Title: Runaway Bride (chp 1)
Author: xlolitsnozomix
Pairing: Akame
Rating: PG
Genre: Supernatural, romance, angst (alot) XD
Disclaimer: I own nothing but plot bunnies and muses ^^;
Summary: Jin is on a job hunting when he finds himself stranded at a strange ghost town. He gets creeped out and starts to leave but then something catches his attention. Somehow, in some twisted way, Jin is instantly tied to the creature that he meets on his job hunt--he finds himself going back and trying to help because his conscience eats away at him. The most disturbing part however...what Jin meets is not of the living. Even more frightening is the story of its haunting past.
Warnings: Ghost Story (but not like a creepy horror thing)
A/N: Yes, i stayed up late yesterday night to write this thing ^_^ because the inspiration was killing me XD so i had to get it out 8D but im really really sad cuz my lovely amazing beta, stardustii  (and btw, this story is still dedicated to her :D) is on a two week hiatus which means my fics will suck a lot more now that she is gone T_T and i was ABOUT to go on a 2 week hiatus from fics too but then i decided that i couldnt afford it :/// so im posting w/o beta DD; i hope its readable >_< mmkay i'll stop rambling nao x] enjoy~

| The Prologue |

-----------------------

“What’s wrong with you?!” She shrieked in frustration and threw her books on the wooden table, making them tumble off and land with a loud thud.

“No, wait, Michiko, I—” This was not going the way he planned. It was not going the way he planned at all.

“Let, go, of my hand,” She hissed dangerously, her voice lowering as it dripped with venom.

“Calm down for a second, will you?! Just hear me out, please, I don’t—” Jin tried to get her attention before she walked out the door—possibly for good.

“Just…don’t even say anything, Jin. Don’t. Forget about all of this…” She turned around and their gazes locked a final time. As her eyes burned into his, Jin realized she was serious. In a matter of seconds, she had turned around again and was heading towards the door, her heels clicking against the wooden floor and the sound resounding against the walls.

“Baby…don’t…give me a chance to explain myself…” Jin pleaded—his efforts put all into the last few seconds he would probably ever see her again, or hear her voice.

“I’m not…your baby…” She interrupted coldly, her voice void of emotions and she didn’t even bother to turn around. With one final step, she was outside of the door. Not looking back, she lifted her head and decisively strolled on. Jin crumpled to the ground in a boneless heap, his hands had gone numb as he held them hopelessly against his eyes—trying to stop the tears of frustration flow out.

---

Rubbing his forehead tenderly with his right palm—as he was having an immense headache remembering what had happened with his girlfriend just a few days ago. As he sat on the brick wall of the empty alleyway, a light, slightly chilly breeze started up and it tossed his hair around wildly, the black wisps suspending in the air. He covered his face in his hands and as his shoulders shook involuntarily, a soft, silent sob escaped his lips and reverberated in his chest painfully. What the hell am I doing here anyway? I’m so fucking pathetic. My girlfriend just dumped me yesterday, my mom is visiting my dying grandmother in another country, and my dad is going under heart surgery tomorrow…and all I can do is sit here in this abandoned alleyway and cry?! What kind of a pathetic loser am I?! Jin sat up and brushed the stray hairs away from his eyes just as his ears caught a peculiar sound—the wind somehow seemed to be whispering…Don’t cry…It’s all…going to be okay. In a flash, Jin was up on his feet glancing around wildly, paranoia clear on his face. Wind…is not supposed to talk to people…right? He was beginning to contemplate why he was getting all scared and freaked out when he was the one who had chosen to come here in the first place—to try and help those eyes. Just as Jin’s brain started coming up with answers, he heard it again and jumped around his panic, screaming, “WHO’S THERE?! COME OUT…You...You…WHATEVER YOU ARE!”

