Disclaimer: I do NOT own Loveless! Why don't you people listen to me! I hate repeating myself. ;;
First off... I'M SO SO SO SORRY! ;; I didn't mean to take so long updating. And it really wasn't my fault!
Thanks for four reviews I got(much better than that one from the first chapter ;;)! It made me feel so much better and compelled me to continue (God shoot me for sounding melodramatic TT). Though computer problems kept me from updating faster than I did. Stupid internet not working and all... However, now I have a laptop and everything shall be hunky-dory from now on! Except my writer's block. . That just sucks. Anyway, hope you actually enjoy this and keep reviewing! (If you want to.)
I'll say one thing, though: This is the longest I've gone without swearing in one of my fanfictions (or attempted fanfictions). Trust me... If the other ones (Which suck major ass) had gone on any longer, I would've had the urge to stick plenty of swears in there. Then again . . . Can't be avoided with FFVII, Cid's there. (Dirge of Cerberus is rate T just because of him. Only slightly because of Vincent. It's rated T because of tobacco use, language, and violence. XD) Right, on with the show! -ehem-... Story.
1
"Yes, sir. No, I understand completely. There's nothing to worry about, it'll get done," "Seimei" was on the phone with an unknown caller (well, he knew who it was).
"I trust you, Dyne, but you're taking a little long for my liking," the caller responded.
"I know sir, but Soubi won't let me out of his sight."
"Does he suspect something?"
"I don't know, but Ritsuka is definitely starting to get suspicious."
"That's your cue to hurry up. I'll find a way to deal with Soubi."
"Yes, sir. I'm right on it."
Both men hung up, despite the shortness of the conversation. However, things like that couldn't last long due to Soubi's often unplanned visits. Dyne was getting sick of this job. Posing as some queer didn't quite tickle his fancy. Yes, he was a major homophobe. Yes, this job was starting to kill him. Yes, he was going to wash himself over and over and over again until he was sure that he didn't smell Soubi's cigarettes on him (his smelled much better). Having to hug and kiss another guy all day was really starting to get to him. He couldn't wait until they had Ritsuka so he could stop having to pose as a queer and so he could have a cigarette. Yup, he really wanted that smoke.
2
Ritsuka woke up to "Seimei" leaning over him, a goofy smile on his face. A smile that was very much unlike Seimei's. But where was Soubi? He said that he was going to be there first thing in the morning...
"C'mon, Ritsuka," Dyne said cheerily. "I wanna take you out. Just the two of us."
"Where's Soubi? I thought he was gunna stop by this morning." Ritsuka sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"He had work to do for school. He's been visiting so much that he's gotten behind."
"Oh, that's not good. I guess I should get dressed then... "
Dyne nodded and left Ritsuka's room just to wait outside the door. He didn't want Ritsuka running off on him and discovering his lie about Soubi. The truth was, he had told Soubi not to show up. He was going to have today alone with Ritsuka. No one was going to stop him from completing his mission. Especially not Soubi. As far as he knew, Soubi was still under the impression that he was the real Seimei and he had to obey every word he said. No, he didn't just have to; he wanted to. Dyne was going to use that to his advantage as long as he could. Today should be the last day that he would have to.
Ritsuka had dialed Soubi's number the second Dyne was out of the room. However, instead of hearing Soubi's voice answer the phone, he got a busy signal. The moment he hung up, his phone rang.
"Hello?" he answered, hoping it was Soubi.
"Hey, Ritsuka! It's Kio. You're probably wondering why Soubi wasn't coming around," Kio laughed, then continued. "Sorry, it's not funny. Anyway, I don't have the details about it either, but he asked me to keep an eye on you."
"But Seimei, I mean... whoever he is will get suspicious if Soubi sends a babysitter along with me. Especially seeing as he told Soubi he wanted alone time with me." Ritsuka was just slightly skeptical of this whole plan.
"You got the wrong idea! I meant that I'll be watching from a distance." Kio was quick to correct the misunderstanding. "Like the bushes or something. Y'know, hiding in those totally obvious coats and stuff! (Not really, that would get us caught in a second.) You get me?"
"Ritsuka, you coming or what?" Dyne called.
