A/N: OMG! Angst! To warn you ahead of time, I do have more written already, so if at least 10 different people review I will post more. Wink If any of you have ever heard of Apocalyptica, look up Faraway Vol. 2 (Extended Version) for what I was listening to
Helpless
"Loveless." Ritsuka said breathlessly. He didn't know how many times he had heard himself called that since the day that Soubi had come to him after school, and it felt strange coming from his own lips.
"Yes." The white-haired man said softly, kneeling and taking the pre-teen's hands in his own before the startled boy could move. "My Ritsuka, I've waited so long for you… For this day. Come with me. I'll show you what he could not, where you belong, and what you're destined to do."
"Where is Soubi?" The raven ears went back and down, tail still, though slightly bushed now. A flash of something echoed in the man's sunset eyes, but it was gone in an instant.
"He is in the past, my Ritsuka, he doesn't matter now. I am your Fighter, not that pathetic excuse for a doll. He doesn't belong to you, he never did to begin with, so let him go. I am truly yours, Ritsuka, without all of the confusing words and riddles. I'll tell you everything that he refused to. I'm not bound by anything or anyone but you," He squeezed the hands tighter and brought them closer to his chest. "I'll follow your orders much better, you'll see. You don't need him anymore."
"But I want to talk to him…" Ritsuka stubbornly said, pulling his hands free. "I don't understand, why isn't he here? I can't just leave him…"
"Why not!" The Fighter snapped, then hung his head. "Oh, I'm sorry Master. It's just that I've searched so long… that betrayer doesn't deserve you! He would have betrayed you eventually, you know this…"
"Maybe…but…"
"Come with me, and we will see him later. I promise." The tall man stood and took his hand again, his thumb ghosting over the bandage on it. Ritsuka's eyes flickered to the apartment and he frowned, chewing his lower lip. Finally, he nodded, letting the white-haired man lead him. Pairless smiled his thin smile, a flash of white teeth showing. They walked for a while, ending up on a long and empty road in an unfamiliar district to Ritsuka. His heart raced as fast as his mind, though he couldn't bring himself to ask any questions just yet. He wanted to be home, safe in his bed behind a locked door… or even better, at Soubi's where at least he knew he was safe for the moment. He turned his head up, clearing his throat,
"Um, Fighter… You haven't told me your name…" Just then the white-haired man jerked sharply, one hand on his chest. He spun around, his face locked in a furious glare that startled the smaller boy.
"RITSUKA!" Two shrill voices shouted, and the black ears perked as he spun around. His eyes widened to see the Zero twins, and what they supported between them. Soubi's clothes clung to him with sweat and water, though the Loveless Sacrifice couldn't imagine from where from, and his right thigh was soaked in blood. His glasses hung low on his nose, his blond hair clinging to the sides of his face. Blue eyes were narrow and hard as they stared past him, to the Fighter holding his hand.
"There he is!" Youji pointed, and Natsuo nodded.
"Pairless has him, Soubi!"
"I can see…" The man panted, forcing himself on his feet, though he swayed just slightly.
"Pairless…?" Ritsuka repeated, his eyes moving to the tall man at his side. The man smirked, and Ritsuka yelped in surprise as he was yanked forcefully to Pairless' chest.
"It's too late, Beloved! He's mine!" He shouted, his other hand pressing into Ritsuka's lower back. The raven haired boy gasped, struggling even as he didn't understand.
"L-Let go of me, Fighter! What's going on!" He shouted, angry now. The white-haired man laughed, his nails digging into the bandage on Ritsuka's hand.
"He's mine! Go away Soubi, run back to your wretchedly perfect master!"
"Loveless is my master now. Release him!" Soubi demanded, taking one unsteady step towards the pair. The tall man took a step back, pulling Ritsuka with him.
"Stay back! You've lost, you idiot! You couldn't protect Seimei and you can't protect Ritsuka! You're a failure, a reject! You're not fit to be a Fighter, you worthless waste of power and training!" Pairless hissed, and Ritsuka's eyes widened.
"No…" He managed, though the arm around his waist was beginning to hurt. "Stop it." He pleaded, his eyes watering. He'd been tricked again. What an idiot!
"Youji, Natsuo…get back of range. He might go after one of you, and you already know he's stronger."
"You're going to fight him!"
"In that condition!"
"I have no choice…go!" He shouted, and the two shared one last unsure look before they turned as one and ran.
"Soubi, don't!" Ritsuka said loudly, twisting his head around to stare at the blond again. "You don't look so good… if you fight like that you might really die!"
"I don't mind…"
"Shut up! I said not to…Hah!" The last part came out as a gasp of pain as Pairless squeezed his middle painfully.
"Shut up, brat. Let him fight…" His smirk grew slowly, and he licked his lips. "I want to taste his blood this time." His rough voice whispered, and Ritsuka panted in his effort to release himself.
"Let go of him!" Soubi demanded again, casting out his hand in initiation of a battle. As the barrier closed in around them Ritsuka was released, and he fell to his knees holding his stomach and coughing.
