Disclaimers/ warnings: What do you think would happen if I left this note
off? Do you think they'd really sue me? What on earth would they take?
My posters? My college fund? My family? Who knows. I don't really want
to find out. I don't own the characters. . .
A note to CherubKatan-san: Yes, I know I used the Slayers names for Ken's soccer kids. It was intentional, actually. I've been using a crossover in every chapter - that one was a rather weak attempt, I'll admit, but I'm not quite stupid enough to need to rip off the Slayers names (though I did need to steal their characters. . . hm. . . ). Anyway, hope that answers your question!
A/N: All righty - things get a little bit fluffier from here on out (is that even POSSIBLE?). I think, anyway. I can't really recall. All I really know is that my kitty ran away. Yeah, that's the second one. I don't have a clue why they do it. But I miss her a lot. I'm gonna try not to weave any kitty-angst into this story, though. I want my Neko-chan back! WAH!
Yohji: Do shut up.
Hidoi Yohji-kun! Haven't you ever lost a pet?
Yohji: Not unless you count all those endless women. . .
Yohji! Really! How cruel. We'd better get on with this so I can sock him.
____________________________________________________________________________ ________
Daylight broke sweetly over the Tokyo suburbs, shining lightly through the curtains and draperies, alerting the birds to their daily serenade, rustling through the leafy treetops and casting vibrant shadows on the still-slumbering ground. A lonely sunbeam worked its way between the blinds of a silent apartment, alighting delicately on the peaceful, sleeping countenance of a crimson-crowned young man. The light urged movement, and he shifted uncomfortably, causing his companion to groan and twist about, attempting to reposition himself in the other's arms.
All of a sudden, Aya couldn't breathe. His supply of oxygen was completely cut off by the offending arm of his unknowing, lightly snoring companion. Survival instincts kicked in, and Aya began thrashing madly - he woke with a start and threw Ken's arm off his face, desperate for air. Ken yelped as he tumbled from the couch in a flurry of limbs and blankets and landed on the floor, blinking in shock.
Aya, alone on the couch, gazed in surprise at the brunette now sprawled on the tasteful green carpet. Ken returned the stare, rubbing painfully at his head, which had conveniently connected with the slightly- out-of-place side table when he landed. The two men looked at each other, both no doubt wondering why they weren't in their respective beds. Then they blushed, having simultaneously realized that not only did they wake up on the couch, but that they woke up -together-. After trying to avoid meeting Aya's gaze for a few minutes, Ken got up and tentatively sat next to the redhead on the couch. Aya made room for him, still avoiding eye contact.
Then Aya jolted, as he suddenly remembered Ken's injury from the day before. As if reading his mind, Ken made a low sound of pain and experimented with moving his shoulder. Aya's hand came up to rest beside Ken's neck, once more soothing the offending muscles. Ken let him continue the massage for a few minutes - okay, maybe twenty - then smiled gently at his leader and rose from the couch, pulling Aya with him. Once they were both standing, he asked, "Want some breakfast?"
Aya held up a hand in protest. "I'll cook. You did it last time."
Ken pouted lightly. "I thought you liked it!"
"I did," Aya countered, shaking his head, "but cooking is hard work. You shouldn't have to do so more than once a week." Ken rolled his eyes. Finally allowing a small smile to creep across his face, Aya added, "Besides, I'd bet -you- don't know how to make smiley face pancakes."
Ken blinked, then flushed slightly. "Well, no. . . " he admitted. Then, furrowing his brow, he asked, "Can you?"
Aya nodded. "Yohji taught me." Ken had to laugh at this. The thought of Yohji standing in the kitchen, cooking BREAKFAST, the earliest meal of the day, and instructing an avidly interested Aya in the proper pancake-making technique was pretty much the craziest thing he'd ever imagined. He visualized Omi swinging his legs while sitting on the counter, an oversized chef's hat falling over his eyes; he pictured the boy clapping excitedly every time Yohji flipped one of the golden-brown disks into the air. Aya raised an eyebrow at Ken's prolonged laughter, but the sound pleased him, and he made his way into the kitchen. Ken followed him and leaned self-consciously against the counter while Aya engaged in a full- scale cookout. After each of them had made a few half-hearted attempts at conversation (the longest of which centered around reviewing the Pokemon DVD), Ken decided painkillers might be a good idea and began rummaging through the medicine cabinet. He found three empty bottles of Advil, but that was all his efforts yielded. Aya beckoned him to breakfast and he let it go, but the mystery of the missing painkillers stayed with him.
Omi came into the eating area just as Aya and Ken were finishing up, dark circles under his eyes. He took the plate Aya offered him and sat down heavily at the table, slowly applying the food to his mouth and hardly noticing Aya's edible imagery. Aya gave Omi a semi-curious look. "Up late?" he asked the resident chibi, who managed to blush despite his exhaustion. Aya left it at that and finished his own breakfast.
Suddenly Ken paused, fork halfway to his mouth. He eyed Omi inquiringly, then asked, "Hey Omi - d'you know where all the Advil went? I hurt my shoulder yesterday, but there are just empty bottles in there. . . "
Omi shook his head wearily. "I'm sorry, Ken-kun, I don't have any idea what. . . " he trailed off, eyes darkening in what might have been anger. Then his face went pale and he sat up straight, clearly thunderstruck. "Wait a minute - Yohji did come home drunk last night. . . maybe he had a hangover this morning."
