While I respect the opinions of people in this fandom who want Ritsuka and Soubi to become a yaoi couple, I rather like the friendship feel they currently have. I think there needs to be more about them being friends. Sensei did mention that the series wasn't yaoi, but maybe she will turn it into a BL, we shall see. I wouldn't be opposed to that idea.

I don't own. I just like the series; it's one of my favorites.

Cheers!

/GG/

Friendship

Dusk was beginning to descend, like a curtain being drawn over a picture window. People were scattered everywhere, running around and shouting for joy as the festivities continued. It was the perfect evening for a carnival and Ritsuka had not wanted to miss out on the opportunity to introduce Soubi to more of what life had to offer.

Far too often the fighter of the pair had been left behind when it came to the fun and excitement that came with being a child. The sacrifice of the pair had a new goal in mind; show Soubi what he had been missing out on and make memories in the process. Carnivals were one such place where magical memories could easily be created.

The elder hadn't even put up a fight when the 12-year old had insisted on attending. Frankly, he was pleased at the prospect of spending time with the boy outside of the normal fighting that forced the two together on occasion. He'd never have denied Ritsuka anyway. Whatever he could do for his cat-eared sacrifice happened, no matter what.

They walked through a balloon archway and were immediately met with a psychedelic array of color and fun. The smells and sounds had been noticed much earlier, but until they were joined by the sight it hadn't become real yet. Now the two stood on the threshold of a new adventure that was aimed at creating happiness and friendship rather than darkness.

"Ritsuka, what do you want to do first?" Soubi asked. He noticed the younger was trying to look like he wasn't in awe of the many booths lined up along the walkway.

"This isn't just for me. What do you want to do first?"

"Is that an order?" He asked simply.

Ritsuka rolled his eyes as his ears started to flatten on his head. He aimed to help the older man break free from the invisible chains of bondage that seemed to keep him tied. Orders were the first to go and while it had been difficult at first, Ritsuka had managed to wean himself off needing to order the fighter around.

"That is not an order." He replied calmly. "I have been to carnivals before; I want you to pick somewhere so I can take you."

Soubi thought for a moment as his eyes scanned the nearest booths. One was a basketball toss, another was catching fish with an obviously tripped net. A third was some sort of dart game with multicolored balloons. Dozens more, as far as the eye could see, were situated on the property, each calling out to come and give it a person's best shot. Had he been younger the magic would have been greater. Still, the fact that his Ritsuka was with him made the night that much better.

"I want to eat dried squid." He finally stated after some not so deep contemplation. Soubi only chose that option because he knew Ritsuka liked eating the stuff.

Ritsuka then began to scan his surroundings to see where a dried squid stand might be located. He saw a rice ball stand off to the side and figured that was the best place to start searching. Not even paying attention to his actions he grabbed hold of Soubi's hand and started to pull him further into the crowd of other carnival-goers.

Finding a dried squid stand proved more difficult than first planned, and all the while during the searching Soubi would urge Ritsuka to one stand or another to try one of the games. During that time the boy ended up winning a few bracelets (that he planned on giving to Yuiko), a bamboo flute (that he planned on giving to Yayoi since he would never use it), and two phone straps with butterflies dangling from a chain. He gave one to Soubi and kept one for himself, rather absent mindedly, but it thrilled Soubi nonetheless.

After finding a cotton candy stand, a stand selling fried tofu, and a little ramen shop, the dried squid stand was located. Using what little money he had, Ritsuka paid for the snack and handed it to his companion. Soubi tore the squid in half and shared with the boy since he really wasn't all that fond of squid to begin with.

A short time later, squid gone and drinks purchased and also gone, Soubi spoke up again before Ritsuka could ask where he wanted to go next. This was his way of beating the boy to the punch. Plus he liked the way Ritsuka smiled whenever he showed any sort of desire to do anything.

"I want to ride the Ferris Wheel next." He stated.

Ritsuka nodded and again grabbed Soubi's hand and pulled him toward the small wheel that circled around and around. He knew that Ferris Wheels held some sort of significance to the older man, so he was more than happy to climb onto this small wheel and have a go. The more he smiled, the more he knew that Soubi would enjoy himself.

Within moments of getting in line they were on a cart and on the way toward the top. Ritsuka looked at the other passengers and realized that most of the couples were actual couples of the romantic sort. This caused him to blush as Soubi put an arm around him and pulled the little cat boy closer. Leave it to the fighter to turn something innocent into borderline perverted.

He felt Soubi rest his chin on his own head between his cat ears and breathe a contented sigh. There was very little he could do when he was stuck on a ride, so he stopped fidgeting and enjoyed the motion the wheel gave him. To Ritsuka it felt like he was flying, even though he could firmly feel the seat beneath his posterior and below his feet. Still, he could imagine he was like a butterfly gliding above the heads of the crowd on the wheel.

Soubi had a similar thought, though he wasn't anywhere near as fond of butterflies. In fact he hated them. Not because of the reasons he had told Kio those months ago, but because of the memories his teacher had engrained into his brain. Instead of flying butterflies, he and Ritsuka were just flying, normal and in human form.

He leaned his lips to Ritsuka's head and kissed right between the cat ears, causing said feline appendages to wiggle slightly. Soubi was surprised the boy didn't admonish him for his forward actions. Maybe it was their surroundings or the feeling of peace he could feel radiating from the boy. Either way, he was just glad to be there, in that moment, with the person who had shot to the top of his list of favorite people.

Flying eventually came to an end and the pair exited the ride area and headed back down the walkway of booths and rides. Neither really wanted to do anything else, but neither wanted to go home either. Home was a lonely place for both when the other wasn't around.

Instead Soubi was led, still by hand, toward a cherry blossom tree. Ritsuka sat with his back against the trunk and motioned for the elder to sit as well. It still wasn't a command, but an offer to join. Soubi sat, making sure his shoulder was touching the younger male's.

Off in the distance they could see the fireworks shooting into the sky and firing off into various colors from the color spectrum. The boy looked up at the man and saw the colorful bursts reflecting off the elder's eyes. The sight gave off a feeling of wonder and mysticism. Had his eyes always reflected the lights so beautifully? Ritsuka would try and pay more attention to that in the future.

For the moment though all that mattered to either was that they could sit together in communal silence and watch the display without having to worry about anything in their personal lives. Instead they could live in the moment and share the joy of friendship together. Love, after all, comes in many shapes and forms and where that love leads was always going to be a journey they would walk together.