"Onii-chan! I'm back-….oh…"
The bubbly orange haired girl did her best to restrain her giggles when she set eyes on her dark skinned brother laying naked on the apartment floor with the smaller, also naked, boy wrapped firmly around him. Her restraint didn't last long however and it was only a moment before she burst out into laughter that jolted both boy's from their sleep.
"H-huh…oh shit…Lirin…I um, well yeah…" The demon prince stammered through his words like a child caught in a lie, only making the girl laugh harder.
"Well I see you have had a good time Onii-chan."
"Yeah yeah shut up already." Kougaiji then quickly sat up caused Ritsuka to follow suit with only a stunned and silent expression on his face.
"Umm hi."
"Hello again Ritsuka." Kougaiji then reached over to grab his large white shirt and wrapped it around Ritsuka's small frame, in an attempt to cover him, before addressing his sister once more.
"And where the hell have you been anyway?" The girl then pursed her lips and put on an innocent face.
"Well I was planning on just going on a walk but then I saw this really cute group of people that I just had to follow, so I did." This caused Kougaiji to let out an aggravated groan.
"Lirin…you can't just keep running off seriously. We are not from here and we have no idea what might happen if too many people find out."
"I know I know Onii-chan! But I made a friend of my own this time!"
"Did you really now?"
"Mmhmmm! That's why I'm here actually. I wanted you to meet my new friend." The orange haired girl then motioned to her left to someone that was obviously standing just out of sight. Ritsuka's heart then almost stopped dead when he saw a tall busty pink haired girl walk through the door.
"Y-Yuiko?!" The girl was equally surprised to see her friend, especially in such a state; him now seated in the lap of the tall naked demon with strong arms wrapped firmly around him.
"Ritsuka! Um…hey…" The two friends were each blushing wildly as they each averted their gazes from each other in embarrassment. This caused a low growl to vibrate through Kougaiji's throat and he spoke in a low, soft yet firm tone.
"Lirin, do you think you and your new friend could maybe give us some privacy?"
"Aw come on big brother! We just got here."
"Lirin I said leave!" This caused the girl to pout very dramatically before taking Yuiko by the hand and exiting the apartment with a groan, closing the door behind them. Once the girls were gone, Kougaiji let out a small sigh but was put right back on alert when the door flung open again only seconds later and the orange haired girl poked her head back inside.
"Onii-chan…"
"What?!" Kougaiji was quickly becoming annoyed with the situation and hi tone clearly showed it.
"I sense something really…weird in here. Did you…-"
"Shut it! We will talk about it later ok? Now please just leave for a little while."
"Ok ok."
With that, the girl was gone once more and Kougaiji again let out a long sigh before falling backwards, taking Ritsuka with him, so that they were again lying on the floor with Ritsuka's head resting on the demon's strong chest.
"Sorry about her…"
"Um…it's ok."
"So do you know that girl?"
"Yeah…she is my best friend."
"Ah…well sorry again then." Ritsuka then slowly sat up while running a hand through his dark locks before letting out a long sigh.
"Its ok. I can handle her but…I don't know what to do about Soubi…" This caused the demon to jolt up with a slight growl before wrapping his arms around the small boy in a possessive manner.
"I don't really care what you tell him but you have to understand something Ritsuka…you are mine now. Once the imprint is set, it cannot be broken until the day I die." Ritsuka then turned around to look at Kougaiji with a curious expression.
"So what does that entail exactly?"
"Well from now on I can smell you and sense your feelings even when we are apart, no matter how far. Anytime you even think about me, I will know and I will come to you. If you are ever in danger, I will come to your aid. I will be by your side faithfully until the day I die. You must also understand that this bond is a fierce and possessive one, especially being bonded to me; I am very possessive to begin with and the bond only strengthens that. This means that if someone so much as touches without my permission…I won't be able to control my urge to protect you and kill anything that defies me." The look in those crimson eyes was enough to send warm chills through Ritsuka's entire body and he was quickly consumed with a mixture of fear and joy at the idea of a bond just as strong as the one shared in a battle pair.
"You know Kou…you and Soubi have a lot in common. That is very much like the bond between Sacrifice and Sentouki." There was then a short pause as Ritsuka attempted to wrap his mind around his own thoughts. "I…I don't know what I'm going to tell Soubi but I have to tell him. He is my Sentouki and I love him and share that strong bond with him…but I love you too, even if I've only just met you, I know I do. So I suppose…we will just have to figure something out seeing as the both of you share the same feeling over me…and I to you both." Ritsuka then saw a small smile cross the demons face before he leaned in to place a gentle kiss on his soft lips.
