Mist 12
A few days passed and Ritsuka was still haunted by Seimei's threats. Nothing Soubi had told him really made sense. Seimei hadn't admitted to sending Desolate, but everything Soubi told him made it seem unlikely that someone other than Seimei could've. Seimei had threatened to take him away from Soubi but Seimei was the one who sent Soubi in the first place. What worried Ritsuka the most was how distressed Soubi seemed when he talked about Seimei. Ritsuka tried to assure him that it would be okay but he knew it was futile.
Soubi had left out the comment on Ritsuka's ears but even so the news was pretty hard to reveal. He was still daunted by the consequences, if he didn't protect Ritsuka from the other teams then Ritsuka could be taken away from him. Judging by what Youji and Natsuo had said about the missing teams, there were three teams other than Desolate and Bloodless. Meaning Soubi was going to have to protect Ritsuka in at least three intense battles, he hoped Seimei would end it at that.
Two days had passed since Ritsuka came down with a fever, Seimei's words were more dizzying then the temperature. Soubi seemed completely on edge with each passing day, Ritsuka could do little to make him feel better. Luckily Ritsuka seemed to be in better health by the third day of fever. Soubi took his temperature again, looking stoic but probably feeling very anxious inside.
It had lowered. Ritsuka smiled at Soubi a bit, "It's fine, see Soubi. Almost normal temperature, I'm feeling much better now too," Ritsuka tried to reassure Soubi and he really did feel better, aside from a slight dizziness and the haunting thoughts in his head.
"You need to stay in bed." Soubi insisted.
"Fine, Soubi I will." Ritsuka was willing to do as Soubi asked, hoping it would calm the man down a bit more. "Could you make me something to eat, Soubi?"
"Of course." Soubi got up and put the thermometer away, then checked the fridge for some ingredients. Soubi looked into the near-empty fridge.
"Ritsuka, what do you want to eat?" He asked, knowing he probably couldn't make it.
"Anything's fine" Ritsuka replied casually. Soubi was starting to think Ritsuka seemed even more mature as of late. Things needed to change.
Soubi stared into the fridge wishing he could make the food appear of he glared long enough. He sighed and shut the door. Leftovers from Kio's visit were long gone, as was everything else.
"It would be.." Soubi mumbled in reply.
"What?" Ritsuka hadn't heard him.
"I have to go to the store, Ritsuka.." Soubi said, hesitation riddled his voice. He didn't want to leave Ritsuka alone. It wasn't likely that someone would just come and attack him but he felt it was safer to be together. So many days seemed to have passed way too calmly.
Ritsuka sat up in bed, he had gained much more mobility now. "Eh! Soubi you can't go out by yourself let me go with you."
Soubi replied immediately, he didn't need to think about it, "No you can't come you have to rest." Soubi was worried about Ritsuka's cuts and fever. What would happen if Ritsuka got attacked while he was still sick, if they entered battle like that? Soubi wouldn't allow it.
Ritsuka wanted to argue but Soubi looked so stressed that he didn't want to push it.
x
Soubi locked the door behind him as he left the apartment, and Ritsuka. He tugged at the handle a few times, checking to make sure it was locked. Turning away from the door to face the flight of stairs he almost decided to turn back, 'Maybe it would be better to stay at home. Kio could pick up food tonight for us.' But as he took a hesitant step forward, Soubi found out that he had no choice but to keep moving. A battle frequency hit him hard, the echoing radiance of it sent a shiver up his back. He raced down the stairs searching for the domain's center. Once in the street he looked around swiftly. 'Where are the attackers?'
As he located them he masked all emotion from his face, displaying a stoic expression. They didn't make a single move forward.
"Hello Loveless." A man greeted him, standing in front of his partner. "Agustuma, is it?"
Soubi stared at the man and offered no words. He obviously was already aware of Soubi's identity without conformation so Soubi found no need to answer.
