1.1 Memories Forgotten: Mystery of Anger
1.1.1
Archive: Please do NOT.
Warning: Angst
Disclaimer: They're mine I tells ya, mine! And if you believe that then I know this really nice place with padded walls you just *have* to visit.
Author's Notes: ::blah:: = thoughts
~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ = scene change and/or time passage
For further author's notes please see the end of the fic.
One more thing, a very special thanks to my two wonderful betas: Dori and Hikaru no Miko. Thank you guys so much and sorry I was such a bother.
Memories Forgotten
Part One: Mystery of Anger
Yohji stepped into the shower stall still half asleep. It took him three tries (since he refused to open his eyes) before his hand finally connected with a water knob. Without bothering to see which one it was he twisted, turning the water on. Suddenly, he was yelping, jumping away from the frigid spray. He glared at the knob he'd turned, a little more awake now, and realized it had been the cold water he had turned on.
::Sheesh, I guess I'm lucky it wasn't the hot water:: He reached out and turned on the hot water. When the water was a more humane temperature he stepped back in to the spray, sighing as the warm water pounded down on him. He turned to let the water fall on his back and suddenly he was yelping again, pressing himself against the shower wall and away from the water as fire seemed to explode along his back and shoulder at the water's contact. He glared balefully at the water knobs, wondering what on earth he had touched *this* time. After a few minutes he decided *he* hadn't done anything. He turned to glare at his own body.
His eyes widened in alarm as he got his first look at what had caused the pain. A purple so dark it was almost black on his left shoulder was the biggest, ugliest bruise he had ever seen. Gently he touched it, then winced. It hurt! And there seemed to be blood on it. Frowning, he stepped back into the spray of the shower. He cleaned it of all the encrusted blood, wincing as he felt the water fall in a stinging spray all up and down his back. He promised himself he'd check *that* out as soon as he was done.
After what had to be the shortest shower in history he stood, his back to the large mirror, staring at the four long, thin, red stripes that ran down his back. Slowly, he began to grin. He looked down at his shoulder again and the grin grew wider as he confirmed that, yes, the ragged edge of the wound on the bruise *could* have come from a human bite.
::Yohji, you dog. You obviously drove some poor, young thing wild last night.:: Grinning, and suddenly in a much better mood, Yohji quickly cleaned and sterilized the wound on his shoulder. He placed a bandage on it then dressed.
A few minutes later, whistling merrily, he made his way down into the shop. Omi was on the phone taking down what looked to be a rather large order. Ken was handling the cash register as Aya stood in one corner, quietly and efficiently working on a flower arrangement that seemed to include whin, belladonna and burdock. (1)
"Ohayo, Yohji-kun. You seem to be in a good mood this morning," Omi said as he hung up the phone.
"You're awake! And in a good mood! And it's not even noon yet!" Ken said, clutching at his heart as if he were having a heart attack.
"Well, Ken-ken, if you'd had a night like mine you'd be in a good mood too." Yohji said, grinning.
"Did you have a good time last night, Yohji-kun?" Omi asked innocently.
"You don't know the half of it, bishounen. I had a *great* time. Found myself a real wildcat. I can't remember all that much about her but she must have been a real sex fiend. Left marks all up and down my -"
"Yohji!" Ken reached over and covered Omi's ears, shooting Yohji an outraged look.
"-back." Yohji finished his sentence then frowned at Ken. "What did you think I was going to say? Oi, what kind of pervert do you think I am?"
"The kind of pervert that would speak of such things in front of a child."
"I am not a child!"
"I am not a pervert! Just because you never think about anything other than -"
"ENOUGH! You are here to work. So...WORK." The anger evident in Aya's tone made all three of them wince. Shooting daggers at each other with their eyes Ken and Yohji went their separate ways leaving a pouting Omi to tend the register.
"I am not a child."
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"I'm sure she was tall." Yohji was saying again, later. "With soft skin that tasted sweet and light. I'm sure of it. She must have had sultry eyes and -"
"Would you put a sock in it already?" Ken interrupted. "You don't even know her name!"
"Jealous, are we, Ken-ken?" Yohji asked in a too sweet tone.
"Of what? Some woman you dreamed up? You don't even remember what she looked like."
"Maybe my mind doesn't but my body sure does."
"Yohji, shut UP." Aya said, violet eyes flashing as he glared murderously at the blonde. "Go into the back room and finish the inventory. Ken, these arrangements are ready for delivery."
Yohji, who'd been about to continue going on about his mystery woman, shut his mouth with a loud snap. Pushing away from the counter where he'd been leaning, doing nothing, he shrugged and went, whistling all the while.
Ken stomped across the flower shop, snatching the delivery list off the wall. "Fine. I'll go. Anything to get away from him." He stalked out of the shop, slamming the door behind him.
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A couple of hours later, tired of doing inventory, Yohji walked back into the shop. It was empty of all except Aya.
"Hey, where'd Omi go?"
Aya looked up from what he was doing to glare at him, dark eyes seeming to command him to drop dead where he stood.
"Hey, what'd I do?" Yohji asked, defensively, completely taken aback at the anger in the violet eyes.
Aya's glare grew darker before he pointedly turned away, shoulders and back stiff. Yohji frowned at him, curious. Then he shrugged and looked around, trying to find some clue that would tell him where the kid had gotten to. The bell above the door suddenly rang and the object of his quest walked in, several bags of takeout weighing down his arms.
"I'm back and I have lunch," Omi called cheerfully.
"Great. I'm starved." Yohji immediately moved to follow Omi through the back door that lead into the rest of the house. "Hey, Aya, you coming?"
He got no response.
"A-ya? Did you hear me? Are you coming?"
"Not. Hungry." The cold voice said in clipped tones and Yohji frowned, coming back into the shop. Aya stood before one of the work tables, his back to him, the sitting stool pushed to one side, unused. Yohji was about to question him again when he stopped, something about the way Aya was moving, had been moving all morning, struck him as odd. He focused on Aya, trying to pinpoint what was different. Arms moved slowly as Aya worked on an arrangement of long stemmed white roses.(2) Aya's movements were controlled and elegant as always, each action performed with the maximum efficiency in mind in a slow, easy flow. Slow. That was it.
"Hey, Aya, is something wrong? You're moving kind of stiffly." Aya froze, body going visibly tense at the sound of his voice.
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure? I mean-"
"Leave me be, Yohji." There was a dark undercurrent of threat to the voice that made Yohji pause. He stood there, watching Aya who still stood with his back to him, hands now firmly planted before him, clenched on the table. Yohji noticed that one of Aya's fists had inadvertently crushed down on one of the roses, long thorns digging into pale flesh. He gave a small gasp and was about to step forward when Aya spoke again. "Yoh-ji."