Ken's eyes bulged, and Aya gave Omi a sharp look. "He took three bottles of Advil?" Ken exclaimed in disbelief. "He's gonna kill himself!"
"What business does Kudou have with a hangover?" Aya asked vehemently, but Omi didn't hear him. The poor blonde boy had fallen asleep and face-faulted into his breakfast. Aya and Ken watched his peacefully sleeping form, then looked at each other.
"Let him sleep," Ken advised sympathetically. "Poor kid's worn out." Aya nodded, and the two of them headed off to prepare for the day.
**********************
Yohji whistled happily as he attended to the fangirls, a lovely smile on his face. He was manning the shop, and the daily horde, by himself at the moment, but he didn't mind. Omi was supposed to join him for the morning shift that day; no doubt his young lover was exhausted. Yohji shook his head mildly - end of term papers can do that to people. (A/N: Hentais! What did you -think- Omi was doing up?)
After he'd come home late, Yohji remembered Omi sitting with him and listening to his drunken babbling. He couldn't remember what all he'd said, but he knew he'd kept it a secret that he'd found a new drinking buddy in Schwartz's Farfello. The last thing he needed was Aya Shi-Ne-ing him for breaking the drinking rules AND getting chummy with the enemy.
The door from the apartment opened to admit Aya, Ken, and Omi - Omi was diligently rubbing egg off his face. The redhead stalked over to where Yohji was standing and gave the blonde his most powerful glare. If Yohji hadn't had Advil practically rivaling the blood content in his body, he figured he might have died. As it was, Aya's severe glare just made him grin like a maniac.
"What," Aya growled, "were you doing drunk last night?" Yohji assumed his most innocent expression.
"Why Aya - whatever do you mean?" he asked, batting his eyelashes at his leader. Aya twitched.
"The deal," he spit out. Yohji gave him a smug look, then dropped a casual arm around the other man's shoulder.
"But Aya - you said I couldn't -buy- alcohol, not that I couldn't -consume- it. Besides, it was his idea."
"Whose idea?" Aya asked sharply.
"Fa-" Yohji caught himself just in time. "Father!" he finished joyfully. Aya gave him a deadly look.
"Your parents are already dead, Kudou," he replied testily.
//Drat,// Yohji thought. Then an idea came to him. He looked back to Aya and rolled his eyes dramatically. "Not -my- father - Our Father!" Aya gave him a look of pure skepticism.
"God bought you a drink?" he intoned dryly, crossing his arms in front of him. Yohji nodded decisively. "And what exactly did you do to deserve -that-?"
Yohji shrugged, then turned away. Aya gave him another warning look and stalked off, grumbling. Yohji winced. Farfello better never find out he'd been passed off as God. On the other hand, the Irishman might enjoy that.
Omi meandered his broom over to Yohji's side, still wiping tiredly at his eyes. Yohji gave the poor boy a kiss on the forehead and continued ringing up customers (all of the fangirls had left by this point, and the few people who saw it either assumed the two were brothers or smiled at how cute the flower boys were being today). Despite the kiss, Omi managed to give his boyfriend a suspicious look, then asked nonchalantly, "Who -really- bought you a drink, Yohji-ko - er, Yohji-kun?"
Yohji chuckled. "That's a secret, Omittchi," he said happily. Omi frowned, then sighed in submission. He quickly perked up again, though, and got an adorable gleam in his eye.
"Ne, Yohji-kun, we had the morning shift today, but I slept through it. Can I - will you come to lunch with me today, so I can make it up to you?"
"Can't Omittchi," Yohji joked with a wink. "I've got a date."
Omi froze, rooted to the spot. A date? Yohji had a -date-? They'd only been together for four days - Yohji was cheating on him ALREADY?!?! Omi drew himself up angrily, then exploded. "What do you MEAN you have a DATE?!" he yelled, voice rising several octaves in his rage. Yohji winced, then put his hands on Omi's shoulders in an attempt to placate the younger man.
"Look Omi, that's not what I meant, I-"
"I - I can't -believe- you!" Omi shrieked, smacking Yohji across the face as he did so. He ran from the room, dropping the broom on Yohji's toe. Yohji yelped. Safely across the shop, Ken shook his head.
"Hell hath no fury like an Omi scorned."
***************************
All was quiet in the Koneko. Aya worked on the arrangements. Ken was out with the deliveries. Yohji was playing with the cash register. Omi still hadn't returned. Suddenly. . . the clock struck one. Yohji looked up. Then a brilliant smile lit his face and he tossed his apron in a heap on the floor, chuckling lightly to himself. He snatched his jacket from the counter and ducked out of the shop, whistling as he went.
As he passed by the alleyway, a dark shadow crept out behind him. It wore a blue jacket, shorts, a white sunhat [1], and bright, suspicious eyes that gleamed from underneath the hat's brim.