"Ohhh yes." Pairless snickered, "Give me your best." His eyes narrowed, their red-purple depths glistening. Soubi closed his eyes, creating a symbol with his hands, then threw them outward.
"Sting," He said smoothly as a bead of sweat slipped down his forehead. A swarm of tiny white lights blazed towards the Fighter across from him. "Like a thousand insects." To his shock Pairless held his arms out wide, his smile maniacal and eyes wide. Before Soubi could grip the meaning of this, Ritsuka screamed in agony. Soubi watched in horror as the cuts appeared all over his Sacrifice, shredding his clothing and leaving bloody welts. The bandage fell from the boy's cheek, the bruise underneath it cut and bleeding now. Ritsuka wiped his cheek, staring at the blood in confusion.
"Nahahahahaha!" Pairless laughed, throwing his head back. He ripped open his shirt, baring the mark to Soubi with pride, and the blond felt his heart sink as he beheld the words on the white-haired man's chest: LOVELESS.
"No," He whispered, his face anguished.
"S-Soubi…why…?"
"Hahaha! You idiots… don't you see, I'm his Fighter now! Anything that you do to me will be redirected towards him! You've hurt your own precious Ritsuka, Soubi." He said with a pout in his voice, "How bad you must feel!"
"Ritsuka…" A tornado of wind surrounded the blond, and he covered his face with his arms as it began to slice him.
"Tunnel of razors." Pairless said flatly, and the blood flew in high arches away from the slices it gave the wounded Fighter. Soubi fell to his knees, panting, his hands slamming down hard on the gravel to keep from falling on his face. His glasses fell to the ground, shattering.
"SOUBI!" Ritsuka cried, forgetting his own cuts when he saw his Fighter go down. "Get up, Soubi!" He said, desperate.
"It's no good, my little Ritsuka! If he stands now and fights me, it's you who will get hurt!" Pairless said in a highly amused voice, giggling. "Hell's breath." He commanded, and the fire shot towards the torn and panting Fighter.
"Ultimate defense." Soubi said coolly, and the wall of shimmering wings took the attack.
"How long can you defend with just your power, pretty butterfly?" Pairless mocked, moving his hands already for another spell. "I'll pin you down and rip away your wings in small pieces, then I'll do the same to your precious black-eared boy!" He said in his high and elated voice, laughing. Soubi's head shot up, and his eyes promised a slow and painful death, but his arms were shaking with the effort to keep aloft. "Ohh, did that get a nerve? Oh yes, I'll take those ears and tail of his. I'll take my time, relishing every moan and whimper he makes—" He was stopped by the fist across his face, and he took a step back to stare in shock at the fuming Ritsuka.
"You bastard…how dare you! I'm not…helpless!" He demanded, one of his eyes closed because the blood was seeping into it. His fists were clenched at his sides, his ears back and his tail rigid and fluffed. Pairless drew back his hand, hitting Ritsuka across the face with the back of his fist. The pre-teen was knocked to the ground, his head swimming in pain. He placed his hand on the newly forming bruise, tears slipping down his cheeks. So…he was helpless after all. He looked across to Soubi, and his eyes widened to see the Fighter standing.
"Oh-ho! He still has some life left in him!" Pairless said with an eager smile. "Very well. Prison of Ice!" The command brought chains of ice into form, wrapping around the thin limbs of the blond. Pairless jerked hard on his end, pulling Soubi to his knees. Red blood soaked the chains, and he panted as he breathed the words,
"Red gold, hot and strong." The blood began to melt the chains with a loud hiss, steam rising from them in smoky streams. Soubi stood, grabbing a hold of his end. "Burn it all." He said, and the red spread rapidly up the chains to burn Pairless' long-fingered hands. Ritsuka grit his teeth hard, clutching at his hands as they began to turn red. The spell was gone at once, and Soubi lunged forward with a speed that he should not of had at this level of pain. Pairless was caught off guard, and he got a fist in his gut for it. Before he could react, he was hit again in the face, then the other side. He managed to step back enough to dodge the fourth hit, hitting the blond in the stomach. Blood spurt from Soubi's lips, but he didn't register the pain as he pulled back for another hit.
Ritsuka sat up as he watched the two brawl like common people, tears stinging the cuts on his face. Soubi took two hard hits to his chest, and he was down again, panting. Pairless placed his foot on the side of Soubi's head, pressing down until at last the Fighter gave a pained cry, his eyes shut tight.
"Is…that all…you have…Agatsuma? I'm… disappointed."
"Soubi… use your spells! Why are you doing this! You're stronger than him, I know it! Beat him, Soubi!" Ritsuka shouted, his throat feeling tight. Pairless laughed as Soubi's expression softened.
"He refuses, my Ritsuka. He won't hurt you anymore." Pairless said in a mock sad tone. He wiped an invisible tear from his face, then laughed as he rolled Soubi over onto his back with the toe of his shoe. He squatted down, smirking as he reached out to trace the blonde's blood-streaked face. "It's tragic love! He's going to die for you!"
