Mist, Act 2

When morning light started to break through the window Ritsuka woke up. He was instantly startled at his position. Unwavering red heat rose up his neck and settled in his cheeks when he discovered Soubi's large frame was curled around his small body. His strong arms were wrapped protectively around the small boy, cuddled around him so closely. And Ritsuka's arms were under his, wrapped around Soubi. Their legs tangled together. Even noticing all this Ritsuka didn't move away. 'Heat.' he told himself. 'I'm only cold, that's all. Nothing more, absolutely not. Besides, if I move, I'll wake him up.'

But he couldn't help but notice the closeness of their faces when he looked back up to Soubi and away from their bodies. Soubi's hot breath was intertwining with his own, Soubi's calm sleeping face, so stressless, hiding nothing. He lifted his hand from Soubi's waist and brushed some golden hair away from the man's face, stroking it a little. Silky strands flowing through his fingers. Ritsuka inched his body closer, and continued playing with Soubi's hair. It was so soft. As Ritsuka's hand slid across Soubi's face, he could've sworn he saw Soubi's face grow slightly pink with blush. But he couldn't bring himself to believe that, 'No it's impossible.'

"Mm... Soubi..." Ritsuka sleepily groaned, losing himself in thought.

Cool blue eyes immediately shot open. "Yes?" Soubi queried, a groggy look overtaking his once soft face and a hint of sleepiness still in his tone.

"Eh!" Ritsuka was surprised and jumped back a bit, still in Soubi's hold, 'I hadn't meant for him to wake up... Wait! Was he awake this whole time?' Soubi noticed blush take over Ritsuka's face and he faintly smiled. "Soubi! You were awake, weren't you?"

"What are you talking about? Clearly I was sleeping… Or did I... miss something?" Soubi teased.

"Liar, you pervert, you were awake the whole..." His voice trailed off. Ritsuka was embarrassed by what he did. Caressing Soubi's face like that, keeping hold to his body. He couldn't say it out loud.

Soubi started noticing what he hadn't while he was 'asleep'. He knew they were close, but now he could notice just how close. Their legs wound together, arms wrapped tightly. He felt comfortable. He felt warm, but not just from body heat, it was a kind of warmth that just came from being cared about. He nuzzled his face into Ritsuka's chest. "I love you."

'Gah! These words… that stupid liar! It can't be true. It can't.' Ritsuka's thoughts spun out of control. He could never get used to the things Soubi said. He could never believe it. He didn't respond to Soubi, just untangled their legs, reluctantly, and sat up on the edge of the bed. Suddenly Soubi's large hand grabbed his shoulder.

"You're hurt. Lay back down." Soubi's voice lost it teasing quality and gained urgency. He gently pushed Ritsuka onto his back and left the bed to fetch a medical kit. Everything about him switched gears.

Ritsuka sighed, 'Ahh.. Soubi worries too much. The pain isn't that bad.' Ritsuka thought as he closed his eyes. He heard Soubi's footsteps pad across the floor to where he was. Then he heard the bed creak as Soubi '...Wait, what was he doing?' The weight of the bed carefully shifted back and forth, until Ritsuka finally opened his eyes in wonderment. A certain grinning Fighter was increasing over top him, coming closer and closer. One leg of Soubi's legs on each side of Ritsuka's body, one hand on each side. He was very close to Ritsuka's face now.

"So.. Sou..bi... what are you doing!" Ritsuka asked.

"I'm going to heal you." Soubi answered as he leaned down and kissed Ritsuka's forehead.

"Stupid that's not gunna heal me!" Ritsuka exclaimed as he started blushing again and pushing away at Soubi's chest.

"Are you sure?" Soubi deviously inquired as he nibbled softly on Ritsuka's bottom lip. That reminded Ritsuka of something, something he had to ask. But now was a little...

"Soubi, just bandage it or whatever!" Ritsuka gave a more final push at the man. Soubi's actions always confused him so much, he… well… Ritsuka liked some of the things Soubi did, but he wasn't entirely sure if that was okay.

"Yes." Soubi replied as he knelt up and sat lightly on Ritsuka's legs, mostly holding himself up with by his own shins. The action made Ritsuka's blush deepen. Looking up he saw the dazzling blonde man perched on him, towering above Ritsuka. Soubi reached over for the first aid kit he had placed on the bed and pulled out bandages.

Lifting up Ritsuka's small wrist Soubi frowned. The shackles had left dark bruises on both, one being slightly worse. It was horrifying how a battle invisible to most could have such harrowing results. He rubbed his thumb over the wrist back and forth, then traced over the precious veins, the arteries. Tilting his head down, he kissed it softly. He wanted to heal it with just a kiss, he wanted to suck all of Ritsuka's pain away. He kissed again, parting his lips and pressing his tongue out, caressing the soft flesh with his tongue. Ritsuka flinched. Soubi knew immediately that it wasn't from discontent, it wasn't because Ritsuka disliked his actions.

