Title: Only Once
Author: Twelf Bell
Type of Fanfic: Regular fanfic
Summary: Prequel to The Angel You Were. Ayase is once again involved in one of Kanou-san's business fights. Character death. Implied shonen-ai / yaoi ; as expected of No Money.
----Pairing: Kanou/Ayase
Disclaimer: I do not own No Money / Okane ga Nai, but I do own my ideas.

Warning: It's rated T for a reason. There is coarse foul language and boys love. This is also a No Money fanfic after all. You should know how Kanou-san acts.. right?

A/N: This is THE LAST CHAPTER! Sequel is The Angel You Were. It is already published.

- - - - - - - - - - - - CHAPTER 3: THREE SIMPLE WORDS

Kanou had made sure that Ayase taken his cellphone with him. He immediately called the blond when he sat down on his office chair. It rung and rung but it didn't go through properly. It was probably the loudness of the thunder or the lightning making cell phone service unavailable. He clicked the end button and sighed. He clicked his computer open and a program showed up, displaying Ayase and Kuba-san in the car. A camera. How smart he was.

He had told the Kuba driver that it was there, and that if he did anything or said inappropriate, he would seriously throw him into Tokyo Bay. Kuba-san had uncomfortably replied back and now as he sat in the driver's seat, he stiffened and straightened himself up every time he felt someone watching him. The camera was stuck to the rear-view mirror, so Kanou could see everything in the car.

Ayase was leaning close to the window and peering out at the storm outside. He was saying something. Kanou stuck the camera's sound receiver into his ear and listened.

"It's not stopping, is it?"

Kuba replied, "It doesn't seem like it."

Ayase was quiet for a minute and then he said, "Do you think we will be able to arrive safely at grandmother's house like this?"

"It's just the storm that's making it hard to drive; there's not much traffic. Hopefully, we will arrive there all right."

The blond was quiet again this time but this time, he didn't speak any more. As Kanou listened to the radio playing in the car, he wondered, So there's a specific address? How did he find out? It wasn't in the letter. Looking out the back window of the car, Kanou noticed a few things that let him figure out where the car's current destination was. They were somewhere near the Shinjuku Station, it seemed. (*) It was a bit closer than he thought. If he walked, it would be at least fifteen long blocks away. If he used the car, it would have taken at least 5 minutes. But in the storm... it would take more than 10 minutes.

"Kuba-san, are we there yet?"

"No, but we're almost there," was the reply.

Kanou made a mental note to call Kuba once they arrived. He thanked himself for remembering to tell the man that he should take the camera with him when the arrived, just in case he was too busy to pick up or call. It was only three minutes later when Ayase asked the same question again. Kuba said no.

Two minutes later this time, Ayase asked again. This time, the older man was silent as he drove by. He was wondering why Ayase was being so... impatient. Ayase repeated his question. Kuba hesitated before asking, "Is this meeting so important that you can't wait to get there?"

Ah. Wrong words. Kuba slapped himself in his mind. He could feel Kanou's glare through the camera. He nodded in apology.

But Ayase didn't mind. He said, "I-It's not that important..." He blushed before finishing, "I j-just want to get home quickly... s-so we can celebrate Kanou-san's b-birthday..."

The dark-haired man that was currently "stalking" his lover, stared with wide eyes at his computer screen. Is he... serious? Just because it's my birthday... Kanou held his head with one hand and leaned back on his chair, turning it towards the windows. He chuckled to himself. Ayase seemed to surprise him in every way. I guess that's why I love him.

"We're here."

Kanou immediately turned his chair to face the computer screen once again. From the back window, he saw that they were parked beside a street. Coincidentally... or maybe inevitably... or intentionally, Kuba-san had parked the car at a place in which Kanou could see the street sign. It was quite near.

Suddenly, his eyes widened and he got up from his seat, slamming the table with his hands. Shit! He slammed the table again, spooking the Kuba twin that came in from the first slam to ask if anything was wrong (though it didn't really show on his face) and then yelled, "Oi, get the car ready. We're going to where Ayase is."

The Kuba twin didn't ask where they were going and went to the get the car started. Kanou transferred the camera program from his computer to his laptop and grabbing his jacket, he took it with him to the garage floor of the building. He immediately got in the car and sat down, opening the laptop at the same time.

Kuba had took the camera as told and pinned it to his suit pocket, which was slightly covered so that nobody would notice it, and opened an umbrella as he got out of the car. He walked to the back of the car and opened the door for Ayase. The blond stepped out and said "Thank you."

