Love is Life

Disclaimer: The characters belong to Koyasu Takehito. Fanfiction belongs to me! ME! MEEEEE! XD

Warning: Yaoi. If this isn't your stick of candy, please go lick another story. Flamers are not tolerated, they're chomped and eaten and then spit out again as crow feed. XD

Plot Cockroach: Again, but this time it isn't a set up. It was more of a coincidence. Believe me, if we didn't bump into each other, I'd never bother to even post this. (^^;) I'm sorry for taking to long, but I was infected by a rather strong strain of the notorious na-no-da virus, before I finally got it under control… for now. Please tell me if I accidentally write "Na no da". Blargh! What sort of boy actually watches Gravitation???

Characterization: Here's a new problem, this new mix-and-match idea of theirs doesn't fit any of the characters in particular. He's suave, all right, but not as sexily nonsensical as Yohji is. But he's blond, so! I'll just stick him to the role of Yohji, heh!

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Three: Funfair (I'm running out of witty titles…)

It was five days since Saturday, which meant that it was Thursday. Heck. I trust that you can count the days for yourself. Anyway, it was Thursday, and I was going out. Yes, I was going to unhook myself from this stupid, but honorably, lovably, wonderful machine of mine, and get myself a life. I was going out to have fun!

This time Omi took the initiative to ask me personally to "Please consider going out with Yohji." Who is Yohji, you ask? He just happens to be one of Omi's good friends in high school. They graduated together with big smiles and he scored top honors in libido land. Literally. All the women and men loved him – he was a perfect gentleman, with one heck of a great smile, a suave personality and did I mention he was blond? He was as blond as blond, oh, you know, not the Yuki kind of blond, but the blond kind of blond, and by that the blond kind of blond that blinds people to believing that blonds are blond. A strawberry blond, yeah, that's the word.

Ichigo Burondo.

…Maybe I should reconsider enrolling into Japanese classes next summer.

Anyway, I couldn't simply turn down such a nice offer from Omi, could I? Besides, he had come and asked so nicely, and it wasn't technically a set-up, because he had come to ask, and the Ichigo Burondo knows about it and he's looking forward to it. He sounds rather fun, too. I think I'd look forward to going out with him too. Omi was elated.

"Thank you," he had smiled so happily, I think he couldn't have been happier then. I looked at him.

"You're thanking me when I should be thanking you, na no da?" Blargh! To crap with that stupid, irritating but very fun virus! Omi overlooked it, though, and for that I was glad. Well, out of everyone, only Nagi seemed pleased with it. Weird. Wasn't he supposed to be mature, and act thirty? I suppose anime brought out the best in people anyway. That was good. At least Nagi could enjoy his childhood…

Snerk.

He'd better not have heard the childhood thing. I might end up na no dead were he to know about it.

So I looked at Omi and grinned. He grinned back and bowed. "I'm leaving for now, Ken-kun. See you around." That event happened on Wednesday, Christmas day, of all the days so stage a date-up. I was supposed to go out with Ichigo Burondo on Thursday. They didn't even give me any time to reconsider the offer later, na no da… I guess I'd simply do this, anyway. I'm a simple guy; remember?

The day dawned quickly. Being my normal little self, I decided to just wear what every normal citizen would on a cold December day. A white hooded coat, some T-shirts, a pair of gloves and… pants. Hey! I don't have to describe my pants, do I?

Anyway, the day dawned quickly. I made my way to the door, and there was Ichigo Burondo, or rather, he was known to Omi and his own mother as Yohji. I guessed that I had to smile at him, and so I smiled at him, and gave him a vibrant, plain "HI!" and a present. Yohji brought nothing, but a great smile. I was satisfied.

C'mon! Of course I was satisfied! It's not everyday that a strawberry blond turns up at your door and grins handsomely at you! He took the present from my hand and shook it against his cheek. I think I nearly died then. I mean, really. A drop-dead gorgeous guy whom I'd only imagined as a strawberry blond but who was really a suave, handsome guy takes your hand-wrapped gift and presses it against his cheek? You'd die, too, right?

