Mist 16

'How could I forget? Something like that is the most important /not/ to forget.' Ritsuka thought 'How careless can I be..?'

"Mother.." Ritsuka's words came as a sort of whimper.

Soubi wrapped his arms around the boy before he really even knew what was wrong and tried to relay some comfort. He whispered calming words into Ritsuka's ear.

Kio looked on, curiously and worriedly. He had even less of a clue as to what Ritsuka could be upset, so suddenly, about.

"Soubi.." Ritsuka said, "She's all alone.. I wouldn't be surprised if Dad didn't come home once. Or if.. if he did, he probably wouldn't see her. Wh-when I left she was sick, too."

Soubi's face was deep in a frown. "It's okay Ritsuka, she's an adult, I'm sure she can take care of herself." He tried comforting.

"No! Soubi.. It isn't like that. She's all alone. Without me.. without Seimei or Dad. She'll be lonely like that."

Soubi and Kio both simultaneously thought what a, unique, kind child Ritsuka was. Though, Soubi thought so a bit more endearingly.

"When you see her.." Soubi was nervous to ask, he didn't want to upset Ritsuka and he wasn't ready for a painful answer. "Won't your Mother be angry with you? That isn't good."

'Someone like that,' Soubi thought. 'deserves to be alone.'

Ritsuka was angry and flustered at the accusation toward his mother, Soubi hadn't even said the worst of what he thought. "No!" He yelled, pulling away from Soubi a little bit. "If Mother is angry.. If.. If Mom is angry that I was away for so long.. then I.. I deserve it, If that's how she feels.." Ritsuka closed his eyes and turned his head away, distraught.

"Ritsuka!" Soubi almost yelled, surprised and furious. His voice was louder than normal- not in a scolding sort of way. His eyes widened. Soubi pulled the boy in front of him so they were facing each other. "That's wrong!"

Kio looked just as surprised. Appalled. 'For him to think something like that..' Kio didn't know the whole situation but he knew it wasn't Ritsuka's fault, especially with Soubi's reaction backing that.

Ritsuka opened his eyes at Soubi but said nothing.

"Ritsuka, you were hurt. You had every reason to be away from that woman! That woman would've hurt you more, she would've hurt you Ritsuka.. She'll be mad. But Ritsuka. You didn't do anything wrong!" Soubi didn't wait for a response and didn't really want one, especially if it was to argue, he pulled Ritsuka into another tight hug. Squeezing the small frame against his. Ritsuka's body stiffened at the contact at first but then he let up and allowed himself to be comforted.

"Soubi.." Ritsuka whispered. "I have to see her. Tomorrow."

Soubi didn't sleep at all that night.

x

The next day went by anxiously. Kio stayed and he and Soubi worked on paintings.

Soubi and Ritsuka were both brooding all day.

Secretly, Ritsuka was worried his mother was going to hit him. Soubi told him it wasn't his fault, but he had still left her alone. Ritsuka knew the note he had left earlier in the week wouldn't have sufficiently satisfied her. He also felt bad because, now that it was in his mind, Ritsuka couldn't stop thinking about Misaki sitting home all alone. Opposed to rushing home as soon as possible Ritsuka decided it would be best to wait until Monday. He really needed to think things over but at this point it didn't seem like a solution would ever come to him.

Soubi needed to protect Ritsuka. He needed to figure out how.

Youji and Natsuo arrived late Saturday evening. They only stayed up long enough for Youji to complain of a stomach ache and Natsuo to blame it on the train ride. Apparently the undefeatable Zero was prone to motion sickness. Soubi offered to make them coco but they fell asleep before they could answer.

Kio, too, fell asleep. He was slowly recovering from what may have been a mild concussion and spell after effects.

Ritsuka dropped himself onto the couch and stared at the paintings he, Soubi, and Kio had made. They were leaned against a wall, drying. His looked like vomit.

Soubi sat down next to Ritsuka and covered Ritsuka's hand with his own. Gently, he rubbed his thumb back and forth on the small hand.

"Tomorrow." Ritsuka said with finality and wavering authority.

"Mmn." Soubi couldn't stop him from doing what he wanted to do, if Ritsuka was so determined.

Soubi hated for Ritsuka to go back to a place that was so harsh. He wouldn't find any love at his home, such a sad thing.

Ritsuka bounced his heels against the couch.

Soubi admired the youth in Ritsuka's appearance, it was such a fleeting thing. And even now, if he seemed young, he was thinking very mature things.

