Work Text:
“Rui.”
The sound of brush meeting paper stopped when the man heard a familiar voice calling out his name. He set his brush aside on the table, ignoring the mountains of works stacked beside him in favour of the deity before him and tilted his head up to meet the other’s piercing gaze boring lazily through him.
There sat a deity on top of the windowsill, his long blond hair with peach tips tied up into a ponytail with a pair of horns that rested on top his head, flowed behind his back like a river of gold and shone as the light of the evening sun slowly descended down to rest for the night. His tail swayed lazily behind the man as he propped one of his knees up to rest his elbow on.
And at last, the Qilin’s eyes. His eyes were like pools of honey and gold, so sweet that it's almost sickening, and yet the tactician couldn’t help but drown in it and become addicted to it, even if he knew that it could consume him at any time. It shone in the dimly lit room where Rui was working.
If anyone were to see the blonde, they would immediately think that he truly is the equivalent of beauty, sculpted carefully by the gods themselves. Technically, he is one of them.
Rui greeted him with a slight bow.
“Evening, Tsukasa-sama. How can this one be of service to you today?”
Tsukasa — the name of the dragon deity that he introduced himself as — stepped down from the window he sat on with a slight ‘tap’ from his shoes and approached the other man that was still sitting down on his knees. He stopped just right at the other side of the table Rui was sitting on and leaned down just slightly, his tail moving behind him to tilt the man’s head up to meet his gaze.
With a click of his tongue, Tsukasa tilted his head to the side as he answered Rui’s question. His piercing gold eyes meeting the ever calculating yellow eyes of the tactician below him.
“You know what I want.” Was the Qilin’s curt reply, his tone clearly displeased. His eyes never left Rui’s face for even a second.
And Rui understood well what he meant.
He bowed deeply when the tail holding his chin up retracted, cupping his hands in front of his bowed head, Tsukasa hummed at the gesture.
“This lowly servant shall grant Tsukasa-sama wishes to the best of his abilities.”
Tsukasa’s eyes glowed a bit brighter in the dimly lit room, narrowing his eyes at Rui. He lowered his head slightly and opted to sit down in front of the table across from Rui instead.
“Very well.”
——☆——
Kamishiro Rui was never much of a fighter.
Not because he lacked the skill, if anything, he handled a blade with the same precision he used to lace his sentences. It’s that he preferred not to. Why clash steel against steel when a conversation, woven carefully, could dissolve the tension before it ever hardened into conflict? Why raise a weapon when words, chosen with the right intentions, could bend the course of a situation far more effectively?
And yet, people seem to think otherwise.
But that was where his role began.
To speak.
To weave words together, until even the most stubborn minds found themselves drifting toward the plan he had already mapped out. To lead without ever stepping to the front, nudging the people around him into motion with nothing more than a few carefully delivered phrases.
It is why he preferred to work from behind the scenes, the reason why he chose his role as a tactician.
He was born from a family that barely had enough money to survive for themselves, let alone to provide for a child that was just born into this cruel world. Rui was lucky enough that he was born into a loving family, who despite everything, still cherished and loved him. His parents tried their hardest to care for him and provide the best for his life so that he could grow up strong and healthy even when the world just seemed to spite his little family for anything they did.
And because of the circumstances his family were in, he was determined to become someone of high standing to get his family out of poverty. He sat for hours and read every book and scrolls he could manage to get his hands on, he studied, he learned everything the library provided for him. The owner of the library took notice of how he was a brilliant child for someone of his age and thought that it would be a shame for a prodigy like him to be left unnoticed like that. So, he opted to enroll him into a school so that he could grow and learn more there.
Rui’s parents were hesitant at first, but the librarian assured them that he would cover all the costs for it and that he could see Rui’s willingness to learn more about the world. ‘It would be a waste of talent to let someone like him go just like that’, that's what the old man said. And safe to say, Rui was ecstatic at the news, his parents bowed and thanked the man over and over for giving such a precious opportunity for their beloved son. The said librarian just sighed and ruffled young Rui’s hair and told him to do well in school, and then he can repay him for everything he's done for him.
And Rui took those words to heart.
School wasn't kind to someone that came from a commoner background like him. He was constantly ridiculed and beaten for being different from the other kids.
He didn't deserve to step his foot into this facility. They said.
But that didn't dim his ambition to strive in life.
Eventually, he finished school at the top of his class. His talent drew the eye of a high-ranking nobleman, who gave an offer to Rui to serve as his right hand. It was an honor given rarely and never lightly, especially to someone so young. But Rui accepted it with much gratitude.
