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“And... Candies.”
Akito immediately stops packing the boxes filled with things to the brim. He turns to look at Tsukasa with a face of both shock and disbelief. “... Candies?”
“Candies.” Tsukasa replies, not looking up as he scribbles a line over the last item written on the notebook. He smiles, already thinking about how Rui would react when he sees this batch of items.
He uses that notebook to write lists of things he might show, or rather donate, to Rui - the oh so popular Demon that lives in the highest mountain to ever exist around.
If Tsukasa got one dollar for every rumor that everyone has created about Rui, he would be rich.
“Why candies?”
“He hasn't tried it yet. Plus, it's the least we can do after all those things he has done to us. If it wasn't for his powers, our kingdom would've already fallen to the ground with all those attacks we are getting.”
It was true. A long time ago, a huge portal had opened in the sky. While no one saw anything fall from it, it didn't take more than a few days for every kind of monster to knock on the kingdom's walls in a futile attempt.
They never knew where the monsters came from, 'til this very day. Tsukasa decided to be one just so he could protect the weak, in fact.
(Now look at him! He's the leader!)
In the start they weren't experienced enough to handle not even a single attack. Too weak. Too fragile.
But with Rui's magic, the kingdom eventually managed to get stronger and stronger as time passed. The history books say that there was a huge war before that happened though, hence why Rui wanted to help.
Pity, probably. Surely.
Akito frowned, not moving a single muscle as he looked up at Tsukasa from where he was crouching on the ground. “Tsukasa-senpai, with all due respect-”
“Here it is!”
Mizuki quickly raises a hand that holds a big packet of strawberry, grape, apple, lemon and pineapple gummy bears.
Tsukasa hums. Rui doesn't eat vegetables nor fruits, maybe he finally can see how tasty they are once he tries those. As artificial as they can be. “Put it in, I'll bring those to him.”
And so that's where they are now: Rui protects the kingdom with his magic and the kingdom offers everything it has in return. It isn't a fair trade, but considering the fact that literally everything is new to Rui, it might be fair to him after all.
Rui is a demon. Tsukasa doesn't blame him.
“Okay, that must be everything. Akito, can you...”
Before Tsukasa can finish, Akito puts the candies inside and stands up. He grabs each box and puts it on the back of the carriage, crafted solely to bring those kind of stuff. “On it.”
Tsukasa shakes his head as he watches the grumpy knight do his duty. He stores the notebook on his back pocket and grabs the horse's bridle. It doesn't hesitate as it follows Tsukasa, bringing the carriage with it.
Akito doesn't say anything about it making his duty's worse, so Tsukasa thinks that is a progress. On that part, at least.
“Ehhhh.. Otouto-kun seems to be in a bad mood today.” Mizuki says as they leave the docks, quickly matching Tsukasa's pace and leaving Akito behind.
“HEY!”
They ignore the very stressed yelling behind them as if it is a normal occurrence at this point. “I'm sure he'll be better soon after The Prince leaves his meeting though!” Mizuki continues, loud enough so that Akito can hear.
“I will remember that when I am the one helping you prepare Ena's own batch of food!”
“At least I am not in denial!”
“Huh?!”
Tsukasa doesn't even bat an eye, ignoring both of them now as the two begin to bicker. He quickens his pace instead, not wanting to waste more time than he already did.
It has been a while since he visited Rui, after all.
He stops at the gate, the loud bustling and voices and the sounds of swords clashing against each other, spars from rookie knights, no longer present. It's just the wind. And if Tsukasa squints he can see the mountain that Rui is currently living from here.
“Ready?” Tsukasa asks, caressing the horse's head.
The horse makes a weird sound. Tsukasa takes it as a yes as he climbs the its back, mentally preparing himself for a small trip.
The way to Rui's house is always peaceful. Nature is the only thing Tsukasa can see. Big trees, small birds, deep lakes and shallow puddles...
‘It rained here’, Tsukasa vaguely thinks, and immediately finds it strange because not a single drop of water has fallen back at the kingdom.
Oh dear. Did the choice of telling Akito to bring last month's batch of items was actually a bad idea?
Don't get Tsukasa wrong. Last month was particularly hard. So hard that someone like Tsukasa, the strongest knight, felt overworked and tired. And perhaps gotten a little existencial crisis in the middle of it all.
Hmph. Who never got one?
Tsukasa was always the one to bring Rui their delicacies. Honestly he can't imagine how it was like when Rui opened his door only to be met with a different person. Akito seemed fine though, so it was probably internal.
The closest Tsukasa got to the mountain, the strongest the wind got, and more puddles were formed.
He hurried.
By the time he arrived at the top, the sun was already leaving.
Tsukasa immediately got down, approaching the two story house's entrance. He doesn't hesitate before knocking on the door.
3 knocks. No answer.
4 knocks. No answer.
6 knocks. No answer.