Ritsuka pulled the phone away from his mouth. "Yeah, just a minute!" Then he spoke to Kio, "Listen, I gotta go, so... "
"I'm right outside, don't worry." Kio then hung up and Ritsuka got dressed.
3
Soubi was pacing his apartment at that very same moment as Zero watched his every move. They had been filled in on the situation the moment they were awake enough to hear it. They both had urged Soubi to be the one sneaking around, but he just shook his head. It would turn ugly if the imposter caught him snooping around. However, that didn't mean he was at total ease with the situation either. Obviously not seeing as he was pacing around. He kept trying to keep himself calm, but thinking of Ritsuka relatively alone with someone that was probably trying to kidnap him wasn't exactly the thing to do that. What would he do if something were to happen to Ritsuka?
Natsuo and Youji just stared at the floor, sure that it would give out from underneath them if Soubi continued to pace the way that he was. Youji was actually focusing on the floor, while Natsuo was thinking about Ritsuka. What would Kio be able to do if something happened to him? He wasn't part of a Fighter-Sacrifice unit, while he was sure that their imposter was, why else would he have come into Ritsu-sensei's services? Plus, he knew too much about Fighters and Sacrifices not to be one himself. But there was that small chance he wasn't, that Ritsu-sensei had just hired him and filled him in on what he needed to know.
Just then, as if to relieve the tension that was choking them it was so thick, Soubi's cell phone rang. He immediately picked it up.
"Kio?" Soubi wasn't sure if it was him, he hadn't looked at the number first.
"You're lucky it is me. What if that sensei guy had called, hm? What would you do then?" That was Kio, constantly worrying about other people and what they did.
"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, so far. They just left and everything, so I wouldn't expect much to happen yet."
"What are you calling me for?"
"To let you know we're leaving."
Soubi hung up. He knew Ritsuka was all right for now, so he could relax a little. Instead of sitting down, however, he walked into the kitchen to make coffee. He needed it to stay awake. He wasn't tired, but he would be after all of the pacing he'd be doing. His legs were already sore from pacing as long as he did.
Youji stood up and stretched. He then gave Natsuo a mischievous look. He had an idea to make it so that Ritsuka wouldn't have time for Seimei after this. He and Natsuo were going to drag a couple of people back into Ritsuka's life. He grabbed Natsuo's hand and waved good-bye to Soubi.
"Where are you going?" he questioned.
"Nowhere that you need to worry about," he smiled again before walking out the front door, a confused Natsuo behind him.
Soubi just shook his head and turned back to his coffee. His phone rang again. He answered it, but once again wasn't sure whether it was Kio that had called. Could something have happened that fast?
"Hello," he said, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Ah, Soubi, I reached you. I'm so happy. I was afraid you wouldn't answer."
It wasn't Kio. It definitely wasn't Kio... It was Ritsu-sensei.
4
"Youji! Where are we going? I deserve to know... You're dragging me along with you." Natsuo frowned and attempted to cross his arms to stop their procession, but failed. It was a hard thing to do when someone was holding onto your other arm.
Youji just tugged him onward, smiling the whole time. "You remember Yuiko and Yayoi? If we have them get back with Ritsuka, then he won't have any time for Seimei! Problem solved!"
"Youji, we have to keep Ritsuka from harm today, not next week." Natsuo's frown stayed and he tugged his arm out of Youji's grasp. "Yuiko and Yayoi won't be of any help to Ritsuka today!"
"It's better to have your ammo stocked up, right? That way you have it there to use in case you have need for it at a later time." Youji grabbed Natsuo and pulled him into a hug. "Trust me on this, okay?"
Natsuo rolled his eyes, but returned the embrace. "All right, but I'm still worried about today, rather than tomorrow."
Youji nodded and led the way to Yuiko's house first. She was closest and he wasn't quite sure on the whereabouts of Yayoi anyway. She would know. They were probably dating by now seeing as they were together all the way through school. It was also likely that Yayoi had gotten taller in the past few years. He and Natsuo had certainly grown. Both of them were well on their way to six feet. However, Youji was probably going to hit it where as Natsuo would stay at 5'10"/5'11".
