Title: Eternal
Author: Traxits
Fandom(s): Loveless and Star Ocean 2.
Crossover Note: Leon is the only thing from Star Ocean 2. He crossed over into the Loveless realm. For those not familiar with Dr. Leon Gehste of SO2, he is a professor (at age 12), and he does have cat ears. He does not, however, have a tail.
Rating: PG-13.
Content Notes: Mild blood, references to violence.
Chapter Word Count: 4364 words.
Total Word Count: 9608 words.
Summary: Dr. Leon Gehste is experimenting with his newest spell when something goes wrong. Suddenly, he is flung, not through realities, but back through time. Stranded when he can't get the spell to work again, he settles in for the long haul, blending in as best he can. This means school (elementary school at that), where he meets a strangely interesting individual.

[[ … Chapter Two: Familiarity ….. ]]

"Behave."

Ritsuka smiled at the indignant expressions Youji and Natsuo wore at Soubi's words, their halfhearted protests as he headed over to the small kitchen. Leon stepped into the apartment, dropping his bag beside Ritsuka's. He shrugged out of his jacket immediately, although instead of dropping that with Ritsuka's as well, he tied it around his waist. Maybe it was an American thing? Ritsuka glanced back over toward the Zeroes, his eyes widening as he saw Natsuo. The youth was completely focused on Leon, his ears perked, his gaze sharp as he followed every move that Leon made.

Leon didn't seem to notice though, instead deciding that whatever Soubi was doing at the counter was far more interesting. Ritsuka watched him for a moment, and when Leon quietly offered to help, Soubi paused for only a moment before he stepped slightly to the side, letting him lean up to see what was being cooked. Natsuo took the moment to sit beside Ritsuka, still looking at the newest addition to their little group.

"He's a Sentouki."

It wasn't a question, but Ritsuka couldn't help tilting his head, one ear perking as he asked, "You think so?"

Natsuo gave him that smile- the one he got whenever he thought Ritsuka was being naïve- and nodded slowly. "I know he is. Sentouki can sense one another."

"Then wouldn't he be able to sense you?" Ritsuka smiled as he watched Leon stir something, still questioning Soubi about whatever they were having for dinner.

"What makes you think he's not sensing me? Or Soubi for that matter?" Natsuo shrugged with one shoulder, leaning back briefly before he shoved off of the chair and over to the kitchen. Soubi handed him the knife and the vegetables, and he set about cutting them, still shooting glances at Leon every so often.

"What's your name?" Natsuo looked down at whatever he was cutting when he asked, but Youji looked up at that question. Leon's dark brown ears flattened down in his blue hair, and slowly, he stopped stirring.

"Gēsute Leon," he answered, pointedly handing the cooking back over to Soubi before he stepped away from the pot.

"No, your true name." Youji must have picked up on what Natsuo was really asking, not that Ritsuka was surprised at that, and he tilted his head, ignoring how flat Leon's ears were.

Leon scowled, turning toward them, his hands on his hips. "It's Leon, okay? Just Leon. I'm not this Sentouki or whatever you seem to think I am. I am completely normal."

Ritsuka's lips quirked into a little smile at the emphasis on the word, and he stood up. "Leave him alone," he said softly, meeting gazes with Leon. "If he says he's not a Sentouki, then he's not a Sentouki." Perhaps it was childish, but for once, Ritsuka wanted someone to actually be what they appeared. Just another kid that was his own age, not someone from the Seven Moons, not someone trying to kidnap him. "My apologies, Leon-kun," he added. "They can be a little protective." He smiled, trying to be as disarming as possible. Leon looked ready to run right out the door, and the last thing that Ritsuka wanted was for him to leave.

Soubi turned from the stove, studying Leon for a minute. "You're new to Ritsuka's class?"

Ritsuka sighed, knowing that Soubi knew full well the answer to that. He'd mentioned the newest classmate before.

Leon nodded slowly, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Yeah. Just transferred."

"You're American?"

Ritsuka scowled at Soubi, and he motioned for Leon to come and sit with him. Leon hesitated, and then Ritsuka held up one of the controllers. His face lit up, and he happily sat down beside Ritsuka, taking the controller in his hand. Ritsuka answered for him, shooting Soubi another glare. "No, he's Japanese. His father worked in Seattle." Leon looked so relieved that Ritsuka found himself feeling badly for him. "Like I said," he murmured lowly to Leon. "They can be a little over-protective." He smiled, and when Leon offered a shy one in return, it made something in his chest tighten.