Kuba then turned around in a 360 slowly, knowing that Kanou was watching and that he should see where they were. Kanou was right. It was that place. I knew it! … But why? The Kuba with Kanou said, "Destination, sir?"

"Kusami Building." (**)

The Kuba twin's mouth twitched, knowing just what and where that place was. "Right away, sir."

X KUSAMI BUILDING X

"Welcome!" said the man in the suit, who was standing at the entrance of the building. He ushered them in after lightly checking them of any guns and the such.

Ayase had wondered what the Kusami Building was, imagining it to be an old historical place in which most poor grandmother's lived in. But this building... it was huge. It was shiny. It even had guards at the door and door-openers. When he was inside, there was the sign for the Kusami Building on the wall behind the counter lady, who greeted them warmly and said, "We have been expecting you, Mr. Yukiya."

The blond shivered. It felt weird being called that. He held himself to calm himself down. Kuba-san took off his jacket and put it on Ayase. Kanou watched as the screen moved, shook, and then stopped. Ayase thanked Kuba and followed the counter lady who had gestured him to follow her.

They went into the elevator, got off on the 26th floor – the highest floor of the building, and rang the bell of the only door on the floor. They waited a few minutes before the lock inside clicked and the door opened. It revealed an old lady in a kimono, who wore a lot of makeup which made her look young. Her hair was silky silver and filled with pins. One would say she looked like one of those Heian Era women who walked down the street with pale faces, ruby red lipstick, their dark hair forming a circle around their head.

The feeling came as fast as a single blink. The feeling of suspicion. The feeling that you have been tricked. As Ayase walked into the large room, he suddenly felt very small. Very worried. Very scared.

Kanou somehow saw Ayase stiffen. Something was wrong. Kanou knew it but he couldn't do anything. Not against those people. He clutched his cellphone so tightly that the Kuba driver heard a crack resound throughout the car.

Ayase. Just wait. I'm coming to get you.

In the large room, Ayase felt a bit calmer – probably from the connection I have with Kanou-san, he thought. Ayase's thoughts were filling up so much of his head that he hadn't heard the old lady say "Stop" and was lightly tapped on the shoulder by Kuba-san who was following behind him. Ayase turned to face the old lady and waited for what she had to say.

With one of her long fingers, she pointed at Kuba. "He can not come with us."

Kuba-san was about to protest but Ayase said, "It's alright. I can handle this myself."

The twin hesitated before saying, "All right."

The old lady took off the suit jacket that Ayase had on and handed it back to its' original owner. Kuba-san bit his lip as he took it from the lady's hands. He did not notice the smirk on her face.

Back in the car, Kanou kicked the seat in front of him – which was, thankfully, not where the Kuba twin was sitting – and it lurched forward from the force. Kuba sweated as he drove on. They were almost there.

That bastard! Why the hell did he just let him go by himself? Does he not remember who she is?! Shit! Now I can't see what's happening with Ayase...

Kuba glanced at the rear-view mirror and for one whole minute, he thought he saw a demon rising from Kanou. It was very dark, like a Black Hole, and it had fire as eyes. Kuba didn't look at the mirror anymore after that.

X x X x X

Ayase sat down on the couch that was directly across from the couch that sat the old lady. A heavy-looking and old (but shiny) coffee table stood on four short legs between them. Two mugs were already filled with tea, and between them was an antique-looking teapot, napkins, and little cakes.

"Yukiya-kun."

The blond had been looking around the room when he had noticed the men in dark suits that stood behind the couch that the old lady was sitting at, with their hands behind their backs, and right now, he was so concentrated on trying to look behind the men' dark glasses that he hadn't heard the old lady speak.

"Yukiya-kun," she said, a volume higher. Her voice was shrill now.

He snapped to attention and moved his eyes and head a little down to properly face the old lady. Embarrassed, he stuttered out a "Y-Yes?"

"You have gotten my letter, yes?"

"Y-Yes..." Ayase was having doubts about this old lady though. She couldn't be his grandmother.. right? He was a commoner born and through. This lady was pretty, rich, and... Kusami. He had never heard of it before. His father's last name was Yukiya; his mom's maiden name was definitely not Kusami. Ayase looked at the old lady and waited for her to speak.

"You have doubt in your eyes."

