4. Silver Butterflies

Ritsuka wasn't able to feel Soubi's presence anymore. His cigarette was gone and the scent wasn't noticeable anymore. Exhausted, Ritsuka looked out of the window, lights flashing by. His eyes kept shutting but he forced them open again. He didn't want to sleep in this car; he felt more in control of the situation being awake.
The complete silence, apart from the loud engine, and his hurting body made him lose all track of time. He didn't really care what happened, so he didn't look up when they arrived at the school.
Isao opened his door and waited for Ritsuka to climb out. The boy couldn't suppress a groan when he begun to move again, feeling the extent of his injuries. He tried to stand up, but swayed dangerously. He would've fallen if Isao hadn't caught him before. Trying to blink away the stars behind his eyes, Ritsuka muttered a quiet "thank you."
Predictably, there was no response to this and he was guided to the entrance. The same woman as last time greeted them, but this time she didn't ask why they were there. Instead she wanted to know if she should get Ritsu-Sensei. Hajime shook his head, "No, Ritsuka needs to see the nurse first. Anyway, I have to talk to Sensei beforehand."
"Very well. You know where to go." She bowed and opened a door for them.
From that moment everything was fuzzy and blurry. Ritsuka barely registered the long white corridors, stumbling over his feet, only being held by the Speechless Sacrifice. He was laid into a bed and felt the sting of antiseptic before he fell into darkness.


Soubi splashed his face with cold water. He was exhausted. He had forgotten how tiring it was to spend a day with Seimei. He had been spoilt by his time with Ritsuka who was at school most of the day and went to bed early, at least compared to Soubi. Now, with Seimei, he didn't have any time for himself, he barely managed to smoke from time to time, let alone to draw anything. It wasn't only being kept busy the whole day and most of the night which drained him, but mostly the permanent, everlasting tension. Seimei had specific orders for him which of course had to be done exactly that way. It wasn't possible to bend commands in the way Soubi had done it with Ritsuka as his Sacrifice. Now, he didn't have to remind his master that there was the possibility of punishment if he displeased him. No, Seimei even considered punishment before the error has been made. The option of making a mistake didn't exist.
Soubi looked into the mirror, disgusted by what he saw: The yellowish light made him look sick and his eyes seemed darker than usually, blankly reflecting the room. There didn't seem to be any depth within them. Letting it wander, his gaze locked on the little silver earrings glinting through his hair. He stared at them, remembering how reluctantly Ritsuka had pierced them through his skin. His cute little hands had been shaking and he had been biting his lip in concentration. Soubi smiled at the memory. That had been one of the first times that Ritsuka let Soubi hold him. They had actually thought it would strengthen their bond. How naïve… The bond was never meant to be. It couldn't work; mere orders couldn't change the fact that he had a perfect bond already. Those two names so opposed to each other couldn't operate at the same time: Carrying out Beloved's orders while trying to fulfil Loveless' wishes… it was impossible.
Soubi sighed; he missed his young Sacrifice already…sometimes he had had the impression that the boy actually cared about him, that he believed in him…
It knocked at the door, he heard Seimei's demanding voice, "Soubi, we have to go right now, get out of there!" Startled, Soubi looked at his watch. He had been standing in front of this mirror for ten minutes now. This had to stop. He had to focus on his orders. This was his only function; he couldn't sway in old memories anymore; Ritsuka was something of his past now. He had been foolish to think that something had changed because of Seimei's absence. He was still only a fighter, a tool.
Determined, he pulled the silver butterflies out of his ears and looked for the trash. "Soubi!" He quickly opened the door, slipping the earrings into his pocket. "I'm sorry, master." He was greeted by a slap in his face, "I don't ever want to wait for you again", his master whispered with a soft, innocent voice. Soubi didn't flinch but looked down submissively, "understood."
He reached down to grab his bag and stepped out of his own flat after Seimei. He could hear Kio run up the stairs, already happily shouting his name from the first floor. He didn't even look up, as his friend reached the top stairs, stopped dead in his tracks staring at Seimei with his mouth hanging wide open, letting his lollipop fall right out of it. Rushing past him, Soubi easily freed himself from Kio's sudden grasp on his arm, and followed his master without another word.


AN:

I still don't own Loveless or any of the characters...
Comments and constructive criticism would be great =)
Thanks for reading and all the nice reviews!