Page 166 of A Soul to Touch

Her soul is mine to touch.Unless it was a Duskwalker like himself, no other being would be able to share in this kind ofintimate moment with it.Whether or not I get to keep it, it is mine.

He knew it was true when he managed to coax it to its feet and began... playing with it. A sad chuckle almost escaped him when he thought he may have tickled it when the back of his claw caressed up and down its side.

Her soul held his finger, and he thought he saw tiny lips puckering into a pout. To remove the expression he had seen far too many times on Mayumi’s very own face, he twirled his finger around her soul’s body like a tornado.

It spun in a circle, wisps of fire swirling up his finger from its floating hair. It didn’t appear dizzy once it settled, and it took its own initiative to hold his claw to balance itself so it could almost... dance with his finger.

Of course, it was doing whatever it wanted, just like Mayumi often did. His heart felt swollen, overflowing and unable to contain the emotions that wanted to burst it.

I wish I could take it.

He eventually lifted his palm so he could nuzzle it with the front of his snout. He felt warmth and pressure, but it didn’t hurt him like anything physical might. Perhaps he didn’t care. It was nothing in comparison to the longing bruising his chest.

Once more, he brought his palm down so he could caress it. He rubbed it underneath its jaw, down its side, and even brushed his claw up its spine. He sifted two claw tips through the fiery, floating hair.

Faunus flinched in surprise when two hands rubbed over the back of his shoulders, over the tops of them, before coming down his pectoral muscles. Mayumi leaned her weight against his back as she brought her head beside his own.

“You’re thinking about leaving, aren’t you?” she whispered, her voice was croaked and sleep-filled and so decadent to his ears that his fur puffed when goosebumps lifted it.

“No,” he lied, looking at her from the corner of his orb – even if she wouldn’t be able to tell where his sight had fallen.

Then he gazed back down to her soul, continuing to touch it even though he’d been caught in taking it from her without her knowing.

It’d been an accident that he’d discovered he could just will it from her body without her knowledge. He tried not to do so often, worried that the constant exposure would cause his dying willpower to finally crumble, and he’d eat it.

I want it. I want it more than I can stand.

It was there, right in front of him, glowing for him, fucking reaching for him with its slender arms, and he couldn’t take it. He didn’t think anyone could understand how miserable that was.

It was haunting him just as much as he had begun to feel like he was haunting Mayumi. He was just a presence now, a Ghost holding on by a thread to this world, and he knew he was going to fade soon.

“Don’t lie to me, Faunus,” Mayumi whispered as she brushed her lips against the side of his neck – so light and feather-like in touch. “Just stay here with me.”

His orbs turned a deep well of blue despite his efforts to not let them.

How did she know I was saying goodbye to it?He thought as he held her soul in his hand so he could pet the pad of his thumb over its torso.

His intention had been to touch her soul one last time before giving it back and leaving. He couldn’t bear to say goodbye to Mayumi herself.

He didn’t think he could handle watching her hurt or deal with her convincing him otherwise. He also didn’t think he could handle his own reaction to her, his own internal longing and sadness.

Figures she would find a way to meddle regardless.

Why does she want me to stay?What use was there in him remaining? The last thing he wanted was for her to see his decline or the end.

I had planned to go into the forest and pull my skull apart myself.It would be easy too. Whether it was his internal or physical hurt, both were as prevalent as the other. Both would push him to do so.

He wanted to be rid of it.

“Your silence is convincing me that I was right,” she said as she buried her face against the fur of his neck. “I am used to people dying, Faunus. I am used to watching it. I have seen people die from wounds and from sickness. Some deaths are quicker than others, but I have always found that the person is brought comfort by having someone by their side.”

“I am not a human, Mayumi,” he quietly bit. “It would bring me no comfort to have you watch me. There is no pride in it for me, and I don’t need you coddling me. I was brought into this world alone, I have lived it alone, and it is best that I leave it alone.”

Alone.

“I could try to guilt you into staying,” she said, making him growl in reaction. “But I won’t. I’m just... asking you to. I want to spend every moment I can with you.” She began nuzzling her face against him. “I want to take in your scent, feel your warmth, and hear your voice for as long as I can. Is that so much to ask for? A second more is better than a second lost.”

“I cannot help you.” He turned his head so he could show he was looking around her home.

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