"What did your father do?" Youji perched very lightly behind both of them, leaning forward on one of Ritsuka's shoulders, ignoring the look that Soubi shot him. He stuck his face between Ritsuka and Leon, his ears still perked forward as he looked at the newcomer. Leon kept his focus on the game in front of him, his fingers pushing buttons absently.

"He's a scientist." A very slight twitch of his lips widened his smile, but he didn't look away from the screen. "He's doing work on micro-fabricated solid oxide fuel cells. They offered him a better laboratory here. Mom was fine with it, since it put her back in physical contact with her team. They manufacture specialty parts for different companies."

Youji drew back a little, frowning. He and Natsuo exchanged glances, and Ritsuka felt a little blossom of pride at Leon's deft handling of their questions. He leaned over, dislodging Youji and propped his chin up on Leon's shoulder to watch him play. It wasn't so much that he was interested in the game as it was he wanted to prove that not everyone in Japan was out to kidnap him these days. Not everyone was Seven Moons.

Soubi announced that dinner was ready, and Leon shut off the game before he joined them at the small table. It was some sort of stew- Ritsuka didn't really look too closely; he trusted Soubi in fixing his meals- and to their shock, the only one who ate with more enthusiasm than Ritsuka was Leon, who flushed darkly when Natsuo openly watched him eat. After he realized that he was perhaps a little too into the food, he carefully slowed down and matched Soubi, bite by bite.

Ritsuka's eyebrows raised at that, at the little things he'd been noticing similar to that. It was like Leon wasn't certain of their customs, like he was trying his best to copy them perfectly. And the unusual thing was that he did. In another month, maybe two, Ritsuka didn't think there would be much left at all about Leon that was foreign. He picked up everything, from accents to mannerisms almost exactly. Ritsuka narrowed his eyes, and he finished off his stew, glad for Soubi's cooking once more. It was a relief to eat without having to worry about what he was putting in his mouth.

Youji volunteered to do dishes- "Natsuo helped cook!"- and then came the awkward moment afterward where they had to find something to do. Leon fidgeted, picking at the sleeve of the jacket tied around his waist, and Natsuo watched him, frowning.

Soubi leaned over Ritsuka, asking softly, "You'll need to go home soon?" The unspoken question was whether or not Ritsuka thought he'd be missed. He didn't think so, not after his mother hadn't even come out of her room that morning. Truth be told, he could probably spend a few evenings over at Soubi's without her even realizing it. He sighed softly and shook his head. Soubi smiled at the action, but it was reserved, as though he understood that it hurt Ritsuka that his mother wouldn't even realize he hadn't come home.

"Is your tail brown like that too?"

Ritsuka's eyes widened, and he looked around Soubi at Natsuo, who had his head propped up in his hands as he studied Leon. Leon was blushing again, but whether from embarrassment or anger, Ritsuka couldn't say.

"W-what? What difference does it make?"

"I was just asking! It's rare, having ears that are a different color from your hair." Natsuo stood up and closed the distance between himself and Leon, reaching up to touch one of Leon's ears lightly. "I've never seen it before, actually."

Leon batted Natsuo's hand away, stammering something out that wasn't really an answer. Natsuo didn't seem to be listening though, because he gleefully asked, "Can I see?" He snagged one of Leon's jacket sleeves and tugged on it.

"Natsuo-kun!" Ritsuka was horrified at the Zero's manners, and he quickly walked over to them, and removed the sleeve from Natsuo's grip. "That's terrible! What are you doing?"

"I just wanted to see, Ritsuka-kun!"

"If he wants you to see, he'll show you!" Ritsuka wrapped an arm around Leon's shoulders, and he glanced down at the other elementary school student curiously. Leon was frowning, blushing, and seemed utterly mortified that he was the center of attention for something like that. He stood perfectly still for just a moment, and then he was fidgeting with the sleeve of his jacket again, looking down and studying the cuff in his hands intently.

"Leon-kun, I don't know what's come over everyone tonight-"

"It's okay." Leon smiled a little, but he didn't look up. "I have that effect on people." He hesitated only a moment, and then he very carefully dislodged himself from Ritsuka, looking up at him when he did. "I'm sorry. I'll just head on home." He kept the smile on when he spoke though, and Ritsuka had a sinking feeling that he was smiling purely for Ritsuka's sake, since he'd been the one to kind of wordlessly invite Leon to Soubi's in the first place.