/"I would die for you. My body, my soul, their yours, Ritsuka."/
"No…" Ritsuka said through clenched teeth. 'I don't want that.' He thought desperately. 'I don't remember asking you to die for me!' "Soubi…don't die! That's an order! I never asked you to die! I… I don't want you to die, please!" He cried, hitting his fists on the pavement as his eyes beseeched the blond. One light blue eye opened, and Soubi slowly smiled.
"How touching…Not." Pairless slapped Soubi across the face, turning it away from Ritsuka. He leaned over the battered blond, reaching around behind him and underneath his shirt to splay his fingers over his naked back. "Ahhh…there they are. The scars. Has he seen them, Soubi? Does he know?" He whispered loudly, turning Soubi's face to look up into his. "About Ritsu-sensei…? About Seimei-sama?"
"Soubi…"
"And so, you'll die for him? Like you wouldn't die for Seimei? You followed orders, is that what you would say, you pathetic wretch? You let him die. Miserably, and painfully. Slowly burned to death… would you like to join him now, my Soubi-chan?" Pairless asked sweetly, and he released Soubi's chin to create a small flame in his hand. "Burn away your shame." He brought the fire close to Soubi's unflinching face.
"NO! Stop it! Leave him alone, please! Don't kill him, Pairless! Take me, just don't kill him!"
"Will you… leave… Ritsuka?" Soubi's strained voice asked, his white teeth red with blood from his split lips.
"If you die, yes."
"NO!" The Sacrifice shouted again, but Soubi wasn't listening.
"Th-then… kill me." He breathed, choking back the blood as his body shuddered in pain, the heat of the fire singing his bangs.
"Soubi, damn it…! Don't you dare disobey me!" Ritsuka screamed, taking both by surprise. "I told you to -live-! What good is dying for me when I… when I can't live without you! Soubi…Soubi…Don't die for me! Live…live… LIVE FOR ME, SOUBI!" The boy screamed, his voice breaking. For a moment no one spoke, and then Pairless smirked.
"So… worthless and disobedient right to the end." He said, then stopped cold as the long wet fingers closed over his throat. Sunset colored eyes stared down into the ice blue below his, and for the first time in his life, Pairless knew true fear.
"D.e.s.t.r.o.y." Soubi said slowly, a whispered command. Pairless' eyes widened, and his mouth opened in a silent scream as he felt himself shredding from the inside. At the same time, Ritsuka's ear-splitting scream echoed off the empty street. The barrier fell as Pairless' thin body did, away from Soubi to crumble bonelessly to the ground, LOVELESS fading back into PAIRLESS. Soubi shoved himself up, crawling over to where his Sacrifice lay in a heap on the street. He turned him over, pulling him tight against his chest. Wiping the hair out of his eyes, Soubi felt his heart in his throat, even as the shadows pulled at the edged of his vision. Ritsuka's eyes were dull and pupiless, his chest hardly rising and falling.
"No… Ritsuka! Ritsuka! Don't die, please… I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" The blond Fighter said hoarsely, his grip loosening.
"Sou…bi…" Ritsuka whispered, a smile on his lips. "You did it… you won."
"I hurt you."
"Mm… it's okay. You… obeyed me."
"No, no it's not alright! Damn it… you Aoyagi's… Ordering me to do the most unfair things! I wanted to disobey you, I should have…" His breath caught as he felt his eyes water. He was shocked to find twin streams running from his eyes. Ritsuka blinked as they hit his face, then he smiled again.
"You're… crying."
"Ah."
"I can't…believe it… Soubi is crying for me."
"I love you."
"I… I know." Ritsuka said, then he winced harshly, and Soubi held him tighter. "That… was a good… spell."
"Hush, Ritsuka." He wiped tried to wipe the blood from Ritsuka's face, but he only ended up in smearing it. His cheeks were cold as ice, and Soubi felt more helpless than ever in his life. Ritsuka began to close his eyes, but a jerk from Soubi brought him back. "No. Don't slip, Ritsuka. Someone… someone will come. Someone always comes."
"B-But… you and I… we're alone here. You came for me… it made me so happy…"
"No, stop it. You're going to be alright. Youji and Natsuo…"
"Soubi…"
"Yes?"
"That night…"
"Yes?" His Fighter asked, knowing at once the night his Sacrifice spoke of.
"I… I wanted you to continue."
"I know…"
"Then why…?"
"I… I like your ears." The blond said, smiling his aggravating smile. "Stay awake… someone…will come…"
"….."
"Ritsuka. Ritsuka? Ritsuka!" He screamed, giving the smaller boy a shake, but the eyes stayed closed. "No, Ritsuka… don't leave me alone again! Stay with me… until help…" His eyes felt heavy, and they slowly closed. "Someone…" He whispered, laying out beside the master of his heart. 'I wish I had disobeyed…at least then one of us…' He thought bitterly, as the light went out.