Just that, one word, nothing more, but it caused him to pause. He looked at the stiff back, at the clenched hands. ::What did I do?:: Yohji wondered, a frown marring his face. After a minute he shrugged and gave an internal sigh. ::Probably nothing. He must be in one of *those* moods again.::
"Okay, Aya. We'll save you some. You can have it later if you want." No response but then again, he hadn't really expected one. He shrugged again and went to join Omi and the food in the kitchen.
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Yohji moved about the room, slowly inspecting the floral displays for any wilting that would mean it would have to be replaced. Omi had gone off to finish up some homework that was due the next day and Ken had already taken off for his afternoon game with the kids. As he moved near Aya a faint scent tickled his nose and his memory. Stepping closer he took a deeper sniff. ::Lavender. Lavender. Where have I smelled that before? Aya. I wanted to ask Aya something about lavender. But what?::
"Oi, Aya. Is that lavender you're wearing?" Aya immediately stiffened. "I think I meant to ask you something about lavender but I can't remember what or why? Do you have any idea?" At his words Aya went completely pale, all color drained right out of him.
"Hey, Aya, you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"But you've gone all white. Is something wrong?" Yohji reached out a hand, concerned, afraid that at any moment Aya would fall away in a faint. Aya slapped his hand away.
"Leave me alone. Go bother someone else with your stupid questions."
"Sheesh. I was just making conversation. Bite a guy's head off why don't you?"
"Fine. If you won't let me get any work done you can tend the shop yourself." Aya stalked away.
"What is his problem today?" Yohji asked, exasperated. ::Yes, Aya is always moody. Yes, Aya is always a pain in the a-- but today he's worse than usual.:: Yohji glared at the closed door through which Aya had disappeared. Then he shrugged and returned to pretending to work. When he realized that he was all alone and that that meant nobody would pester him if he didn't work he grinned and simply lounged against the counter until it was time to close.
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Yohji gave himself one last glance in the mirror. The brown leather pants he wore were like a second skin, hanging low on his hips while the loose, dark vest he had on barely covered anything. ::Perfect.::
After having had to close the shop up on his own he had decided he would reward himself with another night of clubbing. Now, dressed and ready, he winked at his reflection before he gathered up his keys and jacket.
"Are you going out tonight, Yohji-kun?" A young voice greeted him as he stepped out into the darkened hallway.
"Of course, bishounen. I can't deny the ladies my presence now can I? They might riot."
"But I thought you were besotted by the wildcat you kept brining up earlier." Omi teased lightly.
"I am but I doubt I'm going to find her here. I'll be going to the same club I went to yesterday. Maybe, if I run across her, I'll recognize her or she'll recognize me. Either way, I plan to have fun looking." Yohji winked at him. Omi shook his head and laughed. Yohji grinned.
"I'll see you later, Omi. Don't stay up too late, okay?"
"Ja, Yohji-kun. I won't." Omi waved goodbye. Yohji put on his coat and made his way down the stairs. Omi entered his own room.
As the door closed behind the younger man Aya took a step into the hallway, away from the shadows which had hid him from the other two. He glared down at the door through which Yohji had disappeared then moved to his own room, fists clenched at his sides.
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Yohji walked into the kitchen the next morning, eyes half closed in deference to his hangover and the pounding headache that made it feel like the entire cast of Riverdance was tapping away the finale inside his head. Wincing at the morning light streaming in through a window he was able to distinguish a slight figure moving about the kitchen, the smell of cooking eggs and frying bacon making his poor stomach queasy.
"Morning, Aya." He said, guessing.
Aya raised his head, startled, eyes wide. "Yohji!"
"Shh, not so loud." Yohji clutched at his head. Blinded by the hangover he reached out, searching for the coffee pot. Instead, his hand accidentally landed on Aya's arm. Aya hissed as if in pain and pulled away, stepping out of his reach. Yohji frowned at him.
"Something wrong with your arms, Aya? I've noticed you've been rather protective of them lately."
"They're fine."
Yohji looked at him. Aya was standing rather stiffly, arms close to his body as if he was afraid of any accidental jarring, the long sleeves of the shirt looking a bit bulky as if Aya had padding on underneath. He shrugged, figuring it was none of his business. Besides, a man with a hangover was not qualified to do any sort of detective work until he had had at least three cups of coffee and an entire bottle of aspirin. Ignoring the mystery that was Aya he reached again for the coffee pot and this time actually managed to capture his goal.
The others came down to breakfast and Yohji greeted them with a tired smile. Ken raised an eyebrow at Aya before shrugging and sitting down next to Yohji. Yohji frowned, wondering what the look was for. He looked over at Aya and suddenly realized something. Aya was sitting in the wrong seat. Okay, so technically there were six chairs and one could sit anywhere one pleased but, after all this time of living together, they had all sort of developed spots that they thought of as their own. Like that ledge in front of the large window in the living room that Aya always sat at when reading, or the long couch Yohji almost always claimed so he could spread out on when watching TV. Spots they unconsciously thought of as theirs. And when sitting down for a meal Ken and Omi always sat next to each other in the chairs closest to the hallway while he and Aya always ended up taking the seats on the other side, closest together. Yohji had once joked that it was so the older and wiser could gang up on the two younger bishounens. Today, perhaps accidentally, Aya was sitting next to Omi, in the spot furthest from Yohji: Ken's usual spot.
Yohji frowned and tilted his head so he could look at Aya more closely. As if sensing his gaze Aya looked up from his plate. Seeing Yohji watching him Aya's eyes narrowed and darkened in anger. Yohji realized that he had been staring and smiled in apology. Aya's glare hardened and he abruptly stood. Taking his plate of barely touched food he placed it in the sink then went to the door that led into the flower shop. Yohji blinked, confused once again at almost constant anger Aya was displaying lately.
"Ken, I expect you in the shop in ten minutes."
"What?" Ken asked, startled, as he looked at Aya.
"You're to open the shop with me." Aya told him.
"What? But why? You and Yohji are supposed to open the shop today."
"I changed the schedule. You and I will open. Yohji will close along with Omi."
"But I promised the kids I'd teach them some new tricks this morning!"
"Hey, why didn't you say something earlier? I could have stayed out longer last night and even stayed in bed later. Plus, I have to go out again tonight. I have to search for my wildcat!"
Aya didn't acknowledge Yohji, instead he glared at Ken. "Enough. It is set. Omi, you will be late for school. Ken, I expect you in the shop in ten minutes. Yohji, clean up the kitchen."
Ken and Yohji were left fuming as Aya went through the door to begin getting the shop ready for opening.
"Who died and made him emperor?"
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"Damn that Aya. Always thinking he can boss everyone around. What is his problem lately? I mean, yes Aya is always a pain in the butt and yes, he is always angry about something or other but for the past two days he's been even worse than usual. Maybe its all those long sleeved shirts he wears. How he can stand those things in this heat is beyond me." Yohji frowned as he placed another plate to dry in the rack. "Come to think of it I don't think I've seen him in short sleeves for a couple of days. Who in their right mind wears long sleeves in this heat?"
