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"So, I'm... a monster?" Tsukasa checks over his role as Rui hands each member the script he's been working on.
"Yes," Rui confirms. "Your character grows close with the villagers but inevitably cannot escape what he truly is— a monster who enjoys seeing humans suffer."
"Right..." Tsukasa furrows his brows as he reads the stage directions. "And, Nene is the hunter who sees through my human disguise?"
Rui nods. "She sees the monster for what he is and is set on killing him. That's where Emu comes in, explaining the reality and changing the hunters mind."
Tsukasa subtly nods and takes a seat to read each line carefully. Rui, over to the side, continues explaining the other roles to the girls.
He starts from the top, working is way through each word just like usual.
'So, what makes this monster so terrifying?'
'It's vicious— acts on it's own whims. It's clever... scaring humans for its own pleasure... You better be careful.'
"Hm... okay." He hums. "So... it's acting human and is curious as to how the humans view it... makes sense." He nods and continues further.
The monster soon learns to sing, sharing its songs with the village. It became popular quite fast, it even almost forgot it was even a monster. It slowly felt itself becoming one of the humans, even calling himself a new name and using human language.
It was now a he, and he enjoyed the presence of the townspeople as they gathered to listen to his songs.
One day, a hunter learns of his arrival.
She sets out to find and kill him. Monsters could never coexist with humans, after all.
'Pleasure-seeking, childlike, and yet so cruel. That's what makes it a monster.'
Tsukasa narrows his eyes. He feels like he's heard those lines somewhere before. After coming up blank, he sets those thoughts aside for the time being and continues reading.
The monster remembers its differences— its true nature.
'I live for what's fun. Even if it hurts the humans... I don't care. I may be able to appears as one... but what's inside can never change.'
Tsukasas expression softens.
'Because... that's what 'I' am. I cannot change my nature. I never asked to be born a 'monster'. It was only a matter of time before I hurt these people... Should I just dissappear and leave this place behind?'
Turning the page, Tsukasa feels his heart beginning to ache.
He's heard these words before. He knows he has.
But, he can't just jump to conclusions. He needs to see this through.
The hunter soon approaches him with fire in her eyes, glaring into the monstrous soul he knows exists within him.
'I'll kill you here and now. I made an oath to those innocents lives that have suffered at your hands.'
'Hahah..! Maybe that wouldn't be so bad after all.' The monster laughs in agreement.
But then...
'Wait!'
Emus character, the bard and the monsters closest acquaintance, rushes up to the two of them.
'Step aside,' the hunter orders. 'That thing is not a human.'
'Human or not, hes still my precious apprentice! He makes people smile with his music!'
'...But, I...' the monster couldn't find the right words and chooses silence.
'What if it hurts someone?'
'That's...' the bard frowns.
'Fair enough,' the monster speaks up. 'I always put my own desires about everything else. So, when that time comes again... go ahead and kill me.'
The hunters eyes widen in confusion.
'I will always be a monster. That will never change. But... despite that, if someone can still accept that fact— accept me for who I truly am... I would like to remain here.'
The girls stare in shock, but let the monster continue.
'I have hurt countless people. I saw no reason to care for those I got along with, so I did as I pleased. But now... when I see humans enjoy themselves when they hear my songs... my chest feels warm. I want to sing even better, to see even more smiles. I... believe I've come to cherish humans.'
Tsukasa grips the papers in his hands, the edges creasing under his fingers.
He's right.
He knows he is.
He looks away from the script and up at Rui who was seated on the bleachers away from the group, writing notes down.
Tsukasa bites his lip as he stands, hands balled into fists.
But he doesn't move.
He couldn't.
Not yet, anyway.
He hasn't read the ending yet.
So, he sits back down and finishes his read through.
'I know you won't believe me, but I am not lying. I will do whatever it takes to prove it to you. I will give you my eyes— even my legs if you so wish. Anything. All I ask... is you give me a chance. Will you?'
'Please!' The bard joins in. 'I'm begging you as well!'
However, the gun cocks in the hunters hand.
'I'm afraid not. How arrogant, thinking sparing your legs or eyes is enough to atone for your sins.'
A brief silence, then...
'Die.'
Two shots are fired, bullets landing in the monsters leg. It could've run... but he chose to accept the pain.
