Ageless Beauty
By: Kanon Hara
A/N: Hey, I have revised this chapter as well. There weren't many errors in this as the last one, but I thought, "Why not?" so I corrected the tiny errors in this chapter that managed to get away from me the last time I corrected it lol
Revision for Chapter 3 and 4- 07/30/2007
Ageless Beauty
Chapter Three
Come around and say you love me
Hang your heart in lights above me
Is that too much to ask for?
When the night descends upon us
Take a shower, dry your hair by the furnace
I'll watch you from the corner.
--Tonight//STARS
----
After a few hours of walking around and listening to Brad talk about himself, Ran decided to just tune out the man's voice to dive in his own thoughts. To analyze the events that took place earlier. Brad cared less if Ran listened or not. This wasn't the first time the redhead has done it to him; he's gotten use to it after living with the redhead for about two centuries. In the beginning, however, it has gotten rather frustrating to try to get Ran's attention, but now, it's one of those aspects that Brad loved so much about Ran. It wasn't one of his greatest habits, but it's what attracted him to the redhead. He snuck a quick glance at Ran's direction with a smile; then he turned back and continues talking.
Brad led Ran back to their Victorian decorated suite. Heavy drapes started from the ceiling and touched the floor like a dress. Any opening from the window was cover with another layer of drapes; that always took care of the job. The room was lit gold from the antique lamps in every corner; the mahogany colored wooden floors gave the room an elegant and warm feel. Ran enjoyed the Victorian decorations. It reminded him so much of his time, when he was alive in the 19th century. But at the same time, the entire suite becomes a perfect description of hell for him. He despised this place more than he loved it. He felt trapped, imprisoned. Ran had no other reason to hate it; just having the feeling that he was being constrained was enough to cause him to hate it.
"Aya…" Brad called.
He usually called Ran after his sister. Because before Ran had his mortal life taken from him, Brad learned that Ran was particularly close with his sister. Unfortunately, at the age of eighteen, she died from typhoid (2). Since then, Ran has adopted the name Aya, in memory of his sister.
Very few know about this name. It took Brad a couple of years to have Ran tell him. It's one of those secrets the redhead tells when he feels complete and absolute trust to a particular person. Brad feels honored about knowing this fact about him. When Ran was able to walk under the sun, Brad has followed him and watched over him. He was intrigued by this man from the very beginning, when he first saw him sitting alone in front of a bar in the middle of night. Of course Ran never knew about this until the night that Brad took him from his mortal life. But before all that, Brad has learned so much about Ran. One of those things being that Ran would never tell anyone about anything but his sister. So knowing that Ran has confided in Brad with something as important as him adopting his sister's name was something he felt privileged about.
"Aya, have a seat" In an intimate conversation, Brad would call him Aya. In public though, the redhead only answered to Ran. Brad had to learn the hard way.
Ran quietly pulled a chair out and took a seat next to the fire place.
Brad softly laughed and looked at Ran lovingly.
"What's your interest in that boy?" He crossed his legs and poked his glasses.
Ran shook his head.
"Take those off, you look ridiculous Brad"
Brad smiled and took the fake eyeglasses off.
"I've actually grew fond of them, it's my way of blending with all the idiots of this time. It's really hard to find anything elegant and nice to look at these days isn't it?" He places the glasses down on the table beside him.
Ran nodded.
"So, what is so interesting about this boy?" He asked again.
"I don't know… I just feel that he's different from everyone I've seen."
"That's stupid!" Brad scoffed.
"You felt that way about me, when I was mortal. You said you felt different when you were around me."
Brad shook his head. He hated hearing his own words parroted back at him. He knew Ran was doing it to annoy him though. But it's one of those features he loved so much.
"Aya, you were and are different, but this boy isn't. He obviously feared you and rejected you, you on the other hand, were afraid of me, but didn't reject me."
Ran was recalling earlier when he was with Ken. The hurt returned.
"What if he doesn't reject me?" He asked.
"Good question! What if he doesn't Aya? That's good and all… but…" Brad paused and sneered at Ran.
"He has all the rights to know who killed his parents… am I correct?"
Ran almost forgot that major detail. Ken didn't remember him, so he most likely doesn't remember how his parents died. It's normal for a child who has experienced a traumatic episode, such as watching their parents die, to repress the memory of it. The brunette did have all the rights to know how they died, and from whom.
