HI ALL! Hehehehe, I know I know, its been a REALLY long time. All I can do is ask for your forgiveness and your understanding when I say, "School is trying to kill me!" Anyway here is the next chapter, I hope it is good.

Disclaimer: I do not own Loveless or Kyou Kara Maoh

Reunions and New Alliances

Gwendal reached out to catch the falling teen, holding him gently while Murata gasped for air and tugged at the collar.

"Geika?" Gwendal breathed out worriedly, feeling his loyalties being tugged in two different directions. "Are you alright?"

The Daikenja coughed a few more times, tugging at the collar a little more forcefully before turning his dark eyes onto the general.

"Ye-Yeah." He wheezed out, coughing again before wincing. "It is just tight."

Gwendal's sharp eyes could see where the collar cut into Murata's neck, being to bruise the delicate skin there and even cutting deep enough to draw blood. His eyes trailed to the thick chain that was attached to the black collar, looking at the large links before his forehead creased in uncertainty and confusion.

"What is going on?" Gwendal asked the very heavens, not really expecting an answer to his question. His left hand touching the collar and chain carefully, "Where did this chain come from?"

He heard the soft padding of feet against the pavement coming closer to him, causing his eyes to snap up and look at the approaching blonde and taking note of the somewhat blank look on the other man's face that was ruined by the man's surprised eyes.

"You don't know anything do you?" Soubi questioned, his voice almost laced with pity."You have never fought in a battle of Words."

Gwendal clenched his teeth, holding back the retort that was just at the edge of his tongue, knowing that lashing out at the suddenly talkative man would only lead them into more fighting and no answers. Tensing ever so slightly when the man stepped closer and Murata coked once more.

"No." Gwendal responded, his eyes trailing back to the Daikenja who was still in his arms before turning his stony blue eyes to the other man."I will admit this is the first time."

Soubi seemed to only tilt his head ever so slightly, as if he were trying to determine if Gwendal spoke the truth or not, before his eyes seemed to flash to the gasping figure in his Gwendal's arms.

"I was sure Ritsuka would have told you," Soubi seemed to murmur to himself, his eyes drifting away with a memory before he came back to himself and his gaze locked with that of Gwendal's. "A Sacrifice is not just someone who stands on the sideline and cheers you on, they are your partner in battle. Whatever damage you take on gets transferred to your Sacrifice."

Gwendal jerked back ever so slightly, shocked to the very core at the news that was just given to him so calmly. But the more he thought on this tidbit of information, the more his brow creased and his eyes narrowed in confusion.

"I don't think I understand." Gwendal spoke slowly, as if he were talking to a child. "Murata Ken is not my Sacrifice."

Soubi let out an almost humorless laugh.

"No." he said between his chuckles, stepping closer to the duo and kneeling down next to the Daikenja, who did not flinch away when a large and gentle had reached out to touch the teens face.

"I daresay he is not." Soubi continued, reaching up with an arm that was chained with the very same chain that was attached to Murata's neck, his hand tearing at the bandages at his own throat, revealing a long pale neck that was smooth and unmarred. "But apparently he is mine."

Both Murata and Gwendal released gasps of surprise, Gwendal was unable to stop the other man from taking the teenager from his arms, cradling him in his own as if he were a fragile piece of glass. And Gwendal knew at that moment for sure that Soubi was not lying, for he knew that look that was on the other man's face. It was the same look that would cross his own anytime he laid eyes on Ritsuka.

A stab of pain wrenched its way up Gwendal's chest at the thought of his little sacrifice, his eyes turning away from the now united pair who seemed to only stare at each other in awe.

Gwendal stood then, causing the two to jump slightly and look at the clearly pained general who began to stride away.

"Von Voltaire-Kyo?" Murata called out softly, unable to raise his voice very loudly due to the tight collar still strapped to his neck.

"I can't stay here." Gwendal responded sadly, halting in his steps but not looking at the dark haired Geika. "I need to find Ritsuka."

Gwendal began to step away before he was halted again by another voice.

"We are still in a fight, Gwendal." Soubi stated easily, still crouched down with Murata snug in his arms, his eyes filled with conflicted emotions.

Gwendal turned slowly back around, his eyes locking with the equally blue pair of his Geika's Fighter Unit.

"You cannot hold me here."

"I have no intention of doing such a thing." Soubi agreed smoothly, his fingers twining into dark strands of hair on Murata's head, his eyes still focused on Gwendal's stiff form."However, our fighter systems are still active. If you walk away now, you will be declaring a forfeit and you will lose all of your energy which tends to lead one to fall into unconsciousness and at worse into death's waiting arms."

Gwendal's shoulders tensed even more, his hand unconsciously reaching for the sword that was no longer resting on his hip, seeking any small measure of comfort from this very difficult situation.

"What do you suggest I do then?" Gwendal seethed out between his teeth, allowing his hands to clench at his sides when he recalled his sword was not with him.

Murata sent him a sympathetic look while Soubi granted him no such emotion, only hard understanding.

"Either attack us and win the fight," Soubi stated calmly, ignoring the gasp that emitted from Murata's lips and tense line of Gwendal's jaw. "Or I will force this into a draw."

Gwendal stood there, staring at the blonde Fighter Unit as he digested the words spoken to him. The two halves of himself warring against each other, duty and love fighting viciously tooth and nail.

Gwendal let out a sigh when duty came blazing forward, his shoulders slumping in a sign of defeat as he looked at the Daikenja he swore to protect.

"I will not harm you."