As Ayase adverted his eyes away and tried to look somewhere else, the old lady took the mug on her side of the table and sipped from it quietly. When she put it down, she raised her hand up to head-level and then snapped her long fingers. Two of the black-suited men walked to the door, walked out of the room, and... as Ayase watched them disappear from view, the door closed and he heard a click.

He gasped. She's locked us in! He turned his head towards the old lady; she had a fox grin on. She chuckled and then said, "Your eyes tell the truth."

She snapped her fingers once more and the men - that were at the sides of the last and middle man, walked their way to Ayase. He didn't react fast enough and he was caught. He was grabbed at both arms and held tightly as the old lady took off her wig and peeled the fake mask of makeup, revealing a beautiful face that was totally not the 80-year-old he had just been with. Now, she looked like a young woman in her mid-twenties, like Kanou-san.

Her face scrunched up and said in disgust, "Take him away."

The black-suited men that held him up on both sides, making him dangle like a tick-tock, and took him to a door that was inside of the large room they were already in. One of the men let go of Ayase and opened the door with a key. When the door opened, the other pushed Ayase in. His reactions were slow once more. The door clicked before he could yell, "Let me out!" as he banged on the door.

As the darkness engulfed him, and silence rang in his ears, he finally noticed that the room had only one window. It was like a jail room. Ayase felt his fears taking the best of him, and the tears finally falling. He walked to the wall opposite the door and sat down, hugging his knees and sobbing.

How could I be so stupid?! I knew it was suspicious, yet... I played along... After five minutes of crying, hiccups began. He remembered his grandma – his real grandma, telling him that if you hiccuped 100 times, you would die. Ayase didn't care about dying, now that he was alone... and full of regrets. He fingered the garnet ring that was still on his ring finger. It looked dull in the darkness, unlike how sparkly it was when he had taken the picture. Kanou-san...

Suddenly, a loud crash was heard. Ayase, his cheeks wet and salty, walked slowly up to the door and put his ear to it to hear what was happening outside.

"Kusami! Get out here!" It was Kanou-san.

Ayase shook of hope and tears began falling harder. Kanou-san!

Kanou looked around. Where is Ayase? He ran to one door and opened it. No one. Next door. No one. Next door. Still nobody. Briefly, he heard a thump. He ran to the door which he thought he heard it from and opened it. It was a closet... but inside, the Kuba twin who had came with Ayase, was tied up tightly and was stuffed in the mouth with a cloth. He looked apologetically at Kanou-san and got up from sitting on the closet floor. Kanou took the cloth out of the young man's mouth and asked, "Where is Ayase?"

"He's in the room farthest down the hall. It has a dragon on the doorknob."

Kanou left Kuba with his other twin and ran towards the door. (***) Misao got out his knife and began cutting the ropes that bound his brother. As he cut, he said, "You let yourself get caught?"

Homare answered, "No. They threatened me that if I did not do as they said, they would hurt Ayase-san."

The younger of the twins just sniffed, but in his mind, he was thinking: Good job. The last piece of the rope was cut and then he said, "We should go quickly."

They both nodded to each other and ran towards the room door that their boss had went into. When they got there, Ayase was being dragged by Kusami and a gun was in her hand. Kanou was making a horrible face as he glared at the lady. The twins looked around and on the floor, there were unconscious guys in black suits. There was blood near their mouths and their glasses were broken and cracked. They both had the same thoughts: The boss.

Ayase was now being held by the neck with a gun to his head. The lady said, "If you want him to live, marry me!"

The blond was confused, but Kanou seemed to know what she was talking about. "No."

"You don't want him to live?!"

"I do."

"Then marry me!"

"No."

Kanou's answers were simple and straightforward. The lady stiffened and she cocked the gun, making the revolver turn – meaning that there was now a bullet that could stay in the gun or into Ayase's head which would kill him immediately. Kanou clenched his fists. He couldn't really do much now. If he walked closer, Ayase's head would go boom! And if he stayed where he was, Ayase's head would still go boom! according to how the damn lady was feeling. So he spoke.

"We're not engaged anymore."

"It doesn't matter! Fall in love with me now!"

"No."

"And why is that?! Is it because of this boy?!"

Ayase's heart pounded loudly in his ears. He didn't even know if Kanou said something. The world was going blurry and squiggly. He was still crying, but his hiccups had stopped – from the shock of having a gun pointed to his head.

"Then I should just kill this boy right now," said Kusami with a wicked grin.

"Che," Kanou muttered. He thought for a moment. Then he said, "Even if you kill him, I'm not going to love any other man or woman after that."

