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 3: Traveling Love

            Ken stared out of the plexi-glass window as the greenery and housing developments whizzed by at Ken's brain's idea of light speed. He sighed and turned back to Youji who was eating frantically from the bento lunch he had carried with him.

            "Who's smart idea was it to prohibit cigarette smoking on bullet trains?!" he complained, substituting the nicotine with rice. He came to the conclusion that he'd get fat if he ever quit smoking.

            To Ken, Omi looked dejected. He now seemed more sad and depressed than he had ever been since Ken knew him. I wonder why? He's only gotten worse, where even he said I have gotten better, now that I know that Aya is alive. Ken remembered his un-missed bags under his eyes. A thought that cheered himself up a bit came to him. If I didn't know better, I'd say he looked lovesick. Is he? Who in the world would he be dating?

            Ken rubbed Omi's shoulder. The latter practically jumped from the surprise of sudden contact. He relaxed, his eyes at half-mass. Ken wrapped an arm around Omi's shoulders and pulled him to lean on his shoulder. Omi looked up and peered at Ken, giving him a thankful smile, the favor being returned from the previous night. Ken wanted to ask what was wrong, but from the way Omi leaned into him, like the whole world's problems could be solved by resting on a best friend's shoulder, he decided to leave it be. Omi drifted to sleep. I guess he never went back to sleep last night.

            Youji glanced up from his distraction against nicotine and peered at the two younger boys. Heh…just rub it in my face, won't you. I know I have no relation ship with anyone. Stupid Ken. He's practically cheating on Aya. Doesn't Omi see me? Doesn't he see that I love him? But Omi, little one, I know that you are seeing someone. But who is it? And why haven't we met her? Youji smiled. Or him?

            Ken blinked. Why the hell does Youji look so lustful?! He rolled his eyes and shut them. What will happen if—when we get Aya back? Will everything go back to normal?

            Soon, Ken found himself drifting off to La-La land, dreaming nightmares of Aya.

***

Ken woke with a start, as the train halted to a stop. The three got off the train and went to the rental car station. Obtaining a map, a too-cramped lemon car, and Youji's cigarettes, they set off out of town to the manor. The drive was two hours long. Omi slept, Youji drove, and Ken pondered the previous night's discussion with Schuldig. Something must have been seriously wrong with that whacko, for him to act so…un-Schuldig-like. No mind-screws, no cocky words, nothing. Could it be because of that Nagi kid? I would have never assumed that Schwarz had emotions.

Youji looked over from the drivers seat to Ken. "Thinking about something, Kenken?" he asked.

Ken looked over to Youji. He and Omi did not tell Youji about the night's encounter. "Nothing more than the usual."

Youji decided now was the best time to bring it up. "Have you noticed how Omi's…changed?"

Ken looked over at Youji, surprised that it wasn't just himself noticing these things. "Yes! I have…He looks—"

"Lovesick," Youji finished for him. They smiled at each other. "Who do you think it is?"

"Not sure," Ken stared out the window again. "But isn't it strange, that his moods change with everything happening even more than you'd think?"

"Maybe his troubles are somehow related to all this?" Youji asked.

***

The manor was two miles outside a small town called Shokon. Youji suggested they park the car in the town, and to walk the rest of the way. Early evening was approaching, and the sun was slowly creeping under the horizon. The orange light cast itself across the three men as they crouched against the southeast corner of the white stone brick wall that bordered the western style estate.

"As evening falls," Youji explained, "I will scale the wall there-" He pointed to a place where a tree's branch reached close to the wall. He pointed to where the security cameras were. They were to avoid the places where the cameras would see them. He found amusement in the shabby job that whoever had put up the cameras did.

He had done some research with Omi earlier, and discovered that the mansion was owned by an elderly wealthy businessman, and was obviously being used by whoever took Aya away from them. A professional certainly didn't put up the cameras, or there would have been more preciseness.

After Omi and Ken had chosen places to cross over the wall, they split up, using ropes to hook over the spiked railing on the top of the wall. Youji hoisted himself over the railing and into the tree branches. He waved to Ken and Omi, and motioned for them that it was safe to jump the wall. Ken threw his rope over a spike, pulled himself up, and stepped over the spike. He jumped down onto the grassy lawn and—

Bright light flooded the yard, exposing them, and revealing security guards with assault weapons pointed.

"You underestimate us." A voice said. Ken turned his head slowly to see what appeared to be the shadowed silhouette of a woman, appearing to be of some importance. The bright lights behind her shadowed enough of her front so he couldn't see her face, but he could make out the edges of dark red hair, falling a little past her shoulders. She wore a black garment that came down to her knees, and dark pants.

The solders that over took them covered their mouths with a cloth dampened with ether. Well, at least we're inside, was Youji's sarcastic last conscious thought to himself.

***

Ugh… Ken woke with a pounding headache. His eyes were heavy and he strained to open them. He squinted, trying to see through his blurry vision. He couldn't move, but that was attributed to the fact that he was tied up, and lying on his side on what felt like the floor. Figures…Where am I? Where are the others?

The first thing he could clearly see was a pair of legs, sitting in a chair. "Awake?" the legs spoke. It was that familiar woman voice, from earlier in the yard.

"Where am I?" Ken asked, not wanting to look up to see her quite yet.

"In a temporary holding cell." Her voice was deep, firm, and professional.

"Where are my teammates?"

"In their own cells. You've been out longer than they have, about five hours."

"Have I been drugged?"

"Only with barbiturates—sleep inducing drugs. You will not be affected otherwise."

Ken tried to roll over and sit up, but groaned as his body ached all over. He wanted to see is inquisitor. "I know why you're here." She said.

"You know we are looking for…" he trailed off.

"Hidaka-san, who you are looking for is here, in this place, but cannot be found, for he no longer exists."

He was speechless. The paradox was profound. Here, but not here. He needed to see his inquisitor. He rolled onto his back, fighting the aches and pains that hit him. He leaned his upper body off the ground, and focused his eyes on the woman in the chair. It was the most shocking sight to ever hit him.

The woman had red hair only a few shades darker, framing the pale skin of her face, and her harsh and angry, but beautiful violet-purple eyes stared at him through wire-rimmed glasses. It was…it was…

It was Aya.

"AYA?!"

--

To be continued.