Chapter Text
Yamaguchi Tadashi had always considered himself to be painfully ordinary. His appearance was average with his dark brown, mousy hair and brown eyes; the only significant feature that Yamaguchi believed he possessed was possibly the numerous freckles that littered his skin. From his face to his arms to his back to his toes - they consumed and wrapped around him like a shield. However, Yamaguchi didn't care for the seemingly endless supply of freckles across his body (no matter what his parents said about them making him unique and different from the other kids his age, they made him stand out in the crowd and brought about attention from the less than savory group of guys in his class along with a history of bullying that shattered his confidence and boosted his anxiety).
Working in a cramped and quiet bookstore in between the local university and downtown Sendai, Yamaguchi didn't get the chance to meet more than the stores regulars (he quite liked the pair of siblings that routinely stopped there every Saturday night who, like clockwork, would purchase a historical fiction novel and a sports magazine; as well as the little old lady who'd scour the shelves for a cookbook that she didn't own already). Between his night classes and his job, Yamaguchi knew he was on the lonelier side of life and needed to get a friend or two. Nevertheless, he liked living his quiet life with his plants on the little balcony in his tiny, 1 bedroom apartment on the 3rd floor. Yamaguchi told himself that he was fine the way things were and nothing would need to change, ever, because he was happy.
The thing was, Yamaguchi knew he was alone. Both of his parents had moved abroad for job promotions after he entered his second year of college, leaving him out on his own to finish school and find a job to support himself.
Now, he goes to classes three days out of the week while working full time, the other four days so he can pay rent and buy groceries and on the rare occasion, a new video game for his outdated DS. Yamaguchi's responsibilities and chores leave him with little to no time for himself, or the very limited number of friends he has, or even a slim chance that one of his parents will call him for once but it's fine, he's fine. He's living the college life and learning about himself and the world with no restrictions whatsoever.
Still, Yamaguchi wished for a change of pace, something different, a new friend or maybe a small pet he could take care of like a salamander or gecko. Just something that would make his ordinary, boring life just a tiny bit interesting.
***
Sunday.
Yamaguchi Tadashi loved Sundays with a fierce passion in his soul that made the rest of the week fly by. Sunday's were reserved for sleeping in, doing what little homework he had left, working the closing shift at the bookstore and relaxing as much as possible afterwards.
He could spend hours playing the newest Pokemon game or listening to music while he took care of his plants or read another chapter of his latest book find at the store; all in all, Sunday was the day that Yamaguchi interacted with a modest amount of people and didn't feel as stressed and anxious as every other day. In fact, today was when most of the new customers would wander into the little bookstore with interest in their eyes and walk out with satisfaction in their grasp.
As it was, Yamaguchi was roaming the lanky shelves to check on the two customers within the store. He noticed that the first customer had been glaring at the Historical section for ages while tapping her foot and scanning up and down the shelf. Yamaguchi had seen her several times both in store and around campus and knew that if she wanted help she would ask him after their first dreadful meeting (involving a bit of drama and exasperation on her part that left Yamaguchi wanting to stay as far away as possible and never talk to her again).
When Yamaguchi came across the other customer that was hiding amongst the shelves, he found them in the Fantasy Fiction area with a small frown upon her withered face but a gleam of happiness in the shifty dark hazel eyes. As the customer glanced at Yamaguchi, he could feel something different about this seemingly new customer; like an aura pulsing and pulling him towards her but also a heat that radiated off her very presence that made him both stare in awe and want to flee. He seemed to communicate something towards her as she suddenly shifted towards him and gave him a mischievous smirk.
"Ah, I see now why I was drawn here," the elders eyes bore into his before effortlessly floating down his body and back up. Yamaguchi could feel his anxiety grow in the endless pit of his stomach while he looked at the woman staring back at him.
"I. . . I'm sorry? Um. . . would you like any assistance in finding a book?" Yamaguchi's voice trembled and he silently cursed himself for stuttering.
