"Yeah," he replied. "Sometimes I get really scared while he drinks my blood, so I'll hit him and run away. Jorele will back off for a couple hours, and then I'll come back and let him finish. We do that at least once a month." Ritsuka gaped as Kalel went skipping down the hall back to Kio's room.
Idiot, he thought. You shouldn't let him get away with making you angry all the time.
Kalel quietly closed the door behind him, careful to not wake the sleeping Jorele. He crawled beneath the blankets without rustling them, and he curled up at Jorele's side. Kissing his lover's cheek, Kalel softly wished him sweet dreams, and he fell asleep to the sound of Jorele's gentle breathing.
Chapter 5: Realization, Kio-Style
Kio yawned loudly and scratched his head. He rolled onto his stomach, gurgling pleasantly in his dreamless sleep. As he buried his face into the warm pillow, a smooth, velvety voice whispered into Kio's soft ears.
'Bring him to me. Bring me my Beloved.'
Kio yawned again, and he muttered sleepily, "Why… should I?"
'I have commanded you. Bring me my Beloved. NOW.'
Kio suddenly lurched upward, his back arched like a wet cat. He groaned and sat motionless as he tried to reclaim his senses from the slender fingers of Sleep. "God," he muttered, half-cursing to the sky outside his window, "why did you wake me up?" He rubbed his heavy eyes, and he tugged at his hair. He flinched as his fingernail caught a knot.
Very quietly a knock sounded at the door.
"Ritsuka," a voice cooed, "please, wake up. It's time for school." Kio gasped.
"Oh my god," he whispered breathlessly, "I remember now!" He pulled his hair in frustration and cried, "I got wasted last night, and I was dragged to my mother's house! How embarrassing!" He wailed loudly into his hands, even when Misaki came a second time.
"Ritsuka," she smiled, "my Ritsuka, I—" She suddenly froze, her eyes wide and her teeth bared in a half-snarl. She covered her eyes with her hands and sobbed, "Get out! You're not my Ritsuka!" Kio stared at her pale hands covering her face.
Ritsuka?
He dashed to the mirror, and he cried out in surprise.
"What the hell is going on?!" he snapped. "This isn't me! I'm not some little brat! I'm Kio!" He turned to the frantic Misaki, and he shouted to her, "I'm Kio Kaidou! Kaidou!! I'm not a Ritsuka." He shoved her out the door, and he slammed it behind him. He gasped frantically, his back pressed against the door, searching for anything familiar. His eyes darted allover the room, but with no luck. "It's all a dream," Kio assured himself. "I'll wake up, and I'll be in Sou-chan's room again." He closed his eyes, and he sighed deeply.
I'll pinch myself, he thought, and I'll wake up.
He pinched his arm hard, bringing himself to yelp in pain. When he reopened his eyes, he hadn't moved at all from his spot in front of the door.
"Dammit!" he screeched. "I pinched myself for nothing!" Suddenly, Misaki began to pound on the door. Kio shrunk to the floor, covering his ears with his hands and managing to lose an earring. "Aw man," he muttered, crawling after the rolling hoop ring. "First the crazy lady, and now this?" At last, he caught up with the stray earring, and he triumphantly held it above his head.
"RITSUKA!!"
Misaki threw open the door. Kio flinched as he shoved the earring into his pocket. She was back, and she didn't sound pleased in the least.
"Lady, how many times do I have to tell you," Kio growled, "that I'm not Ritsuka! My name is Kio."
"Get out!!" Misaki screamed. "What the hell are you doing in my home?! You're not my son. Go!!" She brought her hand down upon Kio's face and struck him. Before he could react, Kio felt thousands of needles piercing his skin. The sound of breaking glass rang shrilly in his ears. Misaki stood panting, a broken lamp in her hands. She raised her weapon over her head, and she threw it swiftly onto Kio's back.
"Damn…" Kio whispered as he fell to the floor. His vision began to darken. The smell of blood was everywhere. Broken glass shards pierced his palms and arms, and pieces fell from his hair. Finally, his eyes closed, and he lost consciousness.
Misaki wiped the blood from the side of her mouth as she inspected the damage. She closed her eyes as she finally looked to her son's body lying limp in a pile of glass. She felt the tears trying with all their might to some forth no matter what she did to stop them. "My son," she whimpered, "Ritsuka…" Misaki rolled Kio onto his back, and she stroked his bloodied face.
What have I done? He's my child. This isn't right!
Misaki left Kio in the glass, and she wiped her bloodied hands on his shirt. Closing her eyes tight, she ran from the room, closing the door behind her.
No one must see him, she thought, jogging down the stairs. No one must see him like that.