STOP! WARNING! WARNING!

This chapter has spoilers! If you are not caught up on the Manga, please proceed at your own risk! There are canon spoilers!

Alright alright lovely people! So here is my second ever challenge response to the recurring facebook word challenge. This weeks word is 'Protect'.

I've also made this into the next track here on my Loveless Playlist!

Rating: T

Song(s): (this one was another super double song inspiration!)

'Part of Me' By Katy Perry

'Genetic Emancipation' From Repo! The Genetic Opera

-Shuichi77

"Soubi. I've come for you."

Those were the single most horrifying words I had ever heard. Those
words…they shattered everything to pieces.
That day changed everything. The way I saw the world, the way I say my
brother, who I really was; all of it fell apart with those few words.

That night, after Seimei took Soubi from me, all I could do for hours
was sit in that graveyard and cry. Finally, after all the tears were
gone and all that was left was an overwhelming emptiness, I picked
myself up and I ran. I ran from it all. I ran from the poison words
from my brother. I ran from the gaping void that Soubi left. I
ran…until I couldn't feel anything anymore.

5 years later…

"Hey Yamato; Kouya." The now tall and slender boy gave his friends a warm smile as he took a seat at the table of the small café that the trio visited frequently. The busty blonde joyously returned his greeting, while her partner remained silent, fixed on a small tablet in her hands.

"Good morning Ritsuka!" Once Ritsuka sat down, he took a small sip of steaming coffee that had already been waiting for him, before addressing both the women opposite him.

"So…how goes the search? Anything promising this time?" Kouya glanced over at her partner nervously as she set her tablet down in her lap. The Zero girls each looked at each other for a short moment before Kouya took a deep breath and answered the boy.

"Well…we've found him." Kouya's words shot through Ritsuka's ears and he silently stood from the table with a stern but calm expression.

"Where?"

"Oddly enough…he is here." This finally caused Ritsuka's calm expression to break and his true concern to show clearly on his face.

"Here? Why would he come home after all this time? After all the places he's run to?"

"I don't know why."

"Where is he exactly, Kouya?!" The small girl hesitated for a moment before answering with a calculated calmness.

"Our intel says that for the past couple of days he has been hiding out at the Seven Moons Academy but…" Kouya then paused once again to look at her partner with a frown, only frustrating Ritsuka further.

"But what?!" Kouya waited for a tentatively approving nod from her partner before continuing.

"But he has since moved and held up in Soubi's old apartment." Ritsuka's eyes then went wide, and he abruptly turned from his friends and stormed away from the café. Yamato immediately went chasing after him while Kouya hastily gathered their things and dropped a few bills onto the table before following suit. Yamato called out to him as she followed; her voice full of concern and worry.

"Ritsuka! Wait! You can't just go barging in on him! What are you going to do?!" Ritsuka then stopped suddenly to look at Yamato sternly, just as Kouya caught up with them.

"I have to go, Yamato…I don't know how long he will stay in one place. Every time that I find him, I hesitate, and then I lose him. I refuse to let him get away again."

"But…what are you going to do?" Ritsuka averted his gaze to look at Kouya with a firm expression.

"Kouya and I have a plan." Yamato immediately looked over to her partner, confused and shocked.

"Kouya?! What does he mean you two have a plan?! Why didn't you say anything?!" Kouya let out a small sigh as she pushed her small glasses up the bridge of her nose and answered calmly.

"I didn't want you to worry. Everything will be fine." The blonde was given no time to protest further before Ritsuka took off once again, this time with Kouya walking closely by his side. Yamato could then only listen on helplessly as her two companions carried on a conversation as they all walked, both of them speaking in eerily calm and collected tones.

"So Ritsuka…where to now?"

"Soubi's place."

"Now?"

"Yeah. I'm not giving him a chance to run." Kouya shifted her gaze slightly for a moment to look at Ritsuka with an eyebrow raised.

