Chapter Text
Wheelchairs were quite the intention weren’t they?
Rui’s eye twitched in irritation though. He hadn’t realized how close it was to tourism season, so now he’s stuck. There were too many people blocking the ramp, so he was forced to make his way towards the wooden boardwalk. Only, rather than have the wooden openings between boards be perpendicular to the wheels, they were parallel. One of his wheels got lodged when trying to avoid traffic.
Why did he think it was a good idea to switch the wheels again?
Glancing at the road reminds him. The thicker ones might be good on the sand, but were cumbersome to deal with on gravel since they were heavier to push.
He couldn’t help himself here. There were too many potential witnesses still strolling about. Energized children still on their sugar high from the cotton candy. Sunbathers long since past the point of looking like a hideous tomato. Picnickers whose baskets were probably full of sand by this point.
Nobody is stopping by to help him. He wasn’t expecting anyone to step up either. People were always so self absorbed, unwilling to change in their set ways. It’s a constant that’s stayed with him through the years.
He sighs as he settles himself further in his chair. Looks like he might be here for a while. Either a good samaritan will have to feel guilty enough to help, or everyone will have to leave. He can only hope something would change before he dries out too much.
Rui tucks his blanket tighter around his bottom half. He only wanted some more screws, since he was running low on small ones- probably from all the mini lights he made for Emu. There are hurried footsteps approaching him, but he disregards them, thinking they belonged to another runner. He probably could’ve cut some of his longer screws to be shorter, but he hasn’t been able to find his wire snippers in a while. Another thing to add to his growing supply list.
He suddenly jolts when he’s pushed forward.
“Sorry!” The person exclaims from behind him. Rui hides a wince from having a loud voice abruptly shouting in his ear. “You looked like you needed help.”
It doesn’t take long for Rui’s chair to be moved over to stable ground, barely any time at all, but the moment felt too long. The mere presence of someone. He couldn’t see the person behind him. They were too close. He’s going to fall-
“There you are,” The mystery person ends up being a young boy his age when he places himself in front of Rui.
Rui squeezes his hand in a fist. The corners of his uneven nails dig slightly into his skin to chase away the memories. “Thank you,” He nods his head slightly.
“No problem!” A dazzling smile is aimed his way, and Rui’s briefly reminded of Emu. There’s a camera hanging around his neck, noticeable with the pastel yellow coloring against the white and blue of his clothes. “Do you need help with anything else?”
“No, but thank you again,” Rui politely tries to bring the conversation to an end. “I’ll simply be on my way now.”
“Alright then,” The smile lessens on the blond’s face. If they were to flip positions, would the curls on his head blend in with the twilight behind them? “Make sure to be careful,” He chides gently, “Wouldn’t want this to happen again.”
They wave each other goodbye and Rui brushes him out of his mind. He’s got things to do, and now he doesn’t have to waste time waiting around.
They run into each other again directly on the sand. Or rather, Rui’s sitting around figuring out how to help this large turtle he found. Once again, he’s stuck with the conundrum of having too many people around.
Too many people who didn’t want to help.
Nene had banned him from his cave earlier, and in a fit of boredom he had started gathering seashells. This time, with the appropriate wheels attached. The thicker width of them makes it easier to navigate the sand. Apparently, some of the dolphins had been scared off when one of his inventions accidentally caused a sudden current they couldn’t get away from. She hadn't been impressed when he tried to tell her he was saving human lives from being eaten.
Some of the hermit crabs should be switching shells soon. This is the thought to prompt his seashell search, which is what brings him in front of this turtle. The poor thing was flipped onto its back. Since he couldn’t lift it right now, he’s been bringing cups of salt water to pour along its stomach to keep it hydrated.
“Do you need help again?” A familiar voice rings out from behind, which causes him to freeze. “Oh look at you,” Without any prompting, the blonde boy who had helped Rui out a few days ago was now lifting the turtle on its stomach. He gently pats the shell after he situates the turtle to be pointed back at the sea.
