Craving. An urgent or abnormal desire. That's what Youji felt deep within himself as he watched the object of his desire. Aya Fujimiya was undoubtedly the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen, and he had seen, and been with, a hell of a lot of beautiful people, but Aya was something else. He had this cold air of untouchability about him and that, coupled with his looks, made him irresistible. His hair had grown since they'd defeated Schwartz, it's straight, crimson strands fell to his collar bone on either side of his face, the back went down an inch or so below his shoulders and his bangs were constantly getting in his eyes, which were the color of amethyst. Youji had never seen eyes that color, and that intrigued him. Aya's skin was the color porcelain and though his body was thin, almost morbidly so, it was packed with muscle. He moved with an athletic, feline grace in everything he did, and he was strong. God was he strong. Youji had never seen anyone like him in their line of work. His skill with a blade was legendary in the underworld and his senses were almost supernatural. His battles were like a dance. A beautiful, graceful dance of death, and he showed no mercy; just cut down everything and everyone in his path. Youji knew that side of him, but as he watched Aya as he sat on one of the living room chairs reading a book, he couldn't see it.

The diminutive assassin seemed more like a doll. Delicate, expressionless, and fragile. His long, elegant fingers held the book gently as his cold, emotionless, violet eyes soaked in every word on the page. Youji froze as those eyes moved up to meet his. The blonde felt his face flush as he looked away quickly. He'd been caught staring and could practically feel the other assassin's displeasure from across the room. He glanced up to see that Aya had returned to his book once again. Sighing deeply in relief Youji resumed watching him out of the corner of his eye, thinking that if he was more discreet that Aya wouldn't notice.. He wanted to figure out what made the man tick. He had barely spoken two words for almost three months, even to his sister, who was now boarding with Sakura at their new school. She on the other hand never stopped talking whenever she stopped by with Sakura, which was almost everyday. Youji, Ken, and Omi loved it and they absolutely adored both girls, but Aya seemed to retreat further into himself whenever they came over, and it was getting worse with every passing day. Sure he had never been very talkative before, but now they were lucky if they heard him speak more then once a week, and it was mostly sentences consisting of three words or less, or maybe just a grunt. Everyone was worried about him, especially little Aya-chan.

She had confided in Youji just the previous day that she thought something was wrong with her brother. He wasn't the same person from before. The brother she remembered was warm and gentle, he would smile and laugh at her jokes even when they were stupid; he'd tease her and hug her, comfort her when she was sad. Youji had laughed thinking she was kidding. He'd never seen Aya show any emotion other than anger, and sometimes pain. He'd never had a kind word for anyone, except Omi at one point, but even that almost softness they'd seen had faded quickly. She'd burst into tears hearing this, she was having a hard enough time accepting that her brother killed people for a living, and now on top of it all he didn't act like himself. "He's broken." She'd sobbed into his shoulder. "He's broken and I don't know how to fix him." Youji had held her and stroked her hair while Ken and Omi had looked on in sympathy. Movement broke through his reverie causing him to look up. Aya had set his book down and was staring at Youji coldly. The older man quailed under his steady, violet gaze. His voice was frozen in his throat as the crimson haired warrior stood, but without a word the younger man turned and left the room. Youji let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Aya's glare scared the shit out of him, but there was another side effect that he had to take care of before anyone noticed. Quickly he stood and ran to his room where he grabbed some clothes, then hurried to the bathroom. After stripping and turning on the water full blast he climbed in, letting the ice, cold water do its thing. He stood there shivering and tried not to think about Aya, but it was hopeless. He couldn't get those eyes out of his head. Those fathomless, empty, violet eyes, that terrified him completely yet turned him on with a single glare. Something had to be wrong with him Youji decided. Ken was probably right in saying that he had a death wish, but Youji loved to tease Aya. He loved having that glare burn into him. One of these days Aya was going to take his sword and slit his throat, but Youji didn't care. He wanted Aya like he'd never wanted anyone before, and someday he would have him. He smiled turning the water back to hot as he decided to take care of his problem the old fashioned way.

Aya shut the door to his room quietly and leaned against it. His heart pounded angrily in his chest. He hated the way they stared, and Youji was the worst. The older man's jade eyes never left Aya when they were in the same room together; sometimes he tried to be discreet, but Aya always knew. He could feel those eyes as they traveled over him, caressing every inch. He could feel the way Youji lusted after him and he couldn't help the small touch of fear he felt every time the blonde's gaze dipped below his waistline. It was obvious what he wanted. He ground his teeth hearing the shower start in the bathroom Youji shared with Ken. Fucking pervert. He shook his head in disgust walking to his bookshelf. After choosing one he sat down to read, but found that he couldn't. Just knowing what Youji was doing and who he was imagining as he did, turned his stomach. He stood up and grabbed his jacket before heading downstairs. Omi smiled brightly at him as he entered the kitchen. The teen was preparing dinner with not so willing help of Ken. The brunette was chopping vegetables with an irritated look on his face. "I don't see why I have to do this Omi." He grumbled then noticed Aya. "Where the hell are you going?" Aya ignored him.

