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When The Creators of everything watched the various universes that created itselves over time, they initially thought it would be okay to leave them to their own devices while they went about fulfilling their heavenly duties. This was proved wrong when one of the universes lost control of its timeline, with the emergence of its own deities that tried to interfere with the other worlds.
Unfortunately, The Creators had to end that one universe. They didn't want that kind of incident to happen again, as they cared about each and every existence, so they decided they needed something or someone to oversee the universes constantly.
They created two Timekeepers to watch over the universes on the endless plane, located between the celestial plane and the mortal plane, where time is an eternal ocean.
Both came into existence knowing everything they needed to know about their purpose, their work and where they were.
But they didn't know one thing: their own names.
The Creators never told them their names and just called them Timekeepers.
So they named each other.
“Your hair reminds me of the dusk, when the end of the day kisses the night goodbye. Can I call you that?" Asked the one with the blond hair and vibrant eyes.
“Your hair reminds me of the first rays of sun in the dawn. Shall I call you that?” Asked the one with purple hair with cyan strands.
They decided they would call themselves Dawn and Dusk.
Dusk's main duty is to organize and protect the past and its memories, so that no kind of power interferes with time and tries to change what has already happened.
Dawn's main duty is to observe the future and destiny of every decision made in the universes, preventing any creation of dangerous timelines among the infinite possibilities.
And together they observe the present, maintaining harmony.
Surprisingly, for the first few centuries of their existence, Dawn and Dusk barely spoke to each other, seeing no purpose for them to interact other than to talk about something meaningful in their job. Dawn was the first to try to approach the other timekeeper to talk about trivial things.
“Have you ever wondered how some universes know about our existence?”
Dusk set aside a clock representing one of the multiple universes and looked somewhat surprised at Dawn with the question, taking a few seconds to decide on an answer.
“Humans tend to create stories to take comfort in everything that is out of their control, including time; so even without any kind of concrete proof, they decided that there were beings that controlled time, and it’s just that they happened to be right this time.”
The answer was said monotonously, almost in a whisper, but it was impossible not to hear the voice of the only other conscious being besides Dawn in that place, even with the always present different sounds of gears, devices and sand around.
"And why do they call us gods?"
Despite having god-equivalent abilities to interfere with universes with few difficulties, they didn't dare go against their creators, true gods who were above everything and everyone.
"Perhaps the limited perception of humans, naive beings, is not able to differentiate between eternal beings, like us, from gods who created everything. But it's like I said, they don't even have proof of our existence, it's not a mistake to get confused about what we are."
Dusk replied once more, his voice more noticeable than before, which further encouraged Dawn to voice his questions.
"And what are we?"
"That is a most foolish question, Dawn. We were told all this when we were created."
"That's not what I meant. We were created in the identical image of a human being. We bleed, we feel, we think and even dream like them, but we're not human. So what are we?"
Dusk didn't know how to reply to that, so he opted to shake his head and turn his attention back to the clock from earlier. Dawn sulked at that, trying once more to get the other's attention with another subject.
"Do you like your job?"
This made Dusk once again turn his head towards the blond, a grim expression of accusation, his hand almost trembling.
"Don't you?"
"That's not what I meant!" Dawn said equally accusatively, “Of course I do! It's fun to watch all these worlds as if they were stories unfolding endlessly.”
"You shouldn't think of universes so lightly."
“It's not lightly, I care about each one of them. I don't want any of them to end, so I'll fulfill my role perfectly!”
Dawn heard Dusk snort humorously, the first time he had seen him crack any kind of smile, causing Dawn to show a grin of his own. At that moment, Dusk thought that maybe the blond should have been named after the sun itself instead.
“Very well, I didn't expect anything different from another timekeeper. We shouldn't question The Creators, just perform our duty.”
Dusk was a hypocrite. He said they shouldn't question anything, but probably between him and Dawn, he was the one who asked himself the most questions.
He didn't want to be so close to his partner, initially focusing all his energies on following his purpose of creation, but it was inevitable that loneliness would come sooner or later. Dusk's next question was why The Creators created them with emotions and feelings when there was no need for that in their roles. But no clock would argue with him, so he ultimately went after Dawn first. The beginning of a long relationship.
One day they realized that in each and every universe there are versions of them in them. And every version of them, without exception, had the same names.
So they started calling each other Tsukasa and Rui.
