* * *

* * *

A curious ear lay pressed against the door and a conspiratorial wink given to the fluffy boy also listening. "You think they finally fell asleep? I don't think I've ever heard Ken scream that much. Wonder whose ass is on fire..." Youji grinned over at Omi. When the duo had disappeared into the room, Youji had gone over there to apologize to Ran for the comment, but when the word bed had carried over through the door, Youji had stood transfixed and started listening through the door at the excited pair. It had been an... interesting afternoon. Even though he was more than a bit jealous, wanting desperately to be in that bed with Ken, he couldn't help but be happy for the boy who'd after so long finally got the love he deserved from the redhead.

Youji would manage though. He wasn't the master playboy for nothing. He took a glance over at Omi and shrugged finally standing and working out the kinks in his leg from sitting on the floor so long. "Want to go do somethin', Chu?"

"Youji-kun!" Omi batted lightly at the playboy's comment, taking his ear off the door as well before shutting off his GameBoy. He'd plodded over after Youji to make sure the redhead was all right, knowing it probably wasn't even something any of them directly said. The first few days after the rescue nearly anything set off the redhead into tortured silent dazes, even a mere touch or wrongly worded sentence. They'd learned quickly not to call him 'orchid' after finding out his real name after one of them had made a comment and he'd started whimpering and curled into the fetal position. It had taken them an hour to calm him. The regressive fits had been declining steadily but there was still the chance, one reason Manx had ordered them on this vacation. So they could all get to a comfort level to be able to help Ran work past his remaining issues, able to trust the other three of Weiß to help him, not just Ken.

The young boy hadn't even really -wanted- to listen, figuring it was a private conversation between the two that should be that. Private. But morbid curiosity... and Youji teasing that he had to learn -sometime-... had made him stay put with his ear to the door. Half his attention on whatever was going on in the room and the other half on his atomic purple GameBoy. "Sure thing Youji-kun. How long do you think we should give them until dinner? Hour? Two? As much time to sleep as the same amount of time they talked?"

Youji patted Omi's head lightly, "Sure kiddo all they did was talk, and Ken likes praying to God at the top of his lungs when he and Ran 'talk.' Jesus, Chu. I'm gonna have to talk to you about the birds and the bees, or I'm just gonna have to sit you down with..." A sudden grin lit Youji's face as he stood up and went over to the TV. He flipped it on and went looking through the hotel channel guide to find what he was looking for. "Come're Chu. Let's watch a movie. Alice in Wonderland is about to start soon." Little did Omi know that it was the... adult version of the film and not the Disney classic.

"WAIII!" Omi hopped on over the living room of the condominium, tossing the remote over to Youji while digging through his bag for some microwave popcorn. Skittering happily over to the kitchen, having no clue what he was about to get into with the playboy, he popped it into the microwave, coming out a few minutes later shaking salt onto the bowl of popcorn. "I didn't even know you -liked- animated Disney! Whatcher favorite?" Bright blue eyes turned to Youji while he plunked down on the couch, setting the bowl between them. "I like Aladdin!"

Youji couldn't help but smirk. "Oh my favorite -has- to be Cinderella. The scene with her stepsisters. Beautiful. Really. I was quite impressed with the direction on that one." Of course he was talking about another faerie tale classic turned porno but, Omi had no clue. This was likely to be an education for the boy if he could keep from laughing.

"I like Cinderella too. Ya think that would ever actually happen? Well... probably no the singing mice and bird part though that would be sugoi!" Grinning at Youji, he popped a few kernels of corn into his mouth, turning to watch the movie. Only to blink. "Ano... Youji-kun? This is live action... are you sure this is the right channel?" A suspicious eyebrow crooked up, but he kept watching... oddly... morbidly fascinated...

"Yup. Right channel. See?" Youji held the channel guide to the teen and grinned widely. Just as he did so Alice showed up on screen. She had long blonde hair down to her waist held back in a smart little ribbon. She wore a little white apron about her voluptuous figure and a periwinkle thong under it. To top the outfit she wore thigh high white stockings and black Mary Jane's. As the movie stared Alice's sister was absently reading her book, while Alice was busy pleasuring herself with her fingers and hands while sitting up in the tree branch. Oh yes. Omi was getting the birds and the bees lecture the same way Youji got his from his father. A subscription to Playboy and a stack of pornos with the explicit orders to ask his mother any questions he had. In this case... questions were to go to Ran and Ken.

Omi covered his eyes as the girl was shown on screen, peeking out through his fingers despite himself. This was -not- happening! His cheeks flamed bright red yet he couldn't fully take his eyes off of the screen. "Youji-kun! What... ah! What is she doing to that man in the rabbit suit?!" Oh just wait until Ran and Ken found out that Youji was busy corrupting their little Chu while they were napping after their postponed reunion lovemaking.

"Well... from the looks of it she's feeding him carrots." Youji's arm draped over the back of the couch while his finger twirled lightly in Omi's fluffy hair. "They both seem to be enjoying the carrot though."

"That doesn't look like a carrot to me, Yotan!" Omi huddled close to Youji's side before flopping down to lay his head on Youji's lap. He tried a few times to squirm away to not watch but the eldest Weiß assassin always drew him back. Seemed there was no way out of watching this so... he watched. And popped up little innocent questions every so often, holding up popcorn kernels for Youji to eat. When it got to the Mad Hatter scene, he tilted his head to the side curiously. "Ano Yooouji-kun! Now what are they doing?"

"He's giving Alice her Un-Birthday Present while Alice gives the Walrus his Un-Birthday present. He's giving her his meat, while Alice drinks some milk. You know it does a body good." Youji grinned and let the boy feed him popcorn. He was highly amused by the entire situation, and he knew Ran would probably have his head, but damn this was so worth it. Omi needed this type of education. Really he did. And who else to give it to him other than Youji Kudou. This was so much better than some meaningless fling with the bimbo who felt him up in the elevator. "Soooo, Chu. See anything you'd like to try with Sakura?"