"You don't actually think he is going to run this time, do you?" Ritsuka returned her glance with a serious expression.

"No…I don't. He wouldn't have come back here after all these years if he didn't want something specific. Chances are that something is me."

"What do you think he wants with you?"

"I'm not entirely sure. Maybe he finally wants to kill me…or maybe he just wants to rub everything in my face. Either way, he isn't getting away with it anymore."

"Right. So once we get there?" Ritsuka stopped and placed a gentle hand on Kouya's shoulder before speaking in a warm voice.

"Once we get there, we stick with the plan as a last ditch effort. I hope it won't come to that, but if it does…are you sure you want to do this? You two have been my closest friends and I don't want to drag
you into this if you have any doubts." Kouya took a moment to look at Yamato, whose worry showed clearly on her face, to give her a warm comforting smile. She then looked back at Ritsuka with a small, yet determined grin.

"We are with you all the way, Ritsuka. Seimei is a menace and a disgrace to everything we've ever stood for. We won't let you go into this alone." Ritsuka gave a warm smile to both of his friends in response before they all continued on, full of determination.

The sun had just started to dip below the horizon when the trio stopped to prepare, only a block from their destination. Once they had come to a stop, Kouya took off her small messenger bag and hid it in
some small bushes on the corner, not wanting to take it with her. Yamato followed suit by placing her purse alongside the bag, feeling slightly more hesitant to leave their things in a random bush by the
side of the road. The atmosphere around them was calm and tense, but was soon broken by the blonde.

"So... is anyone going to fill me in on this plan you have?" Ritsuka looked to her with a static expression as he replied coolly.

"I'm afraid not Yamato."

"Why not?!"

"I just don't want to risk it. I have no idea what Seimei is capable of these days and I want to try and keep him in the dark as much as possible. So the less people that know, the better." Yamato hung her
head slightly in defeat, hating to be left out of something so important.

"Fine…"

"I really am sorry."

"I know." Kouya then took a moment to wrap her slender arms around her partner in a comforting embrace before speaking to her in a quiet voice.

"Yamato…I promise everything will be fine. Ritsuka knows what he is doing. I love you and I will protect you always." This finally caused Yamato to give a small smile to her partner as she returned her embrace.

"I know. I love you too." Ritsuka hated to disturb his friends' tender moment, but night was setting in and he knew they had to get going.

"You two ready?" The Zeroes replied in unison with the same determined grin and firm tone.

"Yes."

"All right…let's go." The three of them then made their way to their final destination.

It wasn't long at all before the trio came to a stop outside of the all too familiar building where Soubi had once lived. They took a short moment to take in the true gravity of the situation before giving firm nods all around and heading up the stairs and towards the door, with Ritsuka leading the way. Ritsuka hesitated at the door, only for a second, before turning the knob and pushing it open slowly. He left behind all his doubts and fears as he stepped over the threshold into the apartment that he had come to know so well in the past. Neither him nor the Zero girls were shaken or surprised to see Seimei standing calmly at the far end of the open living room.

"Hello Ritsuka…it's been a while." Ritsuka quickly motioned for Kouya and Yamato to stand back behind, far in a corner, before replying in an even, icy tone.

"Seimei…"

"It's good to see you again."

"I wish I could say the same." Seimei cracked a small smile at this as he replied mockingly.

"Now, that's not very nice." Ritsuka's fur covered ears laid back aggressively as he replied.

"Where is Soubi?" Seimei scoffed at the small boy's forwardness.

"All these years we haven't seen each other, and you want to talk about that?" Seimei's cold tone and condescending attitude was enough to light a fire in Ritsuka's belly and he balled his fists tightly as he decided to try his first plan. He let out a long breath before relaxing his stance and looking at his brother with watery eyes.

"Seimei…please…if you ever loved me, just give Soubi back to me. Let me take him home and you will never hear from us again. Please, Seimei!" As Ritsuka had half expected however, Seimei let out a hearty
laugh before spitting his reply with a smirk.

