Chapter Text
It was a mild, windy day in the kingdom of the Tenma family. The street is buzzing with people all around, buying -or stealing- food from the market place or other nearby concessions. A lady was standing near a jewelry tent when a young guy in a black hooded cloak approached.
“Hey, mrs. Do you know of an old sorcerer here in the village?” The guy asked. His face was covered by his coat.
“Do you happen to be talking about Kamishiro?” The women’s eye brows raised in suspicion, “The one that lives just outside the village deep into the forest?”
“Sure,” The hooded boy replied.
“Well, in that case, you’d have to give me a little more than just a kids curiosity-“ As the words came out of the older women’s mouth, the hooded young man pulled out a handful of golden coins and cash. The women happily took all of it.
“Kamishiro Rui, his full name, is said to be an old sorcerer who can turn everything out of nothing. He was said to have made his own human to fill the role of a friend, but his own creation left him and he grew alone and angry. People soon learned of his strange dark magic and banished him outside of the village! No one has seen him since.”
The strange excitement and the women’s hand motions as she told the story made the hooded boy think this wasn’t the first time she told this story. Not for free of course.
“Thank you mrs. Now which way is his home?” The boy asked.
The lady shook her head. “You’re too young for that kind of supernatural searching boy-“ He held up another hand full of golden coins and cash, with now added on silver jewelry. She pointed her finger to the mountains north of the village.
“Be careful boy.”
The boy nodded and headed up north.
𓇢𓆸
Rui Kamishiro was not what people said he aught to be. Rui was simply just anti social and awkward. Yes, he does have the ability to create whatever he wants, but it’s not like he is very proud of it. He created a friend, Mizuki, and they both decided that they should part ways. He isn’t old! He’s only 18! The stories told about him are far from true, but he would never try to correct them.
He never goes outside of his villa. He has the power to create food and drinks for himself. Heck! He could create a whole kingdom with millions of people created from his magic, but Rui does not think like this. He is not evil. He wouldn’t use his magic unless absolute necessary. So when a young boy in a hood comes to his front door, he does not want anything to do with it.
Rui opens the door, barely, just enough for him to be able to peak outside with one of his eyes. “Are you Kamishiro Rui the sorcerer?” The hooded boy asks.
“Um who’s asking..?” Rui’s voice comes out shakily and awkward. He’s just surprised he even got himself to make out a word under all this pressure.
“Oh, excuse me for not introducing myself!” The boy takes off his hood to reveal glowing blonde hair that melts into a pink at the ends. His eyes match his hair in a mixture of different shades of yellow and pink. He smiles a princely smile. Rui’s eyes widen. He might not come to the village often.. or ever, but he knows what the royal family looks like. There was no mistaking it! Rui was being greeted by the prince, Tsukasa Tenma.
“Prince?” Rui exclaims in something in the middle of worry and just straight up terror. “What can I.. um, do for you?” Rui shakily asks.
“Oh, good! You know who I am! That saves us some time! Can I come in?” Tsukasa asks.
“Yes.. yes! Come in! But give me one second.. I need to clean,” Rui says leaving the door open as he heads inside.
“There’s no need! It might take forever!” Tsukasa steps inside as Rui waves his hands around and in an instant the house is sparkly clean. Tsukaasa had only just stepped inside and was already reminded what the sorcerer is capable of. Rui smiles at his accomplished work and turns around to see the shocked look on Tsukasa’s face.
“S-sorry!!” Rui yells as his face heats up from embarrassment. Only one person had ever seen Rui’s magic actually take place, and they were long gone.
Tsukasa shakes his head. “No worries!” Tsukasa waves his hands into the air, atempting to calm Rui down, “I’ve just never seen real magic take place before.”