He didn't think he could flush much brighter but he did. "Youji-kun, Sakura-san and I are just friends! Besides... I think she still has a thing for Ran-kun. It's the red hair and aloof aura," Omi nodded wisely. "He's mysterious!" A soft grin lit on his face as he rolled to look up at Youji. "It's our Un-Birthdays too!'

Youji just had to eye the little fluff. A blonde brow rose in question. Did Omi just hit on him? "Ahhh... Chu... are you hitting on me?"

His grin grew as he balled up his fist to hit lightly on Youji's arm. "I did now!"

"Ow! You little runt!" Just then Youji's fingers dug into Omi's ribs and proceeded to tickle the boy mercilessly and ruthlessly. The porno forgotten for now.

"Ahhhhh! Yooooouji stooop!" Omi giggled and squirmed half in the man's lap, batting lightly at his hands but he had surprise advantage, size, strength... "I outrank you by many many years stop that's an order! Stop stop stop stop!"

Youji teased back while continuing his relentless attack on the genki fluff. The attempts to smack his hands away only served to move them to other less protected areas of the boy's body. "Muahahaha! We're on vacation! I don't have to follow orders!"

"I'm telling Manx you made me watch PORN!" Squeaking, Omi grabbed for his hands still trying to wiggle away. "Ah but you didn't- *giggle* -argue that I outrank you whee!"

"You could have stopped watching, but you didn't! I knew you were a closet hentai! Go ahead and tell Manx. I'm sure she'll just laugh." Omi managed to grab one hand but that's when Youji decided to use his long legs to his advantage and wrap them about Omi's waist to pin him and keep him still while he continued with the voracious tickle attack.

"You -tricked- me! I just wanted to watch Disney with you, baka!" Omi squeaked and squeezed his legs together before trying to kick him away as Youji kept tickling. "Mou you cheat!" Reaching over, he grabbed up a handful of popcorn to throw at the playboy's grinning face.

"I didn't trick you in the least! I never said it was Disney. You just assumed it was!" The older man continued his attack until it got deadly. Greasy popcorn and his finely and meticulously quaffed hair just did not mix! "Okay! You win! No popcorn in Uncle Youji's hair! Do you know how tough it is to get butter out!?" At that comment a lazy smile spread over his lips remembering fondly the last time he had to get butter out of his hair. Ahhh... Keiko and her cinnamon toast flavored breasts. Now THAT was a lovely night and he hadn't minded the copious amounts of butter in his hair then.

"With that smile on your lips, I get the feeling you do, Youji," came a lazy deep voice, Ran leaning against the doorframe to the hallway leading to the three small apartments. A soft terrycloth robe adorned his form and he lifted a hand to cover first a yawn then rub the sleep from his eyes.

"Ah! Gomen Ran-kun! Did we wake you?" Omi grinned and tossed another few kernels at Youji's hair before rolling off the couch to flop down on the floor. "We were watching a movie..."

"Who picked it..."

"Youji-kun..."

"Youji... We leave for five minutes-"

"Heehee, try about," Omi glanced at his watch, seeing that it had been about another hour since the pair had left their spying status. "Four hours!"

"-whatever. And you're corrupting Omi?"

"Of course, someone has to. He was wondering why Ken was screaming so loudly earlier. So we sat down to watch Alice in Wonderland! By the way... is Ken still alive?" Youji turned and plopped his chin on the back of the couch and eyed the redhead. He certainly looked pleased.

"Yes... I'm right here." Clad in a towel around his waist, Ken slid his arms around Ran's waist as he came up to stand by his side nudging Ran's arm to drape over his shoulder in the process. "Why would you think I'm dead?"

"From the way you were screaming Ran's name earlier you sounded like you were being murdered."

"Oh I was. Ran is just soooo big!"

Youji paled and took on a green tint. "I didn't need to know that."

"And you didn't need to be listening to us."

"How did you know I was listening!" Youji stood shocked. He'd been quiet and very careful NOT to make any sound. Both he -and- Omi. "It was Omi's GameBoy making all that racket! See I knew I should have made you turn it off."

Ken simply blinked and turned bright red. "You mean you -were- listening?"

Youji shuffled his feet uncomfortably, darting his eyes about the room trying not to look anyone in the eye. "Uh... well... Omi was curious!"

"You're watching Alice in Wonderland? That's not so ba- ..." Ran blinked and looked towards the TV, only to pale. "Oh my god YOUJI! That's disgusting!" Shaking himself out of it, he turned to pay more attention to the conversation continuing without him. Only to flush red and bury his face in Ken's hair to hide the blush.

"Gomen ne, Ken-kun, Ran-kun. Youji-kun went to apologize and I tagged along to give Ken-kun back his loose change cuz I like my GameBoy more than noisy arcades and... well... you two were already talking. And I just wanted to know what you two were talking about!" Omi fidgeted, righting himself up on the couch to sit and peer at the two lovers.

"It was a personal talk..." Ran sighed softly, trying not to look at the boy. He didn't have to look at him. He could -hear- the pout in his voice.

"It was sweet!"

"Omi!!"

Omi's lower lip puffed out in a full pout, one he'd learned from watching Aya-chan weasel whatever she wanted from her older brother. Oh how they had teased the icicle-esh supposedly selfish man about being wrapped around a sweet eighteen-year-old girl's finger (Youji of course said there was hope for him yet... except it was his sister...). Omi hardly had the finesse and practiced skill that Aya did, but it worked when needed. If he screwed up in the shoppe or on a mission it saved him nothing. But things like this... it did its purpose.

"Raaaaan-kun..."

"Omi. Tuck that lower lip back in, I'm not looking."

"Onegai! I didn't meant to pry!"

"It was all your idea to listen. Not Youji's?"

"Hai!" Omi nodded, the pout still in full effect for if the serious redhead made the mistake of looking over. He even was trying to work up some tears in those deep blue eyes, a shade or two different than his dear sister's. "Youji-kun just wanted to apologize for hurting your feelings, that's all!"

Ran sighed, pressing a hand over his face lightly, trying not to look. Dammit he could hear the boy sniffling! This just wasn't fair!