Ahem.

So, he took the present and shook it against his cheek. "A watch."

"What?"

Not so much of a 'thank you', na no da! Who did he think he was? Leonardo de Caprio?

But I guess I didn't mind then. I was too busy ogling at his gorgeous Yuki-like eyes. Ooh, you say. I must've said that too. How pathetic. He continued to grin. "Well?"

"No."

"Okay, a bracelet?"

"No, but you're close."

"Ah… a chain?"

"Bingo," I said in a normal manner. It gets to me how normal I could be, sometimes. I should be more like Ran, you know.

Ran.

Which brings me to the subject of Ran, the mighty avenger of poor little set-up boys. I seriously think that he thinks that I'm stupid, or something of that sort. I glanced back. The roses he gave me were drying in the back. What a sentimental fool I am. Sigh. "So, Yohji, where are we going, that you happen to have in mind?"

"Oh, an amusement park," he leaned against the doorway. Did I mention that his pose was striking? Whoa. Ichigo Burondo indeed. I nodded stupidly. "Let's go, then, my little KenKenKen."

Ha, ha.

The amusement park wasn't too crowded at that moment, but there were people, some, that is. It was a day after Christmas, after all. I could tell that the place was fun. The air was great – crisp and cool. I liked it. I dared myself to look at Yuki… ah, Yohji, and whoa – he caught my gaze and grinned. He had great teeth. Oh, well, then, I should have told him that as a compliment, but being too awe-struck at that moment… hmm. Pathetic. Nothing else to do that to smile stupidly back.

We played some games, resulting in his scoring and winning us a toy bear. It was white, with a Santa hat and a bell. Then, we had rides, and laughed in a rather mock-heroic manner at nothing in particular. The idiocy was particularly comfortable, though, and I can't say that I minded it the least. Yohji was a perfect date, next to Ran. Don't tell him I said that, please?

So, anyway, we spent our time in the park, talking and laughing and clinging to each other for support after a dizzying ride. It was fun, it really was. Yohji was less serious than Ran was, and besides, I sincerely think that they are both very handsome men. Well, compared to me, that is. I'm just plain. Yet I'm lucky enough to have very attractive past-loves before. Schuldig was hot and sexy, Ran was serious, composed and also sexy, and Yohji is the blond king of sexiness. Heck, all my loves are sexy. It's more of a compliment, anyway. Seriously, I don't see what they see in me. Do you?

Our next ride proved the worst, though. Yohji, king of bravery, had decided to give the Haunted Mansion a try. I looked at him and na no da-ed.

"It's fun, and you know they aren't real! C'mon, Ken!" he tried to coax me with his genuine Tom Cruise smile. "You won't be alone! We could go together! Look, let's just go ask them first, okay?"

Guess his smile won. Heh. What a spineless worm I was, giving in to a flashing smile like that. I hate Haunted Houses. They're a waste of money! Imagine! Paying money just to get frightened the pants off you… oh, wait. Maybe that's what Yohji wants? He wants our pants off, huh? I'll show him! Ken Hidaka is no baby!

Right, so, I foolishly allowed myself to be dragged into the Haunted Mansion thingy. He spoke to the lady clad in black, smilingly Romeo-like. "Hey, would you be so much as a pal as to let the two of us in… as a lone couple?"

What?

"Hmm… I don't know, Sir, I…"

"Are you a slash fanatic?"

She went red. "Excuse me?"

"Are you? Tell me the truth. You won't regret it."

"Yes…"

Yohji beamed. "Great!" To my shock, horror and embarrassment, the Ichigo Burondo had to drag me towards him and the girl and… bite my neck. Augh! Of all the things to do! The girl giggled happily, still pink. I guess I had shot them all a look to kill, since she went silent immediately. He leaned over to her and whispered loudly for the dead to hear. "Listen, I need your help if I could get into more detailed good time with my boyfriend over there. You know, if you let us in together, he could hug me and hold on tight. Treat is as a thank you to me for demonstrating a real slash movie come true."

