half-badger, a mujina, one of the most potent kinds of form-changers.”

Midorima was not satisfied with the answer. “That still does not explain why he was dangerous.”

“Haizaki-san steals identities,” murmured Kuroko. “If he can change into a form, he can retain the abilities of that form.”

The assembled deities stilled in shock. Himuro exhaled, stunned. “That can’t be possible.”

Akashi narrowed his eyes. “Unfortunately, it is. Haven’t you wondered why Nijimura hasn’t been sighted for a while now?”

Kagami jolted in dismay. “Don’t tell me he…”

“Nijimura-san was killed. Haizaki-san took over his place as storm god.” Kuroko’s face gave away nothing, but his eyes glittered blue in the lamplight.

Midorima curled his lip in disgust. “Is that how he managed to get away unseen as well?”

“Yes,” said Akashi, “he stole from one of the Kageyama clan’s shadow spirits. The one Kuroko said was missing. If you encounter him, under no circumstances should you let Haizaki lay his hands on you.”

Momoi clasped her hands nervously. “Dai-chan really needs to hear this. And _____-chan as well. I should go.”

“Wait.” Akashi’s command stopped Momoi as she stood to leave. “There’s one more thing you should know.”

The dragon god became the centre of attention as he spoke. “Haizaki…is not alone.”

The sea of trees around you whispered unintelligible secrets to each other as you warily held your ground against a brother you had never thought you’d see again. Haizaki seemed to be enjoying your reunion far more than you were.

“Did you miss me, sister? I suppose not, seeing how busy you were playing the good girl. First for that old hag, and now for the moon god. Tell me, when they taught you to play with swords, did it include you lying on your back?”

You ignored the obvious rancour in his words and spoke quietly to your guard instead. “Izuki-san, I need you to leave and get Aomine-san. Riko and I can hold him off, but only for a while. We need help. Bring anyone you can.”

Izuki started to protest vehemently, but was stopped by your gaze that brooked no dissent. Riko gave him a sharp nod of affirmation from your right. He gritted his teeth.

“Fine, but you better be alive and pretty when I get back, or I’m telling you every pun I know.”

You smiled as he loped through the woods, faster than you could currently hope to be. The brief moment of levity was shattered as another presence slinked into the clearing. You swung around with your blade tipped up high as the dead-eyed figure chuckled in amusement.

“My, my, who knew. The sun goddess is this fragile, breakable creature? She’d make a lovely doll for my collection.”

Riko’s shoulders tensed as an unnaturally pale man strode up, his every movement languid with the self-indulgent hauteur. The edges of his form kept blurring, as if he was an incomplete painting. Messy black locks shaded irises that were so unfeeling as to be alien. You had to physically repress a shudder from just looking at him.

Haizaki licked his lips in anticipation. “You sure took your own sweet time, Hanamiya.”

The spectral man shrugged. “Perfection can’t be rushed. And we do want this to be perfect.”

Riko lifted her spear to Hanamiya’s face. “What is your purpose in coming here? Other than to kill us?”

Haizaki smirked. “We didn’t go to the effort of cloaking ourselves and lure you to the mirror just to slit your throat. I have two centuries of pent-up frustration to take out on sister dearest.”

Hanamiya laughed, the sound a mirthless echo bouncing off the shrine. “Kill you? We could have done that ages ago. No, I much prefer my dolls whole. You can’t break something that’s already in pieces.”

You finally put the jumbled fragments together as the picture began to make sense. “You are the one behind this, aren’t you? Shougo could never come up with this himself. He’d never calm down long enough.”

Hanamiya stopped an enraged Haizaki from charging at you. “How astute of you,” he drawled. “Yes, I came up with the plans to steal the shadow spirit, and orchestrated the attacks on your pretty little clan. Every good musician knows one must build up a tempo to keep the audience captivated.”

It was easy enough to tell that this was meant to be the crescendo of terror. You could only hope you could distract them long enough for Izuki to get back. You shifted your weight onto your left foot, noticing Hanamiya’s eyes track your every move. The wispy shadows that seemed to cling to him intensified as you lifted your sword.

