Omi no Kiken
by Vanessa S. Quest
Disclaimer- Sue me? And delay finale? I highly doubt it! I don't own Weiss Kreuz and trust me I make no profit from it! T_T Which is very sad as to how broke I am.
A/N: Still waiting for fifty reviews- get me up to 100 and I'll make an awesome lemon- if we only get to fifty we'll go lime. ^_~
WEISS! Omi no Kiken- Part 21: Shi Suru Nai!
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Ran laid Omi into his bed; damn this pattern was growing old quickly!
Omi does something to save him.
Omi gets hurt.
Omi gets laid up in bed for a few weeks with his life on the line.
Gods be damned this little roller coaster has had one too many loops and he was sick of it! He just wanted Omi to be safe and sound, was that so hard? But what could he do? The only way he could think of to get Omi to quit Weiss was if he did and then there was still no guarantee Omi would leave or be all right, or be with him. He was trapped and this tearing at his heart was not helping to stifle the pain of it.
Even if Omi stayed in Weiss it would be all right if he could just keep SAFE. But how? How could he protect Omi AND Aya-chan, and still be a productive member of Weiss? The last thing the four of them need is to have divided interests.
That struck close to home, he had been the one to split away and he knew that probably had hurt Omi deeper than the boy cared to admit. But then again that self-sacrificing martyr was a large part of the boy he loved. Damn it! Damn this fucking pattern, the pattern that in truth also contained this same set of mantras and curses and searching for new solutions! And yet he couldn't push himself away from Omi, he knew he loved him far too much to part from him even if that really was the only way to save Omi. The price is too high to hurt Omi that deeply, plus Ran already knew he was naturally selfish.
He watched Omi's breathing as a hypnotic meditation. Ran reached his hand to touch Omi's blushing, fevered cheeks. "Omitchi..." he cast his gaze away, this game fate played was too cruel- his beloved sister and dearest love both lay in beds while dreaming as real lives past them by. He knew where he could go to collect his thoughts. Aya-chan, though she never spoke back she always listened. Why would she stop today? "...I'll be back." Ran closed his eyes trying to force himself awake from this nightmare. Upon opening his eyes and finding himself still here, he left the room with a purpose missing the flickering gesture of opening blue eyes.
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"...Aya-kun..."
The red-haired man's back shrank as it walked past the doorway.
"Aya-kun...!" Omi's heart burned Ran's features still slipping farther and farther away.
"RAN-KUN!" Tears fell hastily down Omi's cheeks in rivers as he saw Aya leave, something seemed so final and it made him feel ill. He would never let Aya walk away, no nightmare nor waking horror could part him from the man he loved not after everything he sacrificed and risked. Not after all the dreams that built in him finally started to come true.
Omi pushed himself up from the bed with a start and stumbled quickly towards Ran's shrinking features as they went farther from sight. "Ran-kun... Ran-kun... Ran-kun...!" Each step his voice sounded with more resolve as he tried to chase down the man fading away so slowly.
As one hand groped the wall for balance, another arm still stretched outward- shaky fingers trying to catch feel of the familiar comfort that was his beloved.
The corners of his vision started to swirl gray onto black, then the new corners of vision, and again until he felt he was looking through pinholes trying to see- then they too grew gray, and then they too fell into blackness. He fell to the floor with a heavy clatter.
Ran's hair whipped around at the sudden sound coming from the hallway he had just passed. "OMITCHI!"
He kept his arms pinned around Omi and knew this time be damned if he left! He'd wait for a year if it meant seeing Omi when his eyes first opened from his daze.
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Ran rubbed his eye, tiredness spread over his being pervasively. This was a waiting game, one he knew all-too-well. It could be compared to a chess match, using perfect form and guile, doing everything right and yet just one player in synchronization with chaos could defeat the carefully formulated plans just like a mad man could defeat an army if motivated and moved just right. He sighed outwardly, that chaotic player had come in giving Omi movement without voice.
No, this time he would anticipate this chaos, he would cover all angles and not allow any movement or gesture to go under-analyzed or unexamined. This was not a game he could afford to lose; no, with all the peril in Weiss with life and death this still took precedence. A thousand lives cost would still not hold light to his pain of losing love and not life, it would be a waking hell. Hell he could wait for with his sins he could justly surrender himself to the demons on his deathbed but to start hell now? And without Omi, that penance he could not accost.
He brushed stray golden fibers that were as fine as silk from Omi's warm forehead. Perhaps he should get a cooled cloth to bring Omi's fever down. But what if his eyes opened again? Ran looked over Omi's soft features and planted a warm, moist kiss onto his brow, some of the gold he had brushed to the side connected with his lips leaving them heavy after his lips parted from the skin that tasted of a meddle of vanilla, cinnamon and almond. "Omitchi, sleep peacefully and I will return for you soon, to watch you awaken and never leave your side." He ran his ivory fingers down Omi's flustered cheek. He walked backwards towards the door still watching Omi's features to ensure the boy would not fall to the same feeling of unease as he had moments before.
