The Soulmate Link | SaneGiyuu

Twelve - So We Meet

Giyuu stood in the record store, aimlessly flipping through the vinyls in front of him, though his mind was far from focused on the music. He'd already picked out a couple of albums, but now he was just trying to kill time while Sabito, Leo, and Gyutaro were at another store. His thoughts kept drifting, the same nagging feeling of unease prickling at the back of his mind. He had felt it all day, this strange sensation in his chest, like something was pulling him in a direction he couldn't quite identify.

He paused, his fingers resting on the edge of an old jazz album, and frowned. What the hell was wrong with him today? Maybe it was the city—too crowded, too noisy. Or maybe it was something else, something more... spiritual. The thought made him uncomfortable, and he quickly shoved it aside, focusing instead on the soft crackle of the vinyl in the background and the low hum of voices in the store.

And then, he felt it. A wave of emotions crashed into him, almost making him dizzy. Anxiety, confusion, a strange mixture of hope and fear—it all hit him at once, as if someone had taken his own emotions and dialed them up to eleven. Giyuu's breath caught in his throat, and he instinctively looked around, searching for the source of the overwhelming feelings.

That's when he saw him. A tall guy, rugged and scarred, with a small child perched on his hip, had just walked into the store. The man was scanning the aisles, clearly looking for something—or someone—and Giyuu's heart skipped a beat. There was no mistaking it. This was his soulmate.

Giyuu's first thought was relief, followed quickly by panic. The guy had a kid. A small, innocent child who was clinging to him like a little monkey. Was that his kid? Was Giyuu suddenly about to go from single to dating someone with a child? He wasn't exactly great with kids. In fact, the idea of being responsible for another human life was enough to send him spiraling into a full-blown panic attack. What if he was a terrible parent? What if the kid didn't like him? What if—

Giyuu mentally smacked himself, forcing those thoughts to the back of his mind. He hadn't even spoken to the guy yet, and here he was, already worrying about co-parenting. Get a grip, Giyuu. Focus.

But as the man turned and their eyes met, Giyuu's mind short-circuited again. The guy looked just as panicked as Giyuu felt, and through their bond, he could feel the same sense of shock and overwhelming emotion radiating from his soulmate. It was comforting in a strange way, knowing that he wasn't the only one freaking out.

"Hi..." the guy said, his voice low and rough, and something about it sent a shiver down Giyuu's spine. It was familiar, but he couldn't place it. Had they met before?

"Uh... hi..." Giyuu managed to respond, his voice cracking slightly from the nerves. They were just standing there, staring at each other, and Giyuu felt like time had frozen. How long had it been? A second? An hour? He couldn't tell. All he knew was that he couldn't tear his eyes away from this man who was supposed to be his soulmate.

"I... I wasn't expecting to meet you... like this," the guy said, shifting his weight as he spoke. The child on his hip, clearly oblivious to the tension between the adults, looked up at Giyuu with wide, curious eyes. Giyuu wasn't sure if it made the situation better or worse.

"Me neither," Giyuu replied, though his voice was shaky, barely above a whisper. His eyes drifted down, taking in the man's appearance. The scars that marked his face, hands, and even the part of his chest visible through his low-cut shirt were striking. They weren't ugly or disfiguring—in fact, Giyuu thought they were beautiful in a way. They told a story, one that he was suddenly desperate to learn.

Realizing he had been staring, Giyuu quickly looked away, but the guy had noticed. He shifted uncomfortably, clearly self-conscious under Giyuu's gaze.

"Sorry... I'm not the most... attractive guy, I guess?" the man muttered, his tone laced with insecurity. "The scars are pretty awful."