Disclaimer: As I am a poor starving college student, do you really think I own this? If I did, would I be starving?
Warnings: I'm putting a special torture/rape warning up for this bit. I don't have the stomach to go into too much detail, but I just want to give everyone a fair warning before continuing onwards.
Chapter Nine: Bloodless
CRACK!
Pain, searing pain.
CRACK!
Burning. Fire.
CRACK!
A gasp. Anger, pleasure, it didn't matter.
Shoulders tensing in anticipation of the next blow.
It didn't come.
Strong hands on shoulders. Turning around. Hard violet eyes.
"Why are you being punished?" Hard, cold voice.
"For taking Ritsuka's ears." Calm voice.
CRACK!
Pain, across the face this time.
A bloody whip trailed the floor.
"Look at me!"
Violet eyes, earless dark head.
"Why are you being punished." Throbbing anger now.
"For taking Ritsuka's ears." Voice of defiance.
CRACK!
Pain once more across the face.
Violet eyes remained in view.
"Don't make this harder than it has to be, Soubi."
Silence.
"Why are you being punished?" The voice was deadly now.
Silence.
CRACK!
CRACK!
Blinding pain.
Dizziness.
Wet stuff dripping into the eyes, down the cheeks.
Salty.
Blood.
"Now you're really bleeding. Are you going to answer me?"
Silence. Words were useless anyway.
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
Panting. Heavy breath.
"You know what? I don't think I want you to answer me anymore."
Lips twisting. Painful smile.
"I disobeyed you."
Violet eyes, narrowing in anger. Barely perceptible flush in the cheeks.
"Impertinent today, aren't we? Turn around."
Obedience.
Hands pressed to cool wall.
CRACK!
Pain.
CRACK!
Steady rhythm of pain.
CRACK!
Bearable.
CRACK!
Barely.
CRACK!
Pause. Shifting.
CRACK!
New pain. Skin shredding, ripping from bone.
Steady rhythm.
Eyes burn. Squeeze shut.
Young violet eyes swim. A familiar friendly face.
CRACK!
"Ritsuka." Not a sound, a breath.
Pause.
"You dare to call for him?"
Clatter, the sound of something falling.
Silence.
Pain turns to dull throbbing.
Hard hands on shoulders, ripping already torn flesh.
Spun around. Dizzy.
Back pressed up against burning cold wall.
Violet eyes near black with lust and anger.
Lips against lips.
Tongue inside mouth.
Fingers fumbling with belt.
Cold air as pants fall to floor.
Empty mouth. Panting.
Thrown around. Arms braced against wall.
Eyes closed.
Pain. Burning.
Soubi!
Eyes snap open. Darkness.
Ritsuka?
You shouldn't be here.
A mental shove.
Spinning, falling into darkness.
Ritsuka sat up in bed, awake all at once. His eyes didn't focus in the near total darkness he was in.
Nearby, he heard voices. They sounded familiar.
Ritsuka's breath came short and heavy. With a growing sense of sickness, he realized what had happened. Acrid bile rose in his throat.
He put a hand to his mouth and choked. His eyes burned with the effort of holding the bile down. He closed them. Images of Soubi and Seimei danced in front of his eyes.
His breath hitched. Bile was forgotten. He would not cry. Not again. His face was still sore from the last time.
A crash sounding too loud in the silent room. When had the voices stopped?
Light. Blinding after the near darkness.
"Loveless?"
Arms encircled Ritsuka and pulled him against a warm chest. Blue hair tickled his face.
Ritsuka tried to push himself away but Youji was too strong. Another weight settled by other end of the bed. By the door, a third figure appeared, shadowed by the light behind him.
"What happened?"
Ritsuka shook his head in Youji's chest. "Soubi…" he whispered.
"What about Sou-chan?" Kio asked from the doorway.
Ritsuka steadied his breathing, forcing himself to calm down. Natsuo nodded to Youji who released his arms from around Ritsuka.
"Loveless?" Natsuo asked.
The name was suddenly repugnant to Ritsuka. He was sick of being 'Loveless', whoever the hell that was. If he wasn't "Loveless" then this mess would never have happened. "Ritsuka," he said, surprised that his voice came out only as a whisper. "Please, call me Ritsuka."
Natsuo and Youji exchanged a look. As one, they nodded.
"Ritsuka…" Natsuo started.
"I dreamed. Of Soubi. A-and Seimei." His voice had started stronger that time, but after the second word it faded back to a whisper.
"What kind of dream?" Youji asked.
Ritsuka felt his face pale. He shook his head. "I-I think it was real…or something. He- Soubi- noticed I was there…" His voice trailed off.
Natsuo nodded. "It was real, Ritsuka," Youji told him. "You two finally have the connection that you lacked by having different names. You can see inside his head, if you choose."
"Or, even if you don't chose, occasionally," Natsuo added. He reached a hand out to rub Ritsuka's back.
By the door, Kio cleared his throat.
All three boys turned to look at the older man.
"I don't know what's going on and I can't hear what you are saying, but is Soubi alright?"
Silence answered his question.
"I see." Kio spoke slowly. "Ritsuka, you look exhausted. Youji, Natsuo, I want answers and I want them now. The full story. Soubi's privacy I'll respect, but you three owe me answers."
"You can't just accept that we need a place to stay for the night?" Youji asked. His usual flippant attitude was back.
"If you're going to be like that, then you can leave, friends of Soubi's or not," Kio responded. He started towards the trio on the bed.
"Are you going to make us?" Natsuo asked. He stood up, Youji beside him.
"You want to try and stop me from throwing you out, little boy?" Kio asked, still advancing.
Ritsuka grabbed Natsuo's shirt with one hand and Youji's with the other. Startled, the two turned to look at him. "Please. Just tell him. He deserves to know."
For a second, he thought a fight would break out anyway. But then Youji relaxed. "We have bigger things to worry about, Tsuo-chan," he told his partner.
Natsuo hesitated a moment longer before nodding. "You're right, Ji-chan." He shot a glare at Kio. "C'mon. Let's let Lo- Ritsuka sleep. He looks like he needs it." He moved forwards and grabbed Kio's hand to drag him from the room.
Youji watched his Fighter leave the room. He sat back down on the bed. "Try and get some rest. We'll decide what we're doing tomorrow." He laid a hand on Ritsuka's chest and pushed him down onto the bed. Ritsuka blinked up at him, wondering why he was being so nice. Youji just smiled. "If it were my Fighter, I'd be lost," he said, looking out the door into the lighted living room with a small smile on his face. "You're strong, Ritsuka," he said. "Get some sleep." He pulled the covers up around Ritsuka and stood up. He left the room softly, closing the door behind him gently.
To his surprise, in spite of everything, Ritsuka actually did sleep.
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A/N: Did I actually just develop Zero? That wasn't really wasn't supposed to happen. Eh, I like them like this. Maybe they're OOC though.
TheSilentSenshi: I think I answered your question? At least a little bit? And yeah, Yuiko was just putting up a strong front. I think she's really upset she doesn't have him. But that's ok, she had Yayoi.
Teldra: LOL. I'm sure he will, once the explanations get finished with.
Nikkler: The chapter was short? Really? I didn't notice. I usually try to keep them all about the same length.