Yohji took a rag and wiped down the table and counter. "Maybe it is just the heat that is making our oh, so esteemed leader, so irritable lately. But then why not just wear short sleeves? And why change the schedule all of a sudden and not warn anyone? You'd almost think he didn't want to be alone in the same room with me." Yohji snorted at the thought and took out the broom so he could begin sweeping the kitchen floor.
"Well, I guess Aya will be Aya. Hmmm, I wonder if I'll have any luck finding my wildcat tonight? There was no one in the bar last night that could have been her. I mean there was not one single girl hot enough or wild enough to have left the marks on my body that I found. No, this chick must be something pretty special. I can feel it." Yohji grinned as he absentmindedly lifted up the corner of the rug and swept all the dirt under it. "I wish I could remember something about her though besides the fact that she rocked my world. What did she look like? What was her name? And why can't I remember what must have been one hell of a hot night?"
A flash of pale skin and dark eyes suddenly came to him. Yohji stilled. Pale skin. Dark eyes. He tried to bring the memory back but it was gone, not even enough to tell what color the eyes had been only an impression of heat emanating from them. Yohji sighed and decided, since he had a couple of hours before he would have to be in the shop, he might as well take a nap.
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"Yohji, shove it already."
"Oi, Ken-ken needs a girlfriend. Jealous, Ken?"
"Okay. That's it. Come here you. I'm going to beat you into being quiet." Ken, frustrated, closed the soccer magazine he'd been trying to read, without success, ever since Yohji had wandered into the mission room after his shift with Omi, and reached for the tall blonde. Yohji easily danced out of his reach.
"You and what army?" Yohji teased.
"The army of my fists. Come here!"
"Why, Ken-ken. I didn't know you were like that." Yohji winked suggestively at him, posing his long body against the doorframe. Ken blushed as he realized what Yohji was implying.
"You-! Agh!" Ken lunged at Yohji. Yohji laughed and easily evaded him by moving to the other side of the couch, keeping it between them. Ken lunged again but tripped and landed face down across the couch. Yohji laughed and tousled his hair before moving out of range again. Ken growled and threw himself off the couch after him. Yohji again danced out of reach.
Ken somehow managed to cut him off from the safety of the couch but with a grin Yohji turned and headed for the door. He spotted Aya a bit too late and tried to stop himself but, his headlong flight combined with Ken's sudden pounce, sent him hurtling forward, straight into him.
Yohji grabbed onto Aya's arms to keep himself from falling. Aya made a strange sound in the back of his throat as if he were in pain and roughly shoved Yohji away. Yohji, off balance, fell backward, only Ken's, catching him keeping him from falling.
"Ow! Aya!" Yohji hissed, his hand going up to his the shoulder that Aya had pressed on when he had shoved him off. Aya's eyes narrowed at his reaction.
"What's wrong with your shoulder?" Ken asked, still holding him upright. Yohji climbed to his feet and smiled at both Ken and Aya.
"Oh, nothing. Just another of my wildcat's mementos." Yohji winked at Aya.
"Idiot." Aya spat the word at him before angrily stomping down the hall and into the kitchen leaving Yohji and Ken staring after him. They looked at one another and shrugged.
Ken walked back into the mission room and plopped himself back down on the couch, his magazine open on his lap once more.
"What's gotten into him lately?" Yohji followed Ken back inside. He reached for the remote control and flicked the TV on as he took a seat next to Ken.
"Eh, you know Aya." Ken shrugged unconcerned and turned a page in his magazine.
Yohji shrugged also and changed the channel, looking for something to watch.
"Oh, by the way," Ken suddenly turned and hit him over the head with the magazine.
"Hey!" Yohji cried, startled, and pushed him away, glaring at him playfully.
Ken grinned unrepentantly. "That was for earlier."
Yohji shook his head and laughed, turning back to the television. Ken returned to his magazine, a small smile on his lips.
Yohji pretended to concentrate on the TV program. A few minutes later, when Ken had become engrossed in some article or other he casually reached over and hit him on the back of his head with an open hand.
"Ow! Yohji!"
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"Ne, Omi, you need to hit it with the side of your foot. The side, not the front. There, see, great! You've got it."
"Okay, now something a little more difficult. I want to see you do a head butt." Ken threw the ball at Omi. Omi stood there and let the ball come to him. At the last instant he tried to hit it but it was more like the ball ended up hitting him.
"Itte!" He rubbed his head ruefully.
"No, no. You're supposed to hit the ball not let *it* hit you."
Aya paused in his work to watch, a small smile playing across his lips as he watched the two younger members of Weiss. Ken threw the ball again and this time Omi missed it completely nearly hitting his head on one of the hanging pots in the shop. Aya bit his lip to keep from laughing as Omi pouted down at a hysterically laughing Ken.
Yohji, drawn by the sound of laughter, peeked into the room. Seeing what was going on he grinned and leaned up against the doorjamb, watching. Ken got himself under control and tried again. Again Omi missed. Yohji laughed out loud and looked over to Aya who, sensing his presence, looked up. Their eyes met and locked for a second then Aya looked away, scowling, the smile that had been on his lip but a moment before vanished.
"Enough. You'll damage one of the plants. Take it outside or get to work." Aya said icily before resuming his own work.
Ken and Omi shared a confused glance. They turned as one and looked at Aya, then Yohji, and then Aya again.
Yohji sighed and stepped into the shop. He reached to get his apron off the hook and put it on.
Ken frowned at the two oldest members of Weiss. Then turned back to share another confused look with Omi. Sighing, he put the ball away and moved to retrieve his own apron.
Much later, when only Yohji and Aya were in the shop, Omi's shift over and Ken out delivering arrangements, Yohji decided to breach the topic of Aya's recent attitude.
"Hey, Aya. You shouldn't be so hard on the kids. They were just having fun. You don't have to be such a hardass all the time."
"Shut up, Yohji."
"Man, what is your problem lately?"
"I said shut up."
Yohji huffed an angry breath and glared at him. Aya ignored him and moved off to a different corner of the flower shop, away from Yohji.
For the next couple of hours the scene remained thus, Aya working in the corner of the shop quieter than usual and Yohji trying to figure the man out. At last Yohji sighed, giving up and looked around for something to do. He picked up the watering can and began to go about the shop, half- heartedly watering any plants that look like they might benefit from his meager attentions. As he drew closer to the corner where Aya was working he saw the red head's back stiffening. As he drew closer still the pale hands paused in their work. When he moved behind Aya to get at the red columbines and syringas he saw the hands clench and Aya's back go rigid. (3) Yohji frowned.
"Aya, is something wrong?" He reached out a hand but Aya pulled away before he could touch him.
