Mist, Act 9

"Soubi. Soubi. Soubi. Soubi." Ritsuka called from the bed, his voice was slightly slurred, and the tone in it was as if he were complaining.

"Ritsuka, I'm right here... You can stop saying my name now." Soubi said as he stood by Ritsuka's bedside. He looked at the boy with a bit of wonderment and curiosity.

"I'm right here…. stop saying my name… Mehmehmeh…" He deliriously mimicked Soubi, and it was quite strange to hear coming from him. He sounded a lot more like Youji or Natsuo than himself.

Soubi sighed and gently brushed the hair away from Ritsuka's face, "What do you need?"

"Whaddaya need?" the silly voice parroted back.

Instead of speaking Soubi moved his hand to Ritsuka's forehead to check his temperature.

"You might have a small temperature." Soubi said with a frown.

"Yeah, yeah… Small temperature…" Ritsuka's head nodded feebly.

For some, the situation may be laughable, but Soubi was way too freaked out and concerned to be laughing at what was going on. Frankly, it just wasn't cute to hear Ritsuka slurring, mimicking and acting completely different. But on the other hand Ritsuka was still pretty much adorable no matter what he said or did. Luckily Soubi knew a sure way to get him to stop, playing back.

"You are so cute." Soubi cooed.

As he expected Ritsuka mimicked him back like all the other times. "Ehhh.. You are cute... Sou..bi." Ritsuka said, not realizing his mistake. It was like a game to him, he wasn't really seeing things straight in his mind. He was chilly and uncomfortable too, the world seemed dizzy around him.

Soubi bent down and planted a kiss on Ritsuka's forehead, "Thank you, my kitten."

Ritsuka then realized what he was being thanked for and blushed, buried his head in his pillow, and mumbled obscenities at Soubi. Soubi just smiled thinking that Ritsuka was just too easy to tease and walked away to get some aspirin.

"What did you want earlier?" Soubi inquired as he handed Ritsuka a glass of water and some pills to lower his fever.

Ritsuka scrunched up his face as he gulped down the pills. "Cold!" He whined Soubi's name. "I'm cold… Ge'me some blankets, please. I want my clothes too…!"

'His clothes..' Soubi glanced over to the corner... He still hadn't disposed of the bloody mess, so there was Ritsuka's shirt. Obviously, if he was cold it would certainly help to have some clothing on. Soubi realized that along with his shirt, Ritsuka's pants were probably very dirty by now and might be bloody, not to mention his underwear, Soubi hadn't really thought about it earlier. It was occurring to him that he kept overlooking things, no matter how hard he tried to do better. Everything was just too overwhelming.

The Zeros had fallen asleep on the floor next to their video games and were clutched onto each other in their sleep. They were curled up, facing each other, lying only a breath away. Both of Natsuo's hands clutched one of Youji's. The fingers of Youji's other hand were playfully threaded in Natsuo's hair, and the look on his twin's face was dreamy. Had they been awake though, they definitely would be teasing the delirious Ritsuka and his funny actions.

Soubi walked over to the pair and started shaking them awake.

"Youji… Natsuo... wake up. I need to borrow some of your clothes for Ritsuka."

"'Tisn't polite to disrupt... someone..'s sleep.." Natsuo slurred out as he rose from his sleep.

"Eh our clothes? They're all wet, drying out side see.." Youji was slightly more coherent as he spoke. Still looking at his twin, Youji pointed behind himself to the porch window. Soubi looked out and he did see, the Zero's clothes were definitely still wet. Rain was pouring down outside, pattering in the roof, and on the clean clothes.

"Well he can wear some of my clothes for now." Soubi decided. "Can he at least borrow some underwear?"

Natsuo and Youji looked at each other seeming puzzled, "Huh? We don't wear that stuff." they said together.

"It's nice when we wear dresses, the breeze and all." Natsuo justified.

Soubi wasn't sure how to even begin with the two so he just walked away shaking his head, back to Ritsuka's side.

