Chapter Text
It was summertime when Tsukasa finally calmed down. He, on his own volition, had taken down the “most beautiful imagery of himself” and from both sides of the arrangement, things were improving! There was one thing, however, that still upset him.
He was bored out of his MIND!
hadn’t left the palace ever since he snuck out to see Ena, and that ended not so great. Another sneak out and he figured that Rui would get angry again, which also, did not go well last time. “Sooo, Rui.” Tsukasa asked him as they did their now nightly sit-and-talk-about-nothing chat. “In theory, when, presumably, can I go out to the market?” He asked, floating upside down over Rui. In response, Rui raised an eyebrow. “You…want to walk around?” He asked, confused by Tsukasa’s lazier nature.
“Uh, no. I’ll just fly around.” Tsukasa shrugged. “I’ve barely been in the kingdom! And what? I’ve been here for a month now!” Tsukasa flipped himself, still floating. “No, I fear that flying isn’t normal here and you know, if you’re going out, you definitely need to blend it as much as possible.” Rui chuckled. “Fine! I’ll walk! But still, I wanna go out.” Tsukasa crossed his arms.
“Well, I do have a little shopping that needs done and…I’m piled with tons of work!” Rui said, faking distress. “You can’t lie to the Beast Of Deceit, Rui. You’re just being lazy! Well, I suppose this is a win-win situation…”
. . .
The next morning, Rui stood nervously at the huge doors of the castle. Tsukasa was… a character, to say the least. He would surely get into some trouble…but alas, he had a point the night before. Rui was isolating him from others and that simply wasn’t right!
“I’m ready!” Tsukasa slid down the large stairs railing and jump an oddly large amount to land right in front of Rui. “Well, one of us has a lot of energy!” Rui chucked, handing him a list of things to get. “The stores to get the items should be next to them!” He noted his organization. “Thank you! Ta-Ta now-”
“You’re forgetting something?” Rui said, getting a bag of coins. “Oh. Yeah. Probably need that!” Tsukasa got the bag from Rui.
“Why the long face?” Tsukasa asked him. “I’m…worried about you.” He replied. “I’ll be fine! Besides, i’ll just run back here if things go south! Now bye-bye!” Tsukasa ran off. Rui sighed. This was probably going to go south…
“Your Majesty, a letter just came in from Shiho.” An attendant came to Rui with a letter. “Oh please address me more casually!” Rui tried to smile but was internally frowning, not liking his royal status. He took the letter and read it.
“Dear Rui,
Greetings! I have met up with the others and we are heading to the Pure Kingdom. We should be there by mid afternoon if An doesn’t start hyper fixating on a new shiny rock.”
Shit.
Rui thought that the sleepover was tonight! Great! You had to pass through the markets to get to the palace and Tsukasa was now happily strolling through, waiting to be caught. And if the other ancients realized that he was harboring a BEAST.
Suddenly, Tsukasa ran through the castle doors. “RUI WHY THE FUCK IS SHIHO HERE?! SHES TRYING TO KILL ME!” He yelled, trying to catch his breath.“Tsukasa! I’m so sorry! I had…well, I forgot…BUT I WAS JUST ABOUT TO GO WARN YOU!” Rui argued. “Oh lord! They’re going to kill me! GREAT, RUI! THIS IS GREAT!” Tsukasa panicked. “Let’s not forget who wanted to leave.” Rui said matter of factly. “FUCK YOU GRANDPA!” Tsukasa yelled at him, trying to shuffle through ideas for an excuse.
“QUICK! I’m Lady Sarah, some fuckass noble here to help with…TAXES! That big ass fountain in The Kingdom’s Square!” Tsukasa came up with a secret identity. Rui nodded, the two actors connecting to try to save themselves from Shiho’s wrath.
“RUI! THE BEAST OF DEICIT IS HERE!” Shiho came through the castle followed by Saki, An, and Kohane. “Hm? Well, I’ve been here the whole time and haven’t seen him.” Rui put on a face of concern. “We totally ran him out, of course.” Saki replied. “Probably no longer a threat!”
Tsukasa, now Lady Sarah snickered, which received an elbow from Rui. “Oh! Have you guys met Lady Sarah? She’s here because uhm…Taxes for the…water in the fountain…” He tried to explain. “So, you’re taxing the water in the fountain?” An asked. “Oh no, silly! He’s just all jumbled up this morning!” Lady Sarah laughed. “I’m here to help out with repair cost for the fountain!” She smiled.
“Oh! That’s great! Wonderful to have you here, Sarah!” An greeted her. “Now let’s get this party STARTED! We’re going to your room, right?” An asked Rui. “Yep! Same place as always. I’ll meet you guys up there!”
As the rest of the ancients filed out, Lady Sarah slid next to Rui. “So…how long do we have to keep this up for?” Tsukasa asked. “It’s our yearly best friend sleepover.” Rui said calmly. “WHAT?! So you’re telling me that I have to deal with these guys ALL DAY LONG?! NO WARNING?!”
“Yes- BUT! I’ll give you something for the inconvenience! Promise!” Rui pleaded. “Hm? Anything~?” Tsukasa asked, his tone much more playful than usual. “Yes! Anything that’s not TOO out of bounds?” Rui tried to comprise. “Okay! Don’t forget about that!”
. . .
The ancients and Lady Sarah sat on Rui’s bedroom floor, Uno: No Mercy cards in hand. Saki insisted that “It wouldn’t ruin years of friendship!”
