Garden of Rememberance
Toya, Saki, and Kanade sat in their Mother's garden. The garden had long been since abandoned after her passing, only her three children took care of it long after. Children they were, yet they wanted to keep alive something their Mother strived for
The flowers were beautiful— similar to their Mother— she'd always tell them the backstory behind each flower there was. Hyacinths were Tsukasa's favorite. They're were Mother's, too.
Saki took a sip of her tea, she was well aware of the heavy atmosphere growing, she simply chose not to comment on it as of the moment.
"We're actually gonna help him, right?" Kanade asked, she was well aware that they were to help Tsukasa sneak out. They felt it would've been better to let him explore the world, he was ready. And if he passed? They didn't think of that, they thought too highly of him for that
Well, they didn't exclude that possibility. They simply chose to ignore it.
Tsukasa was strong enough to handle himself, couple that with his ability to heal. They were always so mesmerized by his ability to create life from nothingness, they couldn't do that themselves. Having been born with Dark magic, they were far more useful when it came to destruction
The other two nodded in unison as a reply to Kanade, she smiled and continued to write her next song. She was a known bard amongst the Kingdom. Saki was known for her kindness and pastries, Toya was known for his elegance and beauty
It was a shame the only thing Tsukasa was known for was his ability, not many people had even bothered to learn his name. Many simply called him, "The Boy who Heals" and nothing more. They spoke of him as if he was merely a tool, a tool they could use for their own personal benefit
"Shameful, they dare to even think of using him." Toya mumbled to himself, the other two looked at him. He shot them a look which gave them all they needed to know, returning to what they were previously doing, Kanade couldn't help but feel the heavy atmosphere weigh just a tad bit less
"Your royal highnesses! Your royal highnesses! Your brother calls for you!" A maid ran over, bowing as she approached. The three shared a glance and nodded before making their way up the tower.
The stairwell was a spiral, a nightmare to get through if you asked them. They walked up the rickety, old stairs. Reaching a giant door which lead to the room of which their brother lived
They knocked three times, Taukasa opened the door ever so slightly and let them in.
"Just go! We'll keep watch!" Saki reassured, they didn't agree with having Tsukasa locked up here. He was going to face his fate even if he was trapped here, especially if he wanted to go out! Maybe he'd even meet somebody, he needed somebody else minus his siblings there
They wanted him to be free, that's what Mother would've wanted.
Tsukasa thanked them once more, climbing down the tower with the rope they'd brought. He was to return early in the morning the following day
He snuck out again. He was free again. He ran around the grass and found himself walking towards the forest once more, he wanted to meet his friend again. He wanted to meet and talk to somebody new.
He retraced the path he walked the day before, he spotted the old cottage again. It's chimney was emitting some smoke, Tsukasa was sure that was what he'd seen from his tower
He built up the courage to knock on the door, three short knocks one after the other. The door creaked open slightly but it seemed to have been unlocked all along. He went in due to worry and spotted Rui in his kitchen with bandages on his arms
"Ah! It's not nice to enter without permission, you know..." Rui looked thinner than before, he was paler, the eye bags only got darker and he looked like he hadn't seen the sun in days. "What happened to you?!" Tsukasa exclaimed, much louder than he had hoped. Rui recoiled a bit, "You enter my house, and then insult me? How rude of you, Tsukasa!" Rui feigned being hurt as he stepped towards the blonde
His movements were stiff, he looked to be in pain.
"Stop." Tsukasa ordered with such finality it sent shivers down Rui's spine. He froze in place as Tsukasa stepped closer. "What happened, Rui?" Tsukasa said. He expected an answer, "Potion gone wrong... I haven't been able to eat or go out..." Tsukasa sighed. He pulled Rui by the arm and sat him on the couch
"Yeah, well, your bandaging sucks" Tsukasa said rather bluntly, Rui looked at him, obviously confused. Tsukasa took off the bandages to find multiple burns, he winced slightly at the sight. Rui was still baffled by the events playing out
Tsukasa rebandaged the arm in a more efficient way. It had less chances of getting loose and was neater.