Tsukasa takes a good long look at Rui: He was tall and lean, but not elderly. He was around Tsukasa age. His hair was all over the place, mostly purple besides a single blue streak traveling into his bangs from the side of his hair. Clumps of overgrown bangs covered his eyes in a way that looked like it might be poking his eyes at all times. His eyes were strangely, yet beautifully, golden. He wore a way too crooked sweater and somewhat normal looking pants. His face was a bright red. He didn’t seem very evil at the moment.
Rui looks down for a minute and then back up. “Have a seat over here. Would you like some tea?” Rui smiles, the best he can, and leads Tsukasa to a small area consisting of two chairs, a couch, and a table.
“No, thanks!” Tsukasa says and sits down on one of the chairs. Rui sits on the chair facing Tsukasa’s.
“What has brought you here, your highness?” Rui asks.
“Right!” Tsukasa takes a deep breath in, “My sister, princess Saki, is ill. She has always been prone to sickness since she was born. It is getting worse and I am out looking for a cure. I was told of a man who can create that cure for me. Will you be as kind as to help me cure my sister?”
Rui stays silent for a moment. He then sighs. “Your highness.. I’ve never used my magic for anyone besides myself. And I hardly use my magic for myself. I haven’t used my magic for anything big in years! I can’t remember the last time I even used it for new clothes. I just don’t think I can do it.. I’m sorry.”
Tsukasa’s eyes well up in tears. “A-are you crying, your highness?” Rui jumps in surprise and whips his hand around magically creating an handkerchief. Rui brings his hand up to Tsukasa’s cheeks dabbing his tears away.
Tsukasa sniffles in surprise. “Oh my! I did not expect these tears! I am so sorry,” Tsukasa tries to laugh. Rui waves him away and continues to clean up all his tears.
Rui leans back and bites his lip. He closes his eyes and claps his hands together. A bright burst of light emerges. He starts molding a ball shape out of the light, sculpting it as he twists and turns his hands. He then closes his hands over the light and it dies down. Once he opens his hands back up, a small flower lily lays in his palm. Tsukasa gasps, bewildered by the flower Rui just created.
Rui looks up at Tsukasa, still sitting down on his knees in front of him, and presents him the flower. “What’s this?” Tsukasa says taking it carefully in his hands, like a small injured bird that needs to find its mama.
“It’s the cure for your sister.”
“I thought you said you wouldn’t do it?”
“I have a soft spot for crying people..”
Tsukasa laughs. It was soft but loud and jarring. Rui thought that he wanted to hear that more often.
“This is how it works: The petals can be crushed up into a dew and she can drink it. Only consume one petal a day. By the time all the petals are gone she should be healed. But listen to me when I say this; DO NOT BREAK THE STEM. If you do, it will undo the effects of the petals and do the opposite. Her sickness will worsen and she will die.”
Tsukasa nods listening to every word. Nothing in this world mattered more to him than his sister. “Thank you Rui-kun. I will never forget this! I will come back to update you on the effects of the flower. I don’t know how, but I will find a way to pay you, I promise!”
Tsukasa was long gone before Rui could even muster up an “your welcome”, or be surprised that they were already on first name bases after just meeting. Rui smiled and went back to being lonely.
𓇢𓆸
“Onii-chan?” A young girl with blonde hair that melted into pink just like Tsukasa’s asked sitting up on her bed. She coughed. Tsukasa ran to her side and helped her sit up.
“Be quiet about this okay? I need you to drink it,” Tsukasa lifted a bowl of liquid up to her mouth. It was a petal from the lily Rui had given him. Saki did as her older brother wanted and chugged down the dew. “Is it good tasting?”
Saki nodded and laid her head back down.
“Thank you, Onii-chan.”
Tsukasa smiled, “Of course, Saki.”
𓇢𓆸
Three days had passed since Rui had given Tsukasa the flower. Tsukasa has been giving Saki the petals daily just as Rui said. He was careful not to harm the stem, terrified of what might happen if he were to bend just the end of it off. Tsukasa grabbed his cloak and snuck out of his castle. He traveled through secret tunnels hidden within the castle and ran north into the forest.
