Chapter One : Dreamless

Ritsuka woke up in his bed, alone. Slowly, he got up allowing his eyes to wander, searching the room for clues as to why he was both frightened and relieved. And then he remembered. Once again, he had had that dream...the one where Soubi killed everyone. He almost cried again. But it was then he remembered that Soubi had reassured him that if it came to pass, Soubi would die before Ritsuka. As Ritsuka left his bed, he realized that his phone light was blinking, signifying a text from Soubi.

He opened his phone to read the message.

It read:

"Ohayou Gozaimasu, Ritsuka-kun. Chuu"

Ritsuka blushed remembering his own text message that had ended that way. After all their time together, he still hadn't found a way to get Soubi to spill the beans on the Seven Moons, even though now their bond was stronger than ever. The game level still wasn't giving him his answers, so he gave up on that. He needed to know where to go from here. He needed somewhere to go and have fun. He needed...

"Ritsuka-kun?" said Soubi suddenly appearing at his window.

"Aah!" exclaimed Ritsuka startled by his sudden appearance. His heart beat had become unrhythmic from the surprise.

"Oh...Soubi. You know that window isn't an entrance." said Ritsuka, wishing Soubi could show up in a more proper fashion.

"Yes." Soubi said.

"Then why do you use it still." Questioned Ritsuka, getting slightly agitated.

"I like the look on your face when I show up unexpectedly." replied Soubi, smiling at Ritsuka with his eyes closed.

Again, Ritsuka blushed. "Oh..."

"So, are you doing anything today?" asked Ritsuka.

"No...why?" Soubi responded.

"Well...I was thinking...we could make some memories with our friends again." Inquired Ritsuka, hoping that he would say yes.

"Sure." answered Soubi. He walked over to Ritsuka and leaned in close, putting his hands on Ritsuka's shoulders. "Ritsuka-kun, Suki da yo."

Soubi kissed Ritsuka like he had all those times before and had told him he loved him. But this time, Ritsuka could feel some form of sincerity in his words. And this time, his lips didn't have that taste of sorrow...no...they were full of...love...real love...the kind only one called Beloved could give.

"Ready?"

"Y-yes..." said Ritsuka, blushing heavily from the kiss. He wasn't sure what made him blush so madly. Soubi had kissed him many times before...perhaps it was because this time it felt like Soubi honestly meant it.

They left the house, going to round up their friends and go out for a little fun. The ferris wheel incident still lingered in their minds as they all went out. Shinonome-sensei couldn't come this time, so it was Yayoi, Yuiko, Ritsuka, and Soubi. When they couldn't think of somewhere to go Ritsuka simply suggested the park. They all agreed and headed off towards the park.

"Are you ready?" asked a mysterious fighters miles away from Ritsuka and company.

"Yes...let's hope Loveless doesn't put up too much of a fight."

"Why? It'll be so much more rewarding to have a full battle. I haven't had one in a while."

"True...but we don't have the power to beat Agatsuma-san."

"Haha...don't worry about him. Without his dear Seimei, he will be easy to kill. We'll kick his sorry ass to the curb."

"I hope you're right."

While they were busy playing in the park, Soubi recognized the prescence of another Fighter pair. He didn't want to alert the others, he wanted them to continue their fun. However, he thought that their enemies would not be so kind. The remainder of the day continued with no interference from the other pair. Soubi thought 'Well they have at least some heart.' Yayoi walked Yuiko home when they were done for the day. They had decided to finish when Ritsuka's memory card had run out of space. Soubi thought 'Not a moment too soon'.

"Ritsuka...I didn't want to tell you earlier...but now that they're gone. There's another fighter pair, they've been following us for a while."

"Not here...not in the open. Let's conduct the battle elsewhere." said Ritsuka, sad that a battle would have to follow such a wonderful day. He was against battling but if they had been following them...then they weren't simply going to go away.

"As you wish."

The two entered an empty part of town near the ocean, where they could have a battle.

"Is this fine, Ritsuka-kun?"

"Yes."

"I declare a spell battle." said their opponent.

"We accept." exclaimed Soubi. "Battle system, intiate!"

"So you're Loveless, eh? And Soubi-san...from school. If only you still had Seimei...you might have been a match for us." said the Fighter of the pair.

Together, he and his sacrifice said, "We are Dreamless, we leave a path of nightmares in our wake, but even when you wake...there shall be no escaping it."

Soubi chanted "Chains, constructs of wild roses, bind my enemies. RESTRAINT!"

The other fighter said, "Repulse, with the power of fire! Burn the rose vines!"

The chains that Soubi had tried to bind his target with were burnt to ashes.

"Lightning, fall from the darkened sky, and electrocute that which you touch." exclaimed Soubi attempting a quick strike.

"Defract the lightning!" The enemy shouted to stop the incoming attack. While busied with that defense, Soubi prepared another attack.

"Earth, quake beneath the target's feet, and drag him under."

"Seismic shock, quell the earth." countered the enemy stopping the quake before it could reach them.

"Fire, bright like light, and as blazing as an inferno surround everything!" Soubi sad hoping to hit them before his opponent could recover.

"Water, pour from his darkened sky, drench the fires." Commanded his opponent, turning Soubi's thunderclouds against him.

"The water that falls, turn into black tears, corrupted by my sorrow, redirect at the enemy and scar him." said Soubi finally gaining the upperhand.

"Reflect! Reflect!" shouted the enemy, scared that his Sacrifice might get hurt.

"No good. Sorrow strike him, like pounding fists of rain. RESTRAINT!" shouted Soubi disabling his opponent's defense.

"Repulse!" exclaimed the enemy in a vain attempt to cancel the restraint. His focus however had dropped.

"No good either. Your focus is off, the chains remain."

"You're pretty good Soubi. For being with a different Sacrifice. The Seven Moons didn't lie when they said you were strong." said their opponent with some degree of difficulty due to his restraints.

"You're from the Seven Moons? Why did you kill Seimei? Tell me!" shouted Ritsuka, angry that yet again the Seven Moons was after them. And he was also angry because no one would tell him about Seimei.

"Ha...kid you're never gonna get that out of me. I'll die first."

"Suits me." said Soubi. Ritsuka realized what was going to happen too late.

"Shadows from nowhere, conquer my foe, and crush him where he stands! CONCLUSION!"

"Soubi-san! Stop! Stop!" cried Ritsuka trying to stop Soubi from killing. But it was too late. Another servant of the Seven Moons had been destroyed.

"Why?" asked Ritsuka. "Why! I told you...I hate killing."

"I'm sorry, Ritsuka-kun." Soubi said embracing Ritsuka.

Ritsuka escaped his embrace after a few seconds. "I know...I know." he said, looking away from both Soubi and Dreamless.

Soubi said, "So ends Dreamless...and all their nightmares too. Perhaps now, Ritsuka-kun, where they are...they can dream once more."

Ritsuka looked up at Soubi, and realized the truth in his words. Ritsuka didn't feel so bad. And so the two left, another battle behind them, and both in the other's arms.