Wow, I had no idea this pairing, so to speak, was so popular. A big thank you to all reviewers, you have encouraged me to add this additional chapter to my one-shot.
Just a small note of warning, it's much darker than the previous chapter, given that it is written from Soubi's point-of-view. I hope this doesn't put anyone off though. Enjoy.
Fragility of Life (Soubi's POV)
Step…step…he put one foot in front of the other, trudging slowly along the corridors, slowly making his way to his dormitory room. It was taking all of Agatsuma Soubi's training just to continue on silently, to withstand the fiery pain on his back that seemed to invade his very being. Pain that Soubi relished secretly, if only because it was him who caused it. Every throb of his back, every ache, reminded Soubi of the person whom he belonged to. Master…
Before he knew it, Soubi was already standing in front of his dorm room. It was almost midnight…Kio should be asleep by now…Soubi thought hazily. Not wishing to disturb his roommate, Soubi withdrew his room keys from the pocket of his trench coat.
Click. As the door swung open silently, Soubi paused for a moment at the threshold, just to gather himself. For he had caught sight of Kio, whom, contrary to what he expected, was currently working on a painting. Or rather, had been working on a painting, for his attention was now drawn to Soubi. He mustn't…he mustn't know…Soubi refused to allow his room-mate to know of the harsh reality he experienced daily. His reality, which was merely a distant nightmare for most. It'd only invite pity...or ridicule... He had mostly succeeded thus far. Despite having shared the same room with Kio for almost four months, Kio had only witnessed Soubi injured twice. Both times, Soubi's injuries had been too severe for him to keep up his act. However, he had adamantly refused to say anything about the incidents, so hopefully, despite Kio's suspicions, he would not think of interfering.
However, luck was not on Soubi's side today. Even as he attempted to take a steady step forward, the amount of blood that he had loss that day made that practically impossible. Stumbling a little, Soubi somehow managed to catch himself before he could face-plant onto the wooden floor of his room.
Out of nowhere, Kio's irritatingly chirpy voice interrupted Soubi's attempts at staying on his feet. "Sou-chan, are you drunk?" If he weren't so exhausted, Soubi would have snorted at that. Out of all the plausible reasons for him to be unsteady on his feet, Kio had to pick the most unlikely, illogical reason ever. Soubi never ever got drunk. He couldn't, for the one time that person had seen him drinking, he had proclaimed, "Disgusting habit you have there. Your breath stinks, Soubi. You will not consume anymore alcohol." Since that day, the closest Soubi had gotten to a bottle of alcohol was handing Kio his bottles when the latter went on one of his drinking binges.
In response to Kio's absurd question, Soubi shook his head before correcting his room-mate. 'I'm fine…" Perhaps, if he was lucky, Kio would leave his prying at that and Soubi would be free to collapse on his bed… Fortune, however, had never ever been on Soubi's side, if the past nineteen years of his life were of any indication. And there was absolutely no reason for Fortune to change its mind and smile upon him now. As evidenced by the fact that Kio, evidently deciding to help Soubi now and save his questions for later, was making a beeline for him.
As his room-mate neared, Soubi could not help flinching at his proximity. The last person who had reached out to him as he stood with a bloody back had been Ritsu-sensei…though of course, Ritsu-sensei's aim had been to reprimand, while Kio's motive was truly to extend a helping hand. As Soubi felt his arm being lifted to rest around Kio's shoulders, his back burned with the stretching of his muscles. But that was not what made him shudder. Rather, it was Kio's proximity – the first person since Ikeda Jun to touch him with no intention of hurting him. A friend…how long had it been since he last had a friend? But that was exactly what Kio claimed to be – Soubi's friend. And god help him, but bit by bit, Soubi was even starting to believe that. Especially during those moments when Kio allowed him concern to show. Like now.
"Rubbish, Sou-chan. I know you're hurt." Kio's voice sounded unusually loud in the dead quiet of the night. Should Soubi even bother denying it? The signs were too obvious, Soubi thought in resignation, carefully holding his back straight and away from any contact with the back rest of the chair. Despite appearances, Kio could put two and two together quickly when he wanted to. The question was, did Kio know who was behind his injuries? Soubi could still remember the first time Kio had found him wounded. His room-mate had practically blown his top at what he perceived to be assault or abuse. Soubi knew that even if he explained, Kio would never understand that what his master did to him was neither. Sometimes it was discipline, meant to correct Soubi's mistakes. Other times it was territorial marking, an expression of possession, of ownership. I am his... Just like the scars on his neck, it showed that Soubi belonged to him. And above all, Soubi was grateful for his punishment; it showed that he was willing to take the time and effort to discipline him. Furthermore, as it was one of the few occasions when his master would have physical contact with Soubi, he actually treasured the punishment sessions.
But Kio would never understand that. Like any normal, sane person, he thought Soubi was being abused. Soubi supposed he could not blame him. For how many would actually understand that to one such as Soubi, who had lived his life devoid of affection, even the most seemingly abusive of injuries was an expression of love. Don't pity me, Kio. Please, not you as well. I don't think I can stand it.
"Let me help you," his room-mate said, unaware that there was only one person in this world whom Soubi needed. Soubi almost breathed a sigh of relief at that. Anxiety, perhaps even worry, coloured Kio's words, but it did not in any way reflected pity. Sadly, his sentiments were not at all comforting to Soubi. You cannot help me, Kio. Soubi's mental smile was sorrowful. No one can help me…no one should help me. I do not deserve it. For I am nothing but a tool. His tool.
