Fevers were the worst. Ritsuka could not recall the last time he was sick, but he sure hated it now. Once again, a fiery nightmare ruined his sleep, and so he was forced to lay in silence and heat for what felt like hours. There was no way of telling how long he'd been asleep, but even as he remained awake, nobody had once come to check on him. He was alone… Why is it that when you want someone to be there, no one was? He was sore, exhausted, thirsty… anything bad that could happen, was, and it only made Ritsuka feel worse.
Seimei would come to him. Seimei would take care of him. Seimei would love him! But… Seimei wasn't able to help anyone, anymore. He was just sitting there, strapped to a chair, dripping wet. His eyes were so empty, then; unlike how they always looked at him. Why? Why was he tied up? Why was he-
Ritsuka's eyes suddenly opened- the boy hadn't realized they'd even closed, and once he could catch his breath, he realized he was shaking. He was curled up on his side, sweating profusely and…shaking- like an abandoned kitten in the rain. Was it chills from the fever? The dream? Or maybe a combination of the two. But he was still alone, although it was slightly darker in the room than the last time he had opened his eyes. Though nobody was around, Ritsuka turned his head and spotted a bottle of water and a thermometer on a chair by the bed. Beside it was a note, written on a colorful piece of paper. He didn't bother to read it, given that it was probably from Yuiko, and went for the water, instead. It was warm, which wasn't very easy on his throat, but he drank some of it, anyway, and as he set it back on the chair, his eyes lingered on the thermometer. Dare he check how bad his fever may have gotten?
…Dare. He grabbed it in a shaky hand and put the awful metal end in his mouth and lied his head down on his pillow to wait for its diagnosis. A minute or two passed before the little beep, but the result was none too comforting. His fever had risen since he left class, to about 102.4. That wasn't good… He needed some medicine, but without proper sleep, he wouldn't recover, anyway. And if he went home, he feared that he would not be able to hold his ground against his mother. But he didn't want to be alone, either, and he couldn't stay at school all night! …But then again, there was another option… The image of Soubi's smiling face flashed before his eyes, and at that moment, he knew. He had to call him. Even if it meant leaving the school early, he had to at least hear his voice.
Somehow, Ritsuka managed to sit back up and search through his schoolbag for his phone, but he plopped right back down once it was in his hands. He just didn't have the strength to stay upright. He lay there for a while, just hugging the phone as he tried to catch breath he wasn't sure he'd lost, before looking down at the thing. He tried to debate on whether he should dial the number, but ended up doing it, anyway. It rang three times, and Ritsuka's heart fell. Soubi was such a liar, he thought, but just before he could push the 'end' button, Soubi's deep voice sounded from the other line, sounding somewhat winded.
"Moshi Moshi, Ritsuka! …Ritsuka?" Soubi knew it was him and kept calling his name, but Ritsuka couldn't find his voice immediately. After the third call, he forced his throat into action.
"S-Soubi."
"Ah, Ritsuka… I was beginning to think you weren't really there."
'My throat hurts… please, Soubi, don't make me talk.'
Ritsuka was still hurting, but hearing Soubi's voice was somehow soothing; although, Soubi took Ritsuka's silence for anger.
"I apologize for being late. Punish me as you see fit."
"Late?" What was he talking about?
"In picking you up from school, I mean. I had an assignment to finish, and Kio would not let me leave until the last minute!"
Ritsuka still didn't understand. He pulled the phone away from his ear to look at the clock on the screen. His eyes nearly popped out of his head at seeing how time had flown! It was almost an hour after school normally ended! He couldn't believe so much time had passed…!
"Ritsuka? Ritsuka, are you there?" The boy came back to the phone and cleared his throat once before answering.
"I'm here." His voice was hoarse. "Soubi, where are you now?"
"On my way to your house."
"No, go back…"
"What?" His voice was obviously surprised, and maybe a little hurt, but Ritsuka shook his head, forgetting that Soubi couldn't see it.
"Go back… to school. Pick me up."
"You're still at school? What for?"
"Just… because. Come pick me up?" He didn't want to make it sound like an order, even if Soubi wanted him to be demanding. He simply didn't have the tolerance for that. But, still, Soubi obeyed.
"I'll be there in ten minutes, okay?"
"Mm." And Ritsuka turned the phone off.
So that was it. Soubi was coming for him… Soubi would take care of him… right? That is what he wanted, wasn't it? He thought about it as he drank some more water and prepared himself for the walk outside. He gathered his things, straightened out his clothes a little and took a few deep breaths before rushing to his feet. Once he was vertical, his pounding head and uneasy stomach protested, but that was the least of Ritsuka's problems. The poor boy gathered his things, said a quiet goodbye to those who weren't there to hear it, and left the nurse's office for the stairs.
Honestly, he wanted to see Soubi. He couldn't quite place the feeling he got when he was with the earless blonde, but… maybe it was security? When it came to everyone else, he was always alert and focused, but not with Soubi. When they were together, he didn't have to hide, or pretend, and he didn't have to be afraid. However, with that security, there came another thing. When he was with Soubi, he sometimes felt… smothered. Ritsuka had never been spoiled or even paid much attention, but Soubi would give him so much attention and affection that Ritsuka felt that he just had to get away from it! But why? Soubi only wanted to care about him, so why was he running? Why run from that thing called "love"?
He just didn't know, and as he approached the staircase, he should have been paying more attention, for on the third step down, his foot slipped. Breath left him suddenly as he half-slid down two more stairs before managing to take hold of the rail- just a second too late. Unintentionally, he'd twisted his ankle on the way down, and he hissed as it throbbed. Taking in a shaky breath, he tried to calm himself and stand back up, since he couldn't stay there all night. It wasn't until he took another step that he realized he was missing something he'd been holding before.
