Disclaimer: I don't own anything recognisable.
A/n: This fic is part of my Ties That Bind Soulmate AU. You do not need to read the other works in this series to understand this. In this AU, Akutagawa is dead and he had passed Rashōmon on to Gin before his death. This fic is a oneshot collection centred around Rashōmon! Gin. Also, in this verse, there are types of soul bonds called soul-friend and soul-parent / child bonds which are primarily platonic. People with shared soul-parent(s) are called soul-siblings, but they generally don't have shared soul-bonds.
StormDew2, thank you for your continuous encouragement. I really should be working on What Humans Live By, but this problem child refused to leave me alone. I hope you like it.
This chapter is set during Dead Apple. Since Gin's Ability is not her own, she has trouble regaining it, unlike canon! Akutagawa. This was directly inspired by the scenes where Kyouka meets her mother's spirit(?) and Atsushi meets the headmaster and Shibusawa.
Chapter 1: The Advent of a New Dawn
She slumped down against the railing, panting. Her whole body felt like one huge bruise, there were numerous abrasions and small lacerations all over her, along with quite a few burns. She was pretty sure she had a couple of cracked ribs as well.
She had gotten off lightly, considering that this was the toughest fight she had ever faced - the duel against Rashōmon, the Ability passed down to her by her late brother. She understood the demonic being's anger. After all, they had been forced to serve and protect the very girl their Master had died for.
But for more than five years now, Rashōmon had been her partner and closest ally and she had grown used to fighting together with them. However, she had also gone through rigorous (often outright brutal) training with Dazai-san, Chuuya-san, Kouyou-san and Hirotsu-san. And thanks to that, she had not only survived a protracted battle against such a powerful and vicious opponent, but had also emerged victorious with minor injuries.
Slowly, carefully, she made her way out of the iron and steel plant that had been their battlefield, walking gingerly along narrow catwalks suspended precariously above the great furnaces. She wondered how everyone else was faring - powerless, fighting for their lives against their own feral, murderous Abilities. She had been separated from her best friend and her little sister and their own battles hadn't been going too well. But she had full faith in both Atsushi and Kyouka. They would manage. Outside, the unnatural fog shrouded the surroundings, the city still a Hellscape created by Shibusawa Tatsuhiko.
And suddenly, she was no longer there.
She stood on a beach of soft, white sand. A strong wind blew around her, carrying with it the cries of gulls and the salty tang of the ocean. A few metres in front of her breakers crashed onto the shore and beyond that, at the horizon, the sun peeked out, taking her first look at the world. And far nearer, where the sea met the shore..
From where had he suddenly appeared, that figure which was so well-known and yet so unfamiliar? With silent steps that left no print on the wet sand, he walked towards her, sea-foam lapping at his feet.
He looked healthy and happy, his face no longer haggard with worry, weariness and pain, his body no longer emaciated due to sickness, strain and malnutrition. He seemed younger than she remembered him to be. Or was it just that she had grown up?
His hair was different - chin-length, two-toned bangs still framed his face, but at the back, waist-length raven locks were pulled into a ponytail at the nape of his neck. Gone were the ill-fitting, worn clothes that they had both been accustomed to wearing. He now wore black skinny jeans, a t-shirt with a red western dragon (which resembled his soul-mark) at the front, black-and-red sports shoes and a black leather jacket - all looking to be brand new.
"It has been a while, hasn't it? You look well, Little Dragon."
Oh, for the last five years, how many times had she longed to hear that dearly beloved voice again? Just how many times had she wished that she could see the first face she had learnt to recognise in her infancy, one last time?
How was this possible? Was this a dream? An illusion? Or was it just the action of one of the many hostile Abilities still rampaging about all over the city?
"I'm not an illusion, really. This is a mind space created and shared by the two of us and Rashōmon thanks to the current circumstances. You could say that this is a world between dream and reality. But although I'm just a spirit now, I'm still me."
"Brother.."
She choked back a sob as she ran towards him. He met her halfway, his arms wrapping around her, gentle and secure.
"I can't believe that you're taller than me now."
Ryū's face wore a teasing grin while his warm gray eyes danced with mirth. She felt a pang in her chest. He had been so young. Her brother's expression morphed into one of comprehension.
"What happened back then was by no means your fault. You understand that, right? And even if it had been so - well, I'd never regret what I did either way."
"Brother, I.. It's just that it's so unfair…."
"Ah. But Little Dragon, the world is unfair. You've learnt that long ago, haven't you. I've been watching over you all this while you know."