Soubi sighed and grabbed his own jacket, motioning toward the door. "We'll walk you home," he said quietly, and Ritsuka nodded, excited at the idea of getting to see someone else's house. He'd seen Yuiko's and Yayoi's, and of course, Soubi's. The thought of another one to add to his collection was thrilling. He grabbed his own coat, and offered Leon the strap to his bag.

Leon blushed a little as he carefully untied his jacket and pulled it on. The thing was so long, it reached halfway down his thighs, and Natsuo groaned loudly.

"Not even a peek?" he asked quickly and frowned when Soubi, Leon and Ritsuka all shot him a tired expression. "Fine," he muttered, going back to sulking at the table.

Leon shouldered his bag, and they all three headed out the door, leaving the Zeroes in the apartment by themselves. Soubi locked the door behind him, and then they were going down steps and onto the sidewalk. Leon hesitated there and shot them both a look.

"You don't have to walk me back, you know. I'll be fine."

Soubi's eyebrows raised, and he tilted his head just a little to one side. "It is already dark, Leon-kun. You should have an adult to escort you."

Ritsuka nodded his own agreement, and Leon stood perfectly still for only a moment before he yielded. They started walking, Leon walking just a step ahead of them. Ritsuka smiled as he nuzzled down into his own jacket, and Soubi gently tucked Ritsuka under his shoulder for a moment before Ritsuka smiled up at him and hurried to catch up to Leon.

"They're not normally like that, you know," he said softly, noticing how flat Leon's ears were. Was he really that miserable? "Like I said-"

"They're just over-protective, I know." Leon smiled just slightly, shrugging as he pulled his jacket a little more tightly around him. He glanced back toward Soubi briefly before he looked at Ritsuka once more. "Ritsuka-kun," he asked quietly, "what's a Sentouki?"

Ritsuka hesitated, not entirely certain how to answer that. He didn't actually know how much he was supposed to tell someone, especially someone who was so adamant that they weren't involved. He settled instead for a small shrug and said, "If you're not one, it doesn't really matter, does it?"

"It does if I'm going to be mistaken for one." Leon's ears flattened a fraction more, and Ritsuka nodded slowly, what was left of his smile dissolving at that thought. The last thing Leon needed was for Seven Moons to arrive and try to take him to wherever they were trying to take Ritsuka to.

"Yeah," he found himself agreeing, and Soubi must have known how upset he was at the thought; he closed the distance, dispelling any sense of privacy that had been built between Ritsuka and Leon. Soubi's arm lightly rested over his shoulders, and he was glad for it right at that moment. His own hand lifted to touch Soubi's wrist, and he focused himself as they walked. "A Sentouki..."

"A Sentouki is one-half of a fighting pair." Soubi's voice was smooth as always, permanently calm as he described even the strangest of things. Ritsuka felt a very small smile ghosting over his lips. He had been on the receiving end of that voice many times. "A Sacrifice uses a Sentouki in spell battles against other Sacrifices."

Leon's eyes widened just a touch, and Ritsuka nodded as he looked at the other youth. "It's true," he murmured, squeezing Soubi's wrist slightly in thanks. Soubi was always much better at delivering such words. "Sentouki control the words used in spells," Soubi's words, delivered through Ritsuka's mouth this time. "Their spells can cause damage, and it's the Sacrifice's job to take that damage so that the Sentouki can continue to fight."

A slow nod, and Ritsuka was truly surprised at how well Leon was taking the idea. Had Ritsuka not learned all of this by being exposed to a fight himself, he doubted that he would have been as accepting. Leon looked back up to Soubi, his eyes narrowing sharply.

"So, why did you mistake me for a Sentouki?"

The strangest thing about the question was that Ritsuka found himself wondering if Leon already knew the answer. It was there, in the way he'd stopped walking, the way his fists were clenched at his sides. It was there, even in the way that he looked directly at Soubi, daring him to answer. Ritsuka was surprised to see a smile curve Soubi's lips.

"You have a battle domain. It's how Sentouki sense one another." Soubi leaned down close to Leon, his smile widening a touch. "You can sense me after all, can't you?"

Ritsuka wasn't entirely sure what was being exchanged between the two of them, but it was something, that was for certain. Leon swallowed but didn't draw back, didn't flinch, even when Soubi reached up and lightly brushed the side of Leon's face with the backs of his fingers. "You stepped between Ritsuka and myself whenever I first approached you on the street."

Ritsuka gasped softly, his own eyes widening at the memory. Leon had stepped between them, and he'd seem braced for something- a fight? "Leon-kun?" Ritsuka reached out and caught his wrist, studying him intently. Leon didn't look away from Soubi until Ritsuka tugged on his arm. "Leon-kun, can you sense Soubi?"