Omi trailed stealthily behind his wayward koi, using all his assassin skills to avoid detection. Fortunately, nothing was further from Yohji's mind than his own personal stalker, so Omi's presence went unnoticed. Omi mumbled to himself unhappily. When Yohji had confessed his undying love less than a week ago, Omi had been inclined to take him at face value - apparently, that was a bad idea. He followed Yohji down the city sidewalks - past the restaurants and the bars and the clubs - down past old men and businesspeople and schoolchildren until finally Yohji entered a dingy establishment that appeared to be a tavern of some sort.
Omi followed Yohji inside and seated himself at a strategically placed table near the back, watching through nervous eyes as Yohji passed all the half-dressed women and sat alone at a large circular table in the center. The elder blonde glanced around as though searching for someone, then resigned himself to waiting and slumped back in his chair. The door swung open and Yohji started up, a smile on his face, his hand raised in greeting.
Omi watched in surprise as the arrivals, both men, sat at Yohji's table. One was quite short with grayish-brown hair, and the other - the other was that Irish psycho! Absolutely enraged, Omi hurtled across the room to Yohji's side, face scarlet with fury. "You're leaving me for -SCHWARTZ-?!" he demanded loudly, decidedly livid. Yohji looked up in shock.
"O - Omi?" he said in disbelief. "What are you doing here?" He glanced at Farfello and Nagi, then back at Omi; suddenly realizing what Omi was so mad about, he laughed loudly and tugged his boyfriend into his lap, much to the surprise of said boyfriend.
"Oh, Omittchi - you thought I was serious about the date thing, didn't you? Baka! Look, I met Farfello accidentally yesterday, and he offered to buy me a drink - he said I was such an amusing drunk that if I came here today, he'd buy again." He looked questioningly at the Schwartz members before adding, "I don't know why Nagi's here, though."
Farfello laughed gleefully. "Because he can't drink! Crawford said so. And if he has to sit here and watch us, it makes God cry at the sheer unfairness of it all." Nagi pouted - then he remembered Omi and his pretty eyes lit up. "Hey - Omi can't drink either! Now I have a friend!" Omi blinked at the younger boy, then looked questioningly at Yohji.
"Yohji-koi," he inquired anxiously, "are you sure it's okay to be meeting with Schwartz like this?"
Yohji gave him a sympathetic look. "I don't know, Omi - I don't know why we should have to be enemies anymore. Takatori's dead - Farfello told me Schwartz is kind of outta work right now. Why can't we be friends?"
Omi thought on this a moment, then shook his head and sat next to Nagi, warning darkly, "If Aya-kun finds out about this, we'll be dead meat."
******************
Ken sighed as he stood on the sidewalk outside the Koneko, watching the sunset-painted sky become brilliant shades of pink and gold. It was closing time, but Yohji and Omi had yet to reappear - Ken assumed they'd gone out to dinner or something. Hopefully, they had sorted out whatever argument had caused Omi to hit his lover in the shop today - if the two broke up so soon, Ken wasn't sure he'd be able to handle it.
"Beautiful evening, isn't it?" asked a rich voice at his shoulder. Ken jumped. Aya smiled, then turned to observe the sky himself. After a moment of comfortable silence, both he and Ken spoke simultaneously.
"Would you-" Each broke off, embarrassed.
"You first," Aya said graciously. Ken opened his mouth to protest, then closed it and nodded instead.
"Would you - um - like to go for a walk, maybe?" Ken suggested awkwardly, trying to sound convinced that this was what he wanted, too. Aya shot him a covert glance. //A walk in the sunset?// Aya meditated silently. //That was -my- idea. Did Ken suddenly become a telepath or something?// Instead of asking, he nodded silently to Ken, whose face brightened perceptively. Aya turned momentarily to lock the shop door, then the two companions started off down the street.
As they moved into the open air of the town park, Aya reached down and discreetly caught Ken's fingers in his. Ken's face turned the color of the evening sky, but he didn't pull away, focusing on admiring the sunset instead. //He's holding my hand?// Ken wondered. //What's gotten into Aya these days?//
//If I didn't know any better,// Aya reasoned, //I'd think maybe he was trying to - that maybe he wanted-// Aya broke off his thoughts and shook his head.
//Nah,// they agreed mentally. //Not a chance.// They continued silently onward, nodding occasionally to the few passerby. One pair, a boy about Ken's age and his companion, caught their attention, mostly because said companion was wearing an outfit that only covered a very small portion of his chest. Also, his haphazard hairstyle almost took out Ken's left eye.
"Jane, Jane, Jane of the Jungle, strong as he can be [2]," Ken muttered bitterly once the other pair, who wore signs declaring 'Getbackers!' around their necks, had passed out of earshot. Aya chuckled. Just then, the two heard voices coming from a park bench ahead of them - voices that were somehow vaguely familiar.
"I'm just not ready for that kind of commitment," came a deep voice with a strong American accent.
"What kind of commitment?" answered a nasal German tone. Aya and Ken stopped dead. It was Schwartz! Well, Crawford and Schuldich, anyway. The two villains, however, were so wrapped up in their conversation that they failed to notice their waiting adversaries.
Brad Crawford shot Schuldich a look. "What kind of commitment? I don't suppose you recall coming home last night from your shopping trip with Nagi, jumping into my lap, knocking the paper out of my hands, throwing your arms around my neck and crying, 'Oh Bradley, promise me we'll be together forever'?"
