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No one knew he was here. He was a treasure in the past, and no one remembered him. It was only natural for past occurrences and beings to be left and forgotten. Although it didn't constantly bother Rui, he felt emptiness inside his heart. The painting he lived in was framed with bright gold — well, it was gold. Now it's simply dull from the dust collecting on it. Anywho, his painting was colored with blues and whites to mimic a scene from underwater. While the background was mainly blue, himself, Rui, was painted with various shades of purple. His hair, his tentacles, and many small details on his garments were a gorgeous violet color. He was adorned with many gold accents, and loose strands of clothing to represent a jellyfish. Each brushstroke was carefully drawn with precision. Rui took pride in that, silently thanking his creator.
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For a reality check, Rui snapped out of his thoughts. The darkness of the room barely held any sort of light, making it difficult for him to view himself. He remembered how he used to admire himself. He remembered how others used to admire him. For some reason, he missed that feeling. The quietness of the storage room only got more infuriating as the days passed. The loneliness was getting to him; he hated it.
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His portrait was unlike any other piece of art. To outsiders, it held a figure of a beautiful deep-sea creature. To Rui, it was the sea. He could swim endlessly through the kelp and coral, but he'd always find himself back at the frame that held his picture. He accepted it long ago, being a piece of art with no real way of escape. A sigh left his lips, looking through his frame to the human world. "How much longer will I be trapped?"
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Rui's eye twitches as he hears commotion through thick walls. This was the first time he's heard another voice in years. It seemed muffled, but it was impressive nonetheless to hear such a loud speaker. He was sure that the storage room was locked tight with several padlocks inside and out. The walls were layered and stiff, almost impossible for anything to get in or out. Rui didn't think much of it. He didn't even know if the unknown individual wanted to enter the old room. However, that thought was quickly clarified when the door hinges gave out, making the door itself fall forward.
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Rui swiftly took his position, his side profile facing the human world with a slight smile plastered on his face. Through the junk that was filling the storage room, he took a glimpse at the intruder — ah, an elegant figure. He expected a thief, not a noble. Rui's expression did not falter, he kept up his act as the royal scanned the room; (un)fortunately, Rui's painting caught his eye.
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"Ah, what a beauty! How come this is here?" He spoke, his voice rather energetic. It was oddly comforting for Rui. "My king, there is nothing of value here." The king clicked his tongue, running his thumb on the frame of Rui's painting. "Nonsense. This is a jewel." He gently took it in his hands, staring at all the little details that made the creature up. "I'd like to hang him up."
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The next thing Rui knew, he was being cleaned from all the dust and grime that built up on his frame. He hadn't been cared for in centuries, a gross feeling that he had grown used to. His gold frame was now shining, reflecting like a mirror. He was dried off, appreciating the kindness that was given to him. The butler carried his picture, showing every passerby servant the beauty within his image. Rui felt surprisingly calm as his picture was displayed in the throne room. At last, his eyes landed on the very reason he was here — the king. Or rather, his king.
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Rui lives inside the painting. He is the painting. He has no problem with standing still for hours as humans admire him from their world. So why does he ache to move right this moment? The voice in his head is yelling at him, telling him to reveal his sentience. He doesn't want to, he needs to. But too many people have their eyes on him, greeting the king with pleasantries. It's frustrating. Rui feels desperation, way too out-of-character for himself. He silently grits his teeth, watching as the king smiles at his retainers. The noble is wearing a white blouse with collared frills, an elegant black corset, and a pristine white jacket overtop. It has red and gold detailing every inch of it — but not enough to make it overwhelming. He has a thick cape flowing down to the carpeted floor; wearing it with confidence and striding ever so gracefully, letting it drag behind him. His crown is purposely slanted to the left, making his appearance less intimidating. It's heavily adorned with gold, three jewels hanging from it's side. Rui focuses intently on the king's face; its unblemished and pretty state was nearly addicting to stare at. The royal's eyes were colored like a golden sunset. His hair styled neatly, a gradient of blond to peach — and his expression reminded him of the sun, gentle but powerful.
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Rui realized he probably stared for too long because the maids and butlers were taking their leave through the main doors. He collected his composure, still eyeing the king with great interest. Rui noticed the sigh of relief leaving the royal's lips as he sat down on his throne. Their proximity was so close, yet so far. The king turned his head to look at Rui, a small smile appearing. "How lucky I am to find such a lovely piece of art." Rui sucked in a breathe, letting it go as he blinked once, trying to make it as perceptible as possible. He immediately heard a gasp, turning his head slowly to meet the gaze of the shocked king. They both stared at each other for a long moment, and the noble was the first one to speak.
