Is it normal for fanfic writers to go through a sort of slump? Well, for awhile now, I have. It was brought on by lack of feedback and reviews. I know it shouldn't bother me. If it didn't, maybe I'd get more reviews. That attitude seems to work for my friend. But I can't help but wonder if maybe it means that people just don't like my fics. Or maybe it's because I myself am not very good about reviewing. But that's only because I am a total KenxRan devotee, and I haven't had much luck finding fics with that pairing. (In that order. I won't read it reversed.) So, if you write KenxRan fics, or if you know somebody that does, e-mail me privately and let me know.
I've whined enough for now. Enjoy the story. And, I'm begging you, REVIEW!
~Koyasu
~~~~~~~~~~
Aya looked down at her husband's sleeping figure, sighing contentedly before leaning in to kiss him awake. "Ohayo", she whispered, gently pecking him on the forehead.
Yamada Taro stirred, moaning slightly as he reluctantly open his eyes. "Morning already?" he frowned, reaching up to pull Aya into bed with him. "Maybe I should call in sick today. I'd much rather stay here with you and-"
"You can't!" Aya giggled as her husband playfully tugged at her nipple.
"I can do as I please", he smirked. "I am the bank president, after all."
"Yes, but what kind of example are you setting if you call in every time you're horny?"
"Like they're gonna know!" he laughed, tickling Aya.
"They'll catch on if you make a habit of it", she managed to say between squeals.
"Oh, fine!" Taro surrendered, pretending to pout. "I'll go in to work today."
"I love a man who can stick to his commitments", Aya purred, standing up. "I promise I'll reward you for all your hard work tonight" she added with a wink.
"I'll make sure you keep that promise", Taro winked as he stood up and gave Aya a light peck on the cheek.
~~~~~~~~~
"Where is Ran?" Yoji asked, taking a swig from his can of coffee.
"In the mission room", Omi answered, swatting Yoji's feet off the table with a frown.
"Still?" Yoji scratched his head. "I don't get it. The guy practically became catatonic when we learned about the mission. All he said was 'we accept.' And it's been three hours, for crying out loud!"
"Yoji-kun, you need to pay more attention", Omi said, shaking his head. "Weren't you listening when I gave you the mission? A bank merger went sour and the president of one of the banks was murdered. It appeared to be no more than a heart attack, but this is the third in a string of deaths involving First Savings Bank. When an autopsy was performed, heavy doses of steroids were found pumped into his system. Enough to cause heart failure."
Yoji's head shot up, his eyes widening is recognition. "Omi, is that...?"
Omi nodded solemnly. "The murdered president of Citizen's Trust Bank was Aya-chan's husband, Yamada Taro."
*
"Ran? Koi, are you sure that you want to take this mission? After all, wasn't it you that was saying it's time we retire from Kritiker? We've been a team for eleven years, and you joined Kritiker even before that. What happened to all that talk about moving on and-"
"That was before someone decided to fuck with my family again", Ran said darkly. His eyes remained fixed on the wall in front of him.
Ken gasped slightly, not used to hearing such words from his lover. "I know, Ran. I was just thinking maybe this mission is a little too personal."
"After I kill the bastards that murdered my brother-in law...then I can rest." Ran closed his eyes, cletching his fists tight and pounding them into the couch where he sat.
"Yes, but-"
"Oi, Ran, phone call", Yoji called sleepily from the top of the stairs. "It's Aya-chan."
Ran stood up and dashed for the phone, picking it up quickly. "Konbon-"
"Ran!" Aya interrupted him. "You've heard about-"
"I have", Ran answered, still breathless from running for the phone. "Is there anything that I can do for you?"
"Yes, there is. I spoke with Yoji, and he told me your next mission involves Taro's murder."
"It is the least I can do for you." Ran nervously wound a strand of hair around his index finger, knowing full well what his sister was about to say.
"I can't let you do this, Ran", Aya said firmly. "It's too dangerous."
"Are you forgetting? I do this for a living", Ran laughed dismissively. He wanted his sister to feel safe. He wanted her to feel comfortable with the decision he had made.
