Chapter Seven: Feral Fantasies.

" Maybe, I need to get you out of the picture first."

Seimei's words rang through Soubi's head. The way the elder Aoyagi said them with such intensity, such hate, and despise, and anger, made him fear him more than the day they met. He felt like a dog again, because he was going to be lead around like one, now that Seimei returned. He knew that Ritsuka would neglect him, because his brother was here. Seimei was alive, and well, with that Soubi knew that he would stand no chance of being able to stay apart of Ritsuka's life. He was over. It'd be like before, only this time Ritsuka would remember him. Only this time, Seimei wouldn't die again. Only this time, Seimei and Ritsuka weren't siblings. Seimei had stated that part of coming back changed him so much through his bloodline, and his mind, that he and the boy weren't related. That meant that Seimei and Ritsuka... Soubi didn't even want to finish his trail of thought, as he stood holding the little boy, looking for a place for either of them to sleep.

Seimei had taken the couch, and the Zero couple was sleeping soundly in his bed, and Soubi was even surprised to find that Seimei hadn't woken the two and kicked them out. But, Seimei was just laying there, with a blanket and pillow, arm rested behind his head, and one leg bent up and he started to talk to Soubi: "So leave Ritsuka right here, and you can camp out on the floor." He patted the spot next to him on the couch, as he propped himself up. Soubi was hesitant, in cause of earlier actions, but then laid the younger next to the waiting male, and as he fetched blankets from the linen closet, his eyes never left the sight of the two- just in case, He told himself.

As he laid down next to the pair on the couch, watching as Seimei snuggled his Ritsuka in under the blankets, and as soon as he was sure Seimei had fallen asleep,- about 20 minutes later- he pulled the covers up to his neck to rest in an uneasy sleep.

Youji yawned and pulled Natsuo closer to his chest. He didn't care what time it was, but seeing as it was still pitch black out the window, he knew it wasn't time to wake. He sighed. It was not easy for him to rest. He didn't know what it was all about, but he had this disgusting feeling of a lurking darkness churning his stomach around. He immersed himself in the nostalgic scent of his other half, remembering the days when they had first met- remembering the first time he held the other, remembering that even though they were made to be able to switch partners, he didn't want to. He loved Natsuo, and was sure that Natsuo felt the same towards him. They've had so many close-to-death encounters together, and each time, he expected to see his life flash before his eyes. To see everything he'd ever put himself through, to see all the laughs, and all that was.

But, each time, instead of what he thought, memories of him and Natsuo blazed before him. Then after god knows how long, he realized; Realized something far greater than he ever thought he would. Natsuo was his life. His life was Natsuo's. One couldn't live without the other. They purely existed for each other. That's how it had to be! They were Zero. Even though Nagisa had told them that they could replace each other, it's unambiguously clear that they would belong to each other forever. Bound together by a shredded sliver of resplendent silver, heart to heart, hand in hand. Forever, he thought, forever they'd be together.

Natsuo squirmed, "Y-youji?" he questioned, rather exhausted. The red head craned his neck to face Youji, green eyes locking with purplish ones. "Are you okay? You squeezed me so hard I woke up." He was giggling; picking up distress in his partners eyes, he stopped.

"It's nothing, don't worry. I just... Couldn't sleep." Youji stated, patting Natsuo on his head, Natsuo yawned, reaching a hand around Youji's arms to rub his eyes. "Don't you... feel anything?"

"What do you mean feel anything?" Natsuo tittered, "We're designed to feel nothing."

Youji brushed some of the bangs out of Natsuo's eyes, leaning forward to kiss the pale forehead from behind. "Not feel, I used a bad word. Sorry, just go back to sleep." He nuzzled the boy's neck, and smiled into the sweet smelling skin. Yawning once more, Natsuo turned to face Youji. Trapped behind strong arms still, he pried them away, rolling over with a huff.

"Youji, I can tell when something is bugging you." He retaliated, cupping the pouting cheeks in his hands.

"Do you... sense... some type of d-disturbance?" the boy asked, pulling back some irritating light mint green strands of hair behind him, getting a better view of the other boy. Tired green eyes peering at him from under copper red bangs of hair, became full of confusion.

"What do you mean... disturbance?" Natsuo rolled the words off his tongue as if they held no weight to them.

"Like, some negative force has suddenly appeared." Youji looked past Natsuo, only irritating the boy further. Natsuo, Holding his middle finger back behind his thumb, brought it up to Youji's forehead, released the finger, and flicked him. Youji, normally being the violent one, growled at Natsuo in return. "Natsuo, what was that for!" He grumbled, even if it didn't hurt, it was the intent behind it that made him ask.