“I have no intention of being your entertainment. Especially for a god who throws childish tantrums when he doesn’t get his way.”

Haizaki snarled, face elongating into something feral and canine. “You’re one to talk, bitch. You stood there and watched while our mother died. Is being princess so addictive that you can toss aside anyone?”

You were starting to lose your own patience. Your blade began to sizzle with warning heat. “That’s not true. I didn’t have any more of a say in anything than you did. I didn’t know what they did until the next day, and by then you were gone.”

“Lies! We didn’t matter then, and we don’t matter now. But that’ll change when I’m done with you.”

Hanamiya smiled, the expression making your lungs seize in revulsion. “Well then, the barrier should be up now. No one will be coming in to rescue you, Amaterasu. Until I’m finished playing with you, anyway.”

Your heart sank as you realized that he had blocked off the clearing with wards. To make matters worse, clouds began rolling in, darkening the sky and smothering the sunlight. You felt your reserves of power dip a little more. You couldn’t risk spending the energy to break through Haizaki’s storm. Still, you weren’t about to be intimidated.

“It saddens me that you have to resort to such pitiable tactics to even stand a chance, Shougo. If only you had been taught to use your abilities well. I suppose we are to blame.”

The ash-haired god finally snapped, blurring into vicious motion. Your sword caught his steel-clawed gauntlets as he tried to rake your eyes. A solid kick to his middle sent him reeling back, though not for long. Lightning began to spark off his hands as Haizaki’s grin grew demented.

“Still got some fight left? I’ll fix that.”

You nimbly ducked backwards as a crackling whip of electricity tore the air. The tip of the flail caught the shrine, shattering tiles. Your sword blazed as you twisted the whip around it and used the leverage to pull Haizaki forward. You thrust a surge of pure heat into his face with your free hand. He howled in pain and threw you back with a punch of wind. The impact rattled the mirror on its frame.

Haizaki growled, cheek blistering and raw. “For that, I’ll flay you alive. Like that horse.”

The sadistic reminder brought back all the anger you had bottled away. Your hair and eyes turned incandescent with power. Haizaki barely had time to sidestep as your overhead swing hurtled down, rupturing the ground instead. The next swing was just as fast, but Haizaki threw up a wall of grey wind. In the background, you sensed Riko dodging an attack. You silently begged her to survive a bit longer, until you could create a gap for her to escape.

Haizaki flicked his tongue over his thumb. “Not bad. But you won’t be able to keep this up for much longer. You’re running low.”

It was true. Though Haizaki was barely able to keep up with you even at half power, the absence of the sun and the inevitable approach of nightfall were taking a toll on you. You couldn’t keep this up for long. So you smiled at him, the polite smile you knew he hated.

“I won’t need to keep it up that long. You’re not much of an opponent.”

You saw it coming when Haizaki sent a crescent of electricity your way, infuriated beyond measure. However, Hanamiya, who you had maneuvered in front of, didn’t see it coming. The attack hit him at full strength, eliciting a shriek of agony and breaking his concentration. As you’d hoped, the wards collapsed.

Before you could shout at Riko to get away from the clearing, there was an eerie cackle. Hanamiya staggered up, skin sizzling and eyes bloodshot. His delirious gaze settled on you.

“You. I will break you. Right now.”

The shifting edges of Hanamiya’s outline began to solidify, expanding into a larger frame. His spine distorted in an rippling curve, skin tearing away like paper. When the transformation ended, eight cadaverous legs, bristling with spiny hairs, projected from Hanamiya’s back. You lurched back as his face spilt into a sickening grin, pincers where incisors should be. Only years of self-control kept you composed when multiple black orbs swivelled towards you.

“Tsuchigumo,” breathed Riko in horror. “I thought they were dead.”

Hanamiya’s voice was a grating noise that clawed at your skin. “They all did. But our tribe is good at biding our time. Now, who should I play with first?”

