The Birthday Gift
[Chapter VI]
By: Raiha-chan
Warnings: Shounen ai, may be a bit OOC in some areas.
Pairings: RanxYoji, hints of NagixOmi.
Disclaimers: Weiß Kreuz and its character do not belong to me. Please do not sue me. My wallet is called "The Fly House" for a reason. ~.~;;
// denotes thoughts.
% denotes mental communication
++ denotes communication through commlinks
[July 6, late afternoon]
"Yoji-kun?" Omi knocked on the door and still received no response from inside.
"Maybe he went out," Ken suggested, from his seat on the bed.
"The bathroom door is still locked."
"He could've locked it on his way out."
"From the inside."
"Oh."
"Omi," Ran appeared at the room's entrance. "Is he still in there?"
"Aa," Omi nodded.
"You guys get back and open the shop. I'll take care of it here."
"You sure?" Ken got up from the bed and moved towards the door.
"Yes."
"Come on, then, Omi," Ken headed out into the hallway. Omi soon followed. Ran was about to close the door when Ken decided to ask him a question before leaving.
"What happened to get him like this anyway?"
"I don't know," Ran replied, before closing the door. He didn't move from his spot, staying to listen to the soft footfalls outside. When they were gone, the redhead finally moved towards the bathroom.
Ran rapped on the door three times and received no response. He knocked again, and still, there was no reply from within.
"Yoji? I know you're in there. Answer me."
+~+~+~+~+
"Yoji? I know you're in there. Answer me."
Yoji continued his stare up at the white ceiling. He felt numb. Nothing really registered in his head. Lost in his own world, he could barely hear the pleas from outside; could barely hear the loud knocking.
He came crashing down back to earth, however, when the door met the hard floor. Yoji turned his head sideways too quickly, causing his vision to suddenly blur and a minor headache coming on.
His body slumped further down into the tub of water, so deep that the water nearly passes his nose. Yoji slid his eyes down at the sudden fatigue when a pair of strong hands suddenly pulled him out.
Forcing his eyes open, he gazed into cold amethyst ones.
"R-ran?"
"What the hell were you doing in here, Yoji?" Ran managed to get out through gritted teeth.
"I…" Yoji's teeth chose this time to begin chattering. Letting one hand go, Ran grabbed a towel from the rack beside him and wrapped it around the taller blond. When the older boy began shivering, the redhead pulled him into a tight embrace.
The two stayed like that for what seemed to be eternity. Finally, when Yoji have stopped shivering, Ran lets go and turned away.
"Ran, I…"
"Shut up. Just…shut up. Get dress." Without another backward glance, Ran walked out of the bathroom and closed the door behind him. Yoji silently obeyed his departing commands.
When Yoji finally headed back into his bedroom, the redhead was already gone. Dumping the wet towel onto the bed, Yoji padded downstairs to the kitchen for some food.
[July 7, early night]
"Man, you sure you can handle this?" Ken looked at him, concern filled his big brown eyes.
"Of course," Yoji chewed on his unlit cigarette.
"No offense but I don't think you can."
"And why not?"
"You've been all…jittery, ever since yesterday. Something is wrong with you and you're not telling us what."
"Of course not. If there were something wrong with me, I'd tell you. But I'm perfectly fine."
"Who are you trying to fool?" a nasal voice spoke from behind them.
"No one," Yoji glared half-heartedly at the German.
++Balinese?++
++Yes?++
++Someone is heading towards your direction++
++Who?++
++Two guards. They look easy. Take them out then head towards the database room. Nagi is waiting there, already taking care of the data++
++Good++
Yoji stood up. "Well, you heard what the kid said."
+~+~+~+~+
%Hey, you%
%What do you want now, Schuldich?%
%You're very rude%
%What do you want?%
%Kudou is injured%
%Where and how?% Ran picked up his crimson-colored katana and started his way down the dark and empty halls.