"A medic?" Rui asked Tsukasa, Tsukasa shook his head. He was no medic. Although, Tsukasa was well versed in medicinal herbs and medical practices so he might as well have been one. "I just study medicinal herbs and stuff..." Tsukasa trailed off, it was true that he could heal practically anything, although he wanted to try with regular herbs in the case his magic would, oddly enough, fail. He couldn't revive people, he couldn't do something that extreme
Or maybe he could, he'd rather not try, though.
"Fascinating!" Rui exclaimed as he looked at the bandaging Tsukasa had put on. They liked eachother's company a lot, they realized. "I'll cook you something, you can go bask in the glory of natural sunlight outside" Rui obliged, Tsukasa had this tone in his voice which Rui simply couldn't deny. He walked out of the cottage and simply stood outside, admiring the beauty
Tsukasa set off to work, maybe light foods would've been better for Rui since he hadn't eaten in a while and randomly feeding him a heavy meal would result in a horrid time for Rui. He contemplated what to cook, obviously vegetables were out of the mix. He sighed, maybe a simple meal of bread with butter would do...? Still, a bit too heavy. He could try soup! He was well versed in making those!
And so, he started. His focus was fixated only on the soup he was making, it sounded silly but he truly was determined to make a meal Rui'd never forget.
Outside, Rui looked about the scenery, he only left the comfort of his cottage in the dim moonlight so this was a sight to behold. The sun wasn't too hot that day, the birds chirped and animals could be spotted. He also found there were a lot of greenery and herbs which could've been useful that Rui had never seen at night before
He looked around and stepped towards one of the newer flowers, he wondered what it was, what it did. He crouched down and reached out to touch the flower, though he reeled his hand back after feeling the immense warmth it gave.
"Ah, you shouldn't touch that." Rui whipped his head around and spotted Tsukasa walking towards him with a faint smile on his face. He crouched down beside Rui, reaching out his hand and plucking the flower from the ground.
"It's a flower from the sun, it's extremely warm..." Tsukasa raises the flower up slightly, "It radiates heat. Would you like to touch it? It actually has healing properties, it's not widely distributed since... It doesn't grow in many places and it's tedious to have to go through the process of extracting its abilities" Tsukasa explained, giving the flower to Rui. It was, in fact, a bit warmer than what Rui expected
It was nice to touch, it felt nice, he held it up to the sun. It reflected it's light, Rui pondered, how would Tsukasa know this?
He kept the questions to himself, for now, at least. He looked towards Tsukasa who was looking at another flower not so far from where they sat
"Moonlight, the direct opposite of sunlight. It's surprising to see them grow in the same place' Tsukasa murmured. "Ah! By the way, I might have just cooked the most wonderful and amazing soup in all history! Go have a taste while it's still warm!" Rui nodded and got up
Tsukasa lagged behind slightly, collecting a few more sunlight flowers before heading in. There was an abundance of them here, they'd grow back, anyway. He walked towards the pot and took off the lid. He let the aroma waft around the cottage a little bit, watching as Rui's eyes lit up. He grinded up the flower petals and sprinkled some into the pot
He placed the remaining grinded petals into a container for future use. He grabbed a bowl and gave Rui his fill before saturating his own hunger
"This... Wow..." Tsukasa smiled, pride. "I don't mind cooking for others!" Tsukasa stated, he really didn't, he always cooked for his siblings so cooking for others became a somewhat skill of his. He could always tell what their preferences were when it came to how he cooked certain meals
Although, he'd never admit it, but he found their praises and smiles something that made him feel a bit giddy. He always felt warmth whenever they'd compliment him on something, especially if he was feeling a bit insecure about it as well. Praises were a way of which Tsukasa could show his affection. If he ever did praise anyone, they truly deserved it.
