You're The Prettiest Ghost I Ever Did See

Well, actually, looking back he had no idea what exactly he expected. He knew what he was told death would look like, but thinking back he wasn’t sure if he’d actually believed that. All he knew was being stuck in this house, with the same bunch of idiots for eternity, was not what he would have wanted.

At least, not initially.

Sure, these other ghosts could be annoying and asinine. The presence of the two newest homeowners was also frustrating, especially since the wife had a close enough brush with death as to see them all. But maybe they weren’t all so bad.

There were worse people he could spend eternity with, he supposed.

He glanced out the window of the house, watching two of his fellow ghosts walking in the gardens. Mileena had been here for a very long time, having been one of the first to die. She was a little immature at times, but Hanzo supposed she couldn’t help it, she was only just 18 when she died. Kuai Liang on the other hand was one of the more recent deaths, but having died at a slightly older age of 29. He’d become somewhat of an older brother figure to Mileena. As they walked along, it was clear Kuai Liang was stopping to tell her about each of the flowers and plants.

It was sweet, in a way, that these two souls who would have otherwise never met, due to being born in vastly different times, got to bond over a shared interest.

“Oh. Sorry Hanzo,” a voice called behind him and he looked to see Sonya walk into the room. She had a pile of things in her arms. “I don’t mean to disturb you, I just need to dump some stuff and I’ll be out of your hair.”

“Would you like a hand?” Hanzo asked, realising immediately as it came out of his mouth why that wouldn’t work. As a ghost, he couldn’t touch anything anymore. He put a hand on his face and muttered “sorry.”

“Well, it was nice of you to offer,” Sonya chuckled, putting the objects down on a nearby table. It looked like general nicknacks, likely things to try and decorate the place, get it ready to be a hotel again. Hanzo wasn’t sure he liked the idea of the house being a hotel, the idea of a bunch of strangers being around day in and day out sounded awful.

Regardless he nodded, and turned to look out the window. Mileena seemingly had decided to start walking on one of the walls, Kuai Liang looking concerned like she was about to fall. Not that she’d have gotten hurt if she did.

“Everything okay?” Sonya asked, coming to stand by him and peer out the window. She smiled slightly, watching the two of them.

“Yes, just pondering how bittersweet certain things are,” Hanzo explained, sighing to himself. “In most circumstances, none of us would have met. Yet, here we are.”

He wasn’t entirely sure how Mileena had died, she always tried to avoid talking about it. The gaping wounds on her face, going from the corners of her mouth all along her cheeks, didn’t exactly paint a pretty picture.

Kuai Liang, on the other hand, Hanzo knew exactly how he died, because he had been there, silently observing. He had watched the man Kuai Liang was supposed to marry hold him down under the water. There was nothing he could do as Kuai trashed and the bubbles frothed from his mouth. Slowly, Kuai’s body had gone limp, and his supposed beloved finally drew back.

Hanzo was the first person to welcome Kuai Liang to the afterlife. The person to comfort him after he’d been so brutally murdered. His heart still broke for him.

“You know, you could tell him how you feel about him,” Sonya spoke, giving him a knowing look. He scoffed slightly, but her gaze didn’t let up.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Hanzo muttered, knowing how in denial he sounded. He’d always found he was attracted to both women and men, even before he married Harumi. So being attracted to Kuai Liang was not too unexpected. He didn’t think his feelings were particularly obvious however.

“Oh, don’t give me that crap,” She sighed, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning against the windows side. “You look at that man like he’s the most beautiful thing in the entire room.”

“I do?” Hanzo questioned, a little mortified that it was that visible. He eventually sighed however, there was no point denying his feelings anymore. He just had to try and explain why admitting the truth wasn’t so easy for him. “I had a wife back in Japan. I never got to go home to her. She’d be long gone by now. Moving on from her is not easy, it feels like I am betraying her even though I’m not.”

“I’m sorry.” Sonya lifted her hand as if she was going to place it on Hanzo’s shoulder, but quickly realised her mistake and balled it into a fist instead. “I think what you really need to ask yourself is, those years after your death… Would you have wanted her to move on? Find someone to make her happy when you were unable to?”

