Since many people liked my soulmate AU, I decided to turn it into a little story of its own. The first part was part of the Fictober stories I've uploaded, so it's possible that you've already read it. But the second part is new I hope you'll enjoy it. I really love soulmate AUs

An invisible red thread connects those destined to meet, regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle. But it will never break.

Eiji had grown up with this saying. In his world, everyone had a soulmate. All his classmates had one, his parents and his sister. Most people had a soulmate that didn't live far away, and they could communicate telepathically, just by sending thoughts or feelings to each other. They also heard if the other one was injured or scared, overjoyed or happy if the emotions intensified.

Now that he was going to school, he wondered why he couldn't communicate with his soul mate. His parents had tried to explain that a soul mate's bond was easier to connect to if both people sharing the bond lived next to each other. If his soul mate lived far away, maybe in another country, the bond was still there, but it was impossible to communicate telepathically. But you still noticed your soul mate's presence and could send emotions through the bond. Your soulmate was always present, like a little humming sound in the background.

Eiji hadn't believed his parents. He felt the presence of his soulmate, but it was faint, and he felt lonely because all the people around him could communicate with their soul mate, and they were best friends that shared everything. So Eiji often dreamed of meeting his soul mate and was convinced he would meet him one day.

One night, he woke up screaming. Tears streamed down his face while fear, panic and pain surged through him, making his whole body tremble while tears flowed down his face without knowing the reason.

After a moment, he realized that those horrible and intense emotions were coming from his soulmate. He was scared to death and was suffering so much that it affected him as well. Eiji felt that he was injured. The emotions were so intense that Eiji could feel the injuries and the pain on his body as well. Eiji felt the raw pain as if it were his own. It was nearly unbearable, and he wondered how much more his soulmate had to suffer.

He curled up in a ball and hugged himself while he cried, and his whole body shook from that horrible experience. His soulmate's emotions were so intense, they overwhelmed him, and he couldn't control them. All he could do was cry himself to sleep. His parents didn't know what to do, either. In their country, people lived peaceful lives, and a soulmate that experienced traumatic events or physical pain was rare except for minor injuries or accidents. So their doctor had no advice either about how to handle this unique situation.

His parents always ran to him and hugged him, assuring him they were by his side until he had calmed down. But at that point, he woke up screaming every night, and his parents grew worried.

One day, his mom asked him what he wanted to do. She assured him that if he could control the bond, he could also influence the emotions that came through to him from his soul mate's side. She also told him of the possibility to block his soul mate's emotions so that he wouldn't feel them anymore.

"No, I'll never do that!", Eiji exclaimed angrily. "My soulmate is suffering. I can't just block him when he goes through so much pain! I want to be there for him. What can I do to help him? To show him that he isn't alone?", he asked her desperately while tears streamed down his face.

His mom gently stroked his hair and placed a soft kiss on his forehead.

"You're a good boy, Eiji. It's only natural that you want to help your soulmate. But please be careful. If emotions get too strong, they can affect you and your mental or physical health as well.", she explained to him while she looked at him with concern in her brown eyes.

"I can show you how to control emotions. Then, they wouldn't affect you this much."

When Eiji glared at his mom, she clarified it for him.

"If you're overwhelmed by his emotions, you can't help your soul mate. If you can control your bond, you can also control how much his emotions affect you personally. If you manage to do that, you can help your soulmate better. Eiji smiled happily at that. "Then, I'll try!"

"If you want to help your soul mate, try sending emotions to him. He'll always notice them. If he's suffering, intensify the feelings you're sending to him. Try to send calming and soothing emotions to him. They will help your soul mate even if he doesn't respond. You'll probably notice through the bond how he calms down or relaxes a bit, or falls asleep again.

Eiji nodded, wiping away his tears. "Thank you, mom. I'll try that next time."

"Your soulmate is lucky to have someone as kindhearted as you, Eiji. I'm sure he can feel your love, warmth and comfort through the bond."

Seven years later

Eiji had just landed in New York a couple of hours ago. Now, he was busy cleaning his new apartment while humming to himself cheerfully. After his pole vaulting accident, Ibe had offered him a job as his assistant in New York while finishing his degree in photography there.

'What are you so happy about?'

Eiji was so shocked; he dropped the cup of coffee he had been holding, spilling the contents everywhere. Eiji sighed in frustration but was more interested in the question that had resonated through the bond.

That question had been transmitted through telepathy. How could that be? They couldn't communicate telepathically. But, now, he also noticed that their bond was stronger than before. He could feel more than a soft humming sound coming through the bond. He felt the emotions of his soulmate more clearly now.