Depleted as you were, you couldn’t respond fast enough when the spider-silk shot out and grabbed Riko.

Aomine finished saddling his horse, cinching the buckles tight. He stepped back, finished a quick survey and then sighed. No matter how strong you were, it didn’t sit right with him that you were out there without him. If he hadn’t been busy with other things, he would have insisted on accompanying you. A call made him look up.

“Dai-chan! Wait!” Momoi was in half-armour, which immediately set him on edge.

“What is it?” He spared a brief glance for Kuroko, who was silently following Momoi.

The rosy goddess grabbed his arm. “Akashi-san knows who it is. The attacker, I mean.”

By the time Momoi finished telling him everything she knew, Aomine’s grip on the reins had tightened to the point that the horse became skittish.

“I have to find her. Now.” His words came out as barely comprehensible growl.

Momoi nodded in agreement. Kuroko glanced sideways as the sound of hurried footsteps grew closer. Izuki stumbled into the group, breathless and scratched up. Aomine’s heart stuttered when he realized someone was absent. He gave Izuki a knife-edged look.

The guard answered the unspoken question. “They’re in the Mori forest. You need to get there right now. The goddess is too weak to defeat Haizaki by herself.” Momoi inhaled sharply when he explained about the mirror.

Aomine cursed, hating that he had been right. “That reckless idiot. I told her- Never mind, I’ll knock some sense into her. Satsuki, I’m leaving.”

Kuroko stepped forward. “I can take you there, Aomine-san. It will be faster.”

“I’ll follow with reinforcements,” said Izuki. Aomine nodded once and clasped Kuroko’s outstretched hand. A dark mist swallowed them whole, and they vanished.

Momoi twisted her bracelet anxiously. “Keep her safe, Dai-chan. For all of us.”

You were starting to realize just how warped Haizaki had become. He had fallen into an abyss so deep that the creator’s intervention couldn’t save him, much less an exhausted sun goddess. And that was not accounting for the grotesque anomaly called Hanamiya. You shoved these fears into the darkness of your mind and focused on the greater problem of getting Riko out of the spider’s clutches.

“Let her go, demon. Or I swear upon my blood that you will rue the day you were born.”

Hanamiya’s disturbing visage only grew more unsettling when he grinned. “Useless words. Haven’t you understood you are not in the position to be giving orders?”

Your attempt to burn through the sticky tendrils wrapping Riko was thwarted as Haizaki blasted you with a bolt of current. The zig-zagging streak exploded from the roiling sky, hitting you with the full force of an electrical storm. The piercing pain ripped a scream from your throat, and you fell to your knees. You distantly felt the magic trying to repair your body, rapidly dwindling.

Haizaki’s pupils were blown wide with frenzied euphoria. “You finally learned your place, sister.”

He wrenched your head back with a fistful of hair, voice pitched low. “Now watch as we break your friend, just like you watched Mother die.”

You hissed in rage and tried to break free, but his grip was too strong. Riko struggled desperately as a web coiled around her ankles and wrists, insinuating silvery threads into her skin. Hanamiya’s beady eyes watched unblinkingly as her face went blank and her body became limp. You choked in horror as Riko’s body was dangled in the air, a lifeless puppet. Haizaki’s claws sank into your shoulders as you exerted yourself against his hold.

Hanamiya tutted in disapproval. “Stop fighting the inevitable. Watch. This is true art.”

Your eyes widened as a familiar needle was produced from somewhere. Hanamiya smiled as he placed it into Riko’s slack fingers, spider-silk holding her arm upright.

“Before you ask, that is indeed a spindle from your loom. Fitting, isn’t it?”

Haizaki wound a rope of lightning around your body before you could fight back, the current searing the open cuts on your flesh. Riko lifted the sharp point of the object as your eyes blurred with futile tears. You could only watch, heart ripping apart, as she dragged the implement down her arm, face as expressionless as a statue. Blood welled from the gash, dripping down her wrist to stain the grass.