"It hurts." Soubi stated rather then asked. The small boy lied shrugging it off saying it was nothing. But Soubi saw through his lies effortlessly. How could such a bruise not hurt? "Sorry Ritsuka…" He apologized for causing the bruise, it was his fault, and for pressing it too hard. Carefully with precision of an experienced professional, Soubi wrapped the first wrist up. Then he turned to the second wrist, laying the first one down on the bed gently and picking up Ritsuka's other hand. It wasn't as bad off but it was still quite bruised, it still looked quite painful. Having learned his lesson, Soubi only kissed this wrist softly, as gently and caring as he could, before wrapping it. He wound the fabric around quickly and carefully, he knew it wouldn't do much to just bandage it but there wasn't much he could do for a bruise, he would just have to wait. It was only going to heal with time and care.

Ritsuka watched the whole thing. Secretly he felt something in his stomach every time Soubi touched him, especially when he kissed. His stomach flew around and a tingling whipped through his body. Somehow it felt like he wanted more... he liked it. Seimei used to act very similarly when he did these things but it felt a lot different with Soubi… His blush deepened and he didn't really understand why. All he knew was that Soubi made him feel so embarrassed sometimes. Ritsuka was the most comfortable around Soubi and Soubi was so kind to him. But no one else ever made him feel quite the same.

Soubi looked up and saw how extremely red Ritsuka's face was and chuckled quietly to himself. Ritsuka was so cute and innocent. The boy just pretended to ignore Soubi's obvious enjoyment. Soubi wanted nothing more than to tease the boy about the color. Did you get a fever Ritsuka? Or such. But he decided against it. He knew that if he went too far, Ritsuka would feel like he was being made fun of.

As Soubi started moving things around in his medical supply kit Ritsuka remember his question. "Er.. Soubi?"

"Yes, Ritsuka?"

Ritsuka crinkled his nose. "Did it.. uhn did it…?" He began to ask, too timid finish what he was saying.

"Hmm? Did what?" Soubi asked, getting curious, he looked into his Sacrifice's eyes. That only made Ritsuka more nervous.

"Did it... You know... feel... Did it feel nice...?"

x

Suddenly, a sensation ripped through Soubi's body and he felt two sets of small teeth clash together with his tongue in the middle of them. Ritsuka was biting him, and then much too quickly he let go.

"You never know... until you try."

x

Soubi remembered now. Yes, something he certainly didn't mind thinking of. It had surprised him quite a bit, but Ritsuka always did.

"Huh? Ritsuka. I don't understand. Did what feel nice?" he taunted.

"Uggh! Never mind!" Ritsuka turned his head away, unwilling to reveal his question.

But when the boy turned his head back up a few seconds later, curiously, Soubi was very, very close. "Want to see for yourself?" Soubi asked, negligently running his tongue along his bottom lip.

In Soubi's mind a pair of lips might eagerly meet his, surprising him. A passionate kiss could unfold, they could become closer, and maybe he could finally let Ritsuka know just how much he loved him. Maybe Ritsuka could finally believe that it wasn't just an order anymore. It was foolish to think, of course, that a kiss like that could actually bring them closer. Ritsuka was too young, he barely understood any of it. Soubi didn't want to hurt him. Soon Ritsuka's tongue might enter Soubi's mouth. His small, cute tongue, waiting for Soubi to show and answer its innocent questions. Soubi would play with it first, enamored by Ritsuka. And then he could bite down on the small tongue. He wouldn't bite it hard, of course. Not even close to hard. Soubi didn't want to hurt Ritsuka, he just wanted to do it enough so that Ritsuka could feel it too. So Ritsuka could feel the passion and bliss that Soubi wanted to convey.

Instead Soubi received a light smack to the face. "No way, pervert." The small hand pushed Soubi's face away. 'Of course, I could only hope.' Soubi thought.

"But you won't know unless you try." Soubi tried a new angle, playfully. And pathetically it had no effect. Or very little… Ritsuka's reaction was more than rewarding enough.

"N..No way!" Then mumbling and giving a small pout Ritsuka added, "at least... not now."

This made Soubi very happy. Not now is a least someday. Ritsuka didn't hate him, he wasn't grossed out. Even though he was just a little boy and Soubi was a defiled man. "Then..." He teased, "how about showing me again?" A playful, innocent look crossed his face, a look that almost made Ritsuka give in.

"Nu-uhh, once is plenty enough." Ritsuka protested.