It sounded right in their tongues, maybe The Creators didn't tell their names precisely because they didn't want them to make any connection with the mortal plane; maybe they were afraid of their creations being deluded with the concept of "life" outside of their duties, with the perception of a fully moldable purpose.
In any case, if The Creators realized that they noticed their existence in the universes, they never said anything about it. Rui, after millennia, was convinced that The Creators never even looked in their direction after placing them in their eternal positions.
It was strange to change the way they called themselves after so long with a name, but Tsukasa insisted on trying to adapt. ‘It sounds more human’, he argued.
Rui agreed with that, despite knowing it wasn't quite right. Nothing said the rules they learned that they couldn't try to resemble the humans they were molded after, but it felt wrong to try to pass for something they definitely weren't. Beings in control of their own destiny.
Even after all these years, their existence was still filled with questions that would never be answered. Rui and Tsukasa sometimes debated about some topics, they had already lost their fear of The Creators punishing them for questioning, but in the end the conclusions would never be concrete.
And the two continued fulfilling their duties, now more amused to observe the multiple lives that their versions had.
The place they inhabit is called Time Ship, the only building on an endless sea, sailing eternally until the end of time. It wasn't a very creative name, but it's not like the two of them had a better name for a literal ship with no apparent boundary of space, sailing an equally literal ocean of time.
“How about ‘Time Keeper’?”
“It’s practically our job title.”
“Timeless Cruiser?”
"Let's not change the name, Tsukasa."
The Time Ship was infinite in its own way. Though they were able to go up to the ship's deck and look out over the Ocean of Time, even from windows and balconies, their rooms were endless. The universes were infinite, so the ship also needed infinite space to hold them all. Multiple rooms, decorated with the most diverse themes and in the most diverse ways, alternating without apparent pattern.
Rui and Tsukasa fortunately had no problems walking around the ship, one of the perks of being a timekeeper, full control over the ship except for its path, so they never got lost and also knew exactly where each universe was.
Curiously, the universes were each represented by a clock.
Both had their favorite rooms. Rui liked most of them, but he had a greater appreciation for the rooms with hourglasses and clocks with complex gears, where he would spend hours studying their structures.
“What's the fun of hourglass worlds? You will never see the sand diminish or come to an end.”
“And I hope I never see it anyway. But the sound is pleasant.”
Tsukasa preferred rooms with colorful and unusual clocks, he says they are fun and bring good feelings, and Rui completely agrees. In one of the universes, a colorful clock decorated with playing cards and tea cups, Tsukasa is king of a very quirky and fun land.
Despite their different preferences for clock types, both had rooms where they spent more time together; rooms with fewer clocks and with different furniture to be used by them, such as sofas, tables, and even a piano (this piano, curiously, is a clock despite being completely playable). They also had rooms which they considered to be 'their rooms' with a bed and all, although they had no need for sleep.
It was fascinating how the ship actually had the identical structure of a normal ship despite everything, even a kitchen they use to cook as a hobby (were they entitled to have hobbies?) and try dishes from the universes they observed. No, they don't need to eat either, and Rui doesn't have cooking skills, but Tsukasa likes to cook, so the other naturally accompanied him.
They had a pleasant existence next to each other.
Like most of his questions, Rui never found an answer to the similarity between them and humans, especially when it came to feelings. He and Tsukasa became impossibly close over time, opening up to each other completely in mind and heart, and sharing everything they had to offer in terms of affection. This is a common fear among people that Rui observed, that some roommate or workmate would be horrible to live with, without any kind of connection; but Rui also observed that many times that fear did not come true, in its place, a beautiful friendship, and even romance, were born.
Romance.
Both Tsukasa and Rui have read and seen a lot about romance.
In most worlds, their versions ended up developing some kind of romantic relationship with each other, whether tragic or beautiful. So naturally that attraction would fall under the Timekeepers as well.
Rui wouldn't know exactly how to define the relationship between him and Tsukasa. Even before observing the romantic behavior among their other versions, they already had habits considered “romantic”. They held hands, they kissed occasionally, they cuddled in some bed, they laughed together in the emptiness of their time. They did everything a normal couple would do.
But would they even have the right to love anyone? The Creators never limited their feelings, and thinking about it, maybe were even proud of a creation so similar to humans; but if it started directly interfering with their duties, would they be cruel enough to take that away from them?
Rui was, between the two, the one who took the longest to accept this feeling of love, fearing both this retaliation from The Creators and the legitimacy of his love for Tsukasa. The blond in turn, even though he also had his own conflicts about those feelings, decided to embrace them rather than trying to hide how he feels in eternal agony; preferring to express himself fully even if it could lead to his demise. Eventually both learned to love and be loved.
