Takeo - This is a ficcie from a while that I rewrote.
Kento - Finally!
Takeo- Warnings and Disclaimers Shu-baby!
Kento - :: hearty chuckle:: There's angst and whipping involved. Pairings; it's Touma and I.
Takeo - Good boy! Italics denote thought.

INOCHI & GI: Part1

Shuu cringed as he heard a whip lash down again and again. How does Sage get away with this? How in hell do Touma and Ryo stand this? Unanswered questions buzzing through Shuu's mind as he heard the leather whip hit against skin on the other side of the wall as he tried to sleep at night. Eventually sleep overcame the worried fighter; his other problems taking their toll on Shuu's weary heart.

Touma dragged his aching body out of Seiji's room before the dawn came. Seiji was pretty rough tonight. Touma's thoughts echoed in his mind as he paused at Shuu's door, thankful for the deep snores that often escaped from the body beneath the blankets. A smile touched Touma's lips. He couldn't believe how strongly he felt for Shuu. He cared for Ryo and Shin as friends, Seiji…well, he was another matter. Shuu was the humour of the group, bringing smiles to everyone, regardless of how he felt inside. I often wonder, if he feels the same way about me, but he can't, on account of how I broke him and Shin apart. And Shuu wears a mask that even I can’t do away with.

Seiji brought his whip over me again. I spied Ryo huddled in a corner. Seiji wasn't done yet, far from it. Tonight was much worse than the last evening. He was upset because Ryo and I broke one of his endless rules, so he's punishing us and I cringe as the whip smacks against my cheek, drawing blood from it. I feel like collapsing, fighting back tears and wonder why in hells name that I ended up with Seiji. The door to the room is thrown open and I see Shuu's blazing cobalt eyes boring holes in Seiji from were he stood.

"Seiji, what in hell do you think you're doing?" Shu asked. I could see that he was holding back a lot of anger. Has he come to save me?

"This is none of your business Shuu, go back to bed." Came the cultured voice of Seiji. I really want to get as far away from him as possible.

"It is. The fight with Arago is over. I hate people who play games, and you play the worst type of game that there is." Shu said, his fists emitting an orange beacon.

"I like games, people are so easy to play with and break. Haven't you suffered the same treatment?" Seiji said, his tone cold, violet eyes narrowed as he turned to me.

"Bastard!" I screamed as I swung at him. He had no right to bring up Shin, no damn right at all. And he had finally admitted that he didn't love me. Seiji dodged my angered blows. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Shuu step in and pick Ryo up. He opened Ryo's door and laid him carefully on his bed.

"Wait here Ryo." I heard him say. Listening to that had distracted me and Seiji landed a blow to my stomach. I dropped to my knees, sobbing. Shuu came running in. he looked like a bat out of hell. All I saw was his fist swing out and the next minute, Seiji was lying at the far end of his room, his jaw bleeding.

"Never lay your hands on either of them again, try it and I will kill you." I heard Shuu say, his eyes, a midnight blue. To my surprise, he picked me up as if I weighed nothing and he walked out of Seiji's room, shutting the door behind him. He took me to Ryo's room and laid me beside Ryo. He left for a minute and came back, arms full of medical supplies. He attended to our cuts and bruises, muttering something under his breath.

"Thanks Shuu, why did you do it?" Ryo asked, voicing my concern. Shuu blushed; I saw it although it's hard to tell on that caramel skin of his.

"Shin was worried, besides he loves you Ryo, even though he doesn't admit it." Came the short reply.

"So Shin love's me as well?" I asked, managing a smile. Shuu looked at me, exasperated.

"He loves you as a friend, I think, you can ask him that yourself. " Shuu said as a chuckle escaped him. I smiled genuinely. Apparently he had calmed down and wasn't in a destructive mode. It was then that I noticed he was only wearing black silk boxes. My eyes immediately took in the muscled beauty, brows knitted in concern as he wrapped Ryo's injured arm.

"Shin will be home soon. Ryo you stay here, I doubt that Seiji will bother you. Rest your arm. If you need anything, give a shout. I'm taking Touma to his room." Shuu said. Ryo nodded. Shuu picked me again and he headed for my room. At the same moment Shin came up the stairs. He gave me a strange look, especially at my injuries.

"Go see Ryo. He's in his room. Seiji has been dealt with for the night. Goodnight Shin." Shuu said. Shin nodded and rested his hand on mine. He gave me another look and left, uttering a goodnight. Kento set me down on my bed and tucked me in. The meeting with Shin hadn't affected him, or had it?

"Shuu, thanks a lot. I've finally realised that Seiji could and never will love me. I'm glad you got me out before I died at his hands." I said. He smiled at me, and that smile comforted me a lot. I noticed that his sprained wrist from last week was turning red. His eyes met mine as we both glanced at his hand.

"You used that had to hit Seiji? Were you crazy?" I screeched.

"It's nothing." He replied.

"Nothing my ass. " I pushed him unto my bed and got a bandage from my desk. I wrapped it around his hand, letting my fingers linger longer than necessary on his palm.

"Thanks." He said. His hand touched my cheek lightly, brushing away the blood from my cheek. Shivers ran through me. I truly loved this kind-hearted boy with my whole heart; it took me two years under Seiji's oppression to see it. He tucked me in again and brushed my hair back.

"Goodnight Touma-kun. I can only hope that you don't have nightmares." He said, his eyes sad.

"Goodnight." I whispered as he shut my door behind me.

END OF PART ONE.

Takeo - I have no clue what I just wrote, and know the show must go on.
Shuu - You're making me brood?
Takeo - Of course. Brooding sometimes answers unanswered questions.
Shuu - Sure.