"Please." That one word, so full of pleading, unnerved Soubi. That Kio should care so much about him! Staring into Kio's expressive eyes through his glasses, Soubi questioned in slight bewilderment, Why do you care, Kio? Why? He was worthless, he was nothing. Abandoned by the teacher who raised him, used by the master who owns him, his only worth was in his value as the perfect Fighter. Why then, did this man show such concern for him, even offering his hand in friendship? In this moment of weakness, whilst Soubi's mental defenses were mostly down, he allowed himself to accept Kio's help.
Flipping his hair out of the way, Soubi stripped off his trench coat slowly, suppressing as much as he could those involuntary winces that came from stretching the muscles of his ripped-up back. Every time he moved, the shirt, wet with his blood, unstuck from his open wounds, only to re-stick to the same wounds again once he stilled. And so the process repeated itself, sending jolts of lightning spreading through his nerves, until it was all Soubi could do to keep from wincing. Then, he turned around so that his back was facing Kio and begun to unbutton his shirt. Sadly, his fingers were trembling too badly to perform the task efficiently, so it was a good minute before he finally managed to fully unbutton his shirt. Then, he peeled them off slowly, pressing his lips together tightly to hold back a gasp that threatened to escape as the shirt was once again, unstuck from his bloody back.
His master had been furious tonight, Soubi recalled. He, bumbling fool that he was, had carelessly allowed an attack to reach his master, which had resulted in a small cut on his master's cheek. Since leaving Seven Moons Academy a year ago, it was the first time he had not managed to prevent an attack from impacting his master. Small wonder then, that his master had been both angry and disappointed in him…
"Why? Why…why do you let him do this to you, Sou-chan? That Aoyagi brat!" Kio's loud outburst jarred Soubi awake from the semi-reverie he had fallen into. So Kio has already figured it out...Soubi supposed Kio was actually smarter than he gave him credit for. But... Brat? As much as it amused Soubi to hear what Kio truly thought of his master, he could not allow anyone to defame Aoyagi Seimei in his presence.
"Kio, you will not insult him in my presence." Soubi said firmly, turning his head to meet Kio's gaze, cloudy with anger, with his own clear, determined one. He refused to let Kio speak ill of Seimei. Battles had been fought over lesser insults before, after all. And really, how could he tolerate anyone speaking of his master in this manner? Seimei was his God. Seimei's words, his law.
Now Kio just looked mutinous. Soubi knew that look. One time, when one of the professors had angered Kio with his support for war-advocating views in a history elective, Kio had stormed out of the lecture theater after a heated argument with said professor. Remembering Kio's threat to go to the police that first time, Soubi immediately frowned warningly, "Kio, remember your promise. I will not allow you, or anyone else, to hurt him." Soubi meant his words whole-heartedly. No one was supposed to hurt his master, no one at all. Whenever his master inadvertently did get hurt in a battle, it was Soubi's fault for not being good enough to protect him, for not being the perfect Fighter.
"Why, Sou-chan? Are you masochistic or something? Give me a reason, a good one, or I might just..." Masochistic? You're wrong Kio… Soubi had always vehemently denied that he was masochistic. It was different, he knew. It was not that he liked the pain, no, he hated pain. But when the pain was due to a lesson taught, he took pride in a lesson learnt, when the pain was due to punishment, he took comfort in the purging of his guilt, and when the pain was due to his master's possessiveness, he exulted in the feeling of belonging. No, Kio was wrong; it was never about the pain.
Kio wants a reason, huh. Wary of truly pushing Kio to the police, Soubi relented. He would give him one reason, as well as he could, without explaining what Seimei truly meant to him. All the roles that he fulfilled. Sacrifice. Controller. Master. God. Wracking his brains, Soubi searched for the words. Words, in which he was usually so eloquent in using, currently failed him. In the end, there was only one compelling reason. One explanation that he could give. "I need him." Kio, you onced asked if Seimei was my boyfriend. But I do not need a boyfriend, I just need one person to completely control me. And Seimei is that person.
But he could not tell Kio that could he? Looking up into Kio's bespectacled eyes, Soubi realized that on some level, Kio did understand the message he was trying to convey. Kio would not do anything now, Soubi was certain. Gratefully, he smiled at Kio, only to be taken aback by the visible sadness in Kio's eyes. Don't be sad for me, Kio. I'm not worth it…
With a mental shrug, Soubi decided to distract Kio. Kio was too inquisitive for his own good, and too good at digging. Soubi could not allow Kio to find out about his other identity nor about his troubled past. With the aching in his back a constant presence, Soubi decided to subtly remind Kio of his wounds. With any luck, his room-mate would be too distracted by the reminder of his injuries to ask any more questions. Taking on a light tone, Soubi murmured, "And Kio, I don't like pain. I'm not a pervert."
Soubi watched as the sadness faded from Kio's eyes as he shook his head in mock exasperation as he left the room, probably in search of medical supplies. From somewhere in the bathroom, Soubi could hear Kio's rebuttal. "Sure you are. You're an M, it's plain as day."
Soubi could not help but be startled into laughter at Kio's declaration. Good old Kio, always so willing to step in with a joke. Maybe, just maybe, Kio could actually become the second friend Soubi ever made.
Two different people, two different types of relationships, two different worlds. The second master (Ritsu was the first) and the second friend (for more information of the first friend, please read my other fanfic, "Daytime").
I hoped I managed to portray Soubi's juggling of his complex relationship with Seimei and his budding friendship with Kio adequately. Thank you for reading my first foray into Kio-Soubi. I'd love to hear your opinions!