Chapter Text
The first time they met, Daisu has gotten lost in the forest with his little backpack filled with some clothes and snacks. He was likely six at the time, quite young to be running away from home. Gentaro watched him from the tree he was perched in, in the middle of playing hide and seek with his brother. He had completely forgotten about the game for about five minutes at this point, still watching as the strange six year old pushed through the foliage with force. His brother finally climbed up his tree, ready to say “found you!” when Gentaro hushed him and pointed to the child that was now in the motion of tripping over a tree branch. With a loud thud, there came but a second of silence before Daisu began to wail.
Gentaro’s brother climbed down the tree as fast as he could to go help him, Gentaro himself staying in the tree to watch. He was never good with interacting with strangers, let alone helping them. His brother looked back at him, giving him a look that he understood immediately and he climbed out of the tree as well to run back inside and get his grandmother to help.
Grandmother returned home later after taking the child back home and explained that he was actually a local politician’s son who had gotten “upset with his family” and ran off. It didn’t really mean much to Gentaro, though, as he was entirely cut off from the outside world anyways, he was sure the child didn’t even know he was there at the scene.
He couldn’t help but be curious why a child that young would actually run away from home, what kind of thing upset him that much?
The next run in wasn’t actually with Daisu, but rather his estranged mother, who had gained a position of power in the government and put in motion a means to limit those with magic. Laws were passed to both restrict and ostracize witches, leading many to turn their backs on those in their communities. The Yumeno household already struggled in finances despite the fees they charged for spells, but now they were lucky to get people who wanted spells to begin with on top of only being allowed to cast certain types, otherwise they’d face federal charges. The twins were eighteen at this time, and their grandparents sought to move out of the country to get better work and send money back for their kids, leaving the house in the woods to them.
The older twin had grown to enjoy telling stories, having published a few books of his own and made enough money to keep the two of them fed. Very few people came to them for spells anymore and the money from their grandparents only came in once a month and would primarily be used for necessities like bills and the older twin’s increasing medical needs.
The younger twin, Gentaro, on the other hand, had nothing to his name. He wasn’t creative nor sociable like his brother, and while he was the better one at casting, not enough clients came by for him to feel like he was doing something.
By age twenty, his brother’s condition got worse and being treated naturally at home with some medications prescribed were no longer enough to keep him going. He was hospitalized at 22 after being found weak on the floor and fell into a coma upon arrival at the hospital.
Gentaro sat alone at their kitchen table for the first time and had a choice to make. Stay the way he was and slowly rot of loneliness in the house, or, make an effort to change. Change to what, exactly? He wasn’t sure, and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to change. Surely, his brother would come out of that coma and things would go back to normal. Their grandparents began to send more money monthly to help pay for the hospital bills and life support, and he worked to get more clients. He could never charge for health spells though, his imagination was too active and putting himself in their position made him too upset to even consider asking for money. He's someone who can cast for free for his brother, why should others pay for their loved ones when they already pay so much for medical needs as it is?
With a blink, he was 24 and his brother showed no sign of waking, but he couldn’t bring himself to let him die. He walked solemnly home that night after visiting and reminding the doctors that no, he will not be changing his mind about his brother’s life. He's read the research, people have woken up after years in comas, surely, his brother could as well. With the hood of his cloak pulled over his head, he caught passerbys giving him odd stares as he walked by. He knew they knew he was a witch, he knew that the cloak didn’t help his case, but he didn’t mind how no one talked to him. It was how he wanted it to be.
The real second time he met Daisu, he was sitting on the counter while he ate his rice, the storm outside only getting more intense with time and he thought about how lonely he felt in this house, which, unfortunately, was a common train of thought after all this time. He wondered idly had he actually made an effort after his brother fell unconscious, would he feel like this still? Would he have people to talk to ease his thoughts? Thunder roared in the distance and he felt the ground shake slightly. He hoped that the lightning didn’t cause a forest fire, he'd be stuck in the middle of it. At that moment, there was a rapping at his door and he paused in confusion. Was someone seriously at his door in this weather? They knocked again, a little more fiercely, and Gentaro set his bowl beside him, slid off the counter, and made his way to the door.
Upon opening the door, he was greeted by the sight of another person. A young man, about his age, absolutely drenched by the rain even through his coat. He didn’t express the way one would when seeking shelter in the middle of a storm, his face was cold and determined, shaking Gentaro with something that felt like concern.
“You’re a Yumeno, correct?” The man said, not moving to try and take shelter inside despite the rain pounding on his back. Gentaro nodded. “I need your help.” He was serious, and Gentaro stepped out of the way to invite him in.