Ken's hand reached to pat Ran's shoulder lightly. "There, there. I know he's an evil little fluff. Stand proud. Don't crumble." Ken glanced over at Omi smirking lightly, "That still doesn't explain why you were willingly watching... whoa... shit... I didn't know someone could be -that- flexible!!"

Youji blinked and turned his attention back to the still running porno. His head started tilting to the side to look at the scene with a different angle. "Wow. That is impressive. I forgot about this part of the movie. Damn she's got a really nice technique there. I wonder if..."

"Youji!"

"What it's a legitimate question. I've never done that before."

Ken had to blink at that. "You haven't?"

"Nope. Never been with anyone quite that flexible."

"Oh..." Ken was now tilting his head in morbid fascination at the scene. "That is pretty damn interesting... Is that humanly possible?"

"I think so... she'd doing it..."

Omi mentally wiped the sweat from his brow. Woo! Saved by his teammates' own hentainess! Cocking his head he rolled over onto the couch to flop his legs up on the back of the couch, staring at the TV screen upside down. "Woooow! How is that enjoyable, Youji-kun, Ken-kun? I mean... she's been in that position for a bit now... Is it like gymnastics where you have to stretch before?"

"I cannot believe I have worked with you three for so long and not lost my mind..." Ran sighed, placing a hand over his face. He was -not- looking at that. "Can we go to dinner before I lose my appetite? It can't be that fascinating. Obviously it's possible because she's doing whatever it is she's doing."

"Ran-kun! C'mon, we're on vacation! Maybe Ken-kun would like it if you could do that?"

"OMI!"

"What? I was just saying. I'll shut up if you look."

"... You do not play fair, Omi." With a long sigh, Ran turned his gaze to the TV, tilting his head to the side as well before straightening once more. A faint bitter smirk touched his lips. "I could do that."

"Okay! Youji... Omi... you two go off to dinner without us. Ran and I'll stay in for dessert. Have fun you two?" Ken immediately grabbed Ran's hand and started dragging. And yes he was quite serious about dragging him off. They were both still half-naked anyway.

"Ken-kun!" Omi whined, pulling his gaze from the TV to whine. "Are you two going to spend the entire vacation in there talking?"

"I can assure you, we would not be... talking." A faint smirk touched on Ran's lips, torn between exploring more of his relationship with Ken and enjoying the new comfort level between he and his teammates.

"Nope no talking. Just a lotta moaning and groaning."

"Okay, Ken I did not need to hear that." Youji dragged his eyes from the screen reluctantly and glanced at Ken.

"Why you got enough of an earful earlier?" Ken tilted his head sweetly to smirk.

"..."

"Haha! Point for Kenken."

"Dummy."

"Moron."

"Shithead."

"EE-DEE-OT!"

"They're doing it again..."

"No you mean still!"

"Still would imply they had never stopped."

"They merely put it on pause."

"Hrn. Again."

"Still."

"Again."

"Still!"

"Again!"

"Still, trust me Ran-kun!"

Ken and Youji blinked over at Omi and Ran. "What are you two fighting about?"

Omi and Ran blinked back over at Ken and Youji. "We are not fighting. We are discussing. And we're -discussing- how you two are fighting-"

Omi broke off, "-still!"

"-again," Ran finished before the two leveled glares at one another. The two stubbornest of Weiß bickering like children. What is the world coming to?

"Don't contradict me!"

"Omi!"

"Ran-kun!"

Ken looked over at Youji who looked over at him both of them grinning. "We thought we were bad. Hey, Youji..."

"Yes, Kenken."

"There's a lot of tension there. You think Omi-chu wants a piece of my Ranran?"

Youji laughed lightly as Ken crossed his arms in front of his bare chest and he draped an arm over Ken's shoulders eyeing the two. "Naw, Chu here has the hots for Sakura. He was asking me if she'd like it if he did any of that stuff from the movie to her. I told him to go ahead and try it. After he takes her out to dinner of course."

"Whaa? Omi and Sakura? Great! Now I don't have to glare at her anymore when she looks at Ran. Thanks Omi. You're a champ!"

"What Youji-kun! I said no such thing! You were the one who asked if I saw anything from that movie I wanted to try with Sakura-san! Don't put words in my mouth!" Omi flushed brightly, throwing more popcorn at the grinning Youji.

Ran blinked and looked over at the mention of Sakura. He'd been continuing his 'discussion' with Omi while Ken and Youji continued on with the conversation without them. "Omi, you like Sakura-chan?"

"We're friends! Nothing more!" Omi huffed lightly, crossing his arms and tapping his foot.

"Maaah. Yes he does." Youji crossed his arms and nodded. "He gets that same look Ran does when Ken walks into a room or vice versa when she does. That 'Oh I wish I knew what she looked like naked and bent over a table with her legs spread' look."

Ken looked stunned and blinked at the blonde. "You can read all that in a look?"

"Uncle Youji, knows all and sees all things sexually related when it comes to matters of the Penis and the Vagina and the Ass and any and all enjoyable combinations of above listed anatomy as well as Mouth and Hands for added enjoyment." The blond nodded sagely as he looked at Ken.

"Riiiight."

"You don't believe me?"

"Not a chance."

Youji eyed Ken and rubbed his temples. "Right now... you are thinking about ripping that robe off of Ran and giving him a blow job."

Ken just blinked. "Wow..."

"I'm thinking Youji-kun needs to stop picking on Omi-chu," the boy muttered lightly, crossing his arms. "I do not have a thing for Sakura-san! I would not ever want her bent over a... table, darnit! Youji-kun! I think maybe -you- have the thing for Sakura-san and are just seeing these supposed looks through his own... Youji-kun viewing!"

"Maybe it is those sunglasses he always wears," Ran added mildly, trying to fight the faint blush that burned his cheeks, the look on Ken's face showing the playboy had been correct in his assumption. He tightened the sash on his robe a tiny bit, not sure he could go again so quickly. In the shower they'd taken after Omi's shrieked questions woke them up, Ken had been bathing him and... tasted him. Many times.

"Hm? Eh? Nani?"

"Instead of them being x-ray they're ... hentai-ray."

"Ooo! Maybe so! So, Youji-kun, do you see everything in this world in matters of..." Omi blushed faintly. "...sex?"

