Broken

Soubi slept restlessly that night. He couldn't get comfortable and was paranoid that something else may happen. He daren't let go of Ritsuka while he did indeed sleep. The day must have completely wiped him out as he slept soundly apart from a whimper or moan in his sleep. Ritsuka snuggled close to Soubi's chest and relaxed. Soubi smiled and fell asleep for the next few hours. He didn't risk closing his eyes until he could see the sun beginning to rise along the horizon. He slept dreamlessly. He found himself encased by darkness until his body had recovered from lack of sleep and awoke again. Ritsuka woke before Soubi had. He carefully slid out of bed so he wouldn't wake him. He could tell that Soubi was up worrying all night. He went and used the bathroom. After brushing his teeth Ritsuka found himself lifting the side of his shirt and staring at his broken name. It stared for what seemed like a lifetime. He saw something then it was a red glow and it traced his scar along his name. Ritsuka wondered what it was. Once it had reached the end of the scar Ritsuka doubled over in pain. It was burning. Burning like a wildfire with no signs of stopping. Ritsuka gritted his teeth, curled in a ball and held his eyes as tight as he could. He could hear his skin scorching with the heat. He heard Soubi gasping as the pain hit him too. Both were unable to move or speak.

Is this it? Is this the end?

Ritsuka thought.

Is this how I come to my death. Killed by my own name, my own bond.

As soon as Ritsuka came to terms that he couldn't change it the burning stopped. He breathed heavily. He could hear Soubi fighting what was left of the uncomfortable aching to fall out of bed and run to the bathroom. Soubi found Ritsuka on the floor, curled up.

'Ritsuka it's okay, it's over.' He soothed as he picked him up. Ritsuka was still breathing heavy. It was a great ordeal to go through so soon after believing he had recovered. Soubi carried him to bed like a mother would a child and calmingly stroked his hair.

'It will be okay Kitten. We are in this together, at least we aren't alone in this battle.'

Ritsuka couldn't help but smile when Soubi called him Kitten. Made him feel as though he still had that cute and adorable look from his childhood when he still possessed his cat-like features. Ritsuka was at ease. Soubi had a point. It's better to be in a situation with someone else rather than trying to beat it on your own.

'I'll order us some food' Soubi whispered into Ritsuka's ear. Soubi and Reiko had already cleaned the room back to its natural state. Ritsuka decided to take a nap while he waited. To give himself a chance to recover. Soubi gently shook him awake a little while later.

'Hey pancakes are here' He whispered.

Ritsuka jumped out of bed and grabbed a plate to start munching on. Adding every syrup available to him. Soubi laughed.

'Still like a child when around food. Especially when you're hungry' Soubi chuckled grabbing the remaining plate.

'I think we should still try and enjoy this holiday by doing some sightseeing and stuff. At least to make some of this trip worthwhile' Soubi suggested between bites. Ritsuka let out a happily fed sigh.

'Sounds good to me.' he smiled.

The next day Ritsuka, wielding his camera of course, and Soubi travelled around London. The capital of England.

'That is the biggest and slowest ferris wheel I have ever seen in my life' Ritsuka exclaimed snapping a picture or two. The first was great but the second was perfect, as the sun started peeking out from behind the London Eye and glared off of one of the cars. Soubi took out his pamphlet.

'Big Ben next? Then maybe Buckingham Palace. The royal family and Queen live there' Soubi said with a smile.

Ritsuka nodded and followed Soubi there. Taking some amazing photographs that most people envy. Soubi was more than certain that Ritsuka would pass his photography with flying colours. At least Ritsuka would have that happiness when they hopefully return home. By the evening Ritsuka had over a hundred photographs each as spectacular as the next. Soubi hoped to paint something truly amazing too. Perhaps he could sell it for a fair amount. He usually gets something between two hundred to four hundred per painting and he paints at least two a day just from joy. Painting was his hobby, career and distresser.

'It's getting late Soubi. I'm tired' Ritsuka yawned. Soubi looked at Ritsuka.

'Okay. Do you feel okay? No pain or sickness?' Soubi

Ritsuka shook his head. He smiled, clearly believing that it could be improving. Soubi smiled too but remained sceptical. He took Ritsukas hand and they walked together back to the hotel.

'Soubi?' Ritsuka whispered occasionally peering over his shoulder.

'What is it?'

'Those people have been following us for the last few blocks now' He said peering round again. 'They are getting closer.'

'Stop looking Ritsuka, you could provoke them. We are almost there, don't worry.' Soubi sounded calm but his grip on Ritsukas hand tightened.

He turned the corner and the hotel as in sight. He sped up to a more brisk walk.

Must get inside, to be safe

Just then two more shady-like figures appeared. One from each alley on either side of their hotel. Loveless froze. If these are fighter units then for the first time ever...Soubi was uncertain at the chance of survival let alone winning/losing. Soubi and Ritsuka stood back-to-back. They became more tense and spun slowly on the spot. The four figures came closer. Trapping the pair in the middle of the situation. They were men. Not fighter units just some sort of attackers or muggers, looking for some valuables that could be won from a fist fight. Tourists are easy targets after all.

'Remember how to fight Ritsuka? Like I taught you for self defence' Soubi asked low enough for only his partner to hear.

'Yes'

'I'll get these two. '

When the men were close enough they began to laugh.