"Did you really think that would work? That I would just give him to you if you went doe eyed?" Ritsuka then quickly returned to his aggressive posture and his even, but more sullen, tone.

"No; but I thought maybe if there was anything left of my brother in you…I might be able to reach it." Seimei's laughter then receded and he replied in an eerie tone.

"I am your brother. You act as though I'm some imposter that has taken Seimei's place…but the Seimei you cling to, never existed at all."

"You're wrong about one thing…"

"And what is that?"

"You are not my brother. Our family name may not mean much, but you don't even deserve that. You have no right to call yourself Aoyagi! You betray even your true name. Beloved is no name for a monster like you!" Seimei scoffed again at the boy's words and his visibly faltering demeanor.

"Those names mean nothing to me." Ritsuka's frustration finally grew past his breaking point and he could no longer keep a level attitude. He balled his fists once again in anger as he spat his reply.

"Just stop it! Where is Soubi?!"

"You want to see him that badly?"

"Yes!" Seimei gave another self-satisfied smirk at this before giving a single firm snap of his fingers. Ritsuka then watched as two figures emerged from the dark hallway behind his brother. He looked on in
anxiety and fear as Nisei took his place to stand next to Seimei with Soubi standing just behind him. The room was dimly lit, making it hard for Ritsuka to see clearly, and all he could make out was the faint silhouette of Soubi standing there with his head hung low. The sight was enough to make the boy cry out desperately for his Sentouki.

"S-Soubi!" Seimei then smiled wide as he spoke to the shaken boy that stood across the room.

"You really want him back? Then you can have him." Seimei then looked over to the tall blonde that was standing just behind him.

"Soubi, go." Ritsuka watched as Soubi slowly shuffled over to his position to be standing right in front of him, his gaze never leaving the floor. Once he had stopped, Seimei spoke once more in a firm voice.

"Down boy." Soubi did as commanded and promptly fell to his knees on the floor. Ritsukas mind raced with worry and anger, but all he could do in that moment was drop down to his knees and wrap his arms around the man in front of him as he tried with all his might to fight back the tears welling up in his eyes.

"Soubi! Soubi, are you ok?!" The blonde didn't move a muscle or raise his head and Ritsuka suddenly shot his fiery gaze across to the older Aoyagi.

"W-what have you done to him, Seimei?!" Seimei smirked and answered very nonchalantly.

"From the moment I acquired him from you, he was lazy, sullen and disobedient. He tried to refuse orders and even tried to escape me once." Seimei's' expression suddenly shifted to a dark, serious one as he continued.

"I don't tolerate that kind of behavior…so I put him under the name control spell. I've kept him like this for years now. He can't even hear you. All these years…all he has known is the sound of my voice."

"Y-you bastard!"

"He was much easier to deal with this way. The way I trained him."

"Shut up!" Ritsuka then stood from his place with a fierce expression, keeping an arm wrapped around Soubi all the while. Once he had stood and shifted, his hand ran along a rough and slightly raised portion of skin along the blonde's neck. He quickly looked down in a panic to see that where Seimei had previously carved his name cruelly into Soubi's flesh was now a large sprawling scar. His eyes grew wide as he shot his gaze back to Seimei.

"W-what else did you do?!"

"Oh that? That happened just after he had tried to escape. He kept going on and on about you, how he needed to return to you, and that he didn't want to serve me anymore. I was sick of his constant whining…so I told him that if didn't want to obey me, then I would take my name from him. So I did just that. I stripped him of my name and burnt it from his flesh." Ritsuka then began to shake in anger as he balled one fist and with the other, clenched tightly onto Soubi's shoulder.

"Y-you…How could you?!" Seimei let out a small scoff at this as he looked back at Ritsuka with a grin.

"It's your fault, really. All that time you were such a child. I let you borrow my favorite toy…and you ruined it."