"It's the only way to live my boy." Shrugging casually and donning said sunglasses with a wiggle of his eyebrows and a wink toward the boy, Youji grinned. "With what we do... it's one of the few fun things left in this world."

Ken shook his head sadly. "My, my aren't we the jaded one."

"Yup. Now go get dressed before I ravish your half naked toweled self." Youji flopped down on the couch with a soft pout. "Really Ken. You walking around like that? You're liable to hurt someone."

"How?"

"Just go get dressed."

A light confused frown touched his features as he took Ran's hand in his and nodded back toward the bedroom.

Slipping his fingers easily between Ken's, Ran threw a light glance Youji's way before slinking off to the bedroom to get ready for dinner. "Hm, dare I even ask what that was about...?" he asked softly, placing his suitcase on the bed to look through it to find something proper for dinner. The night mountain air was a bit chilly, growing even more so as the hours after sunset ticked by.

"Youji had... has... I don't know anymore. A thing for me I think." Ken sighed softly and pulled up his own suitcase and rummaged through it, yanking his towel off to toss on a chair in the room as he did so. "Don't know when or why or how... but I didn't encourage him or anything like that."

"Ah..." Ran frowned lightly, but hardly because of the affections the blonde had for his lover. It was hardly his say on who Youji cared for or not. He took off the robe, being careful not to glance at the nude and still slightly damp Ken lest they find themselves in bed once more, even if it was just so he could kiss away every single drop from the shower still on his golden skin. The redhead pulled on a pair of boxer-briefs before turning to rest his hand on Ken's shoulder. "He must... have hated how I treated you before."

"I don't think he knew about... everything." Shrugging lightly Ken pulled on a pair of form fitting boxers and grabbed a pair of khaki cargo pants and slipped them on. Ken looked up at his lover and skimmed his hand up along his forearm turning his head to kiss the hand on his shoulder. "Whether he did or not... wasn't my business. There really wasn't anything I could do about it. Either your treatment of me which really isn't as bad as you two make it out, or how he felt about me. I hope he can be happy for me, because God knows I'm happy now. You make me so." Ken's eyes reflected a sincere blue warmth reminiscent of the Caribbean. "I love you, Ran."

Turning to him after buttoning the fly of his dark black slacks, pausing in the buttoning of his pale ivory shirt, Ran smiled faintly and hugged Ken tightly in his arms, every time he heard those words they were just more and more beautiful. Especially now that he could honestly return them. "I love you too Ken. However I treated you before... it really doesn't matter?" His eyes were soft, an innocent childlike look in them as he gazed at Ken, like a child amazed their parents said they weren't being punished for whatever thing they did wrong. "I'll never treat you like that again, Ken. It may not matter to you but..." His fingers touched lightly along his cheek, staring at that loving face, those aqua blue eyes that never left his mind. He just wanted to drown in them, in the depth of emotions Ken made him feel and gave him, never coming up for air or a breath of the reality they once knew. "It does to me. I honestly don't know how I treated you like that."

"No, koi. It doesn't matter to me, really. I was... amazed more than anything that you kept coming back. I even began to look forward to it. No matter what it was in your mind, in mine you were always making love to me. In my heart and in my fantasies... it was always how it was today." Ken rose slowly to his feet and slid his arms about Ran's waist and gazed up at him, the purest expression of love and devotion in his eyes and on his face. "There was nothing to forgive, and had there been, it would have been forgiven on... that day... when you didn't turn away my help. When you let me hold you through the night, when you accepted my love for you, and when you let me be what I always wanted to be for you. There."

"You made me feel something, Ken, something I wasn't used to feeling or could place. When with you I didn't feel so alone or cold... It should have been. It will be from now on... I'm not scared of exploring what I feel with you now." Drawn closer to him like the infamous moth to a burning flame, Ran's lower lip ran gently down the smooth lines of Ken's neck, hugging him as close as he just felt his skin under his gentle kiss. His fingers touched on his chin, blushing softly at the depth of emotion in his gaze. "I needed you then... as I still do, koibito." Unable to stand the closeness between them without doing anything about it, Ran pushed away the thoughts of pulling the covers back over them and indeed enjoying dessert. Instead though he pressed his lips softly to his, the kiss full of promises of what would come again soon.

At the door, a tiny muffled giggle sounded. "Ne... Youji-kun. Are they gonna... talk again?" a distinct voice whispered. Sheesh, can't two assassins get some privacy around here?!

"They'd better not. I'm hungry!" Standing up straight Youji banged on the door. "No dessert until after dinner. Which means, Ken. You put Ran's dick back in his pants and stop sucking on it!" Winking down at Omi he grinned. "That should get them out of there in 5... 4... 3... 2..."

"1... uh... 0 and 1/2..."

A bright flush automatically touched over Ran's cheeks at being listened to -again-, this time somehow even more private and personal than the first time. He almost automatically wanted to crawl under the sheets of their bed and hide from their teammates until he stopped wanting to die of embarrassment, but a sudden mischievous glint shot through his eyes. If they were going to insist on listening, they may as well give them something to listen to. Nuzzling lightly against Ken in a rare view of his old self, pre-explosion, teasing, mischievous... easy going.

Pulling in a shaky breath, he tipped his head back, his eyes falling shut. He'd seen this movie once, When 'Harry Met Sally', and wondered if he could recreate a certain scene from that film. "Just a... ahhh! KEN! Minute! Um... ooo oh my GOD how do you-" a short squeal interrupted his words as Ran continued his fake orgasming to let Omi and Youji hear what they seemed to think was going in here. "We'll... ooooOOoo be there... in... in... in... IN! A few minutes! OhmygodohmygodKEN!"

"..." Ken simply stood there in mute shock as his face turned redder still from Ran's teasing which had already turned a light pink from Youji remark at the door. Now he was positively scarlet. He resembled a 'STOP' sign almost in the shade of red he'd become. He fell suddenly on the edge of the bed blinking up at his lover, aquamarine eyes wide with disbelief. Then something triggered in his memory. Tilting his head to the side, narrowing his eyes slightly and accusatorily a soft pout curled on Ken's lip. In a teasing babified voice the younger male chimed cutely, "You didn't make that much noise earlier..."