Omi shifted towards his side curling towards where the warmth had just been present. His face burrowed into the pillow where the heat still lingered from Ran's hand. His voice quietly released a mewl similar to a purr, the soft sound soon fell from his throat and transformed into a muffled sound of breathing that was a whispered snore and that snore turned into the rhythmic up-and-down movements of his chest and a breath that was gentler than summer winds blowing cool air into a warm face.
As Ran returned the gentle breathes had turned slightly more sporadic, slightly more intense. Omi's eyes darted back and forth from underneath their lids his body caked with a sweat.
"Omi..." Ran pressed the cloth to Omi's temples, dabbing at the sweat and tracing the cloth softly across his brow, lifting the cloth to his cheeks dabbing them in the moisture... and then to his lips... he dabbed lightly then brushed it down his chin, down his neck, his eyes following carefully. His hands continued undaunted by the heat now in his own body, his own chest pounding harder and faster than what should be conceivably right. He stopped below the collarbones, lifted the cloth and repeated to dab Omi's temples and brush his forehead, and washing the heat from his cheeks, lips and chin.
Omi's stirring slowed, Ran swept the moist cool compress over Omi's eyelids and moved the cloth towards Omi's right temple, Ran sitting at his left side as he continued his gentle nurturing.
Blue eyes shone through horizons of paled-bronze and golden mountains as Omi opened his eyes.
Ran looked into Omi's eyes as the pupils moved from tiny little pin-pricks to orbs taking up a quarter of his irises.
"A...ya...kun?" Omi blinked hoping his eyes would not betray him and that this was no dream but reality and his Ran-kun was still in front of him. His voice returned in volume, "Ran-kun is that you...?"
Ran put his hand to Omi's cheek and moved his thumb to Omi's lip. "Shh, rest."
"You stayed? You aren't leaving?"
His eyes commanded both authority and compassion. "You need to rest." His lips turned up in such a way that his smile beamed, radiating from his chest and hand and eyes –all things Omi held at the moment.
"Is Aya-chan... is she unharmed?" Omi gathered a response from Ran's eyes that seemed to say Omi had failed but instead really meant Ran had felt as though he failed personally for not saving his koibito. "She isn't... Ran- kun... I... I'm so... sorry..."
"Nai! No, she's safe and sound... Omi, no..." He lowered his head, "I'm sorry it was you instead of me."
The blond gave Ran a strange look, "Nani?"
"...I should have been the one to protect her, and you... and I failed. Omi I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you..."
Omi choked back a muffled squee of joy mixed with sadness. He had caused Ran hurt but Ran still only gave him his authoritative presence and warming love. Had it ended there he would have sworn he was in heaven, but of course it didn't. Omi felt the vile taste of dreams turning sour as Ran continued.
"...And because I failed you, Omi... Omitchi, it's over." No explanation, no words to elaborate, he couldn't give Omi that hope. He thought it over, he would love to be selfish and take and take and take, Omi would always give, he knew that. But if he really loved Omi he'd have to do something different. If he stopped it... if he stopped it NOW before it was too late, then Omi could survive this, or so he prayed in vain.
Omi's eyes shot wide. "No... no Ran-kun... Ran-kun please no!" Tears hadn't a chance to delve in his eyes before they poured from his eyes the pain insufferable. "No, what did I do wrong? Ran-kun please don't do this to me! Ran-kun..."
"Don't call me that. It is not a name meant for your lips." How sweet the sound was, how hard it was not to come running, to lap up his sorrows and pull him close, but Aya knew. Aya knew better, emotions could never bring back the others, but to be emotionless and dutiful he could at least save them both from tragedy.
"...Aya-kun..." Omi began hyperventilating, his chest was on fire, his eyes ablaze, his blood the only thing cold. Omi's lips sank at the corners.
"I will never return your feelings again, Omitchi. This I do for you."
"NO!" Screaming louder and louder his mind punched and slapped at him, he betrayed Aya and now... and now he... he... "No! Aya don't leave me! Not like this... not helplessly... kill me. If you have any feelings... any love for me still kill me! Don't make me live without you..." he sobbed on his voice cutting out.
"No." Aya turned to leave, "I'll remain here only to protect you, but I will never hold you in my arms Omi, I do this for you."
"You fucking bastard don't you dare do this to me! I gave you everything... everything Aya... you're taking everything from me PLEASE just take my heart with all that was left in it!"
"No." His back shrank as he furthered from Omi. He had to get out of the room, doing that hurt like no known pain, his heart that Omi had given back to him now recoiled into the size it had once been, as it should have remained after Aya-chan's accident. "Don't be a cowardly Takatori." Somehow that had meant to be something nice, to state to Omi to be who he still is, but Omi heard it as his reason. This was his ultimate betrayal to Aya.
Omi collapsed onto the bed.
