Ritsuka winced as he tried to nuzzle into his brother's pillow. Everything hurt, but he didn't understand why. He didn't do anything wrong this time, did he? He didn't try to make mom angry, he really didn't. Tears leaked from the small boy's violet eyes. 'I'm sorry, mom,' he wanted to say. 'I'm sorry I'm not the right Ritsuka,' he was dying to say. Ritsuka's small body shuddered with sobs. He was too busy tearing into himself that he didn't notice his brother enter. "Oh Ritsuka." The small nekko squeaked in surprise when strong arms lifted him. "I should've been here."
"Niichan!" Ritsuka buried his face into Seimei's chest. The older boy smiled a little sadly and played with the hair between Ritsuka's ears.
"I'm sorry, Ritsuka." The younger boy looked up and smiled at his brother—at his protector.
"I'm fine now because Seimei's here." Something the innocent little Ritsuka didn't understand passed through Seimei's violet eyes. "I missed Niichan." Seimei smiled a bit wickedly.
"I missed my little Ritsuka too." The larger boy sat on the bed while still holding Ritsuka. "What do you think of my ears?" The little nekko looked at his brother in surprise. Ritsuka stretched out his arm and fingered one of Seimei's cat ears.
"Is Seimei thinking of getting rid of his ears?" The older boy shrugged and began to play with Ritsuka's tail.
"Someone offered to take them."
"But…but shouldn't ears be given to someone special?" Seimei smirked and tightened his grip on Ritsuka's tail.
"That's why I said no." The little nekko grinned up at his idol. His Seimei wouldn't have done something like that, he just knew it. "Do you know who the most important person to me is?" Ritsuka shook his head. "Why it's you, my little Ritsuka." The older boy brought his lips to the younger's forehead. "And is Seimei Ritsuka's most important person too?" The smaller boy sat up so his violet eyes were on level with his brother's. "Does Ritsuka love Seimei like Seimei loves Ritsuka?" Little arms threw themselves around a much larger neck.
"I love Seimei more than anything! Seimei's my only important person!" That wicked grin returned to the older boy's face.
"Now that's the answer I wanted to hear." To Ritsuka's surprise, Seimei brought their lips together. They had never played a game like that before. "So little brother, do you know who I want to give my ears to?"
"Me?" The little nekko felt uncertain. Seimei brought his hands up and grasped Ritsuka's ears.
"That's right. I want you to take them some day." The older boy brought his lips to his brother's ear; he nibbled just a bit. "And I want your's. Can I have them, Ritsuka?" Red flooded Ritsuka's face, but the innocent little boy didn't really understand why.
"Of course Niichan. I'll give Seimei anything to make him happy." That not-so-innocent gleam returned to Seimei's eyes.
"Good. And never forget that you promised me these." He nibbled Ritsuka's ear again, but harder this time. "Never forget that you promise yourself to me."