Work Text:
Tsukasa got home from school, sitting down in his chair to play some Minecraft. Rui still hadn't shown up to school. Tsukasa was starting to get worried. But maybe some video games would take his mind off of it.
He was exploring, and then found a mine a few hundred blocks from his base that he did NOT build. Tsukasa opened the chest, and started to read a book that was in it.
"Whatevee tou do at the crossroads dont turn left."
"Whatsver toy do at the crossroads dont turn left."
"Whatever you do at the crossroads dont tuen left."
"Whatever you do at the crossroads dont turn left."
It was a very ominous message for Tsukasa, who was just trying to play Minecraft. And whoever wrote it was clearly in a hurry.
"Hmm...I should turn left at the crossroads! And record this in case anything cool happens!"
Tsukasa set up a screen record, and at every crossroad, he turned left.
"I assume the book belongs to whoever the computer belonged to before I found it," Tsukasa explained to the imaginary audience, "And I also found a Google drive link that I'll watch later."
Tsukasa thought for a few moments. "Actually, I should watch that now."
He watched the footage. Rulord3. The person who owned this world before him.
Tsukasa made the choice to go into creative mode. He went left at every single opportunity, and eventually reached a hall of doors.
"What is this...?"
Tsukasa went through every door. Every door entered into a new world. Until he found a giant library.
"This is a strange bo-"
Tsukasa yelped, jumping a little out of his seat. In front of him was another player in his world.
Rulord3.
[Hello, Tsukasa.] Rulord typed into chat.
[Rulord! I found you!]
[You did.]
[What are you doing down here?]
[Did you read the book?]
[no]
[Go read it.]
Tsukasa built up out of the hole he was dropped from, and read. He then mined back down.
[What was that]
[I saw it.]
[Saw what]
[The King in Yellow.]
[Huh]
[There's not a good way to say this without sounding insane...]
[I'll believe you]
[It's everything. Everything. I saw it. The forbidden knowledge of 'reality'. My brain can't handle it. This Minecraft world keeps me sane.]
[Oh wow-]
Tsukasa paused, and then typed in chat again. [Are you okay?]
[I'm fine. I have food. Not sure how much longer it will last, though.]
[Where do you live?]
[That's very sudden.]
[I'll bring you food. What do you like?]
[Anything, really. Smoothies are preferable. I can have those without looking away from the screen.]
[Alright. Send me your address]
Tsukasa stood up almost immediately after he saw Rulord's address in chat. It was the same one as his boyfriend's. "RUI?!"
Frantic typing. [RUI!?!? YOU'RE...oh god...Rui I'm so sorry...WHY DIDNT YOU TELL ME?!]
[I didn't want you to worry about me.]
[I'M BRINGING YOU EVERY SMOOTHIE I CAN BUY]
Tsukasa ran to the store. He threw every fruit smoothie into his cart, rushing to have them paid for. He then made way to Rui's house.
He burst through the door, since it was unlocked. "RUI! I have food!"
Tsukasa walked over to Rui's desk, placing the smoothies into the fridge by it. "I'm staying with you until you can sort this out, okay?"
Rui's eyes didn't move from the screen. "I want to look at you. I can't...my head feels like it will explode if I look away for only a second."
Tsukasa walked behind Rui, gently kissing the top of his head. "I'm so sorry."
He reached to the mouse, placing his hand on top of Rui's. "I'll find out how to fix this. Someday. Even if it takes me my entire life!"