'Look what we found here boys, couple of tourists. Enjoying the UK?' The first asked sarcastically.

Soubi crouched offensively and launched himself at the first man. The fight had begun. Ritsuka fought harsh and fast and soon had one of his offenders retreating. He had some trouble fighting off the second. He was much stronger. Ritsuka fought hard enough to keep him back but was still sustaining bruises and lacerations on his face and arms every time he was struck to the ground.

Have to get back up

Ritsuka kept fighting. Soubi had knocked out one of his attackers and already forced the other to retreat with fear. Soubi was dragging the unconscious load to the dark alley when it happened.

Ritsuka had the upper hand at this moment. He had dazed his offender with sand from a fire bucket. He was weakening but hit as hard as he could. He sensed his attacker starting to falter and surrender. A familiar burning sensation began to radiate. The pain brought Ritsuka to his knees. He brought his arms across his stomach and cried out in agony. He could not stand. The pain was too much. The attacker started hitting Ritsuka. When he had him lying helplessly on his back he began to kick him in the sides. Not only was Ritsuka exasperated with pain he was also winded and couldn't breathe. The air was knocked out of him. Now he panicked. Soubi felt the pain and turned to his sacrifice. Biting his tongue he fought the attacker. He knocked him back and caused him to also retreat. Their bondline appeared between them. A small golden thread winding round each of them and knotting with a beautiful celtic pattern in the middle. Tying the loved ones together. Soubi had tears in his eyes. The colour of the bondline has faded slightly since the last time it appeared to them. Ritsuka noticed that the celtic knot between them was far more loose than usual. Their bond adn sentouki ties to eachother were weakening. Soubi winced. It was like someone stabbed his side, twisted the knife purposely for torture and drowned the wound in salt. It burned. He closed his eyes, and fought of the pain. The few minutes the two of them spent pulsing on the floor felt like hours. Then, thankfully it receeded again. Soubi stood shakily.

'Soubi, it was worse then before. Even our bondline is showing signs of weakness. We aren't going to recover are we? Our names are two different now for even us to overcome. The strongest sentouki in history...brought down by their own bonding names.' Ritsuka whimpered. He cried himself to sleep as Soubi carried him up to their room. After tucking Ritsuka into bed he treated the cut on his arm and wiped some soothing cream onto his many bruises. Then he whispered,

'If we were going to go, even painfully like this, just be thankful that we can go together. Not alone as we both are experiencing the same and not watching the other suffer.' He kissed his forehead and went to the room next door. Before he could raise his hand to knock on the door Keiko opened it and pulled him inside.

'What happened?' Reiko said from the bed.

Soubi explained everything whilst Keiko gently and soothingly treated the cuts on his knuckles and left cheekbone.

Reiko gasped.

'Your bondline is showing effects of the change?'

Soubi nodded his head in confirmation. Keiko took out her cell and punched in a number. Soubi heard it dialling.

Speakerphone

'Hai?'

'Sensei, there has been disturbing progress in the difference of names.' Said Keiko

'What? How is it worse?'

Soubi exhaled deeply. 'It's not just feeling worse Sensei. We can see it getting worse.'

'I'm not sure I understand'

'Ritsuka's bondline with me. It appeared as we had another episode with our names. The colour of it has faded from before and Ritsuka said something about the celtic knot pattern becoming less tight.'

Sensei gasped. 'I'll look into our historical documents to see if this was encountered in the other occurrences, just give me a moment.'

The gang could hear her tapping at her keyboard quickly and furiously. Finally she stopped and whispered; 'Is Ritsuka there with you?'

'No he is resting in our room. Why?'

'In all the "broken name" occurrences to date, two of them suffered with something identical or similar to what you have just described about your bondline.'

'What happened to them?' Reiko breathed.

'In both cases the sentouki did not survive. They were able to live throughout the suffering for no more than three weeks after their bondline had been effected. I'm sorry. You are more than welcome to stay at the academy with us and we can provide morphine and other painkillers to help ease the suffering during each episode. Unfortunately I can't possibly suggest anything else. I truly am sorry Soubi-san.'

'It's alright Sensei. I'll just make the next three weeks so perfect and happy that dying won't be as much of a burden as it could be. Thank you sensei. Sayonara' Soubi hung up the phone and his head fell. His hair curtained his face and hiding the waterfall of tears from his eyes.

'I'm going to go back with Ritsuka' He muttered. Boundless said nothing and allowed him to leave. Soubi went back to his own room, locked the doors and windows before sliding in beside Ritsuka. He brought his arms round his fiancé and held him tight and close. His scent filled his nose and he smiled. Soubi thought of all the memories he had of them. All the this that he went through. From the supposed death of his mother, to being taken be Seimei, to taking Ritsukas memory, to shedding Ritsukas ears, the adventures and travels they have had so far, the battles they were in and of course Ritsukas birthday. When he agreed to be Soubi's in every way, shape and form. Soubi smiled. Although the destination of their journey was so unfortunate and fearful, he wanted to focus more on the journey or they'll spend all the remaining of their life's journey worrying about what was to come rather than making the most of what there still is. It's time to forget the destination and make the most of every remaining step of the journey before the path disappears without them.

Time to live happy. Make the most of everything.

Soubi's last unforgiving, yet so unusually certain of him, thought before sleep came to be;

We are going to die