Title: Memory
Author: Nijino Aya

Email: kakashuno @ yahoo.com [without spaces]
Pairings: So far, Ken X Aya, Omi X Nagi implied. More to come.

Rating: PG – 13

Warnings: Series up to death of Schreient, Aya's real name

Chapter 2: Midnight Snack

            So that's what happened… He was going to be a test subject, with Schwarz, with Schreient. Why didn't he tell me?

            Ken woke up in his bed, his old bed, in his old room. He no longer slept in Aya's room. He glanced at the clock. 4:00 am. Deciding that attempts at sleep were futile, he sat up and swung his legs over the side of his bed. Rubbing his eyes and yawning, he quietly padded into the kitchen.

            Ken sat down at the kitchen table in the darkness. He let his eyes roam over the counter tops. A bowl of fruit, a coffee pot, cigarettes, and a sink. He looked over at the phone on the wall. It was duck taped together, still broken. Ken sighed, remembering how it broke.

            Ken and Aya had been kissing in the kitchen, when they were supposed to be doing dishes. Curiosity had gotten to the kittens. Omi and Youji crept along the wall and peeked around the wall, and peeked around the corner. Unfortunately, Youji was practically on top of Omi's back, and when Aya spotted the two, Youji attempted to run. This caused the two to stumble forward, into Aya and Ken, and slam into the wall, on the phone.

            It cracked, and has been duck-taped together since. Ken lowered his head onto his forearms. It was hilarious then. At any other time, the memory would make me laugh. But now…I…

            Ken began to cry on his arms. The quiet weeping turned into sobs, and then turned into anger. Why?! Why, Aya?! Why didn't you tell me?! We could have protected you!! Ken began to calm down.

            "No," He thought out loud. "We wouldn't have been able to protect you."

            He got up and leaned his head against the wall. "We are so weak…Heh…Its funny. We know where you are but we haven't gone to get you for three days." Ken sighed at his own rash thoughts.

            Who you talkin' to? Ken spun around. "Who's there?!"

            He ran down to the flower shop. Through a shaded window, he saw a person's shadow in the pre-dawn light. The figure moved to tap on the window. Let me in, Kenken.

            Ken realized it was Schuldig. He opened the door a crack, surprised that he did such a stupid act. He didn't know when he had become so trusting of the Schwarz member. Schu pushed the door open a bit farther, and Ken moved out of the way to let him come in. He paused, the rational side of him pondering if the reason he is being so reckless, not caring anymore, and such was because he felt so hopeless over the situation. Schuldig ignored the thought from Ken.

            "What do you want?" Ken frowned.

            "Well, I don't blame you for being a bit apprehensive, but you don't have to be so rude to guests," Schu sarcastically remarked. "I've come to ask you a question."

            Ken raised an eyebrow. Schu smirked. "Well, won't you be a good host?" he paused, examining Ken's attire- a pair of soccer-print boxers and socks, "Or at least a better host?"

            Ken flushed red, and gestured to chairs at a table. Schu smugly sat down, crossing his legs, in a very comfortable manner. "So begin already," Ken spoke.

            "Tsk tsk, Kenken…" Schu smiled. "Such impatience!"

            Ken glared at him, and couldn't keep his eyes off Schuldig's red hair. Red hair…

            "You remember what happened six weeks ago, ja?" he asked.

            Ken's expression darkened with shadows as he sagged slightly. Schu continued. "You don't remember what happened after I was brought out of that room, do you?"

            "Just that Aya collapsed under that…force," Ken said softly. "And those ghostly hands…"

            Schulderich sighed. "It is a kind of psychic attack; acts like a trap," the German informed him. "It wasn't activated until Prodigy and your little kitten entered the room."

            Ken rubbed his eyes. He wouldn't cry in front of the redhead. He wasn't going to show how torn up his heart was just remembering that night. He was aware of Schuldig's ability to take those emotions and fuck with them. Though it was strange how…out of character the German was being. He must have been up to something.

            "Lately, Prodigy has been…different," Schulderich turned his head to look out the window.

            Ken looked up. "What do you mean, different?"

            "He acts a lot like…well…a lot like a statue," Schu explained. "For example, usually, if I smoke near him, he'll put the cigarette out with his telekinesis. But now, he just sits there, staring off into deep space, unaware of everything around him."

            Ken felt his heart grow warm at the sight of such a usually cruel man being so sad and worried. Perhaps he wasn't so evil, perhaps he had a heart. "What does this have to do with me?" Ken questioned.

            Schu, hearing Ken's sentimental thoughts about him, and hoping to put his usual façade back up again, rolled his eyes, looking pissed. "This began that night, when he went into that room. Bradley and I want to know if your kitten has been like that as well." Ken made a mental note that at first Schu referred to Crawford and Nagi by their codenames, but had just called Oracle by his real name. "When I saw him the other night at the warehouse with you and Balinese, he acted fine, but you never know when a person is on a mission. I'm assuming it has to do something with Nagi's psychic abilities…and your team's lack of. However, I don't seem to be affected. I credit that to the fact that I had a barrier, and Nagi had no protecting from…that."

            Ken blinked, absorbing in all he had heard. Omi was fine, a bit sad for the usually genki teen, but fine otherwise.

            I see.

            "Get out of my head, Schu," Ken glared.

            "Ken-kun, who are you—Ah! Schuldig!"

            Ken and Schuldig turned around to see Omi, clad in pajama pants and a long-sleeved shirt, standing in the doorway. "Ah, speak of the devil. We were just talking about you," Schu laughed.

            Nagi is still alive, kitten. Don't worry.

            Omi's eyes widened.

            Don't think I didn't know about your little liaison, Omittichi. Schu smirked.

            You wouldn't tell— Omi's heart began to race.

            Your secret is safe with me, kitten. Schu turned to Ken. "I will leave now, I have what I need. Thanks, Kenken."

            Schu left, quietly closing the door. Omi grabbed Ken's arm. "What the hell was that all about?!"

            Ken told Omi about what they talked about, and how it seems that Nagi's has not been acting the same since he went into that room. Even though Omi had no such powers, Ken was deeply worried that Omi would be further affected but the psychic presence in that room.

            Omi glanced at the clock. It was 5:30 in the morning already. "We're leaving at 8 tomorrow morning, Ken," Omi said quietly to the older boy.

            Ken collapsed back into the chair he was sitting in previously. "I just don't know what to do…. What are we going to do once we get to where Aya is? We don't even know what kind of place it is, what kind of security is there, if Aya is alive or dead, if he'll even remember us…" Ken would have finished his shaken ramblings, but Omi put one arm around him, and a finger on his lips, silencing him.

            "Shhh…" Omi comforted him.

            Omi led Ken into his room, tucking him in. "I'll be next door in my room, if you need me," he told Ken.

            "Omi?" Ken asked in a shaky, quavering voice.

            "Yes?"

            "Please don't leave me," he pleaded.

            Omi sat down on the side of Ken's bed. He could see tears coming down from the brunette's eyes. Omi ran his fingers of one hand through the older boy's hair. He lifted his feet off the wood floor, and slipped under the covers. He pulled the comforter over himself and Ken. Ken snuggled closer to Omi, wanted to be closer to another person, any person. Omi wrapped his arms around the older boy, letting Ken's head lie on the side of his shoulder. He held Ken as he cried.

            "It will be ok, Ken, it will all be ok…"

            But the thing is, Ken, that it won't be ok. I have a bad feeling about all of this. But I do want the best for you, and I hope we can bring Aya, the way he used to be, back to you.

End Chapter 2.