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"I don't understand. How are you moving?" Rui couldn't help but smirk, leaning his weight on the frame and poking his head into the human world. "Ah, I'm simply special." A slight pause, his ears perked up when he heard the king laugh; a smooth but heavy rhythm. "You certainly are. Attractive paintings like you are not common in this kingdom." Rui felt something in his heart, a beat? He shook it off, chuckling at the response. "My my, flattered by the king himself? I'm honored." He had a hint of playfulness in his tone. Rui was thankful that the noble had humor, he didn't like people with thick skulls. The king shook his head, waving his hand to dismiss the comment. "Don't be. My status as king is only a mere title, I'm no different than a commoner." Rui was slightly shocked. This royal wasn't a giant narcissist. Unlike many, the man acknowledged his existence to be equal to a citizen. Rui felt genuinely happy for the first time in centuries.
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Rui and the king had many conversations during their private time. He learnt that his name was Tsukasa, Tsukasa Tenma. Rui liked how it rolled off the tongue so smoothly. Tsukasa was a brave leader, yet so charming. He wasn't weirded out by the fact that his painting was literally talking to him. Sure, Rui's tentacles may have made Tsukasa widen his eyes, but he had more curiosity than fear. The king extended his hand, and the tendrils accepted the touch. The touch was extra gentle, Rui knew that Tsukasa wouldn't hurt a fly (he'd probably scream rather than kill it). Anyhow, the blond didn't feel disgusted from the sliminess. More over, he was intrigued by it. Rui's skin was oddly human. If it weren't for the coldness of the flesh and the extra appendages, Tsukasa would've mistaken Rui as a human — in a painting.
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Rui returns the touch, pressing two fingers against Tsukasa's cheek. The king shivers, but not enough to pull away. "You feel warm." He chuckles, lightly caressing the flesh with his thumb. It's smooth, clearly well taken care of. Actually, his whole being is radiant. He should've expect as much from a pretty noble. Tsukasa clears his throat, staring at the others hand as it repeats a soft motion. "You've never felt a human's temperature before?" Rui's hand stopped its movement, and there was a hint of grief in his eyes. Before. Past. History. Those words were like internal poison to him. It wasn't physically visible, but with enough time, it'd burn. "I've long forgotten the feeling." He feels a long pause in the moment before the human leans into his touch. "Then, I'll be the one to make you remember it."
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And in that moment, Rui knew that he had fallen in love with a mortal.
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"Don't you ever get bored of talking to me?" Rui questioned. The octopus had his head propped up in his palm, elbow resting on his frame. Tsukasa made a surprised look, almost offended. He sipped from his porcelain teacup with the coaster in hand. "Never. You're too captivating to get tired of." Rui smiled to himself. He dangled his arms out from his picture, slumping dejectedly. "Ah, I've run out of stories to tell. I fear I might be thrown out." Tsukasa laughed, gently smacking the other on the forearm. He was familiar to Rui's sarcasm by now; they'd spent a few weeks rambling off to one another every now and then. The amusement he felt when listening to the chaotic occurrences that happened in Rui's life were expected to say the least. Although the man lived in water, it didn't stop him from being an inventor. He has created many machines from scratch, most of them having a different operation each. When Rui told Tsukasa his first story about accidentally creating explosives and then throwing them into the human world, his jaw dropped to the floor. But now, Tsukasa loved that part of Rui. He adored his passionate talks about invention. He loved how his eyes practically sparkled as the other ranted about his interests.
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"Throw you out? I would've done that weeks ago if it weren't for your charm." Rui pouted, his smug expression returning almost immediately. "Praising my ability to smooth talk? You're not too bad yourself." Rui liked bantering with Tsukasa, and he's sure that the other feels the same. He never imagined himself to have such a close relationship with a human, and he feels grateful for it. "Oh? Do my mannerisms attract you?" Tsukasa teases, smirking as he leans closer towards the creature. Rui rolls his eyes playfully, also leaning forward. "Perhaps they do." The king opened his mouth to reply before the front doors opened with a loud click. He quickly shoved Rui back in his painting, straightening his posture in the process. "Your royal highness, it seems that the Hinomori kingdom has not returned our letter. They may be planning a scheme." Tsukasa paused, the seriousness right after the half-hearted banter was truly unexpected. "I see. Inform the knights to prioritize outer watch duty, we'll need to prepare as soon as possible."
