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What is a soulmate? Everyone knows what it means, destiny has decided with whom you have to fall in love and spend the rest of your life with, but does it have to be that way? In this universe, yes it is.
So here's the thing: when you are born, you got a ring with you and that can't be taken off, it connects you with your soulmate, it's actually not that complicated and you listen to the rules since you're 5, just in case you wonder why it changes its color.
The rules are:
Whatever are the emotions your soulmate is feeling, your ring will turn the color that represents 'that' emotion.
It's the same on the other side according to what you're feeling, it's a connection, a powerful and deep one since you can see something meaningful as feelings.
Hence it changes colors constantly, over and over again over the years, you don't realize how many emotions can pass by in a day until you see it with your own eyes and wonder what makes your soulmate feel that way, until something happens.
If your ring turns pink it'd mean that you are in love with your soulmate, it won't change its color again, because you already found your person. If their ring turns pink or not, well, that's another story.
So here's Kuroo Tetsurō, in his almost last year of college, with a changing color ring that doesn't seem to turn pink in the slightest.
People used to say that, if you haven't found your soulmate in college, it's likely that you simply won't. It's stupid, really, but statistics talk louder than hope.
It's been three rough years. The first one he just thought it didn't matter, it'll come whenever it's ready, he still have time.
The second went the same, no success, just seeing other people find the love of their life while he did absolutely nothing, but not because he didn't want to, he just couldn't.
And now is the third, there are two years left and he is losing hope. Honestly, is it really that important to find your soulmate? Probably not, you could live without it, he's been doing it his whole life, so what's the matter?
It doesn't matter, but he wants it. He wants to share his life with someone, he wants to love.
It's complicated, since he was a kid he's always been kind of dreaming about finding his soulmate, the way they would look like, or how they would react when their rings turn pink. It was good and comforting dreaming of it, he's a romantic dork.
But as years pass by, he doesn't know anymore, because the reality tells him that he probably should start to resign and expect nothing. But he can't, not until the end.
Right?
By now, he can't give himself the opportunity to meet people and try to get to know them, it's already too late for that, he doesn't have that amount of time. Especially when people tend to fake their emotions so it won't match what they're showing with the color that's on his ring.
He knows, it's difficult to find your soulmate that way.
So he created a method .
Well, if you can call it 'that'. It's quite simple, actually. For Kuroo there's only one way his partner couldn't fake the emotion they're feeling… The orange color.
You see, orange color represents when someone is 'horny' , so the thing is, that if he's with someone, and in that time both rings turn orange, well he would have found his soulmate. For a long time it seemed like the best way to find it.
Trust him, he's been trying.
In these three years he's been doing it so he can make sure that the people he's with won't fake their emotions, and believe him, the orange color can't be pretended. At least that's what he found out after a couple of misunderstandings.
To say, he hasn't had a lot of success here. And honestly, almost every night his soulmate ring should be orange because of him. That couldn't be too good.
Let's be honest, his soulmate probably would think of him as some asshole who just sleeps around and doesn't care.
Well that's not entirely wrong, he does sleep around, but it is because he cares! And this is part of the scientific method, the experimentation, right?
So what're his expectations? To find his soulmate by getting with the people whose rings haven't turned pink yet? Because that hasn't brought a lot of success by now. Or just… Give up? What's the point of keeping this way?
He doesn't know for sure.
Then he met him.
Yamaguchi Tadashi seems to be a kind and nice guy, really, but he already has his ring on pink color so he's out of his league. He might be an asshole but cheating? No, that would never.
Hence, he found a friend, even when Yamaguchi seems to be in his first year, the connection was immediate, he felt it. And now, he's hanging around with him, the twists and turns of life, it's kind of curious sometimes.
Then, he met 'him' .
Yamaguchi's best friend, Tsukishima, who didn't seem to have a soulmate yet, could be a new possibility to his method, though that will ruin his friendship with freckles, so… No, Tsukishima in all his glory was not in his league, either.
Before he realized, he found himself being drowned by a pair of first years everywhere they went. Kuroo actually has a lot of friends, but most of them prefer to spend time with their soulmates, he can't blame them though, so here he is.
