Written for the last day of SouMako week! The prompt for this one was "prompt generator" and the prompt I received from this, was: Soulmate AU where you can't lie to your soulmate. So this is my take on that prompt! I personally love soulmate AUs, every form of it... So please enjoy!

...

Another slow day at work, which was typical for a Tuesday. Especially during midday when people were often busier working than doing grocery shopping. It left Makoto standing by the register all by himself, bored out of his mind since he was not allowed to leave the counter area. He had cleaned everything already and had organised the small items one could get right beside the register. Gum was stacked neatly and the chocolate bars were refilled, Makoto doing his best to resist buying a bar then and there. Eating behind the counter was forbidden as well, which was logical. Nothing more embarrassing than helping a customer with your mouth full of chocolate.

The doors slid open, a dark blur shooting through, disappearing in the first aisle. One of the only customers currently occupying the store. There was an old lady that lived close by who knew Makoto by his name, chatting him up about all sorts of things. Once she had even tried to get him together with her granddaughter, but it so happened he had been perfectly capable of lying to her. A very bad sign. Ending it with telling her he would love to see her again was the final hint he had needed, as did she.

It was quite easy that way to see if someone was meant for you. Try to start it off with a lie and if you are able to tell it, then you know they were not right for you. The one you are meant to be with, cannot by lied to. It had its charm, though Makoto didn't always like that idea. Dating was not exciting at all, because he always kept waiting for that one person he could not lie to. Casually dating was not his thing, the importance of finding the one exceeding that idea.

The dark blur reached the counter, a deep frown settled on his forehead. As Makoto gazed at the new customer his signature smile slipped onto his face, because greeting a customer with kindness was one of his best features. It made him a liked employee.

"Good afternoon," he started, moving the items over the scanner as they were dumped onto the counter.

Teal eyes moved up to look at Makoto and then narrowed slightly, lips pressed together to form a thin line. "Not really a great afternoon," the man muttered, and Makoto was surprised by that comeback. Most would simply say it back, not needing the pleasant conversation. Only the ones who wanted to talk usually replied with that.

"It can't be that bad," Makoto returned, his friendly smile still plastered on his face as he looked straight at the new customer. "The weather is nice at least. Not that I have noticed anything of it, being stuck in here." That last line hadn't really been necessary to add, and normally Makoto wouldn't, the customer not caring for the employee's life story, but since the man was sharing, so could he.

After the man had dumped all his items into a crumpled plastic back he glanced up at Makoto's face for some time, eyes still narrowed accompanied by that lovely frown. "You are too nice," he suddenly spoke up.

A bit taken aback Makoto blinked at the man for a while and then the words spilled from his lips, his mind barely keeping up with them. "Well, I need to be nice. It's part of the job. Customer is king, so I always need to agree with you, no matter what, and I need to try and let you leave with a good feeling. This way you'll want to come back, because the last time you had such a pleasant feeling leaving. I need to be the one that convinces you we are the best shop around." That was not his usual reply and he wasn't sure why he had blurted it out. This was the logic behind being nice, but he was supposed to joke about being too nice and mask it with more kindness. This was… odd.

"I don't think this would make me come back," the man retorted.

Brutally honest, but Makoto wouldn't cower right away. There was no reason for this man to be so unpleasant to Makoto, and for some reason he didn't feel like playing the best salesman. "What would make you come back then?"

"Your handsome face."

Emerald eyes widened at those words. A compliment he had never received before, except when his mom said it. And he was certain his clerk outfit was not flattering at all, plus his hair was a mess. No one had time to do something about that early in the morning. But it seemed he was not the only one surprised by that comeback. Teal eyes had widened as well, staring at Makoto in horror. A red hue had presented itself on Makoto's cheeks now, the awkward level rising the longer the silence stretched. It was time to say something back.

"Thank you," he started, but he needed to add something. The man was gorgeous, really drop dead gorgeous, but that was not something he could say now. But a small compliment back was allowed to make the man feel good as well. Makoto could say he was goodlooking. "You are quite drop dead gorgeous as well."

That had not just happened. Had he really messed up so bad that he had chosen the wrong words? Why had he thought so clearly of the man being gorgeous. Yes, the man seemed to be carved out of stone, his features so sharp it made Makoto want to drool. But that didn't mean he actually needed to say that. How was he going to fix this?

The man's eyes were no longer wide, but instead had returned to their natural narrowed state. Leaning onto the counter he got right into Makoto's personal space, pointing a finger at Makoto as if to proof some kind of point. His eyes narrowed slightly more as he noticed how Makoto kept staring back, confusion and discomfort shimmering in emerald eyes. "I think mushrooms are disgusting and would not even eat them if you cooked them for me… Shit."

