I breathe deeply, taking in my first waking breath. I snuggle deeper into my covers; they're warm and soft. I feel heavy and sleepy; even though it was last night I can feel the last lingering essence of Aya around me. I roll over and pull my sheets up to my chin. I realize that I'm naked. I don't like sleeping naked… it's weird.

So if I'm so tired and sated, why the hell am I awake? I smack my lips and prop myself up on an elbow, peering at my alarm clock. I blink. It's six. Omi. I groan and flop back into my pillow. He'll be here in a few seconds. I lie still and wrestle with my thoughts. Great.

Tmp tmp tmp. Knock knock! "Morning, Ken-kun! Are you ready?" I hear Omi call as he opens my door and bounds in, smiling. I can't see him, but he's always smiling.

I act like he woke me up. I snuffle and turn over. "Hm? What?"

He walks to my bed and looks down at me. He puts his hands on his hips. "C'mon, lazy ass, get up! Don't you feel ok, Ken? Are you sick?"

I blink up at him. "I don't think so… er… I do feel a little funny," I amend, latching onto an excuse. "I didn't sleep very well…."

"Well, hey, a good run is probably just what you need. You always feel better afterwards. It's Tuesday! C'mon, let's go," he says excitedly, grasping my hand and tugging on my arm.

I sit up and rub at my eyes with my free hand. "Itai, Omi, cut it out," I snap, pulling my arm away. He stares at me, he's surprised. I never yell at Omi.

"Are you naked, Ken-kun?" he asks bluntly.

I look over at him and then down at myself. "Yeah, it would appear so. What? Haven't you ever slept naked? I told you I couldn't sleep last night, I thought maybe I was overheated or something."

Omi shrugs. "Just an observation. C'mon, Ken, we always go jogging on Tuesday mornings. I got up extra early to make eggs before we left." He tugs on my arm again. I look up at the kid.

I'm having a war in my head. Part of me says I have to go, because it's tradition and I owe it to Omi. I don't want to blow him off… he considers me his best friend. But I'm so tired that I feel like puking just sitting up. My eyes hurt and all I want to do is fall back into my sheets and become dead to the world. I let Aya keep me up… hell there was no 'let' about it, he kept me up. And he exhausted me both physically and emotionally. I'm in no shape to shlup around after Omi this morning. But the kid even made breakfast. He looks forward to this, I know he does. I have no idea why… but he does.

I look away again and groan. "Omi-kun…." I rub my eyes. "I don't think I'm gonna make it this morning. I'm really sorry, but I feel like crap."

I hear him make a little sound of disappointment. He looks down and plays with his hands. "Are you sure, Ken? I… I made eggs…."

"I know, Omi-kun, save some for me. I'll eat them when I get up for good."

"But then they'll be cold! I know you'll feel better if you just get up and come running with me. Here I'll even get your jogging clothes together for you and you can…." He starts to move towards my dresser. His voice is overly excited.

"Omi!" I shout. He freezes and looks at me with big, hurt eyes. I wither up, I feel like such an ass, but there is no way I can go jogging today. "I'm too damn tired, ok?! I'm sorry, Omi. I'll go with you tomorrow if you want me to, ok?"

He casts his eyes down. I know he's really disappointed. "Ok, Ken…." He says softly. I can hear the hurt in his voice. This is the first time I've ever broken a tradition with him. But I still think he might be overly sensitive. He turns away and walks to my door. He pauses in the doorway. "Hope you feel better."

"Thanks, Omittchi. I'm sorry."

He closes the door behind him and I fall back into my bed. I close my eyes and hug my pillow. I feel like such a bastard. It would be different if I could just tell Omi why I couldn't go running with him, and this just doubles my guilt. Not only did I blow him off without warning, but I'm keeping weird secrets from him too. And not just from him, but Youji as well. Why does this have to be so complicated?

I doze off again. I don't realize how long I snooze because when I hear my door open again I immediately assume that it's Omi coming back to try to convince me one more time.