As days and weeks passed by, he found out that both of them were actually very enjoyable to hang out with, so he did so, all the time, that way he got to know them really well.
He hadn't thought about it until one afternoon, when the three of them were in the cafeteria, grabbing some food before they had to go back to their dorms, just hanging around, when he got to do his question.
“Hey, Yams, why aren't you with your soulmate, like, ever?”, directing his gaze towards Yamaguchi, who just laughed at that and began to speak.
“Well, Kuroo-san, for your information, tha-” He didn't finish his sentence when Tsukishima got up and excused himself to get out of there.
All Yamaguchi did was sigh, Kuroo gave him a questionable look, not understanding what was happening there.
“I apologize for him, he just doesn't like all the soulmates thing, so he always runs away when anybody touches the topic.” Well, that made Kuroo curious.
”And why is that? I mean, I've always dreamed of finding my soulmate and he just… Don't care if he ever does?” To say in Kuroo's mind it didn't make any sense, but he can't judge, he never does, he tries to understand.
"It's because, according to him, he has a lot of examples of why 'soulmates' is just a stupid idea, and that you should love whoever you want or whatever, not whom the ring tells you to. He hadn't loved anyone yet, so…”
That was a total revelation, considering Kuroo has always thought that the soulmate system makes sense and doesn't have failures, well… He hadn't found his soulmate yet, and probably he never will. Maybe Tsukishima was right. That was something to think about.
“But I don't get it, I mean, how many unfortunate people can be out there that made Tsukki give up on love?” He knew that there had to be someone who wasn't that lucky but he supposed there shouldn't be a lot of them.
“Well, Kuroo, you're seeing one of them,” Yamaguchi pointed at himself. Maybe Tsukishima was right on running away.
That's how Kuroo learned that soulmates can be assholes, truly assholes who could try to hit on your best friend while they offer you "all their love", now Terushima can hit on whoever he wants. Yamaguchi was not for guys like him. But also, he heard the same destiny for Tsukishima's parents, even if that one doesn't include cheating, they were not together anymore.
While he listened to his friend, Kuroo couldn't help but look at his ring, already turned pink, which brought him to think about his own ring. Maybe even when he found his soulmate, everything would be wrong. What if his soulmate was some asshole like Yamaguchi's? What would he do if that happens?
He directed his view to his own ring, the color blue was displayed but it was turning black… Sadness and loneliness, he was more used to seeing the white color that represented tranquility, but now, he wondered what made his soulmate feel like he was alone. Well, at least the both of them felt that way.
As days passed by, Kuroo started to 'actually' consider to stop looking for his soulmate, maybe he should be like Tsukishima and just fall in love with whoever he wants, and maybe... Well, if he thinks of someone…
If he was never going to find his soulmate, and Tsukishima was never going to look for it, then… Why not?
Except that of course not, Tsukishima was Yamaguchi's best friend, the exact reason why the green haired lost his own soulmate, and there was a possibility…
The possibility of the friends already in love. It would make a lot of sense, they knew each other since they were kids, they had the connection, they are destined, for sure.
Kuroo will just be their friend, that's the right thing to do.
So they remained like that, hanging out from time to time, Kuroo learned he had a lot in common with Tsukishima, there was compatibility, and he would have fallen in love with him for sure, but Kuroo promised himself not to do it, he will not, there was no logic reason to do it.
Sometimes, he liked to see his ring. He felt satisfied with the fact that lately, it seemed to be a lot more on the yellow color, which meant that his soulmate was happy, so they would be having a good time. It's all he wished for them.
He was about to finish his third year of college, the reality of not finding his soulmate every day was more palpable, but he was okay with that, maybe he hadn't found the love of his life but he found amazing friends.
These friends proposed to have a movie night with beers and pizza to celebrate they were done with school until the next year, it was a good plan and they will finally be able to finish their Jurassic Park marathon, proposed by Tsukishima, obviously.
They always have a good time together, but Kuroo didn't expect to be left alone with Tsukishima because of Yamaguchi saying he didn't feel too well and that he will 'stay at home'.
Well, Kuroo wasn't complaining at all.
They were lying on his couch, talking time to time whenever Kuroo had a question about a real dinosaur and Tsukishima seemed happy to explain everything, they were having such a good time, and nothing could ruin it.