"Here." Soubi said as he gathered a few spare, heavy blankets and placed them on top of Ritsuka. "I hope this is okay for now. As for clothes, I'm going to have to go to your house."

Ritsuka snuggled into the new blanket additions and made a puzzled face at Soubi. "Why would you.. you can't.. Mom will..."

"No. I'm going. Besides you should leave a note for your mother just in case she wakes up."

Ritsuka sighed, Soubi was right. Besides he didn't really want to wear Soubi's underwear...

"We know! We know!" the twins exclaimed. "We can go instead!"

"Yay, Ritsuka's house!" Youji cheered.

Soubi and Ritsuka both turned to them and flatly said, "No."

"Fine, Soubi." Ritsuka decided, looking up at Soubi. "Get me something to write a note on. If you're going to do this then you can't let Mom see you, or my dad for that matter, if he's home that is." Ritsuka scribbled down a note that he would be staying with a friend, was safe, would be home soon, and not to worry. He handed the note to Soubi and instructed him to stick it on the kitchen table if he could.

Ritsuka knew that the note wasn't actually going to do much but it seemed like it would be better than nothing. He too realized that he couldn't go back to his home in the state he was in.

"Will you be okay without me?" Soubi asked as he leaned closer to Ritsuka's face.

Breathlessly Ritsuka nodded. "O-Of course I'll be fine!" he yelled. Ritsuka was flustered at the suggestion that, as he thought, he couldn't be without Soubi.

Soubi smiled and kissed Ritsuka's head. As he stood to leave Soubi ruffled Ritsuka's hair, making the boy scowl, and told the Zeros to take care of him. It was an abrupt decision but Soubi actually wanted to check on Misaki, he wondered if she was at a dangerous point, if she had noticed Ritsuka's absence. There was plenty of reason to head to the boy's home but still he was uneasy about leaving.

Youji and Natsuo eagerly agreed to take care of the boy with big smiles on their faces. Soubi shot them a look, warning them not to harass Ritsuka too much and left the apartment with one last loving smile at Ritsuka. As he closed the door he heard Natsuo ask, "Hey, Ritsuka? Why are you blushing?" Ritsuka didn't reply but Soubi knew exactly why, Ritsuka loved his smile as much as he loved Ritsuka's.

x

Once he arrived at Ritsuka's house and was on his balcony, after the solitary walk to the house, Soubi peeked through Ritsuka's sliding door to ensure that his mother wasn't lurking around and the bedroom door was shut, luckily for him all was clear. Or at least visually. Soubi could tell something was going on. He could almost smell it, it was so obvious. He could certainly feel it.

"I smell something nasty." Soubi said pointedly to the seemingly empty room.

"Mmh. How clever the lunatic is." A snakelike voice hissed out of the curtains, they rustled to reveal exactly who Soubi expected them to. Nisei. The man had covered his Fighter trace but not quite well enough.

"Well I smell pedophilia!" Nisei exclaimed in a singsong voice as he circled Soubi.

"What is this about? You don't belong in Ritsuka's room." Soubi growled, his eyebrows were furrowed in anger. 'This guy, I hate the most. He should not be in Ritsuka's room. Why had he appeared so suddenly?'

"And an old man like you does belong? Should a brat have so many pictures like this? Ew! You're even hugging in this one. Yucky.." Nisei was walking around the room, ignoring Soubi, and looking at all of Ritsuka's pictures.

"Answer me." Soubi growled again.

"I don't have to answer to a thing like you." Nisei said with a disapproving frown. He obviously saw Soubi as something lower than him.

Soubi slung back his arm and released a fist right on Nisei's cheek, he held back because his full strength would probably knock Nisei out, but the punch was still very strong. Nisei screamed in irritation and pressed his hand against his raw cheek.

"Answer me or I won't hesitate to break your nose." Soubi threatened.

This sent Nisei's rage flying, he couldn't stand having been hit so easily and he hated the pain, "Seimei won't like this, a bruise on his Fighter's pretty little face. But you know," Nisei said as he pulled some photographs out of his jacket. His movements were rough and threatening. "I think he'll like these even less." Nisei flashed the pictures at Soubi, holding them up to his face so he could get a good look.