Years passed beneath the nobleman’s guidance, and Rui’s reputation only grew. Whispered praise grew into formal recognition. His name traveled through corridors and council rooms until it reached the emperor’s own ears. He was then summoned by the emperor himself and was given the title 'Tactician of The Imperial Court’.
Rui managed to provide his family a better life from the one they had. He built them a new house near the palace, sent them money, and gave them anything that they could wish for. He was grateful to see his family well-fed, happy and full of life now.
He also managed to repay the librarian for the kindness he had given his family. Everything the old man had given him, Rui had repaid it tenfold. The librarian could only sigh in defeat as the now grown child insisted he should take what the tactician had sent him.
It was all peaceful and well.
Until the war happened.
Everything turned upside down in a span of a month.
And to make matters worse, a drought took over the whole city. Food grew scarce, and the people were starving on the streets. They were crying and begging the emperor to do something to resolve the situation quickly.
It was all in chaos.
A few months had passed, and Rui didn't know how they managed to hold on for this long. Whether it be luck or something else, he just wished for this dreadful situation to end as soon as possible.
Even after all the strategies he tried to turn the tide into his favor, nothing worked. They were losing, and the opposing forces were getting closer to the palace borders as the days went by.
The people inside the city were distraught, fearing for the day they would be ripped of the peacefulness they had. His fellow comrades that lived inside the palace were faring no better, it was a mess left and right everywhere.
Rui was starting to lose hope.
That is, until he heard one of the storytellers in town talk about the tale of a certain god he had never heard before.
——☆——
Long, long time ago.
A mythical beast was born deep inside the forest.
It was young and curious about the world around it. The young beast would wander around the forest, its gold eyes full of wonder and curiosity. It would chase anything that moves, and get startled when the thing it chased would squeak and growl at it. The young Qilin would touch anything that interests him, he would pet it and stare at it. He would often nuzzle his face into the little creature he found, purring lightly to assure the little one that the Qilin meant no harm.
That was how the young beast lived the first few years of his life.
Until one faithful day, he met a little girl.
‘What are you?’
The young girl asked the creature in front of her with fear in her eyes. The Qilin just sat and stared at the human in front of him with wonder in its eyes. Never has the young beast met something like the little girl before him. He tilted his head to the side in curiosity.
Tentatively, the young child offered her hand out to the beast.
The Qilin, noticing the fear in the little girl’s eyes, gently nuzzled his head into her hand, careful of not scaring her away. That immediately made her relax and brighten up, now stroking the beast’s head with a newfound assurance. She giggled when it started licking her face.
The thing noticed something from the corner of its eyes, and saw that the little girl’s knees were wounded. Gently, it licked at the wound on her legs as an attempt to soothe the girl from her pain.
A bright light quickly surrounded them and after the light subdued, the little girl found the wound that was on her leg healed. She gasped in awe, wrapping her arms around the Qilin’s soft fur to express her gratitude.
When she finally found her way home to reunite with her family, she told them all about the little creature she found back in the forest.
She would come back for the Qilin at every chance she was given to play with him, as she was a sick child and couldn't go out that much. The Qilin, touched by the little girl's efforts to come see him despite her condition, couldn't help but give her a little of his blessing.
When she came back home that day, the physicians were surprised to find out that the illness the girl had was cured in one night. Words spread about the mysterious creature, and the people around got curious.
They would wander into the forest in search of the so-called mythical beast. They would offer it various things, from freshly harvested fruits and crops — to various jewelry and golds. The Qilin would stare confusedly at the offerings the humans gave him, circling the human a few times before it sat on one spot and rested there, paying the offerings he was given no mind. The humans that visited the creature would all come back with disappointment from their fruitless journey. Unbeknownst to them, the Qilin had already blessed them with great luck and fortune.
Rumors spread around the country about the great mythical beast that could grant your greatest wishes, and people eventually built a shrine to honor the being. The Qilin gained followers and believers, he was worshipped by all the people that lived there.
They all believed that he was a gift from the heavens itself, a deity that was sent to their lands as a sign that the Gods still cared about their people. If you wish to seek him out, go to the deepest part of the Tianma forest. There you shall see an old shrine with a statue of the Qilin, along with the word “天馬司” engraved below it.
Ring the bell three times, speak your wish out loud in front of the shrine and it shall be granted.