Until Tsukishima's fourth beer. That was when the blondie began to be more... Touchy. He was hugging Kuroo by his side, and Kuroo couldn't be happier, Tsukishima felt warm.
But he has to stop him.
“Hey, Tsukki,” Kuroo spoke to make Tsukishima direct his look to him, with those flushed cheeks he seemed adorable.
“What is it, Kuroo-san?” His voice was more like a whisper and the raven felt like melting, that wasn't right.
“You should go to bed, you know? You're kinda drunk.” He grabbed his chin to make it easier to watch Tsukishima and make sure he was alright.
“'m not, du'wanna.” That made Kuroo chuckle, he took Tsukishima by the arm and got up off the couch.
“Yes you are, now c'mon, I'll make breakfast for you tomorrow." Kuroo stood under Tsukishima's arm to carry him.
“'m okay, let's go.” He grabbed his hand to steady him and then realized he hadn't looked at that hand for a while, so he hadn't noticed such an important thing.
The ring on Tsukishima's finger had already turned pink. The one of the person who doesn't even believe in soulmates. That would mean that he had already found his and even more, fell in love with them.
That was... Something. Something that made Kuroo hurt a little.
“Tsukki, your ring…” Tsukishima glanced to his own hand as trying to understand what Kuroo meant.
“Oh yeah,” That was it? “Kuroo, I think I should go home.”
Before he could register everything, Tsukishima released himself from Kuroo's embrace and headed to the door.
“You can't, you're drunk" Was all he got to say before Tsukishima escaped. He went after him but didn't find him anywhere, maybe Tsukishima was really good at running or just hiding.
So he got back, lying on his bed with pillows covering his head, his heart was telling him something his brain couldn't register yet.
That was too much, the tiny hope he still had about 'something' , whatever that meat, with Tsukishima was gone now, he had found his soulmate, and Kuroo was clueless. So he went to sleep.
Without knowing that Tsukishima's ring would be blue because of his sadness if it wasn't pink already.
Kuroo didn't hear a thing from Tsukishima in the next weeks. Even when he asked Yamaguchi about it, he would just say that Tsukishima has things to do and doesn't want to see anybody.
So Kuroo didn't push any further.
He knew, he had fuck it up the moment he mentioned the ring, maybe Tsukishima wasn't ready to talk about it, and he just went direct through it, he could've done so much better than that, but now... What can he do?
He's been trying over texts and calls too, but Tsukishima never replies, he never answers, so what now? Kuroo has never felt so bad about something like this, he has been such an asshole, but he wants to make it up, Tsukishima deserves better than that.
So here he is standing outside of his door, maybe it's not the smartest decision but he can't think of another way in which he can fix everything. Then he knocks, with a piece of strawberry shortcake in one of his hands, waiting for the door to be open.
And he opens.
Kuroo would be lying if he said that he hadn't noticed how ethereal Tsukishima always looks in his eyes, with his golden eyes that seem to melt like honey, the soft skin with those cheeks and oh the cherry lips that look so kissable... And biting them must be a dream and-
Now wasn't the time for that, he came here to do something important, it didn't matter that Tsukishima looked so sooo good today. His usual scowl was placed on his face and made him smile in a way he couldn't understand. He has it bad but didn't acknowledge it.
“What do you want?” Tsukishima spoke, interrupting his train of thoughts.
“Hey... Hum, I kinda tried to contact you but you weren't answering so I guess I came to see if you were alright?” Out of habit he rubbed the back of his neck, expecting.
“If I didn't answer, shouldn't you have taken it as a response? I think I'm pretty clear of what I want with you,” A pause. “Nothing.” Auch.
“Tsukki, listen... I'm really, really sorry, I didn't want to-”
“I don't care, you did nothing wrong.” Wait, what?
Nothing makes sense “Then why? Tsukki you're one of my best friends and-” Kuroo didn't know but the word 'friend' crushed Tsukishima.
“I already told you I don't care, so please stay away from me.” Tsukishima tried to close the door, but he couldn't.
Thanks to Kuroo's foot.
