Disclaimer: This is chapter number seven. If you don't realize now that its not mine, then writing this won't really help.
Chapter Seven: Earless
The day was still bright and sunny by the time Ritsuka found himself outside of the school gates. He hoped none of the teachers saw him; he would have some explaining to do.
He didn't even consider the possibility that Soubi would show up at the gates looking for him. The older man was most likely with Seimei anyway.
Ritsuka pushed thoughts of Soubi from his mind. He had done a pretty good job of doing so while eating his lunch.
Students started filing out of the school, walking quickly and chattering happily. Ritsuka let them flow past him, their presence not intruding on his thoughts. His mind was set on Yuiko.
Was this how it felt when Soubi waited for him after school?
Ritsuka shook his head.
"Ritsuka!"
He turned his head towards the direction of the voice. Yuiko ran up to him, leaving a startled and somewhat unhappy Yayoi behind her. He brightened quickly and forced a smile on his face.
Funny how Ritsuka had never noticed the other boy's fake smiles before. They had always seemed real to him before now.
Maybe he had only been fooling himself and hadn't wanted to see the other boy's pain.
He heard Yuiko gasp. "Your ears…" She stopped in front of him and hesitantly reached a hand out to pat his head.
Ritsuka ducked his head and let Yuiko pat him. She did so gently. He felt himself blush.
"Is that why you weren't in school today, Ritsuka-kun?" Yayoi asked.
Sensing an easy way out of long explanations, Ritsuka nodded. In a round-about way, it was true. He wasn't in school today because of Soubi.
Yuiko pulled her hand back from Ritsuka's head. She studied him for a moment, her face very serious. Then she brightened. Ritsuka thought her smile looked fake too. "I'm happy for you, Ritsuka," she said. "I bet Soubi is to. But that's no reason to miss school," she chided. "I had to do my homework myself today!"
Ritsuka smiled, the first one he had done all day. "I'm sorry, Yuiko," he said. "But you could have borrowed Yayoi's homework."
"He's not as smart as you, Ritsuka!" Yuiko said. Behind her, Yayoi's smile became slightly more forced.
"But Yayoi was in school today," Ritsuka told Yuiko, hoping desperately that Yuiko would notice the boy behind her.
Yuiko turned to look behind her. "I know he was," she said. She turned back to Ritsuka. "We were going to go to Yayoi's house after-school to play some video games. Do you want to come too?"
"You should, Ritsuka," Yayoi said. "It would be more fun to have three players instead of two."
To love someone so much you would put aside your own happiness for them…what did that feel like? Last night, Ritsuka had known but this morning…Ritsuka wasn't that sure.
It hurt, thinking about it.
So he didn't.
"I can't, Yuiko," Ritsuka lied. Yayoi's eyes widened. He began to perk up. "I have something to do," he continued. "I just dropped by to let you know that I'm alright." He smiled.
"What do you have to do, Ritsuka?" Yuiko asked. "Can I come with you?"
Ritsuka shook his head quickly. "No. I-its with Soubi."
Yuiko nodded. "Alright then. You're coming to school tomorrow, right?"
Ritsuka nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow. Enjoy your afternoon with Yayoi."
Yuiko nodded. "Come on, Yayoi!" She looked back over her shoulder.
"Go on ahead, Yuiko, I want to say something to Ritsuka, first," the boy said.
Yuiko looked puzzled but she nodded. She waved at the two boys. "I like the new look, Ritsuka!" she called as she ran off.
"Yayoi?" Ritsuka asked. He didn't need anything else today.
"I just wanted to say thanks," Yayoi said.
Ritsuka nodded. "I just want her to be happy. You'll make her happy…" He wanted Yayoi to be happy too. They were friends after all, weird as their relationship was.
"Ritsuka, did you and Soubi have a fight?" Yayoi asked. "You seem down."
Ritsuka blinked. From Yuiko, it would have been expected, but not from the other boy. He nodded. "How did you know?"
Yayoi shrugged. "You're lucky, Ritsuka. He loves you a lot."
Ritsuka looked away. "Sometimes I wonder…" he muttered.
Yayoi smiled. "He does. I don't know what's going on, but don't let whatever it is come between you two."
"Yayoi! Are you coming?" Yuiko called from across the street.
Yayoi nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow, then."
"Good luck," Ritsuka replied.
The long haired boy nodded as he walked past Ritsuka. Ritsuka turned his back. Hopefully, now that Ritsuka was visibly Soubi's, Yuiko would look to Yayoi for love. Perhaps they would come in earless to school tomorrow.
Ritsuka chuckled at the thought.