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Rui sighed, making it as dramatic as he could. He was currently floating lazily in his picture, being carried by Tsukasa. The king didn't feel comfortable about how Rui was in such an open area, he may get stolen if he weren't careful enough. So, Tsukasa insisted that he'd bring the portrait up to his chambers. Rui didn't mind, he appreciated the thoughtfulness. But something didn't sit well with him — the ongoing conflict between Tsukasa's kingdom and... what was the name again? Hikomiro? Minoshiro? Whatever. It didn't matter. The important thing was that there may be a war brewing soon. Rui already knew that the Tenma kingdom's knights were strong. However, he had no idea how powerful the other party was. He tried to ask Tsukasa about it but the man just waved it off, telling him that "it's nothing to worry about." Truth be told, Rui was incredibly worried. He shouldn't doubt his king, he should be rooting for him. But his gut made him nervous. Tsukasa might become injured. He might become captured. He might become imprisoned. Rui might lose Tsukasa. He might never see him again. He might never hear his voice again. He might never feel his touch again. He might — "Rui, Rui? Are you feeling alright?"
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Rui blinked, snapping out of his thoughts as he realized the concerned voice speaking to him. He looked around, his painting was displayed in an open space in Tsukasa's bedroom. "Ah, my apologies. I must've been daydreaming." He smiled. Well, forcing one. The suspicious look on the blond's face told him that it wasn't convincing at all. "Uh huh. You're definitely not thinking about the war, aren't you?" Oh, busted. Rui pouted, idly rubbing the suckers of his tentacles. "I can't help it. If something terrible happens to you, I wouldn't have a friend anymore." Now that he's in the right state of mind, he noticed how Tsukasa had taken off his thick cape. Unsurprisingly, he still looked gorgeous. His physique was evidently trained, making him look even more attractive than he already is. Tsukasa shook his head, settling his hands on his hips. "Have more faith in me and my knights, we'll handle it expertly." He wore his confident persona, though a slight twitch to his smirk. Ah, so the king himself is also nervous. That makes his own nervousness increase rapidly. This will end badly, wouldn't it?
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Rui waited. He waited for his king to return back from his expedition. He waited with sleepless nights. He waited from sunrise to sunset. He waited until his eyes gave up, taking him out. When Rui awoke, Tsukasa was still not present. Rui clenched the rim of his frame, digging into it painfully. But he didn't care. He wanted the king. He wanted his king. He wanted to feel that warmth once again. He needed to feel that warmth. The coldness of his skin felt freezing. It was painfully cold. Rui's ears rang with adrenaline as he heard the sound of a bell — there seems to be an assembly in the townsquare. His mouth felt dry despite living underwater. Rui rushed to peek outside the bedroom window, staring at the common citizens of the Tenma kingdom. His eyes darted everywhere, but still no sign of Tsukasa. He bit his lip hard. "We have lost the battle. We'll need to choose a new ruler for this kingdom."
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This goes to say that Rui's painting was not found in those chambers after that gathering.
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Torpe fiddled with the corners of his sheet music. He was backstage, and unfortunately, next up for a performance. The audience today was more full than usual. The pianist might as well just forfeit his position and come again when he's confident. No, he's practiced double the amount he did last show — he can do this. Torpe winced, he couldn't mess this up. He already embarrassed himself before, and he shouldn't make his reputation worse. Torpe felt a light tap on his shoulder before feeling himself tensing up. "Ah, did I scare you?" It was the director from the troupe after him. They were on very good terms, and the director regularly checks up on him before and after a performance. "Yes, yes. I'm just... worried if I've practiced enough." That was an understatement, he was on the verge of a panic attack. Torpe shook it off, listening to the director's soft chuckle. "Your skills have no doubt been improving. You've been practicing nonstop lately, it makes me question if you've been holding back during the real deal." The director gestures to the stage. Torpe blinked, a small 'o' shape to his lips. Has he really been that naive about himself? He gives a soft smile while the director pats his head. "Give it your all, I'm counting on you." Maybe, just maybe, that was the boost of confidence he needed.
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Torpe took a deep breath, relaxing his tense muscles. It was finally his turn. He wiped his sweaty hands on his trousers as the curtains part for his entrance; the announcer introduces the next performer. "We'll now invite Torpe-kun to the stage!"
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Torpe strides out from backstage, digging a light mark into his sheet paper with his nails. He gave his best smile to his audience, although he was too distracted to even see the returned expressions. He gracefully sat down on the stool of the piano before setting down the sheets on the music rack. Torpe resisted glancing at anything else other than the piano keys. He felt the worry creeping up on him again — dang it. Why now? Why does he have to have such bad anxiety? He bit his lip. The memory of playing this piece for hours and hours started to replay in his head. He thought about how he didn't mess up at all. He thought about his flawless tempo. He perfected it. Ah, is that right? Torpe's breathing finally evened. There was a glint in his eyes as he played the first note, envisioning a comforting darkness surround him and his piano.