Without waiting for a reply the man pushed himself off the counter and stalked right out of the door, leaving Makoto completely flabbergasted. That last line had been very unexpected and Makoto felt like he was missing something. Why did mushrooms matter? Makoto didn't hate them, but didn't particularly like them either. There had been no plans of cooking them for the stranger. Makoto was not the best cook to begin with, so even if they were going on a date, he would not be cooking. And now he was thinking of dating the stranger, the broody man that had made him blurt out things he didn't want to.

Finally it hit him, and Makoto cursed himself for being so slow. He had simply not expected it and really, who would? His parents had met during a wonderful vacation and had the most romantic encounter imaginable. So Makoto had always thought something like that would happen to him as well. Not this weird meeting in the store where one of them had been in the worst moods. And also leaving suddenly without ever saying who he was. A meeting by chance which didn't result in anything.

Deflated Makoto returned to his work, smiling at the old lady that had finally reached the register. He could lie to her easily, making her think everything was alright, and soon she was chatting away as usual. Makoto was not listening though, his mind too occupied by the handsome stranger, who was apparently his soulmate.

Completely distracted Makoto didn't even notice the doors sliding open again, the dark blur stalking his way straight to the counter again. A finger was soon posed right in Makoto's face once more, teal eyes staring deep into emerald. "My mom always calls me Sou-chan and I love it." Silence settled between them, Makoto still not recovered from the sudden return of his soulmate. The man sighed loudly and then planted his head on the countertop, clearly not very happy. It stung a little, seeing how the man didn't seem pleased at all. That was something Makoto had never thought of. His fated person being disappointed in who Makoto was. "I had imagined this moment differently and am a bit upset that we met this way," the man continued, shaking his head a little as he shook his head. "I fucked this up completely. At least I didn't tell you about the stuffed whale shark I still sleep with." Teal eyes lifted up then, another sigh escaping those thin lips. "Fuck."

"Young man, that is not how you speak to Makoto. He is really great at his job and I do not tolerate this kind of language around this lovely boy." The old lady had no idea what was going on, and had kindly defended Makoto, even if that had clearly not been necessary.

A crooked smile formed on Makoto's lips in reply, trying to keep a chuckle from escaping his lips. "It's alright, ma'am. We know each other." A meaningful look was shared between the two males, a slight smile finally appearing on those thin lips.

"Well, no matter, Makoto. This boy better be nice to you," the old lady said, giving Makoto's soulmate a long stare before finally shuffling away, leaving the two to fend for themselves.

Silence settled between them, both unsure on how to fill it. With how empty the store was, no customer would disrupt them soon, making this even worse. Makoto really needed to say something, but this silly fear of saying something stupid had bubbled up. No lie would leave his lips as long as he spoke to the dark man, and he really didn't want to spill embarrassing truths as Sou-chan had done before.

"Okay," the other spoke up, standing up straight again to look Makoto straight in the eye. "I am Sousuke. Please don't call me Sou-chan. I indeed don't like mushrooms at all. And I beg you to forget about my stuffed animal."

This time Makoto couldn't hold back the chuckle, but Sousuke didn't seem to mind at all, a bigger smile appearing on his lips as well. "Nice to meet you, Sousuke. As the lady before said, I am Makoto. I don't ever plan on cooking for you, because I am very bad at it, so I won't force you to eat mushrooms. And I will never forget about your stuffed whale shark and will look for it once I've been invited into your apartment."

"You will never find it," Sousuke instantly retorted, a serious expression on his face. It soon disappeared again as the smile returned. "I really wasn't prepared for this, so I have no idea how to actually continue this. I had hoped to have better lines prepared for you and be able to flirt a little, but I have nothing."

Shifting from one foot to another Makoto displayed his shyness, this situation suddenly getting quite real. He could not lie, but now that he was aware of it, and knew what he was going to say, he felt the nerves really kick in. "Well, so far you're doing a really good job though." Swallowing heavily he waited for Sousuke's response. The teal eyes shimmered lightly, the smile tugging higher.

"Then I think it's time I should be asking for a date."

His heart was racing at that line, even if it was the logical next step for them. Now that they had found out, they did need to get to know each other further. What was the other like? Makoto could only fantasize now. "I get off at five."

"I get off at five too, so I'll pick you up here at a quarter past."

"I'm looking forward to it," Makoto replied… honestly.

A crooked smile formed on Sousuke's lips, it making him even more handsome in Makoto's eyes. His natural look was distancing, but if you looked through it all, Sousuke was so welcoming and nice. "Me too," Sousuke breathed out, stepping back while keeping his eyes locked with Makoto's. "I'll see you later."

After Sousuke had left the store Makoto realised he would now be picked up still wearing his clerk outfit, but for some reason he couldn't really bring himself to care. It meant seeing Sousuke sooner, and his soulmate would like him no matter what. This boring day had turned into Makoto's favourite so far.

...

What did you think of this? I am thinking of continuing this, so let me know if you want to see more :)

Follow me on Facebook for regular updates on my writings and cosplays! Find the link on my profile.

And find me on Tumblr for writing updates as well. Link also on my profile.

Love, Dana