Given Butterflies

To be loved

⚠️ smut⚠️

The grave sat at the top of a hill. A tree was planted nearby. The branches protected the stone. I brushed my hand over it. Several leaves had fallen to the granite square. His name was etched into the stone. The only thing left I could touch of him. I traced the letters lightly with one finger.

Yuki Yoshida. A name that had formed on my lips so many times. Images of his face swam before me. I closed my eyes trying to breathe. It hurt. It always hurt. I felt the strong arm around my waist. For one moment I let myself think it was him, my first love.

"Mafuyu, you're going to catch a cold coming up here dressed like that." His chuckle brushing against my neck. But it wasn't him. I stiffened slightly in that arm. Ritsuka was stronger than Yuki. My fingers trailed over the bulging muscle in his arm. His chin pressed into my shoulder.

"You ok?" he asked me. That was the difference between them. Yuki insisted I didn't know how to take care of myself. He always made sure he had extra food for me if I forgot my lunch. Or he would pack another hoodie since I often would forget mine. But Ritsuka, he accepted me. He asked me things. He didn't just assume I would forget.

I smiled now. I nodded not wanting to open my mouth. I felt like that would set off the pain I was trying to keep inside. Gently Ritsuka moved me out of the way. I had stood blocking him from getting to close to the grave. He dropped his hoodie over my shoulders as he knelt before the stone.

Clapping his hands together, he bowed to the grave. It was an odd sight for me. Had Yuki been alive, I would never have met Ritsuka. Had Yuki not left me I would still be happily closed up in his arms. I shook my head I couldn't go down that road.

Ritsuka bowed. "Thank you. Together we got to him in time. I will do better to watch over him. You keep it up to. He is stronger than he thinks. It just may take both of us for him to see that." Ritsuka bowed once more before standing.

Turning to me he squeezed my shoulder. "I'll wait under the tree for you." He informed me. He began to walk away. The wind picked up. Leaves swirled around our feet. I caught at Ritsuka's hand. Gripping it tightly I felt as if the wind hugged me softly. Then I was falling forward.

Ritsuka was turning to look at me. His arms wrapped around me as he pulled me up against his strong chest. "Hey, careful now." He whispered. I smiled down at the grave.

"Yuki always knew what was best for me." I whispered. Pulling back I looked up to the kind eyes watching me. He was an idiot sometimes. I chuckled.

"Even if Yuki was smarter than you, I am glad I get the chance to love you both." I whispered. I saw the blush creep up his face. His neck turned red. It flashed up over his face. I laughed before kissing his over warm lips.

"There is something I have always liked to do." I whispered. Turning away from Ritsuka, I bowed to Yuki

"I will always miss you. You were my best friend longer than you were my boyfriend. I'm sorry our time together was so short. Thank you!" I backed away taking Ritsuka's hand.

"Anyone home at your place?" I asked.

"Nah. My mom won't be home until nearly midnight. Yayoi is off at school getting ready for the costume party tonight." He rattled on.

"Good." I smiled. We walked several blocks until I saw him shiver in the cooler wind. He only had a tee shirt on. I guided him to the bus stop. He was quiet as we rode to his stop. Maybe he was giving me time to process. That was like him. Or he may just didn't know what to say. Sometimes I saw that panic in his eyes. It was cute. Yuki was always in control of situations like this, but Ritsuka was just trying to figure them out as I was.