He is known as The Mythical Qilin – Or as the people in town would prefer to call him by his given name, Tenma Tsukasa.
——☆——
It was how he got into this situation.
He hissed in pain at the wound on his abdomen, clutching at it tightly with a fabric he tore from his sleeve to stop the blood from flowing out. Rui leaned against the tree as he bit his lip to keep himself from hissing in pain.
A monstrous growl could be heard nearby.
Rui thought back to how he almost got himself killed from slipping from all things, in the middle of a fight with a vengeful yokai. Luckily, he managed to dodge just in time when the monster charged at him and only got himself scratched instead of being torn in half.
If his old martial arts teacher heard of this, he would cry his eyes out from disappointment.
Clearly, his skills have been downgraded from the lack of use. He mentally apologizes to his old teacher for letting him down after all the things he’s done to teach him. His teacher was so proud of him too.
Rui sighs exasperatedly at his situation.
He only planned to check out if the story he had heard in town was true or not, besides he needed a small break from all the workload that the emperor had given him during this stressful time. The Tianma forest was close enough to the city, so off he went.
Oh, he was so, so wrong.
The forest was vast, far larger than what Rui had anticipated. The deeper he went, the more lost he became. The trees just seemed to tower over him, and there just seemed to be no end to this forest. Is he in the deepest part of the forest yet? He doesn’t know, and he is starting to regret this trip.
Clearly, he didn’t think this plan through.
And to think he’s a tactician. He should be embarrassed.
And really, he did not expect to be attacked by a vengeful yokai on this journey.
The palace work has been messing with his head for him to become like this, it seems.
He can do better than this.
Rui took a deep breath to calm his racing mind.
Scanning the area nearby, he starts to carefully plan the best way to kill the yokai and get out of the forest fast. He carefully ties the fabric he was holding onto his abdomen, making sure it is secure enough before he acts out his plan.
Readying his katana, he let out a loud whistle to gain the monster’s attention towards where he was hiding. It immediately turned its head towards where the tactician was standing, growling like the beast it is. The yokai readied its fangs to attack him once more, clearly ready to devour him whole.
Before the yokai nor the human could do anything, a gush of wind brushed past them. The tactician froze in place. He could feel it clearly, there’s a powerful presence standing nearby.
“Who dares step into this one’s abode?”
A booming voice declared from one of the treetops, his piercing gold eyes glowing in the dark of the night, inspecting the scene that was unfolding carefully from where he stood tall.
The yokai stopped in its tracks when it felt a far more powerful presence nearby and hissed at the sound of the voice, its fangs bared open as if trying to gain dominance over the far superior being.
“A wandering beast? How irritating.” The being clicked his tongue in annoyance when he spotted the yokai not too far away. His eyes gleamed dangerously, eyeing the thing with discontent in his eyes.
Before the tactician knew it, the yokai was ripped to shreds the second he blinked his eyes open. The black blood of the creature splattered across the ground as the yokai turned into ashes.
Rui stared at the one who did this all.
A man stood with his back turned towards him, his long ponytail swaying as he shook his head and brought his own hand up to his face. Rui would have thought the man was a human if not for the horns that rested on top of the man’s head and the tail behind the blonde that was flickering side to side in annoyance.
His hand and sharp claws were painted black with the blood of the creature that just died. He licked his tainted palm curiously before spitting out the contents from his tongue with a disgusted look in his face. He then proceeded to shake his hand off the monster's goo, clearly displeased.
Rui could finally see the features of the being clearly when the other finally turned his body towards him and looked down to meet his gaze.
The tactician held his breath in awe as his eyes widened at the man before him.
And at that moment, his world seemed to come to a stop.
He was beautiful.
Maybe the word beautiful alone would not be enough to describe the sheer heavenly beauty that radiated from the one before him.
His long blonde hair glowed softly underneath the moonlight's glow, swaying with the rhythm of the wind. His bright, golden eyes that shone like the stars above them, looked down at him with a calculating stare. The deity did not take any step closer towards the tactician, he stood where he was, silently judging him with his piercing gaze.
The Qilin crosses his arms across his chest. Alas, he finally spoke to the wounded man before him.
“What is a human doing here?”
Immediately, Rui got down onto his knees. His forehead pressed against the ground with his hands flat beside his head in a bow.
“This one greets the almighty Qilin, Tenma Tsukasa. Words cannot express this one’s gratitude for your help.”
Tsukasa stares down at him with disinterest. “Have you come to seek this one?”