As they approached a thought occurred to both of them at the same time and they voiced it in unison. "She doesn't know who we are... "
They sighed, but decided to shake that fact off. So long as they mentioned Ritsuka's name she would be fine. They hoped. Yuiko used to be trusting so long as you said you knew Ritsuka, but would that matter now? They'd been separated for quite a while. Two, three years if Youji was counting right. Maybe she'd forgotten all about him? Maybe not. She had liked him, after all. Hopefully she'd remember him and they would be allowed to make up the excuse that Ritsuka wanted to hang out again, but his family kept him from doing just that.
"Go on, Youji," Natsuo said. "This was your idea."
"But Natsuo, I've already done most of the work. Can't you just knock?" Youji pouted.
"We'll knock at the same time then, and hope her parents don't answer."
"Right."
They lifted their hands and gently knocked on the door, though the noise seemed to echo. This was turning out to be one tense day that they weren't enjoying. Ritsuka is probably in a much worse situation, Natsuo kept thinking to himself. It was the only thing that was keeping him from going mad. This was the most confusing thing that had happened since the female Zero had taken out Youji without even really starting the fight.
All of a sudden, the door opened and there stood Yuiko. She still looked pretty much the same, she was just shorter than them now. And her boobs, as Youji happily decided to check, seemed to have grown a little since he looked at them last through the binoculars. She seemed confused as to why there should be two strange boys at her front door. They heard Yayoi's voice call from inside. Good, they could kill two birds with one stone and not have to walk so far.
"Um... You aren't salespeople, are you?" Youji wanted to fall over. Her innocence was still there.
Thankfully, Natsuo kept his calm and smiled, "No, we aren't. We're friends of Aoyagi Ritsuka."
Yuiko's eyes lit up, "Ritsuka-kun! You know Ritsuka-kun? How is he?"
"Well, he's alright, I suppose... A little depressed at times if nothing else." They had to drag her in and feel pity for Ritsuka, though they could probably get Yuiko to rush to his side right this second.
"Oh... What about his friends?"
"Yuiko! Who's at the door?" Yayoi walked up and stared at the two boys with a disapproving look.
"They're friends of Ritsuka-kun!" Yuiko clapped her hands and bounced up and down.
"Ritsuka-kun? Aoyagi?" Yayoi blinked as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Yup! That's us!" Natsuo's smile widened. "Actually, we came here in his place to tell you that he wanted to meet up with you sometime. At the park."
Yuiko looked to Yayoi and they held a silent conversation. Finally, Yayoi spoke up, "Tomorrow after school good?"
"Give us a moment, we'll ask." Natsuo pulled Youji down the stairs and pulled a cell phone out of his pocket to dial Ritsuka's number.
5
Ritsuka was having a little trouble getting comfortable standing there in the park next to the exact person he had planned on avoiding for the next few days until he and Soubi could come up with some brilliant plan. Dyne went on and on about the things that he wanted to do. That part bugged him... Soubi had paced himself and had a slower and smoother way of speaking, but this guy just spoke quickly and it was hard to keep up with him sometimes. Ritsuka was smart, sure, but he took a little time to catch on. You had to keep a simple pace.
They were in the park now, at the same picnic table where Soubi had first kissed him. Thinking about it made him blush, so he had to hide his face for a few moments until he calmed himself down. He had a lot of memories in this part. And a lot of them weren't pictures either. He used to think that was the only way he was going to remember everything. However, that wasn't true. He found himself holding onto his memories, unlike before. He cherished them. He didn't want to forget everything again. Especially not now. Who would be able to get him back up to speed? How long would it take? There couldn't be very many Fighter-Sacrifice groups that were going to show up and help convince him that he was Soubi's sacrifice. Then again, he wasn't even that. He was Loveless. He didn't have a fighter that he could call his own. All he had was the fleeting idea that Soubi was his. However, that was out the window as well, seeing as Seimei had to be back. Ritsuka just felt it in his gut. There was no other reason as to why someone would pretend to be someone who was dead. Besides, Soubi had confirmed the story that the imposter had told.
Dyne was worrying too. His partner hadn't shown up yet. He was supposed to be here already so they could nab Ritsuka and get the heck out of the place. Yes, he was part of a Fighter-Sacrifice unit. He was the Sacrifice. His Fighter, Alli, was supposed to have shown up ten minutes before him. He had checked his watch once they got there, but they were right on time, not a second early or late. Which meant she was and she would have to pay the consequences if Ritsuka got away today.
