#Kinda combined soulmates from Eastern and Western Mythologies XD

[youngbounty]

Fate in One Being

This one’s an even shorter one, because I literally was so out of ideas that I had to use an AI to give me inspiration. Thankfully, this one was short and sweet. I hope you enjoy. @asobaroweek

Kazuma had heard stories of the "red string of fate." The story goes that a red string is tied around your ankle, connecting you to your destined soulmate. As a realist, he dismissed it as just a folktale. To be pulled towards someone? Kazuma understood not what it meant. After his father's death, his focus shifted to proving his father's innocence in London. He had forgotten about the stories, except for one that struck a chord with him.

The story was about a boy who came across an elderly man that could see the red string of fate. The elderly man witnessed the red string around the boy's ankle. After showing the boy the picture of his future wife, the boy threw a rock at a picture of his future wife out of hatred for falling in love. Years later, when the boy noticed a scar on his betrothed's brow, she admitted it was from a boy who threw a rock at her. This story taught a lesson to trust in fate and not fight against it, for it always finds a way to come true.

Kazuma never pondered on it, even after losing his memories. However, he felt an inexplicable pull towards going to London. Initially, he believed it was to prove his father's innocence, but as an amnesiac, he was more convinced it was determination. This pull led him to sneak into a cargo ship illegally to London, where he believed his heart led him to.

Despite regaining his memories and the conclusion of Barok's trial, Kazuma still felt a strong pull toward his mentor. Initially, he believed it was his determination to avenge his father, but now his feelings had changed. He no longer felt vengeful and his emotions towards Barok had become more positive. Kazuma found it difficult to describe this feeling and was reluctant to leave his mentor.

One day at the office, Barok told Kazuma he was visiting Hellsgate Cemetery after work, assuming he knew his way back to the van Zieks manor where Kazuma had been staying since his amnesia.

“If you do not mind, would you like me to accompany you on your visit?” Kazuma asked, feeling the need to stay by his mentor.

“I will be visiting my brother,” Barok further mentioned. Kazuma's gaze dropped with a tinge of disappointment as he inferred Barok's response as a lack of interest in his company. “If you are alright with it, your company is appreciated.”

Kazuma quickly skimmed up, then choked out a “thank you.”

Barok and Kazuma traveled by carriage to Hellsgate Cemetery, a labyrinth of tombs and mausoleums reserved for the elite. Kazuma was uncertain why Barok had chosen this particular day for their visit but felt obliged to accompany his mentor in his time of sorrow. Kazuma empathized with the pain of visiting a loved one's grave and wanted to offer comfort to Barok in any way he could. Kazuma found some solace in the fact that Klint's name was on his gravestone, unlike Kazuma's father who had a more impersonal marker.

With a heavy heart, Barok approached the final resting place of Klint van Zieks and his wife Eleanor Baskerville van Zieks, where he retrieved his watering can to tend to the flowers growing atop their grave. Overwhelmed by emotion, Kazuma stood by and watched as Barok meticulously watered each flower until the can was empty.

“How many times do you water these flowers?” Kazuma asked in a small still voice.

"In London, rains frequently, so such circumstances are usually rare. However, there hasn't been much rain recently," Barok replied, eyes closed while keeping the watering can to his chest.

Kazuma gently touched Barok's hands, which were holding the watering can. Barok's heart was touched by the warmth of Kazuma's hands. They both experienced the same pull that had drawn them to one another before they even met.

Barok had known about a mythical concept that humans were originally created as a whole, with four arms and legs and a head with two faces. Although he didn't exactly believe in it, he couldn't ignore the feeling of completeness he experienced when he was with Kazuma.

Despite the strong urge, Barok felt to have Kazuma by his side and the feeling that their hands fit perfectly, he struggled to express his emotions out loud.

“Have you finished watering the flowers?” Kazuma asked, his voice trembling.

“Y-Yes... I have,” Barok replied almost hesitantly.

Kazuma beamed, saying, “I wish to be home with you.”

Barok nodded at Kazuma and held onto the watering can handle with one hand while the other brushed against Kazuma's while they walked away from the cemetery. As if drawn together, their hands intertwined, and by the time they took their seats in the carriage, they were leaning against one another with arms around each other's backs.

Kazuma felt a sense of wholeness that he had never experienced before. He thought about the tales of finding one's soulmate and being tied together by the red string of fate. Looking up at Barok, Kazuma asked, “Do you believe in soulmates and fate?”

Barok smiled down at Kazuma, who had his arm around Barok's back. As Barok presumed the concept of soulmates from Greek mythology, he admitted, “I never paid much thought to it.”

Kazuma chortled, stating, “me neither.”

"Regardless... I suppose I can't say those stories are entirely unfounded."

As Kazuma and Barok stood together, their embrace was tight, each holding onto the other with all their might. Kazuma looked down at the slender, yet strong, red string that bound them together, his eyes taking in every detail. Barok's one arm was wrapped tightly around Kazuma's back, while with his other hand, he gently held Kazuma's hand. As the warmth of their joined hands spread through them, Barok became acutely aware of the shared heartbeat within their chests - one half in each of them - now united as a single, beating entity.

#Ace Attorney #the great ace attorney #Kazuma Asogi #Barok van Zieks #klint van zieks #genshin asogi #BaroAso #AsoBaro #asobaroweek2023 #day 4 #grave #soulmates #Kinda combined soulmates from Eastern and Western Mythologies XD