Shichijou~ ShikiXIchijou
Chapter 1: Stranger
As he darts into the old mansion, he heard footsteps, running upstairs. Ichijou follows, and then he saw the boy he chased enters the room, the one on his right. The door flung open, he saw him, the boy with dirt on his face, frowning and in a great fright. The younger cocooned himself inside his old wretched blanket as Ichijou gets closer to him. Lying on the dusty floor, the boy is shivering either cold or scared to Ichijou's presence there. He could see the boy's body shaking, sympathy flooding inside him and he really wanted to cuddle him in his arms to comfort him. A soft cry heard from under the blanket covering him, a few sobs and chokes signing that he's really scared.
Ichijou pulls the blanket gently as he doesn't want to frighten the kiddo. The boy covered his face with his palms, still shivering. The blonde caress the boy's hair, gently stroking his crown and brunette locks, "Shh…I know…I saw it all…," he whispered to the boy's ears. The brunette grabs his cuffs, trying to get up. "…you mean…all?" he voiced, sweet and deep, the voice of a boy who just hit his early puberty. Ichijou nodded calmly. Finally Ichijou could see his face clear enough, as the boy's face just inches away in front of his green eyes. Ichijou wrap his arms around the boy's neck, "I should've been there earlier…" he muttered. "…you don't even know me…" the younger gently pushed him away.
"Believe me…you have no idea since when did I have my eyes on you…" the blond prince confessed. " I had been strayed on the streets since I was born… there's no way you ever notice me," the boy said, gazing at a huge luxurious mansion opposites the street. "…I watched you from my window; everyday…since you came knocking at my door, with your purple blanket…with your basket," he paused, "…and the roses you sold to mom, I remember it well," Ichijou lift his face. The boy seems flabbergasted, as his eyes gleamed with tears.
His blanket fell to his waist, exposing his bruised half-naked body as he reply Ichijou's embrace. The prince notices those bruises, and starts to run his fingers on them. "These hurt?" Ichijou gracefully touches the black and blue marks. The boy nods, hissing softly in reaction to his mild pain he felt as Ichijou gently press his bruises. "I will not forgive them…" the older grumbled. "Who…?" the brunette pulls his blanket, covering his torso. "…they who violated and raped you," Ichijou justified. The boy half-bowed…looked depressed when Ichijou mentions about "rape".
"Come to think of it…no one ever cared for me…" he snorts in his pause, his eyes started to gleam, "…thank you…" he bowed to the floor. Ichijou swiftly grabs the boy's shoulders, "No… just, just…please stay with me, I want you to be safe…" he looked into the boy's hazel eyes. "…I really wanted to say this a long time ago…so, please don't insist…"Ichijou grasps the boy's palms. "Please," he repeats. The young man sighed heavily, accepting the request with a reluctant nod. A relieved smile carved on Ichijou's face; he wraps the boy with his sweater.
The boy gets up, but he felt dizzy. Resting his back to the nearest wall, he felt a great throbbing pain below his waist on the back. Holding tight his blanket, he tries to stand up to his feet. But, crimson liquid flows down his legs from where he was abused violently by the heartless men. Ichijou snapped to his nerves seeing the boy fell weak on the floor. "Shiki!!"
Shiki…Shiki…Shiki…
The voice echoed in his head. "…was that a dream…?" his heart whispered. While, his hand fumbling his body, his eyes are too heavy to open. The light is too bright, "am I dead…?" thought him. Reality shoved into his head, he saw a figure next to his bed. Rubbing his eyes to get a clearer vision, he finally came to recognize the guy who is sleeping in his blanket, "…uh," he couldn't reach any name inside his head. He touched the blonde's hair, "it's smooth as silk, nicely trimmed unlike mine," he spoke to himself. Ichijou felt a gentle stroke on his head, he opened his eyes. "Ah, you are awake, Shiki?" Shiki nods.
"Why do you know my name?" Shiki asked. "…because it's important," he answered shortly. "What's so important about me…?" he looks even more confused. Ichijou remains silent, but he starts making Shiki breakfast; toast and milk. His quick maneuvers caught Shiki's eyes, "You're not human…aren't you?" Ichijou pretends as if he never listens. "Shh…open up," Ichijou holds up the glass for Shiki. He drank from it, lapping to the last drop. He's hungry, had never tasted any food better than garbage and leftovers. Tears started to run down his cheeks, again. "You okay? Does it hurt again?" Ichijou panicked. The boy shook his head nonchalantly, he bit his lips…holding in his tears. His memories came flooding in his head.
Flashbacks,
Shiki's POV
I always hated the huge house next to the street; they looked arrogant and filthy rich. I hate them, I hate them, I hate them. Why God is being unfair to me? They live happily, safe in their big mansion, but I'm out here, without shelter…assaulted. When I'm selling these roses, they have this disgust look on me. They are nothing but hypocrites.
That day, I heard the family was attacked by vampires, and they are all dead. The only one who left was the only son of the Ichijou family. "Serve him right," thought myself, smirking in satisfaction. "He'll suffer my pain then…"
End of Shiki's POV
"I'm sorry…if only I knew that boy was you…"he choked hard. Ichijou frowned; he tried to gather Shiki's undefined expressions. "Pardon me…?" he peered into the hazel eyes. "I hated your family…I laughed at you when the bloodshed happened…"he confessed. Ichijou gasped, he swallowed the last piece of bread, feels hard as it reach his throat. He threw a slight smile, "…I've forgotten all about that day, it doesn't matter," he rested his palm on the brunette's head. "Now we have each other…okay?" The younger breathed, "…thank you,"