There was a moment that Ritsuka didn't think Leon would answer, and then Leon nodded slowly, glancing between Soubi and Ritsuka both. "I can," he admitted, and Ritsuka made a low noise. "I... I wasn't sure what it was though."

Soubi tilted his head and very slowly straightened up. He studied Leon for perhaps a full moment, and to Leon's credit, he didn't even seem bothered by it. Instead, he only reached up and gave Ritsuka's hand a squeeze before he carefully dislodged it. Soubi motioned for him to start walking again, and Leon did, shoving his hands down into his pockets as he did. Ritsuka watched him as he, too, fell into step, and was relieved to see his ears perking back up a little. After just a minute, Soubi laughed, and Ritsuka frowned at the sound, uncertain of it's cause.

"Fast learner, aren't you, Leon-kun?" Soubi's eyes glittered as he looked pointedly down at the youth, and then, when he noticed Ritsuka's expression, he clarified his words. "Leon-kun felt me retract my own battle domain, and he figured out how to control his own. He's already got it reduced by almost half. Another day of practice, and he might have it constricted even further."

"If I'm going to be mistaken for a Sentouki, I need to know how to hide it," Leon sniffed, looking up at the street signs as they made a turn. "I don't need everyone jumping down my throat about it, and now that I know what it is you're sensing, it's not hard to figure out how to control it." He shifted the weight of the pack on his shoulder, and Ritsuka tilted his head slightly as he watched. It was a two-strapped bag, but Leon was only wearing one of the straps. The other hung free behind him. Another American thing?

Soubi pulled Ritsuka back under his shoulder, leaning down to brush the lightest of kisses over his hair. Ritsuka blushed but didn't try to stop him, knowing that it would only cause a commotion if he pointed it out. Soubi didn't even seem to realize what he was doing most of the time, at least, when it came to displaying his affection for Ritsuka. Leon didn't notice, looking down at his feet as they walked. The quiet wasn't forced, wasn't strained, and when Leon finally stopped walking, pointing out a building as his apartment building, Ritsuka was a little surprised.

It wasn't exactly the most family-oriented neighborhood, but then again, they must have moved back in a hurry. Perhaps they simply hadn't found a more appropriate home? Ritsuka waved to Leon, and he was relieved when Leon smiled and waved back. "Leon-kun," he called, and when Leon stopped and turned back toward him, he added, "I'll have prints made for you, if you'd like."

Leon nodded. "Thank you, Ritsuka-kun," he called back, and then he disappeared into his building.

Soubi watched him go and lightly brushed his fingers through Ritsuka's hair before he asked, "Are you ready to go home as well?" For just a moment, Ritsuka leaned into the touch, willing himself to just forget, trying to be happy and enjoy the moment. Then reality came crashing down again, and he sighed as he nodded.

"I should go home," he whispered, and Soubi pulled him close. "Mom might start looking for me."

There wasn't any hesitation, any pressure to convince Ritsuka to stay. Instead, Soubi simply nodded, and they were walking again, Ritsuka leaning just a little against Soubi. It was this moment in the day that he decided he liked the best. When everything was quiet, no one was trying to take him away, and he could just be. But tonight, the calm was, if not shattered, at least cracked by the thought of his newest classmate.

"Do you really think he's a Sentouki?" He tilted his head back to look up at Soubi, who shrugged.

"Maybe. He feels like one." Soubi gently rubbed Ritsuka's shoulder, offering a little smile. "It's no matter if he is. I'll protect you, Ritsuka."

Ritsuka shivered- why did it affect him so for Soubi to say his name?- and pushed off of Soubi so that they were walking a pace or two apart. "It's not that! I just..." He was being childish again, but he'd already started to speak. "I just wanted him to be normal. Not Seven Moons or anything else mysterious."

"That's understandable." Soubi tugged Ritsuka back to him, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk there. "You wanted him to be a friend." He leaned down, brushing his lips just over Ritsuka's; not quite a kiss, but very close. "You wanted to like him." Then Soubi was standing straight again, coaxing Ritsuka to walk with him.

His head was spinning- would he ever get used to that?- but Ritsuka started walking with him again, looking down at the ground in order to hide his blush. "Soubi…" There wasn't really any arguing with that though. He was right. Ritsuka's blush darkened, and he sighed softly. "How do you do that? Manage to be so… right?"

Soubi smiled, one eyebrow lifted. "You think I'm always right?"

"I didn't say that! You're right this time."