"What? How is that possible? I could never talk to you before!", Eiji exclaimed in pure surprise.

'Sorry for scaring you. It's possible because you're closer to me now; I can feel it. Did you move somewhere else recently?'

"Uh, yes, I moved to the US. In fact, I've just arrived today.", Eiji explained to him.

'Then, it makes sense that our bond is stronger now. Because I'm American.'

After a little pause, he continued, but Eiji could feel his amusement coming through the bond.

'You do realize that you don't have to say everything out loud when talking to me, right?'

'Oh, sorry. I was too excited to realize that. I've always wanted to talk to you. What's your name?"

'Ash. What about you? Where are you from? And how old are you?'

'I'm Eiji, and I'm 19. I'm from Japan. What about you?'

'I'm 17. Where exactly did you move to in the US?'

'New York City.'

'Wow, it's a small world. I live in NYC.'

"You do?", Eiji exclaimed overjoyed. "Does that mean you can show me around? That I can meet you? What do you look like? I've always wanted to meet you!"

'You did?', Ash exclaimed in surprise. 'After all I've done to you? Don't you hate me?', Ash asked him, this time aloud. Eiji felt his devastating sadness through the bond.

"What are you talking about? How could I ever hate my soulmate?, Eiji replied in astonishment. "I don't know what happened to you, but the people hurting you are responsible, never you."

'I just wished that I could have done more for you. I wanted to hug you and wipe your tears away. And punch the person who did that to you! I felt so powerless...

'Thanks. You really mean that. I can feel it through the bond. But I don't think I can meet you yet. I'm sorry. I have difficulties trusting people. You'll probably be disappointed in me anyway. I lead a dangerous and violent life on the streets. I don't want to drag you into this. You sound as if you have led a peaceful life in a nice neighborhood.'

'It's fine. I wanted to meet you, but it doesn't have to be now. I'll stay here for a year, at least. So, we can always meet later. But I'd love to talk to you more. I really enjoyed it.'

'Thank you for being so understanding. I'd like that. I enjoyed talking to you, too. I have to go now. Talk to you later. Welcome to New York. If you need some tips about New York, ask me anytime. I know some great places that aren't in any tourist guide.'

