Chapter 1: A Happy (not) afterlife
Letting out a deep sigh as I finished strolling through my former middle school for the nth time, I could only lambast at my new reality. Despite being a pessimistic cynic at heart, it seemed like even I held a glimmer of hope that my afterlife would at least be somewhat rewarding.
Instead, all I got was a long chain tied to my chest and the ability to walk through walls.
In other words, I was the stereotypical ghost, trapped on the physical plane and unable to pass on.
Yeah- the afterlife was a total letdown.
It wasn't like I could do anything to ease the complete boredom. Although I had seen a few fellow spirits since my debut a few days ago, none looked in the mood for conversation.
That being said, it wasn't like I was going to go up and strike a dialogue. I was a proud loner not a normie! Going out of my way and talking to random strangers was a step too far for my comfort zone.
Before I can scrunch my head in frustration, a group of students, many of whom were former classmates, pass by. Happily laughing amongst themselves, a bitter feeling of envy wells through my core. These were the same people who called me "Otogaya", who arrived at school an hour early to draw my picture on the chalkboard, who made me pass notes around the classroom with written insults scribbled onto them.
With all the giggling they made, it was a wonder that the teachers never noticed.
Needless to say, it irked me seeing them walking about, enjoying the peak of their "Youth" while I was stuck as some poltergeist.
"Mou- Kaito, that Hikigaya creep hasn't been coming to school recently."
"He's probably too embarrassed to show his face after confessing to Hana. I'll bet he'll be back in a few days. Maybe this time he'll be aiming for you. You're one of few people who actually talk to that weirdo."
"Gross- I was only being nice. He should drop dead!"
"I mean isn't he already a zombie with those eyes?"
How original, I'm laughing my ghostly ass off Riajuu- kun.
"Say Meguru, doesn't Otogaya have a sister who goes here?"
"Uhhh, I think so? Why do you ask?"
"Just wondering. Maybe we should do a public service announcement and warn her friends that she might be a secret creep just like her brother. It feels bad if those girls have to meet him because of their connection."
"C'mon that's too mean. With Otogaya, the Hikigaya clan takes enough losses as it is!"
Watching the morons guffaw once more in laughter, hot searing rage pour through my body. Gripping my fist so tightly it feels as if my knuckles are about to pop, every instinct screams at me to lash out, to maul these idiots like some animal.
Making fun at my expense: annoying but honestly expected.
Casually threatening to hurt Komachi in front of her big brother for no apparent reason: unforgivable.
It was unforgivable…
Completely unforgivable…
UNFORGIVABLE!
Quaking in rage, hot fury clouds my entire vision, demanding me to deliver retribution, screeching for a payment in red iron.
The constant gossip.
The mocking glares.
The fake confessions.
The vacuous and empty kindness given by girls who are just nice in order to please their own self image.
The exasperated voices of teachers at my inability to "fit in".
The crippling loneliness…
Bit by bit, every bolt of restraint slowly comes loose, the once impenetrable dam of emotions crumbles. Releasing a storm of feelings I could only hope to describe, I can only marvel at my personal catharsis before suddenly falling onto my knees, hands clutching my chest in complete agony.
Wincing through excruciating pain, I watch in horror as the chain which has been with me since my death rapidly erodes, small festering mouths appearing on each link.
Before I can even register what's happening, the numerous mouths descend upon each other once more eating away all that remains, disappearing.
Seized again by the now familiar sensation of pure agony, I scream once more, my throat becoming chortled with white bile spewing out like conscious vomit. Helplessly watching as the white plaster swerves around and quickly engulfs my entire head, the last thing I recall before being consumed by approaching darkness is the booming roar of bestial hunger.
Komachi, Onii-chan promises that he'll meet you again.
A/N:So yeah Hikigaya is a hollow in this story. One of things that has always irked in the back of my mind was how in the light novel Hikigaya was treated like absolute shit in the past with him just powering through the abuse. Anyways the idea of this crossover is that Hikigaya's bitterness and anger towards his situation and his peers keeps him a chained spirit and Komachi being threatened becomes the final nail in the coffin for his hollowfication. Hopefully the entire situation doesn't sound too OOC for him.
Storywise, I would like to preface that the setting of this fic is shifted into the late 1800s or early 1900s. As much as I am a Hikigaya fanboy, him becoming some overpowered character who evolves at a rate near or equal to Ichigo is just not my cup of tea. Anyways, that wraps up the first chapter of The Afterlife is Terrible as Expected so please stay in tune when the next update comes. Fingers crossed it won't be too long.