Warnings and stuff: AU and that means completely. I don't think there's a Valensburg out there last time I checked.  Some weird crap to come. Bear with me here, thank you.

Pairings: K+O A+Y

Disclaimers: I don't own Weiss Kreuz.

Believing the Dream

Chapter Six- Lonely Heart

"I might be back late!" I yelled over my shoulder.  Finally! The day was over! No more screaming girls! No more arrangements! No more thorns! No more sneezes! Well...until Monday that is.  It had taken more than my time's worth of convincing to persuade Yohji to let me have Sundays off.  Geez, Aya had turned him into a slavedriver. 

I scowled.  Not that they would mind having me gone.  All I did was get in the way.  And it's not like Yohji wanted to hang out anymore.

Me? Jealous? Nah...

So, not really hearing Yohji's reply, if there was one, I slipped out of the flower shop and headed towards the valley.  I could have asked for a lift but I preferred walking.  Besides, it was a comfortable afternoon and I'd rather not risk another ride in Yohji's crashmobile in the making.

I hadn't stopped thinking about Omi the entire day.  Everything I saw reminded me of Omi from the smell of the flowers to the cheerfulness of all the customers.  There was just something about him...

The sun had almost disappeared over the peak of the mountains as I reached the river running through the valley.  Omi had said he lived somewhere near the river.  I looked around and spotted a small bridge.  It looked safe enough.

Near the opposite bank, there was a small cabin abloom with all sorts of wildflowers.  Yup.  Looked very Omi-ish to me.

As I stepped onto the porch step, a little black cat streaked in front of me.  I wasn't one for superstition but it did surprise me enough that I stumbled backwards and landed with a painful thump on my behind.  The cat stood over me.  If cats could smile, I swear this one was smirking.

Omi stepped out onto the porch.  Afterall, my butt had made a rather loud smack.

"Ken!" He smiled brightly.

"Hey Omi!" I replied from my undignified position on the ground.

The little blonde came over and knelt by the little black cat standing next to me. 

"Oh sorry, did Mamoru scare you?" He picked up the cat, who purred contentedly while giving me little smug looks.  I envied that cat.  And he knew it too.

I shook my head.  "Sorry I didn't come earlier.  I have a job now.  My friend, his name is Yohji, dragged me into working at a flower shop."

Omi perked up.  "Flower shop?"

"Yeah," I suddenly remembered I had saved a pretty little bloom in my pocket.  I didn't know what it was called but its color reminded me of Omi's eyes.  I dug it out.  Aside from being a little ruffled and smushed, it still had most of its beauty.  I held out the little flower to Omi.  "Here.  It matches your eyes."

"Wow thanks!" he took it from me.  Mamoru batted at the little blossom with a tiny paw.  Omi laughed.  "Mamoru, do you like it too?"  The little black cat mewed.

The scene before my eyes shined with innocence.  Now I knew what that little something about Omi was.  He was pure and innocent, almost unearthly. 

His eyes focused back on me.  My breath hitched.  "A flower shop, huh?  What's it called?"

He sounded a bit wistful but it could just have been me.  "Uh...Kitty in the House or something like that."  I answered.  I remembered when Yohji told me the name, I almost cried.  Were we supposed to be kitties or something?  I told him I didn't want to be a kitty.  He only laughed at me. 

But now, I looked at Mamoru, all comfortably tucked in the crook of Omi's arm.  What I would do to be a kitty.

Omi hugged his knees.  "Oh. What's it like?" His voice was distant.

The dream flashed through my mind.  I got that feeling you only get when you know there was something you ought to know but didn't.  "Omi...is something wrong?"

He shook his head, his bangs falling thickly over his eyes.  "No, nothing.  Just...tell me about it, Ken?"

I shrugged.  The sun had long since set and only a dull afterglow remained in the deepening sky.  A cool evening breeze whispered through the mountains, the grass swaying in the wind.  I lay down in the soft grass.

"Well...," I began, sort of unsure on what exactly to say, "I've only been there for one day but from what I've seen, it's really busy and there are all these screaming girls mobbing us."

Omi giggled.  Mamoru snuggled deeper into his shirt.  Be still my jealous heart.

Gazing off into the distance, I continued.  "And there's lots of flowers, of course, in every single color.  They make me sneeze.  I'm learning how to make arrangements properly...Aya, that's one of Yohji's friends, he's always breathing down my neck telling me what I'm doing wrong."  I smiled. 

"It sounds really cool," Omi commented softly, running a hand over Mamoru's long tail.  The cat flicked it annoyingly.

"You could come with me in the morning," I suggested, "I don't really have a shift tomorrow but I guess we could go check it out." 

Omi brightened considerably.  His eyes shone in the darkness and his expression was that of pure joy.

"Really? That'd be so great!  I don't really go into town anymore.  It'd be nice to see what it's like again."  He picked up Mamoru and bumped noses with the little animal.  "How 'bout it Mamo, you want to go to town with us tomorrow?"  "Mamo" purred.  Omi laughed and flopped down on his back next to me in the long grass.

"I'm so happy, Ken! I don't know many people and then you come one day and act so nice to me," he chuckled quietly and then sat up again.  "Are you hungry?"

I was about to say no but my greedy stomach betrayed me.  It growled hungrily.  I blushed.  "No?" I tried.

Omi laughed.  "It's okay.  I'm sure I have something decent in the house.  Be right back."  He got up and went into the house, Mamoru following loyally.  I watched cat and boy disappear into the dim light of the doorway.