“Yes.” Rui replied, voice steady despite his trembling hands. “This one has come to seek your presence.”
He’s real.
The tactician's thoughts were running a mile a minute.
He’s actually real.
“Speak, human.” The Qilin commanded, tone sharp. “This one does not have all day.”
The tactician took a deep breath, the words coming out of his lips naturally like the skilled talker he was under the presence of someone of a higher authority.
“This lowly one begs, from the deepest part of his heart, for your aid in the war. This one… cannot bear to watch his people suffer any longer.”
He swallowed. “So this one begs to the almighty Qilin, help this lowly one just once. This one will not ask for anything more.”
“Win the war?” The Qilin hummed thoughtfully at the request. Eyeing the tactician beneath him.
His tail flicked, a small display of intrigue.
“And what shall this one receive in return for granting your wish?”
Rui’s mind blanked.
He actually hadn't thought that far ahead because he thought that the deity wasn’t real.
Ah, What should he offer? His life? His service? His soul?
Heavens. he was actually at a loss of words.
“This one has no interest in your loyalty,” Tsukasa said dryly, reading Rui’s thoughts as easily as one reads a poorly written scroll. “If that is what you are thinking of giving.”
The blond’s tail swayed back and forth, growing impatient as the second passed by.
“So what will it be, human?”
The tactician in his panic, blurted out the first thing that crossed his mind.
“…this one will give an unlimited supply of desserts in return for your help.”
The deity stilled in his spot, narrowing his eyes and looking at the tactician like he just said some utter nonsense.
Silence.
Heavy, suffocating silence.
Rui froze.
He then mentally slapped himself. Repeatedly.
Out of all things — why that? Why sweets?! Was he delirious? Had the war finally made him go insane?!
He should dig a hole. Right here. Right now. Bury himself and save the Qilin the trouble of killing him.
A sound broke through his spiraling mind, a stifled snort.
Rui looked up slightly, hesitant.
Tsukasa wasn’t just amused. He was shaking with laughter. His shoulders trembled, his tail twitched wildly behind him.
“A lifetime supply of desserts?” he managed between laughs, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. “Is that truly what you offer this one?”
Rui really wished the earth would swallow him whole right now.
“You amuse me human. Tell me, what is your name?” The blond finally questioned after calming down from his laughter.
“This lowly one goes by the name Kamishiro Rui.” He lowered his head in an attempt to hide his face from embarrassment. The redness of his ears betrayed him.
“Kamishiro Rui…” Tsukasa repeated the name, testing the syllables on his tongue before a smirk grew across his lips. “Hahaha! You truly are something special. I can see it.” The Qilins’s eyes glimmered with renewed interest.
“Very well then, Rui.”
The shift in tone made Rui’s breath catch.
“Since you have piqued this one's interest,” The Qilin lowered himself gracefully to one knee, taking Rui’s chin in his warm fingers to tilt his head up to meet his eyes.
“This great Tenma Tsukasa shall grant your wish.”
——☆——
Later, at the dead of the night, a lone figure covered in blood stood in a pile of corpses on the battlefield. The figure tossed the body he had strangled to death to the ground below, his eyes turning into crescents as a grin formed on his face.
He hummed a tune long lost in time, before walking to the direction of the forest where he came from, disappearing as fast as he came.
When the higher officials inside the palace heard of this news, they were overjoyed.
Still, the tactician reminded them to be cautious, as they did not know whether the mysterious figure was an ally or another foe.
But it sparked a bit of hope inside the palace that maybe, just maybe.
They could win this dreadful war.
(Walking back to his chambers, Rui couldn't help but let a small relieved smile form on his lips.
He couldn't be more thankful for the Qilin's help.)
——☆——
“Here are the things you have requested for, Tsukasa-sama.” Rui placed the plates filled with desserts in front of the work table where he was working before. He has set aside his paperwork so that Tsukasa could sit and eat his fill there.
“Didn't I tell you to drop the formalities, Rui?” Inspecting the snacks served to him, he opted to grab the dango and took a bite out of it, looking at Rui after.
“This one could never. Not after what Tsukasa-sama has done to help this lowly one.” Rui lowered his head.
“This is an order.” Tsukasa said nothing more after that.
“Pardon this one rudeness, then.”
A minute passed.
And without even realizing, five minutes had passed. They both sat there in silence as the Qilin finished the dango and took another piece of the same dessert while staring at the tactician expectantly.
“...”
“Go on, Rui.”