"Enough, Seimei! How could you do this?! I trusted you!" Ritsuka continued to shake as tears began to trickle down his red cheeks. "My whole life you protected me…you always saved me from mother and bandaged my wounds. You always told me just to run to you and everything would be ok. So then why…why are you doing this to me Seimei?!" Seimei then dropped his toying and sinister behavior to reply with a deathly serious expression.

"Haven't you figured it out yet? You are my world Ritsuka…that's the only reason I've ever had."

"S-Seimei…I don't understand!"

"My whole life I've enjoyed causing pain. All I want is to watch the world burn. So I spent all those years taking care of you and building you up, so that I could watch it all burn to ash in my grasp." Ritsuka then took a short moment to calm himself as best he could before replying icily.

"I won't let you hurt Soubi anymore to get to me." Ritsuka then turned to the girls that had been quietly and patiently waiting in the corner.

"Yamato, get Soubi out of here." The girl had been frozen in horror at the scene that had played out before her, but the boy's firm tone was just enough to snap her out of it.

"R-Right!" She quickly rushed over to Soubi's place on the floor and tried to get him up so she could take him to safety.

"Soubi…come on." Despite Yamato's best efforts however, Soubi refused to budge an inch and Seimei let out a small laugh from across the room.

"Ritsuka…you should know that I'm not just going to let you walk out of here with him, let alone release the name spell." Ritsuka let a low growl escape his throat as he once again wrapped an arm around the blonde at his feet.

"I figured." Yamato then stood to her feet next to Ritsuka and looked at him with a confused expression as she whispered.

"What should we do?"

"Just get back…stay at the back of the room. Stay there no matter what." Ritsuka's tone gave Yamato a slight chill down her spine as she silently did as she was told and retreated to the safety of the back of the room. Ritsuka then turned his fiery gaze back towards his brother who spoke before he had a chance.

"So you're really going to try and fight me for him?"

"It doesn't like you're giving me a choice. I won't leave here without him." Seimei gave another sinister smile in reply.

"Well you might just leave in a body bag, with no Sentouki to fight for you." Ritsuka remained silent as he turned his head to give Kouya an approving nod. She pushed her glasses up her nose before stepping forward to be by his side and addressing Seimei calmly.

"I'll fight for Loveless." Both Seimei and Nisei gave a small laugh at this claim.

"You? Nagisa's failed pet project? Don't mock me." Despite the harsh words, Kouya held her calm demeanor as she replied.

"No, you don't mock me. We cut all ties with Nagisa and died as Zero. With no true name, I fight for whom I choose; and I choose to fight for Loveless." Seimei gave a nasty sneer at the small, arrogant girl before speaking once again to his little brother.

"So…this is the route you wish to go?"

"It is." Seimei then looked over his shoulder with a scowl to give his true Sentouki a firm nod. Nisei quickly responded and stepped forward to be just in front of Seimei as he spoke firmly.

"I declare this to be a battle of spells." Kouya then took her place to be standing in front of both Ritsuka and Soubi. She gave one last glance over her shoulder to see that Ritsuka still had Soubi held tightly to his torso. She then raised a hand as she spoke calmly.

"We accept."

With the claim made, a wave of pressure erupted through the room as the battle radius expanded, engulfing everyone. The battle field illuminated the room as bits and pieces of reality fell away until they were all left planted on a pitch black floor in a nearly empty space. The dueling pairs were locked in an intense and silent standoff, exchanging fiery glances between them and Nisei was the first to break the silence as he began his attack with purpose.

"Shatter! Rain destruction on the pesky children!" The spell quickly went to work by shattering all of the remaining furniture and fixtures in the field into thousands of tiny pieces, before sending them racing towards Ritsuka. Kouya barely flinched, however, as she calmly and quickly defended.

