Disclaimer/warnings: See first chapter. They're still there.
A/N: This chapter is the fourth day of Yohji's quest for Ken. Last night, Yohji 'discovered' that Omi and Ken are in love - or are they? Yohji's going to confront Ken about it - or is he? Aya's actually going to laugh in some part of this chapter - truly, he is! Will Yohji have more luck today than he has previously? Don't bet on it! (snicker snicker) Bad joke. Here we go!
A note to Mikazuki-san: The story I'm thinking of is called "The Koneko Wars"; the difference is mostly that both Aya and Yohji are striving for Ken's affections, and their intentions are truly based on love, rather than Yohji's vanity. Apparently, there is also another story called "The Bet" that is also on a similar theme (thanks Misura-san for the correction!), but I'm not sure if that one's listed on fanfiction.net. Anyway, hope that helps! Thanks for your question! ^-^
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Omi stalked into the shop the next day, still angry at Yohji's comments and audacious remarks. Throwing himself ill-humoredly behind the counter, he muttered under his breath for a few minutes until the customers started giving him weird looks.
Omi set the arrangement he was working on back on the counter and dropped his head into his hands. The Almighty Kudou. . . absolutely irresistible, Yohji had said. Omi wondered at that, then pounded on the counter angrily. Why was Yohji such a baka? Asking Omi - OMI, of all people - if he had a chance with Ken. . . Omi snorted. Maybe Yohji just enjoyed making him suffer. Yohji and Ken would fall in love and be happy forever and poor little Omi'd get left behind with anal ol' Aya-kun.
Then again. . . Ken didn't seem to be responding very well to Yohji's advances. Omi knew the reason of course, and he clung to this as his last shred of hope. Surely Ken wouldn't give in, wouldn't give up on that secret. . . but maybe Ken would give in. Yohji was irresistible, after all, right? If Yohji kept it up long enough, maybe Ken would give in to the playboy. The thought made Omi want to cry, until he was struck with another inspiration.
If Yohji kept at Ken long enough, Ken would probably give in. But if Omi could keep Ken and Yohji -apart-, take every opportunity to break Yohji's seductive spell, Ken just might be able to withstand the Kudou charm, after all. Omi sat up straighter on his stool, hurriedly finishing the arrangement in front of him. Maybe he -could- come between his two teammates, if he was careful and sly. There was hope yet!
Getting up from the counter, Omi walked over to where Ken was standing and assumed his classic 'innocent-little-angel-with-a-problem' expression. Then he hesitantly cleared his throat, and tapped Ken on the shoulder.
"Anou. . . Ken-kun?" he said quietly.
Ken turned and looked at him, smiling brightly once he saw it wasn't Yohji. "Oh - Omi! Hey there!"
Omi returned the smile, wringing his hands nervously and glancing from side to side. "Anou. . . " he murmured, putting just a bit of tremor into his voice. //C'mon, Ken-kun, take the bait,// Omi thought to himself as he pulled the little kid act, feeling only slightly guilty for exploiting Ken like this.
Ken fell for it. Setting the watering can gently down on the floor, he looked at Omi worriedly. Quietly, he took Omi's shoulders in his hands and assumed his most caring, supportive expression. "What's the matter, Omi?" he asked.
//Gotcha!// Omi mentally squealed. Outside, he shifted a bit and sighed dramatically. "Well, it's just - I noticed Yohji-kun has been bothering you a lot lately, Ken-kun, and I - well, I wanted you to know that if there's -anything- I can do to help. . . "
Ken gave his friend a dazzling smile. "Aw, thanks Omi. Yohji's being an idiot, for sure, but I'm trying to ignore him, you know? I might take you up on that offer though. I'll let'cha know when, 'kay?"
"Okay!" Omi said cheerfully, pretending he had no ulterior motives in offering his aid. Ken turned back to watering the roses (//He gives them more attention than anything else,// Omi thought curiously), pleased that he'd helped Omi with his little problem. Omi headed back to the counter, his smile growing evil as he considered this latest plot twist wrought by his hands.
//Oh, Yohji-kun,// he thought deviously as he picked up another order, //I've got you now. . . //
*********************
Yohji sat in the backroom of the Koneko, taking an inventory for Aya, his thoughts a muddled mess. So Omi and Ken were in love, eh? He shook his head. That'd never occurred to him before. Omi was so innocent, and Ken was so naïve. . . it hardly seemed possible. But when he looked back on everything that had happened, it made almost perfect sense. Ken had rejected him because Omi had a firm grasp on the brunette's heart. Omi had attacked him with the hose and gotten upset with him because Yohji was trying to steal the chibi's one true love. Yohji hadn't noticed because he was an idiot.
