To Stare At Nothing

Chapter

Fire Injection: Side Effects

Ritsuka awoke to hear a mild type of scream coming somewhere from his left. It was only mild because his windpipe was being cut off by an unknown force.

Scared, violet eyes shot open as Ritsuka grabbed blindly at the pillow that was being used to smother him. For a moment all he could see was white before he finally found the strength to push his attacker away.

Ritsuka slowly sucked in air. His chest heaved as he clutched at the wrist of whoever was now sitting on the floor. From the female voice that was now cursing at him from nearby, Ritsuka could easily guess at who had just tried to kill him.

"Hello Mother. I didn't know you were let out." Ritsuka breathed out while his hands unconsciously tightened on her wrist. He then flinched when he felt a set of dull teeth bite into his own wrist, effectively making him let go of hers.

He tried to pull away but the bite only deepened, leaving more than a small trail of blood dripping down his arm. He turned his head to regard his mother with something akin to worry.

How did I end up here? Why does she have me? Why am I not scared? I felt calmer than I should have. Like he didn't know the danger he was in anymore.

Was it because I lived with Seimei for the past year? Ritsuka thought.

He decided to try and reason with his mother, to at least get her to stop clamping down. The pain was starting to get through to his hazy brain.

"Please, let go, Mother. Why am I here, anyways?" He voiced out, hoping to get a response. He flinched as she swung her other arm and slapped him on the face.

"You don't know anything! You aren't my Ritsuka! My Ritsuka would never attack me! Never!" She screamed out, while Ritsuka pulled his bleeding arm to his chest. He quickly sat up on the couch but then regretted it once his head started spinning.

"You didn't give me much choice." He murmured, hoping she wouldn't hear.

"Can I call Seimei, please?" Ritsuka said louder, hoping she would cheer up at his name.

"Why? You'll just burden him like always! Seimei was supposed to want to take care of me! Not an imposter like you! You aren't Ritsuka!" She snarled out, her hands quickly taking hold of his injured wrist to punctuate her point.

Ritsuka's body shuddered from the pain of his new injury being badly treated combined with his rapidly intensifying headache.

"Mother, please." He whispered, afraid that he would collapse once more.

Her yells didn't subdue once he did…

Seimei glared at the taxi driver's back as he and Soubi sat on their way to the boy's mothers. Soubi had noticed his Sacrifice's dower expression and had wisely chosen to stay silent.

The ride passed in tense silence as the darkened night was interrupted with the occasional stop light. The shadows on Seimei's face seemed to intensify to Soubi but his musings were stopped when he felt Ritsuka's need for help.

Soubi closed his eyes and balled his hands into fist. He despised the fact of not being able to feel Ritsuka's pain earlier. Something was wrong, and he had missed it. Seimei's thoughts were similar as well.

My little brother is alone with that wench of a woman. Someone who doesn't have the right to be called a mother, not after what she's done to him. She showered me with love and compassion but left Ritsuka with all her pain and bitterness. What kind of love is that? First come first serve?

He thought bitterly, his eyes fixed straight ahead. He didn't even notice the passing lights or the storm clouds that were threatening to fill the sky with rain.

I went after the seven moons for information. About my familiar family, about Beloved and Loveless. What a pair we are, such opposites. I guess it won't do any good to think like this now. I have to focus on the present. I need to help Ritsuka.

A loud knock awoke Ritsuka from dreams of pain, blood, and his family in general. He denied the urge to go back to sleep but also wasn't fully prepared to get up and face his mother once more. He felt pain on his forehead that hadn't been there before and his stomach also seemed to ache a lot more than usual.

She must have gotten angry while I slept. He mused, not quite alert enough to feel the full amount of his new injuries.

He flinched when soft touch on his wrist alerted him to someone's presence. He scrunched his eyes and waited for a new blow to come.

"Ritsuka, open your eyes. It's alright. I'll take you home." Seimei said, trying his best to calm his little brother. He sighed and shot a harsh glare at his mother who had cheered up the second she saw him at the door.

"First come first serve." He murmured and then picked up Ritsuka gently.

Nodding to Soubi he walked out without a backwards glance.

Chapter note: Well now I've gotten the end of chapter 2 finished from what I've planned. This was a bit more bloody than I had anticipated but it worked out well in my opinion.

I always feel bad for Ritsuka when his mother is near.

Thanks for the reviews, I appreciated them! I hope you all like this chapter section as well!