Work Text:
Now hear me out.
You come from a long, well-reputed family known for their spiritual abilities, similar to the Kusanagi lineage. Maybe you’re even a distant relative of his.
An accident happens, and you become a ghoul. Bam. Haku appears, tells you about Darkwick, and you enroll.
One of your abilities is inherited from your bloodline: your family consists of powerful sorcerers capable of cleansing, curing or breaking curses. Due to this unique trait, you’re unaffected by curses, coming into contact with them doesn’t harm you at all. Some people fear or doubt your ability, but it’s real, and you know it well enough to be confident in yourself.
When Haku convinces you to come to Darkwick, it isn’t entirely by choice. You’ve become a ghoul and Darkwick is where you’re supposed to go. But there’s another reason, he tells you about a close friend of his who is unfortunately burdened with a Death Reaper type curse, and he desperately wants you to check on him.
You would, right?
Even if you’re only distant relatives, you’ve heard about him a few times through your family and people around you. You’re curious about this so-called Death Reaper friend of Haku’s. Why say no?
Your first impression of Rui is that he’s all shine and brightness, like soft sunlight on a windless day, breaking through your quiet, silent life. Despite having faced countless curses, none ever felt truly serious. Maybe it’s because of your ability, you’ve never found them particularly troubling.
But Rui.
When you look at him, at his bright smile and bubbly personality, and the way he jokingly flirts with you, it’s easy to understand why he’s friends with Haku. Yet, despite that radiant smile, you can see the dark shadow lingering behind him, following his every step, clinging to him like a leech against skin, draining everything he has. His soul. His life. Even his light.
So you offer your hand.
You tell him your bloodline isn’t affected by any type of curse. You ask if he can take off his gloves and hold your hand for just a minute.
He refuses.
He declines. He avoids you, still wearing that bright smile, but the seriousness in his tone weighs heavy.
He’s scared he might harm you somehow, especially when you’re related to one of his closest friends. He couldn’t possibly do that.
So no. No and no. He’d never touch you.
In fact, he avoids you everywhere. Even when he hears your voice or footsteps, he’s gone within a minute.
Unfortunately for him, you’ve always been stubborn.
When he declines, it feels like a challenge because you know whether his curse can affect you or not. He refuses every single time you offer, and because you don’t want to make him uncomfortable, you try your best to convince him.
That includes memorizing his schedule, ahem, you might have asked Haku for a little help with that and showing up at his bar every night. So often, in fact, that you start drinking with Romeo and Haru, all just to convince him.
“Senpai, please allow me to touch you. Or the other way around is fine.”
Romeo and Haru immediately lose it as they gape at your phrasing. Rui, meanwhile, nearly gasps out loud and frantically screams for Lyca to cover his ears.
And he still refuses.
You fail once. Twice. Three times. Four. Five. Honestly, you’ve lost count. But you don’t give up.
You show up every day while he’s gardening, helping him around the dorm. You follow him like a little tail.
He’s frustrated, nearly hopeless because he doesn’t want to be rude, but nothing he says seems to faze you. Somehow, you always find him.
This strange tag-team chase continues until the day you’re assigned on a mission together with Haku, and maybe the Honor Roll too.
It gets dangerous.
You’re impulsive and hotheaded, and you move to help him. You shove him out of the way or rather, you kick him aside because even in that split second, you refuse to touch him. You go out of your way not to cross that line while still saving him.
That’s when he finally understands.
Despite how insistently you try to help him, despite how determined you are to touch him and understand his curse, you never cross any line he draws. You never do anything he doesn’t want.
And maybe… that tugs at his heart a little.
Damn it.
How are you so understanding and so unbearably adorable when you follow him around like that?
All he can think about is your voice calling him “Rui-senpai”
All.
The.
Time.
No. No, no, no! NO.
This is dangerous.
He needs to keep his distance before he sinks any deeper into this.
Please, just leave him alone.
He’s never been this confused in his entire life.
Because Rui Mizuki is supposed to be the one who makes people lose their minds, not the other way around.
♡˖ ⊹ ♡˖ ⊹ ♡˖ ⊹
Maybe you catch him on a bad day.
