Author's Note :: Wow, I was surprised at how many reviews I had from just the next day after posting the first chapter to this. Thanks you guys! So, since some people were saying a second chapter would be a good idea, I went ahead with it. I'm in that writing mode, you know? And after this chapter, I've already got a very good idea for the third chapter! So review this one and tell me what you think.

So, I don't own Loveless. : Boo again.

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Ice Cream and Nap Time

It was finally afternoon, when the last bell of school had rang. Ritsuka had never wished it away any faster before in his life, that he could remember anyway. Soubi came to see him every afternoon and it wasn't anything new, but that spark was taking place and Ritsuka couldn't get enough of him. And it was driving him crazy, he wasn't sure about this feeling yet because it was so…odd to him. Soubi…was well, much older than he was. Wait. He didn't care about that, he didn't care about that at all, what was he thinking?

He was outside the gates to the entrance of the school in no time to see his fighter. And there of course he was, like always. With the cigarette butts smashed out on the ground around him and that simple smirk on his face. Sometimes Ritsuka wanted to smack that smile right off his lips, but today, he loved it. And he wasn't quite sure why. After all…they had just spent the night together, it's not like that had done anything but kiss. And even then, it wasn't lots of kissing but just one! Maybe he was overreacting…he always-heard people talking about kids getting into love and going too far. That they think about the person constantly and want to be attached to the hip with him no matter what. Was he ending up like this? A lovesick child who might in the end getting his heart broken?

Well, he wasn't going to even consider these things right now, he was far too happy. And happiness didn't reach him much so he was going to enjoy it while he could. Besides, what if he woke up tomorrow and it was all gone? And the real Ritsuka was back? Then he wouldn't have done anything fun at all, he needed this, at least he thought he did.

"Soubi!" Ritsuka was off to him in an instant with a big grin on his face. He was hesitant to hug him, not wanting to seem too eager or anything…he wanted to keep Soubi on the edge. Because he was sure Soubi had been waiting for this, for him to give in and participate with all his affection and love. No, he wasn't going to let him have everything he wanted right off the bat. That wouldn't be challenging to Soubi, and Ritsuka wanted to keep the older one's mind running about him.

Soubi smiled as he pushed himself up from leaning against the brick wall, glancing up as he saw the other two friends not far behind. Yuiko and Yayoi, sometimes they were all right to be around but right now, Soubi wanted to just be with Ritsuka. The older male looked down to the boy and grabbed his hand.

"Let's go somewhere." He said more of a statement than a question as he waved to the other friends and said his goodbye. Ritsuka turned his head and waved as well before being tugged along by Soubi. For once he didn't mind. Because usually at this point he'd be complaining and moving out of his grip as fast as possible, normally anyway. Not today though, because he wanted to be with him. He wanted to go somewhere to spend time together.

"I'm a little hungry…" Ritsuka said quietly as he glanced at his surroundings, trying to find someplace to eat. He was in the mood for sugar…yes, he wanted something that contained sugar that was a possibility of keeping him in the good mood that he was.

"Ice cream?" Soubi asked him as he looked down at him and gave his hand a squeeze, that boy had captured his heart. And it was quite obvious.

"Yeah, that sounds perfect." The boy smiled, it was as if his fighter could read his mind so easily or something.

"What's the matter Ritsuka? Why are you crying?"

"Who? Who's crying?!"

"You are, Ritsuka."

"I'm not crying, you asshole! Let go of my arm! Who are you?"

"You don't know me?"

"Why should I? Let me go!"

"You wouldn't come to get me, Ritsuka. So I came instead."

"Let me go! How do you know me? Who the hell are you? A kidnapper? A pervert?"

"A weapon."

"Huh?"

"Oh my. That's odd…Seimei didn't tell you…about me?"

"You're Seimei's…you know my brother?"

"Yes."

"Oh, then. You're Seimei's friend? But you've never come to our house, right? I wouldn't forget…what's your name?"

"Soubi."

"Did you come to see me, Soubi?"

"Yup."

"Hey, are you free right now? Let's go make some memories!"

"Okay. Whatever you want, Ritsuka."

Their meeting had just been that easy. Ritsuka had gone through it over and over in his head so many times. It was odd, how Soubi had just popped up out of nowhere and hadn't ever left his life sense. Because of Seimei, it was all because of Seimei. And if Seimei weren't gone right now, he and Soubi would still be together. Soubi and I may have never met since Seimei had kept him a secret before. It was a scary subject to touch.