'Not going to dodge? I'll aim for your heart next time.'
'S-stop! You'll kill him!' The bard yells.
'...it's fine,' the monster voices with a pained smile. 'I'll take as many bullets as you need to believe me. Go ahead and kill me. If my death brings peace... then so be it.'
'You...' the hunter growls. The three go silent for a moment before she speaks up again with a heavy sigh. '...show me your leg. I'll dress the wound.'
'...huh?'
'I don't know if monsters really do have hearts, or if yours has changed. So, I will stay here until I see it with my own eyes.'
The curtains will then close and Tsukasa and Emu take the role of narrator.
'—And so, the monsters tale comes to an end.'
'No one knows if the monster that could never truly change ever did live peacefully among the humans. Not every problem was solved and there was no 'happily ever after'.'
'Though, one thing remained true—'
'The monster that once knew only loneliness, was no longer alone.'
Then, the play ends.
Tsukasa lets his arms lower to his knees, the script nearly slipping from his fingers.
"Rui..." he whispers to himself. "You aren't... you're not a..." his expression falls with a sigh.
He needs to talk to his director about this.
But it can wait.
Bringing it up now could only ruin things... he'll do it after the show.
So, he pushed his thoughts away and focused strictly on portraying this character to the best of his abilities.
Rui trusted him to, after all.
Through every practice session he would pick up on how Rui payed more attention to him than the girls. It only made sense, he was the main character...
But that wasn't it, was it?
It's because Tsukasa wasn't playing the role of a monster...
He was Rui.
The monster was Rui.
The way Rui viewed himself, the way he's been tossed away and ostracized by his peers through his entire childhood...
The way people see him as a freak— a monster.
But they don't know Rui, not like he does— not like Wonderlands × Showtime does.
They don't know him.
But Tsukasa... he knows him; the real him.
He knows the Rui that was kind, understanding, always putting his actors first.
The Rui that cried when Tsukasa confessed his love because he thought he wasn't deserving of it.
The Rui that choked out 'you aren't supposed to love me' when Tsukasa asked why he was crying in the middle of the night.
The Rui that— despite everything people have put him through— still tries to see the good in others, even if it means getting hurt in the process.
The Rui that thinks he's a heartless monster...
Tsukasa knows him.
And, he knows that this monster— this character— means everything to Rui. He would make this show perfect if it was the last thing he did.
He needs to get Ruis feelings across.
So, he put everything he had into them.
The show date came quicker than they thought it would and, soon enough, Tsukasa was in costume waiting in the wings.
"Tsukasa, a word real quick?" Rui taps his shoulder.
"Hm? Yeah?" Tsukasa tilts his head.
Ruis eyes trace every inch of Tsukasas face with a pained smile. "Thank you."
Tsukasa smiles back. "Thank you for trusting me with this. I'll do my best."
Rui nods, rubbing the stars shoulder. "Break a leg out there, Kasa."
They share a small hug, and the show begins.
Tsukasa does everything Rui asked, everything his perfect director told him to do. Putting no emotion in certain words, or too much in others.
Anything to be the perfect Rui.
When the show comes to an end, Rui was called out to speak with Sakaki about his production.
Judging by Ruis expression, the group assumes it was going well. Once they saw their directors satisfied smile, they split up to the dressing rooms to change out of their costumes.
After putting his more comfortable clothes on, there's a familiar knock at Tsukasas door before it slowly opens and reveals the very person he knew it was.
With a smile, Tsukasa begins wiping off his makeup.
Soon, long arms were wrapped around his neck as a chin landed on his head.
"How'd it go?" The star questions.
"Better than anticipated," Rui moves to nuzzle into Tsukasas neck. "You did great, Kasa."
"Thank you, Rui." Tsukasa chuckles as Ruis breath tickles his skin. "You wanted to stay at my house tonight, right?"
Ruis nods. "If it's okay with you." He looks at Tsukasa through the mirror with pleading eyes.
"You know it is," Tsukasa nudges Ruis head with his. "Here, help with my makeup?" He holds the wipes up to Rui who gently grabs them and pulls up a chair to be beside Tsukasa.
Tsukasa closes his eyes as he feels Rui softly wiping away his makeup for him, being as careful as he could around his eyes.
