Loveless Mirage

“Natsuo! Look at the mess you made!” Youji said, stepping over puddles of water and fallen bandages.

“It wasn’t my fault! I was just trying to bandage up some of Ritsuka’s wounds!” Natsuo rebutted, glaring at his Fighter.

“Ri…. Ritsuka?” a silent whisper escaped the lips of Agatsuma Soubi as his eyes slowly opened. His body felt heavy and every breath he took shook his body with a fierce throbbing pain. Beloved was sprawled across the floor of his darkened apartment. His chest was wrapped in tight bandages that crisscrossed his right shoulder. A thick blanket rubbed softly against his injured body with every slight movement he made. The Fighter’s cool eyes turned slowly to gaze upon the Zero pair who were quarreling in the kitchen of his small apartment. Why were they here? Hadn’t they gotten their own home months before? His vision shifted to a bright red light that was blinking on and off on his home phone. It was probably a message from Kio. He had gone off during their break from art school to visit his wife and child. Soubi closed his eyes momentarily remembering how well Kio and Ritsuka had gotten along the moment they had met.

“Ritsuka!” Soubi gasped and sat up from the hard floor. Pain shot up his side and he gulped down a scream as he pressed his left hand against his shoulder.

“Ooi! Soubi! It’s about time you woke up! It’s been two days since Loveless called us. What the hell happened?” Youji questioned.

“Yeah! Loveless looks horrid! He hasn’t even slept a wink since we brought you here. What did you do to him?” Natsuo chimed in.

Soubi’s breath caught in his throat as memories flooded his mind. Ritsuka’s tear filled eyes calling his name…

“Where is Ritsuka?” Soubi whispered, attempting to stand.

“Woah! We just barely got your wound to stop bleeding Beloved! Stop moving!” Natsuo hissed, attempting to push Soubi back down to the floor.

“Ritsuka is in your bathroom. He won’t let us anywhere near him. You must have really messed him up when you took his ears.” Youji answered, also moving to Soubi’s side.

“I… I didn’t…” Soubi murmured, forcing himself into a standing position, despite what the Zero pair attempted to do.

“What? I thought you promised you would be the one to take them.” Youji answered puzzled.

“Isn’t that what Loveless wanted?” Natsuo continued.

“Please… leave… I need to talk to Ritsuka, and I don’t need your questions popping up all the time.” Soubi managed to utter. The Fighter and Sacrifice looked between each other and then released their hold on Beloved.

“Alright… there is no need to get angry. You can thank us later for saving your sorry ass once again.”

“We left some food in your refrigerator. Don’t go dying on us after everything we did.” The Zero couple chimed as they left the apartment, locking the door behind them. Soubi turned towards his room and uneasily walked towards the bathroom, using the furniture scattered around the house as support. The sound of running water grew louder as he approached the closed door. He gently pushed the door open and a gust of steam billowed out the created exit, fogging his view of the inside.

“Ritsuka?” Soubi called over the loud shower. There was no response, but he could see the silhouette of his Sacrifice sitting down in the large shower. Ritsuka’s blood stained clothing was sitting in one corner of the room, and bloody footprints led into the shower. The sliding door had a smear of Ritsuka’s small fingerprints, most likely from Beloved’s blood. Soubi reached the glass door and slid it slowly to the side so that he could see his Sacrifice’s quivering form.

“Ritsuka...” Soubi whispered, and the boy’s head twitched up to look at the intruder. Ritsuka’s soft skin was flushed pink from the heat of the water that cascaded down his slender, bruised body. Crimson water flowed across his bloodied body and his hair pressed against his face, framing his terrified eyes. His head was lolled back against the wall, and his willowy arms were wrapped around his legs in a tight protective ball.

“Sou… bi?” The small sacrifice questioned, his frightened eyes searching his Beloved’s face. Soubi eased himself gently down into the shower, hot water soaking his jeans and bandages. His wound on his shoulder soon bubbled into a stream of red that blended with his Sacrifice’s own crimson liquid and then was soon lost down the darkness of the drain beneath them.

“It’s alright, Ritsuka. I am here now. You don’t need to be afraid any longer.” Soubi whispered as he slipped one of his legs behind Ritsuka’s bare back and then gently pulled his Sacrifice close to his chest with his free arm. Ritsuka slowly released his hold upon his own legs and then wound his small arms around his Beloved’s body, holding him tight.

“Soubi… Soubi….” The small boy whispered as he buried his wet face against Beloved’s chest. “I was so scared. I thought I was going to lose you… and I… He…” Ritsuka’s hold on Beloved’s chest tightened. “I feel so dirty. I can feel him everywhere. I can feel his hands pulling me towards him. I can feel his malicious kiss… I can even taste him. I just want it to go away. I don't want that memory…” The small Sacrifice trailed off, sobs racking his entire frame as he clung to his Fighter. Soubi ran his long fingers slowly through his Sacrifice’s dark hair, gently releasing the tight knots and kissing the small boy’s head as he cried. Water continued to flow across their trembling forms. Soubi’s long hair slipped across his closed eyes and blended together with Ritsuka’s dark locks, as if twining together in order to force the pair to remain where they were.

