A/N: So...funny story. This has been sitting in my documents manager for 48 days. *fails at life* I'm so sorry for the wait! I knew there was another chapter but I was confused why it hadn't updated...well there we go. I derped like a rockstar.
Shiba stepped outside into the bright sunshine. He walked slowly towards the flower gardens in the center of the courtyard, the slight breeze tousling his hair. One hand rested in his pants pocket as he walked, the other moved easily back and forth. The view wasn't quite what he'd expected. It was pleasant and peaceful outside. No one around to bother him as he thought on his own. It really was quite strange of Touhou to request time with Chika alone. Though Shiba knew Touhou wouldn't do anything, he still was a little disconcerted about it.
A large blue butterfly flew through the flowers, stopping every so often, it's beautiful wings fluttering nervously. Shiba stopped his walk to watch the tiny creature. He'd always loved butterflies since he was a child. The way they looked and moved was mesmerizing to him. Silent, beautiful, intelligent creatures. He even used their name once to represent himself, though that was in the past, during his living zombie years.
Shiba smiled softly at the butterfly as he flitted away to another garden. So free and able to do as it pleased. Such a life was rare but Shiba had found it. Stealing the shinigami's core was what changed him. He felt a new power, a new energy fill his entire body the moment he merged it within himself. He felt like he could finally do the things he'd wished for. He could live free from the constant danger of the shinigami's scythe, come to reap him, sending his soul to whatever place it belonged. Shiba didn't really care for that. It didn't matter to him. All that mattered was here and now. Getting what he so desired deep in his heart.
When the chance had finally come up, with the help of Touhou, Shiba could barely control himself. He'd held back quite a lot when he first came to take Chika away. The boy had struggled, as Shiba knew he would, but it was exciting that way. Shiba loved how full of life and determination his little Chika was. It invigorated him, seeing the fire and passion burn in those golden eyes. Though now, it was extinguished, Shiba knew it wouldn't last for long. Chika wasn't the kind of person to stay down liked an injured dog. Possibly once his injuries were healed, he'd be back to his old self.
Or so Shiba would keep telling himself. A small part of him feared that Chika really had changed. That he'd lost his fire and passion. The night before was a little bit of a shock to Shiba. Chika whimpering, tears on his face, like a small child. It was something Shiba hadn't expected at all. Shiba knew there was always the chance that Chika's memories would surface, making him weaker, more vulnerable. He suspected that is what had happened the night before. Thus he pulled away, backed off, gave Chika some time and room. The sounds the zombie made, the shaking body, it was a slight disturbance and Shiba himself needed time to process what had happened. He thought it through for hours wondering what could have happened. Once the idea occurred to him that Chika could be having memory flashbacks, it made sense. Shiba knew all about when Chika was a child. He'd heard the story once of how Chika's father had left with his sister to go overseas. Chika, left with his mother was just a young child of maybe 5 or 6. Shiba couldn't remember for sure his exact age. Chika's mother had gone to work one day and never returned. It had been days before Chika was found, alone, abandoned, starving and malnourished in his house. It was a pitiful sight as he'd been told. Perhaps those memories surfaced and caused the feared reaction. Chika always did have a bit of an issue with abandonment.
"Ah, no matter. I'll get him back to normal soon enough." Shiba said aloud to himself in the empty garden. "Or rather…as the way I'd like him to be. Full of life but mine. Mine alone." Shiba smiled to himself. "You'll never be left alone again, Chika" The shinigami looked up at the building he assumed to be the one his and Chika's room was located it. He smiled at the window on the top floor that seemed darker than the rest. Again his thoughts returned to Touhou's request to see Chika on his own. Shiba hoped it was a quick visit.
Shiba let out a long sigh and ran a hand through his hair. He'd had enough waiting and turned on his heel to walk back inside. The scent of the flowers teased his nostrils as he walked back through the gardens to the main doorway. Shiba took one last look at the blue butterfly flittering about then stepped inside the cool building. He wiped his brow and blinked. His eyes adjusted quickly to the more dim lighting. Shiba walked back down the hallway waving his hand back and forth, bored with the lack of action around the place. He didn't know the logistics of the Xu Fu Mafia but he supposed that they were often busy doing many different tasks. From what he knew of Touhou, he ran a tight crew. No mistakes or no coming back. It was that kind of personality that Shiba liked. He wanted a proper partner or at the very least, someone to work with in order to obtain his goals. Since he and Touhou had a similar connection, it made things that much easier.
"To find my little Chika." Shiba said to himself as he made his way down the hallway. He didn't know where much of the rooms were in the establishment, but he had made sure to memorize his way to a select few. Touhou's office and Chika's room were two of them. He could find them from anywhere in the complex. At the present though, Shiba only cared to find Chika's room. He took the most direct path he knew.
Minutes passed until Shiba met Touhou as he exited the elevator. "Ah, Touhou. I see you've just finished. How was your visit?" Shiba asked smiling.
Touhou flicked his eyes toward Shiba, his expression irritated. "I see you've really done some work with that mutt." He responded flatly. "He's changed a lot since I last spoke with him. You're a cruel person, Shiba-san." Touhou let a smirk touch his lips, starting to feel more like himself. The odd emotions he seemed to have received from Shito melted away.