%Keep going straight, then turn left at the third intersection. It's a gun wound. Doesn't seem to be too fatal. The boy probably won't die%
%That was assuring%
%Can I ask a question?%
%When can I ever stop you from doing so?%
%More likely, never. But anyway, do you feel for Kudou?%
Ran nearly tripped over his own foot. %No%
%You're a funny guy, Red, just like Kudou. It's never a healthy thing when you keep emotions bottled up all inside you%
%Since when did you get all philosophical?%
%Haha, very funny, Red. When you're done retrieving Kudou, get out. Omi had the place wired to blow up in about 6 more minutes. That should be enough time for you to get out in one-piece%
%Aa%
%See you outside, Red. Hopefully%
%Asshole%
Schuldich laughed in his head, and then was gone. Ran continued his way down the hall and finally made it to the third intersection. He made a sharp left and found Yoji slumped against the wall, hand clutching his right hand. The crimson fluid was beginning to dampen the sleeves of his jacket.
"Balinese!" Ran hissed, as he ran over to help his comrade.
"Something…to stop the flow…?" Yoji rasped out. "God, this shit hurts."
"I would like to think so," Ran pulled at the hem of Yoji's jacket. "Let me borrow this for a second…" With a low tearing sound, Ran ripped part of the cloth off, drawing a protest from the owner of the jacket.
"Shut up," Ran mumbled before Yoji could say another word. Tying the knot as tight as he could, the redhead stood up and held out a hand. Yoji grabbed onto it with his uninjured hand and pulled himself up.
+~+~+~+~+
"OWWW!"
Omi winced at the sound. "Can he be anymore loud? Mou!"
"He's a sissy," Ken snickered.
"OWWWWW!!! DO YOU MIND?! AAHHH!!!!!"
"Somebody ought to go up there and shut that pretty mouth of his," Schuldich drawled out lazily, from the couch.
"That's a great idea, Schu," Nagi responded. "Why don't you go since you suggested it?"
"I'd rather die first."
"What's so bad about going up there to shut his screams up?"
"Have you heard his screams lately?"
"AAAHHH!! STOP IT STOP IT STOOOOOOOOP ITTTTTTTTT!!"
"If I go up there, my eardrums will burst within 10 feet away from the foot of the stairs."
"Yes, well, SOMEONE have to go up there and tell him we're all going home anyway," Nagi shot a look at the German.
"Why it gotta be me?" Schuldich snarled. The four young men stared each other down. Finally, after about five minutes of staring, they've had enough. Picking themselves up from their seats, they grabbed their stuff and ran out of the house, all screaming 'we're leaving Yoji' at the top of their lungs.
+++++
"Hey, did you hear that?" Yoji's ears perked up.
"Now like I could even if I wanted to," Ran mumbled, as he wrapped another end of the bandage around the injured arm. Two small white tissues poke out of both his ears.
"I'm not so loud…"
"No, that's why I need makeshift earplugs."
"Tch. OW!"
"God, how much longer do I have to endure this?"
"You? YOU?! What about ME? I'M the one in pain!!"
"I'll bet…"
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Yoji tilted his head to a side. He stared at the redhead in front of him. The latter grew uncomfortably silent for a while. "Ran? What's up?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"
"Huh?"
"What the hell was going on with you yesterday, huh?"
"I…"
"Never mind it, Kudou. I'll pretend that night never happened if you wish for it. I don't force people to commit to things they don't want to commit to."
"W-what are you talking about?"
"What?"
"That night…what…how did we…?"
"Schuldich's big genius plan," Ran rolled his eyes. "Somehow, he roped in Brad in this plan of his. Both of them slipped happy pills into our drinks."
"Why…?"
"Why what?"
"You know damn well what I meant."
Ran looked at the blond for a moment before breaking off into a sigh. "Since things are already fucked up enough, thanks to Schuldich, I guess I should tell you now…"
"What? Tell me what? A secret of yours?" Yoji looked at the redhead, excitedly.
"Aa…something like that…" Ran's face took on a slight pink color.
//He's blushing…// Yoji blinked.
"…Suki da…"
[Ende]
