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[tsukikoayanosuke]

The Prince's Mad Sorcerer  - Ruikasa Week 2023

Day 6: Angst

When Tsukasa Tenma was fifteen, he met with Rui Kamishiro for the first time.

During the three-month summer class at the Wonderland Kingdom Magic Academy, Tsukasa and Rui were roommates. During their first night, Rui had the audacity to sneak in through their bedroom window, carrying two bottles of wine. Tsukasa immediately recognized the smell, because it always made him dizzy.

"You!" Tsukasa yelled with a hand covering his nose.

Rui at least looked rather sheepish. "Ah, I thought His Highness Tenma is already asleep."

"Not only did you trespass the barrier after sunset, you even brought alcohol here! You broke two rules, Sir Kamishiro."

"Ah, but, Your Highness. I'm not from this kingdom. I don't know any of the academy rules."

"The rule is written on the wall at the entrance."

"Ah... So that’s what the big rock is."

Annoyed, Tsukasa unsheathed his sword, forcing Rui's back to hit the window. "Throw away those wine and I won't tell the professor."

"But I paid it with my money." Rui offered a bottle at Tsukasa. "I'll even share one with you! Can you pretend you did not see me?"

The audacity, this kid! "That's bribery!"

Rui pouted. "You're not fun, Your Highness."

Tsukasa swung his sword, but Rui ducked out of the way. He jumped away, toward the roof below him, and Tsukasa chased after him. It was almost like a dance. Rui dodged every swing of Tsukasa's sword with grace. He had a cheeky, almost cat-like smile on his face that Tsukasa wanted to wipe out.

Maybe back then, Rui was annoying, but now that was probably one of the few moments of fun between them.

Tsukasa was raised to be the perfect heir. he had no time for fun. But, somehow, Rui managed to latch himself onto him. The troublemaking eldest prince of Vivid Kingdom and adopted brother to Touya and Kanade. He was caught in detention many times for breaking rules and Tsukasa was often assigned to watch over him. Of course, Rui used the time to tease him to his breaking point. Perhaps Tsukasa slowly grew fond of Rui's laughter, but he won't admit it.

——————————————————————————————

When Tsukasa Tenma was sixteen, he met with Rui again.

He, along with Rui and many other heirs, was forced to join the royal hunt held by Marlon Kingdom. Though it was more of a suicide mission. They weren't expecting to meet the man-eating black turquoise in the cavern. The others managed to escape, but Tsukasa and Rui were still trapped.

"I don't think it can find us here for now," Rui muttered, digging over his pocket to take out a bottle.

"What's that?" Tsukasa asked, rather delirious. His leg was bitten by the turquoise earlier and it said its spit was poisonous.

"Healing salve from Miss Momoi." Rui smiled, opening the bottle and applying it to Tsukasa's leg. It stung, but Tsukasa held the pain. "She gave me earlier after I saved her from Princess Michelle's harassment."

"You should use it too," Tsukasa said. There was a burn scar on Rui's chest. Princess Michelle's boyfriend was attempting to mark one of their servants, Airi Momoi, the same one that the princess tried to harass earlier if it weren't for Rui's interference (Tsukasa swallowed the annoying feeling from seeing Rui and Airi having a pleasant conversation), with a burning rod. Rui, being stupid, put himself between the two, letting the rod mark his chest. Now there was a burning symbol of the Marlon Kingdom on him.

"I'll be fine," Rui said, still smiling at Tsukasa, "you need it more than I do."

This boy… Was he always this selfless?

"But going back to the problem at hand," Rui continued. "I don't think we can get out without killing it first."

"There..." Tsukasa breathed in, trying to shake the dizziness because he had no time for feeling sick, "I think I know where the weak point is."

"You do?" Rui looked up in surprise.

Tsukasa nodded. "When it bit me, I saw it under its neck. I've read about this turquoise. It has a circle of scales that is relatively soft."

"So, we can hit it there."

"It'll be hard. No one had ever killed it. And I don't think we can kill it with our condition."

