Painted Desires

By: Phantom Pherax

A/N/laughs/ I leave this story up for a couple of days and you guys are already close to arguing over spelling…………I LOVE YOU GUYS YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO SPECIAL RANDOM CUPCAKES FOR EVERYBODY/ throws random cupcakes at everyone/ X3 But I did notice another spelling error. It's spelled Sentouki, not Sintouki. My mistake! Gomen ne.

X2

Young Ritsuka sat on the edge of his bed as Soubi stood with his back against the window. Neither one said a word, but both wanting to. Ritsuka wanted to demand why Soubi felt he couldn't tell him what he was afraid of. Did he feel that whatever usefulness he had for him was done? Was he simply not good enough? The neko boy glanced down at the cell phone in his hand. The last words he ever wanted to say spilled from his lips. "What will you do with me since I'm no good to you?" They hung heavy in the air between them waiting to be moved.

Soubi blinked, surely more confused then before. "What do you mean?" he asked kneeling before his Sacrifice.

Ritsuka looked away, almost ashamed. "You know what I mean. You won't tell me what made you so afraid, like I'm no use to you. How are we supposed to be connected if you won't open up to me?" he demanded. "Am I no good to you as a Sacrifice or a friend?"

Soubi stared at him, stricken with shock as his heart seemed to be squeezed in his chest. He realized that it was because he had not told Ritsuka about his encounter with Nisei. He couldn't tell him. It would mean to Ritsuka that he had lied. Seimei is still alive. "Ritsuka-"he looked away ashamed for feeling this way, filled with guilt and fear. "-I honestly can't tell you what happened. Forgive me."

"Don't say that dammit!" Ritsuka yelled. "Whatever it is I can help. I may not be as insightful as Yuiko…but…I…" With a heavy hearted sigh Ritsuka hung his head. "Why won't you let me help you Soubi?"

Soubi looked to one of the walls, to the one where their pictures hung together in a collection. "Suki dayo, Ritsuka."

Said neko boy grabbed a fistful of Soubi's shirt. "That doesn't answer my question, baka," he growled.

"I can't do that." Soubi told him sadly.

Ritsuka's head shot straight up, his eyes wide. "Why not?" he demanded. "I thought you only couldn't tell me information that pertained to Septimal Moon?" Soubi's eyes closed and he looked away from his Sacrifice. With a trembling hand Ritsuka released his shirt and scooted back on the bed. "It has something to do with Septimal Moon, doesn't it?" he asked.

Soubi stood from his kneeling position. "Gomen Ritsuka. I must go now."

Tears leaked from Ritsuka's tear ducts as his Sentouki turned toward the window. Don't turn your back on me, please. Falling from his chin they landed on his knees, soaking into the denim. Don't leave me like this. "I'm not…really your Sacrifice…am I?" Ritsuka whispered to thin air. Soubi had left and the curtain now flapped from the wind outside.

Pulling his knees up to his chest Ritsuka rested his forehead on his knees and sobbed silently until his mother called him down for dinner once again.

The meal went smoothly until he saw the burdock noodles. The very same kind Soubi had made once before. She had never made them before then. Ritsuka swallowed hard and reached for the noodles. He liked them, but waited to see if the Ritsuka from before liked them as well…

"You're not my Ritsuka." Misaki's eyes were hidden by her bangs. Ritsuka swallowed hard as she stood and slammed her hand against the table. "You're not my Ritsuka!!" she screamed. Ritsuka looked away flinching as dishes hit the floor and shattered. "You're not my…Ritsuka!!! Give him back!"

The table tipped and Ritsuka was pulled up by his shirt. He refused to look her in the face and stared at the floor. The image of Soubi walking away replayed in his mind. "Give him back!" Misaki screamed pushing him back. Ritsuka collided with the chair and it the wood broke under his weight. Laying on his side, his cheek bleeding and his body now sore, Ritsuka stayed still, watching his mother wined through another painful fit. Gomen mother. I don't belong to you, and I don't belong to Soubi…Slowly his eyes began to close to darkness.

Soubi looked back at the house when he heard the sound of crashing dishes and breaking wood. He had simply jumped out of Ritsuka's window; he had not left all together. He was now glad he hadn't. Misaki had been thrown into a rage and Ritsuka was more than likely in the middle. Inside the bedroom he quietly crept down the stairs and peered around the corner. Misaki had her back turned and Ritsuka was out cold on the floor. His heart jumped and before Misaki could turn around Ritsuka was in his arms and they were bounding from the window in his room.

I will not take him back. I will not let him go through with that anymore. Ritsuka, gomen nasai. Gomen nasai… tears flew in the wind behind them.

A/N: A little short. But it gets better. Thank you everyone who enjoys it!