Loveless Fan Fiction ❯ Fearless ❯ I Cast My Spell of Love on You, a Man frrom a Child ( Chapter 2 )

I Cast My Spell of Love On You, a Man From a Child

 

“Ritsuka-kun, where's Soubi? Did you two have a fight?” Yuiko asked after a blissful minute of silence as they all ate lunch. She was pouting at him and he cringed knowing he would give in to that look sooner or later so might as well come out with it.

 

“Soubi and I are no more.” He said as he looked at his nibbled food and poked at it instead of having to meet her eyes.

 

“Oh! That's so sad! You two were so cute together!” Yuiko whined, drawing a few stares their way.

 

“He is twenty-three and Ritsuka's growing up, it wouldn't do you good to settle down now anyway, Ritsuka-kun.” Yayoi piped up seeing the love of his life badger the poor boy. Ritsuka shot him a thankful glance.

 

“We weren't serious or anything. I knew it wasn't going to last forever.” He shrugged and turned his attention to his drink, peeling the label off the bottle. Yuiko bit her lip and looked him over. He must be dying inside! Mind made, she decided it was she and Yayoi's job to cheer him up.

 

“Ritsuka, come with us after school.” Both boys looked at her, though not for the same reasons, and she smiled. “We are going to the mall!” She clapped and flashed them a “V” sign and while Yayoi nearly fainted at the sight, Ritsuka covered his face and shook his head sadly.

 

The rest of the day was uneventful and Ritsuka watched the clock, trying to make the needle-like second hand go faster. It was still a shock to not see Soubi at the gates anymore but Yuiko and Yayoi took it upon themselves to fill in permanently for him. As soon as she saw him, Yuiko smiled and waved like a mental patient when he turned the corner and started toward them. Ritsuka enjoyed their company and was glad they could make his dark thoughts recede back into his mind whenever they were around.

 

On their walk to the mall, chatter filled the silence about their day and the old days of junior high and Yuiko brought up Hitomi-sensei. “It's weird, she's an adult but not. Must get frustrating being forever on the cusp like that.” Ritsuka shrugged his agreement but kept walking.

 

“I admire her.” Yayoi said and gave a small smile to the two who gave him identical looks. “How many people do you suppose gave up their ears just because they felt they needed to in order to be treated with respect like an adult? Sensei's not like that and she's one of the most mature people I know. We are more mature than half the adults I know.” He paused but continued after a moment. “Sometimes the way things are makes me want to keep my ears forever, you know, just to spite everyone else.” Ritsuka smiled, he could see Yayoi really doing that and walked ahead not waiting to see if they were close behind anymore.

 

“There's no one you'd want to give your ears to, Yayoi-kun?” The busty girl practically purred to him when they were outside the mall entrance. Yayoi didn't blush but he did shoot his eyes down to his shoes and smiled all too sweetly.

 

“Yuiko-san.” He said and opened the door for her to walk through first.

 

Ritsuka waited for his friends to catch up to him and when they did he told them he was going to go buy a new phone. When asked about his old one he simply said he didn't have it anymore. It was true but of course there was more to it than that. The day he last seen Seimei, Soubi came to him after his master walked away and reached down to pull the strap connected to the small phone out of Ritsuka's pocket. He wouldn't need it anymore and besides Ritsuka wouldn't be calling him and Soubi wouldn't answer.

 

“How did I let you two talk me into buying this one?” Ritsuka asked, walking slow so to not run into anyone and brought the slim, silver and blue flip-phone up to his eyes.

 

“Ritsuka-kun, it has all the latest features!” Yuiko mused and hopped about beside him.

 

“Yeah, you can text message limitlessly to others with that phone plan—like Yuiko-san and I—upload music from your ipod, play video games, watch anime, read ebooks and manga, upload files from your computer, and take pictures.” Yayoi finished with an almost smug smile on his thin lips and adjusted his glasses that were far from crooked.

