Youji was still shaking from his encounter with Ran when they closed down the Koneko three hours later. He didn't know what he had been thinking when he'd followed the redhead into the storage room but whatever it was had gone out the window when he saw the swordsmen reaching for a box on the top shelf of the unit on the right wall. His shirt had slid up to expose the gorgeous, smooth, milky skin of his abdomen. His body had been on automatic when he'd grabbed the thin assassin and pinned him to the work table. All coherent thought escaped him when he had kissed Ran. The younger man's mouth was sweeter than anything he had ever tasted before and the violent end of it left him craving more. He closed his eyes with a sigh. There was that word again, but now it was beyond just desire. He didn't know if there was a word that could describe how he felt about Ran. He wanted to touch and taste every inch of that porcelain skin. He wanted to hear the sounds that would come from those perfect, pale, rose lips as he moved inside of him. He wanted Ran under his control moaning and begging for more. His groin swelled painfully and he realized that now was not the time to be thinking about this. He quickly crossed his legs to hide the tell tale bulge and tried to focus on whatever Manx was saying, but he could feel Ran behind him. The younger man was radiating that energy of his. Cold, commanding and utterly sexy. He was standing close enough that Youji could hear every breath he took. The blonde wasn't going to be able to take much more of this, he wanted the crimson haired swordsman like nothing before. When the meeting was over Ran passed by him on his way to his room and Youji caught his scent on the air. The musky mix of whatever soap he showered with and pure Ran went straight to the blonde's head. He was still reeling when Ken kicked his leg.

"You better be more careful Kudou." He said quietly. "You and Ran are going to have to work together this next mission, so either go get laid tonight or jerk off. I don't care which but get this…whatever it is you're feeling under control or you're going to get yourself killed." With that he left the room. Omi gave him a silent look that reiterated what Ken had just said aloud before escorting Manx to the door. Youji sighed and waited for him to go to bed before getting up. He had no desire for Omi to see the very obvious hard-on he was hiding. As he walked towards his room Ran came out of his bathroom and Youji stood stock still watching him. He had never seen Ran in his bedroom attire before and if he had thought the man drop dead gorgeous before, it was nothing compared to how he looked now. The redhead wore a black T-shirt that was about three sizes too big for him. The collar of it was wide and slightly off center exposing the milky white skin over his collar bone. The end of the shirt went almost to his knees covering most of the flannel pants he wore that were much too long for him, but what really got to Youji was his hair. The still damp crimson locks clung to the swordsman's face and neck.

"Fuck." He inhaled sharply as his groin gave a violent twitch. "Jesus Ran." The swordsman looked up at him and as the cold eyes traveled back down one crimson eyebrow arched gracefully. Youji groaned inwardly trying not to have an orgasm right there in the hall. What those eyes alone could do to him was nothing short of criminal. It wasn't fair. Ran's eyes met his and Youji could swear that the man was smirking. Then the object of his very swollen groin turned away and walked down the hall to his room and disappeared from sight. Youji scrambled for his room and grabbed a pair of pants before climbing into the shower, hoping the running water would mask what he needed to do. There was no way he was getting rid of this…problem with cold water.


Ran closed his door and tried not to laugh. As much as Youji disgusted him at times, tormenting him was turning out to be rather enjoyable. He supposed it was that sadistic, mischievous streak of his that he had always repressed coming back now that his sister was back in his life. He heard the shower in Youji and Ken's bathroom start and had to clap a hand to his mouth to keep from laughing aloud. He was in the best mood he'd had in years. It was mostly due to the little bit of normalcy he'd gotten back the previous night after going to the movies with his sisters. For some indescribable reason they could bring out feelings in him he long thought lost. Even Youji could at times. Like today when he'd kissed Ran in the storage room. It hadn't been wholly unpleasant and as far as kisses went it was actually pretty good. The fact that Youji was a man never came into play because Ran had known since high school that he liked his own sex more than girls. It was the surprise that bothered him. He didn't like Youji initiating contact like that; the older man had obviously not been thinking clearly, if at all, and it had been pure lust driving him. Any sense of a relationship or any sort of commitment had never crossed Youji's mind and if Ran was going to be kissing anybody it was going to be a man he deemed worthy of being his life partner; something Youji could never understand. The man was a one to two night stand at the most. Sure some of his relationships lasted out the week, but that was very rarely. Ran wouldn't even toy with the idea of being with Youji, and not because he wasn't attractive, God knew he was, it was because he had no sense of propriety. For Christ's sake the man could barely keep his dick in his pants every time he looked at Ran. The swordsman had felt it pressing into his leg when Youji had kissed him, that more than anything was what had angered Ran. Youji couldn't control himself and that was inexcusable. He wasn't unattractive, in fact it was quite the opposite, Ran found himself infatuated with the man despite everything his mind told him, and the more he thought about him the worse it got. If he didn't watch it he was going to start developing feelings for the man and he couldn't afford anymore heart ache right now. Not when he was the closest to being happy that he had since that dark night his life was destroyed.