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Three days without Omi in the shop, Ken and Yoji thought it from weakness induced by the toxins but Aya knew better. Omi was wallowing in pain, pain he had caused but it was the only way. He'd have to have a talk with him about this.
He sighed internally, maybe that was a bad idea. Should he really speak to Omi? Maybe it should be Ken? Ken the eagerly awaiting one. Why did that thought hurt? Of Ken swooping in for his place? But maybe that too was for the best? Ken had little if any emotional baggage... No. He just couldn't see Omi dating Ken, that would be almost incestuous, best friends should never date, besides Ken didn't have a place in Omi's bed, only at his hearth. At most.
He placed down his dish. "Yoji, did you bring Omi's dinner up yet?"
Yoji shook his head, "I brought it to him but he refused it, he said he would never have stomach for ramen again. Do you really think his stomach is that sore?"
Aya lowered his head, "How should I know?"
Yoji gave Aya the finger, "You've been a prick as of late, what the hell happened, huh? Sakura dump you?"
"You know damn well I never dated her."
"Yeah, I know. It was Omi, wasn't it?"
Aya froze. "You... knew...?"
"Jesus Aya, of course I did. What kind of idiot do you think I am? You've been all over him for weeks and now suddenly you don't care. Just hope Ken doesn't figure it out, he likes him and you know it. Hell, I think Ken likes just about all the Weiss boys."
Aya shot Yoji a spiteful stare, "You think everyone is attracted to you..."
"I didn't say I was the one he liked." Yoji smirked as Aya's eyes grew.
"That's just fucked up, Yotan."
"Now tell me why you broke it off with Omi, you two looked so happy."
"No."
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A knock came to his door, he curled to his side facing the window, "Who is it?" Omi's voice broken he knew only one person he wanted it to be but knew it would never be. Aya never went back on his word, ever.
"Omi-kun, let me in... I have some soup for you."
"I'm not hungry Ken-kun, thank you though..."
"Bullshit, you haven't eaten in two days. Now open this door and eat."
"Iie." Omi pulled his blanket further over his head, suddenly an idea formed. "Ken, I'll come down and eat later, I just want to sleep a little longer. I promise..."
"Alright, alright. Fine, I'll check on you in the morning and if this soup isn't eaten by then I'll force-feed it to you through a tube if necessary."
Omi nodded and added a "Hai" knowing Ken couldn't see the gesture. He'd go out and talk to Aya tonight. Maybe he changed his mind... maybe?
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Aya laid in his bed, beyond being the largest grump in Koneko for the last five days the entire shop was down in the red. Ken was constantly telling girls off without Omi to keep his spirits high, Yoji breaking things uncontrollably let alone the customers slipping into flowers due to the water the playboy left all over the place, and Aya... he only let their moods fester to match his own.
It was so hard, he needed Omi but if he admitted it he'd risk Omi dying. He just had to keep away, Omi'd cope eventually, he wasn't losing MUCH so really, how much longer would Omi stay in this rut? It was just his first time dating, he had to get over it soon. Right?
He heard a soft rapping at his door.
No way in hell that was Yoji, and he doubted Ken would knock that just meant, "Omi... go back to bed."
He could see Omi shaking his head and knew the boy hadn't given up yet. Another soft knocking resonated through the room.
Aya put his book down, "If this isn't an emergency go to bed... and if it IS an emergency go bug Hidaka or Yoji." It hurt to have to say that but at least they could comfort him more than he could.
Another knock. This was getting old, Aya leapt from the bed and threw open the door. "What the hell do you want Omi?"
Omi lowered his head, "Can't we... just talk?"
"There is nothing I have left to say."
"...Then would you at least listen to my side...?" Omi's lip quivered, "I can't help who I was born to..."
"There is nothing you could say to justify anything." Aya added to himself: because you didn't ever do anything wrong, except love the wrong person. Omi sank to the ground sitting in the way of the door. "What do you think you are doing?"
Omi held his stomach; "I can't sleep... I can't eat... Aya... what did I do so wrong?"
"I'm not going to repeat myself. Now get up, I'm going to bed." Omi shook his head.
"Iie."
"Fine then, I'll leave the door open." Aya went back to his bed and laid in it, reached into his drawer, extracted earplugs and put them on. He turned off his light and closed his eyes.
Omi watched as Aya added insult to injury. He lowered his head, "I'm that worthless...?" Omi stood shakily, "...then if you won't have me I'll make it so no one else will want me." He whispered as he left. He closed the door softly and trudged to the kitchen to gorge.
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Ken woke up at 8:17, he was running more than half an hour late, upon entering the kitchen he saw a very unhappy Aya.
"What the hell did you do to the kitchen?" They said in unison. Ken continued, "ME? I just got up, you're the one who was already IN here..."
The refrigerator door lay open, more than half the food missing.
"Like I could or WOULD eat that much." Aya defended.