“I suppose I have to thank you again don’t I?” Rui smiles ruefully, relaxing at the emptiness behind him.
“Don’t worry about it!” The blond places his hand on his hips proudly. “It’s only natural for a star like me to help out!”
Rui tilts his head, “A star?” Since he’s thinking about it now, he’s never seen him before. Rui knows most everyone in town, so he’s probably one of the many passing tourists.
“Ha ha ha ha!” Absentmindedly, Rui wonders how his voice would sound under the water. Would it be just as loud? “You’re in the presence of someone who’s going to take the world by storm!”
A startled laugh escapes Rui’s mouth, “Is that so?” Small chortles continue to leave him.
“You laugh now!” He huffs, “But- oh!” The blond leans slightly closer, “Are those seashells? Where’d you find them? Can you tell me?”
“Hm?” Rui glances down at his lap. On top of his blanket are the small pile of shells he had started collecting for the hermit line. “You can find them anywhere along the water line,” He shrugs. “Just wait for the water to recede.”
“Thank you very much!” Sunset eyes glitter as brightly as the star he aims to be. “Maybe that’s why I couldn’t find some earlier,” He muses, “I’ll have to get started right away.” He lifts his arms in determination.
“You’ll have to wait a few more minutes,” Rui warns. “The water hasn’t fully receded.”
“Really?” He turns to the water. “Huh, I thought it was done.”
“It can be deceiving like that,” Rui murmurs to himself.
He turned back to face Rui, “What was that?”
Rui shakes his head, “If you go back to where the lifeguard sits, there should be a higher chance of finding them,” He offers as thanks. “There’s a reason they like to sit there.”
“A fiend trying to steal all the good shells?” He wonders aloud to Rui’s amusement. The blond starts heading in the right direction, “Thank you for the intelligence!” He calls back. “We’ll have to see each other again.”
Rui feels as he draws his eyebrows together in his confusion. He wants to see him again?
It’s been a while since he’s heard those words.
Rope around his arms.
Thunder in the distance.
Lighting harshly painting the sky .
Rui jolts into alertness with a long sigh. Memories hazily flash through his mind. He opens his eyes- only to immediately jerk back when faced with bright pink ones.
“Rui-kun!” Emu cheers.
He hears a sigh behind him as he uprights himself from floating upside down. “I’ve told you not to wake him like that Emu.”
“I’m not actually sleeping-”
“Yes, yes,” Nene rolls her eyes. “You slow down your metabolism, we’ve already heard this lecture.”
Emu giggles, “Rui-kun should tell us a new story!”
“A new one you say?” He folds his arms in thought. Weaving together a new tale chases away the memories of the boat.
“That’s not what we’re here for right now,” Nene gently scolds. “We’re here because of tourist season,” She scoffs.
He and Emu both giggle at her, well aware of her dislike for people.
She narrows her eyes, which only makes them laugh harder.
“We haven’t been able to do anything before,” He shakes his head. “What makes you think we can do anything now?”
“You’ve got a solution for literally everything else,” She grumbles. Emu swims over to her side to pat her head.
Two beautiful mermaids and they choose to hang out in his little cave. He watches as complementary colored tails- green and pink- softly twine around each other. Nene and Emu have known each other far longer than they’ve known him. He simply caught Emu’s attention one day on one of his excursions to the surface.
“Sadly,” He brings a hand to his face, acting as if he were mourning. “I do not have the answer for why people want to sweat in the sun and get sand stuck everywhere.” Rui knew he wasn’t a complete fan of the beach, even if he thought it was pretty to look at.
“Because Mr. Sun is sizzle sizzle!” Emu explains as she throws her arms up, “And sandcastles can be so woooah!”
“Yes,” He concedes, “The sun is warm and sandcastles can get pretty big.”
Nene glances between the two, still as amazed as ever through their understanding of one another, even though she’s come to learn Emu-speak well enough on her own. “Actually…” She trails off. “That’s mostly why we’re here, you’re still visiting the surface right?”
“I am,” He confirms.
