No lemons. Melpomene can deal.

A gentle hand brushed Ritsuka's face, stirring him from his gratifyingly deep slumber. "Ritsuka…" The tender, soft voice brought a happy smile to his lips as the boy reached up, curling his fingers over Soubi's hand.

"Nnn… what time is it?" Ritsuka murmured, waking up more fully as Soubi playfully kissed his hand.

"About six fourty-five. I thought you'd want to wake up a bit early." The fighter replied with a smile, ruffling Ritsuka's hair. "Today is going to be interesting for you, I think, Ritsuka."

He frowned slightly before memory of the previous night came back, and he blushed heavily. Ritsuka reached up and gingerly touched the place where his ears were supposed to be; they were gone. He winced.

"What's wrong, Ritsuka?" Soubi tipped the boy's head back with two fingers, fixing concerned blue eyes on his sacrifice.

Still blushing, Ritsuka averted his eyes. It was now hitting him how foolish it had been to let it happen… and yet, some of the awkwardness around Soubi was gone. He felt like they were closer. "… Nothing, Soubi."

The fighter smiled and landed a soft kiss on Ritsuka's cheek. "If you say so. It's a wonder your mother hasn't had a hissy-fit and roused the whole city looking for you."

That statement just made Ritsuka wince again. "Aww, you're right. Dammit!" He groaned in frustration. If he went back there now, his mother would probably beat him and tie him back up, and he'd never get another chance to get out. Then again, no matter when he went back that would probably be the case. He wanted to at least drop by the school and tell Yuiko and sensei what was up…

Soubi sat on the bed next to him, handing Ritsuka a steaming cup. He looked askance at the coffee, but sipped at it anyway. "Ritsuka, do you regret it?" Soubi asked softly, bent fingers caressing the boy's cheek.

"I…" Ritsuka hesitated, looking at the rapidly cooling coffee. "Sorta."

Soubi leaned over, one arm curling around Ritsuka's shoulder, and kissed his brow gently. "I don't. I love you, Ritsuka."

The boy blushed. He turned, almost clinging to Soubi and burying his face in the fighter's chest. "I think… I think I love you too, Soubi." He stammered.

Soubi smiled, holding Ritsuka close. "That makes me very happy, Ritsuka." He murmured, running his fingers through the silky black hair.

"I need to get to school." Ritsuka muttered, standing up and gathering his clothes. He pulled them on with the blush still on his face, watched impassively by a calmly smiling Soubi.

"See you later, Ritsuka." Soubi called as the boy hurried out the door.

"So Sou-chan, how'd it go?" Kio asked cheerily as he leaned against the wall, watching Soubi paint.

"How did what go, Kio?" Soubi asked absently, more focused on his art than the conversation.

Kio giggled slightly, grinning around the candy. "Last night, of course. You ran me off while you and Rit-chan were still in the tub."

Soubi glanced over at Kio. "That's none of your concern."

He pouted. "Yes it is! I'm your friend, Sou-chan! It's my deal to know if you knock somebody up!"

"And what makes you think I wouldn't be the one getting knocked up, eh?"

Kio blinked, shaking his head slowly. "You're a pervert, Sou-chan. I don't think the kid would know what to do!"

"You've got that right." Soubi muttered, then winced. "I didn't mean to say that."

Kio grinned, chuckling through his teeth. "Ah hah! So you didn't stop there, you pedophile you. I always said you had a Lolita complex."

"Lolita was about an old man obsessed with pre-nubile girls, Kio. I'm a college student and Ritsuka is a boy." Soubi remarked.

"That's as much as admitting it!" Kio retorted smugly. "I knew you were looking particularly self-satisfied today. So Rit-chan will lack his ears next time I see him?"

"Yes." Soubi rolled his eyes at the scandalized giggle from his friend.

Ritsuka told himself he'd ignore all the wary looks. He'd been missing yesterday presumably sick, then he came in that day earless. Oh the rumors.

"Ri-ritsuka-kun, are you all right?" Ritsuka looked over at his sensei. She was blushing heavily, and her ears were folded tight against her head.

"I'm fine, sensei. A bit sore, but fine." Ritsuka replied, smiling slightly as she blushed more deeply. He couldn't resist.

"Ritsuka-kuuun! You're limping, are you all right? Oh…" Yuiko trotted happily up to him, pausing once she noticed his lack of ears.

"Hi, Yuiko. I'm fine." He smiled, stoically ignoring the looks varying from horror to fascination that the class fixed on him. He went over and sat in his chair, unable to hide a slight smirk. Some of the rumors would be particularly interesting…

"Uh… um… Ritsuka-kun?" Yiuko sat hesitantly next to him, blushing almost as much as the teacher. "You… your…"

"My… ears?" Ritsuka said, fighting back a slight smile.

She nodded, her face bright red. "Your ears. They're… they're…"

"Gone, yes. My ears are gone. My tail too." Ritsuka finished for her, straight-faced.

She swallowed and looked up, having gotten some sort of handle on herself. Ritsuka admired her for being able to pull herself together like that. "Um… so…" She blushed again. "Since you don't seem upset about it…"

Again, Ritsuka marveled at her uncanny perceptiveness. "It was voluntary, yes. I'll tell you about it later, class has started." He smiled at her renewed blush, biting back the desire to chuckle.

