Chapter 1

"Cut open the darkness. The sky fills with stars...The stars breathe. Doesd it hurt Ritsuka?"

" I-I'm fine. J-just get that envelope."

" Yes...Master."

Ritsuka woke up. He was lying in his bed. He sat up and looked around.Soubi was nowhere to be found. Figures. He heard a small tapping noise coming from the window. He looked up to find the adult smiling in the window. The window was locked. Why would it be locked? Ritsuka could only guess that his hystric mother did it. He walked over to the window and stared at Soubi. Soubi became still. With a slight nod from Ritsuka, he began prying it open with a small blade. In ten minutes the window was open and Soubi climbed inside.

" You came here, why?" Ritsuka asked handing Soubi a small blanket.

" I came to see you." He said smiling.

" It's the middle of the night." Ritsuka protested. Soubi regarded the small boy for a moment before reachiong up and pulling him into his arms. Ritsuka blushed.

" Is something wrong?" Soubi noticed how Ritsuka hadn't fought him as he held his lithe figure. No resisting at all. Soubi pulled back a little to see his face. " Ritsuka... You know I lo--"

"STOP!! Just stop. I don't want to hear it." Ritsuka flung his arms around the adult, catching him completely off guard, and started crying. " Why do you do that. Everytime you say that, it hurts...it hurts." Soubi sat frozen as the boy fell to pieces.

" I didn't know.I'm so sorry." Ritsuka didn't want him to be sorry. He wanted him to want him, to care for him, like his brother. He wanted to be away from this life he had.

" Soubi", he whispered, " take me away from here." Soubi held him closer. He didn't want him to suffer anymore. If only to ease his pain, he would give anything.

" Where would we go?"

" I don't care. Anywhere but here." Then Ritsuka fell asleep from exhaustion. Soubi had never seen him like this. The pressure from his mother and the recent battles had finally begun to take a toll on the little 6th grader. He, however, couldn't disobey an order. I don't care...Anywhere but here. Ritsuka could have been more specific, but that was okay. Soubi knew of a place. He carried the sleeping boy toi the window and jumped.

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" Where are they? Loveless and that damn Soubi. They have evaded us long enough."

" What do you suppose they're up to now?"

" Hard to say, but Seven Moons will prevail once again."