"Maybe Yoji had an orgy, I dunno, all I do know is I didn't do it."
"I doubt it, Yoji wasn't drinking last night, he said he wanted an early start for tomorrow." Aya noted.
Ken laughed, "And you believed him?"
"He gave me the keys to the liquor cabinet." Ken blinked.
"Right then. So if it wasn't us, or Yoji... Mamoe?"
"Iie, she doesn't come in here."
"Well who else could it BE then?" Ken looked at a now empty bowl he had filled with soup. "...You don't think Omi...? But he's always neat and never over-eats."
Aya nodded once. "We had some harsh words."
"In other words you ripped him a new one. Aya you asshole." Ken ran his fingers through his hair, "Omi's never lashed out before. What the hell did you say to him?"
Aya lowered his head, "I broke it off with him."
"WHAT?! Why?" Ken grabbed for a knife.
"I do not have to explain myself to YOU of all people, Hidaka."
"Oh like HELL you don't!" Ken threw a punch towards Aya, Aya catching it only to twist Ken's arm behind his back.
Omi chose that moment, of all moments, to come into the kitchen with a work apron on. Upon the sight of Ken being held intimately by Aya he lowered his head.
"...E...excuse... excuse me." Omi bowed his head and left for the shop hastily. 'It all makes sense... the sudden stop, earlier... Aya was cheating on me... he lied to me... I really am good for nothing... just a body... a whore.'
Ken blinked. "What ... what just happened?" Ken looked at the way Aya's arm fell around him, he couldn't help but blush. "Oh fuck no... Omi didn't... oh Jesus, Aya you have to explain to him!"
"I have no need to justify my actions to him."
"Actions?! Aya he thinks you were FONDLING me... he's my best friend you asshole!" Ken punched Aya across the face. "Now tell him that wasn't it!"
"And he'd believe it? Just like that? If anything that would confirm it. Ken, you idiot, if I DON'T explain it then he'll assume it was just his imagination- like it was." Aya glared at him harder. "Fondling looks much differently and he knows it."
"Because you made him your man-slut." Ken said haughtily.
Omi slipped into the back room, running his fingers through his hair as strange, foreign words filled his head. "...Fondling me..."
"...Confirm it..."
"...made him your man-slut..."
"Oh gods what have I done?" Omi bit at his fist angrily. He grabbed a large bag of rice-balls and shoved one after another down his throat swiping at his tears as they rolled up from his eyes. He finally slid his apron on and decided to get to work.
Upon exiting the stock room, he noticed Ken laughing with Aya as a joke passed. How long had he been there? And why was Aya laughing with Ken? Aya never made jokes... He felt small pins and needles stab at him, of course not with HIM... he was just being used as a man-slut. Ken made Aya happy, really happy, Aya was just faking the smiles for him to get what he wanted.
Omi grabbed at his box of rice balls and shoved two down his throat before the others could take heed. Aya noticed out of the corner of his eye. That was Omi's sixth one so far today...
The day didn't have long to go before Manx came in with a mission. Omi smiled as he closed the shop grid, a mission would be a perfect distraction.
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Omi sloped against the wall trying to intercept Aya or at least keep near him. Upon the sight of Omi leaning against the wall, Aya chose to sit with Ken on the couch, Omi felt the knife twist, he was consciously avoiding him for Ken. Maybe that was really why Aya stayed... not for his sake but Ken's?
Yoji leaned on the wall adjacent to the TV on the opposite side of Manx and thusly in a position where the reflection from the coffee table would peek up Manx's dress, at the right angle of course.
Persia's silhouette filled the screen, "Weiss, you have a mission..."
Manx handed Aya, Ken, Yoji, and then lastly Omi the mission file.
"...People are dying as a result of this CD Label, though nothing can be proven, your mission is to find the cause of these untimely deaths and kill all responsible."
"What the hell?" Ken brooded, exasperated, "How can we decide with this? You aren't even giving us a solid lead and telling us to kill someone for it?! I'm..."
"I'm in." Omi stated coldly.
Aya finished leafing through and nodded once to signal his involvement. Yoji stretched, his neck getting a cramp.
"The rock scene, huh? I guess that means Kritiker will be buying us some back-stage passes to investigate... and trust me, I think I am PERFECTLY trained for THAT sort of mission." He cackled evilly for a few moments muttering something about the strange sex parties he's only had the luck to dream about.
Ken sighed, "No. There's not enough information..."
She smiled, this was a challenge if ever she heard one, "We believe that whoever is responsible for this has ties to Takatori Reiji and his climb to power."
"...Kase." Ken lowered his head, "I'm in."
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TBC.
A/N, take two: Sorry all, I know this has been a long time coming. I promise I won't be too evil and keep part 22 in the wings. In fact, I'm working on it RIGHT NOW... as well as two other projects... heh... the DJ (*pimps*) and then my JQ story The Loch... yeah I doubt anyone reading this cares about JQ though, heh. ^_^ Love you all!
