Chapter XII: Mending relationship

Soubi whistled quietly while he cooked lunch. Ritsuka was still asleep. He hadn't bothered to wake the teen up. After all, it had been a long night for both of them. So he had decided to let him sleep. It was Saturday, his free day, and ZERO had already left, "to play", so they had said. Soubi hadn't asked what they meant with that, it was not his business. But Ritsuka was… only Ritsuka. Soubi had to smile. He could spend the whole day with his sacrifice. All these days when he had been unable to see his boy, when he didn't know where he was, how he was… they were gone. Ritsuka had decided to stay… to give him a new chance.

Soubi knew he had to be very careful. After all, the teen was very sensitive. One mistake and Soubi would lose him forever. At first he had been very unsure about that but now he had plenty of time. He would use this time to prove that Ritsuka could still trust him. They would become a team again, with no doubts and no secrets. It wouldn't be easy, Soubi knew that. He would have to take things slow, taking step by step, and he had to be honest.

Placing the last dish on the desk he glanced at his clock. He frowned and decided to wake the boy up. So he turned… only to find him already awake. Ritsuka was leaning against the door-frame, rubbing his eyes sleepily. He was still wearing his pyjamas. Soubi had to smile. So cute…

"Good morning, Ritsuka, or rather good noon. You have slept pretty long."
Ritsuka blinked and yawned. The artist hesitated before he decided to start being honest. Slowly he walked to the boy and, by bending down, placed one hand on his shoulder to look into small tired eyes.

"I'm glad that you have decided to stay. I really am, Ritsuka. You won't regret it. I promise."

Rather than reacting to his words, Ritsuka simply ignored the adult and walked past him to sit down at the desk.

Soubi sighed. Maybe he had expected too much… Covering his feelings with his usual smile, he followed Ritsuka and sat down facing him.

"Let's start, Ritsuka. After all, it will be a long day."

The teen let his head drop till his face was hidden behind dark strands. Even though Soubi was now unable to see his expressions, he still could tell that the boy was unhappy. The way his cat-ears dropped until they were flat against his skull gave everything away. A part of Soubi was glad. Ritsuka was still unable to control his body language and since the fighter had always been able to read and understand this language, he would always know how the younger one was feeling.

"Let's eat, Ritsuka, so that we can start with your room."

Ritsuka hesitated but then reached for the bowls. Soubi waited till he was sure his sacrifice was eating properly, before starting to eat himself. Silence hung in the room, only the ticks of the clock audible. Every now and then, the blonde artist would look up to watch the younger one eat. Ritsuka still didn't eat much but it would be enough. Soubi just had to find out what his boy liked.

When they both had finished Soubi looked up only to see Ritsuka look around, frowning in confusion. He smiled.

"Natsuo and Youji are not there. I'm not sure when they will come back. So it's just you and me."

Ritsuka's head shot back to Soubi, his face heating up. He would have to spent the day alone with Soubi?

Damn.

That was not good. He didn't trust the adult and with Youji and Natsuo around… he didn't trust them, either. Yet he would rather spent his time with them. They had never lied at him. They even had tried to explain the whole fighter-sacrifice-thing to him. Soubi on the other hand… and now he was alone with him, with an evil adult. He had to be careful.

Very careful.

Soubi frowned. Ritsuka seemed to be angry… and afraid? That was not good. Ritsuka had never been afraid of him before. He sighed but hid his feelings behind a thin smile.

"Now we have time to get your room ready. You can go up while I clean up the kitchen. When I'm ready I come up and then we'll rearrange your room."

Ritsuka was confused. His room? Oh right. That's what Soubi had told him yesterday. It was a good idea. That way he would be able to start new, without any thoughts about his past and his old home. Yes, Ritsuka liked that idea. So he nodded and stormed out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

Soubi was surprised. He knew Ritsuka was very emotional but changing from sad to angry to enthusiastic? Had he himsef been like that when he was that age? Teenager…

While he worked in the kitchen he thought about a way to win back Ritsuka's trust. He had to make his life comfortable so that one day he would get his old boy back and maybe solve the secret of what had happened that damn night.

Once he had finished he walked up to the teen's room and knocked softly.

"Ritsuka? I'm ready."
He opened the door and was once again surprised with a sight he had never seen before.

Ritsuka was lying on the floor, stomach down, with a paper in front of him, a pencil clutched in one hand, the other was supporting his head. His legs were bent and his feet moved up and down, his brows knitted in utter concentration. Soubi blinked and approached him.

"Uhm… Ritsuka?"

