A/N: First off, I would just like to make a note about a continuous comment that I have gotten from a couple of reviewers: Yes, I know the characters are a little OOC, but you have to take note that this is an AU fanfiction, and that in order for my story to develop properly, I had to make a few changes. But to compensate for these changes, I will try to make the story as enjoyable as possible for you all to read. (: But there's no need to worry, as I started the characters out more OOC so that they can develop into their original IC characters as the story progresses.

That's right. Soubi and Ritsuka will develop into the people you see them as in the anime/manga later on. We call these characters "Developing", meaning that they change throughout the course of the story. They are only OOC for the beginning, and will become "Individual" characters near the end.

Anyways, there's a little bit of fluff in this chapter to make up for the fact that it's shorter than the last one. Yes, my first few chapters are going to be a bit short, simply because I want to see if people are going to be interested in this story. I don't want to write a ton of long chapters and have no readers to enjoy them.

With that said...

Summary: AU. Kio makes a bet that Soubi can't go without sex for a single month. However, when Kio introduces him to his "temporary lover" Ritsuka, a weak and abused boy attending their school, will Soubi give into temptation, or will he change for the better? SOUBIxRITSUKA

Disclaimer: I don't own Loveless or any of it's characters. I also don't own the plot line for "40 Days and 40 Nights".

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"You and Soubi made a bet?" Natsuo inquired curiously, flipping through the pages of his binder and scanning over his notes.

"And if he wins, he gets your car?" Youji asked incredelously, not believing his ears. "Are you insane?! If I had a Mercedes, I wouldn't give it up for the world," he finished, leaning back on his elbows and looking up at the ceiling.

Kio, Youji, and Natsuo were gathered in Kio's dorm room to study for Miss Shinonome's back-to-school quiz tomorrow morning, but Kio ended up spilling the news of his bet with Soubi and the three began talking about something else quite besides Japenese lessons.

"Yeah, well..." Kio started silently. "Soubi used to be my best friend, and I still care for him. You agreed with me when I said that this sex addiction was ruining everything we ever had with Soubi, so you should agree with me when I say that we have to do what we can to help him."

"Yeah, but... your car, man," Youji whined.

Kio sighed with irritation. "You idiot," he said darkly. "Soubi is worth more to me than any car!" Kio tossed his textbook on the floor angrily and held his head in his hands, gripping his hair in frustration.

There were a few moments of silence, neither Youji or Natsuo daring to say anything in case they upset their friend even further.

"Hmm..." Natsuo contemplated, breaking the tension between the three. "...So you get to pick his... "lover", then?"

Kio stole a side-ways glace at the red head before looking down at his feet. "Yeah..."

"So," Youji stated, sitting himself up beside Natsuo on Kio's bed. "Who are you going to pick?"

"Er..." Kio started hesitantly. "I have some idea... But I don't know if it's safe to pick him or not."

"Him?" Natsuo and Youji said together, sharing glances with each other.

"Hmm... He'd better be damn good looking if you're going to pick a guy. You know Soubi prefers women over other men. He only sleeps with the pretty ones," Natsuo added in.

"On the contrary, Natsuo. It'll be good if he doesn't find him attractive," Kio stated confidently.

Natsuo blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

"...That way he won't be tempted to sleep with him, right?" Youji finished, looking at his boyfriend, then in turn, Kio.

Kio nodded with a smirk. "Exactly."

"Ooh, exciting!" Natsuo said, his eyes gleaming brightly. "Who is it?"

"Well... I was thinking of maybe asking... that Ritsuka kid," Kio said finally, although he already had his doubts of this plan even working, especially if he asked Ritsuka to do the job. Contrasting to what he had just previously said, Ritsuka wasn't ugly at all. In fact, Kio thought he was rather cute.

"R-Ritsuka?" Natsuo and Youji questioned, astonished expressions on their faces.

"Are you sure about this, Kio?" Youji asked. "I mean... I doubt Ritsuka would even say 'yes' to this little game of yours..."