"Nothing." Yohji, stubborn, reached forward again, intent on touching the tensed back. Aya abruptly stood, stepping away, effectively sliding out of range. He looked up at Yohji then quickly away again.
"I need to check the green house." Before Yohji could say anything Aya squeezed between the table and wall so that he didn't have to move past Yohji, and left. Yohji was left staring after him. He looked down at the workbench. Aya was usually anal about putting things away in their proper places less someone accidentally hurt themselves. He was so anal about it in fact that he sometimes put things away before others were done using them. Yohji frowned. Strewn across the worktable where Aya had been working several flowers lay scattered along with the tools needed in preparing them for arrangements. He looked back to where Aya had disappeared through the back door. Still frowning he quietly picked up the flowers and tools and put them away in their places.
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Omi and Ken came back into the shop to find Yohji looking pensive, absent- mindedly twirling the flower Aya had crushed between his fingers.
"Hiya, Yohji-kun. Is something wrong?" Yohji looked up startled at the voice, then smiled.
"No, nothing. At least nothing that I know of. Hey, Omi, have you noticed anything different about Aya lately?"
"No. Why? How?"
"I don't know. He seems quieter. Skittish almost. Angrier than usual."
"Now that you mention it... I think so but only..." Omi stopped and looked away, blushing slightly.
"What?"
"What Omi is too polite to say is that Aya seems that way only around you. Did you two have another fight or something?"
Yohji shook his head no to the question. "Only around me? Are you sure?"
"Yup. Remember yesterday? When I was trying to teach Omi how to play soccer? Aya was actually smiling. Until you walked in that is. Then I could almost feel the temperature drop. What did you do this time?"
"I didn't do anything! At least, not that I know of."
Yohji frowned thoughtfully and left the shop, leaving the two younger members to close up. He walked up the stairs, staring moodily at the flower he had unconsciously brought up with him. At the top of the stairs he paused. Straight ahead of him, just down the hallway, he could see Aya's room. The door was closed. He looked at it a moment, frowning. ::Is it true? Is Aya angry at me. But what did I do? I don't remember doing anything different than I usually do. How did I make him angry? What did I do?::
Still frowning he opened his own door. With one last glance towards the other door he stepped in and locked the door behind himself.
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"Hey, Aya, look. I bought some of those pastries that you really like from down the corner." ::And they cost me an arm and a leg so you better appreciate it.:: "Do you want one?"
"No."
"No? But you love these. I bought them especially for you."
"Why?"
"W-why? Ahhh... I... just did. Look, I found your favorite: strawberry!" ::Actually, I had to promise the bakery girl a date so she'd make them. They were out of strawberry.::
"No."
"But -"
"I said no." Aya stood up, and giving Yohji one last glare, left the kitchen. Yohji looked down at the pastries. "Now what. No one but Aya likes these things."
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Aya walked into the Koneko then paused as he saw Yohji. Aya glanced at the schedule with a frown and confirmed that yes, this was supposed to be *his* shift along with Ken. Not Yohji.
"Look." Yohji said a bit nervously seeing the confused and hostile stare Aya was giving him. "Why don't you go relax or do something else? I'll take your shift today."
"Why?"
"Just because."
"Forget it, Yohji. I am not covering your shift tomorrow night."
"That's not why I'm doing this."
"Then why?"
"Can't I just do something nice for you for a change."
"How come you never do stuff like this for me?" Ken asked.
"Oh, shut up, Ken. Look Aya, I'm just trying to be nice, okay?"
Aya just glared at him. Ken looked from one to the other. "Well, if you both insist on working then there's no need for me to be here! Ja ne!" Ken quickly grabbed the soccer ball he always kept under the counter and ran out the door, not even bothering to take his apron off as he made his getaway.
"Hey! Come back here you shrimp! I am *not* covering your shift! Ken! Ken-ken!!!"
Too late. The soccer player had already disappeared down the street. Aya stiffly moved to the rack where the aprons where kept and pulled on his own. Yohji sighed and looked over at Aya. Aya ignored him. The redhead moved over to the work bench furthes away and set to work an odd arrangement of whin and love-in-a-mists. (4)
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Aya paused in the doorway of the mission room as he saw Yohji lying across the couch with a small frown on his face as he watched television. Yohji looked up, spotting him. He immediately sat up. "Aya! Hey, did you want to watch the TV? I'll change the channel if you like, I'm not really watching anything, I'm just sort of flipping channels."
"No, thank you." Aya told him curtly. Yohji caught the glance Aya cast over at the large window and finally noticed the book Aya held in one hand.
"Oh, you wanted to read? I can turn the TV off if you like. That way it won't bother you."
Aya shook his head in the negative and turned to leave, lips pressed together in a tight line, the knuckles of the hand holding the book white as he clutched at it.
"Wait, Aya, where are you going? You, ah," ::Think, Yohji, think.:: "Hey, you want some tea? Aya?" Seeing him getting away Yohji quickly vaulted over the couch and went after him. He caught at Aya's shoulder and Aya whirled around, knocking his hand off.
"Stop hounding me! What do you want? Leave me alone!"
"I don't want anything. I just want to know what I've done. Why are you being so meant to me lately? What did I do?"
"What did you do?" outraged, Aya glared, the anger so thick around him it was nearly physical.
"Yes," Yohji, exasperated, asked, "what did I do to make you so angry?"
Aya, incredulous, glared harder, violet eyes drilling into verdant, his knuckles going white from their grip on the book which was the only thing preventing him from striking the other man. Yohji just stared back, hurt and angry at Aya's unexplained, and he felt, unprovoked, attitude. Aya's glare slowly shifted to a frown, he stared into Yohji's face, dark eyes drilling into his as if searching for something. Whatever it was he seemed not to find it. Aya looked away, his frown turning puzzled and the anger which had been so palpable in the room but a moment before seemed to lighten, to almost dissipate. The tense shoulders slumped as he seemed to loose himself in thought. Aya looked up and gave Yohji another questioning glance. "You don't... you really don't remember, do you?"
"Remember what?" Yohji asked exasperated. Aya continued to search his face then, as if he had reached some decision, his whole body just... untensed. For the first time in several days Aya's stiff stance relaxed.
"Nothing. Nothing." Aya gave him what could be qualified as a smile if one were being generous or a smirk if one were not. Aya slowly brushed past him, their bodies almost touching. With a start that caused him unexpectedly to tense, Yohji realized that this was the closest contact they had had with each other in days, almost as if Aya had been avoiding not just his presence, but also his touch. He fought down the sudden urge to grab at Aya, to touch him just to prove to himself that Aya would no longer tense and pull away. As Yohji frowned, puzzled at his own reaction, he was almost sure he heard a soft laugh as Aya moved away from him but Aya, laughing? Masaka.
tbc
1.1.1
Archive: Please do NOT.