Hanzo had to think about that. He’d never really done so before. He often wondered what happened to her. The thought of her spending those years alone and miserable made him want to be sick. Sure, the idea that she could move on from him hurt a bit, but it was overwhelmed by the thought of her being happy, at least in some way.

It seemed he had his answer.

“I’d want her to be happy,” Hanzo answered, trying to contain his emotions. “And if she found that in someone who wasn’t me, then I am content to know at least she didn’t let grief consume her.”

“And, do you believe she wouldn’t want the same for you?” Sonya asked again, tilting her head ever so slightly.

“I think she would want the same for me.” He shook his head. That was all well and good, but the other part of it was how Kuai Liang himself would react. “Sonya, I-”

“Hey Babe, where do we keep-” Sonya’s husband Johnny walked into the room, pausing when he saw her standing at the window. Just her of course. He knew the ghosts were there, thanks to Sonya, but he could not see or talk to them. Hanzo was almost thankful for that, Johnny did seem a bit dimwitted and he wasn’t sure he’d be able to hold his tongue. “Sorry, are you doing… Ghost stuff?”

“It’s ghost stuff,” Sonya assured him, and watched as he nodded in understanding.

“Right, right. Uh, okay just a quickie then,” Johnny said while gesturing with his hand over his shoulder. “Where do we keep the DJ stuff again?”

“Why?” Sonya questioned in a suspicious manner, narrowing her eyes as she did.

“Just… wondering.” Johnny shrugged, but it was clear he was up to something.

“It’s in the closet downstairs,” Sonya replied, still sounding like she didn’t trust where Johnny was going with this.

“Cool, Cool. Thanks Babe, I’ll leave you to your… Uh…” He gestured towards the empty space beside her. “Ghost stuff.”

And with that he was gone again. All Hanzo could do was shake his head, but Sonya’s eyes never left the door.

“That moron is gonna start DJing again, I just know it,” Sonya hissed in a tone that indicated that whatever this DJing thing was, it wasn’t good.

“Anyway,” Hanzo interrupted with a bit of a cough. “Sonya, out of curiosity, are you aware of how Kuai Liang died?”

“No. I’m not.” She finally turned her attention back to Hanzo, her brow furrowing. “How-”

“That’s… not really my story to tell.” Sure, he had been there, but it was Kuai’s trauma, not his, and it was not his place to explain it. “What I will say is he was hurt by someone who should have loved him.” Hanzo could only hope that in the years since Kuai Liang’s death, his former partner only ever knew suffering for what he did. “And I am worried if I come on too strong, it might bring up past trauma for him.”

“I think…” Sonya bit her lips slightly, glancing out of the window again. “I think that is something you have to let him decide for himself.” Hanzo followed Sonya’s gaze outside, somewhat perplexed to find Kuai Liang doing a handstand while his legs were wide open. Mileena was clapping enthusiastically at the display. “Maybe just take it slow. Don’t do too much at once. I think he’ll be more open to it than you think.”

Hanzo silently considered that, before deciding she was right. He could take his time after all, it wasn’t like they didn’t have that in spades. He would wait aeons to just hold the other man's hand, if that was what it would take.

“You’re right. Thank you, Sonya.” He took a deep breath, bowing to her. Considering her youth, she was wise for her age. “I will take what you said into consideration.”

“Good.” Sonya pushed herself away from the window and started to walk towards the door. “I’m sorry I need to go and make sure Johnny isn’t about to start going through a quarter-life crisis and attempt to reignite another disastrous career as a DJ.”

“Fair enough.” Hanzo had no idea what to say to that, he just let her leave.

Alone once more, he turned to observe out of the window again. This time Mileena was doing a handstand, although her balance wasn’t anywhere near as good as Kuai Liang’s, as she wobbled all over the place. Kuai Liang stood, clearly encouraging her to keep going and keep trying. If his heart were still beating, he was certain it’d be fluttering.

No, eternity didn’t sound so bad, so long as he could share it by Kuai Liang’s side.

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