The girl looked at her partner, and then they nodded. We were pushed in. I was reluctant at first, but hey, c'mon, how scary could some fake plastic ghosts be? I mean, really?

It was worse than scary. For starters, we had to walk down the mazelike place with no guide, all alone. Within five minutes, sad to say, I was stupidly screaming my head off at everything that popped out. Every damned spook had to pop up on my side of the walkway! It was idiotic! Maybe the people in the control room staged this for the Ichigo Burondo. He must have paid them double. Yohji, though, didn't seem very much affected. Sure, he sometimes had a wavering voice, but I guess he tried to brave himself.

"Hold on to me if you're scared, KenKenKen."

KenKenKen.

But right then, I hadn't really been able to come with a good comeback on his words. And I held on, like he told me to. It was slightly more comforting than walking alone behind him, but it was still scary. I could also tell that Yohji was tensed up himself, anticipating. At times he himself would yell suddenly at something. It would induce me to yell louder than him. Now that I look back, I think I'm a first class moron. To be honest, I hadn't yelled. I screamed in fits and peals and sounded so horribly girlish, I wanted to die. Ken Hidaka, first class dude-in-distress. Blargh.

We had walked on, in this dark and dreary maze. I hated every moment of it. You could easily tell that I disliked spooks of every kind. A woman with a white face jumped out on us, and I screamed holy heaven. A vampire holding a bloody stake jumped out and I yelled Kingdom come. A guy with blood red hair collided into us and I screamed hungry hell.

"AAAAAAAA…"

"…Ken?"

"…Aaaaaahhh?"

I looked at him. He looked at me. We blinked.

It was Ran.

Ran. We had bumped into Ran.

"…Oh, h-hey Ran."

"It's nice to meet you again. And this is?"

"Kudou. Yohji Kudou," Tom Cruise beamed brightly enough to light up the entire maze. Uh, figuratively, that is. They shook hands. "Great to meet you, Mr. Ran… or whatever Ken called you."

"I'm Ran Fujimiya. He calls me Ran," the redhead managed a half-smile. Ooh. Maybe he noticed the Yuki-like eyes too. Then he turned to me. "Would you mind me tagging along? I fell back from the rest a while ago."

"Sure," and I meant it. Yohji simply shrugged and grinned his Tom Cruise grin again.

"Man, I'm lucky," he had said, and he went between us and linked his arms into ours, me on the right, Ran to his left. Then, courageously, he dragged us along, really close to him. "Between two bishonen, in a dark maze, arms linked… tell me if I'm not lucky?"

Another five minutes later, and our positions changed. This time I was at the center. You know, everything kept popping up next to me, and as I was pushed far right, it was nearer to the spooks. Thank god Ran had had the wits to rearrange our positions, or I might have had a heart attack. I felt safer then. And felt luckier too. I mean; I spent ten minutes and my money clutching hold of Ichigo Burondo, half the time when the redhead was just beside us. Dissatisfied, you could say.

The last five minutes was spent chatting with the heroic Ran. That guy was really unaffected by everything – he hadn't even lifted a brow throughout the ordeal, and neither did he blink. But he was kind, though, allowing me to clutch hold of him and he even helped to divert my thoughts by talking to me.

"How did you chance by us, Ran? Did you come in alone?"

"No, I came with my siblings. They went on ahead with the others. I heard your voice, and since it was the only voice I heard in the distance, I wrongly figured that you might have came in alone," he replied calmly. "I thought I might stay and keep you company. Haunted Houses are boring."

"Oh, thanks…" I didn't know what to say then. Ran was such a great guy. He had waited alone in the dark for me, thinking that I was alone?

…Now that I think of it, I should have really gone in alone.

Yohji kept his pace by talking a little too. He seemed a little nervous, though, but it was fine. We paid to get scared anyway, and I guess I made it worth my money already. Soon we saw a light-filled tunnel, and the ride ended.