But now what was he to do? He couldn't give up - giving up would mean losing and losing meant letting Aya win. And Yohji would rather die before he lost to Aya - well, okay, maybe not, but he wasn't looking forward to the redhead's smug face if he failed to make good on their deal. He stopped a moment in his inventory to sigh and rub at his headache. What was he going to do?
He could confront Ken about Omi's feelings. But that might just harden the brunette's heart against the playboy, and reduce to nothing any chance he had of seducing Ken. Yohji steeled himself. He'd give it one more try - tonight - and if that didn't work, he'd ask Ken about it tomorrow. Omi'd understand, wouldn't he? Yohji was only doing this for the bet, after all. The thought of Omi made Yohji's heart hurt, but he ignored it. Why was he so unhappy with the thought of the chibi being in love with someone? It's not like he was in LOVE with OMI or anything, right? Right. Good. But Yohji couldn't will the pain from his heart no matter how many times he repeated this mantra. Something was getting to him, and Yohji Kudou didn't like it one bit.
********************
Late that evening, Ken plopped down in front of the T.V, and bowl of ice cream on his lap and the remote in his hand. The German/Brazil soccer game was on, and he was going to watch it. After all, it was a pretty big match. Both teams were favorites for going to the World Cup later that year, so it would be a crucial victory. Besides, with all the stress he'd been through this week, Ken figured he deserved a soccer break.
Just after halftime, with Brazil up 3 goals to 2, when Ken's discarded ice cream bowl lay quietly on the floor and the brunette's eyes were beginning to grow heavy, a lanky shadow tiptoed into the room. It paused by the kitchen entrance briefly, then took a running leap and vaulted the couch. The ex-J League player was so startled that he thrashed, cried out, and kicked said shadow as hard as he could in the shin before realizing it was just Yohji.
"Jeez, Yohji, don't scare me like that!" Ken cried. "I'm high- strung!"
Yohji, meanwhile, was writhing in pain on the carpet. Ken had been a professional soccer player and his kick had lost none of its potency during his absence from the professional league. Finally finding his voice, Yohji rasped, "Well, at least now my leg matches my face. Damn, you're brutal, Kenken!" Yohji picked himself off the floor and sat gingerly on the couch beside his brown-haired comrade.
Ken huffed at Yohji's statement, turning back to the soccer game. "It serves you right. What were you thinking, writing something like that? And right in the middle of the open shop, too!"
Yohji gave Ken his best smile, which seemed to have very little effect on said brunette. "Well, it's true, Kenken," Yohji breathed, inching his fingers up Ken's arm to play with the younger man's hair.
Ken looked disgusted. "Ugh - would you get off 'a me? You keep touching me and stuff. Cut it out!" he swatted Yohji's hand away from its perch by his neck.
Yohji was taken aback at Ken's complete lack of (favorable) reaction to his caresses and trained smiles. He had rarely gotten less than a faint out of his dates - at the same antics, Ken had merely huffed and pushed him away. Maybe Ken truly was in love with Omi! After a few minutes of musings and mental pep talks, Yohji decided he needed to take a more direct approach. He waited for the best moment. Then, just as Ken was getting into the game again and forgetting his blonde-haired companion, Yohji pounced. Pushing Ken roughly underneath him, Yohji pinned his teammate to the couch and mashed their mouths together in practiced Kudou style.
Ken froze in absolute shock as Yohji grabbed him and pinned him to the couch. Then the pressure of Yohji's lips on his brought him back, and he began to struggle, sputter and flail; all the while, his mind was crying //No, not Yohji! Eww, gross! Why couldn't you just be -him- instead! What would Omi think if he saw this? He'd never trust me again!//
This last thought renewed his strength, and he finally threw the older man to the ground. Ken wiped at his mouth and jumped up from the couch in disgust, coughing and incensed.
"What the hell was THAT?!" he yelled at his prone attacker. "How could you do that to me, Yohji? To Omi!" With that, he barreled up the stairs to his room, slamming the door for the fifth time that week.
Yohji stared after Ken, then sighed in irritation. Why didn't his usual tactics work on the brunette? What was so complicated about this particular conquest? Shaking his head, he too headed for the stairs, pausing when he remembered Ken's parting words. So Ken and Omi -were- involved, after all. Yohji couldn't help feeling disappointed and sad, though he still wasn't sure why.
As he passed the kitchen on his way to bed, he heard a low chuckle from the entryway. "You said seduction, not rape," came Aya's voice out of the darkness.
Yohji rolled his eyes in utter exasperation. "Oh just shut up Aya."
End Day 4
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Okay! Only three parts to go! I'm gonna try to get this whole thing posted before I leave for England on Wednesday, 'cause I'm sure I won't be able to post while I'm there and I won't be back for three weeks! (x_x) Still, I should be able to get any reviews - please review! It'll sustain me in a foreign country, I swear! Well, things aren't going well for Yohji are they? I told you Aya would laugh! Anyway, I'll have more soon! Bye!