"Denied. Turn the attack away and damage is zero." Kouya then gave a wide and deliberate wave of her hand that sent the shards flying off in all directions away from Ritsuka. She then adjusted her glasses before widening her stance slightly to begin her attack with gusto.

"Rupture! Rip the enemy to pieces!" The girls' words sent a glowing shockwave rolling across the room. In response, Nisei raised a firm hand as he spoke.

"Defend! Nothing will reach here!" Kouya's calm attitude then faltered slightly and she gave a small growl as Nisei swatted away her attack with ease. The exchange caused Seimei to smile slightly as he spoke to his Sentouki.

"Nisei, quit playing with them now." Nisei gave a nod in affirmation before turning back to the duo across from him to attack with his usual neutral expression.

"Electrify! Gather the storm and bring the lightning!" Kouya hesitated for a split second, having never heard that attack before, as she thought of how to defend. Ritsuka on the other hand, felt a churning feeling in his stomach as dark clouds quickly formed above them. Fearing for the worst, he suddenly released Soubi and took a large step backwards, putting Soubi's safety above all else.

"Conceal! Fuel the storm clouds and hide us from the enemy!" As commanded, the clouds above them billowed and rolled until the two of them were shrouded in darkness. Despite the clever defense however, a thick bolt of lightning shot down from above and struck Ritsuka directly.

"Ah!"

The clouds soon dispersed to reveal that the attack had earned Nisei two shackles around each of Ritsuka's petite wrists; attached to each of them was a long chain that planted firmly in the ground. Kouya tried to hide her concern, but it showed clearly on her face as she glanced back at Ritsuka.

"Are you ok?" Ritsuka winced at the pain only for a short moment before taking a step forward to wrap his arms around Soubi once more as he replied to the girl fighting for him.

"I'm fine Kouya. Just focus. You can do this. Hit him hard this time!" She gave a determined look before turning back to her opponent and continuing with the battle.

"Incinerate! Speed time three! Flames spread over the body and burn everything to ash!"

The spell summoned a massive wall of flames that went crackling towards Seimei at an astonishing speed. Nisei's eyes grew wide in a mixture of shock and fear as the attack washed over Seimei before he could utter a single syllable of defense. Once the flames burnt out, Seimei stood silently with a terrifyingly calm expression and closed eyes, now adorned with an impressive three restraints. Nisei trembled slightly as he fully took in the sight of his Sacrifice wearing shackles around his wrists and neck, a sight that had been rarely witnessed by anyone before. He then swallowed hard before checking on his Sacrifice with a somewhat shaky voice.

"S-Seimei?" His partners voice sent Seimei's eyes shooting open in a fiery glare that board right through him. He then suddenly wrapped one of the chains of his restraints around Nisei's slender frame and used it to jerk his body close, and spoke to him in a bone chilling voice.

"Nisei…I'm disappointed. You let the little brat get past you with such a powerful attack…" Seimei then pulled the chain tighter, letting it cut painfully into the skin of Nisei's midriff. "I thought I trained you better…"

"I-I'm sorry Seimei."

"I don't want your apologies. I just suggest you don't let it happen again." Seimei then gave the chain one last tug before finally releasing his partner who stepped back to his place, doing his best to ignore the pain and blood that had begun to trickle down his sides. Nisei was soon able to regained his composure before attacking with new resolve.

"Demolish! Completely annihilate my enemy! Wipe them from the face of the earth!" Nisei's spell, cast with such aggression, caused the ground to shake and rumble as large orbs of light began to hurdle towards Ritsuka's position. Feeling reassured of herself by her last attack, Kouya quickly defended with confidence.

"Solidify! Strengthen all defenses. No damage will be taken." These words enveloped the three of them in a shimmering clear bubble. The orbs of light and energy quickly pounded against it, sending ripples across its surface with each blow. The attack soon subsided, never having been able to break through the defense. Kouya couldn't help but to give a smirk before she went back on offense.