The tactician coughed into his hand, a slight flush dusting his cheeks as he tried to utter the words out.
“...Tsukasa-kun.”
“Mhn. Very well.” Tsukasa hummed in approval, pleased. He then took another bite of the dessert served before him.
“How’s your wound?” He asked, his tail flicking lazily behind him as he enjoyed the food.
Rui looked down at his bandaged stomach, putting slight pressure on it. It didn't hurt as much as before, thankfully. “It’s getting better.”
“Good then.”
A brief silence settled between them. Rui adjusted the bandages at his side. Tsukasa reached for another sweets.
“Why do you insist that I call you casually?” The tactician asked with slight curiosity. His hands moved to take the teacups he had previously prepared with the sweets, pouring some tea. He then placed a cup beside Tsukasa’s dessert plate.
The Qilin held the rim of the cup with his hand before bringing it to his lips, not minding the burning sensation on his tongue. “Hm, I don't like being treated as one. Speaking like this is much more comfortable for me.” He put the cup down once he had finished drinking it.
Tsukasa’s gaze drifted to Rui, now reading one of the scrolls lying nearby. “Tell me, Rui.” The blond started. “What would you do after you achieved your goal?”
He blinked at the sudden question, eyes leaving the scroll he was reading for a moment to meet the Qilin's eyes. “What does Tsukasa-kun want me to do?”
“This one is asking for your answer.”
Rui’s voice softened. “If Tsukasa-kun would allow it, I would like to stay by his side.”
The blond tilted his head, confused. “Why? Is it because you wanted to have my blessings? If so, you already earned it.”
“No. This one would never dare.” Rui shook his head. “I simply enjoy being in Tsukasa-kun’s company.”
Tsukasa blinked, stunned.
“...you do?”
“Yes. Tsukasa-kun may not realize it, but your presence puts others at ease.” Rui’s lips tugged into a faint smile. “And you’re… enjoyable to be around. Every day becomes more lively with you here.”
Tsukasa laughs wholeheartedly, the sound echoing across the silent room.
“Your words remind me of someone I hold dear in my heart.”
“Is that so?” The tactician hummed in answer, he lifted his gaze from the scroll he was reading to look up at Tsukasa that were now sitting on the windowsill once more.
“I consider her as a little sister.” Rui could hear the fondness and adoration in the blonde’s voice.
Someone he holds dear in his heart.
“She was the one who gave me the name ‘Tsukasa’, the first one to ever see me as more than just a deity.” He paused, “You have heard of my story, correct?”
“Ah, is the little girl the one you are talking about?” He put aside his scroll to give the deity his full attention.
“Mhn. As expected of the palace's tactician.” He hums in acknowledgment.
“Alas, she was only a human.” Tsukasa mumbled somberly. “They're all destined to leave at the end.”
“Ah.” Rui muttered quietly, understanding what the other meant. Humans tend to have shorter lifespans than deities. “That's…” He paused.
“That is something that humans cannot change, unfortunately. We can't escape death.” Rui continued. “But her memories still live inside of you, and that's what matters the most. Doesn’t it?”
Tsukasa’s gaze drifted toward the window, to the quiet garden outside. The moonlight washed over his silhouette, softening the sharp edges of his expression. For once, the Qilin looked less like an immortal and more like someone who's been lonely for a long time.
“Yes,” he murmured. “Her memory remains. Even after centuries… I still remember it clearly.”
He smiled faintly at that. But it broke soon after.
“It is both a blessing and a curse,” Tsukasa whispered, voice thinning. “To remember with such clarity. To carry the memories of those around you while they dissapear in a blink of an eye.”
Rui’s breath stilled. Listening.
“She grew older,” Tsukasa continued, softer now. “And eventually, she grew too weak to stand. I could heal her wounds, soothe her fatigue, but I could not prevent death.” His tail curled around himself, protective, as if trying to shield himself.
“The night she passed,” he went on, “she apologized to me. Can you imagine that?” His jaw tightened, eyes heavy. “She told me that she was sorry that she couldn't stay longer.”
The words sat heavily between them.
“The cycle goes on, never-ending. They gave me their hearts, their love, and then they leave. It's a tiring, living like this.”
Rui lowered his gaze, a knot forming in his chest. “Tsukasa-kun… that sounds unbearably painful.”
Tsukasa hummed, the sound simple and honest.
He turned, looking at Rui fully. His eyes looked tired.
