I'm glad you like this story. I hope you will like this chapter too.

Chapter 16

Ritsuka was happy, very truly happy. For the past six months his life had changed drastically. Now, he can go to school without having his face bandaged or having to hide his bruises. And more than that, he can now return home after school, he had now a place he can call it his home. Technically it was Soubi's home, but their bond had grown so much that now they share their soul. At first they can have communicated with the other without opening their mouth, like all of the pair of fighter / sacrifice can do. But after a couple of months they have begin to heard the thought of the other, and after that they have shared their feelings. Ritsuka loved this aspect of their bond a lot, especially when they spend the night together. It make thing a lot more interesting.

Ritsuka missed a lot Yayoi and Yukio, but he knows that he had made the right choice. It was better for them to believe him dead, for their safety at last. Sometime, Ritsuka wondered about what Yukio would have tell when she would have found out that he had lost his ears. Maybe she would have been happy for him. Or maybe she would have been upset that she was not the one with whom he had lost them. He was not blind, and far less naive than he was at twelve. He was aware that Yukio had loved him more than a friend, but he never had shared her feelings, so he had acted like if he don't had see them. Secretly he had hoped for Yayoi to make a move toward Yukio and spare him to have to tell her that he don't loved her the same way. But, it was useless to think about it, and he was pretty content with his life.

Ritsuka loved his new school. Fortunately for him, some student of his class have already lost their ears, and it don't had attracted too much attention that he don't had his too. Ritsuka was a good student here and he was over joyed when he had found out that his school had a photographe club. Ritsuka don't had hesitate to enrol to this club. And Soubi had offered him a new camera for his birthday, for making new memories, because his old one had stayed to his foster parent's house with all of his pictures. Ritsuka missed them, especialy the one of him and Soubi together, but now he had a set of new one. Ritsuka had refused to go to a psychiatrist again. He had learn to accept that he was the only Ritsuka, in spit of what his mother told, and he liked the young man he had become. The old Ritsuka had died, like the old Soubi before the spell had died too, and it was perfect.

Every morning, Ritsuka goes to school with Miaka. The teen had learn that Miaka was not the real grand-daughter of Hana, but the daughter of one of Hana's cousin. Hana never talk about Miaka's father, she just say once that he had done something she can't forgive him but Miaka was innocent, and that why she had take her in. Miaka was older that Ritsuka, but younger than Soubi. She was twenty-one and her only conversation were about men. Ritsuka felt very uneasy each time she asked question about Soubi. He don't liked the way her eyes brightened when she spoke the name of his lover, but he still answered her. He wondered sometime if the girl had all of her mind, because it was no secret that Ritsuka spend all of his night in Soubi's chamber. He hoped he was wrong and it was only random questions.

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Like everyday, Soubi wake up at dawn. He loved this part of the day, because he can usually look at his lover without him to notice. Soubi loved the way Ritsuka keep blushing each time Soubi do some intimate thing to him, but he loved even more to see the peaceful face his lover had when he slept. But, this morning he can't see it. Ritsuka had gone to a trip with his club for two days and Soubi found himself alone in his bed. He left the bed and go to his office. The place was crowded with the report of his family buisness and his painting, because, even if Soubi had began to take upon his father's job he still don't had let go of his passion. He really don't remember what had made him choose to study the painting, but he was glad he had. He loved to paint, and he was gifted, or so Hana said. Currently he was making a painting for Ritsuka's birthday. He had already give the camera as a gift, but he wanted to give his lover something more personal. He take his brush and paint and began to work to his masterpiece.

Soubi was so engrossed into his work that he don't heard the door of his office opening. Hana had some errant to run this morning so he had expected to be alone this morning. He was startled when he felt two hand closing around his waist. He turned back with anger. How dare someone else than Ritsuka do something like this. It felt so wrong to have anyone else to hug him. Only Ritsuka had the right to do this !

" Back off !" He almost yelled.

Most to his surprise, he found Miaka in front of him. The girl only wear a see-through gown with lace. But Soubi felt nothing at the sight, only anger.

" Am I not beautiful ?" She asked with a sweet voice. " Don't you want to take me ? There is no need for the others to know."

" How dare you ! I already have a lover and you can't compet against him !"

" He is just a child. Please, open your eyes. I will show you so much more than he can."

Now, Soubi was furious. No one had the right to talk about Ritsuka like this. It's time for this Miaka to find the true Soubi.

" You ?" He exclaimed. " Let me laugh. You are nothing in comparison to him. And even if you were, I would never be tempted by you. I like to choose with whom I spend the night. And be sure that Ritsuka would always been the winner."

Miaka looked lost. It was the first time that someone refused her. She had planed everything for the master to fall in love with her and marry her, but she had not expected for him to become this angry.

" I'm sorry." She lied." I don't know what I had thought. Please forgive me."

" I forgive you. But don't do it ever, or else I will not be so nice the next time. You are Hana's grand-daughter and she love you. That's the only reason why I let you stay here. I hope I had made it clear."

" You have. Thanks to forgive me."

With that she left the room. It take some time for Soubi to cool down. He felt dirty and he gone to the bathroom to take a shower. Not trusting Miaka he locked the door. It was only after a very long shower, that Soubi can work again to his painting. But he locked the office's door too. Until Ritsuka would come back, he would do this. He hoped that Miaka had understand, but something told him that she would not let go so easily.

Miaka felt furious and ashamed. How have this man dared to refuse her ? The teen was nothing and yet the master had choose him over her. She can't let this pass. She wanted her revenge. So, she take her cell phone and call the number she had memorised. The phone ring two time before someone answered.

" I know you search for Aoyagi Ritsuka." She stated. " I can give you information about his hidding place."

To be continued.

So, what do you think ? Poor Soubi and Ritsuka, I like to make their life uneasy (lol).

Next chapter : the trap.