Schuldich gave him a cheesy grin. "'Course I do. But who said anything about commitment?"
Brad blinked at him. "Schuldich you propositioned me." He held up a glinting diamond ring.
"And?" his carrot-top comrade responded.
"And we're not even dating! How could you -propose- to me?"
Schuldich gave him a chiding yet sympathetic look. "Well Bradley, first I got down on one knee-"
"That is -not- what I meant, Schuldich," Crawford said severely. Schuldich adopted a pout; his eyes filled with tears, and he began to tremble.
"Oh Bradley, you're not -rejecting- me, are you?" he asked, voice wavering. Without warning, he burst into tears and began to sob onto Crawford's shoulder, loud cries emanating from his throat. Crawford looked completely shocked, which is hard for a precog, and tried to appease his distraught teammate.
"Schu, that's not what I meant, I was just-" At that moment, Ken coughed loudly, becoming decidedly uncomfortable with the situation. Both members of Schwartz looked up - they then exhibited very different reactions.
Crawford started up from the bench and immediately positioned himself opposite Aya, countenance twisted in a snarl. Schuldich, by contrast, let out an exuberant cry and grabbed Ken in a crushing hug. Aya and Crawford both froze, eyeing their respective teammates in surprise.
"Kenken!" Schuldich squealed, much to Ken's annoyance. "Oh, I haven't seen you for -ages-!" Aya snatched Ken away and glared at the German menacingly. Schuldich pouted again, and Crawford grabbed his arm.
"Schuldich, what are you doing? That's Weiss!" Schuldich rolled his eyes.
"Of course it's -Weiss-, Bradley. They delivered your flowers last week!" He grabbed Ken's hand and began jerking it up and down excitedly [3]. "Ooh, I'm so happy to see the two of you - together," he added with a wink in Ken's direction. Ken blushed again. Schuldich laughed heartily, then continued, "I've been meaning to send you a thank-you card, ja, but I just haven't had time, what with business, and the party, and mein leibe here-"
"I am -not- your-"
"Oh, hush Bradley," Schuldich interrupted merrily. "If you're not now, you will be." Crawford paled perceptively. Aya, nonplussed, sent another glare in Schuldich's direction.
"A thank you card won't be necessary," he spat out. "It's part of the job."
Schuldich gave him a radiant smile. "Oh, I know - besides, I have a different idea now. I'm inviting you both to Abendessen tomorrow."
"Schuldich!" Crawford reproached severely.
"What's Abendessen?" Ken asked.
"We're not coming," Aya hissed. Ken gave him an indignant look.
"Aya! You can't just blow people off like that!" He turned solemnly to Schuldich. "I'm sorry, he's very rude sometimes." Aya flushed, glaring down at the pavement. "Now - what's this. . . thing. . . you're inviting us to tomorrow?"
"Abendessen!" Schuldich exclaimed gleefully.
"He means dinner," Crawford said, rubbing his aching head.
"Oh," Ken replied, feeling sheepish. "Sure, we'll be there - wherever it is."
"That Italian restaurant near our place - 6 o'clock. Mind that you're not late," Schuldich reprimanded cheerfully.
"All right, well - goodbye then."
"Auf weidersehen!" Schuldich yelled as his very annoyed leader dragged him off. Ken turned to Aya, who was giving him an incredulous look.
"I can't believe you accepted," Aya finally spat out. "They're -Schwartz-."
Ken gave him a look. "Aya - everything isn't always black and white [4]. They're enemies sometimes - they don't always have to be. Think about it; we haven't confronted them for months! Can't we - I don't know - try to make amends?" Aya shifted uncomfortably, then started back home without answering. Ken sighed and followed the redhead. Then a thought struck him, and he paused.
"Hey Aya?"
Aya stopped.
"You'll come with me. . . right?"
Aya looked at him skeptically. Ken glanced away, refusing to meet his eyes.
"I'd be. . . uncomfortable. . . going alone," he said softly. Aya gave him a hard look, then sighed and walked back to where his friend stood, catching the brunette's gaze. He pulled Ken into his arms and rested his chin against the shorter man's shoulder, fighting a blush with all his might.
"I'll come with you."
Ken breathed out in relief and let Aya hold him for a few more moments - then they broke apart, shy, nervous, and made their way home, each thinking of the comfort in the other's arms.
End Day 4
_______________________________________________________________________
[1] - Has everybody seen that picture? Where they're all dressed in white against a white wall-like thing? And he has that ridiculous hat? That's the one I meant.
[2] - I'm referring to Ban's outfit at the end of the first disk here - that little one-strap thing that can't even count as clothing? Yeah. The song is something one of my friends came up with. She sings it every time he comes on-screen dressed like that. Oh, and these two were from the series 'Getbackers', in case you didn't know.
[3] - I have a friend who does this all the time. I modeled Schuldich after her.
[4] - Get it? Weiss = White, Schwartz = Black? That's what the German dictionary said, anyway. I thought it was neat.