“AN I SWEAR TO THE WITCHES.” Shiho yelled, after getting stacked up and getting 10 cards. “Sorry! Last card i had before UNO!” An giggled. “So actually, you’re getting beat.” Shiho replied.
Meanwhile, Lady Sarah was taking advantage of her new attire, slipping cards under her dress. Tsukasa would NEVER lose to some weak ancients. Conveniently, Saki looked over mid-act of Sarah’s cheating. “Hey! You can’t do that!”
“Hm? What are you talking about?” She asked, placing her card down during her turn. “I saw you put a card under there!” Saki announced. “What!? Me?! Cheat?! I could never do such a thing!” Sarah protested. She looked around so Rui across from her, an unamused glare on his partner’s face. Rui sighed. “Well then, Sarah, just stand up so Saki can move on.” He proposed.
Fuck.
“I…I feel targeted! I mean, yes, I know I kinda crashed your guy’s sleepover, but it’s no reason to pick on me for it!” Sarah turned the attention. “Why are you so defensive? Just stand up.” Shiho said, starting to get suspicious. “Fine!” Tsukasa shouted, magically slipping out of his Lady form.
“YOU.” Shiho immediately summoned her blade, along with the rest of the ancients and their weapons. “Uh…I can explain!” Tsukasa started to say, looking at them nervously. “There’s no explanation for you to trick Rui, Beast of Deceit!” An declared. Rui stood up next to Tsukasa. “I…wasn’t tricked.” Rui said slowly, avoiding eye contact. “What?” Saki asked. “I-I call a meeting! Like, right now!” Kohane spoke up. Everyone seconded the motion.
. . .
Rui and Tsukasa now sat at the meeting table with the others. “So…you harbor a BEAST-“ Shiho started.
“Tsukasa. I harbor Tsukasa.” Rui gave her a look.
“Whatever he is. YOU KEEP HIM HERE?!” Shiho asked harshly, a great way to start a meeting. “Yes. I destroyed his spire.” Rui explained. “You…broke something? That’s out of character.” Kohane said, just as confused as everyone. “He was, what do you call it? Throwing a tantrum?” Tsukasa frowned.
“Shut it.” Rui gave him a serious look.
“Grandpa.” Tsukasa smirked.
“Fuck you.”
“I’ll like it.” Tsukasa laughed. “NOT THE TIME BEA- Tenma.” Shiho corrected her language. “Now, me and the others have decided. You two will answer our questions, truthfully, with no objections.” She announced. Rui shrugged. “I have no problems with telling the truth.” He relaxed, arms still crossed.
“Alright. First, Tsukasa.” Shiho addressed. “Why are you here?”
“Grandpa forced me.” Tsukasa nodded over to Rui. “Other than that, mere convenience.” He explained. “By convenience, you mean what, exactly?” Shiho pressed. “Housing, endless food, enough pranks to pull on him for the rest of our lifetimes.” He listed. Shiho sat down, allowing the others to go next while considering his answer. A was the next to ask something.
“Uhm…are you two…?” She asked. “What?” Rui tilted his head. “Like…a thing? Romantically involved?”
“Oh yes!” Tsukasa gleamed. “Been romantic for a while! Long before you four were even conceptualized!” He smirked at Shiho, who wasn’t particularly interested in his new statement. “What Tsukasa means is that we’re talking again.” Rui explained. “We…had a rough patch when he fell into Deceit.”
An looked at the others, an understanding falling between them. “Okay! I have a question!” Saki stood. “Why not tell us, Rui?”
“I wanted to, trust and believe me.” Rui started. “But how do you say such a thing? ‘Hey my dearest and closest companions! I’m rehabilitating a Beast!’?” Rui asked back. “I understand…” Shiho started. “I’m acquainted with his kind, I’m sure we all are. I don’t see any reason to “rehabilitate” as you are attempting to do.” Shiho explained. Rui took an annoyed deep breath. “Shiho. He has part of my fucking soul. Forever.” He elaborated.
“Don’t talk to me that way.” Shiho said bitterly. “Oh what? I’m pissed off!” Rui got up. “That you got caught harboring that Beast?! Please, it was bound to happen eventually!” Shiho spat back. “He is not a beast, asshole! When will you get that?!” Rui yelled at her, gripping his staff harshly.
“Woah, quite the mouth you got there, Rui!” Tsukasa slow clapped. “Now, to speed run some probable questions: No, I don’t want to take the soul jem. No, I don’t want to fight. Yes, I love him and won’t leave him again.” Tsukasa sighed. “Anymore questions?” He asked the room with no answer. “Great! Let’s get back to games and sleepover fun!”
. . .
“Sorry.” Rui and Shiho said at the same time as they walked back to Rui’s room. “Huh?”
“I mean- I said some stupid stuff.” Shiho muttered. “And I’m a hypocrite.” She sighed. “I get it. You guys just wanna keep me safe and all. Sorry for calling you an asshole.” Rui said. “You know, he can be a handful sometimes.” Rui mentioned Tsukasa. “Just like Mafuyu…” Shiho chuckled. “Are you mad at him?” Shiho asked. “Almost always.” Rui sighed. “I just…I know he’s trying.” Rui said, collecting his words. “He’s just…difficult to figure out now. After all these years…” Rui lightly touched his soul jem.
“They are too similar at this point.” Shiho sighed. “Should I tell them? About Mafuyu and me?” She asked, watching Tsukasa laughed along with their friends. “Whenever you’re ready. I’m sure after all this, they’ll be fine with it.” Rui laughed at the situation.