He sighed.
"You're right… he does…" Ran admitted.
Brad cackled.
"I know! And then, he'll be sure to reject you! This boy is nothing but bad news and drama. I suggest you stay away from him. He's not worth your time."
The redhead was glaring down at his clenched fists.
"Aya…" The taller male said with sincerity.
Brad stood up and stepped in front of Ran's statued form.
"I love you, Aya…" Ran pressed his head onto Brads chest.
His creator responded by hugging him tightly while brushing his silky hair back.
"I would never leave you…" He went on.
"I don't like seeing you this way" Brad admitted still brushing Ran's hair.
"Did you fall in love with him?"
Ran stiffened.
"If you did… then I must admit that I'm jealous… It's effort enough for me to have you tell me that you love me… So if you have fallen in love with this kid… I'm going to have to do something about it" He guaranteed.
The redhead sighed again. He despised how possessive Brad can be. It's almost sickening, he had to admit. But then he fell back to the thought of Ken figuring out the truth about his parents. He buried his head in Brad's chest. He was trying not to think about it. It's too painful to think about.
"I love you…" Ran quietly said.
Brad smiled and leaned down to the redhead.
"I love you Ran… and no one else…" He placed a small kiss on Ran's lips.
----
Ken still sat in the entrance of the alleyway; he still couldn't even stomach the situation he experienced.
It has done so much for his nerves that he couldn't even feel his legs. It was as if someone has literally sucked the energy out of them, because standing was impossible at the moment.
"How did that guy know my name?" He asked himself. He brought his hand to his cold lips and took a deep breath.
"Those eyes, his… I've seen him… uhhh!" He yelped and rubbed his head from that instant sharp pain.
The pain shot though his head like thunder and then dissipated down his back.
"Yohji…" He whispered looking from left to right down the empty street. He was beginning to feel dizzy when he thought of that mysterious man, as he described him. A beautiful, mysterious man, he concluded. He lifted a trembling hand and dug through his pockets for the cell phone. He needed to call Yohji.
Yohji has always been there for him whenever he needed someone, regardless of the time, or where Ken was at. Yohji is his safety blanket. He could already feel his strength return when he thought of the blonde wrapping his arms around him and whispering soothing words to him.
He's developed feelings for the lanky blonde, as if it wasn't obvious enough. That could also explain why he selfishly kept Yohji away from Omi and vice versa.
He dialed his number.
----
"Ah! C'mon Omi-chan!" Yohji laughs.
"No!" Omi yells back in protest.
"But it… wait, hold on, Ken's calling." Yohji recognized the ringer and picked up the cell phone.
"Yo!" He paused.
"Ken… what's wrong?"
Omi dropped the dress and turned to Yohji.
"Yohji-san… what's wrong…?" Yohji didn't answer.
"Okay… don't worry… I'll be there…" He hung up.
Yohji pinches the bridge of his nose and takes a deep breath. What happened to Ken? Yohji thought to himself. The blonde returns the phone back to his pocket and looks down at the shorter male with a forced smile.
"What happened to Ken-kun? Please, tell me!" Omi urgently looks up at Yohji.
Yohji looked passed Omi and thought of Ken.
"I'm sorry… we have to go…" Yohji grabs Omi's arm and storms out of the mall.
----
The brunette released a shaky breath when he hung up the phone. He felt the back of his eyes burn when he thought about the man he unfortunately met. His entire vision became blurred as his warm tears crept down his face. It tingled against his cold, flushed cheeks and instantly became cold as they dripped off his chin. There was something about that man that hurt him… emotionally, of course. Ken feared him, but when the man touched his hand, it was instant nostalgia. The overall emotion Ken felt around this man was pain.
His eyes grew more blurry, and the world around him was transformed into water paint on a canvas. The lights spilled together with the dark. It was too late to even control his tears now. They fell harder with every choking sob he released.
He weakly turned his head to the street and saw a car driving close by. His heart instantly jumped when it screeched to a halt in front of the café. It was Yohji's car.
Omi pushed the door open and ran towards Ken.
"Ken-kun!" Omi dropped to his knees and hugged Ken.
"Ken-kun… what happened?" Omi pulled away, and softened his voice when he noticed Ken's tears run down his face.
Yohji later approached.
