Soubi sat at his easel the next day, seemingly calm, imperturbable, lost once more in the world of colour and freedom. His brush conjured a magical world from the void of the blank canvas.

The blonde sensed another's proximity before he heard them. He turned his head and could not suppress a smile "Kio...I've missed you..." he frowned as he examined the other. "Is that a mark on your face? Did someone hit you?" the bitter humour of the situation was not entirely lost upon him. When they had met it had been the other who had coaxed him out of his shell with endless exploits, clowning and unavoidable chatter. Kio had always been willing to talk, always attempted to make conversation while he himself had been silent. Now the other seemed to be drifting almost beyond his reach, and he was trying in vain to find the man who had been his friend.

The other man didn't response, and in an unprecedented action, Soubi put down his paintbrush in the middle of a piece and turned Kio on his stool, gripping him by the shoulders, worry in his eyes.

"Kio, talk to me, please... just say something, smile, make a joke, anything... you're ignoring me and I can't take it... I want my friend back! I-..." he was about to continue when he froze, eyes falling on the mark on Kio's face. It was no bruise, no smudge of dirt, it matched the one on his own face even down to its location. He started shaking, barely able to believe it.

Kio frowned "Soubi? What's wrong?" he stood and sat the other down "Your-... your mark-... your name..."

The other man blinked "...my name's Kio, you know that already..."

"No! No... a name... a true name, a fighter's name, or that of a sacrifice... like Seimei's..."

Kio shrugged "I'm nothing special, I don't have any powers, I can't be a fighter..."

"No, but you are a sacrifice..."

"Big deal. I probably don't have a fighter..."

Soubi shook his head mutely, rubbing his cheek, getting more and more urgent, scrubbing at his skin, desperate to wipe away the makeup, to reveal the truth.

Kio frowned in confusion, watcing, concerned, worried by the other's intensity.

The mark was revealed, and Soubi's eyes shone with desperation, he needed the other to accept him, to value him, to cherish him if that were possible. He could not face another rejection.

Kio traced the tip of a finger over the other's cheek, barely touching the skin.

"Hopeless..." he breathed, reading it. Then his eyes met Soubi's once more, wide with nerves, anticipation.

"...Mine?" he breathed, enquiring

Soubi nodded, holding his breath.

There was a pause, as if time itself had stopped, frozen for them to breathe, hanging on the thread of the next moment's decision.

Kio yanked the other into his arms, hugging him tightly and whispered into his ear "...MY Soubi..."

Soubi gasped and wrapped his arms around the other, feeling tears trickle down his cheeks in relief at finally being accepted.