“Of course, that’s what we’re here for.” He internally winced at the usage of “we,” knowing full well that he was the only one remaining here. “Please, come inside, I’d hate for you to be struck by lightning.” The young man stepped in, but only enough for the door to close, refusing to track any more mud and water into the small house. “No offense, but...are you crazy? What could possibly be so important that you chose to come here in the middle of a storm?” He moved to take the stranger’s coat off, wondering what he should possibly do with it in its condition.
“Do you have anythin’ that’ll help me with luck?” He followed Gentaro’s motions with his eyes, then took a quick look over of the witch once Gentaro had placed the jacket on the coat rack for the time being. He still wasn't entirely sure about this placement as water dripped down from it onto the floor.
“Luck? Well, there’s some things I could do to enhance your luck, though if you’re looking to make someone else’s luck worse, I’m afraid to say I can’t perform that as I don’t want to risk being arrested.” He paused for a moment, then sighed. “We have some extra robes, if you’d like to get out of those clothes.”
The man shot up in glee. “Yeah yeah! Jus’ my luck is all I want!” He smiled; it was a nice one, Gentaro thought. Though his expression turned perplexed, as though he didn’t understand the hospitality. “Why? Won’t it be quick?”
Gentaro rose an eyebrow at him as he finally decided to instead go set the jacket in his laundry bin. He walked down the hallway as he spoke, loud enough for the stranger to hear from the doorway. It wasn’t that far away at least. “It won’t be that quick, plus I can’t just let you back out into that weather.” He opened the bathroom door and gently placed the jacket in the bin before turning back around to go back to the genkan.
The man stood still in the same spot he was before, somewhat slumped over with his arms crossed. “Well why not? The weather’s not that bad.”
Gentaro sighed, not able to keep the irritation from seeping into the sound. “You’re absolutely drenched and the storm is not letting up any time soon. It’ll be better for you to stay here for the night so you don’t get into some kind of accident. It’d be awful for my livelihood on top of that if it was found out that you died or got injured during a visit to the 'Witch’s house.' We don’t necessarily have the best reputation.” He watched the other’s expression drop and let out a sigh himself.
“Mm yeah, ya got a point. Where’re the robes?”
“In the bathroom, first door on the right. And please take your shoes off first.”
“So, if you don’t mind my asking, why are you needing luck spells?” It was the seventh time in the last three weeks that Dice has shown up at Gentaro’s doorstep, and while he was happy to perform the miracles being asked of him for a little bit of extra spending money, he couldn't help but be worried about why he was so persistent. “I hope you know it’s not like it stacks or anything, it’s really a one-spell-fixes-all thing.” He looked over his shoulder at the man as he cooked dinner for the both of them. “I’m starting to think you have ulterior motives coming here.”
He wouldn't deny it, to himself at least, that having Dice around definitely made him feel less lonely, he kind of enjoyed the other's company. Clearly, Dice seemed to enjoy his company as well as he always lingered every time to talk.
“Wh- No I don’ have any ulterior motives!” Dice set the table for the both of them, their plates set across from one another at the table for four. He doesn’t question why there are four chairs but only one Yumeno around whenever he was here. He wouldn't be surprised if Dice knew every bit of information why as well, when people hate you, word spreads about everything involving you. “I just like, y’know, the luck works it really does! But then it feels like it runs out very quickly!”
“Huh? What are you doing with it? Making risky choices?” He peered at Dice as the other approached the stove.
“I’m gambling!”
The room fell quiet aside from the sound of the curry bubbling. Gentaro did his best keep his expression stable, but on the inside he was going through all five stages of grief at that simple sentence. It seemed to him that he didn’t do a great job hiding his grief as he watched Dice’s smile fade from his face into a more concerned frown.
Gentaro closed his eyes with a sigh, pinched the bridge of his nose, then opened his eyes with a renewed vigor. He pulled his hand from his face and pointed at the door. “Out.”
“Eh?”
“Don’t you ‘eh?’ me!” He re-emphasized his point. “Get out of my house. You’re risking my life by simply being here now.”
“What?” Dice tilted his head, clearly not getting it.
Well, his luck clearly hasn't ran out yet as he was lucky Gentaro hasn’t completely snapped and actually had the patience to explain to him. With another disgruntled sigh, he dropped his arm. “Do you seriously not get it? Gambling is illegal, Dice. By helping you gamble, I am now breaking the laws that were put in place to prevent witches from aiding in illegal activities! Not only am I now an accomplice to your crime, I’m breaking my own laws now! Which! By the way! You don’t become an accomplice to!”