"Ritsuka."

The feet stopped bouncing.

A pause. "..Soubi?"

Ritsuka's lips were taken away. And neither of them could resist, not that they wanted to, anyway.

x

Youji and Natsuo awoke reluctantly, cured of any previous motion sickness, and were as energetic as usual. Ritsuka arrived at school in a strange way that morning, accompanied by Soubi (despite Soubi having been told to stay in bed, not to mention at home, repeatedly.) Also, once Soubi departed, Ritsuka was flanked by the two Zeros who seemed not to know what personal space was.

Frankly, Soubi had been quite reluctant to leave Ritsuka at school. For the boy to be away from his side made him feel very nervous. But there wasn't much he could do, short of attending the classes with Ritsuka (which Ritsuka had immediately vetoed.) Also Ritsuka's adamant demands that he get some rest and heal were too cute for him to not want to comply somewhat. So Soubi had to leave the boy in care of the [probably] reliable Zero's. They could be serious when they needed to be [probably]. At least Soubi felt the two would protect Ritsuka as much as they could, and if it was a Unit, the two boys were strong enough to, at the very least, hold the other team off before Soubi could arrive. For the first time Soubi felt himself trying to trust someone that wasn't his master, and it was a troublesome pair of adolescent brats, no less.

Ritsuka was still adorned in stitches but didn't hurt so much anymore. The kiss mark on his neck had also faded, also. If it weren't for the blinding memories it would almost be as if the last week hadn't happened. Almost.

Soubi went back to his apartment, alone. Trying not to limp from the pain still coursing through his body. Yet, he was lucky. For his injuries to not exceed the damage they did, he was inequitably lucky.

"I'm back." Soubi said to Kio as he walked into his home.

He received a sleepy groan in response and the groaner promptly fell back to sleep.

Soubi accepted his friend's unwillingness to awaken and sat down, planning to sketch some while he had the privacy.

And then it hit him.

The ringing in his ears was loud and he felt pain trying to twitch its way into his body. And there was that, that smell. It was far off, as was the ringing, because the opposing Battle Frequency had just collided with his. Soubi was afraid to move. If he made one step in the wrong direction he might not be able to feel it any more, there was also the chance it would get stronger. To risky. He was already covered up, the opposition had no clue of his presence. But that smell, Soubi could recognize it. He had to. So familiar, but in a nasty way. A nasty smell. A Fighter.

"Ahh." Soubi realized. "Nisei has come to visit." He frowned in discontent.

Soubi scribbled down a note for Kio and rushed out the door, deciding it would be better to rely on instinct and intellect rather than Battle Frequencies to find the pest. Also, he paid no mind to his injuries.

Soubi wanted Nisei gone. If he came too close he could be aiming to mess with Ritsuka, or both him and Ritsuka. Even if the man had no intentions of coming at Ritsuka, if Nisei came much closer Youji and Natsuo, at least, would feel the Frequency. Ritsuka might feel it a little too, he had been able to feel the female Zero's. Even if Ritsuka didn't notice Youji and Natsuo would be sure to warn him and might recognize who it was. Nisei was unnecessary. A complete pest.

Soubi wasn't really in any condition to battle. If he battled alone.. well, bad things might- no, would- happen. Ritsuka would not like that at all. And really, for Soubi to battle against Nisei would be ..difficult, Seimei is the Sacrifice after all. But if Soubi was to find Nisei, assuming (and hoping) he is alone, he could at least chase the pest away. Also, Nisei's nose might need to be broken again.

Soubi began his search going in the general direction he thought Nisei was in. When he felt the Frequency he could tell were the center point was. But given the large size of his own (undetectable) Frequency Soubi was able to feel Nisei's despite him being a ways away, so the 'general direction' of Nisei was pretty vague. Gratefully it seemed to be the opposite direction from Ritsuka's school. Soubi could no longer feel the Frequency after descending his apartment stairs. Most likely, Soubi guessed, Nisei moved farther away. Purely by chance.

'That vermin better not decide to come here after all.'

Soubi set off in 'the direction of Nisei' and arrived in the general area in about an hour. He cursed his injuries that caused him to slow so much.

Soubi still couldn't feel Nisei's Battle Frequency. If he could just get inside it, it would be so much easier. As he walked forward with no clue as to which direction would be more suitable (he was in a town with several streets, all with similar appearances and similar shops) Soubi was eventually able to bump into the Frequency a few more times. The strange thing was that, his own Frequency was hidden, he was sure of that, so why did it seem like every time he moved closer to Nisei's center Nisei moved away?

