AkiRyu
Sharing a mind with your other half is such a weird experience. On one hand, it felt like a piece of you is missing - kind of an oxymoron, since finding your other half is suppose to complete you - and you're left with only one half of your thoughts. On another, it gets really cramped once you and your other soul-bind each other. It's the downside of soul-bonding no one talks about; feelings pushing against each other, thoughts that were running through your head suddenly gets block because your bonded doesn't want to hear them, sometimes their voice or your voice is too loud, there's little to no wiggle room for your soul since the two halves are stuck as one. Really, the more I talk about it, the less exciting soul-bonding gets.
But Ryuji didn't mind.
Combining your and your other half's souls is a fairly tricky process, and not one without faults. Too many complications arises; such as powerful emotions overwhelming your other half's soul, often leading to the death of one or both souls, and is usually frown upon, even if soul-bonding is suppose to be one of joy. It's why less than 10% have been successful.
Ryuji was thankful that he had fallen into that 10%.
It wasn't like he had been trying either. During the times where soulmates and soul-bonding were all everyone talked about, Ryuji knew it was a lost cause to find his other. Nobody had wanted an out-of-control delinquent as their soulmate, especially with the Kamoshida incident following him around everywhere, so Ryuji never bothered to look for them. He figures whoever been unfortunate to be his soulmate, they'll probably wish it wasn't so. He wasn't very smart, nor was he handsome, so he didn't think he would please them. He could hardly please his mother, even if she loves him to bits and tells him every day that she do.
And then, he found Kurusu Akira.
The second they laid eyes on each other, Ryuji felt a shiver go up his spine. The dyed blond blink back hard, a bit confused, before disregarding it and continued making his presence known. He should've seen the signs, back then. The shivers, the need to touch, his heart yearning for the boy he'd just met, it was all there. Yet, Ryuji continued on pretending he didn't just found his soulmate, as if he and Akira were just friends and nothing more.
His wake up call had been when Akira and Makoto pretended to date each other.
The ugly feelings of jealousy had made him hurl, counted by the fact that he felt completely rejected. He had been angry, mostly, thinking Akira had kept him and Makoto dating a secret - but once explained, he felt tremendous relief wash over him and his heart started to sing praises once more. At that time, he started to realize he had fallen for Akira, whether he liked it or not. And, not only had he fallen for him, but he was also his soulmate, given how his heart kept chirping whenever Akira's name was mention.
Instead of being happy, Ryuji had been horrified.
One look at Akira told him he was out of his league. The guy was smart and everyone looked up to him, even with the criminal record. Most of their shared friends trusted him far more than they trusted Ryuji, and well, he wouldn't be surprised if Akira already had a soulmate. That's the thing with soulmates - you can have more than one; sometimes they're platonic, sometimes not, and sometimes....sometimes it's completely one-sided. Just because you're someone's soulmate doesn't mean they were going to return your feelings - is what his father had told him. It hadn't been like that with his parents until after his father lost his job, started drinking, and became an abusive asshole. Eventually, romantic feelings died off and his father left. Ryuji was thankful his mother never soul-binded to him, despite being in love with each other, once upon a time ago.
It had left Ryuji afraid, knowing Akira could have anyone he wanted. Knowing he would never return Ryuji's feelings, knowing there's someone better for him, Ann or Makoto - or maybe someone else waiting for him back home; knowing Ryuji would love Akira to the ends of the Earth, even if the raven never glanced at him like that.
It scared him, but he had also accepted it. That's why when he did what he did in Shido's palace, he had no regrets. He loved Akira, and he only wanted Akira to be happy - even if it's not him. He hadn't expected the ship to blow him sky high, but if he actually died that night, Ryuji would've been okay with that. His friends - Akira - were safe. It would've been fine.
Apparently, it was not fine, according to their friends. They had yelled and hit him, angry that he would make a joke about his death. He hadn't meant anyone to worry, but looking back, maybe he should've thought about his words a bit more. Afterwards, when they were done yelling, Akira had pulled him to the side. Awkward silence had fallen in between the two before Akira pulled him close and kissed him. It startled the delinquent, and he hadn't been sure whether he wanted to pull away or go for more, when Akira broke the kiss and whispered to his ear:
"You fucking idiot," Akira was a tiny bit angry, Ryuji could hear. "Don't ever pull that stunt again, Ryuji. I cannot take it if you died."
Ryuji nodded dumbly, staring at his best friend. Akira placed a soft kiss on his lips.
"After all of this done, we should soul-bond." He said, making Ryuji's eyes go wide. "I need to know what's going through that pretty little head of yours. Don't act like we aren't soulmates, Ryuji. We are. And after all of this is done, when the Phantom Thieves business is over, and I have to go back home - I'm coming back. For you. You just have to wait for me."
That entire speech had left Ryuji wordless, but he agreed while his heart burst into tears. Akira had felt the same way - his soulmate returned his feelings. And more than that, Akira promised he'll return again. He'll come back to Tokyo, for him. The corner of his eyes were started to tear up, but Akira had smiled and kissed them away.
And true to his word, months later after the initial shebang with shadows and a god, Akira did return. And they did soul-bond.
Ryuji had been a nervous wreck, and nearly messed up, almost getting himself killed in the process, but thankfully, Akira had managed to calm him down - just enough for them to go through the astral projection sphere, where their souls can link with each other. The moment their souls touched, Ryuji had felt Akira's desires and love on him, but not enough to overwhelm him. He felt what it seems to be a hand touch his face, and lips pressed against his own, and he felt himself smile.
"Did you know, soul-bonding has a less than 10% ratio of success?" Akira asked, smiling as Ryuji rolled his eyes.
With their bond complete, Akira and Ryuji now shared a mind and a body. It was complete weird, but Ryuji didn't mind - especially when he felt Akira's love for him surrounding him, as well as his arms. He groaned, rolling over in their shared bed.
"Kira," The message was being sent. "Stop it. It's bad enough our thoughts are entangled with each other's. Don't make our astral physical bodies do it too. It's too hot."
A sudden shudder ran down his back, his soul engulfed by heat.
"It can't be that hot for a snuggle, Ryu. And besides, technically, we aren't actually feeling the heat of summer. You're just feeling my body warmth." There's a sudden playful nip on his shoulder, and Ryuji squeaked - his physical body turning over as Akira giggled.
"It's too early then. Stop it." He thought.
"Hmm," Still entangled with each other mentally, Akira kissed him. "No."
Ryuji sighed, loudly, and Akira just laughed.
Soul-bonding and everything that came with it is really, really weird.