"I know, but...I just have a bad feeling about this. Call it women's intuition. Call it...call it whatever you like. But I know things will end badly if you take this mission. I'm begging you, nii-chan! Don't do it!" The urgency in Aya's voice was painfully apparent, and it took everything Ran had not to break down as he spoke to her.
"Taro is dead, and your savings are drastically diminished. I can't let this go unpunished. But I promise you, this is our last mission. After this, Weiss is finished." Ran hoped that Aya didn't hear the quiver in his voice as he spoke these words.
"But-"
Ran put the phone back in the receiver before Aya had a chance to argue. Covering his face with his hands, he just stood for a moment, muffled sobs the only sign of life coming from him.
Ken walked over to Ran, tearing his hands away from his face. He looked deep into the sad violet eyes, smiling sympathetically as he wiped them dry. 'Aya and I must be the only two people on earth that truly understand Ran's heart', he thought, pulling the redhead into his arms. 'He's not cold. He's not heartless. When it comes to those he loves...he is the weakest person I know.'
~~~~~~~~~~
"I was not meant to wear a suit", Ken grumbled, tugging at his coller. "I'm gonna suffocate in this thing."
"Better you than me", Yoji smirked. He was glad that he and Omi were handling backup outside while Ran and Ken posed as wealthy investors interested in a share of the bank. "But I have to admit, Ran looks like he's cross dressing."
Ran glared at the playboy. He really wasn't in the mood for Yoji's comments on his feminine appearance tonight. "Just be quiet and wait until you hear our signal."
Yoji nodded. "Good luck."
*
"Balinese?" Omi called into his headset from the front entrance to the headquarters of First Savings Bank. "I think we made a mistake."
"What's that, kid?" Yoji asked. He could almost feel Omi glare at him.
"I'm 28 years old now, and, for all intents and purposes, I'm your boss, too. So stop calling me 'kid'."
"Fine", Yoji chuckled. "What's on your mind?"
"I shouldn't have let Abyssinian go up there. This mission is something he's too passionate about. How can we expect him to maintain a cool front if..."
Both men went silent as a cry pierced the night sky. It was Ran's voice. Another cry soon followed. Ken. The wails got louder, accompanied by loud crashes, thuds and gunshots.
"Shall we go up?" Yoji asked, all too eager to kill now.
Omi was about to say yes, when he heard distant laughter. "The targets are approaching the front entrance." He watched as they exited the building." They appear to be unarmed."
A plump, silver haired man stopped just outside the entrance. With him were two large men who looked to be in their mid to late 20s.
"It's amazing what you can do with a hammer, a gun, and a desk." It was the older man that spoke. Watanabe Genjo, the president of First Savings Bank. "I don't think we'll be getting any more trouble from those two."
"They are dead, right?" a tall man with a ponytail asked.
"Even if they manage to survive, they'll be spending their lives as vegetables." Watanabe Genjo laughed wickedly, the two men joining in for a jeering chorus that cut Omi and Yoji to the core.
Yoji had had enough. Without waiting for orders from Omi, he pressed the button on his wrist, tying the three men into a bundle with his wire. Tight enough to hold them without killing them. He'd handle that part later.
"Gomen, Bombay", Yoji apologized as the two assassins met in front of their captured targets.
"No you aren't", Omi said flatly, kicking the ponytailed man in the side. "But I can't say I blame you." He looked up into the building. "I'm going in to check up on Abyssnian and Siberian.. You call Kritiker for medical assistance."
Wananabe Genjo gave a low, menacing laugh. "Good luck saving your friends", he sneered.
"Tell us what you did to them!" Yoji demanded. He was all too willing to tighten the wire, killing the three men then and there.
"Let's see...A gunshot to the chest, and a hammer to the head and hip for the brunette", Mr. Watanabe boasted. He was obviously quite satisfied with his work. "As for the redhead...hammer to the head, gunshot to the gut, and Sojiro here..." he nodded to a bald, burly man at his right. "Made lumber of my desk...right on his back." The three men laughed at the recollection, seeming to forget the position that they were in. "What a poor quality of life they would lead, were they to live", he finished with a mocking laugh.
