Fullness Found

Disclaimer: I don't own Loveless, I'm just a crazy fan.  Don't own the title song, "Fullness Found" by Todd Agnew, either.

~*~

"Do you remember our first battle?" Ai asked out of the blue one day. Midori looked up at her in surprise. It wasn't a topic they usually discussed.

"Of course," Midori answered anyway, "We won."

Ai rolled her eyes at him. "We won all of our battles until we met Soubi and Loveless," she reminded him.

"Yes, but it was our first battle. We were hot stuff," Midori recalled. Ai gave a soft snort at his word choice. He smiled at her anyway. Their bond was strong enough that a snort like that couldn't affect it whatsoever.

Suddenly Ai turned solemn. "It's kinda weird being back at school..." she observed. Midori nodded.

"We've never met anyone like them."

Midori looked up as the tone of Ai's voice changed. She was looking down at her feet, a troubled look on her face.

"Who?" Midori asked, though images of Soubi and Loveless were already running through his mind.

"Loveless and Soubi," Ai answered quietly, "They really shouldn't be a team, especially since Beloved died, but they can still work together." They both banished the images of battle kisses before they could fully form in Breathless's minds. There was silence for a moment.

"Loveless. One without love," Midori mused. "It's a terrible name," Ai stated. Midori could only nod in agreement.

"They work well together," Ai repeated. She seemed distant for a moment. "Midori!" she cried suddenly, looking up at him, "promise me you'll never leave!"

Midori stared. "Wha-? Ai, you know I'd never leave you!" he protested. What was wrong with Ai? She knew the bonds between Fighter and Sacrifice were stronger than any other!

"All the same, I want you to promise," Ai said, quiet again. Midori frowned and held out his hand.

"If you break a promise, you'll have to swallow 1,000 needles," she chanted. Midori blushed at the childishness of it all.

"Breathless!" called a voice at the door. Midori went to open it. Standing there was Tatsuya, the Sacrifice of the team Soulful. He peered up at Midori through blue-grey bangs.

"Ritsu wants to speak to you," he panted. Midori nodded and Tatsuya left. Ai joined Midori as he left the room and headed for Ritsu's "office."

"You aren't supposed to bring your Fighter here," Ritsu reminded Midori tediously. Midori's eyes hardened.

"We go everywhere together," Midori answered routinely. Today it held a bit more meaning. Ritsu ignored him.

"I have an assignment for you," Ritsu informed them. Both pairs of strangely-colored ears pricked. Ritsu continued.

"A new team has just just discovered their other half. I need you to bring the Fighter back for training. Their name is Heartless."

Midori and Ai both nodded. "They're in Osaka," Ritsu added before dismissing them.

Once outside the room, Midori and Ai exchanged a glance. "Heartless, huh?" Ai said, taking the words right out of Midori's mouth. "Should be interesting," he finished.

Both thought back to their earlier discussion about Soubi and Loveless. How far would they be forced to go to bring Heartless back?