Okay. . . man is it ever late. Well, only three more days to go - and now we're having a Schwartz dinner party?! I don't believe it! Will it be an innocent, boring, predictable little affair? I certainly hope not! R + R please!
A note to CherubKatan-san: Yes, I know I used the Slayers names for Ken's soccer kids. It was intentional, actually. I've been using a crossover in every chapter - that one was a rather weak attempt, I'll admit, but I'm not quite stupid enough to need to rip off the Slayers names (though I did need to steal their characters. . . hm. . . ). Anyway, hope that answers your question!
A/N: All righty - things get a little bit fluffier from here on out (is that even POSSIBLE?). I think, anyway. I can't really recall. All I really know is that my kitty ran away. Yeah, that's the second one. I don't have a clue why they do it. But I miss her a lot. I'm gonna try not to weave any kitty-angst into this story, though. I want my Neko-chan back! WAH!
Yohji: Do shut up.
Hidoi Yohji-kun! Haven't you ever lost a pet?
Yohji: Not unless you count all those endless women. . .
Yohji! Really! How cruel. We'd better get on with this so I can sock him.
____________________________________________________________________________ ________
Daylight broke sweetly over the Tokyo suburbs, shining lightly through the curtains and draperies, alerting the birds to their daily serenade, rustling through the leafy treetops and casting vibrant shadows on the still-slumbering ground. A lonely sunbeam worked its way between the blinds of a silent apartment, alighting delicately on the peaceful, sleeping countenance of a crimson-crowned young man. The light urged movement, and he shifted uncomfortably, causing his companion to groan and twist about, attempting to reposition himself in the other's arms.
All of a sudden, Aya couldn't breathe. His supply of oxygen was completely cut off by the offending arm of his unknowing, lightly snoring companion. Survival instincts kicked in, and Aya began thrashing madly - he woke with a start and threw Ken's arm off his face, desperate for air. Ken yelped as he tumbled from the couch in a flurry of limbs and blankets and landed on the floor, blinking in shock.
Aya, alone on the couch, gazed in surprise at the brunette now sprawled on the tasteful green carpet. Ken returned the stare, rubbing painfully at his head, which had conveniently connected with the slightly- out-of-place side table when he landed. The two men looked at each other, both no doubt wondering why they weren't in their respective beds. Then they blushed, having simultaneously realized that not only did they wake up on the couch, but that they woke up -together-. After trying to avoid meeting Aya's gaze for a few minutes, Ken got up and tentatively sat next to the redhead on the couch. Aya made room for him, still avoiding eye contact.
Then Aya jolted, as he suddenly remembered Ken's injury from the day before. As if reading his mind, Ken made a low sound of pain and experimented with moving his shoulder. Aya's hand came up to rest beside Ken's neck, once more soothing the offending muscles. Ken let him continue the massage for a few minutes - okay, maybe twenty - then smiled gently at his leader and rose from the couch, pulling Aya with him. Once they were both standing, he asked, "Want some breakfast?"
Aya held up a hand in protest. "I'll cook. You did it last time."
Ken pouted lightly. "I thought you liked it!"
"I did," Aya countered, shaking his head, "but cooking is hard work. You shouldn't have to do so more than once a week." Ken rolled his eyes. Finally allowing a small smile to creep across his face, Aya added, "Besides, I'd bet -you- don't know how to make smiley face pancakes."
Ken blinked, then flushed slightly. "Well, no. . . " he admitted. Then, furrowing his brow, he asked, "Can you?"
Aya nodded. "Yohji taught me." Ken had to laugh at this. The thought of Yohji standing in the kitchen, cooking BREAKFAST, the earliest meal of the day, and instructing an avidly interested Aya in the proper pancake-making technique was pretty much the craziest thing he'd ever imagined. He visualized Omi swinging his legs while sitting on the counter, an oversized chef's hat falling over his eyes; he pictured the boy clapping excitedly every time Yohji flipped one of the golden-brown disks into the air. Aya raised an eyebrow at Ken's prolonged laughter, but the sound pleased him, and he made his way into the kitchen. Ken followed him and leaned self-consciously against the counter while Aya engaged in a full- scale cookout. After each of them had made a few half-hearted attempts at conversation (the longest of which centered around reviewing the Pokemon DVD), Ken decided painkillers might be a good idea and began rummaging through the medicine cabinet. He found three empty bottles of Advil, but that was all his efforts yielded. Aya beckoned him to breakfast and he let it go, but the mystery of the missing painkillers stayed with him.
Omi came into the eating area just as Aya and Ken were finishing up, dark circles under his eyes. He took the plate Aya offered him and sat down heavily at the table, slowly applying the food to his mouth and hardly noticing Aya's edible imagery. Aya gave Omi a semi-curious look. "Up late?" he asked the resident chibi, who managed to blush despite his exhaustion. Aya left it at that and finished his own breakfast.
Suddenly Ken paused, fork halfway to his mouth. He eyed Omi inquiringly, then asked, "Hey Omi - d'you know where all the Advil went? I hurt my shoulder yesterday, but there are just empty bottles in there. . . "
Omi shook his head wearily. "I'm sorry, Ken-kun, I don't have any idea what. . . " he trailed off, eyes darkening in what might have been anger. Then his face went pale and he sat up straight, clearly thunderstruck. "Wait a minute - Yohji did come home drunk last night. . . maybe he had a hangover this morning."