A chuckle, and Ritsuka was suddenly glad that they were close to his house. He had a feeling that Soubi just liked seeing him get so indignant. Soubi stopped where he always did, right beside the mailbox, and Ritsuka hesitated for a heartbeat before he stretched up to place a soft kiss on Soubi's cheek. He blushed, but Soubi looked so happy at the motion that it was worth it. Without saying another word, Ritsuka ducked into his home, reaching up to rub at one of his cheeks as he did.

His mother was still in her room, and he felt his chest tighten as he breathed a sigh of relief at the thought. He headed straight into his room and pulled back the curtain to wave to Soubi. He smiled slightly as he watched Soubi wave back and finally head out, only after he was sure that Ritsuka didn't need him to help patch up. It was a strange mixture of pain and comfort all at once, and Ritsuka sighed as he fell back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling.

For a moment, he just stayed there, his eyes closing, his fingers reaching and finding a pillow to pull close to him, to curl up around. And then he pushed off of the bed and started changing, getting ready to go to sleep. He had school the next day, after all, and as he shut off lights and crawled under the covers, Ritsuka picked up his camera and checked the pictures, one by one, a smile on his face.

He woke to the beeping of his clock, and, sleepily, he rolled over to shut it off. With a sigh, he got on up, dressed himself for school, and headed into the hallway, where he carefully lit a stick of incense. For a moment, he lingered, just looking at the altar, and then he stepped into the kitchen. His parents were both in there, his mother sitting, docile for once, at the table, staring into her coffee cup. His father was pushing his breakfast around on the plate, occasionally lifting his eyes to glance at her.

Ritsuka drew a deep breath and sat at the table, very carefully studying his plate. It looked clear, nothing there that would confuse him; everything was what Ritsuka would eat. He nodded slightly to himself, and he began eating slowly, carefully watching his mother's face to make sure he was in the clear. By the time he was done, he felt as though he were going to be sick- he always did when he ate at home- and he got up at the same time his father did.

He made it back to his room, grabbed his pack, and he headed out the door, breathing a sigh of relief when he made it all the way out without an incident. No fresh bandages before school. He started walking, shifting the bag's strap over his chest. He made it to school and smiled when he greeted Yuiko, Yayoi, and Shinonome-sensei. His eyes narrowed as he realized that Leon wasn't there, and when they all sat in the school, he noticed that Shinonome-sensei kept looking back at Leon's empty desk.

Yuiko twisted around to look a few times, as though Leon would just suddenly appear, and she frowned at Ritsuka, even leaning over to ask, "Where's Leon-kun?"

Ritsuka glanced back at the desk and shrugged a little as he forced himself to pay attention to the class. Most likely, Leon had been horribly embarrassed and frightened off by Soubi and Youji and Natsuo. He couldn't really blame Leon; three days at a new school and Ritsuka had exposed him to a group of people who seemed insistent that he was one of them, despite his own firm denial. Idly, Ritsuka tapped his pencil against the side of his face, wondering once more what exactly made Leon so interesting.

School let out at twelve-thirty, as it always did on Saturdays, and Ritsuka met with Soubi outside. Yuiko was still inside, gathering her things, and Ritsuka took the moment to pull Soubi down just a little. "Let's go check on Leon-kun," he said and Soubi arched an eyebrow curiously, looking up then as though Leon would suddenly just be there. "He didn't come to school today-"

"Ritsuka-kun! You coming?" Yuiko stood there, Yayoi at her side, smiling widely at him. For one terrible moment, Ritsuka couldn't remember what it was she was talking about. Then it all came rushing back to him, and he sighed a little. He'd completely forgotten about his promise to go with Yuiko and Yayoi. They'd agreed to go to the park and take pictures yesterday if he'd promised to go over to Yayoi's with them today.

He smiled and waved, calling out, "I'll be right there!" Then he turned back to Soubi, studying him critically. Soubi offered a little grin.

"Plans today too, Ritsuka?"

"Sort of. Soubi, go check on Leon-kun. Send me a message when you're sure he's okay. And apologize to him. There was no need for you to be so rude yesterday." Ritsuka wasn't sure what bothered him more, the fact that he was getting used to ordering Soubi around, or the fact that Soubi seemed ridiculously pleased with him for ordering him around.

But Soubi nodded and stood straight up again, waving to Yuiko and Yayoi before he turned to leave. Ritsuka watched him go, then turned and smiled to his friends. He'd blown them off enough; it was time to start actually spending some time with them instead of constantly disappearing to take care of other things.

"Let's go!"