“It’s WEEE-OOO WEEE-OOOO time!” Emu shouts out.
“Right,” Nene nods. “We’re simply warning you to be more careful when you’re up there.” Rui’s glad she’s stopped trying to get him to stop going up during the summer months. He knows it was only her way of showing concern, but he was transitioning between the sea and surface long before they came into the picture. He couldn’t help himself.
Rui never wanted to be contained here in the first place.
He smiles softly, “I’ll be more careful.”
“Is it story time now?” Emu eagerly swims over to latch herself onto his arm.
Rui gazes at her and he’s reminded of the blond he met a couple weeks ago. He hasn’t seen him since their turtle rescue due to him sticking to the water. Suddenly, he has the perfect story to tell, “Sure.”
The three situate themselves on some rocks further down on the ocean floor where he begins his tale of a shining prince who likes to help others, regardless of the body in front of him.
“Did something happen?” Nene asks him afterwards. Emu’s resting where she laid down.
Rui looks at her curiously, “What do you mean?”
“Hmmm,” She shrugs. “The story felt different. I don’t think you’ve told one so… lively before.”
“I haven’t?” He asks her dryly. If anything, this was tame compared to some of the others he’s told.
Nene takes a moment to think, before ultimately shaking her head, “I don’t know, something just felt different. Maybe it was the way you told it?”
“If you say so,” He says doubtfully.
Rui reflects upon her words as she lays down next to Emu. He didn’t think anything had changed, but this was the first time she’s asked him something like that, so he was curious to find out if something really had changed.
Rui spots him at the lighthouse this time. He was right about the twilight. As the sun slowly fell into the sea, the boy’s hair blended right into the event.
There was something melancholic about the way he stood there. A postman on watch, separated from the rest of the world.
Rui decides to make his way over.
The slight creaking of his wheelchair announces his presence in the gravel, and the boy turns around at the noise. Whatever the flash was in his eyes is soon replaced by recognition.
“It’s you again,” Rui decides he likes this version of his voice. Soft.
“It’s me again,” Rui affirms. He couldn’t help himself in approaching, enthralled as he was to figure out what kept drawing him to the stranger. “I see you found at least one shell,” Rui observes the one he’s holding.
The blond huffs a laugh, “Yup! Exactly where you told me! Saki enjoyed the others so much, I had to return for more.” He smiles proudly. “You have my thanks again!”
“Think of it as payment for your help,” Rui shakes his head.
The two trail off into silence as they listen to the gentle humming of the waves. Rui was curious about him, but his curiosity can wait for now. How does one think of questions to ask someone they’ve only met a few times anyway? They didn’t know each other.
“Oh,” The blonde is suddenly gasping. “I just realized- I never told you my name!” He turns to Rui, a fist pumped up to his chest. “Tenma, written as soaring pegasus! Tsukasa, written as ruler of the world! The grandest name, Tenma Tsukasa!”
Rui blinks at him, stunned. Then he’s laughing again. Deep, mirthful laughter made rich with his belly.
“There you go laughing again!” Tsukasa stomps a foot.
“Sorry- sorry,” His laughter trails off. “Never seen an introduction quite like that.” Rui smiles widely, and watches as Tsukasa sputters. “Kamishiro Rui at your service.”
Tsukasa sighs before he’s smiling widely, “Nice to meet you too! You’re from here right? Or, at least, here often? You seemed familiar enough with the water patterns.”
“I live in the area,” Rui answers. True enough in his opinion. The water is a next door neighbor. He's surprised Tsukasa still remembers his comment about the water from such an insignificant conversation.
“Does that mean you can tell me where all the shops are?” Tsukasa sheepishly fiddles with the shell in his hand. “I’ve been trying to look around for some arts and crafts stores, but I’m afraid I keep ending up near all the gift shops.”
“Looking for something in particular?” Rui gestures for Tsukasa to follow as he pivots his chair. He figured it would be easier to show him.