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You're alone, without another individual in sight. You're playing this song for yourself. You're playing this song to be yourself. This is what music is; to express one's true emotions.
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Torpe felt himself zone out. His eyes returned from its foggy state due to the overwhelming clapping and cheers of enthusiasm. His fingers paused midair, an inch away from the piano keys. He did it. This piece was played on stage — by him. He slowly raised himself from the piano bench, the praise of his audience flowing through his head. Torpe stood in the middle of the stage, taking his well-deserved bow. "That piece is named 88☆彡, written by me."
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Torpe just now noticed the immaculate paintings on the walls of the theater. There were five in total, and unique in many ways. Two were landscapes, one being of the sea and the other of the mountains. He was sure that they were drawn by different creators, but they looked as if they were meant to be near each other. Another two were mythical creatures of some kind, a pegasus and a kitsune. Torpe felt oddly drawn to the pegasus for whatever reason. He admits that the kitsune is a majestic entity, but it feels out of place opposite from the pegasus. One flies high in the sky, soaring elegantly and presenting truth. The other travels by land, using trickery to deceive. What makes them connect to one another? Anyhow, the last painting is... different. It's a human-like creature. The background depicts the setting is underwater. It was displayed in the very back, with nothing opposite to it. That's weird, it looks rather lonely.
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As Torpe looked away to thank the announcer, he could've sworn that he saw that painting move in the corner of his eye.
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"Hah, watch this!" Tsukasa shuts his eyes completely, cutting the carrot into even slices blindly. He smirks, proud of his flex. His fingers were unscathed, his skills truly knows no bounds. Tsukasa laughs as his customers shower him with praise, occasionally throwing the knife in the air casually and catching it without fail. "Tenma, stop messing around!" The chef smiles at his manager apologetically, swaying across the kitchen. He quickly takes the cutting board and slides the chopped carrot into a pot of boiling soup. As he stirs the hot liquid with a large ladle, he can't help but notice their tables bustling with customers. Tsukasa works as a chef for a medium-sized outdoor restaurant, his skills are recognized by most of the townsfolk. The kitchen is inside a small trailer with a one-way entrance, surrounded by several tables and chairs. He serves the food by placing it by the open window, having the clients take it themselves.
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Everyday, he tries his hardest to make his customers smile with the taste of his cooking. When someone else is satisfied, Tsukasa is also satisfied. His thoughts pause as he hears commotion from the tables; "look at that merchant! They're selling literature." The chef diverts his eyes to the street — ah, that's a rather large cart full of items. Tsukasa wasn't a big fan of purchasing from traveling merchants. Perhaps he wouldn't mind skimming over the contents, but commiting to it was a big no.
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Tsukasa notices his manager staring intently at the cart through the window. He sighed, seeing the glint in his eyes. The chef nudged the other lightly before turning down the heat of the stove. "Go on and check it out, I'll take care of the kitchen." Tsukasa's smile never left his face as he watches his manager thank him, hopping out from the trailer. There wasn't much to do anyways; many of the customers stopped to take a look at the salesman's articles — when did it park right in front of his restaurant? Tsukasa hummed, idly tapping his index on the wood of the lower cabinet. His eyes dragged along the cart, identifying some of its contents out of habit. Books, they look rather old, the covers look pretty beaten up. Clay sculptures, the majority includes pots, but there are a few small figures. Clothing, they look surprisingly good quality — but definitely not something he'd wear himself.
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Tsukasa leans his weight on the cabinet, incredibly bored. The dealer shows off their articles one by one, the chef's interest finally gets piqued when they lift up a crate full of artwork. There weren't many completed pieces. But considering how art was uncommon to come across during these times, Tsukasa was more than interested. First, the salesman held up a bland black and white canvas of a field of lilies. It wasn't the most appealing to the eye. More over, it was messy. Though, the messiness of it created an ominous atmosphere to the art. He couldn't figure out the meaning behind the painting from first glance — or maybe there wasn't a meaning to it at all. Perhaps Tsukasa shouldn't be criticizing another person's work, he isn't the best with paint artistry either. The next piece was slightly better, it had a splotch of color to it unlike the last. It looked like the ruins of a battlefield with two different flags being the focal point. He assumed that the flags had the symbols of opposing sides; one is colored with a lush royal blue while the other a crimson red. Tsukasa liked it, sort of. But just like the other one, something felt odd about the painting — as if dread was emanating from the piece. He quickly shook it off as the merchant held the third one delicately.
