Author's rambling: Hey again! Yeah, I know I'm a bit late. Gomen ne! Work, study, work, you know! Anyway, this chapter is a bit... mmm... I don't know how to say it. I only wanted to write this chapter because I wanted to show the guys as normal friends, you know, normal people, normal things, normal evening. I just wanted to see it ^^UUU Next time I would take the Weiß Kreuz series again and explore it through Youji and Ken's POV, there are many things I want to tell about! But this chapter was a need for me. Hope you understand. ^___^ See ya!




SILENCE
Chapter 3 by Gara




I had a birthday party that night. The owner of one of my favorites clubs arranged a party that she defined as 'unforgetable', and she told me that it would never be the same if old Kudou Youji wasn't present. So, she invited me and I acepted. Of course.

I was ready when I came out from my bedroom: my glasses, dark trousers and a dark silk shirt that I wouldn't wear for too long once I arrived at the club. Dancing and clothing didn't get too well, that was why I was wearing a black tank top under the shirt. I choose dark colours this time, because it contrasted perfectly with my almost blond hair and my green eyes. The more dark you were dressed, the more that those colors would shine, I was very aware of it. So, you could say, I was dressed to kill, even if I would kill no one that night. But, after all, I was Kudou Youji. Maybe I wasn't going to be after a girl that night, or the next, or the next... but it didn't mean I wasn't going to look just great and enjoy the party.

"You have a party" a voice was saying behind me.

I had gone downstairs to get my coat and I was looking for the house keys when Ken found me. He looked at me from head to feet and, after a long moment that seemed an eternity for me, he smiled. The only thing I could do was looking at him the same way. There was the reason I didn't feel like going to the party to 'hunt'. He was dressed in that very casual style that matched him just perfectly. White t-shirt, sport pants and white socks. His hair was lightly untidy, and he brushed his bangs off of his face when he looked at me. He was just the opposite from me. He was just... beautiful.

He was just Ken.

"Yeah, a big one" I answered him, fighting hard to apart my eyes from him.

"It must be, you look cool" he said. I blinked at his compliment and stared at him amazed, but he didn't notice because he was moving towards the television, giving me his back.

"When do I not?" I asked quickly, with a teasing smile on my lips.

"Oh, yes, I forgot I was talking to you" he said, laughing. "Hope you enjoy it."

"Sure" I said, even if seeying him made me want to stay all night at home. "What are you going to do tonight?" I asked him at the end.

He had put a tape on the video, and was touching the remote to see if he could catch the channel to see the tape. I took the remote from his hands and changed the channels quickly. I could swear our video is a bitch, he only works when Manx is there. I have thought many times that our video-recorder is afraid of our red-head contact.

"Here you are" I said, returning the remote to Ken.

"Thanks."

"Going to see a film?" I asked, although it was obvious. In this moment, the TV screen showed me the title. "The Mannor" I read. Ken nodded happily.

For his face and his expresion, I knew it was a terror film. He loved them. He was always scared when he was watching them, jumping from his seat trying hard not to scream, but he just enjoyed them a lot. Why could he enjoy a thing that could make him almost run from the room when the bad guy was pursuing the pretty girl with a big axe was a mistery for me, but I had to recognize that it was pretty funny to watch those films with Ken. To see him hide behind a cushion to avoid him to see the worse scenes always made me laugh. He was an assassin, and he couldn't see how a guy with a horrible mask tried to kill the blonde football team captain. Maybe the reason was he had still hopes, dreams... a heart. Maybe the reason was he was just Ken.

"Mind if I join you tonight?" I asked suddenly, without thinking twice. Ken looked at me, wide-eyed in surprise.

But I was very sure. There were those little things the ones I loved the most from him, the ones that made a person to love another. Really love another. Not how sexy one is, not how cool one looks, not the body one has. There are those things. The litthe details you learn to apreciate, you learn to adore, you learn to miss when this special person is not with you. I knew it all too well because I had had it once and I lost it. Now that I had it again I was not going to let them go. Even if it hurt, even if he wasn't going to know it, I loved him and all those little details that made Ken be as he was, so I didn't need one more push to stay at home. To Hell with the party, it was not important if you compared it with sharing a evening with Ken watching a terror film. I was going to enjoy it for sure. We could laugh and joke, and talk. I could be with him, althought it was as a friend. I didn't care. I just wanted to be with him so much that it hurt.