Rui sighed, sitting beside Tsukasa. "Then we can only hope for Touya to go get help. It'll take three or four days though. The Wonderland Kingdom is the nearest-"

Tsukasa's breath hitched. "You can't get help from there."

Rui turned to him. "Why?"

Tsukasa pulled his uninjured leg up, hugging it. "Wonderland Kingdom is burnt to the ground by the Marlons."

Rui gasped. "Is everyone okay? Your sister-"

"I can't find Saki. She went missing during the invasion." Tsukasa felt his eyes begin to sting. "Dad is dying, Uncle Kaito is trying his hardest to keep up together, and I'm just sitting here, King Gallerian's prized prisoner." He let out a huff. "What a useless prince I am."

Rui didn't say anything. Instead, he just hugged Tsukasa, running his hand through his hair. And Tsukasa just broke down, crying all the pain and the longing for his kingdom and family.

"Take a rest, Tsukasa," Rui whispered, "Three days. Takes a rest. Then we'll try to get out of here."

Rui had an idea, a brilliant idea. Using the Tenma family's killer string that Tsukasa had as a backup weapon, they set a trap to strangle the black turquoise. Rui would lure the monster out of the water while Tsukasa struck the weak spot. The turquoise's neck cut off in a clean slice, its head fell into the water. But Tsukasa didn't care, what he care about was Rui.

Rui who was floating on the water unconscious.

"Rui!" Tsukasa limped to grab Rui and brought him to shore. "Rui! Wake up!"

Rui coughed and Tsukasa let out a sigh of relief. "Tsukasa..."

"You're okay." Tsukasa leaned down, resting his forehead on Rui's. "We did it."

"Yeah..." Rui smiled tiredly. "Tsukasa. Can you play me a song?"

Tsukasa complied because Rui was alive. He'll do anything to keep Rui alive. So, he sang a song, a song composed for the two of them.

——————————————————————————————

When Tsukasa Tenma was seventeen, Rui appeared in the middle of the battlefield.

He was different. Tsukasa kinda expected that after going missing since the fall of Vivid Kingdom. Black magic is surrounding him. Corpses followed him, moving along the tune of his pipe. Princess Michelle Marlon couldn't do anything as the corpse ate her until nothing is left. It made Tsukasa sick. Why was Rui using black magic? Where had he been for the past three months? Was Rui the one who had been killing the Marlon army all this time?

"Rui..." Tsukasa whispered, "There are consequences for practicing black magic."

Rui just smiled. It wasn't the cat-like smile that Tsukasa grew to love. But it was a sinister smile. "I know. I'm ready to pay it."

"But what if you can't control it? Rui, it can break your body and mind!"

"Save your lecture, Tsukasa! This is none of your business!"

"Rui, please! Come back to Wonderland with me!"

"What? So you can lecture me? To take away my power?!"

"Rui Kamishiro!"

"Tsukasa Tenma!"

"Prince Tsukasa." Touya walked between them, gaze firm on Tsukasa. "With all due respect, whether my big brother is right or wrong, he belongs to our Vivid Kingdom. It's not up to the Wonderland Kingdom to judge."

Tsukasa's breath hitched. He wanted to cry. Rui was back. Rui was alive. But Rui was different. Rui was using black magic. Rui could kill himself from the corruption. Tsukasa had to do something. Tsukasa wanted to help.

But he couldn't, because he was not part of Vivid Kingdom. He was the Prince of Wonderland Kingdom. This was not Wonderland Kingdom's problem. Tsukasa shouldn't care.

But it was Tsukasa's problem. His heart was in pain for Rui. 

——————————————————————————————

When Tsukasa Tenma was nineteen, he stood against Rui.

After the fall of the Marlon Kingdom, its territory is divided between the remaining four kingdoms. The Pianoforte Path, which once held the great wall of Marlon's history, now belongs to the Nightcord Kingdom. Queen Kaena Asahina, Princess Mafuyu Asahina's (Kanade's, Rui's sister, fiancee), ordered to tear down the wall, forcing the remaining Marlon Kingdom citizen into hard labour.

