Title: Wishes Whispered on Wings
Author: Len
Fandom: Loveless
Pairing: Soubi X Ritsuka
Rating: PG
Genre: Yaoi
Notes: There was an exhibit at one mall here in our country... They had wishing butterflies in that exhibit. And I just thought... Wow. This will make a good subject for a fic.
Disclaimer: Yun Kouga owns Soubi and Ritsuka.
"Hey, Sou-chan, what are your plans for your birthday?" Kio Kaidou asked Soubi. They were in their university's art room, finishing some paintings they had to pass at the end of the day.
Soubi looked at Kio, puzzled. "Huh?"
"Your birthday is coming up. What are your plans?"
Soubi looked at the calendar near the door. Today was the 20th. It was his birthday in 8 days. Soubi just shrugged and continued on painting. He didn't really bother that much with his birthday. It was like any other normal day.
"You can ask me nicely if you want a birthday party." Kio continued on disturbing Soubi while painting. "Just say, 'Kio, I will be very happy if you throw a birthday party for me,' and I will do it! Don't be shy, Soubi. All you need is ask..."
Soubi ignored Kio and concentrated on his work.
Kio shaked his head. Lately, he is having a hard time getting Soubi's attention. It seems like his friend is always deep into thought, frowning every now and then. He was like this when he is painting.
"Sou-chan, if you hate butterflies, why do you always paint them?" Kio asked. He knows that Soubi hates butterflies but he doesn't know why he still paints them.
"I don't know." Soubi stood up, took his coat and opened the door.
"Where are you going?" Kio stood up and approached Soubi.
"I'm going for a smoke." Soubi replied curtly and went out of the room.
Kio followed Soubi out of the room. "Oi, Sou-chan! What about the paintings? We are supposed to pass it today! And didn't Ritsuka tell you to quit! Sou-chan! Sou-chan!" He shouted at Soubi's retreating figure. Soubi continued walking with no intentions of answering Kio.
Soubi went out of the arts building, to the area were students frequent to smoke. No one was there since everyone was busy finishing their projects for the day. Soubi sat down on one of the benches and lit one cigarette.
"I wonder how is Ritsuka is doing..." He wondered.
"Are you okay, Ritsuka-kun?" Hawatari Yuiko asked her friend.
Ritsuka has been pissed off ever since they came to the butterfly farm. The ride to the farm was fun. He, Yuiko and Yayoi were eating while chatting nonstop in the bus. Sensei even approached their group to talk to them. But once they entered the farm, his mood turned sour.
"WHY CAN'T I STOP THINKING OF HIM!" Ritsuka was furious, he vented out on Yuiko... something he would never do.
"Eh? Are you thinking about Soubi-san?" Yuiko asked with a concerned look on her eyes. "Did you have a fight with him? Or do you remember him when you see these butterflies and you feel like you want to be with him here, admiring the butterflies?"
Ritsuka glared. Yuiko is really sharp. She looks stupid but she is very observant. "No! That's not it! What made you think of that anyway!" Ritsuka went away from Yuiko, stomping his feet in annoyance.
"Ritsuka-kun!" Yuiko followed Ritsuka. "I am so sorry, Ritsuka-kun. I won't say anything like that again. I'm sorry!"
Ritsuka stopped and looked at Yuiko. "It's okay. Never mind. I am sorry too."
Suddenly, Yayoi came running to them. He looked like a kid finding a candy. "Yuiko-san! Yuiko-san! I want you to see something!"
"What?" Yuiko said, dragging Ritsuka with her and following Yayoi. They stopped in front of a big oval cage covered in white net. Inside, hundreds of monarch butterflies were fluttering about. They were flying around the cage, landing on the flowers or on the net. The butterflies weren't that colorful. Yellow and black and white where the usual colors. Their wing spans are only 4-6 inches. They weren't like the other butterflies. They couldn't rival the beauty of the peacock butterfly nor the majestic wings of the blue morpho butterfly. If you look at them, they were simple butterflies with nothing special to boast.
"Eh? I thought you wanted to show me a pretty butterfly." Yuiko sulked. "I could see them everyday in our garden."
"No, Yuiko-san. They're not ordinary butterflies." Yayoi said, pushing the bridge up of his glasses with a finger. "They're called Wishing Butterflies."
"Huh? Why are they called that?" Yuiko asked, observing the butterflies. One of the butterflies landed in front of Yuiko. Yuiko poked the butterfly through the net and it flew away. She giggled and look for another butterfly to poke, forgetting that she asked a question to Yayoi.
"Yuiko-san!" Yayoi looked so disheatened. It was like Yuiko to ignore him completely if she finds some other thing more interesting than Yayoi.
"Yayoi-san." Ritsuka asked, digital camera in hand and trying to take a picture of the butterflies in the cage. "Why are they called Wishing Butteflies?"
Yayoi's ears perked. This meant a chance to impress Yuiko with the knowledge he has of the butterflies. He read the pamphlet about it earlier so he can explain it everything. He cleared his throat.
"According to an Indian Legend, if one desires his wish to come true, they must capture a butterfly and whisper his wish to it. Since the butterflies can't make any sound, they can't tell the wish to anyone but the Great Spirit. Whisper your wish to a butterfly and release it. The whispering wings will relay your wish to the one who may grant it." Yayoi said, in a know-it-all manner completed with hand gestures as if he was a butterfly.
"Wow! That's cool!" Yuiko said excitedly came bouncing back at them. "Ritsuka-kun, let's catch one!"
Ritsuka stared at the butterflies. If he would catch one, what would he wish. He wanted to wish for all of his worries to go away... For the old Ritsuka to come back and make his mother happy again... To know why the Seven Moons killed Seimei... Or to wish that he didn't want to feel this way towards Soubi. He wanted for the nagging feeling in his heart to stop. He had so many wishes. I need to catch hundreds of butterflies for all my wishes to come true, Ritsuka thought.
If was late afternoon when their class arrived back at school. Ritsuka, Yuiko and Yayoi stepped off the bus to see Soubi waiting for them in front of the school gate.
Soubi approached Ritsuka and kissed him on the forehead. "How was the trip?" He asked, eager to know the answer.
"Fine." Ritsuka replied lifelessly. He looked tired but still deep in thought.
Soubi smiled. It seems like Ritsuka didn't enjoy the trip. He was happy because of that. He didn't want Ritsuka to have a good time during the trip.
Yuiko and Yayoi waved goodbye to Ritsuka. "See you tomorrow!" Yuiko shouted, walking home with Yayoi.
Soubi took Ritsuka's hand and they started walking home. Ritsuka was quiet. Soubi decided to let Ritsuka stay quiet. The boy seems to be thinking of something. Soubi wants to know what Ritsuka was thinking about but he let it pass. He was contented holding Ritsuka's hand and walking him home. It was moments like this that he holds dear. After all, even if there aren't any pictures taken, a quiet time like this is still a memory.
They reached Ritsuka's house. Soubi decided against going up because he knows that Ritsuka would want to rest after a tiring trip. He bent down to kiss Ritsuka on the lips and bid him goodbye. Soubi turned his back to leave when Ritsuka said...
"Soubi, do you have a wish that you want to come true?"