"Disintegrate! Rip apart the very atoms of the wicked beasts!" Driven by fear of his Sacrifice, Nisei was quick to defend firmly.

"Resolve! Fortify! Turn away the attack into nothing!" Nisei's defense was quick and effective, making quick work of the attack before it was given much a chance to materialize. Seimei let out an abrupt low growl before calling an order calmly to his partner.

"Nisei. Change your target." These words passed through Ritsuka's ears like pure ice that sent shivers down his spine as he exclaimed from across the room.

"W-what?!" Nisei then attacked with a grin.

"Decimate and puncture! Peirce the skin with a thousand bloody needles!" Kouya was shaken by Seimei's order and the speed and power of the spell just cast, and she desperately combed through her brain for the words to defend.

"Deflect! Send away the needles in all directions!"

Ritsuka then watched on with wide eyes as the shining needles raced towards their new target of the static blonde at his feet. He quickly panicked when they came bursting through Kouya's defense like it wasn't even there. In that second, all he could do was react and he quickly stepped in front of Soubi's crumbled frame and turned to wrap his whole body around him, shielding him from the attack. He gritted his teeth in pain as the needles went piercing through his skin in a thousand places.

"Nnn…"

Kouya watched the scene in horror and guilt that she wasn't powerful enough to stop it. The attack finally ended and Ritsuka stood back to his feet, still keeping Soubi pulled close to him, as a thick collar appeared around his neck. His was visibly shaken as he coughed up a small amount of blood and spat it angrily to the ground before calling out to Seimei in a furious voice.

"You bastard! You are sick and twisted, Seimei! I swear on my life that I will make you suffer for everything you have done! You've done nothing but hurt and take advantage of people! This ends right here, right now! This stops today Seimei!" Kouya was truly motivated by Ritsuka's words, only insulting her further when Seimei let out a laugh before responding.

"Nothing but the sentiments and empty words of a child." Ritsuka grit his teeth in fury before exclaiming to Kouya with fire in his voice.

"Kouya! End this now! Don't let him carry on anymore!" Kouya was quite happy to follow the boy's order, and she turned to Seimei with a fierce glare as she summoned every bit of strength she held in her small frame.

"Shred and crush! Intensify times ten! Rain absolute destruction on the abomination and leave nothing left!" The powerful spell conjured an immense bubbling ball of concentrated energy that soon went flying across the field. Nisei could feel the intensity in the girls' voice, and defended as quickly as he could as he raised a hand in defiance.

"Deny! Deflect! Nothing will reach here!" Kouya's attack then smashed against the glowing dome of defense energy that surrounded Nisei and Seimei. The sight lit a fire deep within her and she quickly fueled her attack with all her might.

"Suspension! Break through all defenses! Nothing will stop us!"

Nisei's knees began to buckle from the overwhelming pressure of the attack pushing against him. He simply couldn't endure it however, and his defense soon cracked and shattered to pieces, allowing the attack to land hard on Seimei in a cloud of smoke and debris. The entire area went deathly still and silent as all parties eyes stayed fixed on Seimei's position. Once the air cleared, both Ritsuka and Kouya gave wide grins upon seeing the tall slender man now fully restrained, and on his knees. Kouya was more than happy to raise a hand and make her claim.

"Victory!"

The girls' bold voice caused the entire battle field to shake around them before shattering to pieces, returning them back to Soubi's abandoned apartment. As soon as the battle field collapsed and the restraints on both parties had vanished, Nisei quickly ran to his Sacrifice and dropped down to be by his side with a look of both concern and fear. Across the room, Yamato finally stirred from her place to run to her Sentouki's side and wrap her arms around her slender waist. Ritsuka then watched on as his brother swayed from his place to plant his palms shakily on the floor as a small amount of blood trickled from his mouth. Ritsuka gave a truly sinister smirk at the sight before making his way across the room. Nisei was quick to see the boy's movement out of the corner of his eye, and immediately jumped up to defend his Sacrifice. Ritsuka stopped just in front of Nisei and spoke in a cold tone.

