Chapter 2:

Ritsuka sat at the computer desk scrolling through pictures on the computer. He adjusted his glasses as they fell down his nose. He knew he should be doing homework, but he would rather look at his photos that he took. He gasped in surprise as someone knocked on his window. He looked away from the monitor. It was Soubi. He was waving to him from behind the glass. Ritsuka sighed and opened the window.

"Why don't you ever use the door?" he asked in an irritated tone.

"You always leave the window unlocked," Soubi smiled. "It means you're expecting me to come in through the window." He went back outside for a moment, leaving Ritsuka irritated. Ritsuka heard Soubi lift something and began to wonder what he was carrying. Soubi couldn't have bought him a huge present. He didn't have enough money.

Soubi returned through the window, this time with a boy in his arms. Ritsuka stared at him with wide eyes. The boy looked no older than fifteen. His hair was soaking wet, but the blanket wrapped around him looked dry and warm.

"Wh—who is that?" Ritsuka asked uneasily. "Where did you get him from?" Soubi laid the boy on Ritsuka's bed and adjusted the blankets around his body.

"He appeared at the college where I take art classes," Soubi replied. "He knocked once, and I believe he passed out afterwards, because he fell through the door after I opened it. He hasn't woken up since."

"What's his name?" asked Ritsuka. Soubi gingerly removed the blanket from the boy's chest. He unbuttoned his shirt again, revealing to Ritsuka what he had seen earlier that evening. "Trustless?" he asked quietly.

"He is a Sacrifice," said Soubi. "He's been wounded very badly. Do you have any first-aid kits here?" Ritsuka nodded and rushed to the bathroom. While he retrieved the kit, Soubi eyed the boy carefully. "Why won't you wake up?" he murmured. "The shock should have passed by now." As he spoke, the boy began to stir. His eyelids fluttered, but they did not open. "Trustless," Soubi murmured softly, "wake up, Trustless." Ritsuka returned with the kit and placed it next to Soubi. The boy's eyes began to open. His ears twitched as though a fly were buzzing around his head.

"Ah, Trustless has awakened,' Soubi smiled. "Trustless, can you hear me?" The boy stared at Soubi with wide eyes. His hair was the color of dark blood that faded to fiery red at the tips. His eyes were like a pair of dark purple pearls that watched every little thing move. His ears were heavily waterlogged and laid back against his head. They were the same color as his hair, including the red tips. His tail was long and the same colors as his ears. A small smile formed on his lips.

"Thank you," he said softly. "I thought I was dead, but you…you saved me and brought…brought me here." Ritsuka opened the first-aid kit and took out a roll of bandaging. He handed it to Soubi, and he began to dress the boy's wounds.

"What's your name?" asked Ritsuka.

"My name is Trustless."