"Sorry I'm late!" He turned to see Alli running up, her red hair held up in a high ponytail. "I'm so sorry! The traffic was horrible on the way here."
Ritsuka looked at her, and then at Dyne, confusion written all over his face. All of a sudden, his phone rang and all eyes were on him. "Hold on," he mumbled and then turned around. "Hello?"
"Ritsuka! We're so glad you answered! Listen, find an excuse to get home or something. Natsuo and I -" Ritsuka cut Youji off.
"Hold on, slow down. What?"
"We got in touch with Yuiko and Yayoi! They're your problem solver. You'll be hanging out with them tomorrow after school, got it? At the park seeing as you all know where that is."
Why is it always this park? Why can't it be somewhere else? "Alright, but..."
"Just think of something quick to get you home and out of harm! We'll be there waiting. Where are you just in case you don't come home?"
"The park."
"Oh... Well, we'll be seeing you!"
Ritsuka hung up after he heard the click on the other end. Man, why did he have a feeling that everyone's cell phones would have no minutes by tomorrow?
"Ritsuka, is something wrong?" Dyne was trying to keep himself from sweating. Ritsuka seemed to be pondering something and he was worried that he was going to try and escape.
"Yeah... Natsuo and Youji need me right away. They said it was an emergency. I'm sorry, but I have to get home now." He stood up from the picnic table, only to have Alli latch onto his arm.
"Sorry! Can't have you going anywhere right now. I'm afraid... You're cornered."
6
Soubi was having trouble believing that he'd stayed on the phone with Ritsu-sensei for over an hour already, and he was still on it. Mostly because every time he went to hang up, Ritsu said something about his 'precious Ritsuka'. That's how he worded it. "You wouldn't want anything bad to happen to your precious Ritsuka," "Don't force me to hurt your precious Ritsuka," and his personal favorite, "What would you do for your precious Ritsuka?" That one had him stuck on the phone even now. Ritsu was going about how much he missed him, so now the question seemed out of place. He'd say "anything" just to get Ritsu-sensei off the phone, but that wasn't true. There were a few things that were probably not in Ritsuka's best interest that he wouldn't dare do. He knew how Ritsu-sensei was and that he was trying to get him to say "anything."
"Soubi, you still haven't answered my question," Ritsu was smirking on the other end, Soubi could tell. "Oops, hold on. I've got another call."
The second Ritsu-sensei clicked over, he hung up. Soubi knew that he would be calling back, he'd already done so plenty of times now. Just as he did, though, his own phone rang. It couldn't have something to do with Ritsuka... Could it?
This time he checked the number and noticed that it was Kio calling. "What's going on?" he said.
"Uh, well... I'd head for the park ASAP. They're heading towards your apartment so you should be able to cut them off." Kio sounded out of breath, as if he had been running for his life.
"Them?"
"Yeah... There's two people now. That Seimei look-a-like and some chick."
"Kio! That's bad. Can you still get to Ritsuka?"
"Well, I guess I could try. I mean, I got back-up too... and he ain't goin' quietly."
"Then just do it. I'll be there as soon as possible. Meet me at the south exit."
He hung up and so did Kio. He needed to call Zero and get them over there. They were probably closer seeing as they had left a while ago. He didn't know if they'd gone to help Kio at first, but now he knew they hadn't. Unless they were the back-up he was talking about? No, he would've heard them going after Ritsuka. Then who was he talking about? That wasn't important at the moment. He had to get out and to Ritsuka, that was what was important.
7
The person Kio was talking about was none other than Shinonome Hitomi, Ritsuka's old teacher. Why did it seem like they were just having one giant reunion with a few new people mixed in? Well, that's because that's just how it was. Even if Yuiko and Yayoi wouldn't actually see the others until tomorrow, they were still joining their fun-filled adventure.