"Yo, thanks for waiting up for us and all. It was a pleasure to meet you, Ran," Yohji said smoothly. Ran nodded.

"Pleasure is mine," he replied. "I shall see you again, won't I, Ken?"

"Um, yeah. Thanks a lot, Ran." Hey, was that me turning red? I looked down. I couldn't let Ran and Yohji see what a momma's-boy I was! Then, we all turned to our separate ways, Ran to his siblings, and me following Yohji. He had a greater idea brewing up next.

"Wanna try the 'Love Tunnel'?"

"What?" I was aghast. "LOVE TUNNEL???"

But I had no right to say anything. I hadn't been too attached to Yohji in the last lingering moments of the dark world, instead, being stuck to Ran like glue – I guess he had the right to drag me into something else. He was, after all, my date. And I had an affair with Ran, right in the middle of our field trip.

And so we made it to the Love Tunnel thingy where we sat on swan boats. Those stupid plastic swan boats. We sailed in, and I nearly threw up. It was officially pink there. It was full of hearts and fake flowers and pink cotton for clouds, I felt sick. Pink. Now, I can simply imagine what Yuki went through, living with someone pink. Except maybe it was easier for him, since that someone was cute and hyper and simply adorable. But pink hearts, flowers, and clouds? You've got to be kidding me.

The ride was uneventful and boring during the first two minutes. We had exchanged no words, simply staring into the pink world. I couldn't take it anymore. I started to daydream. Yeah, I know it's a stupid habit, but I daydream sometimes. And this time it was about ice cream. With strawberry sauce and a cherry, if you please.

"So, who's that bishonen you were familiar with?"

"Uh?" I must've looked dazed. "Oh, Ran. He's one of Omi's soul mate's close friends. We met about a week ago or so, when we, err, were invited out to dinner with Omi."

"I see," he turned to me, his handsome face shining. "He's hot, isn't he?"

"Eh? What?" I couldn't believe it. What am I, made of glass?

"Ah, ha, ha, ha," he laughed. "You're really cute, you know that?"

I must've turned red. Again. "Really?"

"Really," he replied smoothly. Then he leaned back into his seat again, paddling idly. "…It's been fun, you know. You're so far my best date."

"Whoa! You really think so? Why?"

"Let's see… You've got that pretty little smile of yours, and a very pretty face," he leaned in, closer. "You scream louder than the girls, and then, best of all, you've got that blush, when we touch, sometimes unconsciously intimately…"

I was in shock. I could feel his fingers on my chin, but I was too dumbfounded to move, to react, or to do anything at all.

"Intimate… like this."

Yohji's mouth was warm, a mixture of lemonade and black coffee. His kiss wasn't as needy, steamy or as rough as Schuldig's, but neither was it as chaste and quiet like Ran's. Yes, he had slipped a tongue in, but I think that was best skipped the part in which I'll describe. Still, it was incredible.

I'm such a whore.

I don't recall whom pulled away first, me or him, but we did. Somehow, it felt fulfilling and strangely, satisfying. No more, no less. Maybe it was simply Yohji's skill. He's good at this stuff, I suppose. But that doesn't matter. My story ends here, for now.

As I recalled, fate had once wanted me to dance, and I had first believed that it was only with Ran. It seems to me now that I'm stuck between two worlds, which are completely different, and yet so very alike, at the same time. They had both offered protection, as I had found out earlier in the Haunted mansion. They had each their emotions to share. Yohji had fun and life to share, as shown in the toy bear he had won and given to me as his 'gift-exchange', and Ran had wisdom and comfort, as well as first-love, which were shown in the thorn-less roses.

I have already decided. I'm no longer afraid of the music.

Dance I shall… but with whom?

I suppose that that will be revealed next time, in yet another story.

~*~ End Part Three ~*~

Note: I finished this, na no da! Give me a hug, please!