"For now," Soubi added softly. And Ritsuka didn't protest. Or at least didn't answer.

"Hey! Wait a minute! You always avoid my questions. You never anss...nnh"

Soubi stopped Ritsuka's complaints with a small kiss, and followed it by whispering in his ear. "It felt… amazing." Warm breath, Soubi's voice, the kisses, the words. All of it was starting to make Ritsuka's head spin, and his stomach swirl. 'Hm..' He wondered, 'did it really feel that good?' Clumsily, his thoughts slipped out into words, "Did I make it feel that good?" immediately he clasped his hands over his mouth. "No, no I di-didn't mean that. I don't wanna know."

"Oh but it was you, Ritsuka. No one else could make it feel so good." Soubi replied, ignoring Ritsuka's denial. He then turned his attention away from the boy and back to the medical kit. If possible, Ritsuka blushed even harder. 'How does that man feel no shame over saying such things?' Ritsuka couldn't help but think, this time keeping his thoughts entirely in his own head.

"Ritsuka, are you hurt anymo..." Soubi's voice trailed off as his eyes focused on Ritsuka's dark shirt. "The slashes..." he whispered. "Damn it! How could I forget...? I should've done this last night..." Soubi started to lose his cool. Ritsuka definitely had to be in pain. He stared at Ritsuka's torso wide eyed. This was the only thing that could make him regret spending all those hours sleeping with Ritsuka and hugging him tight. 'He should've been healing…' If Soubi had just done this before they slept, it wouldn't be too bad then. But he had actually forgotten? He was beginning to become a little more than outraged with himself.

"I'm sorry..." Soubi whispered as he started pulling up the green t-shirt over Ritsuka's body. Ritsuka then realized the pain that was ripping through him. How could he have not noticed it earlier?

"S..Sou.." Ritsuka started to say. He was worried about Soubi being so upset. Soubi apologizes a lot but never so seriously. Never with such an intense worried tone in his voice. He never lost his temper like this in front of Ritsuka before. But the pain was eating away at Ritsuka getting worse and worse. He bit his lip, he couldn't comfort Soubi but he also wouldn't cry or scream out in pain. That would hurt Soubi even more.

As Soubi pulled the shirt up blood became very evident. It was hard to see the dried sticky liquid against a dark shirt. That may have been why Soubi hadn't noticed before, but even so that just sounded like an excuse to him. He should've check Ritsuka for injuries immediately after the battle. He should've. He should've. Blood clung to his shirt making peeling it off painful. Like the shirt was Ritsuka's scab.

"Ritsuka, I'm going to take it off quickly. It'll hurt all at once instead of many times. But it'll hurt a lot... I'm sorry."

Ritsuka could only look back trying to reassure Soubi with his eyes. But Soubi diverted his gaze.

"Okay I'm going to do it now." Soubi slid his hands under Ritsuka. This simple action made Ritsuka momentarily forget the pain, all he felt were strong, familiar hands gliding over his bare skin. Soubi's hands were reassuring and warm. Soubi's hands always held him close and took care of him. His hands slid up the shirt in the back where there was no blood. This way it wouldn't get caught. Then the hands left and all Ritsuka could feel was the pain. With the air starting to get at the open cuts that the scythe had left behind, it was stinging and stinging. Ritsuka gripped the bed sheets next to him and tried not to show too much pain on his face.

Shhhcclllug.

The shirt came up all at once. Blood clinging to it, wounds now open. Ritsuka held back a yell but hot tears gathered in his eyes. He gripped the bed sheets tighter.

Soubi fished a knife from his pocket and flicked it open. Fleetingly Ritsuka wondered why the man carried a knife. Protection? He cut the fabric down the middle, so he could open Ritsuka's shirt like a jacket instead of pulling it over his head. Gently Soubi lifted either of his small arms and slid them out of the sleeves, discarding the shirt randomly in a corner. Ritsuka's upper body was now fully exposed. Despite this he wasn't feeling embarrassment, only pain.

About five slick, bloody, messy wounds cut across Ritsuka's body. And the air nipped at them painfully. Soubi wanted to cry. He had failed, really, really failed. Ritsuka's torso now resembled Soubi's back, except much more recent. Refusing to look his Sacrifice in the eyes, Soubi set to work. He got some cloth out, layered towels underneath Ritsuka. Normally he should bathe Ritsuka's wounds, but he boy was in too much pain to move, and hot water would just hurt the wounds. Normally the boy would protest as his clothes were stripped by his older companion, as he was dunked into warm cleansing water. But not now, now there was too much pain.