"Nisei…move." Nisei stood his ground however, and spat his reply with a sneer.

"No. I won't let a brat like you touch Seimei."

Ritsuka had truly had enough of the man's arrogance, and abruptly wrenched back a tightly balled fist and struck Nisei across the cheek with surprising force. The blow sent Nisei tumbling to the floor and reeling in pain as he spat out a small amount of blood onto the floor. He let out a low growl from the floor, which Ritsuka met simply with an icy glare. After witnessing the whole scene escalate, Kouya and Yamato both rushed over and grabbed Nisei by the shoulders before he could even make an attempt to get back up. Ritsuka turned his full attention to his brother, still on all fours on the floor in a mixture of pain, shock and rage.

"Seimei…" His brothers voice was finally enough to cause Seimei to pull himself up to his feet to speak to him face to face with his usual calm expression and even tone.

"Ritsuka."

"You're finished." Seimei then cracked a small smile, very much in contrast to Ritsuka's serious glare.

"Not by a long shot, little brother." Ritsuka gave a low growl as he clenched his fists.

"Enough, Seimei! Just…enough. You've been beaten. Now release Soubi!"

"No." Ritsuka's fury overtook him and he suddenly shoved his brother backwards violently before pinning him to the wall behind them with his forearm pressed firmly against his throat. Ritsuka held him there in silence for a moment as Seimei simply stared back at him with a smirk. The silence was broken when all of Ritsuka's emotions finally escaped him in the form of an angry voice and tears that streamed down his red cheeks.

"Seimei please! Please just stop all of this! You were my brother! I-I…I don't want to hurt you Seimei…but you have to let Soubi go! I love him Seimei!" Ritsuka then paused for a short moment as he applied more pressure to Seimei's throat and began to shake slightly. "You never cared about him Seimei…you just wanted another tool to use to cause others pain. But it's over now…please just let him go." Seimei retained his grin as he replied as best he could with what little breath he could muster around the pressure against his throat.

"N-Never…" Ritsuka could hardly belief his brothers' resolve and he let out another growl before releasing his arm and letting Seimei fall coughing to the floor. He then took a moment to collect himself and wipe the angry tears from his eyes before turning to Kouya with a somewhat defeated expression and his ears lowered.

"It looks like we don't have a choice…he'll never give in." Kouya's expression softened momentarily as she replied.

"Are you sure? I already swore to you that I won't turn back once you've decided on this path." Ritsuka's gaze shifted back to Soubi's silhouette across the room, before looking back to Kouya with a stoic expression.

"I know you did…I'm sure. Do it."

Kouya's face then snapped back to her usual even expression as she released Nisei from her grasp, leaving his restraint entirely to Yamato, and took a few steps to be standing just above Seimei. She bent over slightly to look him directly in the eyes before placing a single pointer finger in the center of his forehead. She took a deep breath as she stared into what she viewed as the face of evil itself and it stared back with a grin. She then spoke with a calculated precision.

"Aoyagi Seimei…I will control this name." Nisei hadn't expected at all for things to take such a turn, and his eyes grew wide in shock as he tried to struggle free of Yamato's grip.

"N-no! What are you doing?! Stop it!" The dainty blonde was much more capable than she appeared however, and she had no problem keeping her flailing captive in his place, ensuring that her partner could continue undisturbed.

"Seimei…I am your judge and executioner. My words are law. With these words I severe all your bonds and ties to all others and deliver to you, my justice. You are hereby ordered to forever wander the earth until the end of your days. You will walk to the ends of the earth and back. You will not stop and you will not rest. Should you falter or your body break and bruise…you will carry on. You'll take no food or water and accept no aide. This is your punishment…and only when you have fulfilled this order…do you have my permission to die."

