Limited Time (Xiao x Venti) (soulmate au)

Part Two

Venti's perspective

The whole soulmate thing to me always seemed fun, you meet someone who'll be there for you through everything, someone who you can love with all your heart, and someone who will love you with all of theirs. The only thing is I met mine before the timer went up.
He was a bit of a wanderer, someone who never stayed in one place for too long and I'm convinced our meeting was the best and worst thing in my life. It wasn't raining nor particularly sunny, just a normal day.
I still had a few years on my timer and didnt have an agenda for the day. I went to get some groceries and knocked into an apple stand. The apples rolled in all different directions and my heart stopped beating in fear. I slowly turned to see the vendor who I now owed a huge amount of money but he didn't seem angry or even upset. He had black hair that was tied into little braids. "I'm sorry! How much do I owe you?" I ask eminently and wait for him as he thinks for a moment, he looks over the damage and then shrugs.
"Nothing."
"What?" I ask to be taken back and he starts to pick up the apples.
"I suppose you were my sign that it was time to stop with the apple selling, no one will buy bruised apples... I suppose I ought to make some pies with these now."
"Is there anything I can do? I feel bad just leaving you like this!" I say and start to pick up the runaway apples. "Well you can help me make apple pies!"
That was the first time we met. We baked together and he told me about his adventures while I had never been out of my hometown. He told me about the time he wandered around a small country with no money and only playing music as a trade for food and a place to sleep. Some nights he went hungry and slept on the street, others he got a feast.
Many more nights we spent together talking and enjoying each other's company. If it weren't for the timer above my head I would have believed that he was the one I was meant to be with. At times i start to question fate, perhaps my timer was broken or the soulmate thing was a- my thoughts were put in place one night, fate seemed to think i had gotten to content.
It wasn't even that long ago either. Maybe 5 months. My timer was ticking away as normal but I have learned to ignore it. He was supposed to come home an hour ago but he didn't. At first I didn't worry but when it turned into 3 hours my heart was beating fast. Then the phone rang.
It too hard to recall perfectly but-
He was late
The phone rung
I didn't know the number
They were frantic
He was in the hospital
He was shot.

I rushed to the hospital but it was too late. Right as i got there the doctors told me he wasn't going to make it. They had done everything they could have done but it was critical. The only thing I had was a few minutes with him before he...
"Please no, I love you!"
"Hey..." his voice was faint and dulled from his usual cherryness.
I grabbed onto his hand and avoided looking at his bandaged chest, his face was so pale, almost white and his hair was down. "Please stay with me- i can't lose you i love you!" I shout and he raises his arm slowly and places it on my back pulling me into a weak hug. "It's going to be ok, i'm just one more person you knew, you still have yet to meet your soulmate." he puts on a faint smile and point to my timer, "you'll meet them soon-"
"YOU'RE MY SOULMATE! I LOVE YOU NOT A PERSON I'VE NEVER MET!"
"Come on Venti, i love you too but this is never going to last..."
"i -"
He takes my face in his hands and rubs the tear that I haven't even noticed. "Promise me one thing.'' I hold my breath as he musters up enough strength to speak. I can see the strain on his face and each breath he takes is shaky.
"When you meet this person please love them more then you love me-"
" I can't do that!" he presses his lips together and goes "shh" and I quiet down.
"I just want you to be happy, please don't let me bring you down, i just want you to be happy..."
Then his hands dropped. His breathing stopped. And the timer keeps going.