[WARNINGS] A helluva OOCness on Aya. The first part of this chapter is really boring but necessary. I think starting from the middle it gets ok. Hmm. And incest between cousins. Hn.
[AUTHOR'S NOTES] Hiya
tis' Ash. *bounces and waves* How is the story so far? I'm sorry I've made you
wait so long for the update. I'm a bad, bad writer. *fwaps self* It's
not like anyone's liking this pathetic excuse of a fic anyway… -.-; *glomps Ayako, anushkajan and Teteiyus* In this fic, Ken is 19, Aya
is 20 and Yohji 21. Got it? No? GOT it? Yes? Now read on. Enjoy!
p.s. Psst! Can you read Crossfire too? Pwease? It's got Yoippari in it
*pokes* She's good. She's really good. I'm so lucky. *^^* Read Rules…
go on… *pushes readers*
p.p.s. Gomen ne. My all-time favorite piece Rules is gone. But I'll give
you the addy once we're done. Sigh. This will be my last update on this fic due
to stupid ff.net's stupid restrains. I'm moving to Yoippari's flat! *gets
bricked* I mean, homepage. - -; Check my profile for updates on 1st January
2003 if you still want to know our fics' whereabouts. Ja ne! I love you guys
always! Gomen ne Yaoke. I'll send you the complete fic when I'm done. - -;
p.p.s. This is a gift fic to Gela because she gave me the idea of anorexia. I
love you, girl. *snogs* This chapter is to anushkajan for her persistence. ^^;
It does pay off. I just need someone to push my lazy rear into action *glomps
anushkajan* Thank you! Thank you! And Teteiyus-chan too. did you get my mail? Or
is it just you don't wanna talk to me? ; _ ; *hides under bed and cries eyes
out* Residential Error the manga forthcoming, because this is originally an
original manga for me to try out my yaoi drawing skills. I am doing commissions
starting 1st January 2003 and check my profile for updates on that day. See
samples of my artwork here : http://phenocrystian.deviantart.com/
"… and that's why I told him always to arrive late and never early so that he can miss his meals. I didn't want to humiliate him. He's a young man of twenty and he should be allowed his dignity." Mrs Fujimiya finished her reluctant confession and wrung her hands together nervously, awaiting response.
In KFC, there was a universal sigh, followed by exchanged murmurs of "Ah I understand"s. Everyone approved of Mrs. Fujimiya's decision knowing she had only the best intentions at heart for her eldest child. Anorexia was a difficult thing, a difficult task indeed to cope.
"I wonder what Ken-kun is doing right now?" Aya-chan piped up. "I wonder if onii-san's there yet?"
There was a long beat of silence, followed by a collective gasp of horrified "What to do"s. It wasn't that Ken was a bad child. Quite the opposite, he was gentle and sweet and kind. But he could be very persistent at times…he wouldn't take no for answer. Especially when it comes to cooking. One of the major reasons why they had fled to the safety of KFC to enjoy the rest of their meal. Face pale and hands shaking Mrs. Fujimiya paid for her coke hurriedly and took off back to Hidaka's flat.
Please, please let him be okay…* * *
"Gomen ne, Ken. I'm full. I'm really full." Ran pushed away the third dish. He'd already choked down two and he felt violently ill. Damn it. He shouldn't have let Ken push him. Shouldn't have downed more than he could bear.
But one look at that pleading face made his resolve weaken ever so slightly. Ever kicked a puppy? That was exactly how it felt. Like he was corrupting Ken's hard work by refusing to eat.
But he had an excuse. He really couldn't take it anymore. Not when he knew he was going to throw up within the hour…
"Come on, Ran. Just a teensy bit," Ken begged, brown eyes wide.
Well who could resist that look? Not him. Sighing the redhead forked a green mushroom. Green? When the hell had mushrooms ever turned green? Ran stuck the offending piece of veggie in his mouth and stomped down on the urge to vomit like a ten ton elephant.
Gods. He was so going to be sick…
The doorbell shrieked and they both jumped three feet in the air without ever shifting position. Ken ran for the door and Ran beckoned the cocker spaniel over and offered it the dish. The damned dog took one sniff at the plate, dropped his tail between his legs and fled for cover under the sofa quivering.
Damn. Maybe he could sneak off to the trashcan and run back within ten seconds… He heard his mother come trampling in.
"Ran! Are you all right? Are you----" The loud woman broke off and her jaw dropped to the floor. "Oh Ran! How was your meal?"
Ran snorted. He chanced a brief at Ken's hopeful face and sighed. " It's good."
"Oh Ran, Ran," Mrs Fujimiya eyed the clean plates in disbelief, almost awe. "Why, Ken, you're my savior."