Soubi palmed his face and sighed, pushing fallen strands of hair out of his sight with an elegant sweep.

'Ritsuka..' Soubi checked his phone. Nothing.

'Ritsuka, I miss you. Are you okay? Mail me when you're on break, if you would like.' Soubi texted. He sent the message and thought about the cute scowl or maybe blush Ritsuka would surely get after reading the message. He slipped the phone back into his pocket and focused again.

'Why do I keep bumping into the Battle Frequency? It's like Nisei is merely being careless and giving away his position. Idiot.'

Soubi traveled away from the town he was in based on the few bumps into Nisei's Frequency. Now his direction was about parallel to the school and he felt more rushed. He was also hoping this wasn't some mindless wild goose chase.

x

At school Yuiko took notice of Ritsuka's absent mindedness and Yayoi noticed Ritsuka's rude ignorance to Yuiko.

All Ritsuka noticed was the one time his phone buzzed.

Sitting in class he had let out a sigh of relief when he felt the vibration in his pocket. No one else would be texting him during the day. He quickly clasped his hand over his pocket to muffle the noise. Shinonome-sensei was calling on him. 'Shoot.'

The minuets passed slowly and his mind alternated between thoughts of his mother and thoughts of Soubi. Finally when the class ended Ritsuka was able so seek refuge from teachers in the hallway and check his message.

It was from Soubi. The boy smiled before he even started to read it.

/-/ 'I miss you.'

'Are you okay?'

'Mail me ... If you would like.' /-/

Ritsuka quickly typed his reply back not scowling at all, his face was growing a little pink. He said he was fine and asked Soubi what he was doing. He said, 'I miss you too.' Though, it ended with, 'Idiot.' And a deeper blush.

Ritsuka returned to his class and waited for a reply.

x

His phone buzzed. Soubi grabbed it out of his pocket eager to see Ritsuka's response. It had died. No battery left.

"Damn phone."

He had charged it the night before but the few hours he had just spent running in and out of low coverage areas had drained the cell battery as it desperately searched for more bars.

Soubi started to feel bouts of a few minutes where he could follow the frequency without losing it. It seemed like he was achieving something at least. As he rushed through brightly day lit neighborhoods and a few towns, Ritsuka was rushing through his head. Soubi kept trying to train his mind onto what he was going to do about Misaki that evening but no answer would come. He would draw a complete blank for a few moments before he started worrying if Ritsuka was doing all right. He would start to make a list of his options for dealing with the woman and deny every choice for having too many faults. He couldn't come up with anything and it was a big issue. Quite a few times Soubi wanted to turn back and go to Ritsuka's side or at least charge his phone up but he would remind himself that Ritsuka was in school and what he was doing in its self was a way of protecting the boy.

As he walked by a park Soubi slowed his pace to catch his breath for a moment. The area was mostly deserted aside from a few afternoon joggers. He was isolated from them- despite actually having spent most of his day jogging. The sun beat down at him and Soubi stopped in the pathway to remove his jacket. He was tying it around his waist and suddenly heard someone coming up behind him. Soubi turned.

They collided.

"Ahh..! Sir, I'm so sorry. Please excuse me!"

A jogger had run right into him before he could move out of the way. 'What an uncoordinated fool.' He thought.

"Yes, that's fine." Soubi said to the man, just wanting to go back to his thinking- even if it wasn't really getting him anywhere.

"My! My! I can't believe I would do something so careless! Running into a person. I can't think how I couldn't see you there. Completely my fault, sir. And you're so tall too! How could I miss such a guy? You aren't injured are you? I hope not! My apologies again." The jogger said, he spoke fast and quite a lot.

Soubi just nodded, the guy didn't seem to need any responses anyway. 'People are so noisy..'

The jogger turned around with a wave and was about to jog away, Soubi was going to continue down another path, when the man turned and called out to Soubi, "Ah, Sir! You dropped something there! It must have fallen out of your jacket or something! Don't forget that. Could be a troublesome thing to leave behind!" And he left.

Soubi looked at the ground around him, sort of confused. He didn't remember carrying anything that he could've dropped. And then he found it. A white invitation sized envelope lying on the ground somewhere near his feet. He knew it wasn't his and sort of just wanted to leave it there and move on. He decided to pick it up anyway. Maybe it /was/ important.

'Soubi' The envelope said.

That was pretty suspicious.