Once her spell was cast, Kouya stood up straight before returning to her Sacrifice with a somber expression. They all watched on sternly as Seimei's eyes went glassy and his expression went blank. He then stood and wobbled in place before making his way slowly and silently out of the small apartment toward his own slow demise. Nisei could only watch on in shock as his Sacrifice disappeared, never to return. Ritsuka let out a long sigh before turning his attention to his last captive with a scowl.

"You…" Nisei's trembled slightly in fear as Ritsuka approached him and picked him up off his knees by the collar of his shirt to burn his gaze through his skull. "You are barely worth my time…but don't mistake that for mercy. Understand one thing…if I ever set eyes on you again…I will kill you without a second thought."

"W-where will I go?" Ritsuka scoffed as he roughly threw the man to the ground.

"I don't care; follow Seimei if you wish…but I suggest you choose somewhere as far from here as possible." Unlike Seimei, Nisei knew when to leave well enough alone and he promptly picked himself up and made a hasty retreat.

As soon as Nisei was out of sight, Ritsuka completely relaxed his posture and focused his entire being to the blonde he had come to rescue. He rushed over to Soubi and fell to his knees with teary eyes as he wrapped his arms around him.

"Soubi! Soubi, come back to me!" Despite everything, Soubi remained perfectly still with his gaze fixed somewhere off in the distance. Ritsuka began to panic and he softly shook the blonde as tears rolled down his cheeks.

"S-Soubi…please…please come back. I love you…" It was the loving and soft sound of the boy's voice that was finally able to reach Soubi and he very suddenly gasped loudly as he came around. The second that his newly aware gaze fell upon the person in front of him, tears began streaming down his face and he desperately groped his mind for any words to say.

"R-Ritsuka…" Ritsuka's face lit up once he heard the blonde speak and he embraced him tightly, as if he might die if he ever let go.

"Soubi! Thank God I've found you…" Soubi was completely over whelmed with emotion and he pushed against Ritsuka slightly, to free himself from his grasp, so he could bury his tear stained face in his hands.

"Ritsuka…I-I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…"

"You have nothing to be sorry for!"

"I-I abandoned you…I'm a disgrace!" Soubi's guilt completely broke Ritsuka's heart and he did his best to comfort him by gently peeling his hands from his face so he could take it tenderly in his palms.

"Soubi…no. You were taken from me, it wasn't your fault. I've been searching for you all these years just so I could see you again. Just so I could tell you…just how much I love you."

Soubi's eyes grew wide at the sweet words from the boy he had always loved so passionately and his raw emotions quickly took over. Without another word, he stood and wrapped his arms tightly around the still slightly smaller boy, and pressed his lips to his own in a desperate, passionate kiss. Ritsuka happily returned his affection as he tightly embraced the blonde's slim waist. They became lost in the passion of five long years of separation. Their tender moment was then cruelly ripped away from them when they were each suddenly filled with an incredible pain that shot across their chests. They winced in pain and both clutched at their flesh.

"A-ah!"

"Nn…"

The pain was luckily short lived and once it had passed they each looked at each other curiously. Ritsuka's eyes then grew wide and welled with tears once more, once he found the source of the pain.

"S-Soubi…I-it can't be…can it?"

Soubi was equally shocked when he made his own discovery. They were stunned when they looked at each other and could now make out a single word written clearly across the other's chest: Loveless. Soubi gave a genuine and warm smile as he gently took his Sacrifice by the waist and pulled him close, capturing his lips in a tender kiss. He then looked lovingly into his partners eyes with a smile.

"I was always yours Ritsuka…but now we are bound by name. We are Loveless." Ritsuka let a few more tears escape him as butterflies filled his stomach.

"S-Soubi…I love you!"

"I love you Ritsuka…I've loved you all along."

TBC!

So, I've decided to turn this into my first ever two part song inspired story in this series! Yay! So please stay tuned for part two!

Thank you so much as always for reading! 3

-Shuichi77