 

“Do you spend all your free time reading up on this stuff, Yayoi-kun?” Ritsuka took his eyes off the crystal clear screen to fake-glare at the other boy.

 

“Ha!” As if waiting for that, Yayoi made swift work of reaching into his back pocket and pulled out the same exact phone but his had a metallic black cover with orange and red flames. He flipped it open and held it up for Ritsuka to see. He didn't seem embarrassed at the fact that they both could see his screen saver. It was Yuiko, sitting on a stopped merry-go-round and smiling up at the camera with cherry blossoms clinging to the hair she had long ago grown out. He remembered this was taken during the festival last year.

 

“Aw! Precious!” Yuiko beamed. Yayoi made a small noise of surprise as she invaded his personal space to look at it.

 

Ritsuka smiled to himself when she remained semi-leaning on him when he put his phone back in his slacks. Months ago, when Ritsuka went to Yuiko's house to help her with her calculus, she told him she knew there was no hope for her taking him away from Soubi and divulged that she was never oblivious to the fact Yayoi never stopped liking her. She hadn't been the nicest person to the brainy guy when they were in primary school but things changed and she didn't exactly not reciprocate his feelings. Ritsuka was let in on the fact she was just playing with him and she was going to give into him eventually. He had to admit, seeing Yayoi fumble over himself or blush a furious red whenever Yuiko blatantly flirted with him was very amusing to watch.

 

“Fantastic.” Ritsuka replied a bit on the sarcastic side. “Why would I want to converse with you two more than I already do? I don't have an ipod, I've got a ps2 thank you, too much anime rots your brain, there's nothing more comforting than curling up with a good, solid book, and I already have a nice camera.” Yayoi rolled his eyes and tried his boldest move for the day and slid his hand into Yuiko's as they entered a music store. “Rrrr, I don't understand this camera thing at all.” He could feel his famous temper rising.

 

“Practice, Ritsuka-kun, just point it at something and take a picture.” Yuiko said before Yayoi made a small noise and did a beeline over to a CD rack, dragging her with him.

 

He shook his head at them in annoyance. It was cute - young love and all that - but Ritsuka wasn't in the mood for their sappiness. However, he did what she suggested and turned, pressing the button after a second for the screen to adjust without looking at what he captured. Retracting his arm and pulling the phone back under his scrutinizing gaze, Ritsuka looked at the photo expecting an odd part of the wall or corner of promotional poster. His breath caught. Wall shot this wasn't.

 

The first thing he saw were the eyes. Intense, appearing black - these were the eyes of an angel. Perfect, faintly tanned skin with a sharp jaw line, pointed chin, and lips of a pale soft quality. The light shone off the boy's layered, dark brown hair to show the auburn highlights and ears to match with auburn tips rested among the soft wisps of hair. All in all it was a good picture for it to be taken so randomly.

 

“Are you here, or off in space?” A deep yet soft voice asked him and Ritsuka almost dropped his phone as he fumbled to close it. When he looked up he knew a faint glow came to his cheeks. Of course it was “He who had been photographed secretly”.

 

“That depends.” He heard himself saying. God, why am I so calm? The young man raised one elegant eyebrow at him. “One, do you work here and two, are you going to try and bug me into buying something?” The boy laughed and shook his head.

 

“No I don't work here. Just wanted to say `hello'.” He added. “I'm Hishiro Ryu by the way.” He said and bowed slightly.

 

“Aoyagi Ritsuka.”

 

“I know.” He smiled up at him before he returned to his standing posture. “Your lady friend is very loud.” He replied to the look Ritsuka was giving him.

 

An hour was spent in the music store as Ryu showed Ritsuka around and asked him about his particular tastes. Around the second hour, Yayoi told him he and Yuiko were going to another store. Ritsuka barely cared enough to acknowledge his friend with a slight nod before he turned back to Ryu, never noticing the sly smile on his spectacled friend. He couldn't believe he was doing this. Talking it up, very animatedly he might add, with complete strangers was not something he did. But here he was, doing exactly that and when Ryu asked if he'd like to get something at the food court, he readily accepted the offer.