"You really are something you know Ritsuka; such a big heart, like no one I've ever met. I've never like the idea of imprinting but…since I am now bonded to one person for my entire life, I'm glad it's you." This caused Ritsuka to blush wildly and he was quick to change the subject.
"W-well I really should be going. I didn't go home last night and missed school today it looks like, Soubi must be worried sick. It's a miracle he doesn't have the entire police force out looking for me."
"Ha…I would be able to track just by smell you know." Kougaiji's condescending tone didn't take well with Ritsuka and he gave the man a gentle tap to the top of the head, like scolding a puppy.
"Don't talk bad about Soubi. Like it or not, he is my Sentouki and you are going to have to live with that and find a way to get along with him." Kougaiji then fell something that he had never felt before. Normally he would never allow anyone to talk to him in such a way and would have at least made a threat on someone's life, but when the words came from Ritsuka it was like a burning sensation in his mind that forced him to grit his teeth and obey.
"Right. Sorry."
"Good. Now, about my clothes…"
"Uh yeah….let's see." Kougaiji then looked around the empty apartment but found nothing except the tattered remains of the boy's clothes on the floor beside him. He then let out a short sigh before picking them up off the floor and holding the pieces in his large hands. Ritsuka then watched on in awe as Kougaiji's hands began to glow slightly and before his very eyes, he saw his clothes being mended in the man's hands. "Here you go."
"H-how did you do that?!" This earned him a smug smirk from the man.
"Well I am a demon prince. I do have powers you know; although I don't normally use them for such things."
"That's amazing…"
"It's no big deal. You should see the things I can really do with my powers." Ritsuka then gave an excited grin upon seeing Kougaiji give him a very mysterious and mischievous smirk.
"Will I ever get to see these great demon powers then?" Ritsuka then put on a smirk of his own as he leaned slightly closer to the taller man's face that was grinning back at him.
"Well I'm sure you are bond to see them eventually…you are stuck with me for life after all." Kougaiji then captured the boy's lips in a quick kiss before allowing him to stand on wobbly legs to get dressed while he followed suit. Once they were both fully dressed, Ritsuka took a deep breath before addressing the man that was now standing right by his side.
"Well, I guess we better get going then. I've got a lot of explaining to do."
"No…we have explaining to do. Remember, I will protect you in every way physical and emotional." Ritsuka then replied only with a warm smile before the duo exited the small empty apartment, headed towards the unknown.
The relatively short walk to Soubi's apartment seemed almost painfully short as Ritsuka was racking his brain in a desperate attempt to figure out what he was going to say to Soubi. Despite this immense fear, he was somehow comforted simply by the presence of the tall dark skinned man walking close by his side. Once the duo arrived in front of the door of the apartment, Ritsuka paused for a moment and took in a very deep breath before slowly exhaling and turning the knob and pushing the door open. The subtle sound of the door opening was enough to cause the blonde that was seated at the kitchen table, to jolt from his chair, knocking it over as he did, and run to the door.
"Hey Soubi." As soon as he set eyes on the small boy, Soubi completely ignored the figure standing next to him and ran over to wrap the boy up tightly in his arms and squeeze him tightly, causing a low growl to resonate through Kougaiji's throat that luckily went unnoticed.
"Ritsuka! Where have you been?! I have been calling you non-stop! Are you alright? What happened?"
"Y-your suffocating me Soubi…" Soubi then snapped out of his panic and let the boy go. It was only then that he noticed the other man standing next to him and he gave him a suspicious look before turning back to his Sacrifice.
"I'm sorry. I've just been so worried. Where have you been…? And why is he with you?" Ritsuka could clearly hear the discontent in Soubi's voice with that last statement accompanied by another low growl from the demon prince.
"Kougaiji stop it." This statement caused the demon to immediately stop his growling which allowed Ritsuka to turn his attention back to Soubi. "Soubi…can we all go sit? I've got a lot to tell you."
"Sure…" Soubi's voice was now a slightly hesitant one as he motioned for them both to come inside and led them toward the living room. Soubi then took a seat on the large couch before pulling Ritsuka down to be next to him and Kougaiji reluctantly took a seat in a chair across from them. With everyone seated, Ritsuka took another deep breath before speaking.
"Soubi….um…well I don't really know where to start…" Ritsuka's heart then began to race as he turned to face Soubi and he didn't know whether to scream or cry at the idea of what this might do to Soubi, the man that he loved and had loved him so feverishly for so long. Then suddenly, as if his mind had been read, Kougaiji began to speak in his place.
"Um…Soubi, let me explain a little more about myself." Soubi then promptly turned his attention to the demon.
"Please do."
"I am the demon prince Kougaiji. My sister and I are from a whole different world called Shangri-La. One day we encountered an enemy of ours and somehow we ended up banished here to your world."
"Well that explains some things…."