"Oh, I know. That's why I'm not going to tell him about the bet..." Kio replied, albeit ashamedly. "I mean, I don't want to trick the kid but... I'll do anything if it means helping Soubi."

Youji and Natsuo didn't look convinced and still remained skeptical, neither boy saying anything as they pondered over the issue in silence.

"...So... What are you going to tell him, then?" the red head questioned finally, curious as to how Kio planned to carry out his part of the bet.

"Well... You know how Ritsuka-kun doesn't have many friends, right? I was going to say, 'There's someone I'd like you to get to know..', and have him meet up with Soubi. I mean, this is his first year in this high school, right? That means he won't know of Soubi's reputation. I'll be the perfect plan," he finished hurriedly.

"Kio..." Natsuo began, his voice laced with doubt and his eyes full of worry. "It's not nice to play with people like that..."

Kio looked down, both ashamed and embarassed at his actions. He sighed. "I-I know... It's a rather tough dilemma, but I'm willing to do anything to help Soubi."

Youji and Natsuo remained silent, not sure whether or not to give their opinion. Although they had made fun of Ritsuka earlier, they didn't believe it was right for them to toy with him like they planned on doing. But Soubi was their friend, and they both knew that helping Soubi was their main priority if they wanted to save their friendship with the teen.

"...Oh no!" Kio yelled suddenly, hopping up from his seat beside the bed and racing to the door to put on his shoes. "I forgot I told Soubi I'd have him meet the person at 4:00, and it's 3:36 now! Ugh, I'll be back later!" he said as he bolted out the door and down the hallway, leaving the two ambitious lovers alone in the bedroom.

---

"Sorry for bothering you," Kio said apolegetically. "I know you've got that test to study for, I just--"

Kio was interrupted by Ritsuka's quiet giggling. "Don't worry about it, Kaidou-san. I haven't even started to study yet..." his smile faded, and quietly he continued, "Can I help you with something?"

"Er, uh... No... I just came by to see how you were doing," Kio lied.

Ritsuka blinked a few times, as if his words were difficult to comprehend. "...You.. came to see how I was doing?"

Kio tilted his head slightly, puzzled by Ritsuka's statement. "Yeah... I mean, friends gotta watch out for friends, ya know?" he said with a smile.

"...Friends?" Ritsuka responded slowly.

Kio chuckled slightly. "That's right."

Ritsuka stared at Kio for a moment before looking away in embarassment, a crimson blush creeping across his face.

Kio's smile only broadened at the sight. "And speaking of friends, Ritsuka-kun... How would you like to make more friends?" he said in a friendly manner, never letting his smile waver once.

"...More friends?" said Ritsuka quietly.

What's wrong with this kid? Does he have problems understanding Japanese? Kio asked himself mentally, wondering why Ritsuka insisted on repeating everything he said as if he were come university professor preaching about calculus mathematics, which everyone knows is a completely foreign language to human teenagers.

"Yeah, more friends! I know someone who would love to hang out with you, and I'm sure you two will get a long great."

Ritsuka looked skeptical, his innocent violet eyes searching through Kio's brown ones for an answer to a question he was only dreading.

Kio remained puzzled for the first few moments before Ritsuka's actions finally clicked in his brain. "It's ok, Ritsuka-kun. There's no catch, really. I just figured that everyone needs friends, right?" Kio said, reading the neko-boy's mind like an open book.

Ritsuka blushed slightly at the comment, realizing that the older teen had discovered his intentions. "I-I'm sorry... I'm just not used--"

"--to people wanting to be around you, I know," Kio finished for him. "But don't worry, you can trust me, and you can trust Soubi as well."

"Soubi?" Ritsuka blinked. "Soubi Agatsuma?"

"Yeah, he's a friend of mine, and he said he'd love to meet you," Kio lied, hoping that Ritsuka hadn't already heard rumors about Soubi this early in the school year.

"Well..." Ritsuka began slowly. "I guess if he's your friend... I don't mind," he replied shyly, twidling his thumbs nervously.