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Tsukasa's eyes widened as he scanned the piece of art from top to bottom. Ah, that painting...
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A sea creature of some kind. Its hair was a light violet, in perfect harmony with the other soft colors. It had its eyes closed. Its skin looked pale, but beautiful overall. Tentacles were poking out in the background — this creature could be an octopus of some kind? Tsukasa was mesmerized by the quality of the piece, it almost made him want to auction for it. Fortunately, he has self control and would not go around using his profit for decorations — well, at least not yet. Tsukasa internally grumbled as others started asking for the price of the portrait. He was surprised when the dealer went along the lines of thousands. Paychecks weren't the fairest during these times, so asking for something over $200 was considered luxury-level. But Tsukasa understood the pricing; that art piece looked extraordinary. It may definitely sell for $1000 from a rich household.
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Tsukasa notices the salesman packing up, most likely setting up to wheel away to some other part in town. He yawns before a certain scent filled his senses — oh, shit. The soup! The chef immediately spun on his heel, shutting the fire off and moving the pot of hot liquid to the non-heated part of the stove. Tsukasa groans as the pot had a mind of its own, rumbling from being overheated.
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Tsukasa took one last glance at the cart, which was already leaving. It seemed like no one purchased the gorgeous painting. Maybe in the future, I'll get my hands on that treasure.
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Tsukasa hummed a melody to himself, enjoying the nature that surrounded his shrine. A few birds swooped their way down from a nearby tree, perching on a man-made bird feeder. The shrine maiden smiles at the tiny creatures, lightly stroking a finger on the top of each bird's head.
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Tsukasa is often described as gentle, benevolent, and enchanting by other maidens; he's well respected as the head staff. Although he is a caring soul, he is far from brittle. He may be merciful in many situations, but he wouldn't hesitate to insert force when necessary. Those qualities are the main reasons why his position is currently high on the list. If you asked Tsukasa about his occupation, he would likely say that he's content with his life. But if you questioned him on a deeper level, he'd admit that he wishes to have more freedom. As head maiden, personal information should be kept to himself — and only himself. Informing coworkers or even close friends is highly dangerous (blackmail is the least wanted thing for a maiden like him). Tsukasa is successful, but does he truly feel that way? He's afraid to abandon his progress, he doesn't want to quit — but what could he do to make himself happier? The maiden blinks his sorrows away, realizing that the birds were still rubbing against his hand. Tsukasa laughed softly, scratching their feathers gently. "Huh, did you sense my misery?" He whispered, sarcasm lacing his tone.
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"Tsukasa!" A familiar cheerful voice calls out to him, the voice of an angel. "Ah, Saki! Is everything set up?" He retracts his hand as the birds spread their wings, flying away gracefully. Tsukasa's pride and joy all comes from his little sister, she's also the reason why he became a maiden in the first place; to support her dream. "Yep yep! We should be alright for tomorrow. I'm glad we finished before midnight." Saki smirked, a gesture she picked up from her older brother. Her smile swiftly became a frown as she hurried to secure the obi on Tsukasa's kimono. "You rushed it today, how unusual of you..." The taller blond blinked, a pinkish hue coloring his cheeks. The statement was true; Tsukasa always made sure that his appearance was flawless. He takes his time styling his kimono, making sure it's tight enough to look balanced with his figure but loose enough for him to breathe freely. Today, he lazily wrapped it around his waist, not caring about the slanted bow on his abdomen. "Ah, I was just... overwhelmed with all our plans this week! That's it." Tsukasa bites back a strained laugh, a look of worry appears on Saki's face. She presses the back of her hand on the other's forehead. "You don't seem sick... there must be something on your mind!" She clenches her fists, a determined glint in her round eyes. "We can solve it together!" Tsukasa can't help but smile. His vulnerability always ends up showing itself when it comes to his sister.
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"Saki, it's not that simple." Tsukasa fidgets with the sleeve of his kimono. "It's just... I want to become something else. I don't want to stay in this position forever." He taps the accessory on his own head — one that represents the occupation of head maiden. Saki nods, feeling empathy. She clasps Tsukasa's hands in her own, the determination still present. "Then, I'll take care of the shrine in your absence." The taller blond widened his eyes; as much as he'd like to gain freedom, he couldn't leave Saki with such a burden. Head maiden is the face of the shrine, maintaining a reputation takes a lot — even for Tsukasa. "You know I can't allow myself to do that to you." He squeezes Saki's hand, earning a squeeze back. "And I can't ignore your sadness! You only took this job for me — what about yourself?" Tsukasa's gaze went to her pleading eyes, then at their contact, noticing the slight tremble in his sister's fingers. He was aware that Saki was worried for about his future — but Tsukasa was worried about her wellbeing.
