Thank You, a loveless fanfic

Soubi shows a new way of expressing gratitude.

-Thank You-

Ritsuka was having a rather nice day- he had gotten an A+ on his test at school. He was content to run to Soubi after exiting the school building and lean in to his warm embrace, showing Soubi the grade and blushing when the college student looked at him with pride and a loving smile. Soubi informed him that he would take them out for ice cream as a treat, and Ritsuka couldn't hold in his excitement. "Soubi!" He purred with a smile, leaning up to capture the adult's lips with his own for a short few seconds.

Soubi couldn't repress his smile, but was startled but a loud voice. "Ritsuka-kun?" Ritsuka and Soubi turned their attention to see bright pink pigtails facing their way with confusion.

"Oi, Yuiko-san, I-"

"Why did you kiss Soubi-kun?" Ritsuka felt his whole face blush bright red. He had been pretty sure no one else had seen that, but of course if anyone had, Yuiko would. She followed him around like a lost puppy. He tried to think of an explanation to the surprise kiss but Soubi was already one step ahead of him.

"That's what you do when you thank people, Yuiko. Ritsuka was just saying 'thank you' because I'm going out to get him ice cream later." Soubi explained calmly, holding Ritsuka's hand while he spoke the words and giving in a knowing squeeze every once and a while as if to inform the younger boy that his words were only for Yuiko and not true- of course there was more to the kisses they shared than just simple thanks.

Yuiko smiled. "Thank you? Ne, that makes sense!" She nodded her head in understanding. Ritsuka then asked her if she wanted to go with them for ice cream since he felt a little guilty about lying to her and she grinned widely with a 'yes'. They waited a moment to ask Yayoi if he wanted to come as well, and because Yuiko was coming, he of course said yes.

They headed down to a local business that held Ritsuka's favorite flavor- a purple kind with small pieces of bubble gum inside. Soubi ordered vanilla with chocolate syrup, Yuiko got strawberry banana, and Yayoi asked for Neapolitan. After ordering their ice cream, they all sat down and dug in, Ritsuka mumbling a quiet 'thank you' to Soubi instead of a kiss- he really didn't need to explain anything like that to Yayoi any time soon.

Yuiko started to talk to everyone about her B she had gotten on her test earlier but accidentally spilled some of the ice cream on her new purse. "Oi, Yuiko, here." Yayoi handed her some napkins quickly, urging her to clean up her purse before it stained.

But Yuiko forgot the stain instantly and instead looked to Yayoi with a happy smile. "Thank you, Yayoi-san!" And before Yayoi could begin to mutter 'you're welcome', he found his lips covered by Yuiko's.

Ritsuka stopped eating his ice cream, his eyes going wide with shock and even Soubi stopped short for a moment in surprise. Finally, Yuiko broke the contact, leaving a shocked and stuttering Yayoi. "Y-Yuiko!" Ritsuka stuttered in shock. "Why did you do that?"

Yuiko just smiled widely at him. "That's what you do when you say thank you, Ritsuka-kun! Remember? Just like Soubi said earlier!" Ritsuka felt himself blush even bigger than he was before, not knowing how to respond from that and trying to ignore Soubi's unrepressed laughter from his side.

Yayoi was still sputtering out nonsense due to shock, while Ritsuka was blushing like mad and trying to hold in his anger and twitch of jealousy when Yuiko said she should 'thank' Soubi for buying her the ice cream.

Soubi laughed again. Yes, over all, a very nice day.