It was three nights before they got the information needed to go after their target; one Mitsuhide Oda. His crime was that he liked children…too much. Mostly boys under the age of six. He was a sick, sick man and Youji was going to find much pleasure in hunting him down, especially with Ran at his side…unless the swordsman decided to disappear on him like he usually did. He frowned watching his back as they walked along a hallway. Omi was giving them directions from a safe distance away. Ken was with him to keep the teen safe since Oda had been known to like teens that looked young…like Omi. Youji shook his head to rid himself of images pertaining to what would happen if Omi was captured in time to keep from running into Ran, who had stopped and stood frozen in the middle of the hallway. "The hell-"

"Shh." He caught a glimpse of the younger man's profile as he held a finger to his lips. It was sexy as hell and Youji found himself wishing they were at home where he could bend the small assassin over a table and fuck him senseless. Suddenly Ran's katana came out, a heartbeat later two guards walked around the corner. They were dead before they had time to register that there were intruders and the katana was back in its sheath. Ran began walking again but Youji could only stare after him in awe. The crimson haired warrior paused and turned slightly. His eyes widened and suddenly he was on top of Youji as there was a loud bang followed closely by a second; gunshots. Ran kind of slumped on top of him and at first Youji thought he was dead but then he rolled off onto his feet. Youji craned his neck to watch him dispatch the two guards that had snuck up on him. He started climbing to his feet when he felt hands on him ripping off his coat. He gasped in surprise and sudden arousal as Ran's cool fingers slipped beneath his shirt, then realized that the swordsman thought he'd been shot. Before he could say that he hadn't he heard the younger man sigh irritably then his coat was dropped on his head. "Idiot." Youji grinned as he put his coat back on.

"Oh come on Ran I-" Suddenly he was slammed into the wall and Ran's very angry face was in his. Youji gasped seeing that one of the bullets had grazed one of Ran's pale cheeks. Blood ran freely down the side of his face.

"Get your head in the game Kudou." The swordsman spat. "I might not be there next time you decide to let someone get behind you."

"You got shot."

"WHAT?" Omi's voice over the com interrupted them. "Who got shot?"

"Ran…his cheek is-"

"I'm fine." The redhead snapped letting go of Youji and stalking off up the hall.

Ran's heart pounded in his chest. That was too close. He had almost lost Youji. He froze, eyes widening. Wait, he was scared to lose Youji? He felt the blonde come up behind him and started walking again. He would have time to explore these feelings later. Right now he had a child molester to find and destroy. Youji was oddly silent as he followed Ran up the stairs to the fifteenth floor where their research told them they would find Oda. The man was relatively easy to dispatch with only two bodyguards. He paused. There was supposed to be three. A door to his left burst open. Before he could fully turn he heard the loud report of a 9mm berretta and felt the impact through the thick Kevlar of his coat right in the middle of his chest. He was flung backwards and let loose a string of curse words as he crashed through the window. Youji screamed his name. Ran rolled his eyes catching the window ledge of the next floor down. "Calm down Kudou and help me up." Ran sighed. His entire right side was numb and he realized with more than a little pain that the bullet had pierced the Kevlar. He could feel blood running down his stomach into his pants and even more alarming was the fact that his fingers were starting to slip on the edge.

"Hold on Ran, I'm coming." Youji's voice was strained as he was most likely strangling the man who'd shot Ran out the window.

"Hurry." Ran whispered. Just as his fingers slipped off the window ledge and he resumed his fifteen story plummet Youji appeared in the window. Ran kept his arm raised and felt Youji's wire wrap around his wrist. His fall came to a sharp stop and he felt his shoulder pop out of it's socket. Slowly Youji pulled him to safety. When he was pulled through the window he fell into the man who'd just saved his life. "I guess we're even." Ran muttered quietly into the older man's chest. He could hear Youji's heart pounding even faster than his and he felt strong arms wrap around him. Youji squeezed him until Ran grunted in pain. Instantly Youji had him at arms length. "My shoulder's out." Ran attempted a shrug.

"Ah, shit dude. I'm sorry."

"Its better than being dead." Ran sighed undoing the buttons of his coat with his now not numb right hand. "Apparently they don't make Kevlar like they used to." He dug his fingers into the small hole in his chest. The bullet hadn't gone very deep so it was relatively easy to dig out.

"Jesus Ran, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Youji gasped. Ran glanced up at him as he slipped the bullet into his pocket.