"Ken." Omi shook his head. As Aya's hand curled around the door handle that led to the alley where he kept his car the small blonde caught his arm. "Are you going to be home for dinner?" He asked, letting go as Aya looked back at him. The swordsman had an aversion to being touched, but with Omi he made an exception. The teen was harmless, and no threat to him; not many people were. He shook his head and opened the door. As he stepped out into the evening a cool breeze caressed his face. He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes and shutting the door behind him. This was his favorite time of year. As the afternoon sun faded from the sky, turning it different violet shades, soft wind would blow taking with it the last vestiges of heat from the day. He decided to walk instead of drive, maybe he could clear his head of all these thoughts he'd been having lately.

Youji went downstairs after his very relaxing shower grinning at his two fellow assassins, who were cooking dinner. Ken was grumbling about having to help. "Why don't you ever make Aya help, his knife skills have to be better than mine."

"Would you like to ask him for me?"

"No."

"Than suck it up." Omi grinned.

"Fine, what about lover boy over there?" Ken jerked his head in Youji's direction.

"Youji does help." Omi replied then frowned. "Kind of."

"What do you mean 'kind of'?" Youji sat down at the table furrowing his brow. "I help."

"Well, I usually have to re-chop the vegetables because you cut them too big-"

"It makes them easier to pick out."

"-you won't touch raw meat-"

"Ew, do you know how many diseases you can get if you don't handle it properly?"

"-you won't stand over the stove to stir or fry anything-"

"It's bad for the pores." Youji glanced at Ken with a frown as the brunette snorted.

"-and for some reason every time you help with dinner halfway through whatever you're supposed to be doing you get a phone call and disappear on me." Omi finished with a sigh. Ken laughed.

"Wow, Youji. I thought I was bad."

"Get stuffed Ken." Youji snapped playfully. They all shared a laugh, then stopped as the door burst open. Aya-chan and Sakura came rushing in, the former in tears. "Aya-chan, Sakura what's wrong?" The crying teen buried her face in Youji's chest after throwing her arms around his neck. The other girl just sighed.

"We saw Aya out on the street, but he ignored us-"

"Like we weren't even there!" Aya-chan cried. "He didn't even look at us." Youji held her until she stopped crying then helped her into another chair. Sakura took a seat next to her with another sigh. "Have you talked to him yet, Youji-san?" Aya-chan asked wiping her tears.

"Haven't had the chance, but I promise tonight at dinner, we'll all talk to him."

"He's not going to be back for dinner." Omi said quietly, dropping noodles into some boiling water.

"What is that, the third day in a row?" Youji swore.

"Fifth, actually." Omi replied with a frown. Youji shook his head as Ken growled unintelligibly into his work. Suddenly he threw the knife down angrily.

"Fuck him." He snapped. "I thought things would get better after Schwartz, but its worse. He's worse."

"Maybe he wants us to call him Ran." Aya-chan said quietly. Youji winced.

"I tried that once."

"What happened?" She asked, looking up at him.

"He gave me the coldest glare I've ever received." He shuddered. "The one that says 'if you ever do that again I'm going to slit your throat in your sleep'."

"Well how did you say it Youji?" Omi raised an eyebrow.

"I do not recall." Youji looked away quickly. He did remember, but he couldn't repeat what he'd said in front of the swordsman's sister. It was most definitely inappropriate and Omi would give him one of those looks that made him feel like a three year old being sent to time out.

"Sure." Omi frowned shaking his head before returning to cooking. "Would you girls like to stay for dinner, I've made extra."

"Absolutely!" The girls said in unison. After dinner the girls left. They had school in the morning and their curfew was in an hour. The three assassins cleaned the kitchen then retired to the living room to await the return of their crimson haired companion.

Aya stalked the streets of downtown Tokyo lost in thought. He didn't know what to do. His reason for living was over. He'd gotten his revenge on the men and women who had destroyed his life and against all odds he had survived. He'd never counted on that. He had always thought that he wouldn't survive to see his sister again and now that he had been proven wrong, for the first time in his life, he was lost. She was exactly the same as she had been before the brutal murders of their parents, but he was no longer the same helpless child that he had been. He was an assassin, Kritiker's best and to them he was only a weapon to be wielded against their enemies. He had no problem with that. What else could he do? All he knew was hate, anger and death. He lived it everyday, but Aya-chan. She was life itself. A beautiful beacon of light and warmth. It hurt to look at her knowing what he was and all the horrible things he'd done to become it. There was so much blood on his hands, so much death he had caused as he followed the orders he was given. The money he received was tainted yet he used it to keep his sister alive, and he wanted her to live. God how he wanted her to live. She had a bright future ahead of her, but should he be a part of it? He was struggling with this very thought as he headed home. A loud scream to his left brought him out of his head and he hurried towards it. At the end of an alley five burly men crowded around two teenage girls. When Aya recognized them he felt ice wrap around his heart. Sakura had her arms around his sister's shoulders and despite her fear was standing up to the thugs in front of them. His sister raised her head and their eyes met. "Ran!" She screamed his name clutching at Sakura, who looked up at him and grinned.

