It's not what it seems
"Soubi, I don't think this is such a great idea after all. Let's stop," the boy said weakly, his face slightly red and ears pressed back submissively
"Hmm, but why stop now? I know you are liking this a lot, Ritsuka. Plus, it's all to help you relax right?" the taller man responded.
"I...I know but... Ah, Soubi, that hurt!" Ritsuka growled out.
"Sorry Ritsuka, I didn't mean to hurt you. You're just not relaxing like I told you to. Besides, you thought this was a good idea," he reminded his master.
The younger boy was lying on the bed, with Soubi sitting down beside him. The taller man had offered Ritsuka a back rub since he looked really stressed out and he knew when Kio gave him back rubs he always felt more relaxed afterwards. Though Ritsuka wasn't sure about the idea, he gave in when he saw the soft smile Soubi always gave him.
When did I begin to melt whenever you give me that smile, a smile only for me? Why does my heart flutter when he says my name? Soubi, what are you doing to me? he thought to himself.
"Do you want me to stop, Ritsuka?" he asked, since his little master had gone quiet all of a sudden.
Ritsuka was shaken from his thoughts. "No, you can continue, just be gentler..." He said the last part more softly.
"Alright, I promise to be more gentle this time." Soubi placed a small kiss to the top of Ritsuka's head and then went back to rubbing his sacrifice's back, his fingers slowly moving up and down the fabric of Ritsuka's shirt. He knew that this would be better if it was bare skin but he dare not ask that of Ritsuka; he knew that might be slightly uncomfortable for the boy. His hands slowly moved lower on Ritsuka's back, gently rubbing along his mid section of it. He watched Ritsuka closely for any discomfort.
Ritsuka slowly began to relax again into Soubi's touch, though the soft blush touching his cheeks didn't seem to want to fade away anytime soon. The young sacrifice closed his eyes and just listened quietly to the breathing of him and Soubi, trying his best not to fall asleep.
Soubi noticed that Ritsuka was putting more trust into him now. He thought back to how their relationship had started out and gotten to what it was now; the young boy had now placed more trust into his fighter than ever, but Soubi knew that the love Ritsuka had for him wasn't like the love the boy had had for Seimei. There was nothing he could do about the bond those two had shared. He did wish that someday they could also share a bond that deep with each other...someday.
His hands now moved to Ritsuka's lower back, making small circles with his fingers around the tense muscles. He then stopped as he reached the boy's pants line. Knowing now he would be stepping over his boundaries, he decided not to take that chance; after all, he wanted Ritsuka's full trust before doing things like that. Bending down slightly, he whispered to Ritsuka, who was now almost asleep, "Ritsuka, I love you."
All he got in reply from the boy was a soft moan as he turned his head away from Soubi. The fighter chuckled softly and got a small red blanket out and covered the boy with it.
Ritsuka, I know eventually, whether it's soon or in the future, you will be mine and mine alone. For now I will continue to follow you till the end; then and only then will I tell you how I truly feel for you, the fighter thought to himself, lightly caressing the boy's hair with his fingers. As he did this, he saw a smile forming on Ritsuka's face as he softly mumbled out, "Soubi..." The fighter just smiled, thinking that perhaps that day would come sooner than the two of them thought. Only time could tell.