Disclaimer: Ayashi no Ceres belongs to Watase Yuu. Don't own so don't sue.
Warnings: This chapter has very, very yaoi bits, *wink wink* so I've (or will be) changing the rating to R in a few days. Please practice discretion if you're not comfortable. You've been warned about the impending yaoiness!
To:
Everyone: Gomen nasai!!!! I know more than a month has passed since the last update but my exams are finally over so it's safe to say that updates will be regular from now on. My most sincere thanks to all the readers, and especially the reviewers, who have stayed with me for so long. Every word counts, so keep 'em coming! *cheeky distribute aki and tooya plushies for all*
Hana no Ceres ~ Heh, don't worry, Grandpa Mikage will get his due soon… *evil gleam*
Kat ~ Unfortunately, because of ff.net's policy, R is the most I can go. -___- So it looks like you're gonna have to let your imagination do the rest. *cheeky smirk*
chinoz ~ You might wanna change your mind about Aki having no one after this chapter… *cheeky can't stop grinning* And I'll be over to read your fic after this, woo hoo, more T/A lovin'. ^o^
Rhapsody ~ *grin* Careful what you wish for, you might get more than you bargain for… Hmm, Kagami slashed? Never thought about that… let's see if I can fix him up with someone. Alex? Wei? Grandpa? *cheeky bits off own tongue at the last choice*
Koneko ~ And the cheekyfox serves… ^__^
Lina Inverse ~ *nod nod* Grandpa Mikage is like the baddest character I've ever come across in any anime. But I think he's even worse in this story… heh… *cheeky sharpens claws in preparation on how to do away with the old man*
Chibisah ~ *blink* What a response… Heh… T/A is sweet, that's why I write em'. ^o^
REN!!! ~ Heh, shall glomp you over at the ML…
aki aki aki ~ your mail's on the way… ^_^
mainey ~ Heh… as much as Aya annoys me too, I still kinda need her in the story. But don't worry, there'll be more T/A stuff than Y/A… ^o^
And not forgetting MistyEyes, ^_^, saessmah and Crimson Night, thanks so much guys for reviewing!! *huggies*
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Chapter Six ~ I'll Be There
After what seemed like an eternity to Tooya, his young ward finally stirred from his forced slumber. Leaving his silent vigil by the door, Tooya took several hesitative steps forward before stopping by the bed.
"Aki… I'm sorry."
The boy clenched his eyes tight before turning to his side. With his back to the redhead, Aki shakily ordered the man to leave.
"No."
Aki didn't know what hurt more, his head or his heart. When it became clear that the tense silence wasn't about to deter his bodyguard, Aki reiterated his earlier request, this time louder than before, "I said, get the hell out of my room!"
"Will you stop being so stubborn?"
He jolted upright from his lying position, only to choke back a painful sob as both hands clutched at his temples. He could feel the blood rushing to his head, hear the pound of his heartbeat in his ears, and sense the scream that was building up inside.
The voice then added a quiet vow, "I'm never leaving you again…"
A pair of warm hands gripped his bare shoulders and Aki looked up to meet troubled eyes, to stare mutely at the man sitting opposite him. When he saw the pain and anguish reflected in the golden orbs, Aki turned away as he mouthed silently, "Why?"
He missed the look of pain that flinted across the redhead's features.
"Because I care about you… and because… you deserve someone by your side, to share the burden and the sorrow… I sworn I'd be there to protect you no matter what happens, and I'm not about to go back on my word just yet. Aki… you… you enthralled me…"
The boy's lips twitched, "You know something, before… before this… I couldn't understand why Aya wouldn't stop raving about you…"
The bodyguard prompted the boy gently when he paused, "And now?"
Aki returned to face him, a small smile playing on his lips as he continued, "And now I understand why… So before I completely lose my mind…"
He leaned forward in his seat, meeting Tooya's lips halfway. The boy allowed himself to be pulled into the redhead's embrace, their lips locked together in a bruising kiss, his tongue vying for dominance within the older man's warm cavern. Aki smiled in spite of himself; damn but his bodyguard was much more skilled than he initially thought. He heard a soft moan and realized that the aroused mewls belonged to him. Arching his neck back to allow Tooya better access, he stiffened a loud gasp when he felt teeth suckling hard enough to mark. The tongue traced a wet trail along his collarbone as Aki's fingers gripped the soft material of Tooya's shirt for support. His breathing hitched as the warm tongue passed his erected nipples, traveling lower to his navel and he groaned at the hardness pressed against his thigh. Tugging at the dark locks impatiently, Aki achingly breathed out the man's name as he heard the sound of zipper being pulled. And then the lips were pressed against his ear, "Are you sure you want this?"
He hissed out his affirmation as they both fell against the bed.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
With his head buried against the crook of Tooya's neck, Aki suddenly chuckled aloud, "Kagami's gonna freak if he finds out."
Tooya muttered against the silky blonde locks, "I think he already knows…"
The laughter abruptly died as Aki glanced up to exclaimed in disbelief, "And still he hired you as my bodyguard?"
Tooya raised an eyebrow suggestively, "Any complaints?"
He couldn't stop the grin that was tugging on his lips, "Well, at least Kagami has good taste, which is more than I can say for the old man…"
"Aki…"
He placed a finger against the moist lips as his eyes pleaded for understanding, "Don't say it. The deed has already been done and it's too late to undo the past… It's kinda freaky cause every time I close my eyes, I see this image of some weird guy with body paint all over…"
Chewing on his lower lip, Aki avoided Tooya's gaze as he added with a mirthless laugh, "I don't know what scares me more, turning into some ancient samurai and losing my good lucks, or turning into some ancient samurai and losing the people I love…"
When the boy finally turned back to face his lover, his amethyst orbs were bright with unshed tears as his voice gradually rose to a half-scream, "I'm scared, dear gods Tooya, but I'm just so freaking scared…"
He held the shaking boy in his arms as he muttered incoherent words of comfort. Rubbing the boy's back in a bid to soothe the pain, Tooya found himself silently cursing Grandfather Mikage and his henchmen. When the sobs had ease somewhat, Tooya whispered quietly into the night, "Aki, I swear I'll find a way out of this mess. Just… just promise me you won't give up."
Aki merely nodded wordlessly as his eyelids started to droop. And the arms tightened instinctively around him in response.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Kagami continued staring at the wide screen long after his cousin had fallen asleep. The brunette then shifted his attention towards Tooya who was sprawled lazily next to the boy, a shimmer of light flickering on and off from the man's open palm. A delicate cough interrupted his thoughts as the voice then spoke aloud, "Mikage-san, the report on Aki's operation is out."
The brunette turned around as a smirk started to grow on his face, "Good."
Alexander Howell bowed his head respectfully as Kagami walked passed him in the direction of the boardroom. Only when the footsteps had faded did the scientist looked up at the images on the screen, a slight frown on his face. And then a tired sigh escaped his lips as he reluctantly looked away before making his way back to the lab. He was worried; things were getting to be much more complicated than any of them had even dared anticipate. He briefly wondered what Kagami thought, then concluded that he wasn't in the position to question. Maybe later, he didn't think it would be wise to keep silent for too long.
t.b.c.