Warning: Angst
Disclaimer: They're mine I tells ya, mine! And if you believe that then I know this really nice place with padded walls you just *have* to visit.
Author's Notes: ::blah:: = thoughts
~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ = scene change and/or time passage
For further author's notes please see the end of the fic.
One more thing, a very special thanks to my two wonderful betas: Dori and Hikaru no Miko. Thank you guys so much and sorry I was such a bother.
Memories Forgotten
Part One: Mystery of Anger
Yohji stepped into the shower stall still half asleep. It took him three tries (since he refused to open his eyes) before his hand finally connected with a water knob. Without bothering to see which one it was he twisted, turning the water on. Suddenly, he was yelping, jumping away from the frigid spray. He glared at the knob he'd turned, a little more awake now, and realized it had been the cold water he had turned on.
::Sheesh, I guess I'm lucky it wasn't the hot water:: He reached out and turned on the hot water. When the water was a more humane temperature he stepped back in to the spray, sighing as the warm water pounded down on him. He turned to let the water fall on his back and suddenly he was yelping again, pressing himself against the shower wall and away from the water as fire seemed to explode along his back and shoulder at the water's contact. He glared balefully at the water knobs, wondering what on earth he had touched *this* time. After a few minutes he decided *he* hadn't done anything. He turned to glare at his own body.
His eyes widened in alarm as he got his first look at what had caused the pain. A purple so dark it was almost black on his left shoulder was the biggest, ugliest bruise he had ever seen. Gently he touched it, then winced. It hurt! And there seemed to be blood on it. Frowning, he stepped back into the spray of the shower. He cleaned it of all the encrusted blood, wincing as he felt the water fall in a stinging spray all up and down his back. He promised himself he'd check *that* out as soon as he was done.
After what had to be the shortest shower in history he stood, his back to the large mirror, staring at the four long, thin, red stripes that ran down his back. Slowly, he began to grin. He looked down at his shoulder again and the grin grew wider as he confirmed that, yes, the ragged edge of the wound on the bruise *could* have come from a human bite.
::Yohji, you dog. You obviously drove some poor, young thing wild last night.:: Grinning, and suddenly in a much better mood, Yohji quickly cleaned and sterilized the wound on his shoulder. He placed a bandage on it then dressed.
A few minutes later, whistling merrily, he made his way down into the shop. Omi was on the phone taking down what looked to be a rather large order. Ken was handling the cash register as Aya stood in one corner, quietly and efficiently working on a flower arrangement that seemed to include whin, belladonna and burdock. (1)
"Ohayo, Yohji-kun. You seem to be in a good mood this morning," Omi said as he hung up the phone.
"You're awake! And in a good mood! And it's not even noon yet!" Ken said, clutching at his heart as if he were having a heart attack.
"Well, Ken-ken, if you'd had a night like mine you'd be in a good mood too." Yohji said, grinning.
"Did you have a good time last night, Yohji-kun?" Omi asked innocently.
"You don't know the half of it, bishounen. I had a *great* time. Found myself a real wildcat. I can't remember all that much about her but she must have been a real sex fiend. Left marks all up and down my -"
"Yohji!" Ken reached over and covered Omi's ears, shooting Yohji an outraged look.
"-back." Yohji finished his sentence then frowned at Ken. "What did you think I was going to say? Oi, what kind of pervert do you think I am?"
"The kind of pervert that would speak of such things in front of a child."
"I am not a child!"
"I am not a pervert! Just because you never think about anything other than -"
"ENOUGH! You are here to work. So...WORK." The anger evident in Aya's tone made all three of them wince. Shooting daggers at each other with their eyes Ken and Yohji went their separate ways leaving a pouting Omi to tend the register.
"I am not a child."
~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~
"I'm sure she was tall." Yohji was saying again, later. "With soft skin that tasted sweet and light. I'm sure of it. She must have had sultry eyes and -"
"Would you put a sock in it already?" Ken interrupted. "You don't even know her name!"
"Jealous, are we, Ken-ken?" Yohji asked in a too sweet tone.
"Of what? Some woman you dreamed up? You don't even remember what she looked like."
"Maybe my mind doesn't but my body sure does."
"Yohji, shut UP." Aya said, violet eyes flashing as he glared murderously at the blonde. "Go into the back room and finish the inventory. Ken, these arrangements are ready for delivery."
Yohji, who'd been about to continue going on about his mystery woman, shut his mouth with a loud snap. Pushing away from the counter where he'd been leaning, doing nothing, he shrugged and went, whistling all the while.
Ken stomped across the flower shop, snatching the delivery list off the wall. "Fine. I'll go. Anything to get away from him." He stalked out of the shop, slamming the door behind him.
~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~
A couple of hours later, tired of doing inventory, Yohji walked back into the shop. It was empty of all except Aya.
"Hey, where'd Omi go?"
Aya looked up from what he was doing to glare at him, dark eyes seeming to command him to drop dead where he stood.
"Hey, what'd I do?" Yohji asked, defensively, completely taken aback at the anger in the violet eyes.
Aya's glare grew darker before he pointedly turned away, shoulders and back stiff. Yohji frowned at him, curious. Then he shrugged and looked around, trying to find some clue that would tell him where the kid had gotten to. The bell above the door suddenly rang and the object of his quest walked in, several bags of takeout weighing down his arms.
"I'm back and I have lunch," Omi called cheerfully.
"Great. I'm starved." Yohji immediately moved to follow Omi through the back door that lead into the rest of the house. "Hey, Aya, you coming?"
He got no response.
"A-ya? Did you hear me? Are you coming?"
"Not. Hungry." The cold voice said in clipped tones and Yohji frowned, coming back into the shop. Aya stood before one of the work tables, his back to him, the sitting stool pushed to one side, unused. Yohji was about to question him again when he stopped, something about the way Aya was moving, had been moving all morning, struck him as odd. He focused on Aya, trying to pinpoint what was different. Arms moved slowly as Aya worked on an arrangement of long stemmed white roses.(2) Aya's movements were controlled and elegant as always, each action performed with the maximum efficiency in mind in a slow, easy flow. Slow. That was it.
"Hey, Aya, is something wrong? You're moving kind of stiffly." Aya froze, body going visibly tense at the sound of his voice.
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure? I mean-"
"Leave me be, Yohji." There was a dark undercurrent of threat to the voice that made Yohji pause. He stood there, watching Aya who still stood with his back to him, hands now firmly planted before him, clenched on the table. Yohji noticed that one of Aya's fists had inadvertently crushed down on one of the roses, long thorns digging into pale flesh. He gave a small gasp and was about to step forward when Aya spoke again. "Yoh-ji."