Rika-chan (fuzzyhugglebunny@cuteandcuddly.com) Err...maybe it's cuz I don't get out much. -_- ;;; But I've given up on the whole dating thing... *angsts*

And your writing isn't bad! I didn't even find any spelling or grammar mistakes. ^.^ *rewards author with pocky*

Heh...at least your (Ken's) ex has good taste. Ran's -hot-!! ^_^ And those roses sound beautiful! *swoons*

And I wish you luck for New Year's...maybe something'll happen. ^_~

The roses were beautiful! Thanks a lot for your support. Don't worry, you might give up, but love will find its way to you. Now I sound poetic, na no da. But look what happened to me! His taste is always great. Once again, thanks one million for your comment!

Yoko-chan You make us fangirls look so BAD! *genki smile, tackle-glomp* But I love it! And considering I used to hate RanKen, that's a major accomplishment. You rock sooooo much, dude! *hands pocky* Write a chapter 3 to this, onegaiiiiiiii?! *chibi eyes* I never thought a guy could write so well on yaoi (no offense! ^^;) Aargh! That little girl was right-all the good ones are taken and the cute ones are gay! *sobs* That sucks. Write moooooore! I've already read almost all your stuff!

Do I make you look bad? I should stop then, na no da... ;_; Well, I have nothing against the hatred on RanKen, it's up to you to decide what you like and dislike. I just happen to like RanKen. Thanks so much for reading my stuff and giving comments! I do wish I could do so much as you... But I'm too down to stick to the Net anymore. Sorry... XD I like to write, but I'm not good? My dream one day is to become as famous as Yuki. (Manager: DUH! Dream on!)

siberian (tonoyoshi@plasa.com) omigod, your kenken is just so adorable^^! the way he rambles and keeps sidetracking is just so cute^^~!

well, I guess I was kinda disappointed that it wasn't ran that actually sent the bouquet, but hey, at least ran kissed ken again^^!

yea, bring on more chapter, windy^^!

I was disappointed too, but hey, never give up! XD Sidetracking's funny. We do that a lot sometimes without realizing it. Yeah, at least the kissing was good... Uh. I think I said too much. Thanks a lot for reviewing!

 fei Bad writing??! What the hell are you talking about?! What bad writing? *shakes you* I loved this so much!

The interaction between Nagi and Ken was wonderful. I was laughing out loud at all the rabbit references and Nagi's actions and Kumagorou *swoons over Ryuichi* Kawaii na no da!

You know, when Ken was holding the flowers and Nagi said out the meaning I was so happy. It made me ache all the more when I realised at the end that it was not Ran. Not Ran. *sobs* I can understand Ken's reaction. You wrote him so well.

I have to go find out what peach roses mean. And are you gonna tell us wat Ken gave to Ran? And there will be more of this story to come ne? Please?

Love this. Love your writing. And Merry Christmas to you although it's a bit late. Ja!

Oh, bad writing, as in, bad writing! Thanks for liking it. Never knew I could write, let alone be liked. ^^; The rabbit thing caught me off guard. I thought everyone loved rabbit crackers. Go swoon over him? He's a very nice anime guy. Yeah, the not Ran this upsetted quite a number of people, ha, hah. Peach roses... um, I don't know why he sent them, but they mean "let's get together". No, I won't tell what I normally give others. But here's a clue, it's jewellery. Thanks so much for your feedback!

fei I am really really kicking myself now for missing this. This is really really lovely. Your first paragraph already had me so hooked. And I loved the way you wrote Ken's thoughts, the ordinary little details about life and your descriptions. This part really had me thinking: "It was a façade, because this 'selflessness' often made me feel better, when I compensated for my self-centeredness." dunno why, but it made me pause for a while.

I'm basically just rambling here so I should stop. LOL Just know I was glued to the screen from beginning to end. I wish I could write like that. hehehe.

on to the nxt chap! ja for now!