He’s overwhelmed, drowning in his own dark thoughts, and when he turns around, he raises his voice, just a little. A little louder than usual. It only lasts a second, because regret hits him immediately.
How could he snap at someone like you?
Fuck.
He knows he messed up the moment he sees the surprise in your eyes. Even though you don’t seem hurt by his words, he feels like a complete asshole. You apologize right away, but he says nothing. Not because he doesn’t know what to say, because he thinks you might go away if you hate him, even just a little.
Yeah. That’s how messed up his way of caring about you is. To the point that he doesn’t want you anywhere near him.
So you go quiet for a few days. You stop following him around. You disappear.
And suddenly, he feels unbearably lonely.
He’s used to being alone, he tells himself that, but without you around, everything feels duller. Less alive. Even Lyca seems to miss you now that you no longer show up at the bar. Haru asks where his “little tail” went.
Rui has no answer.
He can’t say that he tried to push you away. He can’t admit that you might hate him now, or that you could be crying somewhere because of him. He overthinks until it stresses him to hell and back. Lyca complains that Rui has already broken the fifth glass this week just from opening and closing the bar.
Still, he never reaches out to you.
That was the decision he made, to not let you get any closer.
But after almost two weeks, you’re standing in front of him again.
You bring small gifts, explaining that you were busy with missions alongside Haku. You apologize for making him uncomfortable, for following him around so persistently. You tell him you talked things through with Haku, and he helped you pick something suitable to properly apologize.
God! You’re adorable when you hand him the gifts, your eyes flickering with uncertainty, clearly wondering whether he’ll accept your apology.
The impression he’s always had of you is that you’re confident. Certain. Secure in yourself.
Maybe that’s exactly why he likes you and why you scare him.
Because deep down, he no longer has that confidence. All that fills him now is insecurity and self-doubt, hollowing him out until he believes he deserves no warmth, no love, from anyone.
Later that night, when the bar grows quiet again, he sits alone, staring at the small box you gave him earlier. His thoughts spiral, and for the first time, yes, the first time in his life, he asks Ed a question.
“Should I accept the offer?”
Because you seem sincere... And serious.
Serious about helping him. Serious about your work, your duty, your responsibilities… and serious about him.
He thinks about it endlessly, day and night. Sleep rarely comes to him anymore because of the curse. Most nights are filled with nightmares or his own empty, consuming thoughts.
But ever since you barged into his life, it started with just a tiny dot, small and insignificant. Slowly, though, you seeped into his world like paint spreading across a blank canvas. By the time he realized it, every day and every night were filled with you.
Your voice.
Your laugh.
Your small smile.
The way you love the wind and sunlight. The way you get confused over the strange plants in his garden but still insist on helping. The first time you tried alcohol at his bar, how you clearly hated the taste but stubbornly drank it anyway. The way you always say his name so gently.
He knows you see him like you see everyone else. The only thing different is the curse that seems to intrigue you.
Other than that…
He wonders what he looks like in your mind.
Does your thoughts drift to him the way his drift to you, constantly?
Even though you’ve never touched him, somehow it feels like you’ve already captured his entire heart in your palm.
And that realization only makes sleep harder to find.
Sometimes just thinking about you makes his face burn so badly that even Lyca starts questioning whether Rui has caught some kind of disease.
♡˖ ⊹ ♡˖ ⊹ ♡˖ ⊹
When did he finally accept your offer?
Hah. It was the moment he saw someone ask you for a dance at one of the many festivals Hotarubi hosted throughout the week.
He couldn’t attend crowded places like festivals anymore. Even though he loved lively spaces, loved being surrounded by friends, by noise and warmth, he avoided them now. It was safer that way. Better for everyone.
Lyca was the one who recorded the festival and sent him the footage, mentioning that he was there with Subaru and the Honor Roll. As Rui watched, he couldn’t help but smile at the boy. The way the Lyca’s eyes lit up at everything around him, the way Rui knew, without even seeing it, that his tail was probably wagging uncontrollably. Such an adorable junior he has.
And then you appeared in the frame.
You were working as staff, helping Haku with small tasks, moving back and forth tirelessly. As night fell and people began dancing beneath the festival’s colorful lights, someone stepped forward and held out a hand, asking you to dance.