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Tsukasa was no doubt, a good brother. He did everything he could to make his little sister happy. Family meant a lot to him. Family is everything to him. Tsukasa is selfless — an upper level kind of selfless. So, as a good brother, he had no choice but to do what he thought was right. Tsukasa sighed, pulling Saki into a tight embrace. "I'm sorry for keeping this to myself for so long. You're strong, I know you are. I know that you'd do great in my position, maybe even better." The younger blonde returns the hug, giggling as her eyes threatened to spill tears. "You should tell me these things, we'll always find a solution...!" Tsukasa hums, ruffling Saki's neat hair.
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It's safe to say that both of them were satisfied with the decision they made; the younger blonde had more responsibility now, but she was motivated by the challenge. The taller blond was set free from isolation, he may now apply for something that relates to his interests.
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The night sky shimmered with bright stars, almost too pretty to look away. Tsukasa sat on a large rock on the peak of a mountain, mesmerized by the view; the moon reflected off the ocean below, creating a calm atmosphere. The air smelled fresh, a contrast to the familiar grassy scent. Tsukasa was in the perfect state of mind to think about his new future. He had always had a knack for theatre — perhaps he should go into that. Theatre comes in many different shapes and forms, all unique in their own ways. For example, a circus troupe may indulge in theatrical activities. Tsukasa considered signing up for the role as jester, but the opportunity soon vanished when he failed to stay in character during practice. A shame, but it was fate.
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The blond stared blankly at the still ocean. The cool wind nearly made Tsukasa fall asleep — did he just witness a splash? He raised an eyebrow, squinting at the small ripples that formed. Strange. Despite being a large body of water, marine life were quite uncommon in this area. Tsukasa shrugged it off, tilting his head back to face the midnight sky. His eyes closed as his mind drifted into thought.
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Loud footsteps echoed throughout the alleyway, even louder ones tracking the former. A hooded figure ran up a set of stairs, almost tripping on the last step. "Damn it. They won't leave me alone!" The figure huffed, his breath heavy from his drained stamina. Those brain-dead androids had chased him around the entire city by now, don't they ever get tired? The unknown individual sprinted up continuous stairs, his heart beating in his ear. He felt relief washing over him as he finally made it to the rooftop; immediately looking over the fenced edge. He winced, biting his lip as he jumped down a few meters to a balcony. The figure grasped his own shirt, catching his breath. After what felt like an eternity, the androids left with no trace of him. He smirked, pulling his hood off to reveal blond hair with peachy tips. "Fucking bastards. They should give up trying to catch me." Tsukasa hissed bitterly, frowning at the vivid neon lights that engulfed the city whole.
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Tsukasa doesn't know how he got in this predicament; he was on the school's roof, casually skipping class and playing a video game on his phone. When his game randomly froze, he groaned in annoyance, tapping at the screen impatiently. He narrowed his eyes as a notice popped up, a strange invite.
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"Would you like to experience this game physically?" Tsukasa read the notice mockingly, rolling his eyes as his thumb hovered over the 'no' button. "The hell does that even mean?" He was just about it press it, but unfortunately, a tiny spider scurried it's way towards Tsukasa's shoe. The blond jolted up from his sitting position, frantically jumping from one foot to the other. "Whatthefuckwhatthefuckwhatthefu-" Ah, he pressed 'yes' without thinking. Tsukasa's breath hitches as his vision went white, transferring himself into the game.
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So now, he's stuck in this cyber city until he finds a way to get out. Tsukasa is already aware of how the game works; the main protagonist is referred to as 'Intruder R'. It isn't his real name, but his name was never officially confirmed. It starts off as the player seeing through R's eyes, he was actively being chased by the brain-dead androids — or 'camera people' as others call them. You make decisions for R, eventually leading to the end. Each choice must be carefully chosen or else something terrible may happen to him. R is a professional in weaponry, excellent in each field. He mains a revolver, along with his drones that can record on command. His goal is to find the source that corrupted the population, to destroy it and bring humanity back. Tsukasa has not gotten far into the game, he doesn't know what the true ending is for R. But he's now in R's shoes, making him the protagonist.