Just that, one word, nothing more, but it caused him to pause. He looked at the stiff back, at the clenched hands. ::What did I do?:: Yohji wondered, a frown marring his face. After a minute he shrugged and gave an internal sigh. ::Probably nothing. He must be in one of *those* moods again.::
"Okay, Aya. We'll save you some. You can have it later if you want." No response but then again, he hadn't really expected one. He shrugged again and went to join Omi and the food in the kitchen.
~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~
Yohji moved about the room, slowly inspecting the floral displays for any wilting that would mean it would have to be replaced. Omi had gone off to finish up some homework that was due the next day and Ken had already taken off for his afternoon game with the kids. As he moved near Aya a faint scent tickled his nose and his memory. Stepping closer he took a deeper sniff. ::Lavender. Lavender. Where have I smelled that before? Aya. I wanted to ask Aya something about lavender. But what?::
"Oi, Aya. Is that lavender you're wearing?" Aya immediately stiffened. "I think I meant to ask you something about lavender but I can't remember what or why? Do you have any idea?" At his words Aya went completely pale, all color drained right out of him.
"Hey, Aya, you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"But you've gone all white. Is something wrong?" Yohji reached out a hand, concerned, afraid that at any moment Aya would fall away in a faint. Aya slapped his hand away.
"Leave me alone. Go bother someone else with your stupid questions."
"Sheesh. I was just making conversation. Bite a guy's head off why don't you?"
"Fine. If you won't let me get any work done you can tend the shop yourself." Aya stalked away.
"What is his problem today?" Yohji asked, exasperated. ::Yes, Aya is always moody. Yes, Aya is always a pain in the a-- but today he's worse than usual.:: Yohji glared at the closed door through which Aya had disappeared. Then he shrugged and returned to pretending to work. When he realized that he was all alone and that that meant nobody would pester him if he didn't work he grinned and simply lounged against the counter until it was time to close.
~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~
Yohji gave himself one last glance in the mirror. The brown leather pants he wore were like a second skin, hanging low on his hips while the loose, dark vest he had on barely covered anything. ::Perfect.::
After having had to close the shop up on his own he had decided he would reward himself with another night of clubbing. Now, dressed and ready, he winked at his reflection before he gathered up his keys and jacket.
"Are you going out tonight, Yohji-kun?" A young voice greeted him as he stepped out into the darkened hallway.
"Of course, bishounen. I can't deny the ladies my presence now can I? They might riot."
"But I thought you were besotted by the wildcat you kept brining up earlier." Omi teased lightly.
"I am but I doubt I'm going to find her here. I'll be going to the same club I went to yesterday. Maybe, if I run across her, I'll recognize her or she'll recognize me. Either way, I plan to have fun looking." Yohji winked at him. Omi shook his head and laughed. Yohji grinned.
"I'll see you later, Omi. Don't stay up too late, okay?"
"Ja, Yohji-kun. I won't." Omi waved goodbye. Yohji put on his coat and made his way down the stairs. Omi entered his own room.
As the door closed behind the younger man Aya took a step into the hallway, away from the shadows which had hid him from the other two. He glared down at the door through which Yohji had disappeared then moved to his own room, fists clenched at his sides.
~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~
Yohji walked into the kitchen the next morning, eyes half closed in deference to his hangover and the pounding headache that made it feel like the entire cast of Riverdance was tapping away the finale inside his head. Wincing at the morning light streaming in through a window he was able to distinguish a slight figure moving about the kitchen, the smell of cooking eggs and frying bacon making his poor stomach queasy.
"Morning, Aya." He said, guessing.
Aya raised his head, startled, eyes wide. "Yohji!"
"Shh, not so loud." Yohji clutched at his head. Blinded by the hangover he reached out, searching for the coffee pot. Instead, his hand accidentally landed on Aya's arm. Aya hissed as if in pain and pulled away, stepping out of his reach. Yohji frowned at him.
"Something wrong with your arms, Aya? I've noticed you've been rather protective of them lately."
"They're fine."
Yohji looked at him. Aya was standing rather stiffly, arms close to his body as if he was afraid of any accidental jarring, the long sleeves of the shirt looking a bit bulky as if Aya had padding on underneath. He shrugged, figuring it was none of his business. Besides, a man with a hangover was not qualified to do any sort of detective work until he had had at least three cups of coffee and an entire bottle of aspirin. Ignoring the mystery that was Aya he reached again for the coffee pot and this time actually managed to capture his goal.
The others came down to breakfast and Yohji greeted them with a tired smile. Ken raised an eyebrow at Aya before shrugging and sitting down next to Yohji. Yohji frowned, wondering what the look was for. He looked over at Aya and suddenly realized something. Aya was sitting in the wrong seat. Okay, so technically there were six chairs and one could sit anywhere one pleased but, after all this time of living together, they had all sort of developed spots that they thought of as their own. Like that ledge in front of the large window in the living room that Aya always sat at when reading, or the long couch Yohji almost always claimed so he could spread out on when watching TV. Spots they unconsciously thought of as theirs. And when sitting down for a meal Ken and Omi always sat next to each other in the chairs closest to the hallway while he and Aya always ended up taking the seats on the other side, closest together. Yohji had once joked that it was so the older and wiser could gang up on the two younger bishounens. Today, perhaps accidentally, Aya was sitting next to Omi, in the spot furthest from Yohji: Ken's usual spot.
Yohji frowned and tilted his head so he could look at Aya more closely. As if sensing his gaze Aya looked up from his plate. Seeing Yohji watching him Aya's eyes narrowed and darkened in anger. Yohji realized that he had been staring and smiled in apology. Aya's glare hardened and he abruptly stood. Taking his plate of barely touched food he placed it in the sink then went to the door that led into the flower shop. Yohji blinked, confused once again at almost constant anger Aya was displaying lately.
"Ken, I expect you in the shop in ten minutes."
"What?" Ken asked, startled, as he looked at Aya.
"You're to open the shop with me." Aya told him.
"What? But why? You and Yohji are supposed to open the shop today."
"I changed the schedule. You and I will open. Yohji will close along with Omi."
"But I promised the kids I'd teach them some new tricks this morning!"
"Hey, why didn't you say something earlier? I could have stayed out longer last night and even stayed in bed later. Plus, I have to go out again tonight. I have to search for my wildcat!"
Aya didn't acknowledge Yohji, instead he glared at Ken. "Enough. It is set. Omi, you will be late for school. Ken, I expect you in the shop in ten minutes. Yohji, clean up the kitchen."
Ken and Yohji were left fuming as Aya went through the door to begin getting the shop ready for opening.
"Who died and made him emperor?"
~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~
"Damn that Aya. Always thinking he can boss everyone around. What is his problem lately? I mean, yes Aya is always a pain in the butt and yes, he is always angry about something or other but for the past two days he's been even worse than usual. Maybe its all those long sleeved shirts he wears. How he can stand those things in this heat is beyond me." Yohji frowned as he placed another plate to dry in the rack. "Come to think of it I don't think I've seen him in short sleeves for a couple of days. Who in their right mind wears long sleeves in this heat?"
