(forward)
Sorry I've been away so long.
To Jo - Thank you. How are you doing? My computer is nearly dead…what have you been up to?
To Yochan – heh. Always a good thing to hear. ^^
To Balinese –eh….sorry you had to wait so long for this one.
Nekojita –yes…..hope. Perceptive.
Tmelange - Wow. Thank you. Thank you very much. Mon ami…? Methinks you are a frenchie ;) Cool!
Holloweyes - You're alive! (I….think…?)
Rav'n - Ah! You gave me a fright. I asked my Japanese teacher about it. But he said that genki was okay. It also means healthy, energetic cheerful. No real Enlgish equivalent. But really, thanks for the concern. Always good to crackdown when you think a language is being bastardized ;)
And to to Kurai-chan, whom actually emailed me about continuing this story. Thank you ever so much. This chapter is for you. You really encouaged me when I hit a block. There are no words I can say but….Arigatou gozaimashita!
Sorry guys, but this is just me, myself and I. So if there is glaring grammar errors and awful gaps…..it's all me!
And now that we have all that out of the way…….. the chapter with the revolving doors….
Enjoy =)
Aya's eyes fluttered open. Something warm and gentle ghosted across his face. He turned his head, and startled to see a sleeping Youji next to him. His heart beat with wild excitement -until he remembered the real events of yesternight.
Damn. But what the hell else should have he expected?
He glared at the sickly rays of sun that trickled over his skin, wishing that it had been slender fingers that had woken him instead. With lethargic movements, he disentangled himself from Youji's long limbs and managed to move himself from the bed. The older man made a muffled sound of protest, and Aya's eyes widened.
He didn't know...did he?
An eternity passed. But it seemed that it was just the complaint born of the loss of warmth -Youji was still asleep. With a sigh of relief, Aya rolled out of bed. He let his eyes roam over the scene before him.
Youji, in his bed. Grey comforters twisted around that battered, half-naked body. Chestnut hair spilled out over his pillows.
What had he been thinking? What if Youji had woken up before him? What would have he done then? What if....
He stole a guilty glance at the older assassin.
What if Youji had woken up in the middle of the night? What if he already knew?
At that thought, Aya bolted, forgoing his usual morning routine in favour of getting the hell out of that room.
'This is stupid.' He reprimanded himself as he fled to the safety of the kitchen. 'It's not like he'd have any clue. There's no reason you need to run from your own room. He's the stranger there.'
Still, the kitchen was where he found himself standing. He blinked at the black and white linoleum tiles, gleaming with the rays of the morning sun's first pale light -the only light to fill the house. What was today? Sunday? Yes. The shop would not open today. Which meant he would be able to think on the mission. Or wheedle something out of Youji. Or both.
He crossed the cold kitchen floor in bared feet, wishing that he had thought to grab his household slippers, like any proper Japanese man should.
He was not proper.
Not that it really mattered. Even if the thought had crossed his mind, he probably would have left them in that mad dash anyway. With a defeated sigh, he opened the fridge, and fumbled through its contents, trying to entertain his mind with breakfast, rather than the dilemma in his bed. Eggs....milk.....lemons......His mouth tugged upwards with a wicked smile in spite of himself. Gatorade...? Well, he'd just have to get rid of that.
"Aya-kun?"
The redhead jumped at the soft alto voice, dropping the plastic bottle to the ground.
"You're up later than usual." The bottle rolled across the floor. Its liquid contents -coloured a shade of orange he was sure couldn't be found in nature -sloshed back and forth until and stopped at Omi's feet. The boy
looked at it quizzically. "What are you doing with Ken's Gatorade?"
Aya scooped the bottle from the floor and shoved it in the back of the fridge. "Nothing.." Damn. So close.
"Oh." Omi went for the tea cabinet. "All right then. Green?"
Aya shrugged, and stared into the opened cupboards. A lone tin of Maxwell's stood on the top shelf, one item that Youji had left behind for early mornings in the shop.
Aya reached past Omi to grab the tin. He opened the lid and peered inside.