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Tsukasa grumbles, he aches to go home and get out of this stupid situation. The real world... He blinks, leaning onto the railing of the balcony. Tsukasa's real life had nothing special going on. He had no major interests, no close friends, no relationship, he had barely anything. So, maybe this cyber universe wasn't so bad after all. Maybe this was the spark of light he needed. He finally had thrill in his life, he could life with content in this world forever — Tsukasa shook his head, balling his fists. "I need to escape. I can't stay here as Intruder R forever." He muttered, his gaze trailing up the neon skyscrapers to the large billboards. The blond furrowed his eyebrows at the biggest one. "Is that... me?" He squints his eyes, dumbfounded. The board had a huge picture of someone with the splitting image of Tsukasa. The only major difference was the aura they both gave; billboard Tsukasa looked cheerful with sparkling eyes and neatly parted bangs, he had his cheek in his palm and the other held a peace sign. Intruder Tsukasa looked irritated all the time with empty eyes and a sharp tongue, straightforward whenever possible.
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Tsukasa didn't know why that person looked so similar to him, but it definitely made him feel uncomfortable. He quickly scanned the area for no patrolling camera people, then slid rigidly against the building, ending off with a rough landing. For added effect, the stores in the city were open 24/7 and always filled to the brim with items. Tsukasa had a habit of wandering around, window shopping whenever he's bored. But right now, he just wanted to get his mind off whatever happened a moment ago. "Clothes. Clothes. Even more Clothes. Why is everywhere stocked with clothes." Tsukasa sighed, turning another direction exaggeratedly. He strode lazily, head tilted down like a loser. Did Intruder R achieve his goal of reviving humanity? The blond was more than curious ever since his transfer to this universe. He remembered the part where he rudely got interrupted by the note — R was constantly receiving anonymous messages via graffiti on alleyway walls. He didn't pay much mind to them for the first few times, but then, something caught his eye; "I WANT TO SAVE THE CITY, TOO." The player had to choose whether to ignore it once again, or meet up with the mysterious person. Tsukasa, being the social person that he was, chose the latter. But he wasn't able to meet them due to the fiasco, which he was highly disappointed in.
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Tsukasa's eyes widened, pausing his thoughts as he slowly turned his head towards the window of a shop. Ah, that's new. A painting. He stared, a weird sensation forming in his stomach. Why did it feel so familiar? Why did it look so familiar? Has he seen it before? No, he swears he had never laid eyes on something like this before. Then why does his heart yearn for it? Tsukasa places a hand on the glass, imagining the curves of the frame against his skin. Something, a hand, touched back. The blond gasped, his eyes blown wide at the sight of the painting becoming alive. The creature seemed to have the same reaction — perhaps even more surprised. Golden eyes stared into his amber ones, an unusual feeling of warmth filling his heart. Tsukasa narrowed his eyes at the glass separating them. "We've met before." His tone made it seem like more of a question than a statement. The creature smiled, fondness (love?) evident. That comfort was soon replaced with adrenaline; a click. A snap of a picture. Shit. Tsukasa bites his lip, sending a silent apology to the painting before running off, not looking back at the pained expression that was staring a hole into his back.
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Tsukasa smirked, excited about the trip that his school planned for his grade. They were heading to an art gallery; one that held many ancient artifacts and treasures. His class was doing a special activity along with it, a scavenger hunt! The class was chill about it, but Tsukasa was feeling extra competitive today. He promised himself he'd find everything on the list in under 10 minutes. The gallery was reasonably large with many sections that separated man-made art from natural creations. All of the artifacts were titled, a description of its history in fine print. There were about three items in each section he needed to find — and for the point to count, he needed to write a brief description of the historical significance that each relic had. Tsukasa was already imagining his victory, feeling giddy. His teachers opted to take the train to their destination; the ride wasn't necessary long, but he felt like a child waiting impatiently on Christmas for his presents. When the train halted and the door slid open, Tsukasa practically sprinted out the vehicle and towards the art gallery. "Tenma–! Stop right there!"
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Tsukasa gasped loudly, frantically writing down the description of a neatly sculpted statue that was presumably a tactician. It was well made, to say the least. The creativeness made a striking effect to it; the tactician was looming over a miniature battlefield — a metaphor to his contribution and methods threading the outcome of the battle. He was in charge of the strategies, and the battle comes out exactly how he envisioned it to be. As intriguing as the sculpture was, Tsukasa had to move onto the next item.
