I just had to write a one-shot from Kio's point-of-view. I feel that Kio/Soubi interaction is, like my favourite Seimei/Soubi interaction, simply too rare.
Soubi is roughly eighteen going on nineteen in this mini-ficlet. Kio met him a few months ago, and insisted on striking up a friendship with him. Then they became room mates. At this point of time, Seimei is a high-schooler.
Fragility of Life (Kio's POV)
Tapping his chin with his brush, Kaidou Kio frowned slightly as he contemplated his canvas. Trust the professor to come up with such an annoying assignment! "Fragility of life"…what sort of a title was that? Sometimes, Kio wondered if all professors were sadists who delighted in their students' suffering or if it was only this particular professor…
Glancing over to another canvas placed on an easel situated just a few feet away from his own, Kio's frown deepened. Predictably, the faint outlines of butterflies could be seen on Soubi's canvas. Kio snorted at how luck seemed to favour Soubi. More often than not, Soubi would paint butterflies no matter what the assignment was about; his behavior was the total opposite of Kio, who always painstakingly painted what he thought would fit the theme perfectly. So it was quite ironic this time that Soubi's choice actually fulfilled the conditions of the assignment, while he, the great genius Kio, had absolutely no idea what to paint.
Mentally shaking his head, Kio's eyes darted to the clock on the wall of the living room. Ten minutes to twelve o'clock…It was already quite late. Yet despite the lateness of the hour, Soubi was still not home. Kio's frown deepened. Most probably, Sou-chan was with that Aoyagi brat again. Aoyagi Seimei. When they first started sharing the same dorm room, Kio had asked Soubi about the black-haired teenager, whom he had met once previously.
"Neh, Sou-chan, is he your boyfriend?" Kio had questioned Soubi teasingly. A flash of emotions had briefly lit-up Soubi's eyes, emotions so complicated that Kio could not even begin to understand nor untangle them. That flash was gone as quickly as it appeared however, and it was with a smile and a lightly amused tone that Soubi answered. "No, he is my master."
Till this day, Kio had been unable to tell if Soubi was joking. However, Soubi's behavior seemed to lend that statement more and more credence. Every time Soubi skipped a lecture, it was because of his call. Every time Soubi returned late, he had been out with Seimei. And every time he came back hurt…
Keys jangling in the door broke Kio out of his reverie. Only three people had the key to this apartment. Kio, Soubi and that Aoyagi kid. And ever since that first meeting, Kio, by Sou-chan's request, had always made himself scarce whenever Aoyagi Seimei came over. Hence, the great detective Kio deduced that the person opening the door was…
The door swung open to reveal one Agatsuma Soubi. Dressed in a white shirt, khaki trousers and a long beige trench coat in addition to his usual bandages around his neck, Soubi swayed slightly on his feet as he entered the room. "Sou-chan, are you drunk?" Kio cried out in surprise and slight dismay. Unlike some of Kio's other friends, Soubi had never shown an interest in drinking; his only vice seemed to be his habit of chain-smoking.
However, as Kio took in Soubi's paler than usual complexion and white lips, he could see that the situation was not as simple as it seemed. Even before Soubi's small shake of his head, Kio had already rushed to his side to support him. "I'm fine…" was the soft murmur that escaped from Soubi's lips as he attempted to refuse Kio's help. Kio, however, was not to be deterred. After swinging Soubi's arm over his shoulder and assuming some of Soubi's weight, Kio immediately guided Soubi to the nearest chair.
His sharp, hawk-like eyes noticed three things. Firstly, as he had reached out to support his friend, Soubi had flinched imperceptibly. Then, when he had placed Soubi's arm around his shoulders, the blonde-haired male had shuddered slightly. Coupled with the noticeable wince when Soubi had finally settled down onto the wooden chair and the fact that he oh-so-carefully did not lean on the back-rest, Kio deduced that one, Soubi was hurt, and two, it had something to do with his back.
"Rubbish, Sou-chan. I know you're hurt." Kio said in an out-of-character serious tone. His concerned gaze met Soubi's cool eyes as the latter looked up sharply. "Let me help you," Kio tried to convey his utmost sincerity in that four words. Let me help you, Sou-chan. You don't have to suffer alone…Seeing his friend's not-so-perfect stoic demeanor created a deep ache in Kio's heart. "Please."
Perhaps it was the last heartfelt plea that did it, for finally, Soubi nodded reluctantly. With stiff, awkward movements, he flipped his long blonde hair to the side before shrugging off the trench coat. Then, swinging around so that his faced the back of the chair, slowly, Soubi unbuttoned his shirt. But Kio had no need to see Soubi's naked back to know that his guesses had been correct. For crimson stains the colour of fresh blood streaked across the white shirt like splashes of paint on a canvas. Oh my god…blood… While the amount of blood on the shirt could in no way be considered large, whenever Kio thought back to the fact that, moments ago, the blood had been in, and was supposed to be flowing through his friend's veins, he was seriously freaked out.