Could coffee go bad? Didn't look like it. Without pausing to think why, he dumped four heaping spoonfuls of the stuff into their coffee-machine, and switched the thing on.
"Looks like rain again." Omi commented, still rummaging through the cupboards for a packet of green tea.
Aya's eyes traveled beyond the realms of the household, through the window and out into the bleary world. There was light, but it was no stronger than it had been when he awoke.
Still grey....
"How is Youji-kun doing?" Omi pulled out the tiny pouch with a quiet chuckle of triumph. The silence of the kitchen was interrupted with the sound of rushing water. Omi filled the kettle, and placed it on the stove to boil.
"I don't know. He's still asleep."
"That's great Aya! Where'd you put him?"
Aya stared hard at the boy, just willing him to question him. "My room." He said at length. And to his surprise, Omi did not look in the least surprised.
"Oh." Omi nodded. "I'm glad. Did you watch him, Aya?"
Yes, I watched him. All night. Tossing and turning. In my arms. In my arms for the first -and last - time.
"Yes."
"Did he get some rest?"
He was exhausted. Tired and worn out beyond all belief. His eyes fell shut so soon.....those eyes. Something's happening. I can feel it. Something....
"Yes, Omi. He did rest." They wandered idly to the living room, and plopped down on the couches, waiting to hear the shrill scream of the kettle.
"Poor Youji." The boy's face twisted into a sympathetic frown.
"Youji's tough. He's had worse. He can handle it." Aya felt, rather than saw Omi's gaze, as it swept over him.
"Aya-kun....this is...different. This time we don't know why it happened. We weren't there and..."
"And he won't tell us." Aya sneered. "If he doesn't trust us enough to tell what happened -if he doesn't trust in his own team -then I don't care. It's his own goddamned fault. He should take some responsibility for his own actions -it could be us that suffer because of it. We don't know what's happening with the mission tonight..."
"Aya-kun!" Omi gasped.
His own reaction surprised him. He sounded angry, when he didn't care. He didn't care. Not about anything. Only Aya.
The creak of wood. Both assassins whirled around to see a groggy soccer player tromping down the abused staircase.
"Uhn, something wrong guys?"
Aya was amazed that Ken's voice carried so well, even when still gravely with sleep.
"Ken, not so loud! You'll wake up Youji!"
Omi, the ever-considerate.
"Youji? But didn't he leave already?"
The boy shook his head. "Nope! He's staying in Aya's room."
"....are you sure? I yelled awful loud. Maybe he's just really out of it then. Poor guy. I wonder why he won't...."
Aya felt his body twitch. Omi chewed his lip. Ken looked on in dazed befuddlement, and let the sentence fade into silence.
"Umm.....the kettle's nearly done. You're up early Ken, so you can have some tea if you'd like."
Omi, always trying to ease the tension.
The chocolate-haired youth gave a sleep smile. "No thanks, I think I have some Gatorade left in the fridge."
Aya felt his eyeball twitch.
The younger half of Weiss looked at him as if he belonged in a B-movie.
"Umm.....Aya...."
"I'm going upstairs." He stood abruptly and turned on his heel. The strong scent of freshly brewed coffee stopped him, however. After a moment's hesitation, he went to the kitchen and filled two mugs with the bitter liquid. With a sigh to himself, he started up the stairs again, thankful that the little time he had spent as a waiter kept him from sloshing the hot drink all over his hands.
He frowned when he heard the mumblings of a coversation. One-sided. Youji wasn't talking to himself now, was he?
The sound wasn't coming from his room. He looked down the hallway. The door to Youji's old room was closed.
With a frown he opened the door to his own room, set the tray down, and scurried out again. Cautiously, he approached the closed door.
Why Youji was probabally just making a date. It wasn't his business. Why are you being so nosy, Aya?
The walls were thin. He pressed ear to it, wincing as the rough stucco scraped his skin. But he was rewarded for this mild discomfort. He could hear every word.
".......no. No, it's under control. Yes I saw him..........yeah. I know......"
Aya's mouth flattened.
Youji was seeing who?
"right...................heh. I know. No, not exactly a great start, was it?......................Oh, don't I know it?"