Rui; the selfless Rui who strives for justice and equality, couldn't stay down. Tsukasa knew that. That was why he ran down toward Pianoforte Path, witnessing Rui launch his black magic upon the advancing Nightcord Kingdom's force. Tsukasa pulled out his sword to protect the army.

"Rui. Drop your weapon."

Rui was not impressed. "What is this? What happened to persuade me to go back to Wonderland with you?"

"Prince Rui." The both of them turned toward Queen Keana on the hill, looking down at him. "For the sake of the friendship between Nightcord and Vivid, give us back the Marlon prisoners."

Rui scoffed at the queen. "This is all my doing. There's no need to drag Touya into this." He smirked. "You know, this kinda feels like King Gallerian's reign. It appears that we only trade one evil king with another."

The queen gritted her teeth. "You brat!"

Her army launched itself toward Rui. The Mad Sorcerer only brought his lips onto his flute. Tsukasa's eyes widened. "Rui! Stop!"

Rui didn't stop playing, controlling a corpse that looks like Rilliane, a girl that joined them back during Wonderland's summer class. The corpse fought the army without mercy, following Rui's tune. Tsukasa ran toward Rui. He had to stop this. He had to stop Rui from doing more black magic.

His sword glowed and he let out a light attack. It clashed with Rui's black magic and an explosion happened.

When the smoke settled, neither Rui nor the Marlons were to be seen. Once again, Rui slipped from between his fingers. Dammit!

The next morning, Touya declared that Rui had defected from the Vivid Kingdom.

——————————————————————————————

When Tsukasa Tenma was nineteen, Tsukasa met with Rui's child. Well, he claimed that she was his child.

Usagi was crying while grabbing onto his cape. Rui was close and Tsukasa's heart leaped. It had been a while since he saw his...friend? Enemy? Someone he cares about a lot? His dearly beloved? Tsukasa couldn't decide.

They talked about mundane things and Tsukasa was taken back to the days of summer class. The war was over, but tension was still high. This single moment with Rui was possibly the only moment when Tsukasa could truly relax. Despite doing down the dirty road in Kamiyama Graveyard where it became the only place where the remnants of Marlon could live, Tsukasa felt at peace.

"You sure you don't want to stay for dinner?" Rui offered.

Tsukasa shook his head. "Saki is probably wondering when I am now."

Rui smiled. Oh, how Tsukasa missed that smile. "Next time you come, I'll treat you to a good meal."

Tsukasa smiled back. "I'll look forward to it. I have a few songs I can play for you next time."

Rui stopped walking, making Tsukasa look back. "Rui?"

"Are the songs purification songs?"

Tsukasa looked down at his feet. The tension returned. Ever since Rui's return, Tsukasa started to ponder more in the castle library, researching songs and spells that can purify someone from black magic. He didn't want Rui to succumb to madness from the corruption. He just wanted to help.

Rui let out a sigh. "Tsukasa, who am I to you? Can you mind your own business?"

Who was Rui to him? He is Rui who would draw funny doodles during detention. He is Rui who would save and protect the weak. He is Rui who drowns himself in forbidden art to win the war. He is Rui who is kind, brave, resourceful, and cunning. He is Rui who managed to steal Tsukasa's heart and hold him in its tight grip. He is Rui who Tsukasa would do anything for. He is Rui who Tsukasa wants to spend the rest of his days with him.

But instead of saying his thought, Tsukasa asked back, "Who am I to you?"

Rui was taken back this time. He didn't say anything for a while, the gear in his head turning. He took a deep breath before answering. "I used to see you as my soulmate."

Soulmate...Rui is his soulmate...

"I still am."

It was an oath.

——————————————————————————————

When Tsukasa Tenma was twenty-one, he was being chased by his own army.