Gently but swiftly Soubi poured water over the wounds. He cleaned the tender, broken skin off with a cloth. All he could see was blood. It was everywhere. Bloody water, bloody towels, bloody cloth. Bloody Ritsuka. It was invading his vision. The blood that existed grew and muddled his mind. He was seeing it everywhere it didn't exist and everywhere that it still did. Soubi bit his lip and reluctantly continued. He tried desperately to push out the fake images in his mind and concentrate on the reality. The reality was that Ritsuka was hurt. He was determined to make his Sacrifice feel better. Next he poured Peroxide on the wounds. It stung, but infection worked its way out. Germs bubbled through the soapy-like liquid, and pain bubbled through with it. Next, more water, and more blood washed away.

Finally he was clean. But blood slowly ran out of his wounds. It slowly ran through Soubi's mind, the boy was clean but blood was still surrounding him, looming overhead. Ritsuka smiled a weak thank you. He felt weak, physically as well as weak for needing to be taken care of and depending on Soubi so much. Soubi still wouldn't look at him, Ritsuka didn't see the horror in Soubi's eyes, he didn't see the things that were haunting Soubi.

Now clean, the open cuts were very visible. Soubi felt sick. He did this. Ritsuka hadn't wanted it, but he did it. He caused these horrible scars on his Sacrifice's body. Five sleek lines of red, crisscrossed against such precious skin. Soubi couldn't find any words. He'd seen a lot of blood in his life but never had it made him feel so sick. He brought out his wrappings. The same material he used every morning for his neck. The same material that had been used every morning of his past on his cuts. Now it would be for Ritsuka, precious, cute Ritsuka. Soubi wanted to scream. No, it was more than that, he wanted to kill. Desolate, Seimei, Seven Moons, they all caused this! It was their fault too… It had to be, it had to… Soubi was sweating now, beads of water glistening against his skin, furrowed eyebrows and a deep frown. No one had ever seen him in such a panicked state in so long. 'If only… If only…'

Ritsuka was much more worried about his companion then he was about his cuts. Cuts heal. But Soubi was sitting there in front of him looking limp and in even more pain, was he going to heal? Ritsuka didn't really understand why. Was Soubi worried about him? Still, no matter the reason Ritsuka wanted to sit up and hug Soubi tight. But that wasn't possible in his condition. So he reached up with his small hand, and using all of the strength he could he grabbed Soubi's hand and squeezed it tightly, trying his best to reassure the man. 'It's okay. I'm okay. Please, you, be okay.'

Soubi felt the pressure in his palm. His master, his love. He needed to help Ritsuka feel better not be worrying, he wasn't important right now. No, not Soubi. Never Soubi. Ritsuka was important.

He tore his eyes away from the cuts and tried, tried so hard to focus his mind. He needed to, Ritsuka wanted him too. He placed salve over the wounds, then cotton, and slowly wrapped his torso up. Sliding the roll, under his small back, over. Under. Over. He finished and tucked it in. Tight so it wouldn't come undone. A lot of the pain had subsided now, but Soubi had him take a pain reliever anyway.

Soubi got up from the bed. For the time being Ritsuka was basically immobile. If he sat up the cuts would open. Walking slowly to the kitchen Soubi felt like a zombie.

'Such deep wounds.'

He glanced at the clock.

'Precious skin. Scarred.'

4:00.

'Pain.'

They slept pretty late after all.

'Such a small body.

Food, Ritsuka should be hungry.

So innocent.'

"…Ritsuka?"

"Yeah?" His strength was coming back now. "Thank you, Soubi…"

Soubi basically ignored the apology. He didn't want to hear it! He didn't deserve it! "Are you hungry?"

"Mm.." Ritsuka was beginning to become annoyed. 'Why is he acting like this?' The extreme worry in Soubi's voice was a lot to handle, he'd never heard it before. He just wanted it to stop. "Sure Soubi, some food would be okay, whatever you want to eat is fine with me." He had to act calm for Soubi, he had to be strong too.

Normally Ritsuka would get a joke back. Normally.

'How is a person supposed to heal with such tension in the air?' No... 'How will Soubi heal?' Normally Soubi would see through Ritsuka, discover Ritsuka's pains. Now it was reversed.

Soubi began to move around the kitchenette, glancing towards Ritsuka every now and then. Ritsuka was troubled, he could see that, he could see how disturbed Ritsuka was by his actions. He was too visibly upset, that left Ritsuka to be upset as well. Soubi chastised himself. He was acting so pathetically. Ritsuka cared about him, yet he was still acting like a child… But still it was hard to change his attitude, he couldn't just stop hating himself for what he had done.

Soubi quickly masked his face. Showing an indifferent smile and began cooking Ritsuka's favorite foods.

x

x

a/n:

*Edited 10/4/11- Grammar

*Edited 2/25/12- Writing