IT'S ALL AN ACT

PAIRING: COUNTERPARTSHIPPING- Yuto x Yuya

SUMMARY: One day, the famous actor and performer, Yuya Sakaki, got attacked and nearly killed on his way home. The mysterious Yuto saved his life and introduced him to a world far more magical and wonderful than Yuya could have ever dreamed - and far more dangerous than he could handle on his own. But Yuto has promised to protect him... no matter the personal cost.

The sound of a motorcycle engine cut through the still and quiet of the road. It was late at night and the road was mostly empty, with only the occasional car passing through. The rider atop the motorcycle looked young, despite his face being obscured by a helmet. (Almost too young to be riding one, but that was besides the point.) He'd been on the road for hours now, and the night was only just beginning. Luckily, a service station would be coming up soon, where he could take a rest stop before continuing. He still a long journey ahead of him after all.

If one were to look underneath the helmet, the rider's face would be near identical to one Yuya Sakaki, with clear crystal eyes and blue-blonde hair. The resemblance wasn't only in the face either. His height, build, weight and even name bore a striking similarity to Yuya as well, something Yugo himself was well aware of. (None of this was a coincidence, but this isn't about that. Not yet.)

Eventually, Yugo came to a stop at a service station. Instead of getting off and going inside however, he slumped forwards and closed his eyes with a groan.

This is isn't getting me anywhere, he thought and, with a scowl of helpless frustration, sent out a pulse of magic for yet another locator spell.

He'd been searching for gods-knew-how-long and still, nothing! What was the point of having magic if it didn't help him with the one thing he wanted to do?! He was no closer to finding his friend than he was six months ago. Or the two years before that.

Yugo bit his lip, scowl dimming into a more tired, exhausted look.

Even if he did find Yuya, what would he say?

What could he say?

Before he could spiral any deeper into melancholy, a sudden flare of magical power tugged at his senses. It was far away, but still massive enough to alert him to it. And familiar enough to hurt. Yugo's head snapped up, eyes flashing, a teal glow at their centre. His body tensed all over. All of a sudden, the locator spell buzzed with a brand-new direction, stronger and clearer than it had ever been before.

Without a word, Yugo set off once again.

Yuri stumbled through a hastily made portal, head still spinning from the unexpected onslaught of all-too-familiiar shadow energy. He fell against a wall in a mostly-empty apartment building, sliding downwards until he was sat on the cool stone floor. Slowly, his breath and heartbeat evened out, the spinning in his head cleared and he could think again.

Well. That had been a complete disaster.

He had shown up expecting Yuya to be completely unaware and defenceless. Instead, he'd gotten a fistful of shadow energy to the face.

There was only one person in the entire world that could use shadow energy like that.

What had Yuto been doing there?

Did he and Yuya have some sort of agreement in place?

Yuri swore viciously under his breath, leaning against the cool wall. That... complicated his task quite a bit. It was one thing to ambush a mostly-defenseless, untaught Yuya Sakaki and quite another to even get close to the defensive, paranoid, highly-trained Yuto. How was he supposed to complete what he started now? The last thing he needed was complications such as this one.

He had been so close too...

Oh well.

He could improvise. There was only two of them after all. And he had the advantage of surprise. Neither of them were even aware he existed after all. He relaxed, purple eyes confident once again. A smirk crept onto his face. Yuto and Yuya had no idea was coming.

Yuri had never lost before and he wasn't about to start doing so now.

'Hey Yugo?'

'Yeah?'

'If we get separated and I'm in trouble will you come find me?'

'Definitely! I'll always find you, no matter what!'

'Hey, Yugo...'

'What?'

'Take this.'

'But- but that's-'

'Take it. I want you and Rin to have it.'

'But... but why? It's so important to you! You never let us even touch it before!'

'You're more important. And anyway, I want you to always have something to remember me by! Keep it safe for me, OK?'

'Then if you ever need to find me, return it safe and sound.'

'OK, I- I will. You can count on me, Yuya!'

You can definitely count on me.