The horse huffs, as if already knowing what's wrong, and Tsukasa bites his lip. Worry begins to bleed through his features: tense shoulders, shaking hands and a frown forming on his face.
He raises his hand to knock again one last time, but even so, no one opens the door. Tsukasa takes one step backwards and glances at what should be Rui's bedroom on the second floor. His worries only worsen when he notices that the lights are off.
So Rui was upset with him after all-
Wait. Does this mean that he left? For real? He left because he didn't like what he received last month?? He made sure to put everything Rui likes last time! Even new things!
What will happen now?!
... Report. Yeah, he must report Rui's absence to Toya.
Tsukasa quickly turns around, about to walk away,
Until something harshly tugs his cape and he falls backwards. His reflexes kick in as his hand darts to his sword, but before all of that happens a solid warmth met his back.
Tsukasa's eyes widen as he feels another hand grabbing the one that was about to grab the sword's handle, tightening its grip on his wrist and pulling it away. His eyes dart to his waist, where a familiar arm was making itself comfortable.
Rui.
Tsukasa immediately stops struggling and Rui makes a pleased hum at that. He can feel it.
“Imagine my shock and heartbreak when I opened my door and met some other random knight instead of Tsukasa-kun.” Rui whines, and Tsukasa doesn't need to look at his face to know that Rui is angry.
It's restrained, but still there.
Tsukasa nervously laughs, suddenly aware of the awkward position they are in right now. His face feels stupidly hot. “I was busy. Everyone had a rough month, so,” He gulps, feeling Rui's grip on both his waist and wrist slightly tightening, “I didn't have any other choice but to send Akito. I'm so sor-”
“Akito.”
Rui hums once again. Tsukasa prays that he is connecting the dots in that silly little mind of his because Tsukasa did tell Rui who Akito is.
“Ah, I see.” The pressure is gone, and Tsukasa sighs. He rubs his wrist that had gotten red and turns around.
Instead of staring at an angry face, Tsukasa finds Rui with an oddly normal one instead. Rui tilts his head with a smile, leaning forwards and poking Tsukasa's cheek.
“You're blushing.”
Tsukasa wants to die.
It doesn't take long to get the boxes in. In fact it doesn't take not even a minute since with a simple snap of Rui's fingers the windows open and the boxes fly towards their respective room. Some go around the house, some just go to the second floor.
And some go through the entrance. Tsukasa almost finds that out the hard way when one narrowly misses the back of his head. If Rui didn't pull him out of the way, that is.
.
“I'm sorry.” Tsukasa blurts out again once they're inside, sitting on Rui's sofa.
“For?”
“For not keeping my promise. I said that I would be the one to always bring the batches here.” Tsukasa huffs. “I can't imagine how you felt.”
“It's fine, really.”
“Is it? I know when you're panicked, Rui. You weren't okay.”
The sofa shifts, and suddenly Rui's weight is on him once again. Rui wraps his arms around his shoulders, and Tsukasa's back hits the arm of the sofa.
“Tsukasa-kun is very important to me.” Rui says on the same tone that you would use to ask how much is the bread on sale.
“E-Eh?”
Rui nods, as if that answers Tsukasa's question instead of creating a bunch more. “B-But I'm just a knight too. Why me?”
“I've said it, because Tsukasa-kun is special.” Rui answers. He cups both of Tsukasa's cheeks, face suddenly much more closer than normal. Tsukasa can see every little detail on the tattoo around Rui's right eye.
He can't help but blush.
“But you've been alive for so long, no?” He asks before he can stop himself. “So many people have done the same to you. So many different people have come here to do the same thing as I did, so why?” Tsukasa doesn't know why he is asking such things, but he feels like he must know. Why?
Rui just giggles. “Does everything need a reason, Tsukasa-kun? I'm afraid I don't know why either.”
The knight frowns.
Rui's touch on Tsukasa's cheeks suddenly feel more warm than it should. It feels like it's burning him. He tries to stay away, but Rui simply tightens his grip and pulls Tsukasa's face closer.
Does Rui... Does Rui actually love him?
Tsukasa's heartbeat horrendously increases both at that thought and just how close Rui's face is.
It only takes the way Rui's grin widens for Tsukasa to know that he feels it too. “How cute~ Is Tsukasa-kun in denial?”
Tsukasa doesn't answer, opting instead to look at the way the things he had packed for Rui flew away from the box, falling to its right place. Had he been on a different situation, he would've found it amazing.
... Tsukasa can't deny that Rui is beautiful. Beautiful, perfect and handsome. But Rui is a demon while Tsukasa is just a mere human. Rui will outlive Tsukasa just like he did with so many people.
Had he fallen in love with someone else before? Had he lost someone for this same reason?
He must have, but no matter how much Tsukasa stares deep into those yellow eyes, he really can't see it. A sad Rui, that is.
