'You gotta be kidding me!' was about to slip Jun's lips, but he bit his tongue in time. It would be strange to say that now, after all that happened and was said. If something like a ripper existed, why wouldn't a reaper? Now it made sense to Jun that Quincy looked exactly like what he'd imagine a reaper to be - a talking skeleton.
The small coughing fit made his headache come back with a pulsating pain and he winced. It was still lingering in the back of his head.
"You ok?" The reaper asked, visibly worried.
"Ye-yeah." Jun cleared his throat. "More or less..."
Juto extinguished his cigarette butt in the ashtray and got up from his seat. He went to the kitchen when the conversation between the two continued.
"Alright. So yeah, I am a reaper. But before you ask, yes I own a scythe and no, I don't kill people. I'm a guide, not a murderer! It saddens me that a lot of people have that misconception about my line of work. We're here to help and make the crossing to the afterlife as pleasant as possible. We're not the bad guys!"
"Oh, I see. Fair enough." Jun agreed and Quincy nodded eagerly. If he could see his face, it would probably have a serious expression right now.
"So, you two work together...? Since you share an apartment and all..."
"Oh! No, well... I don't really live with Juto, I just happen to drop by sometimes for a couple of days, since we work in the same area, heh."
"He's a freeloader." Juto commented as he came back and put a glass of a fizzy drink in front of Jun.
"I-I'm not a freeloader!"
"Here, for your hangover." Juto ignored Quincy's offended tone and nodded at Jun. "You'll feel better. Drink it all up."
"Oh, thanks man."
Jun looked at the white residue floating in the glass and he thought it must be some aspirin. He was about to drink it when he suddenly had a bad feeling about it.
"And... what exactly is that?" He asked looking up at the blond man, studying his face.
"Medicine." Was the reply with an unfazed expression.
"Oh... and not, say... some drug to wipe my memory out?"
Jun asked slowly and raised his eyebrow. His attention switched to the skeleton as he gasped audibly.
"How did you know!?"
"Quincy!"
Juto raised his voice and the reaper covered his mouth in shame, but it was too late.
"I knew it." Jun put the glass on the table. "Why else would you guys tell me the truth."
"Drink it!"
Fed up with the situation, Juto leaned forward, transformed his arm and swung it at Jun. The young man instinctively leaned back, but the sharp claws were already looming dangerously close to his throat. He gulped seeing his crooked reflection in the blades.
"I-it's not like you can cut me with this..." He looked in the black eyes. The ripper smirked.
"I can't. But I CAN inflict some pain and agony with it. You already know how it feels."
He replied in a threatening tone, sliding the sharp thumb along Jun's neck. The blade sank in the flesh, it didn't leave a physical cut, but Jun could feel the pain of being sliced. He winced and moaned in pain.
"STOP IT!" Quincy's shout made them look in his direction. "Just stop..." The reaper's voice faltered and he trembled a little, clearly shaken.
"Juto, I know we have rules to follow, but I think it will be for the best if he's aware of the Sha... and of us... so he can prevent being possessed again. He just has to promise that he'll keep our identities secret, right?"
The attention shifted to Jun, and he nodded eagerly at Juto.
"Heck, even if I did tell someone, they wouldn't believe me anyway."
The ripper frowned, thinking, his eyes locked on his prey.
"Come on, man..." Jun smiled nervously and the man sighed defeated.
"Fine... Have it your way." He mumbled and transformed his arm back to normal. "But in exchange for that, I will accompany you to where you live so that I can contact the ripper from your district."
The two other men sighed relieved.
"Deal." He smiled at Juto, but before he could say another word, his belly gave a dissatisfied growl.
"Huh, somebody's starving." Quincy chuckled.
Jun smiled embarrassed and the blond man just rolled his eyes.
"Want some scrambled eggs with vegetables?"
"Sure!" The mention of food made his mouth water.
--
They all moved to the kitchen. Juto put an apron around his waist and took a frying pan out. He politely declined Quincy's offer to help and gathered all the ingredients, when the other two sat at the table.
"Is there anything you can't eat or are allergic to?" The temporary chef turned to Jun.
"No, I'm fine with anything." He shook his head in response.
The man turned around to start on cooking, but Jun just kept staring at him, thinking. Despite what was said and done, he couldn't deny the fact that he still found Juto attractive. It was nice to know that he could cook, probably above average at that, by how he handled the ingredients. Well, he was a ripper, he should be skilled with a knife. 'Heh... what a boyfriend material' went through his head. They met in the most bizarre circumstances, the man in question wasn't even human, and he did want to wipe Jun's memory out, but Jun quickly pushed that aside. The bad was evened out by the fact that he was kind enough to cure Jun, show some hospitality and patiently explain everything. He could've always just left him there in some dark alley, abuse or even kill, but he didn't. And even though Jun didn't know everything about the man, he felt like he has the heart in the right place. Or more like, he wanted to believe it.