Dice’s body deflated as Gentaro kept going. “Ah-” He looked increasingly uncomfortable as Gentaro went on. Good, he thought, he can feel just a little bit of the grief that Gentaro is going through. “I didn’…know that…”
“Get out of my house, Dice.”
Gentaro had never seen someone scramble out the door faster.
The eighth time Dice came by, Gentaro shut the door in his face. Same with the ninth and tenth times. The eleventh time, he hesitated just long enough that Dice was able to stick his foot in the door to prevent it from closing. Gentaro tried to push regardless of whether or not he broke the gambler’s foot. He deserved it.
“Gentaro-”
“I don’t recall giving you permission to keep calling me that. Move your foot.”
“Look, I’m really sorry I didn’t tell ya ‘bout my intentions-”
“Sorry or not, I’m not letting you back in. Move.”
“I haven’ told anyone! I haven’ even had the idea to!”
He was sure it was just the loneliness that was making him hesitate, because Gentaro 100% couldn't stand to look at this guy anymore but he couldn't find it in him to keep arguing.
“I won’t ask for any more luck spells, I swear!”
“Then why the hell are you here? I thought you said you didn’t have any ulterior motives.” He stopped trying to push the door closed, but kept his strength on it enough to keep Dice from just pushing it open.
“I don’t! I don’t think bein’ friendly counts as that!” Gentaro swore he can hear the other pouting.
It’s suffocating, really. It’d been so long since anyone had been this constant in his life; since his brother fell comatose, Gentaro hasn’t had a lot of reliable interactions with people that are more than just a quick spell for some random person who he never saw again. There’s Ramuda, sure, but they’re not really friends, more so just business partners. He hesitated in his response again, internally fighting with himself on opening the door or not. Dice could be lying through his teeth for all he knew. He didn't even notice his strength slip as he agonized over what to do until he heard it close.
“You okay?” Dice stood in front of him now, but Gentaro couldn't bring himself to look up at him.
“N- I’m fine.” Dice didn't need to know anything that was going through his head at that moment.
“Y’don’t look fine-”
“I’m fine, Dice.” He finally looked up, catching the worried expression Dice wore so openly and it stabbed in his heart yet another blade of loneliness. He quickly got his emotions under control, reasserting his anger at Dice to keep up his act. He was not letting go of this fiasco this easily.
Dice took a moment to look over him, then remembered what time it was. Okay, he couldn’t really blame Gentaro for assuming why he was here. “Sorry, were ya goin’ ta bed?”
“That was the plan until you knocked.” Gentaro averted his gaze again, crossing his arms in the process.
“Sorry.”
“Why are you here if not to ask for luck, it’s rather late to just ‘hang out.’” He glanced to the clock reading 10pm. “Or is that normal for gamblers?”
“Well, kinda.” He shrugged. “I dunno I just…wanted to keep tryin’, I felt bad still on top of the fact that I really didn’ wanna go home. Hanging out with you would’ve been a better use of my time.” He put his hands in his pockets. “I can go though, I guess this also now sounds again like I had ulterior motives.”
Gentaro glanced back to him, eyebrows drawing in in concern and confusion. He won’t ask, of course, it’s not his business, but… “Did you want a place to stay for the night?” He couldn't very well turn him away now, not after they’ve…made up? He doesn't think that’s the right term as they really haven’t, but regardless, it would’ve been scummy to do so.
“Ya don’t have to.” Dice scratched his nape, he looked guilty. No wonder his gambling luck was bad if he wore his emotions so plainly. “Like again I get that it sounds like I just planned ta do that but-”
“No, it’s fine. You can stay here. We- I have extra bedding you can use.” In reality, it was actually his bed. He would never let someone sleep in his brother’s bed. “I’m still going to bed, but I can show you where you can sleep.”
Dice didn’t comment on how Gentaro moved some of his own stuff onto the other bed in the room, and Gentaro didn’t comment on any of the scars he noticed the other having after he took his shirt off to sleep. Dice had more weight on him than Gentaro or his brother, so he couldn’t offer any sleepwear, but Dice didn’t seem to mind.
The fifteenth time, Dice began to explore the house some more, taking notice of the framed pictures lining the bookshelves and walls. Various photos from Gentaro’s family that were notably not in the house anymore. The grandmother he has vague memories of from when he was a child, and some of the younger photos of Gentaro and his brother sparked something in his memory as well. “So you have a twin brother?” He called out from the hallway to where Gentaro was in the bedroom.
