The Artist's Hand

By: SanguineFox

Warning: Boy Love, nothing really racy, just some questionable comments...

Disclaimer: Don't own any rights to Loveless or any of the characters.

Author's Note: Sorry about the long delay, I haven't had too much time to work on writing and I've been stumped on this story for quite awhile. Hope you all enjoy it!

Chapter 4

"Wow," Ritsuka looked about the apartment flat, paintings and pictures leaning against every wall. There were so many in varying sizes. The studio show had been nothing compared to all the paintings that were lying about in the small room, "You made all of these?"

"Yes, you don't have to take off your shoes here," Soubi noted.

"Oh?" Ritsuka stood up straight, he had already started to take off his shoes, feeling very awkward, he took a few steps on to the wooden floor.

"Would you like something to eat?" Soubi asked as he led the way into another room, which was the small kitchen and dining room. The place was neat and tidy, everything in its own place, unlike in the first room.

"I'm... not really hungry..."

"How about something to drink? Milk? Juice?"

"Grape juice if you have it."

"Of course," Soubi gave the young boy a small smile before taking a glass out of the cupboard and pouring him a drink.

"Thank you," he accepted the drink shyly and waited for Soubi to pour another glass.

"Why don't you tell me what you think of some of the paintings in here?" he led Ritsuka back into the other room.

"They're... nice..."

"Is that all?" Soubi chuckled as he sipped at his drink.

The young boy just shrugged, "I don't really know what you want."

"Just your opinion."

Ritsuka looked around again, "These look nice. People would probably really like them at your shows."

"You don't really like them, though?"

"They're nice," he repeated.

"Which ones do you like?"

"Um," he looked around, but none of them seemed to really catch his eye as the butterfly had at the showing.

"There are more behind some of the paintings if you want to go through more of them, " he gestured towards the canvases piled up against one another.

"You make a lot of paintings."

Soubi laughed, "Yes, it is how I make my living."

"I don't understand what you want from me. I don't really understand all this stuff."

"I think you have a natural knack for reading into art."

Ritsuka looked over taller man in surprise. He had never been given any sort of positive feedback. Feeling a little embarrassed, Ritsuka looked about the paintings a bit more, "I- I like this one."

"Why?"

"I don't know, something about the colors. They're blended nicely together, it's... harmonious, the paint seems happy."

"The paint seems happy?" a nasal voice scoffed slightly from the apartment door.

"Kio, what are you doing here?" Soubi asked nonchalantly, not really caring to the new blonde's presence.

"Apparently playing babysitter. Are you aware of how creepy it is that you are suddenly hanging out with some random prepubescent twerp?"

"Would you like to introduce yourself?" The man with long blond hair turned to the shorter young man.

"Ritsuka," was all the young boy said, his tail twitching slightly, he didn't really like this new blonde. Watching him carefully, he took a step closer to Soubi, standing slightly behind him.

"Ah, that's cute, he's shy."

"No he's not. He just doesn't like you," Soubi smirked.

"Hey!" the short haired blonde pouted, "Come on, most kids love me."

"Ritsuka is far from being a normal kid. He's a got a real eye for art."

"I really hope that his 'eye' is all you're eyeing."

"I am considering eating him all up," he stated so dry and matter-of-factly, Kiyo wasn't sure how to read into what Soubi had said.

"That wouldn't be good P.R.," he stated just as dryly, "Now which one of these is going up for sale or show?"

"Still deciding, get yourself a drink," he waved the young man into his kitchen.

"I should be going home now," the shorter young boy pulled back.

"Are you actually afraid of Kiyo?"

"No, that's not it..."

"Did you want to spend time alone with me?" the blonde smirked, obviously attempting to annoy the young boy.

"No," he huffed and headed to the door.

"I'll see you tomorrow after school, and I'll make you dinner."

"And you get creepier and creepier," Kiyo walked out of the kitchen with a beer.

"Bye," the young boy blushed, walking out the door.

"Do I need to report you?"

"You know me, I just can't help it when I want to eat something up."

"Please," Kiyo practically begged, "resist this one. At least until its of age."

"That'll take every ounce of will power I have," Soubi smirked.

"Why are you so interested in this boy?"

"He wants to set the butterfly free."

"What?"

"It's something only Ritsuka will understand... one day."

"Once again, I beg, 'OF AGE'!"

"He's a smart kid, 'of age' for him may be different than other's 'of age'."

"That's too bad, I can't have my artist behind bars because you think a tweleve year old is 'of age'."

Soubi raised a brow before shaking his head, he waved to a cluster of paintings in a corner of the room, "You can take those over there."

Kiyo sighed and went to collect the paintings, "I don't know what I ever saw in you."

"As soon as you remember, pass it on to Ritsuka."

"You're a freak," was all Kiyo took note of the paintings he would be sending the carriers for.

Ritsuka couldn't help needing to glance out the window every few minutes through his last class. He didn't want to know if he was anxious about seeing the artist again or that the artist wouldn't be there waiting for him. Unlike the day before, the sky was clear, the weather crisp.

"Ritsuka?" the pink haired girl leaned in closer to the dark haired youth, "What are you looking at? Is the artist out there again?"

"No," he huffed, but then straightened himself, "I don't really care."

"What's going on?" Yayoi was quick to join them as usual.

"Why does Yayoi always have to follow Yuiko?" she pouted.

Ritsuka sighed, obviously annoyed, he grew tired of the childish bickering these two would get into, "Because he likes you."

"B-but... Yuiko likes Ritsuka!" her eyes grew wide, looking to Ritsuka in hopes that he would proclaim his feelings.

"What's wrong with me?" Yayoi was about to go through his short temper soon.

The mature youth stood from his desk and walked away from the two just as they started another of their arguments. Ritsuka knew that those two would more than likely end up together... or at least having one drunken mistake sometime in the future. Either way, he didn't really care and just wanted to get away from the impending argument.

Walking down the hall, he was surprised to see a tall familiar figure coming towards him.

TBC