Disclaimer- Sue me? And delay finale? I highly doubt it! I don't own Weiss Kreuz and trust me I make no profit from it! T_T Which is very sad as to how broke I am.
A/N: Still waiting for fifty reviews- get me up to 100 and I'll make an awesome lemon- if we only get to fifty we'll go lime. ^_~
WEISS! Omi no Kiken- Part 21: Shi Suru Nai!
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Ran laid Omi into his bed; damn this pattern was growing old quickly!
Omi does something to save him.
Omi gets hurt.
Omi gets laid up in bed for a few weeks with his life on the line.
Gods be damned this little roller coaster has had one too many loops and he was sick of it! He just wanted Omi to be safe and sound, was that so hard? But what could he do? The only way he could think of to get Omi to quit Weiss was if he did and then there was still no guarantee Omi would leave or be all right, or be with him. He was trapped and this tearing at his heart was not helping to stifle the pain of it.
Even if Omi stayed in Weiss it would be all right if he could just keep SAFE. But how? How could he protect Omi AND Aya-chan, and still be a productive member of Weiss? The last thing the four of them need is to have divided interests.
That struck close to home, he had been the one to split away and he knew that probably had hurt Omi deeper than the boy cared to admit. But then again that self-sacrificing martyr was a large part of the boy he loved. Damn it! Damn this fucking pattern, the pattern that in truth also contained this same set of mantras and curses and searching for new solutions! And yet he couldn't push himself away from Omi, he knew he loved him far too much to part from him even if that really was the only way to save Omi. The price is too high to hurt Omi that deeply, plus Ran already knew he was naturally selfish.
He watched Omi's breathing as a hypnotic meditation. Ran reached his hand to touch Omi's blushing, fevered cheeks. "Omitchi..." he cast his gaze away, this game fate played was too cruel- his beloved sister and dearest love both lay in beds while dreaming as real lives past them by. He knew where he could go to collect his thoughts. Aya-chan, though she never spoke back she always listened. Why would she stop today? "...I'll be back." Ran closed his eyes trying to force himself awake from this nightmare. Upon opening his eyes and finding himself still here, he left the room with a purpose missing the flickering gesture of opening blue eyes.
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"...Aya-kun..."
The red-haired man's back shrank as it walked past the doorway.
"Aya-kun...!" Omi's heart burned Ran's features still slipping farther and farther away.
"RAN-KUN!" Tears fell hastily down Omi's cheeks in rivers as he saw Aya leave, something seemed so final and it made him feel ill. He would never let Aya walk away, no nightmare nor waking horror could part him from the man he loved not after everything he sacrificed and risked. Not after all the dreams that built in him finally started to come true.
Omi pushed himself up from the bed with a start and stumbled quickly towards Ran's shrinking features as they went farther from sight. "Ran-kun... Ran-kun... Ran-kun...!" Each step his voice sounded with more resolve as he tried to chase down the man fading away so slowly.
As one hand groped the wall for balance, another arm still stretched outward- shaky fingers trying to catch feel of the familiar comfort that was his beloved.
The corners of his vision started to swirl gray onto black, then the new corners of vision, and again until he felt he was looking through pinholes trying to see- then they too grew gray, and then they too fell into blackness. He fell to the floor with a heavy clatter.
Ran's hair whipped around at the sudden sound coming from the hallway he had just passed. "OMITCHI!"
He kept his arms pinned around Omi and knew this time be damned if he left! He'd wait for a year if it meant seeing Omi when his eyes first opened from his daze.
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Ran rubbed his eye, tiredness spread over his being pervasively. This was a waiting game, one he knew all-too-well. It could be compared to a chess match, using perfect form and guile, doing everything right and yet just one player in synchronization with chaos could defeat the carefully formulated plans just like a mad man could defeat an army if motivated and moved just right. He sighed outwardly, that chaotic player had come in giving Omi movement without voice.
No, this time he would anticipate this chaos, he would cover all angles and not allow any movement or gesture to go under-analyzed or unexamined. This was not a game he could afford to lose; no, with all the peril in Weiss with life and death this still took precedence. A thousand lives cost would still not hold light to his pain of losing love and not life, it would be a waking hell. Hell he could wait for with his sins he could justly surrender himself to the demons on his deathbed but to start hell now? And without Omi, that penance he could not accost.
He brushed stray golden fibers that were as fine as silk from Omi's warm forehead. Perhaps he should get a cooled cloth to bring Omi's fever down. But what if his eyes opened again? Ran looked over Omi's soft features and planted a warm, moist kiss onto his brow, some of the gold he had brushed to the side connected with his lips leaving them heavy after his lips parted from the skin that tasted of a meddle of vanilla, cinnamon and almond. "Omitchi, sleep peacefully and I will return for you soon, to watch you awaken and never leave your side." He ran his ivory fingers down Omi's flustered cheek. He walked backwards towards the door still watching Omi's features to ensure the boy would not fall to the same feeling of unease as he had moments before.