He knocked on Rui’s door. Rui opened the door much quicker and wider this time. “You’re back?” Rui’s eyes sparkled. Tsukasa had never seen him this happy. It made him look like a young child who just woke up on Christmas to see all the presents under the tree. Tsukasa smiled and asked, ”Can I come in?”
𓇢𓆸
“Tsukasa-kun this really isn’t necessary… I like the fact that my bangs cover my eyes… Really! I do!” Rui exclaims being pushed into a chair by Tsukasa.
“Rui, will you please kindly make some scissors and a hair brush?” Tsukasa asks running to stand behind the chair. “Or do I have to show that picture of the dogs crying again?” Tsukasa didn’t want to force Rui like this, but Rui needs his hair cut. Rui squeals and makes some scissors and a hand brush for Tsukasa. “Thank you, Rui-kun,” Tsukasa said as he got to work. Starting off with brushing Rui’s nest of a hair and then getting ready to cut it.
Rui doesn’t quite remember how it ended up like this. Tsukasa had come in and sat down while Rui made some tea for them. They drank their tea as they talked and Tsukasa updated Rui on how Saki was doing. Somehow, Tsukasa is now chopping heaps of Rui’s hair off.
“Done!” Tsukasa exclaims proudly, “Mirror.” Rui hands Tsukasa a mirror he creates and Tsukasa puts it in front of Rui to see. Rui looked better -or so. The hair was sort of cut at an angle but at least he could see clearly. Tsukasa could now finally see how beautifully majestic his eyes are. Golden like a sunset. Tsukasa is proud at his accomplishment. “Now for your clothes-“
“But I actually made this one…” Rui says looking down.
“Huh?”
“Well, I have to do something in my free time…”
Tsukasa laughs. Rui instantly feels more at ease. He still wants to hear his laugh more.
Tsukasa looks out the window. “It’s getting kind of late… I think I should go.”
Rui frowns. He’ll miss Tsukasa.
He doesn’t want to be alone again.
He really doesn’t wanna be alone again.
Rui reaches out and grabs Tsukasa pulling him onto him. Their lips crash together and Rui takes this moment to push Tsukasa onto the couch. They kiss for a second before Tsukasa pushes Rui away in a hurry and runs out the door.
Rui instantly regrets.
𓇢𓆸
Saki had been taking the petals for five days now. One more day was left and Saki would be cured. Tsukasa heard a knock on his door. It was a few guards. “Yes? Is something wrong?”
“You’re going to have to come with us,” One of the guards says as they grab Tsukasa’s arm. Another guard follows his lead, taking Tsukasa’s other arm. “Hey! What the heck?”
Tsukasa was practically dragged into the kings throne room. “Father! Tell these stupid guards not to handle me like that!” Tsukasa spoke bitterly. A hand came up from the king to silence Tsukasa. Tsukasa might as well be fuming at this point.
“Mind to tell us where you’ve been traveling to for a couple of days?” The king spoke. Tsukasa was filled with terror, but it’s not like he’d let that show.
“What do you mean?” He laughs. The king raises a hand and one of the guards throws the hooded cloak Tsukasa had been wearing.
“You left it in those tunnels underground. Do you think I didn’t know of them?”
Tsukasa is brought back. He remains silent though, not wanting to give them anymore than they might know.
“And our precious Saki! You have been feeding her some type of liquid from the sorcerer, the villain! Your mother found you giving poison to her yesterday when she went to check up on her! You are a disgrace to this family!”
Tsukasa stands up. “Rui is not a villain! He gave me a cure to save her!”
“Non-sense! You will be thrown into the dungeon for now. You should be thankful you’re a prince or you would’ve been hanged for your crimes!”
“What about Saki? Are you just going to let her die?”
“I wouldn’t be worried about Saki as much as you should for your dear friend. He will be executed as soon as possible,” The king smirked as he talked.
“Father! He didn’t do anything!” Tsukasa pleaded.
“Take him away.” And with a flick of the king’s hand, Tsukasa was dragged away to the dungeon.
𓇢𓆸
Rui was sitting around doing some light cleaning. He didn’t like cleaning, but he had nothing better to do and he felt like he needed to punish himself for what he did to Tsukasa. He was scared he wouldn’t ever be able to apologize.
A knock came from his door. Rui instantly did away with the cleaning supplies and rushed over to the door. He had been working on an apology since the moment Tsukasa ran out of sight. He opened the door and to his surprise it wasn’t Tsukasa, but at least 20 men dressed in sliver.
“Soldiers. No.” Rui thought and ran away, into his home, as quickly as he could. The soldiers ran after him knocking down stuff in his home. He could quickly push past the men and travel to another country, but then he thought of what he did to Tsukasa. Tsukasa was from the royal family. He could have easily asked a few knights to come and capture him. So he decided to surrender, let them take him.
𓇢𓆸
Tsukasa had been taken to his prison cell a few hours ago. He was hungry and tired and angry and sad. All he did was sit there and try not to cry. He failed a few times, but ended up sniffling it back up for a while until he broke again.
Tsukasa was a prince. He was still a child. 18 years old isn’t really that much! He doesn’t belong in the dungeon he just wanted to save his sister.
A solider came to bring him some food. “Ah! So it really is the prince?” The solider looked at Tsukasa through the cell with curiosity. Most soldiers don’t even bother to look at prisoners. The solider sets the plate down and sits in front of the cell. “What did you do?”
Tsukasa grabs the plate and sighs. “Are you like this with every prisoner, or just me cause I’m the prince?”
“Well, it can go both ways, your highness. I do ask every prisoner, but I find myself more intrigued in your reply.”
Tsukasa sniffles taking some of the bread on his plate. “I went to the sorcerer to find a cure for my sister. My father found out and is angry at me for “poisoning” her.”
“Wait, Rui Kamishiro?” The solider asks.
Tsukasa nods. “He’ll be hanged soon and it’s all my fault.”
Before Tsukasa could return to one of his crying fits again, the solider unlocks the cell.
“What are you doing?” Tsukasa’s jaw drops.
“Have you ever heard of the human friend Rui made?” The solider asks.
“Yes,” Tsukasa replies utterly confused.
“Well that’s me,” The solider takes off her helmet revealing light pink hair tied in a pony tail. “Mizuki. It’s nice to finally meet you, Prince Tsukasa!”
“It’s nice to meet you too, Mizuki.”
“Now follow me out of here! I know a way out where no one will see us.”
𓇢𓆸
Rui was brought outside to a pillory in the middle of the kingdom.
He didn’t really think any of it being strange to be brought out here in the open. He didnt pay any attention to the people below gawking and asking if it would be okay to throw stuff at him. He was locked in wood and people were still scared of him.
Maybe Tsukasa wanted to laugh? Rui would have been joyous to hear him laugh, even if it was directed towards Rui himself.
Rui waited for Tsukasa to come, but it quickly grew dark. Rui wasn’t scared of the dark, but many would agree that being locked away outside in the dark would be kind of nerve wracking.
“Psst,” a voice nothing above a whisper said. Rui couldn’t see well in the dark, he jumped -as much as he could at least-, startled.
“We’re gonna get you out of here, okay?” Another voice whispered. They were kind of familiar, but Rui isn’t very good at deciphering voices either. Is Rui really good at anything in this position?
Rui stood still. He could easily get out of the wood, but he didn’t feel like he deserved it. For as long as Tsukasa wished, he would stay in the wooden prison.
They lifted up the top wooden piece to release Rui. Rui just waved his hand and it shot right back down and locked itself in place. Not until Rui knew Tsukasa forgave him, would he leave.
“Rui! Come on,” Rui shivered at the voice.
“Tsukasa-kun?” Rui asked nervously.
“Yes it is me, Rui. Would you please lift up the wood and set yourself free?”
Rui hesitated for a second. He slowly waved his hand again, unlocking the prison and bring the top wooden piece up. He slowly stretched and stood up.
“Tsukasa-kun? I am so sorry,” Rui said hanging his head down low. Warm arms crowded over him bringing him into a tight hold. A hug. Rui was being hugged. Rui was being hugged by Tsukasa.
Tsukasa pulled away after a second and took his hand. “Come on! Mizuki is waiting for us. She went on up ahead.”
Rui nodded before stopping abruptly, “Mizuki?!”
Tsukasa laughed, “Yes! That Mizuki.”
𓇢𓆸
“I can’t believe it! You came to save me!” Rui says hugging his creation, “You’re so big now! You’re all grown up!”
Mizuki just hugs him back and smiles along, pretending to not noice the sorcerer’s tears.
They release the hug and all sit down on the floor in one of the underground tunnels. Mizuki uses them to travel a lot. She found a spot where there were no hidden cameras and most soldiers didn’t walk by.
“So, it wasn’t Tsukasa who sent me to the pillory, but the king because he thinks i poisoned the princess?” Rui asks trying to keep up with all of the information.
Mizuki and Tsukasa nods.
“And the plan is that we sneak into the castle to give Saki the last flower petal and then fleet the scene forever?” Rui asks.
Mizuki and Tsukasa nods again.
Rui sighs. “This seems complicated…”
“It really isn’t too complicated, Rui,” Mizuki bargains.
“Wait. Can’t you just use your magic to transport us into Saki’s room, Rui?” Tsukasa offers.
“Well it doesn’t really work like that… I could transport myself somewhere, but i’d have to know what it looks like in specific details so that I could reconstruct myself there. Also I’ve never used it with multiple people before, so I don’t think thats an option.”
Tsukasa sighs. “What about an invisible cloak?” Mizuki offers.
“That I can do!” Rui smiles and pulls out three invisible cloaks from the air. “Here you go!”
They all put on their own cloak and instantly become invisible. “First stop is going to be my room so we can retrieve the last petal,” Tsukasa states.
𓇢𓆸
They used the underground tunnels to weave their way into Tsukasa’s room. They ended up behind a big mirror in the corner of his room.
Tsukasa quickly made his way to a secretive cabinet and held the lily. He picked off the last petal and tucked the stem inside a protective bag. He would never let it break.
𓇢𓆸
Next stop was at Saki’s. Tsukasa gently took off his hood and approached Saki with the cure. Saki was asleep, so he gently poured it down her throat, making sure that she wouldn’t choke.
Tsukasa finished giving her the cure and hurried back to the tunnels. He tripped over some of Saki’s plushies and alarmed some of the guards outside. “Fuck!” Tsukasa exclaimed and rushed to his feet. The guards were too quick for him and roughly pinned him down.
Rui quickly raised his hand and shot tiny sharp winds at the soldiers. They yelled and hurried away like little children.
“Are you ok?” Rui offered a hand to Tsukasa.
“I’m fine, haha!” Tsukasa took Rui’s hand and they make it back inside the tunnel safely.
𓇢𓆸
“Must we part ways again, Mizuki?” Rui asked tearfully. Mizuki just simply nodded and gave her creator a hug.
“I’ll miss you, old hag!” Mizuki joked as Rui met her in the hug.
“Thats a new one,” Rui chuckled and let go of Mizuki. Mizuki stepped back and whipped some of her own tears. Rui waved his hand and with that Mizuki was off on another journey.
Rui turned back to the strawberry blonde former prince. “Your highness,” he bowed and kissed his hand gently, “May I please escort you inside your new home?”
Tsukasa chuckled. Rui loves it.
“What home?” Tsukasa smirked. With a wave of his hand, Rui created a mansion fit for 20 people at least! Rui then offered Tsukasa his hand. Tsukasa giggled and took Rui’s hand as they headed inside their new home, their new future, together.