Hey everybody, I'm back!!!!
Sorry for the delay, but last weekend was homecoming, and I'm in my school's associated student government so I was at school all last weekend, then I ended up getting the flu….so yeah…but I'm almost better so it's all good. :D
Thanks to my amazing reviewers, Vampirelle, klagana1, lovess-girl68, and izzy who commented on my last chapter, you guys are wonderful!
Also, I have a poll posted on my profile! I want to know whether or not you want Soubi and Ritsuka to pass or fail this exam, the choice is up to you, so swing by my profile and vote!
Disclaimer: I do not own Loveless, Kouga Yun does.
Anyway, let's get on with the next chapter!
Ch. 6: The Haunted Mansion
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"Ritsuka…Ritsuka…"
The young boy groaned and rolled over groggily, trying to go back to sleep.
"Ritsuka…the next part of the competition is later today. I want you to eat properly beforehand, please get up." Soubi stated calmly, watching his sacrifice's cute, childish behavior.
The raven haired boy groaned and again of mumbled something regarding him being "too tired" and threw a blanket over his head.
When no response came from the blonde adult, Ritsuka assumed he could finally get more sleep until he felt the bed sink down slightly.
"It's too early for this." The neko thought as the blanket was pulled back.
"Ritsuka, if you don't get up now, I'll have to force you."
"What if I order you not too?" Ritsuka replied, knowing full well he wouldn't actually order the adult to do anything.
"Then I'd resort to this." Soubi replied with a smirk, putting one of his hands on Ritsuka chin and pulling him up into a kiss.
Ritsuka blushed but didn't make a move to push his fighter away. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Soubi's neck and pulled him closer, letting the kiss linger.
The kiss continued, progressively increasing in passion, lips locked to each others, Soubi hand up Ritsuka's shirt, brushing over his chest and stomach, until…
"Ritsuka! Soubi! Ready for the second part of the exam!?!?!" the two Zeros screeched as they threw open the door.
Ritsuka instantly scooted away from his fighter, still underneath him slightly, a deep blush covering his face.
"I guess we know how some people study for tests." Youji joked, while Natsuo giggled.
Ritsuka's face grew redder while Soubi had a look of irritation from the Zeros interrupting.
"Well if you too are done, we're gonna get food, now come one Ritsuka, grab your boy toy and let's go." Youji stated cheerfully.
"Um…o…okay" the boy stuttered, still not recovered from his embarrassing predicament. Ritsuka got up and trudged out the door with the Zeros, Soubi shadowing.
The Zeros scuttled merrily through the halls, hand in hand, talking to each other about what to expect for the exam until they reach the cafeteria area the school contained.
The four found a table after grabbing breakfast foods and the Zeros immediately began shoving their faces while Ritsuka nibbled slowly, Soubi watching his sacrifice concerned.
"Why am I starting to get worried now, I was fine last night. What if I fail? What if I…" Ritsuka was broken out of his reverie by the glomping of the one and only; the dreaded one.
"Oh, my cute little Ritsuka, are you ready for the next part of the test, I am so excited for you!" Nagisa squealed, the Zeros snickering at their teacher's behavior toward the other neko boy.
"Uh…I'm ready, I guess." Ritsuka replied, trying to be polite.
All of them then ate the rest of their food, Nagisa glued to Ritsuka the entire time, earning a few glares from Soubi, but it was otherwise a last peaceful meal before they headed off for the next part of the exams.
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"Ugh! We've been waiting here forever!" Youji complained.
The participants had all gone back to the sacrifices test taking room, fighters with them this time, and were currently waiting for the proctor to come.
"We haven't been here that long." Natsuo smiled.
"Yeah, but I'm sick of waiting with all these losers." Youji replied, getting nasty stares from the other competitors.
At that moment, the doors of the room smashed in, flying inward toward the test takers, and a woman came forward. She had long blonde hair, similar to 7's, and wore about the same amount of clothing as well.
"Alright everyone! I'm Leiko!" (It means arrogant)
"Tell me about it." Youji muttered under his breath, causing everyone near him to chuckle.
"I'll be your prompter for the second portion of the exam, so follow me!" she shouted as she walked out the door, leaving everyone in utter confusion.
After a few moments of exchanging confused glances, the participants in the test shook off her weird behavior and left the class, following in the direction she left.
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Ritsuka, Soubi, Natsuo, Youji, as well as everyone else taking part in the exams was led through the halls of the school, and outside into the forest, through thick shrubbery until they reached a very large building. It was extremely gigantic and the aura around it seemed eerie. Plants had grown about the outside of it wildly, it was made of mostly brick, and the little paint on it was chipped away and the small areas that remained had faded. (I'm imagining a castle-like mansion just so you can get the visual)
"It seems even bigger than the school, and not just the fact it has six stories." Ritsuka noticed, slightly worried as to what he might be doing here.
"Haunted Mansion! Let's get started!" the Zero pair shrieked with delight.
"Alright! Now that we're here I'll explain the rules. There are 24 pairs of you left. You and your partner will go through this mansion."
"What's so difficult about going through a big house?" Youji asked ignorantly.