You declined saying that you were busy.
But something twisted painfully in Rui’s chest.
Jealousy isn't it?
An ugly, bitter emotion that made the alcohol on his tongue taste even worse as he sat alone behind the bar, quiet and restless. Claiming you as his wouldn’t change anything, he didn’t want you beside him because of his curse. He wanted you to choose him. To want him.
It was selfish, he knew that.
But couldn’t he be selfish, just this once?
Ironically, it was you who brought it up again.
The bar was quiet that night, nearly closing time. You were still there. Lyca had already returned to his room, and the others were long gone, Romeo loudly complaining as he dragged drunk Haru back to the dorms.
The bar was empty now.
Except for you.
Normally, Rui would’ve urged you to head back early, reminded you to rest, or offered to walk you back after closing. But tonight was different. He didn’t say anything. He simply turned his back to you, wiping the counter for the fifth time, polishing already spotless glasses a little too carefully.
He just wanted you to stay a bit longer.
Just this small moment. Please.
You didn’t question his strange behavior. Instead, you asked if he wanted to have a drink with you because you didn’t feel like leaving yet.
And he agreed.
He even made you a new drink from his menu, and you immediately recognized one of your favorite fruits in it. It wasn’t as bitter as most of the drinks he served and normally, Rui wouldn’t let you drink alcohol at all, except on rare nights.
But tonight, you both drank.
As if the alcohol gave courage to face what you’d both been running from for far too long.
“You really don’t consider taking my offer?”
You repeat the question when you notice his mind drifting. His attention snaps back to you, and he nearly gulps.
Because he had considered it. Over and over. Ed had told him he had nothing to lose by accepting, and annoyingly enough, most of what Ed said had turned out to be true.
Still, Rui doubted himself, who he was, what he was capable of.
He lets out a quiet, bitter laugh and wonders why you’re so insistent on helping him. Is it because he’s Haku’s friend? Or because you pity him?
He hates being pitied.
But when it’s you… it feels different.
And that makes it worse.
“Do you pity me?”
You don’t answer right away. You fall silent for a moment.
But you’ve always been honest and fearless when it comes to confronting your own feelings.
Yes. You admit that you pity him.
But you explain that curiosity came first. Curiosity about his curse. The pity came later. And you remember something Haku once told you, you only pity someone when you truly care about them.
How could you not care about him?
That hurts Rui more than anything else.
Because now you care.
And that makes everything more complicated. It makes accepting your offer even harder. He doesn’t want to think about it anymore.
But you don’t let him run away from the topic any longer.
You tell him softly but firmly that you don’t want to touch him because of his curse anymore. You simply want to feel his warmth. And you know, without a doubt, that his curse won’t affect you.
Hah… what are you even saying?
You catch him completely off guard. He nearly jumps out of his seat. You really should work on how you phrase things because that was so easy to misunderstand.
So easy that it actually hurts him.
He asks if you’re not afraid of death. Why would you risk everything just to touch him? How can you be so sure?
Your answer is simple.
You have faith in yourself. And you have faith in him.
He won’t hurt you. He can’t hurt you. Is he really doubting an expert?
So, hesitantly, he removes his gloves. He stares at his palm longer than necessary, then at your outstretched hand. Slowly, so carefully, as if you’re made of fragile petals, he places his hand in yours.
The moment his fingertips brush your skin, warmth shoots through him like a shockwave. Panic overtakes him, and he immediately pulls away, fear clawing at his chest.
What if your life drains away because of him? He can’t bear that thought.
But you don’t let him retreat.
You reach out and catch his hand, pulling it back into your palm. Warm skin meets warm skin, and his heart nearly drops out of his chest.
But.
Nothing happens.
Truly, nothing.
You just sit there, still looking at him. Under the dim bar lights, your eyes glisten, reflecting his stunned expression back at him. His body is stiff, frozen, but you don’t seem to mind. You gently spread his hand open and interlock your fingers with his.
They fit perfectly.
As if this was always meant to happen. As if you should have done this long ago.
How long has it been since he last felt another person’s warmth? How close he came to forgetting what skin against skin felt like. His blood feels like it’s boiling, and the sensation only makes him greedier for your touch.
