In which Ichijo contemplates his relationship when Rido takes over Shiki's body...
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Pairing: Takuma x Senri
Words: 384
Rated: T
Careless
He should have watched over his "kohai" more.
That was the first thought that crossed Takuma Ichijo's mind as he watched the monster wearing Senri Shiki's skin act and speak in ways that were so unmistakably not-Shiki. The entire charade made Ichijo's skin crawl.
Takuma Ichijo lived his whole life feeling like his hands were always tied. To his scary uncle "Ichio," to Kaname (though that was more willingly so), to the Night Class, to the Senate…
But he always felt a sense of peace with Senri's companionship.
Senri adored his "senpai," but not in the way Hanabusa or Ruka worshipped Kaname Kuran. Rather than fighting for his approval or attention, Senri just…. did whatever he pleased. Despite being literal cousins with Kaname Kuran, Senri couldn't care less about the Pureblood's hold on the Night Class, preferring Takuma's company (and blood).
On the night of Takuma's eighteenth birthday, Senri sliced open Takuma's finger and openly licked away the blood in front of their human classmates, shameless and careless of any rules or etiquette.
(If Takuma was like Kaname, he would have "punished" Senri for his insolence, but Takuma allowed it, regardless of Yuki Cross's nervousness or Zero Kiryu's disgust. This was Senri, after all, and Takuma needed to take care of his kohai, so he let him drink up his blood, tenderly and recklessly.)
But…. It wasn't enough. No matter how much Takuma and Senri partook in each other's blood and affections, Takuma was completely blind. He had no idea how little Senri thought of himself that he could allow himself to be taken over so easily.
Rido Kuran had taken control of his son's mind and body, and Takuma could do nothing.
Loath as he was to betray Kaname in any way, Takuma's desperation to protect Senri overrode everything else.
Thus, he obeyed "Rido's" commands, watched as the mad would-be king attacked his beloved academy, held his tongue as Rima began to raise suspicions about her old friend "Shiki" acting strangely, and wondered how it had all come to this.
When Senri awoke, Takuma held him and cried a thousand apologies, only feeling at ease when his beloved drank some of his blood.
They had been too careless. Takuma would change that, for their futures, if it was the last thing he did….