 

Only when he was halfway through his cheeseburger and fries did he take a gander at his watch. He almost choked; his mother was going to flip out! Ryu rose when he did from their small booth and Ritsuka's pulse quickened when a look of pure disappointment came from the other when he said he had to leave. Without hesitation, Ritsuka pulled his pen from his backpack and wrote his number on Ryu's waiting palm. When he was outside on the sun-warmed sidewalk he thought to pull his phone out and call Yuiko and tell her where he was and that there was no need to end their shopping to walk him home.

 

Lying on top of the covers, Ritsuka stared up at the things he had stuck to his ceiling from his bed over the past year and a half. Some of it Soubi helped him with and Ritsuka couldn't stop the little ache inside him for a moment. Twisted branches, a few leaves of beautiful red, polished stones, bugs—anything of strange beauty he found on his walks he glued up there. Soubi had smiled and thanked him when he told him he could paint and sketch a few things if he wished. Ritsuka added pictures, magazine clippings, and quotes from various books written with magic marker and glow-in-the-dark paint.

 

One of the things Soubi made was a large, blue butterfly in the middle of everything. He layered the paint in such a way that if you ran your hand over it, you'd feel the strokes and outline that was put into creating it. It was lovely. The sun was setting and with it was going the wonderful mood he was in so he willed himself to focus on something else. A sound of techno beat and Ritsuka realized his phone was ringing.

 

“Hello?” He said after he managed to roll to his nightstand and grab his phone.

 

“Ritsuka?” He bolted upright at the sound of that voice.

 

“Ryu?” Static crackled in the earpiece as laughter drifted over the speaker.

 

“Yeah.” Ritsuka smiled, why he felt light at hearing him again he wasn't sure, and laid back down on his mattress.

 

“Hi. What are you doing?”

 

“Nothing, just felt compelled to call you. How you feeling?”

 

“Fine, why?”

 

“No reason, you sounded down at the mall earlier and I don't think sadness suits you well at all.” Ritsuka couldn't say anything to this and when no answer came Ryu said, “I'm not interrupting anything, am I?”

 

“No, no nothing like that. Homework's all done and I have no social life to speak of.” He could feel the other one smiling over the connection.

 

“Ritsuka, do you know where Ka Tai Memorial Park is?” Ritsuka closed his eyes at the painful memory. Soubi.

 

“Yes, I know it.” His voice was faint he couldn't help it. There was a hesitation on the other end.

 

“Will you come see me tonight? Meet me there?”

 

Ritsuka stood before his window, phone clutched in his hand, with simple jeans and a t-shirt thrown on. He shouldn't be doing this, he told himself over and over but his body worked of its own accord and soon his window was open and he was lowering himself onto the spongy grass below. One more pause before he took off in a sprint down the quiet street to the park where new memories were about to be made because the old ones hurt too much for him to recall.

 

Even with the sun gone from sight, the sky was still a dark purple with hints of orange in the clouds. The sodium lights lining the sidewalks clicked on just as Ritsuka turned the corner to the outer iron gates of the park. He stumbled over a small branch lying in the middle of the paved path but after a curse flew quietly from his lips he righted his footing and continued without incident.

 

It was chilly out and Ritsuka shoved his hands further inside his pockets, grateful that the wind wasn't blowing. Everything was still and the crunching of leaves under his quick steps seemed deafening to his ears. Not sure where to find Ryu, he just followed the path. He was bound to run into him sometime.

 

A small wave of nostalgia came over him. Even in the dark he recognized this area. The first encounter; the beginning of all his problems. His first kiss. There had been a time when that eager, slow peck meant something. In a way it still did but the feelings he had now were completely different. Ritsuka couldn't deny that it was symbolic. Not since he was perhaps ten did he consider himself a child so it wasn't so trite a thing to be considered the turning of his innocence. It was more looked at as a test and Ritsuka could safely say he passed it. Soubi was hungry that time and all after but he never fell for it as bad as he could have and he was thankful for that. No telling what kind of mess he'd be if he had.

