LOVE ME, TAINT ME

CHAPTER 5

Truly sorry for my absence, I've been depressed recently and I didn't want to do a half assed job. That wouldn't be fair, due to midterms and a sudden tragedy I felt extremely unwell. Well enough of such blabber let's get on with it.

Landing in front of the beast, his knees almost gave out, his body felt cold to the bone. Though he was suffering, his captor held an aloof face and knowing smirk. The beast took a step forward and he, with much effort took a step back.

" Stay away" his voice was but a mere whisper.

"huh?, I can't hear you" the demon mad a show of putting his hand to his ear.

What a jerk!

" I. HATE. YOU!, So Stay Away!"

Rolling his eyes Takano said,"Stop being a whiney bitch, I have no time for your dramatic antics."

As scared as he was, those words had lit a fire in him, the man had a way to really push his buttons. He had never, ever, in his whole existence, not even during the war! Had he ever wanted to kill someone as much as he did now. He, like his brethren, was peaceful by nature and yet his mind was now thinking up thousands of ways to painfully dispose of said being.

" If you want me to stop whining then maybe you should let me go!" he retorted

"Che, whatever" Takano replied turning on his heel

"Listen. Pick some books and lets get going."

Ritsu sighed heavily at the man's change of mood. Yup, he's definitely bipolar. "Going where?" he asked not really caring, since he was probably going to die soon.

"To your quarters, of course" Takano replied matter-of –factly.

HOURS LATER

Ritsu stared at the crimson moon looming outside his window; the sky itself was an ugly red, like fresh blood. Ritsu shivered at the thought, he'd seen enough blood shed in his life time. It'd been hours since he'd arrived and yet the sky had stayed the same, there was no glimpse of the dawn or the sun, it was an endless night. Despite the fact that that it was spring, in his and the human realm it was cold and lifeless here, just like its inhabitants…

Ritsu glanced at the pile of books he'd been allowed to take. He'd been surprised that so many of his favorites had been there, although there were such a variety of books he was sure that it was completely random, though he had to admit the books seemed "well loved". This of course was just a quick thought, he didn't care that the demon actually read the books he'd just been glad hadn't seen any "dirty" books. He hugged his body as a shiver once again ran up spine at the thought of the demon; those fierce eyes were enough to make him feel like an amoeba. Feeling distraught by his situation, Ritsu walked to his bed, the clinking sound and the cold shackles around his ankles reminded him of his everlasting self-pity. The room was fairly simple, a large king sized bed took up most of the room and a large wardrobe was at the far corner. The room itself felt cold and desolate. The only thing that truly irked him now was the chain that shackled him to the wall. In a normal situation he'd be able slice through the chains with his sword, but this wasn't a normal situation, and these weren't normal chains. These chains, drained him and left him completely helpless, what kinda manic kept these anyway!

The window felt like a complete mockery him, left open and yet he couldn't even fly! He huffed in anger at the thought, that demon is a complete sadist! He slumped on his bed and began to scream into his pillows. As he did so he began to feel something burning in his chest, he yelped at the sudden spark that almost scorched him." What in the world?" Ritsu reached into his gown and pulled out a feather. His mind was completely blank, and with shear embarrassment he realized that it was his feather, the one he had used to bond himself with An-chan! Needless to say Ritsu began to giggle hysterically, how could I be this stupid?!

As he held it in his hand he felt the distress of his friend, and soon he heard it.

"Ritsu! Please answer me! Please! Where are you?! Ritsu!"

Ritsu almost fell out of his bed, stunned at the sound of his normally quiet friend, though at the sound of An-chan's sobs he became alert.

"An-chan, can you hear me!"

"EHH! Ritsu! Is that you!" An-chan's voice trembled but still conveyed the same strength as the first time.

" Oi! An-chan you have to calm down"

" Calm DOWN! You've been missing for hours and you're telling me to CALM DOWN!" An-chan was seriously angry. Despite her anger he could picture her face at the moment, red and puffy from crying her eyes out.

"I-I'm sorry" "I'm sorry for making you worried" Ritsu felt guilty, despite the fact that none of this was his fault he truly felt sorry for making her worried.

