Loveless Mirage

“I declare a spell battle.” The woman called into the night. Soubi gently pushed Ritsuka behind him in protection and cast out his left hand.

"I accept. Systems activate. Fighting system, initiating." He said simply. The world around the pairs was cast into darkness, the grass and wind around them growing still in the void. Ritsuka looked up tentatively to Soubi’s strong face, pulling himself closer to his Fighters warm body. Why did this have to happen now of all times? We were in the midst of creating memories… The young boy’s thoughts faded off as the female Fighter raised her arm and began the battle.

“Bind in shadow, restrict all movement!” She whispered as tendrils of shadows began to spread out from her feet and speed towards Ritsuka.

“Denied. Absence of light creates absence of shadow.” Beloved shot back in a single breath, and the darkness dissolved into the emptiness. “Within nothingness, create feeling. Pain beyond thought, obliterate!” Soubi yelled, casting his words towards the Sacrifice. The Fighter tilted her head, wisps of blond curls cascading down her shoulder, and laughed, as if the battle was simply a game to amuse her. Her harsh blue eyes surveyed the pair in front of her, and then she looked back towards her sacrifice as blood red light encased his body. His head was down and his messy black hair covered his face.
“Anuuuure!” She whined, as if talking to a pet.

Soubi pulled back confused, and Ritsuka drew himself closer to his Fighter.
“Why didn’t she protect him?” He asked bewildered.

The black haired sacrifice slowly raised his head, Soubi’s spell swirling around him. His hair fell back from his face and he opened his eyes. Ritsuka let out a small shriek at the sight before him. The other sacrifice’s eyes were fogged over in the mask of death, and his mouth was slightly open. Upon his forehead the name “Lifeless” was carved into his skin and blood was slowly dripping from the wound and down his face. The woman looked back at Lifeless and laughed again.

“Damn sacrifice.” She hissed. Ritsuka looked away in anger. Soubi pulled Ritsuka to his chest, and felt the boy’s tense body relax slightly in the embrace.

“I will finish this as fast as I can, Ritsuka. I love you.” Ritsuka only nodded, and then gently kissed his Fighter’s yielding lips. Soubi pulled Ritsuka closer into the kiss and then turned abruptly away, leaving Ritsuka’s face flushed.

“Deny all power, Shatter the bond between Fighter and Sacrifice. Lifeless; reduce to nothing.” He shouted in the darkness. The sacrifice let out a terrifying scream; he fell to the ground and began twitching. The man’s Fighter did not even give him a second glance.

“Nnnuuuagh… why is this taking so long?” She moaned and then looked towards Ritsuka, pointing at him. “If it wasn’t for you, I would still be with my lovely Rioki right now… As soon as I bring you to him, he says he will make me happier then I can ever imagine.” She sighed and Soubi narrowed his eyes at the Fighter who was now passing back and forth in front of her unconscious Sacrifice. She abruptly turned back to Ritsuka and cast out her hand.

“Void of nothingness, steal that which a Fighter requires.” She whispered and then covered her mouth with her hand. Ritsuka looked up at Soubi and called to him.

“What is going on? Why didn’t that spell affect her?” he questioned. Soubi seemed not to hear, and looked confused at the opposite fighter. “Soubi!” He yelled, and then placed his hand on the man’s strong arm. Soubi’s worried features spun to face Ritsuka.

“Ri… Ritsuka?” Soubi questioned his eyes wide in confusion. Ritsuka continued to question Soubi, but when he spoke, the young sacrifices words could not be heard by the strong Fighter.

“I love you, Ritsuka.” He whispered in his ear. “I’m sorry.”

The woman’s eyes sparkled as she formed another spell upon her lips. Her words were shielded by her palm, and Soubi could not defend himself from a spell he was unable to hear, or see. A rain of tiny pins fell from the sky, and Soubi fell to the ground, blood dripping from numerous wounds on his body. Ritsuka ran to his fallen fighter and pulled the man to his chest, his clothing soaking up Soubi’s blood. Soubi’s eyes fluttered open for a moment, his arm raised to Ritsuka’s face, smearing his fine features with a spray of blood.

“Soubi!” Ritsuka gasped, as a tiny smile spread across the fallen Fighters soft lips. Ritsuka gently pressed a kiss upon his acquiescent face. “Don’t you dare die!” He gasped, tears slipping down his face, as he wrapped his tail around the two of them.

“Is that an order?” Soubi breathed in barely a whisper. Ritsuka was about to speak when the female fighter placed her hands upon his back and pulled him away from Soubi. Ritsuka clasped at the man’s hand and held on as the woman’s fingers dug into his skin.

“I love you!” Ritsuka mouthed as his small fingers slid from Soubi’s grasp, and he was dragged backwards into the darkness of the void. Soubi caught a final glance of his beautiful sacrifice as he was shoved into a swirling whole in the emptiness; His eyes frantically looking towards his Beloved for help. Both Ritsuka and the other Fighter disappeared into the darkness, as Soubi attempted to move towards the hole. He shuddered in the empty darkness, and collapsed upon the grass as the world around the Fighter returned to it’s natural state, and a silence encompassed the night.