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The blond kept his eye out for anything that screamed 'magic'. He hummed as he passed several other sculpted models, all of which had different techniques used to create them. Tsukasa noticed that this gallery hall was empty of people; maybe his classmates were slacking off. The school rented the whole building for the day. Non-students weren't allowed to enter, making the scavenger hunt more fun without others crowding around the antiques. In his train of thought, his eyes flicked towards a set of glassware — alchemy vials. Aha, That's pretty related to magic! Some bottles were still filled with mysterious substances, colored greens and pinks. Each glass had a different measurement of liquid. It was encased in a thick layer of glass, protecting the curios safely. The description provided the information of the vials being an alchemist's last resort; although they were never given the chance to use them. Tsukasa assumed that no one knew what the substances did, and it's probably better if it stayed that way.
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Tsukasa was nearly done with the first section, his ego was boosted due to speeding through the first two relics. He could practically taste victory on the tip of his tongue. Oh, he mustn't be so cocky. There could be someone else doing the exact same thing — they might even be further in progress. Tsukasa shook himself out of his thoughts, confidence is key for a star like him! Weakness should never be his first thought, perseverance should be. He smirked with pride before accidentally bumping his head against a rather large object. "Ugh–" The blond winced, rubbing a hand over the small injury. He frowned, the unpleasantness quickly turning into awe as his eyes traveled up clear glass, all the way up to the ceiling.
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"Woah." It was an insanely giant hourglass. One-third of the sand was suspended in midair; an illusion, perhaps? It didn't look like anything was holding it up, it was suspiciously intriguing. Tsukasa immediately perked up, messily flipping though the scavenger sheet that was attached to a clipboard. He smiled as he read the hint for the next antique; an eternal stop, never reaching the end. This should be it! The hourglass was paused in time — or at least the sand was. Tsukasa raised an eyebrow at the vague description of the item, jotting down what he could understand. It was in the possession of a deity, a timekeeper. The sand abruptly stopped in time when the deity lost their sovereignty.
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Tsukasa noticed the small gem-like objects within the sand, colored purples and yellows. He felt a slight connection towards the hourglass. Not a strong one, but still a connection. He didn't know why he wanted to figure out the deeper history of this relic. He just felt determined. The note only specified the deity's authority being lost, not their life. That could mean that the sand represents their lifetime on earth; it's endless. As punishment or sacrifice, it'd be a real tragedy. That might be the reason, or Tsukasa is thinking way too deep into a mere story.
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The blond glimpsed at his wrist, the watch ticking at an even rhythm. He should get going now, his classmates should be catching up to him soon. As the blond made his way to the entrance to the next section of the gallery, he took one final glance at the hourglass.
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Tsukasa decided to look into the section that interested him most; the painting hall. He's quite familiar with artistry of that kind. Being a jack of all trades, he enjoys learning all types of activities. Perhaps he'd be able to study the techniques used to create art from ancient times. Tsukasa hums in excitement when he sees several portaits adorned with gold and silver borders. The quality of the paintings are exquisite. He admires the careful brushstrokes on the first piece to his left; portraying a street, shaded with a satisfying brown. Neon signs were littered on the sides of buildings, a pop of color to the artwork. Things like 'showtime', 'dance', and 'music' were lit up in neon. It represents a showman's imagination and innovation, titled 'Unexpected Happenings'. It somewhat reminds Tsukasa of himself, he's passionate about theatre and performance.
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Ah, this piece isn't needed in the scavenger hunt. Tsukasa wasted a good amount of time analyzing it. A sigh leaves his lips as he flips to the hint; marine allurance, a monster in disguise. Huh, that's a rather crude description. Tsukasa strode slowly, skimming through the paintings while still appreciating the effort put into them. He liked how they had a different meaning behind each of them, unique in their own ways. It's refreshing to see creativity from portraitists in the distant past. He's seen some of the pieces here before, most of them being famous for their art. Now that the topic of fame comes to mind, Tsukasa would like to make himself known for his extravagant performances. He is far from a rookie in acting, but he knows improvement will help him achieve his dream. He chases that dream constantly, taking on challenging roles and trying his very best to understand each character he plays. Tsukasa still has a long way to go before reaching stardom, but there's no doubt that he's improving at a rapid pace.
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The blond smiled to himself, imagining the far future. It'd been on a long journey getting to this point, he wonders how long until the end. He walks past a painting, and his breath hitches as something wraps around his waist. "Ack–!?" His eyes are blown wide as he stares at the purple tentacles that have him on hold. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" Tsukasa jerks his head around, locking eyes with a familiar face — wait, familiar? The soft violet hair with teal streaks. The frilled white shirt with gold accents. The pale golden eyes that looked at him so familiarly. The creature pulled the mortal closer with a gentle tug to his waist. Did Tsukasa know who this was? Cold fingers caressed his face with surprising care. The sensation tingled, not in a disturbing way. Ah, he did know who this was, didn't he?