"I am?"
"Yes. And why don't I talk to your parents about this matter. Mrs. Hidaka? Can you spare a few minutes…"
* * *
"He's going to what?"
"So it's settled," Mrs Hidaka informed Ken the next day. "Ran is going to move in this noon, and you're going to be nice to him and take good care of him."
"What? How could you? Without my consent? Hell no, I'm not living with him! He'll rob me of what little I have! He's going to hold sex orgy parties here every single night and chase me out of my own flat!"
Even with the words spilling out of his mouth Ken had to admit he wasn't making any sense at all. Quiet, reserved Ran stealing? Partying on a Saturday night? Not likely. Still he wasn't at all enthused about a flatmate. He was a guy dammit. Guys always lived alone.
Mrs Hidaka gave him a long look. "His mother is paying for half the rent. I think it's a fair share and you have to agree that he is very attached to your cooking. He's never eaten more than three bites before, and last night was a great leap to further improvement. We are all counting on you."
Ken wavered. Ran liked his cooking? Cool. And he could never turn down a chance to help. So this was a lost cause. Ken hung his head in defeat.
"Fine. Fine, I'll go home and help. Yeah. Whatever."
* * *
"I like this place."
"Uh… yeah?" Ken wheezed as he struggled with the oakwood tablestand. He groaned and rolled his shoulders, dropping the heavy furniture in front of Ran's door with a loud 'thunk'. Once he had wrapped his corded arms around the deceptively delicate-looking piece, he immediately regretted offering to help. Ran was so slender, like a thin willow reed that might collapse at the lightest breeze, Ken was afraid he would break if he attempted to carry any of these goddamn furniture he owned.
"Beer?" Ran offered, pressing the can against Ken's sweaty forehead. The damp coolness felt like heaven. Ken made a grab for it and cracked the lid, taking a deep swig.
The cocker spaniel nudged Ken with its tiny black button of a nose.
"No, geroff you mutt," Ken gurgled. "I worked my ass off for this."
"I really appreciate this, Ken," Ran said in his soft voice. "I'm really sorry for bothering you. I'll try my best not to interfere, I just ain't used to living by myself."
Ken recalled what he'd complained about earlier, guilt pricking him at all sides like a human pincushion. "Oh. No, not at all." A deep flush stained his cheeks. Shit. To hide his embarrassment, he quickly switched to a safer topic and an important matter in hand. "Where do you want to put this?"
"I'll take care of it. Sankyuu." With a sweep of those svelte long arms, Ran effortlessly lifted the tablestand Ken had been staggering with for the last ten minutes and made a beeline for his room.
Ken stared.
Fuck. So much for helping the redhead.
Ran reappeared in an instant and plopped onto the sofa. Ken went and sat beside him, and clicked the remote.
Neither spoke. It was up to Ken to break the ice.
"Well…Ran?"
"Hn?"
"Do you miss your parents? I mean, moving away from them and all."
Ran laughed his soft velvety laugh. "Ken. I'm twenty. I don't miss anyone. I do miss my room though. It had a great view. You could see the sea from my window."
Ken brightened. "There's a view here, too!"
"There is?"
"Yeah. If you squash your face in the window and look at the far left, you can see the football field!"
Ran smiled politely and removed his cheek from the glass. "Ah yes. There it is."
Ken beamed. He had a dimple in his left cheek. Then he yawned.
"Gomen nasai, Ran. I'm beat. I think I'm going to hit the sheets right away. school's starting tomorrow… you should go to bed too. I'll wake you at 7 am, since you're transferring to my university and all. We can catch breakfast together. Anything you want, just holler for me, okay? I'll be out in a jiffy." Ken stretched his arms above his head and yawned, practically sitting on his spine. Then he jumped off the sofa.
"Ow!"
He glared at the offending nail poking out of the cushions and through the coarse fabric of his worn jeans. Ken blinked as slender fingers wrapped around his own callused hands on his thigh.
"You want me to get you off?"
"Nani?"
"Get it off you," Ran said smoothly. With an effortless tug, the nail came loose.
"Oh… right." Ken flashed a grateful smile and disappeared into his room, rubbing his thigh, unaware of the violet eyes that followed him before he shut the door with a quiet click.
* * *
"Guess we're in for the same homeroom," Ken whispered to Ran in class the following day. Ran nodded, but his full attention was on the teacher, hanging on every word she was about to spill.
What a diligent guy, Ken thought. I wish I could have a memory span of more than three seconds. He looks as though he has one of three years.
"…rape is getting more serious each day. You should know right here, and right now, how to defend yourself against muggers in this city. That is why I have requested a longer homeroom period from the principal in order to educate you what you need to know…"
Several snorts arose from the class.