Tsukasa shrugs as he places the seashell in the bag hanging on his shoulder, “Just some wooden pieces. Jewelry boxes, mirrors, frames. Anything to attach seashells to.”
“I see…” Rui trails off. “Looking for something to take back home from vacation?”
“Vacation?” Tsukasa blinks, “Oh! You’re looking at a new member of this beach town!” He lightly jogs ahead to spread his arms before Rui. “My family recently moved in.”
Rui smiles softly, “Then let me be the first to welcome you if nobody’s beaten me to it.”
He’s surprised to find himself meaning it.
“Something has changed,” Nene determines with narrowed eyes.
“Has it?” Rui distractedly answers. He’s grinding up seashells in the air pocket at the top of the cave to prevent the dust from floating away immediately. Tsukasa had taken him exploring around the rocky part of shore, which was an area Rui couldn’t get to often. On land, at least. There, they had found a treasure trove of seashells.
“Rui-kun’s been so floaty,” Emu giggles dreamily.
“Floaty?” He registers reality, slowing down his pestle since the shell had been obliterated.
“He’s acting like Nene-chan when she took me to the lighthouse,” Emu tells him.
Nene sputters, “Don’t tell him that!”
“Oh when she confessed?” He speaks to Emu, knowing it would fluster Nene more.
“When did she tell you!?” It flusters her more.
Rui reaches a hand for the plastic bottle she’s holding so he could pour the dust inside. He’s planning on using it as coral fertilizer, since he recently saw how well his coral garden was doing. “A while ago.” He screws the lid tightly. A grin spreads across his face, “You had a song ready for her?”
She looks like a deformed strawberry with her green hair and red face. “Emu…” She groaned.
“Yes?” Emu wrapped herself around Nene, “Hehe, Nene-chan’s so cute.”
Rui sinks back under the water to place the bottle under a rock for later. The two mermaids follow behind.
“Although…” Nene speaks up, “Does this mean Rui has a crush on someone?”
Rui freezes as Emu gasps in awe, “Rui-kun found a special someone?”
“It would explain some things,” Nene gently teases, obviously happy to have the upper hand for once.
He doesn’t comprehend their words as they continue talking. Did he actually have a crush on Tsukasa? Tourism season has been dying, so they didn’t have to worry about the many crowds. They met at the lighthouse as often as they could and spontaneously planned their outings from there.
The carnival, where he learned Tsukasa is atrocious at the games. The movies, where Tsukasa whispered to him all the reasons certain pieces of music were used in their scenes. He took Rui to a play once, where Rui was intrigued enough to wonder if any of the small animatronics he’s made in the past would be able to help.
His favorite outing had been when it started raining one day. Tsukasa had taken him to his home, since they were close by. Without asking, he had thrown a blanket into the dryer and had given it to Rui, then left him with plenty of time to switch it alone. Rui had noticed how no one was home, so he was the only one who got to listen as Tsukasa played the piano for him that day.
He’s never seen Tsukasa look so relaxed.
It was the little moments of Tsukasa holding doors open for him, carrying an extra blanket, an extra water bottle, and staying by his side rather than his back. Rui felt shame bubble up inside from the deception.
“-It’s only been a few months.” Nene was saying.
“What?” Rui shakes his head to clear it.
She smiles gently, “If you did meet someone, it’s only been a few months right? You don’t need to have an answer now.”
Emu giggles, “You should dine them like Nene-chan did-” Nene covers her mouth.
“Right, well-” Nene sputters. “We have to vet them out, so make sure they know to expect us.” Emu tries to look as menacing as she could with half her face covered. “That’s our cue to leave now.”
Nene ushers Emu out as quickly as she could before she could spill anything else. Jokes on her, Rui could write a novel through the love story Emu shared with him.
Does he have a crush on Tsukasa?
He’s got enough time to figure out if he does or not.
The question is, would Tsukasa want to be with someone like him?
Tsukasa’s sitting at the base of the lighthouse this time, which is a bit of a shock. He usually held enough energy to be standing for Rui’s arrival.
He doesn’t turn around at the sound of Rui’s wheelchair.