Omi shifted towards his side curling towards where the warmth had just been present. His face burrowed into the pillow where the heat still lingered from Ran's hand. His voice quietly released a mewl similar to a purr, the soft sound soon fell from his throat and transformed into a muffled sound of breathing that was a whispered snore and that snore turned into the rhythmic up-and-down movements of his chest and a breath that was gentler than summer winds blowing cool air into a warm face.
As Ran returned the gentle breathes had turned slightly more sporadic, slightly more intense. Omi's eyes darted back and forth from underneath their lids his body caked with a sweat.
"Omi..." Ran pressed the cloth to Omi's temples, dabbing at the sweat and tracing the cloth softly across his brow, lifting the cloth to his cheeks dabbing them in the moisture... and then to his lips... he dabbed lightly then brushed it down his chin, down his neck, his eyes following carefully. His hands continued undaunted by the heat now in his own body, his own chest pounding harder and faster than what should be conceivably right. He stopped below the collarbones, lifted the cloth and repeated to dab Omi's temples and brush his forehead, and washing the heat from his cheeks, lips and chin.
Omi's stirring slowed, Ran swept the moist cool compress over Omi's eyelids and moved the cloth towards Omi's right temple, Ran sitting at his left side as he continued his gentle nurturing.
Blue eyes shone through horizons of paled-bronze and golden mountains as Omi opened his eyes.
Ran looked into Omi's eyes as the pupils moved from tiny little pin-pricks to orbs taking up a quarter of his irises.
"A...ya...kun?" Omi blinked hoping his eyes would not betray him and that this was no dream but reality and his Ran-kun was still in front of him. His voice returned in volume, "Ran-kun is that you...?"
Ran put his hand to Omi's cheek and moved his thumb to Omi's lip. "Shh, rest."
"You stayed? You aren't leaving?"
His eyes commanded both authority and compassion. "You need to rest." His lips turned up in such a way that his smile beamed, radiating from his chest and hand and eyes –all things Omi held at the moment.
"Is Aya-chan... is she unharmed?" Omi gathered a response from Ran's eyes that seemed to say Omi had failed but instead really meant Ran had felt as though he failed personally for not saving his koibito. "She isn't... Ran- kun... I... I'm so... sorry..."
"Nai! No, she's safe and sound... Omi, no..." He lowered his head, "I'm sorry it was you instead of me."
The blond gave Ran a strange look, "Nani?"
"...I should have been the one to protect her, and you... and I failed. Omi I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you..."
Omi choked back a muffled squee of joy mixed with sadness. He had caused Ran hurt but Ran still only gave him his authoritative presence and warming love. Had it ended there he would have sworn he was in heaven, but of course it didn't. Omi felt the vile taste of dreams turning sour as Ran continued.
"...And because I failed you, Omi... Omitchi, it's over." No explanation, no words to elaborate, he couldn't give Omi that hope. He thought it over, he would love to be selfish and take and take and take, Omi would always give, he knew that. But if he really loved Omi he'd have to do something different. If he stopped it... if he stopped it NOW before it was too late, then Omi could survive this, or so he prayed in vain.
Omi's eyes shot wide. "No... no Ran-kun... Ran-kun please no!" Tears hadn't a chance to delve in his eyes before they poured from his eyes the pain insufferable. "No, what did I do wrong? Ran-kun please don't do this to me! Ran-kun..."
"Don't call me that. It is not a name meant for your lips." How sweet the sound was, how hard it was not to come running, to lap up his sorrows and pull him close, but Aya knew. Aya knew better, emotions could never bring back the others, but to be emotionless and dutiful he could at least save them both from tragedy.
"...Aya-kun..." Omi began hyperventilating, his chest was on fire, his eyes ablaze, his blood the only thing cold. Omi's lips sank at the corners.
"I will never return your feelings again, Omitchi. This I do for you."
"NO!" Screaming louder and louder his mind punched and slapped at him, he betrayed Aya and now... and now he... he... "No! Aya don't leave me! Not like this... not helplessly... kill me. If you have any feelings... any love for me still kill me! Don't make me live without you..." he sobbed on his voice cutting out.
"No." Aya turned to leave, "I'll remain here only to protect you, but I will never hold you in my arms Omi, I do this for you."
"You fucking bastard don't you dare do this to me! I gave you everything... everything Aya... you're taking everything from me PLEASE just take my heart with all that was left in it!"
"No." His back shrank as he furthered from Omi. He had to get out of the room, doing that hurt like no known pain, his heart that Omi had given back to him now recoiled into the size it had once been, as it should have remained after Aya-chan's accident. "Don't be a cowardly Takatori." Somehow that had meant to be something nice, to state to Omi to be who he still is, but Omi heard it as his reason. This was his ultimate betrayal to Aya.
Omi collapsed onto the bed.