From the other side of the door Youji, amazingly enough started grinning. Swinging his arms and hips and neck in a motion of the 'Cabbage Patch' dance. Youji started chanting loud enough for the pair in the room to hear. "Go Kenken! Go Kenken! Go! Go! Go Kenken!"

"Youji-kun!! Shush!" Omi cried, plastering his hands over his face. He should not be hearing this! So why couldn't he stop listening?

Ran blinked at the sweet pout, falling silent for a moment while he stopped himself from going under the covers from shame and anger at himself for hurting his feelings in any way. Leaning forward to whisper in his ear for Ken alone, he smiled faintly, "That is because I was not faking or doing this for them. Just for us." Caressing his cheek with a light playful wink, he sat down on the bed and gently pulled Ken to rest on his lap. Continuing on with his fake climaxing, he cried out long and loud. "Ah ah ah! Kenkenkenkenkenken! Oooo! Right there... there.... there! There! There! KENNNNNNNNNNNN!"

"Ohh then I'll give you something to really scream about." Grinning widely Ken's hand squirmed its way into Ran's pants and started fondling freely while his lips found the highly sensitive skin under his ear along the back of his neck. Both hands and lips working teasingly in their efforts to torment his lover.

And once more on the other side of the door Youji was giving it the old frat boy chant. "Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!" With each shout he gave a pound to the door.

Ran shivered and his voice failed him at the true pleasurable touch, not the faked imagined one he was doing just to give Youji and Omi a little show, er... sound drama. His moans fell a bit quieter this time but still easily loud enough for the pair outside the door to hear, gasping out and groaning his lover's name. "Ken... god Ken..."

Muttering lightly under his breath, Omi hopped up and down, torn between dragging the two out so they could go eat and staying to listen more. They made more noise than the Queen of Hearts did after she told Alice 'on your knees'! Though he could have sworn it was 'off with her head'. Oh well. "Darn it I wanna seeeee! What is Ken doing?! There -where-?" Omi said before throwing the door open.

He blinked as he saw the pair sitting on the bed innocent as could be, Ran angled so he couldn't see exactly where Ken's hands were. Ran's head had fallen to rest on Ken's clothed shoulder, his lips parted in soft gasps and eyes shut, his arms wrapped about his waist to rub lightly along his back. "Ano... Youji-kun! Ran-kun's um... yea... is in his pants and Ken's not suckling anything? Liar! So what are you two doing?"

Half a second after Omi's voice was heard Ken's hand flew out of Ran's pants which unbalanced Ken who sat lazily in Ran's lap. In a matter of seconds Ken had fallen to the floor with a loud thud, his ass connecting rather suddenly with the floor. "Ow..."

Youji grinned at Ken's guilty flush. "So you two weren't faking it. You really WERE doing something."

"Youji!" Ken blushed a lovely shade of red to match his lover's hair at the comment.

"So. How are Ken's hand jobs?" Looking over to Omi he grinned. "Remember the part of Alice in Wonderland where Alice was using her hand on the King of Hearts? That's what Ken was doing to Ran. And what Alice was doing to the Mad Hatter before she started putting him in her mouth."

"YOUJI!!"

"Just educating the boy. Sheesh. He needs to learn sometime. I mean if he's going to be a good lover to Sakura, he needs to know these things."

Sighing faintly, Ran extended a hand down to help Ken up, making a mental note to rub his backside which must be sore from falling onto the floor. Later. "Clumsy," he said softly, his crimson bangs falling in front of his face to hide his tiny smile even as he chided his beautiful lover. He pulled him back up to rest on the edge of the bed, staring wide-eyed at Youji.

"Youji-kuuun! We're! Just! Friends!"

"Ken and I are friends..." Ran said off hand, tilting his head in curiosity at the bright flush on Omi's cheeks whenever Sakura was mentioned.

"Nooo you and Ken-kun are... good friends. Sakura-san and I are just! Friends!"

"Hm," Ran pondered, looking over to the 'all sex seeing, all sex knowing' Uncle Youji to see what he thought of Omi's friendship with Sakura. He set his hand lightly on Ken's leg, rubbing his knee fondly, glad for the change of subject on just what they had been doing.

"I've seen the way you look at her. You want to take her up stairs to your room and do naughty things to her. I -know- you do. My room is right next to yours. I've heard you scream her name in your sleep then toss your bed sheets into the laundry before you go to school." Youji nodded sagely as he continued with his oh so deductive private eye evaluation of the Omi x Sakura relationship. "You think I don't know but you forget. I'm often coming home when you leave for school. I've seen the sheets!"

"Ew you have!" Ken made a disgusted face.

"I have to know these things, Kenken."

"Why do you need to know that Omi has wet dreams."

"It's important!"

"To?"

"To Weiß."

"How?"

"Because. If Omi is more focused on fucking Sakura's brains out he's not focusing on the mission which means Youji might die."

"Oh."

"See! I told you it's very important."

"You're so full of shit."

"YoujiLogic..." Ran pondered lightly, thinking over that reasoning with a light nod. "Is actually frightening in that it sometimes makes sense."

"Ran-kun!" Omi muttered, putting his hands over his face. "We're just friends!"

"But you want to be more at least according to yourself during REM."

Continuing to mutter, Omi eyed the ground, kicking a foot back and forth. "She likes you..."

"Actually she always asked about you."

Blinking, his genki little head came up to stare at the redhead. "HONTOU?"

"Hai. Why do you think she always bothered me so much?"

"Because she was in love with you..."

"Cover. Just a cover. A good one but a cover. She wants the genki florist."

"Yup. Everyone wants the cute widdle blonde bishonen." Youji's arm draped over Omi's shoulder and dragged him in for a good noogie. "Ouka, Sakura. I think Aya has a bit of a crush on you. She's -always- asking you about homework stuff and she's just as smart as her brother." The blonde quickly ducked behind the smaller one. Okay so he was a bit frightened that he'd suggested to Ran that his sweet innocent sister might have a thing for one of them, but... at least it wasn't KEN.