"Sexual assaults are not a laughing matter. Today I shall teach you the basics in order to protect yourself."
There was a universal groan, as everyone slouched off their chairs and cleared off the tables under Mikako the homeroom teacher's barking directions for more space for the self defense class.
She divided the class in pairs.
Kaede and Wakaba.
Tomoyuki and Kyoku.
Every pair consisted of a guy and a girl. Finally Mikako's eyes rested on Ran and Ken. She swing her gaze around. There was no spare girl. Ken and Ran exchanged a helpless look. A silent question --- what?
"Um, then you two can be a pair. Ken can be the victim and Fujimiya san the mugger."
No.
No way.
No fucking way.
Ken grunted in response and turned his back on Ran grudgingly.
"Okay guys and girls. On the count of three, flip!" Mikako blew on her whistle.
Here goes nothing, Ken thought peevishly and braced himself for the blow. He wondered how Ran would attack. A karate chop? A full-body tackle perhaps. Hadn't he said he'd taken up katana classes? Something shocking, that much was expected…
What he hadn't expected were slender callused hands reaching downwards to pinch his butt, nor the silvery soft whisper, "Mmm Kenken…" accompanied by an affectionate nip on his ear.
Ken jumped about three feet off the floor.
Literally.
With a strangled cry he leapt back and fell to the floor, landing hard on his rear. Yelping indignantly he scuttled across the floor like some mutant crab and flattened his back to the walls, brown eyes dramatically wide.
Ran laughed.
Mikako spun and glared at Ken like he'd farted in the church and giggled about it. "Hidaka san! Please pay attention!" She turned her back to Ken and blew shrilly on her whistle. "Get back to your partner, Ken."
Ken's mouth worked for several seconds. Then he shut it with a snap. There wasn't anything he could say to defend himself. He didn't know how he'd finally managed to pick himself off the floor and glare at a grinning Ran just as Mikako yelled for them to switch roles.
This is not good. This is so not good, Ken thought. What the fuck did Ran think he was doing? What the hell? Gods, Ran can't be gay, can he? Hadn't mom said he had a girlfriend? Sakura something? Anything? And now he was going to be the attacker…oh, thank god. At least Ran can't play any dirty tricks now. Imagine what he had up his sleeves. Gods.
Ken stood behind Ran.
"Attack!"
So attack he did. Ken unwillingly wrapped his arms around Ran's thin waist, expecting the worst.
He wasn't disappointed. Mikako chose that particular moment to be called away by some random teacher, and she scampered out the door.
Which left Ran practically free to do whatever he wanted to do.
Ken blinked as Ran dropped to the floor on his back and spread his legs to shout "Rape me! Rape me!" at the top of his lungs. The entire body of students started laughing. Ken was absolutely mortified.
"Shut up!" he hissed, clenched fist raised high.
Just then Mikako re-entered the room. The class dropped to a soft hush.
"Hidaka san!" she yelled.
* * *
Ken squared his shoulders as he walked into the cafeteria, balancing his lunch tray, his books on his head. A girl pushed past him. The tray teetered dangerously in his arms and he steadied himself, his breath at his throat. He scanned the place. Where the hell was Yohji?
"Ken!"
A smile. A wave. A crinkle at the corners of laughing green eyes.
Ken broke into a wide grin and scampered towards his best friend, slipping into one of the vacant seats of the four-person table.
They ate. They talked. Then they ate some more. Ken relaxed and spilled his guts to Yohji. Once he started, he couldn't stop.
About Ran.
About the flower shop.
About Ran.
About lessons.
About Ran.
About teachers.
About Ran.
Time flew and Ken's eyes flickered to Yohji's neatly scraped plate.
One lone fry.
Yohji stared at Ken across the table.
"Do you know what it means?" he asked in a singsong voice.
Ken played along and shook his head, brown eyes wide and innocent. "Nah. No clue."
"Now we're gonna race for it." With mock carefulness, the lanky blond playboy placed the fry at the middle of the table. "It's the only fair way, ne? Now, put your hands on the table. Palms down."
Ken did as he was told.
"On the count of three, ok?"
Ken breathed deeply. "Yeah. Okay."
"One, two---" Both hands shot forward. Fingers flexed. Yohji got to it first.
"Ha!" he said, triumphant.
Ken grabbed Yohji's hand and started wrestling with him for it and in no time, smashed the fry into a greasy mess.
