Eventually, Ritsuka learns he is not the only one in need of saving.
The boy starts to notice the sad look that lingers in Soubi's eyes, and the quiet desperation in his voice as he says 'I love you, Ritsuka', less frequently by the day. He starts to realize that he is not the only one who feels broken, that Soubi also feels like a shell of a person.
And at first Ritsuka does not know what to do.
But slowly he learns.
Soubi visits when it rains because the weather reminds him he is lonely, and he smokes because it is the only way he knows to calms his nerves. Ritsuka knows this because when he orders Soubi to quit, the blond's words are not so smooth when he speaks, and sometimes his hands would shake.
So when Soubi begins to smoke again in secret, Ritsuka pretends he does not notice the lingering smell of cigarettes.
Soubi also hates to be called a pervert, because he knows what a real pervert is capable of, and both he and Ritsuka know that Soubi would never do to Ritsuka what had had happened to him.
So Ritsuka begins to call him one less and less.
Sometimes Soubi asks Ristuka to take him away, he begs him, and that scares Ritsuka, because Soubi sounds scared and he does not understand how that is possible. It takes forever, but eventually, he begins to.
Soubi is scared that if Ritsuka does not take him away, then he will be taken away from Ritsuka. He is afraid of being thrown away again. He is afraid of Ritsuka not wanting him anymore.
And again, Ritsuka is left not knowing what to do.
But Ritsuka learns.
When Soubi gets that look in his eye now, that sad look, Ritsuka says what Soubi used to say to him.
I love you, he would say, pressing a kiss wherever he could reach, I'll always take you with me. And Ritsuka would repeat it as many times as Soubi needed, pressing his lips against the blond's bandaged skin.
I love you Soubi.