Kusami bore her deadly brown eyes into Kanou. They were turning red from pressure and hysteria. She wanted to just simply kill the blond boy. She wanted to see his blood in her hands. She was going crazy. She now looked like a fox whose brain was more clever than he could handle in his head.

She started cackling like a witch. When she stopped, her eyes turned darker than ever and a smug smile was plastered onto her face. The things that happened next moved in slow-motion. She took the gun away from Ayase's head, and then slowly turned her arm, making the gun point at Kanou. "Then. I'll. Just. Kill. You."

Boom. The bullet flew out of the gun.

Ayase's instincts got the best of him and his reaction was faster than he had ever reacted before. He bit the thin arm that held him by the neck, ducked, and then ran for Kanou. The bullet either was moving too slow or Ayase had moved too fast, for when time turned back to normal, the bullet went straight into Ayase's chest.

This time, it was Kanou that reacted slow. The Kuba twins were just as slow. They ran but it was too late. Kanou just stared blankly into space with an O-shaped mouth as Ayase coughed blood after receiving a horrible wound near his heart and fell to the ground. Kanou's mouth twitched and then he looked down at his lover. He dropped to his knees and whispered "Ayase..." , not believing that Ayase had gotten shot and was near-death.

He called the blond's name over and over as he held him in his arms. "Ayase.. Ayase.. Ayase..."

Ayase's eyes opened in a little butterfly-like flutter and they were wet. He forced a smile and with the hand that had the ring, he held it up to touch Kanou's cheek. He coughed before he said anything.

"No, don't speak. Don't speak," the older man demanded.

"I love you, Kanou-san..." He had finally said it. He smiled one last time and let his conscious fade from him.

The blond's hand began to drop and his eyes began to close. Kanou cried, "Don't die on me. Ayase. Oi, Ayase. Ayase? Ayase! Aya--"

But the blond had gone paler than his original skin color and his eyes were fully closed. His head fell to one side and blood slid out of his mouth and his bullet wound. He was gone. Gone. Forever.

Kanou sat there with Ayase in his lap, doing nothing but shaking his head. He didn't want to believe that his love had flew away and went up to the heavens. He didn't want to believe that the body he was holding had no soul. He didn't want to believe that Ayase was dead. But it was the truth.

The dark-haired man kissed Ayase's red lips and then hugged him closely to himself. The Kuba twins bit their lips to hold back any tears that pushed to flow. They stood behind their boss and their dead friend, and said nothing.

Kusami, on the other hand, screamed after her shaking hand that held the gun dropped to the floor when she let go of her grip. She held her face with both hands. Tears came, messing up her mascara. Horrible. Horrible. I.. I just.. I killed someone.. I.. She just kept sobbing but then hysteria came back to her and she cackled and laughed so loud that her lungs gave out on her and she simply.. killed herself from possession of the love devil and laughter. She dropped to the ground, with both hands to her neck, like she was suffocating.

Nobody moved.

Nothing moved.

Time seemed to have stopped.

Stopped.

Time.

Goodbye, Ayase.

THE END.

A/N: I didn't really know how to end it, sorry. Hope you liked it though!

Well, it's FINISHED! ~ And all published in one day. I do still hope you reviewed for every chapter... um.. yeh.

REVIEWS ARE APPRECIATED, thankshu very muches.

Also, if you haven't read The Angel That You Were yet, then you should! It's the sequel after all! :3

//;SEi

Listening To: The radio. Now playing: Tattoo – Jordin Sparks

ASTERISKS:

Shinjuku (*) = Now I don't know much about Japan, except what is said on the internet. I searched up Shinjuku and there was something about the station having three exits – North, West, East.. I think. And so the West exit led to the area where there is mostly businesses and the such.. so.. mhm. I'm not sure about things. Sorry.

Kusami Building (**) = Not a real place. I think. I just made it up.

(***) The Kuba Twins:

Homare = The older one. The one who went with Ayase. Well, mostly is the one who is with Ayase. He shows his feelings quite a lot. He's the one who naturally reacts. If I remember correctly, he's the one who had read about the "likes beer" note on the Hamster book that Kanou had on his desk. Yup. Heh.

Misao = The younger one. The one who um.. always.. stays with Kanou back at work. He's the one who doesn't show much feelings and emotions on his face. Stoic, is the word. I think. Or maybe, he's just a rock with no feelings. Simple.