Chapter 5: Day 1 – Waking Up

The alarm clock buzzed annoyingly, it's digital numbers reading 5:30. Soubi rarely used an alarm, why was it going off when he didn't set it? Of course Soubi was to tired to realize that, as he mechanically lifted his hand from under his pillow, making it into a fist, to beat the poor machine until it subjected to his will, shutting up before buttons started flying off. His arm fell down in satisfaction, fingertips grazing the floor.

After five minutes of laying there, falling in and out of consciousness, Soubi decided that breakfast wouldn't make itself, and turned to see how much time he had wasted. His eyes, still hazy from sleep, squinted at the red numbers on the clock, and right next to it, a framed picture of a slightly blushed Ritsuka that Soubi had took.

Memories of the previous day flooded back into Soubi's brain. He sat up and grabbed the picture. With trembling fingers, he traced the outline of Ritsuka's chin, neck and shoulders. Soubi frowned, this didn't feel right... He opened the back of the frame to take the photograph out. Staring longingly again at Ritsuka, then flipping the photo over. The date, October 9... Yesterday?

No, this was taken almost a week ago.

Soubi set the picture and frame on the bed, and stood up. Kio was spending the night tonight...

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Soubi opened the door to the guest room to find, no Kio, just a clean room and made up bed. His heart pounding, Soubi ran back into his room, pulled on some random jeans he found on the floor, and throwing on a jacket over his naked torso.

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The morning air was cool and damp. Soubi didn't notice, even with his bare feet going numb with every step making contact with the wet road. He wanted to run, but found himself walking, taking in the surroundings. The sun wasn't even out yet, some stars still hung in the sky, but it was light enough for Soubi to see where he was going...He could walk this route blindfolded.

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Soubi stared at the house in front of him. Mixed emotions filled him up to the point where he felt like he would burst...Right not, throwing up didn't sound like a bad idea to his stomach. Even so, he grabbed the vines growing up the house with an unsure hand, pulling his whole weight up, one hand at a time, until he reached the balcony railing, where he performed the memorized routine of swinging himself over the railing, and landing in a crouched position. Soubi stayed in his position a moment longer, he seemed to finally wake up. What was he doing? Using the rail as a support, he slowly stood up. He walked cautiously to the sliding glass door. Once he reached it, Soubi didn't know what to do. Knock? Using cupped hands, he peered through the glass into the darkness. His heart skipped a beat when he saw a lump in the quilt, outlining the figure of a body, sideways. Soubi glared deeper, the figure turned over, the quilt slowly moved up and down. Breathing.

"Ritsuka." Soubi's breath fogged the glass, the figure didn't move. A dramatic silence filled the air. Soubi tried the lever, but it didn't budge. A sort of desperateness filled Soubi's heart as he started rapping on the window. The body shifted sides again, a single black cat ear materialized out of the covers. Soubi frantically banged on the glass, the boy finally woke up, falling out of bed. Soubi heard the scream, even through the glass. He stopped knocking, an instead yelled for Ritsuka in whispers.

"Ritsuka." He repeated.

The boy snapped his head up from the mess of comforters he was tangled up in, and glared.

Soubi exuded relief at the death glare he received, but wouldn't be satisfied until he was in his arms.

Ritsuka rubbed his head and muttered something Soubi couldn't hear. He watched Ritsuka unlock the door and slide it open.

"Soubi, it's almost 6 in the morning!" Ritsuka added a yawn to prove his point.

Soubi remained motionless.

"What are you doing here?" Ritsuka's voice softened when he saw Soubi's face. "Soubi, is something wrong-"

Soubi suddenly collapsed on the small boy, both arms around his neck. The weight was too great for Ritsuka, and caused him to fall to his knees.

"S-Soubi!" Blond hair, damp from the humidity in the air, covered half of Ritsuka's face.

"Ritsuka."

Ritsuka twitched from the sound of Soubi's voice. It was full of pain, relief, and a need. He automatically brought his tiny arms around the torso of his fighter.

Silence filled the air, Ritsuka's eyelids were heavy, and he was tired. He rested his head against Soubi's shoulder, when he felt a drop of moisture fall down his ear.

"Soubi?" He tried to pull away to face him, but Soubi shoved him back into a hug. He tightened his grip around Ritsuka, moving a hand to Ritsuka's head, the other down the middle of his back, crushing him securely to his body.

"Soubi-" Ritsuka squeaked. He beat his fist into Soubi's back, demanding airflow to be returned. Soubi knotted his fingers into Ritsuka's hair, and moved his head down to trace his lips down the side of Ritsuka's face.