Hanamiya tilted his head, eyebrows furrowed. “No, that’s not it. Perhaps this will get a better response.”

Riko obediently lifted the hand with the spindle as you thrashed, trying to burn through Haizaki’s hold. Your cry of anguish rent the air as she stabbed her other palm, plunging through veins and muscle. You gave up trying to fight.

“Please,” you sobbed, “let her go. I will do anything you want.”

“Anything?” Hanamiya pretended to think. “Then scream some more.” He flicked his fingers and the spindle went through Riko’s left eye, tissue popping with a sickening squelch.

Your breath went out of your lungs in a rush. “No, no, no, I can’t- Riko, please-“

Hanamiya sauntered over to where you sat, drowning in a sea of pain and hopelessness. His face shifted back to more human contours, to the same deadened eyes of before. “At least Haizaki appreciates my artistry.”

You didn’t think you could be any more horrified until you saw the unfiltered lust shining in Haizaki’s face. Hanamiya smirked and pulled the grey-haired man down into a wet kiss. As their tongues tangled messily, the spindle slowly rose to Riko’s throat. You pulled against your bonds again, desperate to get to her before it was too late.

A resounding crash from a broken branch startled Hanamiya and Haizaki out of their depraved embrace. The kirin galloped into the clearing and cut through the bonds controlling Riko with a toss of its antlers. Without pausing, the guardian of the forest charged headfirst into the duo holding you captive, flinging them forcefully into the shrine. You staggered upright as the rope around your arms vanished.

“Go,” murmured Mayuzumi. “Take her to safety. I will hold them at bay.”

You pulled on the last dregs of strength you didn’t know you had, tapping into a core of light. You hoisted Riko into your arms and followed the whispers of the trees, hoping against hope that your friend would hold on.

Aomine and Kuroko burst into the clearing just in time to see the kirin’s lifeless form collide with the trees. Mayuzumi lifted his head weakly, hooves scraping against the ground as he tried to rise. He gave up with a pant, head drooping to rest against a trunk. One dull eye regarded Kuroko with disinterest as he hurried to examine the kirin’s wounds.

“We’re sorry we took so long. You can leave the rest to us.” Kuroko’s voice was soft with apology.

Mayuzumi gave a sardonic huff and closed his eyes, falling into a trance. Aomine’s katana glowed as he placed himself between Kuroko and Hanamiya, who was scrutinizing the new arrivals with interest.

Haizaki sneered in recognition, lowering his bloodied gauntlets. “It’s the so-called moon god. Can’t say I’m impressed so far.”

The spider-demon cackled in a hair-raising noise. “That feeble doll you call your consort didn’t stand a chance. I look forward to tracking her down after we get rid of you. Or maybe we should keep you alive, so you can watch as your woman cuts herself open. Just like she watched her handmaiden do it.”

Aomine could barely hear Kuroko’s reply in the unfurling fog of sheer rage. His vision was turning dark around the edges, and he could hear the distant song of battle calling to his blood. He let the familiar cloak of violence settle around his shoulders, taking comfort in the drape of its power. Hanamiya’s eyes narrowed as Aomine settled into predatory stillness.

“Stay back, Kuroko.” The shadow spirit stilled as Aomine’s voice rang with the luminescence of burning stars and endless night. Under the overcast sky, Aomine’s lithe form was a pillar of iridescent light, but his eyes held dark promise. He strode forward, katana held loosely in his grip.

Haizaki shifted uneasily as Aomine approached, apparently unfazed. The storm deity snarled in confused anger and threw a spike of cyclone at the blue-eyed god. The latter batted it aside with his sword and kept walking. Fuelled by alarm and aggression, Haizaki’s gauntlets crackled as he leapt at Aomine. He landed with a thunderclap as Aomine side-stepped with liquid ease, feeling metal graze across his ribs. The next moment, Haizaki was doubled over, clutching his side as ruby liquid spilled from the stump of his former elbow. The clouds parted a little to reveal a sun descending towards the horizon.

A sapphire gaze regarded Haizaki dispassionately. “I hear you like to steal things. Can’t do that without your hands, can you?”