'Great! Thank you. Talk to you later.'

~~~

"Ash, what's wrong with you today? You're spacing out all the time. And I bet you haven't heard a word I've said!", Shorter scolded him while they had lunch at the Chang Dai, the restaurant Shorter's sister owned.

"If I didn't know you better, I would say you're in love.", Shorter teased him.

"Cut the crap, Shorter. Although this time, you're closer to the truth than you think...

"Spill it, Ash! What happened? You just looked as if you were communicating with your soul mate. But you're soulmate lives far away - "

Ash couldn't hide his small smile fast enough, so Shorter stared at him in surprise.

"Wait, does that mean you were communicating with your soulmate?", Shorter asked curiously.

'You sound happy, Ash. Did something good happen?' Eiji's voice was transmitted through the bond.

'Not really. My best friend just found out I can communicate with you. And now he's bugging me with questions.'

'I hope I can meet him one day. He sounds like a good friend. You're lucky to have him.'

'I guess so. He's a pain in the ass, but he's a good guy.'

"You're doing it again! Ignoring me, I mean. You're a genius. Shouldn't you be able two handle two conversations at the same time?", Shorter asked him, shooting him a piercing glare.

Ash rolled his eyes. "I can only communicate with him since yesterday. I'm new to this, ok?"

'Eiji, can I talk to you later? I can't focus on two conversations at once.'

'Ok. I have to check in with my counselor at college now anyway.'

"My soul mate told me he'd like to meet you."

"I'd like to meet him, too. So why can you communicate all of a sudden? What's he like? Where's he from?", Shorter asked excitedly. When he didn't answer right away, Shorter grabbed his shoulders, shaking him.

"Spit it out, Ash. Tell me everything!" Ash sighed before pulling away from him. "Fine! Let go of me."

"His name is Eiji, and he's Japanese. He's 19 and has just moved to New York. He's pretty nice and has led a better life than we did. He studies photography."

"So, when will you meet him?", Shorter asked curiously.

"I won't. I'm a gang leader. I only put him in danger. Meeting him can't lead to anything good.", Ash said, sighing deeply.

"Your sad eyes tell something different. They reflect your desperate wish to meet him. So, just do it."

"He'll only be disappointed. I mean, just look at me and my torn clothes. I don't have anything to offer him. I'm a ruthless gang leader while he's a law-abiding citizen. It would never work out. When he hears the rumors about me, he'll stay away from me for sure. And if he ever learns about my traumatic past, he'll feel disgusted. I will save us both the trouble of going through all of that.", Ash explained, his eyes downcast and drowning in sorrow.

"Sounds to me as if you're just too scared to meet him.", Shorter said, looking at him with concern.

"Shut up!" Ash stubbornly turned away from him.

"Ash, didn't you tell me how much your soulmate's help meant to you while you were raped and abused? How he gave you hope and the courage never to give up? How much he comforted you although he was living on a different continent? Someone who has done so much for you and has always helped you through those traumatic experiences would never be this shallow. He probably worried a lot about you and shared your pain with you all the time. So, I bet he does want to meet you.

"He does. But I put him through so much pain. He must have suffered a lot because of me. He could probably feel all the pain I felt. How can he ever forgive me?", Ash asked, sitting there with slumped shoulders.

"What's there to forgive? It wasn't your fault. Eiji probably wanted to be there for you. To show you that you're not alone."

Ash nodded quietly. "He said something like that."

"You see? Ash, you are a kind and smart guy and a great friend. You deserve someone kind who accepts you the way you are. You went through a lot, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve a great soulmate. Please promise me you'll meet him."

Ash thought about it. He wanted to meet him. He sounded so kind, and all the emotions he felt through their bond were so cheerful and warm. It gave him new hope and cheered him up. But would it be alright..?"

"Ok, done. You'll meet your soulmate this evening at the Chang Dai.", Shorter said, holding up Ash's phone while grinning wickedly at him. There was a text message on the screen.

Hey, I changed my mind about not meeting you. Do you have time this evening at 7 pm?

I'll pick you up if you tell me where you live. We can have dinner at a nice restaurant, I know, and talk."

Ash.

"What the fuck? What have you done?", Ash asked angrily while all color drained from his face.

Eiji was studying photography, so he had asked Ash for his number to send him some pics he had taken. Usually, Ash never gave his number to anyone, but this was his soulmate...

While he had thought about Shorter's advice, he had stolen Ash's phone and written a message to Eiji.

"Fuck, Shorter! I can't meet him this evening! I'll tell him that it was a mistake.", Ash said while beginning to write another message to Eiji on his phone.

Before he could send it, though, he received another message with Eiji's address and the following reply:

Ash, I'm so happy you want to meet me! I'm free this evening. I really look forward to meeting you. I've always wondered what you look like. See you later!

Eiji

Ash finally put away his phone and admitted defeat. Eiji was so excited to meet him; he could never cancel it again. It would break his heart. He could never do that to Eiji... Not after all he had done for him.

He had never given up because Eiji had sent him calming messages in those dark times, continually reminding him that he wasn't alone. And if he was perfectly honest, he wanted to meet him, too.

"Fine, you win. Thanks for always complicating my life. My life would be so boring without you." Ash smirked at him.

"Anytime. Now, you owe me."

~~~

Eiji waited outside when a red motorcycle parked in front of him. He didn't need to see the face under the helmet to know that this was his soul mate. He had recognized it instantly through the bond.

When the guy got off his motorbike and took off his helmet, Eiji was stunned. He had never seen such golden hair before. When Ash looked at him for the first time, he just stood there, open-mouthed while he stared into the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. The guy looked like a supermodel: tall, slender body, golden hair and emerald eyes. Even the hoodie, his torn jeans and his red converse looked incredible on him.

When he had gotten over his initial surprise, he walked towards him, smiling.

"Hey, Ash. It's nice to meet you. I'm looking forward to this evening." Eiji beamed at him.

Ash smiled at him. "Yes, I feel the same. You look great - "

Before Ash had a chance to react, Eiji had thrown himself into his arms and hugged him. Ash had frozen up for a moment. Usually, touch instinctively made him cringe and pull out or slap the hand away because he related touch to violence and pain.

Still, when Eiji had hugged him, it felt completely different. His hug felt warm and cozy, and a fuzzy feeling rushed through him that he couldn't quite explain. He immediately felt protected and safe in his embrace. It just felt right and perfect. When Ash slowly pulled out of the hug, he looked into the most prominent and warmest brown eyes he had ever seen. They looked perfect in combination with the innocent and overjoyed smile that he gave him. He had suddenly forgotten why he had been so scared to meet him.

Ash returned his smile before handing him a helmet.

"Have you ever been on a motorcycle before?"