“Tsukasa-kun?” Rui calls out to him.
It ends up causing Tsukasa to almost fall in his startlement, “Ah, Rui!” He smiles unconvincingly. “How are you this fine night?”
Rui frowns, “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” This catches Tsukasa off guard as he attempts to think of a response, repeatedly opening and closing his mouth. “You don’t have to explain if you don’t want to,” He offers.
“Hmmm,” Tsukasa shakes his head. “No it’s fine.” Rui pulls up as close as he dares to the edge Tsukasa is sitting on, to which Tsukasa scoots back. “I mentioned having a sister right?” He asks abruptly.
“Saki, right?” ‘Mentioned’ is a light word for how much Tsukasa carries on about her. Sometimes, he thinks, he probably knows more about her than Tsukasa.
“She had a relapse yesterday,” Tsukasa mumbles.
Tsukasa explained to him a while ago about his chronically ill sister. They had moved here due to the hospital having better equipment. The old one simply couldn’t keep up with how often she fell ill, so the Tenma family had packed up and left.
The doctors told them the clearer air was supposed to help out.
They're still in the process of determining that.
Rui was surprised to learn the day they first met had been Tsukasa simply wandering around, getting a feel for his new surroundings. The camera he had been holding was used to show Saki all the cool things he found.
Which translated to- he took pictures of the things he thought she would find cute.
“And how is she now?” Rui asks.
Tsukasa shrugs despondent, and Rui frowns at the top of his head. He didn’t like seeing Tsukasa like this. He wanted to see the soft, happy Tsukasa back. The one who played the piano so beautifully for him. “She wasn’t even doing anything extraneous,” Tsukasa says. The frustration on her behalf is clear to see. “Only getting ready for when school started.”
Ruis hums in response, not quite sure how to comfort him. Medicine has never been his strong suit. Never needed it before, and certainly not after. The only thing he would be able to say would be a compliment at how far it has evolved. He wasn’t about to say this to Tsukasa though, Rui didn’t think he would appreciate being told that at least his sister was alive. She most likely wouldn’t have survived a couple years ago.
Tsukasa slumps against his wheelchair, head dangerously close to his gelatinous umbrella. “Sometimes I don’t know if she’s getting better.” He confesses.
This, Rui knew how to comfort. He places a hand on Tsukasa’s head, fingertips parting the soft curls- and keeping his head from moving any closer. The blanket only worked if no one touched him. His slightly deflated umbrella and cleverly placed poles prevented people from looking too closely. “You’ve both made it this far, right? All you have to do is continue believing in her.”
Tsukasa doesn’t say anything in response, but as he leans into Rui’s hand, he knows he took his words to heart.
Tsukasa catches him by surprise when he kisses him.
They’re at Tsukasa’s house again. For no reason other than they simply didn’t feel like doing anything big. Tsukasa’s sitting on the piano bench, elbow perched on the cover over the keys. Rui’s next to him in his usual seat.
Rui’s ranting about bugs- which he knows Tsukasa hates, but he isn’t stopping him- since the library recently received a new collection of reports. He couldn’t help himself, Tsukasa says talk and he talks.
And talks. And talks.
Rui could go on about anything and everything if Tsukasa was the one listening.
Tsukasa shuts him up with a kiss. It’s the best way Rui’s ever been silenced.
He’s disappointed when it barely lasts. A tiny peck couldn’t possibly contain all the feelings Rui wants to share with him. Tsukasa’s jumping in his seat, “I’m so sorry! I should’ve asked- I couldn’t help myself, wait no, that sounds worse-”
“Tsukasa-kun.” Rui says calmly, desperately ignoring the rising blush on his cheeks. Tsukasa pauses, looking at him nervously. “Can you kiss me again?”
The blush on Tsukasa’s face spreads down to his neck. Rui wonders how far it spreads under the shirt collar. Tsukasa slowly leans forward, shakily raising his hands to cradle Rui’s face.