"Ano... Youji?" he asked.

"What?"

"Are you really you?" he asked again, and he nibbled at my nose. I blinked twice before feeling the pain.

"Ittai!!" I screamed, retreating. He started to laugh heartily as he saw me rubbing my nose. "What was that for, you baka?"

"Man, Youji... You asked me if you, you could join me to watch a second-series film instead to go a big party!!" he said, between laughter. "What did you expected me to do?" he asked finally.

"You could told me that my extremely good presence was always welcome everywhere" I pointed up. Ken laughed again. I couldn't help but laugh too.

"Oh, my..." he said, shaking his head. He brushed his bangs off again. "Of course you are welcome, Youji" he said, smiling. "But what will happen with your party?"

"It was not so important" I tried to assure him. It was not true and I think he knew it, because he smiled warmly at me. And I was feeling the most happy man in the world as I took my place on the couch. "Besides, you need someone to tell you that it is a film and the mad guy with the axe is not going to come here and try to kill you while you sleep" I joke. Ken frowned and I laughed almost at the same time.

"I'm starting to regret you are here, truly" he said, but for his tone I knew he was joking as well.

"It was only a joke, Ken. I know perfectly you are brave enough!" I said, patting his head twice like he was a boy. He rolled his eyes, but didn't complain. He understood my sense of humour, he knew I was joking. That was other of those 'details'. "What about some pop-corn?" I asked, getting comfortable. I opened my shirt and put my foot on the table just after had kicked my boots off. Ken was staring at me. "What?" I asked.

"You will ruin your clothes" he said in concern.

"Oh, this?" I asked, pointing the silk shirt. "Don't worry about it. I look fine whatever I put on, even if it is creased" I said, waving a hand. He laughed again. "Have you got pop-corn or not?" I asked. He looked at me, angry. "What now?"

"You know it" I arched an eyebrown. "Omi didn't let me near the microwave to make them and you know it perfectly."

I burst out laughing. It was true! Everytime he had tried to make pop-corn on the microwave we had almost had to call the firemen. Last time the kitchen was covered with black smoke from the very, very, very toasted pop-corn Ken made. So, Omi had decided to forbide him the use of the machine. That was why he looked so hurt now, and that was why I couldn't stop laughing. He punched me on the shoulder.

"Don't laugh at me!" he ordered me, but I couldn't help it. "Youji-kun!" he protested, and I laughed even more. "It's not funny!"

"Oh, yes it is" I said, between laughter. He frowned and looked just adorable. "Don't worry, little Kenken. Uncle Youji is going to make some pop-corn just for you" I said, patting his head softly. God, how could he be so beautiful without knowing it?

I went on my feet and headed for the kitchen, followed inmediatly by Ken. He rested his back against the fridge, arms crossed across his chest and an angry look on his face. I looked for the instantaneous pop-corn on the kitchen cupboards.

"Youji, really..." started Ken. I stared at him, once I had found the pop-corn envelope. "I don't understand why Omi didn't let me near the microwave... It had been only one or two times, no more."

"No more?" I asked, putting the bag inside he machine. I set the time and started it, and then looked at Ken again, rubbing my chin. "Well... I must recognize the first time I found it funny. Aya was so fury red and Omi so scared..." A smile appeared on my lips. "But second time, when you almost burnt the hole kitchen..."

"I didn't burn the kitchen!" he protested. God, I love to joke with him. The way he tried hard to be angry... even when he knew perfectly I didn't mean any word. It was like a game between us. A connection. "I should remind you the sink was saved" he pointed, looking at one side.

"Yeah, I know. That was why I said almost, Ken" I said, grinning. He frowned again. "Second time was not so funny. It was like you had started a fire inside the room..."

"Oh, shut up. I don't know why I talk with you, Yotan" he said.

"Because if you talk alone people would start to think you are crazy" I told him on a casual tone. He smiled.

"You sounded as you knew what were you talking about..." he said, grinning. I laughed.

"That's for sure" I said, grinning as well. "It's me, after all."