Shiba scoffed. "Cruel? I merely do as I wish and he will learn it is what he wishes as well." The shinigami shrugged. "It's simple really. Tell me, you liked the reactions your Shito had when you took him, didn't you? Well, Chika is much more lively." Smiles at the memory. "Very much so."
Touhou arched a brow. "Talking about such things in a hallway, unguarded from other ears, is rather risky, wouldn't you agree?" He turned on his heel to move down the hallway towards his office. "Oh, go on. Your pet seems a bit…lonely." Touhou said over his shoulder, waving his hand in dismissal.
Shiba's shoulders shook in a quiet chuckle as he watched the Exorcist disappear. He'd noticed the slight change in attitude around him but thought nothing of it. His only concern was getting back to Chika and checking in on him, he also wanted to know what Touhou had spoken to him about. Shiba entered the elevator and rode it quietly to the top floor. He stepped out quickly, hands placed into his pockets. He felt the card key in his left hand, warm to his touch as he'd held it for a few minutes. He slid it quickly through the electronic lock and listened to each lock disengage. He closed his eyes a moment then pushed the door open.
Chika looked up, a bit of food in his mouth. He stared at Shiba for a few seconds then set his fork down and pushed the half-finished tray away. He looked down at his hand, the healing process working as it should albeit slowly.
Shiba smiled taking off his jacket and laid it on the chair near the bed. "My precious Chika, I see you've eaten. How wonderful. But don't stop on my visit. Go on, finish it."
Chika shook his head and pushed the tray further still, curling his knees up to his chest. Shiba sighed and walked over running a hand through Chika's hair. The zombie winced at his touch and pulled away. Chika somehow seemed to make himself smaller. Shiba tilted his head a little then gripped Chika's arm pulling him from the bed and into strong embrace. Chika protested, struggled a little but both arms ended up pinned between his own chest, and Shiba's.
"Gah, let me go!" Chika yelled him. He thrashed his head a little but Shiba's hand stopped him. Chika growled trying to pull away. He hated the way Shiba would hold him like that. Head pressed to his chest, arms pinned between them. Completely vulnerable and unable to do anything.
"Sh." Shiba cooed as if talking to a frightened child. "I won't do anything to harm you right now. Just relax and tell me what Touhou wanted."
Chika held still for a moment. "Touhou?" His face changed a little but Shiba couldn't see it. "He didn't really say anything. Just gave me my hand."
"Is that really so? He'd wanted a private meeting with you." Shiba thought it over a moment. His suspicions grew further, hearing what Chika had said. Touhou came for a private meeting, yet said nothing of importance. It didn't add up and Shiba wanted to know why. "Ah, well. So long as he didn't do anything to you." Shiba stroked Chika's hair slowly with one hand, his other wrapped tightly around Chika to hold him steady.
Chika growled, frustrated and tried once again to push away. Even with his nearly healed hand he couldn't muster enough strength to overcome Shiba. Perhaps it was the wound in his chest, or perhaps that he hadn't been eating for days. Chika didn't know for sure but the reason didn't really matter so much. His mind was elsewhere, despite his attempts to get away from Shiba. He wondered if Shito had seen his note he'd written on the bandages. He wondered if Shito even cared. He wondered if it mattered. Chika shook his head not wanting the negative thoughts to consume him. He clung desperately to the little bit of hope he still had.
Shiba's eyes narrowed a little. Something was on Chika's mind and he didn't know what it was. He knew Chika wouldn't just flat out tell him so he was left thinking about it. Different scenarios moved through his head. The most persistent was that Chika had lied about what Touhou had said. Maybe he was threatened? Though in the past that never mattered to Chika. Maybe he said some things that Chika wanted to keep a secret. Shiba didn't like secrets being kept from him. Especially when it came to Chika. He let out a sigh and moved towards the bed, letting himself fall backwards onto it. He pulled Chika down on top of him and rolled over so that both laid on their side, Chika's back pressed tightly against Shiba's body.
"H-hey! The hell are you doing?" Chika yelled at the movement. He felt something pull in his chest but luckily no blood appeared. He struggled to get away but Shiba somehow managed to hold him firm still, even laying down.
Shiba buried his face in Chika's hair nuzzling his nose in it. "Ah…I'm tired my little Chika. I think I'll just rest a bit. Stay with me." Shiba spoke then let out a yawn nuzzling his face in Chika's hair again. Both of his arms wrapped around Chika, holding him there and he let himself slowly start to fall asleep.
Chika growled again and tried to struggle but eventually gave up, the screaming nerves in his chest convincing him it wasn't worth it at the moment. He ceased but refused to let himself fall asleep. To distract himself he turned his thoughts back to Shito. He tried his best to draw up memories of when Shito would do things seemingly without knowing it. Shito didn't think Chika noticed but he did. Chika was afraid to let him know it though, he didn't want Shito to stop. But the idea was so strange to him that he would want Shito to hug him or pull him close. He kept up his strong bravado if only to keep the relationship they had. After what had happened with Shiba Chika didn't care anymore if his feelings were wrong. He wanted Shito, constantly. He was the only person he could think about to escape the horror he'd lived through. He finally admitted to himself one thing he fought so hard before.
Chika. Loved Shito.
A/N: And here you are. I apologize for taking a while to write this but here it is. Things are developing and getting complicated so I keep having to reread my chapters just to make sure I don't contradict myself. *fails at memory* Thanks for staying for so long! I appreciate the reviews I've received so far. They've been a great motivator to keep going.