“We’re actually clones who escaped government experiments that ran to this forest and were adopted by two kindly witches.” Gentaro called back out.
“Huh? Really?” Dice blinked and turned to face the doorway. “That for real?”
“No. I lied. We’re twins. We were adopted though.”
“Oh!” He walked down the hall to peek into the bedroom, catching Gentaro’s gaze as the other lifted it from his book. “Where’s he at then? Are you guys close?”
Gentaro’s face softened for but a second, but Dice caught it before it changed back and the witch looked back down to his book. “He’s sick.”
“Oh. Is he okay aside from that?”
“We were close, it’s hard these days though.” He avoided the question, he had another question to answer still. He flipped to the next page in his book.
Dice frowned, but understood that he was trespassing now, and stepped out of the room after a second of watching Gentaro, who had gone back to reading as if they weren’t having a conversation.
The nineteenth time, Dice didn’t even knock, he just walked in like he lived there. To be fair, he practically did live there. Regardless, it startled Gentaro from the spell he was busy preparing and he jumped, his finger brushing through the candle fire that he had just set and he yelped. Dice paused at the noise, looking over to him, then quickly rushed over when he noticed the witch hunch over.
“Ah! Did ya hurt yerself?” He leaned over, placing a hand over Gentaro’s shoulder. Gentaro hissed, the hand that he didn’t burn gripping the fingers on the one that he did burn.
“I’m good-” He paused, squeezing his hand. “Burned my finger-”
“Oh! Here quick-” Dice grabbed his arm and pulled him over to the sink, Gentaro just barely keeping up the pace. He turned the faucet on and ran the water over his own hand first to make sure it wasn’t too cold but it was cold enough before he forced Gentaro’s hand away from the burn and dragged it under the water. Gentaro hissed again as the water ran over the burn and tried to pull his hand away, though Dice laced his fingers into his in a way that let the burn still be in contact with the water, preventing Gentaro from pulling away again. “We gotta let it run for a few mins. It’ll feel better in a second.”
Gentaro stopped trying to pull away after the pain subsided and rested his head against Dice’s shoulder with a sigh. “You ruined my spell.”
“Hm?” Dice turned to him. “What were ya doin’?”
“Casting a hex on you.”
“Eh?” He let go of Gentaro’s hand and jumped back. “Why? I thought we made up!?”
Gentaro chuckled, keeping his hand under the water as he leaned against the counter. “That was a lie.” He grinned when Dice slumped over again, a pout lining his lips. “I was setting up to get rid of some negative energy in the house.” Which, to be fair, was also a lie. He was trying to remove negative energy from himself, but no matter. “It’s fine, I can just set it up all over again.”
Dice stepped back over and shut the water off. “You got lotion anywhere?”
“Hmm? Quite forward today, holding my hand and now asking for-”
“For the burn you-” Dice grumbled when Gentaro started laughing again.
“In the bathroom, there’s a first aid kit in there as well.”
By the 25th time they met, it had turned into simply meeting as soon as they were both awake in the house. Dice still left at night every other night to go gamble, but he always returned by the morning. Dice had gotten used to Gentaro’s own schedule. Mondays he spent outside of the house running errands, which he refused to let Dice come with him the first day he asked, and then the next, and then the next. It wasn’t necessarily a problem, but it was a bit upsetting that Gentaro wouldn’t even give a reason for why he wasn’t allowing Dice to come.
“Well why not? I should get a say in some of the groceries at least.” Dice pouted while watching Gentaro brush his hair out.
“Bold of you to assume I’d let you, considering you don’t have money to pay for groceries, let alone rent.” Gentaro didn’t bother to turn to him as he spoke. “Perhaps I’ve been too soft on you…maybe I should kick you out.”
“Wh- You never said I’d have to! If ya want rent I’m sure I could manage!”
He chuckled. “I’m lying, of course. You don’t need to pay rent. You need a place to stay and the Yumeno Family would never turn away someone in need.” He would never say it out loud, but Dice’s company was all the rent that he needed. It was nice to live with another person again. “If you’d like anything from the markets or the store, just give me a list and I’ll get it so long as it’s not expensive.”
“Mmm, alright. I can still pay rent if you ever need me to though!”
Gentaro set his brush down and turned to Dice with a small smile. “Don’t tempt me, you don’t know how much I’d ask.”
Dice laughed at that. “Whatever you choose, I’d say it’ll be worth it.”