A/N : Not mine. All Kouga Yun's. I don't own Loveless. I don't make any money out of it.

Chapter 18

Touching Soubi was exhilarating. After all the time they had lost, all the missed opportunities even the most casual contact seemed like a small miracle. And as he sat there, softly running his hands in his Fighter's hair, he reflected he could never part from him again. Rin had been right. He hadn't been fully committed to her. He hadn't known then because he hadn't wished to delve too deeply into that matter.

"You're handsome Soubi when your hair is tied back," he began. "But really, I prefer it loose because I love running my hands in it."

Soubi chuckled lightly and didn't reply. He had to agree with Ritsuka. This felt good.

Still it remained difficult to guess what Ritsuka was planning. His objective was clear : he wanted to claim and bring him back. But his way of doing it? Not so obvious. Clearly, he had wished to bond them again and was set about training him. But then, he had gone into an impressive fit of anger and left him without a word for three days before waltzing in again and making a point of convincing him of their bond. This day, he was clearly seducing him, not that he minded. True enough, he had stiffened when Ritsuka had tangled his fingers in his locks. Since then, he hadn't moved away and let him have his way with him. Ritsuka seemed to believe it to be an invitation to deepen the intimacy because he quite suddenly found himself with the young Sacrifice all over him. He was slowly unbuttoning his shirt but stopped when he saw his pendant.

"You're wearing it?" he asked, his eyes shining with some unspoken emotion. "You didn't have it last time Seimei called you."

"I never wear it in a Battle. The chain could break."

"I'm touched. I didn't expect you to," he explained.

"You gave it to me," he offered back and saw something swirl and darken in Ritsuka's eyes. He heard him growl softly and suddenly found him a hair breadth from him.

"You are mine," he rumbled against his lips. "You belong to me and I will have you, Soubi."

To his utter bewilderment, Ritsuka didn't move away from him, as he had the previous times. Instead, he kissed him softly. He kissed him tentatively. He kissed him slowly. He kissed him as only recent lovers do, savouring his taste and his feel against him. He kissed him with the hesitancy and restraint of untold love, with the incertitude of a love not yet declared as shared. He kissed him tenderly and ran his hands on his chest, shedding his garment to give him unimpeded access. After a few minutes, he abruptly pulled back and sat on his knees.

"You're not very responsive, Soubi."

"I'm sorry," he said simply. "I'll do better," he amended but Ritsuka didn't reply and only frowned slightly.

"Do you want me to stop?" he asked all seriousness, hands clasped in his lap. Silence stretched as he pondered his answer. And Ritsuka remained stone-faced, clearly awaiting an honest answer.

"I— don't mind," he finally offered.

"You don't mind." Silence again. Ritsuka stared at him and seemed disconcerted. He looked at his hands, searching for words. "Do you want me to stop?" he finally repeated as he looked up at him.

"Do as you want. I don't mind either way."

Wrong answer. He read it on his face as easily as an upcoming rain in the sky. His features hardened, his frown deepened and a fire ignited in his eyes. And still he didn't move. Only his eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

"Would you love me more if I mistreated you, Soubi?" he asked, and his voice took on a different quality. Lower and sharper. "Would you love me more if I were like Seimei?" Colder and on edge. "If I hurt and abused and shamed you?" Deceptively soft. "Or maybe like Minami-sensei?" he whispered with a hint of hostility. More dangerous. He leant closer and grabbed a fistful of his hair, tugging slightly. Not painful but unpleasant. "Answer me," he ordered, glowering at him.

"No. I wouldn't."

"I am not going to rape you. If you're not willing, say so, Soubi."

He got up and left, the slamming door resounding loudly in the now silent room. He wouldn't see him for the next couples of days.