Jin couldn’t decide if it was fortunate or unfortunate that his demand had been obeyed because only a few seconds later, there it was again…those piercing eyes and that porcelain face with inhumanly beautiful features…Jin found his breath had been stolen once more as he made an audible gasping noise. The creature looked at him from behind its bangs and slowly, slowly, walked towards Jin—it’s steps slow and hesitant, drawing back sharply whenever Jin moved even a tiny muscle, at every miniscule movement. Finally, its face was only a few inches away from his face and Jin could have sworn the eyes were burning right through him and he shuddered—he couldn’t even manage to decide whether it was good or bad. Jin started panicking again—his breaths coming out shallow and short as he gasped for air; it was like there wasn’t enough oxygen in the air and he started screaming silently to himself about why the hell did he even go there in the first place?! The creature slowly started raising its arm upward, slowly, slowly, almost shyly as its eyes held Jin’s gaze and it was like they were locked in an impenetrable hold. At last, when the pale, fragile hand was touching the tiny hairs on Jin’s cheek, Jin tried to back away but he found that he could not. All he could do was stare into those dark orbs as though he were being hypnotized—mesmerized with the way they glimmered unwaveringly and the way they seemed to see right through him.

It was cold as ice when they finally touched—like a frostbite as soon as skin touched skin and Jin couldn’t even jump back because he was so hypnotized, so captivated with this creature, this godlike creature which haunted his dreams day and night so he only flinched a tiny bit as his entire body tensed…Then suddenly, everything went black and Jin’s mind was starting to play—like a movie, memories and flashbacks and blurry visions filled his eyesight. The hand felt cold, frigid against his burning skin but it was somehow soothing and Jin felt as though he belonged—he didn’t even have the sanity to note how crazy that must have sounded…

---

It was the same alleyway, but much newer and it was still alive, swarming with life and people, milling around busily and going through their everyday lives. It was an empty vision…quickly flashing back and forth as if he were watching from a person’s point of view and the person was panicking—looking for something…or someone and like they were trying to escape. The steps were quick and paced, as if they only had so much time. As the vision depicted the point of view of someone crossing a street, a sudden bright like hit Jin’s vision so harshly Jin almost thought it was the sun that had invaded Earth. Then everything went black as the flashback blurred—only random white flashes and screaming people’s voices slowly fading and the bright light disappeared…only to be replaced with darkness. Jin could faintly hear people shouting—their voices small and getting smaller.

“Is he okay?! Why the hell is he wearing a wedding dress?! SOMEONE CALL AN AMBULANCE! Quick!! He’s losing blood quick!”

“OH MY GOD DID ANYONE CALL YET?! I think we’re losing him, someone get help!”

“He hit his head pretty bad. Where’s the driver that hit him!?! Did he hit and run?!”

“GET HELP!!! SOMEONE GOT HIT BY A CAR!!! GET HELP QUICK HE’S DYING!!! SOMEONE IS DYING!!!”

A screaming child was heard somewhere far away as darkness continued to encircle his vision and a sobbing woman echoed the child. Suddenly, it seemed as if the body Jin was inside of was writhing violently on the ground as if someone were trying to drag them away but they didn’t want to go—nails scratched furiously at the bloody cement and Jin could almost feel the hands on his legs as someone grabbed the body’s legs and yanked them roughly, Jin watched as blood spilled into the ground as the body got held upside down and a gruff voice yelled, “GET OUT OF THE WAY! MOVE IT!!” And then there was a gunshot, more screaming and scuttling feet. Someone yelling, “WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU TAKING HIM?! HE’S FUCKING GOING TO BLEED TO DEATH!!!” The rough voice replied, “To the hospital… NOW SHUT THE FUCK UP AND MOVE IT.”

Fading voices, shouts, and screams of terror. More gunshots and a siren somewhere too too faraway for Jin to hear. And he felt weak suddenly, the eyelids of his host drooping and pain blinded his eyes to darkness. There was only darkness left… And Jin knew, just somehow knew, he had no proof, no evidence, not even a tiny hint…but his gut feeling told him they were definitely not taking the body to a hospital….and he also knew—those eyes would never awaken again. As this realization hit him, Jin, the real Jin back in the alleyway was crumpling over in a pile, sobs wracking his body and even as his eyes continued to be clouded with the unbelievably real vision, they started to flow with tears as they were wide open, blinded by what he was seeing and the tears trickled incessantly down his face and they didn’t stop.