Haizaki grinned through the blood splattered on his face. “I’m not the only one with hands here.”

Hanamiya’s gossamer tendrils abruptly halted an inch away from the back of Aomine’s neck. The spider-demon looked down to see the katana flipped backwards and protruding through his torso. He stumbled back, making a strangled noise of shock. Aomine turned to face him, expression still inscrutable.

Hanamiya choked as the sword began to blaze with moonlight, rapidly leaching life-force from his spidery body. The demon aged centuries in seconds, until only a withered husk was left in his place. Kuroko watched quietly as Aomine casually pulled the sword out.

“You see,” explained Aomine to a paralyzed Haizaki, “you should have known who you were picking a fight with. Time is my playground, after all.”

It had the desired effect of making Haizaki scramble away in fear. Aomine merely watched him with the unwavering confidence of a hunting jaguar. Haizaki got up to run, but was stopped by Kuroko’s sudden appearance. The shadow spirit gazed back steadily.

“Haizaki-san, your crimes are beyond redemption. Terrorizing villagers, slaughtering animals, hurting the beloved sun goddess. And,” he said with melancholy, “you killed Liu. I have been sent to serve Ryuujin’s judgement.”

That was all the warning the storm god received before he was plunged into a darkness so total, it was as if light itself had never existed. Then the screams began as Kuroko’s illusions began to unfold themselves. Aomine wondered somewhere at the back of his mind what could make someone like Haizaki beg for mercy, but Kuroko’s face convinced him some things were better left unknown. The shape-shifter was still screaming when Aomine’s sword separated his head from his body.

They looked at each for a moment, sorrowful at the needless destruction. Then Aomine turned his thoughts to the most important matter of all.

“Let’s go find her.” Kuroko glanced around one last time before following him.

Of course, that was when things became strange. Both males froze as the ground shook and a cry of heartrending anguish echoed through the woods. Aomine’s chest constricted from the resounding sorrow, and he knew that something had gone terribly wrong. Just as he thought it, the sun vanished from the sky and the world was plunged into darkness.

This part the story-tellers did get right. The world remained without sunlight for three days and three nights.

The first day- or the first night rather – everyone was thrown into, for lack of a better term, a blind panic. Aomine was the most difficult of all, out of his mind with worry. Everyone flinched as he slammed a fist into the wall.

“I don’t give a damn about the night sky!” His roar shook the hall. “If you’re going to talk about responsibility, then there’s nothing more important than finding my wife. She’s alone and frightened, who knows where, and here you morons are holding me up with this nonsense!”

Momoi stood up. “Dai-chan,” she pleaded, “I’m as worried as you are. But Akashi-san and the others are right. The clans’ people all saw the sun disappear, and if the moon fails them as well, it will cause a riot. You need to focus right now. When it’s dawn again, we will set out immediately. I promise.”

Aomine said nothing, his head bowed and fists clenched. Eventually, he walked up to the dragon god and grabbed Akashi by the collar.

“I hope you know what you’re asking of me,” he growled. “If something happens to her, being a dragon won’t save you.”

For the first time, Aomine saw a flicker of expression cross Akashi’s face. Was that…sadness? He pushed the thought away as the white dragon spoke. “I will shoulder the consequences, whatever they may be. Now go.”

So Aomine did, though his soul splintered the whole time and he couldn’t think of anything but when he last saw you smile. But when the hours rolled by and daybreak approached, there was not a glimmer of light to be seen anywhere. Everyone realized then that you would have to be found, daytime or no.

Then of course, came the question of how to conduct a search. Mayuzumi was still in a healing sleep, and no one had seen the direction you had fled in. The poor visibility made it even harder. That’s when Aomine remembered the pendant.

“It’s a part of her soul,” he said to Izuki and Momoi. “It will lead us to her.”

Which was all well and good, but a jewel is not a compass, and not half as accurate. Aomine wandered in circles more than once, following the rise and ebb of the gem’s glow. A whole day was lost as the gods searched the forest in the darkness, with only the waning moon and Kagami’s flames to guide them.