Leiko began laughing heartily and then answered, "Well little boy, this mansion is said to be haunted. A few centuries back, a girl was completely and utterly destroyed in this residence. She is said to haunt the halls and kill anyone who dares to enter the estate, forcing her victims to haunt the mansion as well, playing twisted games for all eternity." Leiko smiled cheerfully, "Now, any other questions before I continue?"
Ritsuka shivered, he wasn't cold, and he didn't believe in ghosts, but the aura, the strange aura around the premises disturbed him.
"I'll protect you Ritsuka." Soubi comforted, seeing his sacrifice's concerned expression.
"Okay, now as I said before, you and your partner will spend the portion of this test in the mansion, both the inside and outside of it are fair game. Anything goes"
"What are we doing in the mansion?" Youji asked, running out of patience.
Leiko chuckled again and then answered, "We have planted scrolls throughout the place."
"But you said anyone who went in died." Natsuo smirked.
"I did say that. I never said the people who delivered the scrolls to their designated area came out though." A creepy and almost sickening smile spreading across Leiko's face once more.
The Zeros, as well as most everyone else, looked at her with a terrified expression, but let her keep going in her explanation without anymore interruptions.
"You will be going into the premises looking for the scrolls, so in a sense, I suppose it is like a treasure hunt. Once you find a scroll, you will open it to find a map to your final goal that is somewhere in this forest. So, find a scroll, then follow the directions to get to the base in this forest. Does everyone get it?"
Silence filled the area.
"Oh, and I suppose I should mention that there are only 12 scrolls."
"So, it's first come first serve pretty much?" some brave soul from the mass of participants asked.
"I suppose, but if another pair steals your scroll, you need another before you can get into the base."
"If another pair steals our scroll?" the same person inquired.
"I did say anything goes." Leiko smirked.
Small talk of concerns spread throughout the exam takers, and then quieted down just as quickly.
"Now, assuming you all want to continue onward, I need you to sign these." Leiko stated holding up a stack of papers.
"What are those?" Midori asked. (Yes, the breathless pair passed too)
"These are liability forms, basically stating that if you die, it's not my fault." The prompter smiled while answering the question and then proceeded to pass out the forms and pens, "You have 30 minutes to read over these papers and once you're done, give them back to me."
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Ritsuka had gone off with Soubi to fill out the form. If he was to be honest with himself, he was terrified. He didn't want Soubi to have to protect him, but the house and it's aura….Ritsuka shivered again.
"Are you cold? Would you like my jacket?" Soubi asked with concern in his voice.
"No. I'm fine." Ritsuka responded, staring intently at the ground.
Soubi crouched down and place one of his hands on the side of Ritsuka's face, "Ritsuka, tell me what's wrong."
"Nothing Soubi, I told you I'm fine." Ritsuka stated, getting defensive and slapping away the adult's hand.
"Are you afraid?" Soubi questioned, staring straight into the eyes of the neko boy.
"Um...uh...no, it's just that….the aura…" Ritsuka blushed, ashamed to admit he was scared.
Ritsuka expected to hear compassionate words to calm him down, but all he heard was silence. He looked up from the ground to find Soubi's shocked expression.
"Is something wrong?" the younger asked.
"I'm not sure. Ritsuka, I feel this aura as well. Please stay by my side the entire time."
Ritsuka giggled, adding more to Soubi's shock.
"Where else would I be?" Ritsuka smiled slightly.
Soubi smiled and then pressed his lips to the other's.
"I love you Ritsuka." Soubi solemnly stated.
Ritsuka blushed, and then began filling out his form in order to distract himself. Soubi, still having a small smile play about his lips, sat down next to his sacrifice and did the same.
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"Okay, now that I've got all the forms, we can begin. There are three entrances excluding the backyard. Pick a door and wait for my signal." Everyone, following Leiko's order, migrated toward the door of their choosing and waited. "Okay everybody, everyone is ready, let the second portion of the exam begin!" Leiko smiled and the participants began to enter the mansion.
Leiko turned her back toward the mansion, "And what might you be doing here."
Ritsu came out from behind a patch of near bye brush, "Just viewing the participants."
Leiko chuckled, "An odd batch we have this year, I hope some of them are tougher than they look or they won't be living through this phase." She flashed a cryptic smile.
"You always were a sadist."
"I learned from the best."
Ritsu seemed unfazed and turned back toward the brush, "There was a reason I came, keep an eye on the Loveless sacrifice."
"Got your eye on him?" Leiko smirked.
"The only one I have concerns with is Soubi." With that, Ritsu left, leaving Leiko there slightly confused.
After Ritsu had left, Leiko gave up trying to decode whatever plans he had and sat in comfortable silence, her job was done; now all that was left was to wait.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
A blood-curdling scream filled the air, producing another chuckle from Leiko. "It looks like the fun has started."
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There you have it! I hope you liked it, sorry for the wait.
Make sure to take my poll, the fate of Ritsuka and Soubi are in your hands.
I'm experimenting with the length again, this one is a tiny bit shorter than the last chapter, let me know which length you guys prefer.
Please review; my reviewers are the ones that keep me writing!