After a long time of nothing but burning hot tears streaking down his cheek and his vision submerged in blackness, they started playing again, this time random scenes and episodes. Some at a park, some inside a dully lit room, the walls decaying, and some others were out on the streets. But there was always someone crying, someone sobbing, and shouting and screaming. The voices cracked as the flashbacks moved faster…and faster and faster as if someone was pressing the fast forward button again and again and again. And until so fast Jin was writhing on the ground begging for mercy as each memory that played seemed to rip him in half, inject a poisonous, infectious pain that coursed through his body like a fatal disease. He never knew someone could live through such pain, such immense amounts of suffocating, smothering sufferance. And then there were the voices. He could actually hear them. Some shouting, then screams of terror, and a name, the name that he had yearned to know since day one as soon as the eyes haunted him. The voices were constantly screaming, begging, pleading, “Kazuya…Kazuya..please…please…help me…” All those goddamned voices made Jin wanted to rip his ears off and crush them under his feet—they were cracked voices, some heavy and soaked with poison and others hoarse, raspy, some that had become nothing but a small, scratched whispered that echoed endlessly because they had all been used up for screaming, and screaming…and never stopping.

“Stop…please, make it stop. Make it STOP!” Jin gasped as he held his chest and angry tears spilled from his eyes—still wide open and blinded with the distorted, broken images.

---

The burning ice cold hand snapped away quickly and Jin was left blinded by what he saw, lying on the gravel of the alleyway as he let out a final sob and covered his eyes, the sharp rocks digging into his jeans and scratching his knees. He shivered violently as his mind came to peace, his sight returned to the tranquil chilly afternoon with the fall leaves fluttering over the air. He was still panting, gasping, mouth wide open and taking in as much of the chilly autumn air as he could fill his lungs with. Jin wanted to say something, but his voice was lost somewhere deep inside him and he choked, trying to find the words.

“Y-you’re…” Jin began, but was interrupted by a voice…in his head.

I’m Kazuya, the voice said slowly, and Jin stared wide-eyed at the other…at Kazuya. It was as if Kazuya could read his mind…could see exactly what he was thinking and somehow managed to plant his voice right into Jin’s head…And no, you’re not going crazy, the voice spoke again.

Still shocked, Jin gaped at the other…man…in the wedding dress and started having doubts again…about this male…he was just simply too beautiful to be a…male…the voice interrupted Jin’s thoughts again.

I…I shouldn’t have done that to you…I’m sorry…I just…didn’t want to see you cry…don’t cry…I hate seeing people cry… the voice spoke softly in his head, ringing in his ears as Jin tilted his head and looked into the compelling eyes again.

“No…no…don’t apologize…let me help you…please just…let me help you…” Jin said aloud, the words flowing out of his sounded crazy even to his own ears. And with that, he grabbed impulsively, blindly at the other, completely forgetting that this was a…soul he was grabbing and crushed the frail, fragile body into his chest in an enormous bear hug. Kazuya’s arms fell limply at his side as he blinked in shock at what was happening and slowly, ever so slowly, started lifting his arms and wrapping them gently around Jin’s back, encircling his waist and Jin pulled him closer, pressing his chin firmly on Kazuya’s forehead. He could feel the coldness of the other, the freezing skin burned him everywhere and yet he could not feel a heartbeat, he could not hear a pulse…and it scared him out of his skin. But he held on because it would be a long time until all the pain he had just witnessed would ever fade…and he wanted so badly to be able to do something, anything. He didn’t give a damn if this person he was hugging was dead, or alive, or a ghost, or an alien, or whatever—all he wanted to do was help Kazuya. And he would do whatever it took.

Let me help you. Jin thought deliberately as he assumed the other would pick up on it and waited for the voice in his head.