The first time Tsukasa initiated a more intimate contact than usual, the simple act of holding his hand, Rui knew that his warmth was the only thing that could warm him up. The first time Rui wrapped Tsukasa in a hug, the blond knew he would never feel safer anywhere than in his arms. The first time they kissed, they were instantly addicted to the taste of each other's lips.
Were they lovers? Married? They never cared to label what they had since either way their feelings would be just as intense and true. Their relationship is equal to the time they sail:
“May it be infinite while it lasts.”
Millennia of existence didn't weaken their relationship, let alone lessen the questions they had about everything.
"Tell me, Tsukasa, don't you find it fascinating?" Rui spoke from his armchair, holding a carousel-shaped clock that represented one of the universes.
"Observing that same world again, Rui?" Asked Tsukasa, diverting his gaze from the window to the other.
"Overlooking the endless Ocean of Time again, Tsukasa?" He replied with a light laugh, but continued his speech. "I can't help it, in this world our 'selves' are still so young, they've barely experienced life."
Tsukasa made a sound of understanding and walked away from the window, approaching Rui and taking a look at the world that the other watched with affection.
"Despite living in such a normal world, these are some of the most yearning ones we've seen. I wonder if they'll have a happy ending."
Rui let out a weak laugh with no real humor behind it, putting the clock back in its place. The blond frowned slightly, not commenting on his own opinion yet.
"I wish they had. Not so many live peaceful lives like that, at least may it be happy until the end... Couldn't you tell me, Tsukasa?"
"There's no reason for that, you'll eventually see anyway."
Recently, Rui started making comments and questions similar to that one. Questioning the destiny of their versions in the universes, wanting happy endings and deeply regretting the tragedies. Possibly, Rui had become too human, influenced by the lives his “other selves” led and yearning for something similar.
"What's the fun in being the only one to know the future?" Rui asked with melancholy.
"You already suffer and regret the present and the past too much, I don't need to give you one more thing to agonize eternally." Tsukasa replied as if he didn't feel sorry for the past, present and future himself.
"You say that, but I know you suffer beneath all that seriousness."
"If I exist with that purpose, I will follow it steadfastly. It's not like I have a choice."
A pause, a hesitation, because Rui had already tried to persuade him before, and this time he would try again. His voice was almost a whisper.
"...you could try to change that."
"Rui, you know this is against our functions, against our very nature."
"And who dictates that? The Creators themselves don’t even care about us anymore! Aren't you sad to see how in many hundreds of worlds we don't have a happy ending?"
His passive voice was now altered, his mind like a turbulent sea. Rui didn't speak aloud, but he very much wanted to accuse Tsukasa of being a burden to himself, and Rui only wanted to help him if only Tsukasa would give in.
"Rui…"
The purple-haired one got up angrily, pacing the grand room they were in, one of their so-called common rooms, and pointing at several clocks as he spoke without pause.
"In this one we met too soon; in this one, too late; in that one fate was too cruel and we died close to a happy ending; in that one we are destined to be on opposite sides of a war."
"Rui-"
"In one of them, at this very moment, I lose you forever in my own arms!"
"Dusk!"
He shuts up immediately, turning to Tsukasa. They rarely used the old names they gave themselves.
"We may have the power to interfere, but we don't have the right. 'They' are us, but 'they' have their own experiences, their own personalities and make their own decisions. They write their own destiny, not us. We just protect and keep these worlds and stories."
Tsukasa calmly explains. It wasn't the first time they had that discussion about how much they were capable of manipulating the worlds, but this time Rui was more aggressive than usual, taking it personally.
"This is unfair! It's torture!"
"Don't say that… Cherish all these past, present and future stories. In that world the war persists but we are still alive, maybe one day the war will end and we will be able to live happily."
"You already know the answer to that, you protect and watch over the future." The phrase comes out more sour than expected, an accusatory and almost offended tone on Rui's part for Tsukasa keeping that to himself.
Tsukasa shakes his head, "Even the future is always uncertain. I never see a clear answer, only multiple possibilities. You know that!" He exclaims and Rui turns quiet for a moment.
"... I fear."
"Hm?"
"I fear all these endings indicate something we don't want to notice. As if our fight against fate is in vain, where we are not truly destined to have each other."