He watched as Rui took spoonfuls with the brightest smile Tsukasa's ever seen on anyone, he had smiled himself. He knew it was because of him that somebody smiled
"I... This is wonderful! You're a talented chef, Tsukasa!" Although he was being uncharacteristically animated, Tsukasa didn't mind, he smiled before taking another spoonful for himself. He looked back up at Rui, he seemed to be deep in thought now
"Tsukasa, how did you know about those flowers?" He asked, Tsukasa stiffened slightly but relaxed almost immediately. It wasn't odd to ask, he would've been curious too. "Library, there are many books about it! Mainly in the "Whimsical Fantastic Floras in The Light Kingdom" It sounds silly but is rather informative'" Rui nodded along, it would've made sense, yes. Rui finished his fill and placed the bowl in the sink for him to wash later
Tsukasa fascinated him, he was smart yet he seemed to be... Detached? He expressed his urge for freedom, to live life in his own way, except what truly was the freedom he'd hoped for? There was a lot of freedom he had already, except he yearned for a different kind of freedom as it seemed
He also showed great signs of intelligence and graciousness, he seemed to be a seasoned chef, a scholar, a medic, and somebody who had major experience with the flora in the Light Kingdom. Those kinds of nobles weren't rare, per se, but it wasn't common to find a noble this educated yet this down to earth
Too many nobles with intelligence like Tsukasa's were stuck up, they found their intelligence to be a right to brag to those they deemed lesser. If only Rui had showed them his alchemy, they would've ran away, but he didn't
He was in hiding for a reason, if a noble were to disclose his location, he'd be in trouble.
Although the sun was at its peak, it wasn't nearly as hot as Rui thought it'd be. Tsukasa was merely resting on his couch, passed out. He had eye bags from what Rui could see
He wondered a lot about Tsukasa, he was curious about him, he was fascinated by him. He was loud, and yet the volume never seemed to bother Rui in the slightest. He knew all the ways to make somebody as miserable as Rui smile, he knew how to make him laugh, he hadn't felt that in a while
He knew if Mizuki were here, they'd like him too. He was pained to think about them, he wished they were here, he wished they weren't stuck in that filthy kingdom. He wished he could save them, to let them live, they always had a talent for fashion.
He wondered if they did escape, if Mizuki found some way to leave the kingdom and now roams free like they always dreamed of. But alas, for now, he could only rely on his wishful thinking
"Mizuki, where are you..." He muttered to himself, he felt tears well up in his eyes and yet, he couldn't cry.
"Come here, I have a tale to tell." Tsukasa's voice dragged Rui out of his thoughts, Tsukasa sat on the couch and patted at the space next to him for Rui to sit at. Rui obliged, sitting down on the couch
"My mother once told me a story..."
Long ago, a child of the Light met a runaway child of the Dark. The Child of the Dark cried in woe, they had not wished to disobey the Dark's wishes, and yet, the orders were too far heinous for the child to bear
The Child of the Light comforted the child of the Dark. They danced, they played, they sought for a reality far from their own
A reality where neither one of them had any worries, where they were both allowed to be themselves. The Child of the Light beared magic no other child did before, the child of the Dark had their curiosity.
As they danced, as they played, as they sought for a reality of their own, the child of the Dark had fallen inlove.
The child of the Dark confessed to the child of the Light, disgust was riddled all over the child of the Light's face as they walked away, leaving the child of the Dark alone and afraid.
From there, the child of the Dark's tears fell onto the soil below, a single flower sprouted, a single daffodil.
Tsukasa finished the story, Rui looked at him with a puzzled expression, before Tsukasa began to speak, "Sorry! I just remembered that story! My mom used to tell it to me all the time!' Rui nodded, he looked away.
They bid their farewells once more, it was just about sunset when Tsukasa decided it was best to return. He made his way to the tower and climbed up the same rope he used to get down, his siblings were discussing flowers to which Tsukasa happily joined in.
It wasn't much, being stuck in a tower wasn't the best fate, but Tsukasa was happy.