"Don't ever leave me." Soubi muttered into Ritsuka's neck. He brought his head out of his shoulder to look into Ritsuka's shocked eye's, and then kiss him, full and harshly, on the lips.

Ritsuka moaned in protest, he was being filled up with too many emotions emitting from Soubi to resist though. He moved his knees out from under him to sit full on the floor, and have Soubi lay each other down slowly, his lips still working feverishly. Ritsuka felt inadequate; Soubi had never kissed him like this before.

"Aah." It was like a muted yell coming from Soubi, his chest heaved and he broke away from Ritsuka, resting his forehead at the base of the boy's neck. Soubi was too grateful to continue, but he still held Ritsuka close, both arms wrapped around his waist.

Ritsuka starred up at the ceiling, feeling Soubi's hot breath come out on his collarbone. Something was bothering Soubi, that was for sure, but Ritsuka couldn't find his voice. Instead, he brought a hand up to stroke Soubi's blond hair.

Soubi closed his eye's at the touch. He smiled and kissed Ritsuka's exposed flesh, which made him shiver. Soubi felt like chuckling, he wanted to make Ritsuka shiver again. He brought his tongue out and licked the soft skin. Ritsuka did shiver again. Soubi grinned, bringing his face up to look up at Ritsuka.

"I think I love you." Soubi whispered, he didn't need to see to know that Ritsuka was turning red.

"Um..." Ritsuka averted his eye's off Soubi's. He began to realize that they were still on the floor. "I'm cold." He finally managed to say.

Soubi laughed softly, he wouldn't know cause he was on top of Ritsuka. Keeping his hands tightly around Ritsuka's waist, Soubi sat up, bringing Ritsuka with him. He planted one foot on the floor and stood up, flopping Ritsuka down on the bed. He swung his leg over him in a straddling position.

"Better?" Soubi leaned down, smirking.

Ritsuka's heart was hammering in his chest.

Soubi sighed, letting himself back onto Ritsuka's small body. He brought his head up again to stare at Ritsuka, his chin resting on his chest. He eyed the boys cat ears. Soubi brought a hand up and started stroking one of the ears.

"Um." Ritsuka turned red.

Soubi sat up again and shrugged out of his jacket, letting it fall to the floor. He took a moment to examine Ritsuka's nightly wardrobe. It was Pajamas, a long sleeved blue cotton shirt with matching leggings. Only two buttons were together out of the rest on the shirt, revealing a lot of skin that Soubi thought made Ritsuka look sexy.

Soubi fell to his side, next to Ritsuka, and pulled him forward to face him.

Ritsuka's blush remained, he couldn't help but stare at Soubi's half naked body.

He wanted to touch it.

Ritsuka brought his hands up, trailing them up Soubi's navel, and rested them on his shoulders. Soubi sighed in satisfaction, Ritsuka smiled meekly, wondering what he was doing. He brought his hands down slowly, feeling the curves of Soubi's chest, ribs and abs. He thought he heard Soubi giggle.

"What?" Ritsuka whispered, feeling embarrassed.

"You're so cute." Soubi brought his hand over to tousle Ritsuka's hair.

"Don't treat me like a kid." Ritsuka refused to meet Soubi's eyes.

"I don't have to..." Soubi's tone changed, it was seductive.

Ritsuka felt hot, his heart was beating so hard it hurt.

"Ritsuka..." Soubi leaned his head in, pulling Ritsuka's arms around him. Ritsuka swallowed, sweat forming on his forehead. Soubi moved his left arm around Ritsuka, trailing his index finger down his thigh, and to his knee, where he brought it up and around his waist.

And Soubi was kissing him again. Slowly repositioning his body, waiting for a slight flinch from Ritsuka that could mean that he had gone too far. Ritsuka broke away, took a breath, and kissed Soubi back, letting his tongue take over. Soubi was already at his shirt buttons, and yanking the whole thing off.

Ritsuka wrapped his arms around Soubi, who took him by the waist and rolled them over, so Ritsuka was on top. Soubi moved his hands down, and pressed Ritsuka to him.

"Wait." Ritsuka gasped.

Soubi froze, bringing his hands back up, but still being romantic.

"I don't..." Ritsuka looked into Soubi's eye's. "I like it, right here."

A silence passed between them, Soubi stared back. He listened to Ritsuka's heavy breathing, and smiled.

"Yeah, I like it here too." He pulled a stray hair behind Ritsuka's ear. Soubi rolled back over, so they were facing each other again.

"I love you." Soubi pressed his forehead against Ritsuka's.

Ritsuka blinked, then grinned like a little kid, "...Thanks."

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AN: ;)