'Ritsuka!' They were pictures of Ritsuka.

"Answer me! What the hell are you doing here? Why do you have pictures of him?" Soubi was only seeing danger in this man. He knew Nisei was capable of some level of spying as he had demonstrated when he eavesdropped, but knowing that was not much as he didn't know much else. No one had ever informed him about the Fighter he was replaced with, yet he had the feeling Nisei was well informed on him. Soubi didn't know much about his opponent but what he did know was more than enough to hate him. His fist stung slightly from the punch but he knew Nisei's face was hurting him much more. He also knew the other man could surely tolerate that level of pain easily.

"You scum... You're just a lonely little sadist aren't you? Every time we meet I leave injured, I never wanted to fight. Maybe you ought to look closer at these pictures. Hell you can even keep 'em I have extras."

Soubi ripped the pictures out of Nisei's hand and ignored his taunting. They were not just pictures of Ritsuka. The top photo was of both Ritsuka and Soubi. It was of Ritsuka being carried in Soubi's arms, with a bloody shirt and bruises. The details were clear, they had been passing under a streetlight exactly when the photo was snapped and it seemed to have been with some high quality camera, possibly one made for the night. Then he looked at the second one, it had been taken soon after the first. Ritsuka was still in Soubi's arms, bloody, and Soubi was playfully planting kisses and nibbles on his ear and neck while Ritsuka blushed furiously. But neither seemed to be concerned or even noticed the blood on Ritsuka. Soubi felt a wave of nausea as he looked at the photos, proof of his biggest mistake.

"Pe..do..phi..lee..ahhh!" Nisei sang through his disgusting laughter. "Seimei will be pissed! You broke his brat. Haha! What's next will you also steal his ears?"

That was the last straw for Soubi. This time, as he promised, the punch landed right on the bridge of Nisei's nose, leaving a satisfying crackle noise and a grunt of pain from the man. "I told you I would break it if you wouldn't answer properly." Soubi said as he pulled his fist away and blood flowed out of Nisei's mangled nose, "Why are you here? Tell me, or do you want me to break something else?"

Nisei jumped back and pressed his sleeve over his nose to try and stem some of the blood. He frowned at Soubi and at the pain, "Hey! I came here to pass on a message! I had no intentions of getting violent!"

Soubi ignored his whining, he just wanted this person out of Ritsuka's room. It was unsettling. Just as unsetting as what Nisei had just said. A message. "I don't care about your intentions. Tell me the message and get out."

"Fine, fine." Nisei begrudgingly complied, "Your beloved Seimei says..." Nisei began mimicking Seimei's stern voice though he sounded a bit strange with his nose in the state it was, "'I trust Ritsuka is doing well in your hands. I'm sure he is safe and not injured. I may have to come check on him if I'm inclined so. If he is harmed I could just take him back sooner than planned, it would be troublesome, but it just won't do to have my precious baby brother in the care of someone who can't even protect him. In order to ensure that he is indeed okay I will have to test your abilities to protect him, consider how kind of a master I am for warning you ahead of time. Never forget that you are my property, Soubi. You are my Fighter. By the way, I hope you realize that Ritsuka's ears are not yours, surely you wouldn't forget a thing like that. All of him belongs to me.' Hehe.. So he says, so he says. Seimei doesn't even trust you with the brat's ears!"

As soon as Nisei's last word slipped his lips, Soubi was shouting, "Get Out!" His voice was loud and intimidating enough that Nisei actually listened. Hastily he made an exit to the balcony, trailing blood behind him all the while. Before slinking out the door he shot his middle finger up in Soubi's direction along with a disgusted look that was partially obscured by his sleeve.