The pop-corn were ready. I opened the door and took the bag carefully because I knew it was hot. Ken quickly handed me a dish to put it on, and I did it just a moment before my fingers started to ache.

"Thank you very much" I said. "We make a good team, Kenken" I said without realising. He simply nodded, the dish on his hands. He thought it was a joke... Lucky me. "Something to drink?"

"Not beer for me, please" he said.

"Here talks the sportsman..." I chuckled, opening the fridge. "It wouldn't kill you..."

"I know, Youji, but I don't like beer. Too bitter for me, I guess" he told me, fighting with the pop-corn envelope to catch some of the popcorns inside.

"Ey! Don't eat!" I told him. He apologized with a little smile. "What do you want to drink, then?" I had caught a beer for me and was waiting for him.

"Soda is fine."

I took it and pointed to the living room with my head, so both of us walked towards de room, perfectly ready for our film. Ken left the popcorns on the table while I left the drinks, watching as he sit comfortably on the couch and took the remote. I quickly imitated him, grabing my beer and opening it. I was going to ask him what was the film about when we heard a voice behind us.

"I knew it!" shouted Omi. We turned around and found the youngest member of the team pointing to us with a frown on his face. "I smelled the pop-corn from my room..."

"Youji did them! I swear you I didn't touch the microwave!" Ken said quickly, raising his hands.

"That's not the matter!" said Omi. I smiled when I heard Ken sighed in relief. "You are going to watch a film! You didn't told me!" he accused.

We look at each other, guilt in our eyes. The smile that appeared on my lips faded out when I realised Omi was right. There were no chance the kid could stay with us to watch the film. It was Thursday night, he had to go to school next morning. The film would end very late for him. We didn't think about it at all.

"I'm sorry, Omi-kun" started Ken, who didn't dare to look at Omi's eyes. The guilt was obvious in his gaze. "I... I didn't think you wanted to..."

"I thought you were studying..." I tried out.

"You're going to watch a film, the two of you. It's a long time we had a chance to watch a film together, and you chose the day I couldn't!" said the kid, pouting.

"I'm really sorry..." said Ken, his head low.

"You are... right, Omi" I said. I could understand why the kid said that. He enjoyed every little time he could spend with all of us. He someway considered us the family he didn't have, so I understood why he felt that way. But it was nothing that coulnd't be repaired. "Ken-kun and I feel very bad for it" I tried to apologize, while looking at Omi and smiling warmly at him. "But I tell you what are we going to do. Are you free on Saturday night?" I asked him. Both Ken and Omi looked at me, amazed.

"Saturday night?" repeated Omi. "Well... yes, I think."

"What about you choosing a film to see on Saturday? We'll repeat the session. Deal?" I asked. A broad smile from Omi was the only answer I needed.

"We can ask Aya-kun to join us!" he exclaimed.

"Of course" I said. I doubted Aya would, but at least we could try.

"It's a deal, Youji-kun! You promise?" he asked. I nodded to him and he smiled again. "You promised! It will be very funny!" he said.

And with that he said his good-night to us and run upstairs, his sadness forgotten. I followed him with a little smile and sighed. It was amazing how happy he could be with such a single thing; how much the kid desired to have a family...

"Ano... Youji?" Ken asked suddenly. I turned to him to find him staring at me in a strange way. In the dark of the room his brown eyes were incredibly black, deep. Beautiful.

"Y... Yes?" I had to fight with the lump in my throat.

"Are... Are you going... to stay at home on Saturday night?" he asked me, seriously, his gaze was still strange. I just nodded.

There were not other answer. Stay at home to see another film with Ken and Omi? Stay at home to be with my friend and the man I love? Stay at home to make a child that was my friend happy? Stay at home to be near Ken? God. Yes. For all that was worth in the world.

"Well... I promised."

"It was... It was a nice gesture from you" Ken said. His face reddened a little, giving him the cute look I learnt to adore on him; his eyes were on mine still. Soft, deep, warm. "It was very important for Omi..."

"I know."

"You are a good friend, Yotan."

A good friend and nothing more than a friend. I had to keep it in mind, evenmore when Ken looked at me with those dark and soft eyes of his, and smiled at me warmly. I had to remember. No more than friends. No more than that. I didn't dare to cross the line. Even tought of it.