Yohji took a rag and wiped down the table and counter. "Maybe it is just the heat that is making our oh, so esteemed leader, so irritable lately. But then why not just wear short sleeves? And why change the schedule all of a sudden and not warn anyone? You'd almost think he didn't want to be alone in the same room with me." Yohji snorted at the thought and took out the broom so he could begin sweeping the kitchen floor.
"Well, I guess Aya will be Aya. Hmmm, I wonder if I'll have any luck finding my wildcat tonight? There was no one in the bar last night that could have been her. I mean there was not one single girl hot enough or wild enough to have left the marks on my body that I found. No, this chick must be something pretty special. I can feel it." Yohji grinned as he absentmindedly lifted up the corner of the rug and swept all the dirt under it. "I wish I could remember something about her though besides the fact that she rocked my world. What did she look like? What was her name? And why can't I remember what must have been one hell of a hot night?"
A flash of pale skin and dark eyes suddenly came to him. Yohji stilled. Pale skin. Dark eyes. He tried to bring the memory back but it was gone, not even enough to tell what color the eyes had been only an impression of heat emanating from them. Yohji sighed and decided, since he had a couple of hours before he would have to be in the shop, he might as well take a nap.
~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~
"Yohji, shove it already."
"Oi, Ken-ken needs a girlfriend. Jealous, Ken?"
"Okay. That's it. Come here you. I'm going to beat you into being quiet." Ken, frustrated, closed the soccer magazine he'd been trying to read, without success, ever since Yohji had wandered into the mission room after his shift with Omi, and reached for the tall blonde. Yohji easily danced out of his reach.
"You and what army?" Yohji teased.
"The army of my fists. Come here!"
"Why, Ken-ken. I didn't know you were like that." Yohji winked suggestively at him, posing his long body against the doorframe. Ken blushed as he realized what Yohji was implying.
"You-! Agh!" Ken lunged at Yohji. Yohji laughed and easily evaded him by moving to the other side of the couch, keeping it between them. Ken lunged again but tripped and landed face down across the couch. Yohji laughed and tousled his hair before moving out of range again. Ken growled and threw himself off the couch after him. Yohji again danced out of reach.
Ken somehow managed to cut him off from the safety of the couch but with a grin Yohji turned and headed for the door. He spotted Aya a bit too late and tried to stop himself but, his headlong flight combined with Ken's sudden pounce, sent him hurtling forward, straight into him.
Yohji grabbed onto Aya's arms to keep himself from falling. Aya made a strange sound in the back of his throat as if he were in pain and roughly shoved Yohji away. Yohji, off balance, fell backward, only Ken's, catching him keeping him from falling.
"Ow! Aya!" Yohji hissed, his hand going up to his the shoulder that Aya had pressed on when he had shoved him off. Aya's eyes narrowed at his reaction.
"What's wrong with your shoulder?" Ken asked, still holding him upright. Yohji climbed to his feet and smiled at both Ken and Aya.
"Oh, nothing. Just another of my wildcat's mementos." Yohji winked at Aya.
"Idiot." Aya spat the word at him before angrily stomping down the hall and into the kitchen leaving Yohji and Ken staring after him. They looked at one another and shrugged.
Ken walked back into the mission room and plopped himself back down on the couch, his magazine open on his lap once more.
"What's gotten into him lately?" Yohji followed Ken back inside. He reached for the remote control and flicked the TV on as he took a seat next to Ken.
"Eh, you know Aya." Ken shrugged unconcerned and turned a page in his magazine.
Yohji shrugged also and changed the channel, looking for something to watch.
"Oh, by the way," Ken suddenly turned and hit him over the head with the magazine.
"Hey!" Yohji cried, startled, and pushed him away, glaring at him playfully.
Ken grinned unrepentantly. "That was for earlier."
Yohji shook his head and laughed, turning back to the television. Ken returned to his magazine, a small smile on his lips.
Yohji pretended to concentrate on the TV program. A few minutes later, when Ken had become engrossed in some article or other he casually reached over and hit him on the back of his head with an open hand.
"Ow! Yohji!"
~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~
"Ne, Omi, you need to hit it with the side of your foot. The side, not the front. There, see, great! You've got it."
"Okay, now something a little more difficult. I want to see you do a head butt." Ken threw the ball at Omi. Omi stood there and let the ball come to him. At the last instant he tried to hit it but it was more like the ball ended up hitting him.
"Itte!" He rubbed his head ruefully.
"No, no. You're supposed to hit the ball not let *it* hit you."
Aya paused in his work to watch, a small smile playing across his lips as he watched the two younger members of Weiss. Ken threw the ball again and this time Omi missed it completely nearly hitting his head on one of the hanging pots in the shop. Aya bit his lip to keep from laughing as Omi pouted down at a hysterically laughing Ken.
Yohji, drawn by the sound of laughter, peeked into the room. Seeing what was going on he grinned and leaned up against the doorjamb, watching. Ken got himself under control and tried again. Again Omi missed. Yohji laughed out loud and looked over to Aya who, sensing his presence, looked up. Their eyes met and locked for a second then Aya looked away, scowling, the smile that had been on his lip but a moment before vanished.
"Enough. You'll damage one of the plants. Take it outside or get to work." Aya said icily before resuming his own work.
Ken and Omi shared a confused glance. They turned as one and looked at Aya, then Yohji, and then Aya again.
Yohji sighed and stepped into the shop. He reached to get his apron off the hook and put it on.
Ken frowned at the two oldest members of Weiss. Then turned back to share another confused look with Omi. Sighing, he put the ball away and moved to retrieve his own apron.
Much later, when only Yohji and Aya were in the shop, Omi's shift over and Ken out delivering arrangements, Yohji decided to breach the topic of Aya's recent attitude.
"Hey, Aya. You shouldn't be so hard on the kids. They were just having fun. You don't have to be such a hardass all the time."
"Shut up, Yohji."
"Man, what is your problem lately?"
"I said shut up."
Yohji huffed an angry breath and glared at him. Aya ignored him and moved off to a different corner of the flower shop, away from Yohji.
For the next couple of hours the scene remained thus, Aya working in the corner of the shop quieter than usual and Yohji trying to figure the man out. At last Yohji sighed, giving up and looked around for something to do. He picked up the watering can and began to go about the shop, half- heartedly watering any plants that look like they might benefit from his meager attentions. As he drew closer to the corner where Aya was working he saw the red head's back stiffening. As he drew closer still the pale hands paused in their work. When he moved behind Aya to get at the red columbines and syringas he saw the hands clench and Aya's back go rigid. (3) Yohji frowned.
"Aya, is something wrong?" He reached out a hand but Aya pulled away before he could touch him.
