A/N: Hi, this is my first Loveless fic, so be kind. And I have only seen the anime; I have yet to read the manga, so it probably won't fit with it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing at all. It all belongs to the absolutely wonderful Yun Kouga.

Dedication: For my Ali, who introduced me to Loveless. Clever girl.

Word count: 609

Chapter 1

Only You

"Suki da yo," Soubi whispered, gently stroking a finger down the side of Ritsuka's cheek.

Instantly the happy smile dropped from Ritsuka's face and he leapt to his feet, nearly shaking with anger.

"Stop saying that!" he yelled "stop saying things because Seimei told you to. I hate it. I hate you!"

He turned on his heel and started to run but like so many times before Soubi reached out and locked his wrist in a seemingly effortless iron grip. No matter how he pulled Ritsuka couldn't pull away. With a sigh of defeat he turned back to the blonde man.

"Let me go," he demanded and when Soubi still didn't release him "that's an order!"

With a small frown Soubi let go and Ritsuka back peddled away from him.

"Don't say things that you don't mean. I'm going home now. Don't follow me."

He took off, running in the direction of home, not looking back once. Soubi watched him go before sighing and lighting a cigarette and, at a much slower pace, followed his sacrifice.

OOOOOO

Ritsuka slammed the door quickly behind him and leant against it, breathing hard, eyes shut tight against the throbbing pain coming from his forehead. His eyes snapped open again as a wet something was dabbed against the two new bleeding cuts above his left eyebrow. He watched Soubi intently as the older man wiped away the blood. When he was satisfied the worst was gone he scooped up the ebony haired boy and, ignoring his protests, carried him to his bed.

"I can walk. And I can look after myself!"

Soubi merely shrugged in reply and sat him down on the bed before moving to fetch the plasters. There was silence as Soubi plastered the gashes, Ritsuka unsure what to say, Soubi seemingly content to say nothing at all.

"What was it this time?" Soubi asked and Ritsuka jumped at both the sudden noise and the tone of Soubi's voice. He was angry.

"It's nothing. It was my fault. I upset her. I… I'm still not who she wants me to be. I…" Ritsuka's voice cracked and suddenly he was sobbing, clinging to Soubi's shirt, desperately pressing his face into Soubi's shoulder and he shook.

Soubi froze for a moment, shocked by Ritsuka's sudden actions, but managed to pull himself together enough to wrap his arms around the boy and rub a soothing hand up and down his back.

Eventually the tears stopped and Ritsuka was calm again but neither fighter nor sacrifice was willing to let go of the other.

"Ritsuka?"

"Yes?"

"Do you want to come and live with me? I want to keep you safe and look after you. Suki da yo, Ritsuka."

"I thought I told you to stop saying that," Ritsuka said, voice muffled by Soubi's shirt.

"No, you didn't. You told me to stop saying things because of Seimei and things that I don't mean. And that wasn't because of Seimei. And I did mean it. With all my heart. I love you, Ritsuka, more than I ever loved Seimei, more than I ever have or ever will love anyone. Only you."

All through his speech Ritsuka didn't look at him and even when he had finished Ritsuka still refused to meet his eyes.

"I think you should go home now," he said eventually, staring at his finger nails.

Soubi was horrified to feel tears spring into the corners of his eyes and he had to fight to stop them spilling over.

"I understand," he said and within a moment he was gone, Ritsuka's curtains left fluttering in the slight breeze from the now slightly ajar window.

OOOOOO

A/N: You read it so please review. I will love you forever if you do. And I'll update!

Oh yeah, I wrote it 'Suki da you' because it seemed to work better in my head in Japanese than English. In case you don't know, it means 'I love you'.