A/N: This chapter is the fourth day of Yohji's quest for Ken. Last night, Yohji 'discovered' that Omi and Ken are in love - or are they? Yohji's going to confront Ken about it - or is he? Aya's actually going to laugh in some part of this chapter - truly, he is! Will Yohji have more luck today than he has previously? Don't bet on it! (snicker snicker) Bad joke. Here we go!
A note to Mikazuki-san: The story I'm thinking of is called "The Koneko Wars"; the difference is mostly that both Aya and Yohji are striving for Ken's affections, and their intentions are truly based on love, rather than Yohji's vanity. Apparently, there is also another story called "The Bet" that is also on a similar theme (thanks Misura-san for the correction!), but I'm not sure if that one's listed on fanfiction.net. Anyway, hope that helps! Thanks for your question! ^-^
____________________________________________________________________________ ____
Omi stalked into the shop the next day, still angry at Yohji's comments and audacious remarks. Throwing himself ill-humoredly behind the counter, he muttered under his breath for a few minutes until the customers started giving him weird looks.
Omi set the arrangement he was working on back on the counter and dropped his head into his hands. The Almighty Kudou. . . absolutely irresistible, Yohji had said. Omi wondered at that, then pounded on the counter angrily. Why was Yohji such a baka? Asking Omi - OMI, of all people - if he had a chance with Ken. . . Omi snorted. Maybe Yohji just enjoyed making him suffer. Yohji and Ken would fall in love and be happy forever and poor little Omi'd get left behind with anal ol' Aya-kun.
Then again. . . Ken didn't seem to be responding very well to Yohji's advances. Omi knew the reason of course, and he clung to this as his last shred of hope. Surely Ken wouldn't give in, wouldn't give up on that secret. . . but maybe Ken would give in. Yohji was irresistible, after all, right? If Yohji kept it up long enough, maybe Ken would give in to the playboy. The thought made Omi want to cry, until he was struck with another inspiration.
If Yohji kept at Ken long enough, Ken would probably give in. But if Omi could keep Ken and Yohji -apart-, take every opportunity to break Yohji's seductive spell, Ken just might be able to withstand the Kudou charm, after all. Omi sat up straighter on his stool, hurriedly finishing the arrangement in front of him. Maybe he -could- come between his two teammates, if he was careful and sly. There was hope yet!
Getting up from the counter, Omi walked over to where Ken was standing and assumed his classic 'innocent-little-angel-with-a-problem' expression. Then he hesitantly cleared his throat, and tapped Ken on the shoulder.
"Anou. . . Ken-kun?" he said quietly.
Ken turned and looked at him, smiling brightly once he saw it wasn't Yohji. "Oh - Omi! Hey there!"
Omi returned the smile, wringing his hands nervously and glancing from side to side. "Anou. . . " he murmured, putting just a bit of tremor into his voice. //C'mon, Ken-kun, take the bait,// Omi thought to himself as he pulled the little kid act, feeling only slightly guilty for exploiting Ken like this.
Ken fell for it. Setting the watering can gently down on the floor, he looked at Omi worriedly. Quietly, he took Omi's shoulders in his hands and assumed his most caring, supportive expression. "What's the matter, Omi?" he asked.
//Gotcha!// Omi mentally squealed. Outside, he shifted a bit and sighed dramatically. "Well, it's just - I noticed Yohji-kun has been bothering you a lot lately, Ken-kun, and I - well, I wanted you to know that if there's -anything- I can do to help. . . "
Ken gave his friend a dazzling smile. "Aw, thanks Omi. Yohji's being an idiot, for sure, but I'm trying to ignore him, you know? I might take you up on that offer though. I'll let'cha know when, 'kay?"
"Okay!" Omi said cheerfully, pretending he had no ulterior motives in offering his aid. Ken turned back to watering the roses (//He gives them more attention than anything else,// Omi thought curiously), pleased that he'd helped Omi with his little problem. Omi headed back to the counter, his smile growing evil as he considered this latest plot twist wrought by his hands.
//Oh, Yohji-kun,// he thought deviously as he picked up another order, //I've got you now. . . //
*********************
Yohji sat in the backroom of the Koneko, taking an inventory for Aya, his thoughts a muddled mess. So Omi and Ken were in love, eh? He shook his head. That'd never occurred to him before. Omi was so innocent, and Ken was so naïve. . . it hardly seemed possible. But when he looked back on everything that had happened, it made almost perfect sense. Ken had rejected him because Omi had a firm grasp on the brunette's heart. Omi had attacked him with the hose and gotten upset with him because Yohji was trying to steal the chibi's one true love. Yohji hadn't noticed because he was an idiot.