It was chaos. Princess Mafuyu Asahina was dead at the hand of Rilliane during Mafuyu's sister's ambush at Pianoforte Path. All the blame was put onto Rui. Allen and Rilliane, upon the offer of Queen Keana, agreed to give themselves up in exchange for letting go of Rui and the rest of the remaining Marlons. But Queen Keana lied, declaring that they will burn down the rest of the evil. But the only evil is those whose heart was corrupted. Rui, despite using black magic, his heart is always pure. Tsukasa felt like something was amiss, that there was something, someone, controlling behind the scene. Rui could control Rilliane. There was no reason for her to go berserk. Unless...

It didn't matter now. What matters right now was getting Rui to safety.

"You're gonna be okay... You're gonna be okay..." Tsukasa kept whispering, pouring all of his energy into healing Rui.

Rui's eyes opened a little. He glared at Tsukasa. "Go away!" His strength was little, but it was enough to nudge Tsukasa slightly, much to his surprise.

"I'm not letting you die, Rui!" Tsukasa yelled. "I'm not losing you!"

Footsteps could be heard running into the cave. Tsukasa looked up to see the Wonderland Kingdom's army standing there, sword flattered ever so slightly. "Your Majesty," the captain said, "please give us the Mad Sorcerer."

Tsukasa gritted his teeth. Call him slightly overprotective or possessive, but he doesn't like the idea of giving him Rui.; his soulmate. So, for the first time in his life, he pointed his sword toward his own soldier. "If you want to get him, you have to go through me!"

So, he fought. He fought hard. A future king knows that he must fight for their people and their loved ones. Rui is part of that. He had become a part of Tsukasa's life that he couldn't let go. So, he will protect his beloved, even if he had to go against the four kingdoms. If Rui had the whole world against him, then Tsukasa will be there to stand beside him. Even when his body was pushed to the limit and his mana is drained to the core. When a mage struck him with a strong sleeping spell, Tsukasa fell down. But he would do everything for Rui. So, with the remaining mana he had before he fell unconscious, he cast a teleportation spell, sending Rui to the Kamiyama Graveyard where his people can heal.

The last thing Tsukasa saw was Rui's sleeping face and he felt guilty that he had a restless sleep.

When he woke up, he was locked in the tower. It was his punishment for even raising a sword toward his people. He knew Uncle Kaito would give him more punishment. But it would be worth it. As long as Rui could stay safe, then Tsukasa could handle anything.

When it was declared that Rui Kamishiro, the Mad Sorcerer, had died, Tsukasa felt himself dying with him.

——————————————————————————————

Tsukasa saw the firework signal. Panic filled his heart. Usagi and her little scout friends were told that they aren't allowed to use the emergency beam unless they were in grave danger. Grabbing his sword and opening his office window, he jumped out and blew a whistle. His trusty pegasus came flying down and he rode at great speed, worried for his daughter and her friends.

The danger came in the form of...Rilliane? How come Rilliane's corpse got summoned again? Who was using black magic?

And then, he heard the song. A song that Tsukasa would play on the piano almost every night. A song that Tsukasa composed for his beloved.

And the one who played it right now was...

When Tsukasa Tenma was thirty-four, he reunited with Rui Kamishiro.

[broken-synchronicity]

~WIP Wednesday~

Hey y'all! 👋 As everyone knows, I don't normally post wips of anything I'm writing. But, since my motivation has suddenly returned from war, I decided that a wip Wednesday post would be a good way to give you guys a little preview of what I've been doing since the last thing I finished.

(If anyone noticed, the last thing I finished was not a chapter of LiT.)

So, here are the two things I'm working on right now:

Anyways, the first is a preview of the next chapter of LiT!

Well? You guys excited? I aaaaam 👀

As for the second thing; this is a new project I'll be doing between LiT chapters. It is not a TWST fic so I'm dropping it under a cut since I haven't exactly advertised my blog to any fandom outside twst in a long while 😅 but if you've found me here from the former Suibian Subs discord, I hope you'll enjoy this!

So, here's a preview of Let It Bloom, a stardew valley AU for MDZS