"Up yours, old man", Yoji hissed, running to catch up with Omi. He looked back momentarily to see Watanabe Genjo and his thugs struggling to break free. 'Well, that saves me some work', he thought, taking small comfort in the thought of the three men slicing themselves to bits. But dead targets meant nothing to him if anything happened to his friends. Dialing his cell phone, he walked into the bank headquarters; away from the screams of his dying targets, and in to see two men who, dead or alive, would never be the same.
I've whined enough for now. Enjoy the story. And, I'm begging you, REVIEW!
~Koyasu
~~~~~~~~~~
Aya looked down at her husband's sleeping figure, sighing contentedly before leaning in to kiss him awake. "Ohayo", she whispered, gently pecking him on the forehead.
Yamada Taro stirred, moaning slightly as he reluctantly open his eyes. "Morning already?" he frowned, reaching up to pull Aya into bed with him. "Maybe I should call in sick today. I'd much rather stay here with you and-"
"You can't!" Aya giggled as her husband playfully tugged at her nipple.
"I can do as I please", he smirked. "I am the bank president, after all."
"Yes, but what kind of example are you setting if you call in every time you're horny?"
"Like they're gonna know!" he laughed, tickling Aya.
"They'll catch on if you make a habit of it", she managed to say between squeals.
"Oh, fine!" Taro surrendered, pretending to pout. "I'll go in to work today."
"I love a man who can stick to his commitments", Aya purred, standing up. "I promise I'll reward you for all your hard work tonight" she added with a wink.
"I'll make sure you keep that promise", Taro winked as he stood up and gave Aya a light peck on the cheek.
~~~~~~~~~
"Where is Ran?" Yoji asked, taking a swig from his can of coffee.
"In the mission room", Omi answered, swatting Yoji's feet off the table with a frown.
"Still?" Yoji scratched his head. "I don't get it. The guy practically became catatonic when we learned about the mission. All he said was 'we accept.' And it's been three hours, for crying out loud!"
"Yoji-kun, you need to pay more attention", Omi said, shaking his head. "Weren't you listening when I gave you the mission? A bank merger went sour and the president of one of the banks was murdered. It appeared to be no more than a heart attack, but this is the third in a string of deaths involving First Savings Bank. When an autopsy was performed, heavy doses of steroids were found pumped into his system. Enough to cause heart failure."
Yoji's head shot up, his eyes widening is recognition. "Omi, is that...?"
Omi nodded solemnly. "The murdered president of Citizen's Trust Bank was Aya-chan's husband, Yamada Taro."
*
"Ran? Koi, are you sure that you want to take this mission? After all, wasn't it you that was saying it's time we retire from Kritiker? We've been a team for eleven years, and you joined Kritiker even before that. What happened to all that talk about moving on and-"
"That was before someone decided to fuck with my family again", Ran said darkly. His eyes remained fixed on the wall in front of him.
Ken gasped slightly, not used to hearing such words from his lover. "I know, Ran. I was just thinking maybe this mission is a little too personal."
"After I kill the bastards that murdered my brother-in law...then I can rest." Ran closed his eyes, cletching his fists tight and pounding them into the couch where he sat.
"Yes, but-"
"Oi, Ran, phone call", Yoji called sleepily from the top of the stairs. "It's Aya-chan."
Ran stood up and dashed for the phone, picking it up quickly. "Konbon-"
"Ran!" Aya interrupted him. "You've heard about-"
"I have", Ran answered, still breathless from running for the phone. "Is there anything that I can do for you?"
"Yes, there is. I spoke with Yoji, and he told me your next mission involves Taro's murder."
"It is the least I can do for you." Ran nervously wound a strand of hair around his index finger, knowing full well what his sister was about to say.
"I can't let you do this, Ran", Aya said firmly. "It's too dangerous."
"Are you forgetting? I do this for a living", Ran laughed dismissively. He wanted his sister to feel safe. He wanted her to feel comfortable with the decision he had made.
"I know, but...I just have a bad feeling about this. Call it women's intuition. Call it...call it whatever you like. But I know things will end badly if you take this mission. I'm begging you, nii-chan! Don't do it!" The urgency in Aya's voice was painfully apparent, and it took everything Ran had not to break down as he spoke to her.