"You.. have? And you're not angry at me for joining the Port Mafia? You're not upset that I kill for a living?"
"Hmm. If it was up to me, you'd be leading a normal life, far away from any danger. But." He forestalled her apology with an upraised finger. "I myself would have taken up a job like that in a heartbeat. And I had a high enough kill count already back then. There were reasons behind those Dark Dragon rumours spreading."
He plopped down on the soft sand a couple of feet from the water's edge, motioning for her to sit on the spot beside him.
"After you joined the Mafia you found a new family. You made friends. You don't want for anything now. Most importantly, you're happy. So yes. I'm happy too. And I'm really, really proud of you. You've worked so hard to make a place for yourself in this world. You've earned the respect of everyone around you who actually matter. You're the best sister I could have hoped for."
"Thank you. Thank you so much.. You're the best, Ryū. The most amazing brother ever.."
She smiled through tears of joy and relief while he patted her head gently, just as he used to do long ago when they were children. They remained there for a time, basking in each other's presence, bathed in the light of the new dawn. Then suddenly, her brother stiffened beside her and relaxed almost at once.
"Looks like we really don't have much time left."
She hadn't even noticed that they had company. Ryū stood up and strode forward to meet the newcomer, a smile on his lips.
"Hello, Rashōmon. It's good to finally meet you face to face."
His Ability bowed low.
"Thank you, Master."
Their voice was soft and echoing. She had never heard them speak before. Whenever she had tried to communicate with them, she had only felt their emotions - killing intent, thirst for battle, a sense of duty when it came to her, grief for their lost Master.. What she had heard was the demonic being's gleeful laughter that would fill her head as they slaughtered their enemies.
"Please, you shouldn't call me Master or be so formal anymore, partner. I never got to thank you for always being there for me. And you have my everlasting gratitude for protecting my sister."
"I'm honoured to have served you, Master."
To her surprise, they turned towards her and bowed in acknowledgement.
"And watching over her has actually been a pleasure."
Her brother reached forward to squeeze their shoulders gently. Then he turned to her and pulled her into a tight hug.
"When I died, I was actually glad that I went down fighting instead of wasting away from illness. But you are to live long and live well, okay? And remember. Even if you can't perceive me with any of your senses, I'm always there, right by your side." He smiled softly. "Go now."
Rashōmon approached. And this time, it was her that they bowed to.
"Let us go, Mistress." There was unconcealed eagerness in their voice. "We have a battle to win."
"Yes. Let us fight together, Rashōmon." She smiled.
Together, they walked towards the edge of that world where the beach ended in a wall of impenetrable darkness. A few paces from it, she looked back.
Silhouetted against the rising sun, her brother still stood, one hand raised in farewell.
"Goodbye, Ryū. I love you. I'll miss you so much!"
Beside her, Rashōmon bowed deeply at their Master.
"I love you too, sis. And Rashōmon, thank you for everything. Farewell!"
And then she stepped into the void.
A brief moment of complete darkness and she was back, leaning against a wall. Her fatigue had disappeared, though she could still feel her injuries. She inhaled deeply and exhaled long and slow.
From the doorway beside her, Rashōmon emerged and moved to stand in front of her. They bowed low, just as they had bowed towards her brother. Only now, after she had made peace with herself about Ryū's death and had proved herself by besting them in single combat, was she deemed worthy. They had finally accepted her as their new Mistress.
Then Rashōmon vanished into the darkness behind her.
The roiling fog still covered everything in the vicinity. But the dark red glow of her Ability now enveloped her. Around her, the shadows lengthened and writhed. She could sense them as if they were extensions of herself. She had never felt herself to be this much in tune with Rashōmon. She was stronger now.
A fierce smile bloomed on Akutagawa Gin's face. It shouldn't be too long before her best friend and her little sister were able to regain Beast Beneath the Moonlight and Demon Snow (if they hadn't done so already). She needed to find them quickly.
They had a battle to win.
A/n: I don't intend to imply that Akutagawa is a creepy stalker ghost. He has certain boundaries, even though he's sort of haunting his sister. Also, the Akutagawa siblings are very close in a familial way. I hate incest. The time in the mental space is different from that in the real world. This whole fic takes place within a few minutes, about an hour before dawn.
When Gin talks about her best friend and her little sister, she means her soul-friend, Atsushi and soul-sister Kyouka.
I will address all sentient Abilities as they and all non-sentient Abilities as it, regardless of canon, in order to emphasise that they are eldritch beings.