Seimei's message was eerie, it left Soubi shaking as he mulled it over in his thoughts. The things his master said to him. Obviously Seimei had heard about the pictures already, he knew Ritsuka was hurt. Nisei had attempted to make it sound like Seimei didn't yet know but the message contradicted that completely. But worse of all, Seimei was the one who hurt Ritsuka, and he planned to send more attackers. Soubi knew that that was what the message meant. Seimei had sent Desolate as a test and there was more to come. Just as they had thought, Seimei was behind this. That meant all of the other 'lost' teams could very well be intended to 'test' Soubi and Ritsuka.

And just as frightening, as always Seimei knew exactly how to get to Soubi, how to play with his mind and jerk his thoughts around. Seimei must have known Soubi desired Ritsuka's ears, known about the yearning and blatant lust inside of the man. Seimei knew everything. He was god, he was absolute. Soubi knew Seimei would think about it in a much cruder way, though, he must think Soubi was a monster a disgusting man who wanted to claim a young boy's ears. Seimei must think he had been so bad, so dirty, Soubi almost believed that he deserved to have Ritsuka taken away. Seimei's words made him want to believe that he was bad and terrible for Ritsuka. It made the wounds that he had let be inflicted on the boy become raw all over again. If Seimei knew about Soubi's love did that mean he planned it? From the start he knew they would eventually fall in love? What did he plan to do afterward? If he didn't want them to fall in love Seimei could have ordered Soubi to stay away from Ritsuka, at least stop him from expressing it, but he did the exact opposite. Did he plan to use their love to his advantage? Yank them apart and punish Soubi? Wouldn't Ritsuka suffer as well?

All Soubi could tell for sure was Ritsuka would be in danger very soon, that thought sent his mind into an even worse frenzy and he hurried to grab Ritsuka's clothes. He needed to get back to Ritsuka's side quickly.

Soubi grabbed a few random shirts, pants, mostly pajamas and comfortable things to wear in bed, and underwear from Ritsuka's dresser. Then he went into his bathroom to grab his toothbrush. Soubi washed the blood on his hand from Nisei's nose off in the sink. When he exited the bathroom, Soubi could hear Misaki thrashing around in the room at the end of the hallway. Before leaving, Soubi remembered the note in his pocket. He slipped downstairs and peeked out of the hallway to insure Ritsuka's dad wasn't around, when he saw no one was there Soubi left the paper on the kitchen table. It was almost too easy. But his heart was still beating like crazy, unable to get Nisei's appearance and message out of his mind.

As he walked back upstairs Soubi saw how messy the house was, plates were shattered against one of the kitchen walls and food and knives were left out on the counter. One of the cutting knives was sticking out of the table, with the blade jabbed in pretty far. Soubi reminded himself to ask Ritsuka to come live with him again, the house he was in wasn't a safe environment for anyone, let alone a child. This house didn't seem safe for a child even before seeing what Ritsuka's parents acted like. Walking up the stairs Soubi saw a picture of Ritsuka hanging in a smashed frame, and blood stains on the wall beneath it. As if it was smashed with a fist and the glass cut through their skin. Not safe, not normal. Soubi kept walking reminding himself to hurry back.

He got up to Ritsuka's room and checked to make sure Nisei hadn't stolen or wrecked anything. It all seemed fine except one picture frame lying on the floor near Ritsuka's bed. Soubi picked it up, he saw that it was a picture of both of them, they were at the park and both had huge, true, smiles on their faces as they stood in each other's arms. Soubi gave a slight smile at the picture, and the memory, and placed the frame on Ritsuka's night stand. There were a few blood stains left on the floor from Nisei but Soubi couldn't do much about it quickly, so he just left it.

He breathed out slowly and took one last look around the room before darting out the balcony door. The way home seemed to take forever. Soubi was impatient to get back to Ritsuka, and Seimei's words kept echoing in his head.

"I'm sure he is safe and not injured...

I could just take him back…

…have to test your abilities to protect…

…someone who can't even protect him…

Never forget that you are my property…

All of him belongs to me."

Soubi got to his apartment building and ran up the rusted stairs. Clumsily he jammed the key into its hole and unlocked the door. Soubi burst into the room out of breath.