"You've been watching too many Magical Girl Anime's recently, haven't you! What are you talking about 'Negative forces', Youji!" He bellowed, followed by a half-hearted snicker.

"Magical Girl Anime's? No, Natsuo," He grunted rubbing his forehead, stricken with a headache. "No, no. I'm talking about, well, that gut-turning feeling where you, I dunno... Ah, remember when we were caught in the freezing snowstorm? How when we realized that the cold was burning us, that we might not make it out of there, and that we were going to die? Well, it's that feeling, but only," He took Natsuo's hand sweetly, leading it to caress his heard, and took the other one, placing it to embrace his stomach gently, "Only, I feel it in my heart and my stomach. Not just up here," He tapped his skull.

Will a dull look, Natsuo replied. "You've been reading Boy Love Romance Novels, then?"

"Natsuo! Can't you be serious for a moment?" He grumbled, a fake smile plastered upon his face.

"I am serious! Did you think of that all then? It sounds like it'd be in one of those types of books-"

Youji cut him of sharply, "And how would you know that?" An aura of anger seemed to seep out from all around him. Natsuo wasn't sure if it was because he knew what a Boy Love Romance Novel was, or because he was taking what he said away from him. Removing his hands, Natsuo looked sheepishly down at his pointer fingers and started to push them against each other nervously.

"W-w-w-well," His face went red from ear to ear, "When we we're st-staying with Nagisa-Sensei," He stumbled, angling his face lower, so Youji wouldn't see how bright-tomato-red it had gotten, "She had a-a collection of books, a-and I-I got curious one day in her office, one day when you were out running her errands-s and it was one of those kinds of books..." He chuckled, dryly and humourlessly, seeing as "I didn't-t mean to read it all, but it was really good, and- and I skipped past the detailed bits, I promise Youji! Ha, ha... ha...?" He closed his eyes and expected Youji to explode about how he should not of been looking through their Sensei's things, but the boom he awaited never came. Instead he patted his head, and rolled over.

"G'night Natsuo." He laughed, "And I hope," He started, "That if you have a Yaoi dream, it's about me." Natsuo couldn't see, but he could just visualize the slight smirking curve on his lips, as he winked. Natsuo's face flared redder than even thought possible. He rolled on his other side as well, curling the blankets up at his chin, smiling the slightest bit.

"Goodnight, Youji."

Ritsuka gently opened his eyes, taking in the fact that there were arms wrapped around him, that there was a hot breath on his neck. It was a sweet mint smell, he'd admit, but it still freaked him out, nonetheless. He looked to the side looked back, taking in the steady ray of five-thirty AM sunlight pouring in from the windows, as he stared face to face with his dead brother.

Dead brother...

Ritsuka remembered the day before suddenly. He'd thought it was just a dream he'd wake from and Seimei would be gone, his mother would be back, and everything would relapse to the events prior to. He'd go back to having those nightmares, to being abused daily, to fighting off Soubi's daily attempts to obtain his goal of having the boy move in. Maybe, Seimei being back was for the best. However, as he thought back, the time where he'd been gone was so long, and he felt so alone. He professed a long claim of long for him, but as soon as he knew he lived; right when he felt the beat in his heart return, he should have come for him. If he really loved him, he would've come and taken Ritsuka away from their- his Mother, taken him away before met the Zero pairs, or Breathless, or Sleepless, or anyone else he's met that was apart of the damned Seven Moons and god-knows what else. He wished Seimei would've come before he'd even Met Soubi.

Met Soubi...

Ritsuka stopped at the thought. Lightly, he unwrapped himself from the unwanted embrace, and stood, peeking a look at the still sleeping Seimei, he deemed it safe that he could move. Seimei was still sleeping. He turned and almost took a step forward, but stopped realizing that he almost stepped on Soubi. He hissed, and then looked at the sleeping man, and something tugged at his heart. He shook his head, trying to clear himself of any thoughts for the moment, and glanced sideways at the clock on the wall... ticking... ticking... Bing!

"Five... Forty-three... In the morning." He grumbled in a whispered tone. Sighing, he walked out towards the front door, and opened it. squinting his eyes, he let them adjust to the new-found brightness. Stepping into the broad world, he closed the door quietly behind him and groaned. Ritsuka found himself laying down on his back, looking up at the baby-blue coloured sky and smiling. then, he stopped again. Soubi once more entered his thoughts. If I Seimei had taken me away before I'd met Soubi... If that had happened, Ritsuka knew he wouldn't feel the tightness in his chest that he feels around Soubi. He knew that he wouldn't be constantly loved, that he wouldn't be chased after. He thought about what he felt for the fighter; Ritsuka did like him, but, never would he say he loved him. That would be absurd, right? The more he thought... The more the thought seemed to be true. He always started to get nervous whenever Soubi would look at him, and he'd always blush when Soubi would compliment him, kiss him, or even hold his hand. Even the slightest touch, whether by accident or on purpose, would have his whole heart fester with heat, and happiness poured out of his soul. As cliched as it sounded, every word was true. But no, that didn't necessarily mean he loved Soubi, right? He'd known what love was before, he'd loved Seimei, and he loved his mom. But those loves weren't like this know.

