The final part in the Kio saga, "Wouldn't It Be Good to Be in Your Shoes," begins now!
Chapter 1: Waking in the Dark
Soubi moaned as he rolled onto his back. Throbbing pain pulsed through his head, his neck. What had happened to him? Warm, thick fluid dripped down his neck, almost like in his battle against Sleepless.
"Ah!" He gasped as he started from his sleep. Immediately he sat up, and the warmth dripped down his chest, soaking his shirt. He clenched his fingers around a dark red stain, realizing that the entire time he had been bleeding heavily.
"You're awake. Good." Soubi rubbed his eyes. Slowly, his vision began to clear. Out of habit he reached for his glasses, pretending that he really needed them. "Bull," Jorele growled, kicking Soubi's glasses away from his hand. "I know you don't really need those to see." Soubi gritted his teeth, trying to keep his mind clear.
Over by the couch, he saw Kalel standing triumphantly over Kio's limp body. The shadows made by Kalel's face told Soubi that the boy was smiling.
"Kio," Soubi murmured. "What did you do to him? He has nothing to do with any of this!" Jorele swiftly kicked Soubi's hand.
"Shut up!" he growled. "He got himself into this crap with you." Soubi clenched his teeth together, as more blood spurted forth from his Name.
"Jorele," Kalel murmured, "it's time." Jorele nodded his princely head once.
"Soubi Agatsuma," he announced, "you are the only one besides us that can break the spell we have cast. If you can figure out how before the next new moon, we will surrender ourselves to Ritsu-sensei and admit all that we had done. If not, however, then you must return to him, and do as he commands you to." Soubi struggled to sit against the wall. The loss of blood took heavy damage on his body. He could scarcely move. Without thinking, he accepted the conditions drawn out by the pair standing over his friend's body.
"I accept," he groaned, pressing his hand against his neck to stop the blood flow. "But, you'll never find Loveless." A smirk slowly spread across his lips. "If you can't find him, what good is your plan to hinder me?" Kalel glanced at Jorele with doubtful eyes. Soubi did have a point. Though they knew who Loveless was, they didn't know where he was.
"We know his name!" Jorele snarled. "You may be free now, but you will return to Ritsu-sensei. Seimei said so to us before we burned him in his bastard brother's chair." Soubi dug his fingers into the floor. They were bluffing. It was obvious in their speech and posture. The way Kalel kept looking at his partner ensured Soubi's theory.
"Heh," Soubi muttered. "Seimei's word becomes law. It always does."
"Mhmm." Ritsuka slowly rubbed his eyes. He knocked the glasses from his face, moaning as in sleep. "Soubi," he murmured. "Seimei."
Where am I, he thought. Why am I here?
Soubi smiled to himself as Kio began to sit up. At least he hadn't been too badly hurt by Bloodless' spell.
"Jorele," Kalel whined, "I'm tired. I wanna go to bed." Jorele flashed his partner an innocent smile.
"Alright, my dear," he replied. "You go on. I can handle this bastard by myself." As Kalel trudged off to bed, Ritsuka fully awakened. In a panic, he grabbed his own hair. He stared at his hands, and frantically he felt his face.
This isn't me! he thought. What the hell is going on?! Soubi, Seimei!!
"Kio, calm down," Soubi soothed. "I'll explain this all to you later." Jorele struck Soubi on the back of his head. Soubi fell forward into unconsciousness.
"Go to sleep, now," he growled. "I have someone waiting for me. Don't you mess this up!" he snapped at Ritsuka. "Keep him quiet or else—" He ran his fingernail along Ritsuka's neck. "—I'll kill you myself. And, you wouldn't be able to return to your body, Ritsuka Aoyagi, because you would be dead. I know that you don't want Kio in your body. You don't want him to get hurt." Ritsuka gasped.
Mom!
"You ass-hole!" he cried. "How could you do that to him?! He doesn't deserve my punishment! Only I deserve it! Change us back! Now!" Jorele smirked as he slowly dug his nail into Ritsuka's neck.
"This body you're in is very delicate," he said, licking the blood from his finger. "Kio can't return if he doesn't have a body, so don't make me kill you." Jorele flicked the last drops of blood he didn't want to the floor. "Don't disturb us," he grinned wickedly. That being said, Jorele shut himself into Kio's room, locking the door behind him.