"Ritsu… Where are you?' An-chan's voice was soft and worried.

" An-chan . I've-"

"You were gone when I got back!.. I –I thought you had been called back, b-but.. you weren't home… ! I was so scared! I kept calling you but you wouldn't answer" An-chan's voice became a whimper and then sobs as she finally reached her breaking point.

"It's okay. Don't cry. Listen to me."

"…"

" I've been captured"

"WHAT!"

"An-chan listen! I've been captured by the demon king of the north"

"Y-You mean Takano!" Ritsu heard the fear that rang through her voice.

"He's horrible, they say he's an absolute monster!" Ritsu almost chuckled so I'm not the only one who thinks so.

" Ritsu you have to get out of there NOW!"

" I would if I could! I'm trapped! "

" Ritsu, I'll call for a rescue team! Don't worry they'll get you out"

Ritsu felt a wave of relieve wash over him, his hope beginning to return and his heart aching to go back home. But then those eyes appeared in his head. Those eyes that sent a shiver down his spine and fear down to his very core. That man was dangerous, there was no doubt. He began to fear not for his life but for those who would rescue him. How many would die just to help him out?. How many would have to die at the hand of the blood thirsty demon just to save him? He couldn't bear to imagine, would they even be able to rescue him? The man was no regular demon he was a Demon King. He was no bluff.

"An-chan don't call them."

"…w-what?

" I'll take care of this myself." Ritsu meant it, he would escape himself or die trying! He couldn't bear the thought of losing more of his brethren; he'd seen so much blood shed throughout the war, so many innocent angels losing their lives to cold blooded demons such as his captor. And what of the result of the rescue, surely there would be tension between the two realms afterward. Would another war evolve afterward?, he knew that there were beings that were just waiting for the others to make a mistake, to quickly point the finger to blame. He couldn't risk that.

" Tell them I'm on business " Ritsu was already formulating a plan.

"Ritsu!"

" Don't worry it's not a lie…." Ritsu gritted his teeth as, for the second time that night he lie.

"RITSU" she was trying to make him think things over, but he wouldn't change his mind. He'd made his decision.

" An-chan! An-chan, I'm fine…." "I'll be home soon… I-I promise"

"Ritsu! What are you saying? I can't leave you there!" her voice was full of hysteria, desperately trying to reason with him.

"Please, you can't stay there!"

Ritsu stayed silent as An-chan's sobs continued to fill the silence of his room. Any other time Ritsu might have complied, he'd always had a soft spot for her, for her tears and pleads. She was like a sister to him; they'd been together since birth, they'd laughed and cried together and kept each other strong. He'd entrusted her with many secrets and so had she. Blood was the only thing that separated them; he'd always wondered why his parents wanted them to wed. To him it made no sense, they were like siblings; he didn't love her in any way more than platonic. Yet this time he couldn't, wouldn't comply.

"AN-CHAN! I CANT RISK THEIR LIVES!" Ritsu's voice rose loudly and stern, there was no doubt and no hesitation.

" I-I just can't…so please, An-chan, do this for me"

An-chan fell silent, on the other end. Up in heaven An-chan was huddled in her bed, the feather gingerly placed on her lap, her eyes brimming once more with tears. Ritsu why did it have to be you? Ritsu please don't do this…Ritsu I love you.. Her silent pleads were left unsaid, she knew how Ritsu was. He wouldn't give up, not when things were on the line, and not when it mattered. He was a fighter, stubborn, and brave. He wouldn't listen to her now, and as the feather grew hotter in her palms she knew what to say.

" Take care. Ritsu" it was barely whisper, but more than enough. With that the bond broke.

After their conversation ended Ritsu fell still. He knew that, that was probably his only chance of survival, but in his heart he knew he regretted nothing. As he fell asleep the image of the demon's eyes flashed through his mind, uncanningly they reminded him of another being whose eyes had too stolen his breath away and had regrettably broken his heart. Drifting to sleep he envisioned those arms around him once more, though they had become bitter memories he still yearned for his embrace.

" Saga-senpai…."