"So... Omi -does- like Sakura?" Ken was still a bit confused at the picture of Omi liking -any- one in a non-platonic way. To him Omi would always be the way too hyper thirteen year old kid who brought Ken out of his post J-League scandal depression by just being his happy go lucky self and being the family Ken had needed at the time. "Omi. And Sakura. REEALLY?"

Youji sighed softly. Oi. Ken would always be sweet, innocent, and adorably ignorantly sexy no matter how much sex that boy had. There was no sexing out that level of innocence and natural naiveté.

Omi squeaked lightly, looking at the other three between his fingers, blushing brightly. "You guys talk like we're already hooked up! But ok ok ok ok ok... I guess I kinda... sorta... like her... I guess... but I really don't want to get involved with her because... even though she knows what we do... I mean... uh... what if someone uses her, like Schwarz used her to get to us before... I just don't want her to be in danger." Omi flushed and hung his head, knowing what he meant even though he couldn't say it. "It's different with you and Ken-kun, Ran-kun... Ken-kun can protect himself and we're all already targeted..."

Ran sighed faintly, his hands resting lightly on Ken's shoulders as he stared at the blushing boy. He didn't want her to end up like Ouka. Or Maki. Or Asuka. A light glare was sent Youji's way at his comment about Aya but it didn't hold up. He didn't want to insult Omi by insinuating he didn't want his dear sister with someone of the boy's character.

"Okay, I getcha kiddo. No more teasing you about Sakura. Really though, Chu. A few dates won't be the end of the world." Youji patted Omi's head lightly and added a light ruffling of his hair for added effect. "You can always wear the communicators we have if something -does- happen. You don't see me being paranoid about having my dates in jeopardy."

"Nope, he's right. His dates are more in jeopardy of Youji than from the bad guys." Ken winked and smiled impishly as his arm wound its way about Ran's waist pulling his lover against his shorter but stockier frame.

Youji cast a light glare in Ken's direction. "What's that supposed to mean Hidaka."

"Figure it out, Kudou." Ken stuck his tongue out at the older male and dropped his head on Ran's shoulder. "Let's go I'm starving!"

"After all that... talking... who wouldn't be." Youji smirked then grinned as Ken flushed brightly to the tips of his deep auburn hair. "Gotcha!"

"Bastard."

"Nope not playing that right now or we'll never get outta here."

"Okay, okay. Fine. Got anything in mind you wanna eat, koi?"

"Ken's not on the menu, Ran. Remember that." Youji winked as his own arm slid over Omi's shoulder in a casual, friendly gesture.

"Shut up, Youji," Ran muttered with a faint blush as he wrapped an arm about Ken's slender waist. A soft kiss was pressed to Ken's hair as he hid his own red cheeks against the soft chestnut strands, enjoying the silken feeling touching on his cheeks.

"Shut-up-Youji... what place serves that? I'd rather have... Pizza!" Omi automatically chirped up, nuzzling lightly against the familiar warmth of the older man's side as the four walked to the door, picking up various keys, billfolds, jackets, as they walked.

Ran scrunched his nose lightly.

"Tacos!"

Another nose scrunching.

"Hamburgers!"

Yet another.

"Candy?"

A shaking of a head. "Definitely not."

Omi grinned. "Milkshakes-"

"Are not a meal, Omi."

"Ice cream!"

"I will not repeat myself."

"Pizza!"

"You already tried that."

"Well what -do- you want, Ran-kun... other than another talking session with Ken-kun."

"Maybe a place with a salad bar..."

"AAAAH!" Omi clung to Youji's side, his bright blue eyes wide in terror.

"What? What is it?" Ran blinked, automatically looking around, expecting Schwarz to be standing down the hallway or Schuldich somehow back from the grave.

"Yooooouji-kun! Ken-kun! Ran-kun expects me to eat.... v- v- vegetables!" Omi cowered in terror. They all knew of his ultimate dislike of celery. It was unexplainable. Blech! He just didn't like it. He sniffled and eyed Ran with a light sulk. "Did I do something wrong to deserve such intended torture?"

Ran sweatdropped and shook his head faintly, rubbing his temples with a muttered, "Over dramatic."

Ken giggled lightly at Omi's antics and curled up happily against Ran. "Most salad bars have a dessert bar and the last one I went to also had an Italian bar with pizza and pasta and the like. So if there's one like that here, which there should be because this -is- a tourist place, then we should have no problem finding something everyone likes." Ken smiled as his fingers curled within Ran's belt loop as he relaxed at his side.

Youji suppressed a sigh and did his best to hide the pang of jealousy at seeing Ken so wrapped up in Ran. He was happy. That was all that was important. Ran had mellowed and accepted Ken. That was all that was important. They'd both been through so much... He should he happy for them and in a way he was, but that didn't mean at times when he was alone he didn't wish things had turned out differently. Then again... He doubted he could make Ken as happy as he was now. Ran just seemed to suit him better all around.

Shrugging lightly, he pulled Omi out the door with a light wink. "Let's find this all encompassing salad bar thing. And let's not look back at those two. I get the feeling one of those is going to pull the other into another bout of kissing real soon."

As the pair vacated the room, Ken glanced up at Ran an all too happy smile plastered on his lips. "This is great huh? All four of us like this. Getting along like a real family? You have no idea how long I've wanted this with the four of us." He sighed softly and turned to hug Ran fully wrapping both arms about his waist, his chin resting dead center of Ran's chest as he gazed in adoration and loving worship at the redhead. "I love you, Ran." His own heart seemed to hammer and thunder in his chest as he looked at the beautiful male. It all felt like a dream. A happy glorious dream that he never wanted to wake from.

Wrapping one arm tight about the man's waist to keep him close by him, Ran allowed a soft smile to grace his lips for the man to see and enjoy, knowing Ken so delighted in seeing and hearing the apparent pleasure and happiness Ran felt most times. And he was so happy with him, almost deliriously so, but he was a realist, and was expecting the second shoe to drop. But for now... just for now... he could enjoy the close company of his lover and the comfortable relations between the members of Weiß. "I know Ken.... I'm happy too." His lips moved down to touch on his boyfriend's mouth, the caress soft and sweet.