Then midway through the second day, when no one could tell night from morning anymore, Kise found the cave. Aomine sprinted to where Kise was, his exhaustion overwhelmed by the thunderous pounding of his heart. He arrived just in time to see Kise scowl at the entrance of the cavern.

“What’s wrong?” The Magatama glowed with unnecessary fervour, so you were definitely nearby.

“I can’t enter the cave. Something is blocking me. And hime’s not answering.” The kitsune glared at the rock-face like it had offended him.

Aomine stretched a palm out towards the mouth of the cave as the other gods reached the edge of the mountain. His palm flattened against a tangible wall of darkness, solid and unyielding. He bit back a frustrated growl and chose to call you instead.

“______! I’m here. Come out of the dark.” He held his breath, hoping for a response.

Momoi’s luminous eyes widened. “Is Amaterasu wounded? Why doesn’t she reply?”

Aomine ignored her, though his already overtaxed heart raced some more at the possibility. Then a tired voice made all the assembled deities snap to attention.

“Daiki?”

Aomine’s breath hitched with relief. He pressed a fist to the barrier and pitched his voice low.

“Yes, sweetheart, it’s me. Come here where I can see you. I need to know you’re alright.”

Slow footsteps echoed off the walls of rock until you reached the edge of the cave. You pressed a palm to the translucent ward, your hand next to Aomine’s, yet not touching him. His eyes searched your face for injuries, brows crinkled with worry.

“Is he dead?” You sounded hollow, utterly lifeless, and it terrified Aomine beyond imagining.

“Yes. You’re safe now. Let the wards down, princess.” Somehow he instinctively knew the wall separating him from you would not shatter unless you wanted it to.

You shook your head, tears gathering on your lashes. “I can’t. I-I’m scared.”

His jaw clenched. “You don’t have to be. I’m here and nothing will get through me.”

“It’s alright, ____-chan,” said Momoi gently. “We’ll keep you safe.”

Your hand fell away from the barrier and Aomine pressed harder, feeling the loss. Your voice was barely above a broken whisper. “It’s no use. Not anymore.”

Aomine’s next words were cut off when Kise hissed in shock. Moonlight had slanted into the cave, illuminating a figure propped up against the wall. Riko would have looked peacefully asleep if it were not for the gaping hole in her eye and the open gash along her veins. Her skin was tinged blue in places.

Even Midorima’s composure was gone. “What in the world?”

You didn’t turn to follow their horror-struck gazes. “Did you know spider-demons have poison in their webs? She was doomed from the moment he touched her. And I just let it happen.”

Moisture streaked Kise’s cheeks as he vehemently shook his head. “That’s not true, ____-cchi. Rikocchi wouldn’t say that.”

Your eyes slid blankly over Kise. The next thing you said cut into Aomine like glass-edged blades. “It’s my fault. Everything I touch dies. My mother, Akira, Riko…even Shougo.”

Aomine punched the ward, shaking with rage. “Don’t you dare say that! If it was anyone’s fault, then it was mine. I told you I’d keep you safe from that bastard, and I failed. So come out and rail on me, damn it. Anything. Just come here.”

You gave him a sad smile that made him want to howl from the loneliness. “I’m a walking curse, my love. I wouldn’t be able to bear it if you got hurt. I’m sorry.”

His shouts fell on indifferent ears as you walked away. His chest ached with all things he wanted to say, and the pain of having let you down so badly. Aomine slumped against the barrier, shoulders braced against the emptiness.

“How could you be cursed when you’re the most beautiful thing I know?”

He flung aside Momoi’s comforting hand on his back. She started to speak. “Dai-chan, it’s-“

“Don’t, Satsuki. We both know it’s because I didn’t find Haizaki in time. I should have stayed with her. Now she’s so scarred, everything that made her light up is gone.”