A soft press. Tsukasa’s lips are soft from the chapstick he wears, tasting faintly of vanilla. They don’t leave when they separate, preferring to instead press their foreheads together.
Tsukasa giggles slightly, prompting Rui to join him.
“What was the occasion?” Rui asks him, filled with delight.
Tsukasa shrugs sheepishly, “I couldn’t help myself,” He repeats as he brings a hand to his chest. “To be completely honest… I don’t know what this is yet, but I didn’t want it to leave either.”
This takes Rui by surprise. Tsukasa didn’t know how to feel either? He always seemed so sure of himself. Feeling happiness and sadness in absolutes. Rui didn’t think he knew anything in between.
“Well…” Rui trails off. “Want to find out together?”
Tsukasa smiles at him, so different from the first, but no less bright. “You want to?”
“Of course.”
Rui accepts him wholeheartedly, but the shame grows a little more when he doesn’t remove his blanket.
“I won’t be able to make it tomorrow,” Tsukasa explains. “Since Saki’s been feeling better, she wants to try going out on a boat.”
Rui inhales sharply, “Boat?” He’s glad his voice came out evenly.
“Yup!” Tsukasa turns to face him, “My parents rented one for the day.”
This morning Rui finds himself hidden amongst the rocks. Tsukasa had told him the boat ride wouldn’t happen until later, but Rui couldn’t help himself.
They were only supposed to test out how far the light could be seen. Rui had been involved in changing out the lights when they discovered the flickering, and he would take advantage of being given the chance to go out on the free boat ride to view his work.
He didn’t think the others would take advantage of this.
Rui spends the day stalking along the shoreline, harshly carving a path through his nervousness.
They grabbed him from behind.
They tied up his arms.
Tsukasa and his blonde haired family are easy to spot when they arrive. His sister has the same ombre hair he does. Along with the same energy considering they both have a hop in their step.
Rui relaxes marginally when Tsukasa places himself on a seat at the back of the boat. No one could get him from behind there.
Too soon, he is tensing up again. He scans the water. Rui’s being pulled further out quicker than he expected. The waves get rougher in their movement. His head can peak over the rock he’s next to when the water pushes him up.
When he looks back up, Tsukasa is gone.
“Tsukasa-kun?” Rui narrows his eyes. A normal person would have swam back up to the surface by now.
A pause.
He can’t wait.
Rui dives deeper into the water as quickly as he could, desperate to find Tsukasa before he sank too far.
He can’t end up like him. He repeats to himself. He can’t end up like him.
Rui spots him desperately waving his arms, trying to swim his way up, but clearly losing his battle against the water. He’s a bright star in the encroaching darkness, falling instead of rising.
There wasn’t much that could win against the water.
Rui grabs him from behind. He propels the two of them up, up, up. His tentacles light up blue with the energy he’s using to go as quickly as he could.
Realizing someone grabbed him, Tsukasa places his hands over his mouth. Conserving the little amount of air he has left.
Rui slows as he reaches the surface, knowing he couldn’t suddenly push Tsukasa through with the oxygen difference. Hopefully, slowing down would be enough. He pushes Tsukasa up, keeping himself lowered to prevent himself from being seen by the people on the boat.
Rui keeps a tight grip around Tsukasa’s waist to prevent his hands from shaking.
He listens as Tsukasa starts coughing. Deep, lung rattling coughs as he tries to regain his breath. Rui could only be glad he didn’t lose consciousness at all. Tsukasa will have to get looked at anyway. There was always the possibility he swallowed some water, and it was possible he could later drown-
“Tsukasa!”
"Onii-chan!
Rui forces himself to let go as the boat approaches. He slowly sinks down as he watches someone jump into the water to pull Tsukasa out.
The water filled his lungs and he couldn’t do anything more than continue to swallow in his panic. Frantically, he tries to squirm away, but the iron dragging him down isn’t releasing its grip.
Rui follows the boat back to the surface, before parting ways to find his change of clothes and wheelchair.