The dark haired boy finished scribbling on his paper, sat up and handed his fighter the result. Soubi took the offered paper with a mild smile but was rather confused when he saw nothing but a few lines and crooked circles. Slowly his glance went back to Ritsuka who was still kneeling on the floor. He remembered a conversation when he had first admitted that he studied art. Ritsuka had told him that he was unable to draw but that his talent was that bad… maybe Soubi should teach him?

His sacrifice noticed his confusion and blushed. He had always been quiet touchy on this subject. So he quickly grabbed his "masterpiece" and started scribbling again, before handing it back to Soubi. Said one finally understood. Words were added to the indefinable lines and circles to describe what they meant. Soubi smiled. On the paper Ritsuka had described the way he liked his new room. The bed, the desk, the cupboard, everything was there. He bent down to ruffle the teen's hair.

"What a smart boy you are, Ritsuka. Now we can start."

Despite his best attempts Ritsuka felt his lips curve into a small smile. If he had to stay in this house with a lying adult, at least he would have a room for his own. This room would even look the way he wanted it and not like someone else. Although he didn't like it… he was happy.

Once again Soubi starred down onto the "ground plan".

"Okay. Maybe we should start with your cupboard."

He frowned when his eyes fell on the heavy piece of furniture. It had been hard enough to move it when he had first arranged the room. Now he would have to move it again… but with Ritsuka watching him with this cute expression on his face, expecting him to start already, there was no way to run away. He had to keep his promise, even if that meant he had to move this damn heavy cupboard once again. So he sighed before rolling up his sleeves.

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With a heavy sigh Soubi let himself fall onto the couch. They had worked for hours but now the room was perfect. He had refused to let Ritsuka do hard work so he had to do everything for himself. Now he was exhausted but also satisfied. Rearranging Ritsuka's room had been an important step to restore their relationship. Soubi knew he had to make life as comfortable as possible for his sacrifice so that he could stay with him.

He looked up when he heard said one walk into the living room. Ritsuka sat down at the other end of the couch, as far away from Soubi as he could. Soubi frowned but didn't do anything against it. Instead he decided to ignore it.

"Well, Ritsuka. Do you like your room now?"

The teen didn't look up but nodded softly.

"That's good. We still have some time. What do you want to do now?"

Ritsuka looked around. Soubi was right, they still had time. He had to think of something before the adult could get any funny ideas. Finally his mind settled on one thing.

Soubi watched the younger one stand up and walk over to the game console. Ritsuka sat down, switched the tool on and turned to hand Soubi the second Player. The artist frowned. He knew that Ritsuka liked playing video games but he had never been interested in such games.

"I don't think I'm very good with that, Rit…"

He stopped when he noticed the narrowed glance he received.

Ritsuka was angry. After all, it had been a really long time since he had last played it. He hated playing alone and since Soubi was the only one around, he had to play with him. Ritsuka wanted to play that game.

Now.

Soubi smiled.

"Okay, okay. I'll play with you."

Slowly he stood up. His body protested after all the hard work but somehow he managed to walk and sit down next to the boy. Ritsuka smiled satisfied and started the game. Soubi starred in confusion and gave his best to understand the rules.

"I see. So we have to fight against each other, right?"

Ritsuka nodded and moved his game figure towards Soubi's. The adult was beaten in an instant. Soubi blinked.

"… I've lost? How can that be? I've never lost before."

Ritsuka couldn't help but laugh quietly. He had beaten the strong fighter. Soubi had won all fights before but he had no chance against a teen. Ritsuka was better, at least in this game. He was happy.

Soubi's head turned once he noticed the sudden noise. He was surprised. Ritsuka was laughing… because he had won? No… because he had beaten Soubi. Strong undefeated Soubi. He smiled.

"That's funny, huh? Just wait until I have found out how this goes."

Together they played round for round. Soubi never won.

Finally, hours later, the sound of the phone ringing cut right into the almost comfortable silence. Soubi raised to get it.

"I'll be right back, Ritsuka."
The boy gave no sign that he had heard him, he simply changed the second player to auto-pilot. Soubi sighed. Back to this… He shook his head and hurried to reach the phone that was placed in the entrance hall.

End of chap. XII

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Hello everyone!

Do you know that? You have holidays but can't enjoy it 'cause you're down with the flu? Jeez. That's not funny. Next week school starts again... Anyway, that's not important. I really enjoyed writing this chapter. I tried to show that Ritsuka is still able to trust, even if it's just for a little time. Did it work? Or was it too rushed? You decide. I hope you liked this chap.

Thanks for taking your time and please review. Hugs to you all!

See you next chapter and bye!
Your Nico