"Well... I hope I wouldn't regret it if Omi chooses a extremely sugar-sweet film or something..." I tried to joke to break the sudden tension. Ken laughed so I suceed. "Play the tape, Kenken" I told him, pointing the video.

He looked at me for a moment, on that strange way I didn't recognize again, but nodded at the end.

"Here we go!" he said.

The film was truly horrible. A goup of teens were on vacation and moved to a house in a little town, in the coast. People said the mansion was haunted, but the teens never listened to the town-people, so they went into the house and started to live on it, until, and that stole the first cry from Ken, they started to get killed. First, of course, the little blonde and stupid girl of the group, that commited the mistake of going alone to the beach near the house at night. It is a big rule on terror films: "never go alone anywhere". But it was really funny seeing Ken trying to hide himself behind a cushion to not see the worst scenes, asking me to mute the tape to not hear the music (true, without the sound the film was less scary) or shouting the girl to hide quickly. Anyway, the whole thing was great. I enjoyed it a lot, as I knew I would. We were watching the film, eating, drinking, joking and talking all the way, trying to predict who was the murderer and which one of the characters were going to be killed next. It happened it was I the one whose predictions were more accurate.

"Ne, Kenken? You know what?" I asked him, while we were watching a part where the kids were trying to tell the police the things that were happening. It was a quiet moment on the film. "We could make a good group of characters to one of those films."

"What do you mean?" he asked me puzzled, looking at me while he was still hugging his cushion.

"You know. Omittchi could be the inocent boy, the one that is too good to suspect from anyone." Ken smiled, understanding my line of thoughts.

"But the innocent guy usually dead at the end... Sacrificing himself for the star or something..." he said. "Poor Omi-kun."

"Yeah" I nodded. "You could be the sport guy" I pointed out.

"No way! The athletic guy always get the worse! He had to fight with the evil guy and he ends dead!" he protested.

"It's not my fault you are the sportman!" I said.

"I don't want to be the sport one!" he protested again.

"But you are."

"Okay. Then you are the funny one!!" he said, pointing me with one finger. I frowned. "Ha!"

"But the funny one is usually the first to dead!" That was my turn to protest, crossing my arms on my chest.

"You have to choose: the funny or the blondie" said Ken, with an amusing tone. I throw another cushion to him, hitting him on the head.

"I think I prefer the funny role. At least it has brain" I said, while I saw Ken laughing. The sound of his laughter was wonderful.

"What about Aya?"

"He is the cerebral type of guy" I said. He nodded. "He could be the only one of us to survive..."

"No, Youji. The clever one always find the culprit, but never survive to him..."

"Mmmm... You're right."

"So... None of us would survive?" asked Ken, rubbing his chin.

"Manx" I said, suddenly. And I burst out laughing. Ken looked at me, smiling at my sudden laughter, but puzzled as well. "Manx can survive."

"Because she is the only girl?" he ventured.

"No..." I said between laughter. "Because the murdered would be so afraid of her that he didn't dare to touch her!!" I almost cry.

It was instantaneous. Both of us burst of laughing out of control. The picture of our redhead contact telling the murdered "do not dare to touch me" was so funny none of us could stop, the film soon forgotten. Ken was lauging so hard he had to grab his aching stomach while I was actually crying, tears falling from my eyes. The image was so funny... Everytime we tried to regain control we picture Manx frowning and yeling the killer, so everything was going on again. Our laughters were loud and full, but it was cutting of suddenly when we heard a voice behind us.

"There are people trying to sleep."

Aya stern, cool voice sounded on the living room, so suddenly that we almost leapt from the couch. Ken almost screamed, the image of the misterious murderer on his mind, and grabbed my arm unconsciously. When we turned around and found Aya we coulnd't help but start to laugh again, to embarrassed for being scared that way, as we were just kids. I slipped from the couch and ended on the floor, laughing hard. Ken hand left my arm to find his way again to his stomach; I missed the contact, but my jaw was aching so hard I couldn't complain.

"So... sorry, Aya" said Ken, the first of us to regain control. "We didn't mean..." He wiped the tears from his eyes and helped me to sit again. "We were..."

"We didn't want to..." I tried to said, straightening my clothes a little.