Ken's eyes bulged, and Aya gave Omi a sharp look. "He took three bottles of Advil?" Ken exclaimed in disbelief. "He's gonna kill himself!"
"What business does Kudou have with a hangover?" Aya asked vehemently, but Omi didn't hear him. The poor blonde boy had fallen asleep and face-faulted into his breakfast. Aya and Ken watched his peacefully sleeping form, then looked at each other.
"Let him sleep," Ken advised sympathetically. "Poor kid's worn out." Aya nodded, and the two of them headed off to prepare for the day.
**********************
Yohji whistled happily as he attended to the fangirls, a lovely smile on his face. He was manning the shop, and the daily horde, by himself at the moment, but he didn't mind. Omi was supposed to join him for the morning shift that day; no doubt his young lover was exhausted. Yohji shook his head mildly - end of term papers can do that to people. (A/N: Hentais! What did you -think- Omi was doing up?)
After he'd come home late, Yohji remembered Omi sitting with him and listening to his drunken babbling. He couldn't remember what all he'd said, but he knew he'd kept it a secret that he'd found a new drinking buddy in Schwartz's Farfello. The last thing he needed was Aya Shi-Ne-ing him for breaking the drinking rules AND getting chummy with the enemy.
The door from the apartment opened to admit Aya, Ken, and Omi - Omi was diligently rubbing egg off his face. The redhead stalked over to where Yohji was standing and gave the blonde his most powerful glare. If Yohji hadn't had Advil practically rivaling the blood content in his body, he figured he might have died. As it was, Aya's severe glare just made him grin like a maniac.
"What," Aya growled, "were you doing drunk last night?" Yohji assumed his most innocent expression.
"Why Aya - whatever do you mean?" he asked, batting his eyelashes at his leader. Aya twitched.
"The deal," he spit out. Yohji gave him a smug look, then dropped a casual arm around the other man's shoulder.
"But Aya - you said I couldn't -buy- alcohol, not that I couldn't -consume- it. Besides, it was his idea."
"Whose idea?" Aya asked sharply.
"Fa-" Yohji caught himself just in time. "Father!" he finished joyfully. Aya gave him a deadly look.
"Your parents are already dead, Kudou," he replied testily.
//Drat,// Yohji thought. Then an idea came to him. He looked back to Aya and rolled his eyes dramatically. "Not -my- father - Our Father!" Aya gave him a look of pure skepticism.
"God bought you a drink?" he intoned dryly, crossing his arms in front of him. Yohji nodded decisively. "And what exactly did you do to deserve -that-?"
Yohji shrugged, then turned away. Aya gave him another warning look and stalked off, grumbling. Yohji winced. Farfello better never find out he'd been passed off as God. On the other hand, the Irishman might enjoy that.
Omi meandered his broom over to Yohji's side, still wiping tiredly at his eyes. Yohji gave the poor boy a kiss on the forehead and continued ringing up customers (all of the fangirls had left by this point, and the few people who saw it either assumed the two were brothers or smiled at how cute the flower boys were being today). Despite the kiss, Omi managed to give his boyfriend a suspicious look, then asked nonchalantly, "Who -really- bought you a drink, Yohji-ko - er, Yohji-kun?"
Yohji chuckled. "That's a secret, Omittchi," he said happily. Omi frowned, then sighed in submission. He quickly perked up again, though, and got an adorable gleam in his eye.
"Ne, Yohji-kun, we had the morning shift today, but I slept through it. Can I - will you come to lunch with me today, so I can make it up to you?"
"Can't Omittchi," Yohji joked with a wink. "I've got a date."
Omi froze, rooted to the spot. A date? Yohji had a -date-? They'd only been together for four days - Yohji was cheating on him ALREADY?!?! Omi drew himself up angrily, then exploded. "What do you MEAN you have a DATE?!" he yelled, voice rising several octaves in his rage. Yohji winced, then put his hands on Omi's shoulders in an attempt to placate the younger man.
"Look Omi, that's not what I meant, I-"
"I - I can't -believe- you!" Omi shrieked, smacking Yohji across the face as he did so. He ran from the room, dropping the broom on Yohji's toe. Yohji yelped. Safely across the shop, Ken shook his head.
"Hell hath no fury like an Omi scorned."
***************************
All was quiet in the Koneko. Aya worked on the arrangements. Ken was out with the deliveries. Yohji was playing with the cash register. Omi still hadn't returned. Suddenly. . . the clock struck one. Yohji looked up. Then a brilliant smile lit his face and he tossed his apron in a heap on the floor, chuckling lightly to himself. He snatched his jacket from the counter and ducked out of the shop, whistling as he went.
As he passed by the alleyway, a dark shadow crept out behind him. It wore a blue jacket, shorts, a white sunhat [1], and bright, suspicious eyes that gleamed from underneath the hat's brim.
