Second Chances

By: Atsureki

Disclaimers : I'm just borrowing Weiss to have some fun with them um well fun is probably not the right word but never mind *G*

Paring : Ran/Ken

Warnings : Yaoi, OCC, angst

Notes : Stuff written in Italic are thoughts.

Chapter 1. A Visit From The Past

Ken parked his car in his usual place and started walking the familier way to his job. How he hated that place! He hated it with a passion but as usual he kept it inside. When he was younger he had been hot-headed and filled with a love for life. That love had slowly faded until only a little tiny spark remained. It was a normal day so far but that would change pretty soon. The brunette didn't know it yet but someone from his past to pay him a visit. Sighing to himself Ken turned into a small alley. It was a short-cut he took every day. Since he wasn't looking where he was going he fell flat on his face when he stumbled over a pair of long slender legs. Cursing to himself the brunette picked himself up from the ground and turned to look at what had made him fall. A bruised and haggard face greeted him. It was a homeless person no diffrent from any of the others that slept in that alley except for three things. Crimson hair, amethyst eyes and the fact that Ken knew him.

Shocked Ken stared into a face he hadn't seen in eight years and that still haunted him every night. But the face looked diffrent. It was paler than ever and so haggard and worn. The amethyst eyes had lost their strength and coldness, so had the body.
"Ran?" the brunette asked and stared harder. Dazed eyes looked up at him shining with emptiness. The man didn't reply nor move he just sat there on the filthy street looking lost and sick. "Ran?" he asked again. Finally he got a reaction from the redhead.
"Go away." Ken frowned. Ran's deep smooth voice hadn't changed but the words he spoke weren't what the brunette had expected. Amethyst eyes flashed with something that he only could interpret as anger and shame. "Go! Away!" Ran repeated and pulled his torn coat around himself.
"But Ran…" Ken didn't understand. He hadn't seen his former lover in so many years and then suddenly he just showed up. What had gone so wrong that Ran had turned into that? "I just want to help," the brunette mumbled. Ran's eyes turned as cold as they had been back when he had joined Weiss.
"I needed your help five years ago Ken, where were you then?" the redhead asked blandly. "Take your suit and your briefcase and go to hell!" Staggering Ran got to his feet and stumbled down the alley without looking back. In shock the brunette stared after the man who many years ago had been the center of his life.

Ran wrapped his arms around himself and stumbled forward. How the hell could he just have met Ken? For eight years he had missed that damn man and now he suddenly just turned up again? The redhead shook his head. Fate had a very weird sense of humour that was for sure and Ran didn't like it at all. He was a mess and he knew it all too well but the past five years had been so hard on him. With a low huff he sank down against the wall and rested his tired head in his hands. Five years ago he had started to really give up on life, too empty to really care anymore. He had lost everything, again, and this time he didn't even have anyone to blame. So he had returned to Japan, broken, empty, lonely and on the way of becoming what he now was. A habitual drunkard with no home, no money, no friends, no family, no nothing. Ran brushed away a lock of greasy crimson hair. He was so disgusting and that was how Ken had seen him. The brunette wanted to help him, well that Ran wouldn't allow. He stilled loved that man but he'd rather die than let him take care of him. Beside the love was anger and hurt. Most people are given stupid promises but Ran had really believe Ken when the brunette had promised that he would find him wherever he went. Kritiker had split the team up and as a final nail in their coffins they had been scattered all over the world. He and his sister had been forced to move to America, a land the redhead would forever hate, Yoji was somewhere in Germany. The last time Ran had been able to find Omi the small blonde had been in India but he had never been able to track down Ken. But then he had never looked in Japan. The brunette had been in Tokyo all that time. Ran groaned. He was tired and sober, the latter was worse than the former. Yawning he closed his eyes.