But you…how can you…no…you shouldn’t help me. You’ll only get hurt. You might even die. I can’t do this to you…the voice echoed quietly in his head. Jin tightened his embrace on the cold, delicately thin body and squeezed harder.

So there is a way…there’s a way to help you…isn’t there? Just tell me. I won’t give up until you tell me. I’m helping you no matter what happens, I don’t care. Tell me. Kazuya…please…let me help you. Jin pleaded, stroking the soft hair that fell messily onto his shoulder. There was silence as Kazuya didn’t reply—probably searching for an answer.

Please don’t do this…you’ll get hurt. Kazuya whispered into Jin’s mind.

No, just tell me…I promise I’ll be careful…tell me…Jin persisted stubbornly.

He heard Kazuya sigh into his head and then begin softly, I can’t leave this place because it was where I died and the soul lives on if it has unfinished business –but it can never leave the spot it died at, this is called a haunting. And my body is lost somewhere. They took it away when he deliberately hit me with his car. The only way I can be set free is if you find my remains and put me to rest properly. That’s the only way I can leave this place. But I really don’t know how you’ll find them…it’s nearly—

“Shhh…don’t say anymore…I’m going to help you. I don’t care if I get hurt. I promise I will find them. Even if I have to go to the end of the world.” Jin whispered aloud, the words burned when he spoke. Suddenly, the body he was hugging tightly evaporated away and Jin gasped a bit, shocked as he looked down to see he was embracing air. When he looked up, he was met with Kazuya’s angelic face again but there was something different. The eyes were still broken but seemed to be lightened up with a tiny spark of something—maybe it was hope. His face was glowing with soft, weak smile.

“How did you…” Jin started, trying to figure out how Kazuya had just dispersed in his arms.

I can touch things when I want to and go right through them as I please…Kazuya smiled softly as he spoke once more into Jin’s thoughts. Then suddenly leaning forward, his lips hovered awkwardly over Jin’s head. And in one swift motion, he leaned forward and ever so softly, brushed his lips against Jin’s forehead. Jin didn’t even know how to react so he just sat there, flustered and breathing heavily, staring at the faded beads on Kazuya’s dress. To try and change the topic so that Kazuya would not realize that Jin was extremely flustered, Jin was stuttering, “Last time…why did you…run away from me…?” Jin tilted his head a little and looked deep into Kazuya’s eyes curiously.

I was scared. Kazuya’s voice dropped and he sighed heavily, pulling his legs up to his chest and wrapping his long, lanky arms around his knees.

“Scared…? Shouldn’t I be the one who’s scared?” Jin chuckled softly, eyeing the other as he ran his fingers over the worn out ivory pearls on the yellowed dress.

Yes, I was so scared…because no other human had ever been able to see me before so I was free to go wherever I pleased and do whatever I wanted…until you came along and— Jin suddenly interrupted the other abruptly as soon as he heard these words.

“Wait a second, you said no one’s ever seen you before? Then…doesn’t that mean…that I’m special? Important even maybe? That I was meant to do this? To save you. It has to mean that. I mean…wow…that’s just …wow…” Jin breathe excitedly at his newfound news and he jumped up energetically on his feet—the information only made him even more decisive and persistent on saving Kazuya and he looked at Kazuya determinedly. Taking the tiny, small hands and placing them in between his, he whispered slowly, “You probably already know what I’m going to say but I don’t care, I want to make it completely clear…I will do everything I can to help you. Even if it kills me, I’ll do it. I’m going to fix these broken eyes…” as he gazed deeply into the sparkling stars.

“Thank you,” Kazuya replied back. He actually spoke. His voice. Jin nearly choked from shock. Kazuya’s voice…it’s so soft…and pretty…and light…and it sounds like an angel’s voice…Kazuya smiled at Jin’s thoughts and blushed furiously, turning his head downward to hide his reaction from the other.