Omi trailed stealthily behind his wayward koi, using all his assassin skills to avoid detection. Fortunately, nothing was further from Yohji's mind than his own personal stalker, so Omi's presence went unnoticed. Omi mumbled to himself unhappily. When Yohji had confessed his undying love less than a week ago, Omi had been inclined to take him at face value - apparently, that was a bad idea. He followed Yohji down the city sidewalks - past the restaurants and the bars and the clubs - down past old men and businesspeople and schoolchildren until finally Yohji entered a dingy establishment that appeared to be a tavern of some sort.
Omi followed Yohji inside and seated himself at a strategically placed table near the back, watching through nervous eyes as Yohji passed all the half-dressed women and sat alone at a large circular table in the center. The elder blonde glanced around as though searching for someone, then resigned himself to waiting and slumped back in his chair. The door swung open and Yohji started up, a smile on his face, his hand raised in greeting.
Omi watched in surprise as the arrivals, both men, sat at Yohji's table. One was quite short with grayish-brown hair, and the other - the other was that Irish psycho! Absolutely enraged, Omi hurtled across the room to Yohji's side, face scarlet with fury. "You're leaving me for -SCHWARTZ-?!" he demanded loudly, decidedly livid. Yohji looked up in shock.
"O - Omi?" he said in disbelief. "What are you doing here?" He glanced at Farfello and Nagi, then back at Omi; suddenly realizing what Omi was so mad about, he laughed loudly and tugged his boyfriend into his lap, much to the surprise of said boyfriend.
"Oh, Omittchi - you thought I was serious about the date thing, didn't you? Baka! Look, I met Farfello accidentally yesterday, and he offered to buy me a drink - he said I was such an amusing drunk that if I came here today, he'd buy again." He looked questioningly at the Schwartz members before adding, "I don't know why Nagi's here, though."
Farfello laughed gleefully. "Because he can't drink! Crawford said so. And if he has to sit here and watch us, it makes God cry at the sheer unfairness of it all." Nagi pouted - then he remembered Omi and his pretty eyes lit up. "Hey - Omi can't drink either! Now I have a friend!" Omi blinked at the younger boy, then looked questioningly at Yohji.
"Yohji-koi," he inquired anxiously, "are you sure it's okay to be meeting with Schwartz like this?"
Yohji gave him a sympathetic look. "I don't know, Omi - I don't know why we should have to be enemies anymore. Takatori's dead - Farfello told me Schwartz is kind of outta work right now. Why can't we be friends?"
Omi thought on this a moment, then shook his head and sat next to Nagi, warning darkly, "If Aya-kun finds out about this, we'll be dead meat."
******************
Ken sighed as he stood on the sidewalk outside the Koneko, watching the sunset-painted sky become brilliant shades of pink and gold. It was closing time, but Yohji and Omi had yet to reappear - Ken assumed they'd gone out to dinner or something. Hopefully, they had sorted out whatever argument had caused Omi to hit his lover in the shop today - if the two broke up so soon, Ken wasn't sure he'd be able to handle it.
"Beautiful evening, isn't it?" asked a rich voice at his shoulder. Ken jumped. Aya smiled, then turned to observe the sky himself. After a moment of comfortable silence, both he and Ken spoke simultaneously.
"Would you-" Each broke off, embarrassed.
"You first," Aya said graciously. Ken opened his mouth to protest, then closed it and nodded instead.
"Would you - um - like to go for a walk, maybe?" Ken suggested awkwardly, trying to sound convinced that this was what he wanted, too. Aya shot him a covert glance. //A walk in the sunset?// Aya meditated silently. //That was -my- idea. Did Ken suddenly become a telepath or something?// Instead of asking, he nodded silently to Ken, whose face brightened perceptively. Aya turned momentarily to lock the shop door, then the two companions started off down the street.
As they moved into the open air of the town park, Aya reached down and discreetly caught Ken's fingers in his. Ken's face turned the color of the evening sky, but he didn't pull away, focusing on admiring the sunset instead. //He's holding my hand?// Ken wondered. //What's gotten into Aya these days?//
//If I didn't know any better,// Aya reasoned, //I'd think maybe he was trying to - that maybe he wanted-// Aya broke off his thoughts and shook his head.
//Nah,// they agreed mentally. //Not a chance.// They continued silently onward, nodding occasionally to the few passerby. One pair, a boy about Ken's age and his companion, caught their attention, mostly because said companion was wearing an outfit that only covered a very small portion of his chest. Also, his haphazard hairstyle almost took out Ken's left eye.
"Jane, Jane, Jane of the Jungle, strong as he can be [2]," Ken muttered bitterly once the other pair, who wore signs declaring 'Getbackers!' around their necks, had passed out of earshot. Aya chuckled. Just then, the two heard voices coming from a park bench ahead of them - voices that were somehow vaguely familiar.
"I'm just not ready for that kind of commitment," came a deep voice with a strong American accent.
"What kind of commitment?" answered a nasal German tone. Aya and Ken stopped dead. It was Schwartz! Well, Crawford and Schuldich, anyway. The two villains, however, were so wrapped up in their conversation that they failed to notice their waiting adversaries.
Brad Crawford shot Schuldich a look. "What kind of commitment? I don't suppose you recall coming home last night from your shopping trip with Nagi, jumping into my lap, knocking the paper out of my hands, throwing your arms around my neck and crying, 'Oh Bradley, promise me we'll be together forever'?"