Brown eyes followed the redhead lost in confusion. Ran had asked him where he was five years ago when he had needed the brunette. Ken didn't understand. Where was Aya-chan? Surely she would never allow her brother to fall apart like that? Frowning slightly he checked his watch. Oh great now he was late for work. Growling he picked up his cellphone and called in sick. His wife was out of town for two weeks which meant that no one would know where he was or what he did. Still frowning the brunette walked over to his former lover again. Ran was going to come home with him even if he had to carry the stubborn redhead to his car and tie him to the seat!
"Ran!" Ken said with a force in his voice he hadn't used in years.
"Get lost!" was the loving answer he got.
"I don't think so! Now, get up from there! We're going to my place, you need a shower, new clothes and some breath-mints," the brunette stated firmly and leaned down to come eye to eye with Ran.
"I'm not going anywhere with you," the redhead muttered sourly. "Ken, leave me alone!" Not in this lifetime Fujimiya! Ken growled inside.
"Wanna bet on it? I kicked your ass 11 years ago and I can do it again!" Ran stared at him with his empty eyes and huffed.
"You really would beat the shit out of me wouldn't you Ken?" the redhead asked almost sounding sad.
"If it'll get you away from this place, you bet you."
"Have it your way then… I'm too tired to fight with you at the moment." Smiling a real smile that he hadn't used in so many years Ken dragged his former lover to his feet.

The drive went under complete silence. Every now and then Ken glanced at Ran and each time it made him frown harder. How had his former lover gotten so beaten and disgusting? Yes, Ran was disgusting. He smelled badly, he was dirty, shaggy and Ken had never been wanted someone so badly, filthy or not. But he couldn't have Ran, not anymore. He had made a vow to his wife and he would never break it, not even for the redhead. But his heart demanded him to cherish the promises he had made to Ran first. Confused and unhappy Ken parked his car in front of his house.
"We're here." Ran looked up and raised an eyebrow at the house he saw.
"How cute," he remarked with sarcasm. "So this is the new Ken huh? Suits, briefcases and spotless houses?" The brunette winced. There was a shred of hate in Ran's voice and he didn't understand why.

Ran snorted as he scrubbed himself clean. He was acting like such a jerk! But seeing all the things Ken had made him angry because he had wanted to be a part of it, a part of Ken's life. Kritiker had made sure he wasn't though. They had taken everything from him, first Weiss, Ken and then his sister. It had been five years but it still hurt so much to think about her. Inside his head Ran could still see the course of events that had stolen him from him. How he ran as fast as he could towards their house as an earthquake shook the ground underneath him and then the whole building just collapsed. Aya had never had a chance. The whole second floor had crushed her to death. Shuddering from the memories the redhead hugged himself. After that he had needed Ken so much. The brunette was all he had had left but he was nowhere to be found, Kritiker had made sure of that. A year later he had returned to Japan, broken and all alone. At first he had tried to get a job but he didn't care enough to keep them. Drinking took away some of the pain and sleeping on the street hadn't bothered him since he didn't care anyway. Sighing deeply he turned off the water and wrapped a towel around his waist. Ken was back in his life again but what did that mean? Did it mean anything at all? Ran didn't know but he was sure he'd find out soon enough.

The brunette looked up and sighed as he saw Ran coming out from the bathroom. He was nothing more than skin and bones, his fair skin filled with cuts and bruises. And still, still Ken wanted him. His body ached after feeling Ran's pressed against it.
"I'll get you some clothes to wear," he mumbled and gestured towards his bedroom. Silently his former lover followed him. "I don't think this will fit you but…" Ken pulled out a pair of sweatpants and a shirt. Ran took it and carelessly dropped the wet towel on the floor. Brown eyes stared at the naked body before them. That body used to be his to touch, love and taste but not anymore. Ken's heart ached at that. Why couldn't he just be allowed to have this one thing in life? Was it too much to ask to have just one thing that he loved? Obviously it was since he couldn't have Ran. Amethyst eyes met his.
"Why didn't you come after me?" Ken lowered his eyes at that.
"I tried Ran, I really did try. But I just couldn't find you."

~TBC?~

Oh dear this was hell and then some to get out *groans* And it sucked too didn't it?? I dunno this fic might be more than I can handle. We'll see if I keep it going. Ja/Atsureki