The lunch break meant their sensei coming up again to ask if he was okay.

"Yes, sensei, I'm fine." He assured her, holding up his hands placatingly. "Do you see any bruises or any more bandages?" She shook her head. "All right then. It's cool."

Yiuko glanced at him. "So, Ritsuka-kun…" She trailed off, blushing slightly again. She'd been staring at him (or rather his lack of ears) on and off all day, but Ritsuka had pretended not to notice.

He glanced over at her with a quizzical hum, but she blushed more and couldn't voice her question. Ritsuka had an idea what she wanted to ask and chuckled. "You'll find out, Yuiko. Trust me."

Just then, his phone beeped. He frowned slightly, wondering why he hadn't turned it off before coming to school. The teacher tried telling him off, but Ritsuka tuned her out when he noticed it was a text from Soubi.

How many people have given you odd looks so far?

He chuckled slightly, barely noticing when Yuiko peered over his shoulder at the message.

"Ohmigosh! Ritsuka-kun, it was Soubi-san, wasn't it!" She squealed, smiling.

Ritsuka winced slightly. "Yes, Yuiko. It was."

Shinonone, blushing furiously, grasped Ritsuka's shoulders. "Agatsuma-san didn't hurt you, did he Ritsuka-kun?!" She demanded anxiously.

"No more than would be expected." Ritsuka replied, rubbing his lower back ruefully. The teacher blushed, but Yuiko seemed oblivious.

"Why would you expect him to hurt you, Ritsuka-kun?" She asked.

"He's twice my size, Yuiko. In every sense of the phrase." Ritsuka explained, quirking an eyebrow significantly.

"Oh." She blushed.

Ritsuka chuckled and texted the fighter back, telling him not to text him at school. The answer was almost predictable.

Yes, master.

"That sounds perverted." Yuiko remarked. "And why does he keep saying you're his master?"

Ritsuka rubbed the back of his head. "It… it's hard to explain, Yuiko. I know it sounds, well, wrong, but it's really not." He glanced over at the teacher as he spoke. "Most of the time." He added with a blush.

The bell to resume class rang, so the conversation was ended and they went back to a mostly normal day, with people still staring at Ritsuka.

"Ritsuka." Soubi breathed as the school let out and the familiar black-haired head appeared, heading toward him.

"Hey Soubi. You should know better than to text me while school's in, you dummy. Shinonone-sensei nearly took my phone!" Ritsuka said, pushing the fighter playfully.

Soubi simply smiled, hooking an arm around Ritsuka's waist. He leaned down to trail kisses across the boy's brow and cheek, but Ritsuka pushed him away. "Not in public, Soubi." He said, blushing slightly.

"You're no fun." Soubi smiled. He looked up as Yuiko approached them, beaming hugely.

"Soubi-saan, Ritsuka-kun told meee! Congratulations!" She said, practically jumping up and down.

"I didn't so much tell her as she read that text you sent me." Ritsuka corrected, frowning at the girl and blushing.

"Hello, Yuiko-chan." Soubi merely smiled at her, as always. "How much did Ritsuka tell you? I hope he saved some of the juicy details to be just between us two."

Ritsuka blushed furiously, and Yuiko giggled. "No, he didn't tell me much of anything."

"Too bad! I'll tell you about it sometime, then?"

"Soubi!" Ritsuka blushed more heavily, tugging on the fighter's arm. "Stoppit!"

He just chuckled, fondly ruffling Ritsuka's hair. "As you wish, Ritsuka."

They strolled around for a while, aimlessly, just enjoying the other's company. They got many odd looks for the obvious age-difference and Ritsuka's lack of ears, not to mention the affectionate way they acted toward each other that highlighted the other two observations. Not that either of them cared.

Soubi walked Ritsuka up to his home, fondly kissing the boy's knuckles. "Are you sure you want to go back home, Ritsuka? You mother will probably hurt you."

The boy smiled wanly. "Yeah. I'm sure she's been really worried, so I have to at least see if she's okay. I'll see you tomorrow, Soubi."

Soubi wasn't convinced, but it wasn't his place. "As you wish. I love you, Ritsuka."

To the fighter's surprise, Ritsuka stepped up and kissed him. "I love you too, Soubi." He breathed. Soubi stared, surprised, as Ritsuka grinned at him and scampered inside.

Soubi stood outside the house for a few minutes, but since there were no ominous noises coming from within he supposed Ritsuka would be all right.

"Hey! You're looking awful smug, Sou-chan. Did you just have an afternoon quickie with Rit-chan or something?" Kio chimed.

Soubi rolled his eyes. "No, Kio. Shut up, will you? I want to finish this painting."

"If you wouldn't procrastinate s'damn much you wouldn't have to scramble to meet deadlines, stupid Sou-chan!" Kio complained, and the conversation deviated.

Soubi was half paying attention to the painting, and half musing over Ritsuka's parting words. Huh. Now who's the one who can't get the other out of his mind…?

d'aaw. anyway, i'm determined to keep this a two-shot and work on my songfic.

i hope you enjoyed! reviews are love. :)