"Ken!" Yohji took his sunglasses off when he saw the bruise on Ken's arm.
"That's a nasty bruise… who did this?" Yohji's eyes widened. He was livid.
The playboy touched Ken's arm and studied the brunette's expression. Ken sniffled and sadly shrugged.
"Not even I know…" He whispered.
Omi brushed his hair away from his wet face.
"Ken-kun… do you need help to get up?"
Ken forced a laugh and nodded.
"Yeah… I almost forgot…" Ken frowned.
The shorter blonde stood up and stared over at Yohji, who bent over and scooped Ken up in his arms. He nuzzled Ken and softly apologized in his ear. Omi felt a cold pressure in his chest at the sight of both of them, most likely feeling jealous. But he pushed that emotion aside to help Ken in the car. The brunette was literally paralyzed from fear.
From what? Omi asked himself.
Ken leaned against the window as Yohji got the car started.
The brunette began to think of the redhead again, he knew that he has seen him somewhere. But he couldn't remember where and when.
He had to know, he wouldn't be able to rest if he couldn't figure if out.
"Ahh…" He moaned.
From every warm shot of pain he had, he experienced brief flashes of pictures.
There was a dark room, flashed from cars passing by. It helped him see the room clearly, if even for a brief moment. Eyes fell upon two bodies lying on the floor. Red. Red.
"It was red… everywhere… ow…" Ken cringed from the persistent pain.
"Ken-kun, what's hurting you?"
Ken only stared past his young friend.
"Ahh!!!" Ken screamed, squeezing his head.
"Ken!" Yohji called, but kept his eyes on the road.
"Hold on, we're almost there" Yohji whispered. He bit his lip and sped up.
Just as promised, the blonde parked in the drive way of the apartments and carefully helped Ken out of the car and into the apartment stairwell. He carried the brunette up the last remaining steps to their apartment, because it seemed that it would have taken the whole night if they waited on Ken to get up on his own.
They entered the apartment, and Yohji turned on the white lights in their place. This gave Yohji a perfect view of Ken's bruise.
He gasped.
"Ken! Which bastard did this to you?" Yohji spit.
Ken took a seat and shook his head.
"Yohji… I'm telling you, I don't know…" Ken sighed and rubbed his heavy eyelids. Omi sat beside him and touched his bruise.
"Does it hurt?"
"No, only when I move it. It doesn't feel as bad as it looks. It's only sore." He smiled.
"It looks like a hand print… see? These would be the fingers…" Omi traced with his index. Yohji leaned in and nodded in agreement.
"Someone grabbed you?" Yohji asked.
"Yeah…" Ken hesitated.
"Who? Ken!"
"Yohji, I honestly don't know!" Ken stressed.
"Then forget it! If you are refusing to tell me, then forget it! It shows that you didn't need my help anyway!" Yohji stormed off to his room.
"I'm not lying…" Ken sighed.
"Ken-kun… what was hurting you then? In the car I mean"
Ken fidgeted.
"It was… my head…"
"Headache?" Omi asked innocently.
"Yeah… that's it…" Ken agreed.
"Well, then… take care… I better get going now…" Omi stood up.
"And you should talk to Yohji-san… he seemed really concerned. I'm jealous" Omi laughed.
"Jealous?"
"Eh… it was a joke!" Omi covered up.
"It's late Ken… get some rest… okay?" The blonde smiles and leaves.
----
Then furious you threw the picture
Eye cap in hand an awful mixture
That kind of hard love is the worst
I try to speak, but you don't hear me
When you're gone, you still feel near me
For a while
For a little while
--Tonight//STARS
----
A/N: Just a reminder, this is not a song fic, I'm just going to put some lyrics of the songs that inspired me to write a chapter. Or just put quotes that suit the chapter… or situation.
(1) Heaven Nights: In the previous chapter I forgot to explain this. I got this name from the game Silent Hill 2. It's a strip club that I believe Maria worked in… I don't know. In this fic, it's not a strip club, however, it's just a club.
(2) Typhoid: is an illness caused by the bacterium salmonella Typhi. Common worldwide, it is transmitted by ingestion of food or water contaminated with feces from an infected person. The bacteria then multiply in the blood stream of the infected person and is absorbed into the digestive tract and eliminated with the waste. Many people in the 19th century died from this due to their environment.