But now what was he to do? He couldn't give up - giving up would mean losing and losing meant letting Aya win. And Yohji would rather die before he lost to Aya - well, okay, maybe not, but he wasn't looking forward to the redhead's smug face if he failed to make good on their deal. He stopped a moment in his inventory to sigh and rub at his headache. What was he going to do?
He could confront Ken about Omi's feelings. But that might just harden the brunette's heart against the playboy, and reduce to nothing any chance he had of seducing Ken. Yohji steeled himself. He'd give it one more try - tonight - and if that didn't work, he'd ask Ken about it tomorrow. Omi'd understand, wouldn't he? Yohji was only doing this for the bet, after all. The thought of Omi made Yohji's heart hurt, but he ignored it. Why was he so unhappy with the thought of the chibi being in love with someone? It's not like he was in LOVE with OMI or anything, right? Right. Good. But Yohji couldn't will the pain from his heart no matter how many times he repeated this mantra. Something was getting to him, and Yohji Kudou didn't like it one bit.
********************
Late that evening, Ken plopped down in front of the T.V, and bowl of ice cream on his lap and the remote in his hand. The German/Brazil soccer game was on, and he was going to watch it. After all, it was a pretty big match. Both teams were favorites for going to the World Cup later that year, so it would be a crucial victory. Besides, with all the stress he'd been through this week, Ken figured he deserved a soccer break.
Just after halftime, with Brazil up 3 goals to 2, when Ken's discarded ice cream bowl lay quietly on the floor and the brunette's eyes were beginning to grow heavy, a lanky shadow tiptoed into the room. It paused by the kitchen entrance briefly, then took a running leap and vaulted the couch. The ex-J League player was so startled that he thrashed, cried out, and kicked said shadow as hard as he could in the shin before realizing it was just Yohji.
"Jeez, Yohji, don't scare me like that!" Ken cried. "I'm high- strung!"
Yohji, meanwhile, was writhing in pain on the carpet. Ken had been a professional soccer player and his kick had lost none of its potency during his absence from the professional league. Finally finding his voice, Yohji rasped, "Well, at least now my leg matches my face. Damn, you're brutal, Kenken!" Yohji picked himself off the floor and sat gingerly on the couch beside his brown-haired comrade.
Ken huffed at Yohji's statement, turning back to the soccer game. "It serves you right. What were you thinking, writing something like that? And right in the middle of the open shop, too!"
Yohji gave Ken his best smile, which seemed to have very little effect on said brunette. "Well, it's true, Kenken," Yohji breathed, inching his fingers up Ken's arm to play with the younger man's hair.
Ken looked disgusted. "Ugh - would you get off 'a me? You keep touching me and stuff. Cut it out!" he swatted Yohji's hand away from its perch by his neck.
Yohji was taken aback at Ken's complete lack of (favorable) reaction to his caresses and trained smiles. He had rarely gotten less than a faint out of his dates - at the same antics, Ken had merely huffed and pushed him away. Maybe Ken truly was in love with Omi! After a few minutes of musings and mental pep talks, Yohji decided he needed to take a more direct approach. He waited for the best moment. Then, just as Ken was getting into the game again and forgetting his blonde-haired companion, Yohji pounced. Pushing Ken roughly underneath him, Yohji pinned his teammate to the couch and mashed their mouths together in practiced Kudou style.
Ken froze in absolute shock as Yohji grabbed him and pinned him to the couch. Then the pressure of Yohji's lips on his brought him back, and he began to struggle, sputter and flail; all the while, his mind was crying //No, not Yohji! Eww, gross! Why couldn't you just be -him- instead! What would Omi think if he saw this? He'd never trust me again!//
This last thought renewed his strength, and he finally threw the older man to the ground. Ken wiped at his mouth and jumped up from the couch in disgust, coughing and incensed.
"What the hell was THAT?!" he yelled at his prone attacker. "How could you do that to me, Yohji? To Omi!" With that, he barreled up the stairs to his room, slamming the door for the fifth time that week.
Yohji stared after Ken, then sighed in irritation. Why didn't his usual tactics work on the brunette? What was so complicated about this particular conquest? Shaking his head, he too headed for the stairs, pausing when he remembered Ken's parting words. So Ken and Omi -were- involved, after all. Yohji couldn't help feeling disappointed and sad, though he still wasn't sure why.
As he passed the kitchen on his way to bed, he heard a low chuckle from the entryway. "You said seduction, not rape," came Aya's voice out of the darkness.
Yohji rolled his eyes in utter exasperation. "Oh just shut up Aya."
End Day 4
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Okay! Only three parts to go! I'm gonna try to get this whole thing posted before I leave for England on Wednesday, 'cause I'm sure I won't be able to post while I'm there and I won't be back for three weeks! (x_x) Still, I should be able to get any reviews - please review! It'll sustain me in a foreign country, I swear! Well, things aren't going well for Yohji are they? I told you Aya would laugh! Anyway, I'll have more soon! Bye!