Weiß Reiter (White Riders)
By: Atsureki
Disclaimers : Just borrowing them! Don't ask, don't sue.
Warnings : AU, Shonen-ai, OCC, Real short chapter *mopes*
Pairings : Aya/Ken, Yoji/Omi
Notes : Stuff in Italic are thoughts as usual.
Chapter 10. Remembering
Omi ran as fast as he could while the rain poured down on him, flowing down his face along with the tears he cried. He didn't know where he was going and it didn't matter at the moment as long as he could get away from Yoji. Panting for air he slipped in the mud and fell to the ground.
Too tired to get up he stayed there, trembling as his thin arms wrapped around his chest. He had thought that it would be different, that his past was behind him but it wasn't.
How could he have been so foolish? They were all the same, they would all treat him the same. Sobbing he pressed his cheek into the cold mud and shut his eyes. His uncle's voice rang through his head like thunder and he whimpered in fear.
"I would never hurt you," was what he had said followed by; "I love you Omi."
After that the beating had come. Large strong fists that pounded on his body until he blackened out. Omi shivered and crawled across the slippry ground. He wouldn't let anyone beat him like that again! It took no effort to recall the last beating he had received.
*flashback*
The little blonde smiled at one of the saloon-girls and continued towards the backroom to get some more bottles for the bar.
"OMI!" His uncle's voice boomed through the saloon and Omi froze. What had he done wrong this time?
"Y… yes uncle?" he asked carefully.
"Get your ass up here you little brat!" Reluctantly the small blonde headed upstairs and into his uncle's office. The large man towered over him with anger blazing in his blue eyes. "What the hell is this?!" Omi glanced up and bit his lip.
"I… I just… It's…" His uncle waved a book infront of him.
"You're my nephew Omi and I love you but you're always making it so difficult! I told you that I don't want you reading, didn't I?" The boy nodded slowly. "Why do you insist on making me beat you up every single day?!"
"But uncle I just…"
"Enough! I'm doing this because I love you Omi, it's for your own good damnit! I can't believe that a nephew of mine can be this slow. You're mother was an intelligent woman but you just don't get anything I try and teach you!"
Normally the large man tired to avoid hitting him in the face but he didn't seem to care about where he left marks this time. The first punch landed on Omi's cheek and caused him to bite his lip hard enough to draw blood.
Another punch, a fist in his stomach and then it went back to the usual deal. Hard hands that pounded on his back and sides occasionally joined by a swift kick, also directed to his lower back.
"Please," he pleaded and almost choked on the blood that ran from his nose. His uncle huffed but at least the beating stopped.
"Remember Omi I don't want to hurt you but I'm doing this because I love you. Now go clean yourself up and think about what I've said. I don't understand why you have to make it so difficult for yourself. It's not like I ask for much." The man left him lying on the floor and stalked out of the room. Omi sobbed carefully and wiped the blood from his face.
*end flashback*
Omi swallowed and slowly got to his feet. That was something he would never forget, wouldn't even be able to if he tried. His uncle had taught him was love was. Omi knew what others claimed that the word meant, but he knew better. To him love was just another word for hate, or was it perhaps that hate was another word for love? It didn't really matter.
The little blonde ran a hand through his dirty and wet hair. When you love someone you beat them, hurt them, that was something he had learnt the hard way. The little blonde stumbled towards the barn as he sobbed. He wouldn't let Yoji love him like that.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Yoji lit a cigarette and paced the stuffy barrack. It must have been at least an hour since Omi had ran out of there. He sighed deeply and carefully rubbed his wound. What had he done wrong? Surely it couldn't have been his confession of love? The blonde shook his head and took a long drag from his smoke.
No that was just too farfetched, wasn't it? Okay he might have moved a little too fast but still, it was not reason enough for the fear in Omi's eyes. Or was it? Yoji gritted his teeth and sank down on his bed. He could understand if the small blonde had been scared of being loved by another boy but this was something completely different.
Omi hadn't looked a little scared or uneasy, he had looked terrified, as if he expected Yoji to… The lanky blonde stopped. The younger boy had looked like he was about to be beaten. He shook his head and frowned deeply. But why on earth would he hit Omi?
That made no sense at all and besides, why would he assume that when Yoji had said that he loved him? Another puff of smoke rose to the ceiling. The slender boy had said that his uncle had beaten him because he hated Omi. Hate was not love so there had to be some other reason.
"Where are you Omi?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ran yawned and stretched as he woke up. His back was a little stiff from sleeping on the hard ground but other than that he was ready to get going. The redhead rose from his blankets and glanced over to where Ken was. A mop of brown hair was all he could see.
"Ken, wake up." He got no reply, no reaction. "Ken!" A groan came from the blankets but the brunette made no attempt to get up. Ran raised an eyebrown and trotted over to Ken. "Hey! We have to get going." Gently he shook the sleeping boy. Finally he got a reaction and Ken opened his eyes.
"What is it?" the brunette asked with his voice scratchy and thin. Ran frowned and looked into Ken's eyes. They were shiny and dazed, not clear and sparkly as they usually were.
"Are you okay?"
"Fine, fine just tired." The brunette stumbled to his feet and swayed for a while.
"Are you sure? You look like shit," Ran muttered and turned to one of the saddle bags to get something for breakfast.
"Thanks you look great too," Ken snorted and coughed a little. "Can we just go?" The redhead frowned. Something wasn't right with the shorter boy, he looked like he was sick.
"Let's have breakfast first, ne?"
"I'm not hungry," Ken whined and rubbed his head. Ran frowned harder. The brunette was always hungry!
"Well I am and I think we both could use something hot to drink." Ken muttered something and plopped down on his blankets, looking exhausted even though he hadn't done anything at all.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
He felt like shit. His head pounded, his throat ached and his body felt like it had been run over by a herd of cattle. Ken groaned and accepted the tea Ran handed him. He could barely swallow the hot liquid but he refused to show how badly he felt. The last thing he needed was the redhead's concern. What he really wanted was his bed, darkness and 20 blankets.
The air around him was way too cold and he couldn't stop shaking. His fingers felt stiff and his eyes kept drifting close. Damn even his eye balls hurt. Annoyed he wiped the sweat from his forehead and groaned again. How the hell was he suppose to ride all day? Well he was going to have to suck it up because they needed to get going.
He rose on shaky legs and stumbled towars his horse feeling Aya's eyes on him all the time. It took all he had but he managed to saddle Raisin and even though his limbs felt so heavy he somehow got up onto the horse. Exhausted and unsure of if he was going to faint or not Ken kicked his mount into action and closed his eyes.
Maybe he could take a little nap? Unaware of the amethyst eyes that were glued to him the brunette drifted off into a fitful sleep, swaying dangerously in the saddle.
~TBC~
Um don't have much to say except that Omi's look on love makes sense to me in my twisted little head *sighs* Love means different things to different people and Omi's uncle had several years to twist the word's meaning around in Omi's head. I'll shut up now… Ja/Atsureki