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Three days without Omi in the shop, Ken and Yoji thought it from weakness induced by the toxins but Aya knew better. Omi was wallowing in pain, pain he had caused but it was the only way. He'd have to have a talk with him about this.
He sighed internally, maybe that was a bad idea. Should he really speak to Omi? Maybe it should be Ken? Ken the eagerly awaiting one. Why did that thought hurt? Of Ken swooping in for his place? But maybe that too was for the best? Ken had little if any emotional baggage... No. He just couldn't see Omi dating Ken, that would be almost incestuous, best friends should never date, besides Ken didn't have a place in Omi's bed, only at his hearth. At most.
He placed down his dish. "Yoji, did you bring Omi's dinner up yet?"
Yoji shook his head, "I brought it to him but he refused it, he said he would never have stomach for ramen again. Do you really think his stomach is that sore?"
Aya lowered his head, "How should I know?"
Yoji gave Aya the finger, "You've been a prick as of late, what the hell happened, huh? Sakura dump you?"
"You know damn well I never dated her."
"Yeah, I know. It was Omi, wasn't it?"
Aya froze. "You... knew...?"
"Jesus Aya, of course I did. What kind of idiot do you think I am? You've been all over him for weeks and now suddenly you don't care. Just hope Ken doesn't figure it out, he likes him and you know it. Hell, I think Ken likes just about all the Weiss boys."
Aya shot Yoji a spiteful stare, "You think everyone is attracted to you..."
"I didn't say I was the one he liked." Yoji smirked as Aya's eyes grew.
"That's just fucked up, Yotan."
"Now tell me why you broke it off with Omi, you two looked so happy."
"No."
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A knock came to his door, he curled to his side facing the window, "Who is it?" Omi's voice broken he knew only one person he wanted it to be but knew it would never be. Aya never went back on his word, ever.
"Omi-kun, let me in... I have some soup for you."
"I'm not hungry Ken-kun, thank you though..."
"Bullshit, you haven't eaten in two days. Now open this door and eat."
"Iie." Omi pulled his blanket further over his head, suddenly an idea formed. "Ken, I'll come down and eat later, I just want to sleep a little longer. I promise..."
"Alright, alright. Fine, I'll check on you in the morning and if this soup isn't eaten by then I'll force-feed it to you through a tube if necessary."
Omi nodded and added a "Hai" knowing Ken couldn't see the gesture. He'd go out and talk to Aya tonight. Maybe he changed his mind... maybe?
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Aya laid in his bed, beyond being the largest grump in Koneko for the last five days the entire shop was down in the red. Ken was constantly telling girls off without Omi to keep his spirits high, Yoji breaking things uncontrollably let alone the customers slipping into flowers due to the water the playboy left all over the place, and Aya... he only let their moods fester to match his own.
It was so hard, he needed Omi but if he admitted it he'd risk Omi dying. He just had to keep away, Omi'd cope eventually, he wasn't losing MUCH so really, how much longer would Omi stay in this rut? It was just his first time dating, he had to get over it soon. Right?
He heard a soft rapping at his door.
No way in hell that was Yoji, and he doubted Ken would knock that just meant, "Omi... go back to bed."
He could see Omi shaking his head and knew the boy hadn't given up yet. Another soft knocking resonated through the room.
Aya put his book down, "If this isn't an emergency go to bed... and if it IS an emergency go bug Hidaka or Yoji." It hurt to have to say that but at least they could comfort him more than he could.
Another knock. This was getting old, Aya leapt from the bed and threw open the door. "What the hell do you want Omi?"
Omi lowered his head, "Can't we... just talk?"
"There is nothing I have left to say."
"...Then would you at least listen to my side...?" Omi's lip quivered, "I can't help who I was born to..."
"There is nothing you could say to justify anything." Aya added to himself: because you didn't ever do anything wrong, except love the wrong person. Omi sank to the ground sitting in the way of the door. "What do you think you are doing?"
Omi held his stomach; "I can't sleep... I can't eat... Aya... what did I do so wrong?"
"I'm not going to repeat myself. Now get up, I'm going to bed." Omi shook his head.
"Iie."
"Fine then, I'll leave the door open." Aya went back to his bed and laid in it, reached into his drawer, extracted earplugs and put them on. He turned off his light and closed his eyes.
Omi watched as Aya added insult to injury. He lowered his head, "I'm that worthless...?" Omi stood shakily, "...then if you won't have me I'll make it so no one else will want me." He whispered as he left. He closed the door softly and trudged to the kitchen to gorge.
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Ken woke up at 8:17, he was running more than half an hour late, upon entering the kitchen he saw a very unhappy Aya.
"What the hell did you do to the kitchen?" They said in unison. Ken continued, "ME? I just got up, you're the one who was already IN here..."
The refrigerator door lay open, more than half the food missing.
"Like I could or WOULD eat that much." Aya defended.
"Maybe Yoji had an orgy, I dunno, all I do know is I didn't do it."