His mind taunted him with memories of your skin, so warm against his. Your laughter as he stole a kiss from you, and the whisper of your affection in his hair. A mocking voice told him that it had been too good to be true from the start, that he was unlovable, and that someone so good at killing didn’t deserve love anyway.

He tried to push it away, but the voice haunted him all night.

Strangely enough, on the third day, it was Kagami that instilled some sense into him. The fire god walked up to Aomine in the morning, took one look at his haggard face and said, “Get up.”

The moon god raised an irritated eyebrow at Kagami. He rolled his eyes. “How long are you going to stay there feeling sorry for yourself? We can all go on forever about who’s fault it is, but it’s getting us nowhere. Get up and let’s find a way to fix this.”

“Hachiman is right for once.” Akashi’s tenor made all the gods sit up in attention. “Amaterasu needs to be coaxed from the darkness.”

Himuro frowned unhappily. “The question is how. The situation is strange enough already. She shouldn’t have been able to conjure barriers like those.”

Aomine’s laugh was bitter with irony. “That’s my goddess for you. Always doing things she shouldn’t. Going out alone, putting up wards…making me love her.” He smiled wryly at the memory.

Midorima’s expression was one of mild pedagogy. “She’s the most powerful incarnation of the sun in three generations. With enough motivation, she could tear the heavens apart. Small wonder that the light has vanished, nanodayo.”

Akashi’s lips curved. “And that is why we must bring her back. Without the sun, the crops are already failing, and chaos will ensue. So, the question is then: what does the goddess cherish most? Enough to bring her running?”

As one, everyone turned to look at a certain navy-haired god. He looked back in slight wariness.

The dragon smiled pleasantly. “Exactly.”

You told yourself it was better in the darkness. Here, no one could get hurt. In the silence of obscurity, you wouldn’t have to watch again and again as your dearest friend died. You wouldn’t have to be reminded every time you looked at her broken body, of the soul-sister you no longer had.

You stayed that way, huddled in a corner with your black thoughts, until the first strains of a melody floated through the air. A lilting voice twined with notes of a shamisen, pulling on chords deep inside your chest. The wistful song serenaded a long lost beloved, wandering through a distant land of verdant green and lush flowers. You tilted your head towards the voice, moved despite yourself.

Akashi’s smooth tones congratulated the singer. “That was splendid, Momoi.”

She sounded sad when she replied. “It’s one of Dai-chan’s favourites. I thought I’d- Since it’s the last time, you see.”

Akashi hummed in response. Your heart gave kicked painfully against your ribs. What were they talking about?

Momoi seemed hesitant to speak. “Is there- is there really no other way?”

“No.” The dragon was firm. “Someone needs to deal with the Tsuchigumo and there’s no one else who can do it. Kagami needs to stay at the court.”

“But it’s a death sentence!” Momoi’s cry sent slivers of ice down your spine. “He’s too weak to fight! The moon has been up for three whole days now. He’s on his last leg. You can’t let him do this.”

Akashi sounded weary beyond measure. “Then that’s the price he’ll have to pay. If the sun were up, it would be different, but as of now, Aomine is the only one who can function efficiently enough to deal any damage.”

You lurched to a standing position, ignoring the sting of the cuts still marking your skin. You had to stop this recklessness before it was too late. Why would Akashi condemn Aomine like this? Perhaps if you interfered, the dragon god would reconsider.

You hesitated at the edge of the entrance, feeling a sliver of doubt. If you went out, you were certain to cause harm sooner or later. The risk was too great.

You looked up as Aomine strode into view. He was dressed for battle, face defeated in a way you’d never seen him. Akashi looked at him questioningly.

“Are you ready to do your duty?”

The night god who’d slowly but surely become the centre of your universe nodded. “There’s nothing left for me here, anyway.” His disheartened declaration made your throat constrict.

You squared your shoulders. If the choice was Aomine’s immediate demise against a future one, it was no choice at all. You couldn’t let the person holding your soul in his hands throw away his own life. More than anyone, Aomine deserved to live, if only because he soothed a broken girl when she was lost. You wouldn’t let Akashi take that away from you.