What is love. The pestering thought swarmed around in his head like black butterflies, flying around from head, to heart, to stomach, and eventually turning his legs to jello from the knees down. Love. The way's he felt around Soubi; Safe, warm, jealous when another would look at him, upset when he'd lie, sad when he would not confide in him, happy whenever he'd tell him those three words that made him like a pile of goo in the others arms...

He shook his head fast, the back rubbing against the hard flooring of the front balcony. He sat up, hissing, and looked down the stairs with an uncertain, yet determined look spread across his face. I'm sure that Yayoi would know what love is. Maybe even Yuiko. He sighed. He hadn't even conceded what Yuiko would be going through. She knew about his brother, and she was probably informed by either the news itself, or her parents that Ritsuka's mom had passed. Ritsuka may be clueless sometimes, but he was awake enough to tell that the pink-pompom-head held feelings for him. Yes, he'd admit to thinking she was hot- any guy would- if they caught sight of her over-developed bosoms, but he just wasn't attracted to her as he was to-

Soubi.

Tsk, why does everything always simmer down to Soubi! He thought irritatedly, and stood. Wait, that's right, mom. I know she's- She was mentally unstable, but not enough to kill herself! That's right, I know she was murdered, He gasped at the sudden memories flowing back to him. I promised I'd take revenge on who took Seimei's life... Just as I promised the same for Mom. Then the nightmare flooded back to him. Soubi... Seimei... Murder, Deceit, It was too much for right now. Panting a bit, he stared blankly at the stairs, expecting something any moment now to just crawl up and devour him whole, like those suspense, demon thrillers everyone now-a-days were talking about. He took a small step down, then another, walking down the metal path to the sidewalk.

He was leaving to talk to Yayoi. He didn't want to deal with Yuiko when she cried over his loss, and make the burden any worse for him. He knew Yayoi knew what love was, because as a man-to-man secret, (not such a secret, actually) Ritsuka knew Yayoi loved Yuiko. The only faint clues that Ritsuka knew, that were even close to 'love', were the love you get from family and friends. Soubi is something completely different though. It's nothing that he's ever felt before. No, Rituska couldn't say that, he felt it once before. At Seimei's side. How? He was my brother! That's sick. But, it didn't keep him from... coming after me... He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. How far had he gotten already? He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice he was already close to the park. Close to the park, meant close to Hawatari household, which meant close to the Shioiri residency! He'd gotten so close in such little time.

For once, Ritsuka thanked his wandering thoughts, and searched again, focused on finding his destination. One house, two house, three house, B I N G O. He found it. He didn't bother with the front. Sometimes Yayoi had let Ritsuka sneak over through the back whenever things at home were bad. There was a window in the back that was placed right next to Yayoi's bed, and on the first level of the house, so it was easy to access. He peaked through the curtains and saw Yayoi sprawled across the bed like a little child.

That's right... Little children SHOULD be sleeping at a time like this...

He hesitated, then knocked loud enough for Yayoi to hear, three times.

He watched as the other stirred a bit on the bed, then sat up, wiping stray drool away from his chin with the back of his hand, looking to the window. "Ritsuka!" He shouted as quietly as possible, then bounced up in a flash and opened the window for Ritsuka to slide through. "Oh My, I'm so sorry Ritsuka, I... How is everything with Soubi?" Asked the boy who decided not to pry at the topic of his mother, mid sentence.

"We're fine, just... fine, is alright if I..." He stumbled, "Ask you something?"

"Yeah," Yayoi rubbed the back of his head, picking up his glasses from the table, putting them on his face so he could clearly see the other. "Shoot."

"What is love?"

[A/N:] Haha hi. will be back in 15 new reviews, kay? bahahhahaha I dont mean to be mean, but I stayed up from 11:40 pm, while babysitting to 5:55AM working on this chappie for you guys. Hope you like.

Okay, yeah now its actually pluto speaking. That was... my Alternate personality. That was bad pluto. (*Scolding self*) err yeah. I get SPD when I go like.. 25 hours without sleep . (*Exaggerating* ) /shot