Schuldich gave him a cheesy grin. "'Course I do. But who said anything about commitment?"
Brad blinked at him. "Schuldich you propositioned me." He held up a glinting diamond ring.
"And?" his carrot-top comrade responded.
"And we're not even dating! How could you -propose- to me?"
Schuldich gave him a chiding yet sympathetic look. "Well Bradley, first I got down on one knee-"
"That is -not- what I meant, Schuldich," Crawford said severely. Schuldich adopted a pout; his eyes filled with tears, and he began to tremble.
"Oh Bradley, you're not -rejecting- me, are you?" he asked, voice wavering. Without warning, he burst into tears and began to sob onto Crawford's shoulder, loud cries emanating from his throat. Crawford looked completely shocked, which is hard for a precog, and tried to appease his distraught teammate.
"Schu, that's not what I meant, I was just-" At that moment, Ken coughed loudly, becoming decidedly uncomfortable with the situation. Both members of Schwartz looked up - they then exhibited very different reactions.
Crawford started up from the bench and immediately positioned himself opposite Aya, countenance twisted in a snarl. Schuldich, by contrast, let out an exuberant cry and grabbed Ken in a crushing hug. Aya and Crawford both froze, eyeing their respective teammates in surprise.
"Kenken!" Schuldich squealed, much to Ken's annoyance. "Oh, I haven't seen you for -ages-!" Aya snatched Ken away and glared at the German menacingly. Schuldich pouted again, and Crawford grabbed his arm.
"Schuldich, what are you doing? That's Weiss!" Schuldich rolled his eyes.
"Of course it's -Weiss-, Bradley. They delivered your flowers last week!" He grabbed Ken's hand and began jerking it up and down excitedly [3]. "Ooh, I'm so happy to see the two of you - together," he added with a wink in Ken's direction. Ken blushed again. Schuldich laughed heartily, then continued, "I've been meaning to send you a thank-you card, ja, but I just haven't had time, what with business, and the party, and mein leibe here-"
"I am -not- your-"
"Oh, hush Bradley," Schuldich interrupted merrily. "If you're not now, you will be." Crawford paled perceptively. Aya, nonplussed, sent another glare in Schuldich's direction.
"A thank you card won't be necessary," he spat out. "It's part of the job."
Schuldich gave him a radiant smile. "Oh, I know - besides, I have a different idea now. I'm inviting you both to Abendessen tomorrow."
"Schuldich!" Crawford reproached severely.
"What's Abendessen?" Ken asked.
"We're not coming," Aya hissed. Ken gave him an indignant look.
"Aya! You can't just blow people off like that!" He turned solemnly to Schuldich. "I'm sorry, he's very rude sometimes." Aya flushed, glaring down at the pavement. "Now - what's this. . . thing. . . you're inviting us to tomorrow?"
"Abendessen!" Schuldich exclaimed gleefully.
"He means dinner," Crawford said, rubbing his aching head.
"Oh," Ken replied, feeling sheepish. "Sure, we'll be there - wherever it is."
"That Italian restaurant near our place - 6 o'clock. Mind that you're not late," Schuldich reprimanded cheerfully.
"All right, well - goodbye then."
"Auf weidersehen!" Schuldich yelled as his very annoyed leader dragged him off. Ken turned to Aya, who was giving him an incredulous look.
"I can't believe you accepted," Aya finally spat out. "They're -Schwartz-."
Ken gave him a look. "Aya - everything isn't always black and white [4]. They're enemies sometimes - they don't always have to be. Think about it; we haven't confronted them for months! Can't we - I don't know - try to make amends?" Aya shifted uncomfortably, then started back home without answering. Ken sighed and followed the redhead. Then a thought struck him, and he paused.
"Hey Aya?"
Aya stopped.
"You'll come with me. . . right?"
Aya looked at him skeptically. Ken glanced away, refusing to meet his eyes.
"I'd be. . . uncomfortable. . . going alone," he said softly. Aya gave him a hard look, then sighed and walked back to where his friend stood, catching the brunette's gaze. He pulled Ken into his arms and rested his chin against the shorter man's shoulder, fighting a blush with all his might.
"I'll come with you."
Ken breathed out in relief and let Aya hold him for a few more moments - then they broke apart, shy, nervous, and made their way home, each thinking of the comfort in the other's arms.
End Day 4
_______________________________________________________________________
[1] - Has everybody seen that picture? Where they're all dressed in white against a white wall-like thing? And he has that ridiculous hat? That's the one I meant.
[2] - I'm referring to Ban's outfit at the end of the first disk here - that little one-strap thing that can't even count as clothing? Yeah. The song is something one of my friends came up with. She sings it every time he comes on-screen dressed like that. Oh, and these two were from the series 'Getbackers', in case you didn't know.
[3] - I have a friend who does this all the time. I modeled Schuldich after her.
[4] - Get it? Weiss = White, Schwartz = Black? That's what the German dictionary said, anyway. I thought it was neat.
Okay. . . man is it ever late. Well, only three more days to go - and now we're having a Schwartz dinner party?! I don't believe it! Will it be an innocent, boring, predictable little affair? I certainly hope not! R + R please!