As the two stared at each other, one with dread building between his shoulders and the other with a knowing smirk upon her aged face, a pulse could be felt around them that went bone deep. He could hear a faint ding in the background of the store, signaling to him that the other customer had left. Yamaguchi at first thought he had an evolving migraine but soon realized that it appeared to be coming from the woman in front of him. He assumed he had finally lost his mind when a dull lavender aura engulfed the woman's figure like a comfortable shawl.
The brunet attempted to back away or yell for help or something that would get him out of this situation before the awful feeling in his stomach exploded but he was rooted to the ground. Yamaguchi tried saying something but his throat ceased the words from manifesting. He scanned the aisle in a bid to find a way of escape but with the inability of movement along with the lack of vocalization, Yamaguchi was left to see as to what exactly the woman was doing.
"Your loneliness has lured me to you;
I stand before you willing to give
you all that you desire most, a change from your mediocre, lifeless life. A life of
endless adventure, of friendship and family,
a life worth living and fighting for,
but for a price.
The price is heavy and burdensome,
but the gain is sweeter still - so,
the question lays before you,
Will you go?"
Yamaguchi felt a weight in his head and a dull pain in his heart. This was what he wanted, what he desired; a place to belong, with people and friends that cared for him and to not feel invisible. However, he didn't know of the price or what he was getting himself into. What if this was a scam? This could all be a dream that he created to spirit away from reality. What if he went and regrets his decision? What if what the woman says is false and he's still lonely? But what if he loves it? And makes some friends and wasn't lonely? Was the risk worth the reward?
As Yamaguchi tumbled down the seemingly endless rabbit hole of questions, the old woman could see the worry and anxiety growing around him like a thick smaug. She began to frown and furrowed her eyebrows together. Most had always taken the deal without a thought to the "price" of her gift to them; very rarely did anyone think of the decision beforehand and rarer still did they weigh the risks so deeply. With a slight nod of her head, she waves her hand towards Yamaguchi to gather his attention again.
"There are only two things I will tell
you, Tadashi, until you must a decision:
First, there is something you must
find - find he who walks by the moon and has left his heart to turn to stone,
only allowing a select few to see what is hidden inside.
You must find what lies inside and have him make an offering of devotion towards you.
Second, the price that you must bare,
both will be heavy upon your shoulders, half the price comes in the form of touch.
The longer you go without finding who you seek, the less you'll feel those around you,
warm sunbeams or the pain of a wound - all will not be felt upon your skin.
The other half, my dear,
I am afraid may break you: it is reality.
You will find yourself between worlds,
seeing things that will confuse and disorient you from your desired path.
Fear not Tadashi, for if you gain his devotion,
you will live joyously with those who care,
those who will protect and aid.
My dear, you must decide, quickly now!"
Yamaguchi knew he had already made his decision. He knew that in his current state that if he declined, he would forever wonder as to what could have been. While the price was daunting and brought anxiety crashing like waves against his chest, it would be worth it to find his place in the world, even if it was not his own.
He looked up at the old woman with a hesitant smile and a spark in his lovely eyes.
"Okay. . . let's go."
With a flurry of laughter and a spark of lavender, the woman grinned and started chanting in an ancient and deep language. The shelves around them shook and groaned, the books fell to the floor and flew across the aisle. The brunet suddenly felt dread consume him, he fell to his knees and looked up at the woman with tears caressing his face. The chanting grew in volume while the room began to spin, Yamaguchi felt a piercing headache suddenly hit him.
As he clutched his head, he clenched his eyes shut to escape from the chaos happening around him. There was a growing tension between his shoulders and it felt as if gravity was pushing at his body trying to keep him on the ground. Yamaguchi could hear the books falling and flying around him along with the chanting of the woman's foreign language.
***
When he looked up after what felt like an eternity, Yamaguchi noticed that he was no longer in the bookstore.
Green. Trees.
Gigantic, beautiful green trees surrounded him all around. A birdsong could be heard off in the distance along with a rustle in the branches above him. The sun shined down on him through the leaves, blinding him for a few seconds. He noticed the woman was no longer there but paid no mind to it as he gazed at this new world around him.
When he attempted to stand, dizziness struck him and he fell to the ground again. The last thing he remembered was a blur of orange running towards him.