"I'd rather not have it fall out and accidentally leave it behind." He shrugged bending over to pick his katana up from where he'd dropped it. "Come on." He started for the door when an alarm began to sound. "Fuck." He swore sliding his sword into its holder across his back then grabbed Youji's wrist and began to run. They hit the stairs just as more guards came out of the elevator. Ran kept running, but he could feel himself slowing down. He'd lost quite a bit of blood and it was taking its toll. As much as he tried to control his breathing by the time they ran out the fire exit into the parking garage on the 1st floor he was practically gasping for air. As they climbed into the van Ran realized he hadn't let go of Youji's wrist the entire escape and quickly released it.

"What the fuck happened to you?" Ken was staring at him in shock.

"He got shot out a fucking window Ken, lay off." Youji growled. Ran closed his eyes as the van sped out of the garage. He was tired and sore and really didn't feel like listening to them arguing. He could feel the glass in his hair and coat. Not caring anymore he let himself slump against Youji. He felt the older man jump in surprise before putting an arm gently around Ran's shoulders. The swordsman opened one eye to glare up at him before letting himself relax. He was way too fucking tired to care.


Youji was disappointed when Ran opened his eyes the moment they got home. He had been hoping to get to carry him upstairs. Ken made some joke about Ran never getting hurt before and the redhead rounded on him. "Next time, Hidaka, you can run up fifteen flights of stairs with a moron who keeps watching your ass instead of your back then get shot out a fucking window because one of the bodyguards was taking a shit. Then get your fucking arm yanked out of it's socket because the whole right side of your body is fucking numb and you can't hang onto the window ledge while I stay in the fucking van all nice and safe with my fucking lover." Youji collapsed in a chair holding his sides as he laughed. Ken and Omi stared at Ran in complete shock. "That's right Ken, I know your stupid little secret." Ran snapped. "You two are about as subtle as fucking bus and you can stop laughing Kudou because you aren't any better." With that he turned and stormed upstairs. Youji, Ken, and Omi were left staring after him jaws agape. They'd never heard him speak like that in the entire time they'd known him. Suddenly there was a loud crash upstairs and without thinking they ran towards it. They found Ran standing in the hallway rotating his left shoulder around.

"What the hell Ran?" Ken snapped.

"Did you just put your shoulder back in place yourself?" Omi's eyes were wide. The swordsman barely looked at them before nodding and entering the bathroom he shared with Omi. They heard the door close and lock then the shower started.

"Something is seriously wrong with that man."


Ran woke the next morning with a splitting headache and a sore, aching body. For the first time in his life he didn't want to get out of bed. He just felt sick, but despite that he crawled to his feet and began getting ready for his shift in the flower shop. First off he checked his wounds. His shoulder felt like it was on fire, and the hole in his chest needed stitches. He sighed inwardly then set about achieving this task, knowing he should have done it last night but he had been too goddamned tired. A minute later the wound was closed and dressed properly then he put clothes on and went into the bathroom to check the cut on his face. That one wasn't deep at all and would heal just fine on its own. He ignored the dark circles under his eyes as he brushed his teeth then headed downstairs. Like always the only person up was Omi. The small blonde was standing in front of the stove cooking breakfast. Ran felt his stomach twist at the smell of food and quickly entered the shop to get away. Usually he sat down with the teen and drank coffee while Omi chatted away happily, not caring if Ran responded or not, but today he wasn't sure if he'd be able to keep anything down. Just brushing his teeth made him want to hurl. As he approached his work station his senses were assaulted by the flowers. All the colors and smells made his head spin forcing him to close his eyes and grip the edge of the table as he fought to stay upright. He felt a hand on his arm and jerked in surprise. Omi was looking up at him worriedly. "I'm not going to ask if you're okay because I know you'll say that you're fine, but Ran you need to go back to bed." Concern edged the teen's voice. "You were shot last night and from what was on Youji's clothes its obvious you lost a lot of blood." Ran shrugged then winced as it jarred his injured shoulder. "That's it." Omi gripped his arm and began leading him back through the house and up to his room. Once there the teen forced him to lie down. Ran was in too much pain to fight him. "Don't move." Omi left then came back with some pills and a glass of water. "Take these and go back to sleep okay?" Ran complied willingly as Omi shut his curtains. When he turned to leave Ran remembered that he hadn't been very nice to him or Ken last night.

"Omi?" He rasped propping himself up on an elbow. The small blonde turned.

"Lay back down Ran."

"I will." The swordsman promised. "I need to apologize for what I said last night." Omi smiled softly.

"There's no need for that Ran." He replied. "You weren't feeling well." The redhead shook his head.

"That's not an excuse." He could feel the pills taking effect and laid back down.

"Well you're forgiven then." Omi's voice came through the fog. "I'll bring you something to eat later." Ran nodded closing his eyes and letting sleep take him.