"Great!" Kio said brightly. "He'll be meeting you by the stables at 4:00, so you'd better hurry up!" he finished, realizing that his time was almost up. "Go, go, go! Don't keep him waiting!" Kio continued in a cheery voice, urging the younger one towards the door hastily.

"U-um, alright then..." Ritsuka replied, slipping on his shoes hesitantly. Slowly, he finished getting ready, and complete with nothing but a pair of gloves, a light sweater, and a scarf to keep him warm, the boy headed out the door, sauntering down the hallway towards his destination. He looked back at Kio with innocent eyes before turning down the hallway and out of the school.

Oh, I hope Soubi goes easy on him... Kio said to himself. Ritsuka-kun's a sweet kid. He doesn't need someone like Soubi corrupting him.

With that last thought, the blonde sighed and turned the other direction to head back to his dorm room, hoping that Youji and Natsuo hadn't taken his abscence as an opportunity to get horizontal on his bed...

---

Ritsuka had noticed, that within the last couple of hours he had been nice and snug inside the school, the temperature had dropped to almost below zero; a strange number for the first day of September. None the less, there were no other students that could be seen wandering outside in the cold like himself, and the only sounds were those of fluttering leaves and the whinnies of the nearby horses, warm and comfortable in their heated stables.

Ritsuka shivered at the cold, wrapping his scarf more tightly around his body in an attempt to keep himself warm. Although it was only the beginning of autumn, it was still quite chilly for the season, and Ritsuka had regretted not grabbing a jacket on his way out. He guessed that this was why the school had a lodge and ski hill so close by: the temperatures were perfect, and Ritsuka had heard that they got quite a bit of snow during the fall and winter months.

Sighing, Ritsuka checked his watch, realizing that he had been waiting for quite some time. Quarter-after four, and there was no sign of this Soubi person that Kio had promised. Perhaps this was all just a trick... a cruel trick that he knew he shouldn't have fallen for. Just goes to show you that no one in Ritsuka's life could be trusted.

The neko-boy hugged himself to fight off the biting winds and prepared to head back to the school when he felt a blanket of warmth cover him. Looking down, Ritsuka saw a violet trench coat, that was about three sizes too large for his frame, draped over his shoulders. Ritsuka blinked and gazed upwards to meet a pair of sharp hazel eyes and a beautiful porceline face that smiled down at him in a sincere greeting.

Ritsuka felt his face growing steadily warmer as he flushed a deep shade of crimson. Although he knew it was rude to stare, Ritsuka just couldn't bring himself to look away...

"Well then, you must be Ritsuka-kun, right? You're a freshman," Soubi said knowingly, recognizing the boy from his Junior High days.

Ritsuka's eyes widened and he blushed en ever deeper red. "Y-yes..." he started off shyly. "You are Agatsuma-san?" he continued quietly.

Soubi's eyes softened as his smiled widened ever so slightly. "There's no need for formalities, Ritsuka-kun. You can call me Soubi if you like," he replied, his voice gentle.

Ritsuka looked away shyly but said nothing.

Soubi chuckled. "Come, it's chilly out here. We'll go get some hot chocolate at the ski lodge," he said, wrapping his long wingers around Ritsuka's wrist, taking note of how small and fragile he seemed to be. "It's on me," he finished politely.

Ritsuka, who was still in the middle of his blushing fit, could only nod and follow the taller teen towards the ski hill, completely at a loss of words.

Soubi smiled inwardly to himself. Ritsuka Aoyagi, what an easy specimen to to do business with. With this candidate chosen, Soubi had no doubt in his mind that this bet, and Kio's precious Mercedes, was in the bag.

And after this bet is over, I may just get some action on the sidelines... Soubi thought, smirking. Taking a glance down at the boy beside him, Soubi could only smirk.

Piece of cake...

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A/N: Well, you're all gonna be frustrated to know that there was more to this chapter, then I decided to cut it in half and turn it into chapter three for reasons listed in the above Author's Notes. (:

That said, you'll also be happyto know that chapter three is already done; I'm only waiting for my reviewers to show their love before I post it! I promise the next few chapters will be substantially longer. That is, if I continue to get positive reviews.

R&R please!