Eroticless

I realise Im taking my time with this. But on the other hand there's nothing better than a delayed shag right?

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Youji sat in the warm tub and played by making underwater currants and ripples that would make his pale hair dance like sea weed in the clear water. Off in the apartment corner Natsuo slept soundly, worn out from so many days of sleepless nights by Youji's side after their encounter with the female Zero's. Neither of them had spoken about it, no words were needed to say how worried Natsuo had been.

Worry.

What was it to worry for your other self? There was nothing unusual about it, any fighter would be expected to do the same.

"Such love and devotion" Soubi had chuckled when he had lifted Natsuo into the bed to sleep.

The words echoed uncomfortably in Youji's mind.

Devotion? Yes, surely.

Love?

He didn't have an answer.

They were Zero. They were together wither they loved each other or not. They could hate one another and still not be able to rip apart, that was the way it was. True some fighter pairs loved each other, it was obvious in the way they walked, in the way their de-eared heads turned at he same things. But loosing your ears to your fighter or sacrifice did not mean love either. It meant a greater bond surely, but it did not always speak of love.

Youji sat for a long moment willing thoughts out of his head staring blankly through the water at the porcelain beyond.

"No fair" the voice was soft with sleep and something else. Youji looked up to see Natsuo sitting up with half of the covers falling off of him.

"You're taking a bath without me?"

"Natsuo you shouldn't be out of bed!"

Rubbing his eyes sleepily he pushed his way out of bed and walked across the warm wooden floor.

"I could say the same for you."

Sighing loudly Youji sat back until the bubbles and water covered his shoulders; "Then quit complaining and get it."

He watched as the red head slowly stripped of clothes and bandages alike and climbed into the tub with his sacrifice. He leaned back and spread his legs making room for his fighter to relax.

"Where's Soubi?"

"Eh? Who cares? He said he'd be out for the night. Something about Ritsuka."

A mischievous smile flashed under a set of unruly curls.

"Then do you think Ritsuka's ears are in danger?" he grinned.

"With Soubi? Always. But with Ritsuka? You can't tell. I'd say his ears are gonna be around for a little while longer."

Natsou suddenly leaned foreword and grabbed a pale green ear in between soapy fingertips.

"And what about these?" he teased. "Are these gonna be around for much longer?"

"Just about as long as these are."

There was a playful scuffle as the two of them slipped wet and soapy against each other in the warm water, skin touching skin, grabbing and tugging on each other's ears and tails while splashing water over the side of the tub and onto the floor below.

"Ah what a pain" Youji finally said when they had stopped, leaning over the side of the tub from his new spot in the middle between Natsuo's legs. "We could have lost them that day at the park if Soubi hadn't been there."

"We could find someone else." Natsuo suggested watching with detached curiosity as the water dripped of Youji's fingers.

"Yeah but then Soubi would get mad and we'd probably be in big trouble."

"Then what?"

Youji twitched his ears experimentally.

"I guess they stay for a little while longer then."

Natsuo sighed and slid back further into the water.

"We look cuter with them on anyway."