"There is more. The day we were banished, we ended up wandering the streets and wound up in front of Ritsuka's school. That was the first time I met him. It was really only in passing but the next day when my sister ran off, is when I came across Ritsuka in the park and rescued him from those muggers. I was injured in the process and he was kind enough to take me here and bandage my wound." There was then a short pause and Kougaiji's eyes locked dead on to Soubi's in an intense stare. "That night…I imprinted on him." Soubi's eyes then grew wide in a mixture of shock and confusion.
"Imprinted?"
"Yes. My species have the ability to imprint on someone. It is similar to how animals imprint on their mothers. But with demons it is different."
"Different how?"
"Well when a demon imprints, it is for life and it cannot be broken. The only other difference is that demons only imprint…on their mates."
Ritsuka then watched on in horror as Soubi leapt from his seat and lunged toward the red haired man. Before he could even blink, Ritsuka saw that Soubi now had Kougaiji pinned firmly against the wall behind them and was looking into crimson eyes with an expression of pure fury. Kougaiji however remained perfectly calm and simply stared back at him with a firm and fierce expression.
"Are you telling me that you have somehow claimed Ritsuka, my Ritsuka, as your mate?!" The tone of Soubi's voice was a most terrifying one and it caused Ritsuka to quickly stand from his seat.
"Soubi stop!" His plea went unheard however as Soubi waited for a reply from the man in his grasp.
"Well? Is this true Kougaiji?"
"Yes." Ritsuka then ran over to the tall blonde and began pulling on his shirt in an attempt to get him to release the demon but to no avail and Soubi kept his gaze fixed on his target with a bloodthirsty look.
"Tell me…do you have a last name Kougaiji?" This only added to Ritsuka's panic as he knew what Soubi was trying to do.
"Soubi no! You can't do that!"
"No I don't really." The demon's answer only fed Soubi's anger.
"Fine then…incinerate…bring-" Soubi's words were cut short, just as brilliant blue and red flames began to gather around him, by the feeling of small hands being shoved hard into his stomach and Ritsuka used all his might to shove the two apart.
"Soubi I said stop! You cannot use spells outside of battle! You cannot use spells on regular people! And you absolutely cannot hurt Kougaiji! That's an order!" With the two strong men finally separated and both staring at the small boy who had never been angry in such a way before. Kougaiji remained right where he was and silent while Soubi took a few small steps towards Ritsuka with a very sullen expression on his face.
"Ritsuka…I apologize." Ritsuka then calmed himself down before wrapping his arms around Soubi's small waist and nestling his head into his muscled torso, earning a growl from across the room.
"Kougaiji I said you stop that." This command quickly quieted the irritated demon. "Soubi it's ok. I know this is all hard to understand and I can't imagine how you feel but you also can't imagine how I feel." Soubi then pulled the boy away slightly to look deep into Ritsuka's eyes.
"Then please tell me…tell me exactly what this means and what you wish from me. I am and always will be your Sentouki and I will always do whatever it is you wish of me."
"Oh Soubi…that is why I love you. You are my Sentouki and I am your Sacrifice, that hasn't changed one bit. I love you and that hasn't changed either. But you can't be mad at Kougaiji, this isn't all his fault. He imprinted on me because well…I kissed him; well we kissed each other. But what matters now is that it is done with and now we all have to deal with it."
"But what does this mean?"
"Well honestly Soubi…it makes him a lot like you." Soubi seemed absolutely insulted by this and turned to give a sneer to the man behind him.
"I doubt that."
"No really it's true. Kougaiji, tell him what you told me about the imprint." Soubi then turned around to face the man properly while he spoke.
"Well in short, it makes me bound to Ritsuka. I am now bound to protect him at any cost, even my life. I can track him from anywhere and sense when he is in danger and when that happens every atom in my body will bring me to his side." Soubi remained in a stunned silence at what he heard until Ritsuka's voice snapped him out of it.
"Sound familiar?"
"Yes…I suppose the bond is similar…"
"Exactly. Now I know this is all new and strange but all I'm asking from you both is that you try to get along until we figure out how we are all going to live with this because no matter what…I can't live without either one of you now."
Soubi and Kougaiji both then looked at Ritsuka with smiles before turning to face each other once more with much more stern expressions. The urge to please the small boy over took them both and they each took forced steps to be directly in front of each other and Soubi was the first to extend a hand toward the demon prince in an attempt to shake on a peace agreement. Kougaiji hesitated for a moment but ended up taking Soubi's hand and shook it firmly. Then again, as if by telepathy, they each pulled the other closer so their faces were very close, just close enough for Soubi to whisper to the demon prince.
"Just so you know…I'm not too keen on sharing."
"Heh…neither am I."
TBC