This...
This is the Rui he knew.
The Rui he loved so dearly.
Sure, he can be a bit ridiculous sometimes, but he never has ill intentions. He truly just wants to be appreciated for what he can do.
"All done," Rui places a kiss on the stars forehead before he tosses the wipes away.
"Thank you~!" Tsukasa beams and stands up. "Let's go say bye to the girls."
Rui gives an agreeing nod and they meet the others in the green room, say their farewells, and head home for the night.
It was late, so they knew there wouldn't be any dinner waiting for them and the rest of the Tenmas would be asleep. So, they stopped for a few small snacks along the route before making their way down the familiar streets.
They discuss the play, the reactions it got, the way everyone played their part... all the typical things.
When they reach Tsukasas house, they sneak up to his bedroom and get ready for bed.
As they were changing, Tsukasa noticed Rui looking more focused on his various scars than he usually was.
Rui was... very accident prone. So, he had collected a multitude of scars, burns, and even needed stitches in a few of them.
He never minded them all too much, given that they were mostly accidental.
Mostly.
Except for a select few on his wrist.
He didn't consciously do them. He didn't want to do them.
He just didn't know what else to do. He felt... deserving of them.
So, they happened.
He's ignored them over the past year after they healed... but today... he couldn't get them off his mind.
He balls his hand into a fist as his narrowed eyes lock on them, wishing he never gave in to his urges that night.
Now that he's done it once... part of him feels the need to do it again.
"Love?"
He flinches as a pair of muscular arms wrap around his bare waist.
"You okay, Rui?" Tsukasa tilts his head on the directors shoulder.
Rui lets his shoulders relax as his arm fell to rest overtop of Tsukasas on his stomach. "I'm alright," he nudges their heads together.
Tsukasa knew he was lying. With a soft exhale, he turns Rui around to face him, the directors hands securely in his.
"Rui... can we talk? It's about the play..."
He felt Rui tense ever so slightly before nodding. They walk to the stars bed hand in hand, sitting down beside each other.
"So..." Tsukasa takes a deep breath. "I've had this... thought since the first day you gave me the script, but I kept it to myself so I didn't throw us off..."
Rui bites his lip. Tsukasa was smart, he knew he'd pick up on it eventually.
"The monster..." the star swallows his nerves. "It... is you, isn't it?"
Rui lowers his head and remains silent.
"I— I just— I knew the lines looked familiar and— it's because they've been said by or to you before, so... could you tell me if I'm right, Rui?"
Rui grips Tsukasas hand tighter, turning his head away as he nods.
Tsukasa lets out a shaky exhale at the confirmation. "Okay... and, the way it— he said that he's willing to die if it'll make others happy; that it's what the monster deserved..." He doesn't go further. He knows Rui understood.
Cautiously, Rui lets go of Tsukasas hand and stands up. "...right."
Tsukasa stands as well, grabbing the tallers arm. "Rui, how long have you been thinking about it?"
"...a while." the director admits in a quiet, almost inaudible voice.
The star felt his heart shatter. "Why didn't you tell me? Y-you know I would've helped if you had just asked me to..."
"This isn't something you can just 'help with', Tsukasa." Rui quietly argues. "Like I said in the script, I can't change what I am."
"I get that, but what you are is not a monster, Rui." Tsukasa holds his arm firmly. "You're letting them get into your head again, and you know none of it is true."
"Then what is true, Tsukasa? What am I? If— if I'm not a monster, then what am I?" Rui finally turns to the star, brows furrowed. "All I do is put others in harms way and you know it."
"What I know is you, Rui." Tsukasa states. "The you that puts every necessary safety feature on everything you build. The you that has ideas that nobody else could ever possibly conjure up. The you that I fell in love with because of who you are as a person... I know you, Rui."
Rui shifts his eyes, unconvinced.
So, Tsukasa continues.
"You're my director that I trust wholeheartedly with every fiber of my being because I know that everything you do, you do with my safety in mind. You're my best friend that I would run to if I was in trouble. You— you're my boyfriend that I wouldn't trade for the world if it meant staying by your side for the rest of my life... You're a human being just like everyone else. You're not a monster, Rui. I promise."
