Painted Desires
By: Phantom Pherax
Summary: Soubi is terrified when he finds out Seimei is alive and fears he will be forced away from Ritsuka. After having truly fallen in love with the young neko boy he will do anything to keep it from happening.
X1
I want to see him…
Aoyagi Ritsuka stared out of the classroom window with that one thought on his mind as Shinonome-sensei lectured her class. The college adult had not shown up to see him in days while Ritsuka was just stubborn enough not to call him. It left him wistfully wishing he could see him.
Soubi…I feel safe with him, like nothing bad will ever happen no matter what anyone does…but he still lies to me and goes behind my back…no, I don't want to see him…
He could still remember the question he had asked Soubi months ago when he had dreamt the Sintouki had killed everyone he cared for. Wondering if Seimei were still alive and ordered him to kill him if he would do it. He somehow knew it wasn't a lie when Soubi said he would die first. It was the very moment something had begun in their relationship, yet he still hadn't quite figured out what it was.
Earlier, the Sintouki had come to him while he was tied to a chair in his home. He came to him truly frightened of something, wanting them to run away together. He wouldn't tell him what he had been so afraid of, just that he had had a frightening experience.
I want to see him…
Ritsuka's mind slipped back to his previous thought, wondering what Soubi could ever be afraid of. To this day he still refused to tell him what had happened.
Soubi…what were you so afraid of?
After the experience, Soubi had not been the same…"All rise!"
He felt as if there was nothing he could do for him…"Bow!"
He felt utterly useless to him..."Thank you!"
Was there really nothing he could do? "Ritsuka-kun."
Ritsuka looked up at Yuiko's soft spoken voice next to him. She stood next to his desk. The rest of the class had already left the room. "Ritsuka-kun, class is over," she told him.
Ritsuka stood from his desk and gathered his books. "Gomen ne," was all he could utter to her at the moment. She watched him worried.
"Ritsuka-kun is everything okay with you and Soubi-san?" she asked. Ritsuka stopped and looked up at her. He realized earlier that she was abnormally perceptive of other people. He simply wished that sometimes, times like this, she wasn't. "Soubi-san hasn't come by to get you in days. You guys didn't have a fight again did you?"
Ritsuka shook his head. "No. Everything is fine. Gomen nasai Yuiko, I have to go." With that he quickly grabbed up the rest of his paper and nearly sprinted out the door. Ever persistent, Yuiko followed after him. "Ritsuka-kun! Wait up! Ritsuka-kun!"
Down the hall Ritsuka stopped when he noticed the figure down by the school gates. He didn't notice Yuiko running up behind him. "Gomen ne!" she breathed heavily. "Gomen ne Ritsuka-kun! I didn't mean to upset you!" When the neko boy didn't answer she followed his gaze out the window down to the gate. "Oh. Soubi-san!" she yelled out the window gleefully. "Soubi-san, up here!"
While she waved Ritsuka took off down the stairs toward the courtyard. "Soubi! Soubi!"
Putting out his lit cigarette Soubi turned to face the boy smiling. "Hello Ritsuka. How have you been?" he asked lightly.
"Don't give me that!" Ritsuka yelled infuriated. "You haven't contacted me in three days, baka!"
Soubi blinked. "Gomen. I had school work I needed to tend to. Kio took away my phone until I finished." He leaned his back against the brick wall behind him.
Ritsuka blinked. "Oh. H-how did it turn out? Your assignment."
"I don't know. I wanted to see Ritsuka so I left the art show before I could find out."
Ritsuka flushed glancing away from his Sintouki. He left so he could see him. "Soubi?" his voice came out soft, as if above a whisper.
"Yes?"
"Would you…paint something for me?" he asked flushing even more.
"For Ritsuka I will do anything." Soubi smiled, however, his smile soon vanished. The Sintouki's memory vividly alive with the scene he could not stop replaying. When he had heard the voice he never again wanted to hear. He had yet to straighten anything out of it. It vexed him certainly, to know that he was marked as the 'Beloved' Sintouki only to be pushed aside while his so called 'Sacrifice' had another. Had this 'Nisei' been his real Sintouki? If so, why had he been marked? Why could he not be fully connected with Ritsuka? Was that the reason?
"Soubi?"
With a disclosed 'hm?' Soubi looked down at him. Amethyst eyes full of desire and unabashed wanting stared back at him. "Are you okay?"
"Of course." Soubi told him smiling.
I cannot lose Ritsuka because of this. I will not.
"Gomen Ritsuka. I have to go." With a heavy heart weighing him down Soubi turned and began to walk away. He could not bear to see his Sacrifice when he was in his current condition.
"Soubi wait!"
Soubi stopped when his right arm was grabbed by a pair of small hands. "Wherever it is you're going, I'm going with you." Ritsuka demanded. "You're not leaving me alone again."
Soubi smiled faintly. "Is that an order?"
Ritsuka sighed. "Yes, baka. That's an order. Now take me with you."
"Tski dai ou, Ritsuka."
"Whatever." Ritsuka mumbled glancing away with a blush bright on his cheeks.
"Where would you like to go?" Soubi asked.
Ritsuka thought about it for a moment. He wanted to be with Soubi alone so he could once again try to ask him what he was afraid of. They couldn't go to his place, Natsuo, Youji, and Kio would be there. His mother would surely be home, but she would be downstairs. "…My house. We're going to my house and I want you to meet me in my room. If you understand that, then do it."
Soubi nodded. "I will do whatever Ritsuka wishes."
And I will not lose him.
Ristuka nodded his head once.
I won't lose him.
A/N: Different layout, but I hope everyone enjoyed! It gets better. It kind of mixes together the animated series and the manga, but hopefully in a way that makes sense. Reviews welcomed! No flames.