I growl as I hear the door close again and the soft sound of feet on my carpet. "I told you, Omi, I'm not going with you! Zakkenayo[1]!" I cry sitting up quickly, tossing my pillow across the room at the figure standing there. He catches it.

"Oh… it's you," I say quietly.

"Yes, it's me. Omi's been gone for over half and hour. I heard him leave. I thought you'd go with him."

I look at Aya, letting my eyes travel over his body. I smile at him sleepily. "I was too tired. He didn't take it well."

"Figures." He crosses to me, throwing the pillow back to me. I let it hit me and giggle. I put it behind my head and fall back onto my bed. He stands and looks down at me lovingly. I reach up and take his hand in mine. We twine our fingers together.

"Did you want something?" I ask.

"Just wanted to see how your night was."

I roll my eyes back, thinking. "It was nice. A little unexpected, but nice."

He looks into my eyes. "No regrets?"

I bite my lip and shake my head. He smiles softly and lets go of my hand. He pushes back the covers, slipping into my bed beside me. I'm a little surprised, but I move over, making room for him. He puts his arms around my neck and pulls me closer. I embrace him gladly, wrapping my arms around his middle. The fabric of his shirt and pants tease my skin. I press myself against him. He nips my ear. "I love you, aité."

"Mm, are you sure? Are you sure you aren't just in lust with my sexy, boyish body?" I ask playfully, rocking against him.

"Well… there's that too," he answers kissing my neck. Then the next thing I know he's tickling my ribs viciously. I squeal like a fan girl and twist, laughing loudly.

"St-stop… Aya! Youji will hear!" I gasp through my giggles.

He stops and hugs me tightly. "Not likely. He's dead to the world. After all he doesn't have to be up until one." He looks into my eyes and glares, "Smart-ass."

"Yeah, but would you want me any other way?" I ask, nuzzling his neck.

He puts a hand on my face, tilting it back so that he can look at me. He brushes the hair from my eyes. "No." He kisses my forehead.

We lie together for the rest of the early morning. We hold each other, whispering softly, touching gently, kissing now and then. It's nice. So nice to just share time like this. I doze, my head resting in the crook of his neck. It fits there so well. He dozes as well, breathing softly against my skin.

Eventually my nine-thirty alarm goes off. Shop opens in half and hour. We both grumble as we pull apart and force ourselves out of the warm, intimate world we have created together. He gets up first, lingering to touch my face and trace my jaw line with his finger. "I'll see you down-stairs."

I nod, gazing up at him with adoring eyes. He runs a hand through his fine, red hair. He sighs and then turns, walking out into the hallway. I gaze after him longingly. I wish we could just do this all day. I wonder if we can reconvene after work. It's Youji and Omi closing tonight…. I smile at the though of time alone. I breathe out contentedly and then force myself to rise and prepare for the day.

* * * * * *

He smiles at me as we pass each other in the shop. Just a little smile under hooded eyes. He doesn't want to smile too much, that would be dangerous. I try not to smile back, but I feel the corners of my mouth twitch upwards in spite of myself. I remember this morning. I keep walking and go about my business.

The others are so oblivious. Or are they? Perhaps I'm the one that's oblivious, oblivious to everything around me that isn't Ken. I've hardly noticed anything all day. I take the colors of the flowers for granted. I'm working on autopilot. I don't have the will power to make myself live in this moment. Instead I live inside my head. I live in this morning, I live in last night, I live in the chocolate eyes of Ken Hidaka. I want to stand near him, but I won't. I might accidentally touch him without thinking. I might reach out to him, say something to him and give it all away. I wouldn't mind so much, but for him I'll keep away.

He talks to Omi, laughing about something. Omi looks annoyed, probably because Ken wouldn't get up to go running with him this morning. He's never broken that tradition before, but he broke it for me... or because of me. I kept him up. I hadn't planned on it, but I was glad that I did, hoped he was glad as well. But that smile and this morning tell me he is.