Another mood swing, Rui's voice was now shaky, and his body slowly staggered back to the armchair next to Tsukasa.
"But Rui, we meet in all worlds without fail, it's inevitable, we'll always be part of each other's lives, isn't that proof enough that we're destined?"
"Not enough, it could just be fate being cruel, making us suffer by having to constantly witness the flaws and sorrows of our stories."
Tsukasa smiled. "But don't we also have lots of happy endings? And more importantly, happy memories."
The blond moves away from his companion, walking slowly around the room admiring the different clocks scattered on all kinds of surfaces, one of his hands lightly accompanying his walk, gently caressing the worlds he passes by.
"In the one where you are a merfolk and I am a human, even though we are of different species, we met and fought until we reached a happy ending, married. And even in the one where it took us a long time to meet, we are slowly moving towards a happy ending."
"Tsukasa…"
"In every universe that exists, no matter the path or the end, no version of me regrets having met you." He says with a cheerful tone despite the weight of that conversation affecting both of them, finally stopping back in front of the large window and turning to Rui before continuing. "No matter how many tragedies we go through, laughs and cries, in the end there will never be any regrets of having you in my life at some point."
Rui looked like he wanted to cry, but he didn't, getting up from the armchair again.
"I know that. It's the same with all my versions. I know none of them would have chosen not to meet you.”
“Then why do you still doubt?”
The blond asks once more and Rui unconsciously holds his breath, not knowing how to express himself properly.
“They are not us.”
That confession confused Tsukasa, and he scowled. "How so? They are versions of us."
Rui huffed in frustration at his own inability to explain, moving closer to the other.
“They are us, but they never went through what we went through. They know they have a destiny and a future, we don't. Other than their ending, I have nowhere else to base what our own ending would be.”
“We don't have an end, Rui.”
“Then how do I know if it’s right?”
Rui held Tsukasa's hands to stop his own from shaking, the blond couldn't resist the gesture and held him back, knowing the mental fragility his partner was still in.
“Since when do we limit ourselves to superfluous concepts like that? Our fate may be nothing but our duty, but beyond that we have countless liberties to take in our existence here.”
Tsukasa's light tone made Rui regulate his breathing, relaxing his hands in the other's, who took advantage of this to drag him to the middle of the empty room, starting a slow dance between the two. Rui let himself be carried away, being led in the dance without music.
“Like all my versions, I would never regret being with you.”
With that sentence Rui seemed to have finally calmed down, as if all he needed from the start was some reassurance of the other's happiness. Rui finally let a single tear run down his face before cracking a smile, improving his posture and speeding up their dance, taking control.
“I would never regret it either.” He answers before anything else. “Forgive me, I got carried away… In the end, no matter how much I project onto them, they are not relevant to us, who are eternal like time. I should not ask them if they are happy, but ask you, my dear.”
Seeing Rui’s smile, Tsukasa decides to take the reins of the dance once more, resting one of his hands on Rui's back and bringing him closer while starting a marked rhythm of a waltz instead of the random steps from before. They kept dancing without music in the background, but it wasn't necessary as they followed their heartbeats.
“It’s alright, Rui. But I never expected you to say you don't care about our other versions.”
"It's not that. I care about them too, they are us after all… But you, who is in front of me, who is my reality, my everything; you are the one I truly cherish with my whole being, Tsukasa."
Rui said in a tone full of affection, looking directly at Tsukasa with his eyes still slightly red and his face flushed, Tsukasa similar to him, blushing at the sincerity of the confession he had just received.
“You are also my reality, Rui. Never forget that I am only happy by your side, no matter what you think.”
That was enough to make the two stop their dance, looking lovingly into each other's eyes and exchanging silent, passionate kisses.
“As long as you are with me, I will no longer think about things like endings between us.”
Rui promised and Tsukasa nodded.
“As long as we are together. Until the end of times."
“Above all, to my love I’ll be attentive first
And with such zeal, and always, and so much
That even in face of the greatest enchantment
Be love more enchanted by my thoughts.
I want to live it in every idle moment
And in its honor I will spread my song
And laugh my laughter and shed my tears
For its grief or its contentment.
And later on, when one shall find me:
Be it death, which life cannot tame
Or loneliness, the end of all lovers
I can tell myself about the love (that I had):
If not eternal, cause it’s but a flame
May it be infinite while it lasts.”
Sonnet of Fidelity, by Vinícius de Moraes.
Translation and adaptation by this fanfic author.