"Look what you've done! Now this artistic piece of roasted peeled potato skin ceases to exist forever!" Yohji wailed. Ken ignored him, snatched the remaining tiny piece sticking out of the blond's fist and popped it into his mouth. Yohji laughed long and hard and Ken joined in. It was utter stupidity and sheer silliness, but comfortingly so. Ken felt right at home. He wondered if Yohji felt the same way too.
With a start, they stared down at their twined fingers.
They both yanked their own hand back, a beat slower than necessary. Ken stare burned into his lunch, suddenly enraptured by his carton of half-drained milk. He could feel his cheeks aflame, feel the irritating red flush tainting his face.
God, he hated the way his cheeks and ears could go a strawberry hue within five seconds of embarrassment. One of these days he was going to the clinic and see what the doctor could do about that.
"Kenken!"
Ken flinched involuntarily when Ran bounded over with a pleased smile on his face. "Very cozy. Can I fit in?"
"No," Ken snapped, brown eyes flashing. So naturally Ran slid into the empty seat beside the seething soccer player with a grin out of scoring another win in his private game of Ken-irking.
"Kenken," Yohji repeated, incredulous.
"It's my pet name for him," Ran said, throwing his arms around Ken's shoulders. Ken shrugged him off.
"I hate it," Ken announced.
"He hates it," Ran agreed.
Yohji smothered a laugh. Ken glared. Blushing, furious. Obviously he did not appreciate Ran's affectionate nickname. Yohji was startled to catch the redhead eyeing him. Cold. Appraising, despite the giggling, carefree exterior.
They glared at each other, hostility crackling in the air. It was hate at first sight. The temperature in the room suddenly shot up an extra twenty degrees.
Ken slammed his tray on the table so hard that it wobbled.
Yohji was honestly shocked. He had never seen the brunette loose it like that before.
"Where to?"
"The bathroom," Ken managed through gritted teeth. "Anything I can get you?"
"Uh, none for me." Yohji looked pointedly at the redhead.
Ran's pansy eyes grew serious. He raised his head and speared Ken's suspiciousness with a calm, collected gaze. He had pretty eyes. Catlike eyes. Exotic, almost. Funny Ken had never noticed.
Their gazes locked.
"A couple of urinals, please," Ran said solemnly and cracked up.
Argh!
Ken leapt to his feet and stomped to the men's restroom without ever looking back.
Damn Ran. Damn Ran!
Ran followed Ken with his eyes appreciatively, enjoying the full view of his jean-clad backside. All the while Yohji stared at Ran like he was an alien descended from Mars. Ran, being Ran, ignored Yohji's full attention and set on cleaning up Ken's half-eaten lunch. He took a long drag of milk. Picked up the white plastic knife and dissected the burger into tiny pieces. He forked a small piece of mincemeat and took a delicate bite, chewed thoughtfully. Yohji studied Ran, a pang of jealousy surfacing within his stomach. The little bitch got to share an apartment with Ken.
His Ken.
And Yohji didn't like it. He didn't like it one bit.
It was a cold war of silence. Each dared the other to talk. Time dragged.
It was Yohji who couldn't bear the crackling atmosphere and spoke first. "Ran?" he asked, tentative.
Ran glanced up. Shrugged and returned to attacking his meal. "That's my name," he said between bites.
Yohji forced a polite smile, pushing his irritation aside. "I hear you're Ken's cousin."
"Hn."
"He must be very good to you, ne?"
"Hn."
"Ken is a very caring guy."
"Hn."
Yohji ground his teeth together impatiently. His goodwill was waning. It was all he could do not to jump up and throttle the icy redhead with bare hands. Again he pasted on a fake smile.
Keep your cool, Kudou. He isn't worth it.
"So… what is the… relationship between you two? Besides cousins, I mean," Yohji dug himself deeper, his voice nonchalant. "I mean… you must be very good friends… Ken had ranted on and on about you when he learnt he was to see you last week. Says he hasn't seen you for five years or so…" Yohji left the rest of the sentence hang. If the redhead still get it, he must be stupider than he looked.
Ran paused. Nibbled the tip of his fork and broke into a sly smile.
"Yohji."
"Hai… hai?"
Ran's lips curled. "You want Ken."
"Na… nani?"
"So do I."
Yohji scowled.
Ran laughed, deeply amused. He got up from his chair and walked around the table. Reached around and patted Yohji's head. Yohji flinched.
He whispered a challenge into Yohji's ear before sauntering away, hands in pockets.
"Just in case you're wondering, I don't like to share, either."
Yohji's head snapped up in shock.
Ran was gone.
[ A/N ] So… how was it? I gave it my best shot. WAFF and sweetness just isn't my cup of tea, but I tried. Really. Leave a note before you go? Pwease? I stayed up from 2 to 5 am in the morning to finish this - -;