"I see."

"You scared us" Ken told him, and I suceed on represing a giggle. "We were watching a terror film and..." Aya looked at us. Sure that was not the picture of two people watching a terror film, but he said nothing, as usual. "You appeared so suddenly that..."

"Be more quiet next time" he said, turning on his heels and leaving.

"Sure, sorry" Ken asured, following him with his eyes. "It's your fault, Yotan." He acused me.

"Mine?" I said, trying an innocent look on him.

"Yes, yours. We were suposed to see a terror film, not a comedy!" he said, laughing again, but this time lower. I smiled at him. "It was really funny."

"I've lost the thread completely" I told him, pointing the television. The teens were running again inside the haunted house and I didn't know why. Nor that I cared.

"So do I" he admited, and he stopped the tape. "I think I'm not in the mood to see a terror film now" he added, smiling again. How I loved that smile...

"Yeah, I could laugh about one of those stupid boys getting killed..."

"And it's not the way it is suposed to be" completed Ken for me. "I think I'm going to sleep, Youji."

"That's a good idea, Ken" I said, going on my foot.

Ken started to pick up the plate, bottles and cans and I helped him to clean the living room a little. Soon we were going upstairs, still talking and laughing a little. Ken was promising me never to tell Manx about our little joke when I managed to think another joke. The sound of his laugh was like... a drug. I needed to hear it one more time. It was very dark upstairs, and we had just seen a terror film, no matter we had ended laughing instead of screaming. But if I knew Ken well, and I knew him pretty well, I knew he could be scared after seeing a film pretty easily. So, when we had almost ended to climb the stairs, I pointed over his shoulder, suddenly, and cried out saying the killer was there.

Before me Ken jerked, leapt and screamed, just as I has thought he would. The only thing that took me by surprise was that Ken tried to turn around. He had forgotten I was on his back, so he pushed me. He took me out of balance and my feet slipped. For an incredibly long moment I felt myself falling down the stairs, until a pair of strong hands grabbed me for my arms and pulled me closer a warm body before me.

"YOUJI!" cried Ken, hugging me close to him. It felt so warm, I felt so safe all by sudden. "God! I'm sorry! I didn't..." Just in that moment he realised he has hugging me, and he let me go, his face all red. "I... I..."

"Ken..."

When he heard his name he raised his head and looked to my eyes. I saw him swallowing hard all by sudden, but not leaving my gaze. His eyes were so dark, his arms felt so good... My heart was so fast I thought it would break, but the feeling was... Warm.

It was too good for me. Too good. I had to remember, I had to remind myself I couldn't cross the line. I was no good for him, I couldn't do that. But it was so difficult... It hurt so much.

"You baka!" he screamed, still looking to my eyes, still blushed. "Do not scare me again! I could have..."

"Ken..." My hand went up unconsciously. In my mind I wanted to touch his face, so red, so warm, so worried about me, but I took control over myself just in the right moment. We were friends and nothing more, so I rested one shaking hand on his shoulder. "C'mon, man, it's not your fault. I only wanted to joke..."

"But... Youji, you know I'm clumsy enough to break a plastic ball... You could have..." he said, still worried.

"But I don't. It's ok, Ken. I'm fine. I only slipped, that's all" I told him, squeezing my hand a little bit. He smiled lightly. "Besides, you are a good goalkeeper, you performed a nice save!"

"Baka."

"Luck you were there."

"Don't do that again."

"Don't count on it." We both laughed. I couldn't stand see him worried. "It's me, after all. And you were pretty scared!" I remembered. He blushed again.

"That's not true!" he quickly answered. "Well... maybe a little bit."

"It was funny" I told him.

"The whole evening was" he said, smiling. I could see his teeth gleaming, even in the dark. "Thank you for staying, Yotan."

"I enjoyed a lot too, Kenken. It was worth of."

"I like to hear it, I feared you regreted..."

"No way." I smiled and I had a smile in return. It felt well.

"Next time on Saturday, then" he said, opening the door to his bedroom. I nodded and he dissappeared, closing the door behind him.

"I wouldn't miss it."

Not for all the good in this world.


TBC?

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Author's notes: Uuuh... that was close. What do you thing? ^__^ R/R??