“I try not to grow attached anymore,” Tsukasa said quietly. “It is easier that way. To keep distance. To treat humans with formality and detachment. To remind myself that their time is borrowed, and mine is… endless.”
Rui’s chest ached at the quiet resignation in his voice.
“But you,” Tsukasa continued, his fingers tapping lightly on the windowsill, “you walk in here, offering desserts like a fool, speaking with sincerity instead of fear, and then you say you enjoy my company.”
He paused, eyes narrowing with something far more vulnerable.
“You make it difficult to keep my distance, Rui.”
Rui inhaled sharply, as if the air itself betrayed him.
“Tsukasa-kun…” he whispered.
The Qilin looked away, almost embarrassed by his own admission. “And it frightens me. Attachment always does. Because I know how it ends.”
Rui swallowed, hands curling in his lap. “…with loss.”
“Mhn.” Tsukasa’s gaze softened.
Silence wrapped around them for a long moment, quiet, heavy, but not empty.
Rui broke the silence, “Perhaps… the time we get isn’t the tragedy. Perhaps it is a gift. Even if it's short.” He exhaled slowly. “Humans fear death, yes. But because of that, we strive to live our lives to the fullest.”
Tsukasa stared at him, eyes searching. A faint tremor passed through Tsukasa’s fingers. Barely perceptible, but Rui noticed.
Rui looked up, meeting his gaze with a steady calm that surprised even himself.
The Qilin’s breath hitched, caught between disbelief and a hope he had long kept buried.
“I wish to stay with you,” Rui continued, warmth spreading through each word, “for as long as my life allows.”
Tsukasa's eyes shone with something, emotions that he himself couldn't quite name. Something cracked open deep inside of him. He pretended to look at the garden when in reality, he was trying to steady himself. His tail curled instinctively around his knees.
A small drop fell from his eyes, trickling down his chin before it fell onto the ground below.
“Foolish.” He whispered, voice trembling under the weight of intense emotions. The word was soft, harmless.
Another breath, then a broken, quiet sound escaped him. A sob he could no longer contain in his throat.
Rui said nothing.
He simply sat beside him, allowing Tsukasa to grieve, to feel, and to finally let the weight he’d carried alone slip from his shoulders.
Rui didn’t reach out. He didn’t push.
He just stayed.
And for Tsukasa, it was more than enough.
——☆——
“Are you trying to play the koto, Tsukasa-kun?” Rui opened the sliding door leading to the front porch to find Tsukasa struggling to tune the instrument.
The Qilin looked up from where he was and nodded, sighing in utter defeat.
“Ah, yes. How do you humans play this thing?” Tsukasa huffed in frustration, pushing the instrument away from him as if it offended him. His arms crossed and cheeks puffed.
Rui walked over and settled just right behind him, eyeing the sad state of the instrument.
Upon further inspection, he noticed that a few strings had broken off, and the ones still intact were painfully out of tune. Rui couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.
“You didn’t threaten the instrument, did you?” he teased lightly.
Tsukasa scoffed. “I merely asked it to cooperate. It refused.”
“That’s,” Rui paused, looking over at Tsukasa below him. “...not how a koto works,” Rui lets out a soft sigh, kneeling beside him. His fingers moved with practiced ease, tightening pegs, plucking lightly to check pitch, coaxing the instrument back into something playable. Tsukasa watched with a curious gaze, as if Rui were performing some captivating show.
“Here,” Rui said once the strings settled into a gentle hum. “Let me teach you something simple.”
Tsukasa shifted, straightening his posture. Rui’s hands hovered above Tsukasa’s for a moment before guiding them, his touch light and warm.
“Start with these strings,” Rui said quietly. “Pluck them one at a time.” Tsukasa tested the waters and plucked one of the strings with Rui’s guidance, and then another one on his own. “Yes, like that.” The other hums approvingly.
The sound was hesitant at first, then steadier. Rui smiled. “Good. Now, follow my lead.”
They played through it together, Rui’s fingers moving across the strings smoothly as Tsukasa mirrored the motions with more confidence than the last. When they finished, the last note trembled softly in the air before vanishing completely.
Tsukasa was captivated and looked almost proud. “That was… not too bad.”
Rui chuckled. “You did well.”
Tsukasa tried the melody again on his own, stumbling a few times but still determined. Rui watched from beside him, the late afternoon light catching in the blond’s hair, making them shine softly underneath the afternoon’s glow.