"Hmm.. Lacking in manners. No wonder Seimei didn't think you were suitable enough to keep." A smile curled on his face, his smirk gave away his intentions of trying to provoke Soubi. But no matter what intentions, the words were a blow to Soubi's emotions. He couldn't help but be effected by them. To feel deficient. He /hadn't/ been good enough. Seimei choose someone else.
Soubi shook free of the thoughts and reminded himself to focus. Ritsuka. The fight. Protecting Ritsuka.
The man spoke up again, "Will you be okay without the Loveless boy? It seems like cheating to fight without him.. If you lose I'll just have to go after him."
Soubi's glare hardened. 'No one will be going after him.'
Seemingly the opposition was bored with Soubi's lack of answers, "Enough talk, I declare a spell battle." He said.
Soubi accepted, he would not bring Ritsuka into this. "I am on Auto."
The battle dome appeared around them drowning the figures in black.
"I am Hiroko." He announced, "We are Rootless." The man behind Hiroko walked forward slowly, pacing his steps.
"Tohru, destroy him!" Hiroko shouted in command once the man took position by his side. It had become evident Hiroko was the Sacrifice.
The Fighter answered quickly, wasting no words. His voice was quiet and Soubi could barely hear him in the short distance, "Yes Master."
"Speak up Tohru!" The Sacrifice ordered.
"Yes Master." The Fighter said again. His voice didn't seem any louder.
He stared at Soubi for a moment before whispering, "Fighting without your master are you? Or should I say, /second/ master."
Soubi didn't respond, he kept his face unreadable.
Evidently, the Fighter, Tohru's voice was much louder in battle. As soon as he began speaking spell words, the volume of his voice rose.
"Growth! Lash out with maximum growth!"
Spells echoed around Soubi's mind and body. He tried to make sense of the attack before it could damage him but was stunned to see the grass around his feet suddenly lengthen. The grass stalks were thick and slithered around with a life of their own. The blades of grass reached up around him trying to bind him down. They slithered around his arms and legs trying to grip him. He avoided them with swift movements.
"Interesting.." Soubi commented on the attack. It wasn't a common method. "Now tell me why you are here." He asked and then quickly shouted a spell.
"Rays of sun bring drought! Destroy plant life!" Light burst through the dark dome, a ten foot in diameter ray hit the ground circling Soubi. The ray was harmless to him but killed every bit of grass it touched. The Rootless sacrifice was hit with similar, smaller sized, beams that dealt damage. The missed hits sizzled out in the grass, leaving sporadic spots of dead grass behind.
"Tohru!" The sacrifice yelled in anger after being hit repeatedly.
"Sorry Master, I will do better." He apologized, once again returning to a minuscule speaking voice as he spoke toward the ground.
The rays ended and Hiroko spoke up to Soubi's question.
"So, Agutsuma," Hiroko let the name curdle with his distaste. "You're not aware of who sent us?"
"I'm aware. I want to know why you are taking part in it."
Hiroko laughed shrilly, "Are you questioning us? Questioning Seimei, your Sacrifice, Agutsuma? How naughty! Punish him Tohru!"
"Yes Master." Tohru whispered obediently.
"You see" Hiroko said as his partner reached into a pocket. "Rootless. We have no roots, no boundaries. We will go to any extreme and feel no guilt." Tohru brought a closed fist out of his pocket. "Just like the botanicals we control so well."
Tohru took over with a spell, "Shooting growth! THORN, Lacerate!" He yelled out as he threw the contents of his hand into the air.
"Haha.. Nature beats all, Agutsuma. All." Hiroko boasted.
Small black seeds flew out of Tohru's hand and burst to life in the sky.
Growing at impossible speeds, the small seeds transformed into thorny vines. The vines sped through the air aiming to attack Soubi. He didn't have a moment to defend himself before he was being cut up by the plant. Small thorns covered the vines and lashed out at him. They cut through skin quickly, left no area they touched without blood.