“See? I told you. No curse in this world can harm me.”
Your confident, certain voice echoes softly in the bar, pulling him back to reality. His hand trembles in yours, but you don’t let go. Not for a long moment.
From that day on, whenever he longs for warmth, your warmth, you know. Because he tells you. He becomes more open, more honest, and holding hands slowly turns into a quiet ritual between the two of you.
You seem indifferent to it.
But Rui?
Oh, this man is in trouble.
He’s greedy. Holding your hand isn’t enough anymore but how can it be greed if it can be fulfilled?
When you’re around, he starts noticing everything.
The way you do homework with Lyca at his bar. How you bite the tip of your pen when you’re stuck on a question. The way your fingers flip through book pages. Even the way you drink water.
No. Stop. Rui. Get a grip.
He has to repeat stay calm in his head constantly. Because even your breathing makes his skin tingle. He doesn’t understand what’s wrong with him. He shouldn’t be like this.
He thinks he hides it well.
But somehow, you always see right through him.
“We can hug, if you want.”
Absolutely not! Don’t say things like that!
Especially not to a man!
Why are you saying it so casually? Do you say that to everyone? You’re going to give him a heart attack.
He laughs it off, telling you that you shouldn’t say things like that to people, especially men because they might take advantage of you. You should be more careful.
You tell him calmly that you’ve never said that to anyone before.
Because you never wanted to hug anyone… until now.
You’re killing him…
You can’t just say things like that when it makes him want more than just a hug. After that, he avoids the topic entirely. He even reduces how often he holds your hand, afraid he might cross a line.
Rui refuses to touch you again until you march right up to him and announce that you want to touch him.
Unfortunately, you say this right in front of Haku.
Rui panics and immediately clamps his hand over your mouth, shocking even Haku with how fast things seem to have progressed. Haku teases him lightly but otherwise seems… oddly chill about it.
Rui debates whether he should explain.
We’re only holding hands. I’m keeping my distance. Even though I want more.
Would Haku put a knife to his throat if he heard that? Is that something Haku would do?
Thankfully, Haku doesn’t question it much. Either he understands or he just doesn’t care. It’s your free will, after all. He only reminds you to use protection.
Oh my god! Haku!
Rui genuinely cannot handle you two. “Distant relatives” his ass, are you sure you’re not siblings?
Despite all his flirting, Rui is serious when it truly matters. He won’t take things further unless you’re official. So he sits you down and has a long, earnest conversation about it.
Would you date Rui?
He’s cute.
He’s kind.
He takes great care of others.
He’s reliable.
And most importantly, you love holding his hand.
He takes care of you even more than Haku does. However you look at it, dating him feels like a reward. Why wouldn’t you say yes?
Hell yeah. You’d date Rui.
But Rui?
He completely malfunctions.
He has to retreat behind the bar just to calm himself down. How can it be that easy? Did you even think before answering? How did he manage to win you?
He doesn’t understand but you have your own way of seeing the world, one he can never quite explain.
♡˖ ⊹ ♡˖ ⊹ ♡˖ ⊹
Dating you doesn’t change much.
Except for one thing.
Rui is touch-starved, and he knows it.
Even so, he still tiptoes around you, never initiating contact despite how badly he wants to. His puppy eyes practically bore into you until you finally give him a small hug so he can recharge and survive the rest of the day.
Which means, you’re the one who makes the first move.
And Rui quickly learns just how clingy you are.
Cuddling becomes mandatory whenever you’re around. Even when he’s lazily scrolling on his phone, you slip under his arm and announce that this is the only place you can rest. He drops his phone instantly, flustered beyond belief, terrified that you’ll hear how loudly his heart is pounding.
Of course you hear it.
You just don’t say anything.
He’s adorable like this. And he thinks the same about you. He loves when you cling to him, when your fingers brush his cheek or tilt his chin upward, he melts completely.
So touch him more. He has zero complaints.
Your first kisses are awkward. Even though Rui has more experience, you still make the first move, grabbing his collar, pulling him down to your level, and kissing him before he can think.
He’s too nervous to initiate. All his confidence evaporates the moment you look at him like that.
His heart goes doki doki.
After that?
He stops holding himself back around you 🩷