Tsukasa gently bring his hands up to Ruis face, swiping away the tears that had started to fall.
"Why..?" Rui whispers. "Wh-why are you so nice to me..? What do you see in me that nobody else does?"
"Everything," Tsukasa smiles. "Sure, at first... I thought like them. Well, not to the same extent, but I did nonetheless. But, when I got to know you... I learned that none of their words were true. You're different, yes... but you aren't dangerous."
"But... I've hurt you."
"On accident," Tsukasa softly reminds. "You didn't purposely program those robots to grab me like that, it was a malfunction. Those things happen. Plus, it was over a year ago and I forgave you days later."
Rui looks at Tsukasa through his tears, the stars blond hair mixing into a abstract blob of color.
"I..." Rui chokes. "I don't like being like this..."
"I know you don't..." Tsukasa moves his hand to rub Ruis head. "You never asked to be born this way, and I'm sorry you've been through so much because of it. But... even if you can't change, you can grow."
"...grow?"
"Yeah," Tsukasa steps closer. "You can learn to grow with it. It's who you are, you shouldn't just push it away to be someone else. I mean, that mind of yours is the reason we're together, isn't it?" The star chuckles.
Rui huffs a weak laugh before nodding.
"Exactly. And... I understand wanting to fit in, to— to try to fit into the puzzle that others have created, but... sometimes... we don't get to have that. What you have to do is make your own puzzle. One where you control who or what fits in it."
"My... own puzzle..?"
"Mhm," Tsukasa grabs Ruis hands. "It's your life, Rui. You need to live it how you want, not other people. Those that call you a monster... they've never seen the sides of you that I have— that the girls have. They don't know the real you, just remember that."
Rui slowly nods, lowering his head as his tears fall harder.
With a pained smile, Tsukasa pulls the director into a secure hug. He lets Rui cry into his shoulder, his fingers tightly gripping at Tsukasas skin.
It hurt, Tsukasa forgot they were even shirtless... but he can deal with that later.
So, he softly rubbed Ruis back like a mother soothing her child. "It's okay... I love you." He whispers over and over again, just hoping that Rui remembers his words.
After what was a much needed five minutes, Rui backs up with shaky sniffles.
"Feel better?" Tsukasa rubs his arm as Rui nods.
"Th-thank you, Tsukasa..."
"Of course, Rui. If you ever feel like this again, please tell me... I'm your boyfriend and I want to help you through these things."
Rui nods once more.
"Thank you." Tsukasa cups Ruis red face, waiting for their eyes to find each other. "Kiss?" He questions with a small tilt of the head.
Rui quietly laughs and pushes forward, letting their lips connect.
When they pull back, Tsukasas hand remains in place as his eyes stay fixed on Ruis. "Hey, Rui?"
"Yes, my star?" Rui tilts his head into the warmth of Tsukasas hand.
"Happy birthday."
Ruis eyes widen. "I-it's... it's my birthday..?"
Tsukasa nods with a soft expression. He gestures his head to the clock on the wall, watching as the hands pass twelve to signal a new day.
Rui turns back to Tsukasa with a quiet scoff of disbelief. "Thank you, Kasa. This was a lovely present."
Tsukasa smirks and backs away with his hands on his hips. "And that's not all! We've got a packed day ahead of us!"
"Do we?" Rui chuckles.
"Mhm! The girls and I made so~ many plans! Get yourself ready, mister!"
Rui stands at attention with a playful salute. "Yes, sir!" He giggles.
Their collective laughs soon quiet down as the air lightens fully. "Now then," Rui starts, "shall we get some rest?"
"We shall," Tsukasa gestures to the bed. They quickly finish changing and make themselves comfortable on Tsukasas bed cuddled up in each other's arms like usual.
"Goodnight, Rui." Tsukasa kisses the directors forehead. "I love you."
"Goodnight, Kasa." Rui leans forward and returns the kiss on the stars chest. "I love you too. And... thank you for everything you said."
"Of course, Rui. It was all true, too. Just remember that."
"I'll try my best," Rui promises.
"I know you will." Tsukasa holds him close. "Let's get some sleep."
Ruis head nuzzles into his lovers chest with a nod, his eyes closing shortly after.
It's safe to say it was the best sleep he's ever gotten.