Ritsuka felt the November wind wipe his messy hair from his face. He was waiting for Soubi to meet him at the park after he had a fight with his father. He fought over Semei of all people. His father had started to go into Semei's room to sort through his things and pack up the room. Ritsuka couldn't let his brother's room become anything else other than Semei's. He stopped his father from going in and argued for several minutes until his father had landed a deafening slap across his face. He ran out then with his father calling after him. He wasn't going to tell Soubi what had happened; only that he was bored and wanted some company. Ritsuka wanted Semei to come and tell him that everything was going to be fine, but Soubi was just as good.
Soubi's figure was visible a block away, nearing the edge of the park. Ritsuka hoped his face looked normal because he knew Soubi would worry considering he usually had cuts or nothing on his face at all. His mother stayed away from there unless glass found its way to his cheek; otherwise she mostly hurt his arms or his torso. Soubi came closer and Ritsuka tried to put a smile on to cover his obvious pain.
"Ritsuka, I was surprised when I got your call so late." Soubi's voice filled Ritsuka with warmth he needed.
"Sorry, you didn't have to come, Soubi." Ritsuka let his head drop down and he stared at his feet. He'd forgotten to put shoes on. Luckily they weren't under a street lamp or anything radiating light.
"Ritsuka, of course I came, Kio was being a nuisance anyway." Soubi rubbed the place between his ears which always seemed to cheer him up.
"What's wrong?" Ritsuka wasn't surprised Soubi could tell he was hurting.
"Nothing, Soubi." Ritsuka turned and looked at the moon and thought of Semei.
"Ritsuka! I want my Ritsuka back!" Mother screamed at my face. She had my arm deep within her grasp and food flew all over the kitchen.
"Mom. It is me." I said quietly knowing she wouldn't care what I said anyway. I wanted Semei, but he had gone out over an hour ago. Father was working and I was alone to face my mother.
"You are not Ritsuka, not my Ritsuka!" She became more enraged at my attempt to tell her the only truth I knew. Her fingernails dug into flesh on my right forearm.
"GIVE HIM BACK!" She shrieked. She jerked my arm and sent a vase crashing to the ground. She pushed me down and I stumbled until I completely fell on the glass of the broken decoration. Her insanity increased when she grabbed a chair and lifted it over her head. I closed my eyes waiting for the pain to explode in my body. Nothing happened. I opened them to see Semei in front of me and could only see Mother's horrified face.
"Semei…" She whispered.
"Ritsuka, come on." Semei whisked me into his arms and carried me up the stairs into his room and set me on his bed.
"What have I told you?" He said with deep concern after returning with the first aid kit.
"Run. But I couldn't. I sat down for dinner and I ate something she didn't think Ritsuka would eat and she had me by the arm too fast. I tried, Semei."
"Ritsuka, it's ok, I understand. And you are Ritsuka, the one and only. She's just sick." Semei put bandages on my wounds mostly covering my arms.
"Ritsuka?" He said after I was silent.
"Yes?"
"Can you ever forgive me?"
"For what? Semei, you haven't done anything!"
"Never mind, go to sleep." I cuddled in Semei's bed and he let me willingly. I felt safe with him and even if I bothered him he wouldn't show it.
I thanked him before fading into dreams.
"Ritsuka? Ritsuka!" Soubi was shouting at him.
"What? Stop yelling Soubi." Ritsuka shook his head of the warm memory of Semei's presence.
"What do you want to do?" Soubi's question made Ritsuka blush. He hadn't really wanted to do anything but stand and stare into space really. Soubi would think that was boring. He went to say something about the swings when ringing made him stop. He grabbed him ears as it continued and Soubi mentioned something about a Fighter being here.
Soubi pulled Ritsuka into an embrace that calmed his ears.
"Hey! You! I challenge you to a battle!" Ritsuka looked up at the unit. It was boy who still had his ears who looked to be Semei's age with another boy who was a bit younger than his Fighter. Their hair matched a purple color with green eyes, which proved odd.
"Ritsuka, shall we accept?" Soubi's voice clouded his thoughts.
"Yes." Soubi accepted and went on with the battle.
"We're Hopeless, because the battle is hopeless for the opponent." They always started like this, but Soubi never did and it made Ritsuka wonder.
"Rip apart, slash and restrict." They were very hasty, which Ritsuka knew Soubi laughed at.
"Defend and reflect, separate and restrain with no room left to breathe." Soubi's words concluded their attack and did exactly what he told them to do. Soon the Sacrifice was restricted. Not fully yet though.
"Take the power from their bodies until there is nothing left but the coldness. Restrict until there is no more room to move freely." Soubi chanted and it was so. The team was completely incapacitated and they were both out cold.
"What would you like me to do with them Ritsuka?" Ritsuka stared at them, they were holding each other.
"Leave them be, we won." Ritsuka walked away and Soubi followed. He hadn't noticed that during the battle they had stepped under a light.
"What happened to your face, Ritsuka." Soubi's worry annoyed him.
"Nothing happened to my face, Soubi." He was becoming irritated.
"Yes, something did, there's a bruise forming on your cheek…." He trailed off.
"Soubi, go home!' Ritsuka let his anger of the night get to him and he wanted to be alone.
"Is that an order?" Soubi smiled.
"Yes!" He yelled back. Soubi kissed Ritsuka like he always did. It was passionate and sincere, leaving him breathless by the time Soubi had called a goodbye to him.
Ritsuka walked the park silently. He found a bench and sat on it rubbing his cheek. It didn't necessarily hurt, but it bothered him it was his father that did it. He was used to his mom being neurotic not his father. He let tears stream down his face. He missed Semei. Sure he wasn't completely protected even with Semei, but Semei understood and he always made Ritsuka feel better. Plus everything made sense when he was here. Ritsuka felt stupid for crying and told himself Semei wouldn't cry. He decided that he had been gone long enough and headed for his home.
Walking in the door, he let himself creep into the house, trying to be quiet. His father had left, but he was more afraid his mother would hear him. She was up too, which was unusual. Her head was indicating she was on the couch. He took small, soundless footsteps towards the stairs. He started to climb them when a creak came from the fourth step. He cursed under his breath and froze.
"Ritsuka? Is that you?" He ran the rest of the way and went into Semei's room instead of his own. He locked the door behind him and flopped on Semei's bed.
"Ritsuka! Why are you in Semei's room? Ritsuka? Ritsuka!" His mother pounded and pounded for what seemed for hours, until she finally fell silent. Ritsuka fell asleep faster than normal on Semei's bed. He didn't undo the covers, just rested his head on the pillow and felt Semei. He smelled Semei, knowing it was coming from the pillow and that's what made his eyes drop and essentially close completely. He was safe.