Calm down Kio, he ordered himself sternly. Soubi needs you now, you can freak out later! When he had finally succeeded in maintaining a modicum of control over his panicked reaction however, Soubi's removal of his shirt sent Kio into another spiral of panic. Under the harsh, white florescent light of the living room, Soubi's back was a pale, ghostly white. Muscles rippled involuntarily as Soubi tensed at the slight chill of the living room, but what shocked Kio was the vivid criss-cross of bloody streaks on that pale white flesh. The marks were clean and neat, obviously deliberate, in a pattern of cross-hatches, a dull reddish-brown where some were beginning to scab over and brilliant red where some were still bleeding, still allowing his friend's – Agatsuma Soubi's – life essence to seep through. "Fragility of life"…suddenly, the title of the assignment flashed through Kio's mind as he realized how aptly the name applied to the canvas that was Soubi's back.
The first time Soubi had returned with wounds like that on his person, Kio had seriously panicked. He had demanded Soubi to name his assailant, insisted on calling the police, and generally made himself a nuisance until Soubi had in no uncertain terms told him that if he continued in that vein, Kio would find himself a friend less and would never see Soubi ever again. Upon hearing that, Kio, who did to lose the friendship of this mysterious man whom he had stubbornly insisted on befriending, had relented and swore never to bring up the issue of informing any authority ever again.
However much of a joker he was, Kio was by no means a fool, and he had immediately suspected that Aoyagi Seimei was behind it. Yet, no matter how he much he tried to subtly pry into the matter, Soubi refused to give him an explanation about the wounds. Kio had resolved to quietly stay by Soubi's side – to aid him – to ask no questions and to keep silent on this matter. Even if Kio had been so afraid, so fearful that Soubi's life might be in danger.
Yet now, upon seeing Soubi's injuries, Kio's resolve was sorely tested. "Why? Why…why do you let him do this to you, Sou-chan? That Aoyagi brat!" Kio ended in an uncharacteristic snarl. Oh, he was so tempted, so very tempted to report this to the police, so that that sadistic bastard would be locked up in a jail cell where he belonged…
Perhaps Soubi heard the implied threat in his tone, for he immediately whipped his head around. "Kio, you will not insult him in my presence." Both his eyes and voice were steely, despite the pain he must have been in. At those words, Kio felt a sharp pain in his heart. Bleeding from wounds inflicted by his very hands, yet still defending him to the last…oh Sou-chan…But I can't accept this, I won't accept how he's treating you! His angry sorrow and mutinous air must have shown in his facial expression or body language, for Soubi's eyes had narrowed determinedly.
"Kio, remember your promise. I will not allow you, or anyone else, to hurt him." Kio's eyes flashed as he stared at Soubi with an air of disbelief. So adamant in defending the teenager… "Why, Sou-chan? Are you masochistic or something? Give me a reason, a good one, or I might just..." Kio had involuntarily clenched his fists by his side as his emotions boiled. Maybe it was the clenched fists that convinced Soubi of Kio's absolute seriousness, for it was to those fists that Soubi's eyes strayed to as he finally replied softly, a quiet murmur that Kio might have missed had he not been straining to hear it.
Three simple words. "I need him."
I need him. Those three simple words made Kio recall the words that Soubi had seemingly spoken in jest. "He is my master." Seven words, altogether, seven plain, simple words that caused Kio's heart to break. For expressed in those words were underlying emotions and needs so deep and complex that Kio could never hope to decipher, much less fulfill. Three words and four words. Together they formed two sentences that tied Kio's hands as effectively as thick links of chains might have. Much as he did not wish to, Kio would respect his friend's wishes in this. For he had no choice. Two sentences, and Soubi had revealed the depth of his bond to Aoyagi Seimei. If Soubi was willing to endure such treatment at the hands of that teenager, he would be willing to do anything for him.
Sorrowfully, Kio met Soubi's steady gaze and nodded his understanding. For Sou-chan's sake... He would not interfere.
Soubi smiled in satisfaction and gratefulness. Then perhaps to lighten the mood, he murmured slyly, "And Kio, I don't like pain. I'm not a pervert." Kio had no choice but to allow an answering smile to blossom as he lightly snorted at that. Shaking his head slightly, he went in search of a first-aid kid. Raising his voice slightly so that he could be heard in the living room, he replied teasingly, "Sure you are. You're an M, it's plain as day."
As Soubi's light laughter drifted into Kio's ears, Kio could not help but muse at Soubi's resilience in particular, and the ability of humans in general to look on the bright side. Life huh…perhaps it was not as fragile as his professor thought.
Completed. Unless anyone wants to read a chapter of this scene from Soubi's viewpoint? Comments, anyone? I'd love to have reviews.