Ritsuka was calmly lying in bed chatting with the Zero twins, his fever seemed to be fading. He had felt a longing as soon as Soubi left him, but the memory of Soubi's smile stayed in his head and calmed him. When Soubi suddenly burst through the door, he stood by the entrance breathing heavy for a moment before running over to Ritsuka's side. The Zeros walked away do not wanting to get in the way.

"Ri.. Ritsuka.." Soubi rasped. He kneeled down next to the bed, flooded by emotions, mostly relief that Ritsuka was okay. He had gotten it in his head that something must have gone wrong while he was away. It had been nerve wracking to be any distance from the boy.

Ritsuka was startled by Soubi's behavior, though he had started acting pretty strange lately. "Soubi? Are you alright?"

Soubi gave a slight nod before resting his head facedown next to Ritsuka. The boy lifted his hand and placed it on Soubi's head, rubbing his head and playing with his hair. Ritsuka could only think of this to comfort him, as he could not move.

It did comfort Soubi. The feel of Ritsuka entered him through the nimble fingertips, warmth and comfort.

"I'll protect you, I promise I will." Soubi said mostly to himself, with his head still face down.

Ritsuka just mumbled back that he knew and it was okay. He was much more concerned with Soubi's strange actions. Just a moment ago he had been rushing in the door, not even bothering to remove his shoes, and now he was submitting himself to Ritsuka and promising to completely be his protector. It was so strange, Ritsuka could only assume that something bad must have happened.

"Soubi, what happened? At my house, did mom see you or something?" Ritsuka asked. Surprisingly to himself, he was more concerned that Soubi was hurt or yelled at by his mom then he was that his mom might be angry about seeing the strange man.

"No. She didn't come out." Soubi said, attempting to clear his mind and return to calmness.

"Oh that's good." Ritsuka said as he blew a stream of air out, but Soubi still seemed upset. Was something else bothering him? "Soubi, what happened?" he repeated.

Soubi just shook his head into the bed, "Nothing."

Ritsuka knew he was lying, he wasn't angry at the man for lying about this, but this time it seemed important. Ritsuka really wanted to know what was going on.

"Soubi, tell me about it later okay?"

Soubi lifted his head up and nodded as he looked into Ritsuka's eyes.

"For now just forget about it, don't worry. Did you get my clothes?"

Soubi nodded again. The strain was starting to fade out of his face, Ritsuka's innocent words were somehow reassuring.

Soubi reached down into the pack and grabbed out clean clothes.

"Hmm… Ritsuka."

"Yeah, Soubi?"

"I think… you need a bath before putting on clean clothes."

This got both Ritsuka and the Zeros who were trying to play video games instead of getting involved with two uncharacteristic weirdoes. Bath time was something fun for Youji and Natsuo, but Ritsuka never would agree to join them.

"Ah! Loveless, take a bath with us! Please, let him Soubi! Let him." Youji and Natsuo begged.

Ritsuka looked at Soubi, pleading him to say no. There was no telling what those two could do to him, naked and in the water.

"No way." Soubi said to Ritsuka's relief, "He can't get those stitches wet."

Everyone spoke at once,

"If I can't get them wet how do you expect me to bathe?" Ritsuka questioned.

"YOU STITCHED HIM?" Youji asked practically shouting and completely baffled.

"Aw! Please let him, just once." asked Natsuo with a pout.

Soubi just smiled knowingly at Ritsuka, ignored Youji and shook his head at Natsuo.

"Besides, the only one Ritsuka is allowed to get in a tub with would be me." Soubi said cutely.

"Eh? Who would enforce that?" someone asked.

"Me." Soubi answered as if it was obvious that he would let no one else get near Ritsuka. He seemed to have momentarily forgotten Seimei. Ever since Ritsuka entered his life, Soubi would forget about Seimei more and more often.

Turning to Ritsuka, Soubi said, "I will have to wash you by hand, a sponge bath."

x

x

A/n:

-Thank you for reading! You reviewers are great!

Edited: 3/5/12- Writing