Work Text:
During the fire, a lot was happening. Of course it was an emergency, and Ikki knew he had to get out. It was too hot, and he wasn’t sure of where to go. Suddenly, his back hurt and he found himself unable to move.
Ikki had a slight idea of what was happening, but he was too young for his wings to come in...especially considering that his soulmate wasn't here. His family was here, and he knew none of his family members were his soulmate.
Ikki saw someone appear before him. Was that monster his soulmate? The monster's wings were black angel wings, and Ikki felt his shoulder blades hurt as his wings came in.
The monster made a contract with Ikki, who managed to forget about it shortly after.
When his family saw him again, they noticed his white angel wings.
"Ikki! How did you...are you okay?" his mother asked.
"Uh...my back hurts," Ikki mumbled.
"That makes sense. Who's your soulmate? I didn't see you with anyone." Yukimi asked, hugging him, careful to not touch the new wings.
"Uh..." Ikki hesitated. He couldn't remember anything about them. And if he could, his mother probably wouldn't believe him if he said that a monster was his soulmate. "I dunno...?"
"Okay. I'm so glad you're okay..."
That night, it was hard to sleep with the new wings on his back. The feathers were soft and sleeping on his back felt like there was a pillow under him. Ikki could move his wings to the side, but he kept shifting in bed, not completely comfortable.
Ikki ended up sleeping on his stomach with his wings above the covers, holding his pillow in his arms.
Over time, Ikki's feathers started falling out. It didn't hurt when feathers fell out, and perhaps it was natural to an extent, but Ikki spent a lot of time looking at his wings.
"Niichan? What are you doing?" Daiji asked as Ikki inspected his wings before a bath.
"I don't know. My wings look weird...I think my feathers have been falling out," Ikki said.
"Do you wanna wash them in the bath?"
"Yeah. I'll do it myself."
Daiji and Ikki didn't know if washing feathers using shampoo was a good idea, but Ikki used a little bit and it turned out fine. It didn't hurt and didn't cause anything in the moment, but Ikki's feathers still occasionally fell out.
In his last year of elementary school, Ikki got an assignment to write a letter to his [future] soulmate. Some kids in his class had met their soulmates, but most people hadn't, and everyone was writing something regardless.
Ikki wrote the following letter:
Dear Soulmate,
I don't know who you are. But I want to. I’m sure you exist.
I wonder if your feathers fall out sometimes too. Mine fall out and it doesn’t hurt but it’s kinda weird.
My name is Igarashi Ikki. I forget what your name is. But I remember you. I know you’re somewhere.
I don’t know if you can see this or reply to me. But if you can respond I would like you too.
Sincerely,
Igarashi Ikki
Ikki hoped his soulmate could read the letter and respond, though he knew it was unlikely. Time went on, and Ikki didn’t get a response from his soulmate. Ikki kept the letter, but put it in storage with other old elementary school projects.
On the day of Daiji’s promotion, a lot happened. Of course Daiji got promoted and his family went to the ceremony and embarrassed him as much as possible, but there were things outside of that.
The day started with Ikki hearing a mysterious voice and seeing a monster only he could see. He tried to play it off, but it was clear to everyone that he was acting weird. And the mysterious demon that apparently wanted to eat his mother wasn’t helping.
When he stamped the Driver, Ikki felt something vaguely familiar. He was sure nothing like this had ever happened before, but he felt confident as he transformed.
By the end of the day, Ikki and Vice had each grown a few feathers.
That night, Ikki wasn’t able to sleep as Vice looked through his stuff.
"What are you looking for?" Ikki asked.
"Do you have your old assignments? Like, from elementary school?" Vice asked.
Ikki found a box of old projects and crafts and went to get ready for bed. He changed into his pajamas and brushed his teeth. When he retuened to his room, Ikki stepped over a bunch of things Vice had taken out of the box to get to an old assignment. It was just one piece of paper. Vice flipped the paper over and started writing on the back using an old pencil.
Dear Soulmate,
My name is Vice! I have a name now! I didn’t before. I’ve existed for as long as you have. You’ve grown a lot since the last time we saw each other! I was able to watch as you lived your life though, so don’t worry about catching me up on your family and the bathhouse and whatnot. I know a lot of it already. I can tell you about me sometime if you want! It’s not super interesting and I don’t know how much I can tell you, but…I might be able to tell you some stuff.
My feathers fall out a lot. But now that we’ve met, I’m sure they’ll grow back!
You’re asleep now, but if you wanna chat tomorrow, I’m obviously here.
From,
Vice
When Ikki woke up the next day, he read the letter while Vice was out of the room. He didn’t know how to respond- he knew Vice in person, they didn’t have to write to contact each other.
He went downstairs and found Vice in the kitchen.
"Thanks for responding to my letter," Ikki said quietly to Vice as he sat down for breakfast.
"Ah, it’s nothing. I figured you deserved it after waiting all that time," Vice said.
They both grew another feather in that moment.