Disclaimer: I don't own Loveless, but the OC characters are of my creation.

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Chap 14: "Rest & relaxation"

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With a yawn, Ritsuka opened his eyes to the sepia of dawn. Blinking, he sat up and looked around his bedroom. "That couldn't have been a dream" he whispered.

Rushing he picked up his phone and speed-dialed. It barely rang once; "Ritsuka".

"Soubi you're- that all really happened?"

"Unless I dreamed it too; dozens of questions, and revelations."

"Mhm" he smiled. "I wonder what day it is." Still in his day clothes and with shoes still on, Ritsuka jumped up and hurriedly checked on his desktop.

"It's Saturday, October 11th, but that doesn't make sense."

"Indeed, Sunday was when we began the interview."

"That's tomorrow" Ritsuka added in astonishment. "Then again, it's not like all that was normal anyway, so I guess somehow Anna and her boyfriend set it up this way."

"Mhm. May I visit you today Ritsuka?"

"Actually I spent- er spend today with Yuiko and Yayoi."

"Ah alright."

"Maybe you should call Kio, he's been really worried about you. He was actually the one who told me about your art show; Anna may not have bumped into me otherwise."

"Alright then, I'll do that. Have fun with your friends Ritsuka."

"I- I mean you can come over after I get home."

"I will."

"I- um- talk to you later" Ritsuka fumbled.

"Yes. I love you Ritsuka"; Soubi's smile could be discerned over the phone line.

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"Yo Soubi, you need to go to the store, there's nothing to eat" Natsuo called from the bedroom doorway. "Yeah, nothing" Youji concurred, chomping on a chocolate chip cookie.

"Ah I thought you two would be here" their "big brother" said with a smile.

"Psychic now too eh?" Natsuo slugged him in the arm.

"Kio's stocks up the fridge every once in a while, but we would mostly toss away a load of the crap he gets" Youji mentioned, pulling out a box of Bento noodles, proceeding to demonstrate his point.

Soubi caught his hand mid-throw. "That's very wasteful. I'll cook a meal for us to have when I invite Kio over this afternoon."

"Huh? I thought you'd be spending the day with Ritsuka after all that happened at the "interview"" Natsuo pointed out.

"He has other plans, but it's alright, he said I should spend the day with Kio."

"He ordered you to?"

"That kid doesn't seem the type."

Eying him Soubi responded, "You're children too, and Ritsuka didn't order it". He walked across the familiar kitchen, picking up dishes, and garbage the boys undoubtedly paid no mind to cleaning up over the months.

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"Everything's alright Kio." Soubi switched hands to stir the pot of soya sauce.

"What the- you disappeared for seven months, and won't say what happened, but expect me to leave it at that?"

"I know you won't."

"I'm coming over right now."

"That's alright." After they hung up, he continued cooking one of his best friend's favorite dishes- Unagi Donburi.

"If I know Kio, Donburi should distract him."

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Thirty minutes later, Kio and he were sitting on the couch in his living room. "Sou-chan, can't you tell me where you were? You disappeared without an explanation, I was worried."

"I met up with a close friend of Seimei's, then he offered to let me stay in his second home, on Kami-shima, to have time to myself."

Nearly chocking on his soup, Kio gasped. "Sou-chan he was so terrible to you, why would you put yourself through that? I can't believe he had friends."

"He's out of my life for good Kio. I needed time to clear my mind, and came to understand that."

Kio nodded, platting his friend on the shoulder. "So, is that Donburi I smell?"

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"Ritsuka-kun you seem much happier than I've seen you in a while!" Yuiko exclaimed. Ritsuka smiled at her. "Beside them, a lion roared.

"Waa these aren't cute at all! Wouldn't you rather go see the birds or something Yuiko-chan?" Yayoi cowardly backed away from the lion's cage.

"Oh! Let's visit the dolphins!" The pink-haired girl grabbed Ritsuka's hand and ran.

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Sitting on a chair on the Brazilian beach outside "Pousada Restaurant L'Escale" Nisei winked at a well endowed woman in a bright pink bikini, and she waved with a smile.

"Muuuch better than Japan" he sighed, leaning back.

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End of chap 14

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Hope you liked it, please review. There should be one or two more chapters for this fic.