title: Childhood
universe: loveless
type: drabble/vignette
pairing: soubi x ritsuka, but can be seen as gen too.
notes: haha, was bored while waiting for khr to load, hence drabbling occurred. Darn, I feel so nervous about the upcoming battle even though I sort of know that Tsuna will win~ ne? ne?

Soubi doesn't really remember much of his childhood, except for the memories he had of Ritsu-sensei's school, but honestly, those memories weren't exactly worth keeping; he would rather forget them sometimes. Besides, he was never much of a child anyway, to have a proper childhood to speak of.

Faint scars marring his back, those were his memories of the past, instilling perfect obedience and strength in him. He has eyes dulled, forced to grow up before his time.

He does not wish the same fate for Ritsuka, but it sems that he is spiralling down the same path, albeit slowly. Soubi hates that.

Although the marks his mother left on his body might heal, he could feel that something somewhere in Ritsuka was forever broken. How could he not, betrayed in such a manner by someone who should have been his nearest and dearest? And the boy would still rather blame himself.

He tries his best to bring the spark of wonder back into Ritsuka's eyes, but he, who had even less of a childhood than Ritsuka was hardly the brst choice. The blind leading the blind, in a way. He still tries though, and feels doubly rewarded when Ritsuka smiles up at him and lets him play with his cat ears affectionately.

It is getting harder nowadays however, when he is unable to divulge the truth. He loves Ritsuka, this fact is incontrovertible, but Seimei's orders are iron shackles. He could never free himself from Beloved after all, not when it is carved deep into him, an eternal mark that not even Ritsuka's touch can erase.

Soubi looks at the slumbering child in his lap, idly caressing the silky ears and fine black hair. Perhaps childhood is overrated when you were never a child in the first place.

title: untitled
universe: loveless
type: drabble/vignette
pairing: soubi x ritsuka
notes: from Ritsuka's pov.

They had a bumpy relationship, filed with lies and scars and pain. He had grown taller, but never as tall as Seimei, never as strong as Seimei, never as important. He never did managed to walk beyond Seimei's shadow.

And yet unfairly, there was no one, no one as tall or as strong or as important to him than Soubi. Not that he would ever tell the Fighter that. At least not when Soubi's feelings were -

Ritsuka snorted, forcing his attention back to his work, who knew that even a philosophy course would be that tough? Well, at least he didn't have to be constantly embroiled into those Fighter-Sacrifice battles nowadays. Those days were worse, walking around always on his guard for any attacks or challengers, and watching Soubi get hurt for his sake. After all that they had gone through, he was hard pressed not to consider Soubi as his Fighter, despite the fact that the name Beloved was embedded into Soubi's neck like a collar.

No, all that he really wanted was a simple mundane life; the endless repetition of going to school, and homework and exams and outing with friends, even being nagged by his mother or forced to eat his vegetables would be desirable sometimes. The little things that teens take for granted. That was all that he wanted, and maybe though he might have yearned sometimes, for someone who would be all his, love him completely for who he is and belonged only to him... But still, that was merely wishful thinking on his own part. Let no one say that Ritsuka is delusional, to think that he is worthy of such devotion.

But unfortunately, this easy life was impossible, not hen he has almost as well as delivered his heart into Soubi's hands. And who knew what that moron could do to his heart unknowingly?

No. He was needed besides Soubi. That is the only position that he can be truly contented in.