"Nothing." Yohji, stubborn, reached forward again, intent on touching the tensed back. Aya abruptly stood, stepping away, effectively sliding out of range. He looked up at Yohji then quickly away again.
"I need to check the green house." Before Yohji could say anything Aya squeezed between the table and wall so that he didn't have to move past Yohji, and left. Yohji was left staring after him. He looked down at the workbench. Aya was usually anal about putting things away in their proper places less someone accidentally hurt themselves. He was so anal about it in fact that he sometimes put things away before others were done using them. Yohji frowned. Strewn across the worktable where Aya had been working several flowers lay scattered along with the tools needed in preparing them for arrangements. He looked back to where Aya had disappeared through the back door. Still frowning he quietly picked up the flowers and tools and put them away in their places.
~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~
Omi and Ken came back into the shop to find Yohji looking pensive, absent- mindedly twirling the flower Aya had crushed between his fingers.
"Hiya, Yohji-kun. Is something wrong?" Yohji looked up startled at the voice, then smiled.
"No, nothing. At least nothing that I know of. Hey, Omi, have you noticed anything different about Aya lately?"
"No. Why? How?"
"I don't know. He seems quieter. Skittish almost. Angrier than usual."
"Now that you mention it... I think so but only..." Omi stopped and looked away, blushing slightly.
"What?"
"What Omi is too polite to say is that Aya seems that way only around you. Did you two have another fight or something?"
Yohji shook his head no to the question. "Only around me? Are you sure?"
"Yup. Remember yesterday? When I was trying to teach Omi how to play soccer? Aya was actually smiling. Until you walked in that is. Then I could almost feel the temperature drop. What did you do this time?"
"I didn't do anything! At least, not that I know of."
Yohji frowned thoughtfully and left the shop, leaving the two younger members to close up. He walked up the stairs, staring moodily at the flower he had unconsciously brought up with him. At the top of the stairs he paused. Straight ahead of him, just down the hallway, he could see Aya's room. The door was closed. He looked at it a moment, frowning. ::Is it true? Is Aya angry at me. But what did I do? I don't remember doing anything different than I usually do. How did I make him angry? What did I do?::
Still frowning he opened his own door. With one last glance towards the other door he stepped in and locked the door behind himself.
~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~
"Hey, Aya, look. I bought some of those pastries that you really like from down the corner." ::And they cost me an arm and a leg so you better appreciate it.:: "Do you want one?"
"No."
"No? But you love these. I bought them especially for you."
"Why?"
"W-why? Ahhh... I... just did. Look, I found your favorite: strawberry!" ::Actually, I had to promise the bakery girl a date so she'd make them. They were out of strawberry.::
"No."
"But -"
"I said no." Aya stood up, and giving Yohji one last glare, left the kitchen. Yohji looked down at the pastries. "Now what. No one but Aya likes these things."
~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~
Aya walked into the Koneko then paused as he saw Yohji. Aya glanced at the schedule with a frown and confirmed that yes, this was supposed to be *his* shift along with Ken. Not Yohji.
"Look." Yohji said a bit nervously seeing the confused and hostile stare Aya was giving him. "Why don't you go relax or do something else? I'll take your shift today."
"Why?"
"Just because."
"Forget it, Yohji. I am not covering your shift tomorrow night."
"That's not why I'm doing this."
"Then why?"
"Can't I just do something nice for you for a change."
"How come you never do stuff like this for me?" Ken asked.
"Oh, shut up, Ken. Look Aya, I'm just trying to be nice, okay?"
Aya just glared at him. Ken looked from one to the other. "Well, if you both insist on working then there's no need for me to be here! Ja ne!" Ken quickly grabbed the soccer ball he always kept under the counter and ran out the door, not even bothering to take his apron off as he made his getaway.
"Hey! Come back here you shrimp! I am *not* covering your shift! Ken! Ken-ken!!!"
Too late. The soccer player had already disappeared down the street. Aya stiffly moved to the rack where the aprons where kept and pulled on his own. Yohji sighed and looked over at Aya. Aya ignored him. The redhead moved over to the work bench furthes away and set to work an odd arrangement of whin and love-in-a-mists. (4)
~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~
Aya paused in the doorway of the mission room as he saw Yohji lying across the couch with a small frown on his face as he watched television. Yohji looked up, spotting him. He immediately sat up. "Aya! Hey, did you want to watch the TV? I'll change the channel if you like, I'm not really watching anything, I'm just sort of flipping channels."
"No, thank you." Aya told him curtly. Yohji caught the glance Aya cast over at the large window and finally noticed the book Aya held in one hand.
"Oh, you wanted to read? I can turn the TV off if you like. That way it won't bother you."
Aya shook his head in the negative and turned to leave, lips pressed together in a tight line, the knuckles of the hand holding the book white as he clutched at it.
"Wait, Aya, where are you going? You, ah," ::Think, Yohji, think.:: "Hey, you want some tea? Aya?" Seeing him getting away Yohji quickly vaulted over the couch and went after him. He caught at Aya's shoulder and Aya whirled around, knocking his hand off.
"Stop hounding me! What do you want? Leave me alone!"
"I don't want anything. I just want to know what I've done. Why are you being so meant to me lately? What did I do?"
"What did you do?" outraged, Aya glared, the anger so thick around him it was nearly physical.
"Yes," Yohji, exasperated, asked, "what did I do to make you so angry?"
Aya, incredulous, glared harder, violet eyes drilling into verdant, his knuckles going white from their grip on the book which was the only thing preventing him from striking the other man. Yohji just stared back, hurt and angry at Aya's unexplained, and he felt, unprovoked, attitude. Aya's glare slowly shifted to a frown, he stared into Yohji's face, dark eyes drilling into his as if searching for something. Whatever it was he seemed not to find it. Aya looked away, his frown turning puzzled and the anger which had been so palpable in the room but a moment before seemed to lighten, to almost dissipate. The tense shoulders slumped as he seemed to loose himself in thought. Aya looked up and gave Yohji another questioning glance. "You don't... you really don't remember, do you?"
"Remember what?" Yohji asked exasperated. Aya continued to search his face then, as if he had reached some decision, his whole body just... untensed. For the first time in several days Aya's stiff stance relaxed.
"Nothing. Nothing." Aya gave him what could be qualified as a smile if one were being generous or a smirk if one were not. Aya slowly brushed past him, their bodies almost touching. With a start that caused him unexpectedly to tense, Yohji realized that this was the closest contact they had had with each other in days, almost as if Aya had been avoiding not just his presence, but also his touch. He fought down the sudden urge to grab at Aya, to touch him just to prove to himself that Aya would no longer tense and pull away. As Yohji frowned, puzzled at his own reaction, he was almost sure he heard a soft laugh as Aya moved away from him but Aya, laughing? Masaka.
tbc
