Love is a game to you (hyper)

Tucker often spend his time wandering downtown, trying out varying cafe the city had to offer. Never had he gone out without a book in hand of course. Today was a particularly warm afternoon but he actually felt like taking a walk as he read his newly procured book he had got from a suspicious store. Whatever enchantment it had there, he was sure the charm he had can ward it off if it was dangerous.

He was very sure of himself. With the vast knowledge he had accumulated over the centuries, no curse or enchantment can harm him. His magic defense was flawless. Nothing could ever hurt him anymore.

That is, until the ghost in his past returned to haunt him.

Tucker wasn't particularly looking anywhere but the text on his book when a younger man handed him a marigold. Nothing new, he thought as he took the flower from him, their hands brushing as he did. Tucker was just about to say a casual thanks when out of the blue, the young man spoke. Takeru-san?

Tucker froze in that moment. He knew that voice. His breath was caught when he recognized his face. "Yuki-kun..." he breathed, addressing him affectionately as he did before. Tucker just stood there, looking at Yuki's face. Yuki had that kind, angelic look on his face that Tucker couldn't ever resist. Was is real, he asked. Was Yuki really there in front of him?

Until he remembered one thing.

Yuki Nakimura was dead.

Tucker knew that this was just Mikhainon again and he was playing a sick game with him. He knew Yuki was just a fake, he knew but his heart just wavered at the very thought of him. If he had known, it would have been best that he never opened up to him and now the demon knew his only weakness. He held the flower tightly, a false smile gracing his face, "It's very like you to pull a stunt like this, do you know that?" His voice was cold and sharp, as he addressed Mikhainon.

No, not that. Anything but that.

Tucker could never handle this before--he couldn't bear looking at Yuki like this and knowing it was his doing only made things worse. There was a pang in his chest as he watched Yuki curl up and yet he tried to convince himself this was just another lie. It couldn't be anything but that.

"You see that's the point, Yuki," he hissed, though it was reluctant. His dearest Yuki was breaking right in front of him yet he spoke with a bite. No, it wasn't his Yuki, of course. It was the demon. Tucker refused to address him as fondly again. He had lost Yuki already. There was no point in this.

"Centuries? If you were the person I'd met you wouldn't be here at all! I know you're just toying with me so you can drop the act." If he didn't know better he'd have accepted this all to easily, but he knew Mikhainon held something against him. Tucker expected Mikhainon to do something like this after last time.

Tucker turned his head away from Yuki. He couldn't bear to see him, or even hear his voice. Not like this. Not when he was bowing to him, in tears even, begging for forgiveness.

For what? For a crime that he didn't commit. For making a fool out of Tucker and manipulating him into selling his soul to eternal damnation. No. Of course Yuki didn't do such a thing. It was Mikhainon all along. But Yuki was the one who'd shoulder that crime.

It wasn't fair, and Tucker knew that. But he also knew that Mikhainon had used that angelic face to lure him.

Tucker's chest felt heavy with guilt and frustration as he fixated his gaze on the flowers that were now scattered on the pavement. He just wanted to turn back and leave but a huge part of him wanted to stay with Yuki.

"Don't do this," he whispered. He couldn't look at him. Tucker grit his teeth as he tried to keep his composure. He looked up at Yuki, gripping tightly at the book in his hands. "Don't you dare do this." Tucker's voice almost faltered, but his eyes had already begun to look glassy. He couldn't take this torture. He wanted it to be over. If Mikhainon wanted to break him this was surely his best feat yet.

At that moment, Tucker was speechless. Everything stopped for him when Yuki wrapped his arms around him, the familiar warmth enveloping his body. I'm sorry. he heard him whisper. The shock made him drop the book, which made a soft thud on the concrete.

It had been so long since he was able to feel Yuki close to him. The comforting warmth, the faint scent on him was just exactly as Tucker remembered. For a moment old memories clouded his thoughts.

"Yuki-kun... I'm sorry, too," he muttered under his breath, lifting his arms to hug Yuki tightly. "I shouldn't have blamed you. You didn't do anything wrong."

He didn't do anything after that. He just stood there just holding Yuki tightly. After a few moments he snapped back to reality. "No!" he hissed, forcefully pushing away Yuki, realizing he had succumbed to his emotions. He looked at Yuki - no - he glared at Mikhainon, but there were tears in his eyes. He fooled him again.

Tucker watched Yuki curl up in pain from his fall and it made him feel guilty. This wasn't in any way Mikhainon. He was gentle and fragile; undeniably the young man before him was Yuki.

Tucker's eyes softened when it met with Yuki's. He could just see the hurt refected in his eyes and he just knew that he was the one who caused it. He was making him suffer. Tucker's chest tightened at that thought. He wantekd to protect Yuki and keep him safe but what was he doing now?

He stood there in front of Yuki, unsure if he should allow himself to come near him. He didn't want to hurt Yuki of all people. Not again. Everytime he would want to reach out to Yuki, the nightmare comes back to haunt him again and again.

"I'm sorry," he said in a whisper, turning his head away to hide the tears from his eyes. "I'm... really.. really sorry, Yuki-kun." His voice cracked.

No matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise, it was really his precious Yuki and he couldn't take that he was the one hurting him.