As much as Tsukasa wants to believe what Rui says, he can't. He feels like deep down Rui is doing this for pity, to play with his poor heart. Maybe to play with his feelings too, or even kill some time.
What if it is true? What if it has been that all along?
Or what if it was because he spent a whole month without seeing Tsukasa? Did if change something in him?
Is he in denial or is he just too scared to tell Rui he also loves him?
He is aggressively pulled out of his thoughts when Rui kisses his forehead. “... Hey. Don't think too much about it.”
“How can I not? It's just... Too unbelievable, you know?”
“You think demons are incapable to feel love?” Rui traces Tsukasa's collarbone with the tip of his finger, he stops only when it reaches right where his heart is. Right where the golden rose would be resting if he was using his cape.
He doesn't wait for Tsukasa's answer, however. “Ena does, you know?”
Tsukasa's mouth gapes at a loss of words. “W-Why are you bringing Ena at a moment like this - ”
“ - She is a demon, just like I am. And she loves Mizuki.”
“How do you-”
“Please believe me, Tsukasa,” Rui pleads, and never once in Tsukasa's life did he think he would see a demon beg right in front of him. Because of him. “I love-”
Tsukasa grips the back of Rui's head, finally closing the gap between the two. Rui stills for a moment before melting into the kiss, reciprocating it with all the love he mentioned before.
It's funny how Rui's lips feel chapped, but doesn't look like it, not even the slightest. Rui takes his arms out of Tsukasa's shoulders, choosing to wrap them around Tsukasa's waist instead.
He tries to pull away, but Rui holds him in place for the umpteenth time that day. He tightly grips the front of Rui's clothes and wrenches his lips away.
Tsukasa gasps for air, and Rui quickly dives to kiss where he can reach - Tsukasa's neck, Tsukasa's face, even his hair; Just as he was leaning towards Tsukasa's lips, Tsukasa puts his hand on Rui's own, covering them.
“Wait. I need to catch my breath.”
Rui smiles, moving to kiss Tsukasa's hand instead. The blush he sees on Tsukasa's face darkens anyway, as it would on both outcomes.
“I love you too, okay? I do. I believe in you.”
Tsukasa immediately sees the way Rui's eyes widen, filling to the brim with joy not so long after. He is completely taken aback when Rui takes advantage of the fact he has his arms wrapped around Tsukasa when he suddenly sits up, quickly adjusting Tsukasa on his lap.
He giggles, tightly hugging Tsukasa. “Fufufu~ I'm glad~”
“Haha... As far as I am also happy... You're going to break my back...”
“Oh! Sorry~”
“Yeah, yeah.” Tsukasa looks down, and he feels butterflies on his stomach when he sees just how happy Rui looks.
He loosens his grip and Tsukasa smiles.
Maybe it isn't so bad. Dating a demon.
Hell, now that Rui brought it up, if Mizuki can do it, then Tsukasa can too. He will be able to -
Wait. Mizuki. The kingdom. TOYA.
Tsukasa's eyes immediately dart to the nearest window. And there it is: the moon, high on the sky.
Did he take that long inside?!
Tsukasa gasps loudly. “RUI! I have to go back, immediately!”
“Huh?” Rui blinks.
“I just had to bring the stuff here and then come back! Toya is waiting for me!” He explains, trying to take Rui's arms away from him.
“Toya?” The demon blinks once again, arms not budging.
“The prince, Rui! The PRINCE! The person I serve!”
“Oh!” Rui smiles, one of his cat-like grins, then nods. “I can get you there!”
“Can you?!”
Rui nods once again. He shifts his arms, putting them under Tsukasa and lifting both of them up. Tsukasa shrieks, wrapping both of his arms around Rui's neck lest he wanted to hit face first into the floor.
The demon grabs the knight's cape, easily tying it around Tsukasa's shoulders with the help of his powers. He gives Tsukasa one last kiss.
“You owe me one~”
“Fine! Just get me back to the kingdom!”
Rui nods, and then snaps his fingers. Darkness quickly engulfs them.
-
“I've always wanted to be a knight.” Rui says once Tsukasa has already calmed down. The knight had almost passed out after seeing the demon inside his bedroom uninvited.
“No, you don't.” Tsukasa replies, brushing his hair. No matter how hard he tries, his hair stubbornly stays in place. Rui thinks that is cute.
He looks at Rui's reflection right behind his own on the mirror, making eye contact. “You never did.”
“Okay, maybe I didn't, but now I do,” Rui nods, mind filled with countless ideas. “I will be able to see Tsukasa-kun every day, and maybe a side I've never seen of him! That's so exciting!”
“That's not even the point of being a knight!”
“Still. I want to be a knight... Maybe I should talk with Toya tomorrow...”
“... Akito will point his sword at your neck in the first chance he gets.”
“I don't mind making a few enemies~”
“RUI!”