Ken's arms tightened about Ran's shoulders as their lips met. He seemed to melt at the other man's kisses. He never tired of the sweet press of his lips on his own. Taking a soft nibble of Ran's lower lip before disengaging, he smiled and hugged the older man tightly. His finger rose to brush along the faint worried crease he'd caught a glimpse of. "You worry too much, koi." Smiling softly, he settled himself back against Ran's side, all too comfortable with the presence of the other male. He winked playfully as his gaze met Ran's. "Let's head down stairs before I spoil my dinner with dessert."

"Hrn," was Ran's only response to the comment as he parted from the sweet kiss. He took Ken's gently caressing fingers between his own as the pair walked slowly to the stairwell to join the other two of Weiß to go down to the car to find a place to eat to suit each of their tastes. Perhaps he did worry too much but he knew that happiness and peace could not last forever, especially not for a group like Weiß. Especially not with a group like Schwarz most certainly not happy with them. Sighing softly, he wished that it never did ever have to end. A soft kiss was touched to the tip of Ken's ear as they walked, soon catching up with Youji and Omi waiting in the stairwell.

"You two have your sweet little smoochie woochies?" Youji teased as the other pair walked up to them.

"We managed a quickie."

"You did not!"

"No we didn't but I had you going." Ken smirked and buried his blushing cheeks against Ran's arm.

"Aww cute. Widdle Kenken's blushing." The older male reached out and punched Ken lightly in the arm before pressing the elevator button. "Aren't they the cutest, Omi?"

"Hai the ultimate cutest!" Omi grinned and bounced lightly to the muzac playing in the elevator. "Is this 'Moonlight Densetsu'..." he pondered, staring up at the ceiling with a slight scrunch to his face.

"I believe it is.... mm, 'Moonlight Sonata'..." Ran replied, tilting his head to the side as he listened to the song, trying to decipher what exactly it was. Keeping his arm almost lazily about Ken's shoulders, he looked to the other two for their input on what it could be.

Ken looked up at the speaker as well hoping for some inspiration from the muzac gods but none came. "'Muskrat Love'?"

"Muskrat, muskrat candlelight. Doin' the town and doin' it right. In the evenin'. It's pretty pleasin'. Muskrat Susie, Muskrat Sam. Do the jitterbug out in muskrat land, and they shimmy and Sammy's so skinny..."

Ken blinked as Youji crooned. "I can't believe you know the song."

"It's a good song and no, that's not 'Muskrat Love.' Not even close." Youji continued singing softly in his dulcet tones.

Meanwhile Ken covered his ears as if he were listening to the most vile sound imaginable hoping beyond hope that the elevator would come to a stop.

Violet and deep blue eyes turned to stare in mute shock at Youji for a few minutes, Ran and Omi staring at Youji as if he was the biggest freak of nature.

"Please tell me that I am imagining things..."

"You are not, Ran-kun..."

"Hearing things?"

"I wish, Ran-kun. But Youji-kun is... singing..."

"Youji, if that ... cha cha thing comes out of your mouth, I -will- hurt you."

"'Tsu-han. Tsu-han. Cha-cha-chaaa,'" Youji sang for them in question. "You mean that? It's a classic commercial and among my absolute favorites. Do not mock the advertising gods. It's not wise." Grinning softly still humming the little tune under his breath, the elevator doors chose that moment to open. The blonde strolled casually out of the elevator, genki fluff in tow suffering his slight off key humming of Muskrat Love.

Ken glanced over in mute shock. "I don't know him. Do you? Should we duck out now while there's still a chance?" Eyeing Youji, Ken cursed. "Shit. He's still got Omi trapped."

"I definitely do not know him," Ran agreed, eyeing the two blondes walking away. It was as if Youji had known they were going to want to ditch him so had taken Omi as hostage. "We have no choice. We cannot abandon Omi to his... singing. Let us go." With a long-suffering sigh, Ran stepped out of the elevator with his lover, his hand slipping off of his shoulder to just clasp his hand in public. Keeping him close at his side though but trying to appear his usual cool confident self instead of appearing as he often felt, as if he was clinging to Ken. Like a man clinging to a life raft in a storming ocean, afraid if he let go of the one thing keeping them afloat he'd sink into the depths of insanity of the churning sea. Ken kept him in reality and kept the inner demons and pain from dragging him into the dark depths.

Ken's close proximity was what kept the nightmares away, kept him from becoming exactly what Schuldich had been. As the German had told him so many times... they were the same stock. Trying to brush away the darker thoughts that had suddenly sprung up, Ran shook his head faintly, just wanting to enjoy his vacation time with Weiß. He turned a corner and froze, his hand tightening to a near death grip on Ken's.

"Schwarz..." he hissed in a low whisper as he spotted the familiar back of Crawford's head as he sat on the terrace with the youngest member of Schwarz and an unfamiliar man who he guessed to be another member of some branch of SZ by the way the trio were talking. Or rather pair, Nagi was sitting and staring blankly ahead, a faint look of boredom on his face at the business meeting.

Every single vein in his body ran with freezing ice water as he stared at the table, eyes flashing to the side, looking for the fire-locked man. His mind told him that he was dead, Ken had assured him time and time he was dead. There was no way he could have lived through what Ken did to him and then the prison exploding. No one could have lived through that, not even a man who was supposedly the Devil himself. His hand stayed tight on Ken's, breathing as evenly as possible to not freak out and run screaming away from everyone he knew so they wouldn't be harmed if Schwarz decided to attack him as the one to blame for Schuldich's death. God had they seen him? How couldn't they with his tall form, red hair, and pale skin... at lest they were at a resort with many tourists, many not natives of Japan so he blended in a bit better. "We need to go.. Hell. Where are Youji and Omi? Ken?"