“I didn’t know ghosts could blush…” Jin chuckled amusedly, eyes twinkling as he took Kazuya’s thin, slender fingers into his palm again. When Kazuya finally managed to pull himself together, he turned his head back up to look Jin directly in the eye and said, “Thank you.” Kazuya squeezed Jin’s hands as he said this but a moment later, he was pulling away.

“You should go now, you really should…” Kazuya spoke again with that angelic voice, concern lacing his words as he pulled his fingers out from Jin’s grasp and turned, getting ready to vanish into a wall.

“I’ll be ba—” he tried to say, but Kazuya clamped a cold hand over Jin’s mouth to get him to shut up for a second.

“I know, Jin, I know, now, just go. Go.”

Jin stood their stubbornly at first but finally he nodded reluctantly, giving in, and turned around, starting to walk the other way and he turned around a final time just as Kazuya vanished into a wall. This time Jin was not scared. Not even a single bit. In fact, as he continued to walk away, a huge smile shone on his face and he didn’t really know why. The smile stayed on his face the entire time as he ran all the way back to his car. Thanks, Jin.

---

Exactly a week later, Jin was in the local library buried under an old pile of dusty, outdated newspapers, flipping through them furiously to see if anything would pop out to him. The entire week things had suddenly started improving in every aspect of his life. It was as if a miracle had hit him or something. The surgery with his father had gone unexpectedly well and he would be ready to leave the hospital in another week or so. He even announced to Jin the first time he saw him after the operation that he hadn’t felt that good in years. On top of that, his mother had called a couple of days ago and happily informed Jin that his grandmother’s health had miraculously improved incredibly and that she was suddenly doing very well. He had even gone to a few job interviews and they had all gone exceptionally well. Jin sighed happily even as a puff of dust flew into his mouth and he started choking like crazy. Things are really starting to look up… Suddenly, something caught Jin’s eye, “Freak accident in Somerset on June 22nd”. Jin read through the entire article extremely carefully, adjusting his oversized black glasses every now and then as they slipped inconspicuously off his nose.

“This has got to be it…’Gunshots’, ‘Misunderstood for hit and run’…” Jin began mumbling to himself then trailed off as he read over the victim’s name. “Kamenashi Kazuya,” it read. And Jin froze; his hand midway in the air getting ready to fix his slipping glasses, his eyes suddenly were wide awake and open and he stared unblinkingly at the name, thinking automatically, Kamenashi…? Why…is that so…so…familiar..? Jin just shrugged it off and continued, deciding that it was most likely a last name of someone he knew and that ‘Kamenashi’ wasn’t that much of a unique last name. After sitting in the wooden chair for another hour or so, Jin’s thoughts slowly, but surely trailed off to thinking about his love life. His girlfriend had dumped him a week before and sure, it had been painful and he regretted the way they had parted. But if Jin had to be completely honest with himself, he had to admit that he knew all along she was only with him to use his money. As soon as he lost his job, her entire attitude completely changed and then just because he didn’t call her for a few days, she suspected he was cheating on her. He shook his head at his foolishness and ignorance when he used to convince himself he actually loved her… Things were different now and all that was put behind him. But how is my love life…now? It was the question that had been trying to trespass into his mind all afternoon but he didn’t want to ask it… and then suddenly it slipped out. And Jin only had one answer. One answer that he knew all too well for his own good. One answer that he was just too sure of. He was a hundred percent positive. Yet he did not want to state the answer directly, afraid of what the outcome would be, afraid of what would happen. And most of all, he was afraid of how it would change him. Yet finally, he admitted the truth to himself, I’m falling in love with a ghost.

---------------------end chapter----------------------
A/N: *sighs* so much angst in this one >_< i'm writing collab fic with next ;DD evern thought she probably wont be able to continue the scene since she's gone DDD: but i guess i can just post it as a prologue or something...
and then for those of you who have read most of my fics...
which should i update next?
*Vanilla Latte
*The True Way to Play Truth or Dare (ryodakamepi orgy XD)
*Ouran!Kat-tun

hopefully you guys can help me out on this ;D thank you~ and and, comments anyone?(: