Chapter Text
Tsukasa hates slow days more than anything.
First of all, they’re annoying. And boring, not to mention. He doesn't have much to do all day, everyone else is usually busy with their own godly duties as his have slowed down. When they're not, it's usually the older gods that tease him about not having much to do (as if they have anything either!) Second, they're just troublesome in general. When things aren't working right or he can't get himself to do something, it pushes that work back a day and leaves him with more to do the next day.
Though, he supposes, he doesn't always have to sit around doing nothing when he has to wait for something. He can multitask. He recently got his hands on a map of the realm, and he doesn't mind the time to explore it. In fact....
There's a little hut way in the upper left corner. He almost missed it. He doesn't know who it belongs to - but it's here, so it has to belong to someone! But who? Tsukasa knows everyone here, there aren't that many gods, and he at least knows about the ones he hasn't met. So, who could possibly live here..?
Well, no time like the present to find out! Tsukasa gets up on his haunches, rolls up the map, then extends his legs and launches himself into the air. He takes flight, catches wind, then is on his way.
The area they inhabit isn't terribly large, it doesn't take that long to get from one side to the other, but Tsukasa still is grateful to land when he does. His stamina isn't the best in these terms of things, he's gotta learn to pace himself better...
Either way, here he is. Glancing through the window, this place is definitely inhabited and lived in. It gets pushed open as he raps his knuckles against the door .
“Unlocked..?” he mumbles. There's a split second in his mind where he thinks it might be a trap, but upon seeing the beautiful room close up, he decides it can't be. Still, he waits by the doorway, not wanting to be rude (or to anger anyone in here...) “Hello?” he calls out, after a moment.
…
It doesn’t seem like anybody is home. Perhaps Tsukasa caught them at a bad time? Well, he doesn’t want to just be done with this place, doesn’t just want to walk away, but… he doesn’t really fancy trespassing either. If there’s a god he doesn’t know about, that probably means they’re older than him, and he really doesn’t want to piss anybody off today.
— —
Kamishiro Rui does not get visitors. It’s part of his subtitle, even. The lonely moon god of shadows. it’s sort of part of his whole thing.
Not like he is upset with it! He knows that his days of fame and fortune are over, and that’s okay. That feeling is literally all that he presides over, it’s what his godly duties (when he had them…) all entailed, it’s why people prayed to him, and why they cursed him.
He never would be able to be lonely now if he didn’t understand how much he loved people and being around them. He wouldn’t be able to comprehend how much he valued those dear to him before he was taken away from them. That’s okay. That’s what he’s all about, he’s really resigned to it.
It’s not sad. It’s very nice.
The other gods don’t have the hobbies that Rui does. Granted, most of them are still working and actively being worshiped, so they don’t have an incredible amount of time on their hands, but Rui still understands that it would not be something they’d like.
Kamishiro Rui spends a significant amount of his waking hours watching the humans down on Earth. It seems like it would be a bit boring, perhaps, but they really suck you in! They’re incredibly fun to watch, so charming, and endearing, and interesting in all that they do. Rui thinks he has more of a fascination with the humans than any other god, but he can’t exactly say that for certain. He’s never met a majority of them. He got his physical form rather quickly compared to everybody else, and even now that he can feel it in his soul that everyone is here and accounted for, he still fell out of the public consciousness before he got to meet them.
Still, he thinks he would be able to know. He engineered the technology that allows one to human-watch in the first place, nobody would be able to do it without him. Though it would be bittersweet to have people using and enjoying his technology, but he’d never have a way of knowing, hm?
Rui enjoys his little hut. He doesn’t need to worry about speaking to anybody, running into anybody, or having anybody stumble upon him. It’s peaceful. Nice. Quiet. He loves it.
His door opens. Rui jolts.
He hears somebody mumbling, then a loud, “Hello?” from a positively raucous sounding voice.
Well, he supposes he can only love something as much as he can dislike when he doesn’t have that thing…
Rui doesn’t really know what to do. He considers playing like he’s not here, but he doesn’t know how he would do that! His abode is clearly lived in, and what if the intruder doesn’t just leave on their own and, well, intrudes!
He swallows. It’s been a very, very long time since he has spoken to anybody. Since he’s spoken much at all, really. He mutters to the humans or mutters in annoyance when his machines go wrong, but… He doesn’t just talk. He doesn’t know if he could do it.
Kamishiro Rui is not supposed to get visitors.
And, and how does he know they even have good intentions?
Rui swallows. He supposes they sounded really confused. He hears crunching of the leaves outside, perhaps in some kind of nervous swaying tick? Or they have something that trails behind them.
Rui takes a deep breath. “H-hello.” He tries to project his voice, and utterly fails. He doesn’t know if he can even be heard from the doorway. “You may come in.” He feels lost, having positively no idea how to work a conversation.
They must be wondering if he’s even a god, what with how miserably he failed to speak loudly and clearly. Ohh, why did he invite them in, his throat is already starting to burn!
“Aah!” His visitor is audibly surprised. “Oka-ay.” He sort of drags out the syllable, and Rui stands up as he hears the leaves again. They stop at some point, so he must be coming in, and..! Rui must go see him, it wouldn’t be polite to speak while hiding!
— —
Tsukasa had called out with the intention to be responded to, but that doesn’t make him any less surprised that anyone actually answered!
He slowly pushes the door open further and walks inside. It’s a bit eerie, but honestly, the room’s decoration is stunning. The deep purple, blue, red, and golden hues surrounding the room contrasted against the gentle, warm lights of hanging lights. Dim, star shaped, pleasing on the eyes. There are also what look to be some hanging planets. The carpet is nice under his thinly soled shoes, and the relaxing smell in the room is simply divine. It takes Tsukasa so off guard he even takes a metaphorical step back to notice it.
He doesn’t walk very far in. Tsukasa actually has some very good night vision, but even he can't see terribly well in here, and he prefers to be led to places that he isn’t familiar with. “Sorry for the intrusion.” He apologizes, bringing his hands together and dipping his head slightly, just in case there's someone who can see him that he cannot see. Honestly, he stands and soaks in thes scenery for another moment. It’s been a very long time since he’s seen any new lived-in places like this. He just can’t help but mention it. “Your decor is very beautiful.” He speaks politely, because he doesn’t know to whom he speaks.
“Thank you..!”
The voice really is quiet. Tsukasa thinks his footsteps are louder than he is. Tsukasa sort of strains to hear.
Soon enough though, he is presented with the presumed god, and he stands up a little bit straighter. He squares his shoulders and sucks in his ribs to seem slightly taller, but it doesn’t work all that well. Even with the slouch, this stranger stands up and he’s rather significantly taller than him. Tsukasa’s tail thumps on the floor once before he catches and stops it.
He… Well, he has a charm to him, is all Tsukasa can figure out to think.He sort of gets lost in his beautiful, downturned golden eyes. He must be a god, clothing intricate and themed, blending in with the scenery, and just in the way he holds himself. Even though he seems, how you say, out of practice. Maybe Tsukasa has woken him from some sort of slumber?
“Please do not worry about speaking to me in such a way.” he shakes his head. He wasn’t done, but Tsukasa starts speaking before he realizes that fact.
Tsukasa laughs, smiling warmly. He likes this air of casualty! “That’s a relief! Some gods get angry when I don’t talk ‘properly’ towards them, it’s so annoying. It’s never that serious.”
The god smiles back. “Gods, hm..? I could hardly be called someone you should look up to, anymore. I-” He clears his throat, placing a hand on his chest. “I don’t get visitors very often. It is nice to see someone around. What brings you here?”
Is speaking hurting his throat? Is it some sort of side effect to his powers or from his duties? Well, Tsukasa doesn’t mind, of course, he’d be more than happy to talk enough for the both of them!
“I've never seen you before,” Tsukasa starts his story, though feels the need to embellish it just a bit. “But I was flying above and happened to come across your cottage here! Who are you? Why don’t I know you?” He looks around again, getting a bit carried away in his rambling. “And why have I never noticed this place before? I thought I had seen all that this realm had to offer many times over!”
He blinks slowly. He can’t answer all of that. “Ah… Er, well, to start,” He removes his hand from his chest area and holds it out for Tsukasa to shake, however hesitantly. “I am Kamishiro Rui. Former moon god of the shadows.” And as Tsukasa shakes his hand, “Who might you be?
Former? Tsukasa didn’t realize that existed. He’ll have to ask someone about it… well, but what if he’s teased for not knowing, hm. Maybe Rui here just has some complexes.
Kamishiro Rui, though, no. Not ringing any bells. He’s never heard it before. It is very pretty, though.
“I am Tsukasa Tenma!” His volume raises a good few decibels at the chance to introduce himself, smiling wide, shining brighter. “Soaring God of Light!” He lets go of Rui’s hand, putting his hands on his hips as he laughs triumphantly. “I assume you’ve heard of me, if not by face, then by name!”
Rui almost literally jumps, but laughs gently. He nods. “I have heard your name, the humans speak highly of you.” Rui thinks it would be a bit funny to boost the ego of this god. “It feels a bit-” He coughs, sort of screwing up his bit. “A bit unreal to finally meet the Tsukasa Tenma in person.~”
Tsukasa puffs his chest out, soaking up the praise with no knowledge that he’s being teased. “Yes, I know, know!” He laughs again. “Try not to swoon, even if I am even greater than they say!”
Rui smiles and shakes his head slowly.
Tsukasa tilts his head to the side as he thinks a bit more about what he said, processing the rest of the sentence a bit slowly. Humans? “The humans?” He questions, then suddenly understands and snaps his fingers. “Ah! If you’re with the humans all the time, that must be why I haven’t seen you before!” And why he called himself a former god! Perhaps he gave it up to live with the humans from time to time? Tsukasa can’t say he likes them that much, but it would be fun to make a visit! Maybe, he can ask Rui to-
“Good try, but no.” He shakes his head again. “I live here.” He gestures for the room, of which Tsukasa is again slightly distracted by. “I simply watch the humans. I spend all of my time here, that must be why you have never seen me before.” He puts his hand on his chin with a little smile.
“Ah.” Tsukasa shakes it off. Even a correct clock is wrong twice– well, wait, no, it’s not. What’s the opposite of the broken clock metaphor? It works, but he’d rather not be the broken clock in this instance. “Then that explains it!” He lets his hands fall to his sides, still smiling. It takes him a moment to continue. “How come?”
“Well…” Rui visibly thinks for a moment. “I just enjoy watching over them. Their lives are interesting to follow, they all have such different stories! At any given time, you could look in and see tiny kids making friends, a tragic love story, a chef cooking some wonderful food… The possibilities are endless.” His smile is soft, and his eyes are earnest. Tsukasa wants to know more.
“‘Why don’t you go outside’ was what I meant, but! Are they that interesting?” He takes the bait. “Can I see them?” He’s really curious! Especially if it means being able to see some of his supporters down on earth!
Rui blinks. He looks genuinely surprised. “O-of course. I can show you how..!” He seems quite like he’s holding in excitement as he gestures at a sofa. Tsukasa can spy that there’s an odd looking table in front of it. Perhaps a portal of some sorts? “If you would follow me,”
“I’d love to!” Tsukasa smiles, now that he has an actual destination in mind. He happily follows Rui over to sit with him. For once, he has put the pieces together in his head properly. He rests his chin in his hand, observing. He sits on the sofa like a normal person, not wanting to annoy or scare Rui away with his odd, annoying way of sitting on couch arms. He likes to be elevates, and it’s a very comfortable position to sit in with a tail as big as his! “Hmm… so this is how you see them, is it..? That’s interesting! Did you make it?” Wow, what a chatterbox he is. He literally hasn’t stopped asking questions since he got here.
Rui sits on his right. “Yes and yes.” He clears his throat again. Tsukasa reminds himself that maybe he shouldn’t ask so much, but he’s so curious, and who knows when or if he’ll be able to see Rui again! “I made it myself. I suppose, since it is my daily life to watch them… is there something specific you would like to see? I can assist you in finding it.” He leans down slightly, slouching further than before, to align more with Tsukasa’s eyeline.
Tsukasa taps his chin, deep in thought. “Hmmm. I… hm. Don’t think so, no. Wait!” Tsukasa shakes his head, beaming and looking at Rui. “Show me the ones that like me!” He’s very excited to see the fruits of his labor down with the humans. It’s a great confidence boost, knowing that the people do truly love him! The excitement of it makes his tail start wagging, even if it doesn't have all that much room to move because of how he’s sitting. He puts his hand down against it to stop it moving, but it doesn’t stop his excitement as he waits for results.
Rui leans over the table and moves his hand across the screen of the portal, like it was a human’s tablet, apparently navigating. The way he laughs so breathily really makes his scratchy throat audible. Tsukasa wonders if it’s hurting him, because he seems to be talking with it just fine. Tsukasa doesn’t want to be weirded out or anything if it’s not actually hurting him, but it feels like a weird thing to ask.
“Your tail wags.” Rui says with a little smile, and, oh, it seems like that’s what he was giggling about. “It reminds me of a puppy.”
“H– huh??” Tsukasa blinks hard, then tilts his head a little away from Rui. He’s heard lots about his tail, but has never been called a puppy! His arm is currently busy, so he crosses his legs instead. “I’m not a little dog! They’re small and dumb.” Truthfully, Tsukasa hasn’t seen all that many puppies, or dogs in general. The extent of his knowledge is mostly a few of those videos of small dogs trying to make jumps that are too big for them and falling down.
Rui puts his hands up quickly, showing his palms. His brows curl upward. “Ah, I-I did not mean to offend!” He sort of rushes it out, and Tsukasa almost feels bad for having such a reaction. “They are very smart and loyal animals, I just saw a connection, I’m sorry that my comparison hurt you.”
Tsukasa relaxes his shoulders. He blushes, sort of realizing that, no, Rui is not out to get him, and wasn’t making fun of him on purpose or anything. “Oh.” He clears his throat, sort of picking up Rui’s tick. “Back to your portal thing..” He waves his hand, recovering from the little blunder.
“Ah yes-!” Rui nods, then gestures with an open pal towards the screen. “I found a group of your worshippers. These are in Ireland, but they can be found in most places, all over the world!” Rui explains, pointing his fingers at different people. Tsukasa brightens up immediately.
He grins and makes a little happy laugh sound. It's really nice to see people who like him, really, really like him! Appreciate him for what he does!
He settles in again, resting his chin in his hand, watching the humans go and do their silly little things for a while. It’s fun, he likes it, he’s enjoying himself! He always has thought that humans were cute creatures. “Look there!” he points. “That one has sweets for me!” Honestly, thank Miku (and Emu and Haruka!) for tribute! For a dragon, he has such a sweet tooth! It’s making his mouth water. He loves all human dishes, to be honest, if nothing else, humans make the most fantastic foods! But he loves sweets in particular.
Rui smiles at him. “I’ve always wondered how it is for others, how do you receive these offerings?”
Tsukasa nods his head happily. “They appear by my hearth! Though I am often out when they arrive, so I can’t tell you exactly what it looks like.” He hasn’t really noticed Rui looking at him, just yet, too engrossed in watching the humans. He’s honestly, and in his opinion rightfully, filled with pride as he sees his humans believing in all he stands for. He works very hard to make sure they don’t stray from his goals and beliefs - everything has beauty, and there is beauty in everything. It makes him happy to see humans getting along, and the possibility they do it for him is just a bonus, especially because they seem to have a tendency to do anything but. “I don’t fully know how it works, though, you would have to ask someone else.” He turns to Rui, and is a bit surprised to be met with eye contact right as he does so.
He wonders if he can segue this into asking why Rui doesn’t leave this place. This is all very cool, but doesn't he have other duties, offerings to pick up, and… he doesn’t know, friends?
“That’s wonderful.” Rui smiles sweetly. “Humans can be so generous.” He continues looking at Tsukasa with warm eyes.
Tsukasa tries to figure out how to bring it up. He thinks being gently blunt might be the best?
“This is very fascinating, Rui-san! B- but.” He doesn’t know how to be gentle. He looks, turns his head back to the doorway he entered from. “I’ve never seen you anywhere. Do you ever leave this place? It has to get dull sometimes.”
Rui isn’t offended by his suggestion, which is good. “I do not.” He shakes his head slowly. “Watching others live their lives is enough for me to feel fulfilled in mine.” He laughs slightly, then clears his throat, touching the back of his neck. “I am not a very sociable person. I would hardly know what to do with myself!”
Rui looks back down to the humans, watching them with such genuine love in his eyes.
“N. not even for. Fresh air?” Tsukasa asks, sort of meekly, mostly just confused. He couldn’t imagine not going outside. That’d be crazy! He could even call it criminal! The setup in here is magnificent, and the magic table is very cool, but Tsukasa thinks he would go positively mad if he had to sit in here every day for the rest of his life and never leave. “Not judging you, of course.”
“I don’t have much of a reason. I don’t have much to talk about. People are not typically interested in my hobbies.” Rui shakes his head. It’s weird, because he doesn’t even seem sad or anything. Tsukasa still feels the need to comfort him, he sensed some self deprecation.
“I’m sure lots of gods would love to get to know you!”
“Maybe. I’m not the sort of person that knows how to make friends, it would be difficult for me.” He offers Tsukasa a soft, bright smile. “Thank you for thinking so.”
“But you’re talking to me right now!” He’s doing a great job! Tsukasa would already consider them friends!
“W-well.” Rui glances away from him, smile faltering, figuring out how to say this. “You carry conversations very well. I don’t know how to do that.”
Hmm, he’s sort of right. Tsukasa doesn’t mean to argue with him, he’s just trying to understand, putting his hand up to his chin. Surely he can formulate a plan to get this guy out on the town, but… ah, it really does seem like he may not want to. Tsukasa thinks that’s it. He doesn’t understand, but him not getting something doesn’t stop it from happening. “Right, of course.” Tsukasa blinks slowly.
He thinks he has to go soon, but he doesn’t want to leave! He’s enjoying meeting and talking to someone new! He’s having a lot of fun. He especially doesn’t want to leave to go back to boring work.
“What do you preside over on Earth?” Tsukasa asks, suddenly, picking his head up. He takes Rui off guard, making him flinch. Rui said he was the God of Shadows, but is that literal, or more of a concept? “Is it of actual shadows?”
Rui thinks, smiling gently. “Well, it’s rather complicated… It's nuanced. I balance things out. I make good things feel good, but I do not bring the good things themselves.”
“Ah!” Tsukasa tilts his head. “So you’re the good feeling?”
Rui shows his palms. “Not exactly.” He brings his pointer finger up to his chin. “I don’t bring the good feeling necessarily, but I allow you to feel satisfaction from it, if that makes sense.” Rui blinks, suddenly looking like he’s noticed something.
Tsukasa really tries to listen, he really does, but Rui loses him. “Right.” He inhales, trying to seem like he’s slightly less confused than he is. The right feeling of satisfaction? Isn’t that just what Tsukasa does with extra steps? He doesn’t get it. “I see what you mean by complicated.” he pauses briefly. Could it be like that saying, that you can’t have happiness without sadness? “I… wait, no, I think I get it!” Tsukasa smiles. “That’s odd, hm! Such a complicated power.”
“Fufu~... I sense that our roles are a bit more linked than we had realized.”
Hey, he’s right! Tsukasa, Soaring God of Light, is everything that is good, but what defines goodness? The physical sensation, of course, and it doesn’t matter how good something is if someone doesn’t realize how good it is. Rui is like his backbone!
He grins up at Rui, eyes sparkling like stars. “You are the wind beneath my wings, Rui Kamishiro!”
Rui blinks. His cheeks get a bit red. He smiles nervously. “Ah, you could say that..!”
He smiles at Tsukasa, and Tsukasa smiles back. They go back to watching the humans, Tsukasa testing out moving the machine and having fun with how fast he can make things go.
Tsukasa is greatly enjoying making a few friend, and being able to watch humans, but unfortunately, this was a detour from the start. He couldn’t stay here long, he wasn’t expecting to meet anyone! He has work to do, and something tells him he won’t be able to convince Rui to come out and do it with him.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Tsukasa stands up abruptly. “I’m afraid I must be leaving soon!” He says, louder than necessary. Rui doesn’t flinch this time, but looks up at him a bit confused. “I am a busy man, you understand.” He’s sort of honestly sad to be going, but he’ll have to come back soon! To keep him company!
“Ah, that’s fine. I understand.” Rui smiles. “It must be awkward to take a break so long.”
His smile turns almost sad. “I had fun.”
Tsukasa puts his hands on his hips and laughs triumphantly. “Of course! And why wouldn’t you!”
There’s a half a second where he almost starts to get ready to take flight inside the house, but reminds himself that ceilings are corporeal, and he can’t do that like he can in his own abode. He starts walking towards the door again, instead. “I’ll be sure to visit you again, Mister Rui Kamishiro-san!” He adds an unnecessary amount of honorifics as he turns and leaves, waving over his shoulder.
“G-goodbye!” Rui’s voice falters as he raises it a bit.
Tsukasa quickly reminds himself what he has to be doing. He thinks he ought to be sealing some deeds. Ah, he really did lose track of time, but this was so fun! He’ll certainly be coming back, and soon.
He starts planning right away.
Rui had such a nice time that he misses him. The house feels so terribly empty without him… That’s fantastic.
It also seems darker in here. He knew Tsukasa was the God of Light, but does he literally give off light? Huh… how funny..!
Maybe it’s just his way of thinking.
He turns back to the human world, as usual, but as he looks upon those who love Tsukasa down on Earth, he seems to understand them a bit more…
“... I hope he will be coming back.” Rui mumbles to himself, smiling, voice scratching. He thinks about the things he might be able to do to keep Tsukasa interested, keep him coming back. He really doesn’t have much, but he wants to find fun things to do with his new… friend? Can he refer to him in such a way? He’ll wait until Tsukasa says something to that effect.
Rui looks to where Tsukasa was sitting. He can’t wait until he comes back.
— —
Unfortunately, and just like he predicted, Tsukasa's schedule suddenly got significantly more packed right after he had an off day. Sigh, all of the things he could have had on his plate yesterday just piled up while he was away...
Tsukasa ends up getting caught up in it, and for a few days at that, so only when he finally flops down on his bed to take a break and a little rest, does Rui come back into his mind. He actually audibly shouts in surprise when he realizes he's forgotten.
Gah, it doesn’t help that his den is halfway across the land..! But Tsukasa Tenma isn’t a liar, so he picks himself up and rushes to take flight and visit his friend.