I dont normally do this, but I would like to add a special thanks to all who reviewed, and especially Soubi202 You really made my day! - Hope you guys enjoy this chapter, its kind of short but im already working on the next and it should be up soon.
Once inside an apartment he was only vaguely familiar with, Ritsuka found a seat politely on the floor. The tall blonde who had lead him here would have protested, pointing out a more comfortable place to sit if he wasnt so preoccupied hoisting Kio into his bed with irritation written all over his normally calm face. "Aoyagi...slime...be with me soubi!" that was all the words the youngest of the three in the room could make out of what drunken babble was being spewed out.
Soubi went to take off Kio's shirt, if only to make him more comfortable. But as a reward he got a loud moan that caused his younger friend's feline ears to press against his violet-black hair. The more mature of the two eldest continued to taking off the others tightly fitted pants, he didnt want to but he felt that as a friend he owed him this, if anything. To this gesture Kio arched his back and moaned again, whispering in a voice more coherent than the one he had recently been shouting with "Soubi...oh yes Soubi...you finally accepted me!"
Left in his boxers, tossing in a half asleep drunken stupor, Kio had finally stopped his useless rambling.
A rustle was heard from the bathroom and moments later the door opened, Youji and Natsuo walked out, arm in arm. They stopped and stared at the scene with an amused look on their child like faces "My my Soubi. Right in front of Ritsuka?" Natsuo teased with a giggle and then Youji raised his free hand into the air and they began to walk towards the door "Dont worry, were leaving." they didnt even bother to look over at the fighter, knowing without looking that he was upset at them...but that was only entertaining.
When the two had left the room without explanation or apparant reason, Soubi's attention was returned to their comment, he looked over at Ritsuka as if just realizing he was there "Well." he said, still in the attitude the younger one wasnt used to "I apologize for our plans being...interrupted."
At the last word a glance was cast towards the now sound asleep drunk. Ritsuka only bowed his head and kept his hands politely in his lap, he didnt know what to say. So much had happened tonight, he had completely ignored his schoolwork, ran out in the middle of the night past his mother with some adult she didnt know, then ran into Soubi's friend...who was drunk and not himself. Now he was sitting in his fighters apartment, looking down at his lap and trying not to think too far ahead, he was too busy dwelling on the past.
A groan and shift in movement from the sleeping one would break the awkward silence that had creeped into the air after Soubi last spoke. Seconds later he was standing above the boy, looking down at him with his normal, calm expression "If you dont like it...You should punish me." he stated, noting the frustrated confusion on the boys face.
In response he stood quickly and glared up at the older male, "But you left me alone for so long Soubi! I needed you!" he shouted and then covered his mouth, averting his eyes from the scene. But the older male wouldnt let it end like that, he neared quickly and gripped on to the others shoulders, gently but aggressively at the same time. He noted that tone in the boys voice, it wasnt embarrassment like he normally showed when he slipped up and revealed some of his true feelings, it was fear; a fear of being discovered and questioned.
So, being the disagreeable sort that he was, Soubi pressed on "What are you talking about? What happened?" he tried to hide the anxiousness in his voice to know what it was that was being hidden from him. If something had happened while he was not around, he wasnt sure if he could ever forgive himself. To his disdain, Ritsuka still wouldnt look at him but did explain...he had no other choice..."I met someone.
He was a fighter too...he said he was with the seven moons...I couldnt just let him leave." he waited to see if the other had anything to say to that, when he heard nothing he continued "He gave me a letter. It had instructions to kill us...signed with the initials SA." The grip on the boys shoulders lessened a bit but he was not satisfied, he could see that there was no relief on his sacrifice's face from telling him that story.
So it must not have been all that had happened "Is there...something else?" the blonde prodded and deep in his mind he was only thinking that he didnt want to hear what was to be said next "No. Thats not all. He kissed me." With that the boys ears again flattened against his hair and he finally looked up at his fighter, who was standing there dumbfounded on the inside, but glaring on the outside.
"What was this fighters name?" he asked coldly and malicious...murderous thoughts graced his tormented mind, in reply he got nothing but the name he requested "He said to call him Sekkaku." That name didnt ring a bell with him, which was troublesome, he released the boy from his grip and turned away from him, he had to turn away from him because now he wanted to kiss those lips himself.
To purge the evil from them and make the boy all his again. He felt horrible for not being there to protect him when he was needed most, he would rather have died than let something like this happen to the young one. "I apologize, Ritsuka. Suki da yo." he wanted to feign an air of normality, and to reassure him that he was not upset and would not be emotionally wavered by this small set back.
He wanted to ask more about the fighter, any apparant weaknesses perhaps, but he didnt want the boys mind on spell battles since he would rather keep him out of them all until he was better equiped with the knowledge he needed. "It's late. You should rest." he suggested and motioned to the only bed in the room, occupied by Kio. When he crawled into the bed inbetween Kio and Ritsuka he knew he was putting his body at risk but in a way he found it redemption for not being able to guard him before.
The child was extremely nervous about sleeping so close to the other but eventually his sleep rid him of all his tribulations "Suki da yo." was the last thing Soubi would say that night, brushing some hair from the childs face and then snaking his arms skillfully around that lithe stomach to hold him close. Ritsuka might not be happy with him in the morning for doing it...but for right now he just needed to hold him close and remind himself that this was all real.