"Taro is dead, and your savings are drastically diminished. I can't let this go unpunished. But I promise you, this is our last mission. After this, Weiss is finished." Ran hoped that Aya didn't hear the quiver in his voice as he spoke these words.
"But-"
Ran put the phone back in the receiver before Aya had a chance to argue. Covering his face with his hands, he just stood for a moment, muffled sobs the only sign of life coming from him.
Ken walked over to Ran, tearing his hands away from his face. He looked deep into the sad violet eyes, smiling sympathetically as he wiped them dry. 'Aya and I must be the only two people on earth that truly understand Ran's heart', he thought, pulling the redhead into his arms. 'He's not cold. He's not heartless. When it comes to those he loves...he is the weakest person I know.'
~~~~~~~~~~
"I was not meant to wear a suit", Ken grumbled, tugging at his coller. "I'm gonna suffocate in this thing."
"Better you than me", Yoji smirked. He was glad that he and Omi were handling backup outside while Ran and Ken posed as wealthy investors interested in a share of the bank. "But I have to admit, Ran looks like he's cross dressing."
Ran glared at the playboy. He really wasn't in the mood for Yoji's comments on his feminine appearance tonight. "Just be quiet and wait until you hear our signal."
Yoji nodded. "Good luck."
*
"Balinese?" Omi called into his headset from the front entrance to the headquarters of First Savings Bank. "I think we made a mistake."
"What's that, kid?" Yoji asked. He could almost feel Omi glare at him.
"I'm 28 years old now, and, for all intents and purposes, I'm your boss, too. So stop calling me 'kid'."
"Fine", Yoji chuckled. "What's on your mind?"
"I shouldn't have let Abyssinian go up there. This mission is something he's too passionate about. How can we expect him to maintain a cool front if..."
Both men went silent as a cry pierced the night sky. It was Ran's voice. Another cry soon followed. Ken. The wails got louder, accompanied by loud crashes, thuds and gunshots.
"Shall we go up?" Yoji asked, all too eager to kill now.
Omi was about to say yes, when he heard distant laughter. "The targets are approaching the front entrance." He watched as they exited the building." They appear to be unarmed."
A plump, silver haired man stopped just outside the entrance. With him were two large men who looked to be in their mid to late 20s.
"It's amazing what you can do with a hammer, a gun, and a desk." It was the older man that spoke. Watanabe Genjo, the president of First Savings Bank. "I don't think we'll be getting any more trouble from those two."
"They are dead, right?" a tall man with a ponytail asked.
"Even if they manage to survive, they'll be spending their lives as vegetables." Watanabe Genjo laughed wickedly, the two men joining in for a jeering chorus that cut Omi and Yoji to the core.
Yoji had had enough. Without waiting for orders from Omi, he pressed the button on his wrist, tying the three men into a bundle with his wire. Tight enough to hold them without killing them. He'd handle that part later.
"Gomen, Bombay", Yoji apologized as the two assassins met in front of their captured targets.
"No you aren't", Omi said flatly, kicking the ponytailed man in the side. "But I can't say I blame you." He looked up into the building. "I'm going in to check up on Abyssnian and Siberian.. You call Kritiker for medical assistance."
Wananabe Genjo gave a low, menacing laugh. "Good luck saving your friends", he sneered.
"Tell us what you did to them!" Yoji demanded. He was all too willing to tighten the wire, killing the three men then and there.
"Let's see...A gunshot to the chest, and a hammer to the head and hip for the brunette", Mr. Watanabe boasted. He was obviously quite satisfied with his work. "As for the redhead...hammer to the head, gunshot to the gut, and Sojiro here..." he nodded to a bald, burly man at his right. "Made lumber of my desk...right on his back." The three men laughed at the recollection, seeming to forget the position that they were in. "What a poor quality of life they would lead, were they to live", he finished with a mocking laugh.
"Up yours, old man", Yoji hissed, running to catch up with Omi. He looked back momentarily to see Watanabe Genjo and his thugs struggling to break free. 'Well, that saves me some work', he thought, taking small comfort in the thought of the three men slicing themselves to bits. But dead targets meant nothing to him if anything happened to his friends. Dialing his cell phone, he walked into the bank headquarters; away from the screams of his dying targets, and in to see two men who, dead or alive, would never be the same.