The Beautiful People

Hurry Up and Save Me

A week later, Careless, Dreamless, Painless, Zero, and Breathless still hadn't left Soubi and Loveless (whose given name, come to find out, was Aoyagi Ritsuka). No one had really expected Kio to leave anyway. On that particular day, Kotone and Kika had Kio out of Soubi's apartment, teaching him about Fighters and Sacrifices.

Yuuki, Emi, Natsuo, Youji, Soubi, Ritsuka, Midori, Ai, and Frank were lounging around Soubi's apartment. It wasn't unusual for most of them, since only Soubi, Ritsuka, Kio, Yayoi, and Yuiko attended school. Natsuo was watching Youji play video games, Emi was reading a manga borrowed from Yuiko, Yuuki was playing with the new tube of black lipstick Soubi had gotten for her while she also watched Youji, Midori, Frank, and Ai were playing a board game, Soubi was painting, and Ritsuka was watching Soubi. Music by Hey Monday was playing loudly, though no one really seemed to be paying attention to it.

When Youji's character was killed off again, he growled and turned the game off. Natsuo and Yuuki, snapped out of their trances and out of things to do, blinked and looked around. Their eyes met and Natsuo smiled, and infectious smile Yuuki returned.

"Yuuki, Natsuo," Youji said, catching their attention, "Oi, Emi!" Emi looked up from volume 4 of Tail of the Moon. Even Soubi, Ritsuka, Ai, Midori, and Frank looked up, though Youji ignored them. "Let's go to the river," he said. Yuuki and Natsuo gave him funny looks; they didn't understand Youji sometimes.

Emi, on the other hand, looked excited. "Okay," she agreed. Youji headed towards the door, followed by Emi and Natsuo. When Yuuki showed no signs of getting up, Emi walked back and pulled on her arm. Instead of getting to her feet, Yuuki flopped onto her back. Youji walked over to help Emi, picking Yuuki up bridal-style but depositing her in his Fighter's arms as he passed. Yuuki struggled and urged Natsuo to out her down, but he only tightened his grip. He wasn't going to let her leave him alone with the lovebirds.

By the time they reached the river, Emi and Youji were holding hands and Yuuki had been set on her feet. In front, Emi and Youji were whispering conspiratorially. Natsuo and Yuuki glared suspiciously at their backs. Suddenly, the two Sacrifices leaned in to each other and kissed. Their Fighters' eyes widened. "Ew!" Yuuki yelled, as she usually did with Frank. Natsuo just looked shocked. Yuuki waved a hand in front of his eyes, wondering if he was beyond reacting.

Apparently he wasn't, because he shuddered and turned to her. "Let's go," he choked out.

-Emi & Youji-

They pulled away and watched their Fighters hurry away. Both Sacrifices burst out laughing. When they recovered enough to stand up straight, they high-fived. They had successfully freaked out their Fighters. But now they were alone. Unnerved, Emi turned around and started walking along the river bank. Youji followed.

"You okay?" Youji asked. Emi nodded. Truthfully, she was scared. She never wanted serious relationships when she met a guy. She was completely different from Yuuki, who wouldn't have dated anyone unless she was sure they were serious about her, or at least about putting up with her. Which...was probably why Yuuki had been single her entire life.

Youji saw right through Emi's lie. He took her hand and sat on the river bank, pulling Emi down with him. She landed in his lap and smiled up at him. Youji smiled back, trying not to scare her. He never expected her to push herself up and tackle him to the ground, pressing her lips to his again.

-Yuuki & Natsuo-

Yuuki led the way as she and Natsuo hurried away from Emi and Youji, who they figured were too busy sucking face to notice. Yuuki was the type of person who liked to wander, and because of that she knew the town better than Natsuo, though he'd been there longer.

As they passed a cafe, Yuuki realized they weren't really going anywhere. "Where do you want to go?" she asked.

Natsuo looked up at the clear blue sky and the golden light cast all around them. "Um...How about a rooftop?" he suggested shyly, a light blush darkening his pale skin.

Yuuki smiled. "Okay," she chirped. She took Natsuo's hand and walked faster, weaving her way between people, heading in the general direction of the sun, which Natsuo was staring at. Yuuki didn't ask if it hurt; she knew Zero didn't feel pain. A few minutes later they were climbing up a fire escape bolted to the side of an apartment building.

When they reached the top, Yuuki had to shield her charcoal coated eyes with a black-gloved hand. Because it reduced her ability to see, Natsuo took her free hand and led her over to boxes piled near a trapdoor. He sat and pulled her down next to him. As the sun descended and the sky turned hot pink, Yuuki rested her head on Natsuo's shoulder, his thick red hair mingling with her straightened black locks.

Neither of them moved until the sky had turned indigo and thousands of tiny pinpoints of light blanketed the sky. Yuuki was glad this town didn't light up the night. She turned to Natsuo as he started to say something. He was looking behind her, and she saw Youji behind him.

Before either could wonder what the Sacrifices were planning, they were shoved forward. Their lips had barely collided when they pulled back and glared at Emi and Youji, who had moved to stand in front of them.

"What the hell!" they yelled at the same time.

"Just shut up and kiss her!" Youji sighed, pushing Natsuo toward Yuuki again.

~*~

A/N: I don't really remember who I'm supposed to be, but I must be Yuuki, coz I'd never let anyone else have my Natsuo-kun.  Except Youji-kun, of course.