Day 6 - Resurrection (AU)
[Reincarnation AU – humans who have violent deaths reincarnate as yokai.]
Warning: This one is rated T because of blood.
"Kotaro-sama, please hurry we'll be late!" The karasu-tengu, tugged at the sleeve of his kimono urging him to go faster. "Hurry, Kotaro-sama!" The other karasu-tengu repeated meandering in the sky around him.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Kotaro replied flatly. He had no interest in this ceremony, but as the crow yokai kept reminding him he was the son of the wind god and he had to preside over such things at times.
The streets were eerily quiet tonight, mist covering the sky and the path ahead and there was the faint smell of blood in the air. Kotaro scrunched up his nose at the smell. He'd never had much taste for it; he was more of a scented candles kind of person – but not long after, the smell intensified until all he could smell was fresh blood.
"Damn it, where is it coming from!?" Kotaro's clamped his nose with his fingers, not being able to stand it anymore. "Find it!" he commanded.
The karasu-tengu bowed respectfully and took off high into the sky and with their powerful wings they started to blow the mist away. Kotaro squinted, raising his hand to cover his eyes from the dust the wind brought.
"Kotaro-sama!" One hooted. "Over there, over there!" The son of the wind god, lowered his arm, blinking quickly blinded by the sudden brightness.
Kotaro's lips parted in surprised. "Oh," he breathed. He was immortal, had always been so he never considered much the mortality of humans. A wrinkle formed between his brows, his lips pressed into a thin line. He'd been so worked up about a smell he disliked he forgot what it meant when it was that strong.
Before he knew it, he was awkwardly walking towards the human body lying on the ground. His enhanced senses could pick up a faint beating, the beating of a heart not quite ready to give up yet. But there was no point, Kotaro thought as the large pool of blood glistened with the streetlights.
"Kotaro-sama," he felt a small hand grab hold of his.
Kotaro glimpsed at the karasu-tengu next to him. "Kenma," he uttered.
"There's nothing you can do for him," the small boy with black wings on his back declared in his usual monotonous tone. "He'll be dead soon." The words sounded harsh but Kotaro could sense the kindness in his voice.
"But…" Kotaro paused midsentence not knowing what he was going to say in the first place. He just knew it felt wrong to just leave like that.
Kotaro stepped closer, shaking Kenma's hand away. He went around the blood, and got closer to the boy's face, peering down at him. He was beautiful, Kotaro thought. Black, silky hair and clear skin with a well-defined jaw, and his grey eyes too, gave him a sort of otherworldly look about him. Though the glazed stare made Kotaro reconsider that last part.
There was a slash across his chest and on his leg, with blood slowly pouring out. Kotaro clasped a hand to his mouth, feeling nauseous. He didn't know there could be this much blood in a body. If someone cut him, would he bleed like this too?
"He- Hello?" The boy murmured. "Is… is anyone there?" Kotaro's gaze widened, tears forming in the rim of his eyes.
"Yes!" He blurted out, dropping to his knees. "I'm here!"
"Can you help me?" A tear streamed down Kotaro's cheek. His trembling hands reached for the boy's head, to his hair, his fingers running it gently.
"I'm Kotaro," he muttered gently. "What's your name?"
"Kei- Kei— He coughed, his chest heaving up and down violently. "Keiji," he said his voice barely a whisper, a trickle of blood leaving his lips.
Kotaro swallowed dry. "Kotaro-sama," he recognized the voice as Kenma again and he felt the other's hand rest on his shoulder. "There is nothing you can do. We should go. He will die soon."
"But…can't I do something? You keep telling me I have all this power inside of me but if I can't even help a single person than what is it for?"
"It is okay, Kotaro-sama," he squeezed his shoulder. "When humans die from violent deaths like this, they are reborn as yokai."
An odd, possibly pointless idea crossed his mind but Kotaro thought he should try it anyway. "Kenma give me one of your feathers," he said and opened his hand to him. The young boy complied and pulled a petit black feather from one of his wings, placing atop of Kotaro's palm. The son of the wind god concentrated on that feather, trying to infuse it with some of his power – even the smallest bit would do. That way, either Kotaro or Kenma could track it.
"Hey Keiji," Kotaro called to the boy, hearing the beats of his heart slower. "I'm going to give you this feather, okay? It's going to help you, so don't let go, okay?" The boy nodded, his lips parted as if he was about to speak but only a faint exhale escaped his lips.
None of them said anything before Keiji's heart stopped. Kotaro rose to his feet then and muttered a prayer. He resumed his trip without uttering another word, but inside his heart he hoped the young boy would return to him one day.
Day 6 Promtps : Graduation or Resurrection