And that’s when the words slipped out—
“Tsukasa-kun,” Rui starts, the other acknowledging the question with a soft hum as his fingers pluck the strings of the koto experimentally. “Has anyone told you that you have beautiful hair?” The tactician asks.
The Qilin stops the movement of his fingers, choosing to rest them on top of the strings instead. He turned his head to the side to look at the tactician at his question. “Hm, what makes you say that?” He tilts his head curiously.
Rui hummed.
“Nothing. I just thought Tsukasa-kun’s hair is very beautiful.” He reached his hand out to touch Tsukasa's hair, before he stopped himself and looked at the blond in front of him.
“May I?” He muttered under his breath.
“Do what you like. I trust you won't ruin my hair.” Tsukasa turned his gaze back onto the koto, letting his long blond hair sway behind him.
“Tsukasa-kun thinks so lowly of me.” A soft chuckle left Rui's lips, and with Tsukasa’s permission, he took off the silk ribbon tying the Qilin’s hair up and set it aside. Gently, he ran his fingers through the soft blond locks, untangling any knots with careful movements so as to not cause any pain.
He took a small wooden comb out of his sleeve, taking a small part of his hair and combing through the strands. “Tsukasa-kun takes care of his hair very well.” Rui hums, running his fingers through the golden strands.
“Of course,” Tsukasa continued to pluck the strings of the koto, trying to recall what Rui just taught him moments before. “Someone told me that one should take care of their hair because it's their crown.” A soft, gentle melody flows in the air as Tsukasa played the intricate instrument with such care.
Rui hums in acknowledgment and put the comb down. “They're not wrong.”
Taking a small part of the blond’s hair that was left undone, he gathered it in his hand and brought it near his face. He could smell the subtle scent of Yamayuri that lingered, along with the ointments that the blond had used for his hair.
Tsukasa stops his movements on the koto once more when he hears Rui put down the comb. He turned his gaze towards the tactician.
The tactician’s piercing yellow eyes met the Qilin’s slightly wide golden ones. Rui brought the other’s hair to his lips.
And that gesture caught Tsukasa off guard.
“You're beautiful.”
The tactician said, adoration laced in his voice. Rui’s eyes never left Tsukasa’s face, and he could see the red blossoming on the blond’s pale cheeks at his actions.
Tsukasa immediately turned his head away to hide the growing redness on his cheeks.
“Shameless.” Tsukasa huffs out, clearly flustered.
The tactician only chuckled under his breath, the sound warm enough to melt the last bit of tension lingering between them, unbothered by the Qilin’s accusation. “Is it,” he murmured, still brushing his fingers through the blond’s hair, “if it happens to be the truth?”
Tsukasa swatted half-heartedly at his wrist, but he didn’t move away. “Flattery will not get you anywhere.”
“It wasn’t flattery,” Rui replied, voice still as soft. “I was just telling the truth.”
Tsukasa’s shoulders stilled just for a second before he scoffed again, though softer this time. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet,” Rui said with a small smile, “Tsukasa-kun is still here.”
Tsukasa straightened his posture in an attempt to regain composure, but the flush on his cheeks betrayed him entirely. For a moment, Rui could swear the deity might combust on the spot.
“You–! Honestly, Rui, you cannot just say things like that.”
“Why not? They’re true.” Rui’s smile softened into something gentler, quieter.
Tsukasa’s gaze faltered, golden eyes lowering as his tail flicked once in resignation. “…You truly are something else,” he muttered. The bite in his tone had melted away, replaced with something almost shy.
“If it bothers Tsukasa-kun,” he said, tone light, “then this one shall refrain.”
“It doesn’t–” Tsukasa cut himself off quickly, jaw snapping shut as if the words had betrayed him. He coughed, turning his face away again. “…Just, don’t do it without warning.”
Rui’s eyes brightened with amusement. “As you wish.”
A comfortable silence settled between them. The air no longer tense with embarrassment, but humming with something unspoken, something that neither dared to name yet.
“…You should stop looking at me like that,” the deity muttered, breaking the silence. His voice barely above a whisper.
“Like what?”
“Like I’m… someone precious.”
Rui’s hand paused for a moment in Tsukasa’s hair, only to resume its gentle caress.
“That’s because you are.” he answered simply.
Tsukasa’s breath hitched, fragile as a lantern flame trembling in the wind. Tsukasa turned his head away, choosing to ignore the words that just spilled from the tactician’s lips. “…Let us return. It’s getting late.” He then stood from his earlier position.
Rui released the Qilin's hair slowly, as though letting go of something precious. He stood as well, following at his side. “Of course.”