Jun was lost in his thoughts when Quincy's voice brought him back to reality.
"Uh, what?"
He quickly turned to the reaper with a slight blush. Quincy waved at the tea set that he brought with them when they moved to the kitchen.
"I asked if you want some more tea, it's lukewarm by now, but-"
"Sure." He poured some in the cup, and took a sip, his eyes wandering back to the chef.
"What a bummer that you can't see me properly, I wonder why..."
Quincy took a sip and noticed that Jun was already distracted, staring holes in Juto.
"I know what you're thinking~" He hummed with a teasing tone.
"Hm...? W-who, me?" Jun flushed red again, wondering if the reaper just read his mind.
"He's intimidating, I agree. But don't be fooled, Juto may be a big scary grump, but once you get to know him he's actually a good guy."
Jun sighed in relief that Quincy got his thoughts wrong, the reaper on the other hand mistook the sigh as a response to what he just said.
"Really?" Jun smirked.
"Yes, yes, he's a real softie." Quincy nodded.
"I can hear you, you know..."
Juto mumbled annoyed without looking back and put the veggies in the pan. The sound of frying immediately filled the room, followed by the delicious scent.
The two chatted some more until the food was ready. Jun watched carefully when Juto divided it into 3 servings and sat down with them to eat.
"Do reapers need to eat...?" He asked carefully.
"No, but we can enjoy food anyway. I just like stuffing my mouth with something tasty."
"What a waste of resources." Juto mumbled in between bites.
"It's not a waste if it makes you happy!"
Jun took a bite. The food was delicious, despite it being simple. 'Or maybe it's just my hunger' he thought to himself. Still, it was more than what he would ever cook for himself. He was used to either eating on the go or buying pre-made meals to heat up at home. It was just easier than all the effort to prepare something for just himself. And he wasn't any good at it either. He'd appreciate dating someone skilled in cooking. It would be convenient and healthy, and he would gladly help out in the kitchen to make it fair.
At this point Jun caught himself daydreaming about cooking together with Juto, when Quincy giggled. They gave him a puzzled look.
"Oh, it's nothing. I just appreciate that we have some nice company over, I actually never get a chance to spend a leisure time with mortals. Juto does because he's different, but I well, usually people can't even see me at all."
The two smiled at him. At that moment it would be just a casual scene with three friends sharing a meal, if not for the fact who they really were. Though it was just as amusing to see the skeleton dig into food as it was seeing him drink tea. Jun could only imagine the delight on Quincy's face if it was visible.
--
"Now, if you're finished, let's get you back home." Juto stood up and collected the empty plates.
"Right..."
Jun replied with hesitation. He felt comfortable in that weird company, and he didn't plan anything for today anyway, so he wouldn't mind staying a bit longer.
"Awwwh, so soon?" Quincy didn't hide his disappointment.
"There's no time to waste, who knows how many other people are struggling with neglected Sha?" The ripper frowned.
"True true" They replied in unison.
The mortal of the group quickly gathered his belongings and was ready to go.
"Goodbye! I'd appreciate if you visit us sometimes." Quincy waved at him.
"Don't say it like you'd own this place..." Juto sighed. Jun just chuckled and waved back.
"Sure I will, as long as the big softie has nothing against it. See you later!"
"Hey!"
Jun rushed out of the apartment. The reaper just sighed and followed after him. They left the building when Juto stopped, realizing something as he patted his pocket.
"Crap, I forgot my phone. You wait here, I'll be right back."
The young man nodded and stood there while the ripper returned to the apartment. He almost ran into Quincy once he opened the door.
"Oh, I was about to run after you, you forgot this."
"Yeah. Thanks."
Juto grabbed the mobile, put in his pocket, passed the reaper and went to the kitchen. He opened a cupboard and took out a small vial of transparent liquid. He took a sip and stood there for a moment, turning the vial in his hand and pondering, when Quincy peeked inside.
"Uhm? You not feeling well? Is that medicine?"
"Sort of..."
Juto said slowly without making an eye contact. He wondered whether he should tell his friend or not. He finally made up his mind and raised looked at him.
"here, drink this. It's an antidote. I spiked our food with the memory altering drug."
Quincy jumped at that remark.
"WHAT!? BUT-...! But- you had a deal!"
"Be glad that I spared you."
Juto pushed the vial in the reaper's hands and headed to the door.
"And here I was... impressed that you made an exception this once... but you just never intended to keep your word..."
Juto just stepped out of the apartment and closed the door without a word.
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