"Nng.." The pain shot through each cut, tearing his face and arms. The pain was swallowing him but Soubi could endure it. He had too, for Ritsuka.
As if aiming to put Soubi through further pain, Hiroko choose that moment to properly answer Soubi's question. "We're helping out Seimei, he did us a favor. Showed us the truth. He asked us to defeat you and said to pretty you up with a bit of blood while we were at it." Hiroko seemed to speak fondly of Seimei, like he was a hero.
"Restrict!" Tohru yelled out, while Soubi was distracted by the vines. Chains lashed onto each of his wrists with the vines following. The thorns cut into Soubi's wrists, along with the chains also pulling at him. Soubi was also very much aware another pain, the throbbing of his neck. He knew without looking, his Beloved scars were bleeding profusely, probably worse than they ever had before. Seimei's voice echoed through his head, taunting him and further reminding him who he was betraying. Fighting without.
Hiroko was laughing again. "We have nothing holding us back, you see. No troublesome roots. Or little children for that matter." Hiroko was obviously trying to anger Soubi, Soubi knew it but the anger helped him focus on the attack.
He managed a spell through his harsh breathing, "Cut through growth, bladed fury. Thorns cannot grow here."
The vines were cut in half and they still tried to get at Soubi. Pouncing in the air, like a hungry animal held in place by a leash. Their range came nowhere near him, though.
Soubi grinned at the now worthless vines.
"Blades of sunlight, sharper then knives. CUT. Blood will turn to thorns!" Soubi's strong voice gave power to the spells.
Hiroko ordered his Fighter to defend but the attack was quick. Sunlight lit up the dark dome one again, rays shining from it turned into amber knives shooting from the sky. Hiroko screamed in pain as they hit him and a collar formed around his neck. Blood began oozing from his sun-made cuts. Swiftly the blood would transform into sharp, solid thorns jabbing into his skin. Tohru was suffering similar, though slightly less painful attacks.
Soubi glared at the pair, watching their defeat through throbbing eyes. 'They should die. The wanted to attack Ritsuka, they should die. They don't even feel proper human emotion.'
/-/ "Are they dead Soubi?" Ritsuka asked, his voice full of fear, as he stared into the open space where the attackers had stood a moment ago before disappearing.
"No." Soubi replied, smiling at Ritsuka's innocence. He knew so little. Soubi was starting to see striking differences between the child and his brother.
Ritsuka sighed, seemingly relieved but his face still held agitation. "Good." /-/
'They should..' Soubi knew that's not what Ritsuka would want. 'But they..' Soubi turned his head away from the scene, reluctant to make any moves.
/-/ "Don't Soubi!" Ritsuka grabbed onto Soubi's shirt pulling him away. "Don't kill them! Please!" Soubi stopped, stunned. Always follow through, Seimei had said. Following through in this case should mean the enemies die, unless of course his Sacrifice wanted differently. Soubi turned his head to face Ritsuka. His eyes were stricken and starting to fill with tears. He looked so desperate. Soubi held back, he apologized and wrapped the child in a hug. /-/
Soubi decided he couldn't kill them. Ritsuka wouldn't be pleased for him to have killed, not that he hadn't already in the past. But he hadn't been under Ritsuka's order then.
Hiroko let out one last cry of pain, and swore at his Sacrifice before passing out. Tohru sent a nasty glare Soubi's way and rushed to his Sacrifice's side.
"Leave. Take him and get out of here!" Soubi yelled at Tohru before turning home.
His eyesight was unclear, throbbing. 'What to do?' Soubi had no choice to go back, facing Ritsuka in such a pathetic state. Blood oozed from cuts all along his body. His wrists were bleeding heavily. His throat. None of the cuts were as deep as Ritsuka's but they were losing blood quick. He couldn't wait around and make decisions any longer.
"Damn." He swore under his breath as he fumbled his key into the lock. 'I didn't even get him food.' Soubi stumbled into his apartment, shut the door behind him and soon he was lying on the floor. Collapsed.