He narrowed his eyes in distrust.
".......Yeah, we're going out tonight...."
Tonight? But there was a mission tonight!
"...all of us."
Oh. All of....them? Aya's brow furrowed.
"......No. I don't have a clue. But who's fault is that?..........................Oh for............................... yes I know. Yes, you own my soul...................I'm not being sarcastic...........what? Tomorrow night?......but………. shit. Don't make me go back there again……I don't know -I...........I…….you wouldn't. Okay. Fine! I'll go....."
"Aya!" Ken yelling at him from downstairs. Shit.
Youji paused from the other side of the wall.
"Aya, what time we leavin' tonight? Aya?"
He could already hear the heavy footsteps. Aya made for his apartment. Silently.
Fuck. Who was Youji talking to?
He stared at the coffee on the bedside table.
"Aya?"
Ken was pounding on his door. From outside he heard the creak of a hinge. Soft footsteps. The pounding stopped. But the pounding in his heart was just beginning.
"Good morning Youji!" Ken exclaimed.
"Ohayou gozaimasu." Youji's voice sounded muffled.
"Yah' sleep well?"
"Sure, no thanks to you. What are you yelling after Aya for?"
"Oh. Just wanted to know when we leave tonight. Do you know?"
"Yeah. Eight."
"Eight? Wow, that's early."
"Augh, I know. But that's good. Cuz' maybe I'll have time to rest up tonight and look good for tomorrow."
"Oh? Got a date tomorrow Youji?"
"....you could say that."
"Nice. Hey, Omi's made breakfast. Come downstairs. It's been forever since...."
"That's real nice, but I'm not that hungry...."
"What? Skinny guy like you? Well that's okay. Aya made coffee for you come on down...."
"Huh?....Aya?"
The voices were swallowed beneath the stomping of the stairs. He retrieved his house slippers and followed the pair momentarily. His second visit to the kitchen that day. By the time he got there, already, the three of them were seated at the table. American style. Aya suppressed his sneer. He hated the Western style. Aya took his place, and looked suspiciously at the heaping plate in front of him, as well as the forks. His team gave him the usual greetings before delving back into conversation.
His team.
"So…..we couldn't save your armani. Sorry Youji-kun." This was Omi speaking.
Man in question waved it off. Aya stared. That was his orange sweater. He looked down at himself.
He was still in his pajamas.
He looked back at Youji, who was straddling his chair.
Those were his jeans too. He resisted the urge to fume. What right did that man have, going through his belongings?
"Eat up Aya-kun!" Omi smiled at him from across the table.
He snorted, but swallowed a mouthful of the offensive stuff.
Ken laughed at him, but turned his attention back to the discussion. "It was a nice one too. Damn, you must have paid a fortune for it. What the hell were you doing in a suit anyway?"
"Don't you know the ladies love a man in uniform? It was about as close as I could get. So. I've gotta' jet. My mission gear's still at my place, and you know how the subway is."
"I'll take you!" Ken volunteered.
"Nope, Aya should! You've got a game to watch Ken-ken!"
Aya blinked. Ken gaped.
"Huh? I do?"
"The game. You said you couldn't wait for it."
"What game?"
Aya's eyes met with Omi's briefly. They locked. Those blue eyes flashed with a look that he had seen a hundred times. Omi was up to something. And he was going to have to go along with it.
"Ach, I'm causing trouble." Youji stretched and let out a long yawn. "Better get going before yah' start fighting over me." He smiled briefly and brushed an oaken strand from his eyes.
Aya felt his stomach tighten instinctively.
"It's no trouble." He interjected smoothly. "It will be faster this way. We'll collect your things, and you'll come back here. I'm going to watch you go over your files again. I will not allow your carelessness to endanger us."
He was already prepared for an outburst. From the corner of his eye, he saw Omi's mouth quirk upwards. That was a good sign at the very least….