"I'd turn around boys if I were you." She smirked pointing at the assassin behind them. They laughed brushing it off. Aya took a step forward causing one of the men to turn. Seeing Aya he tapped his leader on the shoulder and jerked his head in the swordsman's direction. The older man laughed.

"Hey there pretty boy." He leered. "You better run along or you'll be dessert." Aya said nothing as he took another step forward. The man's grin widened. "I guess you want to be first then." He glanced at two of his men. "Watch the chickies," He ordered. "After I finish the kid we'll have our fun." They nodded and each one grabbed an arm of on of the girls. Aya paused feeling his anger surge.

"Ran, help!" Aya-chan cried.

Aya watched Ran hesitate and cried out to him. Didn't he want to save her? In the time it took her to blink once Ran had closed the distance between him and the leader. He moved faster than her eyes could track and within two seconds the man was on the ground screaming with two broken wrists and a shattered nose. She gasped her eyes widening as Ran took out the other two men just as quickly.

"Jesus Christ!" The man holding her yelled pulling out a knife. "Back off or she dies!" He screamed holding it to Aya's neck. Ran's dark violet eyes moved to him. She shrank back. She'd never seen her brother that angry. His hair bristled as his lip curled. "I mean it I really will-" He cut off with a scream as Ran closed the distance faster than he could react, grabbing her assailant's wrist and ripped her from his grip. The man holding Sakura bolted and Aya watched as the knife that had just been at her throat buried itself in the man's thigh. He fell to the ground screaming. She stared up at her brother in shock. He hadn't even looked when he'd thrown the knife. His eyes were locked on the squirming man in his grip. She gasped as he broke the man's hands then slammed his head into the wall until he lost consciousness. Ran let him drop from his hands before he turned and walked to the man who was still trying to escape. He grabbed the man by the collar and after knocking him out he tossed him into an open dumpster. The other four men soon followed suit then Ran finally turned to her and Sakura. She just stared as he approached. Never in her life had she seen someone move the way he did. Her brother against five men, each at least twice his size, and the fight had lasted less than a minute. His hand cupped her chin gently.

"You hurt?" He asked, his voice was barely above a whisper. She shook her head throwing her arms around his waist and burying her face in his chest. Slowly, hesitantly his arms wrapped around her. "Sakura?"

"I'm fine." Her friend replied. "You really showed them, huh?" She laughed. Aya's arms tightened around her brother. Her beautiful, wonderful, violent brother.

"I'll walk you home." He disentangled himself from Aya and turned but she grabbed his arm.

"Will you carry me?" She asked quietly, blushing deeply as he looked at her. She never knew what he was thinking. He nodded slightly before getting to one knee. She giggled wrapping her arms around his neck from behind. He put his hands under her thighs and lifted her onto his back as he stood. He glanced at Sakura who grabbed his sleeve and held on as they began to walk. "I love you Ran." Aya kissed the back of his neck. He shifted his grip on her in response. "Do you love me too?" He nodded silently.

"What about me?" Sakura smiled, tugging on his sleeve. He glanced at her briefly before nodding again. Aya hugged him tightly before relaxing and rested her cheek on his shoulder.

"How'd you learn to fight like that?" She asked, regretting it instantly as his muscles tensed beneath her. Sakura bit her lip looking up at him. "I'm just curious." She said quickly. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to." For a long time no one spoke and too soon they were approaching the gates to her and Sakura's dorm. Ran set her on her feet carefully. "Thank you." She smiled up at him then gasped in surprise as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. She put her arms around his neck. "I'm okay Ran." She kissed the side of his head softly. He held her tighter.

"Say it again." He whispered almost inaudibly.

"Ran?" She heard him chuckle softly before releasing her. Aya was confused, but then she saw his smile and her heart soared. Sure it was just a small smile, and it seemed a little sad, but it was a smile.

"I love you Aya." He kissed her on the forehead and gave her a soft hug before turning to Sakura and doing the same. "You two are never walking home without company again." Both girls grinned sheepishly. "Now go inside." They hugged him at the same time before running through the gates and up the steps to the dorm. Things could only get better from now on, Aya decided grinning broadly.

He smiled watching his sister, well sisters since that's what Sakura was becoming, enter their dorm. Hearing his sister speak his name made certain things fall into place and he knew now where to start his new path. First he would have to become a man he had believed dead and in that moment he relinquished his sister's name. Somehow he would find his way.