“I am sorry Ritsuka.” Soubi whispered, his eyes tight in sorrow. “I am so sorry I could not protect you. I love you, more than anything.” The fighter said tenderly into his Sacrifice’s ear.

“I love you too.” Echoed the hushed reply from in his arms as both Sacrifice and Fighter clung together in the buffet of cleansing water.

~-----------~

Morning’s rays were filtering though the apartment windows when Ritsuka awoke. He slowly opened his eyes and turned over in Soubi’s soft bed. The silver haired Fighter was no where to be seen, but a small note was sitting on the pillow where Soubi’s form had wrinkled the fabric. Ritsuka gingerly pulled himself into a sitting position, gooseflesh covering his bare chest in the fresh morning air. He shivered and pulled the blankets around himself as if pulling into a cocoon and then opened the note.


Gone to buy breakfast.
Don’t miss me too much.
That’s an order.

I love you.

A small smile spread across Ritsuka’s lips as he hugged the note close to his chest. I love you too, Soubi. Loveless stood slowly, pulling the blanket from off of the bed with him as he walked into the living room of the apartment. His feet stung with each step, but the pain from the glass shards that had been embedded in his feet was dulled by the cool wood floor. Blankets messily covered the sofa that Soubi had attempted to sleep on the past 4 days. He had given Ritsuka his large bed, but had ended up crawling in close to Ritsuka each night when the young Sacrifice awoke screaming and thrashing around with nightmares. A pile of bloodied bandages were thrown into the garbage can beside the couch. Ritsuka smiled in slight awe at the speed in which Soubi had managed to recover most of his strength.

Ritsuka looked up startled as the door bell rang. Who could be coming to Soubi’s home? Kio was not due back for another week and the Zero pair had not been by since Soubi had asked them to leave. Ritsuka tentatively moved to the door and pulled it open as the bell chimed again.

“How can I help…” Ritsuka’s words were lost in fear at the sight of Nameless standing at the front door. His short brown hair was spiked and his clothing was crisp and clean. The bruises that had previously covered his face had dulled and his eyes sparkled.

“Loveless.” He said, nodding his head in greeting. Ritsuka dropped the blanket he had been holding up and stumbled backwards.

“What do you want, Nameless?” He hissed, anger slowly rising in his voice.

“Actually, I have a name now… It’s Adamo.” Nameless replied, a small smile upon his face. “I just wanted to know that you were alright.” He said curtly. Ritsuka looked confused and backed away further from the Fighter. “It’s alright, Loveless. I’m not going to do anything too you. In fact, I wanted to thank you.” Ritsuka narrowed his eyes.

“Why?”

“Because you showed Rioki just how powerful a Sacrifice can be. Although he has not given up on finding a name, he has accepted me as his Fighter.” Adamo trailed off and looked towards the brilliant sky.

“I… You…” Ritsuka answered, unsure of how to answer the Fighter. His mouth closed in silence when he noted that Nameless no longer had his ears. “I am glad I could help you, Adamo.” He whispered and then motioned to close the door, knots forming in his stomach as memories washed over his mind.

“Keep Beloved close, Loveless. He is truly the other half of your soul.” Nameless whispered as the door closed and Ritsuka sunk down onto the floor, his head in his hands.

~--------------~

Ritsuka looked up from his position on Soubi’s couch when he heard the key turn in the apartment lock. Soubi gently pushed the door open and his face lit up at the sight of Ritsuka.

“You are awake! What would you like to eat?” Soubi asked.

“**** me.” Came the quiet response. Soubi stopped in his tracks.

“What? Ritsuka… I….” Soubi stammered, his face blushing. Perhaps he had just heard Ritsuka wrong. That was not something Ritsuka would say.

“Please. I want to know what it would have been like… if it had been you… and not him.” Ritsuka said in a voice that echoed quietly across the small apartment. “I want to choose you as the person I give my ears too. Even if they are already gone, I want to know what it would have been like…” Ritsuka turned his determined eyes to Soubi.

“Ritsuka…” The Fighter muttered in longing, a sudden wave of repressed desire bubbling to the surface.

“I want to make a new memory.” Ritsuka whispered as he released the blanket that was wrapped around his lean body. Soubi took a step towards his Sacrifice and placed a kiss upon the soft skin at the nape of his neck.

“Are you sure ?” Soubi whispered, feeling Ritsuka shudder under his kiss and breathe in deeply, nodding his head ‘yes’. The Fighter lightly ran his hands along the lithe skin of his Sacrifice as he smoothly lifted the boy’s light body into the air. Ritsuka closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of his Beloved pressed against him as the pair disappeared into the dark bedroom.