I recalled Yohji's words a few days ago.  The whole deal about a flood and spirits and stuff.  I guess there was still someone who wasn't bothered by ghosts spooking around the place.  On the other hand, the spirits probably enjoyed having someone like Omi around.  Who wouldn't?

Omi appeared on the porch again, dragging two sleeping bags and a plastic bag.  He hulled the load to the bottom of the steps and came back to sit down.  He was grinning.

Omi handed the bag to me.  "Here.  It's all I could find but it should be okay."

I looked at him, then to the sleeping bags, and then the plastic bag in my hand.  "O-omi, what is all this?"

He beamed.  "Well, that's some food that you're holding."  He motioned to the sleeping bags.  "I figured it's too late for you to get back safely so you can crash here for tonight."

"Outside?" I looked into the bag.  It was filled with all sorts of snackfood.  Yum.

Omi frowned worriedly.  "Oh...if you mind, I can move it inside.  I just thought since it was such a nice evening, we could sleep outside?"

I shook my head and smiled reassuringly at him. Well, I tried to smile but it's sort of hard when half a bag of chips is in one's mouth.  I swallowed loudly.  I hope Omi didn't mind my piggish habits.

"I don't mind at all.  It's been a while since I did something like this." I held out the bag of chips to him.  He shook his head.

"Well, that's good," he flashed me one of his beautiful smiles. "I usually sleep outside during the warmer seasons.  It's really nice out here."  Omi rolled onto one of the sleeping bags and stretched languidly. 

I gazed at him happily.  It was at that moment I realized I liked Omi.

A lot.

Mamoru sauntered over casually, smoothly curling up at Omi's side.  That cat knew how to rub it in.

I sighed, gazing at the now empty of chips in my lap.  I'd never really gotten into any romantic relationships before.  Heck, no one's ever liked me "that way" before.  The only thing that had ever come close was the rabid fangirls swooning over us at our games...or the flower shop customers.  Take your pick. 

It was all so new to me.

Unfortunately, as new and exciting as it was, I did not have the slightest clue what to do.  I gazed at the little bundle of happiness curled up, looking up at the sky now flecked with diamond dust stars.

I sighed, breathing in the cool night air before abandoning my chips and crawling over to lie down on the sleeping bag next to Omi's.  His hair reflected the moonlight, glowing pale silver and illuminating his features sharply.

"Ken."  Omi said, his voice a whisper.  "Beautiful, aren't they?"  He was staring at the stars.  I looked up. 

There must have been billions, far brighter and numerous than anywhere I had been before.  They twinkled at us, hiding some sort of secret only they knew and shared with the grinning moon alone. 

"Yeah..." I breathed, lost in the moment. Just like you, I mentally added.  He turned to look at me.  Now I was lost in his eyes.

"There's so much I don't know about you," he said, propping up on his elbows.  "But I guess we haven't known each other for very long but...I really do want to get to know you..."

"I could say the same for you" I replied.  Mamoru padded over to lie in between us.  I wondered if there was some secret motive to his ways.

He laughed.  "Well, there's really not much to tell."  He gazed past me and into the distance, his eyes swimming with thought as if trying to remember something long gone.  "I was born here," he started, "Our family has always lived down here.  My mother died when I was young and so did my father soon after.  We owned a shop and I worked in it for a while but I decided to just live by myself down here.  I sold the shop, getting enough money to support myself and here I am."

Omi sighed, pushing the bangs from his face.  "It seems like so long ago..."

I frowned.  "Omi...I'm sorry..."

"Don't be," he cut in briskly.  "I've always been alone.  When you've been alone for all your life, you get...you get used to it." 

"I..." This sudden change of mood scared me.

He spun to look at me.  I was surprised to find tears in his eyes.  Mamoru purred reassuringly and rubbed against his knees.  Omi stared at me, his beautiful eyes blank and brimming with painfully unshed tears.  They were pleading, begging for something.  I just didn't know what.

Without thinking, I gathered him in my arms and held him close.  He stiffened momentarily but soon relaxed and cried softly into my shirt.  His warmth spread all over me, making me feel whole and comfortable.

"Ken..." he whispered shakily.  I hugged him tighter.  Omi looked at me with teary eyes.  "Ken, it's just...I've been lonely for so long.  I don't know what to do anymore..."

I tipped up his chin.  Our eyes locked and for a dozen heartbeats we stayed like that. 

"Omi, I don't what I can do..." I breathed hesitantly, "...but I promise you won't be alone anymore..."

I'm not sure who leaned in first.  We both might have done it at the same time.  But a second later, I found myself kissing Omi's soft lips.  He was gentle and sweet, warm and comforting.  I had no idea how to do this properly so it was a bit clumsy but I poured all the love and caring I felt towards this mysterious boy into the kiss.  He kissed back, desperately at first, tears still streaming down his cheeks.  I tried to send a message back. Don't cry, I rubbed slow circles into his back.  After what seemed like eternity, we parted, panting slightly.  I never stopped looking into his eyes.

It was at that moment, my bubble that had had me trapped for so long, popped.  Everything I had left behind rushed out and new unexplored things rushed in.  For the first time in a long time, I felt whole.

"Thank you, Ken," Omi whispered after a long silence.

I saw Mamoru flick his tail out of the corner of my eye.

Look who's jealous now.

TBC...

~*~

^_^ Yay! I finally got some real Ken x Omi  in here! Happy happy happy! Sorry it took so looooong though.  Too much homework and crap like that. -_-

Okay, I'll try to get the next chapter up ASAP!

Please R&R! It's what's keeping me going!