That night, Tsukasa shows up at the lighthouse. Rui had placed himself in his chair before realizing he couldn’t go. There was no reason for him to know about Tsukasa almost drowning. No reason to show up unannounced when he’s deliberately made it so that Tsukasa wouldn’t be able to introduce him to his family. Which actually wasn’t that hard to do, but that was a thought for another day.
He’s been here waiting, knowing Tsukasa probably wouldn’t show up. But, lo and behold, the star has managed to surprise him again.
Rui turns to find him digging his shoes into the ground almost shyly, “I guess I should be thanking you for saving my life.”
Did Tsukasa see him? “Your life?” Rui asks cooly. “How did I save it?”
Tsukasa stops digging his feet and brings his eyes up seriously, “You were the one who saved me, I know it because I saw you.”
“Did something happen?” Rui seeps concern into his voice, aching.
“Rui, please-”
“You know you can talk to me if something happened-”
“Why are you deflecting-”
“You can always see strange things when you’re under the water-”
“I never said I was under the water!”
Woops. Rui gave himself away with that one. He sighs. “What do you want then?”
“Only the truth,” Tsukasa earnestly holds his hands out in front of him.
Rui’s hair covers his face when he tilts his head. He considers Tsukasa’s words. Would it really be alright to expose himself to himself to someone who’s never pushed? To someone who's only ever wanted Rui? “Do you know what happens when someone dies in or near the water?”
“Huh? Are you-” Tsukasa cuts himself off. Rui doesn’t know what he sees when he looks at him. Just someone in a wheelchair to be pitied? “No,” He huffs.
“If you love the water enough, it grants you a blessing.” Rui had loved exploring his new environment at first, always open to the opportunity to learn new things. Before the realization of being stuck kicked in. It had started to drain him, which led to him figuring out how he could go back on land.
His parents are still out there somewhere.
Rui couldn't go back to them like this, no matter how much he wished otherwise.
“Ok?”
“You are blessed with the opportunity to live another life, under the water.” Rui absentmindedly rubs patterns into his blanket, thinking of how Emu and Nene's love transcended through the water. “But if you don’t love the water, you’re cursed.” He can hear Tsukasa impatiently tapping his foot, waiting for him to get to the point.
That split second where Rui hated both the water and his murderers.
Rui decides to indulge him. He backs up closer to the edge of the platform, and can hear Tsukasa’s worried intake. Rui removes the blanket covering him, exposing the purple membrane. Without skipping a beat, he’s pushing himself over the edge and into the water.
“RUI!!” Rui can hear Tsukasa scream through the splash. He pokes his head out to see Tsukasa scrambling his way over.
“Not too long ago,” Rui tells him. He's leaning back to expose the blue electricity running through where his legs used to be. “A curse was placed over me.”
Tsukasa’s eyes are wide in disbelief.
“I’VE BEEN DATING A FISH THIS WHOLE TIME!?”
“Ehh, looks like,” Rui cheerfully tells him. On the inside, he’s terrified. Rui’s never exposed himself to anyone before. What if Tsukasa doesn’t want anything to do with him anymore? What if this is what finally gets Tsukasa to leave?
“Does that mean you’ve been in danger of drying out this whole time!?” Tsukasa fretts, which makes Rui freeze. “What if something happened or-”
“You don’t mind?” Rui interrupts him, causing Tsukasa to blink at him.
Tsukasa glances between him and the water he’s floating in, clearly debating with himself about something. He’s abruptly smacking his hands against his cheeks before Rui’s vision is blinded by the white splash of Tsukasa jumping into the water.
Rui quickly glides over to hold him above the water line, the memory of what happened earlier flashes through his mind. In return, Tsukasa is tightly wrapping his arms around his neck.
Tsukasa gazes at him softly, curls straightened with the weight of the water, “I admit, it’ll probably be a bit of a learning curve.” He tucks his head into the junction of Rui’s neck. “But I don’t really mind.”
Rui holds him tighter as he presses his nose into blond hair, leaning back to keep them both afloat.
He didn’t think he’d mind learning either.