Shinonome hadn't really tried to bump into Kio, but once she saw he was following Ritsuka (whom she had been glad to see, and almost called out to until she saw Kio) she followed him. Soon after Kio had realized that he was being tracked and turned around to see the same woman that had been with Ritsuka, Yuiko, and Yayoi that day Soubi had stalked them. Why were they a group of stalkers? There was something seriously wrong with them all. However... That aside, Shinonome quickly explained why she was following him and he gave her an explanation in return. Though, she found his to be a little, bizarre. She didn't understand the whole "brother, but not brother" thing. Once they started chasing after Ritsuka (who seemed to be struggling against a pair of adults), she didn't even think twice about what she didn't understand, she just thought about saving Ritsuka. How could someone kidnap Ritsuka! Then again, he had been adorable the last time she saw him, so the reason was obvious as soon as the thought went through her mind.
"Please, Shinonome-san, it isn't a good idea for you to follow me! This is dangerous!" Kio had been trying to lose her for a while now. She probably already thought he was a pedophile (however, that's Soubi, not him).
"But Ritsuka-kun is in trouble! You'll need as much help as you can get, right?" she said, looking at him with panic in her eyes. "Besides, there's two of them and I don't think Ritsuka would be of much help."
"I've got help on the way, ma'am." He groaned. His chest was starting to hurt and soon the two Ritsuka-nappers would be within range of a taxi. However, to his great and utter surprise, Natsuo and Youji were standing right in their path.
"Let Ritsuka-kun go," Youji frowned as Natsuo crossed his arms.
The two adults looked at each other and laughed. Dyne spoke, "And we're going to listen to you because...? Just because you're Zero doesn't mean you can't be beaten. Soubi did it all on his own, didn't he?"
Ritsuka wasn't in the greatest mood to stand around and listen to them talk. His wrist was turning red and he was sure that it was sprained from trying to get away. Where was Soubi? Surely someone had called him already, right? What was Kio doing? He found that out in the next second. Instead of being in the hands of his fake brother, he found Kio's hands on his shoulders and Shinonome-sensei right beside him. Now he was really confused. Weren't Natsuo and Youji supposed to be heading to his house? And how did Kio show up so fast? And why was Shinonome-sensei with him? And most importantly... Where was Soubi?
"Good going, Dyne," Alli muttered. "You lost the kid. Now what are we going to do?"
"Come up with a better plan and try again," Dyne muttered back. "After all, you don't really think I'd be stupid enough to have Zero wear you down just for Soubi to come along and kick your ass (A/N: I sinned! ;;), do you?"
"You really are just so loving."
There was no battle, no nothing. After all of the struggle and the climactic events, nothing happened. Except for the bad guy running away and the hero of the story getting there five minutes late. Which to Ritsuka, was totally backwards. Evildoers were the late ones and the hero ran away as soon as he had the damsel in distress (no, he wouldn't actually call himself a damsel if he was actually in need of saving by the hero, Soubi).
It certainly wasn't over yet, though. Soubi got a phone call (the thought oftheir minutes running out crossed through Ritsuka's mind again) from Ritsu-sensei. He announced being disappointed in his pupils, but said that it wouldn't be all. He wasn't of much use other than that. Soubi had to hang up the phone due to Ritsu's extreme wanting to talk to him. Right now, he had to look after Ritsuka.
"Are you okay?" Soubi pulled Ritsuka into a warm embrace, something he hadn't done in what seemed like forever.
"Yeah... My wrist just hurts a bit," Ritsuka mumbled into Soubi's chest.
Soubi nodded, "Let's get some ice on that." He lifted Ritsuka's wrist and kissed it softly. Seimei was still gone, possibly even truly dead now. He was Ritsuka's and Ritsuka's alone. Maybe he still would be once Seimei actually returned.
/Chapter 3: Clueless
A/N: Okay, so as I say I haven't had the urge to swear... There I go and have Dyne swear. I guess he's kinda a spinoff of Cid, but with Dyne's name. Yes, I pulled that from FFVII. I'm obsessed, shut up and leave me alone. Anyways, I'm gunna thank my reviewers now seeing as I haven't actually done that! There's five of them. ZOMG, so much more than chapter 1(okay, so four out of the five are from chapter 2).
Thanks to: Kayla, i-love-anime-2006, Ryo Yuriko, Kurama-sama, Ladiabla666. You all helped in keeping this going. Even if it did take a couple of months. Not my fault. .
Anyways... I'm stuck now as to what should happen next. Ideas? Unless you just want it to drop for another two months. (It might drop permanently if that happens... School coming up and all...)