His admittance was a soft murmur on the wind, only just heard by the other fighter unit who was already forming the chosen words that would save them all.

"Then that only leaves one option then." Soubi whispered, just as quiet as Gwendal, before he turned up his power and spoke in a voice full of conviction. "Ferryhimawayonabreeze,towherehishearttrulydesirestobe."

*~*~*(BREAK)*~*~*

"It's me."

Ritsuka's eyes flicked down the hall to the figure that had just entered through the front door, feeling Seimei's weight, that had been pining him to the wall, move off of him and turn to face the intruder.

"Nisei." Seimei spoke softly, his voice laced with a command that promised punishment should he not like the answer. "What has become of the Zeroes and the Professor?"

"Our plan worked perfectly, the brats have been dealt with and the Professor…" Nisei grinned menacingly, his eyes glinting at a madness that was brimming just under the surface. "Well the Professor will not be getting in our way ever again."

Ritsuka held back the urge to gasp at the implications the Fighter Unit was implying, but he was unable to stop the tears from filling his vision and slipping down his cheeks.

"And the others?" Seimei questioned further, stepping closer to his Fighter Unit and touching the others arm carefully, almost unconsciously, before quickly drawing it away and whipping his hand discretely on the back of his pant leg.

But Ritsuka could still see how the other man's face seemed to light up at the contact, sweeping away the madness that had been shining in his eyes only a moment before.

"Hmm," Nisei pondered loudly, dramatically placing one hand under his chin in a clearly 'Thinking' pose, before his expression became serious once more. "I am not sure. I sense Soubi is with the other Fighter Unit, but I can't sense if they are actually engaged in a fight or not…"

His voice drifted and his eyes became unfocused, as if his attention had been captured by something else all together. But just as suddenly as he drifted away, he came slamming back into his body, tipping forward and grabbing on to the wall while a gasp tore from his lips.

"SHIT!" Nisei cursed aloud, grabbing onto Seimei's arm and starting to tug his Sacrifice up the flight of stairs. Seimei instantly grasped Ritsuka's own wrist, dragging him along as well as his eyes filled with disgust at his Fighter Unit's calloused hand on his wrist.

"What do you think you are doing, Nisei?" Seimei hissed with anger, his eyes glinting in the dim light as they reached the top of the stairs. "What is happening?"

Nisei seemed to stare around for a moment before making his way to the bedroom at the end of the hall shoving the door open before turning his attention to the Aoyagi brothers, his hand falling away from the teen in order to slam his fist into the wall.

"That Soubi!" Nisei spat, showing his clear hatred toward the other man as his eyes connected with that of his Sacrifice. "He is sending that Fighter Unit straight here! He will be outside in a matter of moments!"

Ritsuka couldn't stop the gasp from escaping him this time, his hand shooting up to cover his lips as his eyes widened with hope. But he quickly looked down and stepped away when he felt his brother's searing eyes pierce into him, knowing that his once dear elder brother would not stand to give Ritsuka up to the hard General.

Without another word, Seimei turned on his heel and stepped back out through the door, Nisei instantly catching onto the silence command and following after. Seimei paused in the doorway, his hand on the knob of his once bedroom as he looked at his younger brother's still form.

"Ritsuka," Seimei's voice was low, chilled, and filled with authority that caused Ritsuka to connect is violet eyes to that of his brother, "Stay here."

Ritsuka gulped slightly, feeling his throat dry as the words sunk in along with all the laced promises that went with it. He tried to protest, to command his voice to refuse, but in the end he could only manage the barest of nods.

Seimei nodded in acceptance in returned before pulling the door closed, locking it from the outside soon after. Ritsuka strained his ears as he creep closer to the door, soon pressing his large cat ears to the cool wood as well and catching the faint words of his brother who must of stood at the top of the stairs.

"Come, Nisei. Let us see to our unwanted guest and make sure he will no longer get involved in our plans again."

Ritsuka stiffened at those words, but he could feel his blood in his veins run cold at his brother's next words.

"And once he is gone, I can remove that filthy name from my brother once and for all."

Ritsuka pushed himself away from the door hard, almost causing himself to fall backwards as he stumbled to catch himself on his brother's bedroom desk that he remembered spending so much time at when said brother was assumed dead. His mind began reeling from all the information that was just shoved at him.

YoujiandNatsuoaredead… Ritsuka's mind rang with those words, causing him to lean even more heavily onto the desk, ignoring when his weight seemed to topple over some books that spilled out onto the floor. FatherandMotheraredead…

Ritsuka clamped his hands over his ears, trying in vain to silence the voice of his brother who whispered promises of never letting Ritsuka go and claiming him body and soul. TheyintendtokillGwendaltoo…

But instead of feeling the usual constriction of his heart at the thought of his Fighter Unit, Ritsuka suddenly felt a tug at his heart, pulling him towards the large window that over looked the front yard and the street beyond.

Ritsuka shoved away from the desk, his red rimmed eyes blurred with tears as he shuffled to the window, staring out its glass panels only to gasp in shock at what he saw below in the front yard.

Gwendal!

*~*~*(END CHAPTER)*~*~*

Don't kill me! I know it is at the moment of truth, the big battle for Ritsuka. But that is the exact reason for stopping here. Tell me what you think, if anything seems unclear, or if there are any errors. Also, you should really thank NaNoWriMo, that was the real motivator to getting this chapter up! See you all again soon! (And for real this time, NaNoWriMo is really keeping me on track with writing my fanfics)