As he took another shaky step down, he saw it, lying on the floor at the bottom of the staircase- his backpack. And lying not too far from it was his cell phone.
'Oh-no!'
Limping as quickly down the stairs as he could, Ritsuka mentally berated himself for not paying attention before gathering his things once more. However, as he tried to open his phone, it sparked unnaturally at him. Broken… That was all he needed! 'Oh-no' wasn't even the half of it, he thought. He'd just gone and busted his phone up- the gift he'd gotten from Soubi! …And this, strangely enough, made him want to see his fighter even more.
Frowning and putting his broken phone back in the pocket of his schoolbag, Ritsuka sighed and limped on until he reached the exit. He pushed over the double doors and was immediately assaulted by light and a chilly wind, but it was slightly better once he got more used to it and opened his eyes. …To see Soubi standing at the front gate. Though his vision swam a bit, he could still make out that shimmering blonde hair, his favorite jeans and a loose dress shirt. He was smoking at the time, but Ritsuka wouldn't yell; he knew Soubi was trying to quit. …Or at least he had better be.
Usually when Soubi would be standing there waiting for him, Ritsuka would act like he didn't care, but this time, when Soubi snuffed out his smoke and turned his way, smiling ever so slightly… Ritsuka's heart went nuts. He took a few small steps, trying to mask his limping, and that's when he noticed it. He wanted to be near Soubi. He needed to be! Now, more than ever, he craved Soubi's closeness and affection like a drug, like he'd been drowning and was just coming up for air. That's when he broke into a full run, his hurting leg forgotten, and threw himself into Soubi's waiting embrace. This behavior was much unlike the usual, but if Soubi was surprised to feel his sacrifice snuggling against him, he didn't show it, or voice any objections. Maybe that was one thing he loved about Soubi, that he did not refuse him when he needed anything at all. Even this. For some reason, he breathed in, smelling such smoothes scents, and though he was morerelaxed than before, and had initiated the contact for once, he still jumped when Soubi's large, warm hand fell onto his ears, pulling and tweaking them just enough to send a spark down Ritsuka's spine. Affectionate Soubi was kicking in.
"S-Soubi…"
"You're very clingy today…did you miss me?" He was trying to be coy, teasing him with that smooth tone, but Rtsuka wasn't in the mood to humor him.
"Mm… I wanted to see you."
Ritsuka had to admit that he was very distracted by the way Soubi was caressing his little ears, and the way it sent little waves of calm through his aching body. If he had any thoughts in his mind before then, they were long forgotten. But it was just as hard to ignore the weakness and exhaustion still nagging at him, waiting to consume him again, so he had to pull away, les he be discovered and smothered once more. Soubi tilted his head when he parted, but it was enough to remind him of their previous phone conversation, and the strangeness he'd noticed in Ritsuka's location and behavior.
"Ritsuka, when you called me-"
We should go, Soubi." Ritsuka interrupted.
"Go? …Home, you mean?" but Ritsuka shook his head. He didn't want to risk facing his mother, or even leave Soubi's side just then.
"Then where would you like to go?"
"…The park, I guess."
Soubi nodded, acknowledging the order and took the boy by the hand as they walked in the direction of the park. As they walked, Soubi started up a conversation, but Ritsuka's concentration was slipping. Every now and then he would nod or shrug, but he couldn't' manage too much more than that. It was, really, Soubi's hold on his hand, firm yet caring, that kept the boy's consciousness from slipping. He relied on that small bit of contact to keep from losing it, but thatday, it seemed, he was unusually unlucky, seeing as just when he needed Soubi most, the older man's phone started ringing. In order to answer it, he had to let go of Ritsuka's hand, and th boy started fading off, his steps slowing.
"Moshi mo- Kio? Kio, you sound upset." On the other line, Ritsuka could just barely hear Soubi's friend yelling.
"Of course I'm upset! I just looked at the grades from our last assignment!"
"Oh? And what are they?" Kio growled.
"Yours is higher than mine!!" Soubi was unphased.
"So? There's no reason you should be upset over that."
"The hell I shouldn't! I spent over six hours working on my project, and did twice as much, so how do YOU get the better grade?! It's unfair, I tell you!"
"Now, now, Kio, you know that quality is better than quantity."
"Shut up! Just hurry your butt back here so I can yell at you in person!"
"Can't. Sorry."
"What?"
"I'm with Ritsuka right now."
"Oh yeah? Well, put him on, then!"
"Do you promise to be nice?"
"Don't talk to me like a baby, you idiot! Just hand him the phone!"
This made Soubi laugh softly to himself- Kio was just too fun to annoy- but he wouldn't play around. Still smiling, Soubi looked down, only to realize that Ritsuka was no longer at his side, then around behind him.
"Ritsuka, Kio want…"
He paused and the smile started to fade, seeing how far back his sacrifice had lagged. His pace was far slower than normal, even when he was in a bad mood, and his eyes seemed…far away. Cautiously, he took a step back, towards the boy.
"Ritsuka?"
At the call, Rituka silentl mouthed his fighter's name before falling forward, almost limply. Soubi gasped and wasted not even half a second in reaching the boy to catch his fall. He gently lowered him onto his lap and rolled the boy over so he could be examined. Ritsuka's face was very pale, except for the obvious flush across his cheeks, and heat was coming off of him in waves. Cursing himself for not noticing the weakened state of his dear boy, Soubi shook him, only to receive a groan as a response.
"Ritsuka…" Still on the other line, Kio called out to him, but when he answered, the blonde's voice was deep with seriousness.
"Soubi? What's the hold up?"
"Sorry, Kio, but could you pick up a few things for me?" Sighing, Kio complied.
"What do you need?"