He glances at me quickly over Omi's head. Omi doesn't notice; he's too busy being putout. He rolls his eyes. I really smile this time. I run a hand through my hair and lick my lips... just slightly. I know he likes this, me being silly. I wink, still smiling. He starts to laugh.

"What's so funny, Ken-kun!" Omi snaps.

"Nothing, Omi, nothing," he says, still chuckling, holding up his hands.

Youji has been watching from behind a fichus. He gives me a look and mouths, 'what was that about?'. I glare at him. Then I shrug and wink. Best make him think I'm just in a weird mood. He looks at me like I might be going crazy and then goes back to pruning the fichus. Oops.

I head towards the back room. I've gotta do something to make it look like I'm working. It isn't like me to slack off.

"Where are –you- going?" Omi calls after me. He's in a bad mood now, he usually doesn't snap at people, much less me. But then Ken can have that effect. I feel bad for Omi. It wasn't fair of me to make Ken break his promise.

"The back room. What's it look like? I'm going to check the back stock. Somebody has to."

He shrugs and turns back to Ken, but Ken is no longer paying any attention to Omi. He is watching me. I turn and walk into the back. It's dark so I flip on a light, a fluorescent light. The lack of ambiance is startling. I pick at the seed packets and pots, trying to make it sound like I have a purpose back here.

I stand in the center of the narrow room and sigh. It's going to be a long day. Then the door swings open and Ken comes in. Without a word he grabs my belt loops, pulls me towards him, and then pushes me against one of the walls. The shelves rattle. He kisses me passionately. He's aggressive today, this is unusual, but I like it. He bites my lip and shoves me against the wall again. I grunt, the shelves rattle. "Ken…." I groan.

"Shh, not so loud. I'm 'in the bathroom,'" he says giving my belt loops a good tug. I smile and take his face in my hands. I kiss him like I mean it. I run my tongue over his teeth and explore every little nook in his mouth. He lets me play. Then he starts to fight back with his own tongue, taking my mouth. I let him play.

Then suddenly he releases my pants and tears himself away. "I gotta go back. Only two hours and we're off," he says breathlessly. He turns to walk away, but I reach after him, grabbing his arm, twisting him around quickly. I pull him back to me, kissing him savagely. Then I push him away.

"Go," I say through bruised lips. I'm getting too excited; I can feel the tightness. He studies my face and then nods, forcing himself to turn and go back into the shop. It's hard for both of us.

When he goes I lean back against the shelves and ruminate over Ken. I run my hand up through my hair. I study his every nuance in my mind. His body, god it drives me crazy. The way he moves, how sure he is of his space. His toned… everything. His hair, the way it smells, the way –he- smells, his mouth, so tempting, his eyes… I could get lost in them. So deep. Last night only left me hungry for so much more. Driving Ken to ecstasy was blatantly erotic. (Way to state the obvious, Ran.) I remember it all: his quivering young body, his reluctance, his acceptance, and his shamelessness, crying out for fulfillment.

And I only want more, more Ken. I want him to scream for me, and I want him to make me scream. All in due time. I have to take it slow with Ken, he told me so from the very start. But then again, just now had been a pleasant surprise. I know there is a sexual deviant inside that boy. I smile to myself. I'll find it.

I turn around and go back to fiddling with the shelves. Two hours. I can do this for two more hours, and then…. I smile to myself and touch my swollen lips. I run my hand across my chest. "Oh, aité… the things you do to me."


[1] Zakennayo is the all-purpose Japanese swear word. It means everything from 'shit' to 'fuck off' to 'go blow you mother!' Have something nasty to say to someone? Insert zakennayo here…

Comments: I'm really glad that everyone who hadn't yet read this story is enjoying it. ^_^;; I was worried it was a little on the rusty side. Anyway let me know again if you find any errors or typos anywhere. Thanks again for all your wonderful comments, it really makes my day. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: If I owned the boys I would whore them out and be rich, but I don't so I kill my time doing this instead. -_- Ke ke ke