Then he realized he was alone with nowhere to go.
Damn. That wasn't what he had intended.
Ritsuka thought quickly. If Soubi wanted to find him, he would come either to the house or school, so both places were out. So was Yayoi or Yuiko's house, though going there would ruin Ritsuka's hopes for them.
Ritsuka leaned against the gate to the school trying to think quickly.
"Well, well, little brother. Looks like someone had an eventful night last night."
Ritsuka felt his eyes widen as he turned to look at Seimei. He was leaning on the other post, across the gate from Ritsuka. His head was bowed, shadowing his eyes with his bangs. "What do you want?" Ritsuka asked, trying to sound brave despite the pit that had just opened in his stomach.
"I wanted to know where he was."
Where he was? Soubi? "I don't know what you're talking about."
Seimei didn't move. "Where is my Fighter?"
"I don't know." Soubi wasn't with Seimei? Had Ritsuka misjudged…?
No! Soubi had lied. Perhaps this was a ploy…something…
Ritsuka suddenly felt rough hands grab him. His chin was forced up until he was looking into a pair of angry violet eyes. "Don't lie to me, little brother. Do you think that because you let him take your ears, he's yours?"
Ritsuka tried to pull away from his brother but wasn't strong enough.
"I'm going to ask you one more time. Where. Is. My. Fighter?"
Ritsuka shook his head. "I-I really don't know," he whimpered.
Seimei studied him for a moment. "I see." He released Ritsuka and shoved him away. Ritsuka landed on his knees. "Ritsuka. Why are you defying me?" Seimei walked towards Ritsuka, his tone suddenly gentle. He knelt before his little brother and cupped his cheek with his right hand. "What has Soubi told you?"
"Everything," Ritsuka whispered. He was betraying Soubi. Seimei would punish him. Ritsuka was angry that the thought hurt him. Soubi had betrayed him first. Had lied, again and again.
Seimei nodded. "I see. Did he tell you that he was one to drive Mother insane?"
Ritsuka shook his head, suspicion confirmed. Soubi had done it.
"He did. I can't cast spells, Ritsuka. It could have only been Soubi."
Ritsuka nodded. "I figured that out on my own." His voice sounded stronger now.
"And you're still protecting him? Even though he lied?"
Ritsuka shook his head. "I told you, I don't know where he is!" His voice was louder than he had intended, as if he could push his brother away with just his voice.
But maybe he could…
What did Soubi say? How did a battle commence? Without Soubi, Seimei would be…
"I'm right here, Master."
Both Seimei and Ritsuka looked at the sound of the perpetually calm voice.
Seimei stood up and turned to face his Fighter. Ritsuka remained on the ground, catching his breath.
"Soubi. About time you showed your face to me. Where have you been?"
"I have been setting my affairs in order, Master." Soubi's eyes remained fixed on Seimei as he spoke.
Ritsuka watched the two older men together. He tried to garner the strength to run, but couldn't.
"Ritsuka, stand up. We have some training to do."
"W-why?" Ritsuka asked. "Why should I go with you?" His voice wavered, but he stood.
"Because if you don't, I will punish Soubi. More so than he already deserves." Seimei didn't turn around. "After, of course, I order Soubi to force you to come with me."
Punish Soubi. For him. Ritsuka felt sick. He loved Soubi. In spite of the lies, the betrayal, he did love Soubi. He couldn't see him suffer for his sake. He took a step forward.
Soubi's eyes flicked to Ritsuka.
Ritsuka, run!
Ritsuka heard Soubi's voice in his head and didn't give it another thought. He turned on his heels and fled the scene as quickly as he could. Behind him he could hear Seimei's shouted orders, but he was too far away for Soubi's spell to reach him.
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A/NWhile doing research for this fic (I know, I'm a dork) I found this interesting little article: http/en. Gives me new ideas for another fic. Or maybe a sequel, if we ever get through this one.
-Phaenilix RM-: LOL. Yeah, I like the thought of an earless Ritsuka too. Almost as much as the thought of Ritsuka and Soubi together…
Teldra: I agree, poor Ritsuka and poor Soubi.
Nikkler: Hmm…I hate to disagree with you, but I firmly believe that Soubi would do anything if he was ordered too. And besides, he had no special attachment to Ritsuka's mom before meeting Ritsuka, so there would have been no reason for him to disobey Seimei. And about Ritsuka loosing his ears and Seimei's reaction, to Seimei, its only one more string to bind Ritsuka and Soubi together, and one more way to manipulate Ritsuka.
To all reviewers on AFF: Sorry I didn't respond, the site's down and I wanted to post this quickly.