"Excuse me? Who says I haven't read my files three times already?" Youji's face burned pink at the cheeks. His verdant eyes flashed, both tempting and agitating Aya all at once. It took all this to make him finally remember…
Youji was really mauled. Mottled purple and yellow and green…..and still beautiful. He shuddered and met those eyes
calmly. "When do you ever bother to read your files? Your carelessness will be the downfall of us all one day." He wasn't going on a lot here. He knew he sounded like an idiot. But it was all he could think of on the spot.
"My carelessness?" Youji looked taken aback. "Who was the one spacing out last mission Aya? Fuck, it was me who saved your ass! You just stood there like some….some……zombie. Dead to the world! Who are you to preach to me about responsibility Ay~a?"
Aya pretended to stare through him. "Be ready in ten minutes. We're leaving."
Ken looked at him strangely. "Aya, what the hell? Youji hasn't…."
"Ten minutes." He repeated sharply, and retreated to the solitude of his room.
He could hear Youji's snort of disgust, and Ken's baffled exclamations behind him.
"What the hell? And I thought he was going to be nice to you today….maybe he should have drank some of that coffee….."
He slammed the door.
Not surprisingly, there came a tentative knock not a minute later.
"Come in Omi."
The blond latched the door shut softly behind him.
"I want you to go with him and look in his apartment."
Ah Omi, never the one to waste time with needless words. He stared into the youth's face.
"Why?" Aya crossed his arms and feigned disinterest. "If you're so worried, why don't you take him home?"
Omi smiled darkly. The expression confused Aya. Omi never looked like that…
"What? On my scooter? You'll go Aya. You have to."
"I don't have to do anything."
"Well you already agreed to it. You'll look stupid if you back out. Besides, I know this is bugging you too. Why not just try to get to the bottom of it? What if Youji's involved in something that could mean danger to us? We've got to know."
It made sense. Perfect, and utter sense.
There were days when he thought that Kritiker had misjudged when they had designated him to be leader. He looked at the floor. The wall. When had Omi started calling the shots?
"So we're excluding Ken from all this then?"
"Not if you find something." The child crossed his arms.
"Very well."
They both jumped when they heard Youji's shrill voice hollering from the bottom of the stairs.
"I'm ready your highness! Would you do the honour of accompanying me to your chariot?"
It positively dripped sarcasm.
"I'll be outside Aya."
They could hear the downstairs door slam shut.
Omi smiled fleetingly. "I think he's impatient."
"The man knows no patience." Aya turned to leave.
He felt a hand on his shoulder. He spun around. Omi frowned up at him. His face had softened again, back to the way it normally looked. Back to the way he was used to.
Aya was strangely relieved.
"Aren't you worried about him Aya?" Omi asked. "At all?"
Aya closed his eyes.
"No."
He made a grab for his coat from the rack by the doorway. Omi swiped at it first, and held it out for him.
Their eyes met again.
"Liar."
"What?"
"Aya-kun….why do you say things you don't mean?"
He shrugged the coat on, and stamped down the hall. Why did he?
Stairs. Boots. Keys. Out.
The damp air made him want to sneeze. A slight breeze whistled in his ears. Youji leaned against his car, glowering. Silent. Furious.
He opened the passenger door and held it open.
The brunette gave him a scalding look.
He let the door slam.
He got in the driver's side, and fired up the ignition.
Still silence.
Well, Youji could keep his silence. But he was going to get to the bottom of this anyway…
".......no. No, it's under control. Yes I saw him..........yeah. I know......"
Idiot.
".......Yeah, we're going out tonight...."
If Youji was giving the team away to anyone then he'd beat him black and blue. No matter that he was already purple.
"Yes, you own my soul....."
But if someone was hurting Youji…….
"……Don't make me go back there again…"
They wouldn't live to tell.
See? Wasn't there a hundred doors in this chapter? ^^ And about the bit with the slippers …you probably all know that it's tradition to walk around the house in slippers. Everyone in the family has a pair, and there's even a few for any guests who visit the house. The toilet room (not bathroom, because there bathroom IS a bathroom) has a separate pair. Heh. Good idea. Those Japanese…..so clever.
So what did you think?
You can always drop me a line at soulstrife@hotmail.com
I'd love to hear from you. Bye!