“...What a fool.” Tsukasa muttered under his breath, cheeks still faintly pink, before leaving first. Rui didn’t miss the slight twitch of the blond’s tail, swaying just a little more lightly than before, almost as if he were pleased.
Rui smiled to himself. Following the blond close behind.
——☆——
“I never believed in any god,” Rui murmured under his breath, his voice barely louder than the gentle ripples of the lake. They had wandered away from the Tanabata festival once the fireworks began, searching for a quieter place to watch it together in silence. They sat side by side on the grass, the water’s surface showing their reflections.
Tsukasa rested his head against Rui’s shoulder, an action that the both of them were familiar with. Rui could feel the warmth of the other even through the fabric.
“But… you were an exception.”
Rui leaned forward until their foreheads met, and the world felt like theirs for a moment. He closed his eyes, relishing the tender moment like it could disappear at any given time.
For once, he wished time would stop.
“Thank you for being a part of my life.” Rui whispered, fingers brushing lightly through the Qilin’s hair before pressing a tender kiss to the top of Tsukasa’s head. A gesture that carries more affection than any words he could say out loud.
Above them, the fireworks continued on in the background, painting the once dark sky with their bright lights.
——☆——
A few decades had passed.
Maybe it was more than that, Tsukasa didn't really keep track of time.
The Qilin had stayed in his cave deep in the mountains ever since the tactician’s death. Tsukasa knew it would happen eventually, when he chose to grow attached to a human, a fragile living being that death could take away at any time.
He knew it would happen.
And he still chose to love him.
Despite everything his mind was telling him that it’s better off to be alone, that it’ll only hurt when they leave, he still longed to love, and to be loved in return.
It's a selfish desire, this feeling.
He lived in solitude.
When humans visited and brought offerings to his temple, wishing for good fortune in their life, the Qilin gave out his blessings and well wishes, even if it's not as powerful as it used to be.
Eventually, people began visiting less and less as the years went by. The people began to believe that it's better off to live by their own beliefs rather than worship something that they didn't even know was real.
When Tsukasa finally decided to step out of his cave after years of isolating himself, he noticed that things had changed.
The once quiet town surrounded by nature had now changed. Buildings stood tall, homes built new, and technologies had been made and improved to accommodate the human needs. Everything was now different from the era he used to live in.
He hesitantly stepped his foot into the bustling city, looking around in awe.
He wandered through the bustling crowd, golden eyes shimmering with amazement. He wandered through lively markets, he watched children chase each other in the crowded park, and stared in awe at moving images displayed on the tall buildings. They had built an entirely new world from their dreams.
Humans had changed.
They have grown into something he could no longer comprehend.
And as he watched them from afar, something inside him began to stir. A longing not for worship, not for reverence, but for connection. To walk among these people as one of them, to touch their world without the distance of a mortal and an immortal.
To live, truly live.
That was when the thought first came to him,
What if, he gave up immortality?
What if, he let go of endless life simply to feel the world in its fleeting beauty?
But, to become a human meant giving up everything, his divine power, his celestial form, and most painfully… his memories.
His memories that he so cherished with his loved ones.
But still, he chose to go down that path.
And so, he closed his eyes.
.
.
.
He didn't know how long he had been asleep, but when he finally opened his eyes, he could feel a gentle warmth surrounding him.
A soft touch lingered on his cheek, and then another on his forehead.
‘Tsukasa.’ A gentle murmur.
‘It’s a fitting name for him, isn't it?’
A hand caressed his head, the touch soft and warm.
‘It is.’
——☆——
Tsukasa quickened his steps, speed walking through the hallways.
He had been searching endlessly for the director he had encountered on Phoenix Wonderland the day prior. After he watched his performance, he knew he had to recruit him as their director. Thankfully, he went to the same school as him. Despite what his classmates had said about the guy, saying that he's a weirdo and all, Tsukasa knew that there's no other person more fitting for the position other than him!
And after a lot of asking and running around the school grounds, he went to the last place he could think of.
Taking the last step of the stairs, he opened the door to the rooftop.
Immediately, he searched and locked his gaze on the person he was looking for standing not too far away.
There stood Kamishiro. He was holding a controller in his hands, looking at him as if he had been waiting for his arrival since earlier.
Tsukasa, with a determined expression and a confident grin on his face, reached his hand out to him and let the words spill out from his lips,
“Let's do shows together, Kamishiro Rui!”