Author: Mosh
Fandom: Loveless
Title: What You Wish For
Pairing: Ritsuka/Soubi
Rating: PG
Summary: Soubi has a gift for Ritsuka.
Disclaimer: These boys belong to Yun Kouga. No money being made, no copyright or trademark infringement intended.
A/N: Slightly AU, but this doesn't deviate too far from canon. Dedicated to Teka Lynn for being so marvellous. :) 1000 words.

Note: You may not archive, re-post, or alter any of my stories without my permission. Please contact me first. Thanks!

The school bell was still chiming as Ritsuka slipped past the gates and quickly made his way down the street. He managed to get away before being accosted by Yuiko and, in turn, Yayoi.

It wasn’t that he didn’t like spending time with his friends - on the contrary, he was happier knowing them than he had been in a very long time. However, there were some days when he just wanted to walk home alone. On such a day - providing Soubi hadn’t randomly turned up to meet him - Ritsuka would take a short detour and head into the centre of town.

Hands shoved in his pockets to fight off the chill Autumn air, Ritsuka scuffed down the pavement, his head lowered and shoulders relaxed in the steady bustle of the streets. On the streets, he could be anyone - an anonymous boy and definitely not Loveless or not-Ritsuka - just himself.

Whoever that was.

Like so many times before, he paused in front of the pet shop and turned to face it. He peered through the thick glass, watching the animals on display inside - rabbits and mice in cages, fish and reptiles in tanks and kittens curled together in small wicker baskets.

The kittens were his favourite, by far. In fact, there was one in particular Ritsuka had grown very fond of over the weeks - a pitch black baby with a silky looking, shiny coat of rich fur.

“Hey,” he sighed, tapping gently on the glass with his fingers. As he inhaled a wistful breath he thought he caught the lingering scent of cigarettes, but on second breath it had faded and he wondered if it’d been real. He had grown so used to that smell that he sometimes fancied it was following him around; brushing past him when he was least expecting it.

He didn’t want to be thinking about Soubi right now; this was his time. His time alone.

The kitten rolled over, its tiny paws reaching out in a blissful stretch. Ritsuka was so tempted to go in and ask how much the kittens were selling for.

Ha! As if. He wasn’t willing to risk it, what with the way things were going at home. If he asked his mother she might punish him for saying something the real Ritsuka wouldn’t have said. He wasn’t even sure if the real Ritsuka liked cats at all - or any animal, for that matter.

And anyway, he realised, with his father working all day and evening and his mother not doing too well at the moment, there would be nobody to take care of it while he was at school.

Dismally, Ritsuka turned away from the window, hitched his school bag up on his shoulder, and made his way home.

* * *

He had grown used to spending time with Soubi over the many months since they had met. Ritsuka now felt just comfortable enough to visit Soubi at his flat, of his own accord (usually whenever he was feeling lonely, although he’d never admit that to Soubi).

“Afternoon, Ritsuka,” said Soubi brightly as he opened the door. He bent and dropped a chaste kiss on Ritsuka’s forehead, having learned not to push too hard or too fast. Ritsuka could just about handle the random forehead kisses, and was glad Soubi respected his wishes to not be smothered. He was still new to the Fighter and Sacrifice thing, after all, and it still bothered him that Soubi could throw the word ‘love’ around so freely.

“Come and take a look at this.” Soubi beckoned Ritsuka into the flat. He sounded cheerful today. “With Kio off on his world travels I was in need of some company during the times you and I are apart.” And he was apparently very chatty, too.

Trying not to blush at Soubi’s words, Ritsuka followed suit and knelt down next to Soubi on the carpet. He watched the man closely; he was acting a little strange. Really… chirpy, for no apparent reason.

Soubi pulled a large cardboard box from the corner of the room into the centre. It had small round holes cut out of the top and around the sides, Ritsuka noticed.

How odd.

With an almost smug smile, Soubi indicated to the box. Ritsuka only frowned at him, wondering what was going on, before gingerly lifting the loose flap to peer inside.

There was a tiny, bell-like mewl that startled him and for a second he drew back, not expecting something alive to be in there.

“What the…? Soubi?”

When no response was forthcoming apart from another infuriatingly knowing smile, Ritsuka crawled back to the box, looked in, and found a little black face staring back up at him with an equal measure of curiosity.

“Isn’t she lovely?” Soubi reached in and picked the kitten up - pure black, with a soft, shiny coat - and handed it to Ritsuka to hold.

‘How did you know?’ Ritsuka managed to stop himself from asking out loud. What a ridiculous thought - Soubi surely couldn’t have known how much he had liked the kitten, or even that he’d seen the kitten at all.

“She can be ours, if you like,” Soubi said quietly beside him, putting a hand on Ritsuka’s shoulder and squeezing gently. “Mine and yours.”

Ritsuka buried his nose in the kitten’s soft fur and inhaled the sweet, milky smell. The kitten squirmed against him and his heart did a strange little jolt, the likes of which he couldn’t remember feeling before.

“Ours…”

“Yes.” Soubi sounded pleased.

Maybe Ritsuka couldn’t have a cat of his own, but he could definitely share one with Soubi. Like this, there would be someone to care for the kitten while he was at school, plus Ritsuka could visit it whenever he wanted.

He looked up at Soubi and smiled contentedly. “I like that.”

Soubi smiled back. “As long as you’re happy.”

And truthfully, Ritsuka was.

~Fin~