* * *

Deep blue eyes never changed or showed a bit of recognition as Nagi did indeed note each and every member of the white assassins, seeing the expressions of the four most of all. First he saw Bombay and Balinese, the smoker laughing. He could tell that even if he couldn't hear the man's voice. It was apparent in the way his eyes sparkled as he looked down at the blonde one, tugging on his arm and pouting though a smile kept tinging his lips. Then around a corner came Abyssinian and Siberian, Nagi's gaze freezing over at the sight of the two before he hid it with a well-masked cover. The sight of the redhead surprised him... or rather how well he looked. A part of him was infuriated that they were both so happy while Schuldich was dead and gone. Had... Schwarz... ever been that happy? The four must have been on vacation. They hardly looked to be wearing the faces of assassins they usually did when facing off with Schwarz.

"What is it, Nagi?" Crawford said in a pause in his conversation with Crocifisso, a slim dark eyebrow tilting up as he looked over at the young boy.

Turning slowly up to look at the man, Nagi stared into his amber eyes for a moment, pondering his choices. Tell the man Weiß was here? Let him test out his new telepath? Dammit but it wasn't fair... this man though so far polite to Nagi... would never be Mastermind. Even though Schuldich played games and cuddled him and called him Naggles, Nagi-mon, other odd nicknames that god only knew where he got them from... Nagi had... was it care? Nagi had cared for the German. In his own ways he had always protected him. And now he was gone. And whose fault was it. Weiß's? Because they saved their teammate and tried to salvage his sanity by killing the man who violated him in ways Nagi dared not even think on? The Japanese youth dared not to think on the ways of death going through Crawford's head for the four, specifically Hidaka Ken / "Siberian" and Fujimiya Ran / "Abyssinian".

He continued to ponder over words, eventually choosing his actions as well. If Crawford was to know they were here, let him figure it out on his own. In one of his own damn faulty visions. It was because of those visions Schuldich was gone. Schuldich hadn't broken Weiß he'd broken Schwarz. So much for it being fortunate for them. Farfarello if anything had lost the last marbles he had, now a raging beast that was ready to turn on anyone. Nagi was even more solemn now. Crawford was cut off from everyone, moody, quiet. Waiting for one of his fucking visions to come to give him guidance. Why was he so upset? He continually bitched about Schuldich's behavior. Too many drugs, too many games, too much sex and tricking, too many advances on the American. Was he finally admitting he'd wanted Schuldich? He was angry he'd taken the leader of Weiß to bed and not the leader of Schwarz? If that was the case...

Too little too late.

Schwarz had saved Nagi from the streets long ago. And Schwarz had now condemned him to life without... a friend. First Tot.... then Schuldich.... Farfarello was near bleeding himself to death, screaming out each and every and all night to God, was He crying now that the Devil himself back in Hell? That he had hurt one of His white fallen angels?

Under the table he clenched his hand, focusing on the people milling between the terrace and the resort lobby, the people between Schwarz and Weiß. They moved slowly, shifted with aching care, to block Crawford's direct vision of them. Let them be happy. If they met up with them later, Nagi would fight but... it would be their own fault for the confrontation.

"Nothing Crawford. Just... people watching."

"Don't. They are nothing to us. You know this."

"... Of course. Crawford." Nagi's midnight blue eyes met with violet before he looked away. Of course. Normal people were nothing to him. Because he wasn't one of them. How... typical to hear from the leader of the broken assassin team. A bitter smirk touched his lips and he shifted his gaze from Ran back to stare blankly at the telepath, not really looking at him. Just... staring.

Crocifisso had redressed quickly after his shower the idle prattle of his teammates superficially ignored yet stored in his mind for later. This man differed from Schuldich in a great many ways. In those ways he could be seen by some as the more dangerous telepath. He had been the personal telepath to the three old cronies of SZ and when they had met their end he continued on with the position. What was frightening was, this man was utterly sane, having long ago learned from other skilled telepaths how to control the din of thoughts that bombarded his mind on a constant basis. Almost as if an equalizer had been installed into his mind. Mental dials and buttons to pick and choose what he wanted to hear and didn't hear. Minds like Crawford's admittedly helped make that filtering easier, yet it wasn't something he depended on like Schuldich had.

The Italian had had a merciful training as compared to the German. His parents had signed him over and he had gone willingly into their care. It was as if he'd been sent to boarding school for the mentally 'gifted.' Somewhat like that school on that X-Men movie. Hence why he harbored no ill will toward the organization he worked for and why he felt that joining with Schwarz would serve to be a mild amusement for him.

A long back length strand of sleek blonde hair wound its way about his finger as he glanced at Nagi. A wide smile and merriment sparkled in his navy blue eyes. He tipped the end of his hair into his martini and suckled the bitter substance from the end as his mental voice slid into Nagi's mind. A warm relaxing feel of the warm Mediterranean Sea and the soothing Riviera breezes flit over the boy's mind as warning that the telepath was now in. Unlike Schuldich's 'Surprise I'm here' method.

~/Mama mia, Naoe. Such dangerous thoughts. Do you forget who's sitting at the table beside you? Not to worry mio bambino(2*). Your secret is safe with me. Besides. I'm in no mood to deal with Weiß right now. But perhaps I should say ciao(3*) and introduce myself, si(4*)?/~

The stunning male swung his long curtain of blonde hair over his shoulder and smiled. Something which he shared with the former telepath, a vanity for his hair. Waist-length blonde hair that lay flat and straight in sleek sheets of pale golden strands. Almost a soft pastel yellow. Its shine and body would make any supermodel jealous and any shampoo kill to produce results like that. Slender fingers combed through his strands as he tried to ascertain a visual from Nagi's mind as to what these boys looked like and sounded like. Once he had that he bounced from mind to mind looking for them until he found them.

He hummed a small Italian tune under his breath as he decided on which of the two kitties Nagi had seen would be best to introduce himself to. Both Ken and Ran had a strong aversion to the former telepath, yet Ran's fear and terror was so... succulent. He had to pay the man a visit.

~/Ciao, il mio amico(5*). Enjoying your day? I was until Oracle and Prodigy came to pick me up. Who am I? Oh how rude of me. I am Mastermind./~

Soft lilting laughter followed the mental declaration. He could almost taste the fright the redhead was now suffering at the mention of that particular name and that the Italian could now claim it.

(1*) My name is

(2*) my child

(3*) hello

(4*) yes

(5*) my friend