“Now you listen to me, I care so much about you, you are one of the most important persons in my life and I want to be okay with you, Kei.” It was the first time he used his first name, and that seemed to catch Tsukishima out of guard, so Kuroo took it as an opportunity to open the door, lending the piece of cake on one of the tables.
He was already inside the blondie's apartment and had nothing to lose, except his friend, and by that time, behind the fear of losing Tsukishima, Kuroo realized he wasn't just another friend, or just a crush, Kuroo had fallen in love with him, and…
“Kuroo, stop, don't call me like that, not with that voice and that look in your eyes…" Tsukishima's voice was more like a whisper, “Please don't give me hope.” Just then, by seeing the tearing eyes and the blushed cheeks, Kuroo understood, he was so blind.
Everything happened in a moment, the meaning of Tsukishima's words, the pink ring on his finger and why he had run away that day… The way he avoided him for weeks… And oh-
Kuroo looked down at his own finger and saw it, the ring had finally turned pink and he knew. Tsukishima, who didn't believe in soulmates, was connected to him.
“Kei…” He spoke gently, in order to calm down Tsukishima. “Look at me,” He then grabbed him by his chin, and rubbed slowly over his cheekbone.
“My ring is pink as your cheeks,” That gained him a snort from the blondie “Listen, I know you have a lot of examples of why soulmates don't work, but I want to show that we won't be part of them, I'm in love with you and I want to be with you and only you.”
“Shut up,” He knew this wasn't going to be easy. “I saw my fucking ring turn orange every night, you just sleep around with whoever you find, how can I trust you that way?"
Oh dear lord, he was sure that his method was going to explode in his face one day, and that day has come.
“Let me explain, okay?” He took a step back to make some space between them and make it easier to see Tsukishima. “I know what I did, but there's a reason... For me, soulmates are something I've been looking for, to find mine and love him for the rest of my life…”
This is hard, really. “The main problem here was, how to find my soulmate… So I thought that if I slept with someone and both rings turned orange, then it'll be clear… But I promise, I've stopped doing that! Actually… I haven't done it since I met you…”
That was a huge revelation, even for him.
But it looked like Tsukishima was trying to believe, at least Kuroo hoped so.
“Then why did it turn orange two weeks ago? The night before… the movies.” Oh he wasn't going to escape from this.
“I'm a healthy man who sometimes just needs some relief! You know… I've seen my ring too, in orange color.”
“Oh god…” This was not how he expected to happen when the revelation came.
“All I'm saying it's true, especially the part about spending my life with you.”
Kuroo was too forward but he didn't care. “I know we still have a lot to live, and that we still don't know each other that well, but even that way, don't you think it's amazing that we fell in love with each other without knowing we were soulmates? And I want to, I want to get to know all of you, and prove to you why we aren't an exception, but I won't pressure.”
He took a deep breath and continued. “If you are up to try it, I'll love it, I swear, but if you don't want to, if you want me to get out of your life, then I'll do it, I just… I want to try, I fell in love with you, Tsukishima Kei, I couldn't help it but I couldn't be happier that I did it.”
Then silence, again. Kuroo knows, there are probably more reasons on why not to do it, but the moment Tsukishima grabbed his hand, rubbing his ring while he contemplated it, his heart told him everything would be alright.
“I'm not an easy person, I'm not kind, I'm not funny and I'm not lovely, but even though you already know all of that, your ring's still pink, and I don't get it,” They locked their eyes. “Actually, I don't know why mine is pink too if you're so annoying and that hair…”
Kuroo couldn't stop smiling, even if he tried to.
“This love doesn't make sense, any kind of love doesn't, but... I guess that's how it is, and for some reason, looking at that stupid face of yours makes me want to try, makes me want to love you too…”
That was perfect.
“Then let's do it, Kei, let me love you, let me show you all I have to offer, let me make you happy, but most of all, let me be your soulmate.” Once again, Kuroo approached him, grabbing his cheeks.
“I want to be your soulmate, Tetsurō.” Both were smiling like they have never done in their lives, knowing it wouldn't be the last time they would kiss, or the last they would say 'I love you' .
It was just the beginning of their story.
Yamaguchi had a knowing look the next day, like he knew the whole time, he was happy.