The first paragraph??? o_0 Whoa... I'm... I'm... voodoo. So voodoo... and I made someone pause too! Whoa... (Manager: Augh! I said, stop praising him! He gets stupider by the sentence!) Don't stop rambling! Rambling is good! Anyways, still, thanks so much for the feedback!

kumagoro  Its Kumagoro na no da!

Nagikins is so cute here^^

*wishes for some KenXNagi action*

Kumaaaaagoooorooooo! *Hugs rabbit to squished ice cream* Aah? I'll consider Ken x Nagi in another tale... not this one. Chris is scary, na no da. I don't want him. It's also shouta... shouta. ;_; Sad.

Ayako SO CUTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

Saaaaaaaaaankyuuuuuuuu! XD

Jin  How about the way Faramir was out of character? I was so upset about that. Er...oh yeah, you're fic. Sorry but grrr I hyave complaints about The Two Towers as well and everyone I know seemed to like it so much that I couldn't complain.

But on to the fic...*confetti rains down and trumpets blare*

I highly enjoyed this fic. Your style is so wonderful. The unique way Ken narrates lets us see his personality and serves as an entertaining way of finding out about the story. I really like it. I hope to read more soon but that will depend on those meddlers and the handsome Ran, right? Well, they better get a move on. *LOL*

Great, great, great!

Yeah, Faramir was so evil, it wasn't the nice evil, if you know what I mean. It's sad. I do wish they'd respect the minor characters more! But then, the deed is done. Nothing else to do but watch and enjoy the movie, huh? Thanks a lot for your comments. They mean a lot, and you helped with the kind words... ^^; Sanks. I'm not used to praise?

MookieAh HA! I had wondered about that "Do you still remember the number?" question that Ran had posed to Ken.

I really love the way you write Ken's POV, and how he thinks about other things besides Ran. How many of us find ourselves thinking of things that have NOTHING to do with the current situation, or focusing our gaze on something obscure and trivial when with another person? Or is that just me?

Nicely done.

Ah, ha ha ha! XD I remembered it too. But forgot. Anyway, yeah, I still want to thank you one zillion for your kind comments. I didn't see any fics in your profile, though. ^^; It's not just you. I think most of us try to center our thoughts to smaller stuff, na no da. It helps relax us.

Mookie Very well written. I loved Ken's mental observations and commentary. Very meaningful.

The Omi/Shuldig machinations were both funny and potentially misguided. The best intentions etc. etc.

I liked how Ken compared the chaste kiss with Ran to kissing Shuldig.

Thanks again. Hoo haa ha ha! They were really misguided, but I have to thank them from the bottom of my foolish heart. People are like that. We should appreciate them before it's too late. Chaste is good, don't you think?

CherubKatan Great fic so far... but i hope you don't honestly think that way of the lotr's second movie! i loved it... although i do have my own beef with it but come on you can't make it EXACTLY like the book now can you?!? and the scene with gollum did kick ass he's fricken pyscho! ^_^ i would like to see more of this fic if you can do it

Thanks for your compliment! Yes, I was quite upset when they made Elrond twist and turn nastily, and when they killed Haldir and made Faramir nasty. It's true, yes, you can't put everything from the book in, but all the same, I do wish that they would at least respect the minor characters more and not mar their characterizations. Yet, our opinions all differ. It's normal. You can like it, no problem, na no da! I like it too, just a little disappointed, but I still will think it as a good movie.

LittleIsa WAI!! I can't believe Schu and Omi set them up! *giggles* That was too good though! I loved this chapter and I can't wait to see more!!!! YAY! *hands over chocolates* =^___^=

I couldn't believe it either. Argh. I'm hopeless! Anyways, thanks one million for your compliments!

EmberO_o

Jebus that was awesome.

I giggled myself right stupid I did. ^^;

Wonderful job! And it's so nice 'cause I can relate. Poor Ken, I want to give him a hug.

Please write more soon. It would be so shibby of you if you would. =D

Oh, you can relate? Whoa! Oh, guru! *Bows* Anyways, thanks one zillion for your kind words! Yay, na no da! Shall we dance, Kumakumachan???