"I doubt it, Yoji wasn't drinking last night, he said he wanted an early start for tomorrow." Aya noted.
Ken laughed, "And you believed him?"
"He gave me the keys to the liquor cabinet." Ken blinked.
"Right then. So if it wasn't us, or Yoji... Mamoe?"
"Iie, she doesn't come in here."
"Well who else could it BE then?" Ken looked at a now empty bowl he had filled with soup. "...You don't think Omi...? But he's always neat and never over-eats."
Aya nodded once. "We had some harsh words."
"In other words you ripped him a new one. Aya you asshole." Ken ran his fingers through his hair, "Omi's never lashed out before. What the hell did you say to him?"
Aya lowered his head, "I broke it off with him."
"WHAT?! Why?" Ken grabbed for a knife.
"I do not have to explain myself to YOU of all people, Hidaka."
"Oh like HELL you don't!" Ken threw a punch towards Aya, Aya catching it only to twist Ken's arm behind his back.
Omi chose that moment, of all moments, to come into the kitchen with a work apron on. Upon the sight of Ken being held intimately by Aya he lowered his head.
"...E...excuse... excuse me." Omi bowed his head and left for the shop hastily. 'It all makes sense... the sudden stop, earlier... Aya was cheating on me... he lied to me... I really am good for nothing... just a body... a whore.'
Ken blinked. "What ... what just happened?" Ken looked at the way Aya's arm fell around him, he couldn't help but blush. "Oh fuck no... Omi didn't... oh Jesus, Aya you have to explain to him!"
"I have no need to justify my actions to him."
"Actions?! Aya he thinks you were FONDLING me... he's my best friend you asshole!" Ken punched Aya across the face. "Now tell him that wasn't it!"
"And he'd believe it? Just like that? If anything that would confirm it. Ken, you idiot, if I DON'T explain it then he'll assume it was just his imagination- like it was." Aya glared at him harder. "Fondling looks much differently and he knows it."
"Because you made him your man-slut." Ken said haughtily.
Omi slipped into the back room, running his fingers through his hair as strange, foreign words filled his head. "...Fondling me..."
"...Confirm it..."
"...made him your man-slut..."
"Oh gods what have I done?" Omi bit at his fist angrily. He grabbed a large bag of rice-balls and shoved one after another down his throat swiping at his tears as they rolled up from his eyes. He finally slid his apron on and decided to get to work.
Upon exiting the stock room, he noticed Ken laughing with Aya as a joke passed. How long had he been there? And why was Aya laughing with Ken? Aya never made jokes... He felt small pins and needles stab at him, of course not with HIM... he was just being used as a man-slut. Ken made Aya happy, really happy, Aya was just faking the smiles for him to get what he wanted.
Omi grabbed at his box of rice balls and shoved two down his throat before the others could take heed. Aya noticed out of the corner of his eye. That was Omi's sixth one so far today...
The day didn't have long to go before Manx came in with a mission. Omi smiled as he closed the shop grid, a mission would be a perfect distraction.
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Omi sloped against the wall trying to intercept Aya or at least keep near him. Upon the sight of Omi leaning against the wall, Aya chose to sit with Ken on the couch, Omi felt the knife twist, he was consciously avoiding him for Ken. Maybe that was really why Aya stayed... not for his sake but Ken's?
Yoji leaned on the wall adjacent to the TV on the opposite side of Manx and thusly in a position where the reflection from the coffee table would peek up Manx's dress, at the right angle of course.
Persia's silhouette filled the screen, "Weiss, you have a mission..."
Manx handed Aya, Ken, Yoji, and then lastly Omi the mission file.
"...People are dying as a result of this CD Label, though nothing can be proven, your mission is to find the cause of these untimely deaths and kill all responsible."
"What the hell?" Ken brooded, exasperated, "How can we decide with this? You aren't even giving us a solid lead and telling us to kill someone for it?! I'm..."
"I'm in." Omi stated coldly.
Aya finished leafing through and nodded once to signal his involvement. Yoji stretched, his neck getting a cramp.
"The rock scene, huh? I guess that means Kritiker will be buying us some back-stage passes to investigate... and trust me, I think I am PERFECTLY trained for THAT sort of mission." He cackled evilly for a few moments muttering something about the strange sex parties he's only had the luck to dream about.
Ken sighed, "No. There's not enough information..."
She smiled, this was a challenge if ever she heard one, "We believe that whoever is responsible for this has ties to Takatori Reiji and his climb to power."
"...Kase." Ken lowered his head, "I'm in."
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TBC.
A/N, take two: Sorry all, I know this has been a long time coming. I promise I won't be too evil and keep part 22 in the wings. In fact, I'm working on it RIGHT NOW... as well as two other projects... heh... the DJ (*pimps*) and then my JQ story The Loch... yeah I doubt anyone reading this cares about JQ though, heh. ^_^ Love you all!