All three of them looked up as the wards blocking the cave imploded in cloud of sparks. When the dust settled, you strode out with gold-flinted eyes, hands ablaze and blocked Akashi’s view of Aomine. You looked the dragon god in the eye.

“He’s not going anywhere,” you said with an air of finality.

Akashi’s amused smile was all the warning you had before you were picked up in a rib-cracking hug. A second later, Aomine crushed his lips to yours in a desperate kiss, stealing any hope of breathing. You were both panting when he finally lifted his head.

“You idiot,” he breathed. “Were you trying to kill me by leaving me in agony?”

You glared at him, incensed despite your weariness. “From the sound of it, you were doing a fine job of it by yourself. And you,” you whirled on a surprised Akashi, “what were you thinking? How could you let Daiki just go out there and sacrifice himself like that?”

Akashi blinked and turned to a grinning Momoi. “Isn’t she normally quite well-behaved?”

You ignored him, breathing in Aomine’s familiar woodsy scent, feeling something in you settle as your skin brushed his. He traced your face with his hands as if he couldn’t believe you were real.

“You came back for me,” he murmured. “Even though you didn’t want to.”

You tilted your face into his palm, soaking in his presence. “Of course. I told you already. I love you. It’s selfish, but I can’t let you die.”

“Foolish goddess.” His eyes blazed with fierce joy. “You gave me the jewel for luck. You can’t possibly jinx me as well.”

That finally brought a reluctant smile to your face. The light in your chest bloomed again, and the sun fired into brilliance, painting the sky with the clearest of blues. Golden light chased away lingering malevolence, and the world seemed to let out a sigh of relief.

“Next you decide to blind us like that, please give us some warning.” Himuro’s cheerful sarcasm startled you out of Aomine’s hold. To your dismay, just about every god from the assembly was present, looking pleased with themselves. You looked around with wide eyes.

“Why is-“ You couldn’t complete the sentence.

Momoi clapped her hands excitedly. “In a nutshell, we came up with a scheme – well, Akashi-san did – to get you to come to us. We may have exaggerated some details.”

Akashi shifted it to a more sombre tone for a moment. “The Shinigami is here. Will you let him attend to Aida?”

Takao’s expression was kind as he waited for you to acknowledge him. When you finally nodded, he glided into the cave to conduct the summoning ritual. Aomine’s steady touch kept you anchored until the reaper was done. You said a silent farewell to your brave, beautiful friend as Takao disappeared.

When he was gone, you shot a betrayed look at Aomine, who looked unrepentantly smug. “You were in on the deceit? How horrible, I was really worried!”

He shrugged. “It’s only fair, you had me panicking for three days. Besides,” he said with a wicked smile, “you can’t take back what you said about loving me.”

You flushed, half embarrassed, half annoyed. “Th-That much should have obvious, anyhow!”

“Must be because I’m not too bright, I didn’t get it. You should demonstrate it again so I don’t forget. I’ll watch very closely.” His fingers tightened around your hip in suggestion.

You tried to back away as his head dipped closer. “Daiki,” you gritted between your teeth, “everyone is watching.”

His breath fanned your ear as he chuckled. “I like the way you say my name. Shall we see if I can make you moan it?”

“DAIKI!”

“Not so quick, princess, they’ll think I’m a bad lover. We can’t have rumours about you being unhappy. Satsuki will tan my hide.”

You buried your face in your hands. “Why did I leave that cave? Why? I should have let the spiders have you.”

He smiled with pure male satisfaction. “It’s because I’m so good at-“

The most effective way to shut up a moon god, you found was to kiss him into silence. Luckily for you, you had centuries to put it to practise and perfect the technique. For now, however, you were content to be warmed by his embrace, and safe in the knowledge that you had each other. That’s what soul-mates were for, after all.

#aomine x reader #gods and goddesses au #japanese mythology #drama #trigger warning #blood and gore #torture #violence #lots of death #romance #i'm not too sure how i feel about this chapter #but oh well

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