 

None of that mattered now. Soubi's betrayal, Seimei's menacing return, the Seven Moons—nothing. Not when the clouds chose then to unsheathe the moon's rays and shine down on the dry autumn scene before him. Was it a coincident that Ryu was perched on the very picnic table Soubi and he had stopped at their first afternoon together, sitting atop the worn wooden surface with his heavy, boot-clad feet planted in the seat?

 

But there are no coincidences in life.

 

Ryu looked up from his pensive slouch and smiled, eyes shining even in the dark. Making no move to stand he waited for Ritsuka to come to him. The wait wasn't long at all. Not counting the pause when he first saw him, it took Ritsuka seconds to close the distant. Coming off the sidewalk, brittle leaves, nuts, and twigs crunched under his sneakers and Ritsuka's heart jumped at the noise. Ryu only swiveled his body to face him fully, posture and body language so calm but Ritsuka could feel he was having the same tremulous reaction.

 

Those eyes. Breath caught in his throat as the polished puddles of onyx looked into his very soul. The effect was blanketing the fires that burned so long deep inside his body. Why am I feeling this way? The other boy only looked on in patient silence. Ritsuka wanted to touch him. The thought should have terrified him but when he looked over the smooth skin and the now slightly blowing hair, he really was tempted to.

 

“Ryu.” He heard himself practically sigh out. But Ryu didn't smile or laugh at him.

 

“Loveless.” Ryu said as he lifted his hand to cup the creamy cheek he longed to caress for such an endless amount of time. His voice was just above a whisper. “My name is Loveless.”

 

“I can't.” Ritsuka whispered.

 

“What?” This wasn't the response he was expecting.

 

“Soubi and I are no longer together.” Now he could hear the temper rising in the other's voice. “Damn you all, I am completely defenseless! Just leave me alone now.”

 

“Ritsuka, you're not hearing me. I am Loveless as well. We are a match.”

 

“I don't believe you.” Oh how he wished it were true though! Ryu, you bastard!

 

Without another word Ryu lowered his feet to the ground and stood. Only a head taller but Ritsuka found himself taking a step back. There was no need to run; he'd get him before he even turned around. And what was the point now? This was the lowest attempt by far but it was successful. Death was preferable to what he was feeling at the moment. Ritsuka gave a soft noise of shock when Ryu turned his back to him and slipped his leather coat off and lifted his shirt halfway to his ribs.

 

It could still be a trick. Ritsuka thought as he stared at the mark. At the base of the back, just above the tailbone it lay across the now shivering skin for him to see. It could be a fake but deep down he knew it wasn't. Slender fingers twitched then rose to press their warm tips against the name. Ryu's tail swished as if in approval of the contact and Ritsuka felt more confidence in what he was doing as he ghosted his touch over the entire design. Loveless

 

“I waited for so long. I gave up on you.” His voice held no emotion. Ryu turned and wrapped his arms around his small shoulders.

 

“I'm sorry. I swear I won't be going anywhere from now on, now that we're together. Never doubt me, Ritsuka.”

 

Never doubt me, Ritsuka. Those words echoed in his mind ever since they were uttered. Nothing much more was said after that, there was nothing left to say for the time being. Ryu apologized for calling him out on such a night after he felt him shivering with cold. Ritsuka cursed himself for not bringing a jacket. However sorry he was, he had to see him to tell him. If he didn't he knew he wouldn't be able to have any peace until he let him know. They stayed holding each other for a few good minutes before parting and Ryu walked him home, still pulling him close to his warmth. He could sense Ritsuka's wariness but promised nonetheless to see him the next day to talk more. Ritsuka fell asleep that night allowing himself to see if Ryu would make good on his word.