Soubi squeezed the younger boy's hand tighter and took him across the street to an ice cream stand. Where he bought two cones, one for each, and from there he went to the park where they had first met, first spoke. Shared their first kiss, it was special to him. Special to both of them really, and they were both thinking about it then. If only they could read each other's thoughts right then.

"We have to take pictures…otherwise, you'll forget all about me."

"I would never forget."

"You would…I'd never…make memories with some guy I don't even know. But you're Seimei's friend, Soubi…to me, that means a lot! But…I never knew…"

"Hm?"

"That Seimei…had an adult friend."

"Oh…my ears? Don't worry. I won't do anything to you."

And that was when they had kissed, and Soubi had remembered how frustrated Ritsuka had been with him once he'd done it. The memory made the corners of his lips turn up slightly and he found the same picnic table that they had been at that same day. It was perfect. He had Ritsuka, ice cream, and a mind full of memories that would never fade away from him. And even as they sat there now only more were being made.

"Do you remember this place?" Soubi asked as he sat across from Ritsuka in the same way that he had a while back.

"Of course. This is where you kissed me, and I got pissed at you." The boy was pretty blunt about it as he went to touch his tongue to the cold treat that he held in his hand. All the while though, he was smiling and looking up at the man across the table from him.

Soubi just smirked and shook his head as he became halfway done with the chocolate ice cream that he had gotten. He watched Ritsuka as he did with admiration, the boy seemed to be enjoying his ice cream as well. That was good, he was glad to see Ritsuka so happy. Sometimes the boy got so down or frustrated about something that often it was cute, but it worried him at the same time. The boy was different than any other child his age, and that was what made him so special.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" The boy demanded of him as he lowered the cone from his mouth and gave Soubi a look. His commanding streak got the better of him then and the older male just merely laughed in a quiet manner at him and reached over, ruffling the younger's hair.

"Just because, finish your ice cream before it melts." He told him as he got to finishing his as well and breaking apart the cone here and there to eat it in pieces. Ritsuka just bit off of his and ate it until it was gone just like that.

Once both of their ice cream was gone, Ritsuka looked around the park as if expecting something to be there. But it was just the same as always and this time he was just with Soubi. Maybe that's what seemed out of place…it was Soubi. However, the man was out of place in a good way at least.

"I love you…Ritsuka."

"Huh? What the hell did you say?"

"I love you. I'll protect you. I'll do anything for you, Ritsuka."

"Anything…?"

"Anything! I'll give you my everything. My body. My heart. My soul. Everything. I'll even give my life…I'll fight for you, Ritsuka. So don't be afraid."

"You say…such confusing things so lightly!"

He had said it then and Ritsuka had found it so odd to him. They had just met and the man was telling him that he loved him! And even now when Soubi said it, the boy was confused and felt so odd. Even now, he was drawing closer and closer to saying it back. Because he was starting to like Soubi and enjoy his company…but he still wasn't so sure about it. After all, Soubi wasn't really his at all, was he?

Ritsuka had too many questions in his mind, he thought too much.

However.

Soubi always kept saying that 'Seimei's words were absolute.'. Why? Because Seimei still had some command over him? It was weird, Soubi surely still loved him as well. And Ritsuka didn't want to share Soubi, and it was tearing him apart, he loved his brother and maybe…just maybe, he loved Soubi.

"Did you come here because Seimei told you to?"

"Yes."

"You said…you loved me! Over and over! Why? Because Seimei told you to? Answer me! Soubi!"

"Yes."

"Did Seimei tell you…to love me?"

"He did."

"So you listen to whatever Seimei says…you can do that."

"I can. Seimei's word is absolute. And now I listen to Ritsuka's commands. That's what he told me to do."

"You can't love…just because you were ordered to. That's not right!"

"I love you."

"Stop it! I don't want to hear it!"

"But still, you're going to need me. Only I can fight for you. There's no use in crying over it."

"I'm not…crying!"

Did Soubi love him? Or only because Seimei said for him to? It was a hard question to answer, and Ritsuka wondered what would happen if he found Seimei right now and just threw him at Soubi. What would happen? Would Soubi forget all about him?

He had to stop thinking like this…again.

"Let's…go to your apartment." Ritsuka said as he stood up suddenly and looked at his fighter. Who stood up right after him, went around the table and grabbed the boy's hand to take him along. He followed orders without any say at all, and Ritsuka still thought that it was weird how Soubi just obeyed. Ritsuka was younger than he, why did Soubi listen to him? Because Seimei told him to, that was why, and the thoughts made his mind race.

Soubi had Ritsuka led to his apartment in no time, even though the boy knew how to get there by himself. Soon they were inside and Yoji and Natsuo were sitting at the table snacking on something. For some reason they were usually there or asleep in bed. At least, that's how Ritsuka always saw them.

"Oh, looks who's home!" Yoji smirked slightly as he stood up from the table and gave a look to Natsuo. "Maybe we should leave them alone…" Of course, he had a teasing tone to his voice as Natsuo giggled and followed him to the bedroom, the sound of the door being shut soon happening afterwards.

Ritsuka rolled his eyes slightly as he stepped into the apartment and wandered around, eyeing all of Soubi's paintings. They were all so beautiful and he wished that he had a talent that he could express as well as that. The boy yawned slightly as he took a seat on one of the cushions on the floor to inspect a painting that was halfway done. It was of a beautiful butterfly, just like the others. However, this one's wings were all sorts of colors and it was poised on a stem of a flower.

"I like this one." The boy said as he touched the edge of the paper that the picture was being painted upon.

"Would you like to have it?" Soubi asked him as he sat down next to him with a smile.

"Don't you have to turn this in for school or something?" Ritsuka furrowed his eyebrows slightly as he took his hand away, not wanting to take something that Soubi needed to turn in for art school.

"Yes. But it isn't due for a while…I can just paint something similar to it. When I'm done with this one, I'll give it to you, alright?" The older picked up the painting to set it off to the side, mentally reminding himself to finish it for Ritsuka. That was on his top priority list now and he wouldn't even do the painting for school until he had the one for Ritsuka finished.

"Thank you." His smile brightened as he yawned once more and rubbed one of his eyes slightly. Of course he still lacked a couple of hours in sleep…he needed a nap, actually. "Maybe I should go home, I'm kind of tired…"

Soubi looked at him with concern before standing up to walk him home. He didn't want the boy to leave, but if he wished it, then he'd take him back and see him again tomorrow.

"Unless, you don't mind me taking a nap here, do you? And you could wake me up in a few hours to go home or something…" Ritsuka trailed off as he tilted his head up to look at Soubi. The older one smiled at him and nodded, turning to head towards the bedroom without a word. Ritsuka stood up and followed behind him quietly, standing at the doorway as Soubi forced Natsuo and Yoji to lay around elsewhere so that Ritsuka could get some sleep.

The boy was going to protest and say not to disturb him, it wouldn't be any hassle for him to walk home for sleep. However he knew that Soubi would insist it so he crawled into bed and got comfortable…and before he knew it he was out to sleep.

Soubi sat on the floor next to Ritsuka with a smile, leaning down to press a small kiss to his lips. Apparently the boy was still enough awake to realize it and he opened his eyes with a start. Soubi pulled back and blinked before smiling a little bit and placing his hand over one of Ritsuka's smaller ones.

"I'm sorry, go back to sleep." He whispered before rubbing his thumb over the back of the other's hand gently.

"Soubi…I've already gotten used to you sleep next to me…" Ritsuka murmured in a sleepy tone.

"Well, I'm right here." The older told him, although he knew what Ritsuka meant by this. The 12-year-old wanted him to curl up in bed with him to sleep. However, he wanted for him to ask of it first.

"No, I mean, right here next to me." He said and pat the spot next to him with those big, cute, and innocent eyes staring into Soubi's. How could the man refuse him? He couldn't.

Soubi moved under the blankets next to him and slipped an arm around his waist, his other arm above them. And that hand was playing with Ritsuka's hair softly while he leaned down to press a kiss to his forehead. "Here I am, now go to sleep." He told him in a quiet tone.

"Alright…" He curled up against him and wrapped his arms around him as well, drifting off into that deep peaceful sleep that he so much deserved.

"I love you, Ritsuka."

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So, like I said, I already have a good idea for chapter three